Friends and Family
Ron sat in the kitchen at Grimmauld Place, feet on the table, eating his third plate of bacon and eggs. Evan regarded him with a look of distaste as he shovelled the food into his mouth. Ron looked up and grinned apologetically through a mouthful of food.
"Sorry Evan," he said, swallowing the huge mouthful, "I haven't had time to eat properly this last week. Hermione has been at the Ministry all hours and every spare minute has been spent running around after Hugo, Alastor and Bathilda. To be perfectly honest I'm looking forward to Christmas, at least I know she'll be home for a few days."
"The investigations not going well?" said Evan, sympathetically.
"Not really," said Ron, between mouthfuls, "not that she can tell me much. There have been so many more attacks than the Prophet have been reporting, most of them muggles."
"Any pattern to where the muggles have been found?" asked Evan.
"Not really," shrugged Ron, "the only pattern is all the magical victims are found in Hogsmead. I reckon it's just where they dump them, most of them were from different parts of the country, but I have no idea why they are being dumped in Hogsmead."
"Blaise and Neville are keeping a look out as much as they can," said Evan, "but whatever it is has avoided detection so far."
"I'll feel better when Rose and the boys are home for Christmas," shuddered Ron, "I know Hogwarts is pretty safe, but you know how often it wasn't when we were there."
"Defences can be breached," nodded Evan, "I understand completely. At least we can relax a bit tomorrow once we collect them from the station."
"Relax?" Ron smirked, "With the Slythertwins, the Malfoy's and the Weasley family here for Christmas? You're hoping aren't you?"
"Believe it or not Ron," Evan smiled, "I actually prefer it when we're all together, however chaotic it is."
"Here was me thinking you hated children when you were a teacher." laughed Ron.
"Oh I did," smirked Evan, "most of you were intolerable dunderheads. Maybe I've mellowed over the years?"
"You mellow?" snorted Ron, spraying eggs over the table. "You made the new sales assistant in your apothecary cry for dropping a phial."
"I only glared a little." muttered Evan, mopping up some stray bits of egg with a napkin. "I'm much less scary these days."
Ron snorted again and sprayed more egg.
XXXXXX
Vernon Dursley sat in a grotty looking cafe in London, looking around anxiously as Dudley walked in. It was empty apart from the sullen looking woman behind the counter, reading a magazine. Dudley sat in the booth opposite and folded his arms, staring at his father. Vernon looked pale and his eyes kept darting to the door.
"Your mother doesn't know I'm here Dudders," he mumbled, "she's still being...difficult about Max being a...going to...about what Max is."
"Yeah?" said Dudley, sarcastically. "Because you're just so fine with it. If you can't even say the words wizard or magic how can you expect me to believe you can accept Max?"
"Dudders I'm trying," said Vernon, flinching at the words, "it's difficult to deal with. I don't want to lose you or the kids. I'm trying to be alright with it, really."
"After everything you did to Harriet," frowned Dudley, "the way you spoke to her. I can't have you do that to Max."
"I would never treat Max that way," Vernon spluttered, "he's my grandson!"
"Harriet is your niece!" snapped Dudley. "That didn't stop you from keeping her locked away, treating her like a slave, bullying and threatening her, making her feel like nothing!"
"You were a bully to her too!" Vernon snarled.
"Because I learned from you," Dudley yelled, causing the woman behind the counter to crane her neck, "you and mum. I'm trying to make it up to her, but you still don't see what you did wrong, do you?"
"Dudley sit down,down," said Vernon, as Dudley loomed over him, "people are watching."
"I really don't give a shit Dad!" growled Dudley. "You called me here to talk about Max, but you still don't get it. Whatever he is he's family first. It's just a shame it was Dianne that was the one who taught me that, it was supposed to be my parents."
"Dudley," said Vernon miserably, "I know I've let you down, and...and Harriet," he struggled to say the name, "but I really want to build bridges. I've got Christmas presents here for the kids and you and Di." he held up a big bag of wrapped gifts. "There is even a gift in there for H-Harriet and her family."
"What about Mum?" Dudley asked quietly, taking the bag from Vernon's shaking fingers.
"I'm trying to talk her round," muttered Vernon, "but she's not budging. She will eventually, just give me a chance."
"Okay Dad," Dudley nodded, "but I won't let her make Max feel how Harriet did. If she won't come round she's not welcome in my home."
"I understand son." said Vernon, swallowing visibly. As Dudley turned to leave Vernon spoke again, "Have a lovely Christmas son."
"We will Dad," he said, fixing Vernon with a sad look, "we're going to Harriet's. We think Max should experience a wizarding Christmas and we want to share in it with him. Maybe one day you will too."
As the door to the café swung shut Vernon looked over at the counter. The woman there suddenly became very busy cleaning the dirty counter with an even dirtier cloth. Vernon looked back at his cold cup of coffee and sank his face into his hands.
XXXXXX
Harriet arrived in the kitchen of Grimmauld Place just as Dudley and his family were dusting the soot from their clothing. It was Christmas Eve and she had just met them at the Leaky Cauldron so they could floo to the house. The kitchen was chaotic as Kreacher, Winky and their seven children busied themselves preparing to feed and entertain everyone. She led the Dursley's up the stairs to the entrance hall. A large wizarding painting hung at one end, of a man with messy black hair and a woman with red hair and green eyes. The residents of the painting smiled and waved as they passed.
"My parents," said Harriet sadly, "Evan had it commissioned for our First Wedding Anniversary." her hand brushed the frame lovingly as she went.
They followed her upstairs to the lounge door, tinsel and holly decorated the walls and pictures, and Harriet reached for the door handle. The door burst open and the two young children from the train station ran out giggling, followed by what looked like a very large dog with pure white fur. The dog chased the children up another set of stairs barking happily.
"Is he trained?" asked Dudley, nervously.
"Ginny's been trying for years," smirked Harriet, "but he still doesn't do everything he's told."
"Is that Ginny Malfoy's dog?" asked Dianne.
"It's her husband." laughed Harriet. She smiled at the confused faces, "Draco is a werewolf." she explained.
"Is he safe?" Dudley asked, turning pale.
"Oh completely," Harriet reassured them, "he took a potion years ago which means he controls it. He loves chasing around with the kids. The only problem is that Alastor and Bathilda get so over excited. Anyway, come in and meet everyone."
In the lounge it was packed, a high proportion of them were redheads. Harriet introduced them to Ron's parents and Narcissa Malfoy. Neville Longbottom and his wife Hannah, and Blaise Zabini all told Dudley and Dianne how well Max was doing at school. Albus wandered over to Max and Violet and led them over to a table in the corner where a noisy game of exploding snap was going on. The twins and Serpens were roaring with laughter at Orion's missing eyebrows while Rose and Hugo picked up the cards from the floor. Lily and Ruby dragged Violet off to play Gobstones with Lyra Malfoy, Ginny and Draco's youngest daughter, and little Alastor and Bathilda charged back in, still giggling and still pursued by Draco. Max took in the colourful wizarding decorations and huge Christmas tree with a grin, fairies fluttering around the tree casting twinkling lights. His eyes roamed hungrily around the room, stopping to absorb the sights and sounds of a wizarding Christmas.
His eyes came to rest on a boy he hadn't seen before. Sitting alone, curled up on an armchair with a huge book on his lap, was a boy with white-blonde hair, porcelain skin and bright blue eyes. He seemed apart from the noise and bustle around him, engrossed in his book. Max watched as he licked his index finger and carefully turned the next page.
"Cygnus Fabien Malfoy," said Ginny, standing next to him with her hand on her hip, "you promised to put the book down for a few hours. The whole family is here, the least you can do is try to join in."
"Sorry Mum," said Cygnus, a smile on his thin lips, "it's a really interesting book."
"You think all books are interesting." grinned Albus, as Ginny walked over to where the adults were talking.
Cygnus looked up and spotted Albus and Max. He slipped off the armchair and approached them, extending a hand to Max. His blue eyes scrutinised Max with a friendly smile, his high cheek bones made him look like a Hollywood child star. He flicked his hair off his forehead with his other hand, in an unconscious gesture, and his head tilted slightly.
"You must be Al's cousin Max," he said, shaking Max's hand, "I've heard all about you. I'm Cygnus, I start Hogwarts next year."
"Hi Cygnus," said Max, "how come you weren't at the train station in September?September?,"
"Grandma Malfoy let me in the Manor Library," he said, with a blush, "I didn't want to leave once I found all the books on rare magic."
"Our Cyg is a bit of a bookworm." explained Albus. "If he's not reading he's writing about what he's read."
"I like to know things," grinned Cygnus, "magic is fascinating when you research into it."
"Magic is even more fascinating when you are used to the muggle world." said Max. "I'd love to hear about some of the stuff you have read about."
"Really?" said Cygnus, with obvious excitement. "Can you tell me about the muggle world too? That's the only information I can't find in wizarding books. The average wizard just doesn't seem to know that much."
"I'll tell you as much as I can," said Max, "my sister Violet is the science expert though. She could probably tell you all about muggle science."
"Oh wow!" grinned Cygnus. "That would be great!"
"Later though," laughed Albus, "dinner will be ready soon. Once Cygnus gets talking about obscure spells and rare magic there's no stopping him."
"Let's go play exploding snap for a bit," said Cygnus, "after dinner I can show you the library here, it's got books on rare powers and spells that aren't found anywhere else."
XXXXXX
The children were all in bed, although probably not yet asleep, and the adults were sitting in the lounge having a well needed rest before the busy day ahead of them. Dudley sat with Ron, Evan and Draco in comfortable chairs around the fire. They had all had a few Firewhiskeys and were feeling comfortable.
"So what would you normally do at Christmas time?" Draco asked Dudley.
"We used to go and stay at my parents house one year, Di's parents the next and have them all to ours on the next." Dudley said.
"Used to?" frowned Evan. "Why don't you do that anymore?"
"I told my parents about Max going to Hogwarts," Dudley said, morosely, "Mum hit the roof and threw me out. Dad was slightly better, he sent presents, but Mum has said she doesn't want another wizard anywhere near her."
"She what?" growled Evan. "Her own grandson-"
"I haven't told him," Dudley said, quieting Evan, "I hope I don't have to and she comes to terms with it, but it's not looking likely." He frowned and shook his head, "For some reason she went even more nuts when I mentioned Harriet was married to you, does she know you or something?"
"Erm, my father," said Evan, uncomfortably, "he went to school with Harriet's mother. They were friends, but Petunia didn't like him. She probably recognised the surname."
"Probably." agreed Dudley. "Anyway, we thought Max would have more fun around his school friends and other wizards than at home this year."
"Plus you can avoid him finding out about your mother just yet." said Draco. "I'm sure she'll come round Dudley, just wait and see."
"I hope so," muttered Dudley, "but you don't know my mother."
He stared at the fire dejectedly, completely oblivious to the determined look on Evan's face.