Chapter 9 - Christmas

Ever since the Quidditch match the Rusty Trio aka the 3 stooges Ron, Dean and Seamus tried to tell the other Gryffindors, Harry was a poor addition to the House Team but no one was listening to

them. They tried to go back to insulting Harry's family but every time they tried they were caught by Professor Snape earning them even more detentions where they had to manually clean the castle.

Several days later Harry had received a reply from Uncle Vernon from when he asked if he and Draco could come home for Christmas. He opened it eagerly:

Dear Harry,

Any friend of yours is welcome in my house any time. Truth be told that Aunt Petunia was a little worried. Dudley will be coming over as well for the holidays but Petunia said she would stab herself with a knife if she did not have both her son and nephew home for Christmas. I was about to write this letter asking you to stay over when Hedwig came with your letter. Of course Draco can come over. From what you told me I don't think he is very welcome home. Looking forward to seeing you both.

Uncle Vernon

"You can come over" Harry said to Draco who was sitting next to him at the table who smiled.

Hermione said to both of them that she was planning on spending her holidays with her family but she will be looking forward to seeing them both after the holidays.

Albus Dumbledore on the few days until the Christmas holidays was mad as well as he was slowly losing control of his "weapon". First, he found out his pet Death Eater Snape was picking on Ron more

than he was on Potter and his friends. Second he tried to access Harry's vault at Gringotts only to be denied any access at all by the Goblins, they had confiscated his keys to the vaults saying he had

no right to possess them and said they will go back to Harry on his next visit, and the same went for the Weasley family. So until Harry marries Ginny, they would not be able to touch even a Knut of

the Potter fortune. Not only that but he tried to create a marriage contract with the Weasleys between Harry and Ginny. The Goblins tore the contract into pieces (marriage contracts had to be

accepted by Gringotts in order for them to be legal and official). They said Harry was already in a marriage contract with Hermione Granger (Lily Potter and Hermione's mum were friends in primary

school). Since the contract was in the Potter Family Vault, he would not be able to check it to see if there are any loopholes he can use. The goblins even laughed in his face when he outright

demanded a copy immediately.

So he had to pray that Harry never finds the contract inside his vault. On the day before the holidays after classes Dumbledore called Ron to his office.

"You idiot!" Dumbledore was shouting at Ron (who sank into his seat) one hundred percent furious at him, "I told you to befriend the boy! How is insulting both him and his Mudblood mother

befriending him?"

Ron sank even further into his seat as he said, "I'll fix my mistake. I promise!"

"I don't even need you for the plan," Dumbledore shouted at him, "All I really need is Ginny to come next year, but I'll tell you what! I will give you ONE more chance! But if you are not friends with

Potter by the end of the school year, you can forget about any share of the Potter fortune, you can forget ever holding a Prefect or Head Boy badge, you can forget me trying to reason with Snape

about giving you punishments and you can bloody well forget me fixing the marks to your end of year exams! Perhaps you will learn your lesson when you are in the same year group as your sister!"

Ron nodded understandingly and exited the office.

"Maybe Potter's father's invisibility cloak can help him," Dumbledore thought.

Then Snape entered the office.

"You wanted to see me Albus?" Snape asked and Dumbledore nodded.

"It has come to my attention that you had been picking on Mr. Weasley than you are Potter," Dumbledore said.

"Sorry Albus, I try to pick on Potter, but I am too busy dealing with Weasley. He is the rudest Gryffindor I have ever taught in my class always insulting me and the other students. Plus since Potter is

always working with my godson, I am not as able to pick on him as much as you want me to."

"Just please work on it!" Dumbledore said and Snape nodded before leaving.

Snape then went back to his classroom in the dungeons.

"How are you doing Snivellus?" he heard a voice say as he sat down on his desk.

He then sighed and said, "Lily can you please tell your husband to stop doing that?" On the dungeon wall was the portrait of Lily and James Potter. They had been in the Dungeons at Hogwarts

unbeknownst to all the other portraits at Hogwarts. Even the students and faculty (especially Dumbledore) didn't know, just so they do not get chased by students and even Ministry employees

wanting to know what happened at that particular Halloween. Severus had on Halloween a year go, picked them up so as for them to be ready when Harry came to Hogwarts. Their spirits had been

endowed into their portrait when they died, so it was the real James and Lily Potter.

"Glad to see you being nice to our son and his friends despite your bias to your own house," Lily said smiling at her old friend.

"I really do not want to treat Slytherin any differently than the other houses," Snape said, "but Dumbledore told me to do it saying it would do well to his plan if I was an unfair tormentor to him."

"Why can't McGonagall favor her house as much as you do?" James asked angrily.

"But she does James," Snape said to the portrait-spirit's confusion, "she does show favoritism to her Lions, since she gives them more homework than the other houses."

Lily laughed while James just huffed.

"You want to spend time at your sister's house for the holidays?" Snape said and the portrait-spirits nodded.

"All right, I will send you early in the morning."

"I can't wait to see the young man my son has grown into," Lily said, "though I can imagine their reaction when we show up on Christmas day."

James said, "Harry and Malfoy's kid remind me of me and Sirius when we were kids! I wonder if I can convince them to reform to reform the Marauders with the Weasley Twins..."

"You do that James," Snape snarled "and I will personally make sure you are exorcised from the portrait!"

Lily laughed while James just huffed and muttered under his breath something which sounded like "spoilsport."

"Speaking of Sirius," Snape said "I think I know where Pettigrew is."

"Where?" both Potters inquired urgently.

"I believe he is the pet of that Weasley boy who I keep giving detentions to practically every time I see him," Snape said, "but I don't think I can act until I am perfectly sure. Plus he might try and

escape if we are not careful. But if we caught him we could get Sirius cleared of the charges and sent free. Maybe if Dumbledork could hire Remus we can concoct a plan!"

Then the Potters nodded and James said. "One more thing I hear Harry almost got injured in the Quidditch game. Is he okay?"

"Perfectly," Severus said, "I think Quirrell jinxed his broom. He might be after the Stone, I told Dumbledork hiding the stone here was a dumb idea but he refused to listen! Just in case he tries it again I

am trying to see I can be the referee for the Gryffindor vs. Hufflepuff match."

"Will you stay with Harry after this?"

"Yes, but we will still come to visit, and I'm sure Harry would bring us. So don't worry, Sev, you'll get wrinkles."

"Yeah, Snivellus, you'll get wrinkles."

"It's my job to worry. Anyway, on with the motley that is my next class. See you two later."

"Bye, Sev" and "See you, Snivellus" could be heard as he moved out of his quarters and stalked to the potions classroom.

~HPID~

A day later, Harry and Draco had gone to the train to go back to the muggle world. They were greeted by the three smiling Dursleys. In back of the car, Dudley playfully berated Draco for stealing his

cousin away from him.

When they arrived Harry helped Draco put his stuff into his room and Draco himself set out his sleeping bag.

On Christmas morning, Vernon and Petunia were getting ready to call the boys, to their shock the portrait of Lily and James suddenly appeared on their wall.

"Hello Petunia, long time no see," Lily said.

Petunia gave a loud scream which woke up all 3 boys and they came rushing down.

"Are you alright?" both Harry and Dudley asked and they turned to see the portrait.

"Hello Harry," both Potters said smiling at their son.

"Mum? Dad?" Harry asked stuttered.

~HPID~

Back in Hogwarts castle Ron, Dean and Seamus woke up in their dorm together.

Going through his presents Ron opened one up to find the annual Weasley sweater from his mother.

"I hate maroon," he muttered and saw he got some presents from Harry. "Potter must have finally come to his senses," he said happily, but all happy thoughts vanished when he saw what he had

sent him. It was a book of manners, a box of sweets at least 10 years past their expiration date, a stocking full of coal and a battery.

"Very funny Potter," he muttered angrily deciding to send the battery to his dad. He then found a parcel with a note tied to it. He quickly read it:

Dear Ron,

This rightfully belongs to Harry Potter, but I think you deserve it more.

A friend

"Awesome," Ron said. Being stupid without opening it the trio took it down to the common room so he could gloat about having something Potter doesn't.

When they entered the Common Room he saw Fred & George (wearing each other's jumpers) and Percy.

"What is that?" Percy asked. He read the note and took the parcel from him.

"Hey!" Ron said trying to protest when Percy cut him off, "This does not belong to you Ronald, I am sending this straight to the person it belongs to."

"For shame Ronald-"

"-For accepting something which is not yours to accept-"

"-we are disappointed in you" Fred & George said finishing each other's sentences. Ron muttered angrily about Potter getting everything.

Percy took the parcel and wrote a note to Harry.

Dear Harry,

Someone tried to send this to my brother Ronald. It said it rightfully belongs to you. Since it is my duty as a prefect to make sure stolen property gets sent to the person it rightfully belongs to, I am returning it to you.
Yours sincerely,

Percy Weasley
Hogwarts School prefect

P.S. I got a letter from my mum saying she plans on inviting you to our house for the summer, for your convenience please do not accept since I do not think you will want to deal with my brother Ronald for the summer. Also my sister Ginny actually has a huge crush on the Boy-Who lived due to the stories Mum read her before bedtime and I think she could become a stalker.
He then gave the parcel to Hermes and told him to deliver it to Harry's house.

~HPID~

Soon everyone in the Dursley house had managed to calm down from seeing the portrait-spirits of Harry's parents. Then Hermes came in and dropped the parcel. He then flew out of the window.

He read the note out loud and said "Remind me to buy Percy something next year." He then thought that Percy did not need the PS bit since he had no intention of ever setting foot in Ron's house.

He then opened the parcel which turned out to be a sparkly cloak.

He then put it on to see his lower body become invisible.

"My invisibility cloak!" James said surprised.

"You had an invisibility cloak?" Draco asked.

"It is how he and his friends got away with most of their pranks at Hogwarts," Lily said scowling.

Then Harry opened his presents. Uncle Vernon got him the hardback set of all 3 Lord of the Rings books, Hermione had got him a large box of Chocolate Frogs, a book about dealing with bullies from

Dudley, Aunt Petunia had knitted him a green sweater and Draco got him a copy of Quidditch through the Ages. Draco had gotten a box of tooth picks from his dad ("He actually got me something this

year?") with a Knut taped to the box, a book of famous "Blood Traitors" from his mum, a box of Every Flavour Beans from Hermione, a collection of Roald Dahl books from Harry and a blue sweater from

Aunt Petunia (which made Draco smiling knowing Harry and his aunt & Uncle consider him family). Dudley got a few presents as well including a red jumper from his mum.

Harry had also gotten a letter from Mrs. Weasley asking him to stay over for the summer holidays and maybe get acquainted with her daughter. A letter Harry crumpled up and threw into the fireplace

the instant after reading.

Soon they had tucked into the Christmas food and Uncle Vernon led them into a few of his favorite carols and outside Harry, Draco and Dudley wearing their sweaters had a furious snowball fight.

Harry was going to take the portrait of his parents' spirits back with him to Hogwarts. All in all, it was the best Christmas they ever had. It would be even better if they knew that Ron Weasley was

having a terrible time with nothing to do and no one to annoy.