"The Unbreakable Vow," Ron repeated when Annie and Harry had told everything that they heard Professor Snape and Draco Malfoy spoke about. "Are you sure that's what Snape said." 

"Positive," Annie answered. "Why? Is it supposed to be a big deal?" 

"It's supposed to be a big deal. But — Oh, bloody hell!" 

Everyone looked up to see Lavender Brown and Freya Halliwell coming up to the door. They both breathed mist on the door, drawing hearts. Lavender wrote hers and Ron's initials in the middle of the heart, and Freya did hers and Dante's initials in the middle of their heart. 

Annie felt jealousy beginning to form inside her guts. But when she glanced over at Dante, she noticed that he looked rather uncomfortable, especially as the two girls in front of them mouthed 'I love you' to the two boys before leaving. 

"Excuse me," Dante interrupted. He abruptly left his chair and quickly left after the two girls. 

Annie wondered what was up. She wondered if Freya and Dante really did have anything going on between the two of them. The three friends sat there, their silence uncomfortable. Harry finally spoke up. 

"So what happens when you break the Unbreakable Vow?" 

"You die," Ron answered in a simple voice. 

Christmas at the Burrow was always a plus during the holidays. The house was full of noise and Mrs. Weasley's favorite singer, Celestina Warbeck, belted out popular Christmas songs in the background. Sera watched with amusement as Fred and George got out one of the electric shock firecrackers. Once they were opened, electricity shot through both of their bodies, causing their hairs to stand up. Annie howled with laughter at the sight of the Weasley boys in front of her.

Ron was helping Mrs. Weasley in the kitchen after she caught him calling the Weasley twins something that Annie didn't dare repeat. In the meanwhile, Harry had gone outside with Mr. Weasley, talking to him about something. Annie had a feeling that it was about the cabinet that Draco Malfoy had been interested in this past year. 

In the meanwhile, Dante was sitting with Lupin and Tonks. But when they both saw the eldest Potter twin approaching them with a tray, they both had the nagging feeling of what she was trying to do. They immediately moved out of the way to give the duo some space. 

Annie sat down on the sagging, comfortable couch, and held a cookie up to Dante's mouth. He stared at her in surprise. Sera only smiled at him. 

"Open up, you," she laughed. 

Dante gave her a look before carefully biting into the Chocolate Chip cookie. He carefully chewed it in his mouth before looking surprised. He nodded in approval. 

"It's good." 

Annie smiled. "See? I wouldn't lie to you, would I?" 

Dante shook his head, looking a bit embarrassed. 

"No. I suppose you wouldn't." 

Annie was about to say something, but she was interrupted as Ron came over, edging his way in between Annie and Dante. Annie sat there, embarrassed, as Ron tried to pass her a mini mince pie. 

"Want one?" 

Annie shook her head. "I'm fine, thanks." 

"Ah, well. Do you want one, Dante?" 

Dante shook his head, looking a bit nauseated. After being in an uneasy silence, Dante finally got to his feet. When Sera got a closer look at Dante, she could see that his face was turning pink. 

"I — I guess that I'll go and take a quick shower, then. I suppose. . . ." 

And with that, he walked away. As he did, Annie suddenly remembered. 

"I just remembered — I forgot to wrap the rest of the presents up." 

Ron gave her a look of surprise. "I thought you told me that you got all of the presents done yesterday?"

"I haven't wrapped my brother's gift yet. It came into the mail this morning." 

Ron still looked confused, but Annie chose to ignore him, and fled up the stairs. It was true that she still had one last present to wrap up. And it was also a way to get away from Ron's nosiness between her and Dante. 

Shortly after she had finished wrapping her gift, a little before midnight, Annie walked back downstairs and put her brother's Christmas present under the Weasley's tree before going back up to get ready for the night. 

But as she went up the second landing, she could have sworn that she saw something moving in the tall grass that surrounded the Burrow. The movement made her stop and she cautiously peered out the window, ignoring footsteps that thumped down the stairs. She turned when someone tapped her on the shoulder. 

"Has Ron gone to bed yet?" Dante asked quietly. Annie noticed that he sounded a bit nervous. 

Annie had momentarily forgotten about Ron. She glanced up the stairs and sighed sadly. 

"I don't think he has, no." 

Silence followed. Somewhere within the safety of the Burrow, the clock chimed twelve times, signalling that it was midnight. Both Annie and Dante still continued to stare at each other. Annie could have sworn that her breath hitched when Dante slowly drew closer towards her. They were just inches away from their lips touching. . . . 

"Merry Christmas, Durante," she breathed, not tearing her gaze away from the blonde in front of her. 

"Merry Christmas, Annie." 

They were about to lean in for a kiss, when Annie suddenly remembered —

"What about Freya? Wouldn't she be hurt if she saw the two of us kissing together?"

Dante shook his head, smiling slightly. "I broke up with Freya on the train after that awkward encounter. I have no guilt about going behind her back, now." 

Annie chuckled before leaning into Dante for a kiss. But they were quickly split apart when a ball of light shot through the air. Sera took one glance out the window before sprinting down the stairs. 

"Annie! Don't you dare!" Mr. Weasley scolded. 

But she didn't listen. She jumped over a flame that was about to close up. She could hear Mrs. Weasley screaming after Dante. 

"Dante — NO!" 

Annie sprinted into the rushes, her wand out. Her feet splashed into the water that went up to her ankles. She knew that Bellatrix Lestrange was out there. She wanted to get revenge for Dante, and her godfather. . . . 

"I KILLED SIRIUS BLACK! I KILLED SIRIUS BLACK! Are you coming to get me?!" Bellatrix Lestrange taunted. 

Annie let out a groan of frustration when she lost the evil witch in the brushes. But she still kept her wand in her hands, just in case. Very distinctly, Annie could hear Dante's tentative voice calling her name.

"A-Annie?" 

He suddenly heard a loud snap! that made him turn his head in the direction of the noise. Dante began to back away when he could distinctly see the face of Greyback, the most dangerous werewolf alive. The very one that had transformed Remus Lupin when he was a kid. 

He was getting closer. Dante could not get any further. But luckily, Sera came into the picture, her wand out. She shoved Dante behind her. 

"Get behind me!" 

He did as he was told, allowing Annie to protect him. Annie knew perfectly well that Dante could protect himself. But at the same time, she knew that Voldemort would be after him, especially since he was related to the Malfoys. 

Everything became a blur. Dante shrieked as a flash of red light flew from Bellatrix Lestrange's wand. But luckily, Dante managed to block the spell with his own wand. Annie's arm was about to get tired from battling two Death Eaters at once, when suddenly, more help arrived. 

Lupin and Tonks had joined the duo, and they each began to battle more fiercely than before. Then suddenly, the Death Eaters shot into the air in smoke. They stared, dumbfounded, until —

BANG! 

They turned in the direction of the noise. 

"Molly," Mr. Weasley muttered under his breath.

They took off for the Burrow once again. Annie's heart broke when she saw the beloved home that she grew up in, burst into flames, burning in front of them.