Disclaimer: I'm not Jk Rowling, just a 21 year old guy trying to bring some festive cheer…
A Very Harry Christmas!
He had just escaped the cold night air by getting into his warm bed, the fire burning fiercely by the side of his bed. Today had been a hard day, Horcruxes had been destroyed and a little blood had been shed, but this didn't compare to the bitter cold that had engulfed London. Harry was close to giving up, a depression had gripped him so strong that even going through the motions of everyday life was hard. He wished that this would all end soon, even if it ended in his death he wouldn't have to lose more of those he cared about. He was so tired and could barely keep his eyes open when a knocking came from his bedroom door…
`Who is it?...' there was no response, a few others where living in the house and he hoped beyond hope it wasn't Dobby with another surprise present, all that turned out to be rather foul `Come in!'
The door was pushed open and in came a familiar, but totally unexpected, visitor.
`Dumbledore!' Harry exclaimed in shock jumping up from his bed. He looked no different from the last time he saw him. Scratch that, Harry thought, the last time he had seen him he was lying dead on the floor after having fallen 50 foot from the astronomy tower, now he looked positively brilliant compared to that bloody pulp.
`Yep, Harry, it's me. Although being dead as I am, you may call me Albus' He said, the same glitter or excitement still shining in his eyes. This was way too much for Harry to take, being visited on Christmas Eve by his dead ex headmaster. Harry sighed, for him this wasn't actually too weird.
`So, Albus, is there a reason you've come tonight?' Harry asked standing up to look better at the old, dead, man before him.
`Of course, Harry. Tonight you will be visited by 3 ghosts… well 2 others including me, to show you the past, the present…' Albus spoke politely, similar to his speech to the school every year, Harry though knew where this was going and had interrupted him.
`And the future…Dickens anyone? highly original!' Harry said exasperated, this was way beyond a joke, a thought hit Harry making him slightly angry `Wait! I'm scrooge in this story, aren't I? Oh, that's too rich!' Harry was rather insulted being described as the joy hating evil Scrooge, for god sake he was Harry Potter, supposedly the hero of this story. Albus looked a little uneasy and went to looking around the room awkwardly.
`Well…Kinda…' He stammered embarrassedly `But it's a good part, main character and all?' He added hopefully. Harry gave up, like he had been a lot this year, and decided he'd just go along with this.
`Fine, Albus, so I'm guessing you're the ghost of Christmas past?' Harry asked, it didn't look like there was anyway out as he remembered how Scrooge had fought against it and failed. Albus smiled at this change in Harry and carried on talking in his speech style way.
`O.k., we'll be leaving soon, and we shall go to the…PAST!' he said dramatically.
`I already guessed that! No need for the dramatics…' Harry said, he may play along but not to make himself look like a fool. Dumbledore noticed and looked embarrassed again, obviously death had taught him a modesty he hadn't had in life.
`Fine, if you're not going to play along, we'll just go now!' He said a little hurt whipping out his wand, and with it the room went bright, blinding Harry, it took a few moments for it to die away and for him to be able to see again, and what he saw was beyond belief!
`You've brought me here?' Harry said shocked, something definitely had to be wrong and as he looked at Dumbledore he noticed he was a little confused as well.
`Well…um…to be honest Harry I don't exactly know where we were going, I thought it'd be you're parents house…or something…' Dumbledore said apologetically.
`What the hell am I suppose to learn from seeing Voldemort at Christmas?' Harry said repulsively looking at Voldemort setting a table for six, whistling `Rudolph the red nosed reindeer' to himself rather cheerily. Harry decided to give up and just let this all unfold, he looked at Voldemort and realized he must have been about 20ish as he still looked handsome and human. The sight of this man gave Harry the chills as he thought about what he'd become. Harry walked around the room and looked at Tom Riddle's house, it was a cheery place with photos over most of the walls. Harry paused at one and saw a smiling and happy Tom Riddle with his arms around a girl, the two looked very much in love and happy. Harry blinked and shook his head, what the hell was going on with this. The door rang and Harry saw a big smile fill Tom's face as he bounded to the door answering it as quickly as possible.
`Hey honey!' he said cheerily pulling the girl who was at the door into a big hug. Harry couldn't help but notice how she quickly removed herself from the hug and walked into the room. Harry was actually quite interested now, disharmony with his girlfriend, it was like a teen drama.
`Tom we need to talk…' she said sharply, looking at him a little fiercely. Tom looked worried.
`Sure, sweetie, what about?' he said softly and a little worried.
`I was talking to some people and they seemed to have the impression you're a dark lord, and hate all muggles' and muggle borns!' she said rather nastily, looking at him strictly waiting for an answer, Tom though looked offended and rather upset.
`What the hell are you talking about?' he said angrily, showing his bad side for the first time. She though didn't seem to be scared at all, just giving him a blazing look instead.
`I was talking to Bellatrix…' She started but Tom interrupted.
`That stalker!' Tom said furiously `you know she's in love with me! Just because I'm Salazar Slytherins heir doesn't make me a bad guy! She made it up to make you hate me!'
`Well…I don't know what to say' She said, but Harry could tell that she didn't believe him `I'm sorry Tom, you know I love you…but I think we need time apart…so I can think straight…' she said and walked towards the door, tears evident in Toms eyes as he watched her leave.
Suddenly the room went bright again and the next moment Harry could see he was back in his room, a troubled expression on Dumbledore's face.
`What the hell was that?' Harry demanded, Dumbledore looking away awkwardly, trying to avoid Harry's question `Am I suppose to feel bad for him because he got dumped by a girl? That he decided to become the monster he is today because his heart was broken?' Harry was now shouting a bit, as he found himself feeling slightly sorry for him.
`I think that it was to show you that there is good in everything, even something as evil as Lord Voldemort' Dumbledore said gently as it was Harry's turn to look away awkwardly. A tapping came from the door before Albus spoke again `Well, that's my go up, been…interesting…catch you soon Harry…'
`What the hell does that mean? Catch me soon? Are you saying I'm going to die!' Harry shouted in haste causing Dumbledore to look in shock.
`Just a figure of speech Harry, promise' and with this he disappeared and a new person walked through the door.
`Oh, what a surprise that you're the next ghost!' Harry said overly sarcastic `And everything tonight has been so original! So how are you Sirius?' Sirius let out his bark like laugh before speaking.
`Good, and I know you've had better days' Sirius said laughing walking towards Harry and pulling him into a hug, Harry allowed him to but sighed, sometimes people could be so over the top.
`So, beloved godfather, where we off to? Draco Malfoys' house for tea? Or maybe Snapes' for some sandwiches?'
Sirius chuckled again before speaking `A little angry are we, beloved Godson? As you just found out I don't know where we're going, but I for one hope you're guesses are wrong, or I will spend a lot of effort trying to hex them to kingdom come' he said laughing, Harry was glad Sirius had shown up, he was a lot more fun than Dumbledore, and a little less mad. `Ok, were off!' and with a wave of his wand the room went bright again and Harry found himself in a new room.
`That is so lame!' Harry snorted, Sirius even looked embarrassed at this pathetic trip `We've gone downstairs from my room!' They were now in the living room of Grimmauld, approximately a thirty second walk from Harry's bedroom they had just disappeared from.
`That is kinda lame' Sirius said confused, looking around wildly for a point to this trip but giving up when Hermione and Ginny walked into the room `I guess we'll just see what happens? That Hermione is looking dam Hot!' Sirius said staring at Hermione as she walked across the room.
`Sirius!' Harry said indignantly
`Harry, I know you may find this surprising but age isn't such a problem when you're dead!' Sirius said laughing at Harry's indignation.
`I can't believe you, Hermione!' Ginny said offended storming after Hermione who seemed a little bored with the argument, telling Harry that it had been going on for a while already.
`I haven't done anything, please quit…' she said exasperated, Ginny though obviously didn't find this the right answer still scowling at her, Hermione sighed and spoke again `So what if I bought Harry a nice present? Is that against the law? He's my best friend!'
`But that's not all you want! I've seen you staring at him all the time!' Ginny was by this time practically shouting at Hermione who was blushing slightly but looked ready for trouble.
`Ginny, listen carefully for I'm only going to say this once' Hermione started dangerously making Ginny cower slightly `even in an ultra hypothetical world where I was in love with Harry, you two wouldn't be together, and me and him would still be friends! Even in the most twisted of worlds the two of you would not be together, and I would still be his best friend! Ok!' Ginny had now taken several steps back and Harry was left staring at Hermione. Then room suddenly went bright and Harry found himself upstairs once again in his room. Harry was in shock and had to sit down on his bed, Sirius was in silent thought as well.
`Now, that was weird…' Harry said softly, thoughts swimming through his head. Sirius looked at him evidently trying to hold back what he was thinking `Spill it Sirius…'
`Well, it's really you who picks where we go, and I can only see one reason for viewing the scene we just saw…' Sirius spoke fatherly to him, Harry had been thinking the same thing. Could he really have feelings for the girl downstairs and never have realized it? `I can't knock you're taste, Harry. The girl is seriously cute. Can I tell you something, but you have to promise you won't get mad?' Sirius spoke the last bit cautiously.
`Go on then, being mad at a dead man would be unfair of me…' Harry said hoping that what would come would help him in some way.
`Well, you know the whole order really just revolves around you…' Sirius started `Well, that can get very boring at times, so we kind of had a bet on who you'd end up with…you know for a bit of fun…' Sirius said all this quickly as Harry stared at him in shock.
`Uh…what?' Harry stammered out.
`A bet, I had you down for Cho myself, but then again I died in the fifth year so I can forgive myself for that mistake. Mad Eye had Ginny as his pick… Lupin though was the only one to pick Hermione…I must admit I laughed at that!' Sirius said proudly.
`You…you bet on my love life?' Harry was angered at this `I bet you even got Tom `teen drama' Riddle involved didn't you?' Harry laughed at his, he couldn't think of Voldemort without seeing that boy who was in love and hurt by his girlfriend.
`Nah, decided against that, we knew he would of probably have picked no one, seeing as he planned on killing you. So Dumbledore put him down for 5 galleons on that. Albus said he'd ask for it back next time he saw him' Sirius stated seriously like this wasn't weird behavior at all.
`That is so weird, Sirius, honestly really disturbing!' Harry said seriously fearing for Sirius state of mind, he just shrugged and mumbled something about having too much spare time. This night is just getting weirder and weirder. Harry heard a tapping from the door and Sirius looked sadly at Harry.
`My times up…I've gotta go.' Sirius said and got his wand out `Wish I could find out who the third was though, they had trouble finding someone for it' and with a bright flash of light he disappeared, and the door was opened.
`Ho Ho Ho, Harry!' came the mans voice, Harry jumped at his appearance and rubbed his eyes unbelieving at who was stood in front of him.
`You're Santa Claus!' Harry said in shock at the man standing before him.
`You're right, Harry' and with this he pulled out a parcel from his sack and gave it to him `Santa gives you a present, for being a good boy this year! HO HO HO'
`This is probably the cheesiest idea ever!' Harry exclaimed happily `But heck if I'm going to moan! I've wanted to meet you ever since I can remember! And the problem of you not being real has always got in the way' Harry couldn't remember ever being as happy as he was now and he threw his arms around the jolly fat man in front of him. After a few moments of blissful joy Harry pulled away from him and looked at him `So are we getting a move on then? I know you have a lot to do tonight'
`You have no idea!' Santa said sighing `in the old days so many people were bad, that Santa didn't have all that much to do. Now though there are six billion people in the world, and with gays and all races being declared equal, it means a lot more delivering for Santa. And they all want playstation and 42" televisions, that's a lot of work to do, and the elves now have a very good union and want at least 6 pounds an hour! Being Santa in a thriving capitalist society is no picnic, now Santa can't travel without the proper documentation, Santa's had guns pointed at Santa twice as they thought Santa carrying a big sack meant Santa was a terrorist' Santa said a little miserably before turning cheerful again `We're going, Ho Ho Ho!' with every `ho' the lights got brighter till he couldn't see and found himself in another room.
The room Harry found himself in was dirty and had the horrible smell of damp was lingering in the air, looking around he couldn't help but have all the joy sapped from him, like he was in the presence of a Dementor.
`What is this place?' Harry said turning to Santa who was looking decidedly ill at the moment.
`How the hell would Santa know that? Santa doesn't know jack!' he said a little meanly throwing Harry a dirty look.
`Fine, and stop referring to yourself in the third person!' Harry said angrily, he had always wanted to meet Santa and now he was being a jerk!
`What!' he roared `Santa has been talking like this for centuries and no one has ever complained to Santa before!' Harry could tell that he had hit a nerve, so he looked away bashfully from the fat, rather pissed, man standing before him. Harry looked around and jumped at what he noticed, a man sitting in the corner who was just as filthy as the room. The door to the room opened and an older woman walked into the room causing the man to look around, showing his face to Harry. What Harry saw nearly made him scream with panic, he was looking into the face of himself as an old man, dirty and smelly and looking as miserable as ever. Harry heard chuckling from Santa and heard him mumble `that's what happens to you for laughing at Santa'.
`Oh, you came…' the old Harry said miserably to the woman who Harry hadn't even looked at yet `How are you, Hermione?' Harry spun around to look at the woman. She must have been about 60 odd by the grey hair and wrinkles Harry could see, but she looked a lot healthier and happier than the old, disgusting, Harry. She looked beautiful, for an older woman anyway.
`Of course, Harry. I come nearly everyday, and like I'd miss Christmas!' she said friendly going over and giving him a hug. Obviously she was still brave as Harry wouldn't have hugged the old man, and he was him.
`Hermione, where did things go wrong?' he asked, Harry could tell that he often asked this.
`Things aren't wrong, Harry. You just haven't let anyone get close to you since the final battle. That's not necessary a bad thing…' Harry could tell it was a bad thing though just by looking at what his life was to become `I'm still here for you…' and the lights shone bright and Harry reappeared back in his room.
`Thanks a lot, Santa!' Harry said bitterly, he really wished he hadn't seen that `what good does it make that I know this is going to happen?'
`Santa corrects you, it may happen!' Santa said, Harry spun around and looked at him hopefully.
`What do you mean by it may happen?' he asked earnestly, hoping for the right answer.
`Well, that is what will happen if you carry on the way you are going…but you can change yourself and thus your future!' Santa told him cheerfully `Now San…I must be going, bye Harry' and with a crack Santa disappeared leaving Harry in the room all alone, thoughts rushing through his mind. He knew what he had to do, what he wanted to do, and was trying to build up the courage. He left the room and walked around the house, trying to do what he wanted to do. He paused outside a door and pushed it open. He saw Hermione lying on her bed reading a book jump up and stand before him. He walked towards her, looking at the beautiful woman he had always known but had never really seen.
`Harry…what are you doing here, it's…' Hermione started but Harry had reached her and pushed his lips to hers to stop her from talking. An explosion fired through his body, like every inch of his skin was on fire as he ran his lips over hers, his tongue pushing between her lips for the most important kiss that would ever happen in his life. He slowly pulled away from her and looked into her eyes, pausing for a moment to look at the woman he loved before speaking.
`Hermione, listen to me and believe the words I say when I tell you that I love you…I always have. You've always been there for me and I've always loved you as a friend, but now I love you with such a burning passion that I know you're who I'm destined to spend the rest of my life with, to grow old with and hold in my arms for all my life…I love you Hermione Granger…' She looked at him in surprise as tears started to fall freely from her eyes.
`I love you too, Harry Potter, you don't know how long I've been waiting, wishing, that I'd one day hear you tell me those words. I love you with all my heart!' and with this she through her lips onto his, pushing against his with such desperation to feel this new found love that Harry was pushed back against the wall. She pushed her tongue into his mouth, his need for her was exploding through his mind and body, and he knew that he would feel this way forever. He broke the kiss for a moment and looked into her eyes, every bit of will power he had was being used to stop himself from kissing her until the end of time.
`Hermione, I love you…I just have to do one thing before I kiss you for all eternity, it'll only take one minute and I'll be back to hold you in my arms forever' Harry had spoken these words honestly and Hermione had just nodded and watched as Harry left the room. He made his way to the owlery, he needed to send two letters. He wrote the first and re read it before sending it with Hedwig. It read…
Dear Tom,
I suspect that you won't be expecting this letter, but I wish to meet. No battles or threats of death, a one on one conversation for a change. I know you were once in love, that it was that that made you what you are, and I know you still have good in you. I know you can save yourself, and maybe the girl you still see when you close you're eyes. I invite you for Christmas dinner, a chance to make up for the one you missed all those years back.
Harry
Harry wrote the next one and sent it straight away.
Dear Lupin,
You won the bet. I love Hermione Granger…see you at dinner!
Harry
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So what do you think? I enjoyed it and all Christmas stories should be VERY corny in my opinion! Hope you liked it…review!
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