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Harry stepped through the door of the Burrow and was immediately hit with the smells of baked maple ham and roast potatoes. He started to feel the stress of the day begin to melt away.
“Merry Christmas! How was your shift?” Ginny greeted him.
“It was—” Harry was cut off by Ron shoving past him as he stomped into the house.
“Oi, watch it!” Ginny yelled. Ron grumbled incoherently and continued up the stairs. “What’s his deal?”
Harry shook his head. “He was like that our entire shift.”
Molly Weasley popped her head out of the kitchen. “Oh good, you boys are here. Did you put your things upstairs? I know you’re all grown but it’ll be so nice to have every—well, to have so many of us here tonight.”
She gave him a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes before shaking her head and stating, “We’ll eat in ten minutes.”
“Hermione isn’t here yet,” Ginny said.
“She sent a note, dear. She said that her family’s plans changed and she was unable to make it,” Molly said before returning to her preparations.
Ginny gave Harry a meaningful look. “Ah. The picture is becoming a little clearer. But when did they even have time to fight? Hermione and I just got off the Hogwarts Express yesterday afternoon while you two were working the evening shift. And then Ron helped George at the shop before he went to work with you. Hermione said tonight was the first time they would even have a chance to see each other.”
Harry shook his head. “I don’t know but they must have because Ron was mumbling about Hermione and someone named Stark all evening.”
“Stark? The head boy?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t ask.”
“Mum? Where’s the letter from Hermione?”
“On the desk!”
Ginny grabbed the parchment and scanned it. “She’s not coming for Christmas at all! And she told my mum that she’s ‘wishing you, Mr. Weasley, Ginny, Harry, your sons and their dates a lovely Christmas’. Dates? Who does she think is bringing a date to Christmas?”
“Who knows?”
“This has all the telltale signs of a Ron and Hermione miscommunication disaster. What did Ron say about Nelson Stark?”
“He was muttering something about how he should have known about him. I try to stay out of it.”
“Does Ron think Hermione is dating Stark? He must! Ugh, I knew those two should have sorted everything before Hermione left for Hogwarts! But she insisted that having some big talk and ‘changing their relationship’ when she was leaving was a mistake and that they needed to keep things casual until the summer.”
Harry shrugged.
“Can you please just go upstairs and tell Ron that Hermione is not dating Stark? And find out why she would think he has a date to our family Christmas. Merlin, I bet he told her some stupid lie about snogging some cow and Hermione believed it. I’ll never understand how my idiot brother has such an effect on the smartest woman I’ve ever met!”
“I’m not telling Ron anything!”
“Harry! They’re your best friends. Don’t you—”
“NO! I’m so sick of being expected to do things just because they have to be done. No one’s life is in danger, no one evil is going to come to power and I don’t have to do anything! Let them figure out their own shit!”
“How can you be so selfish?”
“Selfish? You think I’m selfish ?”
Ginny paused before answering in a voice much softer than usual. “No, not really. But I don’t understand why you wouldn’t want to…”
Harry huffed.
“Never mind. I’ll—I’ll drop it, okay? This has just been…I’m dropping it.”
Harry startled slightly. It wasn’t like Ginny to give up so easily. “Good.”
Ginny sighed.
“If it means so much to you, why don’t you try to fix it?”
“You know that Ron will never listen to me. And I’ve been telling Hermione how he feels about her for years. It would be so much more meaningful from you.”
“I just can’t be in the middle of the two of them. And what if I make a mess of it all and they blame me? They just need to get over themselves. We’ve got your family and Teddy and Andromeda. I would never want either of them to interfere in our relationship, why would I do it to them? I am staying out of it.”
Ginny opened her mouth before clamping it. “Okay.”
It hadn’t been Harry’s worst Christmas Eve but the bar was fairly high on that.
He had known that the atmosphere was never going to be overly festive given the weight of so many first-time absences but Harry had assumed they would all do their best to be grateful for those that were present.
However, Ron’s terrible mood continued as he barely grunted in acknowledgment of anything said to him while shoveling food in at a rate of speed and sloppiness that was alarming even for him.
Worse, Ginny clearly felt some way toward him but Harry couldn’t tell if she was angry with him for refusing to get involved in Ron and Hermione’s tiff or if she was being standoffish due to his earlier snapping. Either way, it wasn’t the first holiday together that he had envisioned.
Even though he was exhausted from his shift, Harry waited twenty minutes after Ron stomped up to his old room at the top of the stairs before saying good night to everyone and following him up. The two hadn’t shared a room since they had moved out in late August but last week it hadn’t seemed like much of a sacrifice when Mrs. Weasley had requested that they all stay Christmas Eve at the Burrow.
For once though, Harry lucked out. Ron was in his bed, asleep although even his snoring somehow sounded angry. Harry shook his head and stripped off his clothes before getting under the covers of the cot Mrs. Weasley had made up for him and closed his eyes.
“Harry?”
“Mmm,” he groaned. He hadn’t even realized he had fallen asleep.
“Harry. Wake up, son.”
The weird endearment startled him awake. He turned on his side and muttered “What?”
To the ghostly form of his father.
“Dad?”
“Hi son,” said James Potter, smiling at him.
“Uh, hi dad.” This felt so strange. As much as he had longed to talk to his dad over the years, he had never dreamed about a conversation with him. It was both strange and comforting at the same time.
“Things are going much better than the last time we talked,” James remarked with a smile.
Harry chuckled. “Just a bit.”
“But they could be better,” James said.
“Uh, yeah, I guess.”
“Your friends are fighting.”
Harry groaned. “Ron and Hermione’s fights are now disturbing the dead.”
James laughed. “We noticed because we watch you. In fact, we watch you all the time. Even if we aren’t able to be part of your life, your mother and I never stopped loving you.”
“All the time?”
James grinned. “Not all- all the time. We give you privacy.”
Harry sighed in relief. “Right.”
“But we were watching today and Lily thought I should come down here and warn you. You’re about to repeat my mistakes.”
“What mistakes?”
“You think your friends don’t need your help to figure out their romantic relationship.”
Harry’s jaw dropped. “Did Ginny put you up to this?”
James let out a bark of laughter. “That girl of yours is quite the spitfire but even she hasn’t figured out how to get the deceased to do her bidding yet. She’s also right.”
“This is crazy.”
“I know it feels like you’re overstepping but if your friends can’t trust you to set them straight when they’re being barmy, who can they trust?”
Harry shook his head.
“I regret not knocking sense into my own friends when I had the chance. And then it was too late for me to do it and eventually, it was too late for them.”
“You had friends that fancied each other and couldn’t seem to figure it out?”
“Yes, Sirius and Remus.”
Harry’s eyes widened. “Really?”
“Oh yes. Since our sixth year, although your mum reckons she knew in our fifth year.”
“But what about Tonks? Remus married her.”
“Remus loved Tonks. But he loved Sirius first.”
“I had no idea.”
“That’s because they never seemed to figure out how to make it work. And I regret deeply that I never helped them try to do that.”
“You had other things going on,” Harry pointed out.
James shrugged. “Yes, I did. That’s certainly what I told myself. We were young and trying to get through school and it would have been awkward if things had gone wrong there. Then we left Hogwarts and there was a war. Then I had a pregnant wife and then a baby and then… well. Then it was too late.”
“But it’s different for us. We’re past all of that and there’s a lot of time for them to figure this out on their own,” Harry insisted.
“You should never tempt fate, Harry. It’s not ever been the kindest to us.”
“Dad, I–”
“You’re still a teenager and I remember well that teenagers have a hard time listening to their parents.”
“It’s not that!”
James pushed on. “I’ve brought in reinforcements. You’ll be visited by three spirits tonight, attempting to show you the error of your ways.”
“Spirits?”
“The Spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. Listen to them, son. Don’t let Ron and Hermione end up like Sirius and Remus. And remember that your mother and I love you.”
Harry jolted upright in his bed. “Fuck,” he exhaled.
It felt so real to see his father there in his room. And what the hell was that Sirius and Remus thing? He had never considered that they were anything other than best mates. What an absurd dream. He definitely should not have had all that Firewhiskey that George insisted on. He rubbed his eyes fiercely and took a deep breath before glancing across the room. Ron was in his bed, still asleep and undisturbed by Harry’s movements.
“Oh good, you’re up!”
Harry screamed.
Standing at the foot of his bed, a smile spread wide across her face, was Lavender Brown.
“Lavender? What the hell are you doing here? You’re not—oh Merlin, you're not here for Ron, are you?”
Lavender giggled. “No! And I’m not who you think I am.”
Harry’s eyes bulged and lunged for the wand on the bedside table. “Stupefy!”
The spell went right through Lavender and bounced off the wall. She giggled again.
“I’m not real, silly. I’m a spirit. Didn’t your dad tell you I was coming?”
“My dad? That was real ?”
“Yes!”
“But my dad is dead and you aren’t!”
“I told you, I’m not actually Lavender. We spirits try to take on familiar forms. We think it’s more comforting than coming to you as a stranger.”
Harry’s forehead crinkled. “And you thought I would find this form comforting?”
Lavender shrugged. “I do have an agenda that I’m pushing and this is the perfect form for this part of our adventure!”
“What does that mean?”
“I’m the Spirit of Christmas Past!”
“The what?”
“Remember? James said you were going to be visited by three spirits and I’m the first one.”
Harry gaped at her.
“Are you ready? We have stuff to do and not much time to fit it in. Take my hand.”
“Is this all real?”
“Yes! Can we go?”
Harry shook his head. This was hardly the strangest thing he had experienced so he put his hand in Lavender’s. The room quickly filled with dense fog and the fog dissipated just as rapidly to reveal that they were now standing in the common room in Gryffindor Tower.
Harry looked around the room, expecting to catch sight of his younger self when he was distracted by a posting on the bulletin board.
“Oh no. Not this.”
Lavender clapped her hands together in excitement. “December 1994. Also known as the Yule Ball Christmas.”
“I don’t want to relive this.”
Lavender shook her head. “You aren’t reliving it, you’re just observing it. I thought James had explained this whole thing. Now come on, you are all sitting right over there.”
Harry groaned as Lavender dragged him across the room.
As they stopped in front of the couch, he spotted Ron staring at Hermione, his eyes wide. “Hermione, Neville’s right–you are a girl…”
“Oh, well spotted,” she replied.
“Look at you,” Lavender interrupted.
Young Harry was sitting between his two friends, eyes flitting between the two of them.
“I’m not doing anything,” Harry said.
Lavender crossed her arms across her chest. “Precisely.”
Harry rolled his eyes.“Was I supposed to tackle Ron to shut him up? If I had to be responsible for every time Ron put his foot in his mouth, Voldemort would probably still be around.”
“Look at Hermione. Doesn’t she look hurt?”
“She looks angry.”
Lavender gave him an unimpressed look. “And?”
“I guess she looks a little hurt.”
“And did you know that then?”
Harry sighed. “Yes, sort of.”
“Did you tell Ron?”
“You know I didn’t.”
“Hmm,” Lavender sniffed. The room filled with fog once again and when it was gone, his current self hadn’t moved but the former versions had moved and looked decidedly different. All of them were donning the dress robes that marked this as the night of the Yule Ball.
Harry groaned. “Really?”
They had joined the scene in just enough time to hear Hermione deliver her departing blow. “You know what the solution is? Next time ask me before someone else does and not as a last resort!”
Ron turned to the younger version of Harry.
“Well, that completely misses the point.”
Lavender turned back to Harry. “Did you understand Hermione’s point?”
Harry exhaled with a reluctant chuckle. “Sort of.”
“Hmm,” sniffed Lavender.
“Is that your only response?” Harry grunted.
Fog swarmed him yet again but this time, instead of depositing in another Hogwarts location, he was in a dark room that felt familiar but he couldn’t quite place.
“What are we doing here?”
“Don’t you recognize Christmas 1995?”
Harry felt a small tug on his heart at the prospect of seeing Sirius again but was distracted by movement in the dark room. He heard shuffling and then the sound of a match striking.
A candle lit and Hermione came into view. Harry could see Ginny in the bed across from her, still asleep, shadows playing across her peaceful face. He couldn’t help but smile at her familiar form.
“Pay attention,” demanded Lavender. “I’m working on Christmas Eve. You could show me some courtesy.”
“Sorry.”
Hermione was now sitting up and inspecting the packages on her bed. Her hand hovered over a gift sloppily wrapped in blue paper before she pulled it back and settled on pulling a large red box into her lap.
But she didn’t open it. Instead, she kept stealing glances at the blue box before ultimately tossing the larger present aside and tearing the wrapping off the blue gift.
Hermione lifted the lid off and a gasp escaped before she could cover her mouth. She stole a glance at Ginny. Once she was sure the girl was still sleeping, Hermione carefully lifted a small bottle out of the box.
“Perfume,” she breathed out before carefully opening the top to take a sniff.
She gagged and capped it. “Oh no,” she whispered and inspected the label.
Harry shot Lavender a quizzical look. “She wears that perfume all the time.”.
Hermione’s eyes lit up and she uncapped the bottle again, holding her breath as she dabbed a little on her wrist. Slowly, she brought her arm to her nose and inhaled. A wide smile crossed her face.
“It smells terrible bottled but when applied, the perfect scent materializes based on your body chemistry,” Lavender explained.
“So when Hermione told Ron the perfume was unusual, she meant that,” Harry said.
“Precisely.”
“Okay, I know that bothered Ron but I didn’t know Hermione actually liked the scent! You can’t blame me for that one!”
Lavender rolled her eyes. “That’s not why we’re here. Don’t be so sensitive.”
Hermione was turning the bottle over in her hands and grinning like a fool when her eyes widened in panic.
“And I gave him the homework planner .” She flopped back on her pillow and groaned.
The room filled with fog once again and they now appeared on the main floor of Grimmauld Place, in the hall outside of the sitting room.
Hermione was with them, holding a package behind her back and taking several deep breaths to calm herself.
“Okay. You can do this,” she whispered to herself.
Harry followed her as she entered the sitting room where Ron was slouched on the couch and studying his chessboard.
“Hi,” Hermione squeaked.
“Hi,” Ron answered.
Harry turned to Lavender “What is this?”
“Just watch!”
“I just, I just wanted to say thank you again for my Christmas present.”
“Oh.” Ron’s ears began to color as he stared at his board.
“It really is unusual; unique.”
“So you said,” Ron grumbled.
“It was—I was surprised. It’s not like what you normally get me.”
Ron continued to stare at his board before answering. “I know. I just thought I would get you something different than I normally do and—well, I know you’re not one of those girls that only likes makeup and junk but sometimes you do. You have that shiny stuff on your lips sometimes and well… Sorry, it was a stupid idea.”
“No! It was a wonderful gift! I didn’t know you noticed…things like that about me.”
Ron shrugged, still not looking at her.
“I’m sorry that my gift was, well, it was rather dreadful, I suppose. You see, I had another gift for you but then I didn’t—” She bit her lip, looking unsure of how to continue.
“You had another gift for—”
“Are we going to play or what?” Harry swiveled around to see the past version of himself bound into the sitting room, oblivious to what he had interrupted.
Lavender smacked Present Harry on the shoulder.
“Ow! What was that for?”
“Learn to read the room, Potter!”
“I didn’t know I was interrupting! And she could have given it to him later.”
“Yes, but she lost her nerve and we’ll never know what that gift is! And I for one am dying to know! Oh, Merlin, I bet it was super cute.”
Harry smirked. “That’s a very Lavender-like answer. If you're a spirit, can’t you just use your powers to find out?”
She glared at him. “It doesn’t work like that. Come on, we have one last stop and you’ve already pissed me off.”
Harry rolled his eyes and took her hand. The room filled with smoke again and now they were in the Quidditch changing rooms, watching a furious sixth-year Ron storm out the door after that first match, leaving Harry and Hermione in his wake.
“I don’t know what it is I’ve done,” sniffled Hermione.
Lavender turned to Present Harry. “But you did.”
“Yes and it was so stupid! I don’t understand why Ron cared if Hermione snogged Viktor!”
Lavender arched an eyebrow. “Yes, you do. You weren’t a stranger to jealousy at that age.”
Harry rubbed his temple. “Yeah, I do. But I felt like a git for feeling that way and I bet if you asked Ron, he would say the same thing. How could I explain that to Hermione without making her upset and embarrassing Ron?”
“Fair,” Lavender said, slowly nodding her head. “And what happened instead? Or I guess I could show you if you forgot?”
“No! No, Lavender, please. Don’t make me live through that again. You’re right, okay. The anger and embarrassment that came out of doing nothing were probably worse.”
“Glad you see things my way,” Lavender smiled and the room filled with smoke before they appeared in Ron’s old bedroom in the Burrow once more.
“Lavender, why did you show me those things? I knew most of that and I can’t change it.”
“You can only change what you can do going forward but I wanted you to understand how your choices did impact things.”
“Yes but… it’s different now. Ron and Hermione, they kissed at the battle and I know that they spent most of the summer apart but they know that they have more than friendly feelings for each other. I don’t see what I can do for them.”
Lavender grinned. “Your dad was right. He said that when it comes to feelings, Potters aren’t quick learners. That’s why there are three of us. I’ve taken you as far as you can go. It’s up to you to figure out the rest. And while you’re at it, figure out what that gift was. Cologne? Maybe Ginny knows.”
“It’s on the top of my list,” Harry gritted out.
“Goodbye Harry.”
“Shit,” Harry said, bolting up in bed. “What the fuck did George mix with that firewhiskey?”
“A little mulled wine,” said Ginny, who was perched on his bed.
“When did you come in here? I thought you were mad at me.” Harry stole a glance at Ron, who fortunately was still sacked out in his bed.
“Just a moment ago.”
“I'm glad to see you. I have had the weirdest dreams. My dad came and told me that Remus and Sirius were in love but never told the other. Then Lavender showed up to make me relive a bunch of strange moments between Ron and Hermione before insisting I ask you what Hermione really wanted to give Ron for Christmas fifth year.”
Ginny smirked. “She didn’t want you to ask me . She wants you to ask Ginny.”
Harry’s stomach sank. “No.”
“Yes. Ghost of Christmas Present, at your service.”
Harry flopped back on his pillow. “Fuck. I’m still dreaming about this.”
“It’s not a dream. Come on, we don’t have much time.” Ginny pulled the covers off of him.
“At least this form is actually comforting. Sort of,” Harry muttered.
“Come on,” Ginny said, holding out her left hand. Harry took it and Ginny snapped the fingers on her free hand.
In an instant, they were in the middle of the crowded streets of Diagon Alley, not far from Weasleys’ Wizarding Wheezes.
“No fog?” asked Harry.
“Please. I don’t have time for that showy nonsense.”
Harry spotted Hermione walking past the two of them, chatting with a witch that was familiar to Harry but he couldn’t quite place her.
“That’s Anne Dorman. She’s the Ravenclaw 7th-year prefect this year.”
“Right.” Harry didn’t know Anne but the real Ginny had mentioned that Hermione had become good friends with Anne when they had been partnered in Ancient Runes. As the girls passed him, Harry caught their conversation.
“I can’t believe you’re not done with your Christmas shopping already. Please tell me I’m not about to witness a meltdown over what to get Rooon,” Anne said, singing the syllables of his best mate’s name.
“I’ve had Ron’s gift for ages and apparently he’s had mine too—at least that’s what his letter said. Ginny must know what it is because she’s been teasing me about it like a child for weeks.”
“Who are you still shopping for then?”
“Ron’s mum. Fleur bought her a charm bracelet from Spulard’s for her birthday and I ordered a new charm for it but the clasp is broken so I need to exchange it.”
“You’re a witch, aren’t you?”
Hermione rolled her eyes. “I don’t want to risk. It’s new and I want to make sure it’s perfect. I don’t know why I’m so nervous about it.”
“You can’t possibly be worried about impressing Ron’s mum. She’s known you forever.”
Hermione shook her head. “I know. I’m just nervous tonight in general. In the last letter he wrote, Ron said we should talk.”
Anne stopped short. “Uh oh. That can’t be good.”
“I think it is good. He was talking about how much he missed me and couldn’t wait for me to finish school… I think he wants us to drop the idea that we’re ‘waiting’ for me to be done with school to be together.”
“Wasn’t that your idea?” Anne asked.
“Yes. And honestly, it was a terrible one,” Hermione said. Anne laughed.
Harry chuckled. “I’m going to remember this moment.”
“Maybe you should tell it to Ron,” Ginny suggested. Harry glared at her.
“Do you want to come to Spulard’s with me?”
Anne shook her head. “I’m going to duck into the candy store. I’ll meet you at the Leaky in twenty minutes.”
Harry moved to follow Hermione into Spulard’s but Ginny stopped him. “Not yet. We’ll catch back up with her.” The fog enveloped them and they appeared in Weasley’s Wizarding Wheezes.
“Thanks for coming in,” Ron said from behind the register. He handed a middle-aged witch her change and the bag with her purchase.
As the woman walked away, George appeared behind Ron. “Can you go now?”
“George, I’m bloody exhausted and now you need me to run your errands for you? Why don’t you sack up and do it yourself?”
“Can you just do me this favor without arguing?”
“Aren’t I already doing you a favor by working in the shop between two eight-hour Auror shifts?”
“This isn’t a favor. I’m paying you for this.”
“What does George want him to do?” Harry asked Ginny.
“George, no one is going to care that you’re buying jewelry. It’s not like it’s a giant necklace that says ‘Angelina’ on it. Even if someone sees you, they’ll probably think it’s for Mum or Ginny.”
Harry’s eyebrows raised. “George is dating Angelina?”
Ginny nodded. “Since last April. Fred knew but no one else did. They’re happy together but George feels guilty about it. Only a few people know that they’re together, including Ron.”
“Ron, please. Just do me this one favor,” George asked.
“I’ve never heard George beg,” Harry commented to Ginny.
Ron sighed and tugged on his cloak. “Okay, fine. But you better start telling people soon. I’ll pick up your Christmas present but I’m not about to go fetch her engagement ring.”
Ginny turned to Harry. “Now, we can go to Spulard’s.”
And with that, they were inside the small jewelry boutique. Hermione was in the back of the shop, looking at several charms hanging on a rack on the wall when a dark-haired young man approached her.
“Hi Hermione,” he said, shifting from foot to foot.
“Hi Nelson. Merry Christmas.”
“That’s Nelson Stark, the Head Boy,” Ginny commented.
“Merry Christmas. Uh, did I see you with Anne earlier?”
“Yes. She popped into the candy store if you want to catch her.”
Stark shook his head. “No. Listen, could you do me a favor?”
Ginny snorted. “I don’t understand why people are so interested in getting help with their love lives from Ron and Hermione. It’s like asking Hagrid to recommend a pet.”
“What do you need?”
“Could you give this to Anne?” Nelson handed her a small Spulard’s bag.
“Don’t you want to give it to her yourself?”
“I can’t. If she likes it, she can send me an owl and if she doesn’t like it or, you know, me, we can just forget it ever happened when we get back to school.”
“Stark…” Hermione started.
“Come on Hermione. Help a bloke out.”
“Fine.” Hermione took the bag from Stark with a small smile.
“You’re the best. I gotta go,” Stark said, giving her an enthusiastic hug before rushing out the door.
“Bye Nelson,” she said. Hermione approached the checkout but stopped short. “Ron!”
Harry’s heart leaped into his throat. In the back of his mind, he had known something bad was coming but everything had seemed so good just moments ago.
Ron stared at her. “Hermione.”
At that moment, the shopkeeper handed Ron his bagged purchase. “Here you are, Mr. Weasley. I’m sure your girlfriend will love the necklace.”
Hermione exhaled and looked Ron directly in the eyes. “Girlfriend?”
“Say hi to Stark for me,” snarled Ron, stomping out of the store. Hermione’s eyes filled with tears as the fog appeared once again.
Back in Ron’s room at the Burrow, Harry turned to Ginny. “It’s just like you thought. Another stupid Ron and Hermione miscommunication.”
“Not me. Ginny thought that. But she’s right.”
“Even for Ron and Hermione, that was a lot of assumptions to make!”
Ginny shrugged. “You heard Hermione. She thought Ron was going to suggest making it official. And Ron was going to suggest making it official. They both had very high hopes and this was crushing.”
“I guess.”
“Which is why Ginny wants you to help them.”
“Ginny doesn’t even know this happened.”
“And yet she still wants you to help them!”
Harry sighed. “They’ll figure it out when they find out neither of them is dating anyone.”
“Not good enough. Look, talk to my friend tonight. I’m sure they can convince you.”
“Your friend?”
“The Spirit of Christmas Future.”
Harry groaned. This ridiculous hallucination could not continue. “Right. Listen, what if I agree to talk to Ron tomorrow, maybe we can stop this whole thing–”
Ginny shook her head. “I’m not convinced. I think you’ll need to speak with Future.”
Harry slowly opened his eyes.
There was no one sitting at the foot of his bed. Ron was still snoring away in the bed next to his. Harry let out the breath he had been holding.
“Oh good, you’re awake.”
Harry sat up and whipped his head around in one fluid movement. Leaning against the window was Luna Lovegood.
“Luna?”
“Not Luna.”
Harry let out a frustrated groan. “Right, right. The Spirit of Christmas Future.”
Luna smiled. “Very good, Harry. Do you also know where we’re going?”
Harry pushed himself off the bed. “I imagine we’re off to see Ron and Hermione.”
Luna cocked her head. “That’s an excellent guess but not quite right.”
“What do you mean?” asked Harry.
“All will be revealed,” Luna said and the room filled with a shimmering mist.
When the mist evaporated, Harry found himself standing on a small dirt country road.
“Where are we?”
“Where we need to be,” Luna replied.
Harry sighed but then he saw a small group of people approaching.
“Is that—that’s me!”
An older version of himself was leading a small crowd of people down the road, Ginny beside him.
“Yes, this is about 40 years in the future. Oh look, you’ve kept all your hair. How wonderful for you,” Luna said.
Future Harry wrapped an arm around a sniffling Future Ginny.
“Are Ginny and I—”
“Yes. You have a small falling out in her first year after Hogwarts but you reunite the following Christmas and have four lovely children. The two of you have three grandchildren with a third coming any day. You’re Head of Aurors and Ginny is the editor at large of Quidditch Weekly, following her successful professional Quidditch career.”
His future sounded… perfect. Almost perfect. There was this time that he and Ginny spent apart but now that he knew about it, maybe he could prevent the falling out. “And why does Ginny look so upset?”
“Because Hermione is dead.”
Harry’s jaw dropped. “WHAT?”
“Yes, it’s very sad. She’s been incredibly dedicated to getting her latest piece of legislation passed but in doing so, she didn’t notice how ill she was becoming. She collapsed at the Ministry last week and while they were able to revive her, in the end, the Healers could do nothing for her and she passed. Very tragic.”
“Was it cancer or…”
“Oh no, it was scampets.”
“What are scampets?”
“A very mild Wizarding disease but left untreated, it eventually destroys your organs. I’m afraid Hermione was never very good at taking care of herself. Ron always pushed her to do that.”
“So she and Ron never made up?”
“Eventually they became cordial but their friendship was never as close. They did very much long for what could have been.”
“That sounds like a cheesy novel.”
Luna shrugged. “They stayed too far apart to reconcile but too close to truly move on. There he is now.”
Luna pointed toward the crowd and Future Ron shuffled into view, his eyes red and face drawn.
“While you might find this surprising, without a romantic relationship with Hermione, Ron also threw himself into his work. He finished his Auror training but continued to work for George. He had several inventions that made him incredibly wealthy.”
“Oh. That seems unfair. Hermione is dead and Ron is rich.”
“But he’s not content. He’s always hoped that he could be successful enough to capture Hermione’s attention.”
“He already has her attention.”
Luna gave Harry a sad smile. “But he didn’t know that, did he?”
Harry bit his lip.
“Eventually, he began dating and married a woman, Lena. After a few years, she became dissatisfied as Ron was always more dedicated to his work than his wife. They divorced. He would be single for a time and then the cycle would start over again. Always a young woman, naive enough to believe she’ll be the one to truly win his heart.”
At that comment, Harry noticed the woman clutching Ron’s hand.
“Oh my God. Is that Pansy Parkinson with Ron? Why? How does she look so young while the rest of us are middle-aged?”
Luna shook her head. “That’s actually Pansy Parkinson’s granddaughter although her name is also Pansy Parkinson. Inbreeding is a terrible thing. She’s a much sweeter girl than her grandmother but her nose is even more unfortunate.”
Harry shook off Luna’s odd comment. “What’s she doing with Ron?”
“She’s set to become his fourth wife.”
Harry’s mouth fell open. “She’s young enough to be his daughter!”
Luna nodded. “Technically she’s young enough to be his granddaughter.”
Something snapped inside Harry. Here he saw this wonderful life where he had Ginny and a family and his two best friends weren’t going to share that same happiness with him.
“Luna, this is horrible.”
Luna furrowed her brow. “Harry, you do know that marriage and children aren’t the only way for someone to be happy, don’t you? We’re only showing you this because there’s a future where they could be much happier and of course, one where Hermione lives a much longer life.”
“So Ron is miserable and marries a string of women, all more horrible than the next and Hermione lives a cold and lonely life, only to die alone?”
“Ron’s wives are all kind women. He’s just neglectful of them because he doesn’t love them. And Hermione had a nice life, with lots of respect from her colleagues and friends, at least when she makes time for them. She even had a handful of romantic entanglements, although. Draco, for one.”
Harry started to sweat. “Luna, are you saying Hermione dates Draco Malfoy in the future?”
Luna crinkled her brow. “No, Draco Mansby. He was the Ministry’s Italian ambassador. Although I suppose there might be a future where Hermione did date Malfoy. I believe that’s what Muggles call the darkest timeline.”
“Merlin…” Harry began to pace.
“This is just one future that I’ve shown you today. The one you live is up to you.”
“So this can all be changed?” Harry asked.
“Yes.”
“I can change it, Luna. Please, let me change it,” Harry demanded, grabbing her robes.
“Of course you can. That’s why I showed this to you.”
“Luna, I can’t have a future where Ginny and I ever have the chance to double date with Pansy Parkinson or Draco Malfoy.”
“Harry.”
“Luna, I’ll do whatever it takes. Please.”
“Harry.”
“Harry!” said Ron, pulling at his shoulder. “Wake up!”
“Ron!” said Harry, sitting up in his bed and looking around. Sunlight was filling the room from the tiny window.
Ron’s eyes were wide as he stared at Harry. “Are you okay?”
“Ron! You are Ron, right?”
“Harry, I think you’re still dreaming.”
“No, I’m not. You’re really Ron? And it’s Christmas Day?”
“Uh, yeah.”
“Then there’s still time!” Harry jumped out of bed and pulled on a pair of socks, not bothering to change out of his pajamas.
“Still time for what?”
“To save Hermione’s life.”
Panic crossed Ron’s face. “What’s wrong with Hermione?”
Harry stuffed his feet in his trainers and threw Ron’s at him. “She’s going to die in forty years unless we go see her now.”
Harry all but dragged Ron down the stairs and through the kitchen where Mrs. Weasley and Ginny were preparing breakfast and George was setting the table.
“Merry Christmas,” said Mrs. Weasley from her spot at the stove.
“No time!” shouted Harry.
“Where are you going?” Ginny asked as she whisked the batter in her mixing bowl.
“To stop Ron from marrying Pansy Parkinson’s granddaughter!”
Ginny’s mixing bowl clattered to the ground. “What?!”
“Ronald Weasley, what have you done?” shouted Mrs. Weasley.
“Mum, I’m not marrying anyone! I have no idea what’s going on. Harry woke me up saying that Hermione’s going to die in forty years unless we see her now.”
“I didn’t say it, Luna did!” Harry insisted.
“Now it makes more sense,” nodded George from his place at the dining table.
“Don’t you want breakfast?” asked Mrs. Weasley.
Harry shook his head. “No time! Ron’s third wife may be being born as we speak unless we put a stop to it! Let’s go, Ron.”
Harry rushed outside the Burrow to the apparition point. “Come on Ron!”
Four minutes later, Harry was pounding his fist on the Grangers’ front door, Ron standing several steps behind him.
The door was pulled open and Hermione’s father was standing before them, looking annoyed. “It’s 7 am. What on earth–Harry? Ron?”
“Good morning Dr. Granger and I’m sorry for this,” said Ron.
“Where’s Hermione?” demanded Harry.
Hermione appeared at the doorway, arm behind her back. “Dad, I told you to wait for me– Harry. And…Ron.”
“I need to talk to both of you now,” Harry said, pushing his way into the house.
A few moments later, Ron and Hermione were standing in the Grangers’ office, watching Harry pace back and forth.
“What was so urgent that you had to rush over here in your pajamas on Christmas morning and terrify my parents and me?” Hermione demanded, taking an angry step toward Ron.
Ron put his hands up in surrender. “Harry was having a nightmare and when I woke him up, he was screaming that you were going to die and I was marrying someone’s granddaughter.”
“Pansy Parkinson’s,” Harry clarified. “And you might date Draco Malfoy. That’s why it’s so urgent.”
Ron’s face went ashen. “What?”
“I assure you that I am not going to date Draco Malfoy and to my knowledge, Pansy doesn’t even have a child yet, let alone a grandchild. Start explaining, Harry.”
“Ron wanted to go with you to the Yule Ball.”
Hermione blinked.
“And the reason he got mad at you in sixth year is because Ginny told him you snogged Viktor Krum?”
Hermione’s jaw dropped in shock. “That’s why you took up with Lavender?”
“And Hermione really did like that perfume that you bought her for Christmas our fifth year. Unusual was a compliment.”
Ron’s face was scrunched up in confusion.
“Oh, and Hermione got you a gift other than the homework planner that year. What was it?”
Hermione gasped. “How did you know that? I never even told Ginny about that!”
“Lavender told me,” Harry answered.
“How does Lavender know?”
“Hermione, just answer the question,” Harry demanded.
Ron and Hermione exchanged a worried glance. “I got him a backgammon set.”
“A backgammon set?”
Hermione nodded. “You probably don’t remember but I told the two of you that it was my grandfather’s favorite. Harry said that Mrs. Figg made him play and he hated it but Ron said he wanted to learn—”
“And see how quickly I could beat you,” Ron smiled.
Hermione pursed her lips and smiled back. “I thought it would be something fun we could do, just the two of us.”
Harry groaned. Damn Lavender for being right about the present.
“Okay. Good. You two fancy each other and have forever and I’ve known forever and I didn’t say anything but I am saying it now. So can you two just be together?”
Ron folded his arms. “Our history is not the problem.”
“Right. Ron, Hermione is not dating Stark. He’s got a crush on her friend Anne.”
“You thought I was dating Stark?” Hermione asked.
“I saw him hugging you and giving you jewelry. What was I supposed to think?”
“Well, speaking of buying jewelry, I noticed you were buying your ‘girlfriend’ jewelry,” Hermione spit out.
“I was buying it for a friend,” Ron said.
Hermione snorted. “Looks like you have a lovely piece of jewelry coming your way, Harry.”
“I was buying it for a friend to give to his girlfriend.”
“You’re already a Junior Auror and a shop clerk but you thought you would start work as a personal shopper too?”
“I was doing someone a favor.”
“He was buying that for Angelina,” Harry interrupted.
Hermione gasped. “You’re dating Fred’s old girlfriend?”
“No! George is,” said Harry.
Ron’s jaw dropped. “How did you know that?”
“George is dating Angelina?”
“Yes but it’s okay. Fred knew and gave his blessing,” Harry answered.
“Bloody hell, Harry, seriously, who told you?”
“My dad came to visit me last night and he told me that I shouldn’t let you two end up like Remus and Sirius but I wasn’t convinced so he had these three spirits visit me and they told me all this stuff. Some of it I knew but some of it I just found out and now I’m telling you so you can get your shit together.”
Ron looked at Hermione. “He drank a lot of Firewhiskey last night.”
“No I didn’t!”
Hermione sighed. “I don’t know what happened to Harry last night but he’s telling the truth. At least about me.”
“You’re really not dating Stark?”
“She’s not,” answered Harry. “And she’s really hoping that you were going to tell her that you thought this whole casual relationship thing she suggested over the summer was a stupid idea.”
Hermione gaped at him, blushing fiercely.
Ron, who was also looking a little red, turned to Harry. “Harry, can you give us a minute?”
Harry crossed his arms across his chest. “Oh no. I didn’t go through all of that for the two of you to muck it up the minute I turn my back.”
Ron rolled his eyes. “Fine. Yes, Hermione, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about. This is so bloody stupid. It sucks to be dating and be apart but it’s so much worse to not be dating and be apart. I don’t want to be with anyone else and I sure as hell don’t want you to be with anyone else.”
“I don’t want to be with anyone else either,” Hermione smiled.
“Can I–?” Ron made a motion with his hand and Hermione nodded.
Ron closed the gap between them and kissed her. Hermione wound her arms around his neck and pressed her body closer to Ron’s, deepening the kiss further.
When it became clear that they were in no hurry to stop, Harry interrupted. “Okay, okay. I am still here you know.”
“And there’s no need for you to be,” Ron replied.
“You’re the one that refused to leave,” Hermione pointed out.
“I’m going to head back for breakfast. I’ll see you at the Burrow this afternoon, Hermione?” Harry asked.
“I’ll be there in a few minutes,” Ron said.
Harry nodded. “Just make sure there’s enough kissing to keep Hermione from ever dating Draco Malfoy.”
“Honestly, Harry!”
“I’ll go, I’ll go. Just promise me that you’ll actually talk to each other when these stupid misunderstandings happen instead of torturing me and everyone around you?”
Ron smiled. “We will. Thanks Harry.”
Harry left the office and crept out of the Grangers’ house undetected, avoiding an awkward conversation with either of Hermione’s parents. He looked around the quiet street for a moment before ducking behind a tree and apparating back to the Burrow.
When he walked in, Ginny and George both looked up from the table.
“Harry, what’s going on?” asked Ginny.
“It’s a long story but they’re all sorted,” Harry announced.
“Ron and Hermione?”
Harry nodded. “Yes. I made it clear that they both want to be with the other.”
Ginny smiled. “Thank you. I know you—”
“No, you were right, Gin. They’re happier this way. I’m happier this way. But I did have to get out of there when the snogging started and didn’t show much sign of stopping.”
Ginny’s face dropped. “Oh, the snogging. I didn’t think about that. They’re going to be unbearable to be around today, aren’t they?”
George let out a long breath. “Merlin help us. Merlin help us, everyone.”