Ch. 10. Christmas.
A/N: Ok here's the deal. This story is completely finished and saved on my computer. Yay! The point of telling you this is that the more you review the more I'll post. (Cheap, I know but…..oh well.)
The train ride back to London was uneventful. Harry, Hermione, Ron, Padma, and Jessi all piled into one compartment. They talked about their plans for the holidays, and what they hoped would happen in the next term. Dusk was just beginning to fall when the train pulled into Kings Cross.
Jessi stepped off the train scanning the crowd. She was expecting one of her brothers or her grandmother's driver. She did a double take when she saw her father standing under an awning. She bolted away from her friends and across the platform.
"Daddy'' she called as she threw herself into his arms.
"Hello Princess, I've missed you.'' Grayson Carmichael said hugging his daughter.
" I missed you too….why are you here? You never come to the train station. You're not leaving again are you?" She was talking a million miles a minute.
"Jessi, Princess, slow down. I'm not going anywhere. Toby and Jeremiah both had to work, and my train got in just before yours" he smiled at his daughter.
"I'm so happy you're here. I don't think I could spend Christmas with just her again"
"Jess, I know you and your mother don't get along but She's your mother you have to respect that."
"I know" Jessi said glumly.
"Jessi you left your bag on the train" Hermione said approaching with Harry, Ron and Padma in tow.
"Oh thanks Hermione" she took the bag gratefully from her friend. "Harry are you and Remus spending Christmas at the Burrow or are you going to Grimmauld Place?"
"We'll be at Grimmauld place for the week of Christmas but then we're going to the Burrow." Harry said, smiling at her knowingly.
"Jessica, Are you going to introduce me to your friends?" her father asked.
"Yes, of course, where are my manners?" she laughed softly "Daddy I'd like you to meet Harry Potter and Hermione Granger, Head Boy and Girl and two of my best friends, Ron Weasley, Gryffindor Prefect and my other best friend, and Padma Patil, Ravenclaw Prefect and my soon to be flat mate." she smiled brightly as she indicated each of her friends. "Everyone this is my Dad."
"It's nice to meet you all...wait flat mate?" He looked at Jessi curiously.
"Yes, I'll tell you in the car, Bye everyone have a Happy Christmas, I'll see you on New Years" she waved goodbye "Oh and Padma owl me about going flat shopping"
Jessi and her father loaded their things into the car as they talked quietly. Jessi told him about the St. Mungo's program and about how she'd been made a Prefect when Hermione was named Head Girl. Her father told her of his travels to China and the United States. When they pulled into the round drive of the house Jessi sighed softly.
"Jessi come on it won't be that bad." her father stated.
"Daddy I know you married her but I don't care if she is my mother. I can't stand to be around her. She picks on everything I do nothing is good enough" she ranted.
"Jessica Anne….stop it." her father said sternly.
"Daddy…." she looked at him stunned.
"No Jessi, I realize your mother isn't exactly the maternal type, but she's been through a lot" he said placing his arm around her shoulder.
"GRAYSON" her mother's shrill voice came through the front door which was being held open while workers carted in an overly large Christmas tree.
"Hello Marissa" her father said calmly as he shot Jessi a look as she cringed.
"Grayson, my love it's so wonderful to see you….oh you to Jessica" her mother said.
"Hello mother, Daddy is it ok if I use the Floo in your office I need to go shopping?"
"Sure, Sweeth…"
"No, Grayson darling, she just got home, don't you think she should stay around for a bit?" her mother asked sweetly glaring at Jessi over her father's shoulder.
"I suppose, Sorry Jessi, You can go tomorrow."
"But Daddy……"
"No Jessi, go visit with your Grandmother." he said before turning to his wife and talking to her lowly.
Jessi stomped into the house and stood in the front hallway. It looked like the North Pole and Witch Weekly's Christmas extravaganza had exploded. Their house hadn't been decorated for Christmas in as long as she could remember. Her mother pretty much ignored holidays unless her father was around. She rolled her eyes at the extreme measures, but smiled at Jingle when she ran by balancing boxes of tree decorations on her head. She dodged a decorator putting garland on the main staircase banister as she headed toward her Grandmother's wing of the house. .
"Grandmother…Are you in here?" she asked softly as she knocked on the door.
"Jessi dear is that you?"
"Yes, Gran." she entered the room slowly and saw her Grandmother sitting on her bed propped up against pillows. "Grandmother, what's wrong, what happened, are you ok?"
"Yes child I'm fine…come over here" her grandmother motioned for her to come and sit on the bed. When she got there her grandmother took her hand. "I'm slightly ill but I'm fine"
"Gran, mother has something to do with this doesn't she?"
"Jessica" her grandmother said in a warning tone.
"I know I know…she's my mother yadda yadda yadda"
"Jessi, Your mother has nothing to do with my being sick. I'm old sweetheart."
"You're not as old as Dumbledore"
"Dumbledore is much more magical than I am"
"You're not dieing are you?" Jessi slid down onto the bed resting her head in her grandmother's lap, like she'd done when she'd need comfort as a child.
"We're all dieing, love" her grandmother gently stroked her hair.
"I can't lose you Gran, You're all I have here. Daddy's never around Toby and Jeremy are living their own lives" she cried softly into her grandmother's lap.
"Jessi, I'm not going to die anytime in the near future, I never meant to give you that impression, Sweetheart, You might not realize it now but you're well on your way to living your own life just life Toby and Jeremy. You're going to graduate Hogwarts and become a healer, and raise a family of your own."
"I love you Gran."
"I love you too, sweetheart."
Jessi sat with her grandmother for the rest of the evening. They talked about ho school was. She told her Grandmother about Remus, leaving out that he was a werewolf and her Professor. Jessi left her grandmother's room, happy and looking forward to at least some aspects of the holidays.
The next day Jessi practically skipped into her father's office. She act in one of the large chairs in front of his desk and picked up a section of the Daily Prophet. She read through a section of the paper then set it carefully on the desk. "Daddy?" she asked looking up at him warily.
"Oh Good Morning Princess" he said smiling over the top of the paper.
"Daddy, can I go do my shopping today?" she asked.
"Sure, Use the Floo to Diagon Alley and then take the underground if you have to go to the muggle side" he smiled at her.
"Thanks Daddy you're the best." she hugged him and grabbed a handful of Floo Powder. "Diagon Alley" she was suddenly whirling through the Floo Network. She came out in the Leaky Cauldron. She walked down Diagon Alley happily, the snow that blanketed the ground was charmed to stay clean and white and small fairies floated around merrily giving off multi-colored light.
Her first stop was Quality Quidditch Supplies. She entered the bustling store smiling at the vast array of brooms, and team memorabilia. She browsed the Cannons section picking out several newly published posters and a team roster. She also picked up a Quaffle, apparently she was going to have to call in a favor from Oliver.
She browsed through Flourish and Blott's, Magical Menagerie, and the stationary store. She bought a few thing's here and there but mostly ended the morning empty handed. She made her way down the street toward the garishly colored location of Weasely's Wizard Wheezes. She stepped through the door and was nearly bombarded by a young boy carrying boxes stacked above his head. She helped him right his packages and held the door for him. When she turned around she found herself engulfed by two red heads. "Hello Fred." she said happily.
"Jessi, my love it's been ages." Fred said placing an arm around her guiding her in.
"Now Fred you wouldn't be man-handling my baby sister would you?" Toby asked coming out of an office.
"Of course not Toby, I was bringing her to see you" Fred said.
"Toby!" Jessi said happily hugging her brother. "I'm glad you quit Auror training. You would have hated that job."
"I agree that's why I'm accounting for these to blockheads." Toby smiled and lead her into his office.
Jessi and Toby sat in his office talking. He told her about life working with Fred. He also told him that their mother had nearly disowned him when he'd quit Auror training. They talked for an hour or so when Jessi realized she still had shopping to do.
"What are your plans for the rest of the afternoon?" Toby asked.
"I'm going into muggle London, there's this fantastic used bookstore I want to go to" she answered happily.
"But you never buy books as gifts" he said giving her a questioning look.
"This is for someone special, other than going to the bookstore and placing an order at Honeyduke's I'm done"
"Ah, what'd you get me?"
"I'm not telling, oh but I do have a favor to ask you"
"What is it?"
"Do you still have all the stuff you had to get to start Auror training, the books and gadgets and what-not?" she asked.
"Yeah, why?"
"Could I have it? You don't want or need it and Harry is still on the wall about whether or not he wants to apply for Auror training or not." she said speaking quickly.
"Yeah sure you can have it to send to him, I'll bring it with me when I come for dinner tonight"
"Toby you're the best" she hugged him.
"I know" he smirked.
"You're so conceited sometimes, you almost sound like a Malfoy" she punched him lightly.
"Don't say that…ever. He's not still bothering you is he?" his voice changed from annoyed anger to worry.
"Yeah, but not about the same things" she answered softly.
"Something besides you and him getting involved?"
"Yes, but I can't tell you what, so please don't ask" she said softly.
"Jessi?" he rounded the table dropping to his knees in front of her. "You can tell me anything, we're siblings remember"
"I can't tell you this Toby, I just can't, hardly anyone knows" she said tears welling up in her eyes.
"So someone knows, just not me?" he sounded hurt.
"Yes, but I can't tell you yet. I will as soon as I start at St. Mungo's in January but until then I can't"
"Alright, but the first day you start, we're having lunch and you're going to tell me everything deal?"
"Deal" she hugged him. "Ok, now that we've had all possible relevant conversations I really have to get to the bookstore"
"I'll see you at dinner then."
"Yup, bye" She said as she slipped out of his office. She waved good-bye to Fred who were sitting half hidden behind boxes and boxes of pranks. She exited the shop with a final wave to Lee Jordan who ,was putting together a display in the front window, and headed toward the Leaky Cauldron.
Jessi ambled slowly down the streets of muggle London. She smiled at the other holiday shoppers that bustled past her. She quickened her pace as she made her way to the bookstore. When the store came into view she beamed.
Bennett's Used Books had the perfect atmosphere. It was quiet and dimly lit. The selves were spaced at various intervals throughout two floors. Patrons could browse through literally thousands of used book until they found what they were looking for.
Jessi browsed the aisles for a bit until a book caught her eyes. She knelt down and pulled it off the bottom shelf. It was a signed, first edition of A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. She grinned at her luck tucking the book in the crook of her arm, she continued on her way selecting several other aged volumes. She was kneeling on the floor again when she heard footsteps behind her, she scooted closer to the bookcase she was in front of hoping the she was giving the person enough room to pass.
"Excuse me, Miss" a voice she hadn't heard in nearly a year said.
"Oliver?" she said looking at him over her shoulder her eyes going wide in shock.
"Jessi?" Oliver Wood was genuinely shocked. "What are you doing here?"
"What's it look like? I'm shopping" she answered rolling her eyes and standing up.
"There's no need for sarcasm Jess"
"I was going to ask you the same thing actually? You hate reading"
"I'm looking for a gift for someone special" Oliver answered generically.
"Right, well I'll let you get back to your shopping" she took a step back and flattened herself against the bookcase to allow him to pass. Once he was passed she knelt again.
"Wait...Jess" he turned back around.
"Yes" she looked up at him.
"Why is this so weird?" We were friends once" he asked kneeling next to her.
"Oliver, we didn't exactly part on the best of terms"
"Why?" he interrupted her.
"I don't know, You were angry, I was hurt, we both said things we didn't mean"
"Jessi?" he asked tentatively.
"Yes, Oliver" she answered not looking up from the copy of Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man she was looking at.
"Do you think that maybe….Why do you have a bag full of Cannons memorabilia?" he asked suddenly taking notice of her shopping bags.
"That wasn't your original question was it?" she asked looking up.
"No but answer it anyway" he looked at her seriously.
"Except for the broom handle polish, which is for Me, anything in the Quality Quidditch bag is for Ron, it's his Christmas present" she said laughing softly.
"You bought Cannons stuff, Jess are we really that distant that you couldn't just owl and ask?" he looked from the bag to her face.
"Oliver, I don't need you to supply gifts for my friends, I would have bought that stuff even if we were still together"
"Jessi that's not the point"
"Then what is Oliver? We always knew this conversation would be awkward."
"The point is we dated for two and half years, you should at least be able to ask me for a bloody poster" his voice rose slightly and his accent became more prominent.
"First, keep your voice down this isn't a Quidditch pitch. Second, I know how long we dated Oliver I was there remember, from the first kiss to the very last rose, and I was going to owl you later today anyway?" she said keeping her voice even.
"You were?" he raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, and don't give me that look, you know I can't handle that look"
"What look, I'm not giving you a look? And why were you going to owl me?"
"You are giving me a look, but I'll just ignore it. And I was going to owl you about a Quaffle." she said putting another book she wasn't going to purchase back on the shelf.
"A Quaffle?"
"Yes, see the one in that bag?"
"Yeah I figured it was for Ron" he looked at her quizzically.
"It is, but it isn't what I wanted."
"Would you please enlighten me as to what in Merlin's beard you are talking about?"
"Several weeks ago there was a Quaffle signed by every member of the Cannons I wanted to get it for Ron, however when I got to the store it was already sold." she looked up at him as if this was perfectly obvious.
"And you want me to take it and get it signed?" he asked sarcastically.
"Mmmhmmm" she answered placing another book on the pile she was considering purchasing.
"Fine, I'll do it" he said glumly.
"Thank you so much Oliver, you don't know what this will mean to Ron" she said happily.
"I'll do it on one condition" he said looking at her sideways.
"What?" she asked warily.
"You have to be my date for the International Quidditch League's Annual Christmas Ball"
"Oliver…I can't"
"Why?" he asked disbelieving
"I'm sort of seeing someone" she said softly.
"Who? Someone from Hogwarts? Do I know him?" he fired questions in rapid succession.
"I can't tell you who, Technically yes he's at Hogwarts, and Yes you know him" she answered his questions.
"Why can't you tell me, you aren't embarrassed about it are you?"
"NO" she nearly shouted "I'm not embarrassed he's the most wonderful man on the face of the planet"
"Then, why not tell the world?"
"This is really none of your business" she shot back at him hastily.
"You're right. It's not" he answered softly.
"Please Jessi, come with me. Just as friends"
"Oliver…." she looked at him skeptically, debating an answer.
"Please, Jess……it's only three hours and then you never have to talk to me again." he pleaded.
"Ok. Fine. I'll go. As friends nothing more." she said finally.
"Thank you. If you're done with your shopping I'll help you carry your stuff back to the Leaky Cauldron." he said genially.
"I think I'm about done, I need to take this in the back and perform a Tracing Charm, but then I'll be ready" she said standing up and picking up the huge pile of books.
"Why a Tracing Charm?"
"The person the books are for has an extreme allergy to a substance used in older versions of printing." she said matter-of-factly.
"Ah I see" he grinned at her and helped her spread the books out over a large table.
" Monstrare Argenteus" she murmured softly. She watched as a blue light engulfed the books. The ones that absorbed the light didn't contain silver, and she set them to one side. She extinguished the faint blue glow one the others and set them in a pile to be returned to the shelves.
"Silver, someone is allergic to silver?" Oliver asked quietly.
"You remember that charm?" she looked up at him.
"No but I speak Latin remember"
"Oh right" she gathered her other bags and took the books to the clerk. She ended up buying several first editions, including The Completed Works of William Shakespeare, Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, and The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas.
"That's a very wide selection you've got there, Miss" the clerk said as he handed her her change.
"Yeah, but they're all favorites of the man I love. How often can you find signed copies of anything by Dickens" she smiled.
"That's very true. Happy Christmas" the clerk said.
"Happy Christmas to you as well" she said as she exited the store and met Oliver on the street.
"Ready?" he asked her.
"Yes, Thank You for helping me carry all that by the way."
"You're quite welcome."
Jessi and Oliver talked amicably as they made their way back towards the Leaky Cauldron. When they got there Oliver talked her into joining him for a butterbeer. The sat talking and laughing about old memories and happy times they'd shared.
The next few days flew by in a whirl of Christmas activity. She spent the day after her shopping trip wrapping presents. She waded through all of the books, papers, and gadgets Toby brought for her to send to Harry. Jessi set the golden translator necklace and bracelet set she'd gotten Hermione in a charmed box to protect it. She laid Ron's gift aside waiting for Oliver to owl her back the Quaffle she'd sent with him. She Wrapped Remus' books carefully attaching a note telling him she loved him and she'd see him on New Years.
The Christmas Holidays passed uneventfully for Jessi. She went to the Quidditch League Ball with Oliver and got home in the early hours of the morning because they'd gone up to St. James Park, in muggle London, to watch the sunrise. She'd spent Christmas Day and Boxing Day with her family, and thoroughly enjoyed the occasion. The weeks between Christmas and New Years slipped past and Jessi's anticipation mounted with each passing day.
New Years Eve day dawned clear and cold in London. Jessi spent the day with her Grandmother alternately talking about the Christmas Ball she'd gone to and all of the things she had to tell Remus. In the early afternoon she left her Grandmother and went to her own room to get ready.
Jessi spent the entire afternoon getting ready. She wanted tonight to be perfect. As of Tonight she was no longer a Hogwarts student, at least for the next three months, and she could openly see Remus. She spent two straight hours in her closet trying on everything she owned before selecting a black silk skirt and matching top. She was sitting in front of her bedroom mirror putting on her jewelry when her mother came in.
"Jessica don't you think you are slightly over dressed for one of your father's business dinners?" her mother asked smirking evilly at her.
"Daddy isn't having a dinner party tonight, and even if he was he said weeks ago I could go to the Weasely's " she answered calmly fastening the clasp of her necklace.
"Your father is having a business dinner tonight and you are going to attend young lady" her mother said sternly before turning on her heel and leaving the room.
"Uh" she stared dumbfounded after her mother. This cannot be happening I have to see Remus tonight, she thought to herself as she left the room to go see her father. She entered his office slowly. She was only slightly surprised when she saw several of her father's business associates, including Lucius Malfoy. "Daddy could I talk to you, please?" she asked sweetly.
"Child don't you know it's rude to interrupt business?" Lucius sneered at her.
"Please?" she asked her father quietly ignoring Malfoy.
"Jessica, you know better than to interrupt and where are you manners?" her father asked sternly.
"I'm sorry" she said numbly. She turned to Lucius and curtsied slightly "Good evening Mr. Malfoy" she turned back to her father. "Daddy please I know your busy, Mother says I can't go to…."
"Jessica, If your mother said no you have to stay here" he said interrupting her "I will not undermine her"
"But you already said I could go before…..doesn't that mean she's undermining you?" Jessi asked logically.
"Jessica you are staying here end of discussion." his tone left no room for argument.
Jessi turned on her heel and stomped up the stairs to her room. She had to talk to Remus. If she couldn't go she could at least make a Floo call. She grabbed her bowl of Floo Powder and through some in. Nothing happened. Her fireplace had been disconnected. She cried out in frustration. And threw a glass water goblet against the wall.
Jessi refused to go down to her parents party that night. She spent the evening curled up in bed sobbing. She was barely coherent when her grandmother came in and sat next to her rubbing her back softly as she sobbed herself to sleep.
Across England in Ottery St. Catchpole Remus sat glumly outside of the Burrow. He heard the countdown to midnight start. When midnight hit he cursed silently. He'd always known in the back of his head she couldn't really love him. His suspicions had been confirmed recently when he'd seen her in the Leaky Cauldron with Oliver Wood. He cursed again and apparated to Hogsmeade and the Three Broomsticks. At least there he could get properly smashed.