"Over here!" said Rose, waving to her father as she, Hugo, and Scorpius walked towards Ron onto Platform 9 and 3/4's, while Al had exited the train on another car with his siblings. Upon seeing his daughter, Ron started grinning ear-to-ear as he walked towards them through the crowd of reunited students and their families.
"Where's Mum and the little monster?" asked Hugo.
"Both taking a kip," said Ron. "Hattie has been stroppy all day and your poor mum was knackered from dealing with her."
"So, are we having takeaway tonight?' asked Hugo.
"Hugo!" said Rose, taking her knitted cap and slappin his shoulder.
"Oi! It's a joke, you lunatic!" retorted Hugo.
"Oh bollocks!" groaned Scorpius, referring to Ulysses Gamp and Troy Charmer walking over to the group. Immediately Ron's grin dissolved into a frown. Rose felt her father's hand's tighten around her shoulders just as she felt her hands nearly ball up into fists.
"Hello, Weasley," said Gamp.
"Ulysses Gamp," said Ron curtly. "What are you doing here, you miserable little toad?"
"Well, since your friend Potter had this poor boy's father wrongfully imprisoned," said Gamp. "He will be staying at my place until his father is placed on house-arrest."
"House-arrest?" asked Rose incredulously. "Why should he be allowed on house-arrest?"
"Because he's never been in trouble before, my dear," replied Ulysses. "There's no reason why he can't spend Christmas with his son.
"It's such a shame to not have your father home for Christmas," mocked Troy looking directly at Scorpius.
"Anyways," said Gamp, still ignoring Scorpius and looking up at Ron. "I hope the Weasley-Grangers have a brilliant Christmas."
"Sod off, Gamp," said Ron through his teeth. At that remark, Gamp gave a small laugh as he and Troy walked off, with Troy making a rude gesture.
"What a git," said Hugo. Normally, Rose would not have let Hugo say those words, but in this case she absolutely agreed with the statement.
On Christmas Eve, Molly Weasley panicked because she was missing some ingredients for the Christmas dinner. Rose volunteered herself, Al, and Scorpius to do the shopping in Ottery St. Catchpole.
The village was decorated their shops and homes with green garlands, red ribbons, and brassy bells. There was still some snow on the ground from the week prior, which was now a crunchy layer on the cobblestones streets. The flames from the street-lamps and candles in the windowsills illuminated the snow and turned the dark sky a deep navy color.
"Do we have everything?" asked Al, as Rose rummaged through the parcel he was carrying.
"Yes," said Rose, double-checking Al's bag. "We can head back now...wait, where's Scorpius?"
"Bloody hell," groaned Al, looking around for the boy. "Why did he choose tonight of all nights to wander off?"
"You check the town square, I'll check the end of the street," said Rose, running off to the other decorations.
Al was glad he wore his knitted green scarf and grey wool cap since the frigid air stung his cheeks. All he wanted was to get back to Burrow, put on his pyjamas, and drink warm Butterbeer with his cousins and siblings around the fire.
As Al walked into the town square, he could hear singing from the town's church. The church was a small space with a stocky bell tower and rusty red roof. The windows were the only bits of colour coming from the church. When he approached the center, which was empty as most people were inside on this chilly night, Al could see that the church doors were open. The warm and yellow light flooded out of the church, and within that light, Al could see a figure standing outside the door looking inside.
As he got closer to the church, Al could hear the soft and sweet sound of the choir, and the words become clearer.
Sweet child, born new
I am here for you
There is no need to fear
For sweet child, I am here
And wherever you are
Look upon the Star
For my child, I am here
There is no need to fear
"Scorpius?" asked Al, putting his hand on the back of Scorpius's black peacoat.
Scoprius didn't move or flinch as he felt his heart fill with sadness and hope. This was the first Christmas without them. Even though Scorpius didn't have siblings or close family members, somehow his parents always made Christmas special. When Scorpius was little, Draco took Scorpius sledding after a giant snow storm. They went up and down the hill so many times that Scorpius and Draco both fell asleep by the fireplace. The thought that somewhere in the country, perhaps his parents were thinking about those Christmases as well, made Scorpius hopeful of seeing them again one day.
"Hey, you okay?" asked Al, noticing his friend's red and watery eyes.
"Yea, fine," said Scorpius, rubbing his eye into his arm. "I miss them, Al."
"I know," said Al, feeling bad that Scorpius felt so alone on Christmas.
Just then, Rose joined them after her initial search of the shops down the street. When Rose saw Al and Scorpius outside the church, she refrained from yelling and calling their names. Rose could hear the music from the church, and even though she couldn't hear the words, she knew better than to ruin the serene scene surrounding the square. Quietly, Rose approached the boys, both entranced by the choir's vocals.
"How you ever been to a Christmas Eve Mass, Scorpius?" asked Rose.
"No," said Scorpius, softly. "No, I haven't."
"No one should be alone on Christmas," said Rose as she wrapped her right arm around Scorpius's left arm and put her hand on his shoulder.
"Which is why you have us," said Al, resting his left arm on Scorpius's right shoulder.
"Thanks," said Scorpius, still enthralled by the haunting yet beautiful music.
For my child, I am here
There is no need to fear