When they arrived at Grimmault Place, they quickly brought their baggage in their assigned bedrooms and joined Sirius and Remus to visit Arthur in the hospital, where Molly and Bill were waiting for them. Tonks and Moody were with them to ensure they'd be safe.
Though they were a bit preoccupied by Arthur Weasley's fate, Rose did notice that the bedroom she shared with Ginny was right beside Sirius's bedroom, while the room Fred and George shared was on the last floor and he'd have to walk past Remus' bedroom to get to her, the one Charlie and Bill would share, his parent's bedroom and Sirius'. Harry and Ron shared a bedroom in front of Sirius'. That plus the fact that, suddenly, a spell had been cast on the floors holding the bedrooms preventing apparition made her smile and blush.
Did they really plan this, to make sure nothing would happen between Fred and herself? The very thought made her blush a deep red. Sure, she had thought about it, more and more often. She did love when they found a quiet spot to make out and their hands wondered, discovering each other, but they hadn't crossed THAT step yet. She wasn't completely ready and Fred understood.
The fact that Sirius was in a normal bedroom while the master bedroom, the one that should be his, was on the top floor, made it obvious that it had been planned. Should she feel offended that the same precautions hadn't been taken for Harry and Ginny or was it because they weren't officially together yet? Rose waved it off, she didn't mind and if it allowed Sirius and Remus to sleep better...
She did, however, promised herself to find a moment to reassure them, a way to discreetly and un-embarrassingly let them know that she wouldn't cross that bridge before a while.
.
When they arrived at the magical hospital, going through a muggle commercial gallery in order to get in, Arthur was lying on his bed but awake and though it was obvious by looking at him that he had been through something terrible, he seemed cheerful, happy to be alive. Bill had just left for work, they had crossed him in the corridors, and Molly was there, sitting by his side and, to their surprise, Percy was sitting on his other side. Molly was knitting something brown and Percy wasn't doing anything special, he was just sitting by his father's side, looking pale, worried. Serenity was perched at the foot of the bed and humming quietly, letting a comforting music all around her. When the Phoenix saw Rose and Harry, she flew to her mistress, who started to pet her, happy to see her and grateful that she had stayed to help.
"Ah, Harry, the man of the hour! I'll never thank you enough, I owe you my life son!" Arthur declared as soon as he saw them all, making Harry blush.
"We all owe you so much sweetheart! It truly was a blessing for us when Ron sat down with you on that first train ride." Molly added proudly.
"Technically we met him first, you know!" George protested.
"Yes, we helped him carry his trunk in the train!" Fred added, making everyone chuckle.
They spent a good part of the day visiting Arthur before they went back home, much more cheerful, ready to decorate the dark house to spend Christmas there all together. Arthur wouldn't be released until the afternoon of the 24th, so they found it safer to spend the entire break in the same house instead of taking the risk to move in the middle of it.
.
Harry and Rose coordinated their presents.
She even helped him getting something romantic for Ginny, something to show her that he wanted them to be official boyfriend and girlfriend. Rose had suggested a necklace, pretty and personalized, along with a handwritten note and Harry had prepared everything, following his sister's suggestions and his own ideas. He had tried to write her a note that was also a pun with Quidditch and would remind Ginny of the peom she had sent him for Valentine's day during his second year. "You're a chaser, I'm a seeker. More precious and more beautiful than a golden snitch, you're a catch, my catch, and, if you'll allow me, I'll keep you."
They had gotten for Mister Weasley a very large and full set of muggle tools, batteries and other things he'd probably love to "play" with. They had even included a couple of muggle book that explained how to use them. They had made sure he'd be able to built a few things with the items they got for him.
They got for Misses Weasley a pretty coat with the matching hat. They had considered something more useful but they figured that she was allowed a bit of frivolity too once in a while.
For Ron they got muggle candy and sodas along with a t-shirt from his favorite Quidditch team.
Harry got the Twins a set of muggle candy and sodas as well, but Rose got Fred something else, a pretty picture of herself, that he'd be able to have with him when they part ways next year. On this picture, she blew him a kiss, smiled and waved.
They both sent Dudley a large box of magic candy, something they knew he'd like and be able to have fun with. They made sure he'd also get a sugar quill and other things that he definitely wouldn't find in the muggle world. They had added a bottle of butterbeer so that he could try it.
Deciding to make an effort, they sent their Aunt Petunia, and Uncle Vernon, a large box of Honeyduke Chocolate. Though sold in a magical store, the chocolates were pretty normal, nothing magical about them. They added a bottle of firewhisky for their uncle Vernon. Things had gone well during their last week there and Harry and Rose wanted to see if something could be one for them to be a better family and keep in touch once in a while.
They got Hermione a couple of books she had wanted to read for a while and Rose had made sure nobody else would buy them for her.
Not knowing Charlie and Bill enough, they simply got them the same set of muggle candy and sodas as their brothers.
For Remus and Sirius, they bought clothes. Though Remus' clothes were pretty normal ones, with the ability to be warmer or not depending on the weather, Sirius's clothes were more frivolous, and for him to wear as he teaches class. They were sure he'd wear them, now that he had gained a good reputation as a serious teacher, he could start wearing more "funny and frivolous" clothes.
"Harry, did you send it?" Rose asked her brother as they sorted the presents they had, making sure they hadn't forgotten anyone.
"Dumbledore's gift?" He asked her with a smile.
"Yes!" She nodded.
"Of course I did. I gave it to Dobby, asking him to make sure Dumbledore would find it on Christmas morning." Harry nodded with a smile.
"I didn't know he was invited for lunch that day, we could have given it to him directly." She frowned, remembering what the adults had said that morning.
"Don't worry, I'm sure he'll wear them." Harry smile, already imagining Albus Dumbledore wearing the magical socks they had chosen and enchanted for him as he walked around school.
The socks were Gryffindor's color and filled with muggle candy. Each time the wearer of the socks said "Hogwarts", the socks laughed. The socks also told jokes loudly when it was too quiet for too long and sang dirty songs after 8pm whenever someone asked for something to drink or said words like "tea", "water", "firewhisky", "hydromel"... They were very proud of their work.
"So, what did you get me?" Rose asked her brother with a smile.
"Aren't you supposed to wait until the day after tomorrow to find out?" He asked her.
"I hate not knowing!" She shook her head.
"Too bad sister, you're going to have to wait a while longer." He replied with an amused smile, thinking of the dress he had bought for her.
He had seen his sister watching it longingly in one of the stores they had visited with Remus and Sirius a few days ago and had gone back with Remus to buy it for her without her finding out. Remus had gotten her a belt that could go with it and change the dress' style completely, ensuring she'd be able to wear it on different occasions.
"Well then, I guess I won't tell you what you got either." She smiled.
"Unlike you, I can wait until Christmas morning!" he joked, chuckling as she sat back down.
Rose had gotten her brother a full set of books and equipment for him to play Quidditch and take care of his broom.
"Harry, do you ever miss us being together in our dreams?" Rose asked her brother in a small voice.
"Sometimes, but then we do see each other every day, and we talk about everything... I don't think that there's anything I would have left to tell you in the dreams..." Harry told her.
"True... I do miss it sometimes though... The certainty of what's to come in the dreams, knowing ahead that we won't be alone." Rose replied.
"True, but I'm glad you're not in my dreams lately." Harry said with a blush he tried to hide.
"Oh really? Having dirty dreams about Ginny, are you?" She teased him.
"Don't say that too loudly! Remember how many of her brothers are in this house at the moment!" Harry whispered urgently, making his sister chuckle.
"Don't worry, I don't think you'd want to be in my dreams either lately. You wouldn't see Fred in the same way." Rose replied with a blush of her own.
She liked that she could be this open with her brother.
"Sometimes... Sometimes I try to imagine how things would have been if we had been raised by our parents, if they hadn't been killed..." Harry told her honestly.
"Me too. I think this is what I miss the most, not having been raised together. Not knowing how it would be." She nodded.
"Do you think we'd still be in the same place? I mean, the same friends and everything?" He asked her.
"I do, maybe with a few differences, but I think we'd mostly be in the same place in life." she nodded.
"Do you think dad would have approved of Fred?" Harry asked with a grin.
"I'm sure he would have, Remus told me so! But I think mom would have tried to get you to take a more useful subject than divination." Rose replied.
"I'm glad you're real Rose. I mean, you know what I mean, right? I'm glad you're not a fragment of my imagination!" Harry declared, making his sister chuckle.
"I get it, don't worry. I'm glad you're real too." She replied before they hugged and she left the room to see if she'd be able to spend some time with Fred before dinner.
Review please?
Reviews motivate me to write more. Right now i'm working on chapter 59. It's far from over.
Lorelei Candice Black