A/N: Sorry about the time it's taken to update - I was going to get this chapter up a lot sooner, and then, I kid you not, there was a 6.3 magnitude earthquake where I just happen to live. Best excuse for a slow update ever?

I have a bit more free time now, so I should be able to get a couple more chapters up in the next fortnight though.

But, shaking aside, this chapter is of course, now up. I hope you enjoy it - and please review, it'd be great to get some more feedback.

III. Christmas

Ginny

I folded my letter to Harry into an envelope and tied it to the leg of one of the School Owls. I offered it a treat that I'd gotten from the kitchens, which it snatched up in it's beak.

"Harry Potter. It's for him."

The bird took flight, and I watched it fly from the window of the Owlery until it was a mere speck on the distant horizon.

I didn't know if the letter would get to Harry or not. And even if he did get the letter, would he reply?

I didn't know, but I had to try.

Feeling as if a weight had been taken off my chest, I made my way back to Gryffindor Tower.

Harry

The attack had been quick.

Three dead, and six in critical condition at St Mungo's.

Nothing we could've done to prevent it.

That was the worst part, the feeling of helplessness.

Magical Law Enforcement were all over the scene when we arrived, X and Y in dark hooded robes, me under the Invisibility Cloak.

Three Hitwizards stood guard. As we approached, one gestured us to stop.

"State your name! Authorised Ministry officials only!"

"Our names are above your security clearance," said X flatly.

"What?" The second Hitwizard pointed his wand at X. "Who-"

"We're Level Nine," said Y in the same flat tone.

It is said that the Hitwizards and witches who are selected for Magical Law Enforcement each have a bed reserved at St Mungo's under their name at all times due to the many dangers of the work they do. Hence, one would assume that bravery is a prerequisite of the job.

However, faced with two Unspeakables, demonstrating their 'bravery' wasn't on the list of priorities.

"Oh, o-of course, r-right through, then," stammered the third Hitwizard.

X and Y swept past, and I could hear the hushed tones of the Hitwizards as I passed by with them.

"Unspeakables! Here! What in Merlin's name are they doing?"

"I don't know, and I sure don't want to know."

"Quiet, man, they could still be listening."

I smirked and pulled my attention back to X and Y, who was gloating:

"I enjoyed that far too much. Did you see his face when I said 'Level Nine'? Brilliant."

X just sighed.

The attack had taken place in a shop in a small all-wizarding community. Wands lit, X and Y began to inspect the ruined building. The handful of Aurors also at the scene ignored the two, presumably, they knew better than to talk to Unspeakables.

Two bodies lay still on the ground, covered in a golden haze. I stood clear as a witch in Healer's robes levitated one of the bodies out the door. X and Y looked over the scene for several minutes.

"Who's in charge here?" X directed the question to the room.

A couple of Aurors looked up in surprise.

"Er, Rogers, sir. She's in command," a young wizard answered.

"Is she here?"

"Last I saw her, she was out back," he said, pointing to a door.

Y nodded in gratitude and, with X and me in tow, went through to the back entrance, where a small tent with 'M.L.E.' written on the side was pitched. We went in, to see a large open space with a table centred in it. An attractive blonde witch with her hair pulled into a messy bun was pouring over a map on the table.

X cleared his throat and she looked up.

"I got pulled out of bed half an hour ago, and I'm not in the mood to deal with your lot. We don't need you," she said sharply, scowling.

"The Minister disagrees."

"What is Kingsley doing sending Unspeakables to an MLE job?" she demanded.

"You're Rogers, right?"

"Yes. Amy Rogers, I'm running this nightmare, and I wasn't told you'd be showing up."

"A terrible oversight, I'm sure," said Y, conjuring a chair and sitting down in it.

"Look here-"

"We need a copy of every single report on this attack," interjected X.

"You can't just walk in, and-"

"But we just did," Y pointed out.

She sighed.

"Fine. But on one condition," she replied, her eyes shrewd.

"What would that be?"

"Tell me why you're here. Unspeakables don't just walk in on any crime scene."

"If we told you that, love, then we wouldn't be Unspeakables, would we?" said Y.

She cracked a small grin. "Worth a shot."

"Where can we find you?" said X.

"I've got a small room in the Auror Office. Fourth on the left. I'll be in there all tomorrow. Reports should be in by then."

"Right."

"It's been a pleasure," said Y, lifting a hand in salute.

"Wait," she said, raising a hand. "This attack…do you think it's the Death Eaters? Is that why you're here?"

"We can't say anything," said X. Behind him, Y met her eyes and nodded.

We left, leaving the witch to her work.

"I'd quite like to sleep with her," Y said matter-of-factly, once we were out of earshot.

X just groaned.

We returned to the Department of Mysteries, and where a massive map was plastered to the wall, X placed a black pin to mark the location of the attack.

I gazed over the sprinkling of colours. A red pin meant known Death Eaters or other Dark magic, a gold pin signified a successful mission, and a white pin showed the location of places or people who were potential targets for a Dark magic attack.

The number of black and white pins were almost beyond counting, and only a few red or gold pins lay scattered about.

It was a reminder that for every successful mission, two more would follow.

It was a reminder that we were still not safe.

Y must've been thinking the same thing, as he muttered a second later: "Fucking black pins."

We worked late into the night, trying to match names of victims with people who might have reason to harm them, or to see them harmed. Motive and was often key to finding a lead. Voldemort's Death Eaters had been led by a combination of fear and ideology, and it was not uncommon for attacks to target Muggle-borns or half-bloods.

The next morning, Y, sipping at his coffee, and I, again invisible, made our way to the Auror Office at a leisurely pace.

As we approached, two great metal doors, etched with ancient runes, swung slowly open with a low scraping noise.

"That Dark Magic would not pursue those who would seek to destroy it," Y muttered a translation of the runes under his breath as we walked through the doorway.

A guard, standing just inside the doorway, paid us no heed. We rounded the corner to see a large open space, with several wizards and witches in green robes were duelling.

"Trainees," Y murmured again, then beckoned to a witch bustling past with a stack of papers.

"Excuse me, can you tell me if Amy Rogers is in?"

The witch looked annoyed to be interrupted. "She should be, check for yourself."

She pointed vaguely to the left.

Y nodded in acknowledgement and I sidestepped to avoid crashing into her as she moved on.

"Fourth on the left, fourth on the left…" murmured Y as we walked down the row of offices. He stopped. "Here we go."

He rapped sharply on the door.

"Who is it?"

"Level Nine."

I heard an audible sigh from the other side of the door.

"Alright, come in then."

The office was cluttered, with the walls covered in everything from newspaper clippings, to photos, to scribbled parchment. A Sneakoscope stood on a bookshelf in one corner.

"I suppose you'll be wanting the reports?" asked Amy.

"Yes, and I've got some more news. You won't like it. Here."

He pulled a folded letter from his robes and handed it to her. Her eyes scanned quickly over it, and then she swore.

"You've got to be kidding me! We barely started looking into it!" she said, glaring at Y.

"Don't shoot the messenger," Y drawled.

"The incident has been reassigned to the Department of Mysteries, and will be dealt with by this Department internally," she read, her voice bitter."So I suppose that's the last I'll ever hear of it?"

Y shrugged. "Depends. Essentially, though, the Aurors are now off the case."

"Why would he give it to your lot? What's so special about this attack that the Minister for Magic, a thousand other things on his plate, decides to get Unspeakables to do a job that the Aurors are perfectly capable of?"

"I don't make the Minister's decisions, I simply follow them," Y replied diplomatically.

"I don't understand. Kingsley's one of us. He's turning us into little more than glorified security guards!"

"Again, not my call."

"Surely you've got better things to do than run around after Death Eaters."

"We exist to deal with the things that the wizarding public aren't equipped to handle."

"That's a textbook Department of Mysteries response," she replied, exasperated.

"Did you expect otherwise?"

"No, I can't say I did," she sighed.

He nodded.

"I'll see you around."

"Wait."

He paused mid-turn.

"Back at the tent last night, when I asked if the Death Eaters were involved, you nodded."

"And?"

"Why?"

"You're a smart girl. You deserve to know something."

She looked at him, keeping her expression guarded. Then she gave a quick grin and replied.

"I guess I'll see you around."

Ginny

The train ride home for Christmas was uneventful, although Hermione had come along to offer me some company, which I appreciated. We sat with Luna in a compartment to ourselves, and just talked, of small mindless things. But I enjoyed it.

We parted ways with Luna at the station (Be careful around mistletoe, Ginny. Nargles, you know.) and met Ron and my mum, who after giving me a bone-shattering hug, led us to the Ministry car that would take us home.

The next few days passed by without notice. I spent them working on schoolwork, getting an early start on a couple of essays for Transfiguration and Charms.

It was a couple of days before Christmas when Hermione asked me one morning if I wanted to spend the day in Diagon Alley.

Glad for the distraction, and the change of scenery, I agreed.

We Flooed to the Leaky Cauldron, and headed for Gringotts.

Hermione winced as we walked into the Wizarding Bank.

"This might take a while, sorry, Ginny."

Her apology became apparent when we were literally swarmed by goblins.

"Ow!" I glared at a goblin who had prodded me sharply in the arm with a thin silver rod. He glared straight back, and then walked off muttering to himself.

"One little break-in and suddenly you're worse than You-Know-Who," Hermione quipped.

I giggled, which earned me another round of suspicious glares, as we headed for the vaults.

Getting into one of the carts, we made our way down to Hermione's vault, which was far deeper than I remembered.

"It's been moved. They weren't-"

Her explanation was suddenly drowned out by a roar that could've only come from a dragon.

"Oh yes, they've got a replacement for the old one. They make a special point of waking it very time Ron or I visit," she commented.

"The price of being a notorious bank robber," I laughed.

She made a face. "At least it's not as bad as the Chocolate Frog Cards. The first time I saw myself on one…" she shuddered, but then smiled. "Daughter of two dentists. I'm the youngest Muggle-born to ever get their face on one of the cards. I should be honoured, really."

A short while later, having filled our pockets with Galleons, we walked out again into the bright light of day, and I was temporarily blinded, my eyes accustomed to the darkness of the vaults.

"Ginny! Ginny!"

A group of reporters and photographers hung about at the bottom of the Gringotts steps, their attention all on me.

"God, I'm sorry, Ginny, I had no idea they'd be here," Hermione apologised.

"Ginny! Any word from Harry? Do you know where he is? Has he forbidden you to say anything?" asked one.

"He hasn't forbidden my anything!"

"So you've spoken to him, then?" pressed another.

"No, that's not what I meant, I-"

"Face the camera, just a couple of photos!"

I blinked as the flashes went off in my face.

"PISS OFF!" I shouted.

It didn't help.

"Are you angered by Mr Potter's departure? What effect has this had on your family?"

"What about you, Hermione? Heard anything? Figured out where he's hiding yet?"

"Excuse me!"

The reporters, photographers, Hermione and I all looked simultaneously at the new voice. A blonde woman who looked to be in her late twenties stood there with a stern expression and a red piece of parchment in her hand.

"You people know what this is?" She waved the red letter.

One of the reporters shot her a glare. "That's for Auror use-"

"I am an Auror. Bugger off, the lot of you. Fifty feet at all times."

Muttering darkly, the group began to shuffle away.

"Thanks," said Hermione, smiling warmly at the woman.

"No problem. It's the least I can do, really."

"So, you're an Auror?"

"Yeah, promoted to senior after the war. Sorry, my name. I'm Amy Rogers," she said, sticking out her hand.

We both shook it. "Ginny Weasley and Hermione Granger," she said, acknowledging us both in turn.

"You should really get your hands on one of these, you know," she continued, waving the parchment again. "They come in handy, I can tell you that now."

"The press certainly doesn't help…you'd think they'd leave us alone now."

"Reckon that's half the reason your mate Potter upped and left, I do. Course, when he comes back, it'll be even worse for him, but at least he get's some reprieve."

"You really think he left to escape the Daily Prophet?" asked a sceptical Hermione.

"Oh, no. There's something more to it, but what that is, well, no one knows, do they?"

"And you think he'll return?" I inquired quietly.

"Yeah, I do. I don't think he's the sort of person who can stay away from his mates forever. I think he might want to exclude them from something to protect them, but he wouldn't leave without good reason."

"How do you know that?"

"I've read his file in the MLE. Massive, it is. Took me a week to get through it, and you wouldn't believe the sorts of hoops I had to jump through to even get my hands on it."

"Could I have a read of it?" Hermione asked, a thoughtful expression crossing her face.

"I'm sure you could," she shrugged. "You might be able to have a look at yours and Miss Weasley's whilst you're there."

"I've got a file?"

"Battle in the Department of Mysteries. Harry Potter's girlfriend-"

"Ex," I corrected.

"-and your Dad's Deputy Minister, not to mention the fact that your Mum took down bloody Bellatrix Lestrange! Stands to reason, doesn't it?"

I nodded in reply.

"Anyway, must be getting back to it," Amy spoke again, then handed me the red letter. "Here. Hold onto it for today. They'll be back once I head to the Ministry."

"You sure?" I asked.

"Yeah, tell you what, if you pop in to the Auror Office after New Years, I can get you your own one," she smiled. "Just ask for me."

"Thank you, really. That's great of you," I grinned back.

"Again, least I can do. Happy Christmas!" she said, beginning to leave.

We chorused the season's greetings in return, and joined the bustling crowds around the shops and cafes of Diagon Alley.

It was Christmas Eve, and the celebrations at the Burrow were muted.

No one needed reminding that this was our first Christmas without Fred.

"Hey, sis."

I looked up to see Charlie holding two cups of tea.

"Drink?"

"Yeah, that'd be lovely, thanks."

He sat down and sipped at his own drink.

I could see in Charlie's face that he wanted to leave the Burrow. He was a born wanderer.

"When do you think you'll go?"

He smiled, unsurprised that I knew what he'd been contemplating.

"After New Years. Seems appropriate."

"More dragons?"

"More dragons. I've been asked to help set up a ranch north of Moscow for the Russians. A couple of the guys I worked with in Romania are going too, and the pay is good, so I thought why not?"

"Sounds good. Have you told Mum?"

He sighed.

"Not yet."

"You need to. She won't like it, but she'll understand."

He looked directly at me, his eyes assessing me.

"You've become much more perceptive, Ginny."

I grinned. "You haven't changed a bit."

"Brat."

I smirked at him. "Do you have your broom?"

"If you reckon you can outfly me, little sister, you've gotten brave...or stupid."

I stuck my tongue out at him.

"Don't go crying to Mum when I beat you."

"To reiterate, Ginny: brat."

Harry

"Do you want to get out of here?" X asked me.

"Leave Christmas Eve at the Department of Mysteries? But it's so festive,"remarked Y.

We'd been working in our office deep within the Ministry, trying to piece together the location of the Death Eaters for the last week, and had made little progress. X, despite his lack of sensitivity, knew me well enough to know when I needed to just get away from it all.

"Yeah, please."

X nodded, and I got up. The two Unspeakables continued their work, not bidding me goodbye.

I made my way to the surface of London. The tolls of bells and festive lights punctuated the icy wind that whipped about the footpaths.

My destination in my mind, I Apparated.

Ginny

My conversation with Charlie was interrupted by the arrival of Bill and Fleur.

Dinner was painful. Before, a Weasley Christmas meant hours of jokes and laughter, now…well, no one needed reminding that there were three less seats at the table.

Yet we tried.

Hermione talked with Dad and Percy about the Ministry, whilst Ron uncharacteristically picked at his food, and Mum asked Fleur about the house, and any potential grandchildren, which earned an eyeroll from Bill. I smirked at him and he sighed.

But it wasn't the same.

Shortly, I met Charlie's eyes, and he nudged his head towards the garden.

Quickly finishing up, I gathered a couple of plates and brought them into the kitchen, where Mum had started washing up.

"Mum, you don't mind if Charlie and I are go out to the garden for a bit of flying?"

She turned to face me, not quite hiding the sadness on her face.

"Not at all, dear. Don't be too long, dessert'll be soon."

"Thanks Mum," I said, giving her a tight smile.

Harry

It was snowing.

A cool wind howled through the streets of Godric's Hollow, sending a flurry of snowflakes into the air.

In the distance I could hear a group of choral singers delivering a message of redemption and forgiveness.

Would there be redemption and forgiveness for me?

For what I'd done?

Up ahead there were two Aurors standing watch in silent guard.

I pulled my Invisibility Cloak on and cast a Repellant Charm to prevent snow settling on what would appear to be empty air. Stealth had become instinctive to me.

Slipping past the Aurors was simplicity itself, but what I saw as I rounded the corner took completely by surprise.

Candles. Thousands of candles casting magical light had been set up in the ruins of my mother and father's home.

My first home.

And surrounding the house were hundreds of wizards and witches, all unseen to the eyes of the Muggles walking past.

"Tonight, we remember two fallen heroes of the first war against Voldemort. Lily and James Potter both gave their lives in protection of their son, Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, who would defeat Voldemort and bring about our salvation."

"Their sacrifice ultimately enabled freedom from tyranny. Their union, a pure-blood wizard and a Muggle-born witch, was one of many that defied the expectations and traditions of their time. But their love was stronger than any prejudice."

He continued, his slow, steady voice washing over the crowd, as they listened in silent tribute, and then, in groups of threes and fours, went up to lay lilies at the base of the monument, in honour of my mother and father.

I stood there for hours, long after the candles and the people were gone

And I did not wipe away the tears that ran down my face.

Ginny

Charlie hadn't flown in a while, but that didn't make it any less of a challenge.

Even on an older broom, Charlie flew.

I could see the exhilaration in his face, the deft touches he made to guide the broom, and the intense gaze that crossed his features as he went into a dive.

People always said he could've played for England. They weren't lying.

Matching his aerial stunts move-for-move, I fell in behind him, laughing as I plummeted towards the earth, and accelerated into the heavens.

Everything was forgotten, the torrent of pain and sorrow that still sometimes surged inside me, the attacks and threats, even…Harry.

I was happy.

Harry

It was about midnight when I made my way to the cemetery to the sound of the church bells ringing in the background.

I took my Invisibility Cloak off, and wiped the snow from their gravestone.

The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

"Hi Mum, Hi Dad."

I sat on the cold ground with my parents, and talked, my head bowed.

"I don't know if you can hear me or see me now…I don't know what to believe anymore. Everything is so black and white, them and us, evil and good. There's no middle ground for me…

I don't know what you'd think of me if you were still here. I don't know if you ever thought I'd end up like this. Doing this. I…I've killed people, Mum, Dad. I did...I've done what he did to you."

"And I don't think it's over yet…I know I'll do it again. Because I have to, y' see! I have to! They say it's to protect people…but I don't feel like I've accomplished anything at all! People are still dying. I can't do it… I can't protect them all!"

"You were both so incredible, and brave, and good! And I'm not! I'm not like you, I'm like them…I'm just like them! I've got blood on my hands, and some of these people, I don't know how guilty they are, if they're like me…lost, with nowhere to go."

"And there are two Unspeakables, too. And they do this so casually, so easily! I…I don't want to end up like them, firing Killing Curses without a second thought! I'm afraid…I'm afraid, that I'll lose me, lose myself in all of this. But Gryffindors aren't meant to be afraid…but I am, so scared that I'll end up like him. He said, he said I was like him… he wanted me to join him, and although my scar doesn't hurt anymore, I can't help but feel like he's still here…he remains in the hearts and minds of his followers, the ones who are loyal still…and I'm scared."

I lifted my face and looked into the bleak night.

"Why, Mum? Why did you put yourself in front of me, even when he gave you a chance to escape? Why Dad? Why did you attempt to hold him off even without a wand? You faced the most powerful Dark Wizard to walk the earth completely unarmed. Dumbledore said it was because you both loved me, but it didn't help…why did you leave me to this? WHY? AND WHY DID HE CHOOSE ME? I NEVER HAD A CHOICE!"

"I never even had a choice…"

My shoulders shook, and my chest heaved. I sat in silence for a few moments, and began to speak again.

"And then there's Ginny. She's beautiful, so very, breathtakingly beautiful. I can barely stand it. You'd understand how I feel Dad, it's like you and Mum. And she's brilliant. And I never said goodbye…I just left her. I just left everyone. And they don't know where I am, or what I'm doing… what would they say if they knew? What would they think? How can I ever even face them again, without telling them what I've done?"

"And I miss them, everyday. I miss their faces and their smiles, and Ron and Hermione's incessant bickering…they never stop bickering. I think they were a lot like you two. And then there's Neville, and Luna, and everyone…everyone who fought for me. They all believed in me then. But would they now?"

"And I miss her look, Ginny's look, the one she only ever gives to me. Merlin, I'd give anything to see that look, just one more time…"

"Just one more time…"

Flurries of snow whirled through the frigid air, making the scene in the graveyard look not unlike a macabre snow globe. The church bells were ringing.

"It doesn't feel like Voldemort is gone. I dunno…maybe I thought that it'd be perfect, that it'd be alright once he was gone. It was all so simple. They never told me I'd be doing this! It's like he haunts me still. I can hear his voice…Harry, Harry. Join me."

I looked numbly ahead, imagining their voices, warm, comforting…the mother and father I never knew, but missed all the same.

He's gone, Harry. Tom Riddle is gone. Forever.

He can't hurt you anymore, son.

We won, Harry. We beat him.

You beat him.

We love you. Don't give up.

Never give up.

"Happy Christmas, Mum and Dad," I whispered, and standing, I made my way to the gate, and bid them farewell.

"Goodbye."

I did not look back.

The bells were ringing.

Ginny

We landed, and Charlie gave me a tight hug.

"Happy Christmas, sis."

Stashing our brooms in the garden shed, we headed back inside.

After dessert, I bade my family an early night, and went upstairs to my room. Stepping past Hermione's stack of books, I flopped down on my bed and let out a sigh. I grabbed a Quidditch magazine, and began to idly flip through it, more for wont of something to do than any real desire to read it.

Hermione came up a short while later.

"Here, I've got something to show you."

She lay down on her camp bed, propping her head up onto a pillow, and waved her wand.

A stack of papers, letters, photos, scraps of parchment, and newspaper clippings all flew out of a folder, and hovered in the air.

"Research. These are all sightings or correspondence about Harry."

"You found all of this so soon?"

"He's one of the most famous people alive in our world. A lot of people pay attention where Harry's concerned," she said. "And I work quickly."

I reached and pulled a blurry photo of a figure in a black robe from the air. There was a red flash, then a green one, and then the figure in the photo fell to the ground.

"This is amazing, really Hermione."

"It wasn't all me. A lot of people want to know where he is too, not just us."

Reassured by Hermione's words, I slept soundly that night, only stirring briefly when Hermione left for Ron's room upstairs.

Harry

A noise made me freeze.

It was an Auror, lighting his way with Lumos, but at this time of night, it was impossible that it was just a coincidence.

I went to grab my Invisibility Cloak, but it was too late.

"Potter! Stop!"

I didn't know why, but I obeyed and turned to face him.

"Hands on your head!"

I complied, and spoke: "How'd you find me?"

"I saw you before you put your cloak on. There were three of us."

"How did you find me here?"

"Lucky guess."

"What do you want?"

"I'm taking you in. We've orders to detain you on sight."

"Why?"

"Because we need you!"

"The Aurors need me?"

"Yes! My girlfriend…we're going to be married. She was in the attack at that shop last week. She's still in critical at St Mungo's. Please, you can help us win this!"

"I'm not going with you."

The scene reminded me of Dumbledore's escape in my fifth year. My wand was in my robes, and his happened to be about three feet from my face.

Pity I didn't have a phoenix handy.

"Don't make me Stun you!"

"Wait till the Prophet hears about an Auror Stunning Harry Potter. That's going to look good on the front page."

I didn't like using my hero status, but I didn't have a choice. I had to distract him somehow.

It worked. Hesitation show in his face, and I took my chance. I crouched to the ground, drawing my wand and Disarming him in one swift motion.

"Leave now," I demanded, my wand now aimed at him.

"Why aren't you helping? You...you could do so much! You're the Chosen One! You took down You-Know-Who! Innocent people are still at risk! And you...you're doing nothing!"

He looked at me with a mix of desperation and anger. I stared back, my jaw set. I wanted to tell him, what exactly I was doing, what I had given up. He had no idea. Finally, I answered.

"Don't come after me again."

With a crack that pierced the cold air, I disappeared, his words still ringing in my ears.

Ginny

Christmas Day was, to put it bluntly, rubbish.

The presents were good I guess. Hermione and Ron chipped in together to get me a set of quills and a new subscription to Which Broomstick? whilst Fleur and Bill had gotten me a new dress, and a couple of sets of robes. Mum and Dad, Charlie and Percy rounded out the presents, gifting me a new regulation Quarrel, tickets to a Harpies game at Easter, and some chocolate from Honeydukes.

But despite this, the absence of three people who should've been with us, one dead, one in St Mungo's, and one missing, still hung over our heads.

Harry

I slept in late on Christmas Day, and I found myself once again walking through the bleak corridors of the Department of Mysteries, deep underground London.

I was unable to buy presents for anyone, but Kingsley and Arthur had managed to send me some sweets from Honeydukes, and a collection of books, that included a few texts on advanced duelling spells, and a memoir written by an ex-Auror.

Lazily, I flicked through them, ignoring the snow that drifted past my enchanted window.

Dinner appeared, just like always, suddenly on the spartan wooden table that stood near my bed.

Numbly, I ate. The room felt like a prison.

At least the food was good.

Later, on a whim, I reached into my trunk and pulled out a photo album. I sat on my bed and flicked through it, lingering on each shot.

My friends. Ron. Hermione.

And Luna. Neville. Seamus. Dean.

Fred and George.

My Quidditch team.

Krum, Fleur, Cedric and I in our Triwizard robes.

Tonks and Remus, with Moody in the background.

Sirius.

Mum and Dad, dancing, smiling, loving.

And her.

My voice was barely a whisper as I ran my finger down the edge of her photograph.

"Happy Christmas, Ginny."

A/N: More of an exposition chapter than an action-packed one, but I promise that the next chapter will not disappoint on that front. Hope you liked it, and again, please, please, please review!