A Very Potter Christmas

The last week of term flew by in a breeze of inattentiveness, excitement and rising spirits. The Quidditch game was on the Saturday, Gryffindor vs. Slytherin, and, if everyone was still alive from that, the train left on Sunday. Caly was in excellent spirits as they progressed through the last week, as most of the teachers realised that trying to teach them anything this week would be counter-productive she rarely had a chance to wallow in self-pity. Also Scor, after their conversation and following excellent Quidditch practices, was holding his head higher and walking with a lot more conviction. He stared down the Slytheirns in the hallways and they were always delighted to see them stare, shocked at each other, or squirm under his ice cold glare.

On Saturday, Caly awoke to find Rose sitting in bed staring at the red and gold hangings.

"Rose?" she asked cautiously, unused to seeing Rose so still and quiet so early in the mornings.
"Hi Caly." she said not looking away.
"Erm, hi, can you tell me what you're doing?" she asked cautiously as she sat cross-legged in her own bed.
"I'm just looking at the bed hangings, did you know that the lining of this is really badly stitched."
"Okay." said Caly, frowning at her friend. "Rose are you okay?"
"I'm fine, a little nervous, obviously, but apart from that I'm fine." Caly just frowned at her best friend even more. This wasn't right. She had never seen Rose behave like this before a Quidditch game, not even the final.

"Rose, what is it? I mean I know it's a Quidditch game and Quidditch is important but this game surely can't be. I mean you weren't like this before the final." Rose just shook her head.
"You don't understand." she said shaking her head.
"Well why don't you tell me, remember that whole discussion about bottling things up we had." Rose didn't smile but she did nod.
"This time, this game, is personal." Caly frowned.
"Personal?"
"Yeah, like, we have to beat the Slytherins to show them that we're so much better, to show them how strong Gryffindor is. To show them that they can bully us and call us names but we're still better than them!" Caly nodded, that could be quite an inspirational speech but in actual fact she was just quite disturbed.
"Rose how long have you been thinking like this?" Rose shrugged.
"Little while, but don't you see Caly, it's not really me. They don't really, well they don't not hate me but they don't attack me. It's you." Caly was now supremely confused and almost on the verge of thinking that the Rose sitting before her was not the same Rose as the one that went to bed before her last night.
"Okay Rosie, how is it me?"
"We have to protect you." Caly's eyes went completely wide.
"Rose are you concussed?" she asked. Rose looked blankly at her.
"How would I be concussed? What on my bed could possibly concuss me? What in this room could? Honestly you're as bad as Al." Caly raised her eyebrows at this, well that was more Rose but she was back to staring at the ceiling. Caly shook her head.

"Rose are you planning on leaving this room?" she asked. Rose nodded.
"Whenever you do, it's protection see."
"I see." said Caly, now backing away from her friend. Rose was rising, too, ready to come and 'protect' her. Caly, as she backed against the wooden dormitory door, fumbled for the key in the lock that they never used. Once she had retrieved it from the keyhole she whipped open the door, darted outside and slammed it shut, locking it in Rose's face. She could hear Rose banging on the other side but that didn't matter right now. Hurriedly she descended the spiral staircase and entered the common room that was full of Gryffindors with scarves and flags all looking eager for the game. As she ran towards the boys staircase JP, descended from it.

"Good morning Caly."
"Bonjour JP." "Hello JP"
"'Ow are you zis morning?" he asked her politely not picking up on her sense of urgency.
"Je suis très bien, merci." "I am very well thank you." They often spoke like that, Caly in French and JP in English so that his English improved and so he would never forget French. "Oû sont Al et Scor?" "Where are Al and Scor?" she asked him, slightly hesitantly with French.
"In ze dormitory." he replied. "I will go to breakfast. Goodbye."
"Merci. Au revoir" "Thank you. Goodbye" she said in return and then took off up the boys stairs quite forgetting, that as boys weren't allowed in girls dormitories, girls wouldn't be allowed in boys. It wasn't until she'd reached the top of the stairs that she realised exactly where she was and that they hadn't turned into a slide, which apparently was what happened if a boy tried to climb the girls stairs. Blinking slightly, pleasantly surprised, she hurried off to find the door labelled '2nd Year-1'

When Caly found the right door she knocked once before entering. She could hear the sounds of Scor and Al bickering and nothing else, meaning they were likely alone and dressed. Both Al and Scor, once she'd opened the door, turned and yelped in surprise when they saw her. They were both wearing their scarlet Quidditch robes but Al had one glove on and Scor was missing a boot.

"Caly!" Scor yelled looking at her shocked.
"What?" she said, picking her way through the mess that littered the floor around all the beds except Scor's. "It's not like you're naked." the two boys exchanged exasperated looks.
"But what are you doing here?" asked Al. "How are you here? We're not allowed in each others dorms."
"Actually." said Scor. "The founders thought that boys were more untrustworthy than girls so they only placed that spell on the girls staircase." Caly and Al stared blankly at him. "It's in A New Hogwarts A History." he said shrugging, "Not that you two have read it."
"I've skim read." interjected Caly. "But that's not why I'm here."
"Good." said Al. "Otherwise all questions of your sanity would be answered." Caly rolled her eyes.
"Trust me it's not my sanity you need to be worrying about; it's Rose's."
"How?" asked Scor, concerned. Caly quickly explained everything that had happened since she'd woken up. The two boys exchanged looks and something that Caly didn't understand passed between them.

"What?" she asked impatiently. "What is it?"
"Well, it's something we should've mentioned yesterday." said Al nervously. Scor had closed his eyes and sat on the bed.
"Oh Caly…" he murmured shaking his head. "You're going to hate us." Caly made an impatient noise through her nose.
"Just tell me what you did."
"We were… we were corned by the Slytherin team after practice. This was just us three." said Al. "They said that they were prepared to do a deal." Caly could feel every single particle in her body loosing heat, a cold sensation was sweeping through her as she began to understand where this was going.
"They said that they'd convince those five people to leave us, and you, alone if we forfeited the match." Caly's mouth dropped open. What had they done?
"What did you say?" she asked, her eyes wide.
"I said no." said Scor and Caly breathed a sigh of relief running a hand through her hair.
"Oh thank god." she said. "And the rest of you?"
"The same but Rose, she thought we were in trouble, she thought we should have said yes, maybe. She kept saying that we'd risked us for Quidditch." Caly frowned, trying to tie everything together. Slowly she nodded.
"That makes sense, I think, that would explain why she kept saying we had to win this for me. Why she said she had to protect me." the other two nodded. "What are we going to do?" she asked, panic filling her. Al shook his head and looked at Scor.
"Maybe we should find out what she did, first." With nothing better to do, and well aware that Scor and Al had to be down on the pitch in less than half an hour the went back down into the common room; after Scor had found his boot and Al his glove.

"How are you going to get up there?" asked Caly.
"Maybe if you brought us up it will be okay." suggested Al. Scor through him a disparaging look. "Well do you have a better idea?" he snapped at him. "My cousin is up there completely out of her mind."
"Hey, I know. I can't help being sarcastic." Al rolled his eyes.
"You are so lucky we love you like that." the two boys shared grins, until Caly cleared her throat.
"Charming and heart warming as this moment is we still need to work out how to get you up there." Scor stared at the staircase.
"If we had our brooms we could fly up but we gave them to Maise, again, so she could lock them away, safe." Caly nodded.
"I think Al's idea is best."
"You're not serious?" said Scor.
"I reiterate what Al said, do you have a better idea?" he paused then shook his head.
"Okay then, let's go." Caly grabbed both their hands and took the stairs at a run. They made it to the top in about half a minute, panting they looked down at the staircase that was still corrugated.
"Wow, I cannot believe that worked." said Scor.
"For once I'm right." said Al, raising his arms in mock celebration. Caly rolled her eyes.
"C'mon, we need to get you two, preferably three, onto the pitch, soon."

Caly opened the door to her and Rose's dormitory and was promptly knocked onto the floor by Rose who came crashing out. Al grabbed her quickly and pulled her out of the way and Scor picked Caly up off the floor.

"Are you alright?"
"Yeah, fine." she said, rubbing the back of her.
"Oh Caly, I am so sorry." Rose sounded still a little distant. "I was just trying to get to you." Caly rolled her eyes.
"Let's get her back in there." Al escorted Rose into the room and sat her down on her bed.
"Scor do have any idea what she's done?" he asked, looking up at the blonde boy with big pleading green eyes. Scor bit his lip and shook his head.
"I… I don't know everything." he said, looking a little hopeless. "It's almost like she's taken a love potion." Both Al and Caly's eyebrows shot up, Al's disappearing into his messy fringe.
"But she hasn't, right?" said Al quickly.
"No." it was Caly. "Definitely not, she wouldn't want to protect me."
"I think she's cast a spell on herself." said Scor looking at the collection of books that were stacked on her bedside table, in her cabinet, in her trunk or scattered on the floor.
"Great." said Al. "Just brilliant. What do we do?"
"It might wear off." said Caly hopefully. Scor pulled a face, that suggested he didn't like the idea of leaving it on her.
"Yeah but I think it's still best to find out what she'd put on herself." He bent down and began to sift through the books on the floor. Caly bent down too, not sure what she was looking for, she settled for moving aside, onto her bed, the ones Scor had looked at.

"Oh Rosie." they had been sifting through books for 10 minutes, Al had stayed on the bed keeping a firm grip on Rose's arm and talking to her about the weather which seemed to distract her greatly, when Scor sat back on his heels staring down at the pages in his gloved hands.
"Scor?" asked Caly getting up and moving over to him, peering over his shoulder to look at the content of the book. She felt her mouth drop open and her heart sink.

Temporary Memory Charms headed the page the book had been open at.

"What is it?" asked Al. Scor turned the book towards him and he read the title his mouth dropping open in horror, looking from it and then to Rose. "No." he said. "What has she done?"
"Something unbelievably stupid." muttered Scor, his eyes scanning the page.
"Well?" asked Al after he had afforded Scor two minutes of silence. "How can we lift it?"
"We can't, it's called temporary for a reason, you just have to wait for it to go." There was a heavy pause.
"How long?" asked Al.
"It doesn't say." said Scor. "It depends on loads of things; how large the memory was, how powerful the caster is, how many memories the person has." he sighed. "This isn't good."
"But I don't understand what did she actually do?"
"Temporary memory charms, according to this, can be used to either suppress or elevate a memory for a certain space of time." Caly frowned, suppressing memories she got, she used to do it a lot, but how did you elevate them.
"What's elevating?" Al asked, just before Caly did.
"It says it's when it raises a specific memory above your natural memory. Then it has bracketed next to that 'basic functions'."
"What?" asked Al looking really lost and Caly was glad she wasn't the only one who didn't understand.
"Basically your 'basic functions' are breathing and the desire to eat and stuff like that. This raises that memory above those in the your bodies list of priorities."
"I still don't understand." said Caly. "It's just a memory, though, it surely can't matter where it is on the list of priorities." Scor shut the book, shaking his head.
"Look I don't pretend to be an expert but memories are complex things, right? First point done. Second point, a memory isn't just an image, Caly, it's not just a picture or however you view your memories in your mind, it's all the smells and sounds and emotions that go with it. It's why some people don't like pensives, you don't feel what whose memory it is felt."
"Pensive?" said Caly, really thrown off track.
"It's a device used to view memories." said Al, hurriedly. "But that's not important, carry on explaining."
"Well, if Rose used the memory from last night and the sense of protection for you, Caly, that she must have felt got elevated, it suddenly becomes the most important thing to her. Do you see what I'm saying?" Caly began to nod.
"But I don't understand why she did it in the first place." she said to Scor who shook his head as he looked down at the closed book.
"I'm not sure either."
"I think." said Al, hesitant to put in his opinion. "It was because she was scared of what might happen and she wanted to do something to help, and because Quidditch is very distracting she must wanted to make it the most potent element in her mind. I don't think she realised what it would do." Scor nodded.
"That would make sense." Caly glanced down at her watch and felt her heart skip a beat.
"Guys!" she nearly yelled in panic. "You need to get down to the field now! Tell Maise, Rosie is…" she stared at her friend as her other two began to clamber up. "Well tell her something, anything but not the truth." They nodded.
"Will you be alright here?" asked Al, as Scor left the room.
"I'll be fine. The Slytherins can't get me up her and I'm not wondering the castle with her." he nodded and dashed out after his friend.

The morning went by torturously slowly. With only a completely distracted Rose for company Caly found the hours dragging by and, as there was no way of knowing the score in the Quidditch game, she had to try and distract herself from worrying about the score line. She knew that there had been no problem in replacing Rose with Colin, otherwise Maise would have been storming their dormitory. In the end she reverted to playing chess and singing which seemed to focus Rose immensely.

By 4 o'clock she was sure that either something had gone dreadfully wrong or that it was the longest Quidditch game ever. Just as she was standing to go to bathroom she saw Rose stir. Rose had dropped off at 2:30 and Caly had left her because she guessed that she probably hadn't had much sleep the night before. She watched Rose shift about in the bed and push herself up looking around blearily.

"What?" she mumbled. "Caly?" she asked looking around and spotting her.
"Hey Rosie, how do you feel?" Rose rubbed her head.
"Groggy." she muttered. Then she noticed the sleeve of her robes. Her eyes went wide. "The match!" she exclaimed.
"It's still going on." explained Caly "But hopefully it's nearly over." Rose looked horror struck at her. "It's four in the afternoon." she added. Rose looked like she might faint, she collapsed backwards onto her bed.
"Maise's going to kill me." she groaned.
"I don't think so, I told Al and Scor to tell her you were ill or something, Colin will have played." Rose lifted her head.
"Caly you can't just be ill to miss Quidditch you have to have your mind addled." Caly rolled her eyes.
"Well obviously we didn't think it would be a good idea to tell Maise and your overly protective cousins that." Rose looked blankly at her.
"What?" Caly blinked, staring at Rose confused.
"I said that we didn't think it would be a good idea to tell them that your mind was addled." she swept the book off the floor and flipped to the correct page. Shoving it under Rose's nose she yelled. "What were you thinking Rose? How could you be so stupid?"
"I…I." Rose stared down at the book Caly had just dropped in her lap, utterly confused. She didn't remember any of this. Caly turned back to her looking a bit calmer.
"What's the last thing you remember?" she seemed to have guessed that Rose couldn't remember.
"Going to bed last night, I was excited for the game." Caly gave a her a disbelieving look.
"Just?" she prompted and Rose nodded, wondering what else she wanted her to say. Caly breathed out heavily though her nose, practically sighing. "Rosie I know about the Slytherins." Rose opened and closed her mouth.
"How?"
"Scor and Al."
"Oh." Rose stared down at her sheets.
"And sort of you, actually, but you weren't making a lot of sense." Rose closed her eyes and sighed, a pained expression on her face.
"I don't remember worrying about it or anything like that." Caly stared at her disbelievingly. "I mean I remember it happening, but it's like falling into a pensive, my emotions aren't there." Caly nodded.
"Okay." she believed Rose.
"Eurgh." said Rose, letting her head flop back onto the pillows. "I need to sleep." Caly nodded and didn't point up she had just slept for an hour and a half.

When Caly came out of the bathroom, she heard the sound of feet, lots of feet. The Gryffindors were returning! Caly could hear sounds of shouting but couldn't tell whether they were cheering or bad-mouthing the Slytherins; or both. She flew to the door of her dormitory and down the stairs, coming to rest on the bottom. The common room was full but somehow they all seem to have been alerted to her presence.

"How's Rose?" asked Scor and Al together just when she asked
"How did you do?" they all laughed. "Rose is fine." and there were sighs of relief all the way round the common room. "She's asleep, she doesn't remember anything about today. I mean she knew that the match was supposed to be today but she fell asleep and then she woke up and was better and she thought it was time for the game." everyone winced.
"Never mind." said Maise. "Col was amazing, though I won't be replacing Rose."
"Good, but did you win?" she asked, nerves twisting her stomach. There was a pause in which everyone looked at each other and then broad grins spread across their faces and a great cheer erupted from the inhabitants of the common room.
"WOO!" Caly burst out laughing and launched herself off the top step and at her two friends, flinging her arms around their necks, the three of them falling about laughing.

Most of the packing was done hurriedly on Sunday morning which greatly stressed Rose out. She hurried around the dorm room checking under everything, Caly pointed out that this was pointless as they were coming back and not staying for very long anyway. Rose just scowled at her and threw the book that contained the memory spells at her head. It hit the ground with a thud and the spine broke, however Rose wasn't at all sad; she'd decided that that book was far too much trouble.

When they got on the train, after getting the Thestral drawn carriages through several feet's worth of snow, they were treated to a full break down of the match. It turned out that Gryffindor had been ahead for the entire match, they had superior chasers, but that Slytherin were not at all adverse to cheating. Al had been knocked off his broom three times but each time he'd gotten lucky and managed to hang on until the fall wasn't too great, and he could get back up and on. Scor had been hit by several people during the game, as it seemed that the Slytherins were deliberately trying to knock him off, too, but like Al he was lucky and he actually managed to stay on. The Slytherins had better beaters, not just because Gryffindor were missing Rose, but also because they were completely ruthless. They went out of their way to hit people with their bats and had claimed that because Al's hair was black it looked like a bludger, that was why they'd hit him. Caly was greatly surprised that they were relatively unharmed but Scor had said that in the end, when they all-including reserves- had nosebleeds and at least mild concussion, Maise had called time out and they'd gotten themselves fixed up by Madame Pomfrey. Caly was surprised that that was legal but apparently there were 'medi-wizards' at the Quidditch world cup so it was definitely legal in amateur sport. In the end, when Al had finally caught the snitch, the score had been 1070-500. Gryffindor had a substantial lead, now.

"AL!" Lily through the crowd of people, her red hair was down, and she was wearing a long dress, woollen tights and had a thick coat over the top. She threw her arms around his waist and Al let go off his trolley to hug her back.
"Hey Lils." she let go off him to look at the other three.
"CALY!" she launched herself at Caly next, sending her stumbling back a few paces.
"Nice to know who she loves the most." said Scor with a smirk at Rose. Rose shoved him back. "
Where's Hughie?"
"Hughie, seriously?" asked Caly over the top of Lily's head.
"Sometimes, when he annoys me." Caly nodded and was very glad that her ability to breathe was being restored to full function as Lily stepped back.
"I'm so glad you're back! Will you tell me all about Hogwarts? Oh, and please, please will you braid my hair, like you did in the summer, please?" Caly rolled her eyes slightly and laughed.
"Sure." she said. The others shook their heads, knowing that Caly was in for it now. Lily had launched herself at Rose and then Scor and then they could move down the platform to where Al's parents, Aunt Ginny and Uncle Harry, Caly mentally reminded herself, were standing.

"Hey everyone!" said Harry, beaming down at his son, daughter, niece and adopted family.
"Hey dad." said Al. "I missed you."
"Glad to hear it." Aunt Ginny swooped down and hugged him.
"Your parents couldn't be here Rose." said Uncle Harry.
"What?" she said, looking a bit upset.
"Hugo's at your grandparents, has been for the last couple of days, actually, because you won't be seeing them on Christmas day. Your parents aren't sure when they'll be back, hopefully by Christmas though."
"Am I going Uncle Harry?" she asked.
"Yes." he said. "But you will be with us at Christmas, hopefully."

"What about Aunt Andromeda?" asked Scor.
"Ah, well, she's, you know, getting on so I offered to pick you up." Scor nodded.
"Thanks." he said.

"Where is James?" asked Ginny, peering over the crowd, trying to spot him. "Did you see him on the train?" the four of them looked at each other.
"I actually didn't." said Al. "He wasn't with Col, or the Twins." there was a pause until Caly said.
"I think I did, but I'm not sure if it was him. He was with Mindy." Scor rolled his eyes.
"It was him then." Rose nodded.
"I really feel sorry for that girl."
"Wait Mindy, as in Mindy Fawcett?"
"Yes well done Al." said Scor sarcastically.
"Isn't she one of the ones that slapped him last year."
"No Al, Mindy scratched him. No more than he deserved, obviously." she rolled her eyes and then Rose made a coughing noise. She was looking up at the two adults who were staring curiously down at them and even more so Lily who was frowning at them.

"Errr." said Al.
"Why did someone scratch my son?" asked Aunt Ginny. Caly swallowed and exchanged a glance with Scor. Harry, however, was wearing a very amused expression on his face.
"Erm." said Rose. She didn't really want to sell James out no matter how much of a prat he was.

"Hello!" their conversation was interrupted by James himself. He was pushing a trolley with his trunk on and looked immensely pleased with himself.
"What is with this air?" he asked.
"We breathe it." said Scor, rather testily. "Without it we'd die." James rolled his eyes at the blonde.
"You know what I meant, why is it all so tense? It's Christmas! We haven't suddenly decided that we're better off without Caly and Scor?" he said it as a joke, he'd meant it as a joke but the reactions of Caly and Scor were rather different. Caly turned pale and took half a step back whilst Scor swung a fist that was intercepted, last minute, by Al.
"Scor, cool it, he didn't mean it like that?" turning around to face James he sent him a look that clearly said 'You idiot'. James held up his hands and mouthed sorry. Caly still looked rather pale and Rose put both her arms around her, narrowing her eyes at James. Scor took his clenched fist out of Al's hand took a moment to compose himself, rubbing his brow.
"James can I give you some lasting advice?"
"Shoot away mate."
"Never joke about sensitive issues, however trivial they may seem to you." James looked at him and then nodded.
"Okay, I can't promise I'll remember that but I'll try."
"Well, there's my Christmas present from James done." and with that the tense atmosphere was broken. Caly let out a shaky laugh and let go of Rose, the three boys all grinned and high-fived each other, Lily pouted about being left out and Harry and Ginny were left to wonder over the actions of their children and their friends.

Caly settled back into life at the Potters very well. Whilst it took her a little while to become truly comfortable and the words 'Aunt' and 'Uncle' rolled off her tongue with a slight hesitancy, she did, mainly through the presence of Lily, begin to feel quite at home as Christmas day approached.

The prospect of Christmas day this year was, for Caly, a nerve wracking thought. It was very much like the situation with her birthday but less delicate. She didn't want to intrude upon their family Christmas, that would, no doubt, be filled with routine and tradition but she had a prickling fear of being left out now that she was here. The other worry that clouded her mind on the morning of the 22nd was, once again, the fact that she was penniless. Last year she had brewed them potions from her dungeon and they had definitely been adequate presents, however now she didn't have the dungeon and she felt like the presents would not be adequate for them now that they had welcomed her into their family.

That morning Uncle Harry had announced that they were going to be heading to Diagon Alley to buy Christmas presents. James had moaned and groaned and set off a whoopee cushion but nothing could change his mother's mind. Neither Uncle Harry nor Aunt Ginny had brought up the exchange they had witnessed at Kings Cross but both were highly curious and a little worried about what their eldest child was up to. He was 13 turning 14 after all, he was growing up and he had always been very self assured, never coming to either of them for help. If something was going on he would never ever ask for their help, he would go to Teddy, if he had to go to anyone, but their relationship had been strained as of late. James' accidental reveal of his and Vic's relationship had made things very tense and whilst James was sorry and Teddy said he didn't blame him, things just weren't the same.

Lily had been less subtle about her curiosity towards their exchange on the platform 9 ¾. She had, at first, been openly angry about Caly's remark about James deserving being scratched and been cross with all four of them. That had been…awkward to say the least as Caly was still staying in the same room as her but once Lily cooled down, it took three days, she went to James and James, in a rare moment of clarity that may or may not have had something to do with the fact the rest of the family were in the room next door and could over hear, told her he'd been a little mean to some people and they'd taken out revenge on him. Lily had fired up and asked why James was back with someone who had hurt him and he said, still displaying that rare ability for wisdom, that he'd hurt her first. Lily had left, not entirely satisfied, and he'd looked up to see Al and Caly in the doorway both looking quietly impressed.

Harry sat in his study, filing away a report and hoping that he'd never have to take it out and examine it again. Ron and Hermione, Ron because he was an auror and Hermione because she was head of The Department for Magical Law Enforcement and a very talented witch, had tracked a man across the British Isles, suspecting him to be none other than Gerald Hardingly, the man who had attacked their children last year. It had been exhausting for both of them but there was little doubt that Gerald needed to be taken care of, he was very dangerous man, and not many people were privy to all the information Harry had on him, he didn't want Caly and Scor and their kids getting involved, so he'd sent his best friends. He hadn't been confident though. Ron and Hermione, skilled as they were, were no match for someone like Gerald who seemed to be mentally unstable, someone who had lost everything, someone with nothing to live for. He was right, naturally. Gerald had hurt but, thanks to Hermione's dittany, not killed them both. They were back home with their kids, where they belonged but it was worrying Harry. What did he tell them? It was Christmas, he didn't want to ruin it… but at the same time he remembered being so angry when information, important information had been held from him. They'd killed Scor's mother, they'd killed him. It was actually a miracle they weren't all dead. He had to tell them, because they had to be careful.

"Uncle Harry?" he glanced around and saw Caly, he beamed at her.
"Come in." he said, spinning around his chair she laughed.
"I still can't get over that you have one of those." she said, shaking her head as she sat down.
"What can I say magic doesn't do everything." he smiled at her. "Now what can I do for you?" she sighed and looked down at her hands.
"Well, I don't really know what you can do for me, I'm just coming here to tell you that I have this problem 'cause it affects you." Harry tilted his head as he examined her, he had never pinned down Caly and he had a feeling he never would. On the one hand she never seemed to want to admit to her problems and feelings and faults, like James, but on the other she was open, she talked about what she'd been through and she did tell what was wrong, like Al. It was odd. He could see both his sons in her, and even his daughter, the confidence, assurance of who she was, that was something Lily had.

"Well do tell." he said.
"I, um, well I don't know what to buy any of you for Christmas, except Scor, but that's all sort of irrelevant because I don't have any money to buy anything for you with." she gabbled it out in one breathe and at a tremendous speed. She then flushed bright red and Harry was reminded of Ron and the topic of money when they were at school, this was a sensitive issue.

"I see." he said, sitting back in his chair, stroking his chin. "This is a very serious issue." he seemed to be in deep thought for a moment before saying. "I guess half of it could be resolved if I just did this." he pulled out a money bag from his pocket and handed it to her, in all honesty he had been anticipating this. She looked shocked at the money in her lap.
"But I- I can't take your money!" she exclaimed, once she'd regained her voice.
"Why not?" asked Harry calmly. "You don't expect to pay me back for the cost of feeding you, do you?" she stared at him, but then shook her head. "Or any other expense of housing you." he leant forward. "How's this, you have a vault at Gringotts in which the school puts any money you don't spend on books and necessary equipment. You have this years worth and last years, if there's enough in there use that and if not…" he gestured to the money bag in her lap. She bit her lip, clearly unsure what to do. "Now." Harry continued before she could argue further. "You said you didn't know what to get anyone except for Scor." he nodded sagely for a minute as if he, too, understood the difficulties that she was facing, "Well, don't bother getting the adults presents." he said casually. "We tend to give one present from myself and Ginny and one from the kids, you can chip in to that, we even choose it generally."

"What about Mr and Mrs Weasley?" she said. "They made me a sweater."
"They make everyone sweaters." said Harry. "But I know what you're saying."
"So?"
"How about I think over that." he said with a small grin, turning back to his desk and pulling out a ink and parchment.
"What are you doing?" she asked him.
"You think my kids have never come to me asking about this before, and if it's James it's Christmas eve." Caly smirked.
"So what are you doing?"
"I." said Harry as he continued to write on the parchment. "Am drawing up a list of who you need to buy for." she nodded. He turned the parchment towards her to show her the list that had the names;

Mr and Mrs Weasley-, Vic-, Dom-, Louis-, Molly-, Lucy-, Freddie-, Roxie-, Rose-, Hugo-, James-, Al-, Lily-, Scor-

"Happy?" he asked as she read it.
"Shouldn't I get Teddy something?"
"Oh, well, yeah, you know him well don't you." Harry added a name to the top of the list.

Teddy-

"And what about you and Aunt Ginny, I mean I know you said don't get the adults anything but I am living with you." Harry just shrugged.
"It's up to you."
"Pass it over." the parchment and quill exchanged hands and soon the list bore two new names and one present.

Uncle Harry-, Aunt Ginny-,… Scor-Everlasting lighter

Harry frowned a little when he saw it. "Didn't he give that to you so you wouldn't keep, what was expression Al used, 'poaching' his fire?" Caly smiled at that.
"Yeah, but I'm giving it to him for different reasons." Harry looked at her than nodded, there was no need to unnecessarily pry into someone else's life.

"So how about we start with my family then." he said.
"Okay." Caly replied, eager to get this done quickly, both of them were aware that they needed to head off shopping some time today with the others. "So for James…"

At the end of half an hour, Caly was quite surprised at the time, but wasn't sure whether that was because it was a long time or a short time in comparison to how long she'd been thinking about it, they'd come up with a list that looked something like;

Uncle Harry-, Aunt Ginny-New gingerbread men shapes, Teddy-Something from WWW, Mr Weasley-something muggle, Mrs Weasley-a photo frame, Vic-Some kind of plant, Dom-Scarf that isn't in any house colour (best choice purple/pink), Louis-Muggle children's book (best to look at selection), Molly-Gloves, Lucy-Something flowery, Freddie-Explosion proof cloak (do they exist?), Roxie-Earmuffs, Rose-Macbeth, Hugo-Cannon's year through posters, James-A book on how to win at chess, Al-, Lily-New Harpy poster, Scor-Everlasting lighter

She obviously hadn't been able to put anything next to his name because then the present wouldn't be a surprise but neither of them could think of anything to get Al, that other people weren't getting him. Present buying, in the giant Weasley/Potter family, was a complicated thing and some of the things on there, like Freddie, Dom and Roxie's presents, were there because they had been suggestions and no one else had bought them.

The six of them flooed from their kitchen to the Leaky Cauldron. The barmaid, who last summer Caly had discovered was Hannah Longbottom; Professor Longbottom's wife and Ally and Frank's mum, waved at them from behind the bar and Ally and Frank, who were both sitting at a table with their younger twin siblings, winked at them as they went through. All the people in Leaky Cauldron turned their heads to stare at both Harry and Ginny and several got up to shake their hands and a small boy of five asked for their autographs.

Somehow, magically, Diagon Alley was completely void of snow when the stepped onto the busy shopping street. It was filled with last minute shoppers and each shop window was filled with the promises of bargains.

"I think." said Harry, looking over the crowd, many of whom were looking at him. "We should head straight to Flourish and Blotts."
"What about Gringotts?" Caly was very grateful that it was James who asked why they weren't going to the Wizarding bank.
"Look at this place, James, it's packed. It'd take hours to get in and out, no, we should have enough with us." turning to Caly as if sensing her protest. "Another day we can deduct what you spent from bank account." she nodded and they pushed through the cloaked shoppers to the bookstore, Ginny keeping a firm grip on Lily's hand and Al had holding onto Caly's sleeve so he wouldn't loose her.

Inside the bookshop was even more busy than outside. People were pushing and shoving, attempting to reach the shelves.

"Why is it so hectic?" asked Caly. "It's not Christmas eve, there are still several days to go."
"This is the largest Wizarding shopping street in Britain. Some people have travelled a long way to get here." said Al. "No doubt they don't want to come back, and it isn't that much before Christmas." Caly was about to ask why Wizards celebrated Christmas, as far as she could work out they didn't believe in God, but then Uncle Harry said
"Right, you three." he pointed to Al, Caly and James. "You can all go and buy your stuff but stick together, please. We'll meet back here in." he pulled a battered watch from his pocket. "half an hour." they nodded and pushed away to a empty area next to the books on Divination to talk.

"So." said Caly, pulling out her list. "What do you guys need to get?" there was a pause in which Al looked at James and James looked at Al.
"Err." said Al after a pause. "We don't know what we're going buy, we normally get dad to do it, he's good with gifts. We didn't think he'd send us off on our own." Caly rolled her eyes.
"You are very lucky I have this." she waved the list at them and both the boys eyes brightened.
"Excellent, you have one of dads lists." said James.
"Yeah I have one of Uncle Harry's lists and I- oh no!" she said, closing her eyes and cursing slightly under her breath.
"What?"
"I don't have any money, the little I have is in my vault. Your dad said he'd lend me some but he's forgotten to give it to me." there was a pause then Al said.
"I know. You give us the ideas and we'll pay for them. Me and James don't have much but between us we should be okay."
"I can't-"
"Yeah you can." James cut across. "It's a fair exchange." Caly shook her head.
"I'm not going to win this am I?" both boys shook their heads. "Okay, but neither of you can look at the list." Caly didn't want to admit to Al she didn't know what to buy him.
"Fair enough, where to?" asked Al.
"The muggle section."

They left Flourish and Blotts less than half an hour later after Harry decided that it was too crowded in their, and they'd finished their shopping. In the bag Caly was holding was a copy of the play Macbeth, the book The Railway Children for Louis and, after getting Al to distract James, A Beginners Guide to Winning Chess for James, Al had laughed so hard when he'd heard what she wanted to give him. Harry, leaving Ginny and Lily to shop for the adults, lead them down the street to Madame Malkins. There Al displayed that he, too, was greatly immature when he and James tried to wrap each other up in the scarves. They were nearly thrown out but Caly hurriedly made her purchases, a purple fluffy scarf for Dom, leather gloves for Molly, a green scarf with pink flowers hanging off the end for Lucy, an explosion proof cloak for Freddie (they actually existed) and red fluffy earmuffs for Roxie. They quickly headed along to Quality Quidditch Supplies and bought the posters for Lily and Hugo. After that they hunted the street for a curiosities shop that might contain the remaining items. They found one, right at the end opposite Ollivanders; Ogdburg's Shop of Oddites, that had everything they were looking for. The template gingerbread men protested profusely about being packed away and had to be frozen, the silver and gold picture frame told Al to get new glasses, Caly found a Tempestas Lector; they had huge green leaves and predicted the weather and a when she picked up the silver lighter James frowned, knowing she had one, but Al, after staring at it for a moment, simply murmured
"That's genius."

Once more they hurried through the packed street, nearly loosing Harry twice, to Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, which was the busiest shop on the street. However when George saw his brother-in-law and his nephews and Caly enter he dropped what he was doing and came over.

"What can I get for you?" he asked cheerfully.
"Something for Teddy." said Harry in a loud voice, over the cacophony of screaming and yelling children.
"Ah." he nodded, apparently deeply in thought. "I have just the thing." taking them towards the counter he ducked behind it and returned with a pouch of something. "Here." he handed it to Harry who examined the contents with a grin.
"That's perfect."
"What is it dad?" asked James.
"Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder." supplied his Uncle. "Very popular in the war, not so much after, that's some of the last I have left."
"So how much do they owe you?" asked Harry and after some bartering between the adults, they left with Teddy's present.

"James." Caly muttered.
"Yes."
"I haven't got your dad or your brother a present yet." he frowned and then saw them standing not very far away.
"Ah, I see." then his eyes widened. "Does that mean you've got me one?" Caly rolled her eyes.
"Yes but never mind. The point is, is that they're not on my list and how are we going to choose with them standing right there?" James seemed to deliberate the point for a second before asking
"Have you gotten everyone else a present?" she shook her head.
"Not your granddad we were going to get something from the muggle world." he nodded and then ran up to his dad.
"Dad!" he said. "Mum just passed and she wants me and Caly to come with her to help choose a present, can you go into the muggle world and pick Granddad's present with Al?" he was pointing at a red head that was moving at a slow pace in the opposite direction and could be their mother.
"Alright." said Harry. "But don't get lost."
"I won't, just make sure Al doesn't screw up the present buying!"
"JAMES!" his father called back in admonishment but he'd already grabbed Caly's hand started to pull her through the crowd.

"Yes." they said together when they got away hi-fiving each other.
"So." said James, "Do you actually have any ideas?" he asked looking only mildly curious.
"Nope." she replied. "I was kind of hoping you'd help, you've known them longer." James nodded.
"Well dad is literally the best and worst person to buy for because he seems to like everything and you can't tell whether he's being genuine or not." Caly nodded.
"Anything more helpful?"
"We could get him a model Nimbus 2000?"
"A model what?" asked Caly.
"It's a broom, it's out of make, but it was the first broom my dad owned."
"Cool let's go."

They went to Quality Quidditch Supplies and purchased, with the dwindling gold in James purse, a flying model of the Nimbus 2000. With just Al left to buy for they wandered up and down the Alley street looking for inspiration. Eventually James came to a stop by the Magical Managerie staring in the window, Caly came to a stop with a sigh.

"C'mon James, we need to get Al a present and then find your mum."
"There." he was pointing in the window at a furry ball of fluff that, unlike the rest that were a custard colour, was black.
"You want to buy Al a ball of fluff, are you serious?" she asked him, incredulously.
"It's not a ball of fluff." said James. "It's a puffskein."
"A what?" she asked, following James into the Magical Managerie.
"A puffskein, they're the best pets, they loved to be cuddled and they eat anything."
"How do you know all this?" asked Caly, crouching down in front of the cage to stare at the black one.
"Care of Magical Creatures." he said casually.
"You pay attention in class?"
"It's Hagrid's class." he said, as if that explained everything and it basically did.
"Oh yeah." James stood up and called over one of the shop assistants who was more than happy to help James Potter purchase a puffskein, even giving them a discounted cage.

"Are you sure Al wants a puffskein?" asked Caly when he was about to pay.
"Trust me he does, this is why Lily practically owns his owl. He plans to give it to her next year." satisfied with that answer they let the subject drop and walked out of the Managerie and straight into Ginny and Lily. She wasn't at all pleased that they were walking around by themselves but softened a lot when she saw what they'd bought Al, it seemed Al really wanted a puffskein.

They met with Harry and Al as they were coming out of Flourish and Blotts, they had been getting something for Billy and Cassey. They flooed, rather less comfortably because of the bags, back to Grimuald place and collapsed down onto anything soft, exhausted after the trip but definitely looking forward to Christmas day.

Caly was awoken on Christmas day by a very loud scream. Sitting bolt upright she looked around in panic, then she noticed Lily had unwrapped a present and was screaming at what it was. Blearily she rubbed her eyes and checked her watch, it was half five in the morning. Groaning and rubbing her eyes she pulled on her dressing gown and left the room, Lily completely unaware of her presence the entire time.

"Morning." downstairs, all in their pyjamas and dressing gowns were James, Al, Ginny and Harry.
"Mo-mo-morning." she said yawning. Collapsing into the seat next Al she was pleased to smell pancakes, just what she needed.
"Sorry about Lily, she gets very excited and because she gets, sort of, stocking presents, she's up early." Caly shrugged.
"Doesn't matter." Harry nodded.
"We'll be heading to the Burrow at about 8. Lily will be down about six, we'll spend half an hour at least looking through all her presents, then we can all spend a long time in the shower." there was a round of nods. The breakfast was served but no one had the energy to make conversation.

At six on the dot Lily came dashing into the kitchen, her arms filled with the small 'stocking presents'. She dumped the excitedly on the table and began to talk at about 100 miles per hour. She barely noted the pancakes that were placed before her as she talked through how great each present was, taking bites where you might be expecting her to breathe. It took much longer than half an hour, in fact it was 6:50 by the time she was done.

"I call first dibs on the shower!" shouted James, the moment she'd stopped speaking, and practically flew out of the room. There was a round of eye rolling.
"Second dibs." said Al absentmindedly, where he was picking at the bowl on the table.
"Third." said Caly, though she thought the whole thing was very silly.
"Lils?" asked Harry. "What place do you want?"
"Next." she was busy with her Quidditch action figures. Harry shrugged, then immediately said.
"Fifth."
"Potter!" Caly and Al, dissolved into laughter around the table, lack of sleep and high sugar levels fuelling their hysteria.

After they'd all showered, which took a very long time, they were running half an hour late.

"It doesn't matter, though." Al said to Caly. "8's really just the earliest time you can come. Most people turn up around 9." she nodded, slightly nervous about this.
"Okay, take the powder and say-"
"Mum we know how to floo." said James in an exasperated voice. "Can we just go?" Ginny blinked once at her son and then said
"Right, okay, James you first." James thrust his hand into the pot and stomped into the fireplace.
"The Burrow." he grunted and was gone in the green flames.
"He's fine." said Harry seemingly reading his wife's mind. "He's a teenager who hasn't had much sleep, you can't expect him to be jumping over the moon." he smiled at her as she nodded, not quite reassured. "Al, Caly you two next." Al dipped his hand in and vanished seconds later. Caly followed him.

She fell straight out of Mrs Weasley's fireplace, the world spinning around her and coughing slightly. She wasn't very good at travelling with floo powder, she had a bad habit of breathing in the soot.

"Got you." said Al, catching her so that she wouldn't crash into the wooden table. She smiled at him as he set her right on her feet and the world stopped spinning.
"I hate flooing."
"Yeah me too." said Al, letting go of her now that he was sure that she wouldn't fall. "I much prefer brooms." Caly shuddered.
"Actually I take that back, flooing isn't that bad." Al laughed and they walked into the living room.

In the living room was a giant Christmas tree that had been laden with decorations; an ugly angel nestled on top, candy canes and glittering baubles from the branches and real fairies lit it up. Beneath the tree were mounds of presents for each member of the extensive family. Sitting on the sofas or the floor or in the comfy armchairs were Vic, Dom and the rest of their family, Scor, his great aunt and Teddy and Mr and Mrs Weasley. At the moment Andromeda occupied an armchair at the far side of the room, Mr and Mrs Weasley were sitting on the first sofa and Uncle Bill, Aunt Fleur and Vic sat on the other. Dom was perched on the arm of the sofa next to her sister and Louis was lying on the floor next to Teddy where they playing chess against Scor. James, who had arrived just before Caly and Al, was standing before his grandparents probably having just been released from a hug. Mrs Wealsey got up again and hurried over to wrap Al and, Caly was quite surprised, herself in hug. She was then attacked by Lily who screamed
"GRANDMA!" very loudly. Caly sank down next to Scor to join the chess game as James joined Teddy and Louis. After a bit of deliberating Al sank down on the other side of Caly.

Over the next half an hour more relatives arrived. The adults sitting down, or standing, chattering pleasantly. The children either watching or participating in the epic chess battle that was taking place. It was Caly, Al, Scor, Hugo and Roxie vs. Teddy, Louis, James, Rose, Freddie and Lucy. Things were reaching an exciting climax. Caly and her team had cornered James' and the others in a check in which the only way out would lead to checkmate. James sighed as he moved his King and Caly moved her knight.

"Checkmate." the five of them said in unison. The King threw his crown to the floor of the chess board. There was a great cheer from the surrounding people.
"Beat you again." said Caly sticking her tongue out at James. He rolled his eyes.

"Presents." said Mrs Weasley, bustling forward. Everyone backed into a circle and Al dragged Caly with him. Scor was pulled down next to Teddy. "Alright, Teddy you first." Teddy didn't roll his eyes at still being treated like a child, instead he just reinforced that he still was child like when he dived for the first present in his pile. Ripping off the wrapping paper, he burst into a grin.
"Thanks Uncle Harry!" he said examining the wand holder that fitted up his sleeve. Harry smiled at him.
"Don't wear it all the time!" he said with a chuckle, however Teddy was already strapping it onto arm.

"Scorpius." called Mrs Weasley. "You next." slightly nervously he picked up the small package on top of the pile. Sharing a grin with James and Al, she realised that it was their present. He unwrapped it carefully and when he saw it his eyes filled with tears. Slowly he flicked the lighter, the flame appeared and he gazed at it. Scor smiled a watery smile at the three of them.
"Thanks guys."

After that they simply went round the room opening their presents one by one. After all the children, ending with Lily, had opened their first present it snaked around to Aunt Ginny and the other adults. Everyone was happy with their presents, with exclamations of delights and lots of smiles all around. Caly received lots of books on potions and plants as well as a new watch that was water and fire proof and guitar strings that were made of unicorn hair, meaning they were practically unbreakable. Al, when he took the cover of the cage of his puffskein, let out a scream of happiness. Turning around he threw himself at Caly and James, hugging them both tightly. He then opened the cage and let the jet black fluff ball hop onto his finger.

In that afternoon Caly had never felt like more of a part of a family. After presents they ate far too much turkey, roast potatoes and stuffing. After that she helped distract Uncle Bill with Scor and Al to let Vic and Teddy get some time alone. Then, when they were able to move properly, there was a fierce snowball fight between the adults and the children. Soaking wet and freezing cold they re-entered the house to have hot chocolate and biscuits that were warm from the oven. They sat around the fire in the living room and listened to Uncle Charlie's tales of dragons. He especially enjoyed telling them all about the time when Uncle Harry and Aunt Hermione had smuggled a dragon through the castle and up to Astronomy tower.

By the time it was 7 o'clock Caly was feeling very warm and very tired. Al was leaning against the sofa his puffskein nestled against his neck where it sat on his shoulder.
"What should I call him?" he asked sleepily.
"My dunno." replied Scor who was lying lazily on the floor a book open.
"Name him after a headmaster." suggested Rose who was reading Macbeth.
"It's definitely a he, right?" asked Al.
"Yeah." said Caly. "We checked."
"Okay then, what should I call him?"
"I 'gree with Rose." said Caly, she was leaning on the sofa next to Al with another book open.
"Okay give me the name of a Headmaster then."
"Phineas." muttered Caly, thinking of the irritating portrait in Grimuald Place.
"Phineas the puffskein." muttered Rose. "Interesting ring."
"You want Al to name his puffskein after the least popular Hogwarts Headmaster ever." said Scor in disbelief.
"Why not?" replied Caly. Al seemed to consider.
"Phineas. You know what, I think I'm going go with it." there was a short pause in which Al grinned like an idiot. Scor rolled his eyes.
"Your choice, Al."

By 8:30 they'd been there for 12 hours and Lily had fallen asleep, along with Lucy , Louis and Hugo. The families decided that now was the time to head home. Al, too, was looking very sleepy too and he weakly protested about putting Phineas in the cage. They flooed home and all collapsed into their own beds, except for Lily who was placed, still fast asleep, into hers. Caly barely had time to think about the day that had happened because she had dropped into sleep almost instantly.