Harry Potter and the Curse of the Damned

Chapter Twenty-two

A Muggle Christmas

The weather remained cold as November turned into December, which meant that very little of the snow actually melted. It merely seemed to compact a bit. The castle was again decorated in its finery for the approaching Yuletide season. Professor Dumbledore informed Harry that he thought it best not to interrupt his training, so Harry would be spending Christmas at Hogwarts this year. Harry worried over the unfinished part of Professor Dumbledore's sentence - that he thought it was best not to interrupt his training because there wasn't a lot of time left.

Ron, Hermione, and Ginny, of course, decided to remain behind with him. When they informed Mrs. Weasley of their plans, however, she returned Delilah with a note of her own. The entire Weasley clan - minus Percy - would be descending upon Hogwarts for Christmas this year. It didn't really matter all that much to Harry where they spent Christmas, as long as they could spend it together. Ginny's whole attitude toward the holiday was very subdued.

Harry knew it would be a difficult Christmas for the Weasleys after their loss. He remembered how the memories of Sirius had been very intense the previous year for him. He thought that celebrating away from Grimmauld Place would be good for all of them. The Burrow had been destroyed last Christmas, and Charlie had been with them, then...

During the final week of classes before the Christmas break, all of Harry's teachers appeared determined to ensure that he didn't have a free moment to finish his Christmas shopping. Since he was unable to leave the Hogwarts grounds, he'd once again had to depend upon owl post to order his gifts. He had two huge essays due for McGonagall and Flitwick, and even Cordelia had them brewing a complex Blood Replenishing Potion. Snape had them dueling outside in the snow, because he insisted that they should be able to withstand the elements. Harry suspected he simply liked to see them struggling in the deep drifts while he sipped his steaming mug of whatever it was Snape drank. Harry and Ron had received several glares from Hermione for spending so much class time concocting tall tales of what it was in Snape's mug. Snape had also informed the class that after they returned for the spring term, they'd begin dueling with the other classes.

Harry sat in the common room one night, scribbling out the last of his Transfiguration essay, when Hermione entered through the portrait hole. Her hair was pulled back into a single plait, but several wisps had pulled free, giving her a very harried appearance.

"All right, Hermione?" he asked to let her know he was there. She seemed so lost in thought, he didn't think she'd noticed him.

Hermione gazed at him blankly, blinking her eyes several times before walking towards his table and dumping her impossibly large book bag on it. "Oh, hello, Harry. I just barely made curfew."

"Hermione, you're Head Girl...you can miss curfew," Harry said, feeling amused.

"I don't have scheduled rounds tonight, Harry. It wouldn't be right to abuse my position," Hermione said stiffly.

"Were you revising with Terry?" he asked while covering a grin.

Hermione twitched her lips in annoyance. "We were in the library."

Harry frowned, perplexed. "Did your date not go well?"

Hermione sighed and began blinking furiously. "Oh, Harry. It wasn't really a date. Nothing we do is really like a date. We do homework. We do research. We have very intelligent discussions about all sorts of stimulating topics," Hermione said, her voice trailing off at the end.

"But," Harry prompted.

"When I was in primary school, I had a nickname. The other children used to call me Little Miss Know-It-All. The first time I heard that here at Hogwarts, it was Ron who said it. I'd always consoled myself with the thought that people were simply jealous that I'd taken the time to be prepared. But...but...but...with Terry, I'm seeing it a bit from the other side.

"He's bright, of course, and he always thoroughly knows his material. But he's just so...smug about it! It drives me mad, and I want to wipe that smirk off of his face. I'm shocked by my behavior. It's really not like me at all."

"No. Sounds more like Ron," Harry said sagely.

Hermione started wringing her hands. "I know! Believe me, I've thought the same thing. Is that how I sound, Harry? Do I really make everyone think that I think I'm superior?"

Harry had no idea how to answer that question. He wanted to be truthful but didn't know what he'd do if she really started to cry. He suddenly wished desperately that Ginny were here. She was so much better at dealing with this emotional stuff.

"Hermione, when was the last time you broke the rules just for the hell of it?" Harry asked suddenly.

"What?" Hermione asked, her brow furrowing in confusion at his non sequitur question.

"Let's sneak down to the kitchens and get some hot chocolate. It'll make you feel better. It always does for me," Harry said eagerly. The idea of a midnight kitchen run suddenly seemed like a brilliant idea, and much more fun than his Transfiguration essay.

"Harry, it's after curfew, and you don't need hot chocolate. You just want to go out because you're not supposed to do it," Hermione said, frowning in disapproval.

Harry quickly ran upstairs to grab his Invisibility cloak. He came back to the common room and threw it over his head, holding it up so she could still see his face. "You're right. Mischief has its place, too, Hermione. Are you coming?"

Hermione folded her arms over her chest and tapped her foot. "Honestly, Harry. You're Head Boy. How is this going to look if we get caught?"

"So, you're coming, then?" he asked cheekily.

"Well, I'm not letting you go on your own," she said, ducking under the cloak. "My goodness, remember when all three of us fit under here?"

Harry let the cloak fall around them and guided her towards the portrait hole. "Yeah. I can't imagine trying that now. Ron would have to walk bent in half."

Hermione giggled. "The two of you have really got so much taller. You used to be shorter than me, remember?"

It suddenly dawned on Harry that he was standing a fair bit above her. When had that happened?

"I think it started sometime during fifth year," Hermione said, answering the question he'd never asked.

When they reached the kitchen, Dobby got them both hot chocolate and some biscuits that had been left over from dinner. Harry and Hermione sat down at the table and sipped their chocolate.

"Is Terry staying at Hogwarts for Christmas?" Harry asked. He knew Hermione's parents were going skiing, but she'd opted to stay.

"No. He's going home. He invited me to join him, actually, but I told him I was staying here."

"How did he take that?" Harry asked, raising one eyebrow.

"Fine, really. Nothing gets much of an emotional response out of him."

Harry nodded. Before he could stop himself, he said, "No, he's sort of lame." He still hadn't got over Terry's easy dismissal of the Quidditch match.

Hermione's eyes opened wide, and Harry braced himself to get scolded. Instead, Hermione started to giggle. "Oh, Harry. He is, isn't he?"

"Yeah. So, are you going to break up with him?" Harry asked.

"Well, technically, we're not even seeing each other. I mean...he never asked."

"Hermione, I think the point is rather taken."

"Oh, I suppose," Hermione said crossly. "I'll tell him I just want to be friends. Nothing will really change, except for skipping the kiss goodnight."

Harry shook his head; they were getting into more than he wanted to know territory. "Have you found anything interesting in that book on Old Magic?" he asked, looking for a change of subject.

"Oh, it's so fascinating. All of the spells are based on emotion. I even found reference to an early form of the Patronus charm. I've been doing some deciphering on my own, but do you know who's really helped me? Luna. Her ideas are extremely wooly, but she's actually very intelligent. I suppose that should be obvious, since she is in Ravenclaw. Still, she's very good at Ancient Runes, and I've appreciated the help."

"Luna? Hmm. I never would have put the two of you together," Harry said, laughing.

Hermione grinned sheepishly. "Well, I must admit, I do tend to lose patience. But when we're simply working...we get on well. I don't think she and Neville are getting on these days."

"Ginny said the same thing."

"Poor Neville. I think Luna frightens him sometimes."

"Luna frightens me sometimes," Harry said, laughing.

The door to the kitchen burst open suddenly to reveal Ron standing there with a very put out expression on his face.

"Ron!" Hermione shouted, jumping in fright.

"Hey, Ron," Harry said. "What's wrong?"

"I woke up and realized you weren't in your bed, and I got worried. I checked the Marauder's Map and saw the two of you here. How come you didn't wake me?" Ron asked.

"Sorry, mate," Harry said. He really hadn't meant to exclude Ron or hurt his feelings. "It was a sort of a spur of the moment decision, and you were already asleep."

"Want a biscuit, Ron?" Hermione asked. Ron's expression changed to one of pleasure as he joined them at the table. Food always distracted Ron.

Hermione levitated another mug over to the table, and Harry filled it with hot chocolate. The three of them sipped in silence for a moment.

"So, what are we discussing?" Ron asked.

"We're talking about Old Magic and the book I found in Hogsmeade," Hermione said.

"And dumping Terry Boot," Harry added, hiding a snigger behind his mug as Hermione glared, and Ron perked up in his chair.

"You dumped Boot? What happened?" Ron asked.

"Oh, it was nothing," Hermione said with a wave of her hand.

"What was nothing? Did he do something to you, Hermione? If he got out of line, Harry and I'll-"

"No. It was nothing like that, Ron. It just wasn't working out, that's all," Hermione said firmly. Harry noticed the hint of color on her cheeks, and he could tell she was pleased. She'd always liked when Ron stood up for her, no matter what she said.

Ron deflated a bit. "Oh. Okay, then." He paused for a moment as if searching for another topic of conversation, finally settling on his mug of hot chocolate. "Do you think Dobby keeps any butterbeer down here, or better yet...FireWhiskey?"

Hermione snorted. "Oh, right. That's all we need. We're in enough trouble already if we get caught out of bounds at this hour."

Ron started to laugh. "Can you imagine the look on Snape's face if he caught Harry pissed? He's been trying to get him thrown out of here for seven years. It would be like Christmas came early."

"Better yet, can you imagine if he found him pissed and completely starkers in the lake?" Hermione asked, her face turning pink as she giggled.

Ron howled. "And sputtering off about not being a virgin."

Harry, who had been pretending to be offended, couldn't help but burst into laughter himself at that image. Hermione giggled uncontrollably, and Ron had tears streaming down his cheeks.

"As I recall," Hermione said, giggling even harder, "you were just as pissed and equally as starkers as Harry was, Ron."

Ron's ears colored brilliantly. "Noticed that, did you?"

"It was a bit hard to miss."

"Hang on," Harry said, wiping the mirth from his eyes. "That whole night is still rather foggy to me, but as I remember it...it was Fred being starkers that really caught your fancy."

Hermione's face matched the color of Ron's hair. "Harry! He walked right out of the ocean. I can't help that I was curious."

Ron howled and flung his head back so hard that the stool he was sitting on flipped backwards, and Ron landed on the floor in a heap, convulsed with laughter.

"Ron! Are you all right? Did you hurt yourself?" Hermione asked, jumping from her seat and kneeling next to him.

Harry noticed the furtive looks that kept bouncing back and forth between the two of them and decided it would be prudent to make his exit now. "Hey, listen, you two, I was...um...I was supposed to see Ginny before she went to sleep, so I'm going to try and catch her. I'll leave the Invisibility cloak. See you upstairs," he said as he rushed from the room.

He could hear Hermione's voice as he shut the door. "But Ginny already went to bed."

Harry smirked, feeling quite pleased with himself. He knew Ginny had already gone to bed, but he thought Ron and Hermione could use a chance to talk to each other. It was the first time in a long time that it felt like their friendship was strong again. He didn't know if Ron and Hermione would ever get back together as a couple, although he suspected that both of them still harbored a strong attraction for the other. Regardless, he hoped that their friendship, at least, was back to normal. He'd missed the close camaraderie they'd always shared.

*****

The end of term finally arrived, and the castle bustled with activity as students rushed for the train that would return them to their families. As Head Boy and Girl, Harry and Hermione were in charge of seeing the students off. Since Harry was unable to leave the castle grounds, he oversaw the loading of the carriages while Hermione did the same at the train station in Hogsmeade.

Harry watched his classmates as they departed the castle full of Christmas cheer. He wondered what his life would have been like if things had happened differently. If Voldemort hadn't destroyed his world so completely, and he'd been allowed to grow up with his parents. He might even have a brother or sister to ride the train with, and he'd certainly get to go home to a house filled with warmth and homemade decorations. He was certain his mum would have saved the things he made instead of tossing them in the bin. He allowed himself to remain lost in his fantasy life for a moment and didn't hear Neville approach.

"Happy Christmas, Harry," Neville said, startling him.

"Hey, Neville. I hope you have a nice Christmas," Harry said, thinking about Neville visiting his parents in St. Mungo's on Christmas day. Neville's life, too, would have been so different if it hadn't been for Voldemort's lust for power.

"Yeah," Neville said vaguely. "I'll be back here early, actually. Gran is travelling abroad on Boxing Day to visit some solicitors. I opted to come back here, so save me some marshmallows."

Harry grinned. "Brilliant. It should be a full house, what with all the Weasleys staying here. Maybe we can have a good snowball fight."

"Here I am, Neville," said Luna, struggling with a backpack that was nearly as big as her. Neville took the bag from her and slung it over his shoulder.

"Hi, Luna," Harry said. "Are you coming back early, as well?"

"No. Papa has a full holiday planned for us, so I'll be back on the Express at the start of term," she said.

"Well, have a good holiday, then," Harry said as an empty carriage pulled up and Neville and Luna climbed aboard. "I'll see you in a few days, Neville."

Harry watched the thestrals as they pulled the carriage away away, and he also kept his eyes on students as they hurried to other awaiting carriages. Seamus and Dean bumped ahead of a bunch of second years to grab a carriage with Lavender and Parvati. Jack Sloper and Holly Proctor waved goodbye as they entered another carriage together.

"Hiya, Harry," a small voice squeaked behind him. He turned to find Christian Chandler, one of the Gryffindor first-years, standing there. His fringe was long and unruly, and he kept having to push it out of his eyes.

"Hello, Christian. Ready for a holiday?" Harry asked.

"I can't wait to get home and show my little sister all I've learned. She has to wait three more years before she can come, because she's got a September birthday. She's really hacked off about it," Christian said enthusiastically. He seemed rather delighted by his sister's misfortune.

"Ah, she'll probably be the brightest witch in her year, just like Hermione. She has a September birthday, too, you know."

Christian's expression was doubtful. "Maybe. She wants to meet you. I think my mum does, too. We'll have all the extended family over for Christmas dinner, and my mum's claimed bragging rights that we're in the same house."

Harry flushed. He felt distinctly uncomfortable with the idea of being the topic of anyone's Christmas dinner. It hadn't occurred to him before now, but he supposed that since the recent articles about him in all the wizarding publications, it was bound to happen. Just great.

"Aren't you going home for Christmas, Harry?" Christian asked.

Harry smiled tightly. "No. I usually stay here for the holidays. All the Weasleys will be arriving tomorrow, so it'll be a full house."

Christian grinned. "Well, have fun. See you later, Harry. Happy Christmas."

He waved as Christian climbed into a carriage. He looked to see if there were still students leaving the castle and felt the hair on the back of neck stand on end. He turned to see a group of Slytherins entering a carriage near the back of the line. Pansy Parkinson was with them, and she stopped to glare at Harry. He met her gaze and held it until she broke away first. He hadn't seen much of her all term. He'd purposely scheduled their prefect rounds on opposite nights, and they didn't have any classes together, so it wasn't difficult to avoid her. He knew she was upset over his part in Malfoy's death, but he was still rather startled by the venom in her gaze.

"Sorry you decided to remain in the castle over Christmas, Potter?" Blaise Zabini asked as he sidled up next to Harry.

Harry furrowed his brow. "Pardon?"

"You were frowning. I was wondering if you were sorry you decided to stay rather than go home for the holidays," Blaise said. His blue eyes seemed to study Harry intently.

Harry shook his head. "There's nothing more festive than Hogwarts at Christmas. I wouldn't miss it. What about you? You're heading home, I see."

Blaise nodded. "Nobody throws a Christmas party like my parents. I'm looking forward to it."

Harry's eyes widened in surprise. Although he generally appeared amused by the antics of his classmates, Blaise struck Harry as a rather serious fellow. He didn't picture him the type for festive merrymaking.

"What? You don't think Slytherins celebrate Christmas?" Zabini asked, his eyes glittering with amusement. "Happy Christmas, Potter."

"Happy Christmas," Harry replied softly, watching as Zabini joined Pansy and the other Slytherins. Although he'd never admit it to Ron, there was something about Blaise that Harry couldn't help but like. He thought if things had been different, they might have even been friends.

*****

All the Weasleys arrived the day before Christmas and settled into the Gryffindor dormitory. Fred and George arrived first and took over Seamus and Dean's bunks. The twins had no intention of leaving Ron and Harry to have a much needed lie-in (since they had stayed up impossibly late the night before playing a vicious game of Exploding Snap with Ginny and Hermione in the empty common room). The twins immediately pulled the bed hangings open around each of Ron's and Harry's beds to beat the sleeping pair with pillows until they grudgingly arose. Harry grumpily wondered how they'd managed to learn the password to get into Gryffindor tower in the first place.

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley arrived later in the day, and Bill finally appeared during the Christmas Eve festivities. Bill told them all that Jacqueline had been released from St. Mungo's, but her memory charm remained. The Healers were afraid they would cause permanent damage with any further probing to try to remove it. Bill told them that she was suffering from headaches and bouts of dizziness, but otherwise seemed all right. She'd gone home to spend Christmas with her family.

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley appeared in good spirits, but Harry noticed both of their gazes wandering, and they often seemed to be very far away in their own thoughts. He remembered how hard the previous Christmas had been without Sirius, and his heart ached for them.

Despite the underlying sadness, they all gathered in the common room and sang Christmas carols and toasted marshmallows in the fire. Mrs. Weasley brought along the Weasley family ornaments, and Harry got such a deep thrill of pleasure from hanging his own green ornament with the others on the tree. He hung his right next to Ginny's and couldn't help but notice how right it looked hanging there.

He'd never seen the common room looking so homey and festive. Dobby had gone all out and hung a particularly vigilant sprig of mistletoe above the portrait hole. Harry had taken advantage of it several times, and he'd been both amused and scandalized to see Mr. and Mrs. Weasley doing the same. He and Ginny enjoyed watching Ron and Hermione blush and shift their feet when the determined plant refused to stop hovering above them until they fulfilled the requirements. When Ron leaned over to peck Hermione on the cheek and tried to back away, the plant evidently decided that a cheek didn't constitute a proper kiss. Finally becoming exasperated, Hermione grabbed Ron's head by holding the hair above each ear and kissed him quickly, but squarely, on the lips.

Pulling herself up with as much dignity as she could muster, she lifted her chin in the air and mounted the stairs to the girls' dormitory in silence. Fred and George even managed to hold their snickers until she'd retreated, while Ron stood there gaping after her.

"I'm horrified, brother," Fred said dramatically.

"...to think that our own baby brother..." continued George

"...our own flesh and blood..."

"...is unable to demonstrate a proper kiss."

"Sod off," Ron growled at them.

"Why, I bet our sweet, innocent, baby sister could do a better job..." Fred said, ignoring Ron completely.

"...or at least show that she understands the proper technique," George added. "I'm assuming she does know the proper technique, doesn't she, Harrykins?"

Harry flushed. Ginny jumped to her feet, arms akimbo. "All right, you two, that's enough of that. I don't see how we can be certain that the two of you can demonstrate a proper kiss since neither of you can manage to keep a girl around for very long. Perhaps you're the ones who aren't doing it properly."

Fred flinched. "Ginevra, I'm wounded."

"That, dear sister, is called hitting below the belt," George said, placing his wrist against his forehead dramatically.

"I can't believe what the Weasley family has been reduced to. Oh, how the mighty have fallen," Fred said, collapsing on the couch in a heap.

"That's enough, boys," Mr. Weasley said, chuckling. "I don't think there is any real worry about a Weasley not knowing how to administer a proper kiss." He pulled Mrs. Weasley underneath the mistletoe, but before he could demonstrate, all his children plus Harry sprinted from the room and up the stairs to bed.

*****

Christmas Day dawned cold but bright and sunny. When they entered the Great Hall late in the day for the Christmas feast, they found that one large circular table placed in the center of the floor had replaced all of the house tables. There were only a very small number of students who had stayed behind. Most families had wanted to be together during this time of war. Even the teachers who remained behind were all members of the Order.

Harry sat at the table between Ginny and George. He'd received an owl bearing a gift from Remus that morning. Remus was spending the day with Tonks's family. Harry gathered that Remus was rather nervous about the whole affair, and it amused him. Remus had spent part of Christmas with the Tonks family last year, so he didn't know why Remus would be nervous about it now.

Abe and Cordelia pulled the majority of the crackers placed on all the settings until Abe finally settled on a hat he liked. It looked like an admiral's cap and seemed strangely appropriate on Abe's head. Hagrid and Professor Flitwick sat side by side, and Harry snickered at the glaring difference in size. He saw Professor McGonagall across the table, trying to make conversation with Professor Snape with little luck. The hook-nosed Defense teacher scowled at the rest of the guests as he poked lethargically at a roast potato on his plate. Honestly, if he was going to be so miserable, why did he even bother to join us?

Harry felt a hush fall across the table when Professor Dumbledore entered the room with another guest. Dumbledore wore stunning emerald green robes with golden swirls embroidered on them, but he looked ill and shuffled slowly across the floor. The tension in the room was palpable while everyone watched his progress. Harry was so absorbed in watching Professor Dumbledore and his apparent ill health that he didn't give a second glance to the visitor until they had sat down.

"Happy Christmas," Professor Dumbledore said. "Allow me to introduce Ivan Horvath. Ivan is visiting from Hungary, and I have invited him to join us for dinner."

The name was familiar to Harry, but he couldn't place it. The man was of indeterminate age, impeccably dressed all in black, and had an aura of suave sophistication. There was something mesmerizing about the way he moved, and Harry found he had to keep shaking his head to get his focus back. There was something about the man...a power that was nearly visible.

"Who is that?" Ginny whispered in his ear.

He turned to see Ginny staring at the stranger appreciatively, and he didn't like it at all. He noticed that both Hermione and Mrs. Weasley wore the same, dazed expression and appeared unable to tear their gaze away from this man.

"Dunno. I've heard that name before, though," Harry answered, narrowing his gaze at the stranger.

The man turned and gazed directly back as if he'd heard their conversation, which was impossible from that distance. He arched a finely plucked brow and nodded his head in Harry's direction.

Harry turned to listen to Fred and George pleading with Abe to arrange a night out for all of them.

"Come on, Abe. Ron and Harry have been stuck inside here all term. There has to be a way to sneak them out for a little fun and mischief," Fred said.

"What's life without a little fun and mischief?" George asked, blinking his eyes mournfully.

Abe looked like he could easily have been a Marauder, and Harry saw the wheels turning in his head. "You lads are right. We can't hide them away and let life pass them by, or what's the point in fighting at all? I'll tell you what. Give me a few days to put something together - nothing big or fancy, mind. But as long as we keep it secret, there must be a way to get them out for a bit. I have my ways of convincing Al to do things he wouldn't normally do." As he said the last bit, Abe's eyes were twinkling even more than Professor Dumbledore's did, if that were possible.

Harry's heart raced at the prospect. He'd love the chance to get out and do something different, even if was only for an hour or so. He was beginning to feel stir crazy, locked inside the castle. No matter how much he loved Hogwarts, being trapped anywhere eventually made it feel like a prison.

As Harry ate his dinner and pretended to keep up with the conversation around him, he continued to study the stranger. He noticed that while the man engaged in pleasantries with those around him, he never ate anything. Instead, he pushed the food around his plate with his fork gripped tightly in his perfectly manicured hand. Harry's gaze kept being drawn back to Ivan's hands. His fingers were long and appeared almost translucent. Harry found that even when he tried to look away, he was unable to do so. Ivan Horvath. Where have I heard that name before?

It was during our conversation after the attack on the Ministry.

He heard Professor Dumbledore's voice in his head and glanced quickly at the aged headmaster, who was staring right back at him. Harry decided to try to communicate with him this way. He closed his eyes and concentrated on the words.

After the attack on the Ministry?

You asked about which side the vampires had chosen.

Harry's eyes flew open wide. Ivan Horvath was a vampire! Professor Dumbledore had told him that vampires were solitary creatures and getting them all to agree to support anyone other than their own individual best interests was futile. Still, he was working with one vampire in particular, trying to form an alliance. That vampire was Ivan.

I can see recognition dawn on your face, Harry. Yes, Ivan is a vampire. He's agreed to help us by supplying any information on Voldemort's negotiations with the vampire community. However, from what he tells me, Voldemort's efforts have been no more successful than our own.

Harry's head spun. He found it very difficult to carry on a conversation in his head and pretend he was still paying attention to the people around him, as well. He noticed that Professor Dumbledore, however, appeared completely unruffled as he graciously passed a bowl of green beans to Professor McGonagall.

"I'm really quite pleased with my gift, Harry," Ginny said. "When do you suppose I'll be able to use it?"

Harry had given her the equivalent of a Muggle credit card, with the funds being drawn directly from his Gringotts account. With it went the promise of a shopping spree like the one Remus and Tonks had given Harry. Ginny had been very envious of that excursion, and Harry always regretted not being able to take her along. This way, she could have one of her own.

"I'm still not completely comfortable with spending your money this way, but I won't be too extravagant, and I am tired of wearing either my brothers' hand-me-downs or clothes my mother picked out. It will be nice to have some things of my own," Ginny gushed.

Harry smiled faintly, desperately trying to keep up with both conversations.

What do you mean that his efforts have been as unsuccessful as ours? Didn't you just say that Ivan has agreed to help? That seems successful.

Harry shielded his eyes and tried to force his thoughts toward Professor Dumbledore.

True. But he is a single vampire. He does not speak for the community at large. Voldemort may also have one or two who have agreed to help him, but there is no way to gain the support of a legion. Voldemort has nothing to hold over them - they are already dead.

Harry shuddered slightly. He didn't know if it was such a good idea to trust a vampire, anyway.

A very wise assumption

This was a new voice in his head. A thickly accented voice that pronounced his v's like w's. Harry raised his eyes towards Ivan, who stared back with lazy amusement.

You are a wise young man, Harry. Voldemort cannot convince the vampires to join him because he has nothing to offer them. He leads through threats and intimidation. How do you reasonably intimidate someone who is already dead? Vampires have no souls, so they care for no one who can be threatened. Even a wooden stake is only a threat for the moment it's in front of you.

Harry had to stop himself from giggling out loud when Ivan said Voldemort and it sounded like Woldemort. Ginny looked at him strangely, but he smiled and pretended to focus on his pudding.

How did Professor Dumbledore convince you to aid us, then?

Harry's head was beginning to ache from the Legilimency. Not only was he trying to focus on getting his thoughts to Ivan and Dumbledore, but since he was allowing their thoughts to enter his mind, he had to work doubly hard to keep up his shield to keep Voldemort out. The thoughts from all the others in the Great Hall were threatening to overwhelm him, as well. He was feeling quite nauseous.

He didn't try to coerce me; he merely asked for my assistance. Professor Dumbledore has always treated me with respect. In return, I respect him for that. He knows if I come here on his bequest, he need not hide his students in fear I will feast upon them. In turn...I keep my appetite in check while I am here.

Harry shuddered again, thinking what it must be like to live for an eternity feeding off the lives of others. He couldn't stand it.

No, I don't suppose

you could.

Ivan's voice sounded amused. Harry looked up to see an odd glint in the vampire's eyes. There was something mesmerizing - hypnotizing even - about Ivan's gaze, and Harry forced his eyes away.

"Where are you, Harry? You're a million miles away," Ginny said, her brow knitting in concern.

Harry rubbed his forehead. "Sorry. I have a headache."

"It's not...Tom...is it?" Ginny asked.

"No. I just have a lot on my mind." Harry took a sip of his pumpkin juice and continued to stare at Ivan across the table. When the dinner was finished, they nodded to one another. Harry returned to Gryffindor tower with the others feeling oddly like he had passed some kind of test.

*****

It was several days after Christmas that Abe followed through on his promise to get them out of the castle. He'd arranged for a portkey to take them to an undisclosed mall with an arcade. None of the Weasleys had any idea what an arcade was but were eager to find out. Mrs. Weasley disapproved of the idea, but Harry could see the fascination in Mr. Weasley's eyes with the thought of all those Muggles. Professor Dumbledore had granted the okay, so Mrs. Weasley reluctantly agreed.

Neville had arrived on Boxing Day, and they invited him to join them. He was eager to go, and sent an owl to Luna to invite her along. She responded that her father wasn't keen on letting her return to Hogwarts early, so they'd have to let her know how it was. She also warned them about the danger of being sucked into a video game. Harry and Hermione snorted over it, but Neville looked rather nervous.

They ate an early dinner and dressed in Muggle clothing. Ginny put the credit card that Harry had given her in the pocket of her jeans. She planned on returning with some new Muggle clothes of her own. Harry, Ginny, Ron, Hermione, Neville, Fred, George, Bill, and Abe met in the common room. Abe pulled out a set of Muggle keys, and they all touched one. Harry felt the familiar, nauseating rush of a portkey briefly before feeling himself stumble and crash to the ground in an alleyway behind a large complex he recognized as a mall.

"Okay, kiddies. We've all got some things we'd like to do, so I'm giving you your freedom until...half nine. We'll meet back here then. Everyone stays with a partner at all times. Do we have a deal?"

Hermione looked around at the stores and the bright lights of the mall around her. "Are we in Aberdeen?" she asked suddenly.

Abe's face dropped. "How in blazes did you know that?"

"I have relatives who live near here. I've been here before. The food court and arcade are that way," she said, pointing to her left. "That's where we'll be."

Bill smiled, shaking his head. "You're certainly something else, Hermione. Come on, Abe. Let's take a look around this place."

Harry ignored them while standing slightly apart and rubbing his forehead. His scar was prickling, and it itched. It wasn't a serious kind of pain, more of constant irritation.

They followed Hermione to the arcade. Neville, Ron and the twins were stunned silent for a moment by the lights and loud music blaring from within the arcade. Harry chuckled over how such common Muggle things could bring such wonder to fully capable wizards. The hum of activity from teenagers huddled in groups, along with the steady noise from the machines, drew them all inside. It didn't take the twins long to catch on to the idea of the video games. Harry kept a wary eye on them, afraid they'd forget about the fact they couldn't use any magic. Soon, Harry and Fred were locked in competitive game of air hockey. Harry had seen all these games during his time with the Dursleys. Dudley had even had a lot of them for his Playstation, but Harry had never been allowed to use them. He felt as awestruck as his wizard friends.

Hermione and Ginny stayed for a little while, but lost interest fairly quickly and wanted to shop for clothes. They agreed to check back in with the boys and left to do some shopping.

The girls did as promised and dropped back to check in on several occasions, each time with more packages. Fred and George had taken over the air hockey table and somehow had attracted a crowd of young ladies to watch them play. Ron and Neville had become obsessed with a video game called Tetris that involved falling puzzle pieces. Harry moved from game to game, enjoying them all but not getting too hung up on any in particular until he found a pinball machine. He watched some Muggle teens play until he'd figured it out for himself, then lost all track of time once he got his hands on a machine.

He jumped when he felt a pair of arms slip around his waist. He peered over his shoulder quickly to see Ginny's impish smile. In that moment of distraction, he lost his final pinball.

"Boo," she said.

"Hi," Harry said, frowning at the machine. He turned to pull her into an embrace. "I hope you're having fun, because you just cost me my game."

Ginny rolled her eyes at the machine. "I can't believe you're still playing with that thing. There are so many other things to see here. There's a store that sells those moving picture boxes, and Hermione made every one in the store show something different. It was amazing."

Harry grinned at the thought of her enjoying the mall because of a telly. "Did you shop at all?"

Ginny's eyes alighted with excitement. "I'm having a great time. I've bought a bunch of new things. Wait until I show you," she said, lowering her eyelashes seductively.

Harry grinned. "Oh, yeah? Anything I'll like?"

"Hmm. Maybe. I did get some racy new red knickers."

Harry's gulped as fantasies of Ginny wearing racy red knickers instantly sprang into his mind.

"Kidding, Harry," Ginny said, giggling.

"Oh," Harry said, his face falling. "Damn, I thought maybe I'd managed to get myself a present with that Christmas present."

Ginny smacked him on the arm. "Prat."

Harry grabbed her hand and tugged gently. "Come on over here. There's something I want to show you."

Ginny struggled with all her shopping bags until Harry pulled her inside a small curtained booth with a bench. "What's this?" Ginny asked.

"Huh? Oh, it takes your picture," Harry said, pulling out his wand and shrinking her packages so they could fit in his pocket. Being of age definitely has its advantages.

"Thanks. How does it work?" Ginny asked curiously. She poked at the blank screen in front of her several times, but nothing happened.

Harry sat on the bench and pulled her onto his lap. He put some Muggle money in the machine and kissed her on the cheek as the bulb flashed. Ginny giggled as they took several more pictures. Finally, she turned around and kissed him squarely on the lips as the light continued to flash.

Harry was so caught up in this impromptu snog session that he didn't realize when the volume of the noise from the arcade rose, but the first screams definitely pierced his awareness. It was at that moment that it dawned on him that the flashes of light were glowing from the outside of the curtain. He pulled out his wand and cautiously peered outside.

His stomach plummeted when he saw three robed and masked Death Eaters casting spells into the crowd of Muggle teenagers in the arcade. A vast number of the spells carried that horrid green light Harry knew so well. He could see some return fire coming from behind a ticket counter and assumed Ron and the others had taken cover there.

The shoppers in the mall had panicked and were fleeing haphazardly for the exits. Their cries and screams drowned out the words of the spells being cast. The Muggles didn't understand the implications of the strange beams of light, but the reality of the bodies falling around them needed no explanation. Chaos quickly ensued as they fought each other to get away from the scene.

Harry squinted his eyes and scanned them over the attacking Death Eaters, searching for weaknesses.

"Where's Hermione?" he hissed, suddenly realizing that she hadn't been with Ginny. His heart started pounding in his chest. Not her, too.

Ginny's eyes were wide and frightened, but she grasped her wand tightly. "She went into the loo, there," Ginny said, pointing towards a sign for the women's bathroom across the hall.

There was no sign of Hermione, nor anyone else near the bathroom entrance. He glanced again at the ticket counter in time to see Ron's head peer over the top before ducking again as a volley of curses were sent his way. Harry thought he could also see the head of one of the twins, but he couldn't tell which.

"Hawwy," an evil voice called above the chaos, a voice that sent icy waves of impotent fury crashing through Harry's chest. "Are you here, Hawwy? Come out and play wif me. How many have to die this time? You decide. Here goes one; Avada Kedavra," she cackled.

"Don't listen to her, Harry," Ginny hissed. "She's baiting you."

"I know that," Harry snapped. "But she's really killing them, Ginny. I can't let that happen."

"If you let yourself be caught now, and Voldemort kills you before you're ready...then all of these people are going to die, anyway," Ginny pleaded. The horror of what was happening was clearly visible in her eyes.

Harry's tortured eyes peered back out the curtain and watched as a Muggle girl, no older than him or Ginny, was struck down at random.

"I can't do nothing, Ginny. I just can't," he said, steeling his resolve. "Cover me - I'm going to see if I can get close enough to flank them while they're focused on Ron and the twins."

Ginny swallowed, but nodded as she gripped her wand tightly. "Be careful."

"You, too," he said before quietly slipping outside the curtain. He stealthily crept forward, keeping the video games between him and the Death Eaters. He'd only made it a short way before one of the Death Eaters noticed the movement and cast a spell towards him.

Harry threw his body to the ground and rolled to the side, dodging the spell. He didn't want to use his wand yet. He suspected that they hadn't recognized him, and the element of surprise he would have by them not knowing they were dealing with a wizard would be invaluable.

The Death Eater cast a spell that shot towards him in a stream of purple light. Harry dodged again and slammed hard into the skee ball machine. He picked up a ball that had been left behind and lobbed it at the Death Eater, striking him in the chest. The man stumbled into one of his companions, causing the spell he was firing to shoot harmlessly in the air.

The distraction gave Ron time to pull two young girls, who had been huddled out in the open, behind the counter with him and Neville. Harry glanced at the number of dead bodies lying on the dirty floor of the arcade, and he felt sick. His eyes scanned the entire area quickly, fixing on the light fixtures hanging from the ceiling.

Harry rolled as a deadly green light went whizzing over his head. He raised his hand toward the ceiling and hissed, "Reducto!"

The light fixture, which was a series of metal beams criss-crossed and holding several halogen lamps, was released from the ceiling and crashed down upon the unsuspecting Death Eaters. It hit one on the head as it came down, pinning the others beneath it. Harry saw a pool of crimson blood begin to pool around the head of the Death Eater who'd been struck. Harry's stomach lurched at the sight.

He turned in alarm towards the photo booth and swung the curtain wide open. "Are you all right?" he asked.

"Fine. You?"

"Yeah. We've got to get some help here. Most of these Muggles are dead," Harry said tonelessly.

"Harry! Ginny!" Ron shouted. "Fred's hurt."

Harry spun around to face the ticket counter. He could see one of the twins leaning over the other. His heart started pounding in his chest. Ginny uttered a strangled cry and broke away from Harry, racing towards her brothers.

Harry took a deep breath and tried to control his panic. He had to make certain the Death Eaters were immobilized first.

He pointed his wand towards them and snarled, "Expelliarmus. Expelliarmus. Expelliarmus."

He caught two of the three wands as they came speeding towards him. The third Death Eater - Bellatrix - Disapparated from beneath the structure before Harry cast his last spell. Harry inched his way towards the other two. He looked down dispassionately at the first one - the one whose head had been struck - who was obviously dead. The other was thoroughly pinned beneath the light fixture and frantically trying to free himself. Without his wand, his efforts were futile.

Harry reached over and tugged off the mask, revealing a remarkably young face that was unknown to Harry. The young man glared at Harry and continued to struggle. Voldemort must be recruiting.

"There!" He heard a shout and looked up to see Hermione racing towards him with Bill and Abe on her heels. Relief swept over him in waves at seeing her safe and alive.

"Fred's hurt," he said, pointing to where the others were huddled. He bent his knees and sat on his heels, staring at the dead Death Eater. He couldn't bring himself to remove the mask. He didn't want to know. When the final battle with Voldemort finally arrived...if he was unable to control the Curse of the Damned...would this be one of the spirits who would emerge? Harry had killed him. Maybe not directly with a spell, but he'd aimed at that light fixture, intending to stop them. He'd been directly responsible for this man's death.

It took Harry a moment to realize that he was shaking. His vision was blurred, yet he couldn't look away from the fallen man in front of him. He knew it was a male, but he couldn't identify if he was old or young. He wondered if he had a family...if someone would mourn his loss. Harry swallowed painfully. He supposed this was how Ron felt after killing Draco Malfoy...maybe. Or maybe it was different, because Ron knew Malfoy.

Harry couldn't shake the coldness that had seeped into his very soul. He's dead; I killed him. He didn't know how long he knelt there on the floor before he felt a gentle hand on his back.

Startled, he looked up to see Abe smiling gently. "Stand up, lad. We need to get you home. We'll let the Ministry handle things from here. The others are waiting to activate the portkey."

Harry allowed Abe to pull him to his feet and dimly registered the presence of Aurors amongst the ruins of the arcade. He stumbled and would have fallen if it weren't for Abe's tight grip around his waist.

"The first one's always the hardest, laddie," Abe whispered

Harry shuddered - the first one. This was only the beginning. Sooner or later, he would have to kill again - with the full knowledge of what it was he was doing. Harry felt bile rise in his throat and fought the urge to retch. There had to be more to life for him. This alone couldn't be his destiny. He didn't want to be a killer, and he never wanted to reach the point where he thought it was easy.

Abe's arm was both strong and gentle resting across his shoulders, and he leaned in gratefully, allowing Abe to drag him towards his friends.