Chapter 15:

Christmas at Grimmauld Place

The next morning, Harry was up at dawn to finish packing his trunk for the trip back to London. By the time all of the others were up and had finished packing, Harry had already been downstairs to eat his breakfast. "Come on, guys." urged Harry. "We're out for two whole weeks." The others made noncommittal sounds in the backs of their throats and marched down to the Great Hall to eat. The group rode the carriages to the platform in Hogsmeade around mid-morning and got on the train.

The train ride was relatively uneventful. The five Gryffindors and Luna had a compartment to themselves. The conversation remained light, and was punctuated by each of the prefects leaving to do their rounds of the train. Finally the train pulled in at Platform 9 ¾. The students took turns leaving the platform and heading out into King's Cross. Mrs. Weasley was there with Lupin, Sturgis, and Mad-Eye.

Mrs. Weasley immediately enveloped each of them in a hug. Harry received the largest. "Harry, how can I ever thank you enough? This makes three times that you have saved my daughter's life."

Harry patted her on the back, "It's okay, Molly. If I have to save her three hundred more times, then I will never have repaid the kindness that your family has shown me."

The group collected their trunks and headed out of the station. Lupin drove and soon enough the group settled in at Grimmauld Place. Sturgis and Mad-Eye left. Fred and George Weasley came strolling out of the kitchen.

Fred looked at Harry, and then looked to George. The two nodded and then drew their wands. Fred said, "Now, Harry, George and I would like to discuss the idea of you dating our baby sister with you."

George nodded, "Yeah, mate, as much as we like you, we have to hex you for dating our sister."

Harry pulled his own wand, "I wouldn't try it if I were you. If the two of you so much as attempt to cast a spell, then I will insure that the two of you spend the rest of your lives walking around with large pink bunny ears."

Fred smiled, "Now, now, Harry. You know that you're not allowed to use magic outside of school, yet."

George nodded, "So, we will have no more idle threats." The two advanced on Harry.

Harry merely yelled, "Expelliarmus. Expelliarmus." Both of the twins were knocked backward and dropped their wands. Harry continued, "Accio wands." The twins wands zoomed into Harry's hand.

The room looked on in shock. Lupin was the first to find his voice, "Harry, you can't cast magic like that. The Ministry will have you thrown out of Hogwarts for sure this time. You broke the Restriction for Underage Magic."

Harry shook his head, "Relax, Remus. Did I forget to mention that that law doesn't apply to me anymore? I used magic around here all summer, and I never got a notice from the Ministry."

Ron managed to ask, "Why doesn't that law apply to you anymore?"

Harry answered, "Simple. I learned how to disguise my magical signature. They can't tell when I'm casting a spell anymore. So, they can't exactly enforce a law if they can't prove that I broke it."

Hermione sniffed, "Harry, that is no excuse. You still shouldn't be breaking the law. It doesn't matter if you can get away with it or not. It's still wrong."

Harry blew out a long breath, "Hermione, for once in your life, lighten up. I don't typically break the restriction for trivial reasons. The only reason that I did this just now was to prove a point to those two." He pointed at the twins, who were still lying on the floor, dumbfounded. "Most of the time, I only break the restriction so that I can practice combat magic to face Voldemort."

The Weasleys all winced at the sound of the name. Hermione continued to protest, "Harry, it doesn't matter. You are still breaking the law."

"One day, Hermione, the rules are going to fail you. There will be no answers within them. One day your books are going to fail you. You will not be able to find the solution to the problem in a text. On that day, Hermione, I want to know what you will do?" Harry said.

Hermione looked bewildered, "I don't know."

Harry stared at her grimly, "If you don't know, then you will die." Harry tossed the twin's wands back to them. "While we have everyone together, I guess it is time to let the rest of you in on my little secret."

Molly looked at him, "What are you talking about?"

Harry responded, "I am an unregistered Animagus."

The twins snorted, "Good one, mate. What are you going to tell us next? Are you going to claim to be the first person to ever have more than one form?"

Harry looked at the twins evenly, and replied, "I might." Then, he transformed into a panther and leaped at them. The twins jumped out of his way. Harry landed and then transformed back. "Just in case the two of you get any ideas. I'm dangerous even without a wand." Harry smiled cheekily at the twins.

The twins gulped and Fred said, "We've changed our minds. I don't think that we need to hex you for dating out sister."

George chimed in, "Yeah, mate, she made a good choice."

Harry struggled not to laugh at the two. "Why thank you." he told them.

Remus finally asked, "Harry, how long have you been an Animagus?"

Harry shrugged, "I worked it out the first week that I was here this summer."

"When did you begin training to become an Animagus?" asked Lupin again.

Harry replied easily, "The same day that I figured out how to do it."

Molly burst out, "Are you trying to say that you completed Animagus training in one day?"

Lupin breathed, "Impossible."

Harry snorted, "There's that word, again. I hate the word impossible. Especially when people are using it to refer to me. I'm not trying to say that I did it one day. I am saying that I did it in one day."

"How many people know that you are an Animagus?" asked Lupin.

"Ten."

"Who?" asked Molly.

Harry responded, "Well, there are seven of you standing here. Add Snape, McGonagall, and Dumbledore to the list and you've got them all."

"Snape knows?" asked Ron.

Harry nodded, "He found out last night after I got out of the forest."

Molly asked quickly, "What do you mean, after you got out of the forest?"

Harry shrugged, "I had to go into the forest to check and see if there were any Dementors hanging around."

Molly demanded, "Why you?"

Harry looked at her, "Do you know anyone else at the school that can move as swiftly through the forest as a panther?"

"Well, no." answered Molly.

"Then, it was obvious that I needed to be the one to go."

"I just think that the adults should have taken the responsibility on themselves instead of placing it on a child." bit out Molly.

Harry shook his head, "Molly, I believe we have had this conversation before. I am not a child. It's time that you accept that I am going to be in danger. There's nothing we can do about it."

Molly cried, "I know, but I still don't like it."

Harry snorted, "Do you think I do?"

She shook her head, "No."

Harry smiled, and rested a hand on her shoulder, "Then, stop worrying about it. I think that it is time for us to see about some dinner. I don't know about the rest of you, but I am starving."

The next couple of days passed quickly with things happening around the house. Before any of them knew it, Christmas Day had dawned. The entire house awoke to a scream. "HARRY JAMES POTTER, WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?"

Ron looked over at Harry groggily, "I think that Ginny found your Christmas present."

Harry nodded, "I would say so."

Ginny burst in through the boy's door. She held two boxes with the words "To Ginny, From Harry" scrawled across the label. "What are these?"

Harry shrugged, "They look like Christmas presents to me."

By this time, the rest of the house was assembled outside the door watching the exchange. Ginny snapped, "Don't you get smart with me, Mr. Potter. The dress robes were supposed to be my Christmas present. You weren't supposed to get me anything else."

Harry asked, "Who said that?"

"You did." Ginny snapped again.

Harry shook his head, "I remember saying that the dress robes were a Christmas present. I don't remember saying for which Christmas."

Ginny's eyes narrowed, "What is that supposed to mean?"

Harry looked over at Ron in mock thought, "Did I get Ginny a Christmas present in 1989?"

Ron shook his head, "No, mate, you didn't."

Harry nodded, "There you go, then. The dress robes were your Christmas present from me for 1989. The boxes in your hand are for this year."

Ginny looked as if she were going to go off again, when Molly laid a hand on Ginny's shoulder. "You know, Ginny, you're not being very gracious. When you receive a gift that someone wants to give you, its usually polite to say thank you. Most people don't yell at someone for giving them a gift."

Ginny looked around at her mother, tears beginning to form in her eyes, "But, Mum, I can't give him presents like this. It's not fair."

Harry stood up and hugged Ginny. "Ginny, do you think I care about that? I will love anything that you give me. I already have the best present in the world everyday that I get to wake up and look into your beautiful face."

Ginny smiled and leaned back into Harry's chest. Molly smiled happily down at the two. "Well, everyone bring your presents downstairs and you can open them together.

They all followed her downstairs. All of the kids began opening presents quickly. Ginny had given Harry an Eagle Feather quill and parchment embossed with the Gryffindor seal. Harry looked up at her, "Ginny, this is wonderful." He leaned over and kissed her. "Thank you." She smiled and looked down at her feet.

Ginny waited until everyone had finished opening their gifts before she set the two boxes from Harry in front of her. Hermione leaned over and said anxiously, "Hurry up. The rest of us are dying to see what they are."

Ginny looked up, "You mean you don't already know?"

All of the other shook their heads. Harry smiled, "What is in those boxes, I picked out all by myself. I didn't have a bit of help."

Ginny began to rip the wrapping paper from the first of the boxes. She removed the lid of the box and gasped. Sitting inside the box was a golden bracelet adorned with rubies. Inside each ruby was a picture of the Gryffindor lion. "Oh my God, Harry. It's beautiful."

Hermione almost jumped up in anticipation, "Well, let us see."

Ginny pulled the bracelet out of the box. Molly and Hermione squealed as they examined it. Ron's mouth fell open. The twins goggled at the bracelet and then at Harry. Arthur just nodded approvingly at Harry. Remus leaned over to him, "Harry, did you really pick that out yourself?"

Harry nodded, "Yes, I did."

"I'm impressed. Your dad had to have a load of help to pick out jewelry for your mother." stated Lupin.

Harry grinned smugly, "If you're impressed, now. Wait until she opens the other one."

Remus raised his eyebrows in surprise and turned back to await the contents of the second box.

Ginny managed to put the bracelet on. Then, she picked up the second box. She tore the wrapping paper from it quickly. Then, she lifted the lid from it. Lying inside the box was a beautiful golden necklace with a diamond pendant hanging from it. The pendant was set on either side with gold plating in which Ginny's and Harry's names were etched. Inside the pendant glistened the symbol for forever in Gryffindor red. Ginny began to cry. She couldn't even lift the necklace out of the box. She merely handed it to Hermione. Then, she threw herself into Harry's waiting arms.

Hermione gasped when she looked into the box. Then, she wordlessly held up the necklace for the others to admire. None of them could speak. They just stared at the necklace dumbstruck, and then turned and stared at Harry and Ginny.

Ginny finally managed to gasp out through her tears, "I love you, Harry Potter."

Harry smiled, and answered, "I love you, too, Virginia Weasley."

Lupin met Molly's eyes and mouthed, "I told you so."

Molly smiled through her own tears, and held her husband's hand. The nine people in the room sat that way for a short while. Arthur finally leaned forward, and asked, "Well, Harry, are the two of you going to sit there all day, or are you going to put that lovely necklace around my daughter's neck. Harry stood up and took the necklace from where Hermione still sat holding it. He placed it around Ginny's neck and did the clasp. Ginny broke down and began to cry again. The other two females joined her.

It was later that day that Harry was going through things in Sirius' room. Ginny walked in, "What are you doing, Harry?"

"Looking for your other Christmas present." replied Harry without looking up.

"Harry, you've already given me too much." protested Ginny.

Harry laughed, "This isn't exactly along the same lines. Aha! I found it." Harry pulled a mirror out of the trunk. He handed it to Ginny.

She looked at him like he was crazy. "It's a mirror."

Harry nodded, "It's a two way mirror. I have the other one. If you ever want to talk to me, all you have to do is say my name into it. My mirror will vibrate, and I will know that you are trying to contact me. My father and Sirius used to use them when they were stuck in separate detentions."

She clutched the mirror to her chest, "Harry, I love it."

He grinned, "I thought you might. Now, onto your last Christmas present."

"Another one?" asked Ginny in amazement.

Harry stuck his head out the door to make sure that no one was around. He shut the door and cast a Silencing Charm on it. Ginny raised her eyes at him, and asked, "What exactly do you have in mind, Mr. Potter?"

Harry chuckled, "Nothing like that. I just don't want anyone to hear what I'm about to tell you."

"What are you about to tell me?" questioned Ginny.

Harry scratched his head, "Well, did you happen to catch the comment that one of the twins made earlier."

"Harry, they made a lot of comments earlier. Which one?"

"The one right before I showed them my Animagus form."

Ginny shook her head, "I wasn't really paying that close of attention. I was still in shock about the fact that you can use magic outside school."

"Well, they asked me if I was going to claim to have more than one form."

Ginny's eyes widened, "You're not about to tell me that you really do have more than one form, are you?"

Harry nodded, "Guilty."

Ginny sat down on the bed, "What other form do you have?"

"Forms, Ginny. Forms." Harry corrected.

Ginny fell off the bed, "What do you mean forms?"

Harry grinned, "I have two more besides the panther."

"What are they?" breathed Ginny.

"Well, you know that phoenix that you have been spending a lot of time with?" asked Harry.

Ginny looked up at him, "You can't."

Harry nodded, and then transformed into the beautiful golden phoenix. Ginny reached out and petted the bird behind the head. Harry sat and enjoyed it for awhile and then changed back. "So, do you like?"
Ginny smiled, "I like very much. What about the other one?"

Harry replied, "My other form is kind of small. It's a chameleon." Then, he transformed into the small creature. Ginny picked him up in her hand. She looked into his eyes and smiled. She set him back down. He changed back.

"I prefer you to look like this, Mr. Potter." She leaned forward and kissed him. While she was kissing him, the enormity of what she had just seen caught up with her. She pulled away, "Harry, no one has ever been able to take more than one Animagus form."

"I know." he replied.

"You're also a magical creature. I don't think anyone has done that either."

Harry shook his head, "No, that has been accomplished. Godric Gryffindor had a griffin as his Animagus form."

Ginny put her face in her hands, "I need to go lie down."

Harry smiled, and removed the Silencing Charm from the door. They walked down the hall, and passed Hermione, who said, "Hey, Ginny. Hi, Harry."

Ginny just walked by in a daze and went into her room. Hermione looked at Harry, "What's wrong with her?"

Harry shook his head, "Nothing is really wrong with her. She just had a few surprises."

Hermione asked, "What kind of surprises?"

Harry shrugged, "You'll just have to wonder." Then, he walked away.

It was a couple of days later that Dumbledore came by. He looked at Harry and said, "Harry it is time for us to talk."

"About what, sir?" asked Harry.

"We need to discuss your inheritance, Harry."

"I thought that you had already told me what I got from the Black Estate."

"I did. However, we have not discussed your inheritance from the Potter estate."

"I thought that was what was in my vault at Gringotts." said Harry confusedly.

"The money, yes. However, have you never thought about the home?"

"I thought that was destroyed when Voldemort attacked."

Dumbledore shook his head, "No. That was the safe house that they were using. The actual Potter estate is just outside the village where the safe house was."

Harry breathed lightly, "Godric's Hollow."

"Yes, Harry. Tomorrow we will be going there." Dumbledore got up and Disapparated away, leaving Harry lost in his own thoughts.

A/N: Vampire Story Hunter: That's all you. I like the Quidditch matches myself.

Athena kitty: Thanks for the review.

James Potter's Lily Flowers: Thanks for the review. The final battle will be something else.

Dragonstorm316: You only have to wait a couple of chapters. Spying on Death Eaters is a lot more likely than the Slytherin common room. We'll have to wait and see though.

Captuniv: You even picked the name of the chapter. Impressive.

Eris, Queen of Shadows: I hope you liked the presents. Thanks for the review.

Immortalwizardelf-fan: That's one heck of a compliment. I think that the frustration of not being included in what was going on would cause a skew in Hermione and Ron's perception of things.

Kelzery: I'm glad. Thanks for the review.