Harry didn't speak to me any the next day, remaining grumpy about the Snape thing. Pavarti was the exact opposite. I didn't think about it until I returned to the common room late that night, but the poor girl had been left at the party. She came in a few minutes after me, humming happily. She didn't tell me who she had spent most of the time with, just that she'd had a wonderful time. I left for my parents feeling decidedly down, but hopeful that Harry would be in better spirits by Christmas time.
So, two days later I was heading towards the Burrow. It was Christmas eve and I couldn't wait to see George. They were closing the shop for today and tomorrow, so I should get to see a lot of him.
"Hermione!" Mrs. Weasley called from the door way. I ran to her open arms and gave her a big hug.
"So good to see you dear. Ron and Harry are in the kitchen peeling sprouts. You can go join them if you want, Fred and George should be here soon." I nodded my head, feeling excited about seeing my friends again. I sent my trunk upstairs before going into the kitchen. Harry and Ron were both at the sink, up to their arms in sprouts
"So Snape was offering to help him? He was definitely offering to help him?" Ron asked, chopping a sprout. I was walking up behind them, but neither appeared to notice my presence. A grin lit my face and I decided to listen into their conversation. It sounded like Harry was still talking about Malfoy and Snape.
"If you ask. that once more," Harry said, waving a sprout threateningly. "I'm going to stick this sprout —"
"I'm only checking!" Ron said quickly, holding his hands up in surrender. He grinned again before grabbing another sprout.
"Yes, Snape was offering to help him!" Harry said, his eyes narrowing in annoyance as he thought about Malfoy. "He said he'd promised Malfoy's mother to protect him, that he'd made an Un-breakable Oath or something —"
"An Unbreakable Vow?" Ron asked, a shocked look on his face.. "Nah, he can't have. . . . Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure," Harry said, a curious look on his face. "Why, what does it mean?"
"Well, you can't break an Unbreakable Vow. . . ."
"I'd worked that much out for myself, funnily enough. What happens if you break it, then?"
I laughed at that, unable to stop myself. They both jumped and turned around, before grins erupted on their faces.
"Hermione!" They exclaimed. I walked up to them and hugged them both before grabbing a knife and peeling the sprouts.
"How was your parents?" Harry asked curiously. I shrugged as I picked up another sprout.
"Not bad, I'm going to see them again before new year, they want to 'talk' to me about Hogwarts." I gave him a significant look and he nodded his head knowingly.
"Sorry." He said, Ron patted me on the back consolingly. We peeled quietly for a moment
"So, what does an unbreakable vow do if you break it?" Harry asked, returning to their earlier conversation.
"You die" Ron answered, tossing a sprout in the finished pile and grabbing another. "Fred and George tried to get me to make one when I was about five. I nearly did too, I was holding hands with Fred and everything when Dad found us. He went mental," I gasped in horror at the idea of the vow, but Ron had a slight sparkle in his eye. "Only time I've ever seen Dad as angry as Mum, Fred reckons his left but-tock has never been the same since."
"Yeah, well, passing over Fred's left buttock —" Harry said, looking amused.
"Yeah, I'd much rather talk about George's." I said, winking at Ron and Harry. They both gagged and rolled their eyes.
"I beg your pardon?" Fred asked from behind us. A grin erupted on my face and I turned around to see both Fred and George entering the kitchen. Fred was fighting a grin while George was smirking at me.
"Who's talking about buttocks?" He asked, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
"No one, no one is talking about buttocks." Ron said, looking disgusted. "We are talking about vows and sprouts." George and Fred had walked up to the sink while he spoke. George pulled me into a quick hug, which I returned, while Fred looked at what we were doing.
"Aaah, George, look at this. They're using knives and everything. Bless them." He said, a grin quirking his lips up.
"I'll be seventeen in two and a bit months' time," Ron said, grabbing a sprout grumpily, "and then I'll be able to do it by magic!"
"But meanwhile," George said, sitting down at the kitchen table and putting his feet up on it, "we can enjoy watching you demonstrate the correct use of a — whoops-a-daisy!"
Ron yelped and pulled his hand out of the sink, sucking his thumb gingerly."You made me do that!" He exclaimed, glaring at the twins. "You wait, when I'm seventeen —" He blinked at me as I pulled my wand out and cast a healing spell on the minute cut.
"Thanks," he said sheepishly. "Hey, why don't you just use magic?" I rolled my eyes and picked up another sprout. "Because I like working the muggle way. It's relaxing."
"What a waste." Ron said grumpily. "You can do magic but you use a knife instead. Mental I say."
"Hey," George said indignantly. I smiled at him before flicking my wand at Ron. A sprout smacked him on the back of the head. He jumped at the unexpected impact and I laughed at his expression before I picked up another sprout and began to peel it.
"Just wait," Ron said, rubbing his now sore head as he glared at us. "I'll have magic soon and then-"
"I'm sure you'll dazzle us all with hitherto unsuspected magical skills," Fred yawned, rolling his eyes.
"And speaking of hitherto unsuspected skills, Ronald," George said, dropping his feet off the table and leaning forward with a mischievous grin, "what is this we hear from Ginny about you and Luna Lovegood?"
Ron dropped his sprout and turned pink, his ears flushing a dark red. Harry snorted and reached for another sprout.
"Mind your own business." Ron mumbled, looking embarrassed. I fought back a grin as I grabbed yet another sprout. How many people were we having over for dinner?
"What a snappy retort," Fred said, rolling his eyes. "I really don't know how you think of them. No, what we wanted to know was... how did it happen?" I laughed at his comment, tossing the sprout into the finished pile.
"What d'you mean?" Ron asked, tossing his sprout in after mine.
"Well, we've always known Luna was a little Loony, but did she have an accident or something?"
"What?"
"Well, how did she sustain such extensive brain damage? Careful, now!"
"RON!" I yelped, staring at him in shock. He'd just thrown his knife at Fred, who had turned it into an airplane with no effort. Ron glared at me before looking sheepish.
"What did he do?" Mrs. Weasley asked as she walked into the room. I blushed before looking at George and Fred. Fred shrugged before turning to his mum.
"Demonstrated the various uses for a paring knife. What's up?"
The rest of that day passed by in a blur of Christmas preparations. I helped Ginny decorate, Mrs. Weasley cook, and Fleur wrap presents. Resulting in my being extremely tired by that night, but also in Christmas spirits.
We went into the living room after dinner. Remus and Sirius had come to visit, so the room was extra full. Mrs. Weasley started the Christmas broadcast of Celestina Warbeck, who was, in my opinion, the worst lyricist and singer of the wizarding world. Fred and George were playing a game of exploding snap with Ginny; Ron and Harry were playing chess; Remus, Sirius, and Mr. Weasley were talking by the fire; Mrs. Weasley was knitting; and Bill, Fleur, and I were sitting in the other corner, talking about Gringotts, their upcoming wedding, and Hogwarts.
"So, you're going to be her maid of honor?" Bill asked, smiling friendly at me. I nodded my head excitedly. I couldn't wait, I'd only been to a few weddings, but I loved going to them.
"I was zinking of yellow robes for 'er. W'at do you zink Beel?" Fleur asked, snuggling into him as she spoke.
"Sounds lovely, Love." He answered, smiling.
"Eez'nt 'e wonderful?" Fleur said, turning to me with a smile.
"pas autant que George." (Not as much as George) I answered, my eyes twinkling.
Bill looked surprised at my French before smiling widely. He turned towards Fleur and planted a quick kiss on her cheek. "Would you mind fetching me a glass of eggnog?" He leaned toward her and whispered, "It'll get you away from Celestina." Fleur laughed and nodded her head.
"Of courze Beel." She rose up gracefully and floated into the kitchen. Bill waited for her to leave before turning towards me.
"Thanks for being nice to her. You've no idea how much it means to her."
"Actually, I think it's more the other way around." I said quietly, picking at a loose string on the couch cushion. "She's become a really good friend to me-I'm just sorry I didn't get to know her sooner."
"Just the same, I really appreciate you at least taking the time to get to know her. Mum and Ginny won't even do that." He sighed heavily before glancing at his mum and sister. "they won't give her the time of day. She wants them to like her so badly too." I didn't get a chance to respond, Fleur had returned with three glasses. One for me as well as Bill. I looked over at George, checking to see how he was doing and noticed Ginny staring at me. I locked eyes with her and tilted my head raising my eyebrow and mouthing the word 'what?' She just shook her head and returned her gaze to the game.
"We danced to this when we were eighteen!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed suddenly. "Do you remember, Arthur?" I bit back a laugh at the sight of Mr. Weasley, he had clearly been about to nod off when she woke him back up. I couldn't hear his reply, but she wasn't listening. She'd closed her eyes and was swaying to the tune. I smiled in spite of myself, until I heard Harry say the word Snape. Sirius and Remus, both of whom had been chatting happily by the fire had froze in their seats, obviously listening to Harry and Mr. Weasley's conversation.
Why wasn't I surprised? Did Harry have to obsess? Then again, I could understand his side of it, he truly believed Snape had betrayed us. He couldn't see past his hate of the man.
and now you've torn it quite apart I'll thank you to give back my heart! Celestina warbled out, I turned towards the wireless hopefully, could the concert be over. Loud applause sounded, which Mrs. Weasley joined in on.
"Eez eet over?" Fleur asked loudly, looking as hopeful as I felt. "Thank goodness, what an 'orrible —" I laughed, trying to cover it up as a cough before Mr. Weasley leapt to his feet.
"Shall we have a nightcap, then?" He asked, already heading towards the kitchen. "Who wants eggnog?"
Everyone got up and stretched, looking equally happy for the end of the concert. I made my way to George, grinning happily as he hugged me.
"Do you listen to that every Christmas?" I asked curiously. He nodded his head, glancing around for his mum before leaning towards me conspiratingly .
"Every Christmas, that's why Fred and I are so good at silencing charms." I laughed at that, covering my mouth with my hand to stifle it. George grinned even wider before pulling me down to sit beside him on the couch.
"How about I stir you a cauldron full of strong hot love?" I asked, leaning up to place a quick kiss on his cheek.
He smiled at me, leaning forward so he was right next to my ear before he whispered; "You've already charmed the heart out of me."