Eservanix

Chapter Eight: Christmas News

"Harry?" I repeated.

Harry opened his mouth.

"I went into a dive...for some r-reason, I c-couldn't control the b-broom," he said, swallowing.

"It froze or something?" I asked.

He nodded meekly.

"It was an accident. Don't worry," I said, giving him a hug.

He was clammy.

"Let's go," I said, wrapping my arm around his shoulders. I decided to tell him about the premonition.

When I was done, he narrowed his eyes.

"WHY DIDN'T YOU STOP ME?" he cried.

"We tried! But you, Fred, George and Ron had already gone out and started to rise! How was I supposed to call you?" I cried.

"YOU SHOULD HAVE TOLD ME THE MINUTE YOU HAD IT! I COULD'VE NOT GONE OUT!" Harry shouted. "BUT I HIT GINNY! IF SHE DIES IT'S MY FAULT!"

"She won't die!" I said, feeling tears forming now.

"We don't know that! I hit her pretty hard!" Harry argued. "I'm going with Mrs. Weasley to the hospital. You can stay here. I bet you didn't have a premonition about that!"

He stormed after Mrs.Weasley.

Once they left the Burrow, I slumped into one of the kitchen chairs, crossed my arms on the table and buried my face into them, sobbing.

About twenty minutes later, Mr. Weasley Apparated in the kitchen.

"Holly? What's wrong? Where is everyone?" he asked, looking around. "Normally George and Fred have farting contests."

I smothered a snort and slowly raised my head to look at him. Tears were still streaming down my cheeks.

"Hey. What's wrong?" he asked, as he came and sat beside me.

I told him about the premonition. Apparently, I had been seeing out of Ginny's eyes.

"Harry hit her pretty hard. If she dies, it's not Harry's fault...it's mine," I sobbed.

"How do you figure that? You tried to tell them," Mr. Weasley said, comfortingly.

"I still could've told him!" I sobbed.

"Holly. Ginny's a fighter. She'll be perfectly fine," Mr. Weasley said, softly.

To my surprise, he gave me a hug.

Then, he headed upstairs to change.

Around four o'clock, Mrs. Weasley Apparated into the kitchen. I had not moved from the spot and dozed off at the table. I heard Mr. Weasley speak in whispers.

"How's Ginny?" Mr. Weasley whispered, clearly not wanting to wake me up.

"Fine. Lucky we brought her in when we did. Otherwise, there would've been some internal bleeding. The Healer's fixed her up. I've left Fred, George, Ron, Harry and Hermione at the hospital. How's Holly?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

I felt her eyes on me.

"She blames herself. She had a premonition and wasn't able to tell either Ron or Harry. They were already on their brooms," Mr. Weasley said.

"Poor dear. It isn't her fault," Mrs. Weasley whispered.

"I know," Mr. Weasley whispered.

I heard footsteps coming closer to me, then a hand on my shoulder gently shaking me. I woke up and looked up into the kind face of Mrs. Weasley.

"Holly, don't blame yourself, dear. It was just an accident," said Mrs. Weasley softly.

I nodded.

"Harry hates me," I croaked out.

"Oh no dear. He doesn't," Mrs. Weasley said, gently and soothingly. "Before I Apparated, he pulled me aside and asked me to make sure you were okay, and he apologizes for snapping at you."

I managed a small smile.

"I still wished I was able to tell either one of them," I said.

"No one blames you," Mrs. Weasley said as she patted me on my shoulder before she Apparated, I guess going back to the hospital.

Feeling decisively better, I went up to the bedroom and just sat, staring out the window.

Around eight that night, Hermione, Harry, Fred, Ron and George returned home with Mrs. Weasley. Ginny would have to spend at least four days to make sure she was totally herself. I tentatively came down stairs as the whole family was sitting at the table, just talking. As soon as I entered the kitchen, the talking ceased.

"Hi," I said, smiling meekly.

Fred and George looked at each other before they stood up and came over. I took a deep breath wondering if they were going to tell me off.

"Holly! How absolutely spiffing to see you!" Fred exclaimed, grabbing my hand and shaking it.

I just stood, looking confused.

"Can I shake your hand?" George asked, bowing.

"Fred! George! Just tell Holly what you have to and sit down! You're confusing the poor girl!" Mrs. Weasley scolded.

"Right mum!" Fred said, brightly. "We're sorry we blamed you. Can you forgive us?"

George nodded enthusiastically, agreeing with Fred.

I broke out into a grin.

"Absolutely! Believe me...I would've wanted it to be me," I said.

To my surprise, Fred and George hugged me each in turn, then headed upstairs. I walked over to the table and sat down in George's place, which was beside Hermione.

"I never blamed you," Hermione whispered, leaning toward me. "I was there with you. We tried to get them before they took off."

"Thanks Hermione. I know. You didn't have to explain," I said, gratefully.

Ron grinned at me.

"I knew it was an accident, Hol. Don't worry,"

I nodded, smiling at Ron.

My eyes moved onto Harry next. He was just staring down at his shoes.

"I think we'll leave them to it," Mr. Weasley said, winking at me as he, Mrs. Weasley, Ron and Hermione stood up. Hermione gave my arm a gentle squeeze before they followed Mr and Mrs. Weasley upstairs. There was a silence for a moment he finally raised his eyes to mine.

"Hi," he said, softly and quietly.

"Hi," I said in the same tone.

"I'm sorry," he blurted out immediately. "I should've never blamed you!"

I held up a hand.

"It's okay. Let's just forget about it,"

Harry looked relieved. He grinned and nodded. We stood up at the same time. He hugged me and kissed me.

"I love you, Holly," he whispered in my ear.

"I love you too," I whispered back.

We headed up to bed.

I entered the room I was sharing with Hermione and Ginny. Hermione looked up from a book she was reading.

"You and Harry made up?" she asked, grinning.

I nodded and grinned back.

I sat down on the bed opposite hers.

"I just realized something. That premonition of Ron flying out of the window of the Hogwarts Express...that has nothing to do with the virus, does it?" Hermione asked, tilting her head.

I shook my head.

"No. I think that was strictly an accident in my premonition. Ron's going to be just fine," I grinned.

Hermione grinned back.

We just started talking about stuff...mainly what type of music she likes. (After all, she is muggle born and everyone likes music, no?)

We found out that we've got a lot in common. My mum was a muggle, but I know both her parents are muggles. I'm basically mixed blood. We both like to study and do well in school. We both like to read a lot... etc.

Around ten o'clock, we finally fell asleep.

The next morning, was Christmas Eve. Everyone inside the house was feeling slightly more cheerful than he or she had a few days ago, although there was still the possibility of not going back to Hogwarts that still lingered in the air. Mr. Weasley took a turn visiting Ginny at St. Mungo's. Ginny was going to be released in three days. Mrs. Weasley was going to take her turn visiting Ginny tomorrow, on Christmas, and she was going to bring Ginny her gifts. The house was decorated with strands of holly and mistletoe; garland was also draped over things. A Christmas tree was in the corner in the living room.

Hermione and I came down stairs.

"Happy Christmas!" we called happily.

"Happy Christmas!" Ron, Harry, Fred and George cried back.

They were sitting at the kitchen table eating breakfast. Mrs. Weasley was sitting in between Fred and George, eyeing them warily for some reason. Hermione and I looked at each other and grinned.

We knew they had been up to something and that's why Mrs. Weasley was sitting in between them.

Hermione and I sat down across from them, Hermione on Ron's right, me on Harry's left.

We dug into the food.

"Let me guess...you were up to something?" Harry asked, grinning at Fred and George.

"Who? Us?" George asked mockingly.

"Never!" Fred said.

I giggled.

"I do hope they get everything straightened out at Hogwarts. What will happen if we aren't allowed back?" Hermione asked anxiously.

"I wouldn't worry, Hermione. I'm sure things'll be just fine," Mrs. Weasley said, kindly.

Hermione nodded.

"Did you all sleep well?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

At that moment, a loud raspberry sounding noise erupted from George. Mrs. Weasley dropped her fork and knife with a clatter. There was silence before we all burst into laughter.

George was looking at his mother with the most innocent expression.

Ron banged his hand on the table and was laughing. Hermione was having a hard time keeping a straight face. She was shaking her head, but she was chuckling also. Harry was laughing and I just put a hand to my forehead and giggled. Fred was beaming at George.

"Why George! That was positively splendid! Try this," Fred said and the next thing we knew, another raspberry sound erupted.

Mrs. Weasley was glaring at Fred and George with an amused and angry expression on her face.

We all burst out laughing again. Ron nearly fell off his chair. I was even giggling so hard that tears were forming in my eyes.

"Well done! I say, you have beaten me!" George said, enthusiastically, shaking Fred's hand.

I nearly ended up choking on my sausage when I went to take a bite. Hermione slapped me on my back.

Fred, grinning, pulled a pink whoopee cushion out from underneath him. Then George did.

"Boys! Did you honestly have to do that at breakfast?" Mrs. Weasley scolded.

"Would you have preferred dinner?" Fred asked, brightly.

We all laughed, including Mrs. Weasley.

Later on that evening, Mr. Weasley Apparated home. It was just after dinner.

"How's Ginny?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

"She's perfectly fine. Keeps asking when she can come home," Mr. Weasley replied.

"That's good," I said, breathing a sigh of relief.

"Yes. She's asking for Holly as well," Mr. Weasley said, turning to me.

"Well. You can visit her tomorrow after you've opened all your presents!" Mrs. Weasley said, to me smiling.

I nodded eagerly.

"There still hasn't been any news on Hogwarts?" Mr. Weasley asked.

We all shook our heads.

"I'm sure things will be fine," Mr. Weasley said, grinning at us.

We all went to bed.

The next morning, we all eagerly hurried downstairs to unwrap our gifts.

Hermione gave me a book on Current Charms and Their Meanings. Harry gave me a shirt with a Golden Snitch on it. Ron gave me a box of Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans. Dad sent me a journal and a note saying that he loves me and that Dumbledore told him where I would be staying for the holidays. He apologized to me and assured me that next Christmas and for the rest of the upcoming holidays, we'd spend it together.

"I'm sorry. I didn't have much," he said, the tips of his ears turning red when I had opened it.

"It's fine! Don't worry!" I said, giving him a hug.

He blushed further.

Mrs. Weasley gave me a maroon sweater with an H stitched onto it.

"Just don't wear that around Harry at the same time," Ron muttered. "It's going to be confusing."

I realized what he meant. Harry got a sweater also with the letter H on it. I giggled.

Ron gave him a Quidditch book. Hermione gave Harry an updated servicing kit for his broom.

("It's for the Firebolt. Specially made for that model," she explained).

Over all, Christmas was good.

Later on, I went with Mrs. Weasley to visit Ginny. She was alert and perky when we entered her room.

"Holly!" She said, excitedly.

I went over to her and she hugged me. I hugged her back.

"How are you feeling?" I asked, sitting down in a chair beside her bed.

"Great!" Ginny exclaimed so over-enthusiastically that the girl in the bed next to hers gave her a sour look.

"The Healers gave her the Emexen Potion. It's like the muggle morphine. She's a bit too happy," Mrs. Weasley said out of the side of her mouth.

I nodded.

"She's okay though," Mrs. Weasley added.

"Holly, they told me what happened," Ginny said. "I don't blame you. Not one bit."

I smiled.

I wasn't sure if it was the potion talking, or she really meant it.

"I really mean it. It's not the dratted potion," Ginny added, grinning.

I nodded again.

At least she was alright. That was the main thing.

We stayed with Ginny for a bit. Mrs. Weasley explained that the girl next to Ginny, she was hit by a muggle car. She was doing well though. She really didn't have too many visitors from what Mrs. Weasley told us. The girl's mum visited her for short while, then left. That was three days ago. She hasn't been back since.

We left St. Mungo's and headed home. When we arrived, we found Fred, George, Harry, Ron and Hermione all with strange expressions on their faces in the living room.

"What's wrong? What happened?" Mrs. Weasley asked, worriedly.

Harry stood up and came over, holding a letter, which was from Hogwarts. I could tell by the seal.

"This just arrived shortly before you came home," Mr. Weasley said, gesturing to the letter. "We didn't want to read it until everyone was home."

Mrs. Weasley took it. After she was done, she looked up at all of us with a blank expression on her face. Then, she slowly broke out into a grin.

"You're all going back to Hogwarts! It's all clear!"