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Thanks and Hope you enjoy
Chapter 18
December 22nd 1988
Hogwarts
It was finally time to leave for the Winter Holidays and currently Harry was in Daphnes room trying to help her decide what she wanted to bring home for the holidays.
Most of which was deciding on clothes and Harry did not understand her fixation on those.
He looked at his watch.
"Hey Daph"Harry said "I think you have enough with this and the stuff that you have at home already".
Daphne sighed "Your probably right Harry"She said looking at her closet and then the skirt and blouse she was waring "Do you think my clothes are good for today though".
Harry nodded "The green and gray is really appropriate".
Daphne then noticed the time.
"Merlin"She exclaimed "We need to get going Harry go get your stuff and meet me by the entrance".
Chuckling Harry went to go get his trunk which had a lot less stuff in it that Daphne's did.
As he walked to go meet up with Daphne he began to think of how Christmas Break would go.
Harry felt extremely grateful that the Greengrasses had allowed him to stay over at their residence for the holidays.
They knew about the situation with the Potters and allowed him to be with them and Daphne for Christmas and the New Year.
He was also hoping to get to know Astoria Greengrass a bit more.
Daphne was his best friend and he wanted to get to know her family a bit more.
After all he sort of hadd Master Dao as a father figure of sorts but strictly speaking he had no mother or sibling like figures in his life.
Maybe that could be Adeline and Astoria Greengrass.
Harry did not know but he sure was eager to find out.
Meeting Daphne the two of them waved to Edmund and started to make their own way to the trains.
Along the way the two engaged in a bit of small talk.
Daphne surprised him by asking if he would be interested in going with their family on a vacation to France after Christmas.
Harry was surprised by that but happily agreed.
SCENE CHANGE
Soon Harry found himself in a compartment on the Hogwarts Express with Daphne.
He couldn't help but be very thankful with how the term had turned out. He had started to make a new friend in Edmund Spiers. He was doing great in all of his classes, and he was going to experiment his first true family Christmas…
Harry smiled when the train stopped and he spotted Mr. and Mrs. Greengrass waiting on the platform. Astoria was excitedly waving and calling Harry's name. Mr. Greengrass was dressed in another fine black business suit while Mrs. Greengrass was wearing simple but elegant dark green robes. Both were smiling and waving at Harry and the others.
"Good term?" Cyrus stepped forward to help Harry and Daphne with their trunks.
"Yes, sir," answered Harry.
"If you're going to be staying with us, Harry, none of this sir stuff," Cyrus playfully chided. "Cyrus and Adeline will do."
"Ok sir-Cyrus," corrected Harry smiling. Turning to Mrs. Greengrass as Cyrus was now greeting his daughter.
"Harry," greeted Adeline warmly.
"Mrs. Greengrass," he returned the greeting with a nod. He stood awkwardly in front of the Greengrass matriarch aware that Daphne was currently hugging her father like the numerous other children who were greeting their parents and siblings with affectionate hugs, sincere words, and small pecks on the cheek or forehead on Platform Nine and Three Quarters.
He sighed. He envied them. He imagined being greeted by his parents.
"Now Harry, if you're going to be calling my husband Cyrus then you must call me Adeline," corrected a smiling Mrs. Greengrass. "Did you enjoy the semester Harry?"
"Yes, I did," Harry said.
"I'm glad, Harry," she looked pleased but before she could say any more Daphne stepped forward and hugged her mother tightly.
Harry stepped aside allowing Daphne to greet her mother. He watched enviously how easily his friend hugged her mother. How easy it was for her to show her motherly affection. He was standing alone stiffly and awkwardly until he felt someone tugging on his sleeve. He looked down to see Astoria was looking up at him smiling.
"Hey, Harry," she said brightly.
Harry couldn't help but smile. "Hey Astoria, you glad to have you sister back?"
Astoria beamed and nodded before adding. "I'm also glad you're coming home with us. You're going to love it!"
Harry still smiling, nodded. Thankful for Astoria's intervention to brighten his mood before he allowed his thoughts to dampen the wonderful holidays he had planned with the Greengrass clan. "I am too."
"Astoria," Daphne called her sister. Astoria sprinted to her sister nearly tackling her to the ground as she gave her a firm hug, the parents laughed as did Daphne who returned the hug with the same fervor.
Upon leaving Kings Cross Station, Harry was able to experience the magical form of transportation known as Apparition. He had remembered hearing about it however, he soon learned that hearing about the experience and actually experiencing it was two different things!
He felt like his body had been compressed before forcibly squeezed through a pipe. It was something that he was not looking forward to doing again.
Thankfully, he wasn't allowed to ponder the uncomfortable form of travel since he was soon taken away by Daphne, and Astoria who were all eager to give him a more detailed tour of Greengrass Manor than he had ever been able to in the past. The girls all liked to add their own comments and observations as the tour went along.
Harry had been to Greengrass Manor before the school year started but had not gotten to explore the place yet and he was very impressed by the size, beauty and how it was so immaculate.
The tour ended when Harry was shown his own room. He couldn't believe the size of his guest room when he was shown it. He was sure it was larger than the Dursleys master bedroom. It had a large four poster bed, a sofa and lounge chair by a fireplace with its own private bathroom attached.
"Wow," breathed Harry. He never thought he would find himself in such a large room let alone have it assigned for him. He tentatively took in the room's surrounding,
"I'm glad you're here Harry," Daphne said sincerely.
Harry turned around to see the girls were smiling.
"Do you like it Harry?" Adeline Greengrass stepped into the room with a warm smile.
Harry numbly nodded. He wasn't sure if he would be able to express his gratitude for everything the Greengrass family was doing for him.
"I'm glad, Harry," she then turned to her daughters. "Dinner will be ready shortly".
"Thank you"Harry said gratefully
SCENE CHANGE
Arriving at the table Harry said hello to everyone who returned his greeting and shook his hand before situating themselves around the table. Harry sat between Daphne and Astoria on one side while Cyrus and Adeline sat on the other side of the table.
Harry couldn't remember a better time in his life in quite some time. The food was splendid and the atmosphere was light and inviting as Adeline and Cyrus dominated the conversation by regaling the kids about their days at Hogwarts.
Dinner had since been finished and dessert had just been taken away by an eager Greengrass House Elf named Blinky who continued to ask Harry if there was anything further the house elf could do to please him. It took Harry several minutes to assure the Greengrass house elf how good he was being treated before she went away with a proud smile.
Harry, Daphne and Astoria were soon talking happily in the sitting room. The two friends were soon explaining their classes and the school to an eager Astoria who was hanging on their every word.
Harry was disappointed when he and the Greengrass Sisters were finally sent to their room an hour later for bed. He got dressed quietly into his pajamas. His mind trying to commit every story he heard that evening to memory. He didn't want to forget a single detail as he climbed into his bed, and lay in darkness, realizing how grateful and happy he was for where he currently found himself.
It was nice to learn more about Daphne's parents and their life.
So he could then understand his best friend even more.
SCENE CHANGE
The next day Harry, Daphne and Astoria were in his room where Astoria wanted Harry to show her some stuff about the tai chi that he had been learning.
Harry then demonstrated again.
Astoria was having problems with that though.
Well she wasnt expected to do the moves perfectly but Harry and Daphne would help her out.
No matter how long it took.
