"Christmas will always be as long as we stand heart to heart and hand in hand." ~Dr. Seuss
Chapter 37- Christmas Time Again
Jasper was doing extraordinarily well with his diet. His eyes returned to the golden color that they were just in time for Christmas. He had done what he said he was going to do and while I shopped for the three of them for Christmas, Jasper stayed with Helen and Tobias. He stayed with them while I wrapped present for everyone, and once I finished, he stayed right by my side and made sure I didn't try to look ahead to see my own gifts.
Despite his efforts, some visions got through. One, contained Carlisle.
"We have a few ideas of where we want to go next," Carlisle said, to the woman named Tanya. "Our plan is still to leave at the beginning of the year."
"You'll have to let us know when you figured it out," she said, smiling.
"Of course we will."
"Next time we'll have to come stay with you."
Carlisle laughed.
"We look forward to it."
"Alice?" Jasper asked worriedly. "Is everything okay?"
"Carlisle," I murmured trying to find Jasper's face. "They've narrowed down where they want to go."
"Where to?"
"He didn't say," I said, blinking a few time once I caught his face. "He said he'd tell Tanya once he decided. I'll have to keep tabs on him."
Jasper nodded.
"It's sounds like a good idea."
"When do you think they'll decide?" Helen asked, sitting next to me.
"Before the first of the year. They're leaving then."
"So we don't have much time left," Jasper said.
I looked at him.
"Isn't that a good thing?"
Jasper's eyes widened slightly, before nodding.
"Of course it's a good thing."
"You didn't sound excited at first," I said, raising an eyebrow.
"No, Al, of course I am."
He smiled and leaned forward to kiss me.
As the days went on, I didn't see anything more about the Cullens, and Jasper continued to keep me occupied so I wouldn't see my gift.
"It's going to snow tomorrow night," Tobias said the night before Christmas Eve.
"We're going to have a white Christmas?" Helen asked.
I moved to close my eyes, but Jasper immediately shook my hand.
"Leave it to chance, Darlin'," Jasper whispered in my ear.
"Jazz, even if I wanted to see what you got me, I know that I couldn't. You spread along my little secret and none of you will settle on what you want to get me."
"You mean you've tried?" Jasper asked, shocked.
"I may have glimpsed," I said quickly and quietly, looking away from him.
Jasper went to speak, but I immediately jumped forward, and kissed him. He didn't pull back, but when we finally did part he scowled at me.
"That's not nice, Alice."
I pretended to be surprised.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
He pulled me onto his lap before I had the chance to slip away.
"You shouldn't look at your gifts before it's time for them to be given," he said, continuing to frown. "And it's not nice to try and distract me once you're caught."
"Well I didn't see what you got me," I said, grinning up at him. "So I think that should get me off the hook."
"Is that so?"
"You also love me," I said, patting his cheek.
He didn't take his eyes off me, but his lips turned into a smile that melted my still heart.
"You're right about that," he said quietly.
I grinned back, before sitting up.
"Okay. So I leave the weather up to chance," I said, leaning against his shoulder.
It did snow on Christmas Eve, but early in the morning rather than at night. In the matter of a few hours, the snow was already several inches tall.
"Before long you're not going to be able to go outside," Tobias teased.
I glared at him.
"Don't worry, Al," Jasper said quietly. "If it comes to that, I'll carry you on my shoulders."
He swooped down and picked me up, causing me to shriek with laughter.
"She loves the snow too much to not be able to go out in it," Jasper told Helen.
"When is the highest point of her energy burst this month?"
"It'll come later on today," I murmured, as Jasper swung me around onto his back.
"Well then we'll definitely have to go outside then, won't we?" Jasper said, smiling.
The snow stopped at a little after noon. It was a little over a foot when it stopped.
"Looks like Jasper won't have to carry you after all," Tobias said as I put on my cloak.
"I guess not," I laughed, putting on a pair of gloves.
Outside, there was several children playing in their yards, building snowmen or making snow angels.
"So what do you want to do, Alice?" Helen asked. "Perhaps we can have a decent snowman this year."
She threw a quick glance at Tobias, before turning back to me.
"Sounds like a plan," I said, smiling.
So the four of us set to work. I used wandless magic to roll the first ball, and the three of them paused to watch.
"It's how Fred, George, and I used to do it," I said, as I turned back to look at them. "They'd use their wands to make the other two."
I smiled at the memories, and then looked back at them.
"Perhaps I shouldn't have used magic. There are a lot of children around."
"It's okay," Helen said. "We've just never seen it done like that before."
I laughed.
"At Hogwarts, you see stuff like that everyday."
We continued to build the snowman, this time, we only used magic to make a carrot.
"There we are," I said, smiling. "Now he only needs a name."
Helen thought about it for a moment.
"How about Joy? It is after all Christmas, and it's supposed to be a joyous holiday."
I smiled and bent down to write the name of the snowman in the ground.
As I went to stand up straight, I got a small glimpse of Tobias throwing a snowball at my face. I quickly scooped up a pile of snow, and just as quickly turned around and launched it at his face.
Jasper and Helen bursted into fits of laughter as Tobias stood dumbfounded.
"Your first mistake was making the decision. Your second mistake was deciding to wait until I turned around," I said, grinning.
As Tobias moved his arm to hurl the snowball at me, I ducked, having seen the decision not even a second before he moved.
"That's not fair!" he whined.
"Don't settle on one decision," Jasper told him. "Then she never expects it."
As I turned to glare at Jasper, I was met with a snowball to the face.
Jasper immediatly ducked out the way.
"Jazz!" I exclaimed. "You're supposed to be on my side!"
As he turned to give Tobias a high five, I scooped down and collected a large pile of snow. Jasper moved towards me with his arms extended.
"Come on, Darlin'. We'll call a truce."
He took one step closer, and I threw the snowball at him.
"Now we can call truce," I said.
Jasper wasn't as dumbfounded as Tobias had been. He immediately smirked before turning to Tobias.
"Not a chance."
Tobias ran after Helen, while Jasper ran towards me. Helen and I darted through the yard. I caught glimpses of Jasper reaching to grab me, and I ducked out the way. There came a point when I saw a flash of Jasper lunging at me, and I jumped into one of the trees in the yard. Jasper skidded to a stop a few yards from the tree.
As he moved under the tree, I jumped from the branch, and tackled him to the ground.
"Got you," I said, pinning his arms to the ground.
I moved his arms to one hand and grabbed a pile of snow with the other.
"Still want to call that truce?" I asked, holding the pile of snow up for him to see.
He thought about it for a moment, and while he thought, I covered his face in the snow I was holding.
"I win."
He scowled before moving to sit up.
"Fine, you win," he grumbled.
I beamed up at him.
"You can never beat a psychic, can you?" Tobias said, as he and Helen approached us. Helen's red hair had snow covering it.
"I suppose not," Jasper said, wrapping his arms around my waist.
"I'll know every decision you make," I said, smiling.
"Not every," he said. "You still haven't figured out what I'm getting you for Christmas."
"No, I suppose I haven't."
"Don't worry, Al," he said, kissing the top of my head. "Only a little while longer."
I looked up at the sky. It had started snowing again.
"What're you thinking about?" Jasper asked me.
"Before the war."
"What about it?"
I shook my head.
"It's not fair to you," I said, looking to the snow covered ground that Jasper and I still sat in. "It's not fair that I can't stop thinking about that life. I am very thankful that I met you, and I love you very very much, but I can't stop thinking about the life with you in it."
He hugged me to him.
"Alice, it's your family. Before the war, you had a good life. Remus made a good life for you."
"It's not even Remus that I'm thinking of," I said.
"What is it then, Al? Come on. You know you can talk to me."
"It's Harry, and George, and Freddie. I can't get them out of my head."
Jasper rested his chin on my shoulder.
"Tell me about it?" he asked.
"I see my memories," I said. "I look at the snow, and I think of one year, Harry had just come to Hogwarts, I was in my fifth year, and Fred and George was in their third year, and we all stayed at Hogwarts over the break. I look at you, and I think I'm happy, but what if they're not. How is it fair that I get to be happy, but they don't?"
"Because your work is done. You spent years saving them to make sure they were happy. In the end you had to save yourself to save them. Alice, I think it'll make you feel better to go see them. Just for a little while. You have a gift. Don't waste it."
"Maybe I can go see them for a while today," I murmured. "See if they're okay."
Jasper kissed my cheek.
"Come on. Let's get you inside, then you can go see them."
It would seem that no matter how many times I said it was the last time, it wasn't. I worried about them, and I guess I always would. I did mean what I said. I was happy here with Jasper, but I didn't see how it was fair that I got to be happy if they weren't.
Jasper, Tobias, Helen and I went to the room where Jasper and I stayed.
"We've never seen you use this gift," Tobias said quietly.
"I keep telling myself that it will be the last time," I said quietly. "It seems I can't stay away."
"They're family," Helen said, smiling at me.
I nodded.
"How long will you be there?"
I shrugged.
"It can last from a few minutes to a few hours."
"Do you need company?" Helen asked Jasper.
"You're welcome to sit in here, but if you don't I'll be okay."
I looked up at him, watching his face carefully.
"You don't have to stay with me Jazz," I said, quietly, leaning against his shoulder.
"I want to stay with you. I always do."
I smiled, and laid down. Jasper pulled me as close to him as he could before I closed my eyes.
I focused on Harry, and I could see the image forming.
"We still haven't found whatever danger Alice warned us about," Harry said shaking his head. He was in the castle, talking to Minerva. "George and I have tried everything. We've tried the Resurrection stone, but all we got was Fred."
"Maybe try again," Minerva said. "But, Potter, I don't think Alice is going to want the two of you spending the rest of your lives trying to find whatever danger she was keeping us safe from."
"I know," Harry said quietly. "I miss her though."
"I know, Harry," Minerva said smiling weakly. "We all do. But think about how she was. Do you really think she'd want this life for you?"
Harry shook his head.
"So if you try the Resurrection Stone again, and you get nothing, stop looking Harry. Live your life."
Harry nodded.
"Happy Christmas, Professor."
"Happy Christmas, Potter."
Harry made his way to the the fireplace. From there, he headed to Fred and George's shop in Diagon Alley.
"George?" Harry called, making his way through the store.
"Harry," George said, from the top of the stairs. "What did McGonagall say? Did she find anything?"
Harry shook his head.
"She said to try the Resurrection Stone one more time."
"And if we find nothing?"
"George, as bad as I hate to say it, we may have to stop looking."
"Harry—"
"I don't want to either," Harry interrupted. "McGonagall made a good point though. This isn't the life Alice would want for us."
George looked at the ground.
"I know," he whispered.
"So we try it one more time. And if we get nothing from her, then we move on. It's been a year, George. Almost two."
George sank down to the top stair.
"I know."
"Do you still have the stone?"
George nodded, and disappeared into a room. He waved Harry up, and I followed behind Harry.
"You try it this time," George said, passing it to Harry. "I'll probably only get Fred again."
Harry nodded and took the stone and turned it over three times in his hand.
I stood behind the two of them, and watched as six hazy figures appeared. As they became clearer, a smile appeared on my face. In front of me, stood Lily, James, Remus, Fred, my mother, and my father.
"Harry," Lily said, quietly.
"Mum," he said, reaching his hand out to her.
"You're looking for Alice," Mum said, looking at Harry then at George.
Harry nodded.
"She didn't come down," Harry said, looking at the figures.
"She can't talk right now," Remus said.
"She wants to," Fred said, smiling at me. "She just can't."
"Then maybe you know the answer," George said.
"What was Alice protecting us from?"
"She kept saying she was keeping us safe."
"That is why she did it," James said.
"We can't tell you what she was keeping you safe from. We do know what is was, but we promised not to tell you."
"Why won't she talk to us?" George asked. I could tell he was getting annoyed.
Each of the spirits looked at me.
"She promised herself many times she wouldn't come back. She still watches over you. She worries about you," Dad said, giving me a small smile.
I moved from behind Harry and George, and went and stood in between Mum and Fred.
"We're so proud of you, sweetheart," Mum whispered so lowly that Harry and George could not hear.
Remus watched me carefully. Before turning back to the boys.
"Will you tell her we love her?" George asked.
"She knows that Georgie," Fred said smiling as I leaned my head on his shoulder.
I hugged him tightly, and Mum too. I moved down and hugged Dad, and paused when I got to Remus.
"Alice I'm sorry," he said lowly.
"I know, Re. But I know why you did it. I found Jasper, and I understand why you couldn't love me."
"Are you happy?"
I nodded, and hugged him just as tightly as the others. I could hear Harry and George talking behind me, and in a moment I would return to them.
"Thank you, Re. You showed me what love was. You gave me a wonderful life."
"I also broke you, and I can never forgive myself for that."
"I found love again. Jazz put the pieces back together."
He smiled, and I moved to Lily and James.
"I'm sorry I couldn't get to you in time," I said quietly.
"It's okay," Lily said.
"Thank you for keeping Harry safe," James said as I hugged them quickly and tightly.
"Of course."
I returned to Harry and George.
"Alice wants us to tell you that she loves you very much," Fred said.
"And that she wants you to move on with you lives."
I smiled at my family and stepped up to Harry and George.
"You can do it," I whispered to where they could just barely hear me. I kissed both of their cheeks and fell back in line between Mum and Dad.
"You tell that Jasper he better take care of you," Dad whispered.
I laughed, and nodded.
"I will, Dad."
"You don't have much longer left do you?" Harry said to them.
"No we don't."
"So it's time to say goodbye?"
Dad nodded.
"I'm afraid so."
"You'll tell Alice we love her?"
Everyone nodded once more.
"Oh, and Harry?" Remus asked stepping forward after throwing a quick glance at me. "When he's old enough, and you go to tell Teddy about Dora and I, tell him about Alice. I know he'd love her as much as I once did."
I smiled and looked at the ground.
"I have to go," I said to the six of them quietly. "Jazz is waiting for me, and tomorrow's Christmas."
"We love you, Alice," Mum said. "Never forget that."
"I love you too."
I gave my parents a quick kiss on the cheek, and gave one to Fred who hugged me tightly. Harry and George had already said goodbye, but I could still see them.
"Alice?" Remus asked, looking at me.
"Yeah Re?"
"I really am sorry."
"I know."
I smiled and stepped back.
"I'll see you again," I said, smiling.
"We know. And we'll be watching over you."
It would seem as quickly as I came, I was leaving my family once more.I was returning to Jasper. He too was my family, and I was more than happy to go back to him.
I could hear Jasper humming before I opened my eyes.
"Jasper," I murmured, opening my eyes.
"Hey, Al. How was it?"
"They were still trying to find me. Trying to find what I was trying to protect them from. They used the Resurrection stone one last time."
"So you saw Fred again?"
I smiled and nodded.
"And James and Lily, and Mum, and Dad," I paused before looking up at him, "and Remus."
Jasper's mouth twitched.
"What did they say?"
"Well Dad said you better take care of me," I said, smiling up at him. "But they also told Harry and George that they had to stop trying to find me. That it's not a life I would have wanted for them."
"And Remus? Did he say anything?"
"He told me he was sorry for everything. He told Harry that he wanted him to tell Teddy about me, and he was sure Teddy would love me as much as he had."
Jasper's mouth twitched again, and I could detect a hint of jealousy that was radiating off of Jasper.
"Don't be jealous, Jazz. I told him that I understand now. I had found love again with you. You were able to fix everything that he had broken."
Jasper smiled and kissed me.
"I love you," he said quietly.
"I love you more."
I turned to the door, where Helen and Tobias were waiting.
"How long was I gone for?"
"Four hours."
"It felt like five minutes," I said, looking at the clock. "Not much longer until Christmas."
The four of us moved to the living room where we talked. I told stories about Hogwarts, and they told stories about their adventures in Greece and France.
"Have you ever heard of Veela's?" I asked Tobias, when he asked about the wizard communities in France.
He shook his head. I grinned and flipped through my photo albums to find a photo of Fleur.
"This is Fleur. She's Bill's wife. She's a quarter Veela. Veelas are very beautiful. There is a family of half and quarter Veelas in France. That's where Fleur is from."
"Do the French vampires go to Hogwarts?"
I shook my head.
"They have a school for magic there. Beauxbatons Academy of Magic. In Harry's fourth year, the year after I graduated from Hogwarts, some of the students from Beauxbatons and some from the school in Bulgaria, Durmstrang, came to Hogwarts. For the first time in years the Triwizard Tournament was held, and Fleur was one of the champions."
"Did she win?"
I shook my head.
"She's good at magic, but she struggled with the tasks."
"Who won?"
"Harry," I said proudly.
When the sun came up, the glittering snow shined brightly through the window. We decided to wait until after noon before we opened gifts.
"Now you can finally see what I've gotten you," Jasper said handing me a small box.
I opened the box, to find a small bracelet. It was gold, and there was one charm on it. A heart with a lock.
"You are the only one with a key to my heart," Jasper said, smiling.
I laughed.
"That's very corny," I murmured.
"Yet you love it."
I laughed again and nodded.
"I do. Almost as much as I do you."
He smiled and lifted the bracelet out of the box and clasped it onto my wrist.
"There we go," he said, smiling.
"You're turn," I said, handing him the gift. "It's not nearly worth what you gave me, but it took me some time to put it together."
He opened the book, and flipped through the pages.
"It's the story of us falling in love," he said in a tone of astonishment. I could see the pictures on the page as he flipped through them.
I smiled, and he looked up to me with wide eyes.
"Why would you think this isn't worth that?" he demanded. "This is worth the world to me!"
He hugged me tightly before I had a chance to say anything, and then kissed my forehead.
"Thank you, Alice."
"Of course."
Helen and Tobias smiled as I turned to them.
"We coordinated on your gift," Helen said, smiling.
"It's not a key to the heart, or a book of memories, but we think maybe you'd still like it," Tobias said.
They gave me three long rolls that were covered in wrapping paper, and a very large box.
I opened the rolls first. Inside the paper was three rolls of fabric.
"Hold these?" I asked Jasper, as I reached for the box.
He nodded and took the fabric.
Inside the box was a sewing machine.
"You said you used to patch up clothes when you were living with Remus. We figured you could take a shot of trying to make your own clothes."
"Thank you," I said, smiling.
I passed the two of them their gifts.
To Helen, I gave a pair of fairy wings, and some fairy lights.
"Alice are these—"
"Fairies," I said, watching the fairies in the jars. "They often let themselves be used a decorations for Wizardkind. They're vain creatures."
"How have you kept them alive for this long?"
"I let them roam around in my bag."
I opened the jar, and the fairy flew out onto my finger.
"If you wish, you can let them loose, and they'll go back to the Fairy Forest."
"I appreciate you trying, Alice, but I don't think I can do that."
"It's no problem," I said, making my way to the window. I opened the window and turned to the fairy. "You can find your way home, can't you?"
She nodded slightly, before fluttering out of the window.
"I'm sorry Alice."
"It's okay," I said, smiling. "I forget that what's normal for me isn't normal for you."
Tobias was a bit more pleased with his gift. I got him a goblin made pocket watch. Engraved on the top was an owl.
"Thank you, Alice," he said, giving me a quick one armed hug.
"Of course," I said smiling.
"Happy Christmas," I said to them as I sat back.
"Merry Christmas, Darlin'," Jasper said, kissing my forehead.
"Merry Christmas, Alice," Helen and Tobias said together.
For now, the four of us sat calmly as the day faded to night.
Hey guys! I hope you enjoyed the chapter and the ones to come! I really don't have any news, but we're getting closer to finding the Cullens!
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