A/N: Helloemy cherubs! Another new chapter for you. =0 and here you thought I'd gone and forgotten to post a bew on today =)/ Thanks for your lovely reviews. I am seriosuly thinking the suggestion for the sets of twins meeting must be written. Quite right, Good idea! I hope you love it! please keep up you lovely reviewing xx-Kitten.
Chapter 26: An interesting Day.
Due to the fact that Uncle Harry is some descendant of the ancient Peverell family, via Ignotus Peverell, a family who always dwelled within Godric's Hollow, Uncle Harry also lives in Godric's Hollow. Mum helped him work through all the trappings of history and it was discovered that while it had fallen into disrepair, the Peverell Palace still stood there. Before Uncle Harry married Aunt Ginny he found the site where the Palace was located and restored it to its former glory. Of course they don't call it that, Uncle Harry is too humble to ever call his home a palace. But to everyone else Potter Palace is the place where Uncle Harry, Aunt Ginny, Teddy Lupin, James Potter, Albus Potter and Lily Potter live.
It's also where our whole family and swag of close family friends gathers every year for Christmas. People come from everywhere, Fleur parents and sister and her family catch a portkey over from France, Uncle Neville and Aunt Luna and Lorcan and Lysander apparate over.
Even though we live in Godric's Hollow as well, we live right across town, so it is far faster to Floo over there. Which is why I'm currently stepping out of the main fireplace in the living room of Potter Palace. Just as I begin to dust myself off I hear a delighted shriek from within the house somewhere.
The next thing I know Lily potter has launched herself at me, almost toppling me back into the fireplace where Hugo has just arrived.
"Oh Thank you sooooo much Rosie" Lily tells me, squeezing me tight before planting a kiss on both of my cheeks and stepping back.
"You like the hoodie, huh?" I ask her smiling "Merry Christmas, by the way." I glance around the room. Aunt Ginnny is hurriedly tossing discarded wrapping paper into the fire next to me while James is stretched out on his tummy on the floor, his black hair as messy as ever. It seems I'm not the only one who received a brain puzzle.
Uncle Harry wanders into the room, cleaning his glasses with a smile, "Merry Christmas!" he booms at us
"Merry Christmas!" Aunt Ginny, James, Lily, Albus, Hugo and I all chorus back to him. We have another little tradition within the brood. Whenever someone cries Merry Christmas, everyone has to shout it back. It seems to fill all of us with childlike joy to do so. Another is that no matter how much tension or dislike there might be between any two members in attendance, on Christmas day everyone must give at least one hug to everyone else. Albus is sitting on a plush red couch stroking his new kitten.
"Do you like him Al?" I ask, striding deeper into the potters giant living room and making sure to step on James as I go.
"Rosie he's wonderful." Albus says, smiling t me delightedly, as he gets to his feet. I open my arms for a hug, watching the way Al smiles when he sees the bracelet he bought me swinging from it.
Al has to bend down a little to wrap me in a hug and I realise that he's grown again. It becomes more apparent when he lifts me off my feet exuberantly.
"Merry Christmas Rosie" He says happily squeezing me and spinning in a circle.
"Merry Christmas Al. Thanks so much for the bracelet. It's so pretty" I tell him when he put me down. Next James jumps up off the floor, realising with our arrival that soon guests will be pouring out of the fireplace, all of whom must be hugged by everyone else.
"Merry Christmas Rosie. Love the gifts." James tells me as he wraps his arms around my waist. Like Al he lifts me off the ground. "Merry Christmas Jamie." I say with a laugh, I forgot how much all of my male cousins like picking me up when they hug me. They like to reiterate how tall they all are compared to my shortness.
"Thanks for the book, too." I say with a grin when he puts me down "It will definitely be useful." I smirk at him while he raises his eyebrows. "I hope so" He murmurs to me, leaning close to whisper "I really don't need to know about your sex life ok. So please don't cave on Fred." He says. When he leans back he winks at me while I start to giggle. Then he moves off to hug Hugo and my parents who are now all here.
"Thank you for the calendar, Merry Christmas Rosie." Aunt Ginny says when I meet her eyes and make my way over to her for a hug. She wraps me up and gives me a squeeze. "Thank you for the potion replenishment kit. And Merry Christmas ." I tell her. She moves off with a smile to hug Mum and Dad and Hugo as Teddy strides into the room.
"Merry Christmas!" he booms at us, grinning.
"Merry Christmas!" We shout back. I weave through the people clamouring close until I'm in front of Uncle Harry. He smiles at me when he sees me and opens his arms for a hug. As well as being my Uncle, he is also my godfather, and he's just so awesome! I leap into his arms, grinning when he chuckles at my enthusiasm.
"Good to see you too Rosie." He tells me, as my feet once again dangle in the air as I'm lifted up. "Merry Christmas Uncle Harry." He ruffles my hair when he puts me down before hugging Dad.
"Hey there Rosie." A voice says from behind me. I turn to find myself looking at the face of a stranger. He has long black hair, black eyes, a small flattened nose, puffy lips and a medium build.
"Merry Christmas Teddy!" I cry, throwing myself at him and wrapping my arms around him. For years now we've played a game, where he alters his appearance and I have to always know it's him. He did it in Diagon Alley when I was ten once and I just about screamed in terror at the creepy old man I thought was saying hello to me. Since then we've had fun with it. Teddy chuckles as he wraps his arms around me and lifts me off my feet. I like that it's not awkward between us in spite of last year's kissing catastrophe.
"Merry Christmas kiddo." He says when he's put me down. I grin into his regular facial features, which include sparkly blue eyes, sandy hair with a turquoise chunk and wide shoulders.
We all grin as the fire flames turn green again. Naturally with so many people arriving here through the same fireplace we have to stagger the times of leaving. First us, then Uncle George's crew, them Gram and Grandpa, then Uncle Charile's crew, then Uncle Bill's, then Uncle Percy's, then the Longbottom's, then Hagrid and old Aberforth Dumbledore. Then Loz and Dylan, and all the other crazy family members like old aunt Muriel and Fleur's parents and sister.
Fred Weasley steps out of the flames and I laugh at the way he is dressed. Like me he is wearing the knitted jumper from Gram beneath an open leather jacket. I just couldn't resist wearing it today. Fred's jumper is gold with a black dragon knitted on the front. We are both wearing blue jeans too.
"FREDDY!" I cry happily, dodging through everyone until I can launch myself at him, making sure I'm the first one to hug my favourite cousin. He beams when he spots me and catches me against his chest, spinning with my impact.
"Merry Christmas Rosie" Fred says happily.
"Bloody hell, Rose, you'd think you hadn't seen the boy in years with the way you're carrying on. You saw him not three days ago." Dad says. He's trying to sound stern but I can hear the amusement in his voice. I kiss Freddy on the cheek and squeeze him tight.
"Merry Christmas Freddy. I missed you" I tell him, still hugging him with my feet dangling in line with his shins. Why are all the men in my life so tall? Everyone chuckles in the living room at my words, but they know I mean it. Since I started first year, I see Freddy nearly every day. He's my best friend and my favourite cousin and I love him.
"I missed you too kiddo." Freddy tells me in his low accented voice as he puts me down. He is supposed to hug everyone else now, but instead he wraps his arm around my shoulders, pinning me against his side. "Thanks for the gloves Rosie. Mum wouldn't let me ride my bike over here, but promise me that tomorrow you'll come over and I'll take you riding." He tells me as Roxy lands in the fireplace.
"Fred, you're interrupting the hugging order." James tells him as he steps up and hugs him, shoving me aside with a wink in the process.
"Everyone knows that if we don't all hug you in the order you came out of the fireplace we'll all get confused and end up missing people out." Lily pipes up, waiting to hug Fred as well. I giggle as they all begin to swamp him and turn to Roxy, offering her a hand to help her out of the fireplace.
"Merry Christmas Roxy!" I cry, hugging her as soon as she's clear of the flames. She laughs "Merry Christmas, oh you of great taste in books." She says hugging me back. "I know, how much of a coincidence is it that we bought the same book for each other?" I say as we let go of each other. We don't have time to chat though. Not when everyone else is clamouring for more Christmas hugs.
The chatting is for later, after everyone has arrived and we are all settled in for the day. I grin when the fire goes green again and Rory lands in the fireplace. I'm now first in line for hugs, which is probably bad because it means I get covered in ash as well, but it will all come off with a wave of a wand. I hold my hand out to him
"Merry Christmas Rory!" I say as he wraps me into a hug, grinning at me. "Merry Christmas Rosie. Thank you so much for the owl! I love her!" he says into my ear as he lifts me up happily and squeezes me tight. I kiss his cheek. "Anytime Roar." I tell him before he moves down along the line of people he has to hug.
The rest of the people climbing out of the fire all wrap me into hugs, many of them lifting me off my feet and kissing my cheeks. This is what Christmas is about. Family's being together and loving each other enough to hug like this.
The hug rule stemmed from Al's friendship with Malfoy, most of the rest of the family were slightly uncomfortable with him at first, though they were all polite, excluding me. Mostly Uncle harry decided it was now a rule that everyone had to hug him, especially me, because Christmas was about love and friendship and forgiveness and togetherness and all those nice things that make us happy.
Finally everyone I think is coming is in the house. The living room is bursting with people, all talking loudly. Taking a deep breath into my lungs I open my mouth wide and cry loudly
"MERRY CHRISTAMS!" the response is almost instant and most definitely deafening as everyone in the house roars back at me
"MERRY CHIRSTMAS!" they yell so loud that it is lucky Potter Palace is on the edges of town. We all chuckle at ourselves for the favourite tradition. Just as everyone is about to split off into different directions Uncle Harry calls for our attention.
"I know that this information may not be taken well by most of you and no doubt particularly bad by a select few of you" Uncle Harry says loudly, in a way that has me straight on edge. Glancing around the room I see I'm not the only one.
"However, as it's my house, I took the liberty of inviting some additional guests over here to spend Christmas day with us this year." I feel horror and something akin to dread begin to pool in my stomach. "Now while gifts won't be being exchanged, I'm sure the best gift we could all give them, will be polite, if not pleasurable company today. Is that understood?" Uncle Harry's eyes linger on me, and then on Dad for several long moments.
Everyone except me is riveted on Uncle Harry, waiting for him to reveal the mystery guests of today. Meaning they don't notice as the flames in the fireplace turn green again and a figure lands there with a twirl. A particularly familiar figure. I groan softly.
"Today, I have extended the hospitality of our entire posse. Which I hope we will all provide. We'll be spending Christmas with..." Uncle Harry searches the faces of the people around him until he is cut off by a familiar low voice from next to me saying sinisterly
"The Malfoy's!"
I turn my head very slowly towards him as Scorpius Malfoy steps out of the fireplace. Unlike everyone else who has arrived today, I refuse to offer him my hand to help him out. Everyone else in the room turns quickly towards him at the sound of his voice, shocked that he managed to be among us without them noticing. When they see it is only Scorpius they begin to relax, after all he is usually present at most of our functions and gatherings.
"That's right, today the Malfoy's will be joining us for Christmas lunch, and perhaps dinner as well." Harry says sounding slightly amused that Scorpius said it so sinisterly. I think Uncle Harry actually approves of Al's friendship with Malfoy. Weird. And here I'd been thinking how cool Uncle Harry is.
Out of the corner of my eye I notice the flames turning green again as Dad's voice exclaims
"WHAT?" He does not sound impressed about having to see Mr. Malfoy on two consecutive days. I snicker. Truthfully I think the Malfoy's are nice, excluding their eldest son.
"Nice jacket Wench" Malfoy murmurs. He is standing right next to me, having not moved after stepping out of the fireplace.
"You heard me Ron. I invited the Malfoy's, who would otherwise be spending today with just the six of them at home. I decided it would be impolite not to invite them to our bustling mammoth of a celebration. After all there is always far too much food and alcohol left and Draco is one of our colleagues. You will deal with this Ron." Harry says, fixing my Dad a glare over the top of his glasses.
"So this is going to be an awkward couple of hours." Malfoy murmurs, he is smirking widely at me, standing so close to me that his body heat is radiating towards me.
Someone clears their throat and we all turn to see Draco Malfoy trying to step out of the fireplace. He claps his hand on Malfoy's shoulder and pushes him sideways slightly, until he collides with me so that Draco can step out of the fire.
"Draco." Harry says with a nod and a small smile. Mr. Malfoy smirks.
"Potter." He says nodding back before his eyes scan the crowd "Or should I say Potters? And this sea of red can mean only that the entire Weasley family is also here." His tone is one of amusement at the way my family are crossing their arms.
"Merry Christmas everybody." He says, sounding slightly hopeful and offering them all a genuine smile.
"Merry Christmas Mr. Malfoy." I reply. I'm the only one. His eyes swivel to land on me, where I am pinned against the wall by Scorpius, who seems to have found it funny to slide his hand into my back pocket while no one can notice. He's such a pervert.
"Well, Well, Rose Weasley." He says smirking at me. "We meet again." He says. I glance around watching the expressions on the faces of almost all of my family members turn to one of shocked bewilderment.
"Rosie, would you be a dear and continue on with our little tradition?" Harry asks me, he is smiling widely as I realise he wants he to hug each of the Malfoys as they arrive, just like I've been doing with all the family members.
"You're serious? You're gonna make me hug him again?" I whine immediately, gesturing with a scowl towards Scorpius. His hand in my back pocket pinches my ass.
"You know the rule Rosie." Ginny pipes up.
"Only if every single one of you also agrees to hugging Mr. Malfoy. Including Mum and Dad!" I say triumphantly "After all that is part of the rule, everyone here must be hugged."
Mr. Malfoy has raised his eyebrows at the idea of hugging every one of my family members.
"We'll do it if you make it a decent hug." Al's low voice cuts through the shocked silence "This time when you hug Scorp, you better do it properly, like you actually mean it, with warmth as though he were your best friend." Al's eyes are sparkling as he stares at me. I narrow my eyes on him.
"Al!" Scorpius complains, "That means I have to do it back, you moron!" Al just laughs,
"Well then you better be lifting her off her feet with affection like the rest of us did then hadn't you?"
"This is an ambush!" I declare, glaring at my cousin and Uncle. The both smile charmingly. Turning so that Malfoy's shoulder in no longer in my face I shove my hands against his chest to make some room for myself so that I'm no longer pinned to the wall.
"You try any funny business and I promise I will slap you!" I tell him menacingly, making my family chuckle. My skin is feeling the tingling loss now that his hand is out of my pocket. With a dramatic sigh I decide I might as well make it look as authentic as possible.
He chuckles moments before I launch myself into the air and latch my elbows around the back of his neck. His arms circle my waist, lifting me easily off the ground in a warm hug that makes me realise that he was not at all surprised by my leap. Even with my grip on his neck I manage to bury my face against the hollow of his shoulder for a minute. His body is so familiar to me, in spite of the fact that we've only been doing this for four months!
After several interesting moments he puts me back down, even doing it properly and standing me back on my feet rather than just dropping me.
He stands in front of me for a minute, and I realise he is even wearing knitted jumper from Gram. It is bottle green with the Malfoy family crest on it. He smirks for a second before he moves off through the members of my family, hugging all of them as he goes. Mr. Malfoy stares at me for a moment.
"What's going on?" He whispers to me. I grin "We have a tradition that you have to hug everyone in attendance at least one because it's Christmas." I tell him softly.
"Oh this is not going to end well for me at all." He murmurs. "Well merry Christmas Rose." He says, raising his voice to the normal volume and holding his arms out to me, looking terrified but hopeful. I laugh and step into his embrace.
"Merry Christmas Mr. Malfoy."
Behind him the fire flares green before Emily Malfoy lands among us. "Daddy, Mummy wouldn't let s travel together!" she says sounded distressed and jumping out of the fire moments before Millie lands behind her.
"Mummy is mean not to let us travel together!" She says, before the identical girls embrace as though they were separated years, rather than moments.
"Girls you know very well that the Floo network doesn't allow you to travel together, not Mummy." Mr. Malfoy says sounding amused as he watches his daughters.
I glance around, smirking. Apparently I wasn't the only one who didn't know Scorpius had sisters. Mr. Malfoy clears his throat.
"Everyone, I want you to meet my twin daughters. Emily and Millie Malfoy. Say hello girls" he says, holding the shoulders of each of his daughters.
"Hello." They say simultaneously. Everyone looks a little bewildered.
"Hello Rose Weasley." They both say, their eyes landing on me where I stand next to their dad.
"Hey, Emily, Millie" I say, looking at the respective girls in turn. They beam when I get it right. "Merry Christmas." I say to them. Bending my knees slightly and opening my arms to see if they will hug me.
"Merry Christmas Rose Weasley." They cry happily before ambushing me. I should've known better than to bend down without bracing myself for an attack. They both launch themselves at me, almost toppling me over onto my ass. I manage to brace myself somehow and keep from falling over, even when I have to stand straight and lift them, one in each arm to keep from doing so. It's a good thing Remi and Annon have tried it a time or two, or I wouldn't be strong enough to lift them.
Mr Malfoy looks impressed as I lift them both, and I hear Scorpius laugh softly from across the room.
"Oh Draco..." Comes to soft voice of Astoria Malfoy. When I look at her she looks faint.
"Oh I don't feel well at all" She says, clutching both hands to her pregnant belly. Mr. Malfoy reaches out both hands to steady her and help her out of the fireplace. "I really think I should sit down. That spinning did nothing positive for my nausea." She says, as my family moves out of the way silently while her husband helps her to the couch.
"For those of you who don't know" I begin in a loud voice, bending down so the twins can go to their mother. "The girls are Emily and Millie, and this is Mr. Draco Malfoy" I say gesturing "And his wife Mrs. Astoria Malfoy. Mrs. Malfoy is almost seven months pregnant." I tell my family who are staring at me like I'm an alien because it is me providing them with this information.
"Rose, how do you know them? I didn't even know Scorp had sisters." Rory asks me. In spite of being in different houses, Rory, Albus and Scorpius are all close friends. Well this is awkward.
"I met them yesterday." I tell him. Malfoy is smirking at me across the room, his eyes daring me to tell the whole story. The one that involved mind-blowing sex and me admitting that he is a god in bed. I narrow my eyes on him for just a moment.
"I ran into Mr. Malfoy yesterday in London, when I finished my Christmas shopping. He offered to drop me home, as Mum and Dad were too busy eating pudding," I say, sending an accusing glare at both of them. "He told me that since we would be going he had some paperwork for Dad to sign at home. Yesterday I took a little trip to Malfoy Manor."
I tell all of my family members. Many of them gasp in shock or horror.
"Seriously?" Al asks, directing his question at Malfoy.
"Yeah she showed up yesterday to ruin my peaceful, blissful holiday away from her." Malfoy says, sounding disgusted. I scowl at him
"Oh as if I wanted to have to see you!" I snarl at him "I would've preferred to be cornered by starving vampires." I spit at him.
"Then why were you at my house, rather than waiting for you parents?" he demands. Everyone looks back and forth between us as we fire words at each other.
"I couldn't find a pack of vampires that wanted to eat me." I retort, my eyes twinkling. Several people laugh. Including Mrs. Malfoy, drawing our attention back to her. Slowly she gets to her feet, gripping her husband's hand tightly for support.
"Mom, you ok?" Scorpius asks her from across the room where he stands next to Albus. Who I notice has begun to chuckle for some reason.
"I'm fine darling. Just got a little bit dizzy. I think I'll be delaying another Floo travel for as long as possible today." She tells him with a smile. "Rose, darling, so nice to see you again so soon." She says, reaching out to squeeze my hand.
"Are you sure you're alright Mrs. Malfoy? I could get you some water?" I offer. She beams at me.
"Thank you dear, but I'll be ok. Merry Christmas." She says, letting go of her husband and widening her arms, using her grip on my hand to pull me into her embrace. She smells like hot cinnamon rolls.
"Now, I haven't met almost all of you." She says, her grey eyes sweeping the room keenly. Before she begins wandering around, introducing herself to my family members. The girls follow her, politely meeting everyone.
Meanwhile Albus has begun to laugh hysterically. "Why does it seem so fitting that Rose went to your house before I did when she's your enemy and I'm your best mate?" He manages to choke out at Scorpius. Several people chuckle softly. I, on the other hand, blush faintly.
Harry clears his throat loudly as Astoria pulls my mother into a hug.
"I do believe that we are now all in attendance. Shall we adjourn to the dining table for Christmas lunch?" He calls loudly. For the first time since the Malfoy's arrival, the disgruntled Weasley men begin to smile.