The End Of The Beginning

CHAPTER-20

"Mrs. Weasley, I'm not going to get back together with Ginny."

"Nonsense dear, you just hit a snag is all."

"Mrs. Weasley..."

"Harry dear," her fake smile faltered and a tear appeared in her eyes, "would you kindly run upstairs and see if Charlie is in his room?"

"Mrs. Weasley, I'm sorry things didn't work out with Ginny and I'm sorry if I hurt her in any way. I certainly didn't mean for things to work out this way, but we really are through." Harry watched as Mrs. Weasley's veneer finally cracked and she surveyed him with watery eyes.

"Harry dear, you can't really mean that can you?"

"'Fraid so." Harry shrugged.

"But everything was going to be so perfect." Mrs. Weasley blew her nose into a handkerchief, "You would marry Ginny and be my son and Hermione would marry Ron and be my daughter....and it's not that I don't like the new girl, but why couldn't they have at least tried to work things out?" Mrs. Weasley was sobbing now and she took a seat on a stool. Harry took a step towards her, but froze as she looked over her handkerchief and grabbed his hand. "Are you happy Harry?"

"Yes." Mrs. Weasley let out a fresh wave of sobs before she wiped her eyes and blew her nose again. She stood up and wrapped Harry into a hug.

"Well, I suppose that's all a mother can really ask for." She stepped back and placed her hands on his face, appraising him with pride shining on her face. "I know you hear this often, but you look so much like your father. He's proud of you, you know. Even prouder than I am."

Harry heard James' voice in his mind, "We are....so proud of you."

"I know." He smiled as Mrs. Weasley let out one more sniff.

"Now, run along now I have everything handled here." She shooed him out of the kitchen.

Harry returned to the dining room to find that everyone but Percy and Mr. Weasley had left the table.

"The boys are in the sitting room Harry if you'd like to join them." Mr. Weasley said mid-flow of his conversation with Percy.

"Thanks Mr. Weasley." Harry made his way to the sitting room to find George, Ron, Charlie and Bill all drinking eggnog and trying out a new board game that George had come up with.

"Care to join us Harry?" Charlie turned to face him, offering him an eggnog.

"Sure." Harry took a seat between Charlie and Ron while George explained how the game worked. The game was quite fun, but Harry's mind drifted to Hermione and what she may or may not have found out about Luke.

~

"Merry Christmas Hermione." Luke offered Hermione a small golden wrapped package. She carefully untied the bow and neatly unwrapped the paper. "You know it's okay to tear it right?" He grinned broadly at her.

"I know, but it just seems rude to tear to pieces what it took someone time to do." Hermione answered, not bothered at all by the thought that Luke had probably wrapped it by magic. It was a small box that contained a charm in the shape of a book.

"I remember you mentioned one time that you'd like to buy a charm for that necklace of yours."

"Thank you Luke." Hermione smiled, the gift was thoughtful without being overboard. The sick feeling in her stomach had nothing to do with the gift and everything to do with the two shrunken packages she had in her hands. Would she really force out the truth by magic? Or would she trust that Luke would be honest when confronted?