Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, any characters or places named in these stories. They belong to JK Rowling.
Four letters lay on Harry's kitchen table. He knew immediately who they were from.
One had a stamp, with a messy cursive script. That was Louise's parents, probably wanting to know what to get James for Christmas. He smiled until he looked at the other three. Two had been delivered by a grey owl, his name printed neatly in ink. He ignored them, turning instead to the letter delivered by the school barn own, from James.
Heya dad,
I'm having a great time here at Hogwarts! I've been sorted into Gryffindor, that's a school house, and I think it's the best! The food's great and there's so much of it. Hugo just won't stop eating, so we've found out how to sneak down to the kitchens. Last time, Luke was too loud and Professor Longbottom caught us. He went a bit funny when I told him my name, and he let us off. No idea why though. Hugo reckons he's just nice; apparently he knows Hugo's mum.
My favorite lesson is charms, the professor's really nice too and we don't get any homework. I can't stand history of magic though, it's taught by a ghost! If that sounds cool, its not… he's sooo boring!
Hugo's invited us back to his house for Christmas. Apparently his family all come back, so you can meet lots of wizards. And older wizards can use magic all the time; not just in school; so you can see lots being done. And Hugo's going to teach me to play Quiddich. Please please please can we go? It'd be so much fun!
I've got to go now. Luke thinks he's found a secret passage out of the school!
Love James.
Harry smiled; his son had followed him to Gryffindor. And Neville was still at Hogwarts, what could he be teaching? Not potions, Harry guessed. Binns was still around, was Flitwick? Harry thought not, he remembered lots of charms homework!
Hugo? Was that the Weasley? He couldn't remember Hermione or Ginny ever saying any name when he had seen them at the station. It probably was; they wouldn't just let him alone. Though it was probably mostly Hugo he needed to blame. Sighing, he replied to James. Yes, he supposed they could go to Hugo's house. He couldn't think of a good reason not to.
He turned his attention to the letters from Ginny. They probably said the same as the other four she had sent. Ever since seeing them at Kings Cross she had been writing to him. He wished owls needed addresses to deliver letters; muggles would never have found him.
Dear Harry,
Ginny says you're not replying to her letters. I hope they're reaching you, because I am using the same owl she does. I expect that by now James has invited you to the Burrow. It was mostly Ron's idea. But I will warn you now; he has no idea who James' dad is. It is not my place to tell him; Ginny wants to do that.
I hope you will consider coming to the Burrow this Christmas; Ginny is not the only one who wants to see you.
Mione
Ok. Not from Ginny then.
Hermione. He missed her so much, especially after Louise had died when James was three. Not as a girl. He had always known that she and Ron were made for each other. He realised that he was guessing Ron and Mione were together; but couldn't think what else the letter would mean.
He didn't write back, he didn't know what to say. He added a sentence to James' letter telling him to make sure Hugo's parents knew they would be coming.
He didn't think he could deal with Ginny's letter. Settling down to wait for the owl, he watched football on the television; and realised how much he missed Quiddich.
Christmas came too soon that year. He waited outside the barrier for James, with a bag packed for Christmas, wishing he could turn round and disappear once more. But he had a son to think of this time.
"DAD" Harry was jerked into the present by a shout as his son appeared from a brick wall. Harry ruffled James' hair as he hugged him. Behind him stood Hugo and Hermione.
Hermione smiled at him, but took her cue from Harry who extended a hand in greeting. Harry had not yet told James anything about him. He knew he would have to at some point, but not in Kings Cross Station.
"Normally we'd apparate, but we've got taxi's booked today because there's more of us." Hermione didn't know why Harry refused to acknowledge her, but she had a feeling that James was convinced he was muggle-born.
Harry sat in the back, with James in the middle. Rose sat in front with her mum and the driver. Harry couldn't help but notice how much Hermione had changed from studious teenager into devoted mum.
"Oh, mum, mum!" Hugo cried suddenly from the beck. "Guess who we learnt about in defense against the dark arts?"
"Um… tell me" Hermione shot a look at Harry, who thought he might just know who it was.
"Harry Potter!"
Harry rolled his eyes and sighed inwardly. Now he was being taught about. James was pulling on his shirt to grab his attention.
"It's really cool dad, he defeated this really dark wizard when he was still seventeen even when loads of other great wizards couldn't. but no-one's seen him since!"
"Really? Wow!" Harry made a stab at sounding surprised and amazed. Whether he pulled it off or not he never found out, as Hermione pulled them from the taxi into the relative safety of the burrow.
Watching the taxi leave Harry realised what this Christmas was going to entail. Weasley's in their masses, all of whom would be able to recognise him and Ron; who had forgiven him a lot in the past, but was known to hold grudges. And somewhere along the line he was going to have to tell James a little more about Harry Potter. His stomach twisted at the thought.
The Burrow was surprisingly quiet. Harry looked around.
"Ginny's at work at St Mungo's." Hermione explained. "Arthur and Percy are at the ministry; Ron and George are at the joke shop. I think Molly's gone shopping. Bill and Charlie aren't getting here until later. I'll show you to your room. It's in the attic I'm afraid, and James will share with Hugo."
Harry nodded and left the kitchen with Hermione, the boys had vanished into the garden; Harry suspected Quiddich would feature in that development.
When they reached the attic, Harry dropped his bag and faced Hermione, who was looking at him with interest. With no warning, she leapt at him and hugged him. It was a while before he realised that she was crying.
"Mione don't." He hugged her back, remembering the schooldays with her that he had enjoyed so much.
"Your son doesn't even know who you are?"
"No, he thinks I'm a very supportive muggle parent. I suppose that's going to go out of the window this week?
"I think it might Harry."
Harry nodded as he heard the door close three floors below and someone call out for Hugo and Rose. Hermione looked horrified.
"What?"
"No-one's told Ron it's you."
"What? No-one's told him that Dean Finnegan, James' dad is in fact me, his best friend?"
"No, Ginny wanted to do it. But I don't think she has. Suddenly Hermione thought of something else.
"And if Ron doesn't go into shock. I know several other redheads who will."
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