Chapter 12: The Christmas Holidays
Author's Note: Finally Fanfiction.net is back up, at least for a while. Here it is, chapter 12. I hope ya'll like it!
"Are you sure?" headmaster Dumbledore asked the four men sitting in front of his desk.
"Yes, we need to go to America for the holidays." Samuel said firmly. "I know I'm supposed to remain on hand here, and I know the situation, but it's important."
"When will you be back?" Dumbledore asked, removing his glasses and polishing them with his robe.
"Just after Christmas Day at the latest, we may be back in a day." Samuel replied. "We're really not sure. The castle is well defended, I've seen to that. Most of the students will be leaving today. Elanus here has provided a few Unspeakables to be about here just in case. We can Apparate back in an instant if need be."
"There's no other way?"
"I'm open to suggestion, but father needs his equipment. I will need a few things as well, and if James is going to be staying here he needs stuff. That stuff is in Amarillo, Texas right now, on the other side of the world. It does us no good there." Samuel said. "If you could zap it here that'd be great."
"That's not possible, at least not with my abilities." Dumbledore sighed. "Very well, I can't stop you. Please make the trip as quickly as possible."
"With any luck we'll be back the day after we leave." Elanus assured.
Dumbledore nodded and dismissed the four men. James and Samuel made their way back to the Gryffindor tower and started packing a few things. Harry chanced by their room and raised an eyebrow.
"Leaving?" asked Harry.
"For a bit." Samuel said. "We'll be back in a few days."
"Oh." Harry said.
"What's the matter? Aren't you going back home for Christmas?" James asked.
"No I have to stay here." Harry said.
"Don't sound like you're looking forwards to that prospect." Samuel said as he pressed down the clasps of a small suitcase.
"Not really." Harry said. "All my friends are leaving for the holidays. I can't even go with the Weasley's. Dumbledore said it's too dangerous."
Gene walked up behind Harry and laid a hand on his shoulder. "You could come with us if you want?"
Samuel glanced at his father suspiciously. "You think that's wise?"
"Dumbledore told me that blood family could protect him." Gene said. "We're blood family, though not as much as his aunt. I'll talk with Albus about it if you want to come." He looked down and Harry questioningly.
"I don't know." Harry said.
"We're leaving today about one o'clock, think about it." Gene said. "We'll see if Sirius wants to come too. I'm told he's your godfather?"
Harry nodded. "I've never been to America. You really think Dumbledore will let me go?"
"Of course. He's in no real position to argue." Gene replied. "Besides, if Elanus recommends it, Dumbledore can't hardly refuse."
Gene started off down the hall and Samuel, James and Harry sat in the common room. The three were lounging about, saying goodbye to the students as they exited the tower for the holidays. The Weasley boys stopped in the common room and heartily told them goodbye, and handed them all small packages to open on Christmas.
"If I get to go, what's it like in Texas?" asked Harry.
"Paradise, quite simply." Samuel said. "Amarillo is lot warmer then here, no snow, and dry air."
"No snow?" asked Harry.
"This is the most snow I've ever seen in my life." James said, pointing out the window.
Half an hour passed quickly, and Gene came through the portrait hole, as did Professor Dumbledore and Elanus. Samuel, James, and Harry looked up at Dumbledore expectantly and the old wizard shook his head.
"I have agreed to let Harry go to America with you for a few days. I agree that there is little better protection then there is with his family." Dumbledore said. "I must be contacted every day though. If in the event that something does happen, Harry is to be sent back here as quickly as possible." The old wizard continued staring coldly at Samuel.
Samuel stood up and narrowed his eyes at Dumbledore. "If something happens, you can bet that Harry and I will be back here as soon as we can get here." Samuel snapped at Dumbledore. "I understand the situation, and your concern, but frankly the Ministry has been overprotective of the lad. I would think you of all people would know the importance of a holiday. In fact you could come too if you would like, muggle doctors might be able to help those headaches you've been having."
Dumbledore took a step back and shook his head. "How did you know?"
Gene put his hand on Dumbledore's back. "Samuel has had migraines for years." Gene commented. "I've seen the symptoms too, makes it bloody hard to concentrate doesn't it?"
"Poppy hasn't been able to help." Dumbledore said, rubbing his forehead. "I think it's the stress. I apologize, I've not been myself. What do you do for your headaches?"
"I'll bring you something that helps." Samuel said. "I apologize for any disrespect."
Dumbledore shrugged and slowly went back through the portrait hole and down the stairs to his office. Harry stared up at Samuel gratefully.
"Oh don't give me that look." Samuel said. "Dumbledore really does know what's best, but up until now there haven't been many options for you. I trust his wisdom. We are taking a huge risk by taking you with us."
Elanus looked down at his watch and grinned. "It's time to go guys, a couple of house-elves have agreed to help with the luggage. Harry, do you have everything?" Harry shook his head and started to run back to his room to pack. Gene grabbed him by the shoulder and shook his head.
"There isn't time, we'll get you some clothing in the US." Gene said. "Hogwarts uniforms are going to look a bit out of place back home."
Samuel, Elanus and James picked up the luggage that was piled in the center of the room and Harry followed them out of the common room. A couple of house-elves met them at the bottom of the first stairwell and relieved them of most of their burden. The suitcases floated behind them as they made their way to the main entrance of the school. A few students waved to them as they walked towards the Hogsmeade train station. The house-elves started to load the luggage onto the train. Elanus shook his head and dismissed the elves.
"Amarillo, Texas?" Elanus asked as he produced a small disc shaped object from his robes.
"Is everything the Department of Mysteries issues shaped like a disc?" Samuel asked.
"Almost." Elanus said as he fiddled with the disc. "Get close."
The group stood close to Elanus as he tapped the disc. The surroundings grew indistinct and blurry. Soon they were surrounded in a murky grey mist. The mist swirled around them and started to close in on them, and take shape. Slowly things sharpened and they found themselves inside a small room with a window on one wall, and a door opposite it. After the initial disorientation wore off, Samuel looked out the window. Harry stepped up beside him and stared out the window as well. What he saw amazed him, miles and miles of grassland, broken only by the occasional shrub. In the distance he saw a large cylindrical metal structure with a pointed top.
"That's a grain elevator." Samuel said.
"Is this Amarillo?" asked Harry.
"No, we're some five or so miles north of Amarillo." Gene said. "You can see it from the front porch. It's nowhere near as large as London but it's pleasant enough."
James was carrying the luggage out of the room. Samuel and Harry helped get the luggage to all the right rooms in the house. James led Harry down the hall and opened a door.
"You'll be staying here." James said. "It's not much but it beats Hogwarts quarters by a long shot."
Harry looked inside the room to find a large bedroom. There was a window that took up most of the outside wall. White curtains fluttered the breeze. A bed occupied one wall, a desk another. Atop the desk sat a computer monitor, a keyboard and mouse, and a small television. Harry walked around inside the room staring at a bookcase that sat at the end of the bed.
"Is everything alright?" James asked.
"It's better then any room I've ever seen, besides Ron's." Harry said.
"The computer has internet access; Samuel left us with that finished anyway. The TV has cable too." James said. "Make yourself at home, I don't know when we're going to go into town to find you some clothing. We're fairly close to the same size though, you can look through my closet if you want to change."
James walked down the hall to his own room and began unpacking. Harry took his robes off and wandered down the hall.
"Bathroom is at the end, stairs are right next to it." James called.
"Thanks." Harry called as he looked in the open doors of the hall. There were several rooms, three more bedrooms, one occupied by Elanus, and an office. The blast of a heavily distorted guitar came from downstairs, startling Harry. James stuck his head out of his door and grinned as Harry ran down the stairs. After a few moments trying to discover the source of the music Harry found Samuel in a downstairs bedroom. He was playing a beautiful metallic blue electric guitar, hooked up to an equally impressive amplifier. Every note Samuel played came out rich and clear. Samuel's left hand flew up and down the fret board match only in speed and skill by the fingers on his right hand dancing over the strings. Samuel noticed Harry standing in the door and struck a final chord and allowed his guitar to fall silent. He put the guitar on a stand and grinned.
"Good to be home." Samuel said. "How's it goin' with you?"
"Great!" Harry said as he pushed his glasses up a bit. "What kind of guitar is that? It doesn't look like your other one."
"Oh this? It's an Ibanez RG series guitar. I used to perform with this one. The one at Hogwarts is the one I travel with. Come on in." Samuel said. Harry stepped into the room and looked at the guitars hanging on the wall. Most of them were electric of different shapes, and a few acoustics hung on one end of the wall. All but one had the word "Ibanez" printed on their headstocks.
"I take it that's the only kind of guitar you play?" asked Harry.
"Pretty much." Samuel said. "I love Ibanez guitars, though one of the acoustics is a Kaman, and this guitar is an old Gibson." He said, tapping a worn looking electric guitar with a rounded body. "It's still one of the best I've ever played." The two stood in silence for a few long moments. Samuel slapped Harry on the back. "Well, I'm all unpacked. What say we go to town and get you some clothing."
Samuel led Harry into the living room where Gene was sitting on one of the reclining chairs reading a newspaper.
"Dad we're going to town, wanna come?" asked Samuel.
"No, think I'll sit here a while, haven't read the newspaper in weeks." Gene replied. "Besides Maria is going to be awful surprised to see us here."
"Who's Maria." Harry asked.
"Housekeeper." Samuel replied. "James! Elanus! We're going to town, You guys coming?"
"No!" came a prompt response from Elanus. James stomped down the stairs, he had changed into a pair of slightly baggy cargo pants, and a long t-shirt with a local racing company's emblem on the back.
"All ready?" asked Samuel.
"Yep." James said.
"Hey." Gene said, holding a credit card up. "You'll need this."
Samuel took the credit card. "I was going to handle it."
"You just got back from England, I don't think they take pounds at the mall." Gene said.
Samuel slapped his forehead. "You're right. Thanks."
The three young men went out the front door and Samuel walked over to an orange Ford Mustang. He opened the passenger door and took an air gauge from the glove box and quickly checked the tire pressure while James looked under the hood and checked the oil. After a few moments Samuel got into the car and started it up.
"Still runs like a dream." Samuel said. "After what five or six years now?"
James nodded. "I've been keeping it maintained. It runs great too, not that I've used it."
"Sure." Samuel said.
Harry walked around the car and his eyes widened. "What kind of car is this?"
"1978 Mustang II, buddy." Samuel said. "Get in."
James flipped the passenger side seat forward and crawled in the back, then pulled the seat back. Harry sat in the front.
"The steering wheel is on the wrong side." Harry said.
Samuel laughed. "Buckle up."
Harry buckled his seatbelt and Samuel put the car in gear and sped off down the little used highway in front of the house.
"You're on the wrong side of the road!" Harry screamed.
"I love freaking out foreigners." Samuel said. "Harry, this is America, we drive on the right." A large truck passed by going the opposite direction for emphasis. Harry sat back and enjoyed the ride. After about fifteen minutes they arrived at a large brown brick complex. Samuel picked out the farthest parking space from the building and put the car in park. The three got out of the car and started walking towards the building.
"Where are we?" Harry asked.
"Welcome to Westgate Mall." Samuel said. "Great place to buy clothing, though expensive. When we're done here we'll get a few things from Wal-Mart if we need to and go back home."
"We're also gonna have a bit of fun here too." James said. "The underage wizard law, barely applies here."
"The over-age Opposite law applies though." Samuel said with a grin.
James muttered a few choice curses under his breath as they approached the doors leading into the Mall's Food Court. Samuel held the door open for the two boys and when they went through he followed behind them. They walked through the mall looking for a decent clothing store. Harry's eyes widened as they passed a small group of girls walking in the opposite direction. He turned his head as they passed and when he looked back another group of equally attractive young women passed.
"See, I told you, Paradise." James commented.
"I know why it's so warm here all the time." Harry said in disbelief.
"Here we are." Samuel said, stopping in front of what looked to be a young men's clothing store. "Pick whatever you want." He said to Harry.
"Um." Harry said, hesitating to enter the store.
"Excuse me ma'am." Samuel said to a pretty store employee, dragging Harry behind him. "This young man is in need of several changes of clothing. He needs five casual outfits, a formal suit, and a really formal suit. The casual outfits need to be interchangeable."
The employee smiled and circled Harry a few times and looked him over. "A bit old fashioned aren't you?"
"Aah." Harry stammered.
"He's just come from a private school in London on holiday. We didn't have enough time to pack." Samuel said. "Keep in mind, he'll be taking the clothes back to England with him."
"I keep up with the fashion in London and Paris." The employee remarked curtly to Samuel. "What is your name?" she asked Harry, extending her hand. Harry shook her hand and stammered "H-Harry Potter."
"Well Mr. Potter, I'm Emily." She said. "Shall we get started?". Samuel and James sat down on a bench against one wall and watched Emily and Harry walk about the store. After about fifteen minutes Harry waddled into a dressing room with a small pile of clothing in his arms. Emily stood by Samuel and Harry soon emerged from the dressing room. He was wearing a pair of black jeans, a leather belt, and a red polo shirt.
"Looks good man." James said.
Harry grinned and went back into the dressing room and changed again. Seven outfits later Emily took him to the back of the store and they picked out two suits and a pair of dress shoes. One suit was black, and the other grey. Emily thought they looked good on Harry, although Harry himself found the suits a bit uncomfortable.
"Is that all you want?" asked Samuel.
Harry nodded. "I've never had new clothes before."
Samuel shook his head. "What's the tally, ma'am."
Emily took a small calculator from her pocket and glanced about the small shop. After a few calculations she wrote a sum down on a slip of paper and handed it to Samuel. Samuel nodded and handed her Gene's credit card. She nodded and ran off to the back and returned shortly with another slip of paper and a pen.
"I'll need a receipt." Samuel said.
"Of course." Emily said as she carefully penned the items in a receipt book. Samuel took the slip of paper and pen and signed. Emily handed him the receipt and looked at paper that Samuel signed.
"Thank you Mr. Evans. Have a nice day!"
The three young men walked out of the store and made their way back to the food court. Samuel ordered a pizza and sat down at a table with James and Harry. They ate hungrily and talked about life in general.
"You've never had new clothes before?" asked Samuel.
"I always got hand-me-downs from Duddly." Harry said between mouthfuls. "They never fit either."
"That's awful. Of course he got my hand-me-downs." Samuel said, pointing at James.
"They didn't fit either." James chuckled. "Always too small."
"Too small?" Harry asked raising his eyebrow.
"Yeah, I was a runt." Samuel commented. "Well, small anyway."
"How long are we going to be here?" Harry asked.
"Well, probably until Christmas, so Thursday anyway. You don't mind celebrating Chrismas here do you?" asked Samuel.
"My presents are at Hogwarts." Harry said.
"Elanus can retrieve 'em." James said. "I can't wait to be able to Apparate."
"You know what I want?" asked Samuel.
"What?" Harry and James asked.
"Mexican food. I haven't had Mexican food in years." Samuel said.
"I bet." James said sarcastically. "When you first stepped off the plane or whatever, you probably went straight for a Mexican restaurant."
"I admit it, Mexican food is my weakness." Samuel said.
The three talked while they finished off the pizza. The trip back to the Evans house was uneventful as well. Samuel parked his car outside the house and the three walked up to the porch and in the door to find Gene still sitting in the same spot. The smell of cooking flooded their senses.
"Hi, boys." Gene said, looking up from his paper. "Maria is here, she's cooking enchiladas or something."
"Maria!" Samuel shouted running into the kitchen. A short, attractive, Hispanic woman stood in front of the stove stirring something in a black pot. The woman appeared to be in her mid twenties, or early thirties. Her black hair was tied back in a tail behind her neck. She smiled broadly at Samuel, her white teeth contrasting sharply with her dark complexion.
"Samuel!" she cried, running up to Samuel and embracing him. "Buenos Dias! You've grown up a lot since you were last here. Gene, he told me you were here so I'm making your favourite. Who is this young man?" Maria asked, indicating Harry who was standing in the doorway. Harry stared at Maria trying to understand what she was saying through her thick Mexican accent.
"Maria, this is Harry Potter from London, Harry this is Maria Esteban from Hereford." Samuel said.
"Pleased to meet you." Harry said, extending his hand. Maria shook his hand.
"He's here on holiday." Samuel explained. "He's a long lost cousin."
"You are family?" Maria asked, then suddenly hugged Harry. "That's how you greet family. Now that we've met, get out of the kitchen, I have a lot of work to do before supper!"
Samuel herded Harry out of the kitchen so Maria could work. Elanus emerged from upstairs looking refreshed as they made their way to the living room.
"I retrieved your stuff from Hogwarts." Elanus said to Harry. "I've instructed the owlery to forward all your owls here."
"Won't they be suspicious to see owls out in the day time?" asked Harry.
Gene pulled back the curtains that hung over a window on the side of the house. "See that bird on the fence over there?" Gene asked.
"Yeah." Harry said, squinting at the bird.
"That's an owl. There's a dozen other birds of prey out there that are usually nocturnal that sometimes hunt during the day as well." Gene said. "There's few places for them to sleep. No trees or caves, or anything like that."
"Oh." Harry said. "Things are a bit different here."
"Welcome to the desert." Gene said with a chuckle.
Gene sat back down in his chair while Elanus sat in another, Samuel and James relaxed on one of the large sofas.
"Pull up a couch, Harry." Samuel said. "Or I can fight Elanus for the chair if ya want." He said grinning wide at Elanus.
"Careful." Elanus said with a grin. "Old age and treachery you know."
"What part of you is old?" asked Samuel. "You're what thirty five?"
"Thirty eight, but who's counting?" Elanus replied. "I could take you any day."
"Boys, stop it." Gene said, flipping a page of his newspaper over. "Or I'll have to kick both your butts."
"Yes sir." Elanus and Samuel said in unison.
Harry sat quietly down on one of the couches and leaned back, watching the goings on. He started to daydream as the older men talked, and James was playing some sort of hand held video game. Something hit Harry on the nose.
"Harry!" Samuel said, holding what looked like a brown nut of some sort in his hand, poised to throw.
"What??" asked Harry.
"You were day dreaming." Samuel said. "I was going to ask you when you wanted your first swordsmanship lesson. I thought we'd start with a little fencing first if you don't mind."
"Whenever." Harry said.
"Tomorrow morning, early." Samuel said. "I suspect you're getting tired already. I sure am."
"We need to stay up 'til it's dark, it'll help us readjust faster." Gene said. "Besides, I bet Maria is almost done with supper." Gene held up five fingers and started ticking them down. "Five." He said, lowering one finger. "Four. Three. Two. One."
"Supper's Ready!" Maria called from the kitchen.
Gene, Harry, Samuel, and Elanus stood up immediately and started for the kitchen. Noticing James still sitting on the cough, Samuel went back and swatted him slightly on the shoulder, and motioned for him to follow. James grudgingly turned his game off and stood up and followed Samuel into the kitchen. Everyone stood in a circle and held hands. Harry looked dumbfounded until James reached out and grabbed his hand, Elanus grabbed the other one. Gene smiled and nodded, everyone bowed their head.
"Dear Lord, I thank you for this day, and for the safe and trip we had earlier today. Please bless the food that we're about to eat, may it nourish our bodies. Forgive us of our sins, and bind evil from this place. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."
"Amen." Everyone repeated. They looked up, and towards Maria.
"Don't look at me, the food is on the table." Maria said as she walked into the dining room. The men scrambled into the dining room and sat down at the table. Everyone helped themselves to the food. Once everyone's plates were full they began eating.
"You guys must have had some trip." Maria said. "Or haven't eaten in days." She commented, noting the speed at which the men ate.
"Rough trip." Gene said between mouthfuls.
"Turbulence?" asked Maria. "I know how you hate shaky planes."
"Something like that." Elanus said.
"So, Harry you are Gene's nephew?" Maria said.
"Oh, yes ma'am." Harry said, looking up from his plate.
Maria chuckled. "Don't be shy; these guys will eat you if you are."
"Yeah Maria used to be a quiet, withdrawn young woman, before she started working here." Gene said.
"Yeah, see you people corrupted me." Maria said.
"Woulda happened sooner or later, you have eight brothers you know." Gene commented. Maria smirked at Gene and threatened him with a fork.
"You guys are crazy." Harry said.
"Well, insanity isn't a requirement for this family, but it helps." Samuel said.
"What is this?" asked Harry.
"That would be an enchilada." James said. "Like it?"
"It's good, I've never had anything like this before." Harry said.
"It's not like grandma made 'em, but close." Maria commented.
"I thought your family was from Spain not Mexico." Samuel said.
"Oh, they were, grandma and momma weren't though." Maria said. "My grandpa was from Spain. Grandma's grandpa was from Spain too."
Samuel nodded and finished his plate off. Everyone else finished eating a few moments afterwards. After everyone helped clear the table, and load the dishwasher they went back into the living room.
"You guys look sleepy." Maria said.
"We've been here since seven in the morning." Gene said. "We'd been up for six or seven before that."
"Should have slept on the trip." Maria said.
Elanus chuckled.
"Maria, where are the epee's?" Samuel. "Thought I'd give Harry a few fencing lessons tomorrow."
"In the shed outside of course. Dad needed the regular armour, so you'll have to use the medieval stuff." Maria said. "I think there's some masks out there still though."
Harry yawned, followed by everyone else.
"You guys need some sleep." Maria said. "Get to bed, I'll be fine."
The older men nodded and slowly made their way to their bedrooms to get ready. James and Harry went upstairs as well.
"You can have the shower first." James said. "If Elanus hasn't already jumped in."
"Ok." Harry said sleepily.
After everyone had been through the shower, James came into Harry's room. Harry was turning down the sheets on his bed.
"You can set the temperature on all these rooms if you need it warmer or cooler." James said, tapping the thermostat by the door. Harry nodded and smiled "Thanks." He said.
James nodded and went back to his own room. Harry slipped into his bed and stared at the ceiling. He felt for the first time in his life that no force on earth could harm him, he felt truly safe here. His thoughts turned to the Weasley's and felt a tinge of guilt, because even in their home he felt a little vulnerable. There was something different about his hosts, not just that they were family, but something else. They had happiness, and a kind of solidness about them that he had never seen before. He shrugged the thought off and turned over in his bed. Sleep came to greet him easily that night, and his dreams were undisturbed.