Harry Potter and the Rocky Mountain school of Magic ch11
Christmas pt.1
Disclaimer; J.K. Rowling owns the rights to Harry Potter and I'm not her.
Harry Potter arrived at the Manhattan West portkey terminal carrying a large box wrapped in red and gold foil. He was wearing a modern pinstriped suit in dark blue, with a crisp white shirt and a royal blue tie. Except for the large box he carried he wouldn't have looked out of place on Wall Street.
Leaving the transportation hub, he hailed a taxi to take him to the Hallmark towers on the upper West side. This was the place his 'sister' called home. As the doorman held the door for him, Harry wrestled his package into a more comfortable position.
Soon the front desk had called up to announce him and Harry was on possibly the most posh elevator he'd ever seen.
The elevator doors opened directly into Hermione's penthouse. A quick glance around showed him three walls of bookshelves and one wall of floor to ceiling windows.
It was the smiling face of his friend, however that held Harry's attention. Every Time he saw her, he couldn't stop himself from comparing her to the eleven year old, bucktoothed, bushy haired, bookworm, who's bossy attitude had been rather off-putting but she'd kindly repaired his broken glasses. Hermione had grown into a very beautiful woman. Her once bushy hair had straightened after her pregnancy. She had gone very grey but otherwise looked like a woman in her early forties. She was wearing yoga pants that hinted at the amazing legs she possessed and a bulky hoodie that his her other assets.
"Harry!" She said, giving him a sideways hug.
"Happy Christmas Hermione. Where should I put this down?" He said, indicating the gift.
"Oh, I'll take it." She said, taking the box.
From the look on her face, Harry could tell she hadn't expected the package to be so heavy. He smiled to himself as the stubborn woman strained to set it on her coffee table.
"Proper hug?" He said holding out his arms after she set the gift down.
She turned and squeezed him hard.
"It's good to see you." He whispered and kissed her cheek.
"How are you doing?" She asked with concern in her voice as she released him.
He grinned "I'm fine."
"Bullshit." She said putting her hands on her hips.
"Fine, it's been hard. It's been months and I still want to cry everytime I walk into the house and she's not there."
Hermione gave him a sad smile. "It never goes away, you know. It gets easier to live with but it never goes away."
"I know but losing my parents, Sirius, Fred, Remus and Tonks. It always hurt but never like this. Literally everything reminds me of Katie, this morning when I was wrapping your gift I remembered how she'd always remind me how to tie the bow. Christmas was always her favorite." He said going quiet.
"I wish there was something I could say to make it easier."
"Well, you could agree to come to the island this Christmas. The kids will be there. Even Hagrid and Minerva are coming."
Hermione sighed. "I'm sorry Harry, I really can't."
He looked at her for a moment and shrugged. "Worth a shot."
Hermione eyed the gift. "So, what did you get me? Please tell me there is some almond bark in that box."
"Open it and find out."
Harry watched while Hermione carefully picked open the gift and lift the lid. She squeed as she pulled out two tins of Almond bark. If he didn't know better he'd assume that the culinary arts club put crack in that stuff.
Next came three bottles of homemade wine. Winemaking and brewing were Winky's hobby and she made some very good wine.
She then pulled out a cashmere sweater Harry had knitted for her. When Molly Weasley had passed on, He'd learned to knit, just to carry on the tradition. Christmas wasn't Christmas without a homemade jumper under the tree.
Finally she had reached the leather satchel he'd been waiting for.
"Wait, before you open that, let me explain."
Hermione looked at him with surprise.
"I know you've shied away from magic but I found a way to treat your mother. It's not a cure for Alzheimer's but it's a treatment that will give her, her memories back for about four months per dose. The dow.." he was cut off as Hermione pounced on him with a hug.
"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" Hermione cried.
Giving his friend a few moments he continued.
"The downside is it requires your blood and magic and each treatment will shorten her life by about a month." Harry finished.
Still looking happy Hermione said "explain."
"The potion requires the blood of a close magical relative, when you give her the potion you'll need to hold her hand and direct your magic into her to make the potion work. Because she's a No-mag it will leave you pretty drained for a day or two but forcing magic into a No-mag will cause her to draw on her own life force, which will shorten her life. All the research is in the satchel. I figured you could give her one treatment, then let her decide if the juice is worth the squeeze."
Hermione gave him another quick hug before pulling the parchments from the bag. Putting a pair of reading glasses on her face, she became very quiet and read.
Harry sat there watching her read for about three minutes before reaching toward the tin of almond bark, only to jerk back as Hermione slapped his hand, without even looking up from the parchment.
000
When Hermione finished reading, she looked up "So they finally figured out how to make potions work for non-magicals?"
"Some potions, the wit sharpening potion, has been extensively tested. I think it has to do with guilt. Once they figured out that obliviations were a major factor in people suffering from Alzheimer's and dementia, the researchers at the ICW got to work trying to reverse it."
"Fucking wizards." Hermione growled.
"You can stop that shit right now, Hermione. Muggles are just as bad as wizards. Remember they used to think consuming radioactive material was good for you, that leeches were a cure all and that homeopathic actually works. And besides that you are a witch whether you use your magic or not."
"Wizards are evil bigots!"
"Really? because if I remember correctly you married a wizard and your son was likely one."
That statement made Hermione's head snap back.
"Owen" Hermione whispered before putting her hand on her stomach and repeated "Noah." Before beginning to cry.
Harry quickly slid closer to her and put his arms around the crying woman.
000
Sophia Potter couldn't help but see just how down her father was. This being the first Christmas without her mother she could understand why.
Sophie had always been a daddy's girl. Her dad was always there. When James was little her dad often had to go away for long periods of time and their relationship suffered from it, but by the time she'd been born her dad had retired from the hit-wizards.
She still remembered the sadness that had pervaded the house when her mother had discovered that Sophie was a squib. Mostly she remembered being four years old and her brother telling her she'd never be able to go to wizarding school like the rest of her family. She had cried herself to sleep that night.
The month that followed that discovery had been miserable. Her mother had cried a lot but her dad just acted like everything was normal, though she remembered him spending much more time in his library.
That bit of personal devastation had turned into a miracle for hundreds and hundreds of squibs so far. Her father had started teaching Sophie about potions and shortly after about meditation. She wanted so desperately to be a witch like her mum and Granny Andy.
Between her parents they had discovered that squibs were born with an underdeveloped Magic 'muscle' for lack of a better term, and like a muscle you had to work it to make it grow. Dad had started with potions but soon had her creating light with one of his Fijian focus rings.
Fifteen years later she was a low mage on the McFadden Magical Index. She might not be the most powerful witch, hardly the "next Merlin" like many called her father but enough to be a healer and potions Mistress.
Her Mum and Dad had both received the Paracelsus Prize for developing her treatment. It still sat on the mantle in her mother's study. She always found it funny when her dad would deny being an academic. Top international award for healing and he still insists he's just an old grunt.
000
Daphne Black looked around the group of people Potter surrounded himself with. She honestly couldn't have predicted how he would turn out back in school. Though she couldn't recall ever speaking to him back then.
In Daphne's seventh year in school her life as heiress Greengrass ended when Draco Malfoy forced himself upon her. With the death eaters in charge of the castle and ministry, she had known she would never get justice.
When she discovered she was pregnant, she had seriously considered taking her own life but when her father disowned her, she decided she wanted revenge more. For a time she had been forced to work at a knockturn alley brothel. She never liked to think about those days but she did what she had to, to survive.
Then shortly after the birth of her daughter, the dark lord was defeated. Daphne had worked up the courage to report what had happened to her to the Aurors. With a pensive memory and her daughter as proof, they had added her assault to the laundry list of changes against the ferret. Unfortunately, that didn't change her position in life, she was still a disowned whore.
It had been a disowned daughter of the Black family that had reached out to her. Andromeda had apologized for the actions of her nephew and said she might have a solution to her problems.
In walked Harry Potter, the new head of the Black family. He had publicly disowned Narcissa Malfoy and her 'spawn'. Publicly apologized to Daphne and offered her Narcissa's place in the Black family.
The house she and her daughter were given was admittedly a run down, shit hole but it was better than knockturn alley. Andromeda had volunteered to watch little Astoria while Daphne made the house livable. Potter had given her some muggle money and Andy had given her a crash course on living in the non-magical world.
Daphne had never been close to Harry Potter but she did like him. He was always kind to her and sent many gifts to her daughter and grandchildren over the years. She was grateful for his help and more so that he had made only two demands as her head of house, bring honor to the house and allow her daughter to choose her own path.
The thing she thanked him for the most however, was he had put up the initial capital for Black Procurement. Her company quickly became a rival to her father's Greengrass imports. In under a decade, her father's company closed and Black Procurement was the number one importer of potions ingredients in England. She had gotten her revenge on her father.
000
Minerva entered the study slowly, she knew her time was coming quickly to an end. She'd lived through three wars and nearly one hundred years without her beloved husband. She looked forward to her rest.
"Harry." She said taking a seat across from one of her most favorite students. "I asked to speak with you because my time on this earth draws close to it's end. I am the last of my line, my birth family the Ross's were never a large family but we were strong. I'm very proud of the man you have become. I would like you to have our family grimoire, as well as my personal grimoire. The Ross's were warriors, craftsmen and transfiguration masters. I myself preferred transfiguration but I was a bit of a scrapper in my younger years." Minerva said before sliding the two thick times across the coffee table.
Harry stared at his former head of house in shock for a few moments. "I would be honored to accept them, if you're sure?"
"I can't think of anyone else that would use the information responsibly." Minerva pulled two more books from her carpet bag. "I was gifted these two when Aberforth passed on. I think Albus would want you to have them." She said sliding the books toward Harry.
"The Dumbledore Grimoire and Albus' alchemy journal." She continued.
Harry was touched by the gifts and the thought behind them. "Thank you." He said, his voice thick with emotion. "I'm going to miss you when you're gone."
Minerva smiled. "I look forward to seeing my Malcolm again. It's been ninety eight long years since he was killed. I won't tell you not to miss me but know I'm happy on the other side."
Harry swallowed and nodded.
"So, tell me about that school of yours. Are any of your students as big of a handful as you and your classmates were?"
000
Arthur Weasley watched as Harry helped his grandson light the Yule log with the remnants of last year's log. This was the official start to the Potter's winter celebration. Arthur remembered his surprise the first time he and Molly had attended one of these celebrations.
Molly's family the Prewitts and to a lesser extent the Weasley's no longer followed the old ways opting for the more modern Christmas over Yule. So when a muggle raised half-blood incorporated the old ways with Christian, Jewish and even Muslim beliefs to create a celebration for everyone, Arthur wanted to smack his own forehead.
Harry would openly pray to the Oak King and the Holly King, thank Mother magic for her blessings and ask for guidance from the maid and the crone, but if whispers of Jesus or Allah were heard, no one said a word.
Harry would lead the party into the house and instead of decorating the Yule tree, everyone would add a homemade decoration to the Christmas tree, then they would light a candle from the Yule altar and reflect upon the past year, asking whatever God or Goddess they believe in to help change some aspect of themselves they didn't like.
This year Arthur wanted to learn to live again, instead of hiding in his shed waiting to rejoin with his late wife. Maybe he'd volunteer to babysit his great grandchildren more often.
000
Edward "Teddy" Lupin stood beside the grave of the woman he had thought of like a older sister and sometimes mother.
"I'm sorry I missed your funeral. I was on assignment and just couldn't get away without blowing my cover. You'll be pleased to know that we shut down the group that was smuggling teen girls to the Middle East."
"I don't know about Katie but I think that's a good reason to miss it." His godfather said from behind him.
"You said she never liked our work." Teddy replied.
"No, she never liked it when I had to go away, when she could go weeks without hearing from me or when I came home injured. She knew the work was important, she just didn't like the cost." Harry said ruefully. "Looking back on it I have to agree with her."
"Why would you say that?" Teddy asked looking at his godfather.
"I have few regrets in my life but letting the job take me away from my family is one of them. I missed out on seeing you off to Hogwarts, that first time. I missed out on seeing my son born, his first words and his first steps. Nothing is worth that. It's no wonder he resents me."
"I got lucky there. Your team got rid of the Dark Mistress though."
"You don't defeat evil, you can only slow it down. I'm glad we could stop her and her minions but the cost was too high."
"I guess. Is that why you started teaching?"
"No, I always wanted to teach, eventually. I had a year left on my contract when Minerva asked me to come teach for a year while Professor Shannon was on maternity leave. Katie talked me into taking a leave of absence, within a few months I was hooked. That last year with the hit-wizards was the longest year of my life. Katie was pregnant with Sophie and I was determined to be home this time. I spent most of it looking for a teaching position. Don't get me wrong I loved the Mages but I've never once regretted walking away."
"I'm planning on retiring next year. Dominique is going to go back to work and I'd like some time with my grandson."
"You know there has never been a sentence spoken that's made me feel so old." Harry said.
"Well you waited until you were in your thirties to get married. I only had to wait until Victoire graduated." Teddy said with a smile.
"I'm glad you're happy Teddy." Harry said, putting a hand on the younger man's shoulder. "Now, could you give me a moment with my wife."
"Sure thing Harry, see you in the morning, yeah?"
"Yeah, good night." Harry said absentmindedly as Teddy strode off down the hill.
Harry sat on the ground beside his wife's grave. "Happy Yule, Love. We've got quite the turn out this year. Sophie brought her new boyfriend, he seems like a nice kid. You should have seen the look on our girls face when I asked her if he was sharing her bed or if I had to find him his own room. James seems happy. Inid, not so much. The babies are tap dancing on her bladder and she's as big as a houseā¦"
"Please, don't let her hear you say that Dad." James said, appearing from the dark.
"Yeah, your mother was sensitive about that too. How are you doing son?"
"I'm good. I overheard what you said to Teddy. I just. I just wanted to tell you I don't resent you, at least not anymore, not since becoming a father myself."
"Thank you." Harry said quietly.
"Being a Dad is hard. You did your best, even if I couldn't understand at the time."
Harry smiled. "It might be hard but it's the best thing you'll ever do. Watching your children grow is easily the most terrifying and rewarding thing a man will ever experience."
"Don't I know it."
Harry stood and hugged his son. "I'll give you some time with your mother. I love you." Turning to the grave "and you too. Good night, son." He said before disappearing into the darkness, heading towards his bed.
000
A/N: The second half will be up in a couple of days. Happy Easter.
