Disclaimer: The fine tapestry of plot and characters belongs to J.K. Rowling. I am merely pulling threads at will and weaving my own design in counterpoint to hers.
Chapter 34
Coming In From the Cold
Harry did not notice the biting cold through his sweatshirt as he stood on the back lawn of the Burrow. Within seconds he was joined by Ron, Bill, Molly and Arthur. Although he was tempted to run out into the lane in welcome, Arthur’s warning hand on his shoulder reminded him that it was more prudent to wait until the two travelers had passed through the checkpoint.
Lupin half-staggered against the fence post as he commanded his silvery giraffe. Hermione steadied him by the shoulder, then leaning against him for support, she shakily produced her own otter-shaped Patronus.
Within a heartbeat, Lupin and Hermione were engulfed in countless hugs and practically hoisted off their feet as they worked their way up the porch steps and into the house. Suddenly everyone was talking and laughing at once. Molly rushed into the kitchen for hot cups of tea while Harry and Ron hung up coats and Bill drew up comfortable seating for everyone.
Arthur remained at the door, looking expectantly into the backyard. After a few moments, he quietly leaned over Lupin’s chair and asked, “Remus, where are Ginny and Tonks? Did you all not return together?”
Lupin’s expression was hollow as he answered, “We separated according to protocol. I was hoping you had some news of them.”
Molly replied, “We’ve heard nothing. Do you know what could have prevented them from sending us a message?”
Lupin looked at each of the concerned faces before supplying, “It was too big a risk to take with all the dementors.”
Harry felt his heart give a lurch as the others gasped.
Recovering first, Arthur’s quiet voice cut like ice, “How do dementors figure into this?”
Handing his tea mug back to Molly with an unsteady hand, Lupin raised himself to his full height and addressed Arthur directly, “I think it’s time we spoke in private.”
Arthur nodded and gravely led the way into the kitchen. Harry followed them with his eyes, straining for their words. He thought he detected the sound of Arthur offering Lupin some Firewhiskey to calm his nerves, but then the door swung shut behind them.
“Can I get you some more tea, dear?” Molly asked Hermione.
“Thanks, I’m fine…really,” Hermione replied. Her voice sounded a bit squeaky, but her movements were steady as she placed the empty mug on the nearest table. “I suppose I should tell you a bit about what happened today.”
“Only if you’re ready, dear,” Molly’s voice was soothing. Harry could tell from the intensity of her gaze, though, that she was hungering for any tidbit of information.
Hermione took a deep breath and began, “Everything was pretty routine until after lunch. I wanted to stop by a nearby wireless spot so I could e-mail my parents. Remus “ I mean, Professor Lupin “ offered to keep me company while Ginny and Tonks shopped the funky boutiques on the next block. We planned to meet back in front of the café in an hour’s time. The place was pretty full but I managed to wedge myself at one of the long tables while the professor went to get us some lattés. There was no room close-by when he returned, but he found himself a nice spot at the counter where he could keep an eye on everything and still interact with the Muggles. I felt guilty at first that Remus was stuck just waiting for me but every time I looked up, he was deep in conversation with one person or another, laughing, and obviously enjoying himself thoroughly.” Hermione smiled at the memory. “I probably lost track of time a bit here and started an e-mail to my cousin in America as well. Little by little, the place started to get quiet, but before that even had a chance to sink in, Remus silently pulled up a chair next to me and whispered in my ear, ‘Don’t look up right now. Finish your transmission as quickly and naturally as possible, then look at the bank of screens behind you. Keep everything casual, you don’t want to attract any undue attention to yourself.’
“I don’t know how I managed to hit the right keys,” Hermione confessed. “There was something in his voice that made my veins feel like they were filled with ice. When I turned around, everyone in the entire café was transfixed by the images on the television screens; many were standing with their mouths hanging open. Each screen showed a different scene of chaos: smoke billowing down the street, crowds pouring out of buildings, streets being barricaded as traffic was redirected. Even though I knew that the sound from the screens was still turned off, the air was filled with too many sirens, screeching of brakes and urgent cries that were coming directly from the street outside. I heard a sharp intake of breath from Remus and he whispered urgently, ‘Lower left screen.’ There among the mass of people that was boiling up from the Underground stations, I saw them “ dementors. Obviously, the Muggles couldn’t see them, but you could tell by the despair on their faces that they were still being affected by their presence. Suddenly there were dementors on practically every screen, drifting silently among the scenes of pandemonium that they were fueling. There didn’t seem to be any on the street outside, but I was certain that it was only a matter of time before they arrived.
“ ‘Let’s find the others,’ Remus hissed and then practically dragged me out onto the sidewalk. I saw red hair from Ginny and Tonks in the distance as they, too, were trying to make their way towards us on the opposite sidewalk. But as we got nearer to each other, neither Remus nor Tonks made any effort to join the others on the opposite side of the street “ although I could tell that they were staring fixedly at one another. At the moment when we finally drew abreast, they actually broke eye contact and continued walking by each other like total strangers. I didn’t dare draw attention to myself by looking back over my shoulder, so I grabbed Remus’ arm sharply and demanded in an undertone, ‘Weren’t we meeting up with them?’ He gave me the saddest look and then sighed that there had been a change of plan, but I could tell by the way his entire body tensed up that it had taken all of his will-power to turn away.”
Hermione’s voice caught and she stared down at her hands. Molly jumped up and came back almost immediately with a fresh pot of tea. Refilling everyone’s mug, she waited patiently to hand one directly to Hermione.
Hermione sipped silently for a while and then looked up to find the circle of friends all waiting for her to continue with her story.
Harry watched in awe as Ron reached over and took Hermione’s hand from where it rested on the couch cushion between them. “Please tell me how you made it back home,” he entreated her.
Seeming to take courage from the directness of Ron’s gaze, Hermione returned to her tale. “We were like refugees, following the crowds as they slowly wound their way homeward. Our only objective was to find a likely spot from which to Disapparate; but it seemed like every park, including the one that we had used for our arrival, was surrounded by vehicles with flashing lights and policemen in riot gear. Office buildings and stores were herding people out and locking their doors. There were too many people on the street to just dive unnoticed into a dark alley, so we just wandered. Remus didn’t dare turn towards Diagon Alley for fear that if wizards were being targeted directly that would be they first place they would look.
“Finally we came across an old cinema that, miraculously, had stayed open for business. So we bought tickets and crept into the balcony with a handful of chocolate bars. You know Remus’ quick fix for dementor-inducted despair. Even in the dark, we were afraid to Disapparate until the rows below started to fill up a bit so that two missing moviegoers would go unnoticed.”
“Did Remus tell you about the three jump rule? How it’s used to mask your true destination and avoid being followed,” Molly clarified.
Hermione nodded. “Only I wasn’t familiar with any of the spots that he had mapped out in advance, so I ended up having to do a Side-Along Apparition for the first two jumps. Both places were desolate: the first a lonely stretch of beach, the last one atop a windswept cliff that I can only imagine must have been somewhere in Cornwall.”
“Sounds like some of the spots where the professor likes to go hiking,” Harry offered.
“They may have been lovely in the late spring or summer,” Hermione agreed, “but I was chilled to the bone almost immediately. To make matters worse, I could tell as we practically collapsed in a heap after the second jump, that without a bit of rest and nourishment, Remus didn’t have it in him to do a third jump. So we rested a bit in a rare patch of sunlight atop a flat stone, munched on another bit of chocolate, and planned our next move more carefully. I suggested the abbey at Glastonbury or Stonehenge as alternatives since we would be able to Apparate there individually; but Remus surmised that if the dementors had been sent specifically to create havoc among Muggles, then any popular tourist destination was also at risk. In the end, we settled for Ottery St. Catchpole as it was within walking distance of the Burrow and I was familiar enough with it to be in the lead. At least that way we wouldn’t be inadvertently inviting anyone right to your back door.”
“You walked all the way from Ottery St. Catchpole?” Ron asked in disbelief.
“It’s only a mile or two.” Hermione shrugged. “We’ve walked it lots of times.”
“Not after an ordeal like that,” Molly returned. “I’d better go down to the root cellar and get some vegetables started for supper.”
“Would you like some help, Mum?” Ron offered.
“You keep Hermione company for now,” Molly suggested.
“Would you be offended if I stepped outside for some air?” Hermione posed. “I could keep lookout on the back porch for Ginny and Tonks.”
“That sounds like a fine idea,” Molly agreed, then motioned to Ron that he should accompany Hermione.
Harry looked around and noticed that Bill had left the room unnoticed at some point during Hermione’s narrative.
“I’d be glad to lend you a hand,” Harry volunteered.
“I know, dear,” Molly replied kindly, “but it will do me good to keep my hands busy on a meaningless task. Makes it seem like everything is back to normal, even if it isn’t. If I let you help, we’ll be finished too soon…. Why don’t you join the men in the kitchen? I saw Bill go in there a little while ago.”
Harry slowly opened the kitchen door to find that Arthur, Lupin and Bill were deep in conversation. A nearly empty bottle of Firewhiskey and three glasses were on the table between them.
“”and I don’t think Africa or Malaysia will do, despite the strong British presence there. Tonks is the only one that can skillfully go native,” Lupin was explaining intently, his back to the door. “So I think we will have to concentrate on either Australia, New Zealand, or possibly even--”
Harry could see that both Bill and Arthur were signaling Lupin with their eyes to indicate that they were no longer alone. Lupin turned and seeing who it was, immediately smiled in welcome. “Harry, I didn’t hear you come in. Why don’t you join us?”
Arthur pulled out a chair between him and Lupin, then moved the Firewhiskey out of the immediate way.
“Planning a trip?” Harry remarked lamely, suddenly feeling like an interloper as he sat down in the chair.
“Not exactly,” was Arthur’s careful reply. But it was the look that passed between the three men that made Harry feel uncomfortable, like he’d walked in on a secret meeting.
“I’m sorry if I interrupted Order business,” Harry offered.
“It’s not business for the Order,” Arthur explained. “It was just a private discussion that concerns only this family “ or rather, these two families “ in light of Remus’ recent marriage.”
“You should probably make that three families,” Bill interjected. “I would very much like to include Fleur in our plans.”
“Of course,” Lupin agreed. “Only right now, the discussion has been limited to just the three of us. If no one has any objections, I recommend that we include Harry.”
Both Bill and Arthur acquiesced but Harry was more certain than ever that there was still something unspoken passing between them.
Lupin addressed Harry point blank, “You have to understand what a serious matter this is, Harry. We’re not talking about an embarrassing secret that you’re keeping for a friend, or the headmistress’ attempts at rumor control, this is life or death. Even though all of our family members will be included in this, right now we four will be the only ones that know. You are not to discuss this with anyone outside of this room.”
Harry nodded solemnly that he understood.
“There may come a point in our upcoming fight against Voldemort that we realize that the battle is unwinnable. That we need to retreat, reform and return to fight another day,” Lupin explained.
“It is not our intention to throw our lives away uselessly,” Arthur stressed.
“To that end, Arthur and I have been developing a Plan B, to be implemented only in the direst of circumstances,” Lupin continued. “It will allow us to meet up again on safer ground and mount our resistance from there.”
But Harry understood only too clearly: if they ever implemented Plan B, it was because Plan A had failed. And he was Plan A “ he’d known that for years. There would be no need to include Harry Potter in Plan B, he would already be dead. Suddenly, the meaning of the guarded looks between the men was obvious.
With great effort, Harry willed himself to think only of the present moment. Play the charade that is being put before you, he urged himself. It was a small price to pay for being treated as an equal by Lupin and the others.
“I still maintain that you are in charge of herding too large a group, Arthur,” Lupin resumed. “Large groups are just that much more likely to give themselves away.”
“Your point is well taken,” Arthur conceded. “I am delegating Charlie to Bill. Considering that he will also have to deal with the Delacours, including Fleur’s little sister, that puts a rather heavy burden on him to round up those that are outside of the country.”
“Then let me take--” Lupin began, only to be silenced by Arthur gravely shaking his head.
“I cannot allow you take any of my children, Remus,” Arthur intoned softly. “They are my responsibility. Hermione must come with my group as well “ we will be depending upon her expertise in order to disappear seamlessly among the Muggles. As for Harry, you and Harry should not travel together. You know we’ve been over this before.”
Lupin looked like he was going to protest again, but Bill looked him straight in the eye and offered in a sympathetic tone, “We understand how you feel about this, Remus, but you have to let cooler heads prevail.”
Lupin sighed and nodded in resignation.
“Has anyone taken Hermione’s parents into account?” Harry was motivated to ask.
“Not to worry,” Arthur assured him. “We already have a way to contact the Grangers. Bill and I will see that they are included in one of our groups.”
Noting that Arthur kept glancing in the direction of the window, Harry adjusted his seat casually so that he could simply turn his head slightly to follow the line of sight. Hestia was still at her post at the end of the lawn, a dark smudge in the dwindling afternoon light. Then in the foreground, illuminated intermittently by the kitchen’s warm glow, Harry saw what had drawn Arthur’s attention. Ron and Hermione, both of them wrapped in warm coats and then wrapped around one another.
“If you’ll excuse me for a moment, I think I’d like to have a quick word with Hestia,” Arthur mumbled as he rose from his chair.
The minute he left the room, Bill and Harry broke out the smirks they had been doing their best to hide. Lupin turned just in time to witness what appeared to be a conversation of sorts “ except that Ron’s and Hermione’s lips were barely separated by enough space to form any words.
“How long have they been like that?” Lupin inquired, unable to keep from half-smiling himself.
“Since about the time Harry joined us,” Bill observed with a deep chuckle.
“And it took Arthur that long to notice?” Lupin asked incredulously.
“Actually, I think he’s been watching them for quite a while,” noted Bill noncommittally.
“Do you think he went out there to say something to them?” Harry posed as he wondered if fireworks were on the horizon.
“Well, it’s certainly his call,” Lupin observed philosophically. “Although, if that were the case, I would have expected him to do so much sooner. Can’t say that it’s an unexpected reaction under the circumstances. People always want to celebrate life when they feel like they’ve had a brush with death.”
“If that’s how you would classify your experiences today, Remus, perhaps I should go down to the cellar and find another bottle of Firewhiskey,” Bill suggested sagely as he made his way towards the door.
“Was it really that bad?” Harry asked, turning to address Lupin directly.
“Only the dementors,” Lupin admitted. “Hermione held up her end very well. I don’t think I could have done that last bit of Apparition without her assistance.”
“I’m sure you’re exaggerating, Remus,” Harry remarked. “Hermione is always so self-assured in her practice sessions that it’s difficult to imagine that she gets flustered when she’s put on the spot.”
“You think she’s the only one?” Lupin whispered closely as he draped his arm casually across Harry’s shoulder.
Harry turned to him in shock. “Remus, you’re shaking like a leaf!”
Lupin sat down heavily and ran trembling fingers through his hair. “My point exactly. We don’t know what’s out there and my imagination is just making it worse. But you shouldn’t be so hard on Hermione, either. You should never confuse bravery with fearlessness.”
Harry nodded in mute agreement.
“What you’re thinking isn’t necessarily correct, you know,” Lupin added very softly.
Harry had seen Lupin do this enough to know that it was no mere parlor trick. “How so?” he urged, knowing that Lupin would fill in all the gaps for him.
“It isn’t a foregone conclusion that Plan B will only be put into play in the event of your death, Harry. Unexpected circumstances always have a way of stepping in. There is no guarantee that any of the rest of us will be around, either.”
Thankful for the words of comfort, Harry replied, “If it’s any consolation, I think the lump in my stomach is threatening to become radioactive if we don’t get an update on Tonks and Ginny soon.”
“I hate feeling powerless, as well,” Lupin commiserated.
The weak sun had reached the horizon when Bill returned with a dusty bottle clutched in his hand, followed closely by Arthur. They had barely sat down at the table, however, when the door swung open to admit Molly, a basket of vegetables balanced on her hip.
“Please tell me that you’re going to wait until after supper to open a second bottle, Arthur,” Molly suggested in a stern voice. “Remus looks like he’ll collapse from nerves if he doesn’t get some food in his stomach first.”
Lupin started to protest, but decided it was best not to try to stare Molly down. Knowing that she had won the battle, Molly turned her attention towards the stove and began the preparations for dinner. Before long, the redolent smell of roasting chicken and vegetables filled the kitchen and attempted to nudge the rock from the pit of Harry’s stomach.
Harry half-listened to the quiet conversations around him as the familiar warm glow of the Weasley kitchen tried to reassert itself. Ron and Hermione had returned from outdoors and were whispering in the corner, oblivious to those around them. Arthur and Bill were having a discussion about whether the time had come to protect the Burrow with a Fidelius Charm and what Hestia’s take on today’s events had been. Harry could tell that Lupin was much too distracted with worry to add more than a stray phrase or two; but at least Lupin didn’t hesitate to hold Harry’s gaze periodically, and he found a surprising amount of silent comfort in that.
As they heard the jovial tones of Fred and George coming up the back walk, Molly excused herself, indicating that perhaps they had some news. She wiped her hands on her apron and went into the living room to greet them. Everyone’s attention was riveted on the kitchen door as it swung shut.
In the next heartbeat, the door swung open with a great bang and Ginny strode boldly into the room. Taking in the glum faces around the table and the empty glasses, she observed, “I sure hope you saved some Firewhiskey for me!”
Immediately, she was engulfed in a deluge of hugs from all directions. Harry lifted his eyes to look around the room for Tonks, not wanting to remove his cheek from Ginny’s silken hair. He saw that Molly was smiling broadly from the open doorway, and beyond her, he could see the figures of Lupin and Tonks. Reluctantly, he disengaged himself from Ginny with a final squeeze and made his way into the living room.
Lupin and Tonks were alone in the middle of the room, eyes closed, and holding each other so tightly that Harry felt immediately as if he were intruding. Tonks looked up as if to say something, but Lupin just shook his head slightly to indicate that no words were necessary.
“Don’t leave, Harry,” Tonks whispered softly and then motioned for him to join the embrace.
Harry had barely noticed that Lupin was no longer trembling when he felt himself being hugged by the twins as well. He could see Hermione’s smiling face over Tonks' shoulder, then somehow Ginny was there, and then Ron, and then he just lost track. It had been a very long time since he had felt this happy and he didn’t want the moment to end. Slowly, they disentangled their arms from one another as, once again, everyone began to talk and laugh at the same time.
“Remus, Tonks, surely you both will be joining us for dinner?” Arthur asked convivially as he put an arm around each of them.
“Sorry to disappoint you, Arthur,” Tonks replied, “but we really must get back to my parents’ house. They’re expecting us.”
“Another time then,” Molly offered as she came to bid them a happy Christmas.
Hermione skidded to a stop in front of Lupin and offered him her rucksack, “Don’t forget your purchases. I sorted mine out already.”
“But Hermione, this is your rucksack--” Lupin began.
“You can return it to me later.” Hermione shrugged. “Oh, Remus, it’s just a rucksack. Who cares?”
“Happy Christmas, Tonks. I can’t thank you enough for bringing my daughter home safely,” Arthur insisted as he and Molly engulfed Tonks in another hug.
“It was really nothing,” Tonks demurred. “Happy Christmas to you as well.”
Harry watched as Hermione impetuously stood on tiptoe and gave Lupin a kiss on the cheek before engulfing him in a huge bear hug. Lupin hesitated for only the briefest moment before returning the hug and then bending his head to return the kiss gently on Hermione’s forehead.
Harry felt Ginny’s head rest against his shoulder as she, too, was transfixed by the scene before her. He could see that she was smiling just like he was. He caught Tonks’ eye from across the room and her grin widened in response.
Lupin finally whispered, “Hermione, please, you’re embarrassing me.” But as she broke away, he made a point of catching her hand and addressing her directly, “Thank you. Thank you for taking the time to convince me.”
“Happy Christmas, Remus,” Hermione replied simply.
After a final round of holiday well-wishing, Lupin and Tonks shrugged into their coats and scarves and waved farewell as they walked hand-in-hand into the Weasley’s backyard. Hermione’s rucksack was silhouetted against Lupin’s back as they exchanged greetings with Hestia.
Harry continued to watch their faint outlines from the kitchen window. Before they Disapparated into the night, Tonks and Lupin also took a moment to celebrate their recent brush with death. It was a long, lingering moment “ Harry could see them silhouetted before the gathering twilight “ not that he begrudged them their happiness one bit.
Harry absently watched Hestia walk up to the back door for a brief exchange with Molly and Arthur.
“It’s long past the time that I should be returning home,” she began, “but I didn’t want to leave before the last of the girls returned. I’ve sent a Patronus to Kingsley about today’s situation and I expect he will be by at any moment. Be sure and ask him about the Fidelius Charm, Arthur.”
It was a joyous celebration at dinner that night as Ginny retold some of her experiences with Tonks throughout the meal. It made for a funny story, at least in the way that Ginny recounted it, and soon everyone was laughing uproariously. Harry wondered if this was a technique Ginny had learned at Lupin’s knee, but didn’t see that there was any reason to share his observation with the others.
Molly was exceptionally proud that they had demolished the meal in record time as everyone’s appetite seemed to have returned sevenfold. Harry couldn’t remember simple roast chicken having ever tasted so good in his mouth. Kingsley Shacklebolt joined them in time for pudding and was still lingering in the kitchen with Arthur, valiantly finishing off the last of the open bottle of Firewhiskey. The quiet drone of their conversation in the background was a pleasant backdrop as Harry settled down in front of the fire after bidding good night to Bill and the twins. He was soon joined by Ginny, Ron, and Hermione, none of whom were eager to turn in so early after a large meal, especially when they did not have work or school the next day.
“I can’t believe Dad is actually considering casting a Fidelius Charm,” Ron commented.
“You weren’t out there today, Ron; it was pretty scary at times,” Ginny responded. “Just because the Muggle media has every anti-Christian group claiming credit, you can’t argue with the presence of dementors.”
“Did you actually see any first-hand?” Harry asked.
“It’s hard to say. There were so many panicking Muggles when we did our first jump to the zoo, that it wouldn’t surprise me if dementors had been the underlying cause. There were a number of questionable shadows in the background, too, but it could have just been a trick of the light. We didn’t linger very long after Tonks knocked over that long row of dust bins in her haste.” Ginny suppressed an involuntary giggle. “But the dementors were certainly in clear view on the television at Tonks’ parents’ house…. Sounds like you and Remus had a tougher time of it, Hermione.”
“In large part because we weren’t able to duck into a boutique dressing room to Disapparate,” Hermione observed wryly as Ron and Harry chuckled.
“It wasn’t that easy to find a store that wasn’t shooing everyone away,” Ginny clarified.
Harry felt a need to pose the question that had been preying on his mind. “If you don’t mind me asking, Hermione, what exactly transpired this afternoon? Lupin made a big point of thanking you.”
“I pretty much told you already,” Hermione allowed with a small shrug. “Remus’ stamina was substantially tapped out after the second jump, so I had to convince him to let me take the lead for the third.”
“He didn’t want to delegate the responsibility easily, did he?” Harry surmised, instantly understanding the situation.
“Practically fought me tooth and nail,” Hermione admitted.
“He does have a stubborn streak. How did you finally convince him?” Harry inquired, knowing that it had probably been a monumental task.
“Well, it certainly wasn’t by reasoning logically with him,” Hermione explained. “He could counter any argument that I posed. It was maddening, actually; it was like he was continually two or three steps ahead of my reasoning.”
Harry commiserated with a knowing nod of his head.
“Finally, I got so exasperated with him, I just told him that if he got himself splinched, I was just going to pile all the little pieces into a wheelbarrow and deliver them personally to Madam Pomfrey!” Hermione declared.
Ginny lifted her eyebrow archly and observed, “You must have been quite a sight atop that windy cliff, shouting over the crashing of the waves on the rocks below.”
“Does the term ‘banshee’ come to mind for anyone else?” Ron quipped.
“What happened next, Hermione?” Harry asked, trying to keep a straight face.
“Remus started laughing, muttering that ‘she would really like that’, although at first I didn’t understand what he meant at all. Then he turned to me and said, ‘Well, you might as well get a red suit and a bunch of tiny reindeer then, because Poppy Pomfrey is going to think that’s the best Christmas present she’s ever received!’” Hermione couldn’t stop herself from smiling crookedly at how much more amusing a tale it seemed in retrospect.
Everyone burst out laughing, including Hermione. “That’s the way I reacted also,” she admitted when she was finally able to speak once again. “Once we finished laughing ourselves silly, Remus simply designated me as second-in-command.”
“Is he always like that?” Ron asked incredulously.
Harry nodded meaningfully. “It would probably surprise you how many things we’ve laughed about in our lessons. It’s a particularly effective technique for keeping the demons at bay.”
“How does he find the absurdity in these circumstances?” Hermione decried.
“That’s just the way his sense of humor is skewed. Obviously, not everyone can do it “ although I suspect Tonks can to some degree,” Ginny commented sagely.
At Harry’s urging, Ginny told them a bit more about the afternoon she had spent with Tonks and her mother, Andromeda, who she had ended up liking very much -- even though she turned out to be the polar opposite of her daughter. When her father, Ted, arrived home from work, it was obvious how much Tonks favored him yet there were elements of her mother’s personality that would come through in peculiar little ways, Ginny noted. After a while, it became obvious to Harry that he was the only one that was listening to Ginny’s words, but that suited him just fine. It had been a very long time since they had enjoyed a long, companionable conversation and Harry found that he missed that element of her company almost more than anything else.
In those quiet moments, with the last of the firelight flickering in the depths of her eyes, amid the quiet susurration of conversation from the next room, and secure in the knowledge that Ron and Hermione were once again lost in their own world, Harry was seized by the overwhelming desire to tell Ginny everything, to lay out his heart completely. He took her hand and slowly brought it to his lips, running his thumb gently across her knuckles. Taking a deep breath, he felt the words forming on his lips, knowing that they could never be taken back. He could tell he had her undivided attention.
“Ginny, I…” he began tentatively, but his words were cut short by the sound of the kitchen door opening and Arthur showing Shacklebolt to the back door.
“I will keep you posted of any new developments,” Shacklebolt was saying. “I hope Remus is able to give us his initial impressions before he leaves on holiday. Otherwise, we will need to wait until he returns to get a more in-depth analysis. His destination is too far away to risk either an owl being intercepted or a Patronus giving his true location away. I would not expect him to expose himself in such a manner.”
“I will likewise keep you abreast of any new developments until our next official meeting,” Arthur promised. “In the meanwhile, happy Christmas, Kingsley.”
“Happy Christmas to you and the rest of your family, Arthur,” Shacklebolt returned, then catching sight of the four that were still lingering in the living room he added, “Harry, Hermione, happy Christmas to you as well.”
They echoed his sentiments and waved from across the room, Ron’s and Ginny’s voices also adding to the mix.
After bolting the back door securely, Arthur turned to face them. “I didn’t realize there were still any stragglers downstairs. Don’t you think it’s time you went to bed?” he added with a meaningful look.
Arthur was the last one up the stairs, extinguishing the lights behind them with a simple command.
Harry Potter and the Hero's Lament by L A Moody
Chapter Notes: Hermione tells a harrowing tale; Harry is included in a unique planning session among the men.