Harry's Future, part 39
Harry flew high above the Scottish landscape. The sun was bright and high in the sky but at this altitude the air was briskly cool. With his wings spread wide he would catch the thermals rising from the dark, hilly landscape only to fold them back to plunge down and then pull out to skim along the treetops. As he began another leisurely climb to altitude he heard a familiar voice calling his name.
"Harry. Harry!"
The great head swung on its long, muscular neck looking for a slight redheaded figure on a broom but there was nothing nor no one to be seen, yet the voice persisted.
"Harry, sweetheart, wake up," Ginny spoke softly but insistently.
The blue, cloudless sky began to dissolve and was replaced by a pair of warm brown eyes and a smile every bit as bright as the sun had been in his dream. After blinking away the sleep he looked around and said,
"Oh, good morning, love. I was having a great dream. I was flying somewhere up beyond Hogwarts on a beautiful sunny day."
"I can imagine," she said, looking pointedly at the book lying in Harry's lap as he reclined on the big couch in the living room of the Burrow. "You told me that you were going to go right to sleep after I went upstairs last night. You still have your glasses on for goodness sake."
"Sorry, love. I hit an interesting spot and couldn't stop. Guess I dozed off anyway."
The book in question was titled, "The Flight of Dragons" written by a team of researchers over a hundred years ago and was suggested to Harry by Charlie Weasley. It was the morning of Christmas Eve and Harry and Ginny were at the Burrow for a combination holiday visit and recuperation. Harry had his knee surgery two days before and Mrs. Weasley insisted they stay for the entire holiday break. Harry had learned his lesson well and didn't even think to beg off. Kreacher was in residence to assist with the holiday cooking and Harry could already smell breakfast in the making. His stomach growled loudly.
"Oh dear", Ginny giggled. "The beast awakens."
"I guess even flying in my dreams burns up energy," he said with a slightly embarrassed smile.
"How's the knee this morning?"
"It's feeling pretty good, just a little sore. It was really quite amazing. I'm glad I stayed awake through the whole thing. Of course I couldn't see anything but I heard the discussion. It wasn't the worst they had ever dealt with, apparently, but still pretty buggered up, as the doctor would say," Harry said and then looked thoughtful. "You know, Gin, he said something interesting after they were done."
"What was that, Harry?"
"After seeing what was in there and the damage that was done, I mean really seeing it, he said he couldn't figure out how I was able to walk without crutches. He said it really shouldn't have been able to support any weight at all."
"What did you tell him?"
"I just said I come from a pretty tough family," Harry replied with a smile. "But it made me think. You know Oliver Wood told me he was unconscious for a week after getting hit in the head by a bludger in his first Quidditch match. You would have thought it would have cracked his skull. I've seen him and Angelina take some nasty falls during matches and my crashing through the railings that time. I should have had broken bones, not just bruises. I wonder is there something about witches and wizards that makes them physically tougher, more resistant to serious injuries?"
"I don't know, sweetheart, but if there is I'm sure glad of it. Considering all the beatings you've taken, if we weren't I wouldn't have you here today," she said with a warm smile.
Harry returned her a smile and let her help him up off the couch. He was back to using crutches per the doctor's orders and made his way to the bathroom down the hall. When he came back out he could see that breakfast was on the table and Ginny and the cook's chief assistant, Abagail, were already seated.
"Good morning, Professor Potter, sir," Abagail called out in her airy voice accompanied by a wide smile.
"And a good morning to you, Miss Westwood, ma'am."
Abagail giggled and watched as Harry swung his way carefully into the kitchen and maneuvered gingerly into a chair next to Ginny. Within moments they were joined by Mr. Weasley and Charlie, who had arrived the night before. Eleanor was due to arrive at anytime. Harry had a surprise waiting for her. He had asked Kreacher to bring the elaborate wizards' chess set to the Burrow. He and Ron had already played a few games and the chess pieces were pleased to be out and about.
"So, little one, I understand you were out to the new house yesterday. How's it coming?" Harry asked.
"It's gorgeous, Harry. I mean I know what it was supposed to look like but to see it for real and be able to walk up and touch it. The whole of the exterior is complete except for the landscaping. They're working on the interior now and it doesn't look like much but you can see where it's heading. I'm sure you're going to love it," she said.
"I'm sure I will and I want to thank you again for all your help. You and Ginny have given us all something very special," he said with a smile.
Abagail smiled first at him and then at Ginny and then Harry's two guardian angels began filling up his plate from the platters on the table. He looked at them with raised eyebrows and said,
"Gee, you two are going to spoil me with service like this."
"You deserve a little spoiling, sweetheart. Eat up, I know you're hungry," Ginny said with a smile.
And eat he did. He barely let up when Eleanor came into the kitchen and when it came time for his hug it was exchanged in one armed fashion from his chair. Before returning to the task of demolishing his second helping he pointed to the living room and the clearly visible chess set.
"Oh, Harry, you didn't," she cried with delight and hurried into the room.
They could hear the shouted greetings to 'fair lady Eleanor' from the various nobles amongst the pieces and the banging of weapons on shields from the pawns. After promising to return to them soon she came back to the table and sat down next to Charlie.
"It's a good thing those pieces are only a few inches tall," Charlie said. "Otherwise I might get jealous."
Eleanor laughed and gave Charlie a kiss on the cheek.
"I have to admit, all that adulation could go to a girl's head," she said with a laugh.
Bill and Fleur were due after lunch and would stay for dinner and Christmas day. The rest of the family was expected for Christmas breakfast to include Mr. and Mr. Granger. Angelina's parents had accepted an invitation for Christmas dinner as well. Molly Weasley, Kreacher and Abagail had been working since the start of the break to get things ready. Harry couldn't remember seeing his 'mum' happier.
After breakfast had been concluded, with little in the way of leftovers, the table was cleared and Harry worked his way over to his mum and gave her a big hug, thanking her for filling him up, once again.
"Always a pleasure, my dear, and you know that. Now go sit yourself down and take care of that knee. You don't want to undo the doctor's hard work now do you?"
"Yes, ma'am, and no, ma'am," Harry said with a grin.
He swung his way back to the couch but settled himself in a semi sitting position so he had access to the chess board. Eleanor pulled a chair up to the other side and then looked at Harry.
"Any preference?" she asked.
"Well, it looks like both sides want you. I'm feeling a little left out," he said with a grin, acknowledging the clamor on the board.
"Good people," Eleanor began with a twinkle in her eye. "The day has just begun and there will be many opportunities for combat and valor. This raucous display is most unseemly, m'lords. Let us conduct ourselves with chivalrous behavior. The first contest will be as arranged and when concluded the sides will be reversed. Are we agreed?" she asked with a wink towards Harry.
The black king, who Harry would command for the first match looked at Eleanor and then his opponent.
"The lady is both fair and wise. Fair of face as well as mind. We will bow to her wisdom."
"Agreed," the white king replied. "Prepare, my people, for the contest is at hand."
"This is just too much fun, Harry. I love talking like this," she said with girlish glee.
Harry smiled and nodded his agreement. He gestured for her to begin and the contest was on. Harry and El played three games before lunch. Harry won two. With his knee on the mend and a contented state of mind due to a successful first half of term he was able to give the games his full attention. His mind did begin to wander a bit near the end of the third game as his breakfast began to wear off and that was all El needed to finish him off.
"Well played, Harry. I think you would have swept me but you started to drift around the middle of the last game," Eleanor said over the sounds of the pieces resuming their places on the board.
"Thanks, El. I was getting hungry and it gets hard to concentrate."
"Sir Harry!" the black king shouted.
"Yes, Your Majesty?"
"If thine hunger is causing your thoughts to wander, I would recommend you cease now and take what refreshment you may. When Sir Ronald arrives you will need all your wits about you, lest the contest end in full rout."
"Sound counsel, my liege," Harry replied. "We will do as you suggest for I see the board has already been laid. We will return anon."
Eleanor rose to the cheers of her recently victorious pieces and offered Harry a hand up from the couch. When they were both standing he looked at her with a lopsided grin and said,
"You're right, it is kind of fun to talk that way."
They both laughed as they made their way to the kitchen table where soup and sandwich makings were laid out. Harry worked his way through three sandwiches and two bowls of soup. Charlie and Eleanor watched in amazement as he scraped up the last bits of veg and broth from the bowl in front of him.
"Has anyone weighed you lately, Harry?" Charlie asked.
"Uh, yeah. They did some of that just before the surgery. Came in a little over eleven stone. Why?"
"It hardly seems possible is all. The way you eat you should weigh twice that."
"Mass equals energy, remember? Gotta be ready if I need to make the change," he said with a grin.
Charlie laughed and Eleanor just rolled her eyes. Ginny just sat back and smiled then said,
"Of course if he ever gets stranded on a desert island he's going to last about half a day and then starve to death."
"How could I get stranded, love? I would just have to go dragon and fly home, maybe snack on a whale on the way," he replied with a perfectly straight face.
This got everyone laughing. Ron and Hermione arrived around mid afternoon and the two best friends settled into a game almost immediately while the women sat by the fireplace and talked, mostly about the house and the anticipated arrival of the first Potter child.
"I have to tell you, Ginny," Hermione said. "There's quite a buzz around the Ministry about the baby. It's not unlike what was said about you and Harry getting married. People are taking it as a sign of better days after all the misery of Voldemort."
"Good grief. It's been what, almost six years since then. You'd think people would start to ease a bit wouldn't you?" Ginny said.
"I don't know, Gin. I think with the dragon attack at Hogwarts it's still pretty fresh in everyone's mind. It wouldn't surprise me to find people thinking that Voldemort isn't really dead after all," Hermione replied.
"Oh, you can rest assured that he's dead all right."
This was said by Mr. Weasley as he walked out of the kitchen with a cuppa in hand.
"I spoke to Kingsley Shacklebolt not too long after the battle had taken place. He told me that all the bodies of the Death Eaters and Voldemort himself had been taken to the Ministry and thrown right through the Veil. No one was taking any chances, nor did they want any burial place to become some sort of shrine or rallying point for any sympathizers."
Mr. Weasley took a seat next to his wife.
"But you are right, Hermione. It will take some time for people to get past the idea of having Riddle and his gang lurking in some shadows somewhere and any shock, like that dragon attack, only adds to the case of nerves. That's why they look for signs like your first child, Ginny, to give them hope for better times."
Ginny rested her hand on her expanding abdomen and gave a small smile. Their conversation was interrupted by a clash of arms and shouts as Harry's queen's knight did battle with Ron's king's knight. Ron and Harry had joined in, encouraging their respective pieces, even though it was Harry's move to win. When the inevitable occurred they laughed and high fived each other over the board. It was a gesture Harry had taught Ron years earlier to acknowledge a particularly hard fought exchange. As the room quieted down the conversation resumed.
"Do you think the new house will be done in time for the baby's arrival, Ginny?" Eleanor asked.
"It's quite possible. When we were out yesterday the foreman told me that if the weather doesn't get too bad over the next few months we could be in by the end of March and I'm due the middle of April so it could happen."
Further conversation was curtailed as the kitchen door opened and Bill, Fleur and Victoire arrived. As Fleur and Bill were welcomed by Mrs. Weasley rushing from the living room to the kitchen, little Victoire made straight for Harry on her now very steady legs. She stood at the side of the couch Harry was sitting on and held her arms up imperiously.
"Unc 'arry, hug," she said, her face very serious.
Harry smiled and reached down and lifted his niece up and held her tight. Her little arms gripped his neck tightly and he felt a little kiss on the cheek. When she let go he sat her down on the couch, leaning against his left leg where she sat happily holding his hand.
"Our 'arry ees quite the charmer, no?" Fleur said as she and Bill entered the living room and sat down opposite Harry.
"I suppose I just get on well with small children is all," Harry responded while at the same time giving Victoire a little tickle that set her to laughing.
"Sir Harry, your attention if you please. The scoundrels are on the move," his king bellowed at him.
"Opps, sorry," Harry said as he tried to focus on the game.
Four moves later he was done. Ron looked at him and said with a smirk,
"Sorry, mate. I guess it's hard to play good chess when everyone wants your attention."
Harry gave Ron a mock glare and said,
"If I didn't know better, I'd think you arranged for it, Mr. Strategist, or should I say evil genius."
Ron laughed and said,
"Evil, maybe, but you got the wrong one of us for genius. She's sitting over by the fire."
Harry nodded and then turned towards the group of ladies.
"Ok, El, he's all yours," he said.
Several more games were played with Eleanor and Harry switching off, but Ron went undefeated. The last game concluded shortly before dinner and Harry just shook his head.
"You know, mate, if this keeps up the set here is going to want to go home with you."
Ron smiled and said,
"I'd love to have 'em, Harry, but I think they'd find our place a bit snug. Better they end up in your new library, like Ginny was talking about. I'll be over enough to make them happy," he finished with a laugh.
Dinner was an enjoyable affair and Harry did his best to keep his appetite under control. Truth be told it was starting to be a little embarrassing for him, especially when he was around people that hadn't seen him eat in a while. They always seemed amazed by it all over again. Mrs. Weasley, ever vigilant noticed and asked,
"Harry, dear. Is everything all right?"
"Yes, Mum. I'm just going easy. I had a lot for breakfast and lunch and haven't done much today so I'm trying to keep it to just seconds," he replied.
"Alright, Harry, but don't let yourself go hungry."
"Yes, Mum."
After dinner had concluded the family settled in the living room and Harry found himself once again the center of Victoire's attention. Ron had graciously relinquished his place at the chess board and now Bill and Charlie were having a go. Apparently neither one was up to standard and Harry could hear a number of not-so-complimentary comments coming from both sets of pieces. He himself was involved in a more serious session of 'find the prize'. Whatever he could hide in his hand would become the prize and his niece was bound and determined to pry it loose. Occasionally Abagail would whisper to the little girl, who would then eye Harry with a little squint before redoubling her efforts.
By eight o'clock or so Victoire was sound asleep, her head resting on Harry's good leg. Her dad scooped her up and, accompanied by Fleur, carried her up to bed. They had said their goodnights and would see everyone early in the morning. Eleanor was playing Charlie a game of chess and was drubbing him. He was also being mercilessly criticized by his rapidly dwindling corps of chessmen. When he was finally defeated he looked over and Harry and said,
"Remind me to never play on this board again, Harry. You experts have absolutely spoiled these pieces. They have no patience for we poor amateurs," he said with a rueful smile.
"I dunno, Charlie. They were pretty surly the first times Ron and I played. I think it might have been because they were stuck in the attic all those years. But I have to admit they don't waste any time letting you know if you're not playing up to standard," Harry said with a smile.
"Come on, Charlie," Eleanor said. "Let's let everyone get to bed. It's going to be an early and busy day tomorrow."
Ron and Hermione left for their home with promises to be back in time for breakfast. Harry got up off the couch with Ginny looking at him with eyebrows raised.
"Yes, I'm coming upstairs. I'm getting tired of sleeping on couches. Besides, you sleep on the other side of the bed from the bad leg so if you bump into me it won't be a problem," he said with a small smile.
Ginny smiled and followed Harry up the stairs, her own increasing girth slowing her ascent as well. A little while later they were lying together in bed, Harry with a pillow under his mending knee and Ginny lying on her side with a long pillow to support her.
"Harry?" she said quietly.
"Yes, Gin?"
"Are you happy?"
"Of course I'm happy, Gin. Why do you ask?" he replied.
"I was just wondering. You've been teaching for a full semester now and your knee is on its way back to normal. I was just wondering if you were thinking about getting back to the Ministry."
"To be perfectly honest with you, love, I haven't thought about it at all. I've been concentrating on school work," Harry replied quietly.
"Oh."
"I know what you're driving at, Ginny, but I just haven't taken the time to think about it. It's been kind of nice not worrying about it. But when the time comes I'll give it all the thought it deserves. Let's just concentrate on having a nice holiday with the family, alright?"
"Ok, sweetheart."
Christmas morning began with a bang, as in an insistent banging on their bedroom door.
"Ginny, Harry, wake up," Abagail said, doing her best to shout. "Breakfast is almost ready."
"Alright, little one, we'll be along shortly," Harry managed to reply.
"Better hurry up or there will only be enough for you to have seconds," she said, followed by what sounded like a breathy little snicker.
Harry just shook his head and groped for his glasses on the nightstand.
"You awake, love?" he asked.
"Yes, sweetheart," she mumbled. "Who could sleep through that? For someone you can barely hear talk she certainly can be noisy."
It was about a quarter of an hour later that the young couple slowly made their way down the stairs and into the kitchen to be greeted by Mrs. Weasley.
"Good morning, my dears, and happy Christmas. Sit yourselves down and get started."
"Morning, Mum," they both offered, "happy Christmas."
Already seated at the table were Ron and Hermione, both looking very chipper as well as Bill, Charlie and Eleanor. Bill looked up and said,
"Well, you two don't look too bright this morning. Rough night?"
"Neither one of us are very comfortable right now, big brother. It makes for a restless night," Ginny offered.
"I can well imagine," Bill replied. "You better get settled. My two ladies should be down any moment."
Harry managed to pull out Ginny's chair while balanced on his crutches and then she held onto them while he maneuvered into his own chair. He began serving them both when the back door opened and in came George, Angelina and little Fred. The newcomers were just getting themselves settled when a car was heard pulling up outside and Hermione scrambled from the table to rush out to meet her parents. When she returned with her mum and dad in tow there were many 'happy Christmas' greetings exchanged. They had a bag with several items which were hurriedly placed under the tree at the far end of the living room and then they joined the rest for breakfast.
"Harry, how are you feeling?" Mr. Granger asked as he sat down.
"Doing fine, sir. Very little discomfort. I'm very hopeful for a full recovery."
"If anyone could make it happen, it would be Angus McLeod. He's one of the very best," Mr. Granger said.
"Good morneeng everyone, Joyeaux Noel," Fleur called out as she carried Victoire down the staircase.
When she reached the bottom she put her daughter down, who made a beeline for Harry's chair. While everyone watched she stood there with her arms raised and said,
"Unc 'arry, up."
Harry obliged and picked his niece up and he got the mini version of a Fleur hug. She then settled into the crook of his arm and with one arm on his shoulder she turned to survey the table. She saw her father and smiled brightly.
"'lo, Da."
"Hello, my lovely. How are you this morning?"
"G'd, Da."
Then she spotted her cousin Fred sitting up in his mother's lap and she wiggled out of Harry's grasp and he swung her down to the floor where she scuttled around the table to stand next to Angelina and look at the little boy.
"I guess she finally found something more interesting then I am," Harry said.
"Do not be concerned, mon ami," Fleur said as she came up behind him to wrap her arms around his neck. "I theenk you weell steell be 'er favorite for a long time to come."
She kissed both cheeks from behind and then repeated the process with Ginny. She worked her way around the table and made her usual over the top fuss for Ron who, even after all this time, still froze up in red faced embarrassment. Harry could hear the low throaty chuckle from Fleur all the way across the table. When she stood up she was looking at him and he just shook his head and mouthed the word 'cruel'. She fixed him with a raised eyebrow and then continued down the table to take her place next to Bill. Harry went back to concentrating on his breakfast. By the time he, and everyone else, was done he was aware that he was under scrutiny. When he looked around he made eye contact with the Grangers. They were both regarding him with amazement.
"Um, Hermione, didn't you warn your folks about my eating habits?" he asked with a lopsided grin.
"Opps, sorry, Harry. I'm so used to it I just didn't think about it. Can I tell them everything though?"
"I guess it should be ok," Harry said.
While the rest of the diners moved away from the table Hermione sat down between her parents and began a quiet conversation. Harry stayed where he was in case he needed to add anything. The conversation went on for a bit and then Mrs. Granger's head popped up and she looked at Harry. He just gave her a small grin. She looked back to her daughter as Hermione continued the explanation. When she was finished she sat back and her mum and dad both looked to Harry as if for confirmation.
"Knowing Hermione as I do, I'm sure she explained it all very well. It's part of who I am. The others can confirm it, they've all seen it," he said quietly.
Mrs. Granger blinked a few times and Mr. Granger sat back in his chair with his eyebrows raised.
"Just when I think I've got a handle on this whole business I learn something that completely destroys my sense of what is real," he said.
"If it's any comfort, Dad, we had a hard time coming to grips with it ourselves," Hermione said. "I mean we knew what an animagus was and had seen it happen plenty of times, but as usual Harry pushed the boundaries way past what any of us thought was possible."
Mrs. Granger was looking at Harry with a very odd look on her face. Some would call it bemused, others almost trance like. Harry was looking back at her trying to read her expression. The she said quietly,
"When I was a little girl, my parents took us on a holiday to the Scottish highlands. We went way to the north and spent some time in a small cabin. One evening I went outside. I wanted to see the stars begin to appear as it got darker. While I was looking at the last of the light from the sunset fade I saw something, or thought I did. At first I thought it was just a bat but the more I looked the more I could make out and I saw it had four legs and a long tail and neck. It would dip and dive and then soar into the sky again. I must have watched it for five minutes or more before it slipped away," she said, softly, almost dreamily.
"Every night for months afterward I would dream about a dragon flying. Sometimes it would fly right over my head, other times it would be barely visible on the horizon, but always at sunset. I've never seen another one since. But I've never forgotten. And I've never told anyone until now."
The she gave herself a little shake as if remembering where she was. She looked a little embarrassed as she turned to face her husband and daughter. Harry leaned forward and reached across the table, offering his hand to Mrs. Granger. She almost shyly reached out to take it.
"There isn't much I can do about it at the moment. But once the knee is better I'll give you a chance to see one up very close and personal," he said quietly. "I'm sure I can trust you both to keep my secret as much as I do Hermione or any of the others."
Mrs. Granger's mouth turned up in a small smile but her eyes were alight. Hermione and her father were looking at her as if she was someone they had never seen before. Apparently this was something that they never would have guessed about her. The mood was broken when Mrs. Weasley called to them that it was time to exchange gifts. Harry got to his feet and was reaching for his crutches when Mrs. Granger came around the table and took hold of his arm. She looked at him and said softly,
"Thank you, Harry, for helping make a little girl's dreams come true. This is one of the happiest Christmas' I'll ever have."
"You're welcome, ma'am," he replied and together they walked and swung into the living room where Harry moved to sit by Ginny and the Grangers and Hermione sat down with Ron.
With so many people the exchange took some time, and with two small children in attendance, the level of enthusiasm was ratcheted up a notch or two. As is so often the case Victoire had as much fun with the wrapping and ribbons as she did with her presents. She was, however, particularly thrilled with a stuffed green dragon that she received from 'unc 'arry'. Little Fred received one as well. Harry and Ginny made one particularly noteworthy presentation.
When it came time to give their present to their mum and dad, if on signal, which it probably was, Kreacher came in through the kitchen door with several large boxes floating in front of him. They contained a complete set of pots, pans and utensils as might be found in the kitchen of the finest restaurants. It was a dazzling array of copper, stainless steel and cast iron, all matched. Mrs. Weasley was speechless. Her eyes kept flicking from pot to pan to knife to ladle. Harry sat with a small smile while the rest 'oo'd and 'ah'd. Finally Molly was able to tear her eyes away and reach over to wrap her daughter and son-in-law in a bear hug.
Harry had also noticed the look on Kreacher's face as he looked at each item that had come into view. It was a look of undisguised longing. Harry smiled and said, once he was released from the rib bruising embrace,
"Don't worry, Kreacher. I have the same set on order for when the new house is completed."
The little house elf's face lit up like a beacon and his smile was ear to ear. Other gifts included books of wizard chess strategy for Audrey, Eleanor and Ron and a set of earrings for Ginny that matched her engagement ring. It was late in the morning before the final gift was opened, a hat and driving gloves for Mr. Weasley to use with the Popular. Bill and Charlie had gone in on this one together and they both got baleful looks from their mother as a result. She in turn got a pair of very boyish grins.
Lunch was a buffet affair and Ginny and Harry were treated to 'couch service' since there were so many people willing to wait on them, given their 'conditions'. Neither minded in the least. Harry had declared himself neutral in the wizard chess wars for the day, since he had plenty of opportunities to use the magnificent set. It became a revolving affair with players shifting in and out by turn as opposed to the victor holding his, or her, seat.
It was probably for the best since Harry would have had little opportunity to concentrate since much of his attention was demanded by Victoire who wanted to show Harry everything she received for Christmas, to look at everything he had gotten and when she had had enough of that, to sit in his lap with her back resting on his chest and dozing off. Ginny sat at his side watching it all with a contented smile, thinking her children would have a wonderful father to watch over them.
Around mid afternoon, the Johnsons arrived and the party was complete. They, of course, spent much of their time fussing over their grandson but they also made the circuit to exchange handshakes and hugs with the rest of the family. Mr. Johnson took a few moments to talk with Harry.
"Well, young fellow, how are you getting along?"
"I'm doing pretty well, sir. I have great hopes for the knee and school is going great as well," Harry replied.
"Good for you. Angelina has told us that you have been getting some pressure to leave the Ministry and stay at Hogwarts," the older man said, his face serious.
"You could put it that way, sir," Harry said with a grin.
"We'll I'm certainly not going to add to it. You do what you think is best and I'm sure it will be the right thing for you and your growing family."
"Thank you, sir."
As the afternoon moved on the swirl of conversation and groupings of partiers ebbed and flowed. Harry was content to stay put and take part or observe as opportunities presented themselves. Something that he noticed from time to time was looks from Mrs. Granger. When they would make eye contact she would just give him that same shy smile and whimsical tilt of the head. During one of the constant shifts in groupings Harry found himself sitting alone. Ginny was talking with Fleur and Angelina about what, Harry had no doubts. Victoire had been recovered by Bill and taken to her crib for a nap. Mrs. Granger came over to sit next to him.
"Harry, do you mind if I ask you a question?"
"Not at all, Mrs. Granger," Harry replied.
"I was wondering, could you tell me what it's like to fly?" she asked quietly.
"I'm guessing you mean without a broom," he said with a smile.
Hermione's mum nodded. Harry drew in a breath and considered.
"Its like nothing I've ever experienced before. I used to think that flying my broom was the greatest thing I could do. Of course as I grew older other things turned out to be equally amazing," he said with a slight grin. "But the first time I flew as a dragon, I don't know if I can really describe it. It's so effortless. I don't even have to think about how I do it. To turn, or dive or ride the rising hot air without having to consider whether I'd come off my broom. Even if I could take you along with me for the ride, you still wouldn't know what it's like."
Mrs. Granger just nodded but her eyes spoke volumes. Harry thought if he had a way and he offered she'd not think twice in accepting.
"It's kind of strange in a way, Mrs. Granger. Hermione absolutely hates flying with magic."
"I know, Harry. One of the things she told us often during her first year at Hogwarts was how much she hated flying lessons. I think I know why. When she was around eight years old we went on vacation to the Caribbean. One day we were all trying parasailing, you know when they tow you behind a boat and you wind up high above the water? Well, unfortunately when Hermione did it she was paired with her father and a stiff wind blew up and the rope came undone. They took a wild ride before they landed in the water. You could hear the poor girl screaming the whole way to the end."
They both looked over to where Hermione was sitting. Mrs. Granger continued, saying,
"She wrote to us that first week at Hogwarts that flying on the broom reminded her of the whole business and she swore that she would never fly unless she was inside a plane," Mrs. Granger finished.
Harry looked at his dear friend and when he saw her she was looking right back at him.
"I remember when we were flying on Buckbeak, the Hippogriff. She really hated that as well," Harry said.
"It's a shame really," Mrs. Granger replied. "I'd give anything to be able to fly like that."
Harry nodded and thought he could understand her desire. He was looking forward to when he could get back into the air, either on his Firebolt or under his own power. Any further discussion along these lines was curtailed when Mrs. Weasley called them all together for dinner. It was a rather lavish meal. There were two large roast turkeys with all the trimmings. Abagail had been kept busy making her special flaky rolls and there were several bowls of vegetables, roast potatoes and parsnips. Mr. Weasley and Bill shared carving duties and the new knives that were part of Harry and Ginny's gift proved their worth. Soon everyone was digging in, passing bowls and platters and keeping up a running commentary on how great everything looked, smelled and tasted.
Harry, oddly enough, was not indulging in his now usual voracious inroads on his meal. The sights and sounds were pressing in on him and he could feel a warmth begin to build and radiate out to every part of his being. It was not the heat of anger but the gentle warming of contentment and satisfaction. He could feel the recollections of those bitter, pre-Hogwarts Christmas' with the Dursleys slowly melt away. This would be what Christmas would always be for him now and until the end of his days.