I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.
Note: There's a chance I wrote these chapters shortly after Christmas and wanted to do something very fluffy and indulgent over the next few chapters. I hope you enjoy.
The Family that Chooses You
Chapter 17 – Christmas Cheer
Katie's eyes sparkled as she looked down at the open box in her lap. The Bell family had a tradition where they opened a gift on Christmas Eve and she had opened the one from Harry. She knew he had shopped for gifts for the team and a few others. He was so happy planning the gifts out and Katie knew this was the kind of boy he was supposed to be: excited for Christmas and simply happy.
Apparently he had asked around a bit for ideas or clarification for gift ideas. She had helped him pick out Alicia's gift. She did not know who helped Harry pick out hers but she loved it.
"Well don't those look gorgeous?" Katie's mother sat beside her, a smile on her face. She was an older version of Katie. Short in stature and mostly petite with long blonde hair. Samantha Bell had a presence to her that was warm and inviting. A smile that made you feel relaxed. Eyes that were comforting.
Katie nodded happily, drawing out one of the ribbons. There were three of them in different shades of red. There were also little gold and silver charms: a lion, an owl, a broomstick, and a Quaffle. A simple incantation could swap the charms about on the ribbons and made it so they could not be removed without the incantation. The ribbons were soft but tough, perfect for tying hair.
She tied a bright crimson ribbon with the Quaffle charm around her hair, forming a long pony tail. It held together perfectly and she shook her head back and forth, not even a lock of hair escaping. "They're wonderful," she said happily.
"They're from Harry? Good choice," Samantha said, touching the other ribbons. "That's rather impressive."
"I know he spent a lot of time pouring over catalogues and asking people for their opinions." Katie shook her head with mild disapproval. "Spent more time on that then the end of term test studying in my opinion."
Samantha chuckled. "I think we can forgive him for his excitement. Especially considering his history." She wrapped an arm around Katie's shoulders. "I cannot tell you how proud I am of you. Sticking up for him, helping him. It warms my heart."
Katie blushed. "I…I just did the right thing. No one should ever suffer like that."
"Knowing the right thing to do is not the same as actually doing it." Samantha squeezed her shoulders. "That's my girl."
Katie rested her head on her mother's shoulder. "Thanks. I'm glad you think so. I thought I'd be meddling when I shouldn't be. I still don't know if I'm doing everything right."
"Would you like to hear a secret?" Samantha looked about conspiratorially. "I don't know if I'm doing everything right as it is."
Katie snorted, poking her mother in her ribs.
"No really. I'm being serious. Every case is different. Every circumstance unique. What works for one won't work for another. You have to get a feel for things, to try what works. Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't."
"That sounds terrible," Katie said with a shudder. "I can't imagine a job like that. Not knowing how to exactly solve the problem?"
"It's hard yes. Not too different from being a Chaser though is it? You don't approach every goal the same way. Every Keeper is different."
"True…at least I know the Quaffle goes into the hoop in the end though."
"And I know that if I can help the patient in the end, then everything was worth it."
"Even when you're feeling miserable all the way through?" Katie could think of many occasions when her mother returned home despondent. How her work affected her mood. How some days it was hard for her mother to smile, much less do anything else.
"Even then." There was no hesitation in Samantha's voice. No reservation.
The two lapsed into silence but were still surrounded by noise. Katie's father was wrestling with a cousin and the family dog. Katie's little sister was eagerly showing her gift to another cousin. The Aunt and Uncle brought snacks around and the home was warm and bright and full of laughter.
"I hope he likes his gift as much as I like mine," Katie said.
"I'm sure he will. You've given him something precious after all."
"It wasn't that expensive," Katie protested.
"Wasn't just talking about the Christmas gift dear. You've given him a chance."
"A chance?"
"At being happy."
Katie did not say anything for a moment, instead burrowing closer to her mother. Her cheeks were red. "You make it sound more amazing than it is."
"You might not think so. I imagine he thinks otherwise. I know it's incredible."
-0-
"You are such a potion maniac," Tyler Spinnet said, shaking his head.
Alicia raised two fingers at her brother in reply.
"Hey! You remember what mum said about doing that."
"She said don't let her see it because it isn't fitting for a lady. Seeing how she isn't here however," Alicia repeated the gesture emphatically.
Tyler snorted. "I'm glad you're my sister and you're interested in the family business. Let's me have a bit of leeway. Still, it's Christmas after all. Why are you messing with a potion? Surely we have something already made that you want?"
"I was excited to use my new tools!"
Tyler looked over her shoulder and suppressed a snigger. Alicia had laid out her new potion tool set. Long handled stirring spoons, deep bowled ladle with a pour spout, tweezers, a small single edged knife, and mixing beakers with different volume capacities. The handles were banded with crimson and gold and a tiny stylized A and S were etched into everything.
"Those look cheap and gaudy," he said.
Alicia glared at him. "They are not. They are made from plain but perfectly usable iron. Nice and stable. And I like the color pattern plus my initials are on them. No one else can use them."
"No one will want to use them. Why use those when you have the best possible tools here made from silver and magical metal?"
"Because someone picked these out for me specifically. He ordered them for me with me in mind."
"Good job he did. Does he not know you're the daughter of one of the most important potion making families in all of the United Kingdom with the best of the best at your disposal?"
Alicia narrowed her eyes. "I don't think so but it doesn't matter. He knew I like potion making and wanted to get me something I can use and wholly call my own. It wasn't a gift for you so you have nothing to say about it."
"Mother won't like you using such garish tools."
"Seeing how it isn't a gift for her, she also has nothing to say about it."
"As if that ever stopped her before," he muttered. "So, were they a gift from that Tree fellow?"
"No they were not from Oliver and you know his name full well. If you have nothing nice to say you can kindly piss off."
"Oh that's a nice thing to say to your brother on Christmas."
"I did say kindly."
He watched her measure out all sorts of spices, carefully mixing them in the cauldron that bubbled pleasantly in front of her. "What are you making anyways?"
"A spiced chocolate potion."
"You're making hot chocolate? With your new tool set?"
"Yes. I wanted hot chocolate and decided it was a good way to break my tools in."
"…Can I have a cup?"
"After that shellacking? You can ask Mimsy to make you some."
"Please Alicia? That smells really really good. And if Mimsy knew why you refused me any she would only make me a tiny thing with barely any flavor."
"That's because Mimsy likes me more than you." Alicia smiled. "Fine, you may have a cup but only if you write Harry an apology letter."
"Harry? Apology?"
"He gave me the tool set. If you write a heartfelt letter apologizing for mocking his gift then I will give you a cup."
"I'm not writing an apology letter to someone I don't even know!"
"Guess you don't want a cup then." She took a sip from the ladle and sighed deeply with every bit of satisfaction she could muster. Her smile grew wider at Tyler's grumbling. He looked distinctly irritated as he found a quill and some parchment.
"The personalized stationery Tyler. I expect you to do a proper job."
A faint pop barely covered up Tyler's muttered cursing. A large eared House Elf clad in a toga appeared and she waggled a long thin finger at him. "Language Mister Tyler! If Mimsy hears more she will wash your mouth with soap!" Her eyes brightened then narrowed when she looked at Alicia. "Miss Alicia! Are you taking Mimsy's duties?"
"Not at all. I wanted to try out my new tool set and in fact I made this for us to share." She poured a cup of steaming hot chocolate and gave it to the House Elf.
"Mmm! Very tasty," Mimsy said happily. "That's a good gift."
"I thought so too," Alicia said just as brightly.
-0-
"Get in here already! Angelina! You stop that right now!"
Angelina looked back at the house and her mother, Layla Johnson, standing in the open door. She had just finished sinking her last brother facedown into a snowdrift, his legs kicking helplessly in mid-air. "They deserved it!" she yelled back gesturing at the three pairs of legs kicking and struggling.
"I know. That's why I said 'stop that' and not 'dig them back out'." Her mother gathered the ends of her dressing robe around herself against the wind. "If you sank them any further, we'd have to wait for the snow to melt for them to get out. Now come inside before you catch your death of cold you silly thing."
Angelina stomped inside; now aware she had run out doors in her usual sleeping attire. Shorts and a tank top did not protect against the cold nor wind and her teeth were chattering as she stepped into the warm kitchen.
"And what did your brothers do this time," her mother asked, a knowing smile on her face.
"They kept stealing my blankets all night, summoning them from my room. Then when I woke up freezing, they color changed everything in me room in bright bloody neon pink. Finally when I opened the closet that ugly dress Nanna gave me was enchanted to attack. Tried to force me in it!"
Layla covered her mouth to stifle laughter. "I was wondering what they were planning all last week."
"And you didn't stop them?!"
"That's how your brothers show affection love. By pranking the utter shite out of you. And you show your affection by beating them to hell and back and turning them into lawn ornaments."
The pair stood at the window, seeing the legs continue to kick and try to dig themselves out from awkward positions.
"Should I be worried how good you're getting at that?" Layla asked.
"I have to get better," Angelina sniffed. "They're a lot bigger than me. If I don't get better it doesn't last as long then what's the point?"
"It does beg the question how you can overpower them more often than not. But you're the tough one of the family."
Angelina flexed her arm, showing her muscles. "Damn right I am."
Lalya snorted and smacked Angelina's stomach. "No need to impress me love. Well, since the others have been incapacitated you get to open gifts first."
Angelina ran to the sitting room. When they were all younger, her and her brothers would literally fight each other to be first to the tree. It became a yearly tradition where the first one to the tree got to open the first gift. At first her brothers had 'let' her win, since she was the youngest and only girl.
She had learned that after the fact and the following year she made sure she earned the right that time. It had been worth the lecture from their parents.
Tobias Johnson chuckled as he saw her run. "Win again this year?"
She gave her father a brief hug before rushing past. "Sure did!"
"Put on some clothes!" he yelled as she kept going.
"Presents!" she called back.
She skidded to a stop, flopping down on the rug beside the tree. The air was filled with woodsmoke, pine resin, and a myriad of sweet and savory scents that mixed pleasantly. She sighed happily, rubbing her hands together in anticipation as well as for warmth. Her eyes were drawn to a small package that sat on top of her pile.
She did not recognize it and picked it up, full of curiosity. It stood out because it was wrapped in plain but nice wrapping paper, a matte dark green. A familiar untidy scrawl appeared on the tag and she suppressed a happy squeal as she tore the packaging open.
When she saw what was revealed she could not hold the squeal back.
It was a stuffed rabbit. It was a little smaller than the one she picked out for Harry, brown fur instead of gray, but it was also a Holland Lop. It sat on its haunches, crouched as if ready to scamper away. She hugged it to her.
It was warm in her arms.
She almost cried. It did not have the Scent Releasing Charm like the one she picked out for Harry but it had the same Warming Charm. It was so very soft and she hugged it even tighter. She never would have imagined receiving this from anyone much less Harry. The fact that they had independently decided on essentially the same gift made her incredibly happy.
Eventually her brothers trooped in, teeth chattering and brushing snow off. They had prepared for their inevitable snow planting, having run outdoors well-dressed compared to Angelina. All three stopped at the sight of Angelina hugging her stuffed rabbit.
One was about to say something but the other two stopped him. Instead, they gently draped a blanket about Angelina's shoulders and sat beside her, happily opening up their presents while she enjoyed hers.
-0-
Oliver sat back in his chair, utterly content.
It was a wonderful Christmas. The entire Wood family gathered at his Grandparents' home and it was a riot of noise and commotion. He loved this time of year. The colors, the smells, the family, everything.
He took a long sip of his hot chocolate, still grinning stupidly at his cup.
"That's a funny looking cup," his grandmother said as she sat beside him with a soft grunt. "Doesn't look terribly practical."
"Oh but it's one I've been wanting," Oliver said happily. "It's the shape of the House Quidditch Cup at Hogwarts."
She laughed. "Well isn't that thoughtful then! What a clever gift." Her eyes twinkled. "Is it from that girl you fancy?"
He blushed and shook his head. "No, she did send me something very nice. This cup is from Harry, our new player and House mate."
"Oh your mother mentioned him. Something about the boy with difficult circumstances?" She patted Oliver's hand. "My grandson has such a big heart, looking after those that need it."
Oliver shrugged and hugged her fondly. "I learned from the best."
She smiled and took the cup from him, looking it over. "So the real thing looks like this?"
"Exactly like it far as I can tell. He must have had a teacher's help to get something made to look like it. I'm impressed."
"He sounds like a fine boy."
"Yeah he's a good egg. Glad we can help him out a bit."
She rose creakily. "I hope you get the real thing soon."
"Me too." He took another long sip. "But this'll do until we do."