Harry Potter - Series Fan Fiction ❯ Harry Potter and the Bad Wish ❯ Merry Freaking Christmas to You To! ( Chapter 14 )

Chapter 14: Merry Freaking Christmas To You To!

 

 

The weather outside was frightful, the fire inside the Common Room was delightful and as the students had nowhere to go they stayed inside. Hermione was cautious always asking Harry if Voldemort was connected before she said, or did, anything while Harry had kept wondering what would happen now. If Voldemort had seen and heard what was going on would he attack the castle before Dumbledore could complete training Hermione? Harry had gone to two of the lessons and learned new things but it was becoming hard on him, he felt weaker. Ever since the day Voldemort was cut off he felt like a battery was dead in him, he just didn't have the energy he use to.

 

“And how many times do you stir it?” Hermione's hand shot up, they were in Potions, a class Harry no longer cared about. He tried to respect Snape, but now he knew what he had done. Because of him his parents were dead, or so Harry thought. “Yes Granger?”

 

“Seven times Professor Snape.”

 

“Very good, 5 points to Gryffindor. Now that you know how to make this potion do so, no books, as I and Miss Granger have just gone over every step of the potion you should know how.” Most of the class grumbled, even Hermione, but they went to work. Harry on the other hand put his head on the desk, he was still tired for some reason, and he didn't care what Professor Snape would do.

 

“Harry get up, he's looking at you.” Hermione was worried, more so then normal, as lately Harry seemed to be missing something. He wasn't as happy as he used to be, in DADA he hadn't raised his hand to answer a question, and like last time he wasn't making the potion.

 

Professor Snape walks over to Harry, and then looks at Devin. “Devin are you affecting Harry again?”

 

“No he isn't murderous bastard.” Harry says it using a spell to make it so only Professor Snape could hear it.

 

“What was that Potter?” Professor Snape was shocked, what was Harry talking about?

 

“You know exactly what I mean Death Eater.” Again Harry was using a spell so only Professor Snape could hear it.

 

“Harry go to my office now!” Professor Snape may have found the new Harry Potter a good thing but how he was acting now negated that.

 

“Fine, Death Eater.” Harry gets up and walks to the office, sitting down he takes the spell off. Professor Snape walks in closing his door.

 

“Harry what is wrong with you? Why the sudden change, what have I done to have you call me that.”

 

“You told Voldemort about the prophecy, they died, you murdered them you bastard.” Harry was keeping calm now; he did not want to raise his voice. “I know Voldemort killed them, and Wormtail told Voldemort where they were, but you were the one who…”

 

“I did nothing like that!” Professor Snape slams his hand on his desk. “I did not know at the time that Lily would apply, when I found out that she did I begged the Dark Lord to spare her.” The memory of that hurt Professor Snape, he wished he never had told Voldemort about the prophecy.

 

“So you had no problem killing someone else? And you only begged for my mother's life? So me and my father could die? You know what you did was wrong but instead of going to Azkaban you get a nice job here, protected by Dumbledore. He makes mistakes and you are one of them.”

 

“Harry you know very well I could take points off for comments like that, but I won't. You're right; I only begged for your mother's life, I did not care for your father or you.” It was cold but it was the truth.

 

“Oh, so you say `Sorry, my bad,' and Dumbledore forgives you.”

 

“I did more then that, I became a spy, I helped put people away, and until a few months ago I was a spy for Dumbledore.” But then someone betrayed the Order, they weren't sure who yet.

 

“Decide you would rather work for Voldemort?”

 

“Not at all Harry, someone betrayed Dumbledore but was not me. He kept me out of Azkaban; I owe my life to him. Who do you think would give a known Death Eater a job? You know how I am to someone who I owe my life to.”

 

“You sic Voldemort on them, but beg for their wife to be spared. Did you think my mom would just forget about my dad and fall in love with you? Just get James out of your way and move in on her?”

 

“No Harry, I had lost Lily already, I knew she would never love me after I got the Dark Mark. I saved your life, in return for your father saving mine. Do you think I would not do the same for Dumbledore? Harry I am sorry for my actions, I have tried to make up for them by helping Dumbledore, by helping you.”

 

“Bastard, I swore to kill the people responsible for my parent's death, Voldemort and Wormtail, but you are one of them also.”

 

“Does my action afterwards not show that I was wrong, that I know I was wrong? Harry you could never defeat me in a duel and I will not fight you in one, you must realize that I had no intention of killing Lily. And did you not think of it Harry? Only those who have defied the Dark Lord three times were part of the prophecy that meant that the Dark Lord had tried to kill you parents before, just this time he was successful.” Snape was making a good point, just like Dumbledore did.

 

“Sorry. May I go back to class?” Harry was done with this, he was tired still, and even though his gut said he was right his head said he was wrong, Snape had changed, and people can change.

 

“Harry it is to late to complete this assignment, do a four page report on the potion and its history to make up for it, now go to class. And,” Snape stops Harry before he leaves, “I am sorry also for what I did, what I felt, you were nothing but a child and I felt nothing about the Dark Lord killing you. I have changed and I hope you realize that.” Harry walks out of Snape's office and goes to his desk. Instead of working on the assignment Snape had given him he lays his head down and rests.

 

 

The week passed, it was now three days before break and he was worried about going home. “Mione?”

 

“Yes Harry?” Hermione moved so she was more comfortable, the chair was made for one but they made it work.

 

“Should we go home, to my house anyways, over break? What if Voldemort starts the connection and finds out where we live?” Harry moved so Hermione would be sitting on a leg instead of higher up on his hip which was sore.

 

“Of course Harry, Voldemort has seen it already but can't find it because Dumbledore made it so he couldn't.”

 

“Dumbledore has failed before, I don't want to put you and your parents at risk, anymore then what you and they already are.”

 

“Harry it is almost Christmas, a time of peace and joy, relax.” Hermione put her head on his shoulder trying to get Harry to relax.

 

“I know, but Voldemort…”

 

“Voldemort does not control what you do, anymore, Harry and Dumbledore has made it so only the people you or him want can enter. I'm sure you don't want Voldemort to go into your home so he can't.”

 

“Of course I don't, not that I wouldn't mind dueling him again.” Maybe not right then as he always felt as though his batteries were low for some reason. “Mione, I have an early gift for you, now it doesn't count as a Christmas gift since, well, you'll see.” Hermione got off his lap and followed Harry up to his room.

 

“Harry, if you want to, you knows, we can talk about it first but…”

 

“No not that Mione this.” Harry got a box out; Dumbledore had sent it to him earlier that day. “Dumbledore says they aren't dangerous so you can have them back.” He opens the box to reveal the pendant and the ring that Dumbledore had taken from Hermione to make sure they were safe.

 

“Where's your ring?” Hermione put hers on seeing that it only came up blue.

 

“Right here.” Harry got it out and put it on seeing the ring change from blue to half blue and half red. “Need help with the pendant?” Hermione shook her head as she took her necklace off and put the pendant on.

 

“There it is again, oh Harry thank you!” She saw the purplish aura around Harry, with a little yellow on the edge; his emotions were of love and happiness, not that she needed the pendant to know that. “Harry, I got you something, but was going to wait for Christmas to give it to you, but if you want I could give it to you now.”

 

“If you want to Mione.” Harry waited as Hermione left the dorm room and went to hers. A minute later she was back with a small box. Harry opens it to see a golden heart clasp; he opens it to find a piece of brown hair and a picture of Hermione. “Just like my parents, except I don't have their hair anymore.” He had used it to try and bring them back, and may have, he wasn't sure.

 

“It's where I got the idea Harry, I hope you like it.” She had to use some of the money Harry lent her but she wanted to get Harry something great, not that book ends weren't great in her opinion.

 

“I love it Mione, and the person it came from.” Harry set the clasp down and got up to kiss Hermione. “Aw isn't that just cute? About time this happened, been bored out of, well, your mind.” The voice! It spooked Harry so badly he nearly broke Hermione's nose with his forehead.

 

“Harry what the bloody hell was that for?” Hermione checked to see if her nose was bleeding.

 

“The voice, he came back, he spoke to me.”

 

“Voldemort! Harry close your eyes, I'll go get Dumbledore.” Hermione completely forgot her pain but was stopped by Harry when he grabbed her arm.

 

“Not Voldemort, the voice, the one that warned me about, you know.” It kept them from getting caught, it told him to bring his things when he went to Diagon Alley, but not why.

 

“Are you sure Harry? Maybe we should…”

 

“I'm sure Mione, if it was Voldemort I would know. Voice?” Nothing. “I don't get it, why won't he respond, Voice?” Still nothing. “I swear I heard him, it, but why now?”

 

“Harry are you sure it wasn't Voldemort?” Or crazy, Hermione didn't say that part out loud but wondered.

 

“I'm sure, he said something, but now he is gone again.” Harry didn't want to say what the Voice said to Hermione, she might not like it. “I, I feel different, watch out!” Harry fell to his knees; his head felt like the first time he got drunk, his vision became blurry.

 

“Harry!” Hermione kept him from falling face first into the floor. “Harry what's wrong, say something!”

 

“Something.” Harry wasn't sure why but he felt weird, his vision was still blurry, like when he still needed his glasses… “My glasses, I need my glasses again? No!” He squeezed his eyes shut and kept thinking to himself that he didn't need them, he could see fine. He opened them. “Ok, that didn't work.” He could see fine, out of his left eye, but his right eye was still blurry.

 

“Harry should I get Madam Pomfrey?” She thought Harry had gone crazy, he said something about his glasses, he hadn't worn them for over a year why would he talk about them now?

 

“No, I just need to try it again.” He closed his eyes and tried again. “Why did that happen?” He could see fine again, but what was going on? “The connection, Voldemort realized that Dumbledore had tricked him and cut the connection completely. You still have some of his power though it seems not as much as before.” “It can't be, you mean that…” Hermione stared at Harry, who was he talking to? “Ah no trouble Boy, so superficial, I thought you were more matures then that.”

 

“Harry I'm getting Dumbledore, you aren't making any sense.” Harry kept his grasp on her arm.

 

“No, not Dumbledore, I'm fine.” That was why he had felt weaker, the power he was leeching from Voldemort wasn't coming into him anymore, his eyes, they changed back to what they were before he used Voldemort's power to heal them. But he changed them back again; his head still hurt and his thoughts came fast. “It's gone Mione I'm fine, I must have sat up to quickly.”

 

“Harry it was more then that.” Hermione was biting her lip in worry. “What's wrong with your eyes?”

 

“Nothing, they went fuzzy for a second but I changed them back.” He used his own power to do it, he knew they could be perfect and so he could make them perfect. “I'm tired Mione, I need to lie down.” Harry got on his bed and stared at the ceiling. “I'm sorry Mione, thank you for the gift.”

 

“Merry Christmas Harry, if you want I could stay with you.”

 

“No it's ok, I just need to sleep.” Hermione hurt by that left Harry alone, she could see something was wrong, his aura had gone black for a second, and then he seemed to go crazy.

 

The next day Hermione avoided Harry, they went through class, it was the last day for them, and it wasn't until after the last class that she spoke to him. “Harry what's going on, you lied to me yesterday, why would you lie?”

 

“About what?”

 

“You were, and still aren't, fine!” Other students in the hallway looked at Hermione after her outburst.

 

“Mione I don't want to talk about it, maybe when we leave for break, but not now.” Harry had a long conversation with the voice and still wasn't sure what was going on.

 

“Ok, hide something from me.” Hermione knew it was hypocritical of her; she hid things from Harry and got mad when he kept asking her about it, but this was different, right?

 

“I won't hide it from you Mione since I don't know what it is yet.”

 

“Look when we get back to the Common Room tell me please! Even if you don't want to, we can't keep things from each other anymore.” She knew she sounded like a git, but she wanted to know, she might have been able to help Harry. Getting to the Common Room they found Ginny crying in a chair, but no Monica.

 

“Ginny are you ok?” Harry was glad for the distraction, even if it meant that another student was hurt.

 

“No, I have to go home but I can't!” This confused him, the Burrow was still abandoned, did she leave something there and couldn't go to get it?

 

“Ginny whatever it is I'm sure you can get it.”

 

“What? Harry go away, I don't want to talk to you.”

 

“Ginny what is wrong; tell us, both of us.” Hermione sat on the arm of the chair rubbing her back trying to comfort her.

 

“I can't go home, they hate me! It's not my fault, I can't help it.” Harry was still confused, why would the Weasly's hate their own daughter, she wasn't Ron, unless she did…

 

“Ginny why would they hate you? You haven't gone to Voldemort or any Death Eater have you? You didn't help Ron, did you?”

 

“No of course not, that bloody buggerin bastard can go to hell! It's because of Monica, they said they don't want me to see her anymore and if I go home they will keep me there.” This surprised Harry, the Weasly's were always so kind, why would they have a problem with Monica?

 

“But Ginny, the letter didn't say that.” Hermione had read it, after trying to help Monica calm Ginny down, that was months ago why was she acting like this now?

 

“They hate her, I can tell, they hate me because of her.” Ginny stopped crying now that her anger at her parents was rising. “I told Monica and she yelled at me, she hates this place!” Ginny got out of the chair. “I do to! Why can't we live in America where we aren't considered bad, wrong, why is England so hell bent on making people like Monica into monsters? We haven't even done anything like that together, we just hold hands, nothing like they called me, my parents hate me! At least in America we wouldn't be burnt at the stake for it.”

 

“No just be burnt for being Witches, Ginny I'm sure your parents don't hate you.” Hermione looked at Harry then motioned for him to leave, this was not something she thought Harry should know, it was between Monica and Ginny and if she could help she would but Harry didn't need to be there.

 

Harry goes up to his dorm room and finds Devin meditating on his bed. “Don't you have anything else to do Devin?”

 

“Harry just because you can't see the beauty in being alone, being in a quiet space, doesn't mean others can't.” Devin hoped Harry caught his meaning of alone and quiet.

 

“Why don't you, I don't know, play a game of chess with Neville or something? That's quiet or go to the library and read like Hermione?”

 

“Harry has anyone ever shoved a hot poker into your chest?” This caught Harry off guard, what a weird question.

 

“No, can't say I have.”

 

“Then you don't know the pain I feel every day.”

 

“The medicine doesn't work anymore? You should tell Dumbledore about that.”

 

“Him I think not, I stopped taking the medicine because I can deal with it on my own. My body is my temple and I am not going to be putting anymore of that stuff into me, if you knew what was used to make it you would agree.” Devin got off his bed. “Harry do you know what it's like to know the man that killed your mother is out there alive when there is nothing you can do to end that?”

 

“Of course I know Devin, Voldemort is out there, but I can do something about it.”

 

“Then why don't you do it? If I could I would eviscerate Ron, tear his heart out and feed it to him, but I can not as I do not know where he is or how to get a hold of him. That coward has not opened any letters I send to him, I challenge him and he does nothing.”

 

“Devin that's uh, normal.” Harry had wanted to do the same; he tried to kill Ron during the attack on Hogwarts, but failed. “But to waste your life on something like that, what will you do if you succeed?” Dumbledore had asked him that a long time ago, if he killed Voldemort, what would Harry do after? What purpose would he have in the world if he killed Voldemort, and that was what he should focus on.

 

“The Republicans, they killed my sister, and once I am done with Ron, once I am old enough, I will go back home and hunt down every last Republican, from the KKK to the GOP, I will kill them all.” Devin's plans were far larger then Harry's, he would be normal, no longer attached to Voldemort in any way.

 

“Uh, then what? What will Monica do, would she still accept you as her Brother, or friend?”

 

“Harry I don't plan on living long enough to find out. I just have these things to do then my life will be complete.” Harry was shocked, Devin sounded just like him, before he realized what he had, Hermione.

 

“Devin you need to find someone, I have Hermione, Monica has Ginny, your mom, Professor Krats, had Snape.” She wasn't really his mom, but cared for him like one after his parents were killed.

 

“Love is for those who…”

 

“Love is for everyone with a heart Devin, some who have no heart like Voldemort, can't love. Are saying you are like Voldemort?”

 

“No, I could never be that cold, I'm not Voldemort or Cheney, I'm not heartless, but…”

 

“Then realize that others care for you. Monica loves you, you are her Brother, you two grew up together right?” Devin nods. “And me and Neville like you, Luna likes you to, we are people who care about you, do you want to hurt them, hurt Monica?” Harry knew it was wrong to say that, Devin loved Monica, but it was true.

 

“No,” Devin squeezes his eyes then grabs his chest, “Harry go away.” Devin sits back down on his bed and tries to concentrate, make the pain go away. Harry wanted to but what if Hermione was still talking to Ginny?

 

“I can't, not now.”

 

“Then shut up and leave me alone.” Harry goes and sits on his bed getting the Marauders Map out seeing that Ginny and Hermione were still in the Common Room.

 

“Ok, but couldn't you do that somewhere else? Like the library, that way you wouldn't get interrupted by me or Neville, or anyone else.”

 

“Monica and Ginny like the library for that same reason, and even if it is big enough to have them and I in it at the same time their activities distract me.” Harry expected to feel something come off of Devin but nothing did.

 

“Well I have to wait for Ginny and Hermione to get done talking.” Harry is about to say something else when Devin sticks a hand out.

 

“Shut, Up, S-H-U-T, Space, U-P, is that clear enough for you Harry?” He puts his arm back down closing his eyes. Harry doesn't respond, he doesn't feel like arguing with Devin. He goes back to the Marauders Map and watches as Ginny and Hermione are joined by Monica in the Common Room. He keeps watching, worried about Hermione, when him and Hermione fought he wouldn't want to get in the middle of it.

 

“Harry, can you hear me?” Hermione was talking to him through the rings!

 

“Yes Mione, what's wrong?”

 

“Nothing, but I was wondering if we could have another guest at your house over the break? Maybe have Dobby make another room or just let Ginny stay in Monica's room.”

 

“I don't know Mione, you would have to talk to Dumbledore, and putting Ginny in Monica's room would be like me in your room isn't it?”

 

“Yes, kind of, but Dumbledore, and my parents, don't know about them.”

 

“Are you sure? If the Weasly's know they might have told Dumbledore.”

 

“I thought of that but Dumbledore told them not to tell anyone about you, not their friends, family, or boyfriends.”

 

“Well, we have to talk to Dumbledore to see if it is ok, and the Weasly's, I'm sure they want to see Ginny, right?”

 

“I don't know, I read the letter but Ginny says she talked to them some more that they don't like Monica and want to keep Ginny from seeing her.”

 

“Well, it isn't up to us, if Ginny wants to and Dumbledore says its ok I guess.”

 

“Thanks Harry.” Harry stops rubbing his ring not sure if it was a good idea to take Ginny in, another person in his house meant another person that could be hurt if Voldemort tried to attack him. Looking at the Marauders Map he sees that Ginny, Monica, and Hermione left the Common Room.

 

“I guess I can go now.”

 

“Did you have to say that? You could have just left.” Harry knowing that Devin would be going to his house for Christmas, along with Monica and now probably Ginny, decided to see if he could get Devin to ease up.

 

“Know what I am getting real tired of that Devin, I open my home to you, I try to be nice, talk to you, and you act like, well, yourself.”

 

“How many people have you killed? How many souls have you sent to hell? How many times have you had your soul ripped from you only to be replaced by pain? If being an asshole kept that pain away would you be freaking Mr. Rogers?” Harry didn't know who Mr. Rogers was; Devin had problems he didn't want to deal with.

 

“You need to find a way to stop the pain without being an asshole, what will hurt more, the pain from your soul or the pain of having no one around?” Devin's face went red with anger, why couldn't Harry leave him alone? “You're angry at me right now but I feel nothing, are you sure that pain is your soul or from your feelings wanting to get out?” The reaction from Devin surprised Harry, he started to cry.

 

“I wasn't there, they buried my mom, Diane, and I wasn't there. She treated me like a son after her real son died, she took me in without question, and I couldn't be there when they buried her.” Now Harry felt the emotions, he became sad himself; he felt like crying but concentrated on keeping his composure.

 

“Do you think she blames you? You were hurt, after you saved the students of Hogwarts, after you protected everyone in this school, you were hurt. Do you think she would hold it against you that you couldn't make it to her funeral? If she really considered you her son she is happy you are alive, that you didn't pass away with her, that at her funeral only one person was buried.” Maybe that's what Sirius was, happy, it was only him buried at the funeral because he protected his friend, and his parents, were they happy that he was alive? That at their funeral it was just them buried and not him? Harry lost his concentration and started to cry, both because of Devin's feelings affecting him and his own sadness that he may have brought his parents back to life only to have them captured by Voldemort.

 

“Harry? What's going on?” Harry didn't even know that he was rubbing the ring, Hermione heard him. He started to answer, then took the ring off, he had to get away from Devin first so he would be out of the emotion bubble Devin had created.

 

In the Common Room Harry starts rubbing the ring. “I'm okay, Devin affected me.”

 

“Oh, ok, Dumbledore says that he will talk to the Weasly's, he did not know that they were planning on keeping Ginny away from the school. But if he talks to them he will know why they want to keep Ginny away, I don't know if Ginny will stay with us.”

 

“Ok, whatever is best for Ginny.” She had enough problems without him adding to them.

 

Harry sat down and waited, what would happen? If Ginny stayed at home then he would need a new Chaser, or a new Seeker. If she left he could become a starting Chaser and train a new Seeker, but who would make a good Seeker? Not Hermione, she was far to scared of flying, and Devin, well, no need to make him worse. Someone in a lower grade, but who? Harry shakes his head, was he wishing for Ginny to stay home? The door to the Common Room opens and he sees Neville with Luna. “Hi Luna, Neville, you excited about Christmas?” Harry tried to make small talk, Neville had started talking to him again, even apologized for how he acted after the game, even though Harry felt Neville had good reason to act like that.

 

“Is Devin up in our room?” Harry nods, Luna goes up the stairs and leaves Neville in the Common Room.

 

“Oh so you two aren't, she shouldn't be going up there.” Devin might still be crying, but Luna wasn't affected, maybe she could help Devin.

 

“She needed someone who knew the password,” Neville sits down, “and I was the first person she saw. She said it was urgent that she got here, how she knew Devin was up there I don't know.”

 

“Where else would he be? If he isn't in class he's up there, not that I blame him.” No one did as far as Harry knew, Devin had gone through enough. “So what are you doing for Christmas?”

 

“Going home, see family, go to St. Mungos to see my parents, same thing every year.” As far as he could remember that was Christmas, visiting his parents in the hospital. “You?”

 

“Well going home for a change, but no family.” He was going to have a lot of people around though from the sound of it.

 

“You-Know-Who screwed both of our Christmases, I don't know what's worse not having my parents on Christmas or having them but knowing they are how they are.” Neville didn't know what he said would affect Harry, how could he, only three people knew he tried to raise his parents, that may now be held by Voldemort.

 

“Voldemort, not You-Know-Who.” After Dumbledore's assignment last year Harry was surprised by how few people said Voldemort.

 

“It's the same thing Harry, Merry Freaking Christmas right? Good will to Men and peace on Earth, and cross your fingers that the people you see will be around next year.” The newspaper ran a list of all those who died after a Death Eater attack, usually an entire page was dedicated to it as more and more attacks happened.

 

“Merry Christmas, and to a New Year where Voldemort falls.” The Christmas spirit failed to take them, maybe the New Year would bring good things. They sat there not talking, just thinking about Christmas and how it could be better.

 

A few minutes later Luna came down from the Boy's Dormitory alone. “Where's Devin?”

 

“He is sleeping; the Snorkic must have drained his energy.” She walks aimlessly, from what Neville and Harry saw, until she got to the door and left.

 

“Snorkic?” Harry looked at Neville.

 

“Her father's paper says it is a type of invisible snake that feeds on people's energy, and please don't ask me how I know this.” Neville had tried to learn about all the things Luna `knew' and talk to her about it but she always looked bored, glassy eyed, except when Devin's name was mentioned.

 

“And that's what made him sleep, I wonder what would happen if she had to go up against a Death Eater.” Who knows, maybe sick that Snorkic on them.

 

“Just hope it never happens, to anyone.” As much as Neville hated the people who hurt his parents he doubted he would be able to do anything to them.

 

“Neville, I need to go somewhere.” Harry didn't but he didn't want to stay there with Neville, he had an itch that he had to go somewhere, why he didn't know. Leaving the Common Room he sees Luna sitting on the ground staring off into space, maybe this was why. “Luna?”

 

“Hello Harry.” That wasn't much of a response, Harry had hoped for more.

 

“Why are you sitting out here?”

 

“Because I haven't looked at this wall before.” Harry looked at the wall, there was nothing there.

 

“Ok, good luck with that.”

 

“Thanks Harry, if you want you can sit here and look at it with me.” She keeps staring at the wall and seemed serious about it.

 

“No I need to go somewhere.” Harry had no idea what was going on with Luna, first she needed to see Devin who was drained by a Snorkic, and now she was staring at a wall, no wonder people called her `Loony Luna'.

 

Harry wandered the halls not knowing what to do but he felt that he had to do something. Was it Christmas? He already got Hermione's present ready, and a gift for Hagrid, and Remus, and the Weasly's, and everyone else. Was he forgetting someone? Harry went to the library for a place to sit down while he tried to think of someone he might be forgetting. He had to laugh at that, a few years ago he never would have had that problem, but now he might be forgetting someone. Surprisingly there was someone there that wasn't Hermione, something that happened as rarely as people seeing Bigfoot. “Hey Jim how you been?”

 

“Ok Harry, excited about Christmas?” Jim puts down the book he had been reading, Quidditch Throughout the Ages.

 

“I guess, hey I read that before, what part you on?”

 

“1974, the greatest Chaser performance in Hogwarts history happened then.” Harry stopped himself from laughing, he had affected the history of Quidditch, and now people were reading about it not knowing who it was.

 

“Oh yeah, what was his name again?” Harry wanted to see what name was put down.

 

“Devin Granger, maybe Hermione is related to him.”

 

“I doubt that, she is a Muggle Born.” Harry put a hand over his face to hide the smile on his face.

 

“Oh, amazing, he rode a custom broom that beat everyone else by a long shot, to have a broom that nice would be cool.” There was no picture of the person; Jim wondered who it was to have played so brilliantly.

 

“I'm sure he wasn't that great, so what are you doing for Christmas?” Harry felt that itch go away, was this why he had it?

 

“I don't know yet, Dumbledore says my mom…” Jim stopped talking; he wasn't supposed to tell anyone about it, especially Harry.

 

“One of the people hurt in an attack? I'm sorry; I guess you are staying here?” Jim nods. “Well, if you want, I would have to ask Dumbledore first, but my house is plenty big enough and you are on the team, if you wanted to you could come to my house for Christmas.” Jim's eyes lighted up then closed.

 

“I can't, Dumbledore says I have to stay here.”

 

“Oh well, you should listen to Dumbledore, he isn't perfect, he makes mistakes like any human does, but he is one of the greatest wizards I know.” “No resemblance is there Boy?” The voice came to Harry, but only confused him. “Uh, I hope they find your Mother and she is ok.”

 

“She was never ok, but I loved her. She was horrified when we got the letter to Hogwarts, said I was a freak like my father.”

 

“About as bad as when I got my letter, my Uncle tried to run away but Hagrid made sure more letters came.”

 

“The Care of Magical Creatures teacher?” He had liked the class, to deal with animals so strange and magical was incredible to him.

 

“Yeah, but he wasn't the teacher yet. He got me my Owl, Hedwig, for my birthday.”

 

“I got a cat, my Mom won't let me keep it at home, she says it's one of those `freak' cats and they aren't allowed at home.”

 

“Well I'm sure she misses you, wishes she could be home for Christmas with you.” If she was still alive, what was Jim's last name? Harry had kept up with the list of those attacked, had he read it and not even known it?

 

“I hope so, if that bastard Voldemort hadn't come back my dad would still be alive, could live with him.” Jim pounds the table; he grew up not knowing his Father, just what he had read about him.

 

“Sorry, when did it happen?”

 

“April 6, 1997…” Jim puts a hand to his mouth, he shouldn't have said that.

 

“Oh, it's ok if you don't want to tell me.” Making up a date in the future, weird way to not tell someone, but Harry figured it was hard for Jim to talk about it.

 

“I'm sorry; I need to go to Dumbledore.” Jim gets up and leaves before Harry can tell him that Hermione, Monica, and Ginny are there.

 

“Harry? Dumbledore says the Weasly's don't want Ginny to come home, they are afraid Ron will attack, and it's ok if she stays with us.” Harry felt something lift off him, he knew the Weasly's wouldn't hate Ginny for what she was they were too good of people.

 

“Ok, and Jim is on the way to Dumbledore's, want to come to the Library?”

 

“That where you are?”

 

“No, I'm in the Slytherin Common Room; I just thought you might like to go to the Library.”

 

“Very funny Harry, I'll be there in a minute.” Harry was glad he had the rings back, it made things so much easier, of course so did most magic, cleaning dishes, dusting a room, or darker things, but it did make things easier.

 

A couple minutes later Hermione, Ginny, and Monica show up in the Library. “Thank you Harry!” Ginny hugs him, and then surprisingly Monica does to.

 

“Uh no problem, but I knew your parents wouldn't hate you, or Monica.”

 

“They are good parents, unlike some.” Monica had a former girlfriend whose parents banned her from their house when they found out about her and Monica, they said they wouldn't let her evil corrupt their child, when it was their `precious' child that came on to her.

 

“Hermione I wanted to show you this.” Harry picks up the book Jim left behind and shows the passage about the best Chaser performance, done in 1974.

 

“Harry that still wasn't a smart thing to do.” Monica and Ginny see the passage.

 

“Devin Granger? Hey Hermione, are you sure you're Muggle born? There's another Granger, he was big in the Ministry during Voldemort's first reign.” As far as Monica knew Granger wasn't that common of a name, at least in America it wasn't.

 

“I'm sure, that Devin Granger isn't related to me, I bet he was so ugly they couldn't stand to take a picture of him.” Hermione smiles at Harry, he smiles back at the joke, their inside joke.

 

“Wow, why can't we have him on our team, look at those scores, but he only played in one game, I wonder why.” Ginny saw the stats, none of his goals were blocked, his skill on a broom was probably even better then Harry and that was with an old broom, not a new one like a Firebolt.

 

“I'm sure he is a little old by now Ginny, and definitely not a student.” Harry and Hermione start to laugh, getting weird looks from Ginny and Monica.

 

“Ginny, if you want I could have Dobby make a new room in the house or you could stay in Monica's room, whichever you want.” Ginny looks at Monica not sure what to say, Monica had been trying to pressure her into doing more things, but she always stopped when Ginny told her to, maybe it would be ok.

 

“I guess I'll stay with Monica, she has two great pillows to sleep on.” Harry puts his hands over his ears.

 

“I don't need to hear about that!” They made him uncomfortable, he didn't think it was wrong, he knew what wrong was, but this was just different. Voldemort and the Death Eaters were wrong; this was love, just something he wasn't comfortable with.

 

“Harry who was it that was more then happy to hear about me and Monica in the Prefect bathroom…”

 

“That's different, that was just, I'm not talking about it!” Harry's cheeks become red from embarrassment, the girls laugh.

 

“He's so cute and innocent, Hermione you need to corrupt him sooner or later.” They laugh some more, Harry laughs with them.

 

“Don't need to work on me, work on Devin, I think, I know Luna has a crush on him but he's acting like himself.” Harry had to get the conversation off him; his cheeks were burning with embarrassment.

 

“I keep telling her to keep talking to him, even if he doesn't talk back; it's just how he is. I think Luna likes him enough to keep trying, she interrogated Monica about Devin trying to find something she could talk to him about.” Luna was Ginny's best friend and was glad Monica was helping her; Luna took so much from her fellow students. If they just took time to get to know her, she was the one person Ginny trusted more then Monica, or Harry and Hermione; she was the first person Ginny told about her and Monica and she never told anyone.

 

“She was, she came up to talk to Devin, and he was uh, bad.”

 

“What did he do? Did he hurt anyone?” Monica still loved Devin like a Brother.

 

“No he was meditating and I bothered him, he said something about missing Professor Krats, your mother's, funeral. Why I was crying Mione.”

 

“Good, I knew he felt bad about something but was keeping it inside, it wasn't his fault.” They four leave the Library and go to the Common Room.