Unofficial Portkey Archive

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, it belongs to JK Rowling, etc etc.

Authors Note: Hope you guys enjoy the Christmas break. It's a shame I can't write more Sirius, it's so much fun. Anyway, I'm sure I'll be able to give him more screen (or rather paper) time later in the sequel/s. More Ron in this chapter, another character that doesn't really have much paper time so far, but will surely pick up later on. Also, I've noticed a decline in hits and reviews and I'm wondering why? Am I doing something wrong? *Shrugs* Either way, it doesn't matter; you don't like it, fair enough. Anyway, hope you guys like, thanks for the reviews, and enjoy!

Chapter Seventeen

Harry went back to Grimmauld Place for the Christmas Holidays. He didn't join the rest of the schools students down at the Hogsmeade train station, but went directly to Dumbledores office and quickly flooed back home from there. It had been agreed that it was much safer this way. Sirius and Tonks greeted him on the other end, the first embracing him in a quick, manly black slapping hug, the second giving him a cheery smile.

"Wotcher Harry," Tonks said.

"Hey Tonks," Harry said, smiling slightly, "How are you?"

"Not too bad," Tonks said offhandedly.

Sirius guffawed, "When you're not moping over Remus!"

"Hey!" Tonks slapped him on the arm. "I don't mope," she said emphatically.

"You mope," Sirius said, "and you brood, and you glower at him, and he ignores you. Just shag already and get it over with!"

Harry covered his growing grin with his hand and coughed. Tonks swivelled her eyes to pierce him accusingly, and he just shrugged, holding up his hands in surrender. Tonks huffed and stormed out of the room, Sirius' laughter following her. Harry gave him a puzzled look.

"She fancies Moony," he said, "but Moony thinks she should find someone more suited to her, but everyone knows he fancies her too. It's pretty funny actually."

Harry chuckled. "I'm sure," he said.

"It's good to see you," Sirius said, clapping a hand to his shoulder.

"You too," Harry returned, "I've got so much to tell you."

"Ah," Sirius said knowingly, but grinning all the same, "all in due time, but first, to the kitchen!" And Sirius marched a smiling Harry into said kitchen.

He motioned for Harry to take a seat and he did, claming his usual place beside the head of the table, where Sirius sat. Sirius handed him a bottle of Butterbeer he had collected from the fridge and popped open his own, taking a quick swig and then letting out a drawn out 'aah' of pleasure.

"I never get tired of this stuff," he said.

"Hmm," Harry agreed, taking a swig of his own.

"Right them," Sirius sat his bottle down on the kitchen table and looked at Harry, "what's new then?"

"Someone is trying to kill someone at Hogwarts," Harry said, getting right to the point, "only I have no idea who, on both counts."

"Yeah," Sirius said musingly, "Dumbledore mentioned it to me."

"I bet he didn't mention that I suspected Snape had something to do with it." Harry said matter-of-factly, knowing he was right.

"Snivellus?" Sirius sat up in his chair, looking interested. "You think he's not really loyal to Dumbledore?"

"I can't prove it," Harry said, "and at the moment it's only speculation, but a lot of things don't add up, and he's connected to every one. Trying to have you soul sucked without even consulting anyone, my trouble with learning Occlumency - which, by the way, I've almost mastered on my own - and Mr. Weasleys death. I've calculated the time and with the snake venom in Nagini - that's Voldemort's snake - Mr. Weasley should still be alive. I told Snape not even half an hour after the dream and that venom takes at least three hours to kill someone. Snape had plenty of time to tell Dumbledore, but he didn't, not until it was too late."

"Damn," Sirius cursed, "that's pretty convincing to me, but I guess I'm a bit biased. Still, you should keep an eye on Snape, look for more suspicious behaviour."

"Like the fact he picked up the necklace that Bell girl touched after she was taken away from sight," Harry said, "but made perfectly sure he didn't actually touch it with his flesh?"

"Yeah," Sirius said, shaking his head, "like that."

"I've told Dumbledore," Harry said, "but you know what he's like. He trusts Snape, for whatever reason, but I don't. Be careful around him. I'm sure he'd like to find some way to get you out of the picture, just for old times sake."

"Yeah," Sirius ran a hand through his hair, "right. Any good news?"

Harry shrugged. "I met someone."

"Someone?" Sirius blanched, then grinned. "As in, someone special?" Harry didn't like the look in the eyes of his Godfather.

"Yes," Harry said, pointing an accusing finger at Sirius, "but don't you dare try to make fun of me or her. She's a really nice girl, I'm sure you'd approve."

"Oh?" Sirius asked, looking a little put out by Harry's no teasing demand.

"Yeah," Harry said, "she's the smartest witch in our year, beautiful, really beautiful, and - this I'm sure you'll love- she's a Gryffindor."

Sirius laughed out loud. "Aha!" he trumpeted. "Can't stand any of those greasy Slytherin girls huh?"

Harry chuckled. "I don't really care about many people Sirius," Harry said, "never mind if they're Slytherin girls, Gryffindor girls, or hell, even Hufflepuff girls. But Hermione is different. I'm sure I sound like a corny romantic fool, but she's special."

Sirius nodded. "My little boy's in love," he gushed, adopting a girly mother voice.

"Shut it!" Harry warned, and Sirius burst out laughing.

Harry couldn't help the smile that bloomed on his face.

(----)

Despite the fact Harry was in the company of a few people who didn't trust him (meaning Ron Weasley, his twin brothers and little sister Ginny: basically, the miniature Weasleys), he still had a hell of a Christmas holiday. Remus came by a lot, most notably on Christmas Day to share a meal with Sirius, the Weasleys, Tonks, and Harry. It was a nice meal, despite the fact Ron Weasley was glaring at him for the most part of it. He suspected the red head had something he wanted to say to him, and didn't have to wait long after the meal to find out.

He was washing his hands in the bathroom when Weasley barged in, slamming the door against the wall. Harry turned startled eyes on his intruder, who glowered at him fiercely.

"Do you mind?" Harry said, gesturing around vaguely. "I know what you did," Ron said accusingly.

"Yeah," Harry said, "whatever, you think I killed your dad. I get it already."

"Not that!" Ron yelled, going red in the face. Was he embarrassed, or did that just happen when he was angry? "You attacked Katie Bell!"

"The chaser?" Harry blanched. "What makes you think that?"

"I saw your stupid friend Malfoy," Ron said, "hanging around the Quidditch pitch every time we had practice. You had him scouting us. You knew Katie was our best Chaser and you knew we'd beat you so you attacked her with that necklace thingy."

"I did, did I?" Harry growled, losing his patience with the annoying Gryffindor quickly. He'd had enough being accused. "You think I'd do that over a stupid game? You really think I'm that evil, don't you?"

"Yeah, I do!" Ron growled back.

"Then maybe I'll just slip into your room when you're asleep and kill you," Harry said, getting in the other boys face, "because I could do that, you know. Anytime. I could have killed everyone in this entire house if I wanted too. Easily."

Ron laughed, though he looked a little nervous. "Yeah right," Ron scoffed, "you might be evil, but you're not that good of a wizard."

"Wanna try me?" Harry asked, opening his arms wide.

Harry didn't know what hit him, but it felt like a sledgehammer, and the next second he found himself on the floor, clutching his jaw. Ron stood glowering over him, fist clenched, fuming. Even though Seekers where built more for speed than power, it was surprising how strong Ron was, and Harry was tempted to stay on the floor. However, deciding he wouldn't let the other boy push him around, he stood up. He spat a little bit of blood that had oozed out of his tongue into the sink beside him and looked right in Ron's eyes.

"Feel better?" Harry ground out.

Ron was startled, obviously expecting another reaction. "What?"

"Listen to me," Harry said, "because I'm not going to repeat myself. You can hate me all you want, but I didn't kill your father and I didn't attack Katie Bell. I get that you need to blame someone for your father's death, but why you chose me I don't know. You should put the blame where it belongs. On Voldemort."

Ron flinched at the name.

"Everything okay in here?" A voice from behind Ron said, and when the taller boy moved aside, Harry saw Ginny Weasley in the hallway, holding a parcel and looking anxiously between the two.

"Yeah," Ron grunted, "whatever. Bye."

And he stormed off.

Harry spat more blood into the sink, before looking up and catching Ginny's eyes on him. She smiled at him slightly and then walked away. Harry felt a smile come to his own face. Maybe not all the mini Weasleys hated him after all.

(----)

Ginny had arrived outside the bathroom in time to hear Harry telling Ron he needed to put the blame for their father's death on Voldemort, and had waited with bated breath for Ron's response, but when it didn't look like he was going to say anything, or at least, anything good, she had intervened.

She felt like taking a club to her brother sometimes, he was that biased against Slytherin's. He just couldn't see that Harry wasn't a dark wizard, no matter what. She didn't know what it would take to open his eyes, but she hoped, whatever it was, that it happened soon.

After Ron had left, she gave Harry her best reassuring smile, hoping to cheer him up a bit, before heading to her bedroom. Ginny didn't mind living in Grimmauld Place, it wasn't that bad, especially since they had gotten rid of all of the dark magic that still lingered in the ancient house. Her mother just didn't have the heart to live at home anymore, with all the memories of her dad, and it was a lot more convenient that lived at headquarters anyway. Molly Weasley was like the secretary for the Order of the Phoenix, so to speak.

Her bedroom was pretty small, but bigger than her one at the Burrow, although that wasn't really all that hard, seeing as her old bedroom was about the size of a large broom cupboard. Her new room was painted red, like her hair, and contained only a simple desk and bed. She really didn't need all that much else. Her trunk had all the clothes she needed and was pushed under her bed to make room.

She sat down on her bed, fingering the small parcel in her hands. She had found the parcel in her trunk when she unpacked, with specific instructions not to open it until Christmas day. She had no idea what was inside it, or who had put it in her trunk, or even how they had. She didn't know whether she should open it or not. What if it was some type of dark magic that attacked her like the necklace had attacked Katie Bell? That was one of the many outcomes her mind made up over the few days before Christmas day. She had been toying with the parcel all day, trying to decide what to do.

Now, holed up in her room, she took a deep breath and tore open the parcel. Relief flooded through her. It was a simple card with a landscape picture of the mountains around Hogsmeade and the little village nestled at the bottom, as if protected by two gigantic arms. Ginny smiled. It was a beautiful card. She opened it and two pieces of parchment fell to the wooden floor at her feet. She didn't reach for them straightaway, but read the text written inside the card:

'To Ginny, I hope you have a happy Christmas, Draco.'

Frowning, Ginny set the card aside and reached for the two pieces of parchment that had fallen free when she opened the card. She opened the folded one first and read:

'Hey Weasley, guess who? I'm sorry for having to break into your trunk, but I didn't know how to get this to you on Christmas day so I had no choice. Don't even ask me how I did it. It was hard work. Anyway, this is my way of saying Thank you for comforting me the other day. Also, for pestering you for so long, when you clearly aren't interested. So, I'm sorry, and I hope you can forgive me. I promise not to bother you anymore. The other piece of parchment is a twenty Galleon gift certificate for any shop on Diagon Alley. I'm not trying to buy you with money; I just didn't know what to get you. So I thought I'd let you chose and had to give you enough so that you could get whatever you wanted. Like I said in the card, I hope you have a good Christmas. Well, I think that will do, you won't believe how long it took me to even write this lame little note.'

A few sentences had been scribbled out here and Ginny smiled to herself, before she continued to read:

'Sorry, ignore the scribbling. Anyway, I hope you like your gifts and buy something nice with it.'

And it was signed with a scribbled:

'Draco Malfoy.'

Ginny folded up the note and pocketed it, then checked the other piece of parchment, and it was, indeed, a twenty Galleon gift certificate. She couldn't believe he had given her that much and she weren't sure if she would spend it. It just felt wrong. She didn't deserve it. She'd just been mean to him and made him feel like the bad guy, when she was the one being a bitch.

Either way, she was touched he had sent her the card, and a little curious as to what he had erased with his scribbling. What had he had second thoughts about? Putting the card up with the rest of the Christmas cards on her desk she added the gift certificate to her pocket.

Ginny spent the rest of the day musing on the missing sentences and when she went to bed that night, her dreams where filled with a silver haired boy with gorgeous mysterious grey eyes.

(----)

Piccolo999