An Acceptable Risk

Chapter Twenty-Six

Happy Christmas to All

Ron woke up first and looked at Harry and Malfoy both still sleeping on the floor.
"Oy, wake up you two! It's Christmas. We have presents!"
"Happy Christmas, Ron, Happy Christmas, Malfoy," said Harry, reaching for his glasses.
"Happy Christmas, Potter, Happy Christmas, Weasley," said Draco, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
"Great, fine. Happy Christmas to all of us," said Ron. "Now let's get downstairs and open our gifts. The three started down the stairs, Ron knocking on doors as they went past.
"Wake up everyone," he called. "Or we'll open all the gifts ourselves!"

The entire Weasley family, and Hermione followed the three boys downstairs. Stacks of presents spilled out from underneath the tree. Arthur waved his wand and the lights on the tree lit up, filling the room with a soft glow.
"Shall I go make tea first?" asked Molly.
"We'll do it Mum," said Ginny. "You sit down and relax."
She stood up and walked into the kitchen, followed closely by Hermione. There was a clattering of dishes, followed by a sharp scream. Molly and Arthur jumped up and ran to the kitchen, with Bill, Charlie and the others on their heels. Inside the kitchen, their eyes were met by amazing sight. The table was filled with enough food to feed the Weasleys several times over.
"What happened? Who did this?" asked Molly.
"Who cares," said George.
"Right," said Fred. "Let's eat!"
"Happy Christmas Mr. and Mrs. Weasley," said a small voice. "I is a gift for you from Harry Potter."
Everyone turned in the direction of the voice and saw a small house elf working industriously by the sink.

"Oh Harry," said Molly. "It's too much."
"Harry," said Hermione. "I can't believe you of all people are participating in this type of slavery!"
"Oh no missus," said the elf. "Twinkles is a free elf. Harry Potter hired me for the Weasleys. I gets paid 2 knuts a week and I gets a tea break and days off if I'd like. But Twinkles is thinking she doesn't want to have days off. A good house elf should be working all the time."
"Twinkles is Dobby's cousin Mrs. Weasley," said Harry. "Apparently the need to work for wages runs in the family."
Ron and Hermione laughed, while Fred and George sat down at the table and began to eat.
"This is great," said George, through a mouthful of scrambled eggs. "Not as good as yours Mum, but good nevertheless."
"Don't be ridiculous, George," said Molly. "Anything I don't have to cook automatically tastes one hundred percent better. "Now sit down all of you and eat. Since Twinkles has made this wonderful meal, we might as well eat it now and open the rest of the gifts later."

They all tucked in and quickly demolished the great servings of food. As soon as the table was cleared, they adjourned to the sitting room to open gifts. Percy suggested a systematic approach where he would pass out a gift to one person and they would all watch while the gift was open.
"Corking good idea, Percy," said Fred as he reached under the tree and began to toss presents to their recipients. "You go right ahead and do that."
Draco was surprised to see what a large pile of gifts landed at his feet. He looked surreptitiously down at the labels, certain that he had gifts belonging to someone else, and was shocked to see that his name was printed on all the tags. He reached down and picked up a gaudily wrapped package with pictures of smiling Santa's waving up at him. He tore open the wrapping and pulled out a hand knitted sweater in pale blue. He held it up and noticed that one arm was unfinished.
"Oh Draco," said Molly. "I'm sorry. I started it as soon as I found out you were coming, but I didn't get it finished. I'll see to that sleeve after dinner tonight."
"You made it? For[/i]me[/i]?" he asked, astounded. "I've never had anybody make anything for me before."
"You should have said something, Malfoy," joked Ron. "I've thousands of maroon sweaters that you could have had. Mum just finally realized that I hate maroon."
Everybody laughed and resumed opening their gifts.

"This is extraordinary," said Arthur looking in a box. "What did you call it Hermione?"
"It's called a torch Mr. Weasley. In America, they call it a flashlight."
"And it works on batteries?"
"Yes, Muggles use it to see when it's dark out. Press the button up near the top."
Arthur Weasley pressed the button on the torch and a beam of light shot out.
"Well bless my buttons," he said smiling. "What will they think of next?"
Harry shot Hermione a grin as he pulled the wrapping paper off of his next gift. He pulled out the latest Chudley Cannons Year in Review annual.
"Thanks, Ron," he said. "And it's autographed. How'd you manage that?"
"It's not from me," said Ron. "Blimey, look. I've got one too! Who's it from?"
Harry reached down and picked up the wrapping paper and read the tag.
"Malfoy thanks. This is terrific!"
"Yeah," agreed Ron. "They're excellent!"

Draco flushed a dull red, and smiled slightly. "I'm glad you like them," he said. "And thanks to both of you," he said holding up Falmouth Falcon's uniform, folded and displayed in a frame. "How did you know I favor the Falcons?"
"I noticed you had the name engraved on your broomstick at our last match," said Harry.
"Oh Mum, it's lovely," said Ginny as she watched her parents unwrap a very elegant tea service.
"I've no idea," said Mrs. Weasley. "Let me check the tag. Why it's from Draco. Draco, thank you very much, it's quite lovely."
"Your welcome," he muttered. "I wasn't quite sure it would be okay."
"Nonsense, it's perfect, and it should last a lifetime," said Molly. "Provided Fred and George keep away from it."
"Really mother," said George self-righteously. "We're responsible businessmen now. We are far to mature to do anything to such a lovely gift."
"Bloody hell!" shouted Bill, who now had a purple unicorn horn sprouting from his head.
"Excellent!" cried Fred. "They work! Don't worry Bill, it should wear off in about ten minutes."

The laughter and merriment continued for quite a while, as the gifts were unwrapped. After everything was unwrapped, Harry, Hermione and Draco excused themselves to give the Weasleys a chance to spend some time alone together.
"Thanks for the book token to Flourish and Blotts," said Hermione, looking at Draco.
"Well, I wasn't quite sure what kind of book to get you. I wasn't sure what you had read."
"Just about everything," joked Harry.
"You know Potter, you're different than I thought," said Draco. "I always thought you were full of yourself."
"Thanks, I think," said Harry.
"I have a question for you. Did I see you unwrap an old shoe?"
"Oh, that. Yeah, that was a Christmas gift from the Muggles that I live with. It was better than last year."
"Yeah, last year they gave Harry an old used fish and chips wrapper," laughed Hermione.

"Oy! Get in here now!" shouted Charlie from the doorway of the Burrow. "There's trouble!"
Hermione and Harry broke into a run with Draco right behind them. Within minutes, they were back inside the house, panting as they tried to catch their breath.
"What is it?" gasped Harry. "What's wrong?"
"I'm afraid there's been another attack," said Arthur Weasley looking grave. "Voldemort's attacked the Ministry of Magic."