Chapter Four â“ The Perfect Gift
Back on the chilly street in the village, Harry felt â“ not lighthearted, but â“ at ease. In spite of Hermioneâs pact, it was difficult for Harry to not think about Voldemort; itâs hard to keep someone whom you know wants to kill you off your mind. But now he was doing something, and that felt much better than being cooped up in the castle not doing anything. He noticed the cheery greenery and sparkling fairy lights in the shop windows, the enchanted wreaths hanging on the shop doors merrily singing Christmas carols, and suddenly realized he was quite in the holiday spirit. He looked over at Ron, walking warily beside him, and punched him in the shoulder. âCome on, Ron; itâs not that bad.â
Ron rubbed his shoulder and gave Harry a feeble grin. âIâm fine. Just ⌠just had too much to eat.â
Harry thought this unlikely, as Ron could eat a small bull elephant in one sitting given the chance. He thought he knew what might take Ronâs mind off the fact that they were walking bait. âLetâs go into Finneganâs Finery,â he suggested to Ron. âMaybe we can find something Hermione would like.â
Ron brightened at this, and so they, and their two escorts, turned into the shop. Harry had heard of this place, but had never been inside. Mostly heâd heard about it from the girls talking in the corridors at school, showing off their latest baubles and trinkets and bits of lace. Moody groaned as the door closed behind them. âTrapped,â he growled, his magical eye spinning. âTrapped in a monument to feminine indulgence.â Lupin just laughed, and moved forward to help Harry and Ron with their shopping.
âLooking for anything special, boys?â he asked with a grin. Ron had turned a most spectacular shade of pink â“ in fact, he quite matched the silk in the display case in the window.
âJust looking,â he whispered. Harry laughed and pushed him forward, towards some delicate, dancing butterflies.
âWhat about something like this, Ron?â he suggested.
Ron looked puzzled. âWhat are they?â he asked.
A little old witch stepped up to answer his question. âTheyâre hair ornaments, dear. See? A young lady fastens one into her hairâ - here she placed a flittering butterfly onto her own silver locks â“ âand it flutters about. The girls all love them- believe me. What color is your girlfriendâs hair?â
Professor Lupin and Harry fell together in soundless laughter at the look on Ronâs face, shaking in silent mirth. Even Moody had to brace himself against the wall as they listened to Ron sputter.
âWell, sheâs not really my âŚI mean, sheâs sort of⌠but I havenât asked her or anything⌠I donât⌠Blimey!â he finished. âBrown!â
âAll right, you three can lay off now,â Ron mumbled a few minutes later, as they all left the glittering little shop. âI guess my secretâs not a secret anymore.â
âIâve got news for you, mate. It never was,â Harry said, wiping his eyes.
Ron looked horrified. âWhat? He squeaked. âWhat dâyou mean?â
âOh, come now, Ron.â Professor Lupin spoke up from beside them. âAnyone with eyes can see that you are quite infatuated with Hermione. I could tell it three years ago, when I was your instructor. I really would have thought youâd have made mention of it to her by now.â
âThatâs easy for you to say,â Ron looked lost. âYouâre notâŚinfatuated with the most brilliant witch at Hogwarts. I can never think of a way to talk her that sounds smart enough, or clever enough, orâŚ.â
âShe doesnât want someone smart or clever,â Moody broke in. âShe wants you.â
âWhat?â Ron whirled on the grey-haired professor. âHow do you know that?â
âOh, I get around a fair bit,â he answered slyly. âBut donât take my word for it. Ask her.â
Down the street came Hermione, Ginny, and Tonks, who was wearing what looked like a Christmas tree on her head. âWotcher, Harry,â she called. As she drew nearer they saw that she had merely piled her green hair into a realistic tree-shape on her head. All three were loaded down with packages.
âWhere have you four been?â asked Hermione, her cheeks bright from the cold. âAnd whatever is the matter with you, Ron?â
Ron looked dangerously at Harry. âNothing,â he said. âThatâs a lot of shopping, Hermione. Can I âŚcan I carry something for you?â
Hermione gave Ron a quizzical look, but only said, â... Yes ⌠Thank you, Ron.â
âWhat happened to Hagrid?â asked Harry, determinedly not looking at Ron.
Ginny, pink-cheeked as well, answered, âOh, heâs being daft. He wanted to buy Madame Maxime a present for Christmas, and got it into his head that sheâd like a knarl. We tried to talk him out of it, but he insisted. I donât think sheâll care for it much, once it gets into her garden.â
âA knarl?â asked Harry. âWhatâs a knarl?â
âItâs a furry little animal, looks like a hedgehog,â said Ron from behind Hermioneâs shopping. âBut if it gets mad at you, look out. It can completely destroy a garden in five minutes flat.â
âAnyway,â continued Ginny, âHagrid said to tell you that he had to take it back to his house to get it out of the cold. Speaking of which,â she shivered, âdoes anyone want to go get something hot to drink?â
Harry would have liked this, but he hadnât finished all his shopping. âI still have a few things left to pick up. Can I meet you in a little while?â
âIâll come with you, Harry. Why donât the rest of you go into Madame Puddifootâs tea shop for something warm, and weâll meet you there shortly.â Lupin gave Ron the smallest of winks as he said this.
âRight â“ okay!â exclaimed Ron. âAfter you, Hermione.â
Hermione was looking at Ron as though he had two heads. She and the others moved on down the street. Moody gave Remus a daunting glare with his magical eye, and followed them. Harry watched them go, Ginnyâs brilliant red hair flying out behind her as she ran ahead of the others, seeking the warmth of the tearoom. The sight mesmerized Harry. He suddenly thought how beautiful a dancing butterfly would look in her hair.
After Remus and Harry had stopped in at Scrivenshaftâs (new quills and a selection of magical inks for Hermione) and Dervish and Bangs (a broomstick servicing kit and Quidditch poster for Ron), Harry hesitantly asked Professor Lupin if they could go back to Finneganâs Finery. Remus looked at Harry with a quizzically furrowed brow.
âHoping to find something for your hair?â he inquired.
It was Harryâs turn to blush now. âNot exactly,â he confessed. âIâd like to get something for âŚwell, for Ginny.â Silently Harry breathed a fervent apology to Ron for teasing him about Hermione.
âAhaaa,â said Lupin, suddenly understanding. âMust be something in the air this Christmas, eh? Come on, letâs go. Then weâd better go and meet the others.â
Madame Puddifootâs was warm and inviting, not being ridiculously decorated for Valentineâs day. Harry couldnât help but remember his last disastrous visit here with Cho. He hadnât spoken to her much this year, except as her instructor for the DA, which she continued to attend â“ much to Harryâs surprise. He found he really didnât think about her much, and it appeared that she was happier these days than she had been with him.
Professor Lupin and Harry had just sat down and ordered coffee when Harryâs eye was drawn to the window that looked into the back alley behind the teashop. There behind the gauzy lace curtains, deeply hooded and moving quickly in the shadows, was a slight figure Harry was sure he recognized. âProfessor Moody!â he hissed.
âI see him, Harry,â Moody replied in a low voice. âKeep your voice down, and donât draw attention to yourself. Iâll follow him.â
âIâll come with you,â Ron bravely volunteered.
âYouâll do no such thing. Stay here with Harry and the others. Tonks,â he said. She nodded. She pulled her cloak around her, screwed up her face, and rose from her seat as a pale, white-blond, middle aged male. She disappeared out the door. âRemus,â Moody looked at Lupin as he drew his cloak around him.
âI know what to do, Alastor. Be careful.â
Professor Moody went to the door, tapped himself on the head with his wand, and disappeared â“ although Harry could just make out his outline moving quickly into the street, and knew he had preformed a disillusionment charm.
All the students started talking at once. âQuiet,â Lupin reminded them. âAct casual.â He demonstrated by sitting back and sipping his coffee. He then began playing with the sugar bowl, stirring its contents first counterclockwise, then clockwise, then back again. Harry knew the professor was not one for nervous habits, and it occurred to him that it must be some kind of signal.
Two couples immediately got up and left Madame Puddifootâs, and Harry was sure he was right. He closed his eyes and concentrated on the figure he had just seen â“ he was sure he had seen it before. He could almost place that sneaking gait, the narrow build, the twitchy, feral movementsâŚ.
âMalfoy!â Harry hissed between his teeth. âRemus, that was Draco Malfoy under that hood! Iâm sure of it!â
Professor Lupin stared at Harry for a moment. âI believe you, Harry,â he said quietly. âBut weâll have to let Alastor deal with whatever he finds.â
Hermione and Ginny sat, with mouths open, staring from Harry, to Ron, to Lupin, and back to Harry again. Hermioneâs mouth snapped closed and her eyes narrowed. âIs someone going to tell us whatâs going on?â she asked in a low voice, as she shakily added more sugar to her rapidly cooling tea.
âUnfortunately, no, Miss Granger,â answered Professor Lupin smoothly, as Ron and Harry both reached for the sugar bowl, avoiding Hermioneâs gaze. âIâm sure Professor Moody is just taking precautions. I expect heâll be back shortly. More tea?â
Lupinâs cool demeanor didnât fool Hermione. Harry chanced a look at her and found her brow furrowed, and knew she would soon figure out that the whole purpose of todayâs trip into Hogsmeade was to get him out in the open, to draw the Death Eatersâ fire. And now it looked as if perhaps they had. Harry knew that Draco Malfoy hated him, had always hated him, and never more so than after learning that Harry had exposed his father as one of Lord Voldemortâs followers, and landed him in the wizardâs prison â“ although if Dumbledore was correct, Lucius Malfoy would be joining his son any day now.
All heads looked up when the bell above Madame Puddifootâs front door jangled cheerily. The witch Harry had met in the Three Broomsticks appeared in the doorway, and beckoned the others to follow her. They all rose. âWands at the ready, all of you,â Lupin whispered, âbut keep them concealed.â
Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny did as instructed and followed Professor Lupin and the witch out in the cold air. The streets seemed to crackle with energy as the small group walked back up past the shops they had so recently visited. The witch (Madame Newcastle, Harry remembered) led them into the post office, and took them right into the back room, where at least 300 owls sat waiting impatiently for something to deliver. In the center of the owl room waited Albus Dumbledore with Professor Moody.
âGot âimâ growled Moody. âFollowed the kid to the Hogshead. Turned out to be young Malfoy. Seems he was delivering a message to someone. We apprehended a fella in the back room after the kid left. This,â Moody held out a smoky glass sphere lit from within, âis what Malfoy delivered.â
âA Prophecy!â said Hermione.
âPerhaps,â said Dumbledore. âOr perhaps something else.â
âWho did you catch, Professor?â asked Ron. âWas it Mr. Malfoy?â
Dumbledore sighed. âNo, Ron, it was someone with whom we are not familiar. Even Alastor here has never seen him before. We have taken him to the castle and secured him there under heavy guard. This object, however,â the headmaster went on, âappears be something of value to the Dark Side. The man we captured put up quite a fight to keep it from being taken. Harry, I wonder if you would mind holding this?â
Harry hesitated. The last time he had held a Prophecy in his hand was the night that Sirius had died.
âItâs all right, Harry,â Professor Dumbledore said softly, placing a hand on his shoulder.
Harry reached out and took the glowing orb from Professor Moody. It was cool and smooth.
âDoes it feel warm at all to you, Harry?â asked Dumbledore.
âNo, Sir,â Harry replied.
âHmmm,â said Dumbledore thoughtfully, exchanging glances with Moody. âI do not think this is a Prophecy, though what it is, I cannot say. Well,â He looked around at the group. âI daresay we have kept you from your planned activities today. I think it best if we all retire to the castle. Remus, Alastor, if you will escort these young people.⌠I think the tunnel through Honeydukeâs cellar might be the best way back to Hogwarts.
Hermione looked like she had a million questions for Dumbledore, and was rather insulted at not being allowed to ask them. Harry was somewhat disgruntled as well; he would have liked more information on the man that was caught, and on that glass ball that looked so much like a Prophecy, but wasnât.
The walk back to Hogwarts through the tunnel was uneventful, and the teachers left their charges in the third floor corridor and headed off towards the stairs, muttering to each other. The Gryffindors trudged upstairs to their common room. Hermione managed to contain her questions until they had all found chairs by the fire. âNow, whatâŚ?â
Ron cut her off. âLook Hermione,â he said as gently as he could, âwe canât tell you, so donât ask.â
âWeâre really sorry, Hermione,â added Harry. âItâs really nothing for you girls to worry about, though.â Harry knew at once heâd said the wrong thing.
ââYou girlsâ?âspat Ginny. âWhat are we, some simpering, helpless females? I thought we went over this before Harry, before the battle at the Ministry. You know weâre just as tough as you are.â Fire loomed in Ginnyâs eyes. But somehow Harry knew that she wasnât really mad at him. She was just worried, thatâs all.
âLook,â said Harry, âas much as we all might like to make a pact and make Voldemort just go away, we all know thatâs not going to happen. Thereâs something you should all know.â Harry had been searching all year for the right time to tell his friends about the contents of the Prophecy regarding Voldemort and himself. But afraid of worrying them, he had kept quiet. But now, for their own safety ⌠If Dumbledore was inviting the Death Eaters and their master right into Hogsmeade, his friends should know what to expect. Honoring Dumbledoreâs request not to tell Hermione about the meeting earlier in the Three Broomsticks, Harry at last shared with Ron, Hermione and Ginny that whole of the Prophecy.
ââŚAnd so in the end, it looks like itâs either him or me,â finished Harry. âOne of us must die at the hands of the other.â Harry looked up at their wide eyes and pale faces. Hermione had her hands over her mouth, trying not to cry. Silent tears were running down Ginnyâs cheeks. Ronâs ears were scarlet, his breathing ragged.
Hermione shuddered. âI should have known,â she whispered. âI thought you were the weapon Dumbledore talked about, but I didnât realize âŚoh, Harry!â
Harry smiled a wan smile. âIâm sorry about your pact, âMione. I was hoping things would stay quiet over Christmas.â
The portrait hole swung open, and Remus Lupin clamored through. âI thought youâd be here,â he said with a smile. He joined the four of them in front of the fire, and took in their pale faces and red eyes. âIs everything alright?â he asked with concern. The others looked at Harry.
âI told them about the Prophecy, Remus. About the ending,â he added.
âAhhh,â breathed the Professor. âI understand. Itâs a little daunting, right at first, isnât it?â
âYou can say that again,â Ron answered for all of them.
âI canât believe Professor Dumbledore allowed Harry to leave the castle today,â declared Hermione, her brown eyes flashing. âWhat if Voldemort had come? Harryâs not ready for a⌠a⌠a showdown yet! He could have been killed!â
âWait a minute,â Harry interrupted. âI think I can decide for myself when Iâm ready to face Voldemort, thank you. Iâve been sitting around Hogwarts all year, waiting for something to happen. The longer I wait, the stronger he gets! The sooner I can face him, the better chance we all have of living to see the future! Dâyou know what itâs like, knowing Iâm responsible for everyone out there? The whole Wizarding world, and the Muggle world as well? Anyone who dies, or gets tortured, orâŚ.â Harry trailed off, his anger fading as quickly as it had errupted. In its place was a feeling of hopelessness, helplessness.
âHarry,â Ginny said softly. âItâs okay. Itâs okay to be scared. This is a really big deal, and youâre just a kid.â Her eyes were wet, and filled with compassion.
Professor Lupin moved closer to Harry, and put his hands on his shoulders. âHarry, weâve talked about this kind of thinking, you and I. You are not responsible for the evil that the Dark Lord perpetrates. And Ginnyâs right â“ youâre just a kid. We are all here to help you, to train you, to ready you for that moment when you must face Lord Voldemort, alone. But Harry, nowâs not that time. There is a plan in motion. Let those who love you help you, Harry.â Harry swallowed hard, and nodded, grateful that he didnât need to say anything to those who knew him so well.
It was a subdued group that entered the Great Hall for Christmas Eve supper that night. Their spirits were cheered, however, by the appearance of Mr. Weasley and his oldest sons. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny found them seated at a table set in the center of the room, with most of the rest of the staff. Even Professor Trelawney, who seldom emerged from her tower room these days, had joined the company, dressed in her glittering finest. Even with so few students remaining at the school for the holidays, the Great Hall had been made festive. Merry flags bearing images of holly and ivy, golden hippogriffs, and glittering wreaths had replaced the house banners. The usual sparkling trees and ornaments, enchanted snow, and a myriad of flickering candles all brought Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny cheer. The little group began to feel as though it might really be Christmas after all â“ and their melancholy was nearly forgotten when Mr. Weasley told them of his surprise.
âThe Burrow!â exclaimed Ron loudly. â We really get to go to the Burrow for Christmas?â
Mr. Weasley smiled, his eyes twinkling. âThatâs right, Ron. The Order has been there for the last couple of days, putting charms and enchantments all around the place. Isnât that right, Headmaster?â
Professor Dumbledoreâs face was tired, but his eyes were bright as well. âThat is correct, my dears. And I hope you will allow me to join you â“ itâs been far too long since Iâve had any of Mollyâs excellent cooking.â
The rest of the evening passed in pleasant conversation and good food. Harry noticed that Ginny was especially talkative. He was sure it had to do with the warm, comforting presence of her father; Harry knew that they has always been close. Ron and Hermione, too, seemed to be deep in conversation. Harry, Lupin and Ginny had just started a game of exploding snap with Mr. Weasley when Harry noticed Ron and Hermione rise from the table. Ron caught Harryâs eye. âThink weâll go for a little walk, stretch our legs a bit,â he said, too casually.
âRight,â answered Harry, hiding a grin. âSee you upstairs.â
He walked Ginny up to the Gryffindor tower an hour later, trailing ash â“ they had both lost the game miserably. Harry looked at Ginny and chuckled. She looked as though she was wearing a masquerade guise, with soot across her eyes and nose. âWhatâs so funny?â she asked with amusement.
âYou look like youâre wearing a mask,â he grinned. âLike youâve just returned from one of those masquerade Balls or something.â He offered her his handkerchief.
Ginny smiled and took the handkerchief. â Well, at least I donât look like a scraggly old barn owl. Youâve soot everywhere but under your glasses.â
Harry laughed and took back the handkerchief she passed him. He stopped on the staircase leading up to the seventh floor and pulled off his glasses. Unfortunately, this particular staircase began moving at precisely that moment, so that Harry lost his balance and stumbled into Ginny. He grabbed her shoulders to steady himself, as she put her arms out to catch him. âGood reflexes,â Harry said as he looked into her laughing brown eyes. How had he never noticed they were flecked with gold? âSorry,â he added â“ but did not remove his hands from her shoulders.
She looked up at him. âThatâs alrightâ. He noticed she did not remove her hands from his chest. As the staircase glided smoothly onward, Harry felt a warmth come over him. Ginnyâs eyes were locked on his. It seemed the most natural thing in the world to cover her lips with his in a gentle, soft kiss. Miracle of miracles â“ he found she was kissing him back.
Their staircase ride ended much too soon, and they found themselves on the landing to the third floor. Harry pulled back to look again into those shinning eyes. They were rich and deep, and full of tenderness. They were both breathing fast, like they had run up the stairs rather than been transported on their own flying carpet.
âWas that alright?â Harry asked her, suddenly realizing that he had never asked her permission to kiss her.
âNo,â Ginny replied.
âI think you can do better.â
And she kissed him again.