Chapter Fourteen
Potter Family Traditions
The month of November ended and the start of an early winter snowfall came across the grounds of Hogwarts. The match between Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff ended with Ravenclaw slaughtering Hufflepuff even though the weather wasn't in either teams' favor. Ron did apologize to Harry over the way he acted in the common room two weeks after the match. However, an argument between him and Hermione widened the gap between them. It happened when Harry had returned from a detention with Professor Snape after he gave Harry detention for no reason.
"Come on Hermione! Just gone on one date with me during Christmas at the Burrow!" Ron shouted at Hermione since they were on opposite ends of the crowded and quiet common room.
"I can't Ron because I have plans with my parents to go Spain!"
"You gave up time to spend your Christmas with your parents during our fifth year for Harry!"
"That was when Harry had shut himself up in a room, and I cared more for him than spending my time with my parents. Besides," her tone had become much calmer than before, "I was the only one who got him to come out."
"Answer the question, Hermione!" Ron ignoring Hermione's reply, "Why did you go on that date with Harry?"
Harry knew that Ron should have kept his mouth shut and Hermione had her old temper back, "Why? He sees me more as a friend that I can rely on than as a know-it-all. At least he attempts at his homework a lot better than you! There is an old Muggle saying that you should heed: there are other fish in the sea. That means, Ron," Hermione added as Ron clearly had a dumbfounded look on his face, "there are other girls for you to ask out and you don't have to keep asking me repeatedly. I'm taken Ron and there is nothing you can do about it and besides!" she turned heel and made her way to the girls' staircase. "The world doesn't revolve around you nor Harry"
Hermione climbed the girls' staircase, but Ron chased after her. Just as Hermione disappeared up the stairs; Ron was thrown backwards as he touch the stairs to the girls' dormitory. Ron had tried that during their fifth year, but Ron wasn't angry at Hermione at the time and he was surprised that the girls' staircase was bewitched so that boys can't enter the girls' dormitory. No one in the common room even laughed as Ron hit the ground.
Ron had made up with both Harry and Hermione at the end of November; however, he was still angry at Hermione for standing up for Harry. It was still unknown if he would ever get over his jealousy of Harry. The amount of homework was piled on for the seventh years by the teachers so that Christmas Break may not be so enjoyable.
"Hermione, we don't take our N.E.W.T.s until the end of next term!" said an annoyed Ron in the common room two weeks before the start of Christmas Break.
"Ron, we must pass our N.E.W.T.s if we want to leave Hogwarts, and you need top grades if you want to be in the Ministry," Hermione replied in her usual bossy tone. "Besides, Harry hasn't complained."
Hedwig came through the open window as she approached Harry with a letter for him. She nipped his finger as he removed the letter before she ruffled the feathers shaking bits of snow out of her feathers before she left through the open window. Harry opened the letter as he heard Ron and Hermione continued to bicker and quickly read it before he folded the letter and put it in his robes.
"Who was the letter from?" Hermione asked in her best calm tone since her bickering with Ron as she peered over her Ancient Runes essay.
"It's from Professor Dumbledore, and he wants me to spend Christmas at my grandparent's place since he wants to talk to me about some things. He also says that both of you can come along too," Harry replied as he continued to write his Potions essay.
"I would love to come along Harry since my plans with my parents were just cancelled due to an emergency with one of my mum's friends, and she doesn't want my Christmas to be ruined because of that," this made Harry blush a little.
"I can't mate since mum wants all of us together for Christmas since it's a family tradition to have all the Weasleys together for a newlyweds first Christmas with their new family. It's a Weasley only tradition and I just found out about this a few days ago," Ron added on the end clearly not looking forward to the upcoming holidays.
"You can't blame yourself Ron for the traditions that your family has, and I nor Harry would interfere with your family's tradition," Hermione had a sympathetic tone in her voice.
The train ride back to London was a bit different for Harry than the ride to Hogwarts before the beginning of the term. The train seemed to be packed and Harry, Hermione, and Ron had their hands full, along with the other prefects, to keep order on the train. The rays of the sun had faded as the night took over as the train pulled into Platform Nine-and-Three-Quarters. Harry and Hermione made sure that all students had exited off the train as they bid a quick farewell to Ron.
They exited through the barrier that led them to the Muggle world and made there ways out of the crowed thoroughfares of Kings Cross Station. They found Professor Dumbledore standing beside a beautiful black car and he was dressed in black with a small hat on his head. Harry could tell that he was dressed as a holy man from a different culture.
"Did you two have an excellent term I presume?" he asked them with a twinkle in his blue eyes as the driver of their car loaded their trunks into the back of the car.
"Yes sir," they replied in unison.
Harry and Hermione climbed into the back of the car while Professor Dumbledore climbed into the front. It took them about an hour to get out of London since the traffic was horrible with people entering and leaving Kings Cross. Although the Ministry's cars could go through tight spots that a Muggle car couldn't, but due to the numbers of Muggles present; they didn't want to risk it. They made it out of London and continued along the beautiful north London countryside. It didn't take them long before they came up to a large magnificent house that was several stories tall.
The driver pulled up to the house and stopped where they all got out of the car. The driver helped Harry and Hermione unload their trunks before he tipped his hat to them and left.
"Let's get inside before we catch a cold," Professor Dumbledore said as he levitated their trunks as he proceeded into the house.
Harry, carrying Hedwig, and Hermione, carrying Crookshanks, entered through the oak doors and entered the house. They were in a vast mezzanine with a large marble staircase that came down in a curved fashion. The lights came on from the chandelier as if by magic filling the entire room with light.
"You may free your pets, but leave your trunks here for know," Professor Dumbledore told them as he gestured them to follow him into the next room.
They entered the next room to find a roaring fire welcoming them in the fireplace and there were several chairs, including a sofa, near the fireplace. Harry and Hermione sat on the sofa while Professor Dumbledore stood with his back to the fire facing them.
"Now Harry, I've asked you to come since your father has some traditions in his family that he likes to have been done. This first tradition would have been done during your fifth year, but due to events out of our control; I've waited until know to continue this tradition," he pulled a sheet that was on a coffee table and revealed a crystal orb sitting on a pedestal.
"No Harry," Professor Dumbledore said catching Harry's disliking look, "this is not Divination and this tradition is to be done in the presence of your father for all of the males in the family. I know this may be a surprise to you, especially Miss Granger, but I feel that this tradition must be continued even though you haven't completed the tradition. This orb is to reveal your future love and certain traditions must be continued even though you may not agree with them," he added at Harry's shocked face.
"I don't think I can do this Sir since I love Hermione," Harry replied as he blushed harder than he ever has.
"I understand Harry, but just humor the memory of your father and do this tradition. You may continue this tradition if you like; however, this tradition has been highly correct in what it does."
Harry didn't know what to think. He knew from Hermione that Divination was a highly imprecise branch of magic and he couldn't help but shake the feeling that the orb may be wrong if it isn't Hermione. However, in memory of his father, he picked up the orb as Hermione held onto his arm and she looked scared at what the outcome may be.
"Harry, speak your full name and the relation to your parents as well as their names."
Harry took a few deep breaths and did as he was told, "Harry James Potter, son of Lily and James Potter."
As Harry spoke this, the orb began to get cloudy and it started to emit spoke that hovered above it. The clouds started to take shape. First appeared to be to what looked like the hair of something. It slowly began to look like a bushy bush. Next came the face of what was to be his future love. A smile could be seem and Harry somehow recognized it but he wasn't sure. Then the eyes took shape and Harry was sure that he knew who they belonged to but he couldn't put his finger on it. Lastly came the rest of the face. Now Harry could see who it was; it looked like a young woman a few years younger than Harry. Harry heard Hermione gasp and gripped his arm tighter and Harry realized that it was Hermione. Underneath the face were the letters: HJG; before the imaged vanished back into the orb.
"As you see Harry," Professor Dumbledore said as he removed the orb from Harry's hands, "this tradition, as I said before, is highly accurate. Your father didn't think so, but I knew that he cared for your mother more than he let on during his time at Hogwarts. If you still have doubts. There is one tradition that is held at this time and it is to be of true love's first kiss."
He pulled out a framed photo out of his suit and handed Harry the photo. One look at the photo made his eyes widen and Hermione grabbed onto the other side of the photo. It was the moment that Harry had kissed Hermione underneath the mistletoe during Christmas Break last year. Harry wondered who would have taken this photo.
"It is one of the traditions in your family and it is unknown how the photo is taken. I don't know myself but the idea of this tradition of who started it has been lost for centuries. Now I must leave you, but don't worry about the house. Your family has a small population of house elves and Miss Granger," he added at the look of Hermione's face, "they are treated with the utmost care and are highly respected, but I can't discuss the issues with them since it is to be kept within the family. They have been at Hogwarts since your parents went into hiding, Harry, and they have just recently returned to return the house to the way it looks. Also Harry, there is something on the grounds that I think you may want to have a look at in the morning. Farewell," he said as he exited the room.
Harry and Hermione sat there on the sofa lost in thought at what Professor Dumbledore had just said. Harry couldn't believe that he and Hermione were meant to be true lovers together and he wondered what Professor Dumbledore meant about looking on the grounds.
"Harry, do you think that what Professor Dumbledore said was true about us being meant to be together?" Hermione asked.
"I don't know, Hermione, but it can't be true. Can it?" he looked into her eyes and they had the look of being concerned.
However, there gaze was broken off by a high pitched voice that came from beside the sofa.
"Excuse me Sir and Miss," they turned to see a creature with bat-like ears with large blue owl-like eyes. It wore a knitted hat with holes for its ears to go through and it wore a knitted dress with a red and green checkered pattern, "but dinner is ready in the next room."
"Thanks," Harry told the house elf and it left after a bow and into the next room.
Harry and Hermione stood up off the sofa and walked into the next room where the house elf went. They were greeted with the wonderful smell of a lushes meal waiting for them. Several house elves were setting up the table while others were bringing food in from the next room. The table was made of beautiful oak and was as wide as the tables at Hogwarts. Harry and Hermione sat down at the table next to each other as the last of the house elves set the lasts bowl down before they walked towards the end of the table where the disappeared as the jumped off the table.
"I wonder how Ron would react if he found out that your family had house elves cleaning up the place," Hermione said as they piled food on their plates.
"My guess is that his jealously would kick in again if he found out," Harry replied.
"Good afternoon Master Harry and friend," a voice spoke and they turned to see a house elf approaching them wearing a white hat and a red sweater.
"Hello, and what is your name?" Hermione asked the house elf.
"Alex, Miss. Alex is head of the house elves for the Potter family," the house elf said with a bow.
"Head?" Harry asked after swallowing some porridge.
"Alex is in charge of all the house elves for the Potter family. Alex gives the house elves here their chores for each day. Since the place is big; Alex helps the house elves here so keep place clean. Alex is the wisest and oldest of the house elves and is given the job as head of the house elves."
"How many house elves are here?" Hermione asked Alex the house elf.
"Sorry Miss, Alex can't tell," Alex said shaking her head causing her bat-like ears to shake as she shook.
"Not unless I give you permission," Harry told Alex.
"Very well Master Harry. There are twenty house elves here and are treated very well by the Potter family."
"How much do you get paid?" Hermione asked and Harry knew that she wouldn't give up on house elf rights.
"The wages differ Miss. Wages differ from years in the family and the house elves each get one day off a week plus more during certain holidays."
A crash was heard in the next room and several house elves came out of the room being chased by Crookshanks. The house elves scattered around the room as they cried 'Monster, monster' and Crookshanks pounced on one of the house elves pinning on the ground. The next thing that happened caught Crookshanks by surprise. The house elf that he had pinned had done something that made Crookshanks jumped back as he shook his head. It turned out that the pinned house elf had used magic and sprayed Crookshanks with water and that caused him to back off.
"Crookshanks you naughty boy," Hermione said as she picked up Crookshanks as she tried to hold back her laughter. "Did that mean old house elf hurt you?" Crookshanks' reply was a meow as he settled down in her arms. "I think a saucer of milk would calm Crookshanks down."
"Very well Miss," a house elf answered and it exited the room.
The house elf came back hovering a saucer of milk and it placed it near the end of the table on the ground. Hermione put Crookshanks on the ground and he approached the saucer as the house elves scattered away from him. Harry and Hermione finished eating and Alex showed them to their rooms for the night.
"Your room is right here Master Harry," Alex said after they climbed up several flights of stairs. "You may decorate it any way you like. Just think of what you want in your room and flick your wand in the place you want it. All rooms allow you to decorate them how you like. Your room is right here Miss and your belongings have been brought up here," Alex said as she went a few doors down to show her where her room was.
Harry entered the room to find it well lit as he entered the room. It look dismal to Harry since it had nothing on the walls and the bed had no sheets on it. Harry did as Alex had told him and he thought of the beds in his dormitory. He flicked his wand at the bed as he thought of his old bed and it materialized into the bed at Hogwarts. It also had the drapes on the bed and the sheets were the same also. Harry also added color to the walls and he picked the colors of Gryffindor. The walls appeared with stripes of scarlet red and gold. He then added a study table, bookshelves, rugs that matched the ones in the Gryffindor common room, several chairs that were also from the common room, and an owl perch for Hedwig. Harry changed into his pajamas and settled into his bed for a good night sleep in his new home after he had left Hogwarts.