Beta: None
Original Release Date: 4/19/16
Disclaimer: I do not own anything in the canon Harry Potter universe or any other universe.
Chapter Forty Six – Christmas on Fire
/*Christmas Eve*/
"Sirius, I think we need to hire one if not two people to help us at our Diagon Alley location, in addition to some help to help assemble some of our products" remarks Remus sitting in his office, sipping on a goblet of Pumpkin Juice.
Pausing to think before sighing and answering, "I think you're right. Who knows how many hours I work a week to keep things running. I'm surprised Amelia hasn't lost her patience with me yet. But perhaps she has and I just don't know it", chuckling at the end.
"Quite true. Do you think we'll have any network issues with the deployment of Miss Delacour's social network idea in the morning?" asks Remus casually.
"I hope not, but there hasn't been any significant research into this area, both in the wizarding world and the muggle world. If it does, then we can learn from our failures and continue to modify our network structure" answers Sirius somewhat wearily.
"Hahaha! To think you'd finally come around to admitting that you DO make mistakes and then to actually LEARN from them…it's inconceivable!" laughs Remus heartily.
"Just because it took me a little longer to mature doesn't—" begins Sirius in a more serious tone.
"A little longer? Try a lot longer, hehe. However, I'm glad you have, especially with Susan and Harry, not to mention Fred and George looking to you as a role model" interrupts Remus with a smile.
Pausing to collect his thoughts, Sirius shakes head before asking, "Did you receive Harry's gift?"
"I did. I'm surprised you got that particular model, but I think Harry's going to love it" remarks Remus eyeing the package in the corner of the office.
"I know he has been down in the dumps for a while now, so hopefully this brightens his mood up" comments Sirius.
"He and I, alongside the twins, began on working on the wizarding equivalent of muggle headphones. I haven't heard of any complaints so far, so they may be onto a new product in addition to their promising line of Auror gear" says Remus getting more excited.
"I'm excited to see what comes of it all. I'm sure Amelia would enjoy seeing some new types of equipment. Speaking of which, she received ministry approval to take the funds normally allocated for parchment, quills, ink, and the likes and allocate seventy five percent to paying us for the Work Flow and other equipment that they are using directly from us" adds Sirius with a smile.
"Wonderful news! I'm overall just happier to be able to help the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, especially with the ministry not seeming to want to properly equip them" answers Remus with a hint of sadness.
"I'm with you there. I'm going to call it a night, it's been hard to get enough sleep at night" states Sirius before disappearing from view.
Yawning, Remus sets his empty goblet down before preparing for bed.
/*elsewhere in the castle*/
"I'm in position. Pathway clear?" whispers Harry.
"Confirmed, nearest professor is Snape on the third floor" answers Fred's voice through Harry's headphones.
"Understood. Making my way back with the goods" answers Harry quietly, sneaking up a nearby stairwell.
"STOP! Mrs. Norris is nearing your position!" hisses George loudly in Harry's ears.
Halting, Harry waits as seconds tick by before finally spotting the illustrious Mrs. Norris nearing his position, finally sitting and staring at Harry's exact position. Cursing his luck silently, Harry slow raises his arm up and slow swipes through screen after screen pausing when a familiar gravely voice coos, "Something wrong, Mrs. Norris?"
Eyes darting up from his watch, Harry gasps as Filch stands several feet away who quickly looks in Harry's direction before looking down at Mrs. Norris. As a crude smile spreads across Filch's face as he connects the dots.
"A student out of bed is it? Ought to hang the rule breakers by their thumbs in my office, but the Headmaster says no. I'm certain Professor Snape can make detention almost as painful" speaks Filch smiling as he spreads his arms out and slowly steps forward.
*BOOM*
Looking around wildly, Filch furrows his brows before turning back around to the general area where Harry still stands. Tapping on his watch, Harry waits several agonizing seconds as Filch resumes his search before an ear piercing screech reverberates through the hallway nearby. Seeing Filch covering his ears yelling, Harry slips away, grateful for the silencing aspect of his headphones.
Entering the common room, Harry takes off his headphones and places them carefully into his messenger bag before withdrawing two Butterbeers and handing them to the grinning twins, taking a third of out his bag for himself.
"Good job mate, Filch is still wandering around downstairs" laughs Fred wiping a tear from his eyes.
"I hope his hearing isn't permanently damaged" remarks Harry with a hint of worry in his voice.
"Yeah, I hope so as well. Perhaps Sirius or Remus knows about a way to—" begins George in a more serious tone.
"To punish you three for deafening Filch? For waking up the castle all in the name of three Butterbeers?! Just because Sirius would get a laugh out of this does NOT mean it is right do it! Grow up and be more mature! I'm very disappointed in you three. Twenty five points from Gryffindor from each of you" states Remus sternly.
"But professor, that puts us in last place for both the House Cup and the Quidditch Cup" sputters Oliver Wood from the stairs dressed in Puddlemere United pjamas.
"Mr. Wood, please return to bed immediately without any parting commentary" instructs Remus firmly.
Looking between his fellow Quidditch teammates and Professor Lupin, Oliver wordlessly makes his way back up the stairs.
"Now, to make certain that this doesn't happen again, you three will have a week's worth of detention each as well. I will inform you of when and with whom your respective detentions are. Am I clear on this matter?" states Remus, receiving three nodding of heads before adding, "good night then."
Sitting in silence for several moments after Remus leaves, Harry speaks up softly but still audibly, "That could have gone wor—"
"Professor Lupin just informed me that you three are the ones responsible with Mr. Filch's evacuation to St Mungoes. You bring dishonor to Godric Gryffindor!" declares Professor McGonagall as she sweeps into the common room, nostrils flaring.
Standing up, Harry hangs his head and speaks, "Professor, it was I who set off of the Dial-A-Decoy that ended up hurting Mr. Filch. Fred and George had nothing to do with that."
"Thank you Mr. Potter for being so candid. That still doesn't change the fact that Mr. Filch has had to go to St Mungoes for your actions. I am deeply disappointed in you three and expect better behavior for the rest of the break and the year" states Professor McGonagally sternly before sweeping out of the common room, tartan robes billowing out behind her.
Hanging his head in shame, Harry says quietly, "I'm going to bed", before walking up the stairs in a zombie like state. Exchanging looks with each other, George speaks up, "I hope mum doesn't hear about this."
"Agreed. Sleep sounds good brother of mine" comments Fred before abandoning his half consumed Butterbeer on the table.
Next morning Harry sits up and rubs the sleep out of his eyes for a few moments before putting his glasses on. Not seeing a pile of gifts at the foot of his bed, Harry immediately feels guilty and murmurs, "I hope Filch is alright and his family isn't worried about."
Getting changed into casual clothing, Harry enters the common room where the twins, Oliver Wood, and a smiling Remus sit around a long box in the middle of the floor.
"Oh good, you're finally awake. Open this box Potter, it's killing me to know what's inside" calls out Oliver jovially as he munches on a piece of chocolate.
"Why me?" inquiries Harry as he makes his way over.
"It has your name on it of course" answers Fred.
Furrowing his brows, Harry grabs the wrapped box and takes a seat across from the twins. Tearing off the paper, Harry pauses before lifting the top of the box off, almost instantly dropping it staring at the contents.
"I-is this mine?" asks Harry pulling the broom out of the box.
"That is Sirius's gift with a bit of my funds as well. Instead of many smaller gifts, he deemed it necessary to get you a Firebolt instead of any other broom. The look on your face is well worth the price" answers Remus with a smile.
Staring at the Firebolt in his hands, Harry finally comes up with, "Thanks dad, I mean Remus."
"No problem Harry. Try not to destroy it" answers Remus with a wink.
"Potter, can I hold it?" asks Oliver hyper focused on the Firebolt.
"Why not take a ride on it later instead of just holding it?" replies Harry with a smile.
"You mean it?" answers Oliver dumbfounded.
"Why don't all three of us take turns later?" suggests Harry with a smile.
"That sounds like fun, and something that Sirius wouldn't want to miss if he could avoid it" comments Remus sipping at a goblet of Pumpkin juice.
Digging into the other gifts he had received, Harry puts on his Weasley sweater, smiling as brightly as the sun during the summer. Some time later as the five make their way to the Great Hall, Remus states, "Messrs Weasley, hold on please."
Stopping in their tracks, Fred and George turn and face Remus. "About last night, Filch has recovered without any expected side effects. This time I have declined to send a letter to your mother, and please don't make me have to."
"Understood" chorus the twins.
Smiling Remus remarks, "Then I think we have nothing but fun for the rest of the day then."
Sitting at a round table with the staff and the handful of other students, the midday meal is enjoyed, four Gryffindor students somewhat fidgety in their chairs. Finally ending, the four students take off into the Great Hall, with Remus whispering Harry's gift into Professor McGonagall's ear, causing a smile to spread across her face.
"Oliver, you first" offers Harry offering the broom to the gung ho Quidditch fan.
Taking the broom gingerly in his hands, Oliver mounts and takes off into the sky, uncharacteristically hollering in excitement as he zooms laps around the pitch. Several minutes later Wood unmounts from the Firebolt, a rare smile on his face as he passes the broom back to Harry, "Thanks Potter, that was…amazing."
"No problem Oliver, I'm glad you enjoyed it. Fred, George, who's next?" answers Harry offering the broom towards the twins.
Roughly twenty minutes later as Fred touches down and hands the Firebolt back to Harry, Fred utters, "Wicked Harry, wicked."
"Thanks. Seeing as everyone else has had a turn, I suppose it's my turn now" states Harry, griping the Firebolt and tearing off into the sky.
Several minutes later as Harry lands, George comments, "Nice hair, Harry."
Raising a hand to his head and feeling his windswept hair, Harry laughs before taken into a large hug from behind. Wiggling his way out of the hug, Harry comes face to face with Sirius.
"Merry Christmas Harry!" exclaims Sirius with a large smile.
"Merry Christmas to you too. But how did you get here?" replies Harry confused.
Smiling Sirius answers, "Black magic of course. You needn't worry about that. Spectacular flying though, a natural just like James was."
"So I hear" murmurs Harry to himself.
Fifteen or so minutes of conversation later Sirius activates his PRT and disappears, leaving the four Gryffindor students alone with Remus, light beginning to fade on the snowy Quidditch pitch. Entering into the castle, the five stop at the sight of Filch walking around. Stepping forward, Harry, Fred, and George bow their heads and say clearly, "Sorry about last night, sir."
Mumbling something to himself, Filch walks away. "I trust that I don't need to escort you all back to your common room, correct?"
"No sir" replies Harry without missing a beat.
"Good, I'll leave it to you then" states Remus before heading off in a different direction.
Sitting down at his desk, Remus checks his Omni Play and starts scrolling through screen, nodding his head in approval. "'OmniVision' wins the online vote. I guess we'd better start on producing units…after the break of course" Remus speaks outloud.
Author note: Thanks to all of you who have read, reviewed, etc! I'm hoping to keep up at the two chapters a month pace, but with real life stuff like a job, I don't always want to sit at a computer when I get home and write. I hope you all understand.
Thanks to for the winning suggestion of 'OmniVision'. And thank you all who gave suggestions and feedback. :)