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Dobby and Kreacher are cooking up a storm for the New Year’s Eve party at Grimmauld Place. Sirius is in the library showing Hermione around. Molly Weasley is trying to bully her way into the kitchen, which fails since the elves have banned her from entering. She tried to take over decorating the place earlier when she was shown out by Narcissa Malfoy.
Molly is displeased and goes to look for Dumbledore, who is in the sitting room talking to Shackelbolt. “Albus, they won’t let me do anything. The elves are cooking, and Narcissa is decorating and won’t let me help. How are we supposed to have a nice time if we don’t have a home-cooked meal?”
Before Albus replies, Sirius comes in, “Last I checked, this is my house, and you are my guests, funnily enough, I don’t remember inviting you. If you don’t like it, just go to the Burrow and spend the last day of the year there with your family,” he rubs his head, “I am still trying to figure out why you are all here.”
Albus says, “Sirius, I did tell you about the New Year’s party here.”
Sirius crosses his arms, “That is right, you just told me, didn’t ask if I agreed. You just invited yourself over. In case it has escaped your notice, you and your fanclub are not welcome here.”
Molly sullenly sits down, and Kingsley looks at Dumbledore, wondering what is going on.
–
Tonks arrives and sees Remus. She has been crushing on him for two years. She plans to kiss him at midnight and tell him that she loves him and wants to be with him. She has arguments prepared for any issues he might have.
–
Ginny has been trying to find Harry. He has been rebuffing her advances for months and months, and she has decided to take this opportunity to make him hers. She will kiss him at midnight; she has a potion ready for later. When he kisses her, he will want to sleep with her. She starts daydreaming about being Mrs Potter when she runs into Snape, who sneers at her. Why has the greasy git to be here? Can’t he stay at Hogwarts and scare away the rats?
-
Ron and Hermione are in the library. He complains, “I just don’t understand why we have to celebrate with those Death Eaters.”
She sighs, “Honestly, Ron, grow up. Voldemort has been dead for three years, and The Malfoys have changed, or Sirius wouldn't be spending time with them.”
Ron snarls, “Hermione, once a Death Eater, always a Death Eater. They are playing us, gaining our trust only to use it against us. I am telling you they are up to something. You can’t trust them, they are Slytherin and dark and..”
She cuts him off, “What about Peter Pettigrew? He was a Gryffindor and dark.”
Ron shrugs, “So, that was an anomaly. I still say Slytherins are bad.”
She groans, “I give up. I had hoped you would grow up and you would be more open-minded, but you became even more bigoted. I no longer wish to be your friend, Ronald.”
Hermione stands up to leave when Ron grabs her arm, “Oi, where are you going?”
She tries to shrug him off, “To be in more pleasant company. Now let go of me, you are hurting me.”
Ron’s grip tightens when Snape comes in, “I suggest you let go of Miss Granger before I make you.”
Ron lets go and glares at Snape. Molly, only hearing the last part, barges in, “How dare you threaten my child. I knew Albus made a mistake trusting you.” Molly’s voice carries, and people flock into the library.
Sirius demands to know what is going on.
Hermione holds her arm, “I told Ron I am no longer his friend. When I tried to leave, he grabbed my arm. I asked him to let go, that he was hurting me. He squeezed me harder, that is when Professor Snape came in and told Ron to let go of me, or he would make him.” She pulls back her sleeve, and everyone sees a dark purple bruise forming.
Professor McGonagall fumes at Ron, “50 points from Gryffindor and detention with Filch for a month upon your return to Hogwarts “
He pleads, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to.”
Hermione glares at him, “Just stay away from me.”
Everyone is slowly leaving the library, leaving Hermione and Sirius behind. Sirius says, “I am so glad I had Kreacher put up those new wards. It alerts the person closest that someone needs help.”
Hermione sighs, “I should have broken off our friendship before now.”
He takes a seat. “Why didn’t you? He won’t change his views. He is bigoted and narrow-minded. He won’t accept that the Malfoys have changed or that not all Slytherins are evil.”
She looks down, “I ignored it for the most part because I was too busy with school, but his rants have gotten worse since you have, as he puts it, “let the snakes in.”
Sirius puts up some wards “I need a vow of Silence from you. What I am about to tell you cannot leave this room for now, at least.“
Hermione nods, and the spell is cast.
Sirius looks at her, “Lucius, Remus, Narcissa and Severus created a gollum, and we changed places 3 weeks after I was incarcerated. Harry and I have been living with the Malfoys the whole time.”
Her eyes light up, “I knew it. I always had this feeling that something else was going on. Some things just didn’t add up or made sense. I tried telling Ron once, but he called me crazy. It’s Dumbledore, you are trying to take him down? I mean, you never got a trial, and as Chief Warloc,k he could have gotten you one, and he must have known you were innocent. And that is just one curious thing.”
Sirius laughs, “You really are smart. Okay, where to start?”
He is interrupted by Death, “I can simply show her. We were not sure whether to include you, but now that you have ended your friendship with Ron, you can know.“ Death takes her to another plane, shows Hermione her life in the other world and brings her back.
“We killed magic. There was too much light magic with no dark magic to counterbalance it; it simply fiddled out.“
Death nods, “You never changed your views. You were all bigoted and so anti-dark you never stopped to consider what it would do. But you cannot really be blamed since your education has been severely lacking.”
Sirius tells her, “We have been working behind the scenes all this time, gathering facts and irrefutable evidence. We did manage some more positive changes already, like the inclusion of the creatures into our society.“
Hermione inquires, “What about Voldemort?”
Sirius smirks, “We destroyed the horcruxes, and Harry simply had to touch Riddle in his wraith form, and he died. It is fun watching Dumbledore waiting for his return, yet no sign of him and of course, destroying his plans. I love to review the memory of his face when Harry went to Ravenclaw.”
Hermione laughs, “I am glad I went to Ravenclaw too. Harry is like my brother.”
“There is more, but they can fill you in,” Death tells her before he vanishes.
–
Ginny has been trying to corner Harry with no luck, not knowing Dobby and Kreacher have been tipping him off. They are all gathering in the living room when the room falls silent when they see Harry and Severus under the mistletoe. Harry drags Severus down for a kiss, and Severus automatically puts his arms around Harry and returns the kiss with fervor.
They break the kiss, Severus sits down, and Harry sits on his lap, and they share another short kiss. Sirius snorts, “I am surprised you didn’t turn around and go back to your room.”
Snape raises an eyebrow, “Contrary to what you believe, we don’t have sex all the time.”
Harry hums, “So who put that one up? I thought we took them all down?”
Sirius shrugs, “Dunno. But don’t pretend you didn’t like snogging him.”
Ginny shrieks, “You two can’t be having sex. It is wrong. You two can’t be together. We were meant to be together.”
Harry kisses Sev again, “Doesn’t feel wrong to me. Feels amazing, feels..” Severus cuts him off with another kiss.
Ron snarls, “Ginny is right, it is unnatural. I can’t believe you are a .. “
Harry raises an eyebrow, “A, what Ronald?”
Charlie demands, “I would love to hear what you think they are.”
Ron makes a gagging noise, “A poofter. It’s disgusting.”
Charlie looks at his brother, “I am gay too. I am disgusting too?”
Ron pales, “What, no, you are my brother, you are not one of them.”
Charlie lets out a hollow laugh, “Oh, but I am. I never grew out of that phase, and I knew I wasn’t welcomed home for my depravity, so I left.” He stares at his mother, “You told me enough times how wrong loving a man is.”
Tonks shrugs, “I really don’t see what the big fuss is about. You love who you love; gender or creature should not matter. All that should be is that you are happy.”
An uncomfortable silence settles over the room. Arthur has been silent the whole time, then clears his throat, “Charli,e I do not share your mother’s view. All I want for my children is to be happy. And you are welcome at home at any time. I am the head of the house and not your mother.” He turns to her, “We will have words later,” he looks at his children, “Ron apologize, you too, Ginny.”
Snape waves them off, “Do not bother, Arthur, they won’t mean it. It would just be empty words. Let them have their opinion; it does not matter to us.”
A clear divide has happened in the Weasley family. Bill, Fleur, Percy, The Twins and Arthur have sided with Charlie, while Molly, Ron and Ginny are sitting alone.
-
They are making their way to the sunroom to watch the stars before the fireworks start at midnight. Remus and Sirius go back for some blankets since it is chilly in the room. Tonks is hoping to cuddle up with Remus. She sees Harry and Severus cozied up on a loveseat and Ginny glaring daggers at them.
They come back, and they hand out blankets to everyone. Sirius sees Ron head towards Hermione. He reaches her before Ron, who glares at him. “Can you sit somewhere else? I want to talk to her.”
Sirius shakes his head, “In case you forgot, she told you earlier to leave her alone.”
Arthus sighs, “Ron, leave her be.”
Ron stomps off, Sirius puts an arm around her and whispers into her ear, “I’m gonna give you some protective jewelry just in case and an emergency portkey. I don’t trust him.” Hermione nods. They sit down next to each other, Ron staring at them furiously.
Tonks is looking at Remus, who seems to be searching for something. She sees that all the seats are occupied and is about to call him over when Remus heads in her direction. She hides her smile, thinking he is coming to her when he moves to the lounge bed next to her. She sees him lying next to Draco. Draco leans over him and kisses him. Remus pulls him close and traps him in his arms, while they continue to kiss.
Tonks looks on, tears gathering in her eyes. She quickly composes herself. She looks over again and sees Remus running his hand up and down Draco’s spine, Draco’s head on his chest, one of their hands intertwined. She can hear Remus whisper, “I love you, Draco.”
Molly sees them too. “Albus, do something about this. These are teachers taking advantage of children in their care.” She turns to The Malfoys and shrieks, “How can you condone this?”
Narcissa holds up a hand, “Mrs Weasley, please lower your volume. I’m pretty sure they heard you on the moon.”
Remus growls, “Draco is mate, I claimed him, and he claimed me.”
Severus cuts down her next retort. He sees her watching them, “Not that it is any of your business, but we are married. And before you accuse me or Remus of favoritism, Professor Flitwick is grading their papers.”
Sirius adds, “They started fucking when they reached their 16th Birthday in case you were gonna accuse them of raping a minor.”
Molly is getting ready for a rant. Albus raises his voice, “Molly, please sit down. I am aware of their bonds, and all rules have been adhered to.” Molly sits down, and he continues, “It’s not like it is a secret anyway. Everyone knows.”
Minerva nods, “Harry has been sleeping down in the dungeons, and Draco has been sharing Remus’ quarters for months.” She looks at Ron and Ginny, “How do you two not know?”
They don’t answer her. The time until midnight is spent in silence, the couple enjoying some small kisses and caresses.
At midnight, the couple kiss under the fireworks display, while some people are staring daggers at them.