The Love Of A Good Wizard

A Year to Remember

When the four of them entered the Great Hall for dinner, finding the few isolated students left behind over Yule scattered at their respective house tables, they resolutely settled down at the head of the Gryffindor table together. There were hushed whispers and confused looks, though the teachers actually present simply observed them curiously.

Minerva leaned across the table. "Last chance for Hogsmeade tomorrow, if you need presents."

Harry and Tom gaped at her, then at each other. "I forgot all about that!" Harry muttered at the same moment Tom said, "It completely slipped my mind!"

Pansy chuckled. "This is why men and women really aren't suited to each other. This way, no one remembers something the other forgot."

"To be fair, Pansy," Harry said, helping himself to Yorkshire Pudding. "We've had a few other things on our minds, lately."

She looked a bit sheepish at that. "True enough. Well, want to go with us to Hogsmeade tomorrow then?"

Minerva cleared her throat. "I have another idea. Why don't we Apparate to Edinburgh? I always usually go there in December with my parents." They knew her parents were overseas - Minerva's father was a senior wizarding archaeologist and usually travelled about somewhere exotic. "The shopping streets are always decorated so beautifully. It'll be fun."

Tom blinked. "Minerva McGonagall, are you suggesting we break school rules?"

"Aye, I am." Minerva grinned, and Pansy giggled next to her.

"Sounds good," said Harry. "As long as we don't end up somewhere altogether different again. Tom?"

Tom nodded. "I do need presents." He smiled at Harry.

"Not for me you don't," Harry murmured. "I have everything I could possibly want."

Minerva and Pansy grinned. "You too are a wee pair of lovebirds," Minerva teased.

"Not that wee," Pansy muttered with a smirk, causing Minerva to shriek with laughter, Tom to flush scarlet, and Harry to inhale a forkful of gravy-drenched pastry.

* * *

Wizarding Edinburgh was exactly how Minerva had described it. The shopping district was an assortment of narrow, snow-dusted lanes, the ancient shops groaning under the weight of their silver and gold decorations. There was a choir singing somewhere, and every few shop doors, they were assaulted by the smells of freshly brewed tea, mulled wine or cinnamon buns pouring out into the street from a café or bakery.

"This was a very good idea," Pansy said approvingly, sliding her arm into Minerva's.

"How do we do this?" Harry asked, looking around curiously. "We can't buy presents if we all go together."

They agreed that he and Tom would shop for the girls, while they went off together to buy for them. They'd meet for a break at the cosy looking tea shop in front of which they'd Apparated, before splitting up differently to find their remaining presents.

Five minutes later, Harry and Tom were considering their options while standing in front of a ladies' boutique. "I've no idea what sort of gear women buy, and those two are too fussy to get just anything," Harry stated.

Tom smiled. "I agree. Let's not even try. What else are they both interested in?"

"Books," Harry stated immediately. "I'm forever doomed to have bookworms for friends." He smiled as he said it, surprised when Tom looked upset.

"You miss your friends a lot," Tom said softly, his hand stroking up Harry's forearm soothingly.

There was a lump in Harry's throat when he said, "Yes, I do." Tom's hand slid down his arm and into his hand while his soft grey eyes watched Harry's expression. "But I know they're fine without me," Harry hastened to reassure. "I need you much more than they need me. And I've been thinking how my staying here for good will change things... where they are. And, well..."