Thanks for reviewing so far! I know the story hasn't exactly seemed to be
going anywhere just yet but its getting there... to answer babygurl1245, the
house was rebuilt by Lupin and Dumbledore, so I'm just cheating a little
bit by saying that the painting survived. Thanks though – I do like getting
all the comments and feedback and constructive criticism, and I do try to
take these into account. Anyways, onto chapter 16...
Chapter 16 – Christmas at Home
The term extinguished itself with a flood of Christmas excitement, accompanied by the largest amount of snow Harry had seen in his entire life. Even the teachers seemed to be struggling to be interested in what they were teaching, with all except for Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall giving them easy, fun lessons.
On the last weekend Harry walked down to the common room in the morning to find Ginny on one sofa, and Ron and Hermione looking very cosy together in front of the fire. He caught Ginny's eye and they both suppressed laughter. Ron looked up at them, blushing deeply, a threatening look on his face. Harry quickly distracted them.
"Fancy a snowball fight today?" he asked, grinning. Ron nodded enthusiastically, and between them they cajoled Hermione, Ginny, and seemingly the entire Gryffindor house to join them. Harry and Ron went ahead, and quickly built up a large wall of snow with a healthy stockpile of snowballs ready behind it. Leaning out from behind the wall, Harry launched one right at Seamus, who was forced to dive to his right to avoid it, causing it to hit Neville in the stomach. Neville grinned ruefully, before throwing one back. The fight had been going several minutes before the two girls arrived, heavily wrapped up in thick cloaks and scarves, and rubbing their hands together to keep warm. Hermione looked up just in time to see Ron's snowball hit her in the face.
Ron watched in horror as his girlfriend fell backwards into the snow as the force of his snowball, (which had only been intended to scare her), knocked her clean off the front steps and onto the snow-matted lawn. Harry watched as Ron leapt up and ran to her, saying he hadn't meant to hit her as Ginny ranted at him for being so cruel. Upon seeing Hermione was ok, Harry and Dean (who was next to him), let out the laughs they had been smothering, but quietly enough so Hermione wouldn't notice. Hermione stormed inside and Ron, shooting a worried look at Harry, followed her.
*
After the snowball fight Harry returned to the common room to find Ron and Hermione by the fire again. Hermione had a red mark just below her eye, which had a slightly angry glint in it, but by the sounds of things she had forgiven him. Harry decided the time was right to raise the idea he had been mulling over for a few days.
"Ron," he said slowly, "where are you spending your Christmas holidays?"
Ron frowned at Harry. "I'm probably going back home, why?"
"Because I've had an idea," Harry said, keeping his tone level, "why don't we all - including your family – spend Christmas at... at my house?" Harry said those last words very quickly. He still hadn't quite accepted Godric's Hollow as being his own house, although he had been given the deed to it already. But the fact of the matter was that he was dying to talk to his parents again, but if it were possible he'd like Ron and Hermione there too. Ron and Hermione both looked at him, startled.
"Are you sure?" Hermione asked quietly. Harry nodded at her, and grin spread itself across Ron's face.
"That'd be a great idea!" he said happily. "Shall I ask my mum?"
"Yeah," said Harry, relieved, "invite your family if you want, we'd need a good cook!" Ron laughed and headed off to the owlery. Harry turned to Hermione. "Would you want your parents to come too?"
Hermione gaped at him. "Could they? Really?" Harry nodded again, and Hermione beamed. "That'd be brilliant! I'll go and write to them right now! Can I borrow Hedwig?"
"Yes of course," he said, drawing a letter out of his pocket, "but could you get her to send this to Lupin too?" Hermione said she would and she ran to catch up with Ron.
*
Both Hermione and Ron received ascension from their parents that they would love to come, with Mrs Weasley also assuring in her letter that she would take care of all the food over the holidays. This meant that when Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny headed for Godric's Hollow, Harry was immensely looking forward to it. The Weasley's, the Granger's and Remus were all coming, and Harry suspected on Christmas day that Dumbledore would show up also.
The four of them pulled small suitcases of winter clothes up through Hogsmeade with them, and arrived outside Godric's hollow to find Mr and Mrs Weasley waiting with Fred and George on the side of the road. Greetings were exchanged all round, and Harry pulled out the bit of paper which had Pettigrew's writing on it. He watched, amused, at the expressions of wonder that soon appeared on each person's face as the house miraculously appeared before their eyes.
"Blimey Harry!" said Fred, echoing Ron's reaction. Harry grinned and led the party, (including the speechless Mrs Weasley), down towards the house, but Mr Weasley stopped him before the door.
"Prepare yourself for a surprise Harry," he said smiling. Harry, puzzled opened the door slowly and walked into the hallway, when suddenly a small object collided hard with his midsection. Harry looked down.
"Dobby?" he said incredulously.
"Harry Potter sir!" Dobby squeaked in reply, "I knew we would meet again sir!"
"What are you doing here?" Harry asked.
"Professor Dumbledore sir, he said me and Winky could come and work for you Sir!" Dobby replied happily. Harry gasped, then smiled at Dobby, before he heard Hermione's voice behind him.
"Winky's here too?" she asked quietly, and at Dobby's nod she continued. "Is she happier now that she will have a family to work for?" In answer, Winky came out, bearing a tray of drinks and biscuits.
"I is much happier now, thank you Miss!" she said, in a tone that they had never heard her use before. Ron took a biscuit and everyone laughed. Dobby ushered everyone into the living room, and then the two house elves moved the suitcases upstairs.
Harry had decided to let Mr and Mrs Weasley sleep in his parent's old room, and that the boys would all sleep in Harry's room. He still hadn't quite figured out where the girls or the Grangers would sleep, when Dobby came in and answered one of his problems for him.
"I have set up a double bed in the east loft room, and two singles in the west loft room sir," he said enthusiastically.
Harry choked on his drink, looking at Dobby. "Loft room?" At Dobby's nod, Harry went upstairs and found, sure enough, a trap door above his head. He reached up and pulled it down, and a staircase slowly descended out of the gap. Harry walked up the stairs and looked around.
He stood in the smallest of corridors, with a patterned window (of a lion) ahead of him looking out into the garden, and a door on each side. He turned to the door on his left, and found inside it a large double bed, with cupboards on both sides. The door on the right was very similar, except with two separate beds rather than one double bed. Harry recognised Ginny and Hermione's suitcases by the beds. He looked out of the window and down into the garden, his mind side-tracked again. Where was the door?
*
With the arrival of Remus and of the Grangers, the run up to Christmas was a very exciting time for Harry. Dobby was in his element, bowing and happily obeying Harry's requests, which were few and far between, especially with Hermione around. Dobby had declined pay, saying he was so happy, but Harry had made sure that Dobby could have time off whenever he had want or need of it.
On Christmas Eve Mrs Granger insisted on cooking the Muggle way, and the evening was a fun filled affair, culminating after the sumptuous dinner with the children having a night time snowball fight, and the adults indulging in some rather silly drunken games. Harry found it particularly funny watching the faces of Ron and Hermione as they watched their parents with more than faint distaste.
On Christmas day Harry woke happily to find Ron up and about to open his presents. Harry had a sudden idea.
"Stop!" he said suddenly. "Take all your presents into the living room, everyone can open theirs together!"
Ron laughed. "Ok," he said and he, Fred and George started to move their presents downstairs.
An hour later, everyone was downstairs busily opening presents. Harry had sent Dobby around to rouse and round up the guests, although most had apparently been awake already. Harry made sure he thanked everyone in person, particularly Remus who's present had been the house. Harry enjoyed hearing Remus' stories about his parents when they had lived here, finding one about Sirius' falling off the roof trying to sneak up on his father particularly amusing.
The afternoon wore on in comfortable idleness, with a leisurely lunch as most were saving themselves for Mrs Weasley's feast in the evening. Ron was moaning loudly to Fred and George constantly all afternoon, with subjects ranging from his maroon jumper to the Cannon's dire form this season. Hermione rolled her eyes at Harry, and moved over to sit next to him by the fire that Dobby had started.
"You know," she said confidentially, "I'm getting fed up of his moaning."
Harry looked at her in surprise. "Really? I thought you two were close."
"Well we are," she said hurriedly, "but I feel... well as I say, I'm getting fed up of moaning. I feel..." she trailed off.
"Like you are less attracted to him?" he said quietly. She nodded. They sat there in silence for a while, this being the first time that they had spoken together about Hermione and Ron's relationship since it had begun. Harry looked across the room at Ron, and then his eyes travelled across to Ginny, who was playing Exploding Snap with George. Hermione followed his gaze, and smiled.
"You like her don't you?" she muttered, so no one else could hear.
Harry thought for a moment. "I don't know," he answered truthfully, "I mean I think I do, but I'm not certain."
Hermione nodded slyly, smiling at Harry, but she didn't push him about it and soon she moved to sit with Ron.
*
That evening, and indeed the rest of the holidays, passed as a blur, one of the happiest times Harry had lived through in his life. Surrounded by friends, no sign of Voldemort, and with a house to call his own, Harry felt things couldn't get much better. And it was then, he started to read the diary.
He didn't know what made him start, but he found himself reading through. The diary began in his mum's fifth year of Hogwarts, her admitting to fancying James way back then, and by the end of the holidays, Harry was reading about his mums reaction to James' proposal. Along with talking to the portrait, this diary made him feel like he almost had his parents back, and he knew that the diary would help sustain him while he was away from the portrait.
Chapter 16 – Christmas at Home
The term extinguished itself with a flood of Christmas excitement, accompanied by the largest amount of snow Harry had seen in his entire life. Even the teachers seemed to be struggling to be interested in what they were teaching, with all except for Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall giving them easy, fun lessons.
On the last weekend Harry walked down to the common room in the morning to find Ginny on one sofa, and Ron and Hermione looking very cosy together in front of the fire. He caught Ginny's eye and they both suppressed laughter. Ron looked up at them, blushing deeply, a threatening look on his face. Harry quickly distracted them.
"Fancy a snowball fight today?" he asked, grinning. Ron nodded enthusiastically, and between them they cajoled Hermione, Ginny, and seemingly the entire Gryffindor house to join them. Harry and Ron went ahead, and quickly built up a large wall of snow with a healthy stockpile of snowballs ready behind it. Leaning out from behind the wall, Harry launched one right at Seamus, who was forced to dive to his right to avoid it, causing it to hit Neville in the stomach. Neville grinned ruefully, before throwing one back. The fight had been going several minutes before the two girls arrived, heavily wrapped up in thick cloaks and scarves, and rubbing their hands together to keep warm. Hermione looked up just in time to see Ron's snowball hit her in the face.
Ron watched in horror as his girlfriend fell backwards into the snow as the force of his snowball, (which had only been intended to scare her), knocked her clean off the front steps and onto the snow-matted lawn. Harry watched as Ron leapt up and ran to her, saying he hadn't meant to hit her as Ginny ranted at him for being so cruel. Upon seeing Hermione was ok, Harry and Dean (who was next to him), let out the laughs they had been smothering, but quietly enough so Hermione wouldn't notice. Hermione stormed inside and Ron, shooting a worried look at Harry, followed her.
*
After the snowball fight Harry returned to the common room to find Ron and Hermione by the fire again. Hermione had a red mark just below her eye, which had a slightly angry glint in it, but by the sounds of things she had forgiven him. Harry decided the time was right to raise the idea he had been mulling over for a few days.
"Ron," he said slowly, "where are you spending your Christmas holidays?"
Ron frowned at Harry. "I'm probably going back home, why?"
"Because I've had an idea," Harry said, keeping his tone level, "why don't we all - including your family – spend Christmas at... at my house?" Harry said those last words very quickly. He still hadn't quite accepted Godric's Hollow as being his own house, although he had been given the deed to it already. But the fact of the matter was that he was dying to talk to his parents again, but if it were possible he'd like Ron and Hermione there too. Ron and Hermione both looked at him, startled.
"Are you sure?" Hermione asked quietly. Harry nodded at her, and grin spread itself across Ron's face.
"That'd be a great idea!" he said happily. "Shall I ask my mum?"
"Yeah," said Harry, relieved, "invite your family if you want, we'd need a good cook!" Ron laughed and headed off to the owlery. Harry turned to Hermione. "Would you want your parents to come too?"
Hermione gaped at him. "Could they? Really?" Harry nodded again, and Hermione beamed. "That'd be brilliant! I'll go and write to them right now! Can I borrow Hedwig?"
"Yes of course," he said, drawing a letter out of his pocket, "but could you get her to send this to Lupin too?" Hermione said she would and she ran to catch up with Ron.
*
Both Hermione and Ron received ascension from their parents that they would love to come, with Mrs Weasley also assuring in her letter that she would take care of all the food over the holidays. This meant that when Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny headed for Godric's Hollow, Harry was immensely looking forward to it. The Weasley's, the Granger's and Remus were all coming, and Harry suspected on Christmas day that Dumbledore would show up also.
The four of them pulled small suitcases of winter clothes up through Hogsmeade with them, and arrived outside Godric's hollow to find Mr and Mrs Weasley waiting with Fred and George on the side of the road. Greetings were exchanged all round, and Harry pulled out the bit of paper which had Pettigrew's writing on it. He watched, amused, at the expressions of wonder that soon appeared on each person's face as the house miraculously appeared before their eyes.
"Blimey Harry!" said Fred, echoing Ron's reaction. Harry grinned and led the party, (including the speechless Mrs Weasley), down towards the house, but Mr Weasley stopped him before the door.
"Prepare yourself for a surprise Harry," he said smiling. Harry, puzzled opened the door slowly and walked into the hallway, when suddenly a small object collided hard with his midsection. Harry looked down.
"Dobby?" he said incredulously.
"Harry Potter sir!" Dobby squeaked in reply, "I knew we would meet again sir!"
"What are you doing here?" Harry asked.
"Professor Dumbledore sir, he said me and Winky could come and work for you Sir!" Dobby replied happily. Harry gasped, then smiled at Dobby, before he heard Hermione's voice behind him.
"Winky's here too?" she asked quietly, and at Dobby's nod she continued. "Is she happier now that she will have a family to work for?" In answer, Winky came out, bearing a tray of drinks and biscuits.
"I is much happier now, thank you Miss!" she said, in a tone that they had never heard her use before. Ron took a biscuit and everyone laughed. Dobby ushered everyone into the living room, and then the two house elves moved the suitcases upstairs.
Harry had decided to let Mr and Mrs Weasley sleep in his parent's old room, and that the boys would all sleep in Harry's room. He still hadn't quite figured out where the girls or the Grangers would sleep, when Dobby came in and answered one of his problems for him.
"I have set up a double bed in the east loft room, and two singles in the west loft room sir," he said enthusiastically.
Harry choked on his drink, looking at Dobby. "Loft room?" At Dobby's nod, Harry went upstairs and found, sure enough, a trap door above his head. He reached up and pulled it down, and a staircase slowly descended out of the gap. Harry walked up the stairs and looked around.
He stood in the smallest of corridors, with a patterned window (of a lion) ahead of him looking out into the garden, and a door on each side. He turned to the door on his left, and found inside it a large double bed, with cupboards on both sides. The door on the right was very similar, except with two separate beds rather than one double bed. Harry recognised Ginny and Hermione's suitcases by the beds. He looked out of the window and down into the garden, his mind side-tracked again. Where was the door?
*
With the arrival of Remus and of the Grangers, the run up to Christmas was a very exciting time for Harry. Dobby was in his element, bowing and happily obeying Harry's requests, which were few and far between, especially with Hermione around. Dobby had declined pay, saying he was so happy, but Harry had made sure that Dobby could have time off whenever he had want or need of it.
On Christmas Eve Mrs Granger insisted on cooking the Muggle way, and the evening was a fun filled affair, culminating after the sumptuous dinner with the children having a night time snowball fight, and the adults indulging in some rather silly drunken games. Harry found it particularly funny watching the faces of Ron and Hermione as they watched their parents with more than faint distaste.
On Christmas day Harry woke happily to find Ron up and about to open his presents. Harry had a sudden idea.
"Stop!" he said suddenly. "Take all your presents into the living room, everyone can open theirs together!"
Ron laughed. "Ok," he said and he, Fred and George started to move their presents downstairs.
An hour later, everyone was downstairs busily opening presents. Harry had sent Dobby around to rouse and round up the guests, although most had apparently been awake already. Harry made sure he thanked everyone in person, particularly Remus who's present had been the house. Harry enjoyed hearing Remus' stories about his parents when they had lived here, finding one about Sirius' falling off the roof trying to sneak up on his father particularly amusing.
The afternoon wore on in comfortable idleness, with a leisurely lunch as most were saving themselves for Mrs Weasley's feast in the evening. Ron was moaning loudly to Fred and George constantly all afternoon, with subjects ranging from his maroon jumper to the Cannon's dire form this season. Hermione rolled her eyes at Harry, and moved over to sit next to him by the fire that Dobby had started.
"You know," she said confidentially, "I'm getting fed up of his moaning."
Harry looked at her in surprise. "Really? I thought you two were close."
"Well we are," she said hurriedly, "but I feel... well as I say, I'm getting fed up of moaning. I feel..." she trailed off.
"Like you are less attracted to him?" he said quietly. She nodded. They sat there in silence for a while, this being the first time that they had spoken together about Hermione and Ron's relationship since it had begun. Harry looked across the room at Ron, and then his eyes travelled across to Ginny, who was playing Exploding Snap with George. Hermione followed his gaze, and smiled.
"You like her don't you?" she muttered, so no one else could hear.
Harry thought for a moment. "I don't know," he answered truthfully, "I mean I think I do, but I'm not certain."
Hermione nodded slyly, smiling at Harry, but she didn't push him about it and soon she moved to sit with Ron.
*
That evening, and indeed the rest of the holidays, passed as a blur, one of the happiest times Harry had lived through in his life. Surrounded by friends, no sign of Voldemort, and with a house to call his own, Harry felt things couldn't get much better. And it was then, he started to read the diary.
He didn't know what made him start, but he found himself reading through. The diary began in his mum's fifth year of Hogwarts, her admitting to fancying James way back then, and by the end of the holidays, Harry was reading about his mums reaction to James' proposal. Along with talking to the portrait, this diary made him feel like he almost had his parents back, and he knew that the diary would help sustain him while he was away from the portrait.
