December rolled around faster than expected as they had their last D.A. meeting before the christmas.

The first thing Erin noticed when she came to the Great Hall next morning was the fact that Fred and George weren't offering her some of the things they made like they did every morning for the past week.

Erin was not the only one as both Daphne and Astoria also noticed the lack of redheads at the Gryffindor table.

Even Harry was missing so from the famous Gryffindor trio, it was only Hermione.

"What's going on?" Astoria was very well known for being the curious one. To the point when it was sometimes annoying but everyone who was friend with her got used to it.

"You go sit to our table, I'm gonna ask." It was safe to say that Erin was a bit curious as well. The only one who wasn't was Luna.

"What is a pretty girl like you doing here all alone?" Erin said when she reached the Gryffindor table and then paused, making a disgusted face. "Merlin, I sound like a fifty-year-old man who's trying to hit on you."

That made Hermione laugh. "That's okay, sit down.

Erin sat opposite to Hermione. "But seriously, where's Harry or Ron? Or Ginny or Gred and Forge?"

Hermione looked around herself and then at then at the girl in front of her. "Promise you won't tell anyone?"

After Erin nodded, Hermione started explaining in a whisper, "Arthur Weasley was attacked at Ministry of Magic while he was working."

The Slytherin's mouth opened. "Is he going to be alright?"

"I don't know. . . Apparently, it was pretty bad. . . I hope he will be."

"Well, hope is the thing with feathers," Erin quoted one of her favourite poets. "And what does Harry have to do with it?"

"Don't tell anyone I told you but. . . Well, he had a. . a vision — or something — in his sleep. It turned out to be true."

"So is he now like Trelawney?"

"Erin, that's not funny!"

"I'm sorry."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Anyway, I wanted to ask you if you'd like to spend Christmas with me, Harry, and the Weasleys?"

"Really?" Erin smiled brightly at the thought of spending more time with them. Well, especially with Hermione. "And won't they mind?"

Hermione shook her head and took a bite of her toast. "No, not at all. I already sent a letter to Sirius and he said he would love to have you here."

Erin froze and stared at. She nervously laughed. "I'm sorry," she paused. "You sent a letter to who?"

"What?" Hermione then froze too, her eyes widening. She awkwardly smiled. "Oh. . . I have some explaining to do, don't I?"

"Yes."

"Well, not many people know this but Sirius Black is innocent," Hermione whispered. "It was Peter Pettigrew who sold Harry's parents to. . . Voldemort."

"Peter Pettigrew," Erin repeated. "I have heard that name before, he was my aunts's friend too!"

Hermione nodded. "It is possible that he is guilty for your aunts's death as well."

"Oh," Erin bit the inside of her cheek and then shook her head and smiled. "Anyway, I never thought I would hear the name Sirius Black and the word innocent in one sentence. This is the most interesting thing that had happened to me this school year."

"Yeah, it was shock for us all. So, um, would you like to spend Christmas with me? Sirius lives at Grimmauld place, it's just a short walk from Platform nine and three quarters. I expect you will want to celebrate Christmas with your family first so me and you can meet on twenty-sixth of December and I'll lead you there."

Erin blinked at her. "Too much information, Granger."

"Sorry!"

***

Later that day, Hermione and Erin could be found on the Hogwarts grounds where a lot of students were in that time of the day too.

Erin loved snow, that was the reason winter was her favourite season. Or maybe it was also because she had birthday at almost the end of December.

Hermione was more fond of spring. To be honest, she didn't like winter that much but who was she to say "no" to Erin when she asked her to go out and build a snowman?

But before that, they took some pictures with Erin's polaroid camera she bought in July that year. Hermione kept a few of them, just for the memory.

"Any chance you have a carrot?" Hermione eyed their snowman.

"Of course," Erin pulled out the vegetable out of her pocket and put it into the highest snow ball as a nose. "I stopped by in the kitchens on my way out."

"Perfect," commented Hermione. "Now only hands." She grabbed Erin's hand and lead her into the forest before Erin stopped in front of it.

"Wait, how do I know you won't murder me there?"

Hermione lifted her brow. "I think you watch and read too much detectives."

Erin raised her eyebrow too. "And your point is. . . ?"

And with that, they went deeper into the forest in search for two branches that would be appropriate as arms for their snowman.

For some reason, Erin thought it would be hilarious to pick some snow, form it into a ball and throw it at Hermione, who shrieked and quickly turned around, her eyebrows furrowed.

"Why?"

Erin shrugged. "No reason, really. It's hilarious."

Hermione smiled. Thankfully, Erin managed to caught that with her polaroid camera.

"You look very pretty in this," she held up the polaroid, thinking about painting Hermione as a Christmas gift. "Can I keep it?"

Hermione's cheeks heated. "Sure, yeah." She started gathering some of the white powder.

"What are you doing?"

Before Erin could run away, a coldness hit her straight to her face.

"Copycat," she mumbled.

Hermione laughed and threw another snow ball at Erin. This time, it hit her to the neck, some snow got under her shirt. She regreted for not wearing a scarf.

And so it continued, Erin managed to get snow under Hermione's clothes too, also into her hair and so on.

At one point, the Gryffindor girl started chasing the Slytherin one. Hermione was very close to Erin when she suddenly tripped and fell on her back. Before Hermione could stop running she tripped too and fell on top of Erin.

The blonde girl stopped breathing as Hermions's curls fell on her face. They were so close, so close that Erin felt her parfume, so close that if Erin lifted her head or if Hermione leaned down, they would kiss.

Hermione brushed Erin's hair out of her face, her heart was beating fast, too fastly for her liking. She felt as if her heart was going to jump out of her chest.

Erin was sure Hermione was an angel, she looked so beautiful. She wanted to kiss her but she knew Hermione wouldn't want that, after all, she herself said she isn't into girls.

Or maybe she was?

Hermione leaned down. And then—

"Oh."

Hermione's widened as she quickly got up and brushed the snow out of her clothes.

Erin, with red cheeks, slowly got up too.

Daphne was standing in front of them, she wore a startled face.

"I'm sorry," she laughed awkwardly. "I can leave and you two can continue with whatever you two were doing."

"We weren't doing anything," they quickly said at the same time.

"Whatever helps you at sleep." Daphns grabbed Erin's hand. "Can I steal your. . . whatever for a minute?"

Hermione only nodded, not saying anything.

Daphne lead her from the forest before she said, "Theodore asked me on a date!"

"WHAT?" Erin screamed. "And what did you say?"

"I agreed, of course," Daphne said as if it was obvious.

"I didn't even know you liked him."

"I think I liked him for a while but I realized only like week and a half ago. I'm still little confused though. . ."

"So when are you two going on that date?"

"During Christmas holidays," Daphne bit her lip. "He said he wanted to show me."

***

Hermione didn't exactly know what to think or do.

She thought about all the if's.

What if Daphne didn't interrupt them?

What if she leaned down earlier?

If Hermione kissed Erin, would Erin kiss her back or would she pull away? Erin did flirt with her quite a lot, yes, but what if she did it for fun?

I would totally go on a date with you.

What is a pretty girl like you. . .

Hermione was more confused then ever in her whole life. All that because of a girl she asked to join an illegal army.

What if she hadn't ask Erin to join? Would they become friends?

And the most important one;

Did Hermione like girls?

***