Chapter 18 - A Family Christmas
After their visit to the Dursleys, the Potters left Hogwarts, to go and stay at Grimmauld Place for Christmas. Sirius and Buffy had invited them to stay, along with Joyce, Dawn, Giles, Willow, Oz, Xander and Cordelia. Together they were to celebrate Christmas. Faith had gone with Robin to meet his parents and spend Christmas with them.
Harry gradually got to know his parents, his mother was the kindest person, she couldn't bear to see anyone hurt and was generous, but to anyone that hurt her family she was as cold as ice, as she had been to the Dursleys. His father was just like Sirius, except when the two were together they were doubly fun. Harry could see how close his father was to Sirius. His mother became fast friends with Joyce and Buffy. He really felt like part of a family now, his parents were exactly the people he had hoped they would be, and he could see why he had been complimented many times by comparisons to them.
With the help of Lily's magic and Joyce, Buffy prepared Christmas Dinner for them, a traditional turkey with all the trimmings. Before they began to eat, Giles' stood up, holding his glass of mulled wine.
"Being an Englishman, I didn't celebrate Thanksgiving until I moved to America, but I can see how important it is to be thankful for our lives." he said seriously. "And since we missed Thanksgiving this year, we should all take turns to say what we are thankful for." At the nods of all those around the table, he continued.
"I'll begin," he said, "I am thankful that we are all together, and we are able to have been so successful with the Slayers Academy, and that we have the ability to do that."
"I'm thankful for my daughter," Joyce said, and that I can see them grow up, and be with them."
"I'm thankful for my mom, and my sister and all my extended family," Dawn said.
"I'm thankful for Xander and the shoes he bought me," Cordelia said, and they all chuckled.
"I'm thankful for Cordy, and that Buffy and Harry can have their parents." Xander said.
"I'm thankful for finding Oz again, and that my friends can always be my friends no matter what happens." Willow said.
"I'm thankful for Wills, and that it really is a small world." Oz said.
"I'm thankful for Sirius and my mom, and my sister, and that we are all here together, after a long battle," Buffy said.
"I'm thankful for Buffy," Sirius said, "And my godson, and my two best friends."
"I'm thankful for my son," Lily said simply.
"I'm thankful for my mum and dad, and Sirius and Buffy and Dawn….and everyone really!" Harry said.
"I'm thankful for my wife and son, and my best friend. And for second chances. " James said.
"Lets raise our glasses to our friends who can't be with us," Buffy suggested and they all raised their glasses.
"To Remus," Sirius said.
"To Spike and Anya," Buffy said, and they all drank their mulled wine.
"Let's eat!" Dawn exclaimed.
After dinner, Sirius, James and Harry went into the garden so James could finally fly again. Harry proudly showed him his Firebolt.
"Incredible," James said, examining it carefully. "In my day, Cleansweep Two's were the thing to be seen on. But this is something else."
"Sirius bought it for me," Harry revealed, "The year he escaped Azkaban."
James mounted the broom he had borrowed from Sirius and the three of them soared into the air, not visible to muggles due to the muggle precautions Sirius' father had put on the house all those years ago.
"I've missed this," James yelled excitedly. Watching his father, Harry could see that he was indeed an 'excellent Quidditch player' as Professor McGonagall had said so many years ago.
The three of them raced from one end of the garden to the other. After a while, Sirius took some apples form the kitchen and they took turns throwing them for one another, swapping brooms so they could all have a go on the Firebolt.
"He's an exceptional flyer," James murmured to Sirius as he watched his son fly. "Incredible reflexes, he's much better than I was."
"You should see him as seeker," Sirius said, as Harry went into a deep dive to retrieve an apple. "He is incredibly talented."
Three days after Christmas Day, Harry received a letter from Ron. It read:
Hey Harry! Hope you're having a great Christmas and that you got my present.
Mine was really good, the whole family was there, even Percy and it was good to all
be together again, though Fred and George kept trying out their new products on
Percy! Said he was their guinea pig or something. Anyway, the real reason I'm writing
is that we are having a New Years party at the Burrow, and wondered if you all wanted
to come. Mum's invited loads of people, it should be really good! Send Hedwig back
with a reply soon.
Ron
Harry ran downstairs where everyone was having breakfast, and told them about the party. They all agreed that it was a fantastic idea, and Harry quickly scrawled a reply to Ron before leaving Grimmauld Place with his parents.
That day they were going to a Muggle Estate Agents, to look at a few properties that were near Sirius and Buffy's house.
They decided to walk there, and on the way Harry had the chance to ask a couple of questions he had been wondering about.
"Where did you work when you were alive?" Harry asked.
"I was an Auror for the Ministry," James revealed. "When I spoke to Fudge he said that they want me to come back and work for them again, after I get 'settled back into life' he said." Harry grinned.
"That's what I'm planning to do when I leave Hogwarts!" he exclaimed. "Now you can help me with all of my exams and stuff. Is it very difficult?"
"Quite difficult, yes," James admitted, "But you should have no trouble, you're practically an Auror as it is, you've faced Voldemort more times than all of the Aurors put together."
How about you mum?" Harry said, enjoying being able to say 'mum.'
"I was a teacher," she said, "At Hogwarts actually, I taught Runes. But there's already a teacher at Hogwarts now, so I won't be doing that. I was thinking about doing something for the Slayers Academy, Rupert said they needed someone to be part of the new Watchers Council, to organise Watchers duties. I think I'll probably do it, it'll mean I'll be at Hogwarts."
Shortly they arrived at the Estate Agents, and they spent the afternoon looking at three different house. Harry liked the second one they saw, it was round the corner from Grimmauld Place, had four bedrooms and a big garden that he could fly in. They promised to contact the Estate Agent soon with a decision, and returned to Grimmauld Place.
