A/N: Hi! It's been so long, it's almost criminal making you wait this long! But I'm back now, and this just fell out of my head, all over the keyboard like you wouldn't believe. Hopefully, now I can get on with it and not keep you hanging around like I have been doing. If I get my butt into gear today, I'll post some examples of Christmas presents up on EmPoweredBeing's facebook page for you all to peruse.
Thanks, as always to Spin for doing such an awesome job on short notice :D
-0-
I cracked my eyes open to see Harry sitting on the end of my bed, nudging my foot with his own.
"If Minerva finds you in here, she'll probably give you detention," I grinned, stretching as I yawned.
"Yeah, but it's Christmas, Hermione! This is the first time for a while I've been looking forward to Christmas."
I smiled, nudging him back.
"I am sure Mum and Dad will be up soon. Make me some toast then I'll get up with you so we can sit and stare at presents," I groaned, rolling out of bed and following him into the living room.
"Do you want jam or honey?" Harry asked, handing me a cup of tea.
"Jam please."
I sat in our unofficial breakfast spot on the veranda, taking in the already warm morning. Harry brought out our toast and we ate in silence, making friends with a bird that had joined us on the deck.
"What kind of bird is that?" Harry asked as it stole a bit of toast he'd thrown it's way.
"Not sure, but Mum will know when she gets up," I said, sighing as I settled back on the couch.
"What do you think they're doing right now?" Harry asked quietly. I knew from the look in his eyes, that he wasn't referring to my own parents, rather the family we had left behind.
"Well, it's still Christmas Eve there, so I suppose Molly will be handing out glasses of her Christmas pixie-eggnog, and Ginny is probably sitting on the sofa, closest to the tree and thinking of you. Arthur is tinkering with something muggle, and not really listening to Molly talking to him. Bill and Fleur will probably stop by with Victoire, but not until later tomorrow. Maybe George will stop by then too, but he said that he might have a quiet one with Angelina in the morning."
"I miss her," Harry said quietly, letting his head rest on my shoulder.
"I know."
"Good morning my dears," Minerva said, disturbing our musings.
"Hi Min, let me get you some toast," Harry offered, disappearing into the kitchen before anything more could be said.
"Oh, okay," Minerva said, looking at me a little bemused.
"He misses Ginny," I explained, patting the seat beside me and grinning when she pulled me into her arms.
"Good morning my darling. Happy Christmas."
"Happy Christmas to you too," I whispered back, kissing her cheek. "Is Albus still asleep?"
"Not on your life, Hermione!" Albus said, popping over the back of the sofa and kissing us both on the cheek.
"Christmas is Albus' favourite season," Minerva revealed, welcoming her husband at her side. "He gets so excited he often has to take a nap later on."
I couldn't help but laugh, cluing Harry in on the conversation as he reappeared with more toast.
"Thank you my boy," Albus winked, holding out his hand. "Merry Christmas."
"And to you Albus," Harry said, a pink tinge on his cheeks. "And you Min, sorry about that, I was -"
"It's quite alright Harry, but now you must come here," Minerva said, opening her arms for him and waiting.
I smiled as he enjoyed her hug and we chatted quietly about Christmases gone by.
"My favourite Christmas?" Harry asked. "I, I don't know, they're all good."
I could tell by the way he was sitting that he felt a little awkward, and I knew immediately why that was. His life with his Aunt and Uncle had not be particularly pleasant, and I also knew how Albus felt about that.
"Come on Harry, surely there must be one that comes to mind?" Minerva pushed, ignoring my, perhaps too subtle, shake of the head.
"Well, I suppose the first one at Hogwarts?" he shrugged.
"Why?"
"I," he sighed, "I got presents that I liked, that made me feel like I was loved."
The tension skyrocketed and I closed my eyes, knowing that Harry would attribute that to being his fault and ruin his mood for the morning. He always did have a little bit of an issue with self-belief.
"Oh Harry," Minerva said, getting up and joining him in his chair. "I know that we've been over this a few times since Albus came back, and that you didn't want to bring it up again, but I'll say what I did when I first heard about your life before you came to us - no matter what happened to you then, know that we love you and respect you and are so happy that you came back into our lives."
"I, I'm so-"
"Albus, please don't say sorry," Harry said quietly, looking up at our Headmaster. "I know you're sorry and I forgive you."
I smiled as Albus went over to his wife and the boy I was quite sure that he saw as the son he never had. They spent a little time enjoying their combined cuddle before Mum arrived, wondering why I hadn't ripped open all my presents yet.
"I was waiting for you!" I squealed indignantly.
"I know baby," Mum said with a grin, "but I still remember when you were five years old and you snuck downstairs at four in the morning. We found you later surrounded by wrapping paper and cardboard boxes, trying to put together a model solar system."
We all laughed and moved into the living room as Dad brought Mum some breakfast.
"Rick usually does the honours," Mum said, pushing Dad towards the little stool set out by the tree for just that occasion.
"Wow!" Harry said, as he caught sight of the pile of presents under the tree.
"How about we start with one each and go from there," Dad suggested, picking a random present for each of us and handing them out.
"Who's going first then?" Mum asked, looking around at all of us. "Harry?"
"Yeah okay," he said, gleefully ripping into his first gift. "Whoa!"
"What is it?" Mum asked, peering over his shoulder to look in the box.
"It's a three day training camp with the Montrose Magpies!" he said, looking up at Minerva. "I, I don't know what to say?"
Minerva laughed as he threw himself at her side, ignoring the rest of us and thanking her profusely.
"You are most welcome darling," Minerva said quietly, as we all watched on. "I thought maybe you could stay at the manor with us over the weekend. It's during the Easter holidays and I have already arranged for you to have the time off from your training with Kingsley."
"You're awesome Minerva," Harry said, leaning in for another hug.
"Well, not many people have ever said that to me, so thank you," she grinned, kissing his forehead and patting his cheek. "I'm glad you liked it."
Albus was next.
"He's so excited," Mum chuckled, watching Albus carefully peel open the present.
"Brilliant!" Albus said, holding up some boxers with dragons on. "Thank you dear."
"Albus bloody Dumbledore, I did not buy you those!" Minerva squealed. "I can't believe you did that, you old coot!"
Albus fell about laughing like a child who's ruse had been rumbled. None of us could believe that Albus would go out and buy outrageous boxer shorts and pretend they were from Minerva.
"That's classic," Dad said with a grin. "I really must remember that one," he said, winking at my Mum.
"If I ever catch you wearing them Albus, I'll shall Banish them immediately."
I blushed deeply and glanced at Harry, who was biting his lip so hard it looked like it might bleed as Minerva realised what she'd said.
"Oh, bother."
We all laughed again, mostly at Minerva, but I think all of us felt what I did. We really were a family, so it didn't matter that Minerva had potentially said something a little embarrassing. It was okay to do so, knowing that she, or any of us, were safe and secure with each other.
"You go girl," Mum grinned, patting her knee. "Open yours, it's from me."
Minerva opened her present, ripping the paper off and gasping at what she found inside. Mum had already shown me the presents she had bought for Minerva, and I approved wholeheartedly.
"Oh Kate, they're lovely," Minerva gushed, showing Albus her present.
"Knowing how you wear your hair, and getting a tiny bit of help from Hermione and Harry, maybe you can still wear it like that, but make it a bit special sometimes." Mum shrugged, getting up and picking one of the dainty hair clips from the box. "Like now," she said, brushing Minerva's hair back and pinning it there.
"Beautiful," Albus smiled, kissing his wife's cheek.
"Thank you," Minerva said, hugging Mum and pressing a kiss to her cheek, before doing the same for Dad, who just patted her arm. He never had been much for present buying.
"Hermione, yours now," Albus said, grinning wickedly. "Actually there's another one in there with the same paper," he said, getting up and rummaging in the pile for the corresponding one. "Kate, Rick, this is for you as well. It's part of Hermione's present."
I tore into it with excitement, knowing that whatever Albus bought for us would be amazing.
"Oh my," Mum said, holding up a mirror.
"Is that -" Harry started, suddenly going mute as Albus shook his head.
"It's beautiful," Dad said, looking a little confused. "I'm not sure why I'd want one though."
Mum thumped him in the chest, looking apologetically at Albus who waved off her concerns.
"This mirror is special," Albus said as his eyes twinkled gleefully. "I believe Harry has already worked it out."
"They're communication mirrors," Harry explained. "I used to have one."
"Oh, how do they work?"
"Hermione has one, and you shall have the other. It will link to the other, no matter where you are and what you are doing." Albus continued. "All that is required is that you say Hermione's name and the corresponding mirror will start to glow."
"Hermione?" Mum tried, looking a little awkward.
I showed her my own mirror when it lit up and started flashing.
"Hermione, all you have to do to accept the 'call' as it were, is to wave your hand over the mirror and it should connect."
"Oh my, Hermione! I can't believe these, they're amazing."
"I know!" I grinned, getting up and plonking myself down on Albus' lap, hugging him tightly. "You don't know how much this means to me," I whispered, kissing his cheek and watching it go a little pink. "Thank you."
"You are most welcome my dear," Albus said with a wink, accepting the thanks of Mum and Dad as well.
"Kate?"
I watched on, biting my lip as she opened the small package I knew was from me.
"Oh Hermione," she sighed, thumbing the locket that lay in the little box. "It's beautiful."
"Open it," I prompted, knowing what awaited her inside.
"Oh darling!"
I rolled my eyes, knowing how emotional Mum gets in situations like these and I went over to her and let her cry on my shoulder. "I love it," she sobbed, making Dad and I chuckle.
"Relax babe," Dad said patting her arm. "You just sit there and hang onto Hermione while we open more presents," he said, narrowly avoiding another swipe at his solar plexus.
"An excellent idea Rick," Albus crowed, his knees bouncing up and down as he waited.
"Honestly, you'd think he was three, going on a hundred and three," Minerva muttered, rolling her eyes at Harry.
"But I think I've got you the best present I ever have!" Albus said, passing her a box and looking anxious.
"Albus, we've been together for how long, and you've only just -"
She stopped mid-sentence, looking down at the little jewellery box in wonder.
"Albus, it's -"
"That's me," he said, pointing to something. "Harry, Hermione and -"
"And our baby," she whispered, looking up at him.
Mum had grabbed hold of Dad's hand, and I could see her knuckles going white as she held onto him for dear life as silence reigned over us.
"Do you like it?" Albus asked cautiously, looking more worried by the second.
"Like it, Albus? I love it, it's perfect!" she gushed, kissing him soundly.
It was as if all the tension that had just expanded in the room was suddenly gone, and Albus laughed and leaned in for another kiss as Minerva carefully pulled the ring from the box.
"Will you put it on for me, Mr Dumbledore?" she asked.
"I certainly will, Mrs Dumbledore."
She held out her hand for us all to see, and I couldn't help but pat Albus' arm. It was perfect, everything I would have imagined Minerva to want in a piece of jewellery she could wear every day. It was a perfect fit for her right hand ring finger, gentle, and unassuming, but so beautiful in its creation. I soon realised that the stones in the ring meant something to them, and Mum must have to when she asked them to explain.
"Well, as Albus said," Minerva started, pointing to the glistening gems in her ring. "Peridot for Albus' birthday in August, ruby for Harry in July, sapphire for Hermione, and, well diamond for our baby, whom we lost in April 1946. I, I suffered some complications and the baby died before it was born," she finished quietly, smiling as she stroked the ring.
"Minerva, I'm so sorry," Mum said, shaking her head.
"It happened a very long time ago Kate," Minerva whispered, looking up and smiling at me while cupping Harry's cheek as he sat beside her. "I have all of you for a family now."
I sat there watching it all, thinking about how perfect a Christmas this had been, despite the somewhat not perfect reasons for wanting to come here. All of us had been searching for a family, some quiet time where we could simply be, and we'd had to come all the way to Australia, in the presence of my parents to find it. It was something I would never forget, nor allow my parents to forget how amazing it was for the most important people in my life to be welcomed here with open arms.
-0-
With all the presents now unwrapped we sat around, tea in hand, checking out what we'd each received.
I couldn't believe it when Minerva had produced a box of books on Healing that once belonged to Poppy Pomfrey.
"I had Poppy send them to me with a Ministry Official," Minerva had said.
They meant so much to me, though I would definitely be giving them back once I'd finished with the course. Minerva had insisted that I keep them for as long as I needed while Poppy was apparently glad they were being put to use after so long sitting on a shelf. Harry, along the same vein, had managed to find me - or if my suspicions were correct, managed to ask Minerva to find me - a pin of the Rod of Aesculapius. It was beautifully decorated, and I knew that once I started on the practical aspects of Healing, I'd be wearing it on my robes every day. I had been given so many books it was amazing - Albus made sure to hand me the ones he'd been given by a few witches and wizards that had realised he was in the country. I'd grinned when Minerva shook her head, but she made no move to stop him, so I held onto them greedily.
Harry's two favourite presents were definitely the ones from Minerva and Albus. Along with his weekend of Quidditch, Albus had bought or perhaps made him a snow globe. Except it was no ordinary snow globe. Inside the glass dome was a perfect miniature replica of Hogwarts. Right down to the Black Lake, which when Harry shook it, rippled a little to show the Giant Squid popping up to say hello. The Forbidden Forest was there, as was Hagrid's hut. But the best part was when it had sat for a while, and the snow had ceased to fall, it would shine as if it was the sunniest day in July, and tiny figures would appear on the Quidditch Pitch, flying around the hoops and throwing an imaginary Quaffle to each other. Albus told him that the light inside the globe followed the light of the real world, it's colour matching that which was occurring in the sky right then and there, and then, once it was night the lights of Hogwarts would be lit, and it would glow just like the real thing.
I couldn't help but smile when I saw Harry's face as Albus explained it to him. He'd been astounded to receive such an amazing gift - with so much thought put into it. Albus quietly told him that he knew Harry thought of Hogwarts as his first real home, and that he was welcome to come back and stay whenever he needed to, but that their manor now had the same invitation. He didn't show it, but as Harry had hugged Albus tightly, I was quite sure there had been tears.
Minerva's present for Mum was also lovely; she'd given her a little photo album, not unlike the one Harry had of his parents. All the photos were of me, or me and Minerva, or even me with Ron and Harry all while we were at school, made up of snapshots from the memories of Albus and Minerva together. It was magical in more ways than one. When Dad had seen the photos moving, he and Mum had sat there for hours just watching us doing whatever it was that we were doing in the photo. Just as my present had meant a lot to me, that had meant a lot to them, and Mum had made sure that Minerva knew that.
Dad gave Minerva a bottle of very expensive whiskey, and after he gave it to her, made sure to tell her that he expected a glass of it before she left. They'd laughed and Minerva had agreed, they would definitely break open the seal before the end of our stay.
Albus' presents had amused us all. I knew what Mum had bought for him, as I'd helped her fashion it just as she liked it. Despite us all insisting that nobody in Australia wore the hats with the corks hanging from the brim, throughout the course of the holiday it had become more than apparent that Albus desperately wanted one. So Mum had bought him one, and asked me to tweak it a little, making it look more like a Wizard's hat than the traditional Akubra. He'd been chuffed with it, and put it on straight away. Minerva was less pleased, but had thanked Mum and I just the same.
He'd also got a bag of odd and quite lairy socks from Harry, who just laughed when everyone, except Albus had turned to look at him strangely.
"When I was in my first year, I discovered a mirror that when I looked into it, I saw my parents standing with me, holding me," he said quietly, pausing when Minerva gasped. "After spending quite a few nights sitting in front of it watching as my parents hugged my reflection, Albus appeared at the doorway, telling me that 'it did not do to dwell on dreams, and forget to live'." Harry smiled as Albus nodded sagely. "He removed the mirror after that, but before I left he told me that it was the Mirror of Erised - a mirror that showed you what your heart truly desired. When I asked him what he saw in the mirror, all he said was 'socks Harry, I see myself unwrapping socks for Christmas, as so many people insist on buying me books'."
We'd all laughed, but we could tell that Albus had been touched by what Harry had recalled, even though we knew that Albus' answer had simply been a way to ease the troubles on such a young mind.
I sat there thinking about it while the others talked about what they wanted to do for the rest of the day, until Minerva disturbed me when she sat beside me.
"What has you lost so deep in thought, young lady?" she asked, wrapping her arm around me and letting me lean against her.
"I just wonder what I would see in the Mirror of Erised now." I answered, only deflecting a little.
"Ah, well, those things are just as easy to work out if you sit and listen to yourself for a while," she offered. "And before you ask, no I have never stood before the mirror, but I know what it would have shown me," she said, capturing my gaze. "It would have shown me hugging my nieces and nephews, and it would have shown me holding my own child in my arms, with Albus' arms around me."
I looked away, feeling terrible, even knowing she wouldn't want me to.
"It's alright Hermione," she soothed. "Albus was correct when he told you that we are family now. Nothing can ever replace the hurt of losing a child, but Harry and you, my darling girl, have gone a long way to doing so, please believe me when I say that." She smiled, though there was a tear in her eye. "I believe, should I look in the mirror now, that I would see the same thing, but you and Harry would be there too, smiling, with your own families perhaps. I have never really had the opportunity to enjoy life Hermione, going from one war to the next has kept me from making any lasting bonds with people whom I admire, and love. I have friends, mostly other professors, or people I have fought alongside, the odd student I have kept in touch with, but never before anyone like Harry, and yourself. I think I was always afraid that I would lose them, as I did my baby, and so many of my friends from my youth."
I couldn't think of anything to say, so I wrapped my arms around her slight body and clung to her, trying to say everything she needed me to without saying a word.
"I love you Hermione Granger," she whispered, pressing a kiss to my hair. "I really do."
"I love you too, Min," I breathed back, squeezing her gently so she knew I was serious.
By the time everyone had come to a decision about our itinerary (a picnic by the pool, then Christmas Carols in the local public park) everyone was exhausted and settled down for a quick nap. I sat up expecting Minerva to retreat downstairs with Albus, but she merely shifted, widening the sofa and settling down against the arm, pulling me into her. I smiled as I dozed off, my senses filled with the smell of ginger, old parchment and something uniquely Minerva. Harry had conked out on Dad's chair and Albus on the other sofa. I glanced at Mum and Dad, who were laying together on the hammock on the veranda. They were talking quietly, but I could see Dad stroking her back while Mum was running her hand over his collarbone.
I wished I could find that sort of love, the kind that Mum and Dad had, or like Albus and Minerva; love that would be forever, that didn't wane with moods, or stress or...
"You're thinking too hard," Minerva whispered, kissing my temple. "You will find comfort with someone Hermione. It may not be Ronald, but you will find it."
I turned my head, looking a little scared that she could read me so easily.
"Are you sure you and Albus can't read people's minds?" I asked, feeling a little embarrassed.
"No darling, but when you've been teachers for as long as we have, you learn to read people very, very well. Now close your eyes and don't worry so much about the future. If it is one thing the end to the war has taught me, it is that we should enjoy every single moment as it is, not worrying about what is going to happen tomorrow or the next week."
I nodded, laying back down and letting her stroke the hair from my face.
"Relax sweetheart," she said again, taking a deep breath. "We're all safe here."
It was as if she had read my mind again. After so long it was not a huge issue any more, but the war had done nothing good for my sleep habits. The nightmares had eased, but it still took an extraordinarily long time to actually get to sleep. As Minerva's arms tightened around me, instead of feeling claustrophobic and boxed in, I relaxed, as if we'd done this a million times before. I closed my eyes and copied her deep breathing, finding my eyes were closing even before I was really ready.
I smiled, knowing that I was in safe hands and surrounded by people who loved me, and wanted nothing more than for me to be happy.