December 19th, 1991 Potter Manor 7:00PM
Lily led the group into the foyer of the castle. The inside had been decorated for the holidays with wreaths and garlands strung across the walls. In the corner of the foyer was a large Christmas tree that was decorated with red, green, and gold baubles. Harry was astounded at the sight. "Mum, if we had a place like this why do we live in London?" the boy asked his mother.
Lily smirked. "Well, love, the castle was under repair for a while and we left while it was being fixed," she said, which was technically true since the wards that protected the manor had been destroyed and were under repair for the last ten years.
The Grangers were looking around in awe. "Is this where the minister is supposed to live?" Dan asked.
"No, this is the ancestral home of the Potters," Sirius said. "It has been in their family since the twelfth century."
"Oh my god," Emma said. "This is amazing."
"Thank you," came the voice of James Potter. Everyone looked up to see the head of the Potter family descending the stairs. "Welcome to my family's home."
"DAD!!" Harry shouted, running up the stairs to hug his father.
"Harry!" James grinned and lifted his son up into a tight hug.
"This is really our house?" Harry asked his father.
"Yes, son. I grew up here," his father told him.
"Are we going to move here?" Harry asked excitedly.
James chuckled. "Well, maybe your mother and I will have to talk about it. For now, let's show our guests to their rooms and then we'll have dinner." Harry nodded and James gestured to the group. "Please, everyone, follow me. I'll show you to the rooms."
The group walked up the staircase and James showed them to their rooms. The first room they stopped at was meant for Castor. Castor's wife Drusilla Greengrass was waiting inside for him; she had arrived earlier with their youngest daughter Astoria. The room next to the Greengrass' was for the Grangers. On the opposite side of the hall was a room in between the other two rooms that was meant for Daphne, Hermione and Susan, where Astoria was waiting for them. Next up was the Longbottom's room which was the next door after the Granger's room. There was a room right across the hall for Neville. The next and last room was after the Longbottom's room meant for Amelia.
Now that everyone had been shown to their rooms, Lily, James, and Sirius led Harry to his room in the manor. The three of them took the boy to a door on the other side of the castle. "Harry, this was my old room when I was a boy," James said. "I hope you'll like it." The boy's father opened the door. The large room was decorated with Gryffindor banners and quidditch posters. There was a four poster bed with scarlet curtains, and a bookshelf stacked with an assortment of books. An elegant desk was found on the other side of the room and next to it was a wardrobe that matched the desk.
Harry looked around in awe. "This is my room?" he asked as he looked around.
"Yes, sweetie," Lily smiled. "Do you like it?"
"It's awesome!!" Harry exclaimed as he rushed to the bed and jumped on it. His parents smiled as the boy gleefully enjoyed his new room.
Later, after Harry calmed down, their family made their way back to the foyer where the others had all gathered to wait for their hosts. "Who's hungry?" James asked as he came down the stairs smiling at them.
"Famished." Drusilla Greengrass was the first to speak up.
The Potters descended the steps and James smiled. "Tweasy…" he called out.
A small pop was heard and the Potter family house elf appeared. The Grangers looked up at James, confused. "Master James calls Tweasy, sir?"
"Yes, Tweasy. These are our guests: the Greengrass', Grangers, Madam Bones with her niece, and Longbottoms. Should any of them call for you, be sure to assist them," James told the elf.
Lily saw the confused looks on the Grangers faces and explained, "Tweasy is a house elf. House elves serve a wizarding family. They are like butlers, but with magic."
"So they are paid?" Emma asked.
"Well, ours are, but most wizarding families don't. And some, especially those whose masters are dark wizards, are subjected to abuse," Lily said.
"That's awful," Hermione said. "It's like slavery."
"Yes, dear, but if a house elf is not bound to a family, they end up dying. It's something to do with their elven magic," James told the girl. "The elves who are treated fairly love their families and serve them faithfully. However, the ones who are abused have no choice but to accept it…for now, at least."
"Yes, but our elves are paid a weekly wage of three galleons. We tried to pay them more but they refused," Lily said.
"Well, that's good to know," Dan said.
"Tweasy, is dinner ready?" James asked the elf.
"Yes master. Tweasy will show everyone to the dining room." The little elf walked through the group and began heading down the hall. "Follows Tweasy, please," she said, calling over her shoulder.
They did as told and followed the elf to the dining room where everyone took a seat and began eating together. As they enjoyed their meal, Drusilla looked at James. "So, Lord Potter, why the sudden invitation to Potter Manor?" she asked.
"Well, now that the manor is up and running once again, I thought we would host a New Year's Eve Ball," James said, smiling. "I am Minister now and I thought this would be a great opportunity to strengthen ties with other families."
"Ah, so that's why you have invited us," Castor spoke up. "You need help setting this up."
James chuckled. "Yes. I don't have much experience hosting such events. I had hoped for some of your and Lady Greengrass' insight."
"Oh, wonderful!" Drusilla said. "I will be more than happy to assist." She smiled, looking at Lily. "We must first sort out the invitations. It's a bit last minute, but I'm sure with the Potter name attached you will receive many RSVPs."
"Yes, and you will need to insure you invite the appropriate families. I assume the Malfoys will not be invited," Castor said.
"I hope not," Alice said. "Neville has written to me numerous times while at school about how the Malfoy boy has been belittling our family. I don't think I can suffer being in the same room as them."
"They will definitely not be on the list, rest assured," James said to Alice, who let out a relieved sigh. "What about the Weasleys? I work with Arthur a lot at the Ministry and he is a fine man."
Harry heard this and stiffened. He liked the idea of being able to see Fred and George, however seeing Ron and Percy were not on his list of holiday fun. "I don't think the Weasleys can come, Mr. Potter," Hermione spoke up and everyone's heads turned to her.
"Why's that dear?" Lily asked.
"Well, all the Weasley children are still at Hogwarts because their parents are going to Romania to see their son Charlie," she told the adults.
"Ah, I see. Maybe next year then," James said. With that the adults continued discussing possible invitees.
"Would you be wanting us to attend?" Emma asked.
"Well of course," Lily said, smiling.
"Oh, dear. I don't think we have anything we could wear to a ball," Emma said, looking nervous.
Drusilla smiled. "Don't worry, dear. We ladies will go shopping for dresses," she said, which earned an excited clapping from Daphne and Astoria.
"I suppose us men will have to get some tuxes for the occasion," Sirius said, nudging Harry's arm, who smirked back.
Later after dinner, the adults had gone to the parlor room to discuss more about the Ball while Harry and his friends decided to explore the castle. Daphne was itching to see the ballroom so the group, plus Astoria, went hunting to find it. They discovered the ballroom on the opposite side of the foyer and Daphne looked around in awe.
"It's beautiful," Daphne said as she glided across the floor, twirling around as if she were dancing. "Oh my god, I can't wait for the ball. It will be so fun."
"Says you," Harry responded. "I don't know how to dance."
"What?" Daphne stopped twirling and looked at him. "You've never danced?" she asked.
"Never had a reason to," Harry said, shrugging.
"Um, I don't know how either," Hermione said with a red face.
"Nev?" Daphne looked to Neville.
"Oh, I'm good. Gran had me take lessons since I was seven," Neville said, smiling proudly.
"Excellent. You teach Hermione. Harry, you're with me," Daphne said, reaching forward to grab Harry's hand and drag him into the middle of the floor.
"Wait. We're doing this now?" Harry asked nervously.
"We only have eleven days to get you two up to snuff. Now, put your hand on my waist," Daphne ordered.
"Huh?" Harry said, looking confused.
Daphne sighed, grabbed his hand, and placed it on her waist then took his other hand in hers. "Now follow my lead," she said as she started moving him across the floor and counting their steps.
Neville smirked and turned to Hermione. "My lady," he said, giving a gentle bow. Hermione blushed and took his hand, letting the boy guide her on the floor. Neville took her waist. "Keep your back straight and don't look at your feet," he told her before he began guiding her across the floor.
Astoria had slipped off as the friends danced, only to return a few minutes later with her violin and began to play a slow melody for them to dance to. "Great idea, 'Stori. That makes dancing easier," Daphne said as she continued to guide Harry around the floor. Moments later, Susan had begun playing a melody that matched with Astoria's violin performance on a near by piano.
The adults had heard the music and came to investigate. They all stood in the doorway, watching the group dance around the floor. "Well now, it seems Harry is getting his first dance lesson," Lily said quietly.
"He should be careful. Daphne is a strict instructor," Castor said back. "She gets it from her mother."
Drusilla smacked her husband's arm. "Hush, you."
"Well, then. Lady Drusilla, might I have this dance?" Sirius asked, bowing and offering his hand to Lady Greengrass.
She smirked and took Sirius' hand. "Here's hoping you're a better dancer than my husband, Lord Black."
Sirius smirked and guided her out onto the floor with the children, who giggled as the adults joined them in their dance lesson.
"Seems I'll have to show my wife my dancing prowess…" He then holds out a hand to Lily. "Lady Potter, would you accompany me?"
"Um, sure, but fair warning, Lord Greengrass. My dancing skill is less than adequate," she said, taking his hand.
"Then I shall endeavor to help you improve," he said, smiling, and led her on to the floor.
Dan smiled and held his hand out to his wife. Emma chuckled, took his hand, and pulled him onto the floor. The couple began dancing. "Almost like our wedding," Emma said as they moved across the floor.
"Yes, only I've learned not to step on your feet," Dan said, remembering how he had stepped on his wife's feet numerous times on their wedding night.
James chuckled, watching everyone dance, and looked to his friend Alice. "Shall we join them?"
"Sure. Frank has two left feet anyway." Alice took James's hand and pulled him to the dance floor.
"Hey!" Frank said, offended. He frowned a bit and watched his wife go to the floor with James. He sighed as he and Amelia walked over to join Astoria and Susan. Amelia had sat down with Susan and began helping her play whilst Frank Accio'ed a cello to him and began playing along with Astoria.
After an hour of dancing, Harry seemed to have gotten the hang of it. Daphne noticed and gave Neville a nod, who nodded back. She then spun away from Harry and at that moment, Neville spun Hermione around, letting her go. Hermione was confused for a moment, but when she stopped spinning, she was standing in front of Harry. Daphne had joined Neville and was now gliding across the floor with him.
Hermione blushed a bit. "I'm not too good at this," she said, her cheeks red.
Harry smiled. "Me either but let's learn together," he said, holding his hand out to her. Hermione smiled and took his hand. The two began dancing again with the others.
Hermione was surprised as Harry led her across the floor rather skillfully. "Daph must be a good teacher," she said.
"I just learn things quickly," Harry said. "You're doing good yourself," he complimented her.
"Just be glad I'm not crushing your toes." She chuckled at him.
The two of them laughed and they continued to move across the floor. Everyone danced and laughed together throughout the night.
A/N: Thank you all for your support. I'm happy many of you enjoy my story seeing as this is my first go at this.
Up Next: The Potters and friends go on a shopping trip.