CHAPTER 20: CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS (Part I)

The weeks leading up to Christmas were pleasant. There was a building excitement as people prepared to go home for the holiday. Snow lay silently on the ground outside, but it wasn't terribly cold.

Things had been going quite well for Harry; Gryffindor had won its first two matches in Quidditch versus Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff; the first Slytherin match would occur after the holiday.

Professor Garney was still a wonderful teacher. On the last day before the holiday, she'd taught them how to make a non-magical potion: eggnog.

Professor McGonagall had taught the students how to turn weeds into holly and mistletoe.

Charms class brought them the Christmas cheer as well; they'd practiced a charm on some flowers, which made them sing "O Christmas Tree" followed by "Silent Night" and "O Come All Ye Faithful". Christmas songs seemed to be everywhere, actually. The suit of armor sang a triumphant rendition of "Joy to the World" on the last day of school. Even Peeves the Poltergeist seemed to be getting into the spirit, as he walked around with Carla's Christmas Candy, which he threw at people as they walked past. Carla's Christmas Candy was a chewy candy cane. Some of them were fruit-flavoured, some fizzled and dissolved in one's mouth as you ate it, some vibrated, and some melted immediately upon contact.

Harry was very excited about going to Hermione's. He'd never really had a particularly magnificent Christmas, except at Hogwart's. Ron seemed very eager as well. He'd sent his parents an owl asking permission. They agreed on one condition. Ron had to tell his father all about the "Muggle Artifacts" he saw. Ron's father worked for the Ministry of Magic in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts department.

The Hogwart's Express would be taking everyone to King's Cross station, where they were to be picked up and taken home to celebrate. On the morning they left, Harry woke Ron up, who seemed to be having a wonderful dream.

"No, mum, I don't want any more money, can't you see? I can't fit any more in my pockets. Well, allright, just a little more."

"Ron!"

"Wha-?" Ron opened his eyes slowly.

"Time to go."

"Right."

On the Hogwart's Express, Harry, Hermione, and Ron found themselves an empty compartment. When the witch with the food cart came by, Harry bought lots of candy for the three of them. Chocolate Frogs, Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, and Carla's Christmas Candy.

"Wonder where Malfoy's gone for the holidays?" Ron said through a mouthful of candy.

"I reckon he's staying at Hogwart's." Harry replied.

"Not like we care or anything." Said Hermione bitterly.

Harry stared.

After a few games of Exploding Snap between Ron and Harry (Hermione spent the time reading a book entitled Muggle & Magical Relations Through the Ages) the train pulled in to King's Cross Station.

"Now, we've got to go back to platform 9," Hermione instructed them.

They ran through the barrier back to platform 9, where a thin woman with bright red lipstick stood reading a magazine. She looked remarkably like Hermione

"Mum!"

"Oh, Hermione, darling!" The woman embraced Hermione, then turned to Ron and Harry. "Hello, dears! Dr. Granger – the other Dr. Granger, that is – is at home, but you'll meet him soon. The car's outside. It's a bit of a drive, I'll warn you."

It was a long drive. Three hours, to be precise. Eventually, the car pulled into a tiny town. A large stone manor stood in front of them. It looked ancient.

"That's it!" Hermione exclaimed, "That's my house!"

"Er-Hermione?" Ron asked, "How old is it?"

"It was built in 1609 and a baron used to live in it."

Ron looked over to Harry and mouthed, "I didn't know Hermione was rich!"

Harry shrugged. He supposed dentists did make a good deal of money. The car pulled into the driveway. The large wooden French doors at the entrance to the manor opened, and a woman who looked quite old stood in a long black dress at the entrance. She had a white apron on. Harry surmised that she must be the maid.

"Oh, Liza!" Hermione cried, throwing her car door open and running up to hug the maid.

Hermione's mother opened the trunk of the car and beckoned for Harry and Ron to follow her into the house.

"But – our trunks!" Ron objected.

"Oh, George will take care of those. He's the butler."

Ron stared at Harry again. They walked wordlessly into the mansion. The entrance floors were made of shiny marble, and the interior of the house was very luxurious. Hermione had made her way over to the grand piano, where she began to play a lovely tune. She was very good, Harry noted.

"Hermione, why don't you show the boys to their rooms? Your cousins and aunt and uncle will be here any moment."

Hermione hit a wrong note suddenly.

"Oh, mum!" She cried, whirling around on the piano bench. "You didn't… invite them?!"

"Oh, Hermione, they're family. Besides, they know all about you."

"That's the problem!" Hermione turned to Harry. "My whole family knows I'm a witch."

"We told them about it when Hermione was first accepted into Hogwart's. We were so proud." Hermione's mother beamed. "Of course, they all thought we were absolutely barmy. Out of our minds, they said, sending a girl off to a school that we didn't know where it was or how to reach her there. But I trusted that letter, because Hermione had done magic before." She gestured to a picture on the mantel, which showed Hermione, aged about nine or ten, reaching through the air for a glass which was broken into many pieces. The pieces were flying into Hermione's grasp. "She's our pride and joy now, and those report cards we get! Top marks in everything!"

"Mum!" Hermione protested, going pink.

"Oh dear, come now. The boys know you're clever."

"Mother!" Hermione sighed and turned to Harry and Ron. "My cousins are horrid. You're going to hate them."

"Hermione!" Her mother gave Hermione a look.

"It's true! One's name is John. He's fourteen, and he's the meanest thing in the world. The other one is Charles. He's six and a little demon." Hermione crossed her arms.

"Don't pout, dear, it's not terribly flattering." The doorbell rang. Liza, the maid, answered the door.

"Hello, everyone! Come on in, then!" Liza smiled broadly, though Harry could tell the smile was forced.

In walked a crew of people who reminded Harry of the Dursleys.

The man was of average height, but rather large around the waist. He had a bushy mustache and tiny eyeglasses. The woman had long brown hair, which was up in a tight chignon, and was wearing a magenta sequined dress. She looked exactly like Hermione's mother, and Hermione for that matter. Harry assumed that the woman must be Hermione's mother's sister.

The two little boys did not look pleasant at all. The one Harry thought must be called John, for he was larger, looked thoroughly disinterested. He wore a suit, and his hair was plastered to his head. Harry couldn't help noticing how shiny his shoes were. John was very tall, but rather thin. The small boy beside him was clutching the fattest cat Harry had ever seen. The boy had a face like a pug dog; he reminded Harry both of Crookshanks, Hermione's cat, and of Dudley, his awful fat cousin. The boy had short, curly blonde hair and wore a navy blue soldier's outfit.

"Mummy!" the boy pouted, "Pringle is getting so heavy! Where can I put him down?"

"On the couch." The woman answered in a squeaky voice.

But Liza would have none of this. "Miss, I think I have a better place for him." She took the cat but held it about a foot away from her. The cat had black and white hair.

Harry could tell already that Harry didn't like any of these people, except for Hermione's mother and Liza.

"Ah, William, Tessa! How are you!" A booming voice came from upstairs. A tall, muscular-looking man descended the stairs. "Come in, come in!"

Everyone gathered in the parlor. Hermione's cousins stared blankly at Harry and Ron, who, Harry realized, where still wearing their Hogwart's robes and must have looked terribly odd. Harry looked over to Hermione. She, too, was wearing her black uniform robes.

"You must be Harry! And Ron!" The large man said cordially, taking each of their hands to shake. "I'm Dr. Granger, Hermione's father. I've heard so much about both of you."

Turning to Hermione's cousins and other relations, he said, "This is Harry Potter and Ron Weasley, Hermione's best friends from school."

"You're wizards?" John wrinkled his nose as though he'd caught a whiff of rotting meat.

Harry and Ron nodded.

"Let's see a bit of magic, then!" Charles piped up.

"Charles, I've told you before, we're not allowed to do magic outside of school." Hermione sounded very superior.

Charles looked disappointed.

"Hello," said the Aunt and Uncle, before leaving the room with Hermione's parents. They'd suggested that the adults go have a drink. This left the five children by themselves. If something goes sour, Harry thought, I've always got my wand.

There was an awkward silence. Finally, little Charles broke the hush.

"Mummy says you're a bad Christian, Hermione. She says magic is against the bible."

"Oh, nonsense, Charles, I still believe in God." Hermione scoffed.

"Do you go to church every Sunday?"

"Well, no."

"You're a heretic. You should be excommunicated." His squashed face looked even flatter.

Hermione glared first at Charles, then at the two wizards.

"Do you honestly think the Ministry would mind if I pulled myself up a chair?" Ron asked.

"I don't suppose so, I think they're too preoccupied with the fall of Voldemort." Harry answered.

He pulled out his wand. Out of his peripheral vision, he saw Charles and John gaze in amazement at the stick of wood. Harry raised his wand dramatically and pulled a chair towards him.

Charles nearly screamed as he jumped into John's arms, who gave a muffled, "Geroff me, Charles!"

Hermione giggled.

"Children!" Harry heard Liza's voice calling them. "Come in and see the tree!"

Hermione led the other children to a large ballroom, where a twenty-foot tree stood, laden with coloured balls and tinsel. Under the tree was a mountain of presents. Harry saw at least five that said: "To Harry, from the Grangers".

"Supper time, then, children!" Liza led everyone through more corridors and into a large dining room, quite formal, where a long table sat. It was set for nine people.

Harry sat down in between Hermione and Ron. Supper was excellent. After the meal, Harry was taken up to a bedroom that was decorated entirely in red and gold. Harry was reminded of Gryffindor, whose colours were red and gold as well. Everything was a deep shade of ruby or metallic gold. Harry climbed into the soft bed, which had red velvet linens. He fell asleep with no trouble. The next day was Christmas, and he couldn't wait.

"Harry! It's Christmas, Harry! Wake up!" Ron was smiling over Harry's face. Harry couldn't really make out the details of his face without glasses on, but he knew Ron was grinning broadly.

"Right…" Harry mumbled, waking slowly.

The two boys headed downstairs. Hermione stood at the base of the staircase. To Harry's surprise, she was wearing her Hogwart's robes again. It seemed as though she wanted to make sure her cousins knew that magic could be used against them at any time.

The two wizards and the witch, all clad in black robes, continued on to the Ballroom, where the large tree stood triumphantly.

The adults sat primly on sofas and chairs, sipping eggnog.

"I made the eggnog," Hermione whispered, "With my cauldron, of course!" she smiled.

Little Charles pranced around in a tuxedo, shouting, "Presents! Presents! Happy Christmas, everyone!"

Suddenly, there was the sound of ripping.

"Pringle!" Hermione shrieked, dashing over to pry the cat off of the presents. Pringle was shredding the wrapping paper with glee.

"Don't hurt him!" Cried Charles. Hermione took the cat and flopped him down on a chair, shooting him a nasty look.

"Why don't we open the presents before, erm – Pringle destroys any more, eh?" Hermione's mother suggested.

Charles frowned. "All right," he sighed reluctantly.

"Hermione, why don't you start?" proposed Hermione's Aunt Tessa.

Hermione opened a rectangular box. Inside was a thick book. Harry could see the golden letters embossed upon the front:

A Concise History of Famous Witches

"Your friend Hagrid helped us out a bit – went to that Diagon Alley place and bought some of these things for us." Hermione's father smiled.

"Oh, Mum! Dad!" Hermione ran to hug her parents. "It's perfect!"

Next was Harry's turn. He opened a heavy package. Inside was a beautiful set of wizard's chess. The pieces were made from ornately carved marble. The board, too, was marble.

"Oh, Dr. Granger and… Dr. Granger! It's absolutely wonderful!" Harry exclaimed.

"Not a problem, Harry. Hermione helped us out on that one."

Ron got a large cage for his owl, Pigwidgeon. Harry and Ron both received lots of wizard candy like Sugar Quills, Chocolate Frogs, and Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans.

Harry took yet another package. It meowed.

"I know you've an owl already, dear, but Hagrid found this one for you. We'd told him which type to get. It's adorable." Hermione's mother said.

"Oh! A cat!" Ron cried as Harry opened the package.

"He's lovely!" Harry smiled as he extracted the kitten. He was black with bright blue eyes.

"We thought, since he's black, you know… Found him in Diagon Alley. In the Magical Menagerie. The woman told Hagrid that he's got loads of powers. Hope you enjoy him!"

"Oh, I'm sure I will!" Harry beamed. He had always wanted a cat. Now he had Hedwig and this… nameless kitten.

"What shall you call him, Harry?" Ron asked.

"Hm… How about… Simon?" Hermione suggested.

"Why Simon?" Harry asked.

Hermione showed Harry the page she was on in her book on famous witches. It showed two pictures. One was of a witch with black hair. She smiled and waved. The other was of a black cat, which flicked her tail. The caption under the pictures read:

CLARE SIMON

(1532-1580)

"Oh!" said Harry. "She was an Animagus, then?"

Hermione nodded. There was another soft 'meow' from the pile of boxes.

Ron stared curiously. He gingerly opened the meowing package. He, too, had received a kitten. His was white with black feet and green eyes.

After the many thanks that followed, Ron had decided to name his cat, who was a girl, 'Gryffindor', or 'Gryff' for short, after their Hogwart's house.

Hermione's spoiled cousins opened their presents. Everyone enjoyed the Christmas meal. That night, when Harry climbed into bed, he fell asleep, Simon on the floor by his side, he was happy. His best friends were with him, and he'd just spent a wonderful Christmas with a real family. Hermione had promised Ron that the next day, she and Harry would show him television. Apparently, a special on the Salem Witch Trials in the United States would be on the BBC.

Harry drifted off to sleep, thoughts of Hogwart's, Simon, and Hermione filling his head.