CHAPTER 15
Harry woke up around ten and got dressed. With Remus and Sirius still asleep, Harry ate a bowl of cereal and then searched for Hedwig. "Take this to Alex, would you?" he said, offering her the letter. "It's about her coming here for the day. Would you wait for a reply, or if she can come, will you bring her?" Hedwig sang what he knew as a yes and took the letter, then vanished in a burst of flame.
He got one of his old Gryffindor scarves and turned it into a portkey that would activate when he said the word. He then changed his ski cap into a portkey and put it back on his head. Harry left a note telling where he was, then teleported to the Burrow.
He couldn't help smiling inside as he remembered the hectic car ride that had brought him here for the first time. After scanning the area to make sure there were no Order members around, Harry knocked on the front door.
Mrs. Weasley was the one who opened it. "Harry dear! I wasn't expecting you so soon!"
He smiled, "Hello Mrs. Weasley, I can come back in a few hours if you want."
"No, no; it's quite alright. Come in, won't you?" Harry followed her inside and was met by Ron and Ginny.
"Do you have any idea how aggravating it is? Having to wait this long to open presents?" Ron cried.
Harry laughed, "It'll pay off later Ron, trust me."
"It had better!" Ginny teased.
"Percy couldn't come I'm afraid," Mrs. Weasley said, "He wanted to, but there was some trouble in his department at the Ministry."
Harry nodded and looked curiously at Ron. 'Later' his friend mouthed. Harry nodded again and got out the scarf. "If everyone's ready, just grab hold of this." Ron and Ginny were the first ones, then the twins, the two oldest Weasley sons, and then Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. "Lunar." Harry said, and the familiar jerk behind his navel came, whisking them off to the entrance of The Hideaway.
Sirius, Remus, Alex and Hedwig were waiting for them. "Moon, Padfoot, could you show everyone around for a bit? I've got to get Hermione's family."
"Sure thing Harry," Sirius replied, so Harry teleported to the Grangers' home.
Hermione opened the door and led him inside. "Mom, Dad, this is Harry Potter; he's the one who's invited us to his home for Christmas." She said.
"Hello Mr. and Mrs. Granger, it's nice to meet you." Harry said, offering a hand. He was glad he'd dressed in muggle clothes; it seemed to ease the Grangers a little.
"Harry, how are we getting there?" Hermione asked.
Harry took off his ski cap and said, "Portkey." Hermione explained to her parents about what it would be like and when they were ready, Harry said, "Eclipse."
He led them to the living room, where everyone else was already waiting for them. "Cool ornaments mate," Ron said with a grin.
Harry grinned back, "Thanks." He introduced the Grangers to Sirius, Remus, and Alex, and then the gifts began.
They all sat somewhere in the room, and Sirius acted as gift-giver. Once everyone had a present in their hands, they opened them in a flurry, free-for-all of wrapping paper. Harry's first gift was from Ron, it was a box of Weasley Wizarding Wheezes merchandise and a few chocolate frogs, 'so you can have something safe to eat,' the note said.
They continued opening present for half an hour. Harry received a quill from Hermione that would fill up with ink like a muggle pen, the annual sweater and fudge from Mrs. Weasley (this one was green with a black panther on the front), and a mirror from Alex that would let him see any holiday of the past that he wanted, but only if he had been present for it.
Ron let out a yell when he opened Harry's present and immediately put it on, drawing laughs from everyone. Alex opened her present from Harry and kissed him on the cheek, causing Sirius to tease Harry; Remus opened his present and asked Harry what the button in the shape of a lightning bolt was for. Harry showed his own watch, "If you press it, my watch will vibrate and I'll come."
Sirius then opened his own present from Harry. It was a plain silver ring with 'S.B' pressed into it and on the inside were the words: 'The Marauders take care of their own.' "Thanks Harry."
Harry grinned, "Put it on."
His godfather did so, and several people gasped. He looked around. "What?" Harry held up a normal mirror and showed him. Sirius now had dark brown hair, green eyes, tan skin, his face wasn't gaunt, and he was a few inches taller; he looked completely different.
"This way you can go out more," Harry explained.
Sirius' face split into a wide grin and he gave Harry a one-armed hug around the shoulders. Harry then opened the last of his presents. He first opened the one from Sirius. It was a large cylinder and Harry recognized it as a poster. Carefully, he unrolled it; his jaw dropped.
It was done in full color and was a picture of the Gryffindor quidditch team—from about twenty-five years ago. He saw Sirius on a broom holding a beater's bat, waving at him; he also recognized James Potter, tossing a snitch back and forth between his hands.
The gift from Remus was equally surprising. Harry could tell it was a book from the shape and size of it, but it wasn't just any book. It had a handsome blue leather cover with gold letters titling: 'Myths of Magic: by Lily Potter.' "Thanks," he whispered to both of them, they smiled.
"How about some food?" Sirius asked, rubbing his hands together.
"Hear, hear!" Ron called in agreement.
Smiling, Harry reached for a chocolate frog which Ron had given hima jerk behind his navel and a rush of air left him standing in a basement. Harry quickly got out his second wand as well as his dagger.
"No need for that Harry," Dumbledore's voice said.
Harry whirled to face him. "Where am I?" he demanded harshly.
"Hogwarts," Dumbledore answered, "I got your letter by the way."
Harry glared; the air around him was crackling with anger. "Then you should know that I didn't break my word, unlike you."
He raised an eyebrow. "I beg your pardon?"
"I didn't break my word, unlike the way you did to my parents by not telling me about their will, remember?" Harry said; he adjusted his lenses so that he could see the spells on the room, and glimpsed the 'invisible' Moody, Dung and McGonagall. He smirked, "Dissaperation wards, listening spells, portkey wards, and phoenix repelling charms won't stop me from going home, Headmaster." He said, and jerked his thumb over his shoulder, "And next time, try putting muffling charms on your helpers, good bye." He gave Dumbledore a mocking salute, then teleported back to The Hideaway.
Moody, Dung and McGonagall became visible. "What was that?" Minerva asked.
Alastor chuckled, "'That' was one pissed off teenager with a few tricks up his sleeve." The grizzled auror was beginning to like the kid for that; still chuckling, he exited the room.
When Harry returned, he found several panicking Weasleys. "Don't worry!" he said, calming Mrs. Weasley down, his expression darkened somewhat. "The Headmaster apparently didn't want me to leave Hogwarts for winter break."
"You just—disappeared!" Ron exclaimed, "What happened?"
"Somehow, Dumbledore turned your present into a portkey." Harry replied, "But that's alright, let's forget about that—time to eat!"
Harry had only needed to enlarged the dining room table by two chairs to fit everybody, and once they were seated, lunch was served. Harry's short, unwanted trip to Hogwarts was forgotten as they talked, laughed and ate their fill. The enchanted ceiling was cloudy and illusional snow fell from it.
After they ate, Harry cleared the table. "Anyone up for a game of quidditch? He asked with a grin. He had enough supplies for two teams and they had fifteen people; no one would be left out.
Harry bewitched a couple of foam balls for bludgers since the Grangers had never played before, or even flown on a broom—he didn't want any accidents. He was captain of one team; Ron was captain of the other. The teams were selected by random, but they got to choose their positions. Harry was seeker on his team, Sirius and Fred were beaters, Bill was keeper, and Mrs. Weasley, Mr. Granger and Ginny were the chasers for his team.
Ron was keeper on his team, Charlie played seeker, George and Mr. Weasley were the beaters, and Mrs. Granger, Hermione and Remus were chasers; they all rode Comet 260's while Alex reffed the match.
It was very entertaining to watch Mrs. Weasley, because she cheered her children on more than she played. Sirius proved to be a menacing beater, and actually managed to knock George of his broom—then had to flee from an enraged Molly. George had fallen into a thick patch of snow and came out unharmed, wet, and laughing.
When the snow began to fall thicker, they headed inside to warm up. Harry had barely caught the snitch before Charlie, so the game had ended at 200-120, to Harry's team. They defrosted next to large fire, and then dinner was served. The talk was even merrier than before and it was clear that everyone was now comfortable with each other.
The Weasley twins had brought their own version of party crackers, which were filled with all sorts of surprises. Harry pulled a cracker with Remus and ended up with a silver crown that wouldn't come off for two hours.
When Remus pulled a cracker with Sirius, he received a pair of elephant ears. Soon enough, every person there received a new, outrageous trait. The crackers provided quite a lot of amusement, as well as a few samples of the twins' many inventions.They continued to eat until even Ron couldn't manage another bite. A few minutes after the plates cleared, glasses, Butterbeer and warm cider appeared. They each filled a glass and Harry made a toast, "To a Happy Christmas, and a great new year!" he hollered. The group cheered and Harry couldn't remember a happier day of his life.
Harry returned everyone to their homes around nine thirty. For the rest of the night, Harry, Remus and Sirius ate sweets, drank Butterbeer, and basically fooled around until they fell asleep in their chairs.
Miraculously, Harry was the first one up and it was about six in the morning. He stretched with a yawn, and smiled when he saw the other two wizards sprawled in their armchairs. Harry cleaned up the empty wrappers with a wave of his wand, and then went to find the founders.
They were in the Chimera Room, and Harry levitated his gifts in behind him. "Have a good Christmas Harry?" Godric asked.
Harry smiled, "Yeah, did you?" They nodded. "Listen, I meant to do this last night, but I got kind of—distracted," he said, and uncovered his gifts. "Happy Christmas, and sorry they're late."
The presents he'd made them were picture frames, with painted canvases decorated to suit each of their tastes. Each frame had a name plate and was crafted in a different style. Godric's was a gold frame with red stones set into it; it also had griffins carved into it, with the head of a lion at the top. Salazar's was silver with green stones and carved foxes. Two basilisks twined around the sides of the frame. The frame Harry'd made for Rowena was copper with blue stones. Ravens were perched on the top corners and the frame was carved in a rippling fashion. The brass frame with bright yellow stones was Helga's. A badger rested on the top and another was curled around the nameplate on the bottom part of the frame.
"These frames can go anywhere," Harry told them, "I figured you could pick where you wanted me to put them—so you could go there too." Godric and Salazar were speechless, Rowena smiled at him, and Helga looked like she was going to cry.
"Could you put mine in Hogwarts?" Godric asked. "In Gryffindor Tower maybe?"
Harry smiled, "No problem; what about you?" he asked, looking at the other three; they seemed slightly hesitant to ask. "I can put them anywhere in Hogwarts," he assured them, "You name it, and it'll be there."
"Ravenclaw Wing," Rowena said with a grateful smile.
"Hufflepuff common room, could ya?" Helga asked; Harry nodded.
He looked at the last founder, "Where do you want yours to go Salazar?"
"I know you are a Gryffindor, but would it be possible for you to put it in the Slytherin Dungeons?" he asked quietly.
"Definitely," Harry replied. The green-clad wizard gave him a tiny smile—the first one Harry'd ever seen.
Coming Up:
A Quick Visit
Moonlight Walk
Return to Hogwarts
Then:
Voldemort Grows Bolder
Quidditch Match
