Disclaimer: I don't own anything relating to Harry Potter. If you want to sue me, I hope you're happy with half a box of Triscuits!
A/N: So… less than two months… that's ok, right? Er, sorry? Excuses: exams, funeral, other fics, laziness. I think that last one was the biggest. Anyway, has anyone tried to write a Christmas scene in May/June? Blah. I hope it's ok. I kind of liked it… even though not much plot came through in this one, it just kept going with holiday fluffiness. Sorry 'bout that. Review anyway, please! : )
Chapter 5: Holiday CheerHarry woke to the smell of fresh bread and cinnamon. He went to the bathroom and cleaned up some before going out into the kitchen. He was surprised to see Liz and Samantha covered in flour and laughing quietly, although it seemed a strain to keep quiet.
Harry greeted them with a smile and, "Happy Christmas."
"Oh, Harry, we didn't wake you, did we?" asked Samantha in a guilty voice.
"No, I didn't even know you were here. What are you two up to?" he asked with a grin.
Liz laughed again. "Baking, can't you tell?"
Harry laughed and coughed a bit. The two girls each took an arm and led him to the couch. He was too amused with their faces and clothes to protest.
"You sit there, young man. No wandering around. Now, how are you feeling this morning?" asked Samantha seriously.
Harry thought about it and took stock of his injuries again. He was still definitely in pain and wouldn't be running any races soon, but he felt better overall. "Better than yesterday," was his reply.
"Good. You just relax while we get you something to eat," said Liz.
"Where are Andy and the others?" Harry asked.
"Feeding the wildlife," answered Samantha. She elaborated after seeing Harry's puzzled look. "Every Christmas they go around the woods and put out different kinds of food. It's their gift to nature or some such nonsense, but it is very sweet. They'll be back around noon for lunch, then we can play games or something. Maybe you could show us more magic!" she suggested excitedly.
Harry smiled shyly, "Maybe. I'm honestly really surprised that I haven't gotten any word on doing things in front of muggles. So, about this plane ticket idea you had – er, how much money is it going to cost?"
"Don't you worry about that. It's Christmas, consider it a gift. We'll get it ordered tomorrow and you should be able to leave in a few weeks."
"A few weeks?!" Harry exclaimed. "Sorry, but I have to get back before the fifth of January or it'll be too late. I'll see if I can find another way…" He wondered if he could make a portkey that far. He'd never made one before, and he wondered just how difficult they were. He decided that he better not mess with it if he didn't know. It seemed like one of those things that could go really bad, like apparating.
Liz sat next to him on the couch and put a hand on his shoulder. "It's alright, Harry. We'll take care of it, ok?"
"Why are you doing this for me? You just met me, and you don't know anything about me. I don't know anything about me! I don't even know if I'm rich or poor, so I don't know if I can pay you back for the plane ticket if that works out. I don't know what to do on a plane; I've never traveled that way," Harry rambled on, fretting about this and that until Liz grabbed his other shoulder as well.
"Dude, shut up a minute. I can get cheap tickets. I've been working for a company with offices in New York and San Diego for about a year now. I've had to fly back and forth at least every two weeks. I have loads of miles saved up that you can use." He must have looked confused, because she elaborated. "When you fly, you can earn a certain number of miles for each flight. Well, I've taken a lot of flights, and the company pays for them all, because they're business. So, now I have all these miles saved up, but I'm so sick of flying that for vacation I stay in one spot. I'm not going to use them anytime soon, so I might as well let you. Hey, I might even have enough to cover the whole cost! Do you get it now?"
Harry nodded with a small smile on his face. Liz's explanation seemed very familiar somehow. Not so much the explanation itself, but the enthusiasm with which she shared the information. An empty feeling passed through him. He realized that he missed his friends. He didn't remember who they were, but he still missed them. He picked up the photo album, which was still out from the night before, and looked through the more recent pictures. He wondered what the people in the pictures (his friends, he assumed) were doing for Christmas. Do they miss me? I hope I'm not ruining their Christmas.
He sighed sadly and set the album down. He was startled when a pair of arms surrounded him. He relaxed when he realized that it was Samantha. She held him for a few minutes, then let go with a peck on the cheek. "Merry Christmas, Harry."
"Thanks, Sam. I'm going to take a shower, ok?"
"Need any help?" Liz teased suggestively.
Harry blushed bright red and mumbled, "No, I think I can manage on my own." The girls giggled at his retreating back, and he smiled. Even if he did miss his friends that he couldn't remember, this Christmas would be interesting at the very least, and he was making new friends.
When he was cleaned up and dressed for the day, Harry joined everyone in the other room again. The boys were back, and they all had rosy red cheeks, showing the low temperature outside.
"Happy Christmas, everyone," he said shyly.
"Merry Christmas, Harry," they replied in scattered responses.
They had a lunch of simple deli sandwiches and warm soup. Harry was enjoying himself, even if he did feel out of place. His new friends did what they could to make him feel welcome, and he was very grateful for it.
"Present time!" shouted Josh. He was very much in the holiday spirit, wearing a red sweater over a green turtle neck, and a red hat on his head. He'd been singing carols all day, even when the others stopped singing along and told him to quit. Harry could only laugh at his exuberance.
Josh plopped down next to the scrawny tree and started handing out the nicely, and some not-so-nicely, wrapped gifts. Everyone placed their gifts in a pile before them, without opening any. Harry was shocked when he was handed a few packages. He had no idea what to say. He was so happy, but he felt guilty that he didn't have anything to give them.
He looked up at each of them and stuttered, "I-I can't take this… I don't have anything for you… you've all done so much already… I just."
"Hey, it's ok," said Andy. "We like giving gifts, so make us happy by accepting them." Andy smirked at Harry's confused face as the lost boy tried to figure out how he could decline the gifts politely. He really didn't feel like he deserved them, but he didn't want to be rude either. Finally, he decided he didn't feel well enough to argue, so he would just take the presents and hopefully repay his new friends at some point.
The group went in turns, each opening one present at a time. They had a rule that you had to try and guess what the gift was before removing the paper. Harry didn't think his cheeks could take anymore smiling and laughing. Josh and Cory were hilarious, both in their guesses and in the gifts they gave.
Liz had given Cory what was obviously a book, but after a long time of concentrating, Cory guessed a puppy. He had such an excited face at the prospect of a puppy that they all laughed, and continued when he pouted about the book not being cuddly. Liz punched him on the arm and called him a few names Harry didn't know.
Samantha opened a large box almost half the size of the couch. It was from Cory, and she frighteningly guessed puppy because of his previous scene. When she opened it, she found it filled with popcorn. She eyed her brother warily for a few minutes before speaking.
"Is there anything else in there?"
He just smiled widely. "I think you'll have to eat your way through to find out."
She groaned. "Somebody, please, help me!" she pleaded in a whiney voice, but there was a smiled twitching on her lips.
"Er, I could help, if you want," Harry offered.
"You like popcorn, huh?" she said with a grin.
Harry laughed. "Actually, I'm not sure if I've ever really tried it, but I could do something about it so you can look inside," he said with a small smile.
Samantha's and Liz's eyes were both twinkling as they nodded their heads eagerly. Harry knew they wanted to see more magic, and this could be like a gift from him since he had nothing to give.
He waved his wand over the box and spoke a few incantations quietly. In seconds all of the popcorn in the box was floating around the room, moving in a slow, lazy circle. He charmed some of the pieces red, green, and blue, and made the white ones glow slightly.
He grinned at the awed look on everyone's faces. "You should be able to look in the box now, Sam," he said softly.
She launched at him, tackling him with a hug. His surprise quickly turned to laughter. He was delighted to see that they liked his small contribution so much.
"Ah, man, you just wasted a box full of popcorn!" exclaimed Cory in pretend anguish.
"Oh, no, it's still fine to eat. Just pick one from the air anytime." Harry grabbed a blue one and handed it to Andy. "Try it," he said with glittering eyes. He hoped this wouldn't be going too far, but he didn't think so.
Andy looked at him suspiciously, but ate the piece of popcorn anyway. "Wow, it's like blueberry popcorn! Sounds weird, but tastes awesome. Thanks, Harry… What?" he asked the group in general as they tried not to laugh at him.
Harry summoned a small mirror from the bathroom and held it up nervously. "Sorry, Andy, I couldn't help myself."
Andy gasped and didn't move for almost a full minute. Harry was really starting to regret his little joke. He wondered if he should get his things and leave. He had probably overstayed his welcome, not that he was welcome in the first place. He just showed up in these people's lives, after all. His thoughts were cut short as Andy burst out laughing so hard he curled up on the floor.
"This is great, Harry!" He choked out through his laughter and gasps for breath. "How long with it last?"
"Only a few minutes… are you sure it's ok? I can take the charm off the rest…" Harry offered uneasily.
Andy seemed to notice his discomfort and was quick to reassure him that he really did like the effect. He was only shocked at the beginning. He'd never imagined seeing an entirely blue version of himself. As if to prove his point that it was alright, the rest of his friends all grabbed blue, red, or green popcorn from the air and ate them, turning different colors.
Harry laughed at the picture they presented. He decided to join in and ate a green piece.
"Wow, it completely blends with your eyes, Harry. That's so cool!" exclaimed Liz.
Harry blushed, which no one could see through the unnatural green color of his face. He didn't really feel comfortable with the attention, but he wasn't sure why. It just didn't feel right. He shook the feeling off and turned to one of his gifts. It was his turn to open, so he had to try and guess what was inside.
He squeezed the package. It was soft under the paper and fit on his lap. It was probably cloth of some kind, but he wasn't sure what it could be. "Bandages?" he guess with a self-deprecating smile. They laughed at his answer.
He pulled the paper off carefully (to grumblings from Josh and Cory) and found a small fleece blanket inside. He thought it was probably the softest thing he'd ever touched. It was sky blue with fluffy, white clouds pictured. He unfolded it and threw it over his legs, reveling in the warmth it provided. The tag said it was from all of them, as was his other package he had yet to open.
"Thank you, everyone. I – it's great. I can't believe how soft it is," he stammered.
"Glad you like it," said Andy. Harry nodded his head vigorously that he did, indeed, like it a lot. He decided nodding that hard wasn't a good idea. He could feel pressure building in the back of his head and temples and knew he was getting a headache, and that it would probably be a fairly bad one.
He stopped moving so much and just leaned back against the front of the couch, where he was situated on the floor. He resisted the urge to massage his temples. Harry didn't want the others to notice his discomfort and douse their fun holiday. He realized that he probably needed some more sleep. He kept forgetting that he'd been severely wounded when he arrived only a few short days ago, and without the proper magical treatment he was not fully recovered.
The others were laughing and joking, and while he tried to join in, it only served to worsen his headache. Finally, he excused himself to the bathroom for a bit of a break.
Harry closed the door behind him and dabbed his face and neck with a cool washcloth. Though most of his body was shivering with cold, his face was warm, and the coldness seemed to help the ache in his temples and the back of his neck. He wondered if it would be rude to have a lie down while the others were still enjoying themselves. He didn't want to miss out on the fun, though, so Harry decided to look through his dwindling potions supply for a headache cure.
He found plenty of the potion was left, as he didn't need to take very much at a time. He was getting worried about his healing potions though. He'd gone through two entire vials already and only had one left. He wouldn't take anymore unless something else happened. Harry knew he wasn't totally healed yet, but he hoped that he was far enough so his body could manage the rest on its own.
As Harry set the pouch of potions back into the trunk, he noticed a book with a bow on it that hadn't been there previously. Curious, and a little suspicious, he pulled the book out and opened the front cover. Written in neat cursive on the inside cover was a note.
Happy Christmas, Harry,
I found this book on the last Hogsmeade trip and decided to get it for you, since you have to spend the holidays with those relatives of yours. Since you're of age and can use magic at home this year, I thought you might want to use some fun spells to make the season a bit more cheerful. I've spelled it not to appear until Christmas. Don't worry, this isn't really your gift, I've gotten you a 'non-book' gift as you and Ron so nicely requested. Have fun with the book, and I'll see you back at Hogwarts!
Love,
Hermione
Harry stared down at the book in wonder. He had received a book from Hermione. The name sounded familiar, along with Ron, Hogsmeade, and Hogwarts, but he wasn't sure from where. He pushed aside his confusion and perused the pages of spells. He saw the charms he'd used on the popcorn earlier and smiled. With this book, he'd be able to provide a little more entertainment for his new friends. He decided not to think about the familiar names, because pondering made his headache start to come back. He hoped that whatever significance they held would just come to him sooner or later.
"You ok, Harry?" asked a voice from the door. He turned around and nodded at Liz.
"Yeah, just looking through a new book. It's from a friend, I guess, and she spelled it not to appear until Christmas. It looks like it has quite a few fun spells we could try out later if you want."
Her eyes brightened at the mention of more magic, "Yes! Absolutely!" she exclaimed like an excited child. She quieted down and continued, "But it's your turn to open a present out there, and I think Josh, Cory, and Andy are getting impatient. Boys," she said with a shake of the head.
"Hey, I'm a boy," Harry countered, making Liz laugh at his indignant face. They went back out to find a green and red Josh, the colors swirling around his body. Harry couldn't help but laugh at the site. Josh grinned and popped a blue piece in his mouth, then frowned as he turned entirely brown.
Harry laughed harder. "Sorry, I guess they don't all mix very well." He didn't sound sorry at all as he giggled helplessly to the floor, his headache gone.
A small package was placed in his hands, and he could tell that whatever was inside was in a box, so he had no way of knowing what it was.
"Er, a towel," he guessed with a shrug before ripping the paper off and opening the box.
He pulled out a small glass ball on a wooden platform. Inside the globe was a wintry forest scene with a lone wolf howling at the sky. He shook it and little white flecks that looked like snow swirled around before settling on the trees and ground in the ball. He stared at the beautiful, gray wolf for a few minutes. The back of his mind was itching with recognition as with the names of his friends. He didn't understand this though. Did he have a pet dog or something? Why would he recognize a wolf?
He set the globe safely on the ground and looked up at everyone. "Thank you so much… I really appreciate, well, everything you've done, especially today. I just wish I had something to give you too."
"Hello?! Harry look around. We still have a room full of floating, colored popcorn that turns people colors. I think that's a pretty great gift, so shut up about it already," said Cory with as much sensitivity that can be expected from a teenage boy.
Samantha looked like a mix between hitting him for his comments, or laughing at them. She laughed once she saw Harry nod and smile.
Once they were finished opening presents and cleaning up the paper, they relaxed while watching a Christmas movie and chatting. It was clear to Harry that everyone else had seen this movie many times, as they were quoting the lines as the actors spoke. He didn't know if he even stopped laughing for the entire length of the film.
Liz and Andy set the table for their Christmas supper. Samantha, Josh, and Cory were all busy with various tasks, so Harry looked through his book for some interesting spells. He grinned when he found a few spells that would be fun to use and were fairly simple.
They sat around the crowded table, but not all the dishes fit on at once. Harry asked everyone to move back a couple of steps and enlarged the tabletop so that everything fit. He was really enjoying the astonished looks of joy on everyone's faces every time he performed even the simplest magic. He motioned for everyone to sit again at the now spacious table. The muggles said a short blessing before everyone dipped into whichever food was closest and passed it on.
"Before we start," said Harry as the food was being passed. "Could I try something?" he asked Andy, since it was his house and all.
"Sure, I guess," Andy consented.
Harry thanked him and cast three spells rapidly right after another. The first put out all the lights in the room; the second conjured dozens of lit candles floating about for light; the third created a charmed snowfall over them. The snow fell to a point just above their heads, then disappeared. It tingled the familiar sense in the back of his head for the umpteenth time that day.
"Wicked!" exclaimed Cory.
"It's beautiful," said Samantha and Liz at the same time.
Josh and Andy nodded their approval as well.
Harry grinned and accepted their praise. He liked the effect as well. He felt happy and was enjoy the holidays very much, or as much as could be expected under the circumstances. He wondered if his family or friends were worried about him. On one hand, he liked the idea that someone out there knew who he was and was worried for him. On the other hand, he didn't want to be ruining someone else's Christmas, just because he couldn't remember who he was or how to get home.
------------------------
Albus Dumbledore looked around his office, searching for something to do. It was Christmas, but the man did not want to take time off to think about his life this year. Between his spy's delicate position, a depressed werewolf, and a missing teenage boy, he had more than enough to worry about. The fact that he cared for those three people immensely didn't help matters. So, he was currently getting caught up on old stacks of paperwork that were dated from years past and most likely didn't matter if they were ever finished.
He glanced at his watch and noticed it was about time for Remus Lupin to stop by, so he waved the door open. He smiled at the slightly annoyed and amazed look on the man's face.
"One day you'll tell me how to do that, won't you, Albus?" asked the man with a small smile.
"I haven't a clue as to what you are referring," answered Dumbledore in an innocent tone of voice. "Ginger snap?"
"Please," Remus accepted and plucked one off the decorative tray on the Headmaster's desk.
"Irma bakes them for me every year." Dumbledore smiled as he thought of the stern librarian. She was actually very shy when she wasn't threatening students who borrowed her precious books.
Remus smiled. "Yes, she gave me a batch when I taught here." His smile vanished when he thought of the first year he'd spent with Harry after he was an infant. They sat in silence for a few minutes. Remus was lost in thoughts, and Dumbledore let him keep his silence for a respectful amount of time before intruding.
"Molly informed me that you've been invited over for Christmas dinner at the Burrow. Will you be accepting the invitation?"
Remus sighed, then with a hint of humor said, "Oh, I'd be much too frightened to turn down Molly Weasley where food is involved." They both chuckled a bit and he continued, "Yes, I'd like to see how Ron and the rest of the family are doing. Will you be there?"
Dumbledore nodded thoughtfully. "I will stop by after Severus returns. He was called a short while ago, and I want to see him back safely before I go anywhere."
They sat in silence again, both hoping the man would return in good health. There hadn't been any indication that Snape's position was in question, other than the routine loyalty testing regularly performed on all Death Eaters by there master, but one could never be certain with Voldemort. He was extremely intelligent, a bit mad sometimes, but intelligent nonetheless, and he didn't let all his cards show before the time was right.
"Well, I should be going. I wanted to get a case of Butterbeer from Madam Rosmerta before I go," said Remus.
"I didn't think the Three Broomsticks was open on Christmas," said Dumbledore.
"Oh, it isn't normally, but Rosie will do anything for a Marauder," he grinned.
Dumbledore just shook his head in amusement at his former student. He'd turned into a fine man, and the old wizard wished he could make his life easier. He wanted to go back and change the past, but would that change who Remus Lupin turned into? He let the thought drift out of his head. It didn't do to dwell on things that couldn't be changed.
"Have a lovely time, Remus. Tell Molly I'll be there as soon as I can and to save me a piece of her lemon pie."
"Of course, Albus. Happy Christmas."
"Happy Christmas to you, Remus."
.
Remus apparated to the end of the lawn, as close to the Burrow as was allowed by the wards. He knocked on the door and was greeted by the long-haired Bill. Remus was somewhat surprised when the oldest Weasley child engulfed him in a hug, but he welcomed it all the same. One thing his old school friends had gotten him used to was friendly hugs, but he'd been deprived of them since the night Lily and James died. It was difficult to get used to people that weren't scared of touching him again. The brief time of being reunited with Sirius had helped, but his old friend was just as starved of human contact as him since that horrible night. They had helped each other in the two years that followed, but then Sirius was ripped away again. Since then, Remus and Harry had each other to lean on, but he was gone, now, too.
Remus blinked and realized he'd been clutching Bill rather tightly for longer than was considered acceptable for a 'manly' hug. He pulled back red-faced and embarrassed.
"Bill, I'm sorry. I just got lost in thought, I suppose."
"It's alright, Remus. Nothing to apologize for," he said sympathetically. "I know this must be tough. Hell, it's tough for me and I hardly even know him. I can't imagine how you're feeling, but if you need anything, I'm here. We all are."
Remus felt inexplicably moved by the man's words and nodded, unable to say anything. Bill seemed to understand and glanced out the door, behind Remus. He laughed quietly.
"You know how to please a crowd, don't you?" he said pointing to the cases of Butterbeer.
Remus smiled. "Yes, well Madam Rosmerta was feeling generous. I asked for a case, and she gave me two."
"Always the charmer." Remus looked at him questioningly, so he explained. "I remember watching you four at the pub. Rosmerta would have done anything for you. I'm sure you're the only students she ever let have firewhiskey."
Remus laughed. "Yes, well Sirius and James could be rather convincing. She did cut them off one night after they tried to pursued her to take a trip to Tahiti with them, though. They didn't even know where it was; Sirius just found a muggle travel brochure somewhere and they thought it was the perfect idea. Of course he forgot he had it in his pocket until after he was drunk."
Bill was laughing as he levitated the cases into the kitchen and set them in the corner. Clearly, he could easily imagine the scene Remus had described. Remus often forgot about the, then, small, skinny red-head in his house at Hogwarts. He was much younger than the infamous pranksters, so they didn't pay him much attention.
"Remus, dear, when did you get in?" Mrs. Weasley asked in a slightly accusatory tone directed at her eldest son.
Remus smiled kindly at her. "Happy Christmas, Molly. I've just arrived. Bill was helping me with the Butterbeer."
She wrapped him in a motherly hug, and he smiled. Molly Weasley was the only person he knew who could make anyone feel ten years old, even the Headmaster, he suspected.
"How are you, Remus? Are you feeling very well? You look a bit peaked, and you're always so thin. Come, sit, I'll make you a snack while we wait on dinner."
"Molly, please, I'm fine. It's just been a tiring few days, don't worry."
She glanced at a calendar on the counter and frowned. "I'm sorry, dear, it slipped my mind, what with everything else going on." She was referring to the full moon that had just passed. Remus still had quite a few aches and pains, not to mention fatigue, from that night, but he tried to ignore it as much as possible for the holidays.
"Go on into the living room. I'll bring you some tea," she said, effectively chasing him and Bill out of the kitchen.
"Prof – I mean Remus! Happy Christmas!" cried Hermione from the floor in front of the fireplace. She quickly ran over and hugged him.
"It's good to see you, Hermione, but I thought you'd be spending this holiday with your parents," he puzzled.
"Well, I was with them until this morning, and I- I just wanted to be here… you know, in case we hear anything," she said quietly.
"I understand. Happy Christmas, Ron."
"Hi Remus. So, you haven't, er, heard anything, have you?"
"Ron!" Hermione scolded and swatted his arm.
"What? I have a right to know about my best friend!"
Remus didn't think he could handle an all out Hermione – Ron fight today, so he held his hands up to both of them. They stopped shouting and looked at him expectantly.
"We don't know anymore than we did the day he escaped. As of now, there's pretty much nothing we can do until we get a lead." The news wasn't what they wanted to hear, he knew, but there wasn't anything else to tell. He felt horrible watching their miserable faces. "We know he's alive and that he used a portkey to get away. Now, it's just down to finding him, or him finding us. He'll be ok, just remember that."
"Right, simple as that. Like finding a cherry flavored Bertie Botts bean," Ron muttered gloomily.
Remus and Hermione shared a glance, but didn't say anything. They knew how irritated and angry Ron could get when he was worried. It was best just to let small comments slide if they weren't hurting anyone.
All of the Weasleys were home for Christmas, including Percy. The younger siblings didn't do much more than be civil towards their formerly estranged brother, and that was only for their mother's sake. Bill and Charlie were a little more friendly, but it was clear that none of the children had the type of relationship with Percy as they had with each other. Some things took much more time to cure than others. Letting the man back in the family was one thing, welcoming him with open arms was another.
Overall, the evening was as enjoyable as the circumstances would allow. Dumbledore had yet to arrive, which worried Remus. He tried not to show it, however, as the other adults in the Order didn't seem to know there was anything more to be concerned about. Dumbledore probably hadn't told them about the Death Eater meeting, because Snape hadn't returned yet, and it was Christmas. Even though there was a war going on, the Headmaster liked to preserve some joy in life for others where he could. Remus only hoped the man took a moment for himself now and then.
The Weasleys and Remus were all sitting about the living room, drinking Butterbeer, chatting and telling humorous stories. Some were about Remus and his friends at Hogwarts, some about the twins, but they refused to divulge too much in front of their mother, and a few were about Ron, Hermione, and Harry. These were met with guarded laughter. No one really wanted to think about where Harry was on this Christmas day, but they all were. It made it a little easier to remember the fun times, which were all too few for the Boy-Who-Lived.
As the evening drew on, Remus pondered leaving, even though Dumbledore hadn't appeared. He didn't know if he should wait, because he didn't want to overstay his welcome. Of course, Mrs. Weasley told him he could stay as late as he wanted, even the night, if he wanted the company. He declined her offer; the house was quite crowded already. Finally, a few hours after supper, the fireplace flashed and out walked the Headmaster.
He had a smile on his face, but Remus could see how dull his eyes were and knew that something was wrong. Mrs. Weasley must have seen it too, because after the initial greetings, she sent Ron, Hermione, and Ginny up to their rooms. Remus hid a smile, knowing the three would find out whatever they were soon to talk about anyway.
"Albus," Remus started after the young ones had gone upstairs. "What happened? Is Severus alright?" he asked quietly.
"There was a meeting today?" asked Charlie rhetorically.
Dumbledore answered anyway. "Yes, unfortunately, there was. Thankfully, Severus will be fine. Several Death Eaters were involved in the capture of a Ministry worker, Christopher Sandell." Remus didn't miss the 'will be' qualifier on Snape's condition.
"He works in the 'Lost Souls' division," said Mr. Weasley.
"That's correct. Apparently, Voldemort thought the man could locate Harry through their link, which he believes has to do with their souls," Dumbledore answered after swallowing a bite of lemon pie.
"I didn't think that thing even had a soul," spat Fred in an uncharacteristic display of fury for the jovial twin. George nodded in agreement to his brother's comment.
"Yes, well, black though it may be, he does have a soul. Fortunately, for us, Mr. Sandell either did not know how to do that kind of search, or he was merely unsuccessful this time. He paid dearly for his failure, however. Voldemort does not like incompetence or to be proven wrong. While it is good that the enemy did not learn of Harry's whereabouts, it also means that we have also gained no information."
"Albus, I had thought Voldemort was sure Harry was at the Dursleys. Why would he bother with this?" asked Bill.
The entire Weasley family had begun to say Voldemort's name in Harry's presence in the past year or so, after Hermione had yelled at Ron about it. She'd told him that not acknowledging the name of the wizard who had killed Harry's family was as bad as degrading their death's to Harry's face. Ron had explained this to his family, but Harry was still in the dark as to the reasoning for their sudden shift.
"Lord Voldemort likes to check all angles. Chances are, he'll still have people out looking, even while the attack on Privet Drive is happening."
The group was quiet, thinking of the coming battle in Surrey. Harry's horrible family would need to be protected, but they couldn't let anything look suspicious. They wanted their trap to work, and it promised to allow them to catch quite a few high ranking Death Eaters, if Snape's information was reliable. Their only fear was that Voldemort himself was planning to attend. Dumbledore would also be there, but everyone knew better than to underestimate the dark wizard.
Dumbledore stood to leave after a few minutes of thoughtful silence. He was about to throw some Floo powder into the fireplace when Mrs. Weasley jumped up with a small yelp and told him in no uncertain terms to stay where he was.
He, and everyone else, watched bemused as she bustled about in the kitchen. Finally, she emerged with a full plate, and he grinned, the old sparkle reappearing for a time.
"You take this to Severus, and tell him to eat it all, and I'll know if he hasn't. Merlin knows that man needs a meal as much as that one," she said pointing to Remus.
"What?" he said in alarm.
"You boys go gallivanting around on empty stomachs. It's a wonder you manage to keep your head at all on those missions." She continued grumbling as she rechecked the wrappings on the Christmas meal and placed it in Dumbledore's hands.
Remus couldn't help but laugh at the Headmaster's expression, having no doubt what the old wizard was thinking about. The thought of the ill-tempered potions master receiving a holiday meal from Molly Weasley made him curl up with laughter. The Weasley men seemed to catch on to what he was thinking and the room was soon filled with inescapable mirth.
Remus relished the feeling of hard laughter. He hadn't had a reason to be joyful lately, and being with the Weasleys had made the holiday bearable. He remembered all those years when he had no one after three of his friends had died and one went to prison as a traitor. He knew Harry would love the story of Snape receiving a meal from Mrs. Weasley and resolved to tell him when he returned. Remus refused to think about the possibility that Harry would never return. They knew he was alive, and that was all Remus needed.