Revelations and Romance

Revelations and Romance chapter 1

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Prologue: The story (as it would have been) so far

I'll Dream of Yule and Yule Dream of Me are set the night after the Yule Ball in Goblet of Fire. Sybill Trelawney and the Clueless Evening is set in the third week of the following February.

In the summer following his fourth year at Hogwarts, Harry spends an unhappy July with the Dursleys. (Do I Need This? is set during July.) Following his unnoticed, uncelebrated birthday on the 31st, Harry is invited to stay with the Weasleys at the Burrow. As usual, he enjoys every moment of his time there, particularly his late birthday celebration on the 2nd of August. Hermione, on holiday in Italy with her parents, isn't at the party, but sends Ron a small carving she'd bought in Naples, to give to Harry at the party. On her return from Italy, she spends another week at home with her parents (The Permission Slip and Tenterhooks (AT) are set during this week) and then joins the others, staying at the Burrow from the 24th and visiting Diagon Alley with Harry and the Weasleys. Her parents don't visit Diagon Alley or the Burrow, and don't meet Ron. Harry and Hermione both receive letters with Prefect badges, as they are the two new Prefects for Gryffindor.

At the start of September, they return to Hogwarts. Fred and George are now in their seventh and final year. Harry, Ron and Hermione are in their fifth year, and Ginny is in her fourth year. (Checking Signatures is partly set during the first week of September.) There is a new DADA teacher, Agnes McCardle, whose hooked nose and facial warts make her look like the traditional fairy-tale witch. Dumbledore returns the Marauder's Map to Harry. During this month, a small group of Death Eaters is captured, but one escapes. Under Veritaserum, the captives name the escapee as Peter Pettigrew. This evidence and Professor Dumbledore's testimony are used to clear Sirius Black of all murder charges. He receives a large sum of money as compensation for his unjust imprisonment, and uses part of it to buy a flat near Godric's Hollow.

As Oliver Wood's departure at the end of Harry's third year has left the Gryffindor team without a Keeper, Quidditch trials are held in the second week of September. To Ron's shock, he isn't chosen -- Dean Thomas is. The new Captain, Angelina Johnson, discusses the trials for the next year with Captain-elect Katie Bell.

In October, Harry refers to Barty Crouch by mistake, and Neville finally discovers that the Professor Moody who seemed to be so nice to him was one of the Death Eaters who were accused of having tortured his parents. He is understandably upset, and begins to be more irritable, unlike his previous quiet self.

In November, Dean plays his first real game against Slytherin. To Ron's surprise, he prevents Slytherin scoring any goals, and Gryffindor wins 180 to nothing.

In December, Ravenclaw beat Hufflepuff by 170 to 60. The DADA class starts on duelling practice, particularly the blocking of unfriendly spells.

Christmas of Surprises is set during the Christmas holidays, and tells how Ron and Hermione become lovers, and of Harry's decision that he shouldn't have a girlfriend while Voldemort remains a threat. This story begins the day after that story finishes.

*

1: Back to class

January 3rd

Hermione woke first, and was surprised to find her bed empty apart from herself, and Crookshanks asleep on the blanket. Then she remembered -- it was term-time, the others were back, and she and Ron were no longer able to spend the night together. She could hear Lavender and Parvati snoring, as if to emphasise the fact.

Shortly afterward, Ron awoke in his own bed and went through the same stages of realisation. Sleeping alone and lessons with teachers like Snape -- he wished for a Time-Turner that could take him back to Christmas Eve. Only the prospect of Quidditch trials cheered him up, and they were over a week away still.

When Harry and Ron finished getting dressed and made their way down to the common room, they found Hermione already there. She and Ron embraced and kissed, causing a surprised reaction from some of the other Gryffindors present. Then the three of them made their way down to the Great Hall for breakfast.

To Harry's surprise, an unfamiliar owl brought him a small packet. He opened it, to find a loop of cloth in Gryffindor colours, with a Snitch embroidered on it. 'What's this?' he asked, turning it round in his hand.

'Looks like a Quidditch headband -- it'll help keep all that hair out of your eyes,' replied Ron.

Harry examined the wrapping, but couldn't see anything on it to show who it had come from, only his name and Hogwarts.

'What's the matter, Harry?' asked Seamus.

Harry glanced up at Hermione, then looked back at the headband. 'It just reminds me of Hermione's suspicions about my Firebolt. Two anonymous, Quidditch-related gifts.'

'Yes, but there wasn't anything wrong with the Firebolt, was there?' said Ron impatiently. 'Anyway, what do you think the headband is going to do? Wait until you get to a hundred feet up, then throw you off the broom? It's just a headband, not something vital like the broom.'

'Maybe,' said Harry. 'But remember, Hermione's reasoning was right. It was Sirius who sent me it, but not because he wanted me dead.'

'You could get Professor Flitwick to check this, too,' suggested Hermione.

Ron shook his head. 'I can just imagine it -- "please, Professor, I wondered if you could check this out for dangerous charms because I think it might suddenly cut the top of my head off in a Quidditch match", and all he finds wrong with it, is that it isn't in Ravenclaw's colours.'

Harry had to laugh at that, and even Hermione joined in.

'All right, I'll ask Professor Flitwick later. After all, we've got him for today's first lesson,' said Harry, putting the headband into a pocket.

'It's just going to be some innocent headband sent to you by a shy Harry fan,' predicted Ron. He looked round to see if Ginny was watching them. She was just turning away to talk to Shona Reith, one of the other girls in her year. 'I wonder if I can guess who she might be ...'

None of the trio asked Ginny if she really had sent it though, and they went through the morning's lessons as usual. The first lesson was double Charms. At the end of the lesson, Harry, Ron and Hermione waited behind to talk to Professor Flitwick. He agreed to examine the headband for dangerous charms.

The three of them went back to Gryffindor Tower to get their cloaks, as the next lesson was to be Care of Magical Creatures with Professor Grubbly-Plank, outside in the grounds.

'At least he's humouring you,' said Ron, as they headed back down to the Entrance Hall. 'I still think it's a perfectly innocent headband some fan sent you. You can buy them in Quality Quidditch Supplies, you know -- lots of different colours for favourite teams, and you can get them with a Snitch, a Bludger, a Quaffle or three hoops on, for all the different players.'

'You could have said all that at breakfast!' said Harry.

'I think it's best to be safe anyway,' said Hermione. 'After all, suppose You-Know-Who sent it?'

Ron laughed at her concern. 'Why would he just send a headband? You remember the sort of owl post you got after that article last year -- Bubotuber pus, threats of curses in the post -- do you think he doesn't know how to send curses? If anybody knows, it's him!'

Hermione's cheeks reddened, and she didn't answer him.

The last lesson for Harry and Ron before lunch was Divination. Professor Trelawney had decided to start the class on Tarot readings. Ron grinned at Harry, remembering his own earlier comment to Hermione about not wanting to play strip poker with a deck of cards that included a Death card. Harry was no more surprised than the rest of the class when the Death card appeared upright in Ron's reading of Harry's future. Trelawney did her own reading for Harry, and the Death card again appeared in the position for the future. She looked at him pityingly.

'Everybody dies,' said Harry. 'Don't you get fed up predicting my death?'

'What?' she demanded, almost angrily. 'You saw the cards Weasley dealt too -- are you claiming that I forced him to deal the cards into this pattern?'

Harry muttered something inaudible and Trelawney moved over to where Lavender and Parvati were much more ready to believe her every word.

After the lesson, they met up with Hermione, who'd had an Arithmancy lesson, for lunch. Ron apologised to Hermione for mocking her earlier concern about Harry, and they kissed briefly before sitting down to eat their lunch.

Following their next lesson, Transfiguration, the last lesson that day was Herbology, shared as usual with the Hufflepuffs. While the class was working outside, trimming mistletoe with small sickles for one of Madam Pomfrey's medical potions, Harry kept expecting either Ron or Hermione to hold a trimmed piece of the plant over the other's head. From the looks they were giving each other, they'd both considered it, but decided to be restrained. Harry could see two Hufflepuffs, Hannah Abbott and Ernie Macmillan, who were both giggling about the mistletoe, and who were each trying to stop the other holding a sprig of mistletoe over their heads.

Harry sighed, and wondered again about his decision to avoid romance, for fear that Voldemort's Death Eaters might kill any girlfriend of his as a way of getting at him.

At dinner, they relaxed as they ate. Harry said, 'Flitwick said he'd try to have finished checking the headband by Thursday's lesson.'

Ron looked over at Ginny, who was sitting with Shona again. Shona and Fen Maris seemed to be discussing something enthusiastically, but Ginny was staring down at her half-empty plate and holding her hands over her ears. Ron grinned. 'I tell you, it's Ginny who sent that. Ask her later.'

'Don't,' said Hermione, 'it'll just embarrass her.'

'I think I will. Not to embarrass her, but if she did send it, I'll know it's harmless,' said Harry.

'I suppose that's true,' said Hermione reluctantly.

*

Harry, Ron and Hermione sat around their usual table that evening, working on their homework. Crookshanks sat under the table, occasionally putting out his paw to catch the edge of a robe as it moved.

'Are you going to sneak out to the Prefects' bathroom?' asked Harry. 'Do I need to have an alibi ready for you?'

Hermione shook her head. 'I think it would be too risky the first day back at classes. There's probably a queue of Prefects who want some luxury.'

After a while, Ginny came over to them. She hesitated and said, 'I suppose I might as well sit where I did yesterday.' She sat next to Harry, and took out her homework. 'I just got so fed up with Shona and Fen going on and on about gossip.'

'Oh, what rumours are they inventing today?' asked Harry. 'Anything to do with Ron and Hermione kissing?'

Ginny laughed. 'No, they've got some basis for this one. There are two Hufflepuffs in your year -- Hannah Abbott and Ernie Macmillan. Do you know them?'

'We know them,' said Ron, and he told her about the mistletoe in Herbology.

'Oh!' said Ginny, startled. 'Maybe they are actually right about those two then.'

'Even Ron and Hermione were being more restrained,' Harry told her.

Ginny stared at him. 'What?'

'I haven't had a chance to tell Ginny yet,' said Ron, looking embarrassed.

His sister turned to stare at him and Hermione. 'Tell me about what? Wasn't Harry joking about you two kissing?'

'No,' said Hermione, grinning. She turned to Ron, placed her left hand on his shoulder, and pulled the two of them together to kiss again, far less briefly than their lunchtime kiss.

'Um,' said Ginny, wondering when they'd be ready to talk again. She wanted to look at Harry, but didn't dare risk it.

Ron and Hermione stopped kissing at last, and Ron looked awkwardly at Ginny. Hermione turned to get something from her bookbag.

'We ... had a long talk on Christmas Eve,' Ron said, 'and discovered we like each other better than we'd realised.' He hoped that would satisfy Ginny, and that she wouldn't guess how far the two of them had gone over Christmas.

Hermione had found what she was looking for, and held the Chocolate Frog card up, with the picture of her and Ron facing towards Ginny, who gasped and then laughed. 'Did you make that card?' Hermione nodded. 'So that was the big secret. Why didn't you just tell me yesterday?'

'It just felt a bit awkward then,' said Ron. Hermione put the card back into her bag, having avoided letting Ginny read the back.

'Oh,' said Ginny, who was now feeling too awkward to look at either Harry or Hermione. She kept looking at Ron, who was growing redder all the time. She felt her own cheeks were growing hot, and looked down at the homework she'd put on the table earlier.

The four of them worked in silence for a while.

Ginny and Harry happened to finish their homework at about the same time. Harry stretched out his arms, which were tense from so much writing, and leaned back in his chair. 'What were you going to say earlier about Ernie and Hannah?'

'Oh. Well, Shona and Fen have some gossipy friends in other houses, so they hear all the gossip,' said Ginny, who was collecting together all her books and parchment to put back into her bookbag.

'That sounds familiar,' said Hermione, without looking up from her homework. 'I've been on the sharp end of Lavender and Parvati's imaginations.'

'Those two would have been in your Herbology lesson, too, wouldn't they?'

Hermione looked up. 'Yes. Is that all it is, giggling about mistletoe?'

'No, there's more to it. Apparently Hannah didn't go home for Christmas this year.'

'She didn't stay at Hogwarts though,' said Harry.

Ginny shook her head. 'No, she went to stay with Ernie's family instead. I suppose the gossip is putting that and the mistletoe and them giggling together.'

'What do they get when they put them together?' asked Ron, who suspected he'd guessed.

Ginny blushed. 'They're saying those two ... well, that they also like each other, but more so than you do.' She would have been embarrassed enough talking about this to any of her brothers, but having Harry there too made it worse. 'Basically, they're supposed to have slept together over Christmas.'

'I suppose that's possible,' said Hermione innocently. Ron didn't dare look at her, and kept his eyes on Ginny instead. Hermione continued, 'But maybe they didn't -- after all, I've stayed at the Burrow twice now, with Ron, and you know nothing happened then.'

'That's true,' said Ginny, wishing that Ron wouldn't keep looking at her. 'Ernie's parents would have been there, after all. I bet nothing much happened -- they just enjoy each other's company and maybe kiss, like you two.'

Ron mumbled, 'I've got to get a book I left upstairs.' He went to get it with surprising haste.

'Is he upset that Ernie and Hannah like each other?' asked Ginny, surprised at his sudden departure.

'That could be it,' agreed Harry, trying to keep a straight face.

'Why would that bother him? He likes Hermione, not Hannah.'

'Maybe he's just in a hurry to finish his homework,' suggested Hermione, her voice trembling with a suppressed laugh. Ginny looked at her suspiciously, but didn't say anything.

Ron reappeared with a book a few minutes later, and sat back down. 'I forgot -- we wanted to ask you about something, or Harry did.'

'Me? What was it?' Ginny looked at Harry.

'I got a Quidditch headband in this morning's post,' he told her. 'It didn't say who it was from, and Ron suggested it was you that sent it.'

Ginny shook her head. 'If I'd thought of that, I'd just have given you it yesterday. Was it only you, or did the other players all get one too?'

'I never even asked them. I didn't think of it.' He explained his suspicions that it might have come from Voldemort.

'If the whole team got them, it can't be from You-Know-Who,' said Ron.

'No,' agreed Harry. He stood. 'I'll go and ask the others.'

A few minutes later, he came back, now frowning.

'Didn't any of them get one?' asked Hermione.

'I didn't find Katie, but none of the others got one -- and they didn't send it, either. There'd be no point; as Ginny said, it would be easier to just hand it to me if it was someone on the team.'

'It's just a shy fan of yours,' said Ron positively. 'Maybe whoever sent it isn't in Gryffindor, and didn't want the rest of their house to find out.'

'We can rule out all the Slytherins then,' Hermione said with a smile.

'Not all of them,' said Ginny. 'There's a Slytherin in my Potions class who's a big fan of yours, because her parents were both Aurors and she says they're safer ever since you defeated You-Know-Who as a baby.'

The other three stared at her in amazement. 'A daughter of two Aurors was Sorted into Slytherin?' said Harry eventually.

'She says her parents were in Slytherin too, and most of the rest of her family. She never met most of them, though -- they were killed by Death Eaters.'

'I suppose we shouldn't judge all Slytherins by Malfoy, really,' said Hermione.

'How do you know, anyway? We hardly talk to the Slytherins in our Potions classes if we can help it,' said Ron.

'Oh -- in our first ever Potions lesson, we had to sit at the desks in pairs, and I was the only Gryffindor without anyone to pair with, and Raine was the only Slytherin. Raine's really nice, and she's good at Potions too.'

'Don't tell me, she's another of these "top of every class" types,' said Ron. Hermione frowned at him.

Ginny frowned too. 'What's wrong with that? But no, she's second to top in Potions class, and Snape can never find an excuse to take points off me because Raine's so good at Potions.'

'You must be the first Weasley not to lose points in Potions then,' said Harry, grinning. 'Unless Percy didn't either.'

'A nice Slytherin?' said Ron, wonderingly. 'Next thing, there'll be a Gryffindor helping You-Know-Who attack people!'

Ginny glared at him. Ron suddenly looked very sheepish. 'Sorry, Ginny, I forgot.'

'That must be nice,' she snapped.

She stood, looked at her watch and went up to her dormitory without saying another word to any of them.

Ron was looking very ashamed of himself. 'How could I have said that to her? Even after nearly three years, she hasn't got over that whole business with the Heir of Slytherin. Why didn't I just think before I said that stupid joke?'

'She wasn't really working for him though,' said Harry, trying to cheer Ron up. 'Tell her tomorrow that's why you didn't mean it the way it sounded.'

'Why should she believe me?' he asked. 'She's just never going to be able to forget something like that, and I shouldn't have forgotten it either.'

Hermione shrugged, and reminded him that they still had to finish their homework anyway.

'I didn't really feel like doing it before, and I feel even less like doing it now,' he said. 'I feel awful now.'

'I know,' she said. 'You can't change what you said though -- and you know you can't go up to her room to apologise. Boys just aren't allowed up there.'

Ron laughed. 'OK, you cheered me up -- for a minute, anyway.' He glared at his homework. 'Why don't we learn something useful, like how to make homework do itself, or a charm to stop yourself saying stupid things?' He sighed, and got on with the essay he'd hardly started.

Harry sat watching the two of them, just sitting there doing homework together. He wished he could think of something to say to Ginny to cheer her up. He wished that Voldemort would just drop dead along with all his Death Eaters, so that he could tell Ginny how he felt about her, and ask her how she felt about him. Even if her old crush on him had now gone, and she wasn't interested in him, he'd risk asking, for the same reason that he continued to live and not give in to Voldemort: there was always hope.

Hermione finished her homework before Ron; although she had more subjects to do homework for, she was also a faster worker. She leant back in her chair, and noticed Harry looking at them both. 'Penny for your thoughts? Or maybe a Knut instead,' she said.

Harry smiled. 'I'll take the Knut, I don't need Muggle money.' He realised he'd never really told her or Ron how he felt about Ginny, and took the chance of telling them what he'd been thinking.

When he finished, Hermione grinned and looked at Ron. 'I've been trying to persuade Ron that he really wouldn't mind if you two got together when Ginny's sixteen.' She looked back at Harry. 'Sorry -- did you think we hadn't noticed?'

Harry grimaced. 'It's still not all that long since I admitted it to myself. I suppose I did think it was a secret. Has Ginny noticed then?'

'Oh, yes,' said Hermione. 'Have you noticed how she feels?'

'No. Is she ... is she over her crush on me?'

'Haven't you noticed she can't even sit down next to you without making an excuse for why she's doing it? She wants to sit next to you, but she's embarrassed in case you guess she likes you, so there has to be an excuse.'

'Oh. That's why she said that about it not being fair to have just me on this side of the table yesterday. I did wonder.'

Hermione grinned at him again. 'Now you know. So, if the two of you can just come up with a foolproof plan to stop You-Know-Who being a threat, you can really get together.'

'Not too soon though,' objected Ron. 'Otherwise, it won't be You-Know-Who trying to kill you, it'll be six maddened Weasley brothers.'

Harry held up his hands in mock-surrender. 'OK! Death Eaters are easier to deal with than a dragon expert, two pranksters and two ex-Head Boys!'

'What about me? Why am I so easy to deal with?'

Harry laughed. 'All I have to do is push you in Hermione's direction, and I'll be safe from you.'