Chapter Nine: Another Christmas in London

December arrived at Hogwarts. Snow started to fall, leaving the grounds covered in sleek, opaline white. As always, the trees were being dragged inside the castle to be decorated, and Professors McGonagall and Flitwick were collecting the names of those who would be staying at school over Christmas. Hermione, Ginny and Luna did not sign up. Hermione and Ginny were going to spend their holiday at Shell Cottage with Harry, Ron and the rest of the Weasleys. The Hogwarts Express departed from Hogsmeade and traveled to King's Cross Station in a matter of hours. Luna headed off to her house while Hermione went with Ginny to the Burrow. It took a while until the girls apparated to their appropriate locations.

By the time the girls arrived at the Burrow, the entire place was very well decorated with tinsel, silver and green. Inside, the tree was standing at the upper right side of the living room and the stockings were hung with great care. Molly was delighted when she saw them standing there. "Oh! Ginny! Hermione, you're here," she hugged them. Arthur turned up, "Well, glad to see you two made it safely." Harry and Ron quickly ran up to them, and there was hugging and kissing abound. Harry was quick to grab Ginny while Ron picked up Hermione and spun her around. "Unh," Hermione grunted. "Did you two have a safe trip?" Harry asked. "Yes," Ginny replied, "It was a lot of fun." Ron then asked, "Did you bring us anything from Hogsmeade?" To which Hermione replied, "Um, we haven't had a chance yet to explore Hogsmeade." "Oh," said Ron rather disappointedly. "But I did save you some Chocolate Frogs from the common room," Hermione smiled slyly. "Ah, you're the best," Ron said as he hugged her again. Molly announced, "Right, then. We all set?" They all grabbed hold and started to vanish.

As soon as they Apparated to Shell Cottage, Bill and Fleur were quick to greet them. As they could see, their decorations were already up, and very festive. "Oh, good, everyone's here," said Bill. George was putting up the holly while Percy was in charge of the tinsel. Charlie was putting the star up on the tree. "Hey," he shouted. George ran up to Ginny and hugged her, "Hey, sis." Fleur smiled and waved to the girls. "Glad to see you again," she called. Percy stepped down off the ladder and said, "Hello, Ginny, Hermione." "Percy," Hermione answered.

"You're looking well." "I am very well," Percy responded, "thank you."

"So, this Professor Periwinkle," Harry said, "what do you really know about her?" "Just that she's a Hufflepuff and she used to be an Auror," Hermione explained. Ron asked, "How did you manage to find that out?" "Well," Hermione said, "I was more or less eavesdropping on her and Professor McGonagall by the office on Halloween night." "YOU?" George said, "You, Hermione Granger? You were sneaking about at Hogwarts at night? I'm duly impressed!" He clapped his hands. Hermione rolled her eyes.

Ginny piped up, "Look, the point is, she's suspicious. Can't say that I blame her, though. The Dark Arts class does take a toll on its teachers." Hermione said, "Yeah, there may be more to her than meets the eye." "So, what, you think she's gonna leave like all the others?" Ron asked while eating a Chocolate Frog. "I'm not entirely sure yet, but we've still got six months left in the year," Hermione said, "so we'll still have to wait and see." Harry said, "What about Luna? What's she been up to lately?" "Same as always," Ginny said. "That's surprising," Ron chuckled. Ginny glared at him. It was nice to see everyone having a decent time together and not having to talk about...dark days. Still, it was early in the school year.

The next morning Christmas Eve came. Molly and Arthur were putting popcorn and tinsel around the tree with their wands. George was cleaning the stockings. Harry and Ginny were putting up the lights. Ginny also put up the mistletoe right up above Ron and Hermione. Without a second thought, Ron kissed her. Hermione smiled and put her arms around him. Charlie, Percy and George were setting up the final finishing touches to the tree while Molly and Fleur were finishing up the dinner. As soon as everyone sat down to eat, there was an owl at the window. Arthur pulled from its beak and opened the envelope. "Oh, it's from Kingsley." He read it:

"Arthur, I hope you and everyone else are having a splendid holiday. The Ministry is having a bit of trouble with the courtrooms as of late, but the parliament is doing everything they can to tidy up. Also, there need to be some arrangements made when the new recruits come in around the new year. I look forward to your part in it. Merry Christmas." Kingsley Shacklebolt, Minister of Magic

"What's that all about, dearie?" Molly asked. "Kingsley's bringing in some brand new Ministry members after the start of the new year," Arthur announced. "Ooh, that sounds like fun," Fleur said delightedly. "Indeed," Molly agreed with her. Percy was beside himself, "Father, do you really feel these new ones have what it takes to be Ministry employees?" George snickered, "They let in you, didn't they?" Bill and Charlie laughed.

Arthur said, "Well, I don't see why not. We need new members. Some of the old ones are either retired or sacked. Or dead." Harry smiled at the idea, "All right, well, as long as no one there's a total criminal." "That's why we have Kingsley as Minister, Harry," Arthur smiled, "so that he won't be so judgmental as Fudge was." Ron asked, "Is Fudge still alive?" Molly huffed, "Oh, he is." She scoffed. "No one even bothers to mention him anymore."

No person ever really talked about Cornelius Fudge, even after the Battle of Hogwarts. Rufus Scrimgeour certainly didn't do any objecting about Fudge being sacked, back when he was still alive, and when Kingsley was appointed Minister long after that, he was spectacular at what he does, and no one dared question his judgement. Everyone finished their dinner and later went upstairs to bed that night.

The next morning Christmas had arrived. Crookshanks meowed and Hermione woke up. She got up and scratched him behind the ears. "Merry Christmas, Crookshanks," she told him. Harry and Ron woke up and then ran downstairs for breakfast and presents. Hermione chuckled. "Men." Her smile was as bright as the sand. Although it doesn't naturally snow where there's sand, the decorations were marvelous.

Everyone opened their presents. Molly made everyone a brand new sweater with the first letter of their names on them, as she naturally does every single year. Ron was just pleased he didn't get another maroon sweater this year. Harry got a brand new pair of furry pants from Hagrid and Ron got some new feathered hats from Neville. Ginny opened up her gift from Neville and saw that he gave her some new Quidditch armor. Ginny was thrilled. Hermione opened her gift from Neville next. She could see he gave her some new feather quills, one of each a different color. Very authentic, Hermione thought.

Harry had wondered what Neville was up to these days. He must be studying on all his Herbology skills. George could see he got a brand new pack of Licorice Wands from Percy and from Bill he got a new set of Fanged Frisbees for his Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes shop. Even without Fred, business was still booming there, but it still isn't the same without him. Fleur didn't have a lot of gifts to offer, so she gave everyone a simple card that changes every time you opened it. Everyone, even Percy, was thrilled.

Hermione thought, it was nice to be home again, surrounded by every single one of her friends. Harry and Ron showed up to where she was, sitting at the window, staring out and looking at the stars. "Hey," she said letting them in. Harry said, "Have you heard from your parents yet?" "No, not yet." "Why not?" "I don't know what to say to them. I sent them a Merry Christmas gram, but they haven't replied back yet." "Don't you think you should go and see them?" Ron suggested. "It is Christmas after all." Hermione sighed, "Maybe." Then Harry asked, "Do you want us to come with you?" Hermione smiled, "Very much."

And so they Apparated out of their and zipped to Hermione's house. It was very different from when they last left it. All the pictures were back in their frames, the furniture was all there, and the decorations for Christmas were all set up inside, especially how neatly the tree had been placed. Mr. and Mrs. Granger walked into the living room and were happy to see their daughter again. They hugged her. Hermione introduced them properly. "Mum, Dad, this is Harry Potter, my best friend, and Ron Weasley, my boyfriend." "Ah, yes," Mr. Granger said, "we've heard so much about you two. You're in no need of introduction." Then Mrs. Granger said, "Especially not you," she was looking at Harry, of course.

The tea had stopped pouring and Hermione had already brought them up to speed about everything that had happened. "Sounds like a lot of fun," Mrs. Granger said and sipped her tea. "And also very dangerous." "Yeah," Hermione said.

"So, what do you two think you'll be doing?" Mr. Granger asked Harry and Ron. "Um," Harry said, "we're thinking of becoming dark-wizard catchers. Aurors." "Oh, good," Mr. Granger said, "so in a way, you're like wizard police." Ron chuckled, "Yeah, better than most muggle police. Some of them are terrible at their job, or so I've heard." "Well, it's good to see some people care about the law and doing what's right," Mr. Granger gave a firm nod. Nobody said much after that. They just sat there and drank their tea. Hermione told them about the new Dark Arts teacher and that Hagrid was holding dragons in the dungeons. "Hagrid has dragons in the dungeons?!" Harry said. "Yeah, Ministry dragons," Hermione answered. "Why didn't you tell us this until NOW?" Ron asked bewildered. Hermione said, "Uh, I haven't had a chance to bring it up?" "Wicked," Ron said. "Hogwarts got legal dragons." "Brilliant," Harry said. Hermione sighed in relief, although she still felt flummoxed.

It was time to leave and go to bed. Hermione's parents insisted that they stay, but Hermione felt they wouldn't want to overstay their welcome. Her mother hugged her and bade farewell to the boys. Mr. Granger stared Ron down and said, "You take good care of my daughter now, you hear?" "Yes, sir. Of course, sir," Ron was saying. "Excellent," Mr. Granger said and hugged him tightly. "Oh!" Ron groaned. "Very good to meet you, Harry," said Mrs. Granger. "You too," Harry said shaking her hand. "Merry Christmas," they all said to each other, and with a flick of the wrist, the trio took off and Apparated back to the cottage.