AN: Sorry for the delay, I'm a little busy with schoolwork, I'm only mentioning this as my little sister had the pleasure of informing me that people never read your personal info, so no one will know why I'm not updating as quickly. So just to inform you, I had a modular physics and biology exam, needed to revise. I also have some more coming up soon, but I'm still writing as much as I can. :p
P.S. I'm NO good at colloquial language, just to warn you before you hear Hagrid...
Chapter 14 – Holidays!
The grounds of Hogwarts looked like something out of a fairytale book. The peaceful grounds were blanketed in a soft and fluffy looking white layer. A set of huge footprints went from a small little cabin to the giant castle. The footprints disappeared at the top of the steps to the castle and instead turned to snow marks over the Entranceway floor. These snow prints went all the way to the Great Hall, where students were saying their goodbyes and Merry Christmases to friends staying behind and having breakfast.
Eight first years stopped outside of the Hall and two of them left their trunks outside with their friends before running down the Hall to the Head Table to say Merry Christmas to one of their older friends.
"Hagrid!" Kaci exclaimed.
"Kaci! Paisley! How Go'd ta see ya." Hagrid boomed happily.
"Just wanted to say Merry Christmas Hagrid, we have to go now." Paisley explained, Hagrid nodded.
"Have a go'd Chris'Mas and say hi ta yer parents for meh, yeh?" Hagrid asked, the girls nodded.
"Have a good Christmas." They chorused before spinning around and running back down to the six others, which was now eight because Hermione and Remus had joined them.
"Hurry up! The three carriages are waiting for us!" Joss exclaimed, they grinned and stepped into the chilly air. After splitting up for the short journey to the station, the horseless carriages zoomed off in full speed.
They got down to the station just in time and they piled into a carriage. Paisley had gotten a seat near the window with Kaci sitting opposite her, Jared sat next to Paisley with Hermione and Remus next to him, Shira, Joss, Chenyce, Doyle and Drew squashed next to Kaci on the other seat. Hermione and Remus both pulled out books and started reading, as all of the other carriages were full, they had taken the one with the children. Though they didn't really mind that because they got along with all eight of them.
The train journey took forever and soon, they were pulling into the station. Parents and family were waiting all over the place for students and the train quickly emptied. Hermione levitated each of their trunks out of the train and stepped down from the train carefully. Being some of the last few families left, each of the children's parents came over, as did Ron and the Weasley's. Mazie, Lory and Jesse had been at the front of the train, so they had gotten off fairly quickly and were already with their families.
Harry and Virginia got over to Paisley and her friends after the Weasley's.
"Hey Angel." Virginia said with a smile, she hugged Paisley tightly. "How are you?"
"I'm cool." Paisley said with a grin before hugging Harry. "Hey Dad."
"Hi Paisley." Harry replied. Doyle looked a bit shocked when he noticed Harry.
"You weren't kidding when you said he was your Dad then." Doyle said, Kaci elbowed the Irish boy in the ribs and Harry laughed.
"Which one of Paisley's new friends would you be then?" He asked Doyle.
"Doyle Day sir." Doyle replied with a grin and shook Harry's offered hand.
"No need to call me sir." Harry said amusedly.
"There is, your famous!" Joss exclaimed, Shira's parents looked confused and Harry rolled his eyes.
"It doesn't make me any less human." He stated. "And I'm guessing your Joss." He added with a smirk, Joss nodded.
"At your service." He replied with a mock bow, Chenyce hit him over the back of the head.
"Hiya Harry!" She said happily.
"Hi Chenyce." Harry replied with a nod and smile her way.
"Daddy, Mummy, this is Shira, Jared and Drew." Paisley introduced. "They're all in Gryffindor with me."
"Nice to meet you all finally." Virginia said with a smile at them. "But I'm afraid we can't stay around and chat all day, we have a lot of work to do."
"Work?" Paisley asked, Virginia and Harry nodded.
"We have to move your things into your new room." Harry stated, Paisley's eyes lit up.
"New house?" She asked, Virginia nodded.
"In Borehamwood still, so I'm close to work, but it's a really big and posh one." She stated with a grin. Paisley jumped up and down.
"We're moving in with Daddy? Yeppee!" She exclaimed, she hugged each of her friends enthusiastically. "See you later!" She exclaimed before going off with her parents.
"She's too much like Virginia for her own good." Hermione stated with a smile.
"We should get going now." Ron stated, hugging Heather closer to him, the two year old girl was sleeping soundly in his arms. "I think she didn't realise we were coming to pick you up today." He added with a smile, Hermione sighed and pecked him on the lips.
"You probably let her watch TV until late again." She stated accusingly, the other Weasley's laughed as Ron blushed a little. "I'm always right." Hermione stated, her ex-students laughed at that. "Fine, not always." She added, they just shook their heads. "We had better get going. I'll probably see all of you at some point over the next year." She said to the students.
"Bye Professor Weasley, have fun in your new school." Shira said politely.
"Thanks, I'll make sure that I do." Hermione replied with a smile before putting her things on the trolley. "I'll see you at dinner this weekend Liz." She said to Chenyce's Mother, who smiled.
"See you then Mione." She replied. Hermione and Ron walked off with Kaci in tow. The small group of families spilt up and left after that.
Virginia playfully covered Paisley's eyes as they came up to the new house.
"Mum!" Paisley whined, Harry laughed and glanced at Virginia, who was leaning from her seat in the front of the galaxy to Paisley who was in the seat behind. He carried on driving into a small road and down until he reached a large driveway, where he parked the car. He went around to Paisley's side of the car and slipped his hand over her eyes and Virginia quickly pecked him on the lips before turning back around in her seat and getting out of the car.
"Step down slowly Paisley." Harry instructed, Paisley hesitantly got out of the car and let Harry and Virginia lead her to the house. They stood in front of it and Virginia nodded to Harry, who slowly removed his eyes.
Paisley let her eyes adjust to the light before she looked up. She gasped. The house was Victorian in style and had beams across each part of the building. It was a three story house, the third story being the attic and it had a small balcony on the third floor. The house in general was massive, it was like a mansion. There was a large garden out the back which Paisley hadn't seen yet and it was about eight acres large.
Paisley turned around to her parents and hugged them both.
"I think she likes it." Harry said unnecessarily. Virginia smiled and hugged her daughter back.
"Lets go inside, it's cold out here." She suggested, Harry and Paisley nodded.
"What about our things?" Paisley asked, Harry shrugged.
"We'll get them later." He stated, Paisley was about to follow her parents to the door before she remembered something.
"Don't go in there!" She exclaimed, her parents looked at her oddly. "It's haunted!" Harry chuckled. "I'm being serious!"
"We know Honey." Virginia said with a smile, "But it's nothing really. C'mon, we have to show you your bedroom."
"It's haunted." Paisley stated stubbornly, crossing her arms across her chest.
"Well Julie is a nice girl." Harry countered, Paisley looked confused. "The ghost, Julie Harp."
"Did somebody call me?" Came a soft voice, a silvery ghost came through the wall.
"Julie, meet Paisley. Paisley, meet Julie." Harry introduced, Paisley looked shocked.
"Hello Paisley, you look prettier in real life than in the pictures." Julie commented, Paisley blushed slightly.
"Thanks." She replied. "I love your dress."
"Thank you, it's very pretty isn't it?" Julie asked rhetorically.
"Can we go inside maybe?" Harry asked, Julie and Paisley blushed as they all went indoors, Paisley gasped. The entrance hall was massive, it had doors going off in every direction. There was also a magnificent set of marble stairs in the middle of the hall with a balcony at the top.
"You've got my old room, come have a look." Julie said, she went to grab Paisley's hand but thought better of it and went up the stairs. Harry, Virginia and Paisley followed. They went down the right hand side passage and carried on down the corridor a bit, they went right again and then Julie disappeared.
"Where'd she go?" Paisley asked.
"In here!" Came Julie's voice from one of the rooms, Paisley slowly held the smooth, cold brass handle in her hand and opened the door slowly. She gasped for another time that day as she entered.
The room was large with a nice light cream colour on the walls. Her computer and desk were in a corner and then covered at least half of the far end wall. The window was large also and had a window seat. There were heavy dark cream velvet curtains and the double bed was positioned in the centre of the room, it had a cream bedspread with a powder pink comforter on the top of it. Paisley's numerous pink pillow collection was sitting at the foot of her bed and by the looks of things, Sakura had already got settled in on the cushions.
"Wow." Paisley muttered. "Thank you thank you thank you!" She exclaimed, hugging her parents.
"No problem Baby." Virginia said with a smile. Harry hugged Paisley and Virginia close.
"How about we show you around then?" He asked. Paisley nodded.
"Cool. Then we have to go get our things from the car." She replied.
They showed Paisley throughout some of the large house and afterwards, they got her things from the car and levitated it up to her room. They then went downstairs to make a late dinner.
"Pass me the chocolate please P." Virginia requested, Paisley passed a huge chocolate slab to her mother, Harry walked back in the room with the pizzas.
"Margarita, pepperoni and Hawaiian." He said, putting them down on the table. He walked up behind Virginia and slipped his arms around her waist as she melted the chocolate.
"Harry, I'm trying to cook." Virginia complained, she felt Harry shrug behind her.
"So?" He asked, Virginia rolled her eyes and glanced at Paisley who was washing the strawberries.
"So you have to let me cook and go do something else." Virginia replied, Harry sighed and leant his head down on her head. Paisley ignored them and carried on washing the separate strawberries. "Harry." Virginia whined, Harry smirked and pulled her closer, he took the spoon from her right hand with his and started stirring the chocolate slowly. Virginia put her hand down and held his left one, which was settled by her left hip. She watched the creamy chocolate melt and smiled when Harry held up the spoon.
"Test it?" He asked, Virginia leaned forward and tried a bit before turning around and kissing him softly on the lips.
"Now we just need strawberries." She stated with a smile, Harry placed the spoon back down and turned Virginia so he was fully facing her. He looked deeply into her eyes and slowly leant down to kiss her.
"Hey! That's disgusting you two!" Paisley exclaimed, Virginia smiled as Harry leant his forehead onto her head, his face in her hair.
"Why is she home today?" Harry asked rhetorically, Virginia giggled and slowly pulled away from him. Pecking Harry on the lips quickly, she turned to face her daughter, who was smirking at them.
"Strawberries?" Paisley asked innocently, holding the drainer of soft, juicy red strawberries to Virginia, who just chuckled and took them off of the girl.
"Thanks Paisley." She replied with a smile. Harry put the chocolate in the oven to keep it melted and took the strawberries from Virginia, setting them down on the side.
"Lets have some pizza then shall we?" He asked, they all sat at the small kitchen table and un-lidded the pizzas.
"Can I have some margarita Paisley?" Harry asked, Paisley slammed her lid shut and leant over the pizza.
"My pizza." She said in a jokingly possessive way, Virginia rolled her eyes as Harry repeated his daughters action before all three of them laughed and set their pizzas in the middle of the table.
"So how is school so far P?" Virginia asked.
"Oh! It's great!" Paisley exclaimed.
"You go to Hogwarts right?" Julie asked, floating into the room, Paisley nodded. "Is Nearly Headless Nick still there?"
"Yeah. He's cool." Paisley stated. "Helped me and my friends a lot in our first week, and with our homework."
"He used to help me and my friends too." Julie stated, she floated down so she was sitting in the forth seat at the table. She stared at the food confusedly.
"What is that?" She asked, staring at the pepperoni pizza.
"It's pizza." Paisley said with a grin.
"Pizza?" Julie asked.
"Like bread with tomato paste and melted cheese on, you can add other toppings." Harry explained.
"Alright." Julie muttered, still looking confusedly at the half eaten pizzas. "I would've liked to try some of those."
They sat eating in silence for a while, though it was broken when Paisley's tiny pink kitten came into the room meowing.
"You hungry Sakura?" Paisley asked, Virginia got up and got some dried cat food out of the cupboard and poured a little into a bowl before putting it on the floor where Sakura immediately ate it. Virginia also put a small bowl of water on the floor before washing her hands and sitting back in her seat.
"We're going to have to change her colour until the end of the holidays." Harry said thoughtfully. Paisley looked scandalised.
"Why?" She asked, "I love pink!"
"Because your muggle friends are bound to come around here some days." Harry replied, Paisley's mouth formed a small 'o' and Virginia quickly cast a charm to change Sakura into a black cat.
"I'll reverse the spell before you leave for Hogwarts." She told Paisley, who nodded and looked at her kittens new colour.
"I prefer powder pink." She stated, Virginia and Harry rolled their eyes.
Throughout the rest of dinner, they talked about school, quidditch, new friends, quidditch, Harry's fame and quidditch.
Harry went over to the oven and took out the still melted chocolate, he placed it on a cooling tray in it's bowl on the table and Virginia levitated the strawberries over.
"Cheat." Harry said with an accusing grin, Virginia smirked back and took one of the strawberries, dipping it into the melted chocolate and bit the end off.
"Hmm, I love chocolate strawberries." Paisley said with a smile before taking her own strawberry and dipping it into the chocolate. So much chocolate was on her strawberry that it dripped off and went all over the table.
"Your cleaning any mess you make up young lady." Virginia said warningly, Paisley shrugged and carried on eating her strawberry.
"So?" The girl asked, Harry chuckled whilst Virginia once again rolled her eyes. "Daddy, Kaci said you and her Dad worked as aurors, what do you have to do?" Paisley asked seriously.
"Well, it's a bit like the muggle police force, just more training and importance." Harry stated.
"Oh." Paisley muttered. "Why an auror though?"
"Well the famous Harry Potter the-boy-who-lived can't exactly get a desk job can he?" Harry asked rhetorically. "Being serious though, I like it, it's risky and fun."
"In other words, it's much more dangerous than his Hogwarts adventures." Virginia stated, Harry rolled his eyes.
"Hogwarts adventures?" Paisley asked, Harry and Virginia nodded.
"Most years whilst I was there something happened." Harry explained, "And normally it involved Voldemort."
"First year was the Philosophers stone, second year the chamber of secrets, third year Sirius Black escaped Azkaban-"
"The prison?" Paisley asked.
"Yeah, the prison." Virginia filled in.
"What about the other years?" Paisley asked.
"I was getting to that." Harry stated indignantly. "Fourth year was the Triwizard cup, nothing really happened in fifth year, quite boring.
Though in sixth year, Voldemorts attacks came back at us in full force, attacks everywhere." Harry paused and thought of the death numbers that year, they had risen tremendously.
"And seventh year?" Paisley asked, Harry and Virginia looked to each other hesitantly.
"The Final Battle." The chorused grimly. They sat in silence for a moment.
"What's the chamber of secrets?" Paisley asked, turning thoughtfully to Harry. "I'm sure I've heard of it somewhere."
"The Chamber of Secrets is a chamber Slytherin secretly built whilst building the school, the only way to get in was to use parseltounge." Harry explained.
"The snake language?" Paisley asked, they nodded. "Who used the snake language to get you in then?"
"Well, I was kidnapped by the spirit of the teenage Tom Riddle." Virginia stated quietly.
"And me and Ron went to the rescue along with Professor Lockhart." Harry said the last part sarcastically and Virginia giggled.
"So the Professor got you in?" Paisley asked, Harry shook his head. "Ron?"
"Me." He told her, "I got us in using parseltounge."
"But isn't that a dark arts skill?" Paisley asked worriedly.
"It's only classified as Dark Arts because wizards are scared of it, it was the language only two people of that current age spoke, me and Voldemort." Harry explained. "You might actually be able to speak it also." He added.
"She can I think, she was talking to one of the neighbours snakes when she was younger, though she might've grown out of it." Virginia stated.
"What? I can't remember that." Paisley said.
"You were about four, you probably wouldn't." Virginia added, Paisley 'oh'ed.
"So maybe we should still if you still can talk to snakes." Harry suggested.
"How exactly are we going to do that?" Virginia asked, Harry shrugged.
"Simple, buy a snake." He stated.
The family were sitting around the breakfast table eating. Heather had gotten into a tantrum that morning about what she would wear, so Hermione had just left her in her pyjamas for the time being. Heather had also had a tantrum about what she was going to eat for breakfast, now she had cocopops which she was getting everywhere.
Ron came down and pecked Hermione on the lips before sitting down with his paper.
"Morning Love." He greeted.
"Morning Ron." Hermione replied with a sigh, she glanced at Heather, who was now mashing her cocopops with her spoon.
"Heather, your meant to eat the cereal, not attempt to kill it." Kaci stated as she walked into the room, Hermione and Ron laughed.
"Why?" Heather asked.
"I was joking Heather." Kaci said with a weird look.
"Why?" Heather repeated.
"Don't bother Kaci, she's been doing that for weeks." Ron informed her.
"For weeks." Heather repeated, Hermione giggled and picked the little girl up.
"Have you been annoying Daddy?" She asked, Heather shook her head frantically.
"No." She replied, which caused both Ron and Kaci to laugh.
"Interrupting something?" Came a voice from the fireplace, they turned to see Harry's head bouncing in the flames.
"Hey Harry." Hermione said happily, "What can we do for you?"
"Me, V and Paisley wanted to know if you'd like to come shopping with us today." Harry stated, Hermione and Ron glanced nervously at each other.
"Harry, do you think that's a good idea?" Ron asked.
"Ron, you're my best mate and I want you all to get along." Harry stated.
"What I did was wrong Harry, very wrong. I don't blame Paisley or Virginia for the way they feel-"
"Ron please, they didn't seem to mind when I suggested it." Harry explained, "Maybe we should all just talk this over."
"Virginia wouldn't forgive me Harry." Ron told the other man.
"Paisley might." Harry added.
"Harry's right Ron, we have to make this work for all of us." Hermione stated, Ron turned to her.
"What do you mean?" He asked.
"I don't really want a… repeat of the last time you met with Paisley at a family party, Molly was very upset." Hermione told him. "Christmas is a time for family, and we don't want another argument at the Christmas Dinner."
"Just come round for a while, then we can go shopping, the girls are going to max out my muggle credit card so let Mione and Kaci join the fun. If it gets too awkward, we could leave the women to their shopping and get a drink or something." Harry suggested, Ron looked thoughtful.
"Fine, we'll be round in about an hour?" Harry nodded and disappeared from the fireplace. "This will be hard."
"Honey, you have to talk to her, Paisley is Kaci's best friend and if you and Virginia are arguing, it'll make things worse." Hermione said to him, she looked up at him and kissed him deeply. "Now, I have to go give Heather a bath and get her changed in an hour, so if you excuse me." With that, Hermione went upstairs with Heather, who was squealing excitedly about the bath time.
"Do you really think this is a good idea?" Virginia asked as Harry took his head out of the fireplace, Harry smiled reassuringly at her.
"Yeah, I need you and Ron to get along Gin, and Paisley needs it too." He replied, Virginia sighed and slowly brought her arms up around his neck before leaning in to kiss him. It was long and sweet, calm even. When they pulled out of the kiss, Virginia sighed again and leant her head down on Harry's shoulder.
"I hope I'm doing the right thing." She said quietly, Harry held her even tighter.
"You are."