The next chapter will be posted on Monday.
"Well of course not" Harry said. "Ginny, you'd know wouldn't you?"
I shot him a look
"Yes I do know, thanks" I said bitterly
Harry held up his hands
"Sorry, I didn't mean it like that, it's just that you've been possessed before, so you can tell me if I am"
I bit my lip, trying to remember.
"Well, do you black out at random moments? Do you have long periods of time where you can't remember what you've been doing? Do you wake up in strange places without knowing how you got there?" I asked
"No" said Harry right away
"Then you're not possessed. I can categorically assure you of that"
Fred and George snickered
"Categorically assure?" Fred said in a mocking tone
"Yeah, when did you become so posh and formal?" added George
"She'll be inviting us to her fancy dinner soon" said Ron
"Oh shut up" I said, blushing
We spent the following morning putting up Christmas decorations. We could not remember Sirius ever being in such a good mood; he was actually singing carols, apparently delighted that he was to have company over Christmas. Harry spoke about continuing to have terrible, vision like dreams, but I re-assured him that this did not mean he was possessed, and this seemed to improve his mood.
Demelza, Amy and Hermione arrived just before dinner that evening, and we spent a while talking about everything that had happened. In all the emotion, I had completely forgotten about trying to find a way to let them know what was going on. I'd left Savannah in the Hogwarts Owlery, and although Umbridge was policing the post, I was sure I could have found a way to use codewords. Demelza bought Savannah along with her own owl, Placy.
"It's ok mate, we understand you not telling us, you were surely caught up in such high emotions that we weren't a priority" Demelza said
"You're my friends, you deserve to know everything" I replied
"When you don't have a method of communication, that isn't your fault" said Amy firmly
"I could have used the fireplace-" I began, but Hermione cut me off
"Drop it, there is no need to apologize. We don't want to hear another word"
I smiled and fist bumped the three of them in appreciation.
""What are you doing here, anyway?" I asked Hermione "I thought you were meant to be skiing with your parents"
"Well, to tell the truth, skiing's not really my thing," said Hermione. "So I've come for Christmas. But don't tell Ron that, I told him it's really good because he kept laughing so much. Anyway, Mum and Dad are a bit disappointed, but I've told them that everyone who's serious about the exams is staying at Hogwarts to study. They want me to do well, they'll understand"
"How did you three get here then?"
"We came on the Knight Bus. Dumbledore told us what had happened first thing this morning, but we had to wait for term to end officially before setting off. Of course, we wanted the full story from your point of view anyway, that's why we've let you speak in depth. Umbridge is already livid that you lot disappeared right under her nose, even though Dumbledore told her your Dad was in St. Mungo's, and he'd given you all permission to visit" said Demelza
Sirius's delight at having the house full again, and especially at having Harry back, was infectious. He was no longer our sullen host of the summer; now he seemed determined that everyone should enjoy themselves as much, if not more, than we would have done at Hogwarts, and he worked tirelessly in the run-up to Christmas Day, cleaning and decorating with their help, so that by the time we all went to bed on Christmas Eve the house was barely recognizable. The tarnished chandeliers were no longer hung with cobwebs but with garlands of holly and gold and silver streamers; magical snow glittered in heaps over the threadbare carpets; a great Christmas tree, obtained by Mundungus and decorated with live fairies, blocked Sirius's family tree from view; and even the stuffed elf heads on the hall wall wore Father Christmas hats and beards.
On Christmas morning, I was awoken rather rudely by Demelza, Amy and Hermione all jumping on top of me.
"What the- bloody hell guys!" I said, sitting up as they got off me "Like, why, just why?"
"It's almost 9am on Christmas Day mate, cheer up and open some presents" Hermione said
"Yeah, who isn't up early on Christmas, weirdo?" said Demelza, who I noticed was wearing a forest green Weasley jumper with the letter D.
She noticed me staring at her and said "Yeah, your mum made the three of us one of these this year, and they match the colours of our favourite Quidditch teams, see"
She pointed at Hermione and Amy, who had a purple jumper with the letter H and a yellow and black one with the letter A respectively.
"Isn't she the best?" Amy exclaimed
"She's pretty fucking brilliant yeah" I replied, smirking and picking up one of my presents. It was from Hermione, and to my disgust, was none other than a homework planner!
"Seriously?!" I said, turning to her
"All my mates apart from Demelza could do with a bit of extra organisation when it comes to studying. It'll come in handy, trust me, so please don't be so ungrateful" said Hermione
"It's nothing compared to what the rest of us got you, I'm sure" I said
"Well, yes, the 2 month supply of Butterbeer from Amy was good, the New Theory of Numerology from Harry was great, then there was Ron's perfume..." she trailed off, looking a bit embarrassed. "Alright, I see your point, I'll do better next time"
"The rest of these will surely make up for it" I said
They did, and here's a quick run down of my haul. A broom compass from Harry, which I would later find out he'd also given Ron, the usual mince pies and forest green jumper from my parents, Demelza's Advanced Quidditch Leadership Guide ("you'll be Gryffindor first team captain one day" she said). Amy had given me a 2 month Butterbeer supply, as she did to everyone else, and Magda had sent me some Swedish chocolate, though not as luxury as the ones she had been given the previous year.