Chapter 10 Relative Insanity

Christmas holidays were quickly approaching. Harry obviously had nowhere to go and signed up immediately. He was disappointed to learn that no one else was planning on staying.

"So, what's everyone doing for holidays?" he asked casually.

"Frank and I are splitting our time with each of our families," Alice said.

"I'm going home and spending time with my parents," said Remus.

"Me too," Peter added quickly. 'Probably doing something with his deatheater pals,' Harry thought disgustedly.

"I am going home and spending time with my parents and oh so wonderful sister," Lily said dramatically.

"Sirius and I are going home and spending time with my dad," James said. "What are you doing?"

"Oh, I'm staying here."

"Why aren't you going home to your parents?"

"They're busy," Harry replied. It was true. Both Lily and James did have plans.

"Oh my gosh!" Lily said. "You should come stay with me. I cannot handle my sister alone. She's a nightmare. And her boyfriend is going to be there."

Harry felt slightly uneasy at seeing his aunt and probably his uncle. They were definitely not his favorite people. How would he feel seeing the people who neglected and abused him as kids? Still, spending the holidays with his mum was worth it. "Sure." Harry said.

"Great! I'll owl my mum," Lily said excitedly.

"Oh you guys have to come to our Christmas party," James said.

"Yah they're wicked. There's nothing like Christmas eve at the Potter party!" Sirius added. Everyone agreed to go.

It was the start of Christmas break. Lily had received a reply to her letter and Harry was all set to go. He had told Professor Dumbledore his plans and he just sadly smiled. It seemed that he might know more than he had let on.

The train ride back was long and dull. Harry realized that he had never actually ridden the train for holidays. 'It's not like I had anywhere worth going anyway,' Harry thought bleakly.

Finally the Hogwarts Express pulled to a halt. Harry and Lily grabbed their things and hopped off of the train. After saying goodbyes to everyone, they exited the platform and were greeted by Lily's parents.

Mrs. Evans had a kind face and the same emerald green eyes as Lily. Mr. Evans was a tall and thin man with bright red hair. He looked a bit like Mr. Weasley. "Mum! Dad!" Lily cried as she broke away from Harry and hugged them. "This is Evan Jameson," she said.

"Pleasure to meet you." Harry shook his grandparents hands. They smiled warmly at him.

"Where's Petunia?" Lily asked, looking around.

"She's back at the house with Vernon," her dad replied. Harry stiffened at the name of his uncle. He would be almost the same age as him in this time period. 'At least if we get into a fight it will be fairer,' he thought wryly.

"Oh," Lily visibly deflated. "Does he know about magic?"

"Yes," Mrs. Evans said. "Petunia told him because they've been dating so long and they've been getting serious. I must warn you though that his attitude towards magic resembles that of your sister's."

They walked over to the car and put their stuff in. (Hogwarts had provided Harry with his things through out the school year, more specifically Professor Dumbledore.) The drive home was consumed with amicable chatter. Harry was ecstatic at meeting his grandparents and finding them so nice. Eventually the car rolled to a stop outside of a modest looking home in a neighborhood much like the one Harry had grown up in.

Harry entered the house with Lily. "Hi Petunia!" she said warmly at the sight of her sister.

"Lily," she sniffed back in reply. "Who's that?"

"This is Evan Jameson. He goes to school with me," Lily replied with a strained smile.

"Oh," Petunia stood up. "Out of my way freak," she said as she brushed past them. "Come on Vernon!" He silently followed her out of the room and glared at Harry, seemingly sizing him up.

Harry was overcome by an indescribable emotion at seeing his future guardians so young and still so rude. He didn't know whether he wanted to just kill them now so they'd never raise him and they wouldn't reproduce or to be kind and courteous to them in hopes to change their opinions of magic. Harry had to admit, they had aged well. Petunia and Vernon looked almost identical to how he knew them, or maybe they just started out looking ugly and old.

"Sorry about her," Lily told Harry. "She can be a touch narrow-minded at times."

"It's fine," Harry responded. "She reminds me of one of my relatives anyway." 'Mostly because she is my relative,' He added silently.

The next few days were great, aside from the open hostility Harry was receiving from Vernon and Petunia. He was thoroughly enjoying getting to know his grandparents. They were such interesting people.

"Now Evan, why aren't you staying with family? I know Lily mentioned why, but I forgot," Mrs. Evans questioned him over dessert one night.

"My family was really busy this year. We were never extremely big on Christmas anyway." Ok so the Dursley's had been a bit into Christmas but they never included him.

"That's a shame. Getting together with families over holidays is always fun. You always get funny stories to tell about them. For instance there was this one time with Lily's great aunt Sally…"

They were a colorful bunch. Harry couldn't put together how prim and proper Petunia had come from such a friendly and warm family. 'I guess she's really the abnormal freak in the family,' Harry thought ironically.

It was Christmas Eve and therefore the night of the party at the Potter's house. Harry was extremely excited. He couldn't wait to learn more about his dad's side of the family. Dawning dress robes, He and Lily arrived by a temporary connected floo system. The Potter home was amazing. Its immense size could give certain castles a run for its money. 'I wonder what ever happened to this place,' Harry mused.

"Lily!" James spotted her and his face lit up. "Evan! You're here."

"Your home is gorgeous," Lily told him breathlessly.

James smiled adoringly at her reaction, but luckily she didn't notice. "Well come on! Everyone else is here already. The party's in the ballroom."

"You have a ballroom?" Lily asked incredulously.

They entered the huge room, which was decorated with Christmas trees and mistletoe. Harry could see a few people that looked like they could possibly be members of the Potter family given their messy black hair. A man who looked like an older version of James came up to them. "Hey son! Who are your friends?"

"This is Evan Jameson and Lily Evans," James introduced them.

"Lily Evans? I've heard about you. I must warn you, every Potter gets his red-head," He winked. "By the way I'm James' father if you hadn't guessed. The name's Richard Harold Potter."

"Dad likes to use his full name because he thinks it sounds fancy," James mock whispered to them.

"It's a pleasure to meet you sir," Lily and Evan said.

"Right, well I must be moving on, plenty of people to see." Richard wandered off and Harry soon lost him in the crowd. He couldn't believe that he had just met another grandparent!

The party was tons of fun. Lots of dancing, kissing under the mistletoe and eggnog was involved. Harry met a few other family members. 'They must all be dead if I was left with the Dursleys,' Harry thought sadly. 'Merlin knows they must have been everyone's last choice to raise me.'

Harry did have one awkward encounter. It seemed that Molly and Arthur had found a babysitter for their kids and had decided to come to the huge party. Harry was amused to see that Mrs. Weasley was pregnant with Fred and George.

"Have we met?" Molly asked him curiously.

"I don't believe so," Harry replied. He stuck out his hand. "I'm Evan, Evan Jameson."

"No really, I've met you before. Where do I know you from?"

"I've been home-schooled until this year. I doubt we met," He said nervously, not wanting Mrs. Weasley to connect him with the boy who had appeared in their house looking like James months before.

"Stop badgering the poor boy," Mr. Weasley said. "We obviously don't know him. I'm Arthur Weasley by the way, and this crazy lady is my wife, Molly."

"Pleased to meet you," Harry said smiling and relieved.

"Ooh! I love this song," Mrs. Weasley exclaimed. "Let's dance!"

"Women!" Mr. Weasley rolled his eyes before being pulled away to the dance floor.

The party ended a few hours later and Harry and Lily made their way back to Lily's house for a few hours of sleep before Christmas.

Harry awoke to someone bouncing on his bed. "Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way," Lily sang off key as she jumped around.

"How are you so awake?" Harry looked at the clock. "We just went to bed two hours ago!"

"It's Christmas! Come on presents!" Lily pulled him out of bed and down the stairs. The rest of the Evans family was there waiting to open up their gifts.

Harry opened up his presents. He got a book on defense against the dark arts from Lily, chocolate from Peter, a broom service kit from James, more candy from Sirius, a quidditch poster of the Chudley Cannons from Frank (Ron would be so proud!), a magical journal from Alice ('ugh too Tom Riddle' thought Harry), and a book on pranks from Remus. The Evans' family gave him a bunch of sweets and pastries. He in turn had given them some of Honeyduke's best chocolate. Lily, he gave a charm bracelet. Harry was a bit sad when he realized that there would be no Weasley sweater for the first Christmas in a long time.

The rest of break was spent bonding with Lily and the others when they came to visit. Multiple snowball fights and hot chocolate drinks later, holidays came to a close.

Harry and Lily rode the train back to school close as can be. They were quickly becoming best friends, especially since Alice and Frank had paired off and the marauders continued to act secretly.