Chapter 12: O, Christmas Tree…
Disclaimer: If it's from the HP books it's not mine, otherwise it is.
The other two houses had their first match a week later, and Ravenclaw managed to squeeze the victory out from under the older, more experienced Hufflepuff, with a score of 190-40.
Which, as Conroy was quick to remind the team after their practice on Sunday, meant that if Ravenclaw did well against Slytherin, and they didn't Hufflepuff, then it could it difficult to get the Cup.
"Anne, we can't afford for you not to get the Snitch, Meander's one of the best Seekers I've seen in a while, so Ravenclaw'll get at least that much from their game, which means we need it too."
"I know Gordon," Anne told him patiently. "Don't worry, we can do it."
Conroy nodded, "I know, but it could be a bit more difficult this year that's all."
The team nodded in agreement, and hit the showers. James and Lily headed back towards the Tower to exchange their Quidditch gear for their book-bags, and then headed to the Library to meet Lena and the boys. The second years have a tricky essay on Shrinking Solutions to hand in on the next Potions lessons and neither of them had had a chance to start it.
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Snow began to fall late that year, and it had just begun when Lily rose for breakfast tens days before Christmas. She stood watching it drift downwards and piled up on the ground.
"Brrr," said Lena, shivering violently, as she came out from under her blankets. "I hate the cold."
"It's started snowing," Lily told her.
"Brilliant, Transfiguration and the first snows of winter in one day. Just my luck."
"Well, why don't you warm things up a bit?" suggested Lily.
"Good idea," said Lena. "Lacarnem Inflamarai." A ball of fire flared into existence on her outstretched hand, she concentrated hard for a minute or two until it had swelled to roughly the size of a Quaffle, Lena removed her hand and it remained, hovering in mid-air.
"I love watching you do that," Lily admitted, she had turned around and perched on the stone windowsill. "You do it even better than Aunt Mione."
"Yeah, well I do have a knack with fire." Lena admitted, and turned to get dressed. Lily turned and watched the snow for a minute or two. James, Virgil, are you awake?
Yes Lily, I am.
As am I.
Lena and I'll be down to breakfast in a few minutes, she just getting dressed.
We'll be waiting, James assured her.
"I'm ready," announced Lena, coming over to the window to join her friend, her ball of flame hovering over her hand.
"Should we wake the other girls?" Lily asked, checking her watch, it was only thirty minutes before class.
Lena shrugged, "We never do."
"True, but we won't want them to be late for class." Lily admonished, she pulled out her wand and pointed it at the other two inhabitants of the room. "Emeritus, Viginti Quique Miniti."
"You're evil," Lena said.
"I think you have me confused with the twins," Lily told her.
"They'll have only five minutes."
"So? That's not my problem." Lily said and picking up her bag she headed for the door. "They should have gone to bed earlier."
In the end, despite Lily's alarm spell, her two classmates were five minutes late for the lesson. Hermione looked up from her desk and frowned, "Miss White, Miss Rammed, I expect punctuality from my students. Five points will be taken from Gryffindor for your tardiness. If there is a next time, it will be ten. Each." She followed the two girls down the room to their seats and then continued. "I will not tolerate tardiness from anyone. Is that understood?"
"Yes, Professor Granger." chorused the class, then at a nod from Hermione, continued trying to transfigure their beetles into buttons - which, in Lena's case consisted of killing the unfortunate beetle by burning, electrocution or detonation, as was she getting rather frustrated with her inability to do it properly and so her powers were going a little haywire - her three friends all managed it, though Lily only after a lot of concentration.
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The week before Christmas began with one of the worst snowstorms that Hogwarts had seen in twenty years, Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures lessons were cancelled as the students and staff were confined to the castle. But by the time for the students who wanted to go home for the holidays, the flurries had stopped and the snow had settled into drifts three-feet deep. On the day before they were due to leave Charlie, Nick and Orion could be found wrapped up warmly outside clearing the path down to the village.
Despite the recent bad weather, the trip down to London was uneventful and the Potters and their friends (though not Robin or Edwin, as they were returning to their own families), piled into the two cars provided by Harry and headed for the Sanctuary.
Christmas followed its usual pattern of tree decorating by Harry, Ginny and some of the house-elves; then present opening early on Christmas morning, then Christmas dinner at Chancery House for the family.
Lily got a Quidditch book called Catch As Catch Can, her own pair of specialist Chaser gloves, plus the usual clothes, tricks and sweets. James' favourite present was of course his brand-new broom - a Silverstreek sports broom - that he got from his parents. Marcus confessed when asked, that he'd had more successful Christmas's but that this one had been the most enjoyable and fun.
The Potters spent most of their Boxing Day evening cloistered in the sitting room on the fourth floor, just the family and closest friends: The Potters; Ron, Hermione and their children; Marcus, Lena, Sirius and Remus.
What none of them could know as they ate and drank and swapped stories, was that this would be the last time they would all be together like this, that events in the next year would leave one of their number on death's door and the lives of two more changed forever.
A/N: Sorry about the delay and the really short chapter, most of my spare time at the minute is taken up by an original fiction I am working on called The Bellatori-The Beginning, which I'll be posting on the companion site to this one FictionPress.Net when I'm finished it, however I'm not giving up on Harry Potter so keep reviewing and watch out for the next chapter. The chapter title is from the Christmas carol performed by among others Mario Lanza.