Chapter Twelve: Christmas Time, Part Two

Christmas day at Potter Manor was always a fun affair. Charlus and Dorea were the first ones to get up, quickly followed by Sirius. Harry was the last one to join the others in the lounge. He wished everyone a merry Christmas before sitting down to watch Charlus and Dorea tear open their gifts. This was how it went as they went from youngest to oldest. Andromeda and Eileen had already opened their presents by the time Harry had moved his arse downstairs. This was because last night he had spent a few hours talking to Ron and Hermione over the mirrors. Ron was telling him that he was having a great time with Hermione and her parents. Harry told them that Potter Manor was packed with people and that he missed them both very much and he could not wait for the party on New Year's Eve.

'Harry, sweetheart, it's your turn,' said his mother, breaking him out if his groggy thoughts.

'Oh, right, thanks, Mum,' he replied before moving to the floor to open his gifts.

From Sirius he received a new broomstick maintenance kit, from Remus, he received new books on Defence, from Uncle Sev and Aunt Cissy, he received books on Potions. Neville had sent him a large box of sweets, as had Ron and Hermione each. But his present from his parents was the best.

They had gotten him an Owl: A beautiful Snowy Owl. Harry fell in love right there.

'Hi, I'm Harry,' he said to her.

The Owl hooted as if to say that she knew.

'What are you going to name her?' asked his dad.

'I dunno, Dad. Mum, what do you think?' replied Harry.

'Well, I did think of one name. I found it when I was rereading A History of Magic –' said his mother before Sirius interrupted.

'Blimey you must have been bored to read that sleep-inducer, Lily.'

Lily scowled at Sirius before turning back to Harry and said, 'The name I found was Hedwig.'

'Hedwig,' said Harry, trying it out loud before turning to the Owl and saying, 'Do you like the name Hedwig?'

The Snowy Owl hooted in the affirmative and Harry christened her Hedwig. Harry then wrote note to Ron and gave it Hedwig to deliver it for him. She gave Harry another hoot before flying away. Harry then thanked his parents for his new Owl and watched her as she majestically flew off with his letter.

Once everyone had opened their presents it was breakfast time.

0o0

Ron had awoken early on Christmas Day. The excitement of opening presents got too much for him to just lie in bed. So he got up and got dressed before knocking on Hermione's bedroom door. He got no response so he went inside to see that she was still sleeping. A smirk went across his face before he jumped on her bed waking her with a fright.

'Ron! You-you … git!' she said when she calmed down a little.

'Merry Christmas, Hermione! It's Christmas Day, c'mon, get up, sleepyhead!' he said, excited.

Hermione turned away from him but Ron having none of it, and he pulled her duvet away and began tickling her mercilessly. Hermione tried to get away from him but he caught her and took her wrists in one hand and tickled her sides and armpits with the other.

'Noooo! Please stop, I can't breathe!' she gasped out as she giggled uncontrollably.

'Am I git, Hermione?' he asked as he tickled her.

'Y-yes! Ron, please stop!' she giggled.

'If I stop, are you going to get up?' he asked, smirking at her as she squirmed and giggled.

But before she could answer another voice spoke.

'What's going on in here?'

Ron stopped and turned to Hermione's parents who were standing the doorway.

'Ron was tickling me,' said Hermione pouting.

'Why?' asked Richard.

'Because it's Christmas Day and when I came in here Hermione was still snoring her pretty little head off,' said Ron before Hermione could speak.

'I do not snore, Ronald!' shouted Hermione indignantly.

Richard smiled and moved into the room and sat down on Hermione's bed before saying, 'Is this true, Hermione?'

'Yes, except for the snoring part,' said Hermione.

'Well, in that case …' said Richard before launching his own tickle attack on Hermione.

'Daddy, nooooo!' shouted Hermione.

Helen then joined in the tickling as Hermione giggled and gasped for breath as Ron was tickling her again too.

'Please no more … I … can't … breathe!' Hermione wheezed.

'Now, now, Hermione, sleeping in on Christmas Day is just not done, right, Ron?' said Richard.

'Quite right, Richard, do you think she's been punished enough?' replied Ron.

'Hmm perhaps another five minutes?' Richard replied.

'Yeah, another five minutes,' said Ron grinning down at Hermione's face, as the tickling continued.

'No! Please stop … I'm going … to … have … an accident!' Hermione squealed as they tickled.

'All right, I think she's had enough,' said Ron stopping and releasing her wrists before her parents stopped too.

Hermione sat up and left the room to go downstairs.

'Is she mad at us?' asked Ron.

But before either Richard or Helen could reply Hermione's voice travelled up to them.

'Well, come on then! You wanted me up to open presents, didn't you?'

The three of them laughed before going downstairs to join Hermione and open their presents.

As Ron was the guest he was invited to open his first. From his parents he received fudge and a Weasley jumper – which he put on over his pyjamas, from James and Lily he received a broomstick repair kit, from Sirius he received two annuals – one for Spurs and the other for the Chudley Cannons, from Remus and Severus he received books on Defence and Potions, from Harry he received a large box of Chocolate Frogs, and he received the same from his brothers. Hermione got him a book about chess, while Richard and Helen had gotten him a muggle chess set.

'Thanks for the new chess set, Richard and Helen, it's really nice!' said Ron as he took out the pieces and set up the board, as Hermione opened her presents.

Hermione had received the latest new novels from her parents. From Harry she had gotten sweets, while Ron had gotten her a bigger box of sweets that contained her favourites – Sugar Quills and Chocolate Frogs. Her parents weren't too sure about letting Hermione eat sweets but Ron told them that they were magical and were made to NOT be bad for your teeth. Hermione gave her parents a Sugar Quill and a Chocolate Frog each to try and they liked them very much, and once Hermione's parents opened their gifts, Richard challenged Ron to a game of chess on the new set and Ron won breaking in the new set nicely.

Once the game was over they all had breakfast before Ron and Hermione had a game of chess, which Ron won.

Richard could not help liking Ron. He had a good sense of humour. He liked sports, had an infectious laugh, and adored Hermione. Richard and Helen observed Ron as he sat with Hermione as she read her new novels. Of course Ron read over her shoulder and though she did not like it very much, she did not say anything.

Christmas dinner was delicious and left all four of them full, so they all retired to the lounge where they all fell asleep.

On Boxing Day the Grangers it appeared had a tradition. A tradition that not even Hermione could get out of. Ron found out pretty quickly what that tradition was when he saw Richard wearing his Spurs shirt. Then Helen, who had very little interest in Football herself, was wearing a Spurs shirt too. According to Richard the tradition of the whole family wearing the Tottenham colours had been started years ago and it had stuck. This was because on Boxing Day there was always a full programme of fixtures in English football league. Ron already knew this as he liked Football. Then Hermione appeared not wearing a Spurs shirt.

'Hermione, it's Boxing Day, you know the tradition by now,' said Richard.

'Do I have to? You know I don't care about football!' she whined.

'Yes, you do, if I have to do it so do you,' said Helen.

'All right, but don't you dare laugh, Ronald Weasley!' she replied before going to change.

'Why would I laugh? I'll go and put mine on too!' said Ron and then he too went to change.

When they came back Ron could not help thinking that Hermione looked cute in her shirt.

Once everyone had finished breakfast Richard surprised them all by announcing that they were going to the Spurs game.

0o0

Harry and his family were still recovering from the enormous dinner they had eaten on Christmas Day to do anything on Boxing Day or the next day.

They all went flying around the Quidditch pitch at the Manor. There were even enough bodies for a game of Quidditch. Again Harry felt the absence of Ron. They had had a good chat over the mirrors on Boxing Day evening where Ron had told him about going to the Spurs game, and Harry told him that all he had done was veg and do nothing. They exchanged a few jokes and when Hermione joined in the conversation, Ron told Harry about the tickling Hermione had gotten on Christmas morning which him laugh as Hermione cuffed Ron around the head whilst being slightly amused at the same time. Hermione also told Harry that her parents could not wait for the Potter's New Year's Eve party at the Manor.

Harry spent the next few days flying alone or playing chess with Charlus. Charlus wasn't a bad player. He wasn't in Ron's league but he was still better than Harry, but Charlus did not tease his older brother when he was victorious. Harry also took Dorea for a fly on his broomstick. Harry had missed Dorea a lot and she had missed him too.

Harry spent time with his parents and Sirius. Harry got them to tell him who came up with the pranks in the red pranks book. The red pranks book contained the more vindictive and harsher pranks. Harry had read through them with Ron and had already picked a few to use on Malfoy in case he keeps giving them hassle. But despite all this Harry was still bored and missed his friends.

It was finally New Year's Eve. Harry had called Ron over the mirror to let him know of the arrangements. It was decided that James, Lily, Sirius and Remus would collect Ron, Hermione and her parents for the party and they would stay the night at Potter Manor too.

Harry had put on his best shirt and trousers for the night. He thought it would be better than wearing dress robes and he was right. He found his mother was ready. She was wearing a simple but elegant red dress. His father and Sirius were wearing dress robes and so were Uncle Remus and Uncle Sev, while Aunt Cissy was wearing a very elegant green dress. Charlus and Dorea were wearing their best clothes. Charlus was wearing similar to Harry – his best shirt and trousers, while Dorea wearing a pretty dress that was blue. He watched as his parents, godfather and Uncle Remus Disapparated to the Grangers, and then return ten minutes later with Ron, Hermione and her parents. Harry saw that Ron was wearing his best shirt and trousers, while Hermione was wearing a pretty purple dress, while her parents were wearing smart muggle attire – a dress suit for Richard and a cocktail dress for Helen.

Harry raced over to Ron and Hermione and pulled them both into quick hugs before giving them a Butterbeer each.

As the evening progressed more people arrived. Frank, Alice, Neville and Kate Longbottom all arrived together. Ted and Andromeda Tonks with their daughter, Nymphadora, who always went by her surname, arrived together too. Harry adored Tonks. She was funny and clumsy but on the whole brilliant. She was training to be an Auror at the Ministry of Magic, under her new mentor Alastor Moody, who had also been invited. Harry and Ron looked up to Alastor Moody almost as much as they looked up to James and Sirius. Moody was tough and scary, but he also had a soft spot for the kids – particularly Harry and Ron. Moody was always telling them that constant vigilance was important, and they listened.

The party was in full flow but Harry, Ron, Hermione and Neville were upstairs. Ron was showing Hermione his room as it was the room she would be sleeping in while he shared with Harry for the night. She could not help being pleasantly surprised at how neat it was. Of course Ron had been at Hogwarts for the last four months, but he told her it was always kept tidy. She spotted two large trophy cabinets. One was full of trophies for chess, and the other for Karate. They were all winners or first place trophies. He then showed her his chess set collection. There were loads. Some had been bought for him and others he had won. She could not take her eyes off of the photographs on the wall. The two biggest were of Ron with his family and friends, and the other was of him after receiving his black belt in Karate. There was also a bookcase. The books were mainly about chess, Karate, Football and Quidditch, but there were a few novels too as well as a Complete Works of Shakespeare book. Hermione guessed that this was Lily's influence. Harry also showed Hermione his room too, but there was no trophy cabinet. Instead he just had a large bookcase. His bookcase was full of novels and books on Quidditch.

After Ron and Harry had shown her around the very large and impressive manor, they went back down to the party. Hermione's parents were talking to Harry's parents and godfather, while Aunt Cissy was talking to her sister, Andromeda. Ted, Remus and Severus were also talking; they were talking with Frank, while Alice and Tonks were with Kate, Charlus and Dorea.

James saw his son and his three closest friends re-enter the room and said, 'This is supposed to be a party, people! Padfoot, put on some loud music, Lily-flower, let's dance!'

Sirius complied with James' request while James grabbed his wife for a dance as Harry, deeply embarrassed, just shook his head. Hermione's parents joined in the dancing quickly followed by Ted and Andromeda, and Uncle Sev and Aunt Cissy. Then to Harry's surprise, Tonks asked Remus to dance and he accepted. Frank and Alice were now dancing together, while Moody sat with the kids, until Ron asked Hermione if she wanted to dance with him and she accepted before joining the throng of dancing couples and partners.

At around ten pm, Aunt Cissy put her twin daughters to bed as they had fallen asleep. Charlus, Dorea and Kate were the next to succumb to sleep an hour later, while Harry and his friends were still well on course to make it to midnight. Fred and George went outside to prepare some fireworks for after midnight, while Harry and Neville had a few games of chess.

As the adults danced they watched as Ron and Hermione danced all night, only stopping for drinks, food and needing the bathroom.

James and Sirius saw Richard watching them and went over to him.

'They grow up so fast, don't they?' said James.

'Too fast,' replied Richard.

'What makes you say that?' asked Sirius.

Richard sighed and said, 'Well, according to my wife, Hermione loves Ron, and he loves her too, whether they know it or not.'

'Ron's a good kid, he'll look after her,' said Sirius.

'I know. You just can't help liking the boy. He's funny and outgoing, a good friend and treats Hermione with such a wonderful kindness you would not expect from an eleven year old boy. He adores my little girl, how could I not like him?' said Richard.

'You're right about that, c'mon, let's have another drink,' said James before passing Richard a glass of Firewhiskey as Lily and Helen joined them after having a similar conversation themselves.

It was now just minutes to midnight and everyone except Harry and Neville had dance partners. Fred and George had taken to dancing together to general amusement. Harry and Neville just laughed at them alongside Moody.

'A pity all they want to do is open a joke shop, they'd make great Aurors the way they know what the other is thinking and communicate,' said Moody chuckling.

'They are something, Alastor,' said Harry chuckling along with him.

'Thirty seconds!' shouted Lily.

Then twenty seconds later the countdown began.

'Ten!

'Nine!

'Eight!

'Seven!

'Six!

'Five!

'Four!

'Three!

'Two!

'One – Happy New Year!' they all bellowed before kisses were shared by the married couples as Remus and Tonks and Ron and Hermione shared gentle peck kisses on the lips that nobody else saw.

Then Fred and George got everyone's attention with a loud whistle.

'If you would all make your way outside –' started Fred.

'Our firework display is about to begin!' finished George.

Warm coats and jackets were being put on as Ron leant Hermione a jacket of his before going outside with everyone else.

'Ready, George?'

'Ready, Fred!'

The twins lit the fireworks and off they went. The loud bangs and decorative patterns were met with 'oohs' and 'ahs' as everyone appreciated the twins' ingenuity. But all too soon the fireworks came to an end everyone went back inside. Once inside the party continued until two thirty in the morning before people retired to their rooms.