Chapter 7: Christmas Away Part 1
Alex made his way back to Gryffindor Tower after another long night of detention. Every since his prank on Filch, he had been doing detention. He had became like an icon and a hero to a lot of the students. Sure Filch had been pranked before, but never to the extent of what Alex did. A month had already passed and students were still asking him what it was like to be an "animagi", a witch or wizard who can take form of an animal at will. Alex just chuckled to himself, if they only knew the truth.
The Gryffindor Quidditch team was still celebrating their huge win over the Slytherins. Alex, on the other hand, had no sooner landed on the ground and rushed off to do his detentions with Filch. Until his two months worth of detentions were done, Alex's evenings were going be extremely busy.
Everyone turned out for the first match of the school year to watch the rivialry between the houses come alive on the Quidditch pitch. Angelina was very impressed with Alex's chaser abilities. Alex alone scored 250 points himself. Ginny and Angelina scored 100 points each with Harry getting the snitch for 150 and to end the game, giving Gryffindor 600 points even to Slytherin's 200 points. It was one of the largest win margins in school history.
Alex joined the party that was still going full blast. He spent most of the party dancing with Ginny or Hermione. A few times he was able to get Ginny off to the side for a brief snogging session until one of her brothers came and broke them apart. After George interrupted them for the last time, Ginny gave her brothers and the rest of the house a stern warning, "back off or else."
Alex made him a seat in the window over looking the grounds and pulled Ginny into his lap. Ginny positioned herself to where she was sitting firmly between Alex's legs and had her back resting on his chest and had her head on his left shoulder.
"So, when do I get to know more about you?" Ginny asked as they watched the others party on.
"What would you like to know?"
"Why do you not get along with Professor Snape?" she asked, feeling her boyfriend tense up at the mention of the professor's name.
"Long story for another time. As much as I want to tell you, that is one secret I am bound to take to the grave with me. Sorry love, but that I just cann't tell you." Alex said with a sigh.
"Ok, then why are you so protective of Harry and not wanting him on some secrets?
Alex sat there for a minute, thinking over how he was going to answer that. Alex looked down at his girlfriend and gave her a weak smile. "That has to be your favorite question. You ask me that every time we have these talks."
"I was hoping for a better answer than the last ones. Come on Alex, it me. I have kept your "first secret" this quiet for this long. No one here besides Hermione knows that you're not an animagi. So fess up wolf boy, I want to know. I not letting you off the hook this time."
Alex glanced down at Ginny and lower his head to whisper into her ear. He drew back his head in time to see Ginny's eyes grow larger than ever. Ginny just sat there in a daze staring at Alex.
"But...but...but." Ginny tried to say. "How?"
"Ginny please, not a word. Not even to Hermione. This is one that I really need you to swear upon not to tell a soul. It could be disasterous if it got out that Harry and I are brothers. No one can know. Not just yet any way." Alex said in a quiet voice.
Ginny nodded her head in silence and wrapped her arms around Alex's neck, pulling him down to her and resuming the snogging session from earlier. Ginny wiggled closer to Alex when she felt him try to pull back, causing him to emit a soft growl, letting her know that they were know pushing the bountries. Ginny answered his growl by kissing him harder and refusing to stop. Without looking, Alex silently thought in his head and conjured a thick blanket, in which he covered him and Ginny both with. Alex placed his hand on Ginny's abdomen, performing the spell on her and performing the spell on himself. Alex then did a combination of charms, warding off others while silencing his and Ginny's "activities", all the while making it look like they were sitting there just talking. After the charms were done and one last peek at the party, Alex turned his attention to Ginny and took her once more.
Alex was in his dormitory room that he shared with Harry, Ron, Neville Longbottom, Seamus Finnigan, and Dean Thomas. He had just finished his last detention with Filch and was packing his bag for the Christmas holiday. He had been meaning to get it packed, but he found spending time with Ginny more important. For the first time since September, Alex was finally getting to go home to Stonecastle. As much as he enjoyed running the woods of the Forbidden Forest, it was nothing compared to the woods of the Pack home.
And as much as he was looking forwards to going home for a few weeks, it was going to be a few weeks away from Ginny, something he didn't know if he was going to be able to do. Since they started dating, the most they had been away from the other was classes and at night in their own beds in their own dorm rooms. As Alex thought of how he was to survive without Ginny, that very red head entered the room.
"Hey Wolf boy, almost done packing?" Ginny said as she wrapped her arms around his neck when Alex turned around to greet his girlfriend.
"Almost done. Not taking very much stuff, don't really need to. I just taking the important stuff. A few books and some pictures the Creevey boys took." Alex said, placing a soft kiss on Ginny's forehead. "I'm going to miss you, you know. Jay is going to have his hands full with me. We've been apart other than our classes. Promise me that you will look after Harry for me until we get back here. Don't let him do any thing stupid."
"I'll do my best Alex." Ginny said, her eyes starting to tear up. She was already hating the fact that they were going to be so far apart for their first holiday together. "I wish there was some way Jason could let you come to the Burrow for at least a few days before we come back. Just promise me that you'll be carefull and not get hurt."
"I promise." Alex said as he placed a kiss on her lips.
"Harry, Ron, Hermione and the others are already headed to the last meeting before Christmas. Harry wants to go over a few things before we all leave. We cann't be late for this." Ginny said as she pulled away for a few.
Alex nodded as he took her hand and they headed down to their last D.A.D.A. meeting.
Alex and Ginny were the last few to arrive. A total of about twenty students gathered once, if not twice a week to have Harry teach them how to defend themselves. They had been meeting for the past two months in secret, which was driving Professor Umbridge up the wall. There was nothing she could do to stop the students from meeting as hard as she tried. Every thing that Umbridge tired, Dumbledore blocked. He for one was glad to see the students wanting to defend themselves. He even had to chuckle when he heard what the group called themselves, Dumblefore's Army (DA for short).
As everyone gathered around, Harry stood in the middle of the group. He raised his hand to quiet everyone.
"Since this is our last meeting before holiday, I just wanted to say that you all have done an outstanding job. You all should be very proud of yourselves for the great work you have all done. Untill we meet again, I just want you all to work on sheilds and defensive/offensive spells. Pair up one on one and take turns." Harry said as the group stood and started splitting into pairs. Harry looked over his shoulder to where Alex and Ginny were getting ready to practice.
"I wanted to give Alex a break from being our test dummy. Alex, thank you so much for putting up with everyone attacking you. I don't know how you do or did it mate." He said as he walked over to where Alex was standing. "I have never met another wizard who is so willingly to take the attacks that you have."
Alex just nodded as he put up his sheild and Ginny began to throw whatever curse she could at him to weaken his sheild. Alex just smiled to himself knowing that no matter what spell ginny threw at him, nothing was getting past his sheild, which made Ginny more determined to get a spell threw Alex's sheild.
Harry walked around the class as he watched and monitored everyone's work. He had to smile inward as he approached Kat and Cho Chang. They had paired up and Cho was trying to get through Kat's sheild to no avail. What ever sheild Kat was using, it was twice as strong as the normal protection shield. After watching them for a few, Harry had Kat and Cho switch rolls. As Kat got ready to cast her first spell at Cho, Harry walked over to her.
"Hold your arm more like this and your wand more like that. This way you have more control over not only the spell, but your wand as well." Harry told her. Kat nodded her head and proceded to aim a hex at Cho. Cho missed getting her shield up in time and fell to the floor laughing. Harry preformed the counter-spell and helped Cho to her feet.
"Maybe you should try having your shield up BEFORE Kat tries to hex you." Harry said, trying to hold back his laugh. "Try it again ladies."
As Harry turned to move out of the way, he missed the look that Cho gave him and the look Kat was giving Cho. He didn't notice that when he helped Cho up off the floor, her hand lingered longer on his arm than it should had. Kat for one, didn't miss it. Seeing Cho trying to warm up to Harry woke up the sleeping beast in her. Cho had no sooner got into her stance before Kat let loose on a series of spells, all of which Cho caught square to the chest.
"KAT!" Harry yelled as he ran over and took her wand away from her. "Bloody hell, what was that for?"
Everyone that was practicing stopped and went over to check on Cho to make sure that she was ok. A few stood back and helped Harry with Kat and tried to calm her down. Luna stood between the two girls and said to Cho in her dreamy like tone, "You know Cho, you really shouldn't mess with another witch's man. I believe Harry has been claimed. You had your chance last year but chose Cedric over Harry. You should be glad that all Kat did to you."
"Sorry Harry. I don't know what came over me." Kat said as he handed her back her thirteen and half inches long dragon heartstring core, cedar wand. Kat refused to take her eyes off of Cho until Alex stepped in front of her to block her view.
"Let it go Kat. You got her good. I think she will be crazy not to forget it. Go walk it off and calm down." Alex told her.
Luna, Hermione, and Ginny all took Kat by the arm and lead her to the opposite of the room, away from Cho. Alex and Harry turned their attention back to Cho. Alex walked over and held out his hand to help the witch to her feet.
"You alright?" he asked her as she pulled herself to a standing position.
"Yes." Cho answered in almost a whisper. "I didn't mean anything by it, really I didn't.
"I'm not the one you should tell that too. And right now, I really don't think you want to be near Kat. She just might hex you all over again. wait until after the holidays and then tell her. Give her some time to cool off. And if I were you Cho, I'd stay away from Harry like Luna said. I do believe Kat has put her claim on Harry and I happen to know that he cares for her alot." Alex told her, watching Harry cross the room to check on Kat. "He cares a great deal for her, even if he is too stubborn to admit it. And if you havn't noticed these past two months, they been spending alot of their free time talking and hanging out. I do think it is a matter of time before he finally asks her out. They both deserve to be happy."
Cho nodded her head and went to stand with some of her Hufflepuff friends and the Ravenclaw guys.
After things had settled down, Harry called everyone's attention.
"Everyone has done an outstanding job. Let's call it a night and let's meet again after the holiday. I will let everyone know of the date and time. Keep practicing the shields and the disarming spells. Good luck and Happy Christmas everyone." Harry told them
As everyone started to leave, Harry called Kat over to him.
"I just wanted to talk to you before you left for Christmas." Harry said with a smile.
"Sure, what's up."
Alex, Ron, Ginny and Hermione were all sitting in front of the fireplace in the Common Room when Harry finally came through the portait hole. Alex glanced over his shoulder to catch a glimpse of his brother and to find that Harry had an ear to ear goofy grin plastered on his face. Alex laid his head back and laughed.
"What's with the goofy grin Harry?"
Harry just looked at his brother and grinned even bigger, causing Alex and the others to laugh.
"If I didn't know better Alex, I would say Kat's got his tongue." Ginny responding causing everyone to laugh even harder and making Harry blush a little.
"Why Ginny, I do believe you're right. Could it be that a certain Ravenclaw has now fully gotten the attention of great Harry Potter?" ALex said as he stood and walked over to Harry. "Harry? Just nod your head yes or no, seeing how your voice has suddenly disappeared."
Harry just looked at Alex grinning and nodded his head in agreement.
"Did you finally buck up the courage and asked Kat to go out with you?"
Harry grinned and nodded his head yes.
"Did you kiss her?"
Harry just grinned bigger and nodded yes again.
"Bloody hell." Ron said to himself, earning himself a sharp elbow to the ribs from Hermione. "Sorry." he muttered as he rubbed his ribs.
Herimone and Ginny both squealed and jumped off the couch and wrapped their arms around Harry, giving him a hug that could rival one from Mrs. Weasley. Alex stood back and laughed at his brother's predictament.
"Just treat her well Harry." Alex told him. "Night guys, see you in the morning for the train ride."
Kat slowly climbed the stairwell to Ravenclaw tower. Her mind kept dancing back to the kiss that her and Harry had shared once everyone had left to go back to their dorms.
As soon as the last person left and the door closed, Harry turned and faced Kat and asked her to go out with him so fast that she had to have him repeat it. He had asked her so fast, she couldn't make out the words at all. When she understood what he was asking her, all she could do was wrap her arms around him in a tight embrace. Harry had pulled back just enough to allow himself to lower his head and kiss her gently on the lips. It was only a soft kiss, but to Kat, a kiss was a kiss.
Kat made her way to the girl's dorm and found Cho standing next to her bed, making sure everything was packed and in order for her to leave the next morning. Cho looked up as Kat reached her bed.
"Cho, listen. About earlier. I don't know what came over me. I didn't mean to throw so many hexes at you like that. I was just caught off guard by my emotions. I really like Harry and I felt you were trying to make a move on him as well." Kat said quickly.
Cho put up her hands to stop Kat from going on any farther. "Kat, really, it's ok. I understand. I see the way he looks at you and the way you look at him during these meetings. I was wrong to try to come in between the two of you. Harry deserves to be happy and I can see that he is very happy with you. There is no need for you to say sorry to me. I should be the one apologize to you. I promise you, I will never do that again."
"You just remember that." Kat said smirking.
"Let's go!" Ron called up the stairs to the girl's dorm. "All the carriages will be gone if you two don't hurry up. I don't want to miss the train."
Harry and Alex sat back and watched as Ron paced the floor in front of the stairs leading up to the girls dorm. The more Ron paced back and forth, the more Alex and Harry laughed silently to themselves. As Ron paused and turned to holler up at Hermione and Ginny, the two witches came down the stairs at last with their bags.
"About bloody time." Ron exclaimed as he rushed forwards to the stairs, grabbing Herimone and Ginny's bags.
Ginny walked over and put her arms around Alex's waist, laying her head on his chest.
"I'm going to miss you." she said softly.
"I know, I'll miss you too. We'll be back here before we know it." Alex whispered into her hair.
The group headed out the Common Room and made their way to the main doors of the castle. As they got to the main doors, they met up with Kat and Luna and the happy group of friends made their trek to Hogsmeade by carriage, talking eagerly of the upcoming holiday.
Once on the train, they managed to find a compartment towards the rear of the train that was empty. All three couples were able to sit together and settled into a game of Exploding Snap. After numerous games of Snap and wizard's chess, they all settled down and took a brief nap as the train rolled through the British countryside. Alex was the first to awake as he felt the slight difference in the speed of the train.
He shook Ginny gently to wake her. When the gentle shake didn't work, he lower his head and placed a warm kiss on her lips. Ginny wrapped her arms around his neck as she kissed him back.
"Wake up sleepy head." He told her.
"Ugh. Do I have too?" she replied back.
"Yeah. In fact, we all do. We'll be at the station in a few." he told her as he reached over and shook Harry and Kat. Ginny got up and reached across the aisle and woke her brother and her best friend up. As the six teenagers woke up fully, the train pulled into the station. They grabbed their bags from the overhead rack and left the train, fighting their way across the platform and through the barrier. Harry had already made his arrangements for Christmas and he was headed to the Burrow with the Weasleys.
The first ones through the barrier was Ron and Hermione, who were greeted by Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and Mr. and Mrs. Granger. Both sets of parents rushed over to greet their children. Hermione introduced Ron to her parents as her boyfriend, which earned her approving looks from Molly and Arthur. While they were talking to Hermione's parents, Harry and Kat came through the barrier next.
Kat lead him over to meet her parents for the first time. Aileen and Connor O'Hara were very pleased to meet Harry and were greatly impressed with his manners. As Harry met with Kat's parents, he learned more about them. Her dad Connor, was a former pilot for the RAF, who served for seven years before an injury sidelined him. He was flying in the middle of the first Gulf War and had his plane shot down. He was able to get out of the plane safely but his chute didn't open like it was supposed to, causing him to shatter both ankles on his landing. While his wife Aileen painted, he started the bookstore five years before Kat was born.
Kat's dad offered to take Harry up in the family plane one day if he wanted. At the mention of airplanes, Mr. Weasley walked over to greet Harry, Kat, and her parents. Everyone soon was joined in talking with Kat's parents and didn't see Alex and Ginny come through the barrier.
Alex looked around to see if he could pick up any familiar scents, and he had to smile to himself when he picked up Jason's scent, along with Tony. Nick, Terri, and Dalton were back at Stonecastle getting things ready for Alex's holiday break. Jason and Tony greeted both Alex and Ginny as they made their way from the barrier.
As Jason went to greet Ginny, he couldn't help but pick up Alex's scent on her. As he gave her a small hug, he gave Alex a knowing look. Catching the look that Jason was giving Alex, Tony laughed and slapped Alex on the back.
"Looks like you've 'enjoyed' yourself so far Alex." Tony said with a smirking grin.
Alex could only give Tony a warning glare as Ron and his parents made their way over to where Alex and Ginny were. When Tony gave him a questioning look, Ginny pulled Tony to her and whispered into his ear, telling him that her brothers and parents didn't know about Alex and her being intimate with each other and to keep quiet about it.
"Listen guys, as much as Alex would love to stay and chat with you all, he really needs to get going. His flight back to the States leaves in an hour and he needs to be there early." Jason told the group that had now gathered around. "He'll see you all again in two weeks."
Hermione and Kat both walked over and gave Alex a goodbye hug and told him to enjoy his holiday. Ron and Harry just shook his hand and told him to be carefull. Last to say goodbye was Ginny, and Alex could tell by the look on her face she didn't want to let him go. She wrapped her arms tightly around his waist and refused to let go. Alex wrapped his arms around her as well as he kissed the top of her head.
"I'll be ok." He whispered to her to. "Don't worry about me, you know what I can do. You just be safe and take care of Harry for me. I'll see you in two weeks."
Alex pulled away from Ginny and started to walk away to the car that Jason had waiting. As he got to the car, he dropped his bag on the ground and in a dead run, he ran back to Ginny. He swooped her up in his arms and kissed her with all the passion he could. He could hear gasps coming from passerbyers but he didn't care. The only thing that mattered to him was the girl in his arms and her legs wrapped around his waist, not wanting to let him go.
"GINERVA WEASLEY! THAT IS NOT PROPER BEHAVIOR FOR A YOUNG LADY!" Mrs. Weasley yelled, causing her only daughter and Alex to break from their kiss. Ginny pressed her forehead against Alex's and let out a sigh.
This is going to be one bloody long two weeks. Ginny thought as Alex nodded his head in agreement.
"Guess this means you have to go." Alex said as he looked over his shoulder to look at Jason who was tapping his watch, trying to hurry Alex along before they missed their flight. "Looks like I have to go as well."
Alex put Ginny back on the ground and walked back to the car where Jason and Tony were now waiting for him with the doors open. As he put one foot in, he turned andlooked back at his new friends. With a sigh, Alex climbed into the car and closed the door. As Tony pulled away from the curb, Alex turned in his seat to watch his friends get smaller and smaller. This was going to be a long Christmas break and already Alex felt lost without Ginny by his side. How was he to manage two weeks without her?
It had been three days since Ginny saw Alex at King's Cross and it had been three days since she set foot out of her room. She sat up in her window and stared out across the yard. The tray of food that Hermione had brought up earlier that afternoon still sat on her desk untouched. She had no appetite and refused to eat.
Everything anyone did to bring Ginny out of the depressed mood she was in only made her more depressed and they were met with a door being magicaly slammed in their faces. No one knew what to do for her and they all decided to just let her be.
It upset Molly Weasley to no end to see her daughter this upset and this depressed. As soon as they all had gotten to the Burrow, Hermione was pulled into the study with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley to explain what had happened at the train station. Hermione told them about Alex and Ginny dating from the first week of school and have been insepratable ever since. They spent their every waking moment near each other.
After the talk with Hermione, Arthur went over to the fireplace and made an urgent floo call.