Chapter Eight - Christmas
It had been a long night. Penelope changed out of her student healer robes in the ladies lounge then made her way through the empty halls of St. Mungos to the sign out desk. It was surprisingly quiet tonight. The front waiting room held only two people, a plump witch with unnaturally black hair and a young man reading the latest issue of Bow and Blade.
"Finished for the night, dear?" Nurse Halliburton handed her the sign out parchment and a quill.
"Yes. Are they OK?" Penelope signaled the two in the waiting room.
"Oh yes, that's Dirah Pochony. Her poor son brings her in once a week with some ridiculous ailment. Poor thing must have nothing to do but take up time here. You go home and get some rest, love." She gave Penelope's hand a motherly pat as she turned back to her filing.
SWOOSH. The fire in the grate behind Nurse Halliburton rose up almost six feet and began to change colors - green, blue, purple, red. A cool female voice echoed through the hall, 'Incoming apparition. Level Four Trauma. Incoming apparition. Trauma Level Four.'
"Oh my, that's not good." Nurse Halliburton clicked her tongue. "The worst always happens on a quiet night."
Penelope put down the sign out parchment. Mediwizards were rushing down the hall and she heard frantic yells. "Get a stretcher. We've got him. We've got him. Take him to room one. We need blood replenishing potion. Go. Go." She saw her teacher, Healer Smethwyck, walking quickly down the north hall then turn the corner toward trauma room one. And from the crossing west hall four mediwizards were whisking a levitating stretcher. Further away, Penelope could hear a nurse talking. "What is your relationship to the patient?"
"I'm his son."
Penelope felt her stomach drop and her skin curled like a burning leaf. She began to walk toward the voice as if pulled by an invisible string. Her heart was pounding and she gained speed until she was almost running when she turned the corner. "Dear God, Percy."
He was stunned. Blood covered his clothes and hands and was splattered across his glasses. A tall black wizard who was also covered in blood walked beside him. Their eyes met for a hollow moment. "It's Dad," Percy said simply before he disappeared into the trauma room.
Penelope moved quietly behind Percy and caught her breath. His dad was covered in blood. Wands were sticking out of Mr. Weasley's body in odd places. He was now in a white hospital robe pulled back so Penelope could plainly see six giant holes which were gushing blood from his side and across his ribs. Healer Smethwyck was trying several different spells to close the wounds. None of which were working.
She turned her attention to Percy. He was white and his hands were shaking. She had the distinct impression he'd thrown up but somehow he seemed even taller than normal, as if a steel rod was down his back. He quickly answered the questions of the head nurse as she recorded them on a scroll.
"How old is he?"
"He's 46."
"Does he have any health conditions or potion allergies?"
"No."
"You think he was bitten by a snake?"
"Yes."
"Did you see the snake?"
"No."
"How long had he been there before you found him."
"I don't know, ten or fifteen minutes, maybe. What's happening?"
"There's a poison in him," one of the mediwizards responded. "We can't stop the bleeding. Nothing's happening fast enough. We need a life force infusion or we're going to lose him."
"I'll do it." Percy said.
For the first time, she reached out to him. Placing her hand as gently as possible at the back of his shoulder. "Percy…" she began but he pulled away as if electrocuted then turned to her, desperate, "It's my dad, Pen. Please, please help me."
Healer Smethwyck knitted his very bushy eyebrows and studied her intently. "Do you know this young man, Miss Clearwater?"
"Yes sir, I do."
"What's your name, sir?"
"Percy."
"How old are you?"
"I'm 20."
"Perfect. Don't just stand there Miss Clearwater. Help him up on a stretcher." Healer Smethwyck seemed to have a new fire lit inside him. Penelope zoomed a second stretcher into the room and it hovered next to Mr. Weasley. Percy was on it in a flash. She signaled him to unbutton his shirt and lie down. One whole side of his crisp white shirt was now solid red. His lovely blue robe had been discarded ages ago in an effort to stop the bleeding from Mr. Weasley. For the first time, it struck her how much they looked alike. Mr. Weasley was clearly Percy in 25 years. She guessed people never mentioned it because their personalities were so different, but the realization frightened her and a hundred 'what ifs' crossed her mind. She wondered briefly where Percy's mother was.
Percy kept turning his head to look at his father. She was afraid the blood still pouring from the wounds and the sight of the nurse filling vials with blood test samples would make him agitated. "Look at me Percy. I'll tell you everything that is happening."
"Is my dad, OK?"
"He is going to be in just one minute."
"There was so much blood, Pen. It was everywhere. I was sure he was dead." Percy's voice cracked.
"I know. I know," she said soothingly. "But you got him here and now we can help him."
"Explain the transfer of life force to your friend, Miss Clearwater." Healer Smethwyck instructed.
Penny spoke as calmly as possible. "Your life force is the fuel, the energy of your life. We measure it in days, months, and years, but it is not equal to the years of your life. Imagine your life force like water held in a cup. At 20 you have life force to spare, more water in the cup than you need. But as you grow older your life force will lower. Your father's cup has leaked and his force is lower than what is acceptable. What we are doing is moving some of your excess force into your father."
One of the mediwizards brought out a box that contained two gold wands and a large oddly marked vial open on both ends. Penelope spoke directly to Percy. "Healer Smethwyck will join the two wands and the life force will go out of you and into your dad. The vial will measure what we take out."
"Miss Clearwater, do you want to extract feeling?" Healer Smethwyck said coolly. Penelope took a deep breath and nodded to her teacher. She knew she was good at this. Healer Smethwyck had held her up as an example when they made rounds. Still, she never imagined extracting feeling from Percy. She cleared her mind and closed her eyes then began to rub her hand in small circles across his breastbone. Channeling her magic down into his body, she felt her hand slip into his flesh and she plunged as deeply as she could wrapping the threads of feeling carefully around her fingers. When she pulled out of his body, she released a dusty cloud of feeling, which a nearby nurse captured neatly in a jar. As quickly as she pulled the feeling out, Healer Smethwyck pushed the wand deep into Percy's chest.
"Well done. We're in good and deep. That should pull some powerful force."
"Let's go then!" Mr. Weasley's mediwizard was becoming impatient.
The room stood still as Healer Smethwyck touched the wand in the center of Percy's chest. "Vita Vademo."
A gold light seemed to encase Percy's body and then rose out of the wand in his chest. A mediwitch capped the light with the strange glass vial.
"Vita Recepto," Healer Smethwyck said and the light moved from the vial and connected in an arch to the brother wand now emerging from Mr. Weasley.
Penelope gripped Percy's hand and smiled tightly. "Does anything hurt?"
"No."
"Good. You will start to feel tired. It's OK to close your eyes if you would like."
He shook his head and looked slightly offended. But moments later she could see exhaustion building in his eyes.
"24 hours," the mediwitch reading the vial stated.
"48 hours." Penelope smiled in a way she hoped relayed confidence. Somehow, he looked about twelve years old, laying there with his eyes wide and his jaw set.
"One week."
"One month."
"Two months." He blinked twice as if to refocus his gaze. She would not cry.
"Six months."
"Nine months." She felt a cold stab of panic and began to pray. Please, Mr. Weasley, please respond.
"His pulse is speeding up. Heart rate increasing," Mr. Weasley's mediwizard stated.
"12 months."
"Temperature normal, breathing regular."
Mr. Weasley groaned.
"Finite." Healer Smethwyck exclaimed.
Penelope let out her breath, leaned down next to Percy's ear and stroked his hair, "He's going to be OK, Sweetheart."
Percy turned his head to look at his father. Mr. Weasley's eyes opened and he looked around confused until he found his son.
"Percy."
"Hi Dad."
"Evil…snake…at the door…don't tell Fudge."
Percy shook his head as tears emerged from under his glasses, "I won't tell him Dad."
Penelope sat by Percy's bed in recovery. He slept peacefully as she studied him. He did have freckles like his siblings. They were scattered like very pale stars across his forehead and nose. The most prominent freckles were across the top of his shoulders, remnants, she was sure, of a few childhood sunburns. A course red stubble had broken out under his nose and she laughed to herself knowing that the first thing he would want to do when he woke was to shave. He was so imperfect. And she loved each imperfection with fierceness.
Bill was standing at the door with the tall black wizard and she signaled quiet and met them in the hall.
"How is he?" Bill asked.
"He's sleeping. He'll be tired for a while, but he's fine. How's your dad?"
"He's stable. Mum's with him. Penelope, this is Kingsley Shacklebolt. He works at the Ministry."
"It's nice to meet you," Penelope offered her hand. "Thank you so much for helping Percy's father."
"I'm glad I was there," he replied seriously.
Penelope turned back to glance into the room. "He needs the rest. I thought I'd let him sleep as long as he wants then I'll take him to see his dad."
Bill and Kingsley Shacklebolt exchanged dark looks. "Penelope, Percy needs to leave St. Mungo's.
"What?"
"Yes. I'm sorry. He needs to leave now." Bill strode over to his brother and gave him a gentle shake. "Wake up, Perce." Percy's eyes snapped open and he was immediately out of bed and pulling on the clothes Penelope had magically cleaned and layed neatly across a chair.
Penelope's lip started to quiver. "What is going on? Percy? Bill?" Percy wouldn't look at her. He just fumbled with his boots and Penelope felt her anger and frustration surge forth in tears. "Why won't you tell me? Why was there a giant snake in the Ministry of Magic tonight? Percy, your father almost died!" She wanted to scream. She wanted to throw things and break them. Instead she stood frozen, her face red and her eyes streaming. "You know I know and yet you still shut me out. I deserve to know the whole truth."
Percy crossed to her and pulled her tightly to his chest. "I want you to be safe, Penny. If anything were to happen to you, I - well -"
"That's not fair!" she said angrily as she pushed herself away. "What if something happened to you? Don't you think knowledge will protect me? I can't stand it anymore, Percy. I want to help. Please let me help."
Percy looked up from her to his brother, heaved a deep sigh and slowly nodded. Then he leaned down, took her face in his hands and kissed her full on the lips. "I'll see you soon," he whispered and he disappeared.
When Penelope spun around she found Bill was gone as well. Only Kingsley Shacklebolt sat casually in the corner, his long legs crossed. He was filling a curvy pipe with a violet tobacco. Penelope struggled to regain her composure. She found a handkerchief at the bedside and wiped her eyes. "I'm afraid you can't smoke in here, Mr. Shacklebolt. This is a hospital," she said with as much dignity as she could muster.
"This is a privacy pipe." Kingsley ignored her and lit the pipe with his wand. "I picked it up in Morocco years ago. Handy little item, especially when answering questions about a giant snake in the Ministry of Magic. But then it would help if you closed the door." He looked at her, his eyes raised significantly and she obliged as a deep purple smoke curled from the pipe. As she sat facing him a purple haze encircled them. He puffed silently for a minute and when he seemed satisfied he lowered the pipe and tapped the excess tobacco back into his pouch. "Penelope, the Weasleys and I and many others are members of secret order established by Albus Dumbledore. Our purpose is to fight Lord Voldemort in his quest for control of the magical world. I am here to tell you the 'whole truth' and to ask if you would join us."
It would be many hours before she would see Percy again. But he would come. They would hold each other and cry and try to kiss away the tears. Then, hiding under soft blankets, they would join their bodies and their souls, repeating the same three words over and over and over.
***
Percy always got purple, a pretty smoky purple that brought out his eyes. This year, of course, things would have to be different.
She had gone to great lengths on the sweater. Bill had taken her shopping in a muggle department store and they had wandered until they found a section that looked like Percy. A very pleasant muggle in a coat and tie had shown her the sweaters. She picked one that was navy and made of something called raimie and acrylic and cotton. It felt smooth to the touch, not rough like her knitted ones. There was no letter on the front but an argyle pattern. The muggle said it was the latest trend. She was glad Bill was with her - handy to have a son who worked for the bank. He subtly whispered the translated price and she caught her breath. It was more than she had ever spent on one child. But she would do it. She nodded to Bill and he carefully paid the clerk with a crisp muggle note.
And then the accident happened. She didn't sleep. How could she? She busied herself with Christmas for the children. They had much to celebrate. They were alive and together. Well not completely together, but they were alive. On Christmas Eve, she carefully wrapped Percy's sweater and sent Errol with special instructions.
Christmas morning she forced herself out of bed and wound her way through the miserable house to the basement. The children were just beginning to stir. She could hear Fred and George carrying on over their presents as she passed their door. When they were little, they always were the first down the stairs. Arthur would have to hold them back like horses at the gate until all the children were gathered. Percy, on the other hand, had always waited patiently on the steps and then had opened his presents slowly, examining every detail. One Christmas she had made Percy a little Ministry robe, just like Arthur's. He had been so cute, prancing around in that thing, and then he wouldn't wear anything else for almost a month. How she and Arthur had giggled about that.
She was standing at the stove when Errol arrived. It was the same box and the same paper she had sent the night before, but something was different. She ripped open the sweater box with the name of the muggle store and caught her breath. There under the tissue was a smoky purple sweater with the letter P. She ran her hand over the rough wool and couldn't help the tears, even as she heard the twins bounding down the stairs.
***
Percy fumbled with his tie as he looked in the mirror. He exasperatedly pulled it apart and started gain. Below he could hear musicians tuning and the buzz of the staff moving around the grand foyer of Clearwater Manor. He'd faced down lots of things this year. Why should this make him so nervous? There was a soft knock on the door and he called 'come in' expecting Penelope, but instead it was Iris who entered. She looked lovely in a crisp muggle suit with a holiday broach. "Are you ready? It's almost time."
"Yes. Except for this blasted tie."
"Here love, let me do that," Iris said calmly. She began to expertly wrap the black silk into a perfect bow. "You'll do fine. Be mysterious. They'll love you more if they don't understand you."
"Will you be there?" Percy said shyly.
"Yes," she smiled. "But you must remember Phillip and I are staff. Tonight we are working - making sure every detail of this party goes off without a hitch. And you make things more complicated!"
"I'm sorry," He frowned as Iris helped him into his dinner jacket.
"Don't be silly. I'm teasing you. I've never seen Penelope happier. She seems different somehow. What could it be?"
"Perhaps it's Christmas."
"Perhaps." Iris turned him to face the mirror again. "There you go. Every inch a gentleman."
Percy lifted his chin and pulled on his lapel. "Where's Penelope?"
"She went down to the kitchen to check on things. You should go on down. The guests should be arriving soon."
Percy made his way down the stairs. Everyone seemed busy. Everyone seemed to know him.
"Good evening, sir." "Happy Christmas, sir." Staff nodded and smiled as they passed. Percy nodded back. For a brief moment he considered that he could get used to this very quickly then he felt a gentle hand at his elbow and heard a familiar voice.
"Good evening, Mr. Weasley..sir."
She was so radiant that for a moment he could not move. Her dark green gown bared white shoulders and he was sure that it was diamonds that sparkled at her neck. Her hair was caught in a loose knot at the nape causing little curls to cascade around her face.
"What no witty repartee?" She laughed. He shook his head and brought her hand to his lips. "A lady must have restraint and composure, Mr. Weasley. You are in danger of making me lose mine."
"I shall suffer the consequences, Miss Clearwater."
She linked arms with him, "Ah there's my Percy."
Penelope's grandmother appeared from the dining room. "Hang on, she'll want to look at us," Penelope whispered. Sure enough, Mrs. Clearwater signaled for them to approach then tipped her bifocals to inspect them clearly. "Charming, completely charming." She took Percy's arm and led him toward her study as Penelope followed behind. "We three shall now have a glass of sherry in private." She closed the double oak doors firmly behind them. "Have a seat, dear ones," she instructed as she poured amber liquid from a crystal decanter into three small stemmed glasses. "Percy you will find a variety of people present here tonight. Some are intelligent and kind, others are complete dunces. All of them have money and many hold titles. I can guarantee you, they will be quite interested in you. This fact need not worry you because their opinion matters not a whit. However, as difficult as it may be, for Penelope's sake, you must learn to move among them. I have no answer for that except to throw you in and tell you to swim. I have every confidence you will do perfectly fine." Percy looked over at Penelope who was smiling at him with laughing eyes. "My one bit of advice is to go easy on the hard stuff. You'll need your wits about you. Cheers, dear ones."
"Cheers," Penelope lifted her glass.
Percy swallowed hard. "Cheers," he said and he tried not to grimace as the sweet fire burned his throat.
There was a knock on the door and Mrs. Clearwater called 'enter'. A handsome blonde man came through the door and Percy could sense the change in Penelope immediately. Her body tensed and her mouth was set as if her teeth were clenched.
"Good evening, Norman." Unlike her granddaughter, Mrs. Clearwater seemed quite pleased. "Norman, this is Penelope's dear friend, Percy Weasley. He is my special guest this eveing. Percy, this is Norman Brown, our attorney. Norman's assistance has proven invaluable to me since I lost Penelope's father."
Percy rose to his feet with the introduction and Norman Brown looked briefly as if he'd been slapped. Within a twinkle he extended his hand. "So nice to meet you. I've heard a great deal about you. It certainly is a pleasure."
"Likewise, I'm sure." Percy responded with a firm shake as Iris appeared at the door.
"Good evening. Mrs. Clearwater, your guests have arrived."
"Thank you, Iris. Norman will you escort me?" Norman Brown smiled warmly and helped Mrs. Clearwater to the door. Percy offered Penelope his hand.
"Have you got your wand?" she muttered under her breath as she stood.
"Are you kidding? It's in my pocket."
"Good, I've got mine too. Just in case."
He turned, raised his eyebrows and with a smirk glanced down her body.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" she said coyly as they moved into the hall for cocktails.
Penelope began to chat gaily as if to distract him and at first he found that no one paid them much attention. He was actually starting to listen to her dissertation on the history of the manor house when a large woman and a man in a kilt appeared at his elbow.
"Penelope, Happy Christmas dear. How are you?" The large woman leaned in to Penelope's cheek.
"Morris Campbell," the man extended a hand to Percy.
"Percy Weasley, it's nice to meet you."
"Friend of Penelope's I assume?"
"Yes, that's right. We went to school together."
"Ah yes…in the States, somewhere?"
"Uh yes," Percy said trying hard not to panic.
"Mr. Campbell is on the board of Clearwater Enterprises, Percy. He is also the president of the Bank of Scotland." Bless Penelope, an opening for another way to steer the conversation.
"Really, my brother is in banking. He's a treasure hunter."
Mr. Campbell didn't miss a beat, "Acquisitions, huh? It's a dangerous business, I've been working one lately but I've decided it's cursed."
"Really?" Percy said brightly. That's Bill's specialty. He's dealt with some wicked ones. It's a bit like solving a puzzle isn't it? There's always some way in."
Mr. Campbell leaned in enthusiastically, "Exactly! That's what I tell my boys constantly. There's always some way in. I like the way this boy thinks, Penelope. Do you have the same talent for mergers and acquisitions as your brother?"
For the first time Percy looked over at Penelope who was watching him from behind her wine glass, a rather odd expression on her face.
"Percy works for the government, Mr. Campbell.." Penelope leaned in to whisper, "Classified, top secret, you understand."
"Penelope!" Percy looked at her with mixture of concern and confusion.
"Really?" Mrs. Campbell quivered with excitement. "Are you with Scotland Yard, Mr. Weasley?"
"Oh no," Penelope said disdainfully. "Much more classified than that. You see Percy's father has been involved with secret government work for years, so it's only natural…"
"Oh my, how exciting to have a father involved in important government work!" Mrs. Campbell gripped her glass more tightly. "Can you tell us anything about what he does?"
"I…uh…well…" Percy felt hollow inside but Penelope just kept on.
"Percy's not used to talking about it, you understand. But I'll tell you this." Penelope leaned in with great drama. "His father has been involved with experiments on flying cars. Isn't that right, Percy?"
"Well, you could say that but…"
"Don't worry, darling. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell are very discreet."
"Oh, of course, Mr. Weasley. You needn't worry about a thing." Mrs. Campbell motioned as if she was locking her lips and throwing away the key.
As soon as the Campbells were out of earshot, he turned on her. "What just happened? Was it really necessary to involve my father in this little charade?"
"Calm down. Yes it was. It's perfect, don't you see?" Penelope said smugly. "In less than ten minutes everyone at this party will know and it's the perfect excuse not to talk about the two things they'll want to talk about. Your work and your family. By the way, that little deal about Bill was brilliant."
"Really? I thought I'd messed it up. I wasn't sure we were talking about the same thing."
"You were and you weren't. That was what made it so bloody fantastic."
Percy scowled. "Penelope, don't curse. This is never going to work. I need to just leave right now."
"No, it's working well. I think we're right on track."
Dinner proceeded rather smoothly. Percy sat on Mrs. Clearwater's right, Norman Brown on her left. Norman Brown monopolized the conversation with a lengthy discussion of St. Mungo's in Glasgow. Something that quite confused Percy at first until Penelope gently interjected that St. Mungo's was a museum of religious art. Mrs. Clearwater seemed thrilled to discuss art with Norman Brown. Morris Campbell leaned in and told Percy he wasn't exactly an art man himself.
When dessert came, there were general ooh's and ahh's. Each guest's dessert was in the shape of a beautifully wrapped present with a bow of solid chocolate. Iris personally placed Penelope's, Percy's and Mrs. Clearwater's in front of them. "Thank you Iris," Penelope smiled. "All is well in the kitchen?"
"Smooth as silk," Iris responded.
Dessert was so delicious that it became the topic of conversation for a while and after dinner the guests moved into the ballroom where the orchestra was playing. There seemed less pressure as the evening wore on and as they moved around the floor, Percy found himself forgetting the problems that surrounded him and thinking only of the fact that he was waltzing with his Penelope. At last they stopped and Penelope left him briefly. Rather than face small talk with muggles, he wandered out onto the veranda. The bitter cold shocked his senses and was a welcome change from the whir of music and alcohol. He could take just so much of it, before he wanted to escape. He thought of his family and wondered what they would be doing. It was the oddest feeling to be away from them. It felt both wrong and right at the same time. He heard a door click behind him and he smiled as he glanced back sure to see Penelope -
" Mrs. Clearwater, I'm sorry did you need me?"
The older woman moved regally toward him. It was fascinating to see bits of Penelope in her - the same nose, the same height, and they moved in the same way, just at different speeds.
"Oh no. I thought a breath of fresh air was a good idea." She surveyed the dimly lit grounds below. "Do you like my garden? It's really lovely in the summer. There will be roses everywhere."
"Yes, I can see that it will be. My mum has roses. Nothing like this, of course. But in the summer we sometimes dine in the garden."
"We used to do that too, when Penelope was little. Not so much anymore…" She seemed to drift off and he felt terribly awkward.
"Lovely party tonight, Mrs. Clearwater. The food was excellent and I must say the musicians are even better than…"
"Mr. Weasley, do you love my granddaughter?"
"Excuse me?"
"Do you love my granddaughter?"
His jaw dropped slightly, but he quickly recovered and stiffened with resolve. "Yes, Mrs. Clearwater. I do."
She eyed him sternly for a moment but then seem to soften. "Very well then. I am glad you could come, Mr. Weasley. I must say I do not understand your world, but then I do not always understand my own."
Percy nodded seriously. "We have that in common."
"Perhaps in the summer you can return and we will dine in the garden."
"I would like that."
"As would I." She turned and moved with a slow and stately grace back to the ballroom.
Penelope met her grandmother at the door before she slipped past her onto the veranda. She pulled a black cape from nowhere and wrapped it squarely around her shoulders. "What was that about?"
"I think that was the reason for this party."
"Oh, I see."
They leaned over the banister and watched the lighted fountain glitter below.
"You're missing them, aren't you?" she asked.
"A bit," he said as he stared ahead. "But I am glad they are safe and I am glad we are together."
Penelope started toward him but something seemed to catch her eye and she pulled back. Percy turned quickly and saw a well-dressed woman with yellow hair moving away from the glass doors.
"Who was that?"
"Helen Harsaw," Penelope groaned. "She's the muggle version of Rita Skeeter. I'm sure she's spying on us. Trying to get something juicy for her column."
"What!" Percy swelled with indignation and a trace of fear. "Penelope, I didn't know there was a reporter at this party."
"Don't worry, darling. She's going to have a hard time writing anything about you."
"How do you know?"
"Because I spiced everyone's dessert tonight with a lovely forgetfulness potion containing a few of those beautiful red hairs. Tomorrow morning, no one here will remember your name."
"Penelope! You clever witch! But does your grandmother know?"
"Oh yes. She quite approved. Asked me if I could include a few of her hairs too, but I wouldn't do it. Don't worry, it's quite mild, but it should do the trick. Oh listen," Penelope laughed. "She's making them leave. They're singing Auld Lang Syne." They moved closer to the glass doors and Percy could see Mrs Clearwater standing with the orchestra and Phillip standing next to her. "She makes Phillip lead the song every year. He knows all the old words."
Percy reached behind her and brought back two toasting glasses filled with sparkling liquid. "Mr. Weasley, you did that without a wand!"
"So I did, Miss Clearwater. Shall we toast?"
She waited expectantly for his words but as the chorus swelled he found no words would come. "Penny, the truth is… I don't know what is ahead for us…."
She seemed to consider this, then answered calmly, "Whatever it is…from here on, we face it together." She raised her glass and smiled. "Tonight let's drink to family - yours and mine."
"To family, then," He said as they clinked their crystal and drank. He reached for her hand and as they intertwined their fingers and he felt a warmth spread to his toes like a pair of Weasley wool socks.
"Did I ever tell you about the time my dad decided we should leave a Christmas feast for the gnomes?"
"No," she giggled. "I bet your mum loved that!"
"Oh she was in rare form! You see it all began…"
A soft snow began to fall over the garden below and together they strolled into the darkness, their love and laughter protecting them from the winter wind.
Should old acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind.
Should old acquaintance be forgot and the days of auld lang syne.
For auld lang syne, my jo
For auld lang syne
We'll take a cup of kindness yet, for the days of auld lang syne…
A/N: Wishing you all a season full of love and happiness with people you hold dear.