Before Things Change, Harry Potter Year 6

16. A Very Frost Christmas

Lilly's POV
Harry told Ron the next day at the Burrow about what he overheard about. Ron told Harry that if Snape breaks the Unbreakable Vow, then he dies.
Fred and George asked about Lavender Brown with Ron and he turned pink. They made fun of him and Ron threw a knife at Fred, who turned it into an airplane.
Mrs. Weasley came and said Remus would be arriving tonight, Bill is with the Twins, Harry and Ron in the attic, and Fleur and Ginny in Ginny's room. She said, "I think Lilly is coming Christmas morning for breakfast and then she's going back to the Longbottom's."
As she left, Ron muttered, "Well, you know what Lilly's getting for a gift..."
Fred swatted his head saying, "Don't be a prat to Lilly, she's actually nice."
Ron scoffed saying, "No, she's rather annoying!"
George asked, "Why are you being rude lately to her?"
Ron said, "None of your business, I just don't like her anymore..."
Fred said, "Weren't you best friends with her?"
Ron said, "Were, yes. Now, no. She's become self centered, rude, and she snogging Neville a bit too often."
Harry said, "Ron, they're only little pecks, I hardly call them full snogs!"
Ron rolled his eyes saying, "I just think she needs to get a life and sort out her priorities."
I said, "And what do you suggest, Weasley? How do you suggest I should get a life or sort out my priorities?" I was standing in the entry way with a bag on one of my shoulders. They all whipped their heads to look at me and I continued, "I stopped by early to give my gifts, but it seems as if I'm not wanted, so it was nice seeing everone. Happy Christmas..."
I turned to walk away and George asked, "What's going on between you two?"
I said, "Ask him, he's the one being very rude and short with me..."
Ron scoffed saying, "Your the one gloating and being rude to me on the pitch."
I said, "I was trying to be encouraging and I had to yell because I was flying!"
He said, "Yeah, but what about after that?"
I said, "I was defending myself from the snide remarks you made!" I ran through my hair frustrated saying, "Look, I'm done fighting with you, Weasley. I tried to make amends with you, but it seems you want to shut Hermione and I out. I'm done..."
I disappeared and tried to shut Harry out, but he and Ron kept talking about the Malfoy thing and eventually Harry talked to Mr. Weasley and Lupin about it. They trusted Snape, but Harry still felt that Snape was lying to Dumbledore.
Lupin told Harry that he was living with the werewolves, trying to recruit for Dumbledore. He also told Harry about the werewolf who bit him, Fenrir Greyback... Lupin's father insulted Greyback, in return, he bit Remus.
Harry asked is there was a Half-Blood Prince at his time and there wasn't. He asked about the spell, Levicorpus, it was used during his dad's time, but Lupin said jinxes go in and out of style.
The next morning, Percy regretably came into the house. The Minister for Magic tried to convince Harry to be poster boy for the Ministry given he is 'the Chosen One'. Harry smartly refused. Rufus inadvertently admitted that he didn't care if Harry was to live or fie, as long as the Ministry fooled everyone saying their winning the way against Voldemort. He showed the words Umbridge made him carve onto the back of his hand, "I must not tell lies." Harry said, "I don't remember you rushing to my defense when I was trying to tell everyone Voldemort was back. The Ministry wasn't so keen to be pals last year."
Rufus then tried to get information out of Harry about Dumbledore and Harry refused to tell him.
Rufus said, "Well, then, I shall have to see whether I can't find out by other means."
Harry said indifferently, "You can try, but you seem cleverer than Fudge, so I'd have thought you'd have learned from his mistakes. He tried interfering at Hogwarts. You have noticed he's not Minister anhmore, but Dumbledore's still headmaster. I'd leave Dumbledore alone, if I were you."
"Well, it is clear to me that he has done a very good job on you, Dumbledore's man through and through, aren't you, Potter?"
"Yeah, I am, glad we straightened that out..."
He turned his back on the Minister and strode back into the house.

Later that night, I decided to visit. I knocked on the door and Mrs. Weasley answered and she hugged me. I hugged her back saying, "I couldn't stay away!" Everyone gather around in the living room so I could give them presents. I gave Fred and George supplies for their shop, rare ones. Harry got a Quidditch book and a Defence Against the Dark Arts book as well, with a lot of candy. Mr. Weasley got a few Muggle items, Mrs. Weasley got a few fancy dresses and jewelry, Lupin got a album filled with pictures of his friends and himself with a lot of candy, Fleur got a few things for her hair and jewelry, Bill got a lot of candy, Ginny got some jewelry and hair accessories as well as a broom polishing kit, and I went over to Ron and handed him a massive box. Out of politeness from the others. He opened it in front of me and it was full of candy and treats, a broom polishing kit, and necklace that resembled perfectly Lavender's necklace, but could only be seen by himself, Lavender, and me.
I got a few books from Remus, a sweater with the Hogwarts logo on it from Mrs. Weasley, sweets from Harry, a big box of Weasley Wizard Wheezes products from the twins, some perfume from Ginny, and a necklace from Fleur. Ron said, "Thank you."
I nodded saying, "You're welcome, the necklace has a spell where only you and Lavender can see it, or people you want to see it. I thought it would save you embarrassments."
He asked "Who said I was embarrassed?"
"I just thought-"
"Well, stop thinking, it doesn't suit you.." He threw the necklace back at me.
I said giving up in surrender, "Fine." Luckily, only Harry noticed the little row we had and I announced to everyone, "I better go, it's getting late and I still have one more present to deliver."
Mrs. Weasley said, "Nonsense, stay at least for dinner, please?" I nodded reluctantly, I knew she wouldn't take no for an answer. I ate dinner and talked with Remus and Mr. Weasley a bit. Then, something terrible happened. Bellatrix arrived and Harry went after her and Ginny went after Harry. Remus and I were dealing with the flames and eventually fought them down. Mr. Weasley and Lupin went after Harry and I yelled, "EVERYONE OUT OF THE HOUSE!" I went up to the middle just in time to put a shield around it. Bellatrix sent a fire spell to the house and it went all around me shield I made. She and Fenrir Greyback left. I was in the middle fighting off the flames. My hands got too close, but I saved the house. I fell on the roof and almost fell on the ground, but I saved myself. Everyone ran up to me.
Ron asked, "Bellatrix was going to set the house on fire, wasn't she?" I nodded and winced through the pain as Mrs. Weasley put paste on my hands to help with the burns... She first helped me onto a chair in the kitchen.
Mrs. Weasley said, "I'll leave you two alone to talk."
He said, "I'm sorry, for everything, it's just, Lilly, you are so perfect, and I'm well, you know me. I'm sorry for everything and thank you for saving the Burrow."
I nodded and said, "Friends help each other, I refused to sit by and let this place burn.."
He nodded and said, "Thank you again, for everything..." I smiled, we hugged, and then winced again because my palms hit the table as I sat down.
I said, "I better go, I want to talk to Hermione before the night is over and then return to Neville..."
He nodded and said, "Neville's a good guy, he really cares for you..."
I nodded smiling, "I consider myself very lucky, given the state of things. It's nice to have someone around, you know? To have someone to hold you when you cry, to know everything about you and still love you, to show them all your vulnerabilities and someone to pick you up. I've always wanted someone like that, and though we may not be perfect, it feels perfect when I'm with him... I supposed I'm just repeating myself, given I assume that's how you feel towards Lavender, well, not as intense, but partially."
He said too quickly,
"Yeah." I smiled sadly, "Well, I'll see you at Hogwarts. Happy Christmas, and Happy New Year." I hugged everyone good night, visited Hermione briefly, and then returned to the Longbottom's. Neville had gotten me a few new books and I got him more Herbology books. His gran gave me sweets and I got her a hat that she had wanted, it was quite extravagant, but none the less. She loved it.
Neville finally asked me, "What's wrong with your hands?"
I said, "I burned then because I blocked the Burrow from being set on fire..."
He said, "What?!"
I said, "Bellatrix Lestrange and Fenrir Greyback showed up provoking and hoping to kill Harry, they were going to burn down the Burrow, I refused to let that happen..."
He nodded and kissed my palms saying, "I noticed you winced everytime I touched your hands..."
I smiled and kissed his lips saying, "Thank you for caring, Neville. Thank you for being there for me. Thank you for everything, Neville, I have never been so happy before, when I'm with you, all my cruddy problems disappear... Happy Two Year Anniversary..."
He said, "Thank you for everything, as well, Lilly. You're my everything and I don't want to lose you..." I nodded and he pulled me into bed, tucking me under the covers with him saying, "Happy Anniversary, I love you, forever and always..."
I said, "I love you, forever and always..." We kissed softly and quickly fell asleep.

Thanks for reading! Vote please! :)
-Lilly :)