Chapter Text
A few hours had passed, and after crying her heart out to the point that she couldn't cry anymore, she finally started reading. Snuffles had left her when Crookshanks decided to come out, and the two of them ran off somewhere leaving her alone to read. She had read The Hobbit once before, but it had been a long time since then, so she had become so enthralled with the world that she didn't hear, or feel, someone come sit beside her.
"There you are," Grace froze, her eyes widened, and she gripped her book tighter. "I've been looking for you everywhere," he continued, and Grace felt her hands begin to shake. "I was about to give up until dinner, then remembered the map so I checked it. I should've known you'd be here," Grace took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "How long have you been out here? Hermione said you were already gone when she woke up. You must be freezing, Grace."
"Please go away, Harry," she whispered desperately hoping he'd leave and stop torturing her. She couldn't be around him. Not only because of her father, but because every time he was near her heart raced, and her hands shook, and it hurt to breathe.
"No," he told her firmly. "I'm not going anywhere, Grace."
"Just go away."
"No," he said again, his voice harder. Grace turned and finally looked at him with narrowed eyes, only to be matched with narrow green eyes that looked at her with worry. "Please, Grace..."
"Why are you here?"
"Because I miss you," he admitted, and Grace's heart fluttered in her chest. "We all miss you," he added, and disappointment filled her. "We're all worried about you, Gracie."
"Why?" she asked, afraid of his answer.
"Why?" he asked, frowning in confusion. "Why what?"
"Why do you care?"
"Because you've pushed everyone away!" Harry replied in frustration. "I know what we learned at Hogsmeade was a lot, but Grace-"
"No," she shook her head. "Why do you care..." she rephrased. Harry paused, blinking in confusion, trying to comprehend what she said.
"Why do I care?" he asked, gobsmacked. "Are you being serious right now?" he asked, frowning in frustration. Grace looked away from him, and down at her book. "I thought we were friends, Grace!" he snapped, and she winced at the harshness of his voice. "None of that was easy to hear, or process... I figured that you would understand-"
"I do!" She snapped, looking at him, not caring about the tears threatening to fall. "I do understand! I understand that you hate him! I understand that you want to kill him for what he did! What I don't understand is why you care about me!" her voice cracked as her lips trembled. "He's my dad... he's my dad and you-your godfather and...and," she clenched her eyes shut and turned her head away from him. "Malfoy was right... you shouldn't want to be around me..."
"What?" Harry said breathlessly in disbelief. "What are you on about?" he asked, but she closed her book and refused to look at him. "Did he say something to you before break?" she shook her head. "Grace... why wouldn't I want to be around you?"
"Because Sirius Black is my dad," she whispered.
"But you're not him," Harry whispered to her softly. "Remember what I said over the summer?" he asked, and she turned to him with a frown. "I could never see you as awful, Gracie... You're not your father," he continued and she sniffled. Harry smiled at her softly as he leaned back into the tree and grabbed her hand, squeezing it gently. "You're Grace, no one else... Just Grace. I like just Grace, just Grace is my friend and nothing is going to change that."
"How can you be sure?" she asked him in a small voice.
"Because I am," he said, smiling at her and she felt herself smile and her cheeks tinted pink. "Is this why you've been avoiding everyone?" he asked carefully, and she nodded. "Grace, none of us care, it doesn't change who you are, okay?" she nodded. "Good, now stop being thick about it."
"I'll try," she mumbled and Harry smiled.
"Good," he nodded. "Thank you, by the way."
"What for?"
"The Quidditch gloves," Harry answered, and she blushed. "They fit really well and I like the details with the gold stitching and my initials."
"I'm glad. I was stumped on what to get you. I couldn't get you a service kit because, well..." she started, her voice fading.
"Well," Harry started, a grin spreading onto his face. "I don't know who sent it, but, I got a new broom for Christmas."
"What?!" she shrieked, and Harry winced from her loud voice. "There wasn't any note or anything?" she asked, and he shook his head, carefully looking at her.
"You're not worried about who could've sent it?"
"I mean, it is strange but you've gotten a new broom from the school before-"
"But Grace, this is a Firebolt."
"A FIREBOLT!" She exclaimed excitedly. "Blimey Harry, you're so lucky! Wow... have you ridden it yet?'
"No, not yet," he shook his head. "But I will tomorrow."
"I'm so jealous, Harry! Can I have a go on it, after you and Ron, of course?"
"Of course," he grinned. "Oh! I almost forgot," he started and reached into his coat pocket. "Here, Happy Christmas Grace."
"What's that?" she asked, staring at the small box that was wrapped in shimmery red wrapping paper.
"Your Christmas gift."
"You're giving me a gift?"
"That is what I'm trying to do."
"I just... I didn't think you got me one..."
"Of course, I got you a gift, why did you think I wouldn't?" He asked, and she looked away. "I got this for you weeks ago. Now go on, open it."
Reluctantly, Grace took it from his hands and gingerly began unwrapping it. It was a small, black velvet box and she frowned curiously at it. Lifting the lid, she gasped softly as she stared wide eyed. "Harry..." she said breathlessly in awe. "Is this-"
"Yeah," he nodded, smiling at her. "I filled out the order form when you left the common room."
"You shouldn't have... Harry, this must've been expensive! You really shouldn't have!" she protested, looking up at him. She blushed when she noticed how close he was.
"You said you liked it," he said simply with a shrug.
"Thank you," she smiled as she looked back down at the box. Inside was a necklace, a golden snitch necklace. She took it out of the box and held it up. The chain was long, and the snitch had it's wings hanging beside it. She smiled as she slipped it over her head. "It's beautiful, thank you."
"It's also a watch," he found himself whispering. "That way you'll never lose track of time."
"It's perfect... thank you, Harry."
"You're welcome, Grace," he smiled and put an arm around her shoulder. She couldn't stop smiling, and she couldn't stop the heat from rushing to her cheeks as she rested her head on Harry's shoulder.
Christmas dinner was different than it had been in the previous two years. With so few people residing in the castle that year, everyone sat together. Grace sat between Ron and Harry at the long table with the other professors. She was sad that Remus wasn't there, she really wanted to talk to him, but when Dumbledore said that Remus was ill, her heart sunk. She lost track of the day and it didn't occur to her that the full moon fell over Christmas. She told herself that she would see him tomorrow and spend the day with him.
Ron and Hermione didn't say anything to Grace about the previous two weeks, they carried on as if nothing had happened, which she was thankful for. When they finished eating, Ron, Harry and Grace stood up from the table, causing Professor Trelawney to shriek.
"My dears! Which of you left your seat first? Which!?"
"Dunno," Ron shrugged, looking at Harry and Grace, feeling uneasy.
"I doubt it'll make much difference," Professor McGonagall answered cooly. "Unless a mad axe-man is waiting outside the doors to slaughter the first into the entrance hall." Grace tried to keep her smile hidden. She liked Professor Trelawney, but she admitted that the woman could be a bit over the top.
"Coming?" Harry asked, turning to Hermione.
"No," she shook her head. "I want a quick word with Professor McGonagall."
"Suite yourself," Grace shrugged as she, Ron and Harry made their way out of the Great Hall.
"She probably is trying to see if she can take any more classes," Ron yawned.
"Well, I think we're safe, no mad axe-man here," Grace announced, making Ron and Harry laugh.
"Happy – hic – Christmas! Password?" Sir Cadogan asked drunkily once they reached the common room entrance.
"Scurvy cur," Ron answered.
"And the same to you, sir!" Sir Cadogan laughed, swinging open the portrait for them.
Grace curled into the closest corner of the couch to the fire place and leaned back. "Are you alright?" Ron asked gently from across from her. They were alone for the first time that day, as Harry had went up stairs to his dorm to get his Firebolt.
"Yeah... I'm okay now," she answered.
"You'd tell me if you weren't...right?"
"'Course, Ron."
"Good," he nodded. "I was worried about you. You haven't been the same since Hogsmeade..."
"Yeah...well it's a lot finding out that my dad is the reason Harry's parents are dead," she said, but the words felt bitter as they came out, as if they were wrong. "I thought Harry would hate me-"
"Pfft," Ron scoffed. "Harry could never hate you! I'd go as far to say that he might fancy you one day," at his words Grace's heart skipped and the butterflies began fluttering.
"Really?" she whispered, sinking further into the couch, her cheeks turning red. Ron shrugged and looked behind him to the staircase. "Hey Ron..." she started.
"Yeah?"
"I... I er... I was wondering if... if well..." she started nervously.
"Well, go on, spit it out," Ron teased and her face went darker.
"IsitalrightifIlikeHarry?" she asked in one breath. Ron blinked, his face scrunching up in confusion.
"What?"
"Is it alright if I like Ha-"
"Here it is," Harry said excitedly as he made his way to them, and placed the Firebolt on the coffee table that sat between the two sofas.
"Wow..." Grace breathed in awe. "It's beautiful, Harry,"
"Yeah," he nodded, looking at her. He felt something hit his side and he blinked, looking to his left to see Ron, who was giving him a weird look. His cheeks flushed pink and he shook his head before turning to look at the Firebolt.
"Can I touch it?" she whispered and Harry nodded. She smiled as she ran her fingers down the wooden stick. "Wow..."
The three of them sat there, admiring the Firebolt for some time. None of them were sure how long exactly but when the portrait hole swung open, they all looked up to see Hermione and Professor McGonagall. Grace's eyes went from McGonagall to Hermione, narrowing in suspicion as the other girl sat down and picked up the nearest book to hide her face in.
"So that's it, is it?" Professor McGonagall said, eyeing the Firebolt.
Harry, Ron, and Grace all turned their heads to Hermione, whose forehead was reddening over the book, which happened to be upside down. Grace's eyes narrowed even more. Of course this had Hermione written all over it.
"May I?" Professor McGonagall asked, but didn't wait for an answer before pulling the Firebolt out of the three thirteen year olds hands, then began examining it closely. "Hmm, and there was no note at all, Potter? No card? No message of any kind?"
"No," Harry answered dully.
"I see..." Professor McGonagall sighed. "Well, I'm afraid I will have to take this, Potter."
"Wha-what!?" Harry asked as he stood up. "Why?"
"It will need to be checked for jinxes," she answered. "Of course, I'm no expert, but I daresay Madam Hooch and Professor Flitwick will strip it down – "
"Strip it down?!" Ron asked in shock. He looked at McGonagall as if she were crazy.
"It shouldn't take more than a few weeks," she continued, ignoring Ron. "You will have it back if we are sure it is jinx-free."
"But there's nothing wrong with it!" Harry protested, his voice shaking. "Honestly, Professor –"
"You can't know that, Potter," McGonagall cut him off, her voice softening. "Not until you've flown it, at any rate, and I'm afraid that is out of the question until we are certain that it has not been tampered with. I shall keep you informed." McGonagall turned around and left the common room with the Firebolt in her hand.
"What did you go running to McGonagall for!?" Ron snapped, whipping around to glare at Hermione.
Hermione huffed and threw her book to the side. "Because! I thought – and Professor McGonagall agrees with me – that that broom was probably sent to Harry by Sirius Black!"
Grace's heart stopped for a moment as she stared at Hermione with wide eyes. "But what if it wasn't?" Grace spoke up. "What if it wasn't him?"
"Well we'll know after it's been thoroughly investigated," Hermione answered matter-of-factly.
"Why can't you just leave well enough alone?" Grace hissed. "Why do you have to be so nosey and meddle in everything?"
"I'm only looking out for Harry!" Hermione glared. "It came with no note! Nothing to even hint at who it came from! Much like that letter of yours!" Grace stared at Hermione in disbelief.
"Letter? What Letter?" Ron asked, confused, turning from Hermione to Grace.
"Please tell me you didn't open it Grace! I knew I should've taken it to McGonagall when I saw it last night-"
"You went through my things?" Grace asked, her voice just barely above a whisper.
"I woke up and I saw Crookshanks on your bed so I went to grab him and saw an envelope on top of your gifts that wasn't there before I went to sleep."
"You went through my things?!" Grace repeated slowly, her eyes narrowing dangerously.
"Please tell me you didn't open it, Grace! What if it was from Sirius Black-"
"You mean my father?!" She snapped. "You had no right Hermione! That was mine and you had no business even thinking about it!"
"But what if it was-"
"What if it was!? What does it matter to you!?"
"He's after Harry! And you by the sound of things!"
"He wouldn't hurt me!"
"He's a murderous lunatic!"
"Regardless of what he's doing, I know he wouldn't hurt me!" Grace shouted at her.
"How can you know?! You've never even met him!" Hermione shouted back. Grace stared at the girl in shock, eyes wide and mouth ajar. "You're romanticizing a person who you've never met!" Grace continued to stare at Hermione, and she shook her head slowly.
"Shut up," Grace hissed.
"I didn't mean-"
"Yes you did," she shook her head.
"Grace I'm really sor-"
"For once in your life, just shut up!" she shouted. "You might like to think you know everything, Hermione, but you don't! You know nothing about my father!"
"Neither do you!" Hermione snapped. "He left you, remember?!" Ron and Harry gasped at Hermione. Even knowing that Sirius Black was the reason for his parent's death, Harry couldn't ever think of saying something like that to Grace; he knew Hermione had crossed a line.
Hermione then realized what she had said, and her eyes widened. She covered her mouth with her hands and shook her head. "Grace-"
"I'm going to see Remus," Grace said cooly, turning away from Hermione.
"Professor Lupin is ill tonight, remember?" Hermione said, and Grace turned to give her an icy look. She saw the look on Hermione's face and caught the way she worded herself. Dread filled her, and in that moment, Grace knew that Hermione knew.
"I'd rather risk getting sick than stay here with you," and with that, Grace left the Gryffindor Common room.