Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, or the ski resort in the chapter. I did a simple Google search so don't sue me.
Joshy: Hehe you said sue!
Jay: *rolls eyes* There is nothing that you could possibly get from that, that can turn 'sue' around into meaning something else.
Meg: I thought you knew him by now. He can turn anything around.
Me: Oh yeah! This is Meg. She's another reviewer turned chat buddy, and she's just as bad as Jay when it comes to making me write. I seriously had a 3-way MSN conversation with them that consisted of GO WRITE about 50-100 times. *Shudders at the memory*
Joshy: *Whispers something into Monisa's ear and makes her giggle, then runs away with a maniacal laugh looking at Jay and Meg*
Me: How he came up with something was beyond me.
Recap:
"You already look ten times better. I was only joking Hermione" she gave him a mock glare and blushed.
Harry smiled and kissed her cheek and they headed up to their rooms for the night. He had to get to sleep early if he was ready to start the Family Winter Vacation.
Chapter 17: Christmas and Anticipation
Harry awoke the next morning to an unfamiliar noise. He scrunched up his face and tried to focus his hearing. There was a low grumbling growl coming from in front of him. The more he focused on the sound, the closer it seemed to get.
What is that noise? Am I that hungry? I was stuffed at dinner last night and I'm sure that growl is not coming from my stomach.
Harry was beginning to feel uncomfortable. He was pretty sure that there was warm breathing on his face. Normally this would have cause alarm, but Harry was far to snuggle in his bed to be jumpy. He'll just have to settle with keeping his eyes closed and scrunching his face up.
If something were going to get me, it would have done it by now…OUCH! What the hell was that!?
Harry sprang up and looked towards his hand, where the sharp pain was coming from, and saw Taz gnawing on his thumb. Harry shook his hand and sent the little dog flying off the bed.
His thumb had two little cuts and it was already starting to swell. Harry looked over at the barking dog, and jumped out his bed in anger towards Taz.
Just as he rounded on the dog, he was stopped from his possible rumble, by someone loudly clearing their throat.
Harry spun around to the door and saw Gram standing there, staring at him with a disapproving look on her face.
If looks could kill, I'd be dead and buried. I'm sure she could beat any dark wizard with that stare.
"Umm I was just-"
"No need to explain; I seen it all. Breakfast is ready" She turned her cold glare from Harry to Taz and gave a simple command "Come".
Was she talking to me or that mutt?
Harry didn't want to take any chances and he fell in step behind the obedient dog. When he reached the kitchen he saw that everyone else was already at the table waiting to start their morning meal.
Harry took the last seat in between Alex and Hermione. "Sorry for waking up so late, I was just so comfortable. And lately, Hermione has been waking me up in my dorm room, so I guess I just over slept" Harry finished with a chuckle.
Four forks hit their plates with a loud clatter, and the four adults in the room gave Harry glares that demanded an explanation.
It took Harry a few seconds to comprehend what they were sharing at him for. His face expression went from confusion, to realization, to embarrassment, and finally fear. "OH! NO! What I meant was…she she she she-"
"On every weekend I have to go and force Harry to wake up. Sometimes he get up on his own. But weekends is like his timed 'sleep in until 5:00 in the evening' day. Today is Saturday and it's on that schedule again."
Gram and Tim still had frowns in their faces but went back to breakfast. Everything was quiet; too quiet for Harry's liking.
Gram cleared her throat, effectively grabbing everyone's attention. "I walked upstairs to wake up Jerry over there" she pointed a finger at Harry, "and he was beating my poor dog. He threw my Taz clear across the room." With that being said, there was a mix of expressions at the Granger table.
Harry looked horrified, Hermione looked confused, Alex rolled her eyes, Rachael looked upset, and Tim was grinning widely.
"Jerry was asleep and I didn't want to wake the boy. I sent Taz to the bed to give him a little nudge and he threw my dog."
"That's not true!" Alexis snapped her head to Harry with wide eyes and choked on her juice.
Tim's smile got wider.
Harry was outraged! He jumped from his seat and yelled, "I did no such thing! That mutt was growling in my face and it bit my thumb! I shook my hand and the dog fell off the bed and continued to bark at me! How can you accuse me of doing something like that!? I admit I did want to attack Taz after he bit me but you were sure to stop it there and not while that THING was gnawing on my hand!" Harry put up the bruised thumb to show that he wasn't lying. "I'm sorry Gram, but I especially don't like when people make up stories about me. I had a lot of that at the Dursleys and at school." Harry sat down and looked slightly ashamed for speaking to Hermione's grandmother that way.
Tim couldn't contain it anymore. He exploded in laughter while the women looked at the twelve year old boy in amazement.
Gram stood up abruptly and said "I am going to get my bags. Everyone in the car in 15 minutes or we will miss our flight! TIMITUS HELP ME WITH MY LUGGAGE!"
Tim looked at her in shock as she left to her bedroom. "She wants me to treat her like a lady? She never asks me to carry her bags. Usually the old bat gathers strength and carries all of her things out to the car like a muscle man."
Rachael glared at Tim and dragged him to the pile of luggage waiting by the door. Alexis gave a slight nod and Hermione left the room.
Harry turned to Alex to find that she was already standing behind him. "Come with me Harry".
Harry nodded and allowed himself to be led through the house and up to his room.
Gulp…I didn't even know I could think a gulp!
She went over to Harry's packed bags and opened them. She pulled out a pair of boxers, blue jeans, a deep blue sweater, and she even got his socks.
She got up sat down on the bed, sat the things behind her and signaled for Harry to have a seat next to her.
Did it just get hot in here? It must have. It would explain my throat going dry.
Harry took a seat next to her and gulped again. "Harry, about what you just said to my mum," oh no, she's going to be upset with me too. "It was bloody amazing!"
I'm sure she is gonna … wait… WHAT
"Huh?"
"Harry no one stands up to mum like that. Well, no one that's outside of me and Rach. Hermione has never had to and all the boyfriends we've had are deathly afraid of her. I couldn't even count how many blokes got away from me because of that woman."
Harry clearly didn't grasp what she was saying.
"Harry! You've just stood up to her. She may not tell you this right off top, but mum would rather a guy stand up to her when it's about something like that. She was clearly lying about what happened. Usually guys just sit there and let her go on and on about them and make up lies. She wants her girls to date someone respectful but not a complete push over. So she tests them. We all can tell that you are a nice guy so you're okay with that test. That Tim is such a git. It's been sixteen years and he still just mumbles behind her back. Rachael got tired of waiting from him to do something about it and married him anyway. Mum doesn't like him because she says he's an idiot who doesn't deserve her daughter…I guess he waited too long" She shrugged.
"So you're telling me that standing up to her was good because I passed some kind of protective mother test!?" Alexis nodded. Harry smiled and said "cool".
"Yeah Harry, it's really cool. But be careful Taz still doesn't like you. He may take a while to warm up to you…Put those clothes on and be downstairs in…" she looked at her watch "7 minutes".
Harry walked into the restroom thinking maybe she's not as bad as I thought.
***Later on the plane***
Harry was sitting next to Hermione on the plane. She had a death grip on his hand.
"Hermione, we're safe"
She looked at him like he just sprouted another head. "We are not safe. We are thousands of feet off the ground. We are safe when I am away from this horrible flying contraption!"
Tim leaned over and whispered to Harry "Hermione's afraid of heights. She gets like this every trip we take. You'd think she would have gotten used to it by now."
Harry laughed and turned to his girlfriend, "So where exactly are we going? I didn't want to say anything about the plans because I know that they seem different from what we said in Hogwarts. You said we'd visit your grand mum and go somewhere but…" Harry trailed off hoping that Hermione would talk and loosen up.
"I don't know Harry, they changed the plans. Gram and Aunt Alexis came here, and now we're going to Val d'Isère ski resort in France. Mum said we have a cabin a mile away from the resort actually. We'll be there until 2 days before it's time to back to school. I think it will be quite cozy. I hope it will. Gram's been wanting to hit the slopes for a while now."
Harry laughed at the thought of gram skiing 3 mph down the slopes. Hermione continued to ramble on and on throughout the rest of the trip. Rachael and Alexis talked about anything and everything they could think of.
Tim was fighting Taz who was in Gram's dog bag. The little bugger kept trying to tear off his arm. Gram gave Taz a treat every time he took a bite at Tim.
Harry smiled and glowed in anticipation of his first family trip.
***In France***
.
The party of 7, including Taz, made their way into the cabin. It was pretty big and spacious. It had 2 stories. The first floor was nice and cozy. It had a fairly large Christmas tree in the center of the front room, and off to the right were 3 small couches surrounding a large TV. To the left was an open dining room set with six chairs around the table.
Right pass the dining room was the kitchen. It was decorated beautifully with a great view of the back garden. There were rows and rows of trees, but even between the trees, lights were visible from other houses filled with families that wanted to be away from the busy ski resort.
Upstairs was 3 bedrooms. One with a queen sized bed, another with two with full sized beds, and the last room had two twin beds. The whole cabin was decorated in beautiful Christmas ornaments.
Outside the front windows was an amazing view. They could see the mountains and slopes, with a great view of the resort lights and the people walking around the shops at night.
After the family settled in, they had something to discuss.
"Who will get what room?" Alexis wasn't expecting a full-blown argument to start when she said that.
Tim said "Well since this was the last cabin available we thought me and Rach will get the room with the queen sized bed, Gram and Alexis will get the room with the two full sized bed, while Harry and Hermione get the room with the two twin sized beds" He felt proud of himself. Not a stutter, or anything; he spoke clearly in front of Gram.
Gram narrowed her eyes "I think sharing a room is unacceptable for certain people!"
Tim smiled, "See I already thought of that. Hermione and Harry will sleep with their doors open at all times" He puffed out his chest for having thought of that possibility already.
Gram growled, "Not them you imbecile! I'm talking about you."
Tim's mouth dropped open and he gaped like a fish. "ME!?"
"Yes you! I can't control you in your house, but we are on vacation! I know what married couples do on vacation! You smooch and hug and make more Grangers! And you expect me to sleep in a full sized bed hearing what is going on a few doors down? You were sadly mistaken"
Alexis put her hands to her mouth to hide her smile. Harry and Hermione tried to think happy thoughts, to prevent them from thinking along to Gram's implications. Rachael looked expectantly at her husband hoping he'll say something to her mum. To her dismay he didn't say what she wanted to hear.
"Oh well then, what would you suggest Gram?" Harry could tell it strained Tim to utter that sentence. He looked like he would start twitching any moment now.
"Let's see, I can share the queen sized bed with my grand daughter. My two girls can share a room with the full size beds. You and Harry and have the twin beds"
Harry smirked and Tim grunted.
"Now everyone to the television! I have old home movies!"
Tim followed behind the crowd with a slump and dragging feet. Leave it to old people to spoil my holiday fun.
Harry had to admit so far everything was fine for him. He even got to see a 2-year-old Hermione running starkers with the book, Green Eggs and Ham, in her hands. She escaped from her bath and was yelling "I do not like them Sam I am. I do not like green eggs and ham." as Tim chased after her with a bath towel. She made a vow to blow his toe-sucking picture up and put it in a banner on the front of their house if he didn't stop laughing at her. Naturally that shut Harry right up.
Rachael, Hermione and Alex went to the kitchen to make tea, leaving Gram, Tim, and Harry…in one room…alone…together.
Tim tried to ignore Gram's attempts to get his attention, but that only lead to her smacking him in the back of the head. "I have to talk to Harry. Don't you have something to attend to Timitus?"
"No. And before you ask, I already unpacked my things."
Gram narrowed her eyes, "Well unpack mine then! I like my underwear folded!"
"But I have to touch your bloomers?! Can't I just put it on you bed and you put them away!?" She gave her son-in-law a glare and he stomped up the stairs.
She turned her attention to Harry. "Young man, I understand Alex spoke to you about my little test." Harry nodded affirmative.
"You must understand that I am not entirely comfortable with Hermione dating at such a young age, but you seem like a decent, strong, respectable boy. Have you had the talk yet?"
Harry's eyes widened and he hastily replied yes.
"Oh believe me I wasn't going to give you the talk. I do want you to know that if you hurt my grand daughter I will make sure you cannot sit on those broom stick thingy's without a seat cushion." Then she turned her frown into a smile and gave the startled boy a grandmotherly hug.
Harry awkwardly put a hand on her back and gave her a pat. She smiled and headed towards the kitchen.
Later that night Gram put everyone to bed early, "We'll have an early day tomorrow, so everyone head to bed. You too Timitus"
Harry and Tim were sharing a room like Gram said. Tim's feet hung off the bed and it took him ages to get comfortable. Harry was lying there getting ready to drift off to sleep when Tim spoke.
"She's being nicer to you for some reason. Yet the hag up there keeps calling me Timitus and won't even let me share a room with my wife. And yet she calls you Harry!"
Harry chuckled at the older man's child like behavior. "Maybe if you didn't talk about her behind her back and stood up for yourself she would be nicer to you."
He huffed, "Nicer. Don't make me laugh Harry. And standing up for yourself is the last thing you want to do to her. She'll eat you alive. I mean literally. I'm sure that's what happened to that bellboy in the hotel last year. He told her not to give him mini Listerine bottles as a tip and I didn't see that boy again. Seemed like a nice chap though."
Harry laughed. Tim seems like a really nice guy. He's even warming up to me. He would have let me share a room with Hermione even…why would he do that?
"Tim, can I ask a question?"
"You just did, but I'll let you get another one"
"Why would have you allowed me to share a room with Hermione? I mean I know it was nice and all, I just can't help but wonder what made you do it. Even at home you follow us around with a watchful eye."
"You're a nice boy Harry. I trust you…almost completely with my daughter." Harry was touched at those words. Sure it wasn't complete trust but what father would? "Besides, this was the last available room that even came close to fitting all of us, and neither of the couches downstairs had a fold out bed."
Harry chuckled at Tim and rolled over anticipating tomorrow's activities.
***December 23rd***
Harry wasn't so sure about this.
What am I doing up here?
Gram was giving him safety lessons on his first ski down a slope and he wasn't paying attention.
"Do you understand Harry?"
"Can we start from the beginning again? I may have missed one, two, or nine parts."
Gram gave him a pat on the back and laughed good-naturedly. "The others are all ready at the bottom! Try to keep up with me Harry"
Well at least that's the plus side to this. I have to keep up with Gram. I'll stumble and maybe fall down the slope, but she'll be going way too slow to-
Harry didn't get to finish his sentence because Gram gave him a not so gentle push to start his journey downhill. He may have wobbled to the sides, and did a few uncoordinated slides, but at least he didn't feel like he was in danger of tumbling down the mountain anymore.
Hey I'm setting the hang of this! Oh I must have left Gram in my dust…or snow. I hope she's okay.
Just as he finished his thought, Gram went speeding past him with her old, stiff back oddly straightened to the perfect ski posture.
As Harry reached the end of the run, he realized he didn't know how to stop. So he did the only thing he could do. He fell backwards and landed on his butt.
Gram came to help him up. "This time you should pay attention when I give my instructions, Harry". He nodded and patted his slightly sore bum and got ready for another go at the slopes.
By the end of the day Harry was skiing almost as well as Hermione and her parents. He really enjoyed it. With the speed it was as close as he got to actually flying (without a plane) in the muggle world.
After a while, Gram let loose and beat them all in every race. He was still amazed that she was very good.
Rachael had finally talked her mother into giving Tim a break and letting them share a room and go by his original plans.
Gram grudgingly agreed, leaving Harry and Hermione in their room with the door open.
"Gram says tomorrow we will do our last minute Christmas shopping. I know you grabbed enough from Gringotts to shop so you should get up early to get the things you want to get."
Harry frowned a bit and wondered what to get Hermione for Christmas. He knew this would be a hard task for the morning. "Goodnight Hermione"
"Goodnight Harry" she mumbled sleepily. And with that, the preteens were out for the night.
***December 24th***
Harry had a long day Christmas shopping with the others but it was nearing 7:00pm. And he finally had all of his presents for everyone. After putting all of the wrapped presents under the tree, he went upstairs to meet Hermione because she said after shopping, that they would wrap their presents and meet up for a surprise.
Harry walked into the room to see Hermione putting on her coat. "Hurry up Harry. Mum said we could go to into the resort as long as we're back before 9:00 and I have something fun to do"
Harry didn't need to be told twice. Harry was dressed and waiting outside before she could get on her last shoe. Tim dropped them off and Hermione lead the way through the resort. She stopped in front of an ice skating rink. There were tons of people their age there and a few families and couples. This is nice. Happy faces, skating and…GRAM!
Gram was skating around the rink gracefully, while pulling Taz in his dog sled. As she glided pass Harry and Hermione she gave a quaint smile and continued along her way.
"Have you ever skated before Harry?"
"No. The Dursley's would never take me skating. I don't even think they ever went to skate anyway. You know, Vernon and Dudley in skates and all"
Those poor skates. Having to hold all that weight.
Harry didn't even notice Hermione still talking.
"Well then….Harry, pay attention! I was giving you instructions on how to skate. Now come on lets get out there"
"Wait Hermione. I wasn't listening. I'm gonna fall." His protests were futile; she had already pulled him onto the ice.
Harry was shocked that he got the hang of it after falling only seventeen times. But it was nearing the end of the day and they had to return to their cabin. Hermione made it very clear that they were to be home before 9:00 that night.
Upon arrival Harry immediately noticed the smell of cookies…or was it gingerbread? Maybe it was both. They walked into the kitchen to see Rachael and Alex cleaning up after making tons of cookies and gingerbread houses. Hermione's eyes lit up at the site.
This was part of their yearly tradition. Gram takes Hermione to do something fun, her mum and Aunt Alex bake cookies and set up the gingerbread houses, while Tim fights with Taz for male dominance over the remote until it's time to decorate the tree.
Rachael looked up and smiled at the two as they walked in. Hermione immediately ran over to the sink, washed her hands and got the frosting to decorate the small houses.
"Go on Harry, we made a house for you to decorate too" Harry was just as eager to get to the job.
***In the living room***
"Gram?"
"What Tom?"
Tim sighed; she'll never get my name right. "Why are you being so nice to Harry and not me? I really don't like when you do that"
A look flashed across her face. A look that Tim had never seen directed his way. It was almost empathy, but it was gone before he can catch the expression and lock it in memory "Tim,"
Oh my goodness! What did she call me!?
"I have been waiting sixteen years for you to even get remotely close to asking me a question like that. You have gotten married, had a child, who got a boyfriend, and even her boyfriend understood before you…"
"Understood what?"
"To talk to me. Ask why I treat you that way. Stand up for yourself. Prove to me that you deserve my daughter"
"Didn't I prove that over the 16 years of strong relationship?" Tim was sure he had her there. It had, after all, been a long time. How could she go on with her charade that long?
"Oh that's simple. It took you so long that I grew to not like you very much."
Oh that explains it all. I was so slow she hated me.
"However, I did give up on you never standing up to me after about 14 years"
"Oh. So that means you'll keep calling me Tim and treat me better?"
"No. This is my relationship with you now. I enjoy our little squalls."
Tim smiled. I never knew she was nice deep down within the burrows of all her fur.
"Yeah I guess they are fun, but one little thing then?"
"What is it?"
"Can you call off your dog? He took the remote and I've been watching the dog show for the past 2 hours" Then he put on his best sad puppy face.
She laughed at Tim, "No, but you can call me Debbie if you really want. I figured if anything will change it would be that. I feel old when you call me Gram"
Tim scrunched his face and turned back to the dog show until the kids were through with their fun in the kitchen.
***Um…Later***
Tim, Hermione, and Harry had the best time decorating the tree. After having a difference of opinion on the color of tinsel to use, they had a tinsel fight that ended in Harry and Hermione being covered in the gold tinsel that Tim wanted to use.
At around midnight they all settled into bed in anticipation to Christmas day.
***December 25th***
Harry didn't get a wink of sleep last night. What person his age would get sleep? It was Christmas morning! It was nearing 6:00am and he was about ready to wake everyone up to open presents.
I wonder how early is too early. If it were up to me we would have opened them two hours ago. But I guess I'll let them sleep. Oh bugger it all!
Harry got out of bed and strolled over to Hermione's bed. As he was about to touch her shoulder to wake her up, he stopped; he remembered that horrible day, and what happened the last time he tapped her shoulder to wake her up.
Hermione turned over and smiled at him. "I was waiting for you to wake up. I didn't sleep at all last night."
Harry laughed, "I didn't sleep either. I was just trying to be courteous."
Hermione sat up and got out of bed. She stood in front of Harry and gave him a kiss on the lips. "Happy Christmas Harry! Now let's go awake everyone"
"No need for that" The two teens jumped apart and looked over towards the doorway. Alex was standing there with a smirk on her face. "You two are adorable, so young yet so in love. Reminds me of my first boyfriend. I really miss….what's his name" Alex frowned while trying to remember the boy's name. "Anyway, we're all awake. Tim came in and woke us all up. He was heading for your rooms but Rach thought you could use the sleep. Now come on lets get to it"
They walked downstairs to find the adults already sitting around the tree.
It took the family a full hour to open the gifts and Harry couldn't be happier. This was the first time he even received a present on Christmas that wasn't a hand knitted sweater, something odd from Hagrid, or something from Dumbledore. This was different, because he got these gifts as a member of their family, not as only a friend.
Harry loved the watch Hermione got him. It was a wizarding watch. It would tell time and look like a normal muggle watch, but when you hit the button on the side it shows you where your friends are; it allowed five people to be set into it.
Hermione loved the present Harry got her. It was a simple heart shaped locket with her initials engraved on it, and he wanted to let Hermione pick what picture to put in there.
Harry was currently outside frowning at Tim. He had gotten a RC airplane and wanted to try it out outside. Tim ensured him that he couldn't use it without adult supervision. That meant Tim played with the plane while Harry stood to the side with a pout. He got tired of watching Mr. Granger play with HIS plane so he went inside. Hermione immediately noticed his face.
"What happened, Harry?"
"Your dad won't let me play with MY toy. He took over"
Rachael laughed. "I knew he was far too eager to buy you that Harry."
Hermione put on her coat and pulled Harry along outside with her. They stood on the deck for a while with laced hands, and watched her father act like an amazed toddler.
Hermione bent down and picked up a ball of snow and launched it at her father. Her aim was perfect because she hit him right in the back. He turned around, and it was a now officially war. He landed the plane and tackled his daughter in the snow and throwing snowball after snowball at her in her futile attempt to run.
Harry saw Hermione getting cornered again and started launching snowballs at Tim.
"What!? This is no fair. Your boyfriend can't help you!" Harry wondered how much longer it would be until Tim was able to say boyfriend without it sounding like a forbidden word.
After they piled her father in snow, Harry hesitantly asked if they could make a snowman…he'd never made one before.
Tim was worn and out of breath and decided to leave them to it. "Hermione knows what she's doing in the snowman department. I'm gonna go inside and see if there is something to drink…or an oxygen tank" he mumbled the last part, making them laugh.
It took them a while but they had finally built the perfect snowman, and they both were exhausted. It had been a long day of family fun for them and Harry was sure that they could tell he was greatly enjoying the trip and family time.
Harry and Hermione were in their room talking about everything that happened and how much fun they were having, but eventually an inevitable topic was brought up.
"I loved this winter break, but in another week we'll have to go back to everything in school and we ran into problems last time. We know Draco isn't the heir. Now we have to try harder to figure out who this Tom person is"
Hermione nodded "Yes, that's true. I know it will be difficult Harry, but for now lets just focus on the time we have outside of the wizarding world." And they fell asleep with foreboding thoughts in their minds.
***At Hogwarts***
Looking for him is the hard part. I must get rid of a muggle to pleasssssse my massssster. I've come close but never ssssucceeded in killing a ssstudent, this time around.
The snake slithered around the halls late at night and searched for the boy.
Richard Polk was up late waiting for a letter from his mum. He was a 7th year prefect. He had to cancel his vacation early and get back to school, because his baby sister was sick with the chicken pox. He never had them so he thought it'd be best if he stayed away from her. After all, he liked Hogwarts, his girlfriend was still here and it was the safest place to be. He was in the Gryffindor common room when he heard a faint tap on the portrait door. He was sure it was his girlfriend from Hufflepuff so he went over to open it. He opened the door, looked up into it's eyes, and never had another thought again.
The basilisk slithered away and back to its hide out. It finally succeeded in killing another mudblood; the first in fifty years. His master would be please indeed.
A/N: Well it was partially fun writing this chapter. Tim and Gram, I HOPE I did them a bit of justice with the comedy parts and understanding Gram's unkindness.
I like writing all my chapters but this one was tiring and I was busy trying to learn to play chess and read all about what happened in Virginia Tech. It was a very sad thing that happened and if anyone knew any of the victims, my deepest condolences go out to you.
I rushed through a few parts and still ended up with a lot of pages, so I hope you all enjoyed the chapter, and read & review please and thank you.