Claimer: I do own this fanfiction however.
Chapter 3
The Ghost of Christmas Present
A minute had passed and Voldemort still hadn't moved. He could hardly believe what he had witnessed. It was the oddest thing he had ever been through and he certainly hoped never again.
The Grandfather Clock rang 2:00 and now a new man step into the parlor. Voldemort almost roared at the trespasser for entering into his hideaway, but quickly stopped when he saw who it was.
He was a large man, half-giant, that was almost as tall as the parlor room and his head brushed against the ceiling, but he didn't seem to notice it. He wore a long green dress robe that reached down to his feet (It seemed impossible that a robe could comfortably fit someone of that size. He had a large wild beard and his eyes with warmth glistened like beetles.
"H-Hagrid!" Voldemort stuttered at his old classmate remembering that he was the one who got Hagrid expelled in his 6th year.
"Who is this 'ere Hagrid?" said the giant to Voldemort, "I am the Ghost of Christmas Present"
"But you're Hagrid!" said Voldemort to the presumed spirit.
"Is that who yeh see me as?"
"Yes"
"Is that who yeh 'ear me as?"
"Of course!"
"I am not 'is Hagrid and we have never met before Riddle, but yeh must have caused 'is Hagrid great trouble for yeh ter see me as him. As I told yeh before, 'I am the Ghost of Christmas Present'", said the Ghost calmly to Voldemort who stared with wide eyes at Hagrid-I mean the Ghost of Christmas Present.
"So what have you to show me?" asked Voldemort bitterly once absorbing the fact that the half giant somehow got in the house.
"Yeh see what yeh'll see and no 'ore", said the giant gruffly, "First stop, Lestranges"
"For Merlin's sake, why?" asked Voldemort.
"Ter see what yeh have missed when yeh've could have been feasting with yeh followers and doing what you're suppose ter do at Christmastide", said Christmas Present while the surroundings around them slowly dissolved into the Lestrange House.
The Lestrange House may be close to ruin, but every member of the party seemed to have a gay time. Every Death Eater and family members of them greeted each other and laughed together.
Voldemort had to admit he wished he was in the crowd. They were having a great time.
Then, Anvholo Lestrange stood up on a rickety chair and cleared his throat. Everyone turned their attention to him.
"Now that we have all gathered and chatted, I would like to make a toast!" he said and everyone automatically raised their glasses, "To our Dark Lord, even if he couldn't make it here tonight, for if it wasn't for him we wouldn't be here celebrating when he decided to let us of the night off-"Someone coughed as indicating that they doubted that and everyone laughed, "May he live long and have good health. To the Dark Lord!"
Everyone drank to this. Voldemort couldn't believe that they were toasting to him!
"Now that that is out of the way. Let's start this party!" he said right before the chair collapsed and he fell on the pieces.
Everyone gasped and there was an awkward silence before Anvholo fell into a fit of laughter which everyone followed. Bellatrix helped him up and they continued.
"I should have known better than to stand on an ancient chair. I have to admit my parents will not be pleased because it was an heirloom. You know that even though it is repaired it is never the same", Anvholo was ranting to one guest and Bellatrix "repairo" the chair as Christmas Present grabbed Voldemort's hand.
The party and laughter began to fade away to yet another place. Voldemort longed to stay.
"Why are we going?" he asked to Christmas Present.
"I have 'ore to show yeh", he replied.
"Where are we going now?" Voldemort asked.
"Ter the Weasleys", the half giant replied gruffly.
"The Blood Traitors?" Christmas Present gave him a piercing stare before talking.
"They are having a Christmas party at the Burrow with that group that's against yeh and yeh followers, The Order of the Phoenix", he explained, "I think yeh ought ter see"
Now Voldemort found himself in another party with all his enemies.
He saw everyone of the Order. "Mad-Eye" Moody with his revolting eye was talking to Remus Lupin who was holding his hand with-Voldemort guessed for she had bright pink spiky hair and hear very much of her from the reports from his Death Eaters- Nymnadora Tonks. He saw the real Rubeus Hagrid chatting with (A shred of guilt and jealously grabbed hold of him for a moment) his old sweetheart, Minerva McGonagall.
Along with lots of other Order Members, there were the red haired Weasleys. Molly Weasley was chatting with her husband Arthur Weasley while Molly watched uneasily at the magical clock that told where each member of the Weasley family was (Currently almost every arm with a name was in between "Mortal Danger" and "Home" while one arm was in between "Mortal Danger" and "Work". That arm soon changed to "Traveling" completely.). Charlie Weasley (the oldest Weasley son) joined Hagrid and Minerva. The Weasley twins, Fred and George, were laughing at Dedalus Diggle with Mundungus Flether because they had just gave him a Canary Cream; Diggle realizing what happened chuckled along with them while turning back into his normal self. Ginny Weasley was holding a tray of drinks and passing them out. But the other two he couldn't find.
Finally he found Bill Weasley with his new beautiful French wife, Fleur Weasley. While his wife was pretty, he had not a shred of handsomeness. Voldemort remembered his old face during previous battles before last June. He remembered being pleased at a report which Fenrir Greyback, a known dangerous werewolf, had deformed his face, but how badly Voldemort never knew. He winced was he look over Bill's new features.
"I see yeh have noticed Bill Weasley", said Christmas Present.
"Yes I have. How horrible it must be having to live like that", said Voldemort, but he caught himself before releasing the pity that bugged him from the bottom of his almost non-existent heart.
The front door behind him opened and Voldemort turned to see his most hated enemy.
Harry Potter was still the same. He had jet black hair and emerald eyes. In the middle of his forehead was his lightening bolt scar. He was now 17 and supported a black eye. Behind him were his most faithful friends.
Hermione Granger, mudblood, still had her trademark messy brown hair and brown eyes. She too had aged 17 and now had sort of crooked arm as if she broken it and there were black and blue bruises.
Voldemort had seen the last Weasley who was Ron Weasley with Granger and Potter. He had fiery red hair with blue eyes and numerous freckles. He didn't seem to have any serious injury at the first look, but you can see he seemed to have broken his nose. The whole party was delighted that the Golden Trio were finally there.
Then Minerva McGonagall had called attention just like Anvholo had did at the party, but she stood near the fireplace instead of trusting a chair (Which was just as impressing with her height). Everyone joyfully turned their attention to her.
"Well, Christmas time is the time to be thankful for events that have happened no matter how small or despairing they are. First off, let's toast to the Order of the Phoenix for keeping You-Know-Who at bay-" To Voldemort's displeasure, they toasted to this, "May it live and flourish.
"Second to Albus Dumbledore. Even as he rests peacefully in death he continues to inspire and guide us. May his name always command great respect.
"Third to Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley", the three blushed deeply which gained a few chuckles, "They will not inform me or anyone else what they have been doing, but they assure me that it's going along nicely. Good luck to their mission and I certainly hope those injuries heal.
"I believe that includes our toasts-" she said before someone interrupted.
Everyone turned their attention to Bill Weasley who continued speaking, "Excuse me Professor, but I believe we need to at least need to toast someone for a nice thing they have done tonight. Even if he is our enemy, I believe You-Know-Who deserves one for he has given us this night to celebrate with ourselves", he said grandly. Everyone seemed shocked to hear this, but murmured agreements.
"Fourth to You-Know-Who, but rather reluctantly. We thank him for giving this free night to us to spend this night together as we celebrate our friendship and remind ourselves why we are fighting and who we are fighting for; for those who love", she ended while everyone toasted to this also before the party went into full swing.
They had actually toasted to him! The hated Lord Voldemort! He paid his attention to Bill Weasley who was chatting with a crowd along with his wife. He didn't know why Bill bothered because after all wasn't it Voldemort who had given Fenrir permission to rip the skin of anyone he pleased?
"I know what yeh're thinking", said Christmas Present to Voldemort, "Bill has always had a heart of gold. 'E was always kind to everyone and very playful. Even as 'e is now ugly and you would think 'e should be bitter, 'e is thankful for everything 'e has. Even the timeline of 'is life" Voldemort was confused by the ending sentence.
"What do you mean?"
"Yeh see 'is face? It is the worst thing ever. 'E can't survive it. The Healers have predicted 'is death in about a year or so. Luckily, there is been a treatment recently founded that works most of the time", explained Hagrid.
"So why is he deciding just to die?"
"'E has no choice. They have no money to pay for the surgery", concluded the ghost.
The scene started to fade away as Fred ate a Puking Pastille to show Mundungus their masterpiece of their pranks for the twins' prank store (Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes) which Molly scolded them for choosing to do it during the party.
Voldemort was now shrouded by mist and could only see the Ghost of Christmas Present now standing in front of him.
"I'll like yeh ter meet some people Riddle. Yeh been pretty close to this lot for the early years of yeh life, but never have yeh actually met them. The People who yeh tortured met them everyday now", said Christmas Present.
"Not more spirits!"
"Nope. They're emotions, Riddle", said Christmas Present like Hagrid waiting to show someone a new creature. Voldemort was confused by that.
"What?"
Three figures stepped into his range of sight. All three were short beggar boy triplets. One boy seemed scared by everything, one had a frightening look in his eyes, and the last seemed like he lost everything in the world.
"I would like yeh ter meet Fear, Terror, 'n Despair, Riddle", said Christmas Present, "Nobody should ever have to met this lot like the way yeh 'flict upon innocent people.
"Now off we go yeh lot" Christmas Present, Fear, Terror, and Despair walked in the mist leaving Voldemort behind.
Now Voldemort found himself in the middle of his parlor as the clock announced 2:59.