When the lists came round, Harry put his name and destination up in order to get a portkey to take him back to the Grangers. As time went by he began to look forward more and more to spending Christmas in the Alps with people who actually wanted him around. It was only when he was listening to the others discuss presents that he realised that he should get something for them. He turned to Misha for advice.
"You don't have to get them much. Some chocolate for friends and something nice for your family. You mentioned Hermione was a History buff, right? She sounds very sensible. There is a great book on old wizarding ceremony's called 'Magical Events for Magical Families'. It has all sorts of wizarding traditions and events, though even most of the oldest families don't observe most of them anymore." Harry nodded eagerly, that sounded perfect for Hermione. "As for your foster parents, they're muggles right? Maybe you could get them something to help them understand and fit in with the wizarding world better. A book or a set of robes or something. As for your other friends, chocolate is always a good gift. Just small things to show you haven't forgotten about them."
Harry nodded, thinking it over. He would arrive a full day before Hermione got back from Hogwarts so he could ask the Grangers to let him go to Diagon Alley in order to get something for them. Suddenly a thought occurred to him.
"What about Moony?" he asked, not wanted to forget about the only friend of fathers that he knew about.
"Your fathers friends? That's a tough one. You have only written to each other a few times and you don't know much about him." She frowned in thought. "Oh I know. What about a photograph of you? You could ask Sara for one and just get a nice frame for it."
Harry nodded. "Do you think Sara would mind me taking a picture?" Sara was an amateur photographer and enjoyed taking pictures of her friends.
"Sure we get all our photos from her. We usually give her some money for film and she gives up copies of the pictures. She won't mind."
"Of course you can have a photo, Harry, don't be silly. " Sara told when he asked. "I have a bunch of photos of you already. You might like to start up an album for your foster parents. I usually charge the others two galleons for any pictures they want but you can pay a knut for each copy."
Harry handed her two galleons immediately. Sara laughed as she took the coins. "Come on, I'll show you what I've got."
She pulled out a pile of moving photos from a box and she and Harry spent the next few hours in the common room looking over images of himself and his friends, some that he hadn't even realised were being taken. He laughed at the picture of Misha scolding Alex for some reason or other, probably his eating habits again. There was a picture of him helping Dew in the pegasi stables and one of listening to Tia explain about a potions question he had had. He laughed at the black expression on his face. There was even a picture of him taking notes in class. Sara must have taken it from the door.
"These are really good." He told her.
"Thanks Harry. It's just a hobby though. My family wanted to know more about what I was doing here and about my friends. Since I live in America and all of my friends are European it's hard for us to get together outside of school. This way my parents can see where I am living. My first year here Owen asked for some copies of my photos and the next year so did Misha. I wouldn't even charge but I go through so much film that I think it's only fair."
Harry nodded. "No its okay. I don't mind. These... these are really great. Can I have a couple of copies of this one?" He said pointed to a photo of him playing Quidditch. "I wanted to send a picture to a friend of my fathers. He told me that my father was on the house team as a chaser."
"Ah." Sara nodded sagely. "That would be where you get your all talent from. Makes sense. All right; give me a few minutes and I'll make some copies of these photos."
Sara waved her wand in a complicated pattern which she explained was an advanced copying spell. Harry left with a small pile of his own. Mostly photographs of himself, with some of his friends mixed in.
The last day of school for the term Harry could hardly sit still. The school was decked out in full festive regalia, with the students decorating a huge fur tree in the front courtyard, planted and grown in a few weeks for just this purpose.
The excitement of the other students returned home for the holidays was infectious. Even the teacher didn't want to anything to serious. In Transfiguration they were taught how to conjure ribbon for wrappings and in charms they learned how to charm their cards to sing Christmas carols. His others classes were similarly festive.
His portkey was waiting for him in his room the night before he meant to leave along with a letter from Provost Sanga cautioning him that it would not work until tomorrow an only for tomorrow. It would reactivate on the 9th of January at his voice activation to return him to the school. The letter also expressed pleasure at how he was doing in his classes and wished him a Merry Christmas.
The day he was due to leave he was packed and ready to go before breakfast. He came down to find the others already there. Owen, Drew and Tia would be leaving directly after breakfast, Misha's parents would be picking her and Alex later in the afternoon, Alex still bemoaning his fate at having to attend the formal balls and Sara would also have to wait to take the portkey due to the time difference in America. Christie had yet to show up, the only one of them permitted to sleep in as she would be staying here.
In her absence the others had planned to create a card for her so she wouldn't feel abandoned. Alex conjured up a card which Sara directed him to change to her satisfaction. They then preceded to charm it to sing carols and glitter in red and green. Tia also added the scent of pine saying the scent was as important to Christmas as the carols. The others then added their own scents of fig pudding, roast turkey, eggnog and fresh snow. They all signed it and wished her Merry Christmas. They left it with the Administration office to be delivered once they were gone..
After that it was time to go. Harry watched as Owen, Drew and Tia activated their own portkeys and wishing Alex Misha and Sara goodbye he activated his own.
There was the usual tugging on his naval he had come to associate with portkeys and a swirl of colour before he was dumped in the Granger back yard. It was still early and the Grangers wouldn't have left for work yet so he knocked on the door.
Diane came to answer it, confused at who would be knocking on the back door. Her face light up seeing Harry there.
"Harry! Oh sweetie it's so good to see you. How was your trip? Come in; don't stay out in the cold. Come in." She ushered him inside before pulling him into a hug. "Let's have a look at you." She looked him over critically. He was certainly different from the scruffy boy he had been when she first saw him. He was a bit taller and had filled out from good and regular meals and his clothes were warm and fitted him properly. "Have you has breakfast yet? I can whip something up if you're hungry." She started to lead him into the kitchen where Will was drinking his coffee.
"No it's okay. I ate breakfast at the Academy just now. Most of the others were leaving this morning too."
"It's good to see you son." Will gave Harry a hug as well. He also looked the boy over and nodded in approval at the changes.
"Harry we weren't aware you would be coming this early Harry so I have only cleared the afternoon part of my schedule."
"I was wanting to do some Christmas shopping so I could take the Underground to Diagon Alley." Harry told them.
Diane shook her head. "Harry I don't know that I feel comfortable letting you travel on the Underground alone. You can come with us to the surgery for the morning and I'll take you in to London this afternoon."
Will nodded. "That sounds like an excellent idea. When was the last time you had a check up anyway?"
Harry blinked. "I don't think I've ever been to the dentist." Both Grangers looked at him in horror.
The morning passed very slowly for Harry. He passed the time by writing to Moony asking him about his plans for Christmas. He and Moony had been passing letters back and forth since Halloween and he always had some funny tale about the Marauders.
"Who is the letter too Harry?" Harry looked up. Mrs Granger came out of her surgery to the waiting room.
"It's a letter to a friend of my fathers, his name is Moony. He's in my father's book and Misha suggested I write to my parents friends to get information about them. He's been telling me about my parents."
"Well it's wonderful you can get to know them. Just make sure you are careful. Why don't you come on in, I have a cancellation. I'll give you a check up."
Harry sat in the chair as Diane poked and prodded his gums. She took x-rays and studied them. "Well I'm happy to say your teeth are in perfect condition. You must take very good care of them. I still have a few patients left then we can head into London."
On the way to London they stopped for lunch at a deli and Harry told her about his year over sandwiches. She listened attentively as he told her about Misha, Alex, Owen, Tia, Sara, Drew and Christie. He told her about his classes and playing Quidditch. She laughed at his descriptions of the arguments between Misha and Alex and was fascinated by what he was learning in class.
After lunch they continued on to Diagon Alley. They parked the car and made their way to Charring Cross station. As the Leaky Cauldron came into to sight, Diane commented, "You know with all the advantages the magical world as you would think they might have made a better entrance between the two worlds."
"Maybe it's to discourage muggles off the street to come in." Harry offered getting a good look at the establishment for the first time.
"Whatever the reason lets not stay." Diane ushered him past the tables and out the back where they were met with a dead end.
"Where's the Alley?" Harry asked in confusion.
"Last time we were here the barkeep tapped a brick with his wand. This one I think." She said pointing to a brick in the middle of the wall. Harry was dubious but having come to realize that in the wizarding world nothing was what it seemed he gave it a try anyway.
At his tap the bricks started to move and an archway appeared with Diagon Alley spread out behind it. Harry was very impressed, but something struck him as strange.
"Why would the hide the entrance to the Alley when the Leaky Cauldron is already hidden from muggles?"
"I don't know Harry. It's one of the many things that I find strange about your world."
The Alley was bustling with people. There were Christmas decorations in every shop window and the sound of carols seemed to be coming from everywhere. With a layer of snow covering the ground, shops and lamp posts, the place felt even more magical than last time. People were bundled up in cloaks of every colour and most carried parcels of some description. Young children ran up and down the cobbled road and there were stands selling roasted nuts and hot cider.
"Now this is breathtaking." Diane breathed in wonder. Harry nodded in agreement.
It was too cold to be standing there for two long so they made their way up to the bank. The huge marble building was the only structure in the Alley that was not decorated. They took their places in the long cues and waited for a free teller where Diane was waiting asked to get her currency changed and Harry asked to visit his vault.
The goblin that took him down was not one that he recognised but the trip was as swift and easy as last time. Taking a look around his vault it occurred to Harry that he should request some sort of inventory of his possessions. He filled his money pouch and they made the trip back to the surface Diane was waiting for him in the lobby and he voiced the idea to her of getting an inventory done.
"That is an excellent idea, Harry. Do you know who would be in charge of such a thing here?" She said, approving of his forethought.
"No but the goblin I talked to last time, Griphook said that I could ask him anything I needed."
"Now might not be the very best time to do that," Diane said looking around at the crowded lobby. "Why don't we get our shopping done and you can write a letter to Griphook asking for an inventory when they get around to it. You in not hurry are you?"
Harry admitted that he wasn't and Diane offered to help him with anything he needed.
Me again. I have had a few people complain about the lack of action. I fully intend for there to be some in later years, but for now he's only a first year and since he's not at the mercy of Dumbledore's incompitence, there isn't much to be had. I hope the story is enjoyable despite this and I promise it will pick up later.
I'd like to thank my wonderful beta Capito Celcior for his quick and timely work without which you would have to wait days before getting this chapter.
Once again please reveiw!