"Okay now, what are the rules? Ezra Standish asked, while driving the rented van to Chris Larabee's ranch, outside of Denver.

"No talking about the wizarding world," Harry said.

"And?"

"This is especially about Hogsmeade, Diagon Alley, the Ministry of Magic, and Dad's job," Ginny recited from memory.

"And?"

"If they ask what Dad does, we're to say that he's a silly servant--" Ron said

"That's CIVIL servant!"

"--in the British government," Ron continued, as if he had not been interrupted.

"Yeah, in the department of... defence!"

"But only say that if they ask," Remus reminded them. "Otherwise, don't say anything at all!"

"Anything else?" Ezra prompted the teenagers.

"No playing pranks on them," Fred pouted.

"And?"

"If you mess up, try to cover it up."

"That is not quite what I was looking for..." Standish murmured.

"But that's good enough," Remus said.

"Ezra, why did you have us bring our snowpants?" Harry inquired.

"There is a hill on Mr. Larabee's property, that we may be able to toboggan down," Ezra replied.

"Is that what those things are, strapped on top?" Ron asked.

"Yes, Ron. I hear they're fun," Harry answered, thinking of the storybooks that he had read in school.

"That sounds good," Tonks stated, looking forward to partaking in muggle activities.

"Indeed. We may even warm up afterwards in front of the fireplace, drinking hot chocolate," Ezra continued.

"Can't wait," George said.

Silence

"So, are we there yet?"

*****

"Ez, Remus and the kids should be here, soon," Nathan said, as put some candies into the Christmas sock, that he was holding.

"So, this Tonks that spoke to you on the phone? What did she sound like?" Buck asked Chris.

"She sounded British," Larabee answered.

"Lay off her, Buck!" JD put in. "She's dating Remus."

"Oh." Silence "Okay, she's off limits."

Vin couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Are you actually saying, that you're leaving a woman alone?"

"I wouldn't do that to Remus," Buck defended himself. "Besides, she's probably all prim and proper. Maybe she's a librarian or teacher like him."

Nathan snorted at this, having met Tonks. "Yeah, like many librarians or teachers have pink hair."

"She has pink hair?!?" Wilmington exclaimed. "Whoa, I'd never think of that of Remus. I guess you do have to look out for the quiet ones."

"She's also a cop," JD added.

"How do you know that, Brother JD?"

"Remus told me," JD covered, knowing that he couldn't very well say, "Because she told me, when I first met her at the Leaky Cauldron in London." He put down a package in front of the tree. "That's a big turkey you put in the oven, Chris. Where'd you get one that big, this late in the game?"

"Nettie had one that she let me have. Josiah, what are treacle tarts?"

"They're a type of tart, that's popular in the U.K. Why?" Josiah answered.

" Ez said on the phone before the left, that he was bringing a couple of dozen with him. He said that the kids loved them and that maybe we would, too."

Arnie, the old labrador retriever that Chris had, was walking around the room trying to get bits of candy from the team members present.

"Is it me, or is Arnie more active today?" Buck inquired.

"You noticed that, too?" Chris mused. "It's like he knows we're having a big gathering today."

"Woof, woof, woof, woof!" Arnie barked, as he ran for the front door and began dancing.

"They're here!" Vin announced, looking out the window.

They all rushed to the window to see the silver van park by Buck's truck.

"Chris, can we go sledding down the hill, later on?" JD asked, observing the toboggans on the van's roof.

"That would be a good idea."

Ezra Standish appeared to be choreographing everyone's decent from the van. The team could see bags and boxes, being carried by various people. Both groups walked towards the door.

"Woof! Woof!"

Chris opened the door, and Arnie raced outside, weaving between the teenagers and adults outside.

"Arnie! Get back over here!"

"Arnie! Down!" Ezra demanded, as the black lab jumped on him. Arnie listened, but ran around, eventually following Remus inside."

"What a lovely dog you have, Chris."

"He's usually not this lively. Arnie! Sit down!"

The Weasley's came in next.

"Our dad is a silly servant working for the British government in the department of defence!" Ron announced to everyone in the room.

Silence.

The next thing heard was the whack that occurred between Ron's head, and Fred's hand.

"Oookay," Vin said.

"Ron, you're stupid!" George exclaimed to his brother.

"I am not! I get okay marks in school, though po--kem - is - try, isn't my best class."

Ginny shook her head. "Sorry about Ron," she apologised as she held out her hand. "Jetlag."

"Been there, done that, have the t-shirt," Vin replied as he shook her hand. "Vin Tanner."

"Ginny Weasley." She held up a bag. "Where can I put this?"

Chris went over and took the package. "I'll take that. You take off your boots and give your coat to one of the boys."

"Here are some presents," Fred said, holding a box-full of gifts.

"And some more presents," George added, as he too, held a box-full of gifts.

"And some... well, you get the drift," Ron mentioned.

JD took Ron's box and leaned in. "You're trying too hard," he whispered to the redhead.

Ron nodded. "Sorry."

"I'll take this," Buck said, taking Fred's package. Nathan made for George's package. The boxes were brought to the Christmas tree and emptied of their gifts.

"Here, let me take your coats," Josiah said, holding onto Ginny's coat. Ron's and the twins were added, before he left to put them away. Vin stayed behind, holding Remus' coat.

"Happy Christmas, everyone!" Tonks called out, as she took off her knitted hat.

'My god, she does have pink hair!' Wilmington thought, as he walked back to the newly arrived group.

Vin took Ezra and Tonks' outerwear, after the two had removed their footwear. Everyone (except Vin) were now congregating in the living room. Harry walked over and stared at the Christmas tree. A real tree, that had lights, tinsel, garland and ornaments--all kinds of ornaments. It wasn't a 'show' tree (which is how he thought of Aunt Petunia's Christmas tree), but a 'lived' tree, representing everyone on team seven.

Ezra had told them on the way over, of how every year, the team got the tree, put the ornaments on the tree, and told stories of how the got the ornaments. He mentioned of how he got JD a death star ornament from Star Wars (which had prompted Ron to mention that he had seen it on Harry's dvd player). Standish had told them of how he felt like part of a real family--that he was truly part of the team--after his first Christmas in Denver.

"I take it that you like the tree?" Josiah asked, making Harry jump a bit. "Sorry for alarming you, but you seemed intent on the tree."

Harry nodded. "It's a very nice tree. Ezra said that it's taken from Mr. Larabee's property?"

Sanchez nodded. "We all agree on the tree. It's usually the one we take, after we start bickering how cold it is."

Harry laughed at this.

"Josiah Sanchez."

"Harry Potter."

"Ah, so you're young Mr. Potter. How are you enjoying the U.S. so far?"

"I've only been here for a day and a half, but it's good so far. We're supposed to go skiing later on in the week."

"Really? Where?"

"Aspen," Standish answered. "A friend of mine has a chalet there, that he has graciously loaned for a few days."

"That was mighty kind of him."

"Indeed," the undercover agent mused. "Drinks are being served in the kitchen, Harry."

"Thanks, Ezra. It's nice to meet you, Mr. Sanchez."

"It's nice to meet you, too."

The young wizard left for the kitchen.

Ezra moved closer to Josiah. "Mr. Sanchez, you will not profile Mr. Potter or any other of my guests."

"Ezra, I--"

"I know that you will not intentionally profile, but once you find something interesting, you do not let go."

Josiah was hurt that Ezra would think this of him. However, his friend was correct to a certain extent (no matter how much he wanted to deny it). On the other hand, it intrigued him that Ezra (and he also assumed that Remus, Tonks--was it?)would also be as protective of the children.

"Josiah..." Standish warned.

The profiler held up both hand. "I give you my word, that I won't profile anyone."

"Excellent," Ezra stated, showing his gold tooth, as he smiled. "Now, shall we enter the kitchen for some drinks?"

Josiah smiled back. Peace between them was what he wanted. "Lead the way, Brother Ezra."

*****

"Now that we're all accounted for," began Remus. "I would like to introduce the young ones."

"And young we are," stated Gred.

"So very young," added Forge.

"It was just a few years ago that we were toilet trained."

"And that it was just last year, little Ginny was born."

Everyone who knew the twins just rolled their eyes.

Team Seven had a laugh.

"These kids have a sense of humour--I like them already!" exclaimed Buck.

George and Fred looked at each other and grinned, before remembering the rule about not playing pranks on Team Seven.

Arnie, meanwhile, was pitter-pattering all around the kitchen, wanting to be petted by all the wizards--especially Remus.

"This duo, are infamous Fred and George Weasley."

"Hello," they said in unison.

"The redhaired young man--starring at the package of treacle tarts--is Ron Weasley."

"Nice to meet you."

Vin gave a way, correctly assuming that he found a fellow who liked food, just as much as himself.

"This young lady, is Miss. GInny Weasley."

"Thank-you for having us over today, Sir."

Chris smiled. "It's nothing at all. Oh, and it's Chris, not 'Sir.' Not even these guys call me 'Sir.' Well, except Ezra every once in a while."

"This lovely young woman by me is the love of my life, Nymphadora Tonks--but call her Tonks."

"Okay," JD said, thinking that it must be a pureblood name. Tonks smiled at him.

"Well, you know that my name is Chris, and this is Buck Wilmington," Chris introduced.

Buck gave them all a wide grin. "Nice to meet you all!"

"This curly haired fellow is Vin Tanner,"

"Howdy," drawled Vin.

"The big guy next to him is our profiler, Josiah Sanchez."

"I'm glad that you could make it," Josiah said honestly.

"And you've met JD and Nathan."

Both men put up their hand and said their hellos.

"What are treacle tarts?" Vin asked, wondering why Ron was starring at the package so.

"Treacle tarts are absolutely amazing!" Ron exclaimed.

"I have to agree," Harry put in.

"It's a popular dessert dish, in the U.K." Ezra answered.

"Oh. Can we have some?"

"Vin, it's a dessert," Nathan pointed out. "You wait until *after* supper to eat it."

"But I may be too full, to enjoy it then."

Ron's eyes went wide. "Yes, I totally agree! We must have a piece now!"

"Okay, okay!" Chris acquiesced. He pointed to a pile of paper plates on the counter.

"And you know where the knives are," Ezra added. At Vin's questioning look he added, "It's a pie that has to be cut."

Vin nodded. "Well Ron, let's get some."

"Yeah!"

Chris shook his head. We'll meet you in the living room."