Harry Potter - Series Fan Fiction ❯ Harry Potter and the Bad Wish ❯ Christmas Cheer, Liquid Cheer, Happy Holidays! ( Chapter 15 )

Chapter 15: Christmas Cheer, Liquid Cheer, Happy Holidays!

 

 

 

It was time to go home for the holidays, Hermione made sure that everyone had their things packed, annoying the older students but it made things much easier the next morning. Getting the last breakfast before the trains came Dumbledore sent a letter to Harry for him, Hermione, Monica, Devin, and Ginny to go to his office after breakfast. Harry tells the rest and they finish early. Harry knocks on Dumbledore's door and it opens. “Come in; come in, no time to waste.” They hustle inside wondering what Dumbledore called them for. “You will not be taking the train home.”

 

“But I, I wanted to see my parents.” Hermione bites her lower lip.

 

“Oh don't worry you will, but you will be taking a different way. We got reports that Voldemort will attack at the train station so we are sending as many Aurors and others to prevent this attack, and taking the target away.” The group looks at Harry making him conscious of who the target was, not that he didn't have a good idea of who it was. “So you will be going directly to the house.” Dumbledore gets a long stick out. “I have already made this into a Portkey, all you do is touch it and you will be there.”

 

“What about our things, or our pets?” Harry had neglected Hedwig over the summer, completely forgetting about her during his escape to the Muggle World, and then the attack in Diagon Alley…

 

“They are being sent a different way, in fact they may already be there if Dobby moved fast enough. Have a good holiday all of you.” The group reaches out and touches the stick, all getting the hook behind the navel feeling.

 

A minute later they land in a familiar place, to all but Ginny, the Library. “Wow this doesn't look like Hogwarts Library.” Ginny looks around at the room.

 

“Welcome to my home, kind of small but it works.” Harry laughs and leads the group out of the Library. “I'm guessing we are staying in the same rooms as last time, Monica you need to show Ginny your room, choose which beds you are sleeping in.”

 

“Why do we need to do that?” Monica stares blankly at Harry, then raises an eyebrow.

 

“I don't care just don't put those thoughts in my head.” The group, except for Devin, laugh.

 

“What's so funny?” It was Mister and Misses Granger waiting for their daughter to get there. Dumbledore had sent Dobby and told them the kids were coming.

 

“Mom, Dad!” Hermione runs over and hugs both of them. “We all arrived, uh; you know most of them, except for Ginny.” Ginny walks over and extends her hand.

 

“Hi Mister and Misses Granger.” Tom, then Penelope shakes her hand.

 

“Its Tom and Penelope, Pen for short. We talked to your parents about your situation, sorry you won't be seeing them for Christmas but I understand they want to keep you safe.” Ginny and Monica crossed their fingers hoping the Weasly's hadn't talked to them about anything else. “You are staying in Monica's room right? Well before you all break loose the rules are the same, and for Ginny they are No boys in a girls' room after 9, no girls in the boys' room after 9, no magic even though Mr. Dumbledore made it possible to do it without being caught, and if you make a mess clean it up even though we have Dobby.” The Granger's had gotten use to Dobby but still wanted the kids to be responsible for their messes.

 

“Yes Sir, I will make sure to follow those rules.” Ginny looks at Monica and starts to laugh, Monica does to.

 

“Are we missing something?” Pen and Tom look at each other lost, what was the big joke?

 

“Can we unpack our things now?” Devin is uncomfortable and wants to get to his room.

 

“Yes, you all have the same rooms, and Monica and Ginny are staying in the same one, although if you want I'm sure Dobby can make another room for you.”

 

“It's ok; we share everything already a room will be nothing.” Monica grabs Ginny's hand and takes her to their room. Hermione, Devin, and Harry go to their separate rooms unpacking their things. Harry gets done and goes to the kitchen seeing Dobby.

 

“Hey Dobby, do you want Christmas off?”

 

“Off? You want me to take Christmas off the calendar Mister Harry Potter Sir?” Dobby didn't get what Harry meant.

 

“No, the day off, you don't have to work, a break, vacation. You only do what you want that day, within reason.” Harry hoped that explained it well enough.

 

“But I do what I want, keep the House of Potter clean make sure the House of Potter is acceptable to guests Mister Harry Potter Sir.”

 

“Ok, just wondering, I'll make sure to get you a good Christmas present for all your hard work.”

 

“Oh thank you Mister Harry Potter Sir, it has been such an honor working in the House of Potter Mister Harry Potter Sir.”

 

“One thing, can you make the rooms sound proof? So the people inside can't be heard by the people outside of the room?” Harry did not want to even think about what Monica and Ginny would do, or hear about it. Harry didn't know it but Ginny and Monica were messing with his head, their relationship was about love and caring for each other, they hadn't done anything serious as Ginny wasn't ready and Monica loved her enough to respect that.

 

“Yes Mister Harry Potter Sir, and if you want I can make Miss Weasly a room, Dobby is more then capable of doing so Mister Harry Potter Sir.”

 

“No Dobby they are sharing a room, it's not your fault or anything.” Harry wasn't sure if that was what Dobby thought or not but hoped that helped. Leaving the kitchen Harry heads upstairs and goes to Hermione's room, knocking on the door. “Mione can I come in?”

 

“It's your house Harry, but sure come in.” Harry does and sees she is still putting things away.

 

“It may be my house, now, but this is your room.” Harry looks at the things on Hermione's bed, mostly books. “Want help putting things away?”

 

“If you want to, put them in alphabetical order by Author.” Harry turns around and starts putting books away not hearing, or seeing what Hermione was doing. Turning around to get more books he sees Hermione topless.

 

“Mione don't do that.” Harry puts an arm over his eyes to keep temptation away.

 

“Come on Harry, you've seen me naked before, and I thought over vacation we could get closer, like we were.”

 

“Then let's talk about it, hard to pay attention to you when you have those out.” Harry can't resist it anymore and lowers his arm, opens his eyes. “As nice as they are Mione what would your parents do if they walked in?”

 

“They won't, they know to knock first, and…” Hermione closes her eyes, concentrates hard, and then opens them. “Darn, didn't work.”

 

“Mione they are fine, trust me, but could you please put a shirt on?” She does, much to Harry's relief and inner disappointment.

 

“Sorry Harry, I shouldn't…”

 

“Don't say that Mione, I love you, and if you feel you are ready for more we can talk, explore that, but to just do that, well, I liked it.” Harry smiles at her.

 

“You should buster you're the only guy to see them, well, except when Ron did, you know.”

 

“Don't worry about him Mione, he will get what he deserves, and glad to hear that.” He goes over and kisses her. “But you said guy, others have seen them?” He raises an eyebrow trying to imitate what he saw Monica do.

 

“Well I have taken baths and showers at school, kind of hard to do that alone all the time.” She laughs and kisses him back. “Monica's right, I need to corrupt you sooner or later, I…”

 

“I don't want to hear about that, what they do is their business.” Hermione laughs again pulling his hands off his ears.

 

“You are so innocent, I love that about you.” They kiss, deeply, breaking apart when there is a knock on the door. Before they say anything the door opens and Hermione's parents walk in.

 

“What's going on?” Tom sees his little girl flushed with heat, and Harry, he doesn't like it.

 

“Just helping Mione put her things away.” Harry grabs a couple books and put them on the bookshelf.

 

“Well Harry could you go somewhere else for a minute? We want to talk to our daughter; I know this is your house but…”

 

“You are the adults, well, actually, I think Devin and Monica are to, and Hermione is to,” Harry shakes his head, “but I know what you mean.” Harry leaves Hermione's room glad the Granger's hadn't walked in minutes earlier.

 

Out in the hallway he goes down to Monica and Ginny's room, then decides to leave them alone, he didn't want to bother them. Going downstairs he goes to Devin's room to see if he needs help with anything. “Devin?”

 

“What Harry, just because this is your house doesn't mean you can…” Devin grabs his chest before he finishes the sentence.

 

“Devin!” Harry runs over and helps Devin up onto his bed. “Are you ok?”

 

“God fucking damn it!” Devin squeezes his eyes shut trying to ignore the pain. “Fuck that hurt.” Devin is breathing heavily, trying to get himself together. “Sorry Harry, I don't know what that is.”

 

“It's happened before?” Maybe they should tell Dumbledore, what just happened couldn't be good for Devin.

 

“Its nothing I can't deal with, I have to remember to get mad when I feel like it.” Devin had kept his emotions in for so long that it was taking him awhile to let them go.

 

“Are you sure? We can get Dobby to go to Dumbledore; he would want to know about this.”

 

“No, he can't help; I just have to stop holding things in.” Devin had found that his soul was in him, he didn't need his emotions anymore, his soul was back, or others had filled it when he killed the bodies they were held in.

 

“I just wanted to know if you needed any help unpacking, but I'll leave you alone, if you want.”

 

“Sorry I yelled at you, I wonder what the Granger's would do if they heard that.” Devin laughs something Harry couldn't remember ever hearing from Devin.

 

“Well you and your sister are 17 now right? You are adults, besides Ginny I'm the youngest one in the house and it's my house, how sad is that?”

 

“Lord of the Dance.” Harry looks at Devin, what did he say? “Sorry Harry, a comedian said that, it's been nice listening to them again.” Devin had a hard time with it, laughing, getting angry, feeling happy, but he was getting use to it, sometimes he would try to hold it in with disastrous results.

 

Harry leaves Devin feeling a little unsettled by Devin's laugh, and goes back to his room. He had unpacked already, although he didn't really have much to unpack as he liked to keep things in his trunk and that in the bottomless pouch. Sitting on his bed he hears someone walking towards his door and before they can knock he says, “Come in Mione.”

 

“How did you know it was me?”

 

“I just left Devin in his room, and it didn't sound like Monica and Ginny, and your parents would have made more noise, so I figured out it was you.” Hermione's cheeks are bright red; her talk with her parents had been quite embarrassing. “What happened?”

 

“They know I'm an adult now so I am able to make my own choices, but they want me to follow the rules still. But if I don't…” She reaches in a pocket and pulls something out. Hermione can't look at Harry as she hands them to him.

 

“These are uh, what I think they are?” The foil packages all read Trojan.

 

“I told them we aren't doing that but they said we should be safe, just incase something happens.” Her face is completely red, as is Harry's.

 

“Well I uh, guess, I should keep them on me.” But Harry doesn't move, he is too embarrassed to do anything. “Your parents really uh, I don't know.”

 

“Know how to put me in my place; I can't believe they did this.” Hermione couldn't even look at her parents when her father gave them to her, they knew how their daughter was, the best way to make her not do something was to embarrass her about it. “But it is a good idea, if we did want to do that, but not now.”

 

“I agree, we can't, and we aren't ready for that.” But the idea had been planted in his head, the seed spreading giving him thoughts he didn't want.

 

“I know, not for that, but maybe more then what we have been.” Hermione is able to move, and walks over to Harry on his bed. “They understand that we might not follow the rules, since I am an adult and you are the owner of the house, so maybe we could stay together, like we use to at your Aunts house.”

 

“I guess if that's what you want, I wouldn't mind having your two pillows…”

 

“Git.” She pushes him playfully after he takes the words Ginny had used about Monica a few days earlier. “Could you put those away, I can't think straight when I see them, even if you are.” Harry crosses his legs to hide the fact the thoughts in his head had made something straight. He gets his bottomless pouch that he was keeping next to his bed and puts the condoms in there. “Besides the magical methods are far better and safer, a 100% they won't fail.” Hermione laughs at the look on Harry's face. “I haven't taken the potion Harry, don't need to since we aren't ready for that.”

 

“Not yet, now come here!” Harry grabs Hermione up in a hug and kisses her.

 

The next day after breakfast the teens go into the backyard. “It's so warm out here, amazing.” Magic was an incredible thing.

 

“We could play a game of Quidditch, 2 on 2, with Devin as the ref.” Monica looked at Ginny, her and Ginny versus Harry and Hermione, even as good as Harry was they would win.

 

“What do we use for the Quaffle, or Snitch?” Hermione did not want to play; she and a broom did not get along.

 

“Just get something round for a Quaffle, and no Snitch just pure Chaser skill and Keeper skill.

 

“Oh that's not fair I don't have any Keeper skill, or any skill on a broom.”

 

“Hmm, guess Quidditch is out then.”

 

“Wanna hear a joke?” The group turns around and stares at Devin, was he serious? “In the end everyone becomes bisexual since we get fucked over by Mother Nature and Father Time.” They laugh, as does Devin, but the others are nervous.

 

“A Rabbi, a Cleric, and a Priest walk into a bar, you think one of their Gods would have told them it was there.” Ginny laughs at her joke.

 

“My Girlfriend wanted a pet so I gave her crabs.” Ginny pushes Monica away from her.

 

“Hey, that's not funny.”

 

“Yes it is.” Devin was laughing, his soul felt great, he was scared to do this at school incase he hurt someone, but here he was with friends and family, even if Monica wasn't really his sister. “Make like a tree and get out of the kitchen.” The others don't get it. “Sorry, from a movie.”

 

“Crime Fighters fight crime, Fire Fighters fight fires, but Peace Fighters fight for peace? Isn't that like fucking for chastity?” They all turn and stare at Hermione where had that come from? They are too stunned from hearing that to laugh. “Sorry, guess it wasn't funny.” Now they start to laugh.

 

“Mione where did you hear that one?”

 

“My parents, they didn't know I was still awake, before we knew I was a witch.” Back at her own house, she heard her parents laughing, and snuck downstairs to see them watching a comedian and telling jokes back and forth. They continue telling jokes, laughing, forgetting that it was Devin telling some of the best ones. About ten minutes later after hearing all the laughing the Granger's come out and hear the last joke, being told by Hermione.

 

“A brunette and a red head,” she elbows Ginny while smiling at Monica, “are arguing. The brunette says `If you're on top you'll have a boy, the red head says nuh uh, if you're on the bottom you'll have a boy' then a blonde walks over and says `me and my boyfriend are having puppies!'” The group starts to laugh when they hear someone clearing their throat behind them.

 

“Oh hi Tom, I guess you heard that one.” Devin laughed a little more, it was a good joke.

 

“Yes we did, Hermione where did you hear that last one?”

 

“From you.” Hermione stares at her feet, feeling like an eight year old who just got caught with her hand in the cookie jar.

 

“And you said it wrong, if you're going to steal my jokes you should at least tell them right.” The group, except for Hermione, laughs.

 

“You are old enough for such jokes Hermione; we aren't going to scold you, although I don't know if Ginny should be hearing some of them.” Penelope looks at the red head, she was only fifteen.

 

“You missed the one about the Amish girl then.” Ginny smiles at the adults, she wasn't going to be left out of the fun just because she was younger then her friends.

 

“Wanted to tell you lunch is almost ready, but if you want to eat out here, it is warm.” Penelope looks around, the sun was out, out here, and if you looked out a window in the front of the house you knew it was cold and dreary.

 

“If you want to Mom, we could have a picnic!”

 

“Oh we don't want to stop your fun Honey, but did you hear the one about the…” The group has lunch outside, telling more jokes, the Granger's wouldn't normally do this but they had so little contact with others they were happy to be included with their daughter and her friends.

 

Just one day until Christmas was left, and even though Harry had already given Hermione a Christmas present he had another one ready. He liked the gift Hermione had given him, the locket with a piece of her hair in it and had ordered a locket, by sending Dobby to Dumbledore to be extra safe, and had just gotten it. Harry goes into his bathroom and stands in front of the mirror. “Ok, grow my hair a little.” It doesn't, Harry doesn't know why, but it doesn't. “Ok, grow longer.” He did nothing more then what he was use to, just think of it growing longer, or shorter, but it didn't. Harry closes his eyes and concentrates hard on making his hair longer, this time it grows. Cutting some of his hair off he closes his eyes and concentrates on putting it back, it does. “Well that was weird, probably because I broke Voldemort's connection.” Harry leaves the bathroom and puts the hair in the locket, a golden locket in the shape of a heart, but he had no picture of himself to put in it.

 

“Mister Harry Potter Sir.” Dobby had apparated without warning scaring Harry, causing him to drop the locket. “Miss Hermione Granger Ma'am has left the house.”

 

“What? How, I can't believe her, to just walk out the door, she could get hurt.”

 

“Miss Hermione Granger Ma'am apparated. Dobby tried to go to her but she had already entered a place that Dobby can not enter.” So it wasn't the school, where else could that be?

 

“Don't tell anyone ok Dobby? Maybe she just wanted some fresh air.” And that air was in a place not even Dobby could apparate to. Harry bends down and picks the locket back up. “Wait, she isn't, she already got me something.” Had Hermione gone to Gringotts? It was the only place Harry could think of that Dobby couldn't apparate too directly. “Go to Gringotts, if Hermione is there, watch her, make sure she is safe, and if she is attacked make sure she gets out of it.” Dobby apparated away with a loud crack.

 

Hermione was leaving Gringotts with a sack of gold, and silver, and bronze. The interest on the money Harry loaned to her had built up quite a bit. She had gotten Harry a present already, but her parents she hadn't, or any of her friends, it was hard to do so when she couldn't go to any stores when at Hogwarts, or order anything with the risk of a Death Eater intercepting it and sending something dangerous. Hermione had used a spell to make her hair red, and was wearing a deep blue robe, to cover her identity. She didn't want to risk going into the Muggle World to buy gifts and went out into Diagon Alley to see if she could find something for her parents and friends.

 

An hour later Harry was sitting in Hermione's room waiting for her to get back. He couldn't believe she would do something so dangerous, so reckless, so unlike her. He didn't tell anyone else; if she was doing what he thought she was he would yell at her for doing it but didn't want her to get in trouble. Harry jumped off of Hermione's bed that he had been sitting on when the crack of someone apparating broke the silence. “Harry!” Hermione drops the bags in her hands.

 

“What were you thinking!” Harry had to keep calm, if he yelled, if he argued, it would only make Hermione mad and not realize what kind of stupidity she had done.

 

“I, I just wanted, I had to get them something.”

 

“Then why didn't you do what I did?” He had Dobby get things, or go to Dumbledore to be extra safe.

 

“What did you do?” Those four simple words stopped Harry; it was so simple he hadn't seen it.

 

“I had Dobby get the things, for you, for our friends, even got a thing for your parents.” Harry didn't tell her, if he had she wouldn't have done something so foolish. “Nice hair.”

 

“Shut up Harry, I was smart about it; no one would have recognized me.”

 

“Ron would have Mione.”

 

“How did you know I was gone?” Hermione had been so careful, she didn't know it would take this long, but she had been careful.

 

“Dobby told me, I told him to make sure no one got in or out without me knowing, and he told me when you left.” Harry never thought Hermione would leave, but if someone tried to get in he wanted to know.

 

“I'm sorry Harry, I wonder how long they will try and ground me.” Hermione tried to be safe, smart, but she had to admit it was stupid.

 

“They won't, I didn't tell them Mione.” Hermione hugs Harry.

 

“Thank you Harry, I'm sorry but I didn't know what to do, I didn't want to have nothing to give on Christmas.”

 

“Well do you need help in wrapping what you got?” Harry motions to the multiple bags lying on the floor.

 

“No I can do it, but you can help if you want.” She gets the items out showing them to Harry, who does help, and get the wrapping done.

 

“What's this bow go to?” Harry holds a large red bow, but didn't see anything to put it on.

 

“That's for you, you'll see.” It would be corny, and silly, but she knew Harry would like it.

 

“Hermione, I want you to promise not to do that again, at least tell me first, I was worried.” He holds her face in his hands. “I sent Dobby after you; he couldn't apparate to you so I assumed you were at Gringotts, I was right wasn't I?” Dobby hadn't come back so Harry figured that he found Hermione.

 

“I had to get money, but I stayed in Diagon Alley where other witches and wizards were.”

 

“Who could have been Death Eaters.” Harry wanted to make sure Hermione knew how dangerous, how stupid, it was to do what she did.

 

“They weren't, and even if they were they didn't recognize me.” Hermione still had red hair, when someone knocked on her door. “Oh crap Harry, I don't have the spell to change this back, I need the book.” She goes over to her bookshelf and grabs it.

 

“Honey?” It was her mom. “Oh hi Harry, Ginny?” She saw the back of a red head. “What are you doing in here?”

 

“Folic bronus.” Hermione changes her hair back. “Mom why would Ginny be in here?”

 

“Oh I thought, must have been the light.” She looks at the empty bags, and sees some presents wrapped. “I was wondering what we were doing tomorrow, I know we usually do things a certain way, but with your friends here you might want to do something different.”

 

“Its ok Mom, we can do things like we always do. I don't think their parents will mind…” Hermione bites her bottom lip that was the wrong thing to say since the only other person there with parents who were still alive was Ginny, unless Harry did raise his.

 

“Ok, I know the Stark's are both adults now but Harry and Ginny aren't, but you always had some for Christmas and didn't know if they would want to either.”

 

“Question, what are you talking about?” Harry had no idea, what Christmas tradition?

 

“Oh we usually have wine, but if you don't want to we don't have to.”

 

“No it sounds like a great idea.” Harry had drank, sure it was Muggle beer and rum, and vodka, and scotch, but never had wine. “But I don't think we have any.”

 

“We could send Dobby, like I should of.” Dobby appeared before anyone could say anything else.

 

“Should of what?”

 

“Mom if we give Dobby money we could get wine, Wizard Wine since I don't think a Muggle would like a House Elf trying to explain what a Galleon or Sickle is.”

 

“Oh well, he works for Harry, is it ok if we do that Harry?” Harry nods. “Well, Honey we don't have any money since we can't get to the bank…” And they hadn't worked for over a year, being on the run did that to someone.

 

“Don't worry Penelope I'm sure I can find the gold somewhere.” Harry had a vault full of it, even more now that interest had built on millions of Galleons.

 

“Ok Harry, sorry for bothering you two.” Unless they were doing something she and her husband didn't want them to be doing.

 

“Its ok Mom we had just gotten done wrapping presents. I know we don't have a tree to put them under so going to keep them up here.”

 

“Alright Honey, you and Harry don't spend all day inside, it's nice out, in the backyard.” Penelope walks out, closing the door behind her.

 

“Dobby,” Crack, “If I gave you some money could you get us some wine?”

 

“Mister Harry Potter Sir I need something to show the buyer is over seventeen.” Harry hadn't thought about that, it made sense though.

 

“Here Dobby.” Hermione goes over to a pouch, Harry recognizes it as the one she made bottomless, and pulls something out. “My Apparition license.” Dobby takes it and apparates away.

 

“When did you get that?”

 

“Dumbledore took me, Mr. Weasly set it up so I could do it secretly, so no one would try and attack or anything.” She passed it her first try, even with Dumbledore teaching her she was worried, apparition was a lot like riding a broom, and something you couldn't learn by reading a book.

 

“Well how about we go outside? It is nice out, and when we go back to Hogwarts won't be able to enjoy it.” Holding hands they go to the backyard.

 

The next morning the people of the house get up quickly, it was Christmas, and you never grew too old for Christmas! Dobby had made breakfast already, the group wolfing it down. Even Devin seemed to be in a good mood, happy, excited. “So Harry, are we going to sit around and open gifts together or just do it alone?” Devin had never liked Christmas much, since his soul had `broken', but now he couldn't wait, he wanted to let the joy and happiness of Christmas explode from him, now that he could let it out without hurting anyone.

 

“Well, is everyone done with breakfast?” Everybody nods, even the Granger's. “I guess, I don't have a tree, but the Library has enough seats and room for it.” They all go to their rooms, getting many different colored presents, the Christmas Cheer getting to them. A few minutes later they were all in the Library, except one. “Dobby.” Crack.

 

“Yes Mister Harry Potter Sir?”

 

“It's time to open gifts, here's yours.” Harry had put some of his old socks in a box, along with new ones, making sure that none of them matched. Dobby takes the wrapping paper off slowly, carefully, and then opens the box.

 

“Oh thank you very much Mister Harry Potter Sir.” So many colors, so many styles, some pure white, some blue, some with stripes and some with none. “I got Mister Harry Potter Sir something to.” Dobby apparates away then comes back with a very poorly made sweater.

 

“It's great Dobby, thank you.” Harry didn't put it on, it might fall apart if he tried, and he did like it, Dobby had made it for him.

 

“Dobby do you want to take the day off?” Hermione didn't think it was right to make Dobby work on Christmas.

 

“I'm sorry Miss Hermione Granger Ma'am but today is already here and can not take it off the calendar.” He apparates away before a confused Hermione can say anything else.

 

“I already asked him Mione, he said the same thing.” Harry looks at the many different boxes, and bags, and other presents. “Voting time, all for just digging in and opening what they have raise a hand.” They all do. “I guess no need to ask if we should go in order.” They start opening gifts, the sound of wrapping paper being torn and people thanking the person who got them whatever it was they had gotten fills the room. Some like the Granger's carefully took the wrapping paper off, much like Dobby, before opening their gifts. Hermione opened the box with the golden locket from Harry.

 

“Thank you Harry.” She opens it and finds the hair. “Thank you.” She puts it in her pocket not wanting to add it to her necklace just yet.

 

Harry had opened gifts of sweets, Quidditch supplies, books on Quidditch, including one from Ginny where she had already marked a page, the book Quidditch of Hogwarts, where the greatest Chaser played in 1974, with words scribbled next to it. “We need him on our team.” And a smiley face sticking its tongue out.

 

Ginny let out a squeal and quickly put her gift from Monica in a pocket. “What was that Ginny?” Devin sitting closest to her heard the squeal.

 

“Nothing, it's nothing.” Ginny blushed, how Monica had taken the picture she didn't know, but she was glad she had time to hide it before anyone saw it.

 

Hermione's parents were touched most by their gifts from their daughter and Harry. Harry had gotten them pictures of Hermione, wizard style, from school. They had two others, but these were special, these were at her school, she wasn't posing for them, but in most of them deep in a book or laughing about something. Their daughter had gotten them both bottomless pouches which she had filled wizard's sweets and a stone in each; Hermione had a piece of paper tied to one of them explaining what they were.

 

“When it glows white it means I am safe, ok, not in danger, when it glows black I am in danger, this way you will know I am safe at all times. I know you say no matter how old I get you will always be my parents and always worry about me so maybe this will help you stop worrying so much.

Love, Hermione

 

“Thank you Harry, Hermione, these are great.” Everyone had opened their gifts, leaving a mess of wrapping paper and ribbons. “Now before you kids leave clean this mess up.” Yes Dobby could do it, but it was Christmas, and the kids had made the mess.

 

“Ok.” Ginny gets her wand out and shrinks the pile of paper and ribbons then touched the end of her wand setting it on fire, making it disappear.

 

“We said no magic, but that was quick.” As it was Christmas the Granger's let it go, even if it wasn't they had come to be loose on the rules, after all it wasn't their house, and except for Ginny and Harry, they were all adults.

 

Harry looked around wondering where the other gift from Hermione was, she had saved the large ribbon for it, but it wasn't there. Harry let it go, maybe it was something big, or special, that she wanted only Harry to see. The group takes their loot, er presents, to their rooms and goes back to the Library. “Merry Christmas everyone!” Devin was having so much fun, he hadn't needed to meditate for nearly two days, and he loved Christmas now.

 

“We normally watch the Christmas parade from America but we don't have a TV, what do you want to do?” The Granger's use to love watching the big parade, with floats, and bands, and people dressed up as elves, although looked nothing like a House Elf, and of course the big guy in a Santa suit smiling, making children all over the world smile.

 

“You've never seen a game of Quidditch have you?” Monica knew that in America Muggle's with magical kids could watch a Quidditch game when their kid was playing, but she had never seen a parent at the Quidditch games at Hogwarts.

 

“No, we've read about it from books Hermione gave us, it seems like fun.” And dangerous, Tom was glad his daughter had never been into sports, flying around with giant metal balls trying to hit you was far too dangerous for his little girl.

 

“Well if we can get Hermione or Devin to play we could play a small game.” Monica looks at her brother, hoping he would. He had told her about how he had been feeling great, almost like before what had happened to his real sister, maybe he would get back on a broom.

 

“I will, but I don't have a broom.” Devin hadn't been on one in nearly three years, he knew he wouldn't be as good as he use to be, but riding a broom was like riding a bike, you never forget how.

 

“Dobby?” Crack “Could you go to my vault and get some gold for a broom? A Nimbus 2001 will work.”

 

“Harry I can't, those are expensive.”

 

“It's Christmas, and they have dropped in price since the Firebolt and the Nimbus 2002 came out.” Dobby apparates away to Gringotts, then to a broom store. A few minutes later Dobby was back. “Thank you Dobby.” Harry gives it to Devin. “Early Christmas gift for next year.”

 

“Isn't that what you always tell me and yet you always get me something for my birthday or Christmas.” The group laughs at Hermione's joke.

 

“Thanks Harry, I guess we could play now, what are the teams?”

 

“Girls versus boys!” Monica and Ginny stick their tongues out at the two boys.

 

“You're on! Be right back.” Harry goes to the kitchen and looks in the cupboards, then refrigerator for something round. Grabbing an orange he goes back to the Library. “Here's the Quaffle, no Snitch, no Bludgers, and now we need something for hoops.”

 

“A hoop, make it challenging, and why not just make them?” Monica gets her wand out and makes a circle in the air, then does it again, making two hoops with magic. “Sorry Tom, Penelope.”

 

“You are an adult, and its Christmas, and we want to see Quidditch.” It was so hard to enforce the rules, these kids, even if most of them were adults by age, were the little contact they had with humanity, when the older wizards and witches came they were busy in a meeting, and when they did stop one for a short conversation it was hard to think of anything to talk about. No TV, no newspapers, except for the magical one, so they didn't know anything to talk about. They did ask for a few things, special food, or special items, like the ones they used to make sure they didn't have another child, but other then that they were cut off from everything.

 

Outside Monica uses magic to make the hoops float in the air, something she learned from her dad who was a huge Quidditch fan and had taught her much of what she knew about Quidditch. She still had her first broom, one that he bought, but it was in America, in whatever room her father put it in. “One Chaser, one Keeper, first person to get twenty goals wins.” Hermione grabs the orange, Quaffle, and puts it behind her back.

 

“Ok, I have it in a hand, left or right?”

 

“Left.” Hermione shows her left hand, no orange.

 

“Harry and Devin start with the Quaffle.” Harry takes it from Hermione and pushes off. “Start!”

 

Harry charges across the backyard, it was smaller then a regular Quidditch field, but so was the hoop, and there was only one of them. Dodging Ginny easily he goes for a goal which Monica blocks. Ginny gets the orange from Monica and goes towards Devin, Harry tries to steal it but Ginny keeps it, and shoots for a goal, Devin blocks it. “This could take awhile.” Hermione and her parents are sitting on the ground watching. The game goes on, with Harry getting the first goal after twenty minutes of playing. “Go Harry!”

 

“Biased much Hermione?” Ginny gets the orange and dives, when close to the ground she pulls up, and using her legs to jump and add more speed to her Cleansweep broom, is able to score on Devin. They go back and forth, but Harry with a much better broom is able to get the winning goal making it 20-16.

 

“Luck, pure luck.” Monica was laughing, it was fun, even if she lost.

 

“Rather have luck then skill any day Sis.” Devin sticks his tongue out at Monica.

 

“I admit my broom helped, but we still won.” Harry flew down to Hermione. “Want to go for a ride?”

 

“No Harry, you know that I can't fly.” And a fear of heights didn't help.

 

“Do you?” Harry looks at Penelope and Tom, he wasn't sure if a Muggle could ride a broom or not, but if they could why not let them?

 

“It does look like fun but I could never, you go so fast…” Penelope was tempted, it did look like fun.

 

“Tom?”

 

“Sorry Harry but if I fell it would mean the end of this old man.” Tom shared his daughter's fear of heights. “But if you want to Penelope it does look like fun.”

 

“I'll try.”

 

“Mom you'll break your neck!”

 

“No she won't Mione, Penelope hold the broom like this.” Harry helps her get on it. Now, jump, but don't lean forward unless you want to go faster, to turn lean in the direction you want to go, to stop pull up while leaning back.” Penelope jumps, goes a few feet in the air, panics and falls back to the ground.

 

“Wait, give me another chance.” She closes her eyes and jumps again. She goes up into the air and stays. She opens her eyes and leans forward a little, she moves. “Wow, this is far better then an airplane, you can feel it, wow.” She flies around in a slow circle before coming back down. “I can't believe it that was scary enough but so much fun, thank you Harry.” Penelope gets off the broom and gives it back to Harry.

 

“Just try doing it at a hundred kilometers an hour, that's when it gets fun.” Harry smiles at her letting her know he is poking fun, for a Muggle it was enough just to get on a broom.

 

The rest of the day passes, dinner is ready. “If you want we have wine, right?” Dobby has two bottles on the table. “But I don't know if you should Ginny, you are younger then the others and your parents might not like it.”

 

“I'm fine Pen, and it's not like wine is Voldemort.” Ginny holds a glass to Dobby who fills it, Ginny takes a sip. “It's sweet, but tastes funny.”

 

“Much better then the kind we usually get, what year is this?”

 

“Miss Granger it is 1996.” Dobby answers, correctly, it was 1996, but Penelope meant the age of the wine.

 

“Could I see a bottle?” Dobby hands Tom a bottle and nearly drops it when he reads the year. “1633!” This stuff was older then even what the Pope drank.

 

“It does taste better then what I drank.” Harry liked the sweetness of it, better then the bitter taste from the beer and rum and other such alcohol he had in the Muggle world. They eat Christmas dinner, drinking the wine, talking, enjoying themselves. After nearly an hour of savoring the food, the wine, and each other they finish dinner.

 

“Thank you Dobby for the wonderful dinner.” Dobby smiles at the compliment from Harry. Harry leans down and whispers to Dobby, “How much did that wine cost?”

 

“5,900 Galleons a bottle Mister Harry Potter Sir.” Harry had spent over ten thousand dollars on two bottles, it did taste good, and he did have the money, and the alcohol had made him cheery.

 

“Merry Christmas Dobby, take the rest of the time and do whatever it is you do for fun.” Dobby apparates and goes to his room, where piles of socks and other items of clothing he had collected awaited him.

 

“Harry come with me.” Hermione grabs his hand and leads him to her room. “Close your eyes for a second.” Harry does, not peeking, until Hermione tells him to.

 

“What?” Hermione had tied the large bow from yesterday to her head.

 

“Come unwrap your present Harry.” Hermione smiles, giggling a little, the alcohol from the wine made her feel even sillier then what she already did from putting the bow on.

 

“Are you sure Mione?” Harry's mind while being clouded by alcohol was still in control of his actions.

 

“Come on Harry, we don't have to go that far, but I miss being next to you, having you next to me, been so long.” Hermione sits on her bed. “I can help you if you want.” She takes her socks off.

 

“Ok Mione.” Harry and Hermione undress each other, Harry enjoying unwrapping his last present, kissing, touching, making the other one happy until falling asleep next to each other on Hermione's bed.