(Y/N)'s POV

The train ride home was interesting to say the least, I went to make my way inside the compartment with Ron and Harry only to find something honestly quite disturbing. "Bit clingy there Lav don't you think?"

I watched her make a weird marking on the train door to profess her and Ron's joint love, I think it was meant to be a heart? I dont know, it was a fog stain on the window. She quickly giggled, shrugged and moved on, I just slipped into the compartment. "Real keeper there Ron,"

I laughed at her intensity, "Like seriously, you'd better keep her or you might lose something important" I said, making a snipping motion with my fingers. He looked very shaken by this observation, and I don't blame him.

Hermione soon joined, but saw the marking on the door and left in a huff. Watching this I looked at Harry and Ron, then awkwardly shrugged, mouthing a sorry to the boys, I followed her.

During our walk after the party, she explained to me that she was willing to go back to the way things were soon, but needed the Christmas break to mull things over because she was still angry at Ron and was trying to figure it out.

I told her she could take all the time she needed but I had been trying to get closer to her again so I spent the train journey chatting to her and not so subtly singing her praises, I could tell she knew what I was doing but still found it rather entertaining.

But because we were in a different compartment also occupied with Neville, Luna, Ginny and surprisingly Dean. I wasn't able to tell her about our encounter with Malfoy. 

I wanted to hear her opinion but needed to keep in secret, and to be fair, I was a little put off by the snogging next to me. "Dean, could you knock it off, I don't particularly want to see you stick your tongue down the throat of a girl I consider to be my sister."

I finally snapped after twenty minutes of awkwardness. When they broke apart and began awkwardly shuffling I felt guilty. "Or at least get another compartment" Ginny pouted as I released Bones.

"Everywhere else is full." "When is it not Gin? I'm sure you can make do" I sighed. This outburst that led to the rest of the train ride being filled with awkward silence that nearly drove me to insanity.

It was clear that Ron had been filled in on the Malfoy situation. I could tell by his stunned grimace as I was wishing Hermione a good Christmas and saying goodbye, but as we learnt several times in the Burrow, he was having trouble grasping it's intricacies. 

On Christmas Eve we were standing alone at the Burrow's kitchen sink, peeling a mountain of sprouts for Mrs. Weasley. Snow was drifting past the window in front of us. "So Snape was offering to help him? He was definitely offering to help him?"

"If you ask that once more," said Harry, "I'm going to stick this sprout —" "I'm only checking!" said Ron. "For the tenth time..."I said, "This minute" ended Harry "Yes, Snape was offering to help him!" said Harry.

"He said he'd promised Malfoy's mother to protect him, that he'd made an Unbreakable Oath or something —" "An Unbreakable Vow?" said Ron, looking stunned and dropping a sprout. He looked to me in confirmation, I nodded grimly.

I had only heard about them recently, as I was researching my charm. I figured if I learnt about spells that killed either their caster or their victim I could learn to counter them "Yes, I'm sure," said Harry.

"Why, what does it mean?" "Well, you can't break an Unbreakable Vow..." "I'd worked that much out for myself, funnily enough." Scoffed Harry, "Clue's in the name" I chuckled "What happens if you break it, then?" "You die," said Ron simply.

"Fred and George tried to get me to make one when I was about five. I nearly did too, I was holding hands with Fred and everything when Dad found us. He went mental," said Ron, with a reminiscent gleam in his eyes.

"Only time I've ever seen Dad as angry as Mum, Fred reckons his left buttock has never been the same since." "Did you check Ron?" I smirked; he threw a sprout that bounced off my forehead. "Yeah, well, passing over Fred's left buttock —"

"I beg your pardon?" said Fred's voice as the twins entered the kitchen. "Aaah, George, look at this. They're using knives and everything. Bless them." "Bugger off you two" I frowned. "I can peel sprouts better with a knife then you could with both of your wands"

"I'll be seventeen in two- and a-bit months' time," said Ron grumpily, "and then I'll be able to do it by magic!" "But meanwhile," said George, sitting down at the kitchen table and putting his feet up on it, "we can enjoy watching you demonstrate the correct use of a — whoops-a-daisy!"

"You made me do that!" said Ron angrily, sucking his cut thumb. "You wait, when I'm seventeen —" "I'm sure you'll dazzle us all with hitherto unsuspected magical skills," yawned Fred. "And speaking of hitherto unsuspected skills, Ronald," said George.

"What is this we hear from Ginny about you and a young lady called — unless our information is faulty — Lavender Brown?" Ron turned a little pink, but did not look displeased as he turned back to the sprouts.

"Mind your own business." "What a snappy retort," said Fred. "I really don't know how you think of them." "No, what we wanted to know was...how did it happen?" "What d'you mean?" "Did she have an accident or something?"

Me and Ron shared a confused glance, "What?" "Well, how did she sustain such extensive brain damage?" they smirked. "Guys quit teasing, Lavender's lovely, she's one of the prettiest girls in our year, she's-"

"Way too good for him?" Fred said. I nodded and cheekily said "Oh, definitely, but that's beside the point." "Careful, now!" Mrs. Weasley entered the room just in time to see Ron throw the sprout knife at Fred, who had turned it into a paper air plane with one lazy flick of his wand.

"Ron!" she said furiously. "Don't you ever let me see you throwing knives again!" "I won't," said Ron, "let you see," he added under his breath, as he turned back to the sprout mountain. "Fred, George, I'm sorry, dears, but Remus is arriving tonight, so Bill will have to squeeze in with you two."

"No problem," said George. "Then, as Charlie isn't coming home, that just leaves you two in the attic, and if Fleur shares with Ginny-" "-that'll make Ginny's Christmas —" muttered Fred. "— everyone should be comfortable. Well, they'll have a bed, anyway," said Mrs. Weasley, sounding slightly harassed.

"Percy definitely not showing his ugly face, then?" asked Fred. Mrs. Weasley turned away before she answered. "No, he's busy, I expect, at the Ministry." "Or he's the world's biggest prat," said Fred, as Mrs. Weasley left the kitchen. "One of the two. Well, let's get going, then, George."

We peeled a few more sprouts and then Ron said, "Are you going to tell Dumbledore what you heard Snape and Malfoy saying to each other?" "Yep," said Harry. "I'm going to tell anyone who can put a stop to it, and Dumbledore's top of the list. I might have another word with your dad too."

"Pity you didn't hear what Malfoy's actually doing, though." "I couldn't have done, could I? That was the whole point, he was refusing to tell Snape." There was silence for a moment or two, then Ron said.

"Course, you know what they'll all say? Dad and Dumbledore and all of them? They'll say Snape isn't really trying to help Malfoy, he was just trying to find out what Malfoy's up to."

"They didn't hear him," said Harry flatly. "No one's that good an actor, not even Snape." "Yeah...I'm just saying, though" said Ron. Harry turned to face him, frowning. "You think I'm right, though?" "Yeah, I do!" said Ron hastily.

"Seriously, I do! But they're all convinced Snape's in the Order, aren't they?" Harry said nothing. "While we're on the topic," I turned to Harry, who looked like I had put him on the spot. "I wanted to apologise to you." I said quickly.

"You were right about Malfoy all this time and I didn't believe you. So. uh...sorry I guess" I said, rubbing my neck and feeling awkward. Harry didn't seem to mind and just nodded appreciatively.

Later that afternoon Harry had still been unable find the right time to bring it up. The Weasleys, Harry and I were sitting in the living room, which Ginny had decorated so lavishly that it was rather like sitting in a paper-chain explosion.

Fred, George, Harry, Ron and I were the only ones who knew that the angel on top of the tree was actually a garden gnome that had bitten Fred on the ankle as he pulled up carrots for Christmas dinner.

Stupefied, painted gold, stuffed into a miniature tutu and with small wings glued to its back, it glowered down at them all, the ugliest angel I had ever seen, with a large bald head like a potato and rather hairy feet.

Meanwhile, Remus Lupin, who was thinner and more ragged looking than ever, was sitting beside the fire, staring into its depths. Some performer woman was singing over the radio, her name was Celestina.

"We danced to this when we were eighteen!" said Mrs. Weasley, wiping her eyes on her knitting. "Do you remember, Arthur?" "Mphf?" said Mr. Weasley, whose head had been nodding over the satsuma he was peeling.

"Oh yes...marvellous tune..." With an effort, he sat up a little straighter and looked around at Harry, who was sitting next to him, I was beside them trying to light a candle using my mind.

"Sorry about this," he said, jerking his head toward the wireless as Celestina broke into the chorus. "Be over soon." "No problem," said Harry, grinning. After discussing the recent arrests and the fate of Stan Shunpike Harry asked Lupin how things were and what he was doing for the order.

"Oh, I've been underground," said Lupin. "Almost literally. That's why I haven't been able to write, Harry; sending letters to you would have been something of a giveaway." "What do you mean?"

"I've been living among my fellows, my equals," said Lupin. "Werewolves," he added, at Harry's look of incomprehension. "Nearly all of them are on Voldemort's side. Dumbledore wanted a spy and here I was...ready-made."

He sounded a little bitter, and perhaps realised it, for he smiled more warmly as he went on. "I am not complaining; it is necessary work and who can do it better than I? However, it has been difficult gaining their trust."

"I bear the unmistakable signs of having tried to live among wizards, you see, whereas they have shunned normal society and live on the margins, stealing, and sometimes killing, to eat." "How come they like Voldemort?"

"They think that, under his rule, they will have a better life," said Lupin. "And it is hard to argue with Greyback out there..." "Who's Greyback?" "Who's Greyback he says" I scoffed, shaking my head in disbelief, forgetting that Harry grew up with Muggles.

"Who's Jack the Ripper? Gellert Grindelwald? Has anyone heard of this Voldymort bloke?" Greyback wasn't quite a bad as those examples, maybe I was being dramatic, but in my opinion he was just a big a threat to the public, if not in the same way.

Anyone who hunts kids specifically is just about the worst scum in the world in my book. "Fenrir Greyback is the reason parents tell their kids to lock their bedroom windows, he's the reason nobody goes out at night anymore." I shuddered.

Lupin nodded, "I'm surprised you haven't heard of him" he continued, his hands closed convulsively in his lap. "Fenrir Greyback is, perhaps, the most savage werewolf alive today. He regards it as his mission in life to bite and to contaminate as many people as possible."

"He wants to create enough werewolves to overcome the wizards. Voldemort has promised him prey in return for his services. Greyback specialises in children...Bite them young, he says, and raise them away from their parents, raise them to hate normal wizards."

"Voldemort has threatened to unleash him upon people's sons and daughters; it is a threat that usually produces good results." I nodded, remembering that (B/N) used to tease me by saying that if I was bad, Greyback would get me, then I would cry and he'd get in trouble.

"When I was a kid, I thought he was a myth, an old wives tale like the hairy heart or something." It was only when I read about him in the papers that I realised he was real." I admitted, a little embarrassed as I went back to my candle.

Lupin seemed very amused by this for some reason, "Oh, I assure you, he is very real" Lupin paused and then said, "It was Greyback who bit me." "What?" said Harry, astonished, I was speechless. "When — when you were a kid, you mean?"

"Yes. My father had offended him. I did not know, for a very long time, the identity of the werewolf who had attacked me; I even felt pity for him, thinking that he had had no control, knowing by then how it felt to transform."

"But Greyback is not like that. At the full moon, he positions himself close to victims, ensuring that he is near enough to strike. He plans it all. And this is the man Voldemort is using to marshal the werewolves."

"I cannot pretend that my particular brand of reasoned argument is making much headway against Greyback's insistence that we werewolves deserve blood, that we ought to revenge ourselves on normal people."

"But you are normal!" said Harry fiercely. "You've just got a...a problem" Lupin burst out laughing. "Sometimes you remind me a lot of James. " He called it my 'furry little problem' in company. Many people were under the impression that I owned a badly behaved rabbit."

At that moment, I had a breakthrough. "YES! I AM THE STRONGEST WIZARD TO EVER GRACE HOGWARTS!" I shouted, presenting my now lit candle, expecting applause but getting a murmur, I sulked and sat back down.

We all had a good chuckle at that and soon after I departed from the Burrow to go home by Floo Network, promising I would drop by on Christmas Day. Which passed by very quickly.

Waking up on Christmas Day, I cooked an early breakfast for Winky, who was utterly dumbfounded that I cooked for her and burst into tears several times during the course of the meal. Hopefully not because of the quality of my cooking.

I fed Bones, giving her a little extra like I always did on special occasions and after dancing to some Christmas music on the TV until Winky couldn't take it anymore and almost fainted in embarrassment as we ballroom danced with her on my feet, we opened presents.

But everything still felt a bit off, that's why part of me wished I were at Hogwarts for the holiday, this was my first holiday with mum gone and to be honest It was still hard to cope with. Even if I was trying to smile and laugh through it like she'd want me to.

Especially being home, the rooms didn't feel the same. Much quieter, not as warm, I don't know how to describe it, but it wasn't the same.

Winky and Bones helped a lot, especially with Dad being out of the country they were a welcome sense of normality. Winky cheerily collected the presents and handed me one, snapping me out of my sadness.

Dad got me a bunch of souvenirs from his holiday as well as a mountain of Muggle sweets. Harry and Ron's gifts were very similar, the only difference being their choice of sweets being from the Wizarding world.

Hermione got me a book on the derivations of different charms, Moody got me some sort of...alarm? I don't know, it just kept making noises at me, I set that one aside for a bit until I figured out its purpose.

Tonks got me a few joke items that luckily kept my stocks filled and Winky gave me a gift I could never have prepared for. It made my gift to her look rubbish. I had gotten her a set of pictures of the lot of us, Mum, her, me and Bones, that she could put in her room.

She pulled out a package that she had clearly put a lot of effort into wrapping but was apparently having trouble lifting, having to drag it along the floor, other then that it was immaculate. It even had a lovely yellow bow. 

I opened it as neatly as possible to be polite despite my urge to just tear into it. Examining the contents, I found a belt and a pink note.

The belt itself was pretty plain, a black leather one, just as most people would imagine when they envisioned one. The only notable difference I could see to an everyday one was it's weight, it felt about three times as heavy as it had any right to be.

"Cor Blimey, it's got some heft to it Wink." She giggled and nodded. "Is you liking it?" I nodded, "If you is doing this," she fiddled with what looked like a button on one of the belt loops.

As she pushed it in, suddenly several pouches appeared that had previously not been present, I understood it as a Concealment charm, explaining the belt's weight. "Is this..." I started, picking up on its familiarity.

She passed me the note,  it told me everything I needed to know and made me realise this gift had so much more significance then I originally thought. It simply read "For my little Auror for undoubtedly passing his O.W.L.S." In a familiar handwriting.

Emotion overwhelmed me, I cried, sobbing quietly, I looked up to hide my face from Winky and clasped both my hands to my mouth to hide the noise. Winky didn't care, she hugged me around the waist.

Bones even darted over, taking a brief pause from stuffing her face to mewl at me in concern. "She was going to give me this?" I asked as the tears stopped, Winky nodded, in tears too, her nose a brilliant red, I put it on immediately, it fit perfectly, of course.

Mum was one of the only people who could ever accurately guess my sizes, which makes sense seeing as she clothed me for most of my life. It was such a simple gift, a simple gesture from both Winky and Mum, but it meant the world to me now for obvious reasons.

It was something I had never really given any thought before, it was just a part of her work uniform, but now had so much meaning, just seeing it meant nostalgia hit me like a truck. Was it nostalgia? I wasn't sure, maybe the better term was longing.

"The Mistress is never finishing the orders from the robe woman, but Winky is going. She is checking and making sure it was done before the woman leaves" she said firmly, as if she was upset that Malkin had left to keep herself safe rather then finishing her order for me.

"The Mistress is saying that she is to give it to (Y/N) when he is grown up and has an owl" She smiled, "You is not having an owl yet, but Winky is thinking you is looking grown up now." "She is saying now you will be having your own bag of tricks to pull from."

"It's perfect Wink." I paraded it around "The Secrecy Sensors at Hogwarts are going to have a meltdown." I smiled, she giggled and nodded. I took the note from Mum and hung it above my headboard, giving it a wink and pressing a kiss onto my fingers and placing it on the note.

"Cheers Mum, Merry Christmas." Looking over to my brothers picture, "You too, idiot." After that, we decided it would be best to head off to the Burrow, as Winky prepared to dissaparate she asked me "Is Master (Y/N) wanting to try?"

I was a little confused by this, she explained, "The mistress was always wanting to travel alone and telling Winky not to worry. So I is thinking the Master might as well" I smiled at the thought but shook my head.

"Nah, might be a bit awkward showing up to dinner missing half my body, I wouldn't want to risk it when it's all three of us, plus I think it's illegal until everything is sorted anyway, I should check that soon, thinking on it."

She nodded and the second we stepped out the front door and locked it I felt my feet hit mud and I knew the Burrow was only a few seconds away. We landed with a crunch, the grass beneath us was frosty and damp.

There was a chill in the air that usually accompanied this time of year, unfortunately, I got the better landing of the two of us, not counting Bones, who was lazily perched on my shoulder. Winky landed in the grass, but in a patch of grass that was closer to a swamp then a field.

She was up to her thighs in muddy water from recent rainfall. But she did nothing to rectify this, her first thought to check if I was fine. "Winky!" I said, pulling her out of the mud from under her arms, "Scourgify."

I cleaned her clothes, hoping that we were close enough to the Burrow that it wouldn't be picked up by my trace. "Winky is fine, I is not wanting you to get dirty" she fussed over me, brushing some mud off my cheek.

As me and Winky arrived at the Burrow we were both welcomed with open arms and then bone crushing hugs. The only two who seemed perturbed by our arrival were Bill and Fleur, but mostly just Fleur.

Bill gave a look of confusion upon seeing Winky beside me, but seemed to think nothing of it and went back to eating. The true essence of Weasley hospitality. Fleur adjusted quickly too, but still had something to say.

"Iz it here to help uz with the cooking?" I frowned a little. "She. is part of my family, she's here as a guest and will be treated as such, her name is Winky and she is adorable as you can see." I explained, Fleur seemed to accept this but was still hesitant.

"Your English is getting loads better by the way, well done" I commented as I went to go find Ron and Harry, arriving at the perfect moment. "She's got to be joking..." Ron was sitting bolt upright in bed and examining what appeared to be a thick gold chain.

"What's that?" asked Harry. "It's from Lavender," said Ron, sounding revolted. "She can't honestly think I'd wear..." He looked more closely and let out a shout of laughter. Dangling from the chain in large gold letters were the words: "My sweetheart"

"Nice," he said. "Classy. You should definitely wear it in front of Fred and George." "If you tell them," said Ron, shoving the necklace out of sight under his pillow, "I — I — I'll—" "Stutter at me?" said Harry, grinning.

"Come on, would I?" "How could she think I'd like something like that, though?" Ron demanded of thin air, looking rather shocked. "Well, think back," said Harry. "Have you ever let it slip that you'd like to go out in public with the words 'My Sweetheart' round your neck?"

"Well...we don't really talk much," said Ron. "It's mainly..." "Snogging," said Harry. "Well, yeah," said Ron. He hesitated a moment, then said, "Just don't tell (Y/N), I'll never hear the end of it. I can just hide it when he's around"

"But its so pretty Ron, goes with your eyes, what a waste." I announced myself, tossing Harry his gift. Ron leapt to hide it from me, but it was too late. "Man, that is tragic, that's what I was going to get you."

He turned to me angrily, "Don't start! its Christmas, let me enjoy it!" I held up my hands as Harry unwrapped his new Jinx-Off self protection kit. "I think you should consider yourself lucky, Hermione only got me a book" I reasoned.

"Oh...you two, you, uh... getting back together then?" I shrugged and tossed him his gift, honestly not knowing the answer. "Nothing special this year, everywhere is closed." I pointed to Harry, "But it did take every bit of willpower I had to not buy you Advanced Potion-Making."

Ron did not find it funny when he was surprised with the Muggle trick of a snake in a can as he opened his present. What did make amends was when I provided him with some Skiving Snackboxes that I assured him could help him avoid Lavender if he needed a break from constant affection.

Though I recommended avoiding Fever Fudge as they might spur her on. Everybody was wearing new sweaters when they all sat down for Christmas lunch, everyone except Fleur and Mrs. Weasley herself, who was sporting a brand-new midnight blue witch's hat glittering with what looked like tiny starlike diamonds, and a spectacular golden necklace.

Even Winky was provided one, though I think it might have been one that used to belong to Ginny, based on the fact the W had a very suspicious tail. Then Mrs. Weasley said something that made a thousand ideas flood into my head.

"Every stitch has some love in it dear, so you're welcome to them" she said to Winky, who had just commented that the clothes she were provided were too good for her and tried to return it. I couldn't contain myself.

"Mrs. Weasley, you're a genius!" she beamed "Glad someone finally noticed." I turned to Harry and Ron, who looked at me blankly, "Cracked it. The charm, I think I got something." "Arthur!" said Mrs. Weasley suddenly.

She had risen from her chair; her hand was pressed over her heart and she was staring out of the kitchen window. "Arthur — it's Percy!" "What?" Mr. Weasley looked around. Everybody looked quickly at the window; Ginny stood up for a better look.

There, sure enough, was Percy Weasley, striding across the snowy yard, his horn-rimmed glasses glinting in the sunlight. He was not, however, alone. "Arthur, he's — he's with the Minister!"

Before any of, them could say anything, before Mr. and Mrs. Weasley could do more than exchange stunned looks, the back door opened and there stood Percy. There was a moment's painful silence.

Then Percy said rather stiffly, "Merry Christmas, Mother." "Oh, Percy!" said Mrs. Weasley, and she threw herself into his arms. Rufus Scrimgeour paused in the doorway, leaning on his walking stick and smiling as he observed this affecting scene.

"You must forgive this intrusion," he said, when Mrs. Weasley looked around at him, beaming and wiping her eyes. "Percy and I were in the vicinity — working, you know — and he couldn't resist dropping in and seeing you all."

But Percy showed no sign of wanting to greet any of the rest of the family. "I always knew you liked me more then you let on Perce" I smiled, waving at him, he did the most awkward and uncomfortable eye roll I had ever seen.

He stood, poker straight and awkward-looking, and stared over everybody else's heads. "Please, come in, sit down, Minister!" fluttered Mrs. Weasley, straightening her hat. "Have a little purkey, or some tooding...I mean —"

"No, no, my dear Molly," said Scrimgeour. "I don't want to intrude, wouldn't be here at all if Percy hadn't wanted to see you all so badly..." "Oh, Perce!" said Mrs. Weasley tearfully, reaching up to kiss him.

"...We've only looked in for five minutes, so I'll have a stroll around the yard while you catch up with Percy. No, no, I assure you I don't want to butt in! Well, if anybody cared to show me your charming garden...Ah, that young man's finished, why doesn't he take a stroll with me?"

The atmosphere around the table changed perceptibly. Everybody looked from Scrimgeour to Harry. Nobody seemed to find Scrimgeour's pretence that he did not know Harry's name convincing.

Or find it natural that he should be chosen to accompany the Minister around the garden when Ginny, Fleur, and George and I also had clean plates. "Yeah, all right," said Harry into the silence. He was not fooled.

For all Scrimgeour's talk that they had just been in the area, that Percy wanted to look up his family, this must be the real reason that they had come, so that Scrimgeour could speak to Harry alone.

"It's fine," he said quietly, as he passed Lupin, who had half risen from his chair. "Fine," he added, as Mr. Weasley opened his mouth to speak. "Wonderful!" said Scrimgeour, standing back to let Harry pass through the door ahead of him.

"We'll just take a turn around the garden, and Percy and I'll be off. Carry on, everyone!" Me and Winky exchanged glances, feeling very out of place in such a setting. We just helped ourselves to another helping of food and ate it awkwardly.

Avoiding the palpable tension in the room I decided to just avoid it and stick to my food. "Can you pass the salt please Perce?"