CHAPTER 11 - T'WAS THE WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS

"So, he is becoming successful?" A cold voice asked
"I am unsure master, he has been very resistant. We have had to force him to drink a weakening potion." replied a rather weedy voice
"Who concocted this potion?"
"Your faithful servant my Lord."
"Ahh, yes I see. Who has been controlling the curse?"
"The young master. Just as you commanded, my Lord."
It was silent, the man with the cold voice did not reply, he merely fondled his wand. Suddenly he raised it and said calmly "Crucio"
The man with the weedy voice fell to the ground from his kneeling position, pulled his legs up under his chin and twitched and withered on the ground. He screamed and screamed. Finally it stopped.
"I want you to be more careful from now on. Watch him. Now, get out of my sight." The cold voice said.

Harry woke in a cold sweat, his scar was throbbing for the first time in over a year. Ron and Hermione rushed into the room, with Ginny close behind.
"Harry! Are you alright. What happened, you were screaming." Hermione cried
"What, ah, I'm fine. I think." Harry said. He was very white and he was shaking slightly. Harry put his hand up to his forehead and his scar was still burning. No one said anything, but they all looked worried.
"This is the first dream I've had about Voldemort since the attack at the Ministry." Harry said slowly all of a sudden
Hermione squeaked, "Was it a real dream, or..." her voice shock before she could finish her sentence, but Harry knew what she was going to say and it felt like he had just stood in a bucket of ice. Ron threw Hermione a look and sat on the end of Harry's bed. Ginny knelt down next to Harry and passed him his glasses.
"What did you see?" Ginny asked nervously
"I was Voldemort, as usual, and, and, he was talking to someone. I never saw there face, but there voice was familiar. Someone has made a potion to weaken someone, his faithful servant," Harry knew who that was and felt like been sick, "The Death Eater said that the young master was controlling the curse, but no names of anything were said. Voldemort used the Crucatius curse on him and told him to be more careful." Harry finished off. No one spoke for a moment. Then Hermione gasped
"V-v-Voldemort must have been really angry. Hasn't he been using Occlumency against you? He must have been really angry!" Hermione said
"How do you get that?" Ron asked, now looking confused
Hermione looked annoyed but patiently replied
"To be a successful Occlumens you have to have your emotions under control, which is why I think that Harry never mastered it."
It was silent again.
"Did they say who was under the spell?" Ron asked
"No. No names were mentioned, although I'm sure we could guess. The young master is probably Malfoy," Harry began, throwing a dirty look towards Hermione, "His faithful servant is most likely Snape," Harry spat, "but I can't figure out who the Death Eater was."
They heard the front door of Grimmauld place open. Harry tried to flatten his hair and got up.

Out on the landing they could see Hagrid carrying one of the largest Christmas trees Harry had ever seen with Molly rushing in behind him
"Righ'o Molly, where would yeh like me ter put yer tree?" He said pleasantly and looked up and saw the 4 of them
"Hello there!" he greeted them
"Hey Hagrid." they replied
"Hello, could you please come down here and help with the shopping?" a tired Mrs Weasley said. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny obliged. On the way down the stairs Harry whispered "Don't tell anyone about my dream yet, ok."
Ron, Hermione and Ginny nodded.

The Christmas tree was set up in the living room in front of the tapestry. Mrs Weasley hung a garland of mistletoe off the curtain rung. Harry looked at Ron and Hermione who were looking at the mistletoe and then at each other, and Harry turned around and Ginny was standing right behind him with an odd smile on her face.
"Ahh, your mum is having trouble with the fairy lights, lets help her." Harry suggested
"No. She gets them right every year, they just like been out of the box and rebel a little then agree." Ginny said taking a few steps closer to Harry. Harry stepped back, darted around her and asked Mrs Weasley if she needed any help with anything.
"Could you please go down to the kitchen and see what Fred and George are doing? They turned up a little before I did." She said while a fairy light tapped her on the nose. Harry made his way down 3 flights of stairs thinking about his dream. His scar still prickled, but it did after the fake dream. Harry was so lost in thought that when he walked into the kitchen, he walked straight into George, who rounded on him and hit him over the head with a fake wand that had turned itself into a rubber mallet.
"Watch where you are going young man." George said pompously
"Ha, yeah right," Harry joked backed "What's happening down here?"
"Mum wants us to start preparing dinner for Christmas." Fred said brightly
"But its still a couple of days away!" Harry said in shock
"Yea, but mum is always like this." Fred replied
"I know what will help. Kreacher? Dobby?" Harry asked
CRACK! CRACK!
"His filthy mastership called." Kreacher said with total disgust in his voice
"Harry Potter wanted Dobby sir?" Dobby said sounding rather happy
"I want you two, only if you want to Dobby, to help us prepare dinner for Christmas day. I do not want you to tell Mrs Weasley, this can be part of her Christmas present." Harry told them
"Dobby will be pleased to help the mother Weazee with what ever she wishes." Dobby said excitedly and bowed to Harry
"Kreacher will have to what master says, although he would rather be spending Christmas with his mistress..."
Fred coughed and Kreacher stopped his mumblings and gave a disgustingly low bow.
"Ok, now I'm not sure what is planned for Christmas dinner, but Fred and George here can tell you what they were meant to be preparing today, and I'll go find Mrs Weasley and see what else she had in mind, then come tell you." Harry said brightly and left the room. He was glad for a distraction from his dream.

Harry opened the living room door on the 3rd floor and saw Ron and Hermione snogging under the mistletoe on the far window. They hadn't noticed Harry so he quietly took a step in to see if Mrs Weasley was in the room, although he suspected she wasn't. Harry saw that Ron's technique was better then last year.
"Ohh, hi Harry." Ron said sheepishly
"Hi guys, do you know where your mum is Ron?" Harry asked, trying to keep the conversation as normal as possible. He looked over at Ron and Hermione and saw that Hermione was very happy and Ron was incredibly red.
"Ohh, umm, she said she was going up to the attic to find some more recipe books."
"Ok, thanks, I'll ummm, go and you guys can ummm, yeah." Harry said with a laugh. This made Hermione go red. Harry turned around to leave and just as he was about to cross the threshold into the hallway Ginny pounced on him. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately, which Harry returned. When she finished she looked up and pointed
"Mistletoe, didn't want to waste it." Ginny shrugged her shoulders and ran upstairs. Harry looked around and saw his 2 friends laughing at him.
"Umm, right, ahh, ok. Well, I'm off to find your mum Ron, see ya." Harry said kind of dazed, and left the room. He met Mrs Weasley on the 4th floor landing. She was carrying an armful of books.
"Here, let me get those Mrs Weasley." Harry said taking them off her
"Ohh, thanks dear. There is still so much to organise before Christmas day. Bill and Fleur are arriving Christmas eve morning,. That's the earliest they could get off work. Charlie is coming in from Romania tonight. Your cousin arrives tomorrow and your Uncle is having a holiday starting tomorrow. Arthur goes on a 2 week holiday starting Christmas eve. Oh and the Longbottoms and Lovegoods are arriving tomorrow evening." Mrs Weasley concluded
"The Longbottoms and Lovegoods are coming for Christmas?" Harry asked
"Why yes, Augusta sent me a letter last week asking if they could come for Christmas, and I replied right away and told her it was a brilliant idea. I remembered Ginny talking about Luna Lovegood when we were bringing her back from Kings Cross Station and I know that they live around the Burrow so I invited them as well. Oh dear, we still have to set up beds." Mrs Weasley cried sounding flustered. Harry stopped and put his elbow on her arm.
"Her Mrs Weasley, I think I know how to help. Dobby?"
CRACK!
"Harry Potter sirs called!" Dobby said
"Hey Dobby, umm how is Winky?" Harry asked cautiously
"She is feeling better sirs, but she still misses having a family to care for." Dobby said quietly
"Dobby, do you think you could bring her here? I want to see how she is." Harry asked
"Dobby would be delighted to." he gave a small bow and CRACK he was gone again.
"Harry dear, what was that all about?" Mrs Weasley asked
"Nothing. Go downstairs and i'll be down soon." Harry said. Mrs Weasley looked at Harry curiously and continued down the stairs.
CRACK! CRACK!
Dobby and Winky appeared before Harry. Harry squatted down to their height. Winky was looking better, her white blouse and blue skirt were clean, she wasn't crying and her eyes weren't blood shot anymore.
"Here is Winky, Harry Potter sir."
"Thank you Dobby," Harry began, "Hello Winky, umm I know you can't take orders from me, and im not sure what your contract at Hogwarts allows you to do, but I was wondering if you could help me help Mrs Weasley until a couple of days after Christmas."
Winky looked at Harry and her big eyes filled with tears. She knelt down and grabbed Harry's jumper
"Winky would be delighted to. Thank you Harry Potter, you really are as great as Dobby says you are." Winky said. Harry blushed.
"Ok, thank you so much Winky, and you to Dobby. Lets go down to the kitchen." Harry said.

In the kitchen Dobby took the books out of Harry's arm and put them away. Mrs Weasley, Fred and George were all sitting at the table looking nervously at Kreacher who was standing next to the sink.
"Merry Christmas Mrs Weasley. I would like to give you a part of your present now." Harry said
"Oh Harry no, I couldn't possibly have it now, its not Christmas yet." Mrs Weasley replied sounding shocked
"I know, but this will help you with Christmas, which is why I have to give it to you know." Harry said. Mrs Weasley tried to say something but Harry continued
"Mrs Weasley, you have so much to do and so little time to do it, so part of my present to you this year is the help of 3 elves; Kreacher, Dobby and Winky. Kreacher and Dobby will do all of your cooking and cleaning as you ask them to. Winky will help you with things like preparing rooms for guests and shopping."
Dobby and Winky beamed at this, but Kreacher plainly wished he was dead. Mrs Weasley burst into tears and embraced Harry into a vice like hug.
"Oh Harry thank you, that is so thoughtful of you, thank you."
"That's all right Mrs Weasley. Now I have to send a letter, excuse me." Harry said as he got up and left the kitchen. Fred and George were now having to console their mum who was incredibly happy about having eager help.

Harry went up to his room and found Hedwig looking highly bored.
"Hey Hedwig, im sorry I cant let you out every night, but I have a letter for you to deliver. It has to be delivered as soon as possible ok. Hold on, I just have to write it." Harry said as Hedwig chirped a reply.
Dear Bill,
Could you please take a bag full of galleons and floo them here as soon as you can?
Thank you, Harry.
Harry rolled up the parchment and sealed it shut. Hedwig stuck her leg out and allowed Harry to attach the letter to her.
"This letter is for Bill Weasley at Gringotts in Diagon Alley, thanks Hedwig." Harry said as he opened the window and she flew out.
Harry went back up to the 3rd floor and knocked on the closed living room door. He gave Ron and Hermione a few minutes and then walked in. Hermione's hair looked ruffled and it looked as though Ron's T shirt was on backwards. Their socks and shoes had been taken off and were messily placed under the window seat.
"Sorry to disturb you guys again, but I just thought I would let you know that Kreacher, Dobby and Winky are working for Mrs Weasley these holidays. And Hermione, I need you to make some Felix Felicis as soon as you can."
"Harry! You can't have the house elves working for Mrs Weasley, especially Dobby and Winky. That's not right." Hermione cried indignantly
"Hermione, please don't start with the S.P.E.W stuff again, Dobby is always eager to help me and I asked him to bring Winky here and when I asked her to help Mrs Weasley she broke down in tears she was so happy."
"What's the Felix for?" Ron asked
"Our final battle with Voldemort. I don't care if it's illegal to have before fights, but I think we need all the luck we can get."
Ginny burst into the room
"Here Harry, this just arrived for you in the fire." Ginny said, passing Harry a heavy wrapped package
"Thanks Ginny." Harry said and he leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek. Ginny blushed slightly. Harry opened the parcel and out fell 2 heavy bags and a note
Hey Harry,
Here is your gold. I got out 2 bags for you, I hope you don't mind. Its just taking longer to take gold out, and its always good to have a spare pile at home. Tell Mum I say hi.
See you soon, Bill
"Winky?" Harry asked
CRACK!
"Yes Harry Potter sir?"
"When you and Mrs Weasley go shopping I want you to pay with this." Harry said passing Winky one of the bags of gold.
"Ok, Harry Potter sir. We are just about to leave. Thank you." Winky said and CRACK she was gone again. Ron and Ginny looked at Harry
"How much gold was in there?" Ron croaked
"Enough for your mum to pay for everything for Christmas this year with out having to worry about money. Its part of my present to her this year. I'm giving her as much help as I can. Its just a way of me saying thank you for her taking me in like I'm family." Harry finished the sentence quietly
"Wow Harry. That's really sweet." Hermione said