Second Chance || Harry Potter x Reader

Grimmauld Place: A Reunion | ˚₊✩‧

3rd POV
。ﾟ•┈୨♡୧┈·ﾟ。

The front hall of Grimmauld Place was buzzing with activity. Mrs. Weasley had been bustling about for days, transforming the dark, gloomy house into something that vaguely resembled a holiday home. She arranged rooms, polished the dusty surfaces, and filled the air with the smell of home-cooked meals. The Weasleys were the first to arrive, and Harry soon joined them, a feeling of bittersweet warmth settling over him as he adjusted to spending his holiday break here.

"Right, Harry, you've got your things all settled?" Mrs. Weasley asked, looking him over with motherly concern.

Harry nodded, giving her a smile. "Yes, thank you, Mrs. Weasley. Everything's great."

She patted his arm, beaming. "Good, good. Now, if only this place could lighten up a bit more—Kreacher! Not that cabinet, for heaven's sake! That's for holiday decorations, not your rubbish!"

The old house-elf grumbled incoherently, shuffling away with a scowl, but Mrs. Weasley paid him no mind, rolling her eyes and returning to the preparations.

Ron clapped Harry on the shoulder as they headed upstairs. "Blimey, if she could scrub the gloom out of this place, she'd do it."

Harry chuckled. "At least she's trying. Better than it was the first time we came here."

The boys made their way to their shared room, the familiar sounds of the Weasley family filling the house. Laughter drifted up the stairs as Fred and George, always up to something, shared a whispered conversation that ended with Ginny tossing a cushion at them from across the room.

A few days later, the door creaked open once again, and the cold winter air spilled in as Hermione stepped inside, bundled up and carrying a trunk that looked as though it weighed twice as much as she did.

"Hermione!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed, rushing to her with open arms. She wrapped her in a hug, pulling her inside and fussing over her with warm affection. "Oh, it's so good to see you, dear! You must be freezing—come in, come in! I'll take that—goodness, what's in here, all the books in Hogwarts?"

Hermione laughed, looking slightly sheepish. "Only a few, Mrs. Weasley," she replied, brushing the snow off her scarf. "Thank you."

Ron was the first to spot her from the top of the stairs. "Oi! Hermione!" He bounded down the steps, nearly tripping over the last one as he grinned at her. "Glad to be out of Hogwarts?"

She rolled her eyes, but her smile was warm. "I think I might be. I don't know who needed this break more—me or you."

Ron laughed, nudging her playfully. "Speak for yourself. Anyway, now you're here, we can get started on actually making this place feel like Christmas."

Harry joined them in the hallway, a grin spreading across his face. "Hey, Hermione. Mrs. Weasley's already got it smelling like home in here."

Hermione's eyes lit up as she looked around, spotting the little touches of holiday decor. "Oh, it's lovely, Mrs. Weasley!" She turned back to Harry and Ron. "I suppose we'll have to help with decorations too, then?"

Ron groaned, but Hermione only gave him a smirk. "It'll be fun, Ron. Besides, I'm sure you could use the practice for the trees your mum puts you to work on at home."

Over the next few days, they settled into Grimmauld Place, filling it with the sounds of their voices and laughter, transforming it bit by bit. The decorations multiplied: tinsel draped over the stair banisters, enchanted snowflakes drifting above the tables, and charmed candles casting a warm glow over every room. Even Sirius joined in, his usual mischievous grin appearing as he charmed holly to dance along the walls.