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.
"Would you look at that?" Sirius chuckled, watching the holly twist and twirl. "I didn't know Christmas could look...well, halfway cheerful here."
"First time for everything," Harry replied, grinning as he handed Sirius another piece of holly.
。ﾟ•┈୨♡୧┈·ﾟ。
The fire crackled softly in Aunt Marie's sitting room, casting flickering shadows across the walls as silence stretched between them. Y/N sat across from her aunt, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. She glanced at Aunt Marie, who was staring into the flames, her face tense and distant.
Y/N took a deep breath, feeling the weight of her words. "Aunt Marie, please. I need to know the truth. About my parents, the Unbreakable Vow...all of it."
Aunt Marie's shoulders stiffened, her gaze never leaving the fire. For a long moment, Y/N thought she might dodge the question again, as she always had in the past. But then her aunt let out a sigh, her eyes flickering over to Y/N before returning to the flames.
"Your parents..." Aunt Marie began slowly, her voice barely above a whisper. "They were loyal to someone. Someone who promised them a way out of their ordinary lives. They believed he could give them power, purpose. They thought he could change everything for them."
Y/N's heart pounded, a sick feeling rising in her stomach. "You mean...Voldemort," she said, her voice barely more than a whisper.
Her aunt flinched at the name but didn't deny it. She gave a slow, resigned nod, her face tightening as she admitted the truth. "Yes. They thought they could find...a better life. That he could lift them out of obscurity."
Y/N's chest tightened as her aunt's words sank in. She'd always sensed there was more to her parents' past, more than the guarded memories and vague explanations she'd been given. But hearing it, finally, made it feel all too real.
"Aunt Marie," Y/N began hesitantly, her voice trembling. "Were you...were you involved too?"
Aunt Marie's expression softened, and she looked down, a flicker of shame crossing her face. "Yes," she murmured, almost too softly to hear. "For a time...I believed in his cause. I thought I was...doing what was best for our family."
The room fell silent, tension thickening the air between them. Y/N's mind spun, her thoughts a tangled mess of questions, but one slipped out before she could stop it. "And...my Unbreakable Vow? Why did they make it? What was so important to them that they would bind me to him?"
Aunt Marie hesitated, a pained look crossing her face. She looked away, avoiding Y/N's gaze. "They believed that binding you to him would protect our family. They thought... they thought it would keep you safe. But they didn't understand...what they were truly doing."
Y/N felt the weight of her aunt's words pressing down on her. She wanted to ask why—why no one had told her the truth before, why she had been kept in the dark for so long—but the questions tangled in her mind, forming a knot of anger and betrayal. She was about to stand, to walk away and leave her aunt and these revelations behind, when she caught something—something her aunt said quietly, almost to herself.
"It was...so many years ago," Aunt Marie murmured, her gaze distant. "And yet...the loyalty we pledged still binds us..."
Y/N froze, her heart pounding. She stared at her aunt, the realization dawning on her with a sickening certainty. "Wait...what do you mean, still?" Her voice shook, disbelief mixing with anger. "Are you saying you're...you're still serving him?"
Her aunt's eyes widened, and she looked away, her face suddenly pale. "Y/N, I...I didn't mean—"
"Are you still working for Voldemort?" Y/N's voice rose, her shock and fear breaking through.
Aunt Marie's mouth opened, but no words came. She looked down, her expression a mix of regret and something darker, something that felt like resignation. Finally, she spoke, her voice so quiet it was almost inaudible. "Yes. I...never left."
The words hit Y/N like a physical blow, the truth settling over her in a heavy, suffocating wave. Her mind raced, a thousand questions competing for space in her thoughts, but all she managed was a choked whisper. "How...how could you?"
Her aunt looked away, her gaze falling back to the fire. "It was...it was complicated. I thought I was protecting you, protecting us. I thought I was doing what was best for our family."
Y/N's heart pounded, anger bubbling up inside her, mixing with hurt and confusion. "And all these years...you never told me. You let me believe it was all in the past."
Her aunt's face softened, her expression filled with regret. "I wanted to keep you safe, Y/N. I thought...I thought if you didn't know, if you didn't ask questions, you could be free of all this."
Y/N felt a bitter laugh rise in her throat. "Free? I've never been free! Not with this vow hanging over me, binding me to him." She took a shaky breath, feeling the anger start to give way to something colder, something that felt like resignation. "I...I have to go."
She stood, her movements stiff and mechanical as she gathered her things. Her aunt reached out, a look of desperation in her eyes. "Y/N...please. Understand, it wasn't supposed to be like this."
Y/N shook her head, pulling away from her aunt's grasp. "I don't think I can understand," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Not right now."
Without another word, she turned and left, stepping out into the cold night. As she made her way to Grimmauld Place, her thoughts raced, swirling with confusion, hurt, and a sense of betrayal she hadn't anticipated. Each step felt heavier than the last, the weight of her family's past pressing down on her. And as she finally reached Grimmauld Place, she clung to the hope that, here at least, she would find some comfort from the darkness her aunt's revelations had cast over her world.
。ﾟ•┈୨♡୧┈·ﾟ。
The last to arrive was Y/N. She stepped into the dim hallway, her face lit by a small, weary smile as she looked around. She had just come from her Aunt Marie's, where the few days she'd spent were shrouded in an unsettling tension. Despite her best efforts, her aunt had remained vague, avoiding direct answers about the past. And that last slip-up—Y/N could still feel the shock, the confusion swirling inside her.
But here, as she took in the sight of the Weasleys, Harry, and her friends bustling about, warmth spread through her, comforting the ache left by her recent visit.
"Y/N!" Ginny's voice rang out as she bounded over, wrapping Y/N in a tight hug.
"Finally decided to join us, have you?" Fred called with a grin as he appeared beside her.
"Couldn't let you lot have all the fun," Y/N replied, her voice lighter than she felt as she hugged Ginny back.
Mrs. Weasley appeared, bustling over with open arms. "Oh, Y/N, dear, so glad you're here! Come in, let's get you settled. You look half-frozen—let me get you something warm to drink."
Y/N felt herself relax, her shoulders easing as Mrs. Weasley led her inside. Harry caught her eye from across the room and gave her a small, reassuring smile.
"About time you showed up," he teased, his eyes warm.
"Couldn't miss out on spending the holidays with you, could I?" she replied, feeling some of the tension lift from her chest as she joined him and the others by the fire.
Later that evening, the group gathered in the drawing room, sharing stories and laughter as Mrs. Weasley's famous treacle tart filled the room with a delicious aroma. They talked late into the night, the flickering candlelight casting a cozy glow over everyone, and for a moment, Y/N felt as though she could forget the questions still tugging at her heart.
Ginny, her cheeks pink with warmth and laughter, grinned as she caught Y/N's eye. "You didn't tell us it was your birthday!"
Y/N's cheeks flushed, but the group erupted into cheers and laughter, raising their glasses in a toast.
"Happy birthday, Y/N!" Harry said, leaning in close, his eyes warm with a sincerity that made her heart skip. "Didn't think you'd end up spending it here, did you?"
Y/N shook her head, a soft smile tugging at her lips. "Not exactly, but...I think it's just right."
As the laughter settled, Sirius slid a Butterbeer over to her with a wink. "Couldn't let your birthday go uncelebrated. Besides, you're part of the family now."
Fred and George raised their glasses with a grin. "To Y/N—finally brave enough to join us lot in Grimmauld Place!"
。ﾟ•┈୨♡୧┈·ﾟ。
As the evening wound down, the others began to drift off to bed, leaving only Harry and Y/N by the fire. The warmth from the flames flickered softly over them, casting long shadows that danced along the walls. Harry watched her, his expression thoughtful as he spoke.
"You know," he said softly, "I'm really glad you're here."
Y/N looked over at him, feeling the warmth from his gaze. "I am too, Harry. More than you know."
They sat in comfortable silence for a few moments before Harry reached out, taking her hand in his. She looked down, her breath catching as his fingers laced through hers, his thumb brushing softly over her knuckles.
"Y/N," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper, "I've been wanting to tell you something... something I've been thinking about for a while."
Her heart fluttered, anticipation prickling her skin. "What is it?"
He took a deep breath, his gaze meeting hers with a quiet intensity. "I don't want to just be friends anymore. Not with you."
A warmth spread through her chest, her hand tightening around his. "I don't want to be just friends either, Harry."
A slow, relieved smile spread across his face, and he leaned in, his forehead resting gently against hers. "Then...would you be my girlfriend?"
Her smile was radiant as she whispered, "Yes, Harry. I'd like that."
He closed the distance between them, his lips brushing hers in a soft, tender kiss. The world around them faded, the only thing that mattered in that moment being the warmth of his touch, the gentle press of his lips, and the realization that, for the first time, they were truly together.
When they finally pulled away, their foreheads still resting together, Harry whispered, "Happy birthday, Y/N."
She laughed softly, her heart soaring as she whispered back, "Best birthday ever."
And as they sat there, hand in hand, the fire crackling softly beside them, the shadows seemed to retreat just a little, leaving only the warmth of a new beginning.