"Christmas is coming up," Hermione noted as she looked out at the freezing drizzle that was blanketing the grounds of Hogwarts. "Is it your turn to host the Christmas Ball?"
"It is." Harry agreed as he worked on his Potions essay at the nearby table. "Naturally, you and Nev are both invited, as are your families. Sirius and Remus have already accepted, as has Uncle Fil. Since they're Sirius' family, Narcissa and Draco Malfoy will also have to be invited. Jor-El is sending out the invitations."
"Don't the Malfoys usually host their own Ball?" Hermione frowned.
"Given that Lucius Malfoy was discovered dead and wearing tailored Death Eater robes at a gathering of Death Eaters, along with a great many of his social and political contemporaries, the Malfoys are under a considerable amount of scrutiny right now. Uncle Padfoot told me that he doesn't expect the Malfoys to host any social events, bar birthday celebrations, until after Draco takes up his Lordship."
Hermione nodded thoughtfully. "Will you be inviting Madam Warbeck?"
"As a guest, yes." Harry looked up from his essay. "I like her, she's great fun, but I refuse to risk straining that friendship by asking for unnecessary favors from her. I have asked for her opinion on whom I should hire this year and she made a few suggestions that Uncle Moony is pursuing for me."
"That's nice of him." Hermione remarked almost absent-mindedly.
"I'll also be using the Ball to showcase some Evans Enterprises technology." Harry added and Hermione gave him a querying look. "Film projection, communication screens… last week, Saint Mungo's took possession of a Diagnostic Arch which has allowed them to treat over three times as many people per hour since it can detect and analyse most curses and potions, allowing for the immediate use of the counter-spell or negation potion required."
"…wow." Hermione breathed. "How long before that enters the Muggle world?"
"A while yet." Harry sighed. "The problem is raising the technology level enough so that things like the Diagnostic Arch are impressive, but not suspicious. Making sure the foundations are in place and the development is… trackable… is very important, if only to deflect unwanted attention."
"True." Hermione agreed, then she looked round as Neville strolled up to them, his arm wrapped around Ginny's shoulders.
"Harry, Hermione." Neville greeted as he pulled out a chair and helped Ginny sit down before flopping into his own chair. "Harry, the afternoon practice has been postponed for today, mainly because of the weather."
"We're not going to be able to do much in the way of drills out there." Ginny pouted, although her eyes sparkled. "Shame, I was looking forwards to finally getting the Quaffle past you."
Harry cocked an eyebrow at her and Neville chuckled, only to receive a gentle elbow to his stomach.
"Violent girl." He mock-complained.
"Six older brothers." Ginny returned and Neville looked thoughtful before nodding.
"That would explain it."
A scurrying sound heralded the appearance of a soaked Luna Lovegood who introduced herself by climbing onto Harry's lap and snuggling against him.
"Luna!" Hermione exclaimed and the blond girl looked over at her.
"What? Harry's warm and it's not fun flying in the rain."
"I got this." Neville pulled out his wand and a moment later, Luna was dry. Harry looked down at her as she gave Nevile a smile, then snuggled against his chest.
"Um, you're dry, Luna."
"Mmm-hmmm."
"Comfy?"
Luna nodded. "Yep, you have the second-comfiest lap here."
"Who's got the comfiest?" Ginny asked before she could stop herself and Luna pointed at Hermione.
"Not gonna ask." Neville raised his hands defensively as Hermione pointedly looked out of the window. Ginny and Harry exchanged quizzical looks, then stared at their friend.
"The stands were very crowded at the last Quidditch game." Hermione finally admitted after almost a full minute of trying to withstand the inquisitive silence. "And someone had to prevent her from pulling out her broom and flying out onto the pitch."
"I was kidding about that!" Luna protested from the shelter of Harry's arm.
"It's hard to tell with you!"
Harry shook his head as he rolled up the parchment and tied it closed with a short ribbon.
"That's all my homework done for now." He said. "So… I was thinking of looking around Hogsmead this afternoon. You know, look at the shops, grab some food at teatime, see if there's a cottage or small house available to buy… that sort of thing."
"Planning another Switching Room setup, are you?" Neville asked wryly.
"If I can get a house, I can have Jor-El put another Mage-reactor underneath, giving me a second impregnable home and the ability to provide optical cable connections to the village."
"Certainly more energy-efficient than the SwitchLink system." Hermione noted.
"And with a secure SwitchLink between the new house and the Pottery, Jor-El can run both in realtime." Harry shrugged slightly.
"Changing the subject, who have you got for your Ball? Is Mrs Warbeck singing again?"
"Actually, no, but her niece is." Harry replied and Luna perked up.
"You have Spellbound singing for you? They're my favorite band!" She exclaimed. "Please tell me I'm invited! Please? Please pleasepleasepleaseplease?"
"Of course you are." Harry laughed. "You too, Ginny. Your whole family, if they want."
Ginny let out a squeak of pleasure, then blushed as she clapped her hands over her mouth as the others tried hard not to laugh at her reaction.
.
Draco glowered at the letter he had received, then his head rose as he heard a noise from the dresser. Walking over, he opened the drawer and pulled out the small mirror within.
"Narcissa."
The mirror briefly fogged over, then cleared to reveal a face that wasn't his own.
"Hello, my little dragon."
"Hello, mother." Draco said, a small smile forming on his face. "I was not expecting you to call."
"Something came up, Draco." Narcissa said soberly. "I have received an invitation to the Potter Christmas Ball and it mentioned in the accompanying letter that you will have an invitation as well."
"It arrived less than an hour ago." Draco confirmed, lifting his free hand to show the gilt-edged embossed parchment he was holding. "Mother… would this not clash with our Ball?"
"It would if we were holding one." Narcissa stated, earning a querying eyebrow. "My beloved dragon, your father's decisions prior to his demise, coupled with how he was found, has cost us much of our political capital, not to mention many of our former allies. Those who still remain are either not of the right social class to attend a Ball that we may host or are under just as much scrutiny as we ourselves are, if not more. Until we have rebuilt our reputation, we cannot afford to take any more chances, not when we have lost so much, my son."
"I understand, mother." Draco unwillingly agreed. "Do you wish me to pass the acceptance of our invitations to Lord Potter?"
"That would help, my son." Narcissa said proudly. "I shall have mine written and sent to you within the next two hours."
"I shall also write my own acceptance letter and deliver it at the same time." Draco replied.
"I am proud of you, my son. My letter will be with you soon. Mirror off."
.
.
"I have to say, I expected… more." Harry admitted as he looked up and down Hogsmeade high street. "Less than two-dozen shops and barely as many houses…"
"To be fair, you must remember…"
"…that with Apparition, Floo and Portkeys…"
"…wizards and witches don't need…"
"…to live near where they shop." A pair of familiar voices stated and Harry turned with a smile.
"George, Fred, your sister sends her love."
"Hang on, how did you do that?" Hermione asked curiously. "I mean, I know that they're Fred and George, but how did you tell them apart?"
Harry paused, then he stepped up to the twins.
"Pardon me a moment… Look here, Hermione. Fred is the one with the extra freckle here while George has a small discoloration in his left iris, just underneath the pupil."
"Huh… so he does." Hermione mused as she leaned in for a closer look at George's eye. The twin looked rather disconcerted at the sudden attention while beside him, Fred grinned.
"Should I leave so that you two can get a room?"
Hermione jolted away from George, her cheeks flaming red as George gaped in shock. Fred ducked his brother's dope-slap with the effortless ease of long practice as he chuckled at their reactions.
"Since you have more experience than we do," Harry tried to pull the situation back under control, "Would you know where I can find out if I can purchase a house?"
"You need Aberforth." George said, abandoning his efforts to stop his brother laughing at him. "He's in the Hog's Head and he knows everything that's going on in the village. We're heading to Zonko's, which is a little way past the Hog's Head, so we can show you."
"Thank you." Harry said as Fred moved to lead the way.
.
The man slouching behind the rough bar of the Hog's Head bore a strong resemblance to Albus Dumbledore, although his robes were of a utilarian brown and his beard was only chest-length. As Harry entered on his own (Hermione and Neville having gone to look at some of the other shops), the barkeeper looked up at him.
"Nothing stronger than butterbeer for you. Until you hit at least sixteen, that's all I'll sell you. You don't like it, head elsewhere." He declared firmly.
"That's not why I'm here, Mr Aberforth," Harry explained as he came to a stop by the bar. "I've been informed that if anything happens in Hogsmeade, you are the one most likely to know about it."
"I keep my ears open," Aberforth admitted. "And my mouth closed."
Harry tilted his head slightly. "And how much for an answer to a question?"
"Depends on the question, Lord Potter." Aberforth shot back.
"Is there a house in Hogsmeade that's available to purchase?"
Aberforth gave him a long look. "Thought you already had a big home."
Harry leaned closer. "Mr Aberforth, although I don't need a house in Hogsmeade, it would be very convenient for me to have one. Do you know of one?"
Aberforth leaned over the bar, a slight smile on his face. "That I do, Lord Potter. And for a small fee, I can get the wizard in question to talk to you."
Harry looked round at the Hogs Head and the floating lanterns in the corners that provided the meagre illumination. "Three sickles for the name, a Galleon for a meeting."
"He'll be here within minutes." Aberforth chuckled as he swept up the golden coin, leaving the silver ones alone. "Have a Butterbeer, on the house."
Harry accepted the bottle and used his thumb to remove the metal cap sealing it while Aberforth bustled through a small doorway. A moment later, he returned and picked up a goblet, proceeding to rub at it with a dirty rag. Harry took a sip of the Butterbeer, then paused, looking at it.
"Mr Aberforth… is this really Butterbeer? I've had Butterbeer before and this tastes… deeper, for lack of a better term."
"Aye, that's Butterbeer, alright." Aberforth nodded. "Hog's Head Butterbeer, not that mass-brewed so-called Butterbeer that you could pour back into the horse it came from."
Harry took another careful sip of the drink he was holding. "There's… cinnamon? A little bit of lemon… no. Lemongrass… and a couple of other bits…"
Aberforth gave him a look of grudging respect. "Not bad. Most don't even get the cinnamon."
Before Harry could reply, a figure burst in through the door.
"Dammit, Aberforth!" The man half-snarled. "I told you, I'll pay you next week!"
Harry gave Aberforth a questioning look and received a nod in reply. Retrieving the metal cap, he squeezed it over the lip of the neck to seal the bottle, then dropped it into his robe pocket as he turned to face the newcomer.
"I believe that I can help." He smiled. "You have a house you wish to sell, yes?"
"And you ar… Harry Potter?" The newcomer gasped. "Wow! It's a real pleasure to meet you!"
"Ummm… thank you?"
.
.
"So, you have a house?" Hermione asked.
"I have a house." Harry confirmed as Hogwarts rose against the darkening sky ahead of them. "I sent Gilligan to Gringotts to collect the money and after signing the contract… that house is now mine. Jor-El used the shuttle to transport a SwitchLink and Switching Cabinet over so that he could begin the modifications. And yes, before you ask, it's taking over from the Diagon Flat as the Switching Loci between our trunks and homes. With the Wards that Jor-El will be installing plus the extra space, it'll work a lot better."
"I can see that." Neville agreed as he shifted the bag he was holding to his other hand. "Plus, having it this close to Hogwarts makes it easier to get here if something happens to our trunks."
"That did play a large part in my thought process, yes," Harry admitted.