After dinner, Harry left with his godparents and Remus. He hadn't opened
the present from Anya yet, he was hoping to do that in private. He followed
the adults into Anya's chambers, where they again had tea and coffee. Anya
noticed him playing with the ribbon the present she had given him.
"Go ahead. Open it," she smiled warmly as Harry undid the silky purple bow on the box. He pulled out a wand, looking puzzled. Why would Anya give him a new wand? Anya noticed this, and proceeded to explain.
"That is your mothers wand. It was in my possession at....when....I'm sure she would have wanted you to have it," Anya's voice trembled. Remus reached around and squeezed her shoulders. She smiled gratefully at him. Harry studied the wand in his hands. It was beautifully shaped, and the name Lily Evans was engraved in cursive along one side. He gave a slight swish, and silvery sparks floated out.
"You obviously have Lily inside you, otherwise the wand would have done nothing," Anya said quietly. Harry lay the wand back into the tissue- papered box.
"Thankyou," he said softly. Anya nodded, not saying anything. "Here Harry, I made this for you," Sirius bashfully pushed a box into Harry's hands. It too was beautifully wrapped in deep blue paper with gold ribbon.
"Did Anya wrap this?" Harry asked jokingly. Anya smiled, while Sirius mocked a look of hurt. Harry continued to unwrap the gift. This time, it was a glass sphere set on a silver stand. Inside the sphere were two tiny figures in a dancing pose. On closer inspection, Harry saw the faces of his mother and father on the tiny bodies.
"Point Lily's wand at the globe," Sirius instructed. Harry did, and the characters sprung to life. They danced round and round the globe, while delicate snowflakes flurried around them. Haunting music echoed from inside, Harry recognised the tune as a musical version of 'Once Upon a December' from the movie Anastasia. Lily and James danced until the song drew to a close. Lily curtsied and James did a deep bow. Then they waved and went back to their still poses like before. Harry was awe-struck. This was one of the best presents he had ever been given. Sirius was watching with great interest to see Harry's opinion.
"Do you like it?" he asked nervously.
"I love it," Harry's voice was thick with emotion. Anya's eyes had misted over again, and even Remus was trying hard to keep back tears. Sirius looked pleased. They sat in silence for awhile, while Harry set off the globe like before. James and Lily danced, snowflakes fell and music echoed. The four were almost transfixed by the sphere, it somehow made them feel close to the departed. Remus's gift was next. He pulled out a broomstick with a large red ribbon attached to it.
"Bet you can't guess what it is," he teased.
"James's broomstick," Sirius breathed. Harry's eyes lit up. He picked up the broomstick, and ran his hands over it. Even though it was obviously a few years old, it was in perfect condition. The name James Potter was emblazoned on the handle, and up near the bristles, there was a small heart with the initials JP 4 LE inscribed in it. Harry traced the words with his fingers, he could almost feel the heat from James's hand where he had scratched his name. He looked up and smiled at his parents' closest friends.
"Thankyou. This has been the best Christmas ever," Harry said truthfully. He had never felt as close to his parents as he had that day. The gifts seemed to connect him to his memories, he swore he could almost remember riding James's broom when he was younger.
Many years ago.......
Lily and James were holding Harry steady on either side while he levitated 50 cm off the ground, holding the broom tightly in his chubby hands. They guided him round the living room, while he laughed merrily. Sirius was hovering nearby with Lily's Muggle video camera. He had been taught to use it at the insistence of both Lily and Anya (who had grown up in Muggle surroundings, even though she was a pure-blood witch). Anya was waving at baby Harry, blowing him kisses. The room was the picture of perfection, everyone was perfectly happy, and not at all aware of the horrors that would befall them "He bought Harry round a couple of days before...He bought the broomstick to prove Harry's natural flying ability. He left it, I guess he knew something might happen. Or maybe he was just forgetful," Remus said wryly. Sirius grinned.
"Yeah, that'd be James. Too concerned with showing off I guess!"
"Go ahead. Open it," she smiled warmly as Harry undid the silky purple bow on the box. He pulled out a wand, looking puzzled. Why would Anya give him a new wand? Anya noticed this, and proceeded to explain.
"That is your mothers wand. It was in my possession at....when....I'm sure she would have wanted you to have it," Anya's voice trembled. Remus reached around and squeezed her shoulders. She smiled gratefully at him. Harry studied the wand in his hands. It was beautifully shaped, and the name Lily Evans was engraved in cursive along one side. He gave a slight swish, and silvery sparks floated out.
"You obviously have Lily inside you, otherwise the wand would have done nothing," Anya said quietly. Harry lay the wand back into the tissue- papered box.
"Thankyou," he said softly. Anya nodded, not saying anything. "Here Harry, I made this for you," Sirius bashfully pushed a box into Harry's hands. It too was beautifully wrapped in deep blue paper with gold ribbon.
"Did Anya wrap this?" Harry asked jokingly. Anya smiled, while Sirius mocked a look of hurt. Harry continued to unwrap the gift. This time, it was a glass sphere set on a silver stand. Inside the sphere were two tiny figures in a dancing pose. On closer inspection, Harry saw the faces of his mother and father on the tiny bodies.
"Point Lily's wand at the globe," Sirius instructed. Harry did, and the characters sprung to life. They danced round and round the globe, while delicate snowflakes flurried around them. Haunting music echoed from inside, Harry recognised the tune as a musical version of 'Once Upon a December' from the movie Anastasia. Lily and James danced until the song drew to a close. Lily curtsied and James did a deep bow. Then they waved and went back to their still poses like before. Harry was awe-struck. This was one of the best presents he had ever been given. Sirius was watching with great interest to see Harry's opinion.
"Do you like it?" he asked nervously.
"I love it," Harry's voice was thick with emotion. Anya's eyes had misted over again, and even Remus was trying hard to keep back tears. Sirius looked pleased. They sat in silence for awhile, while Harry set off the globe like before. James and Lily danced, snowflakes fell and music echoed. The four were almost transfixed by the sphere, it somehow made them feel close to the departed. Remus's gift was next. He pulled out a broomstick with a large red ribbon attached to it.
"Bet you can't guess what it is," he teased.
"James's broomstick," Sirius breathed. Harry's eyes lit up. He picked up the broomstick, and ran his hands over it. Even though it was obviously a few years old, it was in perfect condition. The name James Potter was emblazoned on the handle, and up near the bristles, there was a small heart with the initials JP 4 LE inscribed in it. Harry traced the words with his fingers, he could almost feel the heat from James's hand where he had scratched his name. He looked up and smiled at his parents' closest friends.
"Thankyou. This has been the best Christmas ever," Harry said truthfully. He had never felt as close to his parents as he had that day. The gifts seemed to connect him to his memories, he swore he could almost remember riding James's broom when he was younger.
Many years ago.......
Lily and James were holding Harry steady on either side while he levitated 50 cm off the ground, holding the broom tightly in his chubby hands. They guided him round the living room, while he laughed merrily. Sirius was hovering nearby with Lily's Muggle video camera. He had been taught to use it at the insistence of both Lily and Anya (who had grown up in Muggle surroundings, even though she was a pure-blood witch). Anya was waving at baby Harry, blowing him kisses. The room was the picture of perfection, everyone was perfectly happy, and not at all aware of the horrors that would befall them "He bought Harry round a couple of days before...He bought the broomstick to prove Harry's natural flying ability. He left it, I guess he knew something might happen. Or maybe he was just forgetful," Remus said wryly. Sirius grinned.
"Yeah, that'd be James. Too concerned with showing off I guess!"