December, 1995
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Christmas Dinner is over. In a few minutes, everyone will gather downstairs in preparation to pay Arthur another visit, so I am taking the opportunity to express how profoundly happy I am to spend Christmas with Harry and Sirius and the others, and yet I how much I wish that I could share each moment with Nymphadora.
Earlier, she would have comforted much better than I did. When I went down to help make breakfast, I found Molly in tears because Percy had sent back his jumper without a word of acknowledgment or concern about his father. The twins had tried to cheer their mother, but instead caused louder sobs when they called their brother 'a humongous pile of rat droppings.'
I gave the imps a stern look that had them retreating upstairs. Silently, I made tea, trying to comfort with sympathetic company instead of mouthing platitudes that would mean nothing to a woman who wanted to re-connect with her estranged son more than anything.
Once she drank the tea and regained her composure, Molly gasped to realise that she had left a basket of clementines at the Burrow. She felt Christmas breakfast would not be the same if the children did not see their favourite oranges on the table. I volunteered to Apparate to Devon, bringing a watery smile to her face.
Inside the Weasley home, the sight of the oranges on the kitchen table brought back memories of my family's Christmas tradition. My mother was fond of mimosas, and while my own drink contained orange juice with a splash of champagne, she and my father drank mimosas with three parts champagne to one part juice.
On impulse, I checked the coolant cabinet. There was orange juice. In the cellar of Grimmauld, I was sure to find sparkling white wine if no champagne was to be had. I picked up the glass bottle along with the basket.
The children had devoured their meal by the time I returned, but Molly, Sirius, and I enjoyed toasting Christmas with mimosas. Afterwards, as I sat in the drawing room reading a book and listening to Harry and Sirius chat during a match of wizard chess, I was reminded of another Christmas, when Harry was five months old.
The boy had stretched out on a blanket on his stomach, lifting his head and chest to see his toys. Whenever James and Sirius laughed during their chess match, he would turn his head sharply in their direction.
Lily had been in the kitchen, putting the finishing touches on Christmas Dinner, so the moment I saw the infant begin to kick his legs and fuss; I leaned over from my seat on the sofa and gingerly picked him up. Imitating what I had seen James do, I supported the boy beneath the arms while he placed tiny feet on my thighs. Harry bounced up and down, making raspberry sounds.
I thought James a lucky man to have such a son.
Today, watching Sirius draw Harry out and bring a smile to his face, I thought my friend blessed to have such a godson. For a moment, I contemplated what it might be like if Cami and Sirius had a child, and I was the boy or girl's godfather. I would do my best to be a good one, supportive and caring.
As thoughts do, mine wandered further still, daring to picture a baby with brown hair like mine and a wide, captivating smile like Nymphadora. I imagined holding the boy snugly in the crook of my arm, chuckling to see my son watch his mother intently while she sang an off-key rendition of Incy-Wincy Spider. For different reasons, my eyes would be fixed on her mouth too.
Although I am tempted to write more, Sirius has just knocked, reminding me that Arthur Weasley is alone in a hospital ward, waiting for his family—waiting for Christmas.
I have waited many times before, waited for something good to happen in my life, for love to come my way. I consider myself the most fortunate of men that I am waiting no longer.
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A/N: All the ghosts of Christmas in his journal entry, eh? I think most people are 'visited' by all three during the holidays. The readers I'm thankful 'visited' to read and review last chapter were...♥ 40/16 ♥ alix33 ♥ bored2pieces2 ♥ Calenmarwen ♥ ElspethBates ♥ Embellished ♥ FNP ♥ Freja Lercke-Falkenborg ♥ GraceRichie ♥ ishandtwofourths ♥ ladyofthebookworms ♥ LolaCherryColaGirl ♥ MollyCoddles ♥ Moontime ♥ Nethiel Nessime ♥ Operamuse ♥ RahNee ♥ rairaichan ♥ remus r us ♥ siriuslycoco ♥ Sivaroobini Lupin-Black ♥ Slipknot-3113 ♥ Sophia Loren ♥ and ♥ sunny9847 ♥
♥Added note: This 'entry' corresponds with chapter 27 of Moonlight and Shadow.