AN- I've been writing all day. Pretty proud of my work.
He's the Christmas chapter. It felt weird writing this in June. Its almost the Summer Solstice where I am. Now that will be one hell of a party.
Well enough about my private life. Lets spy on Harry's.
Chapter 31
"Wow." Luna looked at the Thestral at the front of the cart. Harry smiled and fed the animal a strip of meat. The dark beak snapped up the food; all anyone else could see was the meat disappearing.
"They're called Thestals." He smiled at the creature. "They're gentle and really friendly." Harry pulled Neville's arm to stroke them.
Nevilles hand moved stiffly. "They're a bit…?"
"Different. I know. They're lovely animals." The Thestral spread his wings proudly.
"What are they looking at?" Draco asked.
"Can't you see them?" Neville asked and everyone else shook their heads.
"They can only be seen by people who have seen death; people who have seen someone die." Harry explained. "Beautiful aren't they."
"Yes they are." Luna smiled and let the creature nuzzle at the palm of her hand. "What do they eat?"
"Meat mostly." Harry explained as he lifted Luna and Ginny into the carriage. "Some crushed fruits and bugs. But mostly meat."
Luna spent the time on the train making her Preox charm in a compartment with Genevieve, Ginny and now a nervous Fray.
"Harry why don't you cut your hair?" Hermione asked.
"I like it longer. So I can tie it up- I'm fighting a losing battle trying to flatten it down." Hermione smiled looking at Harrys very wild hair.
Draco and Ron were playing with the chess sets that Harry gave them. Harry and Hermione discussed the Defence club. Hermione was insisting they planned out everything ready. Weeks before hand.
When they got off the train it didn't take more than ten seconds for Mrs Malfoy to find Draco. She hugged him in front of everyone.
"Hey, have a nice Christmas."
"Yeah you to Dray." Harry said as Draco was dragged off by his mother. She wanted to be assured he was completely alright.
"Oliver, Harry." Eleanor smiled at the boys. "How was school?"
"It was great mom. Harry won us the match against Ravenclaw. Seconds mom."
"Told you the new broom wasn't a waste of money." Harry smiled; Oliver had promised not to tell his mother about the snake incident. He understood now but was not in the least bit happy about it.
"Ah Hello Mrs Granger yes?" Eleanor asked.
"Lucy." Mrs Granger shook her hand and then so did Jack Granger.
"I'm Eleanor. So glad you're coming for the holiday. I miss the big Christmas' we used to have." Eleanor had four older and three younger siblings once. All four of her brothers died in the war as did one of her sisters. The one sister moved to marry a Wizard in Dumstrang; The town not the school. Vivian the youngest sister visited but had no partner or children of her own. Leslie himself was an only child.
"Hermione really wanted to see a big Wizard Christmas." Lucy smiled at the girl.
"Oh yes we'll have everything I promise. Oh and you must stay for the new year ball. Have you ever taken the Knight bus Lucy?" Eleanor said in one breath almost.
"Can't say I have."
"Come on Hermione. The Knight bus is awful; it'll be great." Harry encouraged Hermione to the side of the road.
"We just have to wait for Anna." Eleanor looked around for the woman.
"Gwen is over there." Oliver pointed to the Ravenclaw girl with her younger sister Genevieve; Luna's best friend.
"Ah yes Anna." Eleanor waved the woman and her children over.
"Hi Elle." The two woman embraced. "You taking the Knight bus home."
"Yes; This is Hermione Granger and her parents."
"So you're muggles. My Emmett; his grandfather was a muggle. I only met him once." She told them but her face dropped at the mention of her late husband's name.
"Yes well. They're joining us this Christmas."
"Finally getting your big Christmas?" Both witches smiled.
Harry and Oliver showed Hermione and Mr and Mrs Granger up to their guest rooms on the third floor. Oliver's aunt would be arriving the next day; she would take up the guest room downstairs.
"You know unless you want to use my trunk again." Hermione laughed and said the room was fine. Harry spent much of the days up till Christmas eve preparing everyone's presents.
"Meow." Zana rubbed against his side signalling to Harry it was time for a break.
"Don't worry girl; you're getting a present too." He smiled and kissed the kitten between the ears. She was now fully grown but Harry couldn't stop thinking of her as a baby. "Come on dinner should be soon."
Zana had barley left Harrys side since the first day at Hogwarts and followed dutifully at his heals. Her head held high and her tail swishing proudly full of her own importance.
Harry crossed the room to the library where Hermione was sitting talking through some of her lessons with her parents.
"Hey Hermione."
"Harry."
"Mrs Granger, Sir." Harry smiled at the two adults. "How are you?"
"Confused in all honesty." Jack Granger laughed.
"Dad I've explained it." Hermione smiled.
"I don't understand how you can change a living creature into an inanimate object."
Hermione brought out a quill and with a relatively simple spell she changed it into a white mouse. Zana took no time in chasing the creature and swallowing it. She walked back and looked up at her master; expecting praise.
"See dad?" Hermione asked as Harry patted the cat on the head. "And you owe me a quill."
"Sure." Harry rolled his eyes.
The Weasleys arrived through the floo with Luna. Her father was at a work Christmas party and would pick Luna up that evening. He was going to skip the party but Luna insisted he go. He was very important.
"Oliver." The Weasley twins hugged the captain tightly.
"Hey Harry, Hermione." Ron smiled at the two as Luna was hugged by Harry. "This is Bill."
"So you're the ones who got Ron here to beat my record?" The long haired Weasley smiled at the two children.
"He did most of it on his own." Hermione tilted her head to look up at the man. "What kind of tooth is that?"
"Baby Dragon- it was a gift from Charlie."
"Cool." Harry nodded. "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas."
Mrs Figg came next by Floo at about the same time that the Quinnin's came through the front door. Harry and Luna spilt to hug Genevieve and Mrs Figg.
"Hey Gran."
"Hi Harry. How have you been? I got your letters."
"I'm great. Come and meet Luna. She's strange and wonderful."
The day was amazing. Clo was a great house elf; she was lovely and worked more alongside Eleanor than for her. Food was always available; this was how the Woods celebrated. They didn't sit down for a meal as they did that every day. If you're hungry eat because food would be there.
"Here we go Gran." Harry blushed as she opened the present. She lifted up a patchwork blanket made of different coloured wool.
"Did you make this?"
"It was meant to be a jumper- it went a bit wrong. So you've umm got this instead."
"Harry this is amazing." The woman hugged him and folded the blanket up. "Thank you; how long did it take?"
"I started when I first came here and then I finished it last week- I think I went overboard… it's a bit big."
She smiled. "I definitely love it Harry."
"More than the teapot?"
"Ummm maybe about the same- but I'll definitely have this for longer." She was honest. "Here's yours."
Harry opened the box to find a muggle bike helmet. "Cool?"
She laughed. "I have the rest of the bike at my house. I thought as you can't fly when you visit me. You could ride a bike instead."
"Oh Gran thank you that's wonderful." He had never in all his lives owned a bike; it was a great present.
Harry gave Ron a Chudley Cannon uniform and Hermione got a magical camera. Harry brought Oliver a subscription to World Quidditch Weekly; he thought this would go well with his Quidditch Quarterly magazine. Bill got a nice posh knife and Percy got a wand holster. Arthur was fascinated talking to Mr and Mrs Granger; nothing would top that as a present. Molly, Eleanor, Gwendolyn and Genevieve all were given transfigured necklaces. They were pebbles at one point.
"Here we go Luna." Luna opened the tiny box to find a pair of earrings. She lifted one out so everyone could see the shining hair that was dangling like a tiny waterfall.
"Harry what are they."
"Kenezal hair earrings. I thought you could wear them on special occasions or something. Kenezal hair will guide you home."
"That's lovely Harry, Thank you."
"You're the only girl I know that will where earrings." He told her.
"Harry, well done."
"What?" Harry looked at Hermione with a deep amount of scepticism; he did not trust that tone one bit.
"Everyone loved their presents and you didn't spend a fortune on them."
Harry laughed and rolled his eyes. "No problem." The twins nodded. They would have to wait to use it but their Christmas present was more expensive than all of them. Weasleys Wizarding Wheezes.
AN- I've got a treat for you next Chapter. I've started it now so you should get it to tomorrow.
Remember to tell me what you think.
I read all my views out to my best friend. I really do love them that much. Until tomorrow. ~Tia
