Past Present

"How are the two of you going?" Harry asked, looking at the fire in the common room. It was deserted, save for a couple of second years playing exploding snap in the corner. Hermione and Viktor were leaving the next morning for Christmas Eve in London.

"Flooing from Hogsmeade to Diagon Alley, then from there, we take the underground and meet my parents at the station," Hermione answered. "Suppose we'll do the same in reverse to get back, then Floo to the Burrow from Hogsmeade."

"Forget that. More importantly, what did you get him?" Ron asked.

"Nothing," Hermione said flatly.

"What? What kind of a present is that?" Ron asked, scandalized.

"A safe one, considering Umbridge is still digging around here. We discussed it a while back, and we thought it just wasn't sensible to exchange gifts, given the circumstances. We would let our visits home with each other suffice, and call it a Christmas. Viktor thought we shouldn't give her anything more to pick at. As it is, he can claim he's just accompanying me to London to make sure I arrive safely, as a favor to the headmaster, since I'm not supposed to do magic off campus yet and my parents are Muggles. Umbridge thinks Muggles are pretty helpless little things, even in the Muggle world, so it seems plausible. If gifts are involved, I'm sure Umbridge will turn them into more than they really are," Hermione sighed.

"How can she make Christmas gifts evil, for Pete's sake?" Ron persisted.

"Oh, I'm sure the ring alone will somehow become an engagement ring or the book a bribe for grading leniency as it is. Heaven forbid we exchange Christmas gifts too. If I get him a present and he gets me one, it will be Dumbledore letting me sleep in Viktor's quarters every night and me surely pregnant with his baby by the time she gets through twisting it. Rita Skeeter has nothing on her for imagination gone wild," Hermione muttered darkly.

Harry felt himself blushing at Hermione's blunt language, and he noticed Ron turning red as well. "Well, I suppose Viktor's glad he's got one N.E.W.T. down, then?" Harry asked loudly, to cover his embarrassment.

"Oh, sure. I knew he wouldn't have any trouble with it. He passed with flying colors, in any case. The other one really shouldn't be any trouble either, thanks to you, Harry. He's just got the writing to do now. Viktor says those practice sessions really helped," Hermione offered.

"Only fair. He's got me feinting pretty well now, even though I can't get up the kind of speed he can and scrape grass up off the pitch at the same time. Although, he did point out that hitting the ground at three quarters of the top speed of a Firebolt is just about as painful as hitting the ground full tilt on a Firebolt. And besides, it's not like anyone else on any of the teams has a Firebolt anyway. They wouldn't be able to keep up with me feinting at full speed on Cleansweeps," Harry replied.

"And we wouldn't want Malfoy...I mean, other seekers... not keeping up so they can kiss the turf, now can we?" Ron said gleefully.

"Honestly, Ron," Hermione scolded halfheartedly. "Well, I had better get to bed. Viktor wants to leave early tomorrow. You two have a good Christmas Eve tomorrow, if I don't see you before I leave. Going to the Burrow will be nice. Ginny already leave on the Hogwarts Express? Just the three of us going with Viktor, right?" Hermione said, stretching.

"Yep. You know she did. Fred and George, too. She would have said goodbye, but you were off somewhere," Ron said.

"Probably the library. Viktor and I were tossing around ideas for what he could do for the paper. I'll see her at the Burrow, then. Goodnight," Hermione called as she walked up the stairs.