Chapter 19

On Christmas morning, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny exchanged presents before Harry went to his godfathers' apartment in the staff wing of the castle. His parents and grandparents were already there, enjoying iced buns and hot chocolate.

Harry knew that his parents had left him a small fortune in a Gringott's vault, but Sirius had never allowed him to use the gold contained in it. He insisted on Harry saving it for when he was older and only allowed his tuition for school to come out of the vault. Sirius gave Harry an allowance and bought books, clothes, school supplies, and whatever he needed. This year, however, Harry wanted to buy presents for everyone, so Sirius had taken him to the vault so he could withdraw some galleons.

Harry had never seen so much gold in one place. He had filled two bags, and then he and Sirius went shopping. Because he knew his parents and grandparents were going to be at the Yule Ball, Harry wanted to buy them all dress robes for Christmas. Sirius suggested that they go in together to get them, so they bought everyone, including Remus, a new set of robes.

The mens' robes were black. His grandmother's was gold, and his mother's was silver. Selecting the right style for his mother had been difficult, since the baby made her stomach stick out in front, but Sirius had talked to Madam Malkin about the dress, and she had helped them select one with a high waist and flowing skirt. They had bought shoes to match, and Harry couldn't wait to see his parents wearing their new clothes at the ball.

"Do you know how to do Wizarding dances, Daka?" he asked, watching his father examine the robe.

His father smiled. "I have seen Wizards dance. They just hold on to each other and move their feet back and forth."

His mother laughed at him. "He can dance, Sethrael. Do not worry. I will have him dancing until his feet hurt."

"Which will not be very long in these shoes," his father said, eyeing his new pair skeptically.

"Metha, will you dance with me, too?" Harry asked.

"How could I refuse to dance with the most handsome man at the ball?" she asked.

"And don't forget your grandmother, Sethrael," Queen Thespa said. "I want to dance with the most handsome man, too."

Sirius cleared his throat. "Actually, I have it on good authority that I'll be the most handsome man at the ball."

"And whose authority would that be?" Remus asked. "Rita Skeeter's?"

Sirius raised an eyebrow at him. "A gentleman never tells."

"And neither does Uncle Sirius," Harry said with a grin.

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Harry and Ron waited nervously at the bottom of the steps leading to the girl's dormitory. In their hands, they held wrist corsages that Sirius had helped them pick out for their dates.

"Did Hermione teach you to dance?" Harry asked.

"Yeah," Ron said. "But my feet are so big, I almost broke her foot a couple of times."

Harry grinned. "I gave Ginny a few sore toes, too, before I finally learned. I think I'll be okay, though."

The girls walked down the staircase together. Hermione's dress robes were a deep rose. She wore matching earrings and a necklace. Her hair had been pulled back into a smooth twist. She looked older than fourteen and very beautiful. Ron almost dropped the corsage when he saw her.

Harry stared at Ginny in awe. Her emerald green dress robes emphasized her auburn hair, which had been pulled back at the sides and hung in loose curls down her back. Small tendrils curled softly around her face. Like Hermione, she wore just enough make-up to accentuate the blush of her cheeks and color of her lips. She was stunning.

Harry placed the corsage of small white roses on her wrist. The ribbon was the color of her dress. "You look beautiful," he said.

Ginny smiled. "And you look very handsome."

Harry took her hand and placed it on his arm. "I was told that I will be the most handsome man at the ball," he said. "But my mother can be a bit biased at times."

Ginny laughed as they followed Ron and Hermione down to the Great Hall.

The large room had been decorated to look like an ice palace. The student tables had been removed and replaced with small round ones covered in white linen. Red poinsettias served as the centerpiece for each table. The plates and cutlery were gold, and the goblets were crystal.

The middle of the room had been kept free to use as a dance floor. The dais on which the staff table usually set had become a stage for musicians. There were chairs and stands for a small orchestra. On each side of the stage stood a Christmas tree. Larger trees decorated every corner of the room.

Harry and Ginny were instructed to wait outside with the other champions and their partners while everyone else entered the Great Hall. At last, when the orchestra was seated and began to play, the champions filed in and went directly to the dance floor where they began a waltz.

He thought he would be nervous with everyone watching, but with Ginny looking into his eyes, he soon forgot that anyone was there. "You're doing great," she said. "You've become a really good dancer, Harry."

"Thanks to you," he said, swirling her around.

Soon, others joined the champions on the dance floor, and he saw his parents and grandparents dancing. Having grown up in the Elven Realm, he had never really noticed the beauty of his people. He knew his parents and grandparents were handsome, but he had taken it for granted. Now, seeing them among Wizards, the difference was staggering. All eyes seemed to gravitate to the two beautiful couples, and he felt his heart swell with pride.

"They're beautiful, Harry," Ginny said, and he saw that she was watching his parents.

He smiled. "Yes, they are, aren't they?"

After a few dances, they moved to the tables to have dinner. Harry and Ginny shared a table with Ron, Hermione, Neville, Luna, Seamus, Lavender, Dean, and Pavarti. He noticed that his parents and grandparents sat with Sirius, Remus, Dumbledore, McGonagall, Flitwick, and Madam Pomfrey.

After dinner, Harry danced with his mother and grandmother while Ginny danced with his father and grandfather. But the rest of his dances were with Ginny. Although his mother was great with child, she was the belle of the ball. He watched her dance with Draco, his godfathers, Professor Dumbledore, and even Professor Snape. He began to worry that she was on her feet too much and glanced at his father who was also watching her with concern.

When she sat down at last, Harry was relieved to see her resting. He was sure his father and grandmother would convince her to stay off her feet for the rest of the night. He hoped so, anyway. She was beginning to look tired.

He and Ginny had sat down to rest a moment and have something to drink when he saw his parents and grandparents leave the Great Hall. He looked at the large clock that hung above the dais and saw that it was only 9:00 pm.

"Harry," Sirius said, coming to their table. He leaned over and whispered in his ear, "Your mother is in labor. We're going to the hospital wing."

Harry looked toward the doors and saw Madam Pomfrey and Professor Snape leaving. "But the baby's not due for another month," he said.

"Sometimes, they come early. Come on. Let's go."

Harry stood up and started to leave, then turned back to Ginny. "Ginny, my mother is having the baby. I have to go to the hospital wing."

She squeezed his hand. "Go on, Harry. I'll tell Ron and Hermione."

"Thanks." He hurried out of the room with Sirius and Remus.

Even before he got to the doors leading into the hospital wing, he heard groans of pain coming from his mother. Ignoring his godfathers' protests, he flung the doors open and went in.

Screens had been drawn around one of the beds, and the others were empty, so Harry knew where his mother was. Without hesitating, he walked around the screen and into the area where his mother lay. His father sat on a chair beside her, holding her hand and wiping her forehead with a wet cloth. Queen Thespa and Madam Pomfrey were standing near the foot of the bed, covering the lower half of his mother with a sheet.

"Mr. Potter!" Madam Pomfrey scolded. "This is not the time . . ."

"It is all right," his mother said, holding out her hand to him. He went to the opposite side of the bed and took her hand and raised it to his lips to kiss it.

"How do you feel, Metha?" he asked, pulling an empty chair close to the bed and sitting.

She forced a smile. "It is . . . painful," she said. "But your potions professor is bringing something that will help."

Mithrael wiped the perspiration from her forehead. "Our daughter wanted to dance for herself," he said, smiling gently. "She will be like her methara."

"I hope she will be as beautiful," Harry said.

His mother shut her eyes tightly, trying to fight the pain. Harry looked across at his father, who continued to wipe her forehead with the wet cloth. Harry could see that he was trying to hide his worry.

Harry squeezed his mother's hand, determined not to move until he knew that she and his sister were both well. "I am going to stay," he said to no one in particular.

His parents looked at him, then his father gave a nod, and his mother gave him a faint smile.

Professor Snape entered the room carrying a goblet. His eyebrows rose when he saw Harry, but he stayed silent. He handed the goblet to Mithrael. "It will ease the pain," he said.

Mithrael and Harry helped Elsbeth sit up enough to drink the potion, then she lay back against the pillow and smiled. "That is much better," she said. "Thank you, Professor Snape. I am very grateful."

He nodded. "I am glad it helped. If you need more, let Madam Pomfrey know, and I'll bring it up right away."

"Thank you. I will."

"It is time to push, Elsbeth," Queen Thespa said, folding the sheet up to her knees.

"Perhaps Harry would like to step outside," Madam Pomfrey said.

Harry turned to his mother. "May I stay, Metha? I will not get in the way."

His mother nodded, and Madam Pomfrey huffed irritably.

Ten minutes later, Harry wished he had stepped outside, but it was too late now. His mother pushed until her face turned scarlet, then she would catch her breath for a moment and push again. Harry decided that he didn't want to have any children if this is what it took to get them. He had a feeling his father was thinking the same thing.

At last, the tiniest cry came from the foot of the bed. His grandmother picked up the small bundle and wiped it with a towel, then wrapped it in a blanket and placed it in his mother's arms. All Harry could see was a bit of white fuzz on the top of a strangely shaped head. He didn't want to say anything, after what his mother had been through, but he was pretty sure something was wrong. He watched his father look down at the child, and when he saw tears fill his eyes, he was sure it. They had gotten a dud.

His father reached down and took the baby out of his mother's arms. He walked around the bed to Harry, then leaned down and placed the baby in his arms. Harry looked at the tiny face and ran his finger over the top of the small pointed ears. No. She wasn't a dud. She was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.

"Hello, Little Sister," he said softly. "I was going to scold you about all those nights you kept Metha awake, but she was right. You have wrapped my heart around your little finger." He leaned down and kissed her on both cheeks, then looked at his mother. "What is her name?"

"Coriel," she said. "Heart of Light."

He smiled down at the newborn baby. "Corry, I'm your big brother, Seth. You and I are going to have lots of fun together."

"Why don't you and your dakara go and introduce Corry to her grandfather and godfathers," Elsbeth said.

Harry handed his father the baby, and walked with him out into the area where the men were waiting. He was surprised to find Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Fred, George, Dumbledore, McGonagall, Flitwick, and Snape waiting also.

"I have a baby sister!" Harry announced happily as his father showed the baby around. "Princess Coriel, the most beautiful baby in all the world."

Ginny and Hermione ran to him and hugged him before going to his father to get a good look at the Elven infant.

Ron came up to him and spoke quietly. "Congratulations, Harry. Not to put a damper on your happiness or anything, but I've got a baby sister, too, and they're not all that great."

Harry laughed. "Oh, I don't know, Ron. I think your baby sister is fantastic."

Ron grinned and shook his head, then went over to take a look at the baby.