Chapter 16 - Christmas
The following morning was greatly anticipated by all the students in the house, a shopping trip to Diagon Alley. The entire group again used the Floo to arrive at Weasleys' WizardingWheezes. The day's plan was quite simple: Ron, Luna and Ginny planned to go by themselves, Hermione and her parents were spending the day together, and Harry announced that his business was too personal and confidential, so he needed to be on his own, at least for the morning. Although they were on their own, each of them knew there was at least one Order member either following or watching them for their safety. They would meet for lunch and merge into a single group.
"Guys, before we split up, here." He handed each of his friends a small bag. "I sent Hedwig to Gringotts last night to have them send me some gold, I don't care about any of it, I want you all to use it on each other. Please… I don't want anyone to be disappointed like I've been when I was young."
"Harry, there's got to be at least fifty galleons in here!"
"A hundred or so each, I think. Just have fun, really."
Just before they split off, Harry pulled Luna aside, to ask a favor.
He handed her an extra sack of gold. "Luna, if there's something special he likes or sees please get it. Make sure he doesn't know and have it sent to the Burrow. I have something special in mind to get him myself, this is just incase he sees something."
"Harry, are you sure? You're spending a lot of money here."
"Don't worry, it's not important. I want to see some extra big smiles on Christmas morning."
"Well, if you're sure, we'll see you at lunch."
He said good-bye to the others and ventured out on his own. The others also split up to shop on their own. Hermione and her parents made their first stop at Flourish and Blotts, of course, while Ron, Luna and Ginny made their way to Quality Quidditch Supplies for a few things. Harry managed to slip from view.
The morning passed in a flurry of shopping for the teens, everyone enjoying the freedom of the day. They met at the appointed time at the Leaky Cauldron for lunch. The look of pure enjoyment on everyone's face further brightened the smile on Harry's face. He was admittedly the happiest he'd been in a very long time. They sat at one of the secluded tables in the back for a fun filled lunch, shared by a group of friends.
Harry was the only one to notice the young man sitting in the farthest corner of the establishment, his long blond hair and pale white skin a dead giveaway anywhere he went. Harry continued to watch his school rival, and wondered why he'd been quiet all year, or was it just that he didn't notice because he was moody? He sat alone, not looking up from his bowl of broth the entire time.
After the warming meal the friends shared, Harry stood, "I'm so grateful to have such good friends, after how I behaved lately. I want you all to know how much I care for all of you, yeah you too Luna, you've proven to be a good friend when any of us needed one. I hope you all had a chance to spend some of that gold today, that's just because none of us ever had that kind of freedom before. I thought it would be fun for everyone to have a wild time shopping."
Ron reached into his pocket, and pulled the bag out, "Here, Harry, I didn't…"
"I said SPEND it! I checked at Gringotts and believe me, this is nothing. With what my parents left, and what Siruis left, I… well I want to be able to share that with you all, my closest friends. Since I didn't earn it myself, it really doesn't mean that much to me. Let's go spend what you all have left."
With that the remaining day had been spent in and out of all the shops in Diagon Alley, Hermione's parents watched Harry's pleasure at this simple gesture, and, at first suspected he was trying to buy his way back into his friends favor, but finally realized this was a caring and genuine gesture.
Everyone had been so overloaded with parcels, that when they returned to the Burrow, what spare room in the house existed soon disappeared. The rest of the week until the actual holiday had been spent wrapping presents, hanging decorations, finding and decorating the perfect tree, and generally enjoying the good company of all the friends and families.
Harry's internal conflicts all seemed to be resolved, as he was coming to terms of his life. The words his friends shared with him seemed to finally take hold in his heart and this Christmas he was embracing his life, and not hiding in fear of it. Hermione watched his change the entire week, and looked at his transformation with more the a sense of pride at having helped him overcome his anxieties, she was beginning to feel deeper feelings for him, 'accept the fact, Granger, you really do like him, maybe more then you want to.' She finally admitted to herself, knowing she would never cross that unspoken line.
- - -
On Christmas Eve, the entire group collected in the parlor of the Weasley household for an evening filled with carols and merriment. Not once all evening was there a mention of Voldemort, Death Eaters or the coming war. At one point in the evening, only Hermione noticed Harry slip away from the festivities. She followed him quietly up the stairs up in his room. He sat on his bed, where he pulled out his faded photo album.
Knock… Knock… Knock…
"Harry, can I come in?"
"Hermione? Why aren't you downstairs?" She slipped into the room and sat on the bed next to him.
"I was going to ask the same thing, this was all arranged for you. I'm worried about you being alone. Holidays are usually bad for people fighting depression."
"Thanks for your concern, but I'm fine. I felt like seeing them." He pointed to the pictures of his parents waving back.
"Harry," she had that same knot in her stomach, she wanted to tell him so much, but couldn't. "I'm glad you're feeling so much better. When you're ready, come back downstairs. Dumbledore's supposed to come by later. He's been at the Ministry and has some news."
"I'll be down in a bit. Don't worry, I'm fine."
She leaned in and gave him a peck on his cheek, "Ok, we'll be waiting." She stood and left the room, glancing over her shoulder to see him lost in thought as he stared at his pictures. She sighed slightly as she left the room and re-joined the party.
The school's headmaster had arrived while she was upstairs, and was anxiously looking for the missing student.
"Sir, he's upstairs, he said he wants a few minutes alone." Hermione reported.
"Well, we can't have that…" Arthur Weasley said, as he turned to the stairs.
"No… Leave him. He'll be down. I know he will. He's just spending a few minutes looking at his photos."
"Ron, go fetch him, this is very important." Professor Dumbledore commanded.
"Right, I'll be back in a flash," he said as he raced up the stairs, with a gleam in his eye.
"Professor? What's so important that he needs to be here? Is something wrong?" Hermione inquired, fear of an imminent attack raced through her mind. This was the perfect time; no one was suspecting it. 'What could be so bloody important he can't have a few moments to himself?' she asked herself.
"No, my dear girl, everything is fine. Arthur and Molly have something important to discuss with Harry, and I've been in contact with both the Ministry and the Muggle authorities on their behalf."
As if on cue the youth in question arrived.
"Ahhh Harry, please join us." Mr. Weasley greeted Harry, ushering him to the center of the room. Arthur and Molly stood facing Harry, both with the most serious expressions he'd ever seen on these two kindly faces.
"We have something important to discuss with you." Molly added, "We all, that is everyone in our family have talked it over since the summer and we've decided that being your guardians isn't good enough."
"You mean you don't want to be my guardians?" He looked shocked, then surprised that they, of all people were rejecting him. Hermione also looked quite puzzled; she knew Harry was closer to the Weasleys then anyone, even herself. This didn't make sense.
"Not really, mate," Ron added. "It's that you mean more to us then as a friend. Mum, go ahead."
"Well, Harry. We asked Albus to look into the legal obligations of being your guardian and what we need to do. So after careful research, he's secured and processed the necessary paperwork with the Ministry and with the Muggle authorities to legally adopt you as our son. If you are willing to have us as your family."
He stood there, unable to utter a word. Hermione sat next to her parents, dumbfounded at the gesture of pure love they had for Harry.
"Harry," Mr. Granger broke the silence, "I'd like to add, that if they didn't or couldn't, we had discussed this ourselves. You're a fine upstanding young man that needs a real family to care for you. We all know about your family, and how little they care for you, but that's their loss. When Arthur asked us how to go about adoptions, we thought we could offer you an environment to help you flourish and grow, but Arthur and Molly know you better and are a better choice."
Hermione looked as shocked at that revelation. "We're sorry we didn't discuss this with you dear, we wanted to wait for Arthur and Molly to see if they could get the authority, first," her mother added.
"But always remember, you'll always be welcome in our home. I know how Hermione feels about you," she retorted with an elbow to her father's ribs "Offff… Well, we know you two are the best of friends and she cares deeply for you."
"Well, Harry? It's up to you if you want to accept our offer. You've been like a son to us and a brother to Ron and Ginny anyway; this would make you officially a member of our family." Both Ron and Ginny stepped over to stand on either side of Harry.
"I… I don't know… what to say… Ron? Did you know about this?"
"Yeah, me and Gin both knew for the last month. But we were sworn to secrecy, we couldn't even tell Hermione."
She glared at Ron for the secrecy, promising herself to re-pay him later.
"I'm… just… well… overwhelmed at this. I'd like to think it over. You all have been my family since I
met you all, but I can't add to your burden. What about my aunt and uncle? Won't they cause problems? I mean
they're not the nicest people in the world, Merlin knows they'd be glad to be rid of me…"
"Think it over, if you want to accept, it will still take some time for the paperwork to pass through the Muggle
laws and 'courts', isn't that right, Alex?"
Hermione's father simply nodded.
"But as soon as you sign this document, it will be official in with the Ministry." Molly added, handing Harry a very important looking scroll.
He looked at the scroll for a second, breathing hard to suppress the overwhelming love he suddenly felt in the room. He dropped the paper to the floor, and reached out to his new family. His arms went around both the senior Weasley's necks into the tightest hug he'd ever given. With that action, Molly couldn't contain herself another second and began bawling over her new son. Both the younger Weasleys joined in the expanded family's group hug, adding to Harry's joy.
"I guess now I am your sister, no more snoggin' for you." Ginny whispered in his ear and winked.
He released his new parent's necks to add his new brother and sister in his embrace. The other Weasleys in the room all rushed in to give him welcoming slaps on the back and trademark family hugs. Fred and George both smiled and winked at him, and added comments about having a new family test subject.
"Please, everyone," Harry began, "I wish I could tell you what you all mean to me, you've really shown me how you truly feel about me. I never felt like this before. This has been the happiest night of my life. I truly love you all. But…"
"No, son," Arthur interrupted "there's no 'but'. We all know what's waiting. We all know the risks facing us. Let's live forever in the moment we have together. It will be something we all can think back to if events get difficult. Come, everyone let's forget the future and enjoy each other's companionship."
While everyone had been engrossed in the conversation, Luna had slipped away into the kitchen to add to the calibration, she emerged with a tray of French champagne to serve to everyone.
Arthur picked up his glass, and raised it high, "To good friends forever," he proclaimed.
"To new family." Harry added, bringing a misty eye to nearly everyone in the room. Those that hadn't succumbed to tears of joy had grins and smiles that would be difficult to remove. Before another word was said, Harry picked up the official scroll. Ron handed him a freshly dipped quill, and he made the act official. He was now an official member of the Weasleys, and the necessary documentation would be filed in the Muggle courts the first of the year. Everyone, man, woman, and child in the house resumed singing carols and making merry through the night, until one by one, the need for sleep and the expectations of the morning sent everyone to their rooms.
Two new brothers left for their room, as did Hermione, Luna and Ginny. Harry spent his first night, in what was now his own bed in his and Ron's room, with the boy he'd gown up with, as his real brother and his new sister and her friends made their way to their beds. Ginny was extremely happy now that Harry was a permanent part of her life, something Hermione couldn't help but notice. As Hermione lay in her bed, her thoughts of her best friend's good fortune raced through her mind. She smiled and knew he was finally happy, and somehow wished he was forever linked in her life as he now was with Ginny. She sighed once, rolled over to wait for sleep and Christmas morning.
- - -
BAM…BAM… BAM "Get up…" Ron shouted at his sister's room.
"We're up; you don't have to break the door down." He heard Luna call through the door.
"We'll wait."
The door opened, and the three teenage girls greeted the two boys in the hall, all still in pajamas and dressing robes. They all bounded down the stairs together, to the special treats waiting for them.
"Merry Christmas everyone!" Arthur greeted every guest as they entered the living room. The room had a charm of its own, the warmth of the love in the house spread cheer to all that day. The atmosphere in the Burrow showed this family truly knew the value of the holiday.
"Ron, Ginny, since this is the first Burrow Christmas for Harry, Hermione and Luna, why don't you two pass out the presents."
Ron and Ginny dove into the pile of presents surrounding the enchanted tree, and divided them into piles for each of their friends. Ginny managed to find all her brother's things along with Luna's while Ron managed to dig out all of Hermione, Harry's and Ginny's things.
Eagerly they all tore into the piles in front of them, while Harry sat back, happy watching the grins and smiles on his friends.
Ron was the first to open an elegantly wrapped parcel from Hermione, a new-enchanted wizard's chess set. Luna ripped the gift from Harry open to find Personalized stationary and quills with gold tinted ink. Then she opened Hermione's package containing a dozen sets of enchanted socks, for all occasions. Hermione received a Lunascope and a Telescope from Ron, exotic potion supplies from Ginny, and astronomical models from Luna. Ginny's gifts were new robes from Ron, Ancient charms books from Hermione and a new cauldron from Luna. Luna got a charmed charm bracelet from Ron, charmed socks from Hermione and a crystal ball from Ginny. Ron received an i nvisibility cloak from Luna, Chudley Cannon memorabilia and set of very rare discontinued Chocolate Frog cards from Ginny.
Harry received a lot of 'Dark arts' detection tools from his friends: a Sneakoscope, a Foe glass, and a Secrecy Sensor, while Ron gave him some humorous presents. Ron had given him a beautiful solid gold Gobstones set and signed him up for a year's worth of Kwikspell correspondence course. Hermione gave him several Ancient manuscripts, one written in Parseltongue, thinking he should be able to read it.
Once all the gifts had been exchanged, and thank-yous, tears and hugs followed, Harry handed Ron and Ginny matching bundles. Ron tore his open to find a shining new Thunderbolt broom. Ginny was seconds behind in discovering hers.
"Harry, I can't…" Ron began, while Ginny sat with a shocked look.
"Sorry, they're not much, I wanted to get the Firebolts, but I was told they took 4 or 5 months to properly charm, but these are the next in line. They each are customized for you two. Ron, yours is more maneuverable then Ginny's. They are both quite fast, faster than any other broom in school, except mine."
Ginny lunged to Harry and threw her arms around her 'brother' for the biggest thank-you hug he'd received yet. "Gin, here. It's something more for you."
He handed her an envelope, which she tore open. It held a promissory note for any expenses incurred for her last two years' schooling. "You're the most brilliant witch in your class, and it's time you got the best to prove it, no more second hand robes and books for the Weasleys."
Hermione looked at Harry, knowing he was pleased with the joy and happiness he was able to spread. She smiled at him and thought to herself how much he really had changed. Each of the group had received something from him he knew they wanted and appreciated.
"Hermione," Harry looked to her, "here." He handed her a small parcel, too small to be a book and too big for jewelry.
Puzzled, she looked at the box, and gave it a small shake. Nothing rattled. She carefully pried the top off and peered inside, everyone watching her every move. She looked to the contents and beamed a grim to Harry as she pulled a largish pocket watch from the box. She recognized it instantly.
"Is this…?" She began.
"It's… an antique of sorts. It's really accurate, once you know how to 'wind' it properly. I'll show you later, I've been told the knob is fragile, so I have to show you the secret to it without breaking the mechanism."
"Harry," Ron queried, "it's a rather large watch, I mean for a girl, isn't it?"
"Yeah, but I thought she'd like it."
"Harry, I love it. I'll keep it with me always. You'll have to show me how to 'wind' it later." She flashed another smile to him, as she felt a rush pass through her, wanting to know what he'd put inside it for her.
Everyone was enjoying the day, smiles and hugs freely shared between everyone. Hermione excused herself, for a cup of coffee, knowing Harry was sitting having a fresh corn muffin, reading a book only he could read.
"Harry, I truly love the 'watch'." She said as she lightly kissed his cheek.
"Meet me upstairs in your room, and I'll show you its secret." He replied.
"Ok, give me five minutes."
Later, outside her room, Harry stood waiting with the books she gave him.
"Harry, come on in," she called from inside.
He walked in and sat on the bed next to her. The room was so cramped that they had to take the chairs out to make room for Luna's bed. The room itself had been charmed and enlarged so many times, they were afraid it couldn't take any more.
"Is this the same as yours?" she inquired.
"No. This is different. Mine stores thoughts and memories so I don't have to remember them. I had this one charmed to copy thoughts and store them, so they could be shared. You can leave them in the Pensieve, or put them in you head as if they were your thoughts. The spell to open it is the same as mine: tap it three times with your wand and repeat "Aperire Cogito Sospito". When you close it, repeat the spell and anything you say after that will act as a password. Try it."
She held if in her hands and pulled her wand out, tapping it three times. "Aperire Cogito Sospito" she repeated and the small Pensieve opened. The watch face opened as his did, with the watch face opening like an iris, creating a small bowl. Inside there was the same small wand protruding from the outside, ending with the chain. She gently pulled on the chain and the probe gently released itself, sealing the hold created.
"Go look; I wanted to share these with you. I hope you don't mind. They're some of my fondest memories of you."
She put her face to the swirling images inside the small object and she could see many more images then in his. The first she picked was, actually the first time they met on the train, when Ron attempted to turn Scabbers yellow. Next she saw the images when she helped solve the riddle to find the Sorcerers Stone, telling him to go on while she tended to Ron. She saw for the first time, he looked back to see her as she left the chamber in their first year. She felt a warming smile grow on his face when he saw her in Diagon Alley in the second year, and the amusement of her turning into a cat.
"Harry, these are…"
"Yeah, I wanted to share my favorite memories of you. Kinda like a photo album. You can change any of them you want, it's ok. These are just some I thought you might like."
Hermione pulled away from the Pensieve and smiled warmly at her friend, "I absolutely think it's the best present I've ever received; I've never gotten such a thoughtful gift. I truly love it, thank you." She pulled him into a tight hug, which he really didn't know how to respond to.
"Err… well, uhh, you're welcome. I only put short snippets in there so I could fit a bunch. Uhhh, Hermione?"
"Yes Harry?"
"About these books."
"I thought the one on runes was fascinating and the other was in Parseltongue and no one knew what was in it. I told the shopkeeper that I wanted to try to decipher Parseltongue. Can you understand it?"
"Well, yeah. It has a lot of unusual notes and I think Salazar Slytherin actually wrote part of it. When I flipped through it I found notes on the Chamber."
"So you can read it? Do you think you can translate it?"
"I can read it fine, but there are some words that I understand, but I don't know how they'd translate to English."
"How about Latin or Greek, those were popular a thousand years ago."
"Maybe, can you help me translate it? I could use the help with the Latin."
"Sure, I think we need to get back to the party downstairs. I'm going to watch the rest of these later, in private. Aperire Cogito Sospito Parseltongue " she said to the small Pensieve, and she watched it pull the small wand back inside and close up into a watch. She held it carefully and put the chain around her neck, knowing these were calming memories for Harry that he wanted to share. "I'll keep it with me, always."
Harry stood, and carried the books with him as she followed, rejoining their friends.
- - -
Over the remainder of the holiday, the friends enjoyed the peace and tranquility of the moment. Harry's nightly visions had abated; his scar never so much as itched once. Ron and Luna seemed to be genuinely happy together. Ron and Hermione seemed to finally manage to work past the awkwardness they had with each other since their date.
During the last few days of the holiday, Harry and Hermione spent time together practicing his fledgling skills at wandless magic and studying the book she gave him on runes. It contained vast information on ancient magic practices, including perfecting wand less magic, a skill they still kept as a secret between themselves. Although he could perform most any spell without a wand, the effects were mostly unfocused and largely unpredictable. The information they were learning together was helping him control his focus. Every attempt Hermione made without a wand, however, failed. She instead focused her mind on helping him perfect this skill.
"Ok, now Harry, concentrate, try not to feel the anger, just make the chair float."
He had his hand stretched out, and spoke as clearly as he could. "WINGARDIUM LEVIOSA" and the chair began to rise from the floor.
"You DID it!" She screamed, breaking his concentration. The chair fell to the floor with a thud, and he snarled at her.
"Thanks, you made me drop it."
"But it DID float. How do you feel? This text says that type of magic requires a lot of energy."
"I'm fine, it's about the same as when I first tried a Patronus Charm. It's draining, but I think I can get used to it. What else does the book say?"
"It says 'Most wizards and witches can perform small bits of unfocused wandless magic, with various degrees of complexity. However, many that have attempted to forgo the use of a wand altogether have experienced symptoms ranging from mild discomfort to extreme pain accompanied with physical injury.' Harry, I think this is too dangerous. Maybe we should stop for a while."
"No, I feel fine. I'd like to try something more then simple levitations. How about LUMOS!" His hand began to glow brightly, just as the tip of his wand, sitting on the table across the room.
"Harry, your wand? It's glowing too."
"NOX, that's weird, my hand felt cool, almost cold."
"Any side-effects?"
"No, I still feel fine." He looked at the chair he had levitated earlier, "Evanesco!" he pointed at the chair, it vanished in a flash of light.
"Harry? Now that's almost freaky. I think you should stop for a while. There's got to be a reason why it doesn't bother you. This book says 'spells cast unfocused without a wand could be misdirected and cause permanent injury to the caster. Extreme caution must be used.'"
"Hermione, this won't be enough to defeat Voldemort. I need something stronger. What am I going to do, make him float and glow?" He was becoming agitated that she wanted to be cautious in his budding ability.
"We can practice later if you like…"
He closed his eyes and pointed his hand at the stack of books on the table, and waved his wand as if sweeping the table clean. All the books flew off the surface, and into their original spots in the bookcases along the wall in her room. "Fine, if you want to stop, then lets get something to eat, I'm pretty hungry."
"How'd you do THAT? They all went back to their proper places!"
"I just thought it was time to put them away and it just happened. Let's find Ron and get some lunch, I'm
sure Mrs. Wea… err 'Mum', has something for us. I don't think I can get use to calling her Mum, it seems
weird."
"As weird as snoggin' with your sister?" She teased as they left the make-shift library.
At the end of the holiday, the group of students returned to their school via portkey, and Hermione's parents were treated to a similar return trip, under the watchful eye of the Order. Just as in Harry's case, a member of the Order had been stationed near the Granger residence in case of an attack; with the request Hermione was not told.
Other memories: Seeing her again in Diagon Alley the second year.
Her as a cat
Her punching Malfoy in the third year.
The Yule ball.
Watching her learn the skills to run the DA
Her kiss as they parted last June.