Part VIII
Ten couldn't believe her ears. She was still in her dress robes, and was now stood in her grandfather's office. Obviously he had wanted a word with her and spoke to her after the ball ended.
"But… why now?" she asked.
"Because we need him here as soon as possible, and I will not let you take two weeks off school just to brew a potion," Dumbledore sighed.
"What about Harry?"
"He has been invited to stay at the Burrow for Christmas. I told Molly about your mission, and although she was disappointed that you won't be able to come, she understands the circumstances and sends you her mince pie." Dumbledore was smiling now, at the sound of the mince pie, no doubt.
"Grandfather, you know this is my first Christmas here at Hogwarts as well as with Harry," the heiress whined.
"And you will have another opportunity next year," he waved his hand, interrupting her.
"No fair," she grumbled. Dumbledore got up from his seat behind his desk and walked around towards his only living relative. He leaned down, to be levelled with her.
"If you do this, I'll be forever grateful, Harry will be more than grateful and you won't have to do it ever again," he whispered, pecking her forehead.
"Still no fair," she pouted. The headmaster chuckled. He waved his wand and a rucksack appeared beside the girl's feet. She looked up at him in horror.
"Your bag is packed. There are some ingredients you will need in here. Return to Dumbledore Manor and proceed straight to the potion at once. Remus will be there for your company. And if all goes well, you should be done within two weeks time."
Ten sighed, defeated. "Yes, sir," she grumbled. "I'll owl you as soon as the potion is done." The young girl got up and pecked her grandfather on the cheek. Stroking Fawkes' head, Ten strode towards the fireplace.
She picked up a handful of powder and threw it into the fireplace. The scarlet and gold flames flashed into emerald green and she stepped into it.
"Dumbledore Manor!" she cried and vanished with a soft whooshing sound.
"Good luck, Tenebrae," he whispered. He strode to Fawkes and stroked his head before stroding back to sit at his desk.
-00-
"You haven't seen her since the ball?"
"If you ask that once more," said Harry, "I'm going to stick this sprout-"
"I'm only checking!" said Ron. They were standing alone at The Burrow's kitchen sink, peeling a mountain of sprouts for Mrs Weasley. Snow was drifting past the window in front of them.
"Yes. After the ball, Dumbledore asked her to join him in his office and I also asked Hermione if she returned to her dorm. She said no," said Harry, frowning to himself.
"And no note at all?"
"Nope," he shook his said, sighed and continued peeling the sprout in his hand. Silence ensue his word as the two continued their chores when the tremendous twins entered.
"Aaah, George, look at this. They're using knives and everything. Bless them," Fred's voice spoke.
"I'll be seventeen in two and a bit months' time," said Ron grumpily, "and then I'll be able to do it by magic!"
"But meanwhile," said George, sitting down at the kitchen table and pulling his feet up on it, "we can enjoy watching you demonstrate the correct use of a – whoops-a-daisy."
"You made me do that!" said Ron angrily, sucking at his cut thumb. "You wait! When I'm seventeen-"
"I'm sure you'll dazzle us all with hitherto unsuspected magical skills," yawned Fred.
At this moment, just when Ron was about to retort, Mrs Weasley made her appearance.
"Fred, George, I'm sorry, dears, but Remus is arriving tonight, so Bill will have to squeeze in with you two!"
"No problem," said George.
"Then, as Charlie isn't coming home, that just leaves Harry and Ron in the attic, and if Fleur shares with Ginny –"
"-that'll make Ginny's Christmas-"
"everyone should be comfortable. Well, they'll have a bed, anyway," said Mrs Weasley, sounding slightly harassed.
"Fleur's here?" asked Harry.
"Oh, didn't you know?" gasped Mrs Weasley. "Bill and Fleur are getting married."
"Oh," was all he could say.
"Anyway, Percy definitely not showing his ugly face, then?" asked Fred.
Mrs Weasley turned away before she answered.
"No, he's busy, I expect, at the Ministry."
"Or he's the world's biggest prat," said Fred, as Mrs Weasley left the kitchen. "One of the two. Well, let's get going, then, George."
"What are you two up to?" asked Ron. "Can't you two help us with these sprouts? You could just use your wand and then we'll be free too!"
"No, I don't think we can do that," said Fred seriously. "It's very character-building stuff, learning to peel sprouts without magic, makes you appreciate how difficult it is for Muggles and Squibs-"
"-and if you want people to help you, Ron," added George, throwing the paper aeroplane that he changed from the throwing knives Ron threw at him, "I wouldn't chuck knives at them. Just a little hint. We're off to the village, there's a very pretty girl working in the paper shop who thinks my card tricks are something marvellous… almost like real magic…"
"Gits," muttered Ron darkly, watching Fred and George setting off across the snowy yard. "Would've only taken them ten seconds and then we could've gone, too."
-00-
It was Christmas Eve and the Weasleys and their guests were sitting in the living room, which Ginny had decorated lavishly that it was like sitting in a paper-chain explosion. Fred, George, Harry and Ron were the only ones who knew that the angel on top of the tree was actually a garden gnome that had bitten Fred on the ankle as he pulled up carrots for Christmas dinner. Stupefied, painted gold, stuffed into a miniature tutu and with small wings glued to its back, it glowered down at them all, the ugliest angel Harry had ever seen, with large baldhead like a potato and rather hairy feet. In fact he had seen an even more beautiful angel but she was currently absent for the past week.
They were all supposed to be listening to a Christmas broadcast by Mrs Weasley's favourite singer, Celestina Warbeck, whose voice was warbling out of the large wooden wireless. Fleur, who seemed to find Celestina very dull, was talking so loudly in the corner that a scowling Mrs Weasley kept pointing her wand at the volume control, so that Celestina grew louder and louder. Under cover of a particularly jazzy number called 'A Cauldron Full of Hot, Strong Love', Fred and George started a game of Exploding Snap with Ginny. Ron was starting to shoot Bill and Fleur covert looks, as though hoping to pick up tips to use on Hermione. Meanwhile Remus Lupin, who was thinner and more ragged-looking than ever, was sitting beside the fire, staring into its depths as though he could not hear Celestina's voice.
'Oh, come and stir my cauldron,
And if you do it right
I'll boil you up some hot, strong love
To keep you warm tonight.'
"We danced to this when we were eighteen!" said Mrs Weasley wiping her eyes on her knitting. At that point there was a loud explosion as Fred's face was blackened. The whole room laughed and Bill and Fleur took this chance to sneak out of the room and upstairs, no doubt wanting a private 'quality' time together.
Suddenly, the gold and scarlet flames turned to green and Tonks appeared from the fireplace, spilling little amount of ash onto the carpet.
"Tonks!" cried Mrs Weasley. "Welcome. You want something to eat?"
"No thank you, Molly," interrupted the young metamorphasus. "I just need a quick word with Remus."
At the sound of his name, Remus got up and walked behind Tonks into the kitchen, where they spoke in a hush voice. The music on the wireless radio continued to play.
'Oh, my poor heart, where has it gone?
It's let me for a spell…'
"Is everything alright?" Remus asked, concerned in his voice.
"The potion is almost finished. I thought you should know that, but I'm worried about Ten," frowned Tonks. "She hasn't slept; eat nor drink at all for the past week and she's growing weak from time to time. She's almost into tears."
"Maybe at the fact that she's not enjoying her Christmas. I'll come with you," nodded the werewolf and quickly peck her lips. He turned around and strode back into the living room as Tonks looked at the ground blushing lightly before following him.
"I'm really sorry, Molly, but there's something we need to do for Dumbledore," spoke Remus apologetically.
"Oh. Well nice of you to come then. And you Tonks. Take care and Merry Christmas," said Mrs Weasley.
The two of them bid their goodbyes and 'Merry Christmas' and disappeared through the fireplace with a soft whooshing sound.
-00-
In a very brightly lit room, there was a whooshing sound and two small thuds. Remus and Tonks emerged from the fireplace of Dumbledore Manor and entered the ballroom. Brushing off the ashes, they swiftly walked down to the basement and arrived at a dead end that has only one door. Remus placed his hand on the handle and turned, pushing the door.
A slight foul smell and a room filled with mist and smoke greeted the sight of the two qualified couple, barely able to see a young girl bending over a table. Tonks quickly closed the door behind her and walked over to the girl.
"Everything alright, Ten?" she asked.
Said girl looked up, smiling tiredly. "Yeah," she yawned. She added a few drops of her own blood, sliced from her wrist. Once the requiring drops of blood were added, she used her wandless magic and healed the cut on her wrist. Remus examined the potion and walked over to his goddaughter. Hugging her tight from behind he whispered, "You're doing a great job."
"It's almost done," the heiress nodded. "It should be ready by tomorrow. I've done everything it asked non-stop, so instead of two weeks, I barely done it within a few days."
"Your grandfather will be so proud of you, hun," smiled the pink-haired woman.
The heiress nodded and stirred the potion, seven times clockwise then seven times anti-clockwise. She reached out and grabbed a small jar that held lilac coloured powder. Opening the lid and digging two fingers, Ten added a pinch of the substance into the cauldron. There was a small bang and huge smoke erupted.
"It's done," she yawned. "All we have to do is go back to the Department of Mysteries and bring him back." She smiled at the couple tiredly.
"Well done, Princess," spoke Remus softly. "Of to bed you go. We'll send a letter to your grandfather and store the potion into a vial."
"Thank you. Night," and with that, the heiress went straight to her bedroom on the second floor. With a click of her fingers she changed into her nightclothes. She fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow, drifting away into the dream world.
-00-
A loud squeal made it's way throughout The Burrow. Harry woke up with a start to find a bulging stocking lying over the end of his bed. He put on his glasses and looked around; he tiny window was almost completely obscured with snow and in front of it Ron was sitting bolt upright in bed and staring at his door.
"What was that?" asked Harry.
"I don't know," said Ron. "Let's finish opening our presents and then go downstairs and find out. Must be Ginny squealing something. Could be something that Dean gave her."
"You never know," shrugged Harry.
Harry's present included a sweater with a large Golden Snitch worked on to the front, hand-knitted by Mrs Weasley, a large box of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes products from the twins and a slightly damp, mouldy-smelling package which came with a label reading: 'To Master, From Kreacher'.
Harry stared at it. "D'you reckon this is safe to open?" he asked.
"Can't b anything dangerous, all of our mail's still being searched at the Ministry," replied Ron, though he was eyeing the parcel suspiciously.
"I didn't think of giving Kreacher anything! Do people usually give their house-elves Christmas presents?" asked Harry, prodding the parcel cautiously.
"Hermione would," said Ron. "But let's wait and see what it is before you start feeling guilty."
A moment later, Harry had given a loud yell and leapt out of his camp bed; the package contained a large number of maggots.
"Nice," said Ron, roaring with laughter. "Very thoughtful."
Everyone was wearing new sweaters except Fleur (on whom, it appeared, Mrs Weasley had not wanted to waste one) and Mrs Weasley herself, who was sporting a brand new midnight-blue witch's hat glittering with what looked like tiny star like diamonds, a spectacular golden necklace.
"Fred and George gave them to me! Aren't they beautiful?"
"Well, we find we appreciate you more and more, Mum, now we're washing our own socks," said George waving an airy hand. "Parsnips, Remus?"
"Harry, you've got a maggot in you hair," said Ginny, cheerfully, leaning across the table to pick it out.
"'Ow 'orrible," said Fleur, with an affected little shudder.
"Yes, isn't it?" said Ron. "Gravy, Fleur?"
In his eagerness to help her, he knocked the gravy boat flying; Bill waved his wand and the gravy soared up in the air and returned meekly to the boat.
"You are as bad as zat Tonks," said Fleur to Ron, when she had finished kissing Bill in thanks. "She is always knocking-"
"Speaking of Tonks, where is she?" asked Mrs Weasley, setting down the carrots with unnecessary force and glaring at Fleur.
"I'm here!" someone cried from the hallway and no doubt Tonks made her appearance, with mousy brown hair and unusual midnight blue eyes. "Sorry I'm late. Had to do something quickly. Merry Christmas everybody."
There was a round of 'Merry Christmas' from majority of the table as she placed
herself next to Remus. There was a sound of clattering as everyone passed the bowl to each other and taking a small portion of each and every food Mrs Weasley had delighted made on this joyous day when…
"Arthur!" cried Mrs Weasley suddenly. She had risen from her chair; her hand was pressed over her heart and she was staring out of the kitchen window. "Arthuer- it's Percy!"
"What?"
Mr Weasley looked round. Everybody looked quickly at the window; Ginny stood up for a better view. There, sure enough, was Percy Weasley, striding across the snowy yard, his horn-rimmed glasses glinting in the sunlight. He was not, however, alone.
"Albus!"
And sure enough the headmaster of Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry was following along in Percy's wake, holding a body in his arms and his black travelling cloak flecked with snow. Before any of them could say anything, before Mr and Mrs Weasley could do more than exchange stunned looks, the back door opened and there stood Percy.
There was a moment's painful silence. Then Percy said rather stiffly, "Merry Christmas, Mother."
"Oh, Percy!" cried Mrs Weasley, and she threw herself into his arms.
Albus Dumbledore paused in the doorway and smiled as he observed this affecting scene.
"You must forgive this intrusion," he said, when Mrs Weasley looked round at him, beaming and wiping her eyes. "I saw Percy on my way here and well, he couldn't resist dropping in and seeing you all."
But Percy showed no sign of wanting to greet any of the rest of the family. He stood, poker-straight and awkward-looking, and stared over everybody else's heads. Mr Weasley, Fred and George were all observing him, stony-faced.
"Please, come in, sit down, Albus!" fluttered Mrs Weasley, straightening her hat. "Have something to eat.
"No, no, my dear Molly," said Dumbledore. "I don't want to intrude anything. We've only looked in for five minutes, so I'll have a stroll around the yard while you catch up Percy. No, no I assure you I don't want to butt in!"
Mrs Weasley nodded, and stepped aside. Percy walked in hesitantly. Smiling up at the headmaster, Mrs Weasley looked at the bosy in his arms. She let out a small squeal. Everyone snapped out of their glaring and turned to her.
"Oh, dear. Ten!"
"It's ok, Molly," said Dumbledore, reassuringly. "She's just sleeping. Don't worry. Just have some time with Percy, while I stroll around your garden."
"Sir!"
Everyone turned to look at Harry.
"Can I come with you?" he asked.
"Of course Harry. Come."
Abandoning his finished dinner, Harry got up and was out of the kitchen door, walking alongside his headmaster. Dumbledore stood back to let Harry pass through the door ahead of him.
"We'll just take a turn around the garden and then I'll be off. Carry on, everyone!"
Harry walked across the yard towards the Weasleys' over-grown, snow-covered garden, Dumbledore walking at his side. He was still holding Ten's limp body in his arms. Harry took a glance at the figure from the corner of his eyes from time to time. He was somehow feeling, angered, worried and upset. He didn't know which emotions to choose from. The two wizards continued to walk in silence, until they came to a small bench.
Albus Dumbledore sat down with gratefulness, shifting Ten's body in his arm to a more comfortable position. Harry sat down next to him. His hands were itching to touch her, to hold her. After all it has almost been a week.
"Sir?" Harry spoke quietly.
"You want to hold her?" asked Dumbledore, looking at him as if he was reading his mind. Harry looked down to the ground and nodded. The headmaster smiled and passed the figure to him. Harry held her in a comfortable position with gratefulness in his eyes as he looked over at her pale face.
"She's pale!" Harry choked.
"Natural, if you haven't slept nor eaten for days," answered the heiress's grandfather.
"Why?" green orbs looked up to meet a tired blue orbs.
"That, Ten will explain in her own times."
They stayed quiet.
-00-
Ten felt a different change of temperature. The warmth she enjoyed of her grandfather's presence was different to what she was feeling now. The warmth was familiar but it was hard to place, as if she hasn't felt it in years. She wanted to lie down, sleep until the end of the holidays, but curiosity got the better of her. Ten fluttered her orbs open to gaze into a face.
"Harry?" she whispered, the first face she saw in her mind. Said boy looked down at her and smiled widely.
"Hey," he grinned. "You ok?"
The heiress nodded and wrapped her arms around his neck, giving him a hug.
"I missed you," she pouted. Harry chuckled.
"I missed you, too,"
They parted from their hug and Ten rest her head on his shoulder, almost snuggling into him.
"Hope you don't mind me interrupting," the headmaster spoke softly. "If you
want, you can stay here if, and only if, Mrs Weasley lets you. If not then you must return to Dumbledore Manor for the night."
His granddaughter nodded. Giving a peck to her cheek, Albus Dumbledore got up and walked back into the Weasley's kitchen to have a word with Mrs Weasley.
"Is that where you've been since the holiday began?" asked Harry.
"Yeah. I wanted to tell you, but grandfather wouldn't let me. He said it was top secret and that I shouldn't tell anyone, at all," sighed the brunette.
"It is for the order. It's ok, I understand." He hugged her once more.
"Can we go inside, please?" asked Ten after some times. Harry got up at her request, bringing her frame with him and walked her back to the warm kitchen.
"Ten! Would you like something to eat?" asked Mrs Weasley as soon as the kitchen door creaked open.
"No, thank you, Mrs Weasley. I just want to sleep."
"Harry, would you mind and placing her into a bedroom?" she asked the boy-who-lived.
"Not a problem," he answered and lead Ten to the foot of the stairs. From there he picked her up bridal-style and took her to his bedroom, placing her gently onto his bed. He watched her sleep peacefully, a smile on his face before he turned around to walk away. But his hand was trapped.
"Don't go, please," someone whispered.
"I wouldn't leave you," he whispered back and he turned around. He brought her hand that caught his and kissed her knuckles, watching her all the time. Ten opened her sapphire eyes half way.
"Can you stay with me?" she asked innocently.
"Always," was the reply she got. The heiress moved to a sitting position giving enough space for Harry to sit behind her and he placed his arms around her, bringing her up to him between his legs. Burying her face at the crook of his neck, Ten let out a tired sigh before falling into a deep sleep. At the same time, Harry started his motion in stroking her soft hair.
-00-
That night, everyone was back into the sitting room, where a fireplace was lit, giving enough heat; tinsels and lights glimmered and glittered against the chandelier and the ugly angel was still on top of the Christmas tree. Ten, who was feeling more wide-awake then earlier during the day quirk an eyebrow at the angel,
"A garden gnome?" she asked. Harry sweatdropped and shrug as he took her to a spot on the couch.
"Ginny managed to grab a gnome from the garden and dressed him up as an angel. When I first saw it, I laughed at the ugliness."
Ten giggled, the sparkle in her eyes shining with amusement. Harry let out a soft sigh and pulled her close to him, making her sit on his lap. Ten smiled widely and rested her head on his shoulder, snuggling into him, her arms around his neck.
"I missed this," she muttered.
"I missed it, too," nodded Harry, his grip tightening. A tray filled with plates of fruits floated around the room, supervised by Mrs Weasley and every member of the family including guests each took a plate. Ten got off Harry and sat down beside him, or else the poor guy will choke. Not that she want him too (XD).
The plate contained pieces of apples, pears and peaches along with slices of kiwi, pineapples and melons. At the side was a blob of cream as a side dish. This was practically their first course of desert. According to Mrs Weasley, there was more to come. Ten groaned inaudibly. Harry, looked at her and chuckled.
"With Mrs Weasley around, you're bound to be over fed," he chuckled.
Ten glared at him, but smiled nevertheless; she couldn't stay mad at him for too long.
Music began to blast around the room as Mrs Weasley waved her wand and a slow type of music was played. Several couples, such as Bill and Fleur, Tonks and Remus and Mr and Mrs Weasley were on the dance floor waltzing around. Ron cooked up a courage and asked Hermione to dance which she gladly accepted with a redden face. Ten giggled and sigh, resting her head on her lover's shoulder, feeling at home with him beside her.
"You want to dance?" he whispered, resting a hand on top of hers. Ten looked up to his striking emerald green eyes she always adore and smiled, giving him her immediate nod. They both got up and walked to the dance floor, Harry's hands resting over her waist as she placed her own hands on his shoulder.
"This is the best Christmas I ever had," the boy-who-lived sighed.
"How come?" frowned the heiress.
"Well, the first three years was just staying at Hogwarts, the fourth year was the Yule Ball, the fifth year, I went to see Mr Weasley in the hospital because he was bitten by a snake and this year... I have you, right here in my arms, dancing gracefully to this song," he whispered.
Ten cracked a smiled and pecked on his lips lightly and quickly. As she pulled away, the owner of the green-orbs frowned and leaned forward swiftly, capturing her lips in a soft long kiss. Ten closed her eyes and moaned inaudibly, melting in his arms. Harry tightened his grip, sighing against her lips at the familiar feeling.
He brought one of his hands up and run through her hair, gently tilting her head back. With that motion, the wetness over her lips, Ten opened her mouth eagerly as they deepened the kiss. The moan was soft and quiet as their tongue touched. It wasn't long until they had to break, cursing for needing the air. They chuckled quietly at that.
"Ten?" someone called.
Said girl turned to see Remus smiling and Tonks grinning at her.
"It's time," he continued. Nodding, Ten quickly pecked Harry on the lips and followed the couple out of the room.
"Present time!" Mrs Weasley cried. Everyone stopped what he or she were doing and gathered around the Christmas tree, excited. One-by-one they reached for a present, reading the tag name; if it was theirs, they open it. If not then they pass it to the occupant. The remaining presents were from certain members of the orders: Professor Dumbledore sends boxes of sweets, as did Hagrid; Professor McGonagoll send them Christmas cards and Ten send them all variety of presents to suit each person's happiness. Except one. Harry's heart was beating very fast as he saw everyone received gifts from Ten but he came to realise he didn't have one.
"Looking for this?" someone said at the doorway. Everyone turned to see a huge box beside Ten who was grinning at Harry.
"For a minute there, I thought you would have forgotten," he sighed, letting out a breath he held.
"You wish. You're the first one on my list, scarhead," Ten giggled.
"Very funny,"
The boy-who-lived got up and slowly walked towards his present.
"Can I ask what's inside?"
"Open it to find out," the heiress of Dumbledore rolled her eyes.
Grinning sheepishly, Harry pulled the strings of the ribbon and watched with a beating heart as the box opened up. Then everything came so fast, it was almost a blur. The strings were undone. The box opened. Something black exited the container and jumped on top of Harry, licking his cheeks.
Harry giggled and laughed, trying to push whatever it was off him. Getting into a sitting position and adjusting his crooked glasses, Harry turned to see a black shaggy dog, barking happily at him.
"Sirius?!" Harry gaped.