Chapter 35
A Tree for Harry
.
Draco sat at the Slytherin table as breakfast was ending and watched as students left for Hogsmeade station and their train ride home. It looked as though the Christmas Express would be quite full this year, as the Hall was already nearly empty. For the first time since Draco had started Hogwarts, he was staying over. He would spend Christmas alone; away from his family, and away from the Dark Lord.
Pansy turned sad eyes on her betrothed, "Draco, I'm almost positive father would let you spend a few days with us, are you sure you can't come?"
Draco nodded, "Yes… I'm sure."
"If I had known sooner that you were staying, I would have tried to at least gotten your present here for you."
"Pansy, it's okay… please don't worry about it."
"It's just not fair, and… and I don't understand," Pansy choked out as she started to cry.
Draco wanted to tell her why. He wanted to tell her everything, but he knew he couldn't. It wouldn't be safe for either of them if he did. Draco lifted her chin, "Times are difficult and… dangerous." Catching her eye he said seriously, "Pansy, dark times are coming. Soon, you'll… we'll have to make some hard decisions. Be careful who you talk to, and especially about what you say."
Pansy stared back at Draco for a moment, thinking about what his words might actually mean. "Do you really think it will be that soon?"
Draco nodded slowly and whispered, "Yes, I do."
Pansy took a deep breath and then said with resolve, "Draco, I really don't care about… sides. I just want to be with you. I trust you and I'll go wherever you go."
Draco wasn't a fan of showing emotion publicly, so it surprised her when he leaned in and kissed her. "Thank you," he said, "you don't know how much that means to me."
Pansy smiled, lost in thought for a moment, then suddenly remembering she had a train to catch, she looked around the empty Hall. "I'd better go," she said as she stood up, "I'll be back soon and we'll talk some more. Maybe you'll be able to tell me more."
Draco stood too and took her arm to walk her out. "When you get back we'll talk. I'll tell everything I can."
~oOoOo~
After seeing Pansy off at the main gate, Draco slowly walked back. The castle had a different feel to it now. It was quieter, lonelier… darker. 'This is going to take some getting used to,' Draco thought, 'not even Potter is staying over this time.'
Not feeling like sitting in an empty common room all by himself, Draco found himself heading back towards the Great Hall. Stepping through the door, he stopped and looked around. There were only three students inside; a lone Ravenclaw, and two Slytherin girls, Daphne, and her little sister. Draco raised a brow, it seemed very unusual for the Greengrasses to be staying over.
Just as he was about to turn away, Daphne looked up and caught him staring. To his surprise, she waved him over. Draco had nothing else to do at the moment and the thought of some company right about now sounded good. Walking over, he sat down across from the two girls and gave them a curt nod hello. "What do want?" It came out a little more harshly than he had intended, but he didn't say anything else.
Daphne studied him for a second, while Astoria narrowed her eyes at him. "I didn't expect to see you here," Daphne finally said.
"I could say the same about you," Draco countered.
"I suppose," Daphne said as she continued to stare at Draco. "With current events and all, things at home are a little difficult these days," Daphne pause a second to let that sink in, then added, "Perhaps, you know what I mean?"
Draco, not wanting to commit to an answer, simply said, "Maybe."
Growing irritated with the older, blond-haired boy, Astoria blurted out, "You do know Voldemort is back don't you?"
"Tori!" Daphne chastised. Then turning apologetic eyes to Draco, she said more evenly, "I'm sorry, she can be a bit outspoken at times."
Draco was a little taken back by the blunt candor of the little girl but nodded in understanding. Looking at Astoria, he said with interest, "Not many people dare say his name out loud."
Astoria shrugged, nonplused, "It's just a name."
Draco raised a brow at her casualness, "Still."
Wanting to get to the real reason she had asked Draco to join them in the first place, Daphne changed the subject by asking, "Draco, I'd like to talk with you later… in private. Will you meet with me?"
It was Draco's turn to sit and stare. He studied the girl across from him. She was smart; one of the smartest in their house in fact, and she was clever. However, Draco didn't sense any ill intent on her part and so finally agreed to meet with her.
"There's an unused classroom just down the hall on the right, next to the boy's toilets," Daphne ticked her head in that direction, "do you know where I mean?"
Draco nodded yes.
"Meet me there at seven, after dinner."
Draco glanced around wondering why all the secrecy, but nodded yes again.
Relived, for the time being, Daphne said thank you and reached for her sister's hand, "Come, Astoria."
~oOoOo~
Getting off the train at King's Cross, Harry and Hermione waved hello to Mrs. Weasley and Madam Longbottom. Then after saying goodbye to their friends, they left with an overly excited Natalie to find their parents.
Crossing the platform, Harry noticed Tonks in her Auror uniform watching them from a discrete distance. He caught her eye and flashed her a beaming smile. She shook her head in amusement but smiled back just as brightly. Before stepping through the barrier, Harry glanced around some more looking for Remus. Although he never saw him, Harry figured since Tonks was here, he probably was too.
Once through the barrier, Natalie and Hermione spotted their parents standing together and made a dash for them. Sirius was there too, but Harry walked; at what he would later claim was a manlier pace, to greet him. Hugs and handshakes were shared freely as Natalie was introduced to Sirius and the Grangers, while at the same time, Harry and Hermione were introduced to the MacDonalds. After a few minutes of pleasantries and confirmation about getting together for dinner, the MacDonalds left for home with an ecstatic little witch between them.
Harry and Hermione had agreed earlier, that they spend the first couple of days with their respective guardians to get caught up. Harry smiled as he remembered the conversation…
"Of course I'll miss you, Harry, but it is only two days," Hermione said with an affectionate smile, "I'm sure Sirius would like to spend a little time with his godson without his girlfriend draped all over him."
Harry knew she'd miss him as much as he'd miss her but he loved the playful banter at times like this. "Draped over me?" Harry said, wiggling his eyebrows, "Like my Quidditch robes… I kind of like the sound of that."
Hermione laughed, "Yes, well kind of, but maybe a bit softer, and warmer… yes definitely warmer."
"Well, I guess I can be parted from you for a maximum of forty-eight hours, as long as you promise to do some of this draping later."
Hermione gave him a long kiss, and then whispered in his ear, "Count on it."
Harry was brought back to the present by a laugh.
"So, it's agreed then," Sirius said, "We all meet at your house on Friday morning for breakfast, and then into London for a bit of shopping."
Dan groaned, "A bit of shopping, I tell you there's no such thing."
"Into the trenches again ay, Mr. Granger," Harry laughed, "don't worry, we've got your back," he finished, while gesturing to Sirius.
Sirius didn't know what trenches had to do with shopping but nodded anyway.
With all the arrangements made and being mindful of Hermione's parents, Harry gave his girlfriend a short chaste kiss before they both parted ways.
~oOoOo~
Draco stepped into the empty classroom to find Daphne waiting for him. "No little sister?"
"Some of what we have to talk about, may not be suitable for her to hear."
Draco nodded once then leaned back against a desk, "So, you wanted to talk?"
Daphne cast a simple privacy spell and then eased down into a chair with a sigh. "He's back, Draco, and we both know war is coming," at his nod, she went on, "I'm curious as to what you think… where you stand."
You could hear a quill drop in the silence that followed. Like Draco had told Pansy; you had to be careful what you said these days. Finally, he simply asked, "Why?"
Daphne could see he was being careful and knew she should be too, while at the same time hating the need for it. With some frustration slipping out, she answered, "Because I'm trying to figure that out myself."
"I see," Draco smirked, "and would this have anything to do with you now being part of Potter's merry band of marauders?"
Surprised, Daphne asked, "You know?"
"I suspected."
"Oh…" Daphne looked down while trying to reorder her thoughts.
"So, it's true," Draco accused, "you're siding with Potter. You plan to fight against the Dark Lord."
Daphne's head snapped up and she turned hard eyes on her housemate, "I've not sided with anyone… yet!"
"But Potter is teaching you to fight for him," Draco said raising his voice.
Raising her voice to match, Daphne replied, "He's not teaching me, or anyone else to fight for him, he's teaching us to fight for our families… to defend ourselves." Daphne deflated a little, "But you won't have to worry about that will you?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Draco asked hotly.
"Come on, Draco, you know damn well what I mean. You're a wizard; a male, and your family is in… better standing than mine." After a pause, she continued more softly, "You know what he'll most likely do to mine… to me and Astoria."
Draco did know and it bothered him. It was part of the reason he was so conflicted himself. He was slowly being dragged into the coming war whether he wanted any part of it or not. 'Mother was right,' he thought, sooner or later he'd have to make a choice and it was looking more like sooner. He had been sure that his time would have been up by now. That as soon as he had returned home, his father would force him to decide… and he knew he wouldn't have had any choice in the matter. Then the unexpected; his father told him to stay at Hogwarts and continue to watch and listen. Apparently, the Dark Lord had lost a spy at the school and had commanded it himself. If he was lucky, he'd have until summer before he'd have to choose his fate.
Draco moved over and sat down beside her, "You're right, I do know. But what you don't know is, I may just have more to worry about than you think."
Daphne looked at Draco with sad eyes, "Pansy?"
Draco looked down and sighed, "That and so much more…" Both sat in silence for a while, lost in thought. They needed time to think, they needed more information… "What do you think of Potter?" Draco asked suddenly, "I mean, what do you really think?" Draco had been watching Potter for a while now and had been as unbiased in his observation as possible. What he was seeing, didn't match up with the Potter he had been told about, at least not anymore.
Daphne leaned back with a raised brow not expecting a question like that. If she was careful, she could answer Draco without betraying Harry or the D.A. "He has surprised me, actually, they both have."
Draco knew she was referring to Hermione now as well and nodded.
"They're nothing like I thought they'd be." Daphne half smiled, "I can't tell you how nervous I was just asking for their help, never mind actually participating in their group. They wanted to know why I wanted their help of course, and they asked a few questions but then that was it. They treated Astoria and me like everyone else." Daphne laughed, "I think Harry was a little nervous about how the group would accept me; He actually defended my need and my right to be there, which was something else I didn't expect. But it wasn't really necessary, after a couple of meetings you'd never know I was in Slytherin."
Draco was surprised, "They really treat you… okay?"
"Some were suspicious at first but like I said, once we started talking and working together, no one really cared what house I was from." Daphne turned serious, "They don't care about that, Draco. My sister and I are the only Slytherins in the group, but they don't see us Slytherins, just as I no longer see them as Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs, or Ravenclaws. We are all the same, just a bunch of kids who want to learn how to defend ourselves. In the group there are no houses, we're all just the D.A.
"And they want nothing in return?"
"All they have asked is that I do not use what I learn against the innocent, or against the group." Daphne looked sharply at Draco, "And I won't."
Draco turned and stared at the wall for a minute, he had a lot to think about. "You asked me what I thought and where I stood," Draco finally said, "Potter has surprised me as well. And no matter what anybody says, Granger should be respected; and believe me, I never thought I'd say something like that." Draco looked away as he continued, "Things at home are… strained," Draco snorted, "and that's putting it mildly." He turned back to Daphne, "I used to be so sure, now… I just don't know anymore. Who's right, what's right? Like you maybe, I don't know where I stand." Draco voice turned edgy, "But I do know this, pick the wrong side… and your life is over."
~oOoOo~
Harry walked into the kitchen at Grimmauld Place to find Sirius fast at work cooking breakfast.
"Morning, Sirius."
Sirius spun around, with a spatula in one hand and a piece of bacon sticking out of the corner of his mouth, he smiled and said, "Morning, Pup, have a seat. Coffee's in the pot and breakfast will be ready in a minute."
"Okay," Harry said through a yawn, "you need any help?"
"Nope, I got this."
Harry nodded, then after looking around, asked, "Where's Kreacher?"
"I gave him the morning off," Sirius said, as he walked back to the table with a plater full of food.
Harry knew Sirius didn't care for the old elf, and couldn't help sounding surprised, "Really?"
Sirius nodded once, "I told him you were coming and that I wanted your room to be ready. I told him to do a good job and he did, so…
Harry interrupted him with a laugh, "So… you took Hermione's advice."
Sirius pointed a burnt piece of bacon at Harry, "And you will not tell her."
"Fine," Harry smirked. Then looking away, he called into thin air, "Kreacher."
A second later Kreacher appeared with a soft pop, "Young wizard, calls Kreacher?"
"Good morning, Kreacher," Harry smiled, "Sirius told me that you made up my room. I just wanted to tell you that you did a great job, thank you."
The contrast between Kreacher and Dobby had never been more apparent. Where Dobby would have gotten emotional over being thanked, Kreacher just looked annoyed.
"Why is, young wizard, thanking Kreacher? It is what Kreacher do."
Harry enthusiasm waned a bit, "Well, yes, but I…" Harry could see it was pointless to continue. "Well, why don't you join us for breakfast?"
Kreacher turned to Sirius and gave him a look, wondering why his godson was pestering him. Sirius just shook his head and chuckled at Harry's attempt to be friendly.
Kreacher looked back at Harry and stared for a moment, "Does, young wizard, require this?"
Harry blinked in surprise, "Ahh, no I guess not."
"Then Kreacher will go. He is very busy," Kreacher turned and walked out of the kitchen while shaking his head and muttering, "Young wizard, strange, very strange."
Harry turned to Sirius, "He thinks I'm strange?" He asked astonished.
Sirius just laughed, "Eat up, Pup, we got things to do."
~oOoOo~
Late that afternoon found Harry relaxing in an oversized armchair reading a book. He and Sirius had spent the entire day hanging around and talking. Their conversations had ranged from girlfriends to politics. Sirius was currently upstairs getting ready for dinner when the flue roared green and Tonks stepped out. "Watcher, Harry," she said brightly as she stepped aside to allow Remus through.
"Hey, Tonks," Harry said, as he gave her a big hug.
Sirius, just walking in, smirked, "Hello, Nyp…" but stopped mid-sentence when he noticed she had her wand out and by her side. "Tonks, so glad to see you, and you brought Wolfie."
Remus chuckled, wondering if his best friend would ever grow up, or at least stop teasing Tonks. "Careful, Padfoot, You've only been a free man for a few days, you don't want to go running afoul with the law so soon do you."
Harry laughed too; as tough as Sirius was, he was easily intimidated by the women in his life. Currently, that was Hermione and her mum, and of course, Tonks. "Oh, I don't think Tonks would arrest him, Moony… turn him in a Puffskein maybe, but I doubt she would arrest him."
"Hey, whose side are you on?" Sirius asked with a fake pout.
Harry shrugged with a smile, "I'm just saying, I prefer my godfather as a wizard is all."
Remus put his hand on the small of Tonk's back and started her forward, "Well, now that we have that settled, let's eat."
After a laugh, they all sat down to a fine meal prepared by Kreacher. Harry had tried to help and had nearly been sent to bed without dinner by the ornery little elf. Sirius had roared with laughter at the look on Harry's face. Harry decided to leave it to Hermione, he figured if anyone could put a smile on Kreacher's face, it would be her.
As dinner turned into afters, talk shifted to the upcoming visit with the Grangers. Everyone was excited about tomorrow. Tonks especially couldn't wait to see the sights. She'd been told by more than one person, that downtown London was exceptionally beautiful this time of year with all the holiday decorations. Harry, of course, was just excited to see Hermione again.
During a lull in the conversation, Harry leaned close to Tonks, and said softly, "So how are things with you and Remus, if you don't mind me asking?" Harry gave her a gentle smile, "You both look happy."
Tonks' eyes sparkled as she answered, "Things are great, Harry," smiling fondly she continued, "I am happy and I think for the first time in a long while Remus is too. He's had a hard life… if not for your dad and Sirius, I don't think he would have made it." Harry had never seen Tonks cry before, until now. "He still has a hard time believing he's worth anything sometimes," Tonks whispered. After a few seconds, Tonks wiped away her tears, and her voice turned hard, "I don't care what anybody says, he's a good man and I'm proud to be with him."
Harry grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze and with a nod said, "You're right, he is a good man and anybody who gets to know him, can see it too." Harry turned to look Tonks square in the eye, "And for what it's worth, I've never seen him happier… and that's because of you."
~oOoOo~
Hermione was sitting at her desk finishing the last of the Christmas cards she was going to send out this year. Upon returning home, she had decided to not only send cards to her friends but to a few others as well. It turned out to be quite a long list. It included not only her friends and family but all her housemates from school as well. Plus, she added all the members of the D.A. and her professors. And lastly, she wanted to send something special to three little first-years, who had to spend Christmas alone in the castle.
"Hello, sweetheart, how's it going?" Emma asked as she entered her daughter's room.
"Good, mum, I'm almost finished."
"Wonderful, and here are those Christmas cookies you asked for. I went ahead and wrapped them for you," Emma said with a soft smile, she was quite proud of her daughter for being so thoughtful, "oh, and dinner will be ready in about a half hour, okay?"
"Thanks, mum, you just saved me some work," Hermione said through a laugh. "I should be done in a few minutes, and then I'll come down and help with dinner."
"Take your time dear, there's not much to do," Emma said as she walked back out.
Hermione had asked her mother to make three small packages, filled with cookies and candy, so she could send them along with the cards. While checking on Natalie's plans for Christmas, she discovered that for one reason or another, there were three first-years staying over. It didn't matter that they weren't in Gryffindor, she wanted to make sure they didn't feel forgotten. With them and their packages in mind, Hermione called for Dobby.
Dobby appeared with a soft pop and a tiny cloud of flour dust around him. He was wearing two Christmas hats, one on each ear. As the dust settled, he asked, "Yous called for Dobby, Miss Grangy?"
"Hello Dobby," Hermione smiled, "I like your hats, but you look busy, am I bothering you?"
Dobby laughed, "Don't being silly, yous not bothering Dobby."
Hermione laughed too, "Okay great. I was wondering if you could do me a big favor. I need someone to deliver these three packages to Hogwarts on Christmas Eve night."
"No problem, Miss, Dobby can do that."
"Wonderful. They're for three first-years; their names are on the packages, will you be able to find them?"
"Oh yes, the Hogwarts elves can help me."
"Great," Hermione said, "I'd like you to leave them after they have gone to bed, so they'll find them in the morning."
"Dobby… Dobby will do, Miss," he said with a little less enthusiasm as he thought about his visit to Hogwarts.
Hermione, of course, noticed, "Dobby, is something wrong?"
Dobby started to tear up, "Yous is too kind, Miss. Yous always worry about Dobby."
"Please Dobby, tell me what's wrong, maybe I can help," Hermione pleaded.
Dobby hesitated for a moment, then after a sniff, said, "Dobby is worried for his friend Winky. She will be all alone. She will be very sad not having family to take care of."
Hermione got down on one knee and gave the startled elf a hug. "Oh, Dobby, you're right, we need to do something." Hermione released him and sat back up, "Let me talk to my mum and we'll see what we can do," she reassured him.
~oOoOo~
It was finally Friday morning and Hermione was sitting at the kitchen table with a smile on her face while she read the morning paper with a cup of coffee. Her father walked in a while later and joined her at the table. He had barely sat down before another cup appeared in front of him.
"Good morning, Mr. Granger," Winky said brightly, "would yous like to eat right away, or will yous be waiting for the others?"
"Good morning, Winky. I'll wait, coffee is fine for now thank you."
Dan Granger smiled to himself. Ever since he had learned his daughter was a witch and there was a whole other world out there; a world full of magic, his life had never quite been the same. Dan looked at the girl responsible for it all and smirked when he noticed her smiling. He was quite certain, she wasn't even aware of it. "Someone's in a good mood, might it have anything to do with the imminent arrival of a certain young dark-haired wizard?" Dan teased.
Hermione had been on the receiving end of a fair amount of teasing since she got home. After her mother ran out of questions to ask her about Harry and their relationship, she started in with the teasing and innuendos. Her father wasn't as bad but he wasn't very subtle about it either. Although she was starting to get used to it, she didn't like that it seemed to imply she was still a child and not yet ready for such adult things. That she didn't really understand what a real relationship involved, or how to express what she felt. Hermione's lips slowly curled upwards in a smirk of her own as a plan formed in her head.
Hermione put her paper down and looked at her father, "As a matter of fact, it would," she said in a confident tone. Getting up, she walked around the table and gave her father a kiss on the cheek and then teased back, "Don't worry, Daddy, I'll still be happy to see you too."
Dan nearly choked on his coffee but before he could respond, his wife walked in with Harry. Sirius, Remus, and Tonks were right behind them. All he could do was watch, as his little princess jumped up and practically threw herself into Harry's arms. That would have been fine if it had ended there, in a simple hug. However, she then proceeded to snog the boy senseless in a kiss so passionate, it made him blush. Dan wasn't the only one surprised by the actions of his normally very reserved daughter, everyone stood frozen as they stared at the couple. Sirius looked to be in the same state of shock as he was, judging by how far his mouth was hanging open. While his wife merely had a brow quirked. It seemed Tonks was the only one smiling as she looked on in envy.
The scene was broken when Tonks punched Remus in the arm and yelled, "See, that's how you greet the person you care for when you haven't seen them for a while."
When she realized what her daughter was doing, Emma smiled, Hermione wasn't turning into a tart, she was proving a point. She had to give her credit, it must have taken some nerve to kiss Harry like that in front of everybody. Looking at all the stunned faces, especially Harry's, Emma chuckled. She knew her daughter would explain it all to Harry later, just as she would to her gobsmacked husband.
With the show over, Hermione pushed a dazed Harry down into a seat and then sat down next to him as if nothing special had happened. "Well, now that everybody is here, we can eat," she said casually.
Sirius eased himself down slowly into a seat with what only could be described as a totally confused look. When he looked to Emma for an explanation, all he got was a knowing smile. Turning to Dan was no help, he looked just as confused as himself. While Remus may have also been perplexed, he seemed more interested in studying what happened, just to please Tonks. After all, by now Sirius knew he'd do anything to make her happy.
Sirius was about to let it go for the time being, until a moment later when Winky popped in and started serving food. After doing a double take to make sure he wasn't seeing things, he finally lost it. "Okay, will someone tell me what just happened?" And then turning to Emma, "… and when did you get another house-elf?" Winky just ignored him and continued working, although her smile grew.
Harry, finally regaining some of his senses wanted to know also, after all, it was his second surprise in less than two minutes. He turned to Hermione and raised a brow but she only smiled back. Something was up, and he was sure she knew what, but he'd have to wait till later. Harry decided he didn't mind, it being Christmas and all. 'What's wrong with another surprise?' he thought. So, happy to wait, Harry smiled back and returned to his breakfast.
~oOoOo~
"Are you sure this can't wait, honey, I meant it's Christmas?" Emma asked.
"Mum, it's only two hours. Master Kim knows we only have a little time at home and is doing us a huge favor teaching us over the holidays," Hermione pleaded. "He'll be giving us special lessons, working with us one on one. If we do well enough, we'll be able to test for our green belts again."
"Besides," Harry added as he walked up, "we'll be able to give him his present before Christmas."
Both Emma and Hermione turned to look at a smirking Harry. Hermione's raised brow told him, he'd be explaining later.
Knowing that it was important to the kids and that Master Kim was going out of his way to help them, Emma relented, "Fine, but you'll have to hurry, afterward we have a full day planned."
~oOoOo~
After a full day of shopping, Harry and Hermione stashed away their presents in their rooms to be wrapped later. They had shopped together and apart, trading partners as they went about trying to find the perfect present for everyone on their list. Finally done and back home, they plopped down on the couch together to take a break before dinner.
Harry turned and studied the girl sitting next to him. She was chewing on her bottom lip again, something was bothering her. He waited a couple of minutes to see if she would share. When it seemed he waited long enough, he reached over and touched her arm, "Hermione, what's wrong?"
Hermione turned and looked at Harry. His concerned look told her he was getting worried about her. "Oh, Harry, I'm worried about Winky."
Harry looked surprised, "She seems happy to me," he said confused.
"That's just it," Hermione said cryptically. She turned away to gather her thoughts before continuing, "When Dobby first bought her here, she was so sad and depressed. Every opportunity I had, I would sit and talk to her and slowly she started coming around. She started helping Dobby around the house, soon she practically took over. Dobby didn't seem to mind; as long as she was happy, so I didn't say anything either."
"I still don't understand, that's a good thing… right?"
"Yes, of course, and we love having her here as much as we love having Dobby around. In just a few short days her whole personality has changed. She's so happy now."
"But…"
Hermione turned back, "Harry, what's going to happen when winter break is over, and she has to return to Hogwarts? It's going to break her heart."
Harry nodded now that he understood what troubling Hermione. "Why does she have to go back?" Harry asked, the solution seemed so simple, "Why can't she just stay here?"
"Harry, I've talked to her about that. She may be the only elf that truly understands Dobby and doesn't think bad of him, but she most definitely doesn't want to be free like him. She wants a family… that is, she wants to belong to a family."
"So…"
"Harry, you know how I feel about that. I can't…"
Harry held up his hands to stop Hermione from going on. "Hermione… Yes, of course, I know how you feel about house-elves, and I understand it. But ask yourself this; she's been given clothes and even though you don't care, what about others. Do you think anybody will ever consider bonding with her again?"
"Well… no probably not, but…"
"And if no one ever does, do you think she'll get over it?"
Hermione sighed, "No."
Harry took both of her hands in his and said softly, "And here's the most important question, Do you honestly think you or your family would ever treat her badly… make her life worse than it is now?"
Hermione shook her head sharply, "No, never… but still, it's…"
"Hermione, I know this is hard for you to even consider… very hard, but try and think of it from her point of view." Harry gave her a minute, then added, "Sit down with your mum and dad… and Winky… and just talk about it."
Hermione stared at Harry for a moment, then asked in an uncharacteristically weak voice, "What do you think?"
Harry turned away for a second in thought, then turned back and said simply, "I think it would be good for both Winky and Dobby; you know how he worries about her. And with Voldemort around, I think it would be good for your parents as well." Harry leaned forward and stared straight into her eyes, "But what I think is not nearly as important as what you think, so don't let me sway you into something you really don't want." Harry scooted closer and gave her a soft kiss. Leaning back, he smiled, "You know, I'll support you either way."
Hermione nodded slowly a couple of times, glad that Harry wasn't pushing her one way or the other. Realizing, he had made some good points, she finally said, "You're right, Harry, I need to see this from her point of view. I still don't know what to do but I'll talk to everyone later after dinner."
~oOoOo~
Sirius got out of the car and let out a long low whistle, he'd never seen so many Christmas trees in one place before. When he was a kid growing up, he'd never given it much thought as to where their tree had come from, or for that matter who had decorated it, that was Kreacher's job. Sirius had never given their tree that much consideration; except that maybe it was a fire hazard. He hadn't even been sure why they had one in the first place. Now, however, as he watched his excited godson and a jubilant Hermione race about from tree to tree in the miniature forest looking for just the right one, he realized he'd missed the point of having a tree. It wasn't the tree itself that was important, but rather the fun of trying to find the perfect one. The joy of decorating it, together as a family. 'No,' he thought, 'it wasn't just a tree, but rather a symbol of all the things that were good in the world. Hope, giving, family, and… love.' No wonder he hadn't known that as a child, there had been very few of those things in his young life. Looking at Harry, he realized, that until now there had been very little in his life as well.
Sirius was brought back from his musings by a hand on his shoulder. Dan pointed to a smiling Harry and a laughing Hermione as they darted from tree to tree. "It's the children that make Christmas truly special. They make it all worthwhile, don't they?"
With his emotions riding just below the surface, Sirius could only nod. Dan had no idea just how true his last statement felt to him. Now he understood, now he had a mission; to find a tree for Harry. After the holidays, Sirius knew he was going to be very busy trying to get the Black family affairs back in order. So, deciding to make the most of his time with his godson while he could, Sirius let his inner child out to play. Smiling like a mad man, he chased after the kids, yelling, "Let's get a big one!"
~oOoOo~
One of the many Christmas tradition in the Granger house was to trim the tree right after dinner. This year, everyone had a role to play. Dan and Sirius stung the lights while Remus played out the strand keeping the wires from tangling. Emma and Tonks stood back and gave direction to make sure they were placed evenly with no gaps. Harry and Hermione would later hang the ornaments, so for now, they just sat back and enjoyed the show. Occasionally, when no one was looking, Harry would use a bit of magic to prank his godfather. With a subtle flick of his wand, a light strand would slip from the branch it was hung on, or a light would blink out. Hermione couldn't help but giggle at the confused look on both her father's and Sirius's face each time it happened. When Remus glanced their way, Harry decided to lay off, he didn't want to start a prank war this close to Christmas.
While sipping some hot chocolate, Hermione asked Harry, "Did you talk to Dobby?"
Harry smiled as he remembered the conversation. "Yeah, he thinks it would be wonderful if Winky bonded with you. I told him we were worried he'd be upset that we didn't ask him."
Hermione nodded, "What he say?"
"Said he knows he's different. That he likes being free, so long as he has friends who let him help."
"Good, did you tell what I said, did you ask him?"
Harry laughed, "Yeah, he looked almost as shocked as I did when you told me."
"Well, it's only right. If we ask Winky, then we should at least ask Dobby too. You never know, and I doubt he'd ask."
"He promised, we'd be the first to know if he changes his mind. He also said, we were the only ones he'd ever consider."
"Okay, that's the last of the lights," Dan announced. Moving over to stand next to his wife, he eyed Harry and his daughter; who appeared to be getting a little too comfy on the couch. Gesturing for them to get up, he ticked his head towards the tree with a grin, "Alright you two, you're up. Pumpkin, you and your wizard best get to it."
Sirius turned and with a smirk, whispered to Remus, "Pumpkin!"
Hermione stuck her tongue out at her father, while her mother laughed. "Come on, Harry," she said brightly, "this is the best part."
As Dan stood with his arm around his wife, he couldn't help but notice her brilliant smile. "You seem especially happy."
"Look at her, Dan," Emma said softly, "have you ever seen her so happy?"
Dan glanced at his daughter and then back to his wife, "It's Christmas, she's always happy this time of year."
Emma looked at her husband for a moment then turned back to the kids. Every time Harry would bend down to get an ornament out of the box, Hermione would accidentally drop a little tinsel on his head. He was beginning to look like the 'Tin Man' from 'The Wizard of Oz'. If Harry knew she was doing it; and Emma was quite certain he was, he didn't seem to care. In fact, he looked happy playing along with the fun. They were both carrying on laughing like crazy, the way children are supposed to. Harry would hand Hermione an ornament, and she'd study the tree for a second before picking just the right spot. Harry would seem to analyze her decision for a moment, then smile and nod his head in agreement. Both were trying to look completely serious while being silly at the same time.
Emma nodded towards the young couple, "Look again, love… really look." As Dan turned to look, she went on, "Yes, she's always happy at Christmas but this… this is different. She's not just happy, she's completely happy… content. Her happiness radiates out from the inside."
Dan studied his little girl for a moment and had to admit, his wife was right. His daughter was practically beaming sunshine into the room. Looking around he smiled, everyone was smiling and laughing, it would seem his daughter's happiness was contagious. Even the little elf Winky was smiling as she swatted Dobby's hand for trying to steal another Christmas biscuit. Dan pulled his wife closer, "She does look exceptionally happy."
Emma's smile grew as she nodded towards Harry, "And we have that young man to thank for it."
When the third ornament slipped off the branch it had been hung on, Hermione looked up at Harry and ticked her head ever so slightly towards Sirius and Remus. Harry's lips curled upwards as he returned a tiny nod. Then with practiced ease, they both turned suddenly and fired stinging hexes at the two old Marauders.
Tonks rolled with laughter. She had warned them, but Padfoot and Moony couldn't resist a little payback.
As the laughter died down, Harry returned to decorating. Noticing that Hermione had slipped away, he turned to look for her. Hermione, with her mum and dad on each side, were walking up to him. Hermione was holding a small box in both hands. When she reached him, she held the tiny gift out to him. "Harry, as you saw, we each have a special ornament on the tree," Hermione said softly as she gestured to herself and her parents. "And we…" Her voice hitched a bit, "… we'd like you to have one too."
Harry took the precious gift in shaking hands and quickly slid to the floor before he dropped it. Opening the box, he pulled out a small glass globe. Inside the globe was a tiny house covered in snow with smoke coming from its chimney. It was a warm and beautiful scene. As Harry held the ornament up, staring at it in wonder, he heard Hermione whisper in his ear, "It's to remind you, Harry, that you'll always have a home here."
Harry nodded, not trusting his voice at the moment. Carefully, Harry stood, and after a brief search, he found the spot he was looking for. Reaching out, he hung his special ornament next to Hermione's on the same branch. The significance of where he had placed it wasn't lost on anyone, especially Hermione. She wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her head on his shoulder as both stared at the pair of beautiful ornaments. After wiping a tear away, she whispered softly, "Always and Forever."
~oOoOo~
Emma was up early Sunday morning. The day before Christmas was always a busy day for her. As she walked by the living room on her way to the kitchen to put some coffee on, she noticed the Christmas tree lights were still on. Hoping that either Dobby or Winky had already started the coffee, she changed course and headed for the tree, intent on turning off the lights. Halfway there she noticed them, Harry and Hermione were fast asleep together on the couch.
Harry was on his side with his back to the rear of the couch and was using the arm as a pillow. Hermione was also on her side facing outward with her backside pressed tightly up against Harry, who had his arm wrapped protectively around her waist. At first sight, she was a bit shocked to find them in such an intimate position. However, after taking a better look it didn't appear as if anything inappropriate had happened. They were both still wearing their pajamas and she really didn't think they do anything that reckless. If she had to guess, she'd wager they just fell asleep together. The scene was so cute, she couldn't take her eyes off them. Emma decided to let them sleep for now, but wanted to be here when they woke; that was sure to be fun. A cup of coffee appeared on the side table next to a large armchair. Emma eased herself down and reached for the cup, she'd have her morning coffee in the living room. She didn't want to miss this.
As Emma settled in, Winky approached with a small plate of croissants and jam. After setting the plate down, Winky glanced first to the sleeping kids, then to Emma. Guessing why she was out here and what she might be thinking, Winky said softly so as not to wake the sleeping children, "Not to worry Mrs. Emma, they being good children."
Any fears or doubts she might have had vanished then and there. Turning, she smiled down at their newest guest, "Thank you for looking after them, Winky."
Winky nodded once with a smile before she padded away, back to the kitchen to help Dobby start breakfast.
Dan was up next and only a few minutes behind his wife. On his way to join her, he stopped at the junction between the kitchen and the living room when he noticed she wasn't at the table. Turning, he spotted her sitting in the living room. With only a raised brow, he decided a cup of coffee was needed before finding out the reason she was sitting out there. A moment later with a cup in his hand, Dan headed out to investigate. Pulling a chair over next to his wife, Dan started to sit. With his coffee halfway to his lips and his rear halfway to the seat, Dan froze. He had only just now noticed his sleeping daughter wrapped up in her boyfriend's arms. After shaking his head slightly to make sure he wasn't seeing things, he slowly eased himself the rest of the way down, and then turned questioning eyes to his wife. She just held a finger to her lips and slowly shook her head with a smirk. Confused at first, until he recognized the look, Dan nodded with a smile, and then sat back and waited for the show to begin.
Hermione was currently having a wonderful dream. She had been snogging Harry quite passionately and now he was trailing kisses down her neck. Hermione sighed with a soft smile; she was in heaven. That's when the dream started to get weird. Harry had lifted his head and asked what she was smiling about… only it didn't sound like Harry… it sounded like… her father. Slowly, her sleep-addled mind stirred towards consciousness and the events from the previous night came flooding back.
After they had finished trimming the tree, everyone had just sat around talking and laughing. It had been a great evening. As the last of the adults got up and headed for bed, she and Harry had promised they soon follow; they just want to enjoy the beautiful tree a while longer.
Both sat and stared at the tree in silence for a long time, until Harry broke the peaceful quiet. "The Dursleys had the tree lights on a timer, like you guys," He started, "they usually went to bed before it shut off." Harry worried a loose thread on pajama top for a moment. "I didn't dare leave the… cupboard, but I really wanted to see the tree." He closed his eyes as he thought back to those dark days. "So I worked the latch until it opened, and then with the door ajar, I'd stare at the tree until the lights went out."
Hermione gave his hand a squeeze before wiping at a tear. A second later she got up and reset the timer. Climbing back on the couch she snuggled up close to Harry, "They won't go off now. We can look at them all night if you want."
Harry nodded and then pulled her closer and kissed the top of her head. Harry laid his head gently down on top of hers and tightened his hold on her. It was times like this that reminded him just how lucky he was, to have this special and wonderful girl in his life. "Merry Christmas Hermione… I love you."
"And I love you too, Harry, Merry Christmas."
It had been a truly wonderful evening…
Now try as she might, Hermione couldn't remember getting up and going to bed… Oh… Oh my… Hermione's eyes snapped open. Sitting across from her enjoying their coffee, were her parents, smiling like Cheshire cats. Panicked, Hermione jerked and started to get up, unfortunately, Harry was still asleep. Sensing her move, Harry; who was still in his own dreamland, tightened his hold on his girlfriend. Hermione now desperate to extract herself from this increasingly embarrassing situation, did the first thing that came to mind; she elbowed Harry in the ribs. This had the desired effect she was looking for… at first. Harry instinctively released her and then quickly woke, wondering who had attacked him. And although the first set of eyes he saw were brown, they definitely didn't belong to Hermione but to her rather stern looking father. This time it was Harry who jumped and again unfortunately for Hermione, his sudden jerk pushed her off the couch and dumped her unceremoniously on the floor.
Hermione raised herself up and peeked cautiously over the top of the coffee table. Both her parents were laughing so hard, they had to hold each other up, else they'd join their daughter on the floor.
Hermione quirked a brow and then narrowed her eyes. After clearing her throat, she ventured, "Why are you laughing, aren't you mad?"
Her mother was the first to recover, still chuckling, she asked, "Did you two do anything to give us reason to be?"
"No!" Came the simultaneous shouts from both Harry and Hermione causing her parents to start laughing again.
Harry and Hermione were both shaking their head franticly. Finally, Hermione managed to stammer, "No, of course not! We… we just fell asleep"
As Emma was helping her daughter up, she smiled, "Well then, since nothing happened and it's almost Christmas, we'll let this little… incident go."
"But don't plan on making a habit of it," Dan added quickly while trying not to laugh again. "Oh, these just came in the post," he added, as he handed over a couple of Christmas cards.
Hermione smiled as she showed Harry, there was one each from Viktor and Fleur, McGonagall had forwarded them. "I hope they got ours in time."
Harry smiled reassuringly, "I'm sure they did."
~oOoOo~
With everybody finally up, the day began in earnest. Because everyone was so busy, Harry and Hermione were mostly spared being teased about their prior night's sleeping arrangements, with only an occasional smirk here and there. After the last of the presents were wrapped and placed under the tree, the house was tidied and made ready for their dinner guests later that evening. Finishing early, the Granger tribe as they had started calling themselves, consisting of; the Grangers, Harry, Sirius, Remus, and Tonks, decided a bit of fun was in order before dinner. Leaving the meal preparation in the capable hands of Dobby and Winky, the tribe set out for the local ice skating rink.
~oOoOo~
Sirius called over his shoulder while grabbing a pair of skates and hurrying to the ice, "Come on, this is going to be fun!"
Remus just chuckled at his antics, while Tonks eyed the slippery ice with trepidation.
After helping Harry on to the ice and giving him the basics on how to skate, Hermione was soon gliding around the rink with practiced ease.
As it turned out, Sirius was the one who spent most of his time on his backside, while the ever clumsy Tonks got the hang of it quite quickly and soon made it look easy. She later confessed to Harry, that to her it was rather like flying, something she was quite good at. Harry had to admit, gliding down the ice with your arms outstretched and the cold air in your face was kind of like flying. However, he was still more than a little sure, that he was a far better flyer than a skater.
Hermione on the other hand, looked so graceful as she floated around the rink turning and twirling, she really did look like she was flying. The only thing missing was a broom. Harry smiled, she was so happy, it made her look even more beautiful. Everyone thought she looked so confident and at home on the ice. Harry later remarked, "There's just nothing my Hermione can't do and do well when she puts her mind to it."
Her face already pink from the cold, turned a darker shade of red. A little embarrassed, she swatted his arm, "Oh, stop it you," Hermione said as she buried her head in his chest.
With their noses red, and their bums sore, it was a happy tribe that returned home to get ready for dinner.
~oOoOo~
Being a parent and trying to raise a child can sometimes be difficult, but when the child is a witch and you know nothing of magic, it takes the problem to a whole new level. Meeting the Grangers and seeing the positive effect that magic had on their lives changed everything. Being able to talk with someone else in their position and ask questions had truly been a life changer for the McDonalds. For Natalie, it had been so much more than that, it had been a life saver. She would always be thankful that Harry had introduced her to Hermione.
With dinner over, and everyone now enjoying afters, the conversation around the table was light. Harry and Hermione got caught up on events with Natalie and told each other funny stories, while the adults talked casually about work and their plans for the remainder of the holidays. Tonks, who had grown bored with the more serious adult conversations, joined the younger group. After a quick explanation about what a Metamorphmagus was to Natalie, Tonks then proceeded to demonstrate her unique abilities. Soon, the four of them were laughing hysterically.
At one point, Hermione overheard her mother explaining some rather complicated aspect of the magical government to the McDonalds. Wondering where and when she had learned all this, Hermione asked.
Emma turned and smiled at her daughter, "Honey, you remember Agatha, from our visit with the Longbottoms, don't you?"
Hermione did remember and it showed as a mild surprise on her face as she answered, "Oh, yes of course. I assume then, you've had a few good long talks since then."
Emma chuckled, "Oh yes. I love our conversations, she a delightful woman. I'm not sure what excites her more; teaching me about her world, or me teaching her about my world. Either way, we're both having a lot of fun learning new things." Emma paused in thought for a second, then added, "She could offer a lot to Hogwarts, I think I'll talk to Professor McGonagall about it."
Hermione nodded, "That's a good idea," then thought to herself, 'They could be a lot of help if we ever needed information about politics or procedure.' The we, being Harry and herself.
It was getting late and as the conversations started to die down, everyone agreed they'd had a great time. With promises made to get together again sometime during summer break, the McDonalds left for home and the Granger tribe headed to bed.
~oOoOo~
It was barely light out when Hermione woke. She was so used to getting up early to work out with Harry, that she knew it was pointless to try and go back to sleep. So, even though it was Christmas morning, she slid out of bed and pulled on a robe. Crossing the hall to Harry's room, she quietly opened his door and peeked inside. Sure enough, he was still asleep. It always amazed her how even though he got up just as early as she did all of the time, he could just turn off his internal clock and sleep in whenever he wanted to.
Not wanting to wait until noon for Harry to wake on his own, she slipped into his room. Not wanting to give her parents or God forbid… Sirius, any more reasons to tease her, she left the door wide open. Kneeling down by the head of his bed, Hermione watched him sleep for a minute before leaning in and giving him a feather-light kiss. A small smile formed on his face, which in turn caused a large smile on Hermione's face. She leaned in again and this time she kissed him a little harder. As she went to pull away, Harry tried to stay with her, and then frowned when he couldn't. Hermione giggled, she liked this new game. One more kiss as she ran her hand through his hair and then she whispered, "Come on sleepy head, it's Christmas, time to wake up."
Harry's smile never left his face as he forced his eyes open, "Morning, Hermione. Merry Christmas."
Hermione smiled mischievously, "You're in a good mood. Did you sleep well, or is it because it's Christmas?"
"Both I guess," then Harry closed his eye and smiled, "I was having a very good dream."
Hermione's beaming smile lite the room. After standing, she bent back down and gave him one more quick kiss, then said lightly, "Well you know what they say, Harry, 'Sometimes dreams come true.'" Then suddenly full of energy, she was back to business, "Come on, Harry, get up, we have presents to open!"
~oOoOo~
After breakfast, Sirius had been elected to hand out gifts. He had originally declined, suggesting Harry instead but Harry said he'd honestly prefer to just sit back and watch. He wanted to be able to take as much of it in as he could. So he and Hermione sat together on the floor while the rest of the Granger tribe gather around the tree. Sirius was in the middle at the base of the tree and began the time-honored tradition of passing out the presents.
Some of the more memorable gifts included; a book to Tonks, on how to tame the wildest of animals, and a subscription to a dating service for Sirius. Hermione had gotten her parents a magical photo album; complete with several new pictures, that could be set to freeze the photos, allowing them to show them off to their Muggle friends. That and Harry's gifts brought the Grangers to tears. He had the Goblins make Portkey necklaces for both Emma and Dan. In an emergency, they'd be able to get to safety. Surprised, but extremely happy, Hermione kissed him and then curled up in his lap with her head on his shoulder as she cried happy tears for his thoughtful gift to her parents.
Keeping his self-made promise from the previous year, Dobby presented not only Harry with a gift but Hermione as well. During a break in the action, Dobby solemnly approached Harry and Hermione. "Mister Harry Potter sirs, and, Miss Grangy, these is for yous." Dobby handed them each a brightly wrapped present. "They ares to help yous with your quest to find yous inner self," Dobby said softly."
Opening their gifts together, both pulled out exquisitely made dragon hide pouches. As soon as they touched them, their names appeared and started to glow softly. In awe, Hermione looked at the tiny elf, "Oh Dobby, These are beautiful…"
Sirius nodded, "That they are. And in case you don't know, they're for your tokens."
Over the course of the holidays, Harry and Hermione had spent a little time talking with Sirius and Remus about getting started in becoming Animagi. Harry got down on his knees to look Dobby in the eye. "Thank you, Dobby, these truly are wonderful gifts." Then he reached back and grabbed two more presents, "Compared to yours, these aren't much but Hermione and I wanted you and Winky to have them."
Dobby opened his and found several mismatched pairs of socks, a half dozen pair of boxer shorts, and five funny hats, each with a different saying on it. "Ohh, Dobby thinks this is very special, Dobby loves them."
Winky cautiously opened hers and her breath caught. Inside were seven pairs of silky boxer shorts, cut for her size. Each one had a different day of the week embroidered on it.
Hoping to reassure her, Hermione quickly said, "There not clothes, Winky… well yes, I guess they are, but we didn't give them to you because we don't want you around." Hermione got down and sat in front of the confused elf and took both her tiny hands in hers. "Actually, Winky, we," Hermione gestured to her mum and dad, "we're hoping that you would consider bonding with the Granger family."
Winky stared at the young witch in front of her for only a second before she did something she'd thought she'd never do in a million years. In a move that would make Dobby proud, she launched herself into Hermione's surprised arms and wrapped her own around her neck as she repeated over and over, "Yes, yes… Winky would very much like to be yous elf."
Winky's heartfelt words melted Hermione's heart along with any doubt about whether she had done the right thing.
As emotions settled down, the only other present left unopened, were from Harry to Hermione, and hers to him. Both had agreed earlier that they wanted to open them in private. They'd share what they'd gotten with the family later and everyone was okay with that.
~oOoOo~
"Ah, Sibyll, do come in and join us," Dumbledore encouraged, "Professor McGonagall and I were just going over some changes for next term and I do believe you wanted to make a few yourself."
Sibyll stood rather nervously in front of the headmaster's desk, "Yes, Sir, yes I would."
"Sibyll, relax," McGonagall said easily, "We only want to hear your proposal."
Sibyll nodded and took a breath, and let it out slowly, she always got nervous talking to 'The Great Albus Dumbledore'. "Yes, thank you," she started, "I was hoping to introduce…"
Sibyll just stopped talking mid-sentence and now was staring glassy-eyed straight ahead.
"Sibyll, are you…" McGonagall started to ask before Dumbledore motioned for her to be quiet.
Dumbledore leaned forward and studied the witch before him, then raised a brow. He'd seen this look once before.
Then seemingly as if a switch had been flipped, Sibyll began to speak in a mono-toned voice that seemed completely detached from any human emotion.
As days turn dark, love grows.
Faith in this against his foes,
Is not the power that he knows.
False hope, a distraction it shall become,
And death is sure to follow for everyone.
Alone he must make his stand.
Only then, will he understand.
As days turn dark…
Silence followed for a second and then as if nothing had happened, as if time simply jumped back to where it had left off, Sibyll continued in her normal voice, "… The Chinese method of tarot card reading is said to be more accurate and I'd like to add that to next term to see how well it works out." After finishing, Sibyll glanced from the still silent Dumbledore to a shocked looking McGonagall. "Well, if you think it's a bad idea, I'll just leave things the way they are."
Dumbledore recovered quickly, "No, no my dear, you just surprised us is all." Dumbledore stood, "In fact, I think it is a wonderful idea and I for one cannot wait to see how you plan on introducing it." Dumbledore clapped his hands, "Perhaps you could start working on the syllabus right away, I would love to see it."
Surprised at how well her idea had been accepted, Sibyll nodded, "Of course, Headmaster, I'll get started straight away." At Dumbledore's pointed nod, Sibyll turned and left to get started.
McGonagall finally found her voice, "Albus, did she just make a… a prophecy?"
Setting back down behind his desk, Dumbledore steepled his fingers in front of his face as he replayed the events from only a moment ago. A second later he replied, "It most certainly appears so. However, we will not know for sure until I check the Hall of Prophecies.
McGonagall turned her worried face away from Dumbledore as she considered its meaning. She was fairly certain it referred to Harry and apparently Hermione now as well. She shook her head, having a hard time believing what it implied. Turning back, she implored Albus with her eyes, "Albus, please promise me you'll do nothing until you're sure about the validity of this."
Dumbledore looked at his deputy and saw the concern play across her face. He realized too, that he'd been wrong on more than one occasion with regards to Harry. Closing his eyes he nodded once, "I promise to give it my best effort."
After Minerva left, Dumbledore closed his eyes again and sadly shook his head while whispering, "Oh, Harry, when will your trials end."