Hogwarts Lion Girl

The fire crackled in the fireplace, illuminating the living room of the Burrow in flickering light.

The air is filled with the aroma of mince pies, intertwined with the scent of pine branches, creating a strange but warm Christmas atmosphere.

However, Harry felt no festive joy at all.

He fiddled with the teacup in his hand anxiously. The tea residue at the bottom of the cup was like a bottomless whirlpool, swallowing him up.

"I don't understand why Dumbledore believed him." Harry's voice was low and hoarse, with a barely perceptible tremor.

He raised his head and glanced at the members of the Order of the Phoenix sitting around the fireplace. Everyone had a solemn look on their face.

"Harry," Lupin's gentle voice broke the silence, "Principal Dumbledore has his own considerations. We must believe that the headmaster has his own ideas."

"But..." Harry wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Lupin raising his hand.

"I know you have a grudge against Professor Snape," Lupin said with a hint of helplessness, "but now is not the time to discuss this issue. Voldemort has returned, and we must unite. Internal divisions will only make it easier for us to be defeated one by one."

He paused, and said in a more serious tone, "This is what Headmaster Dumbledore has repeatedly emphasized."

Harry pursed his lips and said nothing more.

He understood what Lupin meant, and he also knew that he shouldn't question Dumbledore's decision, but Snape... that gloomy man who always looked at him with cold eyes, was he really trustworthy? Harry's heart was filled with doubts and uneasiness.

At this moment, Ginny came over with a plate of gingerbread.

She noticed Harry's frown, so she sat down on the armrest beside him, picked up a cookie and handed it to him, "Try this, my mother's new gingerbread, it tastes good."

Harry was stunned for a moment, then subconsciously opened his mouth and took a bite of the gingerbread.

The crispy biscuits, with a hint of ginger and sweet honey, slowly melted in his mouth, and seemed to ease the anxiety in his heart a little.

When Ginny saw him eat it, the corners of her mouth raised slightly, revealing a shallow dimple.

She picked up another biscuit and was about to feed it to Harry when a figure suddenly rushed in and squeezed in between the two of them.

Ron was holding a large plate of gingerbread. He turned to look at Harry and said, "Want some?"

Harry waved his hands awkwardly, "No, Ron, thank you, I'm full."

Ginny was furious when she saw her brother's tactless look.

She glared at her brother fiercely, stood up and left the living room without looking back.

……

"We have already investigated Borgin and Burke's." Arthur put down the Daily Prophet in his hand and said to Harry with a serious look, "There is a vanishing cabinet in it, which is a very dangerous magical item."

Harry's heart sank as he remembered that before school started, he had witnessed Malfoy sneaking into the antique shop.

His intuition told him that Malfoy must be plotting something, and this disappearing cabinet might be the key.

"The Vanishing Cabinet?" Harry frowned. "What is that?"

"It's a magical device that allows people to teleport instantly, but it's very unstable," Arthur explained. "It's said that if used improperly, one can be trapped in a cabinet or even teleported to an unknown dangerous place."

Harry felt even more uneasy. He vaguely felt that Malfoy's actions might be related to Voldemort's conspiracy.

As the night fell, the noise at the Weasley house gradually died down.

Harry was thinking about how to report this to Dumbledore, but suddenly, a soft knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.

"Harry, are you asleep?" Ginny's voice came from outside the door, with a hint of shyness.

Harry quickly got up and opened the door. Ginny was standing at the door in pink flannel pajamas, her fiery red hair draped over her shoulders and her face slightly flushed.

In the dim light, she looked particularly charming.

"Merry Christmas, Harry." Ginny said softly, handing Harry a beautifully wrapped gift box.

"Merry Christmas, Ginny." Harry took the gift and his heart beat faster involuntarily.

Ginny walked into the room and closed the door gently. The atmosphere between the two gradually became ambiguous.

Harry could smell the faint scent of Ginny, which made him feel strangely fluttery.

"Thank you, Ginny." Harry said awkwardly, not daring to look Ginny in the eye.

"As long as you like it." Ginny smiled slightly, with a hint of tenderness in her eyes.

Harry's heart beat faster and he felt his cheeks begin to heat up.

He couldn't help but want to be closer to Ginny, want to feel her warmth.

Just when the two were about to kiss, there was a sudden commotion outside the window, breaking the silence in the room.

"Ahahaha!" A sharp and piercing laugh pierced the night sky, and then a green light flashed from outside the window.

Harry and Ginny started and ran to the window.

The Weasley family's yard was surrounded by a raging fire. A figure in a black cloak stood in the firelight, laughing wildly.

"Bellatrix!" Harry recognized the figure at a glance, and his heart was filled with anger and fear.

Bellatrix Lestrange, Voldemort's most loyal follower and a notorious Death Eater. How did she end up here?

Harry didn't have time to think, he grabbed his wand and rushed out of the room desperately.

"Harry, don't!" Ginny screamed and rushed out after Harry.

The other Weasleys also ran out of the room, stunned by the scene before them.

"Bella! You're crazy!" Ron roared.

Bellatrix didn't care at all. She continued to laugh crazily and waved her wand, throwing more flames at the Weasley house.

Harry was furious. He raised his wand and shouted at Bellatrix, "Expelliarmus!"

A red light shot out from Harry's wand and headed straight for Bellatrix.

However, Bellatrix was prepared. She dodged Harry's attack easily and continued to laugh wildly.

"You think you can defeat me?" Bellatrix said contemptuously, "You are too naive, Potter!"

Not willing to be outdone, Harry raised his wand again, ready to attack.

Just then, Bellatrix suddenly stopped laughing. She looked behind her, as if she had received some signal.

"Let's go!" Bellatrix said to several other Death Eaters hiding in the dark.

As soon as the voice fell, several Death Eaters disappeared into the night with Bellatrix.

Harry was stunned. He had not expected the Death Eaters to retreat so easily.

When he came to his senses, he found that the Weasley's house had been engulfed in flames, and the raging flames illuminated the entire night sky.

Ginny was the first to run to Harry's side. She held Harry's arm tightly, her eyes full of worry.

"Harry, are you okay?"

Harry shook his head. He looked at the burning house in front of him and felt powerless.