Chapter 21 – Going Home for the Holidays

It was getting close to the holidays and the sign up sheet was going around for those students who chose to stay at Hogwarts. 

"So, Harry, you'll be going to Windy Corner for the holiday, right?" Ron asked at breakfast.

"I hadn't thought about it." Harry said, as he realized with a jolt that he actually had a home to go to for the holidays.

"Well, The Guardians will want you to come, won't they? Mum and Dad are going to visit Charlie in Romania. So I'll be staying here." Ron said glumly. "What are you doing, Hermione?" His tone turned hopeful.

"We're going to Switzerland." Hermione answered.

"I guess I'll be alone then." Ron said miserably.

"I'll write and see if you can come to Windy Corner, would you want to, Ron?"

"Sure, that'd be brilliant!" Ron immediately cheered up.

Harry finished his breakfast.  He just hoped that The Guardians really did want him to come home for the holiday. He jumped up. "I'll write Papa now." And ran off to the Owlery.

The next day at breakfast Hedwig soared into the great hall and deposited a letter in front of Harry. "Thanks, girl." He said as he fed her a piece of bacon. He recognized Cassius' messy writing on the front of the envelope. He tore it open, frantically hoping that they would say they wanted him, and Ron too, at Windy Corner for the holidays. He had to reread the letter a couple times to make sure he could decipher all the writing.

Dearest Harry,

Of course, we  would have been very disappointed if you hadn't come for Christmas!  We were counting on it. Tabby has already begun baking, apparently she thinks you don't get fed at Hogwarts.  And yes, bring Ron. Hermione is welcome as well, if she doesn't already have plans.

There will be a new guideline (number eight) when you arrive. You are responsible for monitoring Tabby's eggnog intake.  It was my job a couple years ago (she spent last year with her sister) and I kept forgetting…she changed back into a cat before she was sober and she was drunk for weeks, couldn't transform or anything. Papa said it was something to do with alcohol taking longer to get out of a small feline system or some such rot. Anyway, as a result, and quite rightly, I was fired from the position.  We had to survive on Papa and my cooking while Tabby was indisposed…well, shall we say we don't want a repeat of that! So we're depending on you.

 We will meet you and R at the train station in London.

Love, Dad

P.S. Tabby sends her love and hopes you are dressing warmly. She heard there is snow there and doesn't think you're smart enough to remember to wear your scarf. There was a jagged line across the page where Tabby must have swatted Cassius' arm. She didn't say that, but she does hope you are keeping warm.

P.S.2. Papa would send his love too, but it was a full moon last night and he's still asleep.

P.S. 3. I hope you could read all this.

Harry expelled the breath he hadn't realized he was holding and smiled across the table at Ron.  "We're set! They'll meet us at the train station."

"Great!"  Ron was excited.  He loved Tabby's cooking and staying at Windy Corner would be so much better than being alone at Hogwarts.

"They said you could come too, Hermione." Harry said.

"Maybe I'll ask Mum and Dad if I may come visit the last few days of the vacation. I do want to discuss my arithmancy with your dad." Hermione said wistfully, remembering not to say Cassius' name out loud.

"Owl him now if you have a question." Harry said, feeling very generous about his guardians.

"Do you think he'd mind?" Hermione asked, tucking her hair behind one ear.

"Oh, no. Think up a code name for yourself too, he hasn't thought up one for you. He'll love it. Give it to Hedwig, she'll know who it's for."  Harry smiled.

"I just might. Thanks, Harry! I think I'll go write him now." Hermione jumped up from the table and ran off.

Harry got off the Hogwarts Express and scanned the platform excitedly. He spotted Remus and Tabby, Cassius was nowhere to be seen, although he wasn't surprised. He could see Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy further down the platform, greeting Draco. 

"They're over this way." Harry gestured to Ron.

"My parents are over there.  I'll see you at New Year's, ok?" said Hermione.

"Merry Christmas, Hermione." Ron and Harry chorused as they headed towards two-thirds of  The Guardians. Harry ran into Remus' arms. "Hi Papa!" Remus hugged Harry and patted Ron on the shoulder. Tabby gave Harry a quick hug too.

"Got all your things?" Remus asked. Harry and Ron nodded and they set off towards the car. Cassius was waiting in driver's seat of the car.

"Hiya." Cassius greeted Harry and Ron as Harry slid into the front seat. Tabby, Remus and Ron sat in the back.

"Hi." Harry smiled. They had a nice ride home, Tabby had packed sandwiches for dinner.

It was a busy vacation for Harry.  December 21st was Cassius and Remus' 11th anniversary, followed the next day by Cassius' 33rd birthday.

"Where did you get married?" Ron had asked Remus upon finding out the next day was their anniversary.

"Upstairs, in our bedroom…it wasn't a public marriage ceremony, and there weren't any witnesses." Remus answered, as he poured himself some tea.  They were eating breakfast but Cassius had already left for work.

"Then, you're not really married to Dad?" Harry asked

"Not legally, no. That's why we're able to keep it a secret.  It's a werewolf bond, so, the certificate wasn't needed. If you really wanted details, I could tell you…" Remus trailed off, smiling at the memory.

"I think we have the general idea." Harry said with a smile, noting that Ron's ears were turning pink. "So what are you doing to celebrate it?"

"I think we're just going to stay here…there is a silencing spell on our room." Remus chuckled as Ron's ears turned pinker. Harry felt slightly guilty, he knew that Cassius didn't like to be away from home anymore than he had to be because of  Harry.

"Sounds good, we'll expect not to see you from dinner until the birthday party." Harry winked at Remus. And they didn't.

Moody, Stevens and Clara came for the birthday party. They ate in the dining room to make it more formal. Tabby had given Cassius 33 candles to blow out on his cake – the cake looked like a bonfire. Cassius still managed to blow them all out in one breath, which was fairly impressive. Harry had a feeling Stevens helped Cassius somehow.

Christmas Eve

"Harry?" Cassius knocked and then poked his head into Harry's room. "Is Tabby in there with you?"

Harry and Ron looked around the room, just to be sure, Harry checked under his bed, although there wasn't much room under there because he had a trundle bed. Ron was sleeping in the guest room until Hermione arrived and then he would share with Harry. "No, she's not in here."

"Good." Cassius came in and shut the door. "Now, I have been plotting to get Tabby and Gramps together and tonight we are upping the ante." Harry smiled as Moody was called Gramps, Cassius and Remus had loved the new name for him, even Ron and Hermione called him that now. "Your job is to get Tabby and Gramps under the mistletoe that's hanging in the sitting room.  Under no circumstances are either of you to be close enough to the mistletoe that Tabby can say that either of YOU are under the mistletoe too. Are you boys up to the challenge?"

Ron looked at Cassius like he had grown an extra head. "Are you joking?"

"Certainly not. Aurors don't joke." Cassius looked very serious. "I've been working for almost….I forget how long. They both know…apparently I am totally transparent when it comes to matchmaking. They're too wily, damn them."

"Tabby, wily?" Harry almost started laughing.

"Oh, yes, she was an auror. And Rule 1- once an auror, always an auror. She was very good at her job. Once two Death Eaters attacked her and she killed them both, without any help. 14 years ago, after Voldemort's defeat, and after his remaining supporters had been put in Azkaban, she turned her back on being an auror, she turned her back on her whole life. She put her home up for sale so she didn't have any responsibilities. Professor Sprout told me about it, she knew I didn't want to live with my family after graduation. So I bought her house, this house. The only condition was that I agree Tabby could still live here, in her cat form. She didn't live here for the first year or so. But then she returned and she would transform back for meals sometimes. As time passed she stayed human a little more. After Remus moved in, we became a sort of family, the three of us. She started cooking all the meals, mainly because she thinks her cooking is the best – which it is. Anyway…she and Gramps were involved for a while, years ago, and it was pretty heavy from what I can gather. But when Voldemort was at the height of his power, Gramps broke it off, probably because he didn't want them to be vulnerable."

"How sad." Harry understood Moody's motivation, people close to him had died because he loved them…Moody must have felt the same way.

"Ever since I found out, it's been my personal mission to reunite them." Cassius said. "And now you are part of the team." He smiled, his green eyes sparkled. "I expect success, gentleman."

"Aye, aye, sir!" Harry and Ron chorused, Harry even threw in a salute for good measure.

"Carry on, then." Cassius left the room.

"Can you believe that?" Ron said.  "I never would have thought it, Tabby an auror."

"You know, it makes sense." Harry paused as he thought about it. "Tabby practically always comes with Papa and me when we go places, and you know how she hates to go out in public." Ron nodded. "But – she goes to help protect me." Harry was touched by how much The Guardians loved him.

"Cassius Lupin, do something useful and take this into the dining room" Tabby snapped irritably, elbowing him out of her way for the fifth time that evening and handing him a pitcher of mulled wine. Moody had arrived about 30 minutes earlier and Harry could tell he and Ron had a difficult task on their hands. Tabby was very agitated. Harry wondered how many Christmases Tabby and Gramps had spent together when they were in love. Cassius left the room quickly and Tabby glared at his back. Remus stepped into the kitchen doorway a moment later, "Table's all set."

"Good, now all of you get out of my kitchen while I finish dinner.  It will be ready in 10 minutes and I expect everyone seated at the table." 

"Yes, ma'am." Harry and Ron jumped up from their seats at the kitchen table where they had been watching Tabby cook and hurried out of the room.  Moody was sitting in front of the fire in the sitting room.  Cass was standing near him and they were talking in low voices. They stopped as Harry, Ron and Remus entered the room.

"How's school?" Moody asked. "Professor Domran doing a good job?"

Harry and Ron had talked about Professor Domran to Gramps for a few minutes when Cassius glanced at Remus and walked over towards him. He pulled Remus swiftly into his arms and brought his lips down onto Remus' in a deep, wet kiss. There was a muffled groan from Remus. After a moment, when Ron's ears had become bright red, Harry yelled over "Oy! Dad, knock it off! We've got company." He had become used to Remus and Cassius kissing, and it didn't bother him, but he didn't want to make Ron uncomfortable.  He made a mental note to ask Cassius for kissing advice later, it certainly seemed like he was a good kisser if Remus' reactions were any indication. Cassius stepped away.

"What was that for?" Remus asked in a shaky voice, his cheeks flushed. Cassius pointed upwards, Harry looked too and noticed Remus was standing right under the mistletoe.

"Don't tell me you didn't notice." Cassius leered. Remus responded by pushing Cassius away, his face getting pinker.

"Just showing Gramps how it's done." Cassius winked at Moody.  Moody's magical eye swiveled towards the kitchen but he said nothing. Cassius looked over at the clock. "It's been nine minutes."

Knowing that Tabby insisted on starting meals on time, they all tromped from the sitting room and found their seats at the table.  Cassius and Remus sat at either end of the table. Moody sat next to Remus, facing the doorway.  Harry sat to Cassius' right, Tabby to Cassius' left, and Ron sat next to Tabby. It was the way they always sat. Dinner was wonderful, Tabby had made all of Harry's favorite dishes. Afterwards, they went into the sitting room and sang carols around the piano.  Remus played very well and Cassius had a nice voice which kept everyone else near the melody.  Harry thought it looked like a scene in a muggle Christmas movie.

He and Ron had strategized all afternoon about how to get Tabby and Gramps under the mistletoe. It looked like it was going to work.  Cassius, Remus and Ron were in the dining room, introducing Ron to the various Lupin relatives and ancestors, or at least that was their cover story. Harry was talking to Gramps near the mistletoe when he started to cough.  Tabby rushed over to Harry in concern, just as he knew she would.

"Harry? Are you all right?"  Tabby patted him on the back.

"I'm fine (cough) I just (cough)  (cough) swallowed wrong. (cough)." Harry moved backwards a step and Tabby followed, placing herself unknowingly directly under the mistletoe. Suddenly Tabby looked up, noticing the mistletoe.

"Harry Potter Lupin."  Her brown eyes narrowed as she stared at him. Harry glanced to his left, where Moody had been but Moody had taken a step back so he wasn't under the mistletoe.

"I just wanted to give you a Christmas kiss, Tabby." Harry smiled innocently and kissed Tabby's cheek.

"Hmm…I see Cass has been talking to you…tell him to mind his own business." Tabby said grouchily, but a smile played at the corners of her mouth.

"Yes, ma'am." Harry said solemnly.

"You're a good boy, Harry." Tabby's eyes twinkled warmly.

More of the holidays in the next chapter!!