Future Nostalgia / Harry Potter Fanfic

Christmas at the Twelve Grimmauld Place

"Are you all right, Harry?" whispered Mr. Weasley, leaning across Ginny to speak to them as the train rattled along through its dark tunnel. "You don't look very well. Are you feeling sick?"

They were all watching the pair. Harry shook his head violently and stared up at an advertisement for home insurance, avoiding Estella's gaze.

"Harry, dear, are you sure you're all right?" said Mrs. Weasley in a worried voice, as they walked around the unkempt patch of grass in the middle of Grimmauld Place. "You look ever so pale...Are you sure you slept this morning? You go upstairs to bed right now, and you can have a couple of hours' sleep before dinner, all right?"

She let him have his space and went up to wake him up before dinner.

"Harry," she said, knocking on the door. "Dinner's ready. I know you're awake and that you're avoiding me so don't pretend to be 'asleep,' I'm smarter than that. I'm here for when you finally want to talk..." she trailed off and turned to go downstairs.

Harry never did come down for dinner.

Everybody else spent the following morning putting up Christmas decorations. Estella could not remember Sirius ever being in such a good mood; he was actually singing carols, apparently delighted that he was to have company over Christmas. His loud voice echoed throughout the house. She couldn't bring herself to be joyful, not when her boyfriend was avoiding her, thinking the worst of himself.

It was around six o'clock in the evening that the doorbell rang and Mrs. Black started screaming again. Hermione, Sienna, and Charlotte had finally arrived, and, of course, was confused as to why Harry was upstairs and not glued to her side. She explained what had happened and what Mrs. Weasley, Mad-Eye, Tonks, and Mr. Weasley discussed after they left the room.

Estella and Hermione made their way up to the room he was hiding in and she banged on the door. "Harry, I swear to Merlin if you don't stop avoiding me, Voldemort will be the least of your concerns," she said, in a deadly calm voice. "Mione's here too, so come out."

Hermione glanced at the girl next to her, who was obviously upset.

"I know you're in there," said Hermione. "Will you please come out? We want to talk to you."

"What are you doing here?" Harry asked, pulling open the door. "I thought you were skiing with your mum and dad."

"Well, if you bothered to talk to Estella you'd know I was coming. Plus, to tell the truth, skiing's not really my thing," said Hermione. "So I've come for Christmas." There was still snow in her hair and her face was still pink from the cold chill outside. "But don't tell Ron that, I told him it's really good because he kept laughing so much. Anyway, Mum and Dad are a bit disappointed, but I've told them that everyone who's serious about the exams is staying at Hogwarts to study. They want me to do well, they'll understand. Anyway," she said briskly, "let's get to your bedroom. Ron's mum's lit a fire in there and she's sent up sandwiches."

Harry followed them to the second floor, still not looking at Estella. In the room, Ginny and Ron were already waiting for them, sitting on Ron's bed. Estella took a seat next to Harry and Hermione sat next to Ginny.

"I came on the Knight Bus," said Hermione airily, pulling off her jacket before Harry had time to speak. "Dumbledore told me what had happened first thing yesterday morning, but I had to wait for term to end officially before setting off. Umbridge is already livid that you lot disappeared right under her nose, even though Dumbledore told her Mr. Weasley was in St. Mungo's, and he'd given you all permission to visit. So..."

"How are you feeling," asked Hermione.

"Fine," said Harry stiffly.

"Don't lie, Harry," she said impatiently. "Ron and Ginny say you've been hiding from everyone since you got back from St. Mungo's. It's obvious to everyone that you're avoiding Estella."