Chapter 8: Family Christmas

Part 1

"Oooooooooooooooh, we're off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard that's dad! We know he is a wonderful wiz, if ever a wiz there was. The wizard that's Dad is one because because because because because because because because because becaaaaaaaaaaaaaaause, because of the wonderful dad he is, la da da da da da da, we're off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard that's daaaaaaaad!" Mel sang excitedly, bouncing around the compartment on the Hogwart's Express. She then took a deep breath and began another verse, "We're off to see the wiz-"

"Dot, if you don't either shut-up or get the words right, I'm going to be forced to hurt you."

"But Aaron," she whined, "We haven't been home for so long! And it's Christmas! You can't hurt me! You LOOOOOOOOVE me! I'm your only sister!"

"Sister or not, one more note and you won't be able to make a peep for the rest of the trip."

Elizabeth, Kat and Cosette's stifled giggles turned into outward laughter when Mel opened her mouth to, no doubt, say something smart back to her brother and found that no words came out; instead, only a simple chirp could be heard.  Another laugh joined the fray as the chirping became more fervent and Mel turned red in the face from her anger.  The problem with this though, is that it wasn't Aaron laughing.  He, in fact, simply shook his head after casting the spell and turned his nose back to the copy of the Daily Prophet he had been reading.

"Well, well, well. What do we have here?" an all too familiar voice sneered.

"Get lost, Crawford, if you know what's good for you…"

"You don't want to be twittering around so much, you know, Lupin," David Thomas continued, ignoring Elizabeth's comment.

Mel's face contorted with fury and she tried to yell at him, but, once again, the only sound that came out was chirping.  In light of this, Aaron spoke up from behind his paper, still in the seat he had taken in the corner of the compartment, out of David's line-of-sight. 

"Did you want to say something to my sister, Mr. Crawford?  If not, please don't let me stop you."

"Wha-?"

"I do believe that you heard me just fine.  Perhaps you should think twice before trying to pick a fight with a student again, or at least check and make sure that no older siblings, who also happen to be professors at your school, are within earshot."

"But-" David stammered.

"But nothing.  One more word and I will have you for detention when we get back to Hogwarts after the holidays.  As it is, I already plan on having a bit of a chat with your mother about your behavior.  Please don't give me anything else to discuss with her."  Aaron raised an eyebrow at the young man, and took his silence as consent.  "Now, if you have no further business here, I suggest that you find your seat."

Once David had left the compartment, and the three girls had finished their own brand of twittering about what had just happened, Aaron was about to release Mel from the spell he had cast on her.  Of course, as soon as he looked at her he realized that she was more furious at him than she had ever been at David Crawford, so he decided that perhaps it could wait until they got home… or at least to King's Cross…

By the time the Hogwarts Express arrived at Platform 9 3/4, Mel had already plotted over a dozen ways to bring both bodily and psychological harm to her brother. In fact, as they stepped off the train and onto the platform, she pulled out her wand, ready to hurl every hex she could think of at him. Of course this was pointless for two reasons. One: she still couldn't speak, and the angered chirp caught his attention along with that of everyone around her; and two: Elizabeth yanked the wand from her hand before any damage could be done.

Mel glowered at her friend who tutted and shook her head. "You know we're not allowed to do magic outside of school! You don't need to get into more trouble... imagine what Snape would-"

"And just what would my dear friend Sev have to say something about?"

Elizabeth looked somewhat taken aback. "Oh, Mr. Lupin! Nothing, it's just that..." she trailed off.

"Yes?"

"Hey, dad," Aaron said gaily, ruffling Mel's hair as he joined them.

"Ah," Remus said, a knowing smile spreading across his face. "Didn't realize you'd be coming home this way, Aaron." Aaron shrugged. "And what happened on the train that has Dot so quiet?"

"I think I see my family over there," Elizabeth said quickly. "Happy Christmas!" she shouted, before running off.

Aaron snickered. "Merry Christmas, Elizabeth," he said before turning back to his father. "Nothing happened, nothing at all, isn't that right, Tweety?"

Before she could stop herself, Mel opened her mouth to tell her brother off, regardless of whether or not their father was right in front of them (along with most of her school). Remus tried his best to hide his smile as Aaron openly laughed at his chirping sister.

"Aaron," Remus said.

"I know, I know." He then pulled out his wand and performed the counter-charm.

"I'm going to kill you!" Mel roared, charging toward her brother, and tackling him around the mid-section.

"Impedimentia," Remus said, pointing his wand at his two children. They both slowed down nearly to the point of being altogether frozen. "Now, enough, really. We can continue this at home... speaking of, we've got to get there quickly. We have a bit of packing to do before traveling and then settling down for the Christmas surprise."

Harry and Ginny were curled up comfortably in one-another's arms as an old record player sang out in the background.

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
Jack Frost nipping at your nose
Yule-tide carols being sung by a choir
And folks dressed up like Eskimos.

"Happy Christmas, love," Harry whispered in Ginny's ear.  Ginny sighed contentedly and let herself sink deeper into his embrace.

"It's not Christmas yet, you know," she teased.

Everybody knows a turkey
and some mistletoe
Help to make the season bright
Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow
Will find it hard to sleep tonight.

"Soon enough, love, soon enough."  They sat there together, staring into the fire, in a comfortable and familiar silence.

They know that Santa's on his way
He's loaded lots of toys
and goodies on his sleigh
And every mother's child is gonna spy
To see if reindeer
really know how to fly.
 
And so I'm offering this simple phrase
To kids from one to ninety-two
Although it's been said
many times, many ways
Merry Christmas to you.

As the song ended, Ginny began to speak. "I love-"

"Harry? It's time to go!" an all too familiar voice interrupted.

"It's your mum!" Ginny hissed, immediately jumping up, her heart leaping into her throat. 

"That does it," Harry muttered under his breath. He had had enough. Who did his mother think she was, anyway? This was his flat, not hers. She couldn't just come apparating in and out as she pleased. It was finally time to say something.

"Mum," he began, walking toward the kitchen where Lily was waiting, "I don't know what you think you're-"

"Our first Christmas as a family since you were little," Lily beamed.

Harry took one look at his mother, in all of her Christmas glory, and lost his resolve. He couldn't do it. He couldn't tell her off, not here, not on Christmas, not when she was right. "Happy Christmas, mum," he said.

Ginny looked on from the hallway and sighed deeply. She then shook her head and turned back to the living room fireplace. Throwing a pinch of floo powder into the flames, she quietly said "The Burrow," and disappeared.

"So, are you ready? Your dad is waiting for us," Lily told him, conveniently ignoring his confused expression.

"Waiting? Waiting where?" he asked.

"You'll see. Just grab your bag and then we can leave."

"If you say so," Harry said, shaking his head. He then left the kitchen to head to his room for his things when suddenly it occurred to him that Ginny was nowhere to be found. It was only on his way back to Lily that he noticed the sparkling blue ashes at the bottom of the fireplace, indicating that his girlfriend had left via the floo network.

Three distinct pops broke the silence on the grounds of the Palace of the Prophets as the Potters appeared out of thin air.

"Dad, mum, where are we?" Harry asked, his confusion growing with every passing minute.

"You'll see," James said, smiling as Lily ran her hand along the low garden wall.

"James, do you think she's still here?" Lily asked excitedly, clutching her cloak around her more tightly as she hurried toward the ornate doors of the Palace.

"Who?" Harry called after his mother's retreating figure.  "Who should be here?"

Just then, as if in answer to his question, the front doors opened and an elderly woman stepped out smiling as broadly as Lily now was, despite the tears that were freely streaming down her face.

"Lily!" she cried, clutching her hands to her chest.  "My Lily!"

Lily, who was also crying freely by this time, flung herself into Victoria's now open arms.  "Gran…"

James, however, clapped a hand on his son's shoulder.  "Harry, I'd like for you to meet your great-great-great-great… well, this is your Gran, Victoria, on your mum's side."

"My what?" Harry muttered.