Breakfast was a cheerful event for all of them. Albus got up early to make breakfast for his ladies and was rewarded with high praise for his lemon pancakes.
"That was wonderful Albus. Thank you so much!" Hermione felt just great this morning. Breakfast was delicious, big snow flakes resumed falling outside, covering the beautiful landscape and she would celebrate Christmas today with the dearest of people! What more could she wish for?
"You're very welcome my little one!" The old man, dressed in a blue robe with little Santa's on it, smiled happily.
Minerva raised an eyebrow at his comment. "My little one? Oh Hermione watch out, he is in his infamous Christmas mood." Although her mimic remained perfectly serious, her voice clearly showed her amusement.
"Minerva dearest, 'my sweet pea' would be Christmas mood. 'My little one' is just me being happy."
Hermione almost choked over her tea, while the older witch laughed hearty!
When she had calmed down, Minerva looked at them with a slight sadness in her eyes.
"Would you mind if I leave you alone for a few hours? I need to look for something upstairs and as tonight will be late, I think I should try to sleep for a while afterwards. I want to be well rested tonight after all."
Now it was Minerva's turn to choke over her tea, looking into the most astonished faces of her husband and young friend.
Hermione was the first to recover. "Of course, we wouldn't mind, Minerva! I think it would be a good idea for you to do that."
"Who are you and what did you do with my completely unreasonable wife? Is this your Christmas mood, love?" This woman never ceases to amaze him. Even after all these years.
"Maybe it is my Christmas mood." Minerva stood up and gave her husband a kiss, then turned to the girl and gave her a kiss on the cheek. When she reached the door she turned around to look at her very surprised family. "Or it is just me being grateful to have the two of you." And with one last smile she left the kitchen, heading upstairs.
The old man's eyes were positively glowing when he faced Hermione again. "I haven't seen her that happy for a very long time now. You're doing wonders, my dear."
"But I didn't do anything. I'm just here, that's all." The young woman didn't believe her mentors' happiness had anything to do with her presence.
"That seems to be all it takes." Albus on the other hand knew perfectly well that his wife always dreamed of a Christmas like that. A Christmas as a family.
"Now my dear, would you like to help me decorate the house?" With a flick of his wand the remains of their breakfast cleaned themselves or flew to their proper places.
"Oh yes, of course! We need a Christmas tree!" Hermione followed the old man to the sitting room.
And with that, the decorating began.
Albus conjured up a huge tree and they arrayed it with the most beautiful Christmas tree decorations Hermione had ever seen. There were glittering balls and bells, candles and candy canes. All in Gryffindor colours, of course.
Albus placed an awful singing Santa Claus on top of the tree, which Hermione transfigured on an instant into a simple but beautiful star. The old man enjoyed changing it back like a little boy whenever Hermione wouldn't look and Hermione laughed so much that from time to time she had to sit on the floor because she couldn't stand upright.
They both ended up laughing on the floor when Fawkes joined them and with one disapproving glance at the top of the tree changed the Santa Claus into a wonderful golden Phoenix. Both Hermione and Albus tried to transfigure it into something else, not because they didn't like it, but because of the fun they had together plying this little game. Fawkes watched every attempt with unhidden amusement, knowing that there would be no spell that could undo a Phoenix charm.
Finally giving it up, Hermione began singing silly Christmas songs. Albus immediately joined in and conjured a piano to accompany them. Hermione bewitched it so that it played on its own, changing the song whenever it was bored with the song it was playing or when it couldn't stand the off-key singing anymore.
That was when Minerva entered the room, and without being seen, sat down in the comfortable armchair. She felt well rested and greatly enjoyed observing the two people most dear to her having a great time together. She fought so hard the urge to laugh out loud when Hermione complimented her 'holiday dad' for his Santa Claus robe and Albus, admitting feeling lonely, transfigured the young woman's red jumper into a green one with little moving Rudolph's. Hermione of course could not stand for that and graced the older man with a big Santa Claus hat. Soon they both had red hats on their heads and 'I love Christmas' written on the back of their jumpers, or in Albus case, robes.
Absolutely satisfied with their work, Hermione laughingly hugged the older man, who placed a small kiss on her forehead.
"Do you think she'll like it?" The young woman asked happily.
"She absolutely loves it," came the prompt answer from the very woman they were talking about.
They turned around to see Minerva beaming with joy.
"How long have you been standing there, love?" Albus smiled brightly when he saw the look of pure happiness on his wife's face.
"Long enough to have the time of my life watching the two of you!" She joined them in front of the Christmas tree, wrapping one arm around Hermione's shoulders and the other around her husband's waist. "It is the most beautiful tree we ever had. Thank you so much!
"You are very welcome, my love." Her husband said, placing a tender kiss on her temple.
"We promised we'd make it a wonderful Christmas." Hermione leaned into her mentor's one-sided embrace.
The older woman rested her cheek on top of Hermione's head for a moment. "That you did, my dea,r and I have the feeling it will be the best Christmas I've ever had," she whispered quietly.
"And what are we going to do now?" Albus smiled happily.
Hermione let go of her mentor and headed for the kitchen. "We have dinner, of course."
The old man guided his wife to follow Hermione. "Thank god. I'm starving!"
