The list

Chapter 12: In Which They Celebrate Christmas

Why I have the right to be arrogant
By Ginny Weasley

1. Let's face it – I'm always right. Always. Name one time that I wasn't, and I'll bat bogey hex you. Don't worry – I've never been wrong.

2. My meddling has finally gotten one couple together. And about time, too! A certain brother of mine was driving me absolutely mental with his nonsense.

3. Even though Harry and Hermione have refused to write me (well, Hermione did write me, but her letter said, "Not going to happen; leave us be"), I just know that things are heating up between them. I mean, honestly, things would heat up between Malfoy and Hermione if they were stuck in a house together for that long (Merlin, that visual is going to haunt me for a few weeks).

4.I can get my ex-boyfriend to follow my bidding, even when we parted on negative terms. Now that is power.

5. I'm me. And yes, that might sound a tad conceited, but just wait a few years. Looking back, you'll realise just how amazing I really am.

6. Conceited is a synonym for arrogant. I am conceited, therefore I can be arrogant. And there's no way you can possibly disagree with this statement. And yes, I know this for a fact. Just like I know that Hermione will be forking over fifty galleons very soon.

"Love at first sight is easy to understand; it's when two people have been looking at each other for a lifetime that it becomes a miracle."
Amy Bloom

As soon as Harry and Hermione reached the second floor, high pitched giggles reached their ears. Hermione's face lit up at these sounds.
"Mona and Lia," she said, more to herself than to Harry. She glanced over at Harry, and suddenly her expression became urgent. "Oh! I can't believe I forgot!" she exclaimed as they began walking down the last flight of stairs. "No one in my family, other than Mum and Dad of course, knows that I'm a witch. They just think I attend this prestigious boarding school."

Harry raised an eyebrow at this new information. "Why didn't you tell them?"

"Mum thought it would frighten Lia and Mona, and she's right. All of the stories that say witches are evil?" Hermione shrugged good-naturedly. "I'm not ashamed of being a witch, if that's what you think. You know that. But I just don't think my relatives would understand. And imagine asking two little girls of Lia and Mona's age to keep such information secret! It'd be impossible. So no mentions of curses, or spells, or he— " Hermione's eyes widened as two girls ran up the last few steps and flung themselves into her arms. "—lo! Lia! Mona!" Hermione exclaimed, hugging the two.

Once Hermione had released the girls from her embrace, the smallest exclaimed, "My-knee!" The little girl's brown wisps of curls framed her face, and her blue eyes lit up in excitement. "My-knee! My-knee! I missed you!"

"I missed you too, Lia," Hermione smiled gently. "And look at you and your pretty frock!" Lia gave a small spin, showing off her maroon, velvet dress and many petticoats.

"Mummy bought it for her," the older girl, who looked to be about seven or eight, explained. Harry deduced that this was Mona. She had strawberry blonde hair, which was divided into two plaits, and eyes that matched her sister's. "And this one, too!" Mona pointed to her own frock, which was similar to Lia's, but a deep blue.

"Did your mum give those to you as an early Christmas present?" Hermione asked as she led the girls into the living room.

"No," Mona replied, wide eyed. "We saw them in the store and she said we could have them."

"Oh." Hermione's tone was slightly clipped, and she looked up to exchange a look with Harry. Clearly she disapproved of her Aunt spoiling her cousins.