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Harry Potter and The Green Flame Torch by Shadow Master 03
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Harry Potter and The Green Flame Torch

Shadow Master 03

Chapter 22: Christmas With Sirius

It was almost Christmas, and over a month had passed since Sirius was killed. When Harry went to ask Dumbledore how he was killed, the old wizard just stated that it was a Classified issue that did not needed to be brooded over. That angered Harry to the extent where he shattered the office window.

Each night, Hermione would cuddle with him, letting Harry cry into her shoulder until he fell asleep. Right after Harry visited Cho's grave, she knew that many more people close to Harry would die, and vowed that she would not let him return to what he was during the summer. So every night, she let him cry to his heart's content on her shoulder. Dumbledore had seen it all happen.

"When are you going to make your appearance? Christmas is coming up you know."

"I know, Dumbledore. But there are still a few more things that I need to do first. I'm way too valuable to the order at this moment. Remember, to everyone, I'm a corpse."

"Yeah, and if you're caught, you really will be one."

"Yeah, yeah, I know."

***

Hermione woke up in Harry's bed. Always alone. She hasn't woken up once with Harry by her side since the day Sirius left. After he woke up, which was now always earlier then she did, and left the room. No kiss on the forehead, he just got dressed and left for the Great Hall, leaving everything else behind.

She got up, and walked over to her room, got dressed , and then walked down to the Great Hall. It had been her daily morning ritual since Sirius had died. She entered the Great Hall, to see Harry, picking at his food. Hermione walked over and kissed him on the cheek. He looked at her quickly, and then looked down at his food. She was fed up with this. She grabbed his face.

"Look at me." She said firmly. Harry continued to struggle, and then gave up. He looked at Hermione's chocolate brown eyes, "Harry, I know you lost Sirius, but now is not the time to give up, not the time to lay down and die. You are the only person who will ever have the power to save us Harry. The only person who has fought that monster time and again and won."

"You don't know what it's like, Hermione. You don't know what it's like to lose everyone around you. You don't know what it's like to have your life become a nightmare with no chance of return. To have everything and everyone around stripped-" Then a letter landed right in front him. It was just a piece of parchment, not sealed in an envelope, not tied by a string, just a rolled up piece of parchment.

Harry picked it up, and unrolled it all of the way, so it was flat on the table. There were no words written on it. All that was on the parchment was a lone paw print. Harry stared at it for a while, wondering an answer for an impossible question that he had been brooding over for the last month. Is Sirius alive?

"Is this someone's idea of a sick joke?" Ron asked as he sat down.

"Yeah…" Hermione said, looking at Harry with concern. He did nothing except stand up, grab the letter, and walk out of the doors of the Great Hall.

"Who would do this?" Ron asked.

"Voldemort maybe?" He winced, "Oh grow up. It's time you started saying his name."

***

Harry walked to Dumbledore's office, the letter rolled up in his hand. He had assumed that there was an Order meeting at the moment because none of the teachers were at breakfast, and the staircase to Dumbledore's office was up already. He ran up the stone steps, and pushed open the doors, "Professor, I got this letter-" And then, standing right in front of him, was Sirius.

He couldn't move, he couldn't speak, he couldn't even hear when Dumbledore told him to sit down. All Harry could do, was stare at Sirius in disbelief, and question his own reality. Then, when Harry found he could move again, he put a hand out in front of him, touching Sirius, making sure he was real.

"Back in Black." Sirius said with a grin. Then Harry hugged him with all of his might, tears of joy streaming down his face. Sirius returned the hug graciously, with the same expression lighting up his own features. Somehow, he looked younger then before he left on the mission.

Then Harry took a step back, and looked at Sirius one last time. Then he stepped forward once more, raised his right fist, and connected the blow at Sirius' jaw. The members of the order jumped out of their seats, and Sirius didn't stumble back, he flew. Sirius flew backwards, only stopped by Dumbledore's desk.

"That's for making me think you were dead." Harry said, looking at his godfather who was standing up from the floor. Harry was now walking away, "Don't you ever do that again." He said, grinning.

"Let me guess. Teacher instructs student, student gets big head and whips teacher's ass?"

"Exactly." Then the doors burst open, with Ron and Hermione running through them.

"Professor! We can't-" They stopped dead in their tracks, looking at Harry, and then at Sirius. Tears of joy started welling up in Hermione's eyes, and Ron stepped forward a little bit, "Sirius?"

Sirius stood up straight, and crossed his arms, "That's Professor Black to you, Weasley." Then Ron and Hermione ran forward, hugging Sirius. He hugged them back, and all of the members of the Order smiled.

"Now that we've had our family reunion, can we get on with the meeting?" Dumbledore asked, the twinkle in his eye larger then normal.

***

Harry, Ron, and Hermione spent the next few days lounging in the Gryffindor Prefect Common Room, talking about Christmas plans. Harry was much better, now that he had found out Sirius was alive, and was talking freely with everyone. At the present moment, Harry and Hermione were cuddling on the couch, looking out of the window, the night before it was the day to leave for Christmas Vacation.

"So, what do you plan on doing for Christmas?"

"Do you think I have any idea?" Hermione laughed into his chest, "Seriously though, I don't have anything in mind. What about you?"

"The same. Now, what am I getting for Christmas?"

"I'm not enough?" Hermione laughed again.

"Oh, of course… not!"

Harry held her closer, "Hey, remarks like that will not get you invited for Christmas Dinner."

"My luck is changing for the better every day." Hermione said with a smile.

"You're right, Sirius is cooking."

"Well, Harry, we better get some sleep. We have to meet the train early tomorrow. Good night." Harry kissed her on the forehead.

"Sleep well."

***

It was the day before the students left, and the Order of the Phoenix was having a last minute meeting, to discuss the what information that Sirius had uncovered during his investigations. He had just finished with his last base, and was now onto the next item on the agenda.

"We need to protect Harry and Hermione."

"I don't think Mr. Potter, nor Miss Granger, need our help. It's obvious he's shown us that." Severus said in a drawling voice.

"What would you know about it?"

"I know they say that everyone is meant to be loved, but is Sirius actually attractive to anyone outside of the k-9 species?"

"Oh, who's a grumpy bastard?" Sirius asked sarcastically.

"Yeah, I'm a grumpy bastard." said Snape, standing up from his seat.

"Sit down, boys. We need to get on with the meeting. I have no idea where half of those comments came from."" McGonagall said sternly. Severus sat down, and looked at Sirius with a look of scorn.

"Where is Voldemort's next target?"

"A town out in the middle of nowhere, yet they are very advanced. Don't ask me how. The town is called Avalanche Ridge."

***

In the morning, Harry and Hermione were woken up by Ginny and Leah giggling at them. So they got up, changed, grabbed their trunks, and ran to the carriages. Ron was already standing there, waiting for them. A large grin was fixed to his face. It was so annoying it made Harry want to throw up.

They got into the last carriage, and it rolled down the path to Hogsmeade station. When they got to the train, Harry, Ron, and Hermione got their stuff out of the carriage and got a compartment all to themselves. Harry sat with his back against the wall of the compartment, and Hermione sat in his lap, wrapped her arms around his neck, and laid her head on his shoulder. He heard steady breathing moments later, and he knew that she was asleep.

Harry stared out the window, looking at the untouched snow that they were passing. He could see the trees, the ground, everything covered in white. But the only things he could feel were the sleeping body he held in his arms and the breath of that body on her neck. He turned his head and planted a soft kiss to Hermione's forehead.

They all sat there, reveling in the silence for the most of the train ride. Harry had set his chin on the top of Hermione's head, letting himself fall into the warmth she was placing around him. Even when Ron had the window pulled all the way down. Harry chuckled when Ginny came in and smacked him for it, then dragged him out of the compartment.

"Are we alone?" Hermione asked from Harry's shoulder. Harry nodded his head and grinned. Hermione sat up, and looked into Harry's eyes. Harry lowered his head to hers, and kissed her softly. Hermione deepened the kiss and pressed Harry's back against the wall of the compartment.

Harry's hands went up to the sides of her face, and pulled back, trying for air. He studied Hermione, as he always did, looking at the depths of her soul, then lowered his face and kissed her deeply again. His hands dropped to her hips, and wrapped around to the lower part of Hermione's back, resting on her waist.

Little did they know that Ron and Ginny were watching through the window of the Compartment, "See what happens when we leave them alone?" Unfortunately, Harry and Hermione both heard her. They looked up, horrified, and quickly pushed away from each other.

"Oh come on! Everyone knows about you two!" Ginny said, opening the door, "We're almost at the station, so you two better straighten up before mum sees you."

"Oh, and Hermione?"

"Yes?"

"Wipe that white stuff off your mouth. It might give you away to mum." Ron ran out of the compartment real fast, with Hermione close on his heels.

"God, those two annoy each other." Ginny said, smiling

"Tell me about it." Harry returning the grin.

***

Harry looked out the window of the train to see Fred and George standing with Mrs. Weasley on the platform, waving at them. Harry and Hermione stepped off, hand in hand, levitating their trunks behind them. The next thing they hear was, "Oh, it's about time!"

Fred and George were grinning madly, "We were wondering when you two were going to get together. In fact, we had said if you two hadn't gotten together this year, you were both batting for the other team." Mrs. Weasley slapped both of them.

"Truly dear, we really are happy for you two. Congratulations."

"So when are you two getting married?" Fred asked.

"You two, don't mind these two clowns. Now come on! Arthur is waiting for us at home." They put their trunks onto the trolleys that the twins got for them, and walked through the barrier, out of the station. They hopped into a ministry provided car, and drove to the Burrow in record time. Apparently the ministry installed something that allowed the cars to drive through buildings without people noticing.

As the ministry cars pulled into the driveway, Arthur ran out of the house with Bill and Charlie, ready to help with the luggage that was there. The car stopped, and the three walked to the trunk, expecting it to open.

"New feature," the driver said, "the people that were walking in the streets kept opening the trunk, so now only a ministry driver can open it." The rubbed his finger across the seam of the trunk, and it popped open, and shot the Weasley's bags through the windows of the house.

"Damn, and I just replaced those last week!"

"What happened?" Hermione asked.

"Fred and George disintegrated the windows with one of their jokes."

"Sir and ma'am," The driver said, "do you want me to take you bags to your house down the road?"

"NO!" they screamed at the same time, "I mean, no. That's fine. Thank you." Hermione said, quietly. They took their bags out of the trunk, but Bill and Charlie took them from their hands.

"Sirius asked us to take your bags to the house. And you'll be staying here for a night

"Did he say why?"

"He's got some work to do and he can't be bothered. And he needs the whole house to do it in."

"Okay." Harry said, bewildered. He and Hermione sat down on the couch, and relaxed.

***

The day passed by quickly. All of them sat in the living room, and talked about things that were going on in every day life that wasn't in the war, while Mrs. Weasley sat down with them. Surprisingly, she didn't prepare dinner, much to the dismay of the other Weasley's in the room.

"Well, I think it's time for us to go to bed." Mr. Weasley said, unable to keep a grin from forming on his face.

"Oh, before I forget, the cots you usually have are too small for fit you, so-"

"Molly, we can enlarge them."

"Shut up, dear. You both will have to spend tonight on the couch." She said with a straight face, while the other Weasley's looked at her with shock. Never had they seen such a blatant attempt at helping a relationship in this kind of fashion. Usually, Mrs. Weasley slept in the girl's room to prevent any intrusions or exits.

"Um, ok, Mrs. Weasley." Hermione said. Then she turned to Harry and whispered only so he could hear, "Does it seem like they're trying to get us together, alone?"

"Yes. Although, I'm not exactly complaining." Harry said, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her closer. He kissed her on the temple, and Mrs. Weasley's face just brightened up like the sun.

***

Harry was asleep on the couch, with one arm draped over Hermione, their hands clasped together under the blanket that was thrown over them. He opened his eyes, looking at the back of Hermione's head, her breath steady. Then he looked up a little bit more, and saw the business end of blade.

"Wake her up." the person holding the knife said, "Wake her up, now." Harry grabbed Hermione's shoulders softly, and pressed a kiss to the back of her neck.

"'Mione, come on, wake up." He shook her softly, and saw her head turn.

"Harry, what's going on?"

"We got to go. Come on, get up." They both stood up from the couch, and the man put a hand on their shoulders. Then, with a loud crack, they were inside a large hall, decked out in Christmas decorations. Harry of them looked around to see everyone there, Sirius, the Weasley's, everyone.

"MERRY CHRISTMAS!" Everyone yelled, laughing at how surprised Harry was. Even Hermione had said it, and motioned for the Death Eater to take off his hood. It was Remus. Harry could only look around, at everyone, at the decorations. He finally felt like he was home.

"Welcome home, kid." Remus said, with a large grin on his face. Harry walked over and hugged him, and Sirius got up on one of the tables. He aimed his wand at Harry and Hermione, and transfigured their pajamas into normal clothing.

"Let's get this party started!"

***

Shuyin was running for his life through downtown Tokyo. After breaking into the Japanese intelligence building, and his escape only narrow, he had both American INS and Japanese Intelligence agents after him. And he suspected that various arms dealers were on his tail as well.

Voldemort must not get these plans. If he creates Vegnagun, this world is no more. Shuyin thought as he pulled out a Desert Eagle and fired behind him. He heard a scream, bullets flying out of a gun, and a body fall to the ground. Shuyin knew that there was one less person behind him.

He pulled a longsword out of a sheath that was strapped to his back, and threw it at a pole. The blade went deep into the pole, and Shuyin jumped onto the handle, and used it like a springboard, sending him onto the roof of the building in front of him. Then he pointed his hand at the blade, and it shot up into his hands. He grabbed it by the handle and shoved it back into the sheath.

Shuyin stood up, and looked at the men who were following him. He watched as they raised their guns, and started to fire. Then all around him, time slowed down to the point where he could see the bullets coming at him. He brought the sword up, looking on both sides of the flat part of the blade, and then started swinging it around, blocking the bullets that were coming at him.

Then, Shuyin saw the last bullet fly at him. He jumped up into the air, using the wind to push him higher, spun around, and aimed the edge of the blade at the tip of the bullet, "Say hello to Mr. Slice and Dice." he said before he swung the sword like a baseball bat. It went straight through the bullet, chopping it cleanly in half. He then dropped to the ground, avoiding the bullet entirely.

He landed on the ground, staring down a gun barrel.

"Thanks for the Vegnagun plans. The United States would like them back."

"Who are you?"

"The man you work for, Jack Ryan. CIA. Hand them over, Shuyin." Shuyin brought a hand up to knock away the gun, "Don't even try it, son. You're not that fast. Just hand over the plans, and you and Lenne go free."

Shuyin started talking into his commlink, "Lenne? Lenne, are you there?"

"Looking for this?" Ryan said, holding up the earpiece and microphone. He had a large grin on his face that Shuyin wanted to smack off. His urge to punch the man was incredible. Ryan threw it to the ground, and then crushed it with his foot. Then he held out his hand, "The plans, now."

Shuyin placed them in Ryan's hand, stiffly, "There, happy?"

"Very much so." Then the man disappeared. Then the sound of guns cocking was heard all around them.

"NSA! FREEZE!"

***

Ryan had apparated back to the Death Eater base in the Ural Mountains. He was looking Voldemort straight in the eye. He outstretched his hand, giving the plans to Voldemort.

"Macnair, nice job. The DNA sample of Ryan that was got from Dubrino was excellent."

"Thank you, master. If I may ask, how long are you going to sit on those plans?"

"I'm not. I will give them to the Cult of Shadows, and they will build Vegnagun to our specifications. It will take them two years to do that."

"Are you-"

"Don't question my decisions."

***

Music started up from somewhere, and everyone sat down at a chair. Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny were sent to the table at the end of the room, which looked down at the entire room. Harry looked down to see the menu from the Halloween Ball sitting in front of him.

"Now you see why I didn't cook Dinner." Mrs. Weasley said, smiling.

"Yeah, I do." He looked at his menu, and ordered the small steak that he had from Halloween. It appeared on his plate as soon as he had finished saying it, and started cutting it with his knife, "How long has this been planned?"

"A month, I think. It's a homecoming gift for you and Sirius."

"Yeah, I think that the large forty foot banner says it all." He said, pointing at a large piece of cloth that said 'Welcome home, Harry and Sirius' that had turned itself into a blimp and was floating around the room.

Harry laughed and talked all night long, and thanked people at the end, when Sirius, drunk from Ogden's firewhiskey, crashed his head through the wall, kicked everyone out of his house, and passed out on the floor.

***

It was Christmas Eve, and Mrs. Weasley was having everyone over for dinner that night, and then they would choose where they wanted to eat Christmas Dinner at tomorrow, knowing everyone would be over at her house again. She had seen Sirius try to cook once, and it was the first time she had seen the muggle firemen from the town. Imagine her surprise when Ron saw her panting in her seat at the table when he was walking down the stairs.

Everyone was sitting around the table, outside in the lawn. Sirius and Arthur had melted the snow in the backyard, and brought the tables out there. Everyone was now sitting around them, even Penelope Clearwater, to their surprise had shown up to their door, holding a Glazed Ham.

"Alright, now we have to say grace, then we can eat." Ron was the first one to reach in, "Ron, since you're so eager to eat, then you can say grace."

"But-'

"No 'buts', just do it."

Ron sighed.

"Give us this day, and our daily bread. And do not let evil keep up with our tread. But if left alone, we will divide in two. Shattered by the force of two deadly hues. Black and red, many will end up dead. One in control falls to death, darkness is all that's left. When the guardians open up prison's door, then the world's balance will be shaken through its core. Evil will walk this earth once more, in search for a power that only one can bore. But will split yet again, between two deadly foes. One light, one dark, both seeking power. Will bring the world to their knees, at its darkest hour." Came from a very raspy voice, opposite where Ron was sitting.

He brought his head up, and looked down around at everyone, "Ron, I don't think that was a very nice grace." Mrs. Weasley said.

"But he didn't say anything, Dalene did." Someone said from the opposite side of the table.

"Dalene?" Harry asked Hermione, "What's she doing here?"

"Oh, Ron didn't tell you about her? She's his cousin." Ron was already at Dalene's side, looking at her with confusion.

"Dalene? Dalene, cousin, you all right?" Ron asked.

"Ron? Ron, is that you?"

"Yeah, it's me." The little girl wrapped her arms around him at once, hugging him tightly. Ron pulled back, afraid of passing out, and stared into her emerald green eyes. There was a small gasp, and Hermione apparently saw what he did.

"Harry, look at her eyes. They're just like yours."

"You're kidding me, they can't be. Those are my mother's eyes."

"I know, Harry. What could this mean?"

"I don't know. Are you alright, Dalene?" She nodded, and hugged Ron again. In all of the confusion, they didn't see Penelope walk into the house and stick a small, metallic object on the underside of the counter.

***

Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Sirius were sitting in the living room of Harry's new house after dinner that night. All of them were silent, pondering what was making Dalene have those prophecies. Finally, Hermione broke the silence, asking a question that had been pondered many a century.

"Why does Dalene's voice sound so raspy when she goes into a prophecy trance?"

Sirius leaned forward, and looked at each one of them, "You didn't hear this from me, because anything referring to this topic is classified material by the Ministry of Magic."

"Ok, what is it?" Hermione asked, ready to learn something new.

"Well, this is something that only a dead person would know, but this has been researched extensively by the Unspeakables division of Magical Law Enforcement. Some of their reports were leaked years ago, before you three came to Hogwarts. These reports were about the Trainman."

"The Trainman?"

"Yeah, the Trainman. But I'll tell you when we get back to school. This house is too unsafe."

"Why is that?" Harry asked from his spot on the couch, where his back was pressed against an armrest of the couch, and Hermione sitting between his legs. His arms were wrapped around her, and he was softly running his right hand up and down her left arm.

"I'm a civilian, an ex-con, an ex-unspeakable, and a Teacher at Hogwarts. They probably have this place decked out with listening devices."

"I see. You were an unspeakable?"

"Don't ask, Harry. Not here."

"Right." Ron said, standing up, "well, I think it's time for me to head home, see you guys tomorrow."

"Yeah, see ya." He walked out of the door, and Sirius stood up as well.

"I'm gonna follow his lead, good night you two."

"Good night." Harry and Hermione said at the same time. When he was gone, Harry moved down a little, so he and Hermione were level, and conjured some pillows. They rested their heads on it, and Harry kissed Hermione softly. He brought his hands up to the left side of her head, and kissed her on the forehead.

Then he kissed the tip of her nose, and then her lips again, capturing the taste of Hermione that he had accustomed to over the last couple months. She deepened it, needing him more now then ever before. Just making out like this wasn't enough for her anymore.

Her right hand dropped from the side of his face, and started down his body, memorizing every inch of his body. Her hands moved on their own accord, down his chest, his stomach, around to his back, memorizing every last detail. She felt his hands move from her waist to her breasts, rubbing her nipples with the pads of his thumbs, that were now becoming as hard as rocks.

She moaned into his mouth softly, and pressed herself closer to Harry's body. She reached at the hem of his sweat pants, and started pulling off his night shirt, feeling his skin in her hands, which were now drenched in sweat. She felt him starting to turn, to get on top, and then roll farther, and try to gain a grip on the couch.

Then she felt herself being pulled with him, and they landed on the floor. Harry screamed in pain as his back hit the ground. She heard footsteps coming from the top of the stairs, "Harry! You alright!"

"Yeah, Sirius, just get me a chiropractor! I may have just thrown out my back!"

"How can you-"

"Never mind!" Harry said, as Hermione was helping him up, back onto the couch. Harry then turned to Hermione, who was now on her side looking at the Christmas tree that was sitting in the middle of the room. It's lights were on, and the angel on the top was magically glowing brightly.

"Hermione?" Harry asked, his arm now draped over her body, their hands clasped firmly across her heart.

"Yes, Harry?"

"What's one thing you've always loved about Christmas?" he asked. Then he brushed her hair out of the way and kissed the back of her neck.

"Oh, the one thing I have always liked was what my dad would do. He'd always bring my sheets down, and set them on the couch on Christmas Eve, and let me sleep in the living room of the house. I just laid there at night, watching the lights flash and blink, mesmerized in the beauty of it. Then I would fall asleep, and nothing could wake me up unless I wanted to myself.

I remember one Christmas, I was seven years old. My mom and dad came down the stairs, holding the presents that were from Santa. That was the year I stopped believing in Santa. I was so heartbroken when I asked them about it. I started crying. I never really had anything to believe in but Santa, because I had no friends, and I was too logical to think any of the other holiday things were real. Oh listen to me, depressing you on your first true Christmas at home and now I'm rambling and-"

"Shhhhh, it's alright. I asked anyway. Now, go to sleep." Harry said, kissing the back of her head. They both quieted down, and fell asleep staring at the Christmas Tree, think of only the other person on the couch with them.

***

Harry woke up the next morning with Hermione in his arms, and Sirius holding two hot cups of Coffee. He got up, leaning on his elbow, and saw Sirius staring at the presents like a little kid would when the day to open them finally came. He felt Hermione moving under him, and she looked up at Harry with her chocolate brown eyes. He bent down and kissed her softly before she hopped off the couch.

He sat down on the couch, and Hermione got up and sat in his lap. But she got up quickly, when Sirius handed him a long, thin package, about thirteen feet long, "Merry Christmas." He said before letting it rest in Harry's hands. He stared down the package, before starting to unwrap it.

As he was slowly ripping off the paper, he could see gold trim, a curved top, and a small divider forming a handle. It was a sword, "Not just any sword, Harry. This is one of the old Japanese Legends."

"Which one?"

"The Masamune and the Murasame. Back in Old Japan, before there was all of this that existed, there were two great sword-makers. One was Masamune, and the other was Murasame. Masamune, was a man of peace, never liking anyone to die needlessly by the hand of his swords, while Murasame was a very violent man. He beat his wife and anyone who didn't respect him. And these two hated each other greatly.

Now, everyone in town knew about their rivalry, and had picked a side on everything. Whose swords were better made, whose wife looked better, who was nicer, everything. So, the leader of the town decided to settle the dispute once and for all, who was better, as fights were breaking out in the streets.

He told the two men to make the finest sword you've ever made, and be at the river at noon a week from then. They would then float the swords down the river, and which ever one gets to the finish line first, wins.

So they made their swords, and met at the river. They set them down in the river, and watched them float down it. Now, as it was fall, the leaves of the trees were falling into the river. It is said that the leaves that were in the Masamune's path floated around the blade, not touching one. While the ones in the Murasame's path, were all cut to pieces, and sank to the bottom.

And the dispute was never settled, as they reached the finish line in a tie. And that was the legend behind that blade. That blade you hold is a blade that wants peace in this world. I hope you're the one who can bring it to them." Harry took it out of the sheath, and looked at the silver dragon that slithered up to the tip of the blade. Then he slid it back in, and grabbed a rectangular package from under the tree, and handed to Hermione.

"Merry Christmas, Hermione." She opened the paper, to see a book, Beyond the Veil: The Secrets of The Land of the Dead by Ferinald Hogkins.

"Oh, thank you Harry. I've never heard of this book before."

"I found it in a shop in Hogsmeade, and I knew we hadn't learned anything about it, so I picked it up, knowing you wanted to learn something new."

"Thanks." she said, before kissing him softly. Then Hermione opened to a random chapter in the book. Chapter 23: The Trainman.

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Hey everyone! I would just like to say thanks for reading, and keep reading for the next Chapter, Chapter 23: The Trainman.