To the New Year!

31st of December, 1994.

Hermione came down from her dorm quite early on the morning of New Year's Eve. She ran a hand through her hair and sighed.

"What is wrong?" Harry asked as they headed out through the portrait.

"I wish it didn't take forever to apply the potion I used for the ball. It was so nice to have manageable hair for once," Hermione said.

Harry nodded slowly.

"I see you kept it long," Hermione said.

"Like you said I like it more manageable," Harry said. "I don't look quite as much like I have a bird's nest on my head when I let it grow out a bit."

Hermione chuckled. "I guess you are right," she said.

They settled down to eat by the Gryffindor table and were joined by others soon enough. Harry kept an ear on a conversation between Fred and George. The two of them really wanted that joke shop of theirs. He followed them once they left the table and trailed behind them as they weaved through corridors. No one knew the castle quite like the twins. Even with the map following them would have been hard. Harry had turned invisible and ethereal and was trailing right on their tail, however. He didn't want to lose them so maybe he cheated a little. Harry stopped outside the room they had walked into for about a minute before entering, then he rolled forward and avoided the trap they had set at the door as it spewed a pinkish smoke out in the hallway.

"Whoa! Harry what the…?"

Harry chuckled as he stood. "That was fun," he said. He saw the cauldron bubbling away behind George. "Up to no good are we?" he asked. "The Marauders would be proud. Though I'm guessing Moony might be a little disappointed. Then again you could always ask the man yourselves. You know him after all."

Fred and George stared at Harry. "We know Moony?" they asked at the same time.

"Who?"

"Who is he?" Harry said. "Oh, just our previous DADA Professor. Remus Lupin." He watched as the twins looked at each other and seemingly communicated.

"Why are you telling us this?" "How do you know?"

"I learnt this information late last school year," Harry said. Then he threw himself into explaining the Marauders and who they had been or were to the twins. He told them about Sirius and Peter and how Sirius was innocent because Peter was actually the one who had killed people and betrayed his parents. He told them about James and his friends becoming animagi to help Lupin.

By the end of it, Fred and George were standing close together and speaking rapidly with each other. "We want to talk to the Marauders," they said.

"Well, Remus you could just write to I guess and Sirius you can write to as long as you write Snuffles instead of his name. Letters addressed just Snuffles reach him just fine," Harry said.

Fred nodded slowly. "Why did you tell us this?" he asked.

"Well, partly it is because I figured it would be fun for you to know and partly it is because I would like to invest in this up-and-coming joke brand created by two red-headed twins that seem to know what they are doing," Harry said.

"You want to," "invest in us?" the twins asked, surprised.

"I would like to, yes," Harry said. "I have a quick draft here. If you would like to see." He handed them a document stating that he would invest five hundred galleons into a company, yet to be named, run by Fred and George Weasley. That he would add another fifty galleons for every cleared NEWT that they got. That was fifty each for every cleared NEWT. It stated that he would earn twenty percent of their profits once they were acknowledged as a business and had been so for two full years.

Fred and George read through it all and then they just stared at Harry. "Are you sure?" Fred asked.

"Quite sure, yes," Harry said. "I believe that you can do this."

"You want us to take our NEWTs," George said.

"That is more precaution than anything," Harry said. "In case your mother ever finds out about this. It is better for both me and you that you finishing school was in there even if you choose not to do it."

Fred and George seemed to communicate with each other again. "We accept," they said. They signed the document and Harry called for Winky so she could pick up the contract and file it with Dumac.

Harry smiled. He had managed to get the Weasley twins to be serious. He should get a reward. He listened to the twins discuss just what classes they were going to continue if they now went for NEWTs. Most classes were obvious but there was potions…

"Not with Snape teaching it," Fred said. "Though I am decently good at it and I hope to, now at least, get a NEWT in it."

Harry nodded slowly. He could understand what Fred meant. He wasn't sure if he would continue potions past his OWL year. He doubted he would ever need it. He had so much other magic he could use. He left the twins to their own machinations sometime later. He headed down through the halls and wandered into Moody's office. He ducked a spell thrown his way and threw up a shield.

"How are things going?" Harry asked.

"I think I'm ready to take on lessons now," Moody said. He closed his eye and moved his chair around.

"Well, at least that is good," Harry said.

"We need a day for your extra lessons," Moody huffed.

"Do Wednesday's sixth-period work for you? I don't have anything then," Harry said.

Moody checked his schedule. His last class on Wednesdays were the third-year students for the fifth period so he was free after that. "That works," he said. He noted that down in his calendar. "We start as soon as classes pick back up," he said.

Harry nodded. "Sounds good to me," he said.

Moody looked at James' son for a moment before asking, "What do you know about Legilimency?" he asked.

"Nothing," Harry responded truthfully.

"It is the art by which a witch or wizard may look into someone's mind," Moody explained.

"Ah, I see," Harry said. "I would assume that my Mastery of the Mind is similar then."

"Can I try?" Moody asked.

Harry shrugged. "Go ahead. I have had some very powerful people try to invade my mind over the years. Some managed, others did not, but none could fool me for a prolonged period of time," he said. He had, after all, told Moody of the Wolf Queen before. He shuddered.

Harry felt the intrusion. It wasn't antagonistic so he knew what Moody could see. Endless fields of green and flowers. A place he had created to protect himself. A place where those who wished to know what he was thinking, but did not wish him harm would go. It was a serene place. A place one didn't necessarily want to leave. But Harry didn't just want to show Moody the place that he sent those who did not wish him harm to. The field changed to an underground city where shadows ran along the walls and hills and great winged monsters swooped down upon the intruder. He could feel how Moody was trying to get out, but without Harry's consent, no one was getting out from there as long as he was this close by. He had worked so hard on making sure that those who tried to invade his mind wouldn't necessarily fail, but they would not find what they were seeking. He pushed Moody out gently and the man shook his head and blinked several times.

"That was disconcerting," Moody said. He wasn't as good a Legilimens as let's say Dumbledore, but he wasn't that bad either. "Those who have been able to see your thoughts and delved into your mind before will find that strange.

"I could place a fake string of memories and thoughts for them to see instead, but I sincerely don't care. Who here in the castle could have done that to me?"

"Albus and Snape," Moody answered.

Harry nodded slowly. "So you could tell Dumbledore that you have been training me. That would explain to him why we meet up every Wednesday. As far as Snape is concerned, I haven't actually decided what to do about him yet. I might need a delve into his mind before I make up my mind. As much as I dislike doing such a thing," he said.

"He would notice," Moody said.

"Ah, but there are ways to delve into someone's thoughts without disturbing their mind. Especially if he gets himself trapped in my mind," Harry said.

Moody blinked and then he grinned making his scared face look quite terrifying. "Now you are using your head," he said.

"I could use some information on the man though. Anything could help," Harry said.

"He went to school with your father and his friends," Moody said.

"Know that already," Harry said.

"He was friends with your mother for several years. I think she mentioned that once. She was sad that he had gone down such a dark route," Moody said.

"That is news to me," Harry said. "Maybe I could use that."

"Worth a try I guess," Moody said.

A part of Harry was disgusted with what he was now planning on doing. He wasn't sure that Snape would ever forgive him, but that was part of the reason why it was so important that Snape made the first move.

"I assume you want me to make sure that my friends learn this skill," Harry said.

"It would be better for you," Moody said. "The Veela probably knows it already since it would help her with controlling that allure of hers."

Harry nodded slowly. "I'll look into it," he said.

"Do so," Moody said.

Then it was time for lunch and Harry met up with Neville and Hermione. After lunch, they were heading out to Fleur.

Everyone had brought something to do. Hermione had several books, but Harry had also procured a few muggle board games that they could play and it wasn't that hard for him to convince her to play a game of Cluedo or two or three.

They had a lot of fun figuring out who the murderer was.

Eventually Winky showed up with dinner and she sat down to eat with them at Harry's request. Winky and Dobby would join them later as it became time to exchange presents. Harry had insisted that the elves join them. Winky was a part of the family and Dobby was a dear friend.

Dinner moved into talking and the conversation moved down on the floor among pillows and blankets. Winky cleaned up and returned with warm drinks and biscuits. Then Dobby showed up and they all gathered together. Fleur was laying in Harry's lap, but she moved as they all gathered closer together.

"So how will we do this?" Hermione asked.

"I asked everyone to write a note for each gift they had and who it was for," Harry said. "Let's place them in this." He placed a bowl in the centre of the group. "And draw what gift gets given."

Hermione rolled her eyes at the idea, but at least it gave them some kind of structure. She reached into the bowl and pulled out a note. "Neville to Fleur," she read.

Neville hadn't known what to get Fleur at all so Harry had helped him out, and she was given a pair of soft fluffy pillows that resembled bunnies. They were enchanted to have a calming effect if you cuddled with them or rested on them. Harry had told Neville to get two partly because he had a feeling that Gabrielle would steal one.

Fleur loved them. She sat with one of them in her lap for the rest of the evening.

Neville pulled the next note. "Hermione to Winky," he read.

Winky glowed as she opened the present and found a little basket with yarn and knitting needles and instructions on how to knit. Master Crouch didn't like knitted things and she had never learnt how to do it, but she loved making things by hand herself. "Thank you, Miss Hermione," Winky said as her ears moved to almost cover her face.

More names were pulled and the little piles of things around them grew as Neville handed out saplings and cuttings to Harry and Winky. Harry was intrigued by the little yellow flowers that Neville had given him. They would ring like little silver bells whenever someone passed by them. Fleur gave Hermione Jane Austen's complete works all in hardback and a beautiful antique cover. Hermione had read some of the books before, but she would love to read them all again. Neville also got a book, a rare one on mountain plants found in the Himalayas and the Alps.

Neville gasped as he opened a box from Winky with a roughly carved thistle leaf pendant.

"It will ward off bad things," Winky said as her ears turned a faint shade of pink. She reddened even more as she received Harry s gift to her a full set of gardening tools.

Then it was Dobby's turn. There was only one gift for Dobby. It was a huge gift though. Harry had thought ahead and made sure there was a gift from all of them to Dobby since no one else knew that the little elf was wanted.

Dobby opened it to reveal a set of drawers with four drawers. He opened the first drawer and looked down at a myriad of striped and dotted and otherwise patterned socks in all kinds of colours. None of them was paired up and not a single sock looked the same. He was crying as he looked in the second drawer where every single sock had a mythical or magical animal on them.

"I bought most of these in the non-magical world just so they would be more fun," Harry pointed out to Fleur. Thankfully, Hermione didn't hear him. She was too busy looking at all those socks.

"How many pairs did you buy?" Hermione asked.

"There are about twenty-two socks in each drawer," Harry said. "One drawer for each of you and the set of drawers is from me. They are unbreakable, fireproof and can only be opened by Dobby."

"Dobby is so happy," Dobby said. "These be the best socks ever."

"And you can obviously match between the drawers. I just split them up so there would be different themes in each drawer, but nothing says you can't wear a sock from the first drawer with a sock from the third one," Harry said.

Dobby smiled and sat down. He had been given the best gift anyone could get. Socks.

"Winky to Harry," Fleur read from the note she pulled out of the bowl.

"Master Harry is the bestest Master any elf could have," Winky said as she handed Harry the gift. "That is why," Winky said as he opened it, "Winky got Master something that will protect him."

Harry held out a leather bracelet with silver threading.

"This will let Master Harry know when there is poison or potions in Master's drink or food," Winky said. She smiled. She had made a much neater one for Fleur that would come to be opened soon enough. Both Harry and Fleur were very happy with the gifts and Winky's ears were constantly pink as a result of their praise. Never had Master Crouch treated her this way and she was starting to realise how much more she liked being treated as more than just a servant. She would never become like Dobby and want pay, but she wanted to stay with Harry. He was the best Master an Elf could have there was no doubt about that. It didn't help the colour of her ears any when she opened her gift from Fleur and found a whole set of new pots and pans. For when she had a house to live in and cook for.

Then the joint gift from Hermione and Fleur came up and they handed Harry the rather large gift. He opened it slowly to reveal the twelve-stringed guitar that the girls had bought. He sat down with it and slowly he started running his fingers over the strings. He was used to far fewer strings, but the sound coming from the instrument made him understand why the girls had picked it. He played as the giving of gifts continued. He only stopped when he was supposed to give a gift and most of the gifts he had gotten for people had somehow ended up being among the last ones.

Hermione opened the box containing the comb he had gotten for her, and she read the note that lay with it. She rushed up and disappeared into Fleur's bathroom. When she returned her hair wasn't frizzy anymore. You could see the natural locks, and Hermione looked happy.

"I don't know how long it lasts," Harry said. "But I'm hoping that combing your hair with it once a day is enough. It counters the static electricity and the magic that is interfering with your hair."

"Thank you, Harry," Hermione said. She loved it. Now, she could have nice and manageable hair every day without working for hours on it.

The last gift that was handed out was for Neville. Harry handed him the box and Neville opened it. He stared down at the beautiful wand laying on shiny moss-green velvet.

"I don't like how you have been using your father's wand," Harry said. "It isn't right for you. You deserve your own wand." What Harry didn't say was that Frank would obviously need his wand back if he managed to heal Neville's parents, but Neville understood.

"But wands choose the one who wields them," Hermione said. "How can you be certain that this one is right for Neville?" she was looking at Harry with an eyebrow raised as she did not quite understand what Harry had been thinking.

Then Neville grabbed the wand and swept it through the air. A rain of blue and pink flowers fell onto the pillows and burst into little clouds of sparkles as they hit. Neville looked like the sun had just risen for the first time. His smile was so wide and bright that it was infectious. "Thank you so much, Harry," he said. "What is it made out of?"

"Gildergreen with a core of wisp wrappings," Harry answered.

"Gildergreen?" Hermione said. "I have never heard of that tree before."

"It's rare and magical," Neville said as he gave Harry a pointed look. It was obvious enough that Neville had meant it when he had told Harry that Hermione ought to know what was going on. Harry smiled at him but did not say anything else to Hermione. He didn't even know how to start the conversation. Deep inside he knew that the longer he waited the harder it would be to tell her, but he was scared. He could admit that. Scared of losing her. Hermione had been his light in the dark some days while he travelled around Skyrim. She had been the reason he hadn't completely despised the idea of going back. He wasn't sure what he would do if she rejected him now.

It was a selfish reason, but it was a reason all the same.

Later that night they walked outside. Fleur wrapped herself up in the cloak Harry had given her and for once she didn't feel cold as she stepped outside.

Fred and George Weasley stood a bit further away with a group of kids around them. They placed down a box and everyone walked back from it. Then the box exploded and rains of colours and big dragons and eagles and fairies appeared and disappeared in explosions of light. Another year had come to an end.

A New Year was beginning.

Winky showed up and gave everyone a glass.

"To the New Year!" Harry said as he lifted his glass.

"To the New Year!" the others responded as they raised their glasses.

A Year of Possibilities.

A Year of Change.

A Year of Happiness.

A Year of Truth.