Unofficial Portkey Archive

Chapter 26: An Invitation

December came to the Scottish highlands blustery and bitingly frigid, the howling wind and whirling snow carrying an icy chill that numbed anyone caught in it to the bone. The purplish mountains that served to outline the horizon of Hogwarts were now topped with snowfall, and the grounds outside were a thick blanket of powdery white, with the trees, looking strangely skeletal for lack of leaves, bowing heavily under piles of snow. The castles eaves, along with Hagrid's hut for that matter, dripped with long thick icicles that glistened in what little sunlight peeked out during the day, but the sky had mostly decided now to colour itself in only two ways; grey for the daytime and grey-black for night.

Since their conversation with Sirius some three weeks prior, neither Harry nor his father had been able to contact him. They'd figured out, after a week or more of trying to floo him that Sirius had somehow charmed his fireplace to disconnect from James' floo only, since both Harry and his father assumed he was still in contact with Dumbledore. He would need to be, if only to receive news from the outside world.

It was for this reason that Harry and James, along with Ron and Hermione, were headed down the cold castle hallways at that very moment to Dumbledore's office on a dull grey, freezing Friday afternoon. They'd finished Advanced DADA a couple of hours ago, with Harry finishing fencing after, and had decided to finally seek out the Headmaster's advice; though Harry and his father rather thought to themselves that their reasoning had more to do with the fact that Dumbledore was the only one who now knew of Sirius well-being.

"D'you think he's in?" asked Ron as they faced the two stone gargoyles that hid Dumbledore's office from the rest of the castle.

"Don't see why not," said Lupin as he absently ran his hands over his arms. "For the love of Godric I wish there was some way to keep the entire castle warm."

Harry nodded his agreement and wrapped his arm tighter around a shivering Hermione. "Sherbet Lemon."

The ugly statues hopped out of the way to both sides and a door ground opened to reveal a twisted staircase, ascending slowly with the grating sound of stone against stone. The four jumped on one after the other and rode the steps to the top, where they stepped into a decidedly warmer and more inviting area.

Dumbledore's office had always been for Hermione particularly, an area of fascination. It was circular, with some walls filled from top to bottom with nothing but enormous curved bookshelves that reached toward the ceiling. As she passed the sorting hat she greeted it politely.

The dozens of trinkets fascinated Ron; all sorts of delicate silver baubles and gadgets lined polished tables strewn here and there along the deep red carpeting. The portraits of long dead Headmasters of old pretended to be sleeping, as always, though Harry swore he saw one peek at them from the slit of an eye and then close it again quickly, affecting a rather loud snore after.

One step up took them to the slightly higher second level where Dumbledore's desk sat gleaming a dark finished wood in the middle of the floor. It was covered in scrolls and parchments, devices and instruments, but no Headmaster. Fawkes perched regally on a tall stand by the staircase leading toward the uppermost floor, and Harry thought to himself that he was looking rather as if it was coming time for him to burn again.

Four chairs suddenly apparated with a *pop* in front of the Headmaster's desk causing Hermione to squeal unexpectedly. Lupin looked up to discover Dumbledore in dark purple robes with silvery moons and stars on them, peering over the top floor railing at them through his half-moon glasses, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.

Lupin favoured him with a half smile. "Headmaster."

Dumbledore smiled and began to descend the staircase slowly owing to his age, finally coming to stand before them. "After all this time I think it safe by now for you to call me Albus, James. Have a seat, please." He gestured politely for the four to have a seat and rounded his desk to do the same.

"Er…Professor Dumbledore," began Harry a little hesitantly. "We wanted to…discuss something with you, Professor Lupin and I. Though we want it made clear we're not trying to get information from you you're not at liberty to give us…"

Dumbledore held up a hand and favoured Harry with a light smile. "Say no more, Harry. I'm right in assuming this is about Sirius?"

So Lupin had been keeping the Headmaster informed, Harry thought to himself. He wondered secretly what else his father had chosen to share with him.

Harry nodded sadly in answer to his question. "Yes sir."

"He hasn't tried to contact either of us since the night I told him who I really am," said Lupin in a small, tired voice. "Not that I blame him, mind you. But Harry and I've tried to contact him ourselves, and he's cut us off from his floo network. We're assuming he's still in contact with you?"

Dumbledore nodded from behind steepled fingers. "He is. Though I'm sure you know he wouldn't be confiding in me on something this personal. Our conversations consist of Ministry news and the Daily Prophet, nothing more… He's had quite a shock, you know. Might take him quite a bit of time to come to terms with it."

"I'm sure," answered Lupin matter-of-factly. "And I completely understand it. I never considered he'd pour his heart out to you. It's just, well…Ms. Granger here has had an idea she thought might help and I feel she may have something, though we'll need the use of your floo to do it since you're the only one who can reach him."

Dumbledore, looking slightly surprised even for him, turned his attention toward Hermione, who shifted a bit nervously in her chair.

"I thought, well… I thought we might invite Sirius to spend the holidays here with us in the castle," began Hermione. "I figured he might be able to come to terms with things more easily when surrounded by his friends…While still being with Professor Lu…er, Mr. Potter, he wouldn't yet have to face the awkwardness of having to meet with him alone."

"You can call me James out of the classroom, Hermione." Said Lupin with a perfunctory smile. Hermione nodded gratefully, and Harry blinked hard once. The sound of his father's first name coming from Hermione would be a bit odd for him to hear.

Dumbledore appeared to be considering what Hermione had said and the four waited silently for his response.

"You've all decided to spend the holidays here at Hogwarts, then?" asked the Headmaster.

"Well, I'm not. Mum insists we all spend Christmas together…especially since…well..since Percy won't be joining us." Ron ended the sentence with a mixture of resentment and resignation. "Normally it'd be Harry too, and Sirius would be more than welcome as far as Mum is concerned I'm sure, but all of the Weasley's on top of everyone else would be too much for Sirius to handle right now, I think."

"I would tend to agree with you on that," said Dumbledore, a wry smile twisting the very corners of his mouth.

"So it'd be just myself, Hermione, Sirius…and dad," said Harry, forcing out the last word in a small voice. Lupin shot him a surprised glance which Harry ignored. "He'd probably want to stay in the Gryffindor common room; have a bit of privacy. And from looking over the holiday rosters, Hermione and I are the only students who're staying over the holidays this year. No one should find out."

Dumbledore nodded slowly, his eyes taking a far-off look as he thought over the plan and the implications it might have. If Sirius were seen by anyone other than himself or the ones in this room, the consequences could be very dire indeed, yet… he needed somehow to be able to come to terms with the news he'd just received. Dumbledore could think of no better and less troubling of a situation for Sirius than to have him over for the holidays. He could floo home whenever he wished, no pressures to right things straight away, and Ms. Granger was right in saying that the situation would be much less threatening to him with others around to lessen the awkwardness, and to soften the blow…

"I'll permit it," said Dumbledore amidst a group of suddenly relieved faces, but continued with a very stern voice that sounded as if he thought the situation would normally be against his better judgement. "However, I want it made absolutely clear Sirius is to stay within the walls of this school. I'll inform Severus and Minerva of his coming as they're the only other professors staying over, but I can't stress enough what could happen should Sirius be somehow found out. Not only would he have every Ministry-loyal Auror and hitwizard directly after him, but the school would come under immediate attack from the Ministry. Fudge would take this as an opportunity to have me ousted and the school taken over. I'm trusting all of you to keep this in mind."

Lupin nodded gravely. "I understand the implications Albus. You can be certain we'll take every precaution."

"It'll be good for Sirius to get out from Grimmauld Place for a while," Harry stated, almost more to himself than anyone else.

"Yeah," agreed Ron. "He can't be very happy cooped up in the old dark estate alone with no one round to keep him company…"

"Especially during the holidays," finished Hermione for him. "We'll have to work hard at making him feel comfortable and welcome. It'll probably be really awkward at first, but hopefully he'll come round to talking with…everyone. Though it might just be Harry and I for a while."

Lupin nodded sadly at this, and Dumbledore eyed him with a look of understanding. "You did what you had to do James," he said quietly. "You kept your identity hidden to keep Harry and Sirius safe and I think once he understands it, Sirius won't be able to fault you for it. It may take him quite a while to come to terms with the shock, but once he does, I can't imagine he'll be anything but happy to have his closest friend back… no matter the circumstances."

Harry said nothing during this exchange, but somehow in his own mind, he wasn't so sure Dumbledore understood how Sirius must feel. It would take longer than one shared holiday for him to suddenly feel right with everything. After all, Harry was still sorting through things in his own mind, and he couldn't imagine, with Sirius having even more to deal with what with having to grieve for the death of a friend he hadn't even known was dead, that he would come round so quickly. Besides the fact, Sirius would probably have the same feelings of confusion and betrayal Harry had been battling for some odd three months now.

Dumbledore watched the four leave his office and could tell just from the look on Harry's face that he doubted what the Headmaster had just said. But Harry didn't know that the subject wasn't one Dumbledore was just pretending to understand. In fact, it was something he dealt with everyday…something he held closely guarded and wrapped in his own shroud of secrecy. Something, the Headmaster thought as he watched Harry exit, laying his head heavily in his hands, he wished he could unburden himself of with every waking moment…

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The grey, frosty days of the middle of December meant to the students, who chatted excitedly in the halls between classes, that time for the Yule Ball was fast approaching. Scads of house elves, along with a grudging Filch who made Ebenezer Scrooge seem almost loveable by comparison, had begun the yearly chore of decorating the castle for the holidays. The halls leading to every classroom were covered in wreaths, decorative baubles, snowmen charmed to stay frozen, and great bright Christmas trees. Even Trelawny had gotten into the holiday spirit and had decided she at least hadn't seen Harry's early demise happening in December, so he could have a pleasant holiday now, couldn't he? Ron had loved that one.

Dobby had taken it upon himself to decorate Harry and Hermione's quarters personally with loads of gaudy ornaments, streamers, a large Christmas tree, and had charmed an entire back wall of their common room to spell out "Happy Christmas Harry Potter!" in great electric blue lights. They'd nearly been blinded by it coming in one afternoon from classes and it took Harry nearly an hour banishing it all away, though he did leave the giant Christmas tree in a corner near the hearth, having finally charmed his face off from every ornament.

Ginny had decided to make Hermione her personal confidant with all things Draco Malfoy, and was still working at making headway with him. They had gotten closer, though he seemed to keep her at arms length whenever other Slytherin were around, or when the subject of "feelings" came into play. It angered Ginny to no end for Draco to suddenly act as if there was nothing between them when a housemate of his passed by. And the fact that he skirted easily around having to describe what he felt for her made her wonder at times if he was merely having his fun with her until he'd had his fill.

This particular Saturday evening, Hermione had sent Harry and Ron off with the premise that they needed some 'male bonding time', which neither seemed to mind as Ron immediately punched at the air grinning that Seamus and Dean had set up a Quidditch match between sixth and seventh year Gryffindors that night for fun. As soon as they left, Ginny showed up to the common room ready for conversation.

She and Hermione sat opposite each other on the soft rug in front of the fire, looking through catalogues of Madame Malkin's robes and fashion issues of Witch Weekly, discussing what they would be wearing for the ball, among other things.

"…and any time one of his housemates comes near, he immediately makes as if we're not together. Moves away from me and drops my hand. Sometimes even makes some half-arsed comment just to make me angry at him so we'll start arguing…I'm sure of it!" Declared Ginny as she held up a picture of a witch dressed in deep purple robes for Hermione to see.

"Yeah, I like that one," said Hermione absently as she thought over what Ginny had said. "Have you asked him why he does it? Why he's afraid to have anyone know you're together?"

"Not anyone," said Ginny huffily. "It doesn't matter if some Ravenclaw passes by while we're snogging outside, does it? Or some Hufflepuff while we're holding hands? It's only one's from his own house!"

"I don't think it's that he's ashamed of you then," said Hermione reasonably, thumbing through the 'Best Dressed Celebrity Witches' section. "If it were that, he'd not want anyone seeing you together. Is there some reason he'd be afraid for any Slytherin specifically to see you've grown close?"

Ginny sighed in defeat. "I dunno. I've asked him a hundred times in a hundred different roundabout ways, but he scrubs round the question. And if I keep asking him he gets upset and we end up in a row."

"I'm sure you don't stand for that," smiled Hermione. She gasped at one picture of a witch in a sky blue velvet gown with snowflakes charmed to sparkle all down the length of it. Her slippers were clear, made of some crystal-like substance, the same colour. Ginny beamed at her.

"Found yours, have you?" she asked with a smirk. "And to answer your question, no I don't; not normally. But he seems so adamant about it that I can't imagine he's not got some good reason. Doesn't mean I don't want to know what it is though, does it?"

"You have a right to know, Gin." Said Hermione firmly. "If it were Harry, I'd be furious."

"It wouldn't be Harry though, would it?" said Ginny a bit wistfully. "He'd never do something like that…Oh don't look at me like that I don't have anything for him! I just wish Draco would think on how it makes me feel when he does that. Does make it seem as if he's a bit ashamed of me…" she ended a bit quietly.

"And if you find out that's what it is," said Hermione fiercely, suddenly looking her straight in the eyes, "No matter what dumb-arse excuse he might give you… You'd better drop him like a bad habit, you hear me Gin? You're worth much more than that. You're beautiful, intelligent, and have a great personality. You could have anyone you want; and you don't want someone who'll treat you badly."

Ginny returned the look with one of her own. "You have nothing to worry about there, Hermione. Besides the fact my brothers would shred him to a pile of wizard meat." Hermione grinned at her. "Still," continued Ginny, "I really don't think that's what this is about. I wouldn't be giving him near as much leeway on it if I believed that. I'm trying to be patient. He's got to have a reason, however mysterious it is to me, but I don't know how long I'm going to let it continue though, that's for certain."

Hermione nodded with reserve, still looking as if she thought Ginny shouldn't abide by any of it, but Ginny merely returned to thumbing through the magazines strewn on the carpet before them. She was sure whatever was going on in Draco Malfoy's head she would eventually be able to pull from him...she hoped.

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The day of the Yule Ball approached quickly, and as with the All Hallows Eve bash, Hermione and Ginny had decided to dress together. But with Ginny's insistence that it would be great fun, Hermione had finally conceded to dress with all of the other girls in Gryffindor up in their dorms. As of this particular moment she had come to regret it.

Lavender was bemoaning the fact that she had no earrings to go with her gown, a crimson dress so covered in lace and frills that she looked as if she were headed to some rich society brothel. Both Ginny and Hermione thought it was rather too much, but Lavender had balked at the idea of charming it back a little. Parvarti, in a silk amethyst gown that trailed the floor, was currently arguing with Lavender that she needed the earrings she was wearing and that she would have to borrow some one else's. Other girls in the room, girls from Ginny's year that Hermione barely knew were whining amongst themselves as well. I'm too fat…my dress is ugly…I didn't get who I wanted to take me to the ball…my hair looks awful…I have no jewellery…etc.

Hermione, who had never grown up with other girls, and was now used to the peace and quiet of her and Harry's own rooms, began to grow annoyed at the whining and confusion of too many bodies and voices in one space. Clothes and makeup were strewn everywhere, things were being borrowed and passed around and subsequently lost amid the mess, and girls were bickering and complaining, frantically trying to get ready as they were sure their dates were downstairs waiting. Hermione thought to herself as Ginny helped zip up the back of her dress that she would never do anything like this again. The disorganisation and barely controlled chaos was beginning to drive her mad.

She turned, along with Ginny so that both could take in their reflections in the double wide mirror lining one wall of the girls dorms, and both gasped at their images.

Ginny's jade green dress had straps that fell off the shoulders, and a tight bodice that showed just the right amount of cleavage. The full skirt trailed the floor, and tiny emerald coloured gems were sown all along the length of it, getting closer and closer together as they reached the floor. Her shoes were the same colour silky jade, with around three inches of heel. The robe she wore over it was the palest shade of green she had ever seen, almost white, with shimmery trimming round the edges. Her thick red hair had been pulled into an elegant uptwist, and her lips and cheeks were tinged with red, with a hint of mascara on her lashes and a sweep of brown shadow over her eyelids. She wore tiny emerald earrings to top it off, and a thin gold chain with one green gem clasped in the middle. (Silver and green would've been too Slytherin like, Ginny had explained earlier with much sarcasm).

"I still can't believe Draco just handed me a bag of galleons and told me to pick out whatever I fancied," breathed Ginny as she twirled in the mirror. "Apparently he's not afraid at anyone seeing us at dances together, just together at everyday things… I reckon being someone's date to the Yule Ball doesn't make it appear as if you're actually dating in his eyes. Though I hope that's not what's going through his mind."

Hermione nodded her agreement, though she was half listening. Harry had done the same for her as Malfoy had done for Ginny as they had perused Hogsmeade with the rest of the fifth through seventh year students last week, although she'd had a hard time accepting it. It seemed a frivolous thing to do to spend loads of money on a gown and shoes to be worn only once, but Harry had insisted, and she had decided on the dress she'd seen advertised in the catalogue of Madame Malkin's robes for all occasions.

The sky blue of the dress slowly faded into a deeper blue as it swept the floor, and the snowflakes that seemed to be falling down the dress as if from the sky, sparkled and gleamed as if made from white crystal. Her shoes, a clear sort of substance charmed the darker blue colour, were heels around two inches high, and Ginny had helped charm very tiny glimmering snowflakes into her hair, which she'd decided to wear down and only pulled back slightly from her face. She wore the bare minimum of makeup and jewellery as usual, but a sweep of white shadow across her lids, a bit of mascara, and some barely pink gloss added to her lips gave just the right touch, along with a delicate silver chain with a small string of sapphires. Ginny smiled at her.

"You look like a princess. Harry'll drop dead when he claps eyes on you," she beamed happily as she helped Hermione into the shimmery white robe lying on the bed behind her.

Hermione's jaw continued to hang open. "I've never owned anything like this in my whole life."

"Neither have I," agreed Ginny as she twirled one last time in front of the mirror. "And I doubt I ever will again. But Carpe Diem I say, right?"

Hermione smirked at her and stepped out of the way of one frantic sixth year who'd misplaced a long white glove. "Right. Let's get then. Is Malfoy meeting you there?"

Ginny sighed wearily as they walked from the busy room and headed toward the stairs. "Yes. I think he's worried some of his housemates will start asking questions like they did after he came and picked me up from your and Harry's common room for the All Hallows Eve party. He hasn't said so, but I get the feeling he really doesn't want them assuming anything."

Hermione stopped midway down the stairs and turned to eye Ginny gravely. "Look Gin. I really don't think you should put up with that. You could do so much better. Don't let Malfoy treat you less than what you're worth."

"I don't intend to, Hermione," replied Ginny patiently. "I think something else is going on I can't see. I'm not going to let it go on for much longer. You can rest assured, if I think for one minute it's because he's ashamed of me, he'll have my Comet Two Sixty jammed so far up his arse he won't be able to see straight. So no worries, all right?"

Hermione grinned and laughed at the younger girl despite her misgivings and nodded, deciding for the moment to let the matter rest. Ginny was able to take care of herself; she'd shown herself more than capable on several occasions thus far. And in the end it would be up to her how she allowed herself to be treated.

As the two girls entered the common room, Ginny gave Hermione a wink and made her way toward the portrait door and out to head toward the Great Hall.

The common room looked like some sort of formal waiting area, littered with Gryffindor males dressed to the nines in suits and dress robes. Some were waiting patiently for their dates, others were looking quite grumpy as they yanked frustratedly on ties and jackets, and still others were looking quite green and sweaty as they fidgeted and paced, stealing nervous glances toward the staircase leading toward the girls dorms. Every now and then some girl would emerge and one boy was reprieved, with the rest sighing and settling back again to wait.

Hermione spied Harry and Ron seated in chairs near the fire. Both were sprawled out haphazardly, arms and legs thrown where ever they'd decided to land, jackets thrown behind them on the backs of the chairs and ties loosened. Both looked like they felt overdressed and under-appreciated.

She fought the urge to laugh out loud at them and rounded the back of Harry's chair. Even sitting carelessly in front of the hearth, tie hanging loosely round his neck, white button down shirt undone a bit for comfort, and black slacks now slightly wrinkled, Hermione found herself staring at his long, fit form. His black hair was still untamed and messy, and his overly green eyes behind the thin lenses seemed glossy from staring into the flames for too long, but he looked gorgeous to her. He hadn't seemed to notice she'd walked almost in front of him and it took Hermione's voice to snap him from his stupor.

She rapped lightly on the top of his skull with her knuckles, standing slightly behind his chair. "Harry, love…you still in there?"

Harry sat up, twisted round quickly, and found that he wasn't the only one in the room now staring open-mouthed at his date. A few whistles sounded behind him and he stood and gave the others one of his best 'hands off' scowls before returning his attention back to Hermione.

"Hermione…you look absolutely…I mean, just…amazing! Sorry, I was sort of lost in my thoughts, but gods you look smashing…Beautiful, really."

Hermione had the good grace to blush, before giving Harry's now tall, standing form a once over. How could a seventeen year old manage to make standing in a tuxedo look roguishly sexy? Wasn't he supposed to come off as some sort of awkward? As not looking quite comfortable? And yet Harry stood, his weight slightly more on one foot than the other and slung his jacket over his back winking at her. She felt her knees begin to knock. He still had quite little idea the effect he had on her, damn it…

Ron stood and gave her a peck on the cheek, managing to look quite handsome himself. He'd tamed his hair much more effectively than Harry had. "You do look wonderful, 'Mione… Any idea when my date's coming down? For the love of Godric, I swear I've been waiting for an hour now."

Hermione laughed at him. "She was almost dressed when Ginny and I left. Shouldn't be too much longer."

Ron scanned the room over Hermione's head. "Ginny? Where is she, then?"

"Left a few minutes ago," said Harry. "Walked right past you. Didn't you see her?"

"Obviously not. Did she leave with the ferret then?" asked Ron darkly. "Can't see how I missed that."

Hermione took a deep breath. "Ginny and he decided to meet there…Now hang on before you go off…"

"WHAT!?" barked Ron so loudly that Seamus and Dean turned to stare at them. "You mean he didn't have the frickin' decency to come get her from here!?"

"Calm down Ron!" hissed Hermione frustratedly. "Ginny's got a good head on her shoulders. She knows what she's doing…"

"So do I," Ron seethed dangerously as he whipped his wand from his robes and proceeded to stomp towards the portrait door.

"Ron hang on," said Harry exasperatedly, grabbing onto his arm. Ron stopped but whirled to give Harry a very dirty scowl. "You can't just go off trying to blast Malfoy when things don't suit you between them! Ginny's got to decide things for herself."

"Easy for you to say, Harry. That's not your sister being treated like shit out there, is it!?"

Harry frowned slightly at him. "She's as good as, mate. And you know it."

Ron continued to scowl at him, breathing heavily, but finally dropped his arm. "You're right, I know. I'm sorry Harry. But I don't like Ginny being treated like that. She deserves more."

"She knows how it seems Ron," said Hermione placing a hand on his arm. "But she's got a good handle on things. She won't let herself be treated wrong. You know that."

Ron smirked. "Yeah I do, I guess."

The Great Hall was decorated to resemble a sort of ballroom of old, with large floating candle chandeliers hanging from the bewitched ceiling, now glowing with a fuzzy moon, very dark grey clouds, and a whirlwind of snowflurries. Great Christmas trees, once again decorated with live fairies glowing different pastel colours, stood in every corner. Great long silvery streamers hung from the walls, icicles hung magically from the large windowsills, and live snowmen greeted students as they came in.

The impossibly long tables used as house tables for the Hall, now lined the walls, covered in refreshments and pumpkin punch, being constantly fussed over by one or more house elves. Some of the earlier arriving couples were already dancing slowly to the WWN Dumbledore had charmed to sound throughout, and the professors who were dressed nicely themselves in festive looking robes were all on hand here and there, mingling with each other or manning tables as chaperones.

Ron greeted the snowman on his left gruffly, having already taken in the image of Ginny below, dancing with a distinctly stiff Draco Malfoy. Lavender pouted neatly beside him.

"Ron, just for tonight let's forget about your sister and have fun, just you and I."

Ron eyed her more harshly than he'd intended too. "She's my sister, Lav! I can't just forget about her! She's being used!"

"You don't know that," said Harry with Hermione from behind the two.

Ron turned to look at him. "I don't, do I!? How else do you explain the fact he wouldn't come get her from the common room tonight? Or the fact he doesn't want any of his mates knowing he fancies her!?"

Hermione instantly looked alarmed. "What?…How did you…I mean, I didn't tell…"

Ron rolled his eyes at her and then planted his gaze back on the couple below them. "Aw come off it, 'Mione. I watch them closer than anyone else here, don't I?"

"I'm surprised you haven't turned him into a newt by now then," said Harry with a frown.

"It's not for lack of wanting too," said Ron begrudgingly. "But if I did Ginny'd never speak to me again. I do have to let her handle it…for now."

Ron's last words left the distinct feeling about him that he hadn't let go of it by a long shot, nevertheless, the four entered the 'ballroom' and immediately set to dancing and having fun. More and more couples joined them soon, and by the time eight o'clock rolled around, the hall was teeming with young formally dressed witches and wizards.

"…and the most gorgeous by far, Miss Hermione Granger," finished Harry, grinning as he twirled Hermione outward and then caught her back to himself.

Hermione beamed up at him. "You clean up well yourself there. And you're not half-biased, are you?"

"Not a bit," said Harry with a mock look of annoyance. "Completely impartial."

"Right."

Harry smirked at her in that charming, roguish way that made her heart turn over, and Hermione felt herself giving into him once again. He held her so close, the distinct aroma of wind and outdoors and everything feverishly Harry about him. His soft, full lips brushed hers and she intensified the kiss, tangling her fingers in the fine hair that swept his nape. She never could seem to get enough of him…

Gods she tasted like Elysian Fields, some sort of honeyed utopia he couldn't get enough of, even with all the times he'd fallen into her before. Harry felt the familiar drunken desire beginning to well up in him and decided to himself that he'd do better to just hold her for now, lest they end up in a full blown snog that embarrassed the hell out of everyone else.

He pulled back from her somewhat dizzily and turned his head slightly to see Ron, dancing closely with Lavender, leering at him and giving him a suggestive wink and thumbs up. He blushed a bit and turned back to Hermione.

"Er, love…much as I love kissing you…I don't think I'll be able to control myself if we keep on."

She followed his gaze and saw Ron waggling his tongue brazenly at them while Lavender did her best to admonish him. Hermione gave him her best 'sod off' glower and returned her attention back to Harry.

"It's all right. I feel the same. Can't help it if your devastatingly handsome now, can you?"

"And now who's biased?" said Harry with a surprised grin as he held her even closer.

"I resent the insinuation," said Hermione with a cock of one eyebrow. "I've always been an extremely unprejudiced judge of your overall…package."

Harry leered at her in much the same way Ron had and lowered his voice an octave. "My package? We still talking about the same thing, 'Mione?"

He'd expected her to punch him for the insinuation, but Hermione merely returned the look. "I mean that I personally think your outside is as beautiful as your inside. And as for your package…I haven't yet had the privilege of unwrapping it, have I?"

Harry's jaw dropped and he grinned at her. "You'll never stop surprising me, will you?"

Hermione looked pleased with herself as she let Harry dip her in a silly, overly-proper way.

"And I rather think that when the time comes, we'll be unwrapping presents together, don't you?" he whispered down into her ear. "I can't wait to see mine."

Hermione turned three shades of bright red as he lifted her back upright.

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From the other side of the ballroom, Ginny looked up at Draco as he swayed with her and caught a slideshow of indecipherable emotions crossing his face. He'd been stiff and almost awkward with her the whole night. Anytime one of his housemates passed by he made sure to hold her at arms length, and even acted at times as if he felt he would be glad when the whole thing was over. His attitude was beginning to grate on her, and Ginny felt, as Theodore Nott passed with his date, and Draco stopped looking at her to find one of the snack tables interesting, that she'd rather had enough.

"If you're having such a horrible time why'd you ask me in the first place?" She whispered angrily above the song that had just come on the WWN. The station had decided to play some of the older, more famous Muggle Christmas songs this year, and the American Bing Crosby's low voice flowed smooth as melted butter into the Great Hall.

*I'll be home for Christmas…You can plan on me…*

Malfoy blinked a couple of times before her words sank in. "What? What're you on about?"

"You!" said Ginny, setting her jaw. "All night long you've been distant and strange with me. 'Specially when one of your damn Slytherin friends pass by."

Draco pulled her to him closer and looked down at her fiercely. "They most certainly are not my friends, Red. You know that."

*Please have snow, and mistletoe…and presents 'neath the tree…*

Ginny sighed and put her arms round his shoulders. "Then why d'you care what they think?"

She felt Draco stiffen again but he brought a hand up to smooth a flaming red lock of hair back behind her ear that had fallen out of Ginny's upsweep. "I did tell you how smashing you look tonight, didn't I? Green is definitely your colour. You look like a jewel… Makes me want to wear you."

*Christmas Eve will find me…*

Ginny's eyes rounded at his obvious intimation but she decided she wouldn't be swayed off topic. "Mmmm…sort of like Harry's eyes, right?"

Draco's eyes flashed and he suddenly held her at arms length. "What? You got some thing for Scarhead? What's going on with you two!? One witch not enough for him!?"

Ginny smirked triumphantly. "Of course I don't have something for him, but I did just get you to stop play-acting now, didn't I? Now maybe you'll answer my question."

Draco scowled at her. "Not very nice of you, Red."

"No, it wasn't," said Ginny. "Now answer my question."

*Where the love light gleams…I'll be home for Christmas…*

"Which one was that?" asked Draco innocently as he twirled her outward and then brought her back in.

Ginny gritted her teeth in aggravation. "The one where I asked you why you care what your classmates think of you and I?…if you can remember that far back…"

Malfoy smiled down at her. He loved when she got feisty with him. "What makes you think I do?"

He really was infuriating her now, and Ginny was on the verge of leaving him alone on the floor. She'd finally had enough. "Oh, I dunno… Maybe it's the fact that whenever one of them comes near it's as if you feel absolutely nothing for me…or maybe its that sometimes you actually start a fight with me so that it'll appear as if it's just another Weasley-Malfoy row going on…or it could be that you won't hold my hand or kiss me anywhere near a Slytherin…"

Ginny's voice had begun to raise in pitch at the last sentence and Draco began to look alarmed. He stopped dancing at once and gripped her by the top of her arms. "Not so loud! You want the whole school hearing you!? Be quiet for god's sake!"

*If only in my dreams…*

Ginny stopped, breathing hard, eyes flaming with fury and hurt and wrenched her arms away from him. She stared hard at him for a few moments and then turned and began striding purposefully out from the Hall, obviously sure that he was going to follow. He did.

When they'd gotten to the great oak double doors of the castle and wrenched them apart, Ginny met him at the bottom of the steps, her eyes shining with angry tears.

"All right." Her voice was very steady, but low pitched and whispery as if she couldn't trust herself to use it fully. "You'll tell me what's going on right now, or we're through. You hear me?"

Draco gave her his best scowl. "I don't take well to ultimatums, Red."

*Christmas Eve will find me…* Drifted out muffled from inside the castle.

"That's too bad," said Ginny, enunciating every word clearly. "I want to know what's going on and I want to know NOW."

Malfoy stared at her for a few moments, those infuriatingly unreadable emotions crossing over his face again. He swallowed roughly.

Ginny cleared her throat to keep her voice steady and spoke quietly. "Are you ashamed of me?"

Draco looked confused. "Ashamed…"

"Of me, yes," said Ginny clearly. "…Am I too poor for you? Is that it? Not high-class enough for a Malfoy?"

"What!?" said Draco, angrily. "That what kind of wizard you think I am, Weasley? Equating me with my father now, are you!?"

*Where the love light gleams…*

"What other explanation have you given me!?" asked Ginny hotly. "I don't know what to think anymore! I've let it go for too long and now I want the truth!"

Draco screwed up his face and hesitated. He was going to hate himself in the morning. "Truth is that I have my reasons…and that's all you need to know for now."

Ginny backed from him and crossed her arms over her chest, instantly telling him she was cutting herself off from him. That had done it. He'd lost her now and he knew it.

"You know me better than that by now, I think." Ginny's breathing became more laboured and she spoke dangerously low. "You don't seriously think I'm all right with that, do you?"

*I'll be home for Christmas…*

Malfoy hesitated again. He knew she expected answers from him, but they were answers he wasn't willing to give. The answers would be worse for her than what had brought on the questions. He knew his next words would drive her completely from him, but hadn't he known all along it wouldn't last? He'd known. Trying to mix a Weasley with a Malfoy was like trying to successfully merge oil and water. It was never going to happen.

He answered her last question steadily. "No…I don't."

Ginny looked a bit stunned and stood, shifting uncomfortably, blinking quietly as if willing her eyes to keep from betraying her with tears. She just continued to stare at him until he felt almost burned by her gaze and could no longer meet it. He stared at the ground, hating life, hating himself, most of all, hating his last name…

*If only in my dreams…*

Then Ginny gave off a very soft derisive laugh at herself and began to sweep past him back up the steps and into the castle. He heard her mumble through sobs as she passed.

"What was I thinking…"

The huge oak door slammed shut behind him with a resounding thud, and Draco suddenly began to notice the snowflakes falling over him. The wind whistled round the corners of the castle, a thin layer of ice covering the lake shone dully to him as the moonshine hit it, and he watched apathetically as the wind began to blow layers of snow from the heavy bows of the surrounding trees. He jammed his fists into the pockets of his robes, and as the icy wind seeped through his robes and suit, a chill that had nothing to do with the weather clutched hold of his heart once again.

Alone again, Draco thought to himself. Just as I knew I would be.

*If only in my dreams.*

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Much later that night, after the ball had gone on for another two hours and ended, after Hermione had tried consoling a distraught Ginny who'd shown up to their common room at around midnight, and after Harry and Hermione had already changed back into their regular clothes, Harry finally sat with Hermione to compose a letter to Sirius. Christmas was only a week away now, and they knew the sooner they were able to ask him to join them, the longer he would have to get used to the idea of seeing them again.

Every sentence he wrote, Harry turned to eye Hermione for approval, and she suggested small changes here and there when she found it necessary.

They headed straight away down the dark cold hallways toward Dumbledore's office where they knew the Headmaster, himself a night owl, would still be awake. Dumbledore took the letter from them, bade them a good night, and promised them he'd floo it straight away to Sirius.

Fifteen minutes later in London, Sirius sat on his couch at Grimmauld Place in front of the hearth, still clutching the letter he'd received some ten minutes ago with shaky hands. He'd recognised the untidy scrawl his name was written in immediately. Harry.

Thinking to himself that it did him no good to prolong the inevitable, Sirius slit the envelope open and began to read with his heart thudding against his ribs.

Dear Sirius,

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