It was getting close to Christmas time, and Harry's year could not have gone by more peacefully. Voldemort, though he was making small appearances elsewhere, deemed that he would leave Harry alone it appeared as he hadn't seen one sign of the dark lord the whole year. Harry decided that this was a very good thing, considering he wouldn't have been able to take whatever the dark lord would throw at him because he was distracted by one man—namely, his father, James Potter.
Harry was, quite frankly, very confused. James Potter was a man who he had had a bad opinion of since he learned that he had left his mother. He had gotten an even worse opinion of him when he learned how he had left his mother. Yet, after weeks of private lessons, he had learned that this man had for one, an amazing sense of humor. He could make Harry laugh by just cracking a joke or telling a story of his own days at Hogwarts. He could cheer him up on any given day by just saying a few well-chosen words. Harry, despite all his attempts not to, found himself liking his Father.
There were also other little things that James would do for Harry. If he needed help with any of his homework his father was always more than willing to help. Whenever Harry had a Quidditch game James was always there, cheering the loudest for him. It brought on a strange feeling in Harry that he didn't quite recognize, and his guilt for actually liking the man who had broken his mother's heart wouldn't let him notice it anyway.
Harry wandered aimlessly in the hall, vaguely remembering that he was going to the library. He was deep in thought when suddenly he heard a voice from behind him.
"Harry! Harry, wait up," Ginny Weasley called. Harry smiled and turned around. Despite their first rocky weeks Ginny and Harry had become what no one could deny as boyfriend and girlfriend. James had even teased him about it lately, making Harry turn about as red as Ron's hair.
"Hey Gin, what's up?" Harry said, giving her a quick kiss.
"Well, actually I'm having a little trouble trying to figure out what to get Ron for Christmas," Ginny began. Harry grinned.
"Oh that's easy. Just get him some food—better yet, get him some chocolate frogs," Harry said. Ginny smiled.
"Oh, I know I could do that for him, but it just seems so…I don't know…cheap. I want to get him something nice this year," Ginny said. Harry had to agree with her—Ron had been rather even-tempered so far this year. He had approved of their relationship, which meant that everyone else would, too. That in itself was the biggest favor he could possibly give. Harry himself had gotten his long-time best friend something nice for Christmas—a broom of his own. It was only a Nimbus 2000, but Harry's own Nimbus had always served him well. Granted, Harry had always longed for a Firebolt, but that was way out of his price range. Harry thought that Ron would appreciate a broom of his own, even if it was a little outdated. Besides, Harry thought jokingly, he was really helping himself in the long run because the Quidditch team in the end would benefit from a fast Keeper.
"Well, one time Hermione got me a broom servicing kit for my birthday. I still use it," Harry said. Ginny frowned at him.
"Harry, Ron doesn't have a broom to take care of," Ginny started, but then she saw the creeping smile on Harry's face and gasped. "Harry you didn't!" Harry only grinned more. Ginny smiled back at him and squealed. "Oh, he'll be so surprised! It would be the best Christmas ever for him!" Ginny kissed Harry. "This will be so great! We should really surprise him—don't give it to him Christmas morning—give it to him later that night so he won't be expecting it. He'll probably be all upset too, if I give him the broom servicing kit that morning—it would make it an even better surprised!" Harry smiled then frowned.
"He'd catch on though. I mean, what would I tell him when he doesn't find my present Christmas morning?" Ginny grinned slyly.
"Remember those ominoculars?"
Harry arrived to his private defense lesson that day grinning. He would completely shock Ron. Harry walked into the classroom, and James, who had been reading looked up.
"You look happy—too happy. All right, what did you do this time, buster?" James teased. Harry only grinned more.
"Ginny and I have a Christmas Surprise for Ron," Harry said. "He doesn't have a broom of his own, so I got him one this year…" Harry went on to explain his and Ginny's plan. James smiled.
"That's really great of you Harry. I'm sure he'll love it—and I'm completely sure he'll be surprised," James said. Harry smiled.
"I know. I feel kind of bad though—it's the Christmas present that gives back. If Ron's got a better ride, then he'll probably let fewer goals in. Those old school brooms he can hardly maneuver on at all," he said.
"Just think of that as an added bonus," James said.
Christmas came faster than anyone had ever expected. Before Harry knew it Hermione and the rest of the school was going back home for Christmas vacation and all the shopping he'd had to do was finally done. For Ginny he had purchased a color changing rose that never wilted, for Hermione a book in which the story went exactly as you wanted it to, for Ron of course the broom, and for his father he actually had purchased a gift. He had learned of his father's own obsession with Quidditch and how he used to nick the school's snitch all the time. So, for his Father he obtained a golden snitch.
On Christmas morning Harry had fun opening his presents with Ron. When Ron did ask about Harry's gift, or rather lack of one, Harry took Ginny's suggestion and reminded him of the ominoculars. Ron accepted this, though he did look disappointed—it was difficult for Harry to suppress his grin. Ron was, for the most part, as miserable as one could be on Christmas after he had received no gift from Harry and the gift from Ginny was an absolute bust. They walked into the Great Hall for the traditional Christmas Feast with Ron sulking.
"Happy Christmas, James," Harry said brightly when he spotted his father. James smiled.
"Happy Christmas, Harry," he said. "After dinner would you like to come with me to my quarters for some hot chocolate?" Harry smiled.
"Sure," he said. Soon everyone was seated at the High Table. The twinkle in Dumbledore's eyes was unusually bright on this day, even for Christmas. Harry vaguely wondered why, but was abruptly distracted by the crackers that were being passed out. Of course they contained the same fun things that they did every year. In Harry's case it was a "You Can Be A Wizard Too!" play set that was made for muggles to play pretend. Harry was amused by the plastic, flashing play wand and pointed, vinyl pop-up hat. "I could turn you into a toad with this, Ron," Harry chuckled, reading the "book of spells" that had come with the set.
"Oh yeah? Well I could make your face all warty," Ron said. He had gotten a grow-your-own wart kit. Harry smiled. The feast was over an hour later and Harry found himself trailing along beside his father as they went to his quarters. When they arrived Harry took out his gift for him.
"Happy Christmas," he said. James looked at the wrapped present for a moment in what looked like slight disbelief and then took it graciously.
"Thank you, Harry," he said, and without opening his own gift he turned and took out a long, thin, wrapped gift. "Happy Christmas, Harry." Harry was slightly surprised—he hadn't really expected to get anything from his professor.
"Thanks," Harry said, taking the gift and wondering what it could be. He then looked up at James. "You first." James grinned.
"Fine, bossy," he teased. He took the small parcel that was in his hands and opened it to find a small golden ball inside. The look on his face told Harry that he knew all too well what it was. "Harry…" James began, but Harry just smiled.
"You're welcome," he said. Harry then proceeded to carefully open his own gift. Harry gulped and swore that his eyes must have popped out of his head when he saw the gift. It was a new broom, but not just any new broom; it was a Firebolt. James' grin couldn't have been bigger.
"Happy Christmas, Harry. That's a gift from me as well as Professors Black and Lupin. Think of it as a gift from sixteen years missed of birthday and Christmas gifts. Harry just stared up at him.
"You're serious? You aren't joking? This is mine?" Harry asked incredulously. James just laughed.
"Of course I'm serious. Why would I play such a mean trick? Besides," James said leaning in and smiling, "I feel kind of bad—it's the Christmas present that gives back. If the Gryffindor seeker has a better ride, then no one will be able to catch him." Harry looked from his father to his broom to back again, and then in one decisive moment, he leaped up and father and son truly hugged for the first time ever. "Happy Christmas, Harry."