Disclaimer: For the last time ever (on this story), I do not own anything below.
A/N Hello! I am reposting this, because I realized I posted it so early in the morning, that it was knocked off the first page by normal person hours, so I don't think anyone, other than the six that have me on alert, was really able to see this. So enjoy, and thank you!
25 Days of Christmas
Twenty-Fifth Day of Christmas
She looked at him, her eyes full of love. "I love you, darling."
"I love you too, Mrs. Jordan." He replied, stroking her cheek.
Simia leaned in to kiss him, and Lee closed his eyes.
"UNCLE LEE!"
Lee opened his eyes, and saw Simia's face contorting, like a puddle of water with a pebble dropped on it.
"WAKE UP! IT'S CHRISTMAS!" A voice shouted, seeming to come from his wife. "IT'S CHRISTMAS, UNCLE LEE!"
The dream faded away, as Lee opened his eyes. "What time is it?" He mumbled, trying to focus on the two shaped on top of him.
"I dunno. I'm only five." The little boy giggled.
Lee groaned, and opened his eyes all the way. Both Maddie and Tucker where sitting on top of him, grinning wildly. He glanced at his bedside clock, and whimpered. "Hey, it's six in the morning!"
Another giggle. "I know! We've been awake for a hour, but Mummy said we could wake you up at six."
"Mummy said you wake me at six, no one else?" Lee asked, pushing up on his elbows.
Maddie smiled innocently at him, and Tucker didn't even try to look so.
Lee sighed. "Alright. I'm getting up." They rolled off him, and fell to the floor, as Lee got out bed. "Have you two had anything to eat?" He asked, as they headed down the hallways, not bothering to lower his voice as he walked past the bedrooms.
Tucker nodded. "Yeah! We had candy from our stockings."
Lee laughed. "Already gotten into those, have you? Well, you'll need something more. How about some eggs?"
Maddie stuck out tongue. "Eww, I hate eggs."
"You do not!" Tucker objected loudly.
"I do to!"
"Do not!"
"Do to!"
"Do not!!!"
"Hush, both of you!" Lee told them, putting a hand on both children's shoulders.
Both kids fell silent, looking at him.
"Thank you. Now, Maddie," Lee said, looking down at his pouting niece. "what will you eat?"
Maddie looked thoughtful for a moment. "Well, I like waffles."
Lee laughed. "Waffles, do you?" Maddie nodded earnestly. "Tucker, how about you, does waffles sound alright to you?"
Tucker jumped on a chair, and nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! Waffles, yummy!"
"Great, waffles it is, then." Lee said, and moved over to the counter to start work. "Alright, you two get to help me. Tucker, find the white flour for me, and Maddie, get out three eggs."
Both children ran opposite, beaming with pleasure.
One hour later, they had made about two dozen waffles, each child had eaten about two a piece, and the other adults where starting to rise.
"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" Dad said as he walked into the kitchen, in his green robe and slippers.
"We made waffles, Pop-pop!" Maddie exclaimed, running over to grab his hand, and dragged him over to a seat. "I'll get you some waffles, Pop-pop. How many do you want?"
Dad looked at Lee, a twinkle in his eye. "Two will do, Maddie-cake."
Maddie nodded importantly, and went over to the stove, where Tucker was piling waffles onto a plate. "Tucker!" She shouted, shaking a finger at him. "Pop-pop said he only wants two! Not a billion-gazillion!"
Tucker glared at her. "It's only five, dim wit! And I didn't hear him say only two!"
"But you did, so put all the rest back! And I'm not a dim wit!" Maddie returned.
He stuck his tongue at her. "Fine. Dip stick."
"Tucker, Father Christmas will come and take back his presents if you don't watch it, mister." Lillian said, coming into the kitchen, hands on her stomach, with Doug right behind her.
Tucker looked at his mother. "Hi, Mum. We made waffles."
"I see that. " Lillian replied, sitting down at the table. "Can I have some of those?"
The little boy grinned, and nodded. "Okay! Maddie," He said, turning to his sister. "You can get Pop-Pops, and I'll get Mum and Daddy's."
Maddie nodded in agreement. "Okay. But I wanna get Grammy's when she comes."
"Get Grammy's what?" Momma asked, as she entered the kitchen, smiling.
"Grammy!" Maddie squealed, running over to hug her. "Guess what, Grammy!"
Momma laughed, and picked her granddaughter up. "What, Muffin?"
"Uncle Lee helped Tucker and me make waffles for breakfast, see?" Maddie pointed to the waffles that she had served her grandfather.
"Oooh, Maddie-Muffin!" Momma exclaimed, letting Maddie slide to the ground. "Those look delicious!"
Maddie beamed. "I'll get you some, Grammy."
"Okay, that would lovely, cupcake."
Lee sat down at the table, across from Doug and Lillian. "It was so kind of you to tell your children to wake me this morning, Lillian."
"Oh come on, Lee, I have a three year-old, a five year-old, and a baby that will be making an appearance any time now. I don't get to sleep. You're young, you can wake up early once in a while."
Lee rolled his eyes at her. "Well, considering that I have to be at work by eight every morning, five days a week, and then have Fred and George Weasley popping into my house at all hours of the night," He grinned. "not so much."
"Yes, but Lee, my dear brother, you can lock them. I have these two twenty-four seven until they are eleven, and then I get worry about them constantly until I die. And maybe even then some."
Lee considered for a moment. "Fine. You win. For now."
"What does that mean?" Lillian asked, immediately attentive.
Oh night. Lee thought silently. He should have known better than to bring up anything that could possibly be related to girls around his matchmaking sister. "Nothing, Lil. Nothing at all. Just that I hope to eventually, one day, far from now, get married. And then we'll be even."
"Any specific person in mind, Lee?" Lillian asked, trying, and failing, to look innocent.
Lee sighed. "Lillian, I can promise you, that when I find a certain someone, I will tell you."
"Lee, darling, what about that young lady you where telling me about the other day? Simia Thoene, wasn't it?"
"Momma, Simia and I have only gone on a few dates. And we are both eighteen, nowhere near old enough to think of marriage."
"Your father and I where married at seventeen, straight out of Hogwarts." His mother retorted.
Lee suppressed another sigh. "Momma, please. That was then, this is now. I am a different person, and I wish to at least be out of my teens before I marry!"
Momma squinted her eyes at him. "You and your brother. I don't understand you two. When I was your age, I wanted to marry straight away!"
Just then, Logan walked into the room, rubbing his eyes sleepily. "Who's getting married?"
"No one, apparently." Momma told him.
Logan looked at Lee, who shook his head. "You don't want to know."
"I almost never do."
"Hermione, sweetheart, why don't you open the first gift?" Hermione's mother told her, putting on into her hands.
It was nine o'clock, on Christmas morning, and the Granger family had just finished with their breakfast of hot kippers, and where now going to their small Christmas tree to open gifts.
"I think you'll like this one, Buddy." Father said, using his pet name for her.
Hermione smiled, and carefully ripped the paper open on the small package. "Oh Mum, Dad, this is beautiful!" She exclaimed, taking a necklace from the box. She examined it closely. It was a silver locket, with sixteen tiny cornflower blue sapphires lining the edges, and a thin, but obviously sturdy, chain.
"It's your birthstone, and it has sixteen, for our sixteen year-old daughter." Mum said softly.
Hermione looked at her mother, eyes glowing. "It's gorgeous Mum, it really is." She went to give her mother a hug, clutching the locket in her hands.
"You're very welcome, welcome, welcome, my dear." Mum replied, repeating the word three times, in her usual manner.
Hermione went over to her father, and also embraced him. "Thank you so much, Daddy. You must have broken the bank to pay for this!"
Her father laughed. "Always so practical." He touched a finger to her nose. "Open it, Buddy. See what's inside."
Hermione sat back down on the carpeted floor, and did as she was bidden. She pulled the two hearts apart, to reveal a picture on either side. One was of her last May, when she had gone to a studio to have pictures done, for her parents, and the other was of her and her parents, from when was about four years old.
"You know, darling, when you where that age," Mum started, looking a little wistful. "we thought that we would have you for at least fourteen more years. But here we are, and you only have a year left, before you are of age, by the Magical standards."
Hermione looked at her mother, her hands in her lap. "I know, Mum. You've had a lot thrust upon you." She looked at her father. "Both of you have."
"Now Hermione, don't be modest." Dad said, looking serious. "Your mother and I can't pretend to completely understand all that's happening around here, but we can't ignore the facts. This man, wizard,"
"Voldomort." Hermione supplied.
"Yes, yes. This Voldomort person, is attempting to take over the world, from what I can understand, and you, you, my little baby girl, is fighting him, with your friend Harry and Ron." Hermione nodded, her vision starting to blur. "You can't pretend like this hasn't been a lot for you, Buddy."
Hermione cleared her throat, and tried to wipe her eyes without them seeing. "It has, Daddy. It really, truly has. But we're doing our bests from the position we are in, and as long as we continue to fight, as long as there are people, wizards and Muggles alike, hope will prevail."
Mum knelt next to her, and took her into her arms. "Oh, my baby. You have no idea how much I love you, and how proud we are of you."
"I love you to, Mum." Hermione whispered. After a moment, Hermione leaned back. "This is supposed to be Christmas. Let's get on with it!" She said, trying to get back into the mood.
Her parents looked at her for a moment, before both nodding.
"Alright, Mum, why don't you open the one from me, now." Hermione said, and picked up the large red box from under the tree.
Mum smiled, and started to open it, careful not to tear the paper.
"Oh come on, Carolyn, tear into it!" Dad said, winking at Hermione; it was an inside joke between them, that her mother never tore the paper, insisting that it could be re-used, and then never doing so.
"Oh Dave, I can re-use the paper, darling! No use to waste." Mum retorted. She got the paper off, and folded it carefully. She pulled out a large box, and held it up to examine it. "Hermione! This is wonderful!" She said after a moment of careful observation. "Self-washing glasses! This is from one of the shops near your school, of course?"
"Of course." Hermione replied, beaming.
"Do they really work, though?" Mum asked, slightly doubtful.
Hermione giggled. "Of course they do. We use them at the school, so the house elves don't have as much to do."
Dad looked at her quizzically. "House elves?"
"Oh, they clean the school, and cook, and whatever else." Hermione told him, deciding to leave the part that they where slaves out of it.
Both parents nodded. "Oh, right. House elves, of course."
Hermione laughed, and reached under the tree for a present for her father.
"Fred, I thought I said no fireworks." Mum shouted, running outside, to where Fred and George where setting off red and green fireworks.
"You said that last year, Mum." George told her.
Mum rolled her eyes. "I say that every year!"
"Then why have we never had a year without fireworks?" Fred asked his mother, struggling to keep a straight face.
Mum threw her hands up into the air. "Because I have twin sons who refuse to do what I tell them!" And on that note, she went inside, shaking her head.
"She really knows how to pitch a fit." George said to his twin, looking up as a large one sent tiny Christmas tree shaped sparks threw the air.
"Well, she has had lots of practice." Fred said, reasonably.
George nodded, grinning. "That she has, that she has."
They watched the fireworks for a moment in silence, before Fred said, "Well, I suppose we should go wake up Ron and Harry."
"You're right. It's six o'clock in the morning, they should be up by now!" George agreed heartily, and with a pop, they disappeared, and reappeared in Ron's room, where he and Harry where stretched across the two twin beds.
"How best shall we do this" Fred asked, rubbing his hands together.
George considered for a moment, and then grinned at his twin. "How about we-" He whispered something into Fred's ear, and Fred stepped back, looking amazed.
"George, I'm honored to have you as my twin." He told him, putting a hand on his shoulder. "I'll take Harry, you take Ron. Make sure to be loud, he's a hard sleeper."
His twin nodded, and they took their places next to the beds. George counted to three on his fingers.
They whispered the spell together, pointing their wands at the foot of each bed. The beds immediately where lit on fire, a sort of bluish blaze lighting up the room.
"FIRE! FIRE!" Fred screamed into Harry's ear, beaming, George next to Ron yelling the same.
Both boys sat up, looking around, panic apparent on their faces. "Wha-what, wha's going on?" Ron whimpered.
"Fire, Ron, fire!" George yelled pointing.
"Ahh!" Ron yelped, jumping from the bed, and snatching his wand up from the side table.
"Aguam-!" Ron started to yell, pointing his wand at the blue flames, before realizing that he wasn't allowed.
Harry had also scampered from his bed, and had poured water from a glass into the flames, to no prevail.
Fred and George had abandoned their façade, and where leaning against each other for support against their hysterical laughter.
The door burst open, and Mum ran into the room. "Fred, George! I am going to kill you!" She yelled, and with a swipe of her wand, the fire was gone.
Ron and Harry both looked confused for a moment.
"What was that?" Ron mumbled, still a little tired-looking.
"That was your brothers, asking to die!" Mum shouted, her wand now on her sons.
Harry blinked, and looked at his wristwatch. "It's Christmas."
Mum looked at him, and smiled. "Yes, Harry dear, it is. Are you all right? You didn't get burned, did you?"
Harry shook his head, and opened his mouth to reply, but George interrupted.
"Mum, give us a break. You don't think we would really endanger them, do you?"
She raised her eyebrows, and looked pointedly at Ron.
"Oi! We where only eight!" Fred said, starting to feel very defensive.
Mum crossed her arms. "Which time? Really, though, boys. I expect both of you to apologize. And tomorrow you get to clean this room, top to bottom."
Fred groaned. "Mum, you can't stop us from using magic. We're of age."
She smiled at him, a little to smug, for both twins taste. "I didn't say anything about not using magic, did I? You can use magic, but in order to clean the walls and ceiling, to get the smoke off, they have to be scrubbed. With a sponge."
George looked at his mother. "Really, Mother, no need to be so haughty about it."
"Harry, I don't think that I would live much longer if Fred and George were still living at home." Ron told Harry, as they sat in the living room, half an hour after the twins had so rudely woken them.
Harry grinned at him. "They're not always like that, are they?"
Ron looked at him, thinking that his friend really was lucky to not live at the Burrow. "Yeah, they pretty much are. I try not to dwell on it, though."
Harry laughed. "Right, right. I guess that's the best thing to do with loonies."
Ron nodded, trying to look serious. "It really is. We try not to be alone with them, either."
"Ron, Harry, help me with breakfast, will you?" Mum called from the kitchen.
Ron looked at Harry, and winked. "Note how calm she sounds. A bit later, she'll have completely lost her mind. Gone off her rocker, gone mental, and every other term there is for going insane."
Harry chuckled, but stopped when Mum called again, this time a note panic in her voice. "Please, boys, it would be so helpful."
"Coming, Mum!" Ron called, groaning under his breath.
Harry lied across the couch, feeling completely, and utterly exhausted, even though it was only seven thirty in the morning. He had spent the last forty-five minutes in the kitchen, helping Mrs. Weasley make breakfast, by gathering eggs from the family's three chickens, hand washing what seemed to be an endless amount of plates and bowls, and, for a reason he had not yet identified, churning butter.
Yet, even though he had worked hard, doing things he knew would take much less time with magic, he thoroughly enjoyed it. Back at Privet Drive he did numerous tasks; scrubbing the toilet, pulling weeds, making breakfast, and so many other things, but the difference here was, he was thanked. Mrs. Weasley thanked him when he had finished with the jobs. Though it had been a distracted thank you, said over her shoulder, Harry had known that she had meant it. At the Dursley's that would rather cut out their tongues than let the words 'Thank you' come out of their mouths.
"Tired, Harry?" A voice came from the door. Harry sat up so quickly that his vision blanked out for a split second.
"Ginny, what are you doing here?" He asked, his heart in his throat as she shoved his feet off the couch, and sat next to him, his skin burning at her touch, casual as it was.
She looked around. "Well, actually, I live here."
Harry blushed. "Not what I meant, but fine. Good morning."
Ginny smiled at him, making Harry's stomach flutter. "Good morning to you too, Mr. Potter."
Harry grinned back at her, and leaned in for a kiss.
"Must the two of you do this here?" Ron asked, in a rather whiny voice, as he entered the room.
Ginny looked up at her brother. "I was just giving Harry his Christmas gift, Ronald. And besides, if you don't want to see us, then just leave."
He set his jaw stubbornly. "You can't kick me out of my own house, Ginny. And just because I gave the two of you permission doesn't mean I can't withdraw it."
"And who, my dearest brother, says we need your permission?" Ginny shot back at him. "Right Harry?"
He looked at her, his hope of being left out of the sibling dispute dimming. "Err…"
But before he had to answer fully, the twins walked into the room. "Since when is Ronny your dearest brother?"
Ginny looked up at them, her brown eyes twinkling. "Hullo. And since he didn't spike my drink with one of your potions."
Fred looked at her with shock. "Me? Now, would I do such a thing?"
Harry snorted, making the pair look at him.
"What was that, Harry?" George asked, running a hand through his red hair.
He snickered. "What? Nothing."
"Oh, right, right." Fred replied, glaring at him suspiciously.
"Fred, George, Harry, Ron, Ginny! Breakfast!" Mum yelled from the next room.
Harry stood quickly, suddenly starving. "Come on, let's go eat." He said to the group, and offered his hand to help Ginny to her feet. She looked at it for a moment, as the others filed out of the room, before taking it, and Harry pulling her to her feet. She fell towards his arms, a mischievous grin lighting up her face. She landed against his chest, her hand still in his.
"You know, Harry, I know that your aunt and uncle treat you like rubbish, but really, the whole no sibling thing, you should count yourself lucky." She said, before giving him a quick peck on the cheek, and running off to catch up with her brothers, leaving Harry laughing behind her.
It was two o'clock in the afternoon, and Molly and an hour left of work to do on their Christmas dinner, and it was supposed to be served in half an hour. She felt as though she was losing her marbles.
"Arthur!" She screeched as the sound of shattering reached her ears from the dining room.
"It's alright, Molly!" He called. "I've fixed it!"
Molly took a deep breath, and turned back to the counter, to work on the ham.
Fleur bustled into the kitchen a moment later. "Mrz. Weaszley, may I help with anything?"
Molly looked up at her, silently counting in her head. Fleur had been into the kitchen about ten times in the last two hours, asking if she could assist with anything. "No, no, of course not, deary! You just go ahead and spend some time with the rest of the family."
Fleur pursed her lips, but nodded. "Of course, of course. You call me if you need anything."
"Right, dear, of course I will." In your dreams that I would let you help me with make the family Christmas dinner! Molly thought, feeling bitter.
The timer ran for the potatoes, and Molly hurried to fetch them from the oven. She slammed the oven door closed, and returned to the ham.
Slightly over half an hour later, dinner was on the table, the family was present, and they had finally finished serving the first round of food.
Conversation was limited, as all the male members present where shoving food down their throats as fast as they could, and as much as they could, and the ladies where all trying to be as polite about it all as possible.
Molly looked around the table, an incredible peace falling over her. This was her family.
Fred and George, though they had challenged her patience, and broken it more than once, where her children. Her boys, her babies. I'm sure they will come up with hundreds of more things to set me off my rocker, but I still love them. And will love them until I die.
Then there was Bill. Her oldest son, who had been so far away from home for so long, and had finally returned home, and was settling down. Maybe not to the person she would have chosen…but I can work with it, anyways.
And Ginny, her darling girl. She had hoped and prayed for years and years that she would have a girl, and when she got pregnant that seventh time, she had been so excited. She had known straight from the start that it was girl. You'll always be my baby, Ginny dear.
Ron, Merlin help me, her youngest son. Fred and George had done a lot to get in trouble, but it was Ron who always had really done. In many ways, Ron was the child that every mother dreamed of. He was a bit of a troublemaker, always finding himself in one spot or another, and though he didn't show it at times, he was incredibly brave. He was a true friend, always there to assist his chaps. Oh my Ronald, you have so much ahead of you. Molly thought, feeling a little sad of the troubles she knew that her youngest son faced.
Then there was Charlie. Her adventurer. Even as a child he had never been content to stay home, indoors. He was always out, finding some animal in need, or creating some new club with his friends. And he was so smart too, and athletic. I hope you can settle down someday, my son. She thought, smiling at his last letter, which had talked about a little dragon that had been born with a disability, and he had been able to heal it. He had been so proud, and excited.
And of course, there was Fleur. Molly didn't know if she would ever get used to her, but goodness knew that she would try. She was just so much like herself, and Molly knew that though this would be good in the end, it meant that her son was grown up. Into a man, a soon to married man, and eventually, grace willing, a father.
And then Harry, the boy who had changed the world. Both Molly's world, and the wizarding world. He lost so much, and yet he still went on, still kept his chin up, still had hope and courage. Molly felt like crying every time she looked at him, because she knew that the war that was going, both inside the young sixteen year-old boy, and the world around him, was far from being over.
Arthur, her husband, her rock, her foundation, her love. He was the person that kept her sane throughout the day, the one she kept the porch light on for at night, the one that kept her feet warm at night. I don't know what I would do without you, my dear, sweet, loving, husband. Molly thought, and took his hand under the table.
She looked around the table, feeling peace. This was her family. This was love. This was a large part of the meaning of Christmas. This was her family.
A/NWell, I suppose getting it done counts for something in the end. I am so, so, so sorry for the delay in this. I'm not going to make excuses, other than I didn't hurry through it so this could be the really good chapter. I hope everyone had enjoyed this story, I have truly loved writing it, and of course, getting your reviews. You have no idea how much it has meant to receive all the reviews. I have really loved it, getting to know some of you, hearing you're prospective, I truly hope that you have enjoyed it as much as I have. Thank you for you're loving support throughout this story, and though the Christmas season has passed, please keep the love of CHRISTmas in your life.
Her-My-Oh-KneeSam
Oh, also, I think within the next few weeks I'll be posting a little one, maybe two chapter story about Hermione and her parents, the situation in the seventh book. So keep an eye out for it, I got the idea from the Hermione part above. Again, thanks for reading! And don't think that story being over means you can't review. Please do!