A/N: The dam has been broken.

Translation:
Heilige Sheiße! - Holy Shit!
"Ich konnte ihnen sagen, Sie gelernt, in Deutsch, schwörn, Fred." - "I could tell them you learned to swear in German, Fred."

Happy reading!

Henny, that lucky Penny!

Christmas Part 1

We arrived at the Burrow around noon. I could hear that most everyone was already present. My blood pressure spiked and I felt my hands go clammy. Heilige Sheiße! Heilige Scheiße! I have to converse with these people! They are all war heroes and survivors! They are going to hate me. I am small and meek and easily intimidated. No, not easily intimidated. But I am small and meek. I felt my heart racing.

"They will love you. No more fretting." Albus whispered into my ear as he took hold of my elbow to lead me towards the raucous noises. I thought about resisting, but the reassuring squeeze from Albus reminded me that I would not be doing this alone.

"Albus, I forgot all their names." I whispered harshly and planted my feet.

"No you didn't. I promise." he whispered back and tugged firmly on my elbow. I was pulled into a rather large den with an assortment of red heads. I nearly fell over from Albus' rough handling. He looked at my apologetically and I just scowled at him.

"Cal!" I heard Hugo call and then I was being engulfed in boney arms. I felt the smile form on my lips before I was embracing the skinny red head.

"Hugh! Merry Christmas! How are you doing?" I said quietly into his ear. He pulled his head of curly red hair from my shoulder and flashed me a huge grin.

"Happy Christmas! I'm grand! Mum and dad were able to get me a new broom so I can practice over the summer and hopefully get on the Hufflepuff House Quidditch team next year." he replied in a rush of air and words. His cheeks were flushed with happiness. I kissed the top of his head. I could not resist. He was just too damn cute when he was happy.

"Hugo love, let the poor girl breathe!" a small woman with wild curls came over to grasp Hugo's shoulder and pry him away. I released him and held a hand out.

"Miss Hermione, I'm Calesta Manslayer. I am absolutely thrilled to meet you." I said in a calm voice. An amused expression flitted across her features. She gripped my extended hand and squeezed it lightly.

"Well, Miss Manslayer, it is a pleasure." she murmured through a small smile as she released her hold, "But please, I insist you call me Hermione." I bowed my head respectfully.

"Of course." I said.

"Let me see her!" a soft voice called out. I was then being pulled in front of a plump, orange red haired witch. Her face was lightly wrinkled with laugh lines and crows feet. Her eyes were staring at me, analyzing my features as if I were a suspect in a murder. But she was smiling tenderly. My pretty face was doing wonders at the moment.

"Grandmum Molly, this is Calesta Manslayer." I heard James introduce me from my right, "Cal, this is Grandmum Molly. The best grandmother anyone could ask for!"

"She's your only grandmother." I heard Albus mutter to his brother. James just elbowed him in the ribs as a response.

"Hello, Missus Weasley." I smiled nervously.

"Oh! None of that now." she waved my formal greeting away, "Call me Molly. I haven't been Missus Weasley in a very long time." I nodded my head.

"I will remember that." I said as she patted my cheek fondly before going to the another room.

"Soft voice and pretty face." Albus murmured under his breathe near my ear.

"Now, we have Uncles Bill, Charlie, Percy and Ron. And next to them are Aunts Fluer, Audrey and Angelina." James pointed to each family member as he said their name. I received warm smiles and waves. I returned them all with a small smile of my own, "My illustrious family, this is Calesta Manslayer. My own little snake and German translator. You should hear her curse in German! It is fantastic!" James exclaimed. That earned him a smack on the back of his head from his mother. I flushed from his words in embarrassment.

"I don't curse in German. I hardly curse at all." a snort came from Fred who was perched next to his mother on the floor. I shot him a smirk and added, "Ich konnte ihnen sagen, Sie gelernt, in Deutsch, schwörn, Fred."

"Nine, danke, Calesta." Fred replied. I shook my head in merriment.

"It is nice to meet you all." I addressed the whole room. A few murmured in agreement and I heard the floo activate.

Lily immediately broke out in a wide grin. She disappeared to the fireplace and I heard squealing. I glanced at Albus and he just smiled. James was no more helpful.

"Ah, Luna! You made it." I heard Harry exclaim. Oh, it is Luna Scamander and her family. Now I understand.

"Why is Lily so excited?" I whispered to Albus.

"We forgot to mention that Lily carries Aunt Luna's name and is her goddaughter. They get along very well. If Aunt Luna is in the area, she will take Lily out on lunch dates. I think that she secretly wishes for a daughter, but gets enough of that experience with Lily to satisfy that need." Albus replied lowly. I nodded in understanding.

I watched as a petite, dirty blonde woman came around the corner. Her hair was to her waist and in a tight braid. Lily was tucked under her arm and smiling up to her face. I saw clear silver irises that reminded me of melted steel. When they rested on my face, it felt like I was being read from beginning to end. A small, secret smile curved her lips and she released Lily. Luna Scamander walked up slowly to me and just stared into my eyes. I felt it would be rude to look away, so I watched her examine me.

"Not everyday is as hard as the last. And some days it is harder. But you seem to have the ability to keep perservering and actually push on through. That makes you special, Miss Manslayer." Luna's voice was so soft and dreamy, I did not even want to talk. I did not want to break the spell. Her voice brought comfort to me. And, oddly, I understood what she meant. I nodded my head once and took in a deep breathe, "I'm Luna. I hear you are staying with my good friend Harry for the holidays. They are nice, I think. You are in good company. Except for my nephews. I think they have wrackspurts in their heads. Especially Albus." Okay, I am lost now.

"Auntie Luna! That's not very nice." James interrupted me before I could ask what the hell a wrackspurt was, "You always say I have them in my head." he whined.

"Well, dear James, you always do!" Luna replied as she pulled him into a warm embrace. I hid a giggle behind my hand and was awarded a fiece glare from the auburn haired Potter.

"Cal! Come on!" I heard Hugo call for me by the back door. I looked around and noticed that the majority of the children had left. Albus pinched some of my sleeve between his fingers to gently pull me along. I caught a smirk from Luna as she observed the action.

What the hell is a wrackspurt?

I had yet to take off my outdoor gear, so I was pulled out into the crisp winter air. I took in the spacious back yard and could see that most of the children had paired off into their usual partners. Lily appeared from the doorway moments later, pulling a knit cap over her ears. Her cinnamon irises were twinkling. I realized that the family I was staying with oozed with love. The whole clan was just loving and adoring. Even those who were not of blood, they were deeply rooted with the family. I pondered how a war could bring completely different personalities together. Because I knew all the names of those involved. It was a history lesson we are taught early on. But to actually meet powerful people who were content in just being together, it was eye opening and so inspiring.

I glanced around at all the children, puffs of air drifted over their heads as they conversed quietly. Two pale, identical faces were off to the side, watching me watch everyone else. I caught the silver pools and knew they were Lorcan and Lysander Scamander. Albus was right; they were quiet and reserved. Even if they did not comment, I could tell they knew everything that was happening. I felt another set of eyes on my profile and glanced into Albus' hazel irises. He was regarding me with interest.

"Your family is very nice. When does the chaos start?" I inquired softly. A glint entered his eye and I barely had time to duck the small, compact ball of snow aimed at my head.

"Right about now, I expect." he half grinned at me, "SNOWBALL FIGHT!"

And the chaos started.

I found myself having to dodge, weave and duck an onslaught of wet and cold balls. Peals of laughter and squeals of targets being pelted with the cool weapons soon took over the peaceful quiet. Warrior calls cut through the laughing and soon we had unintentionally divided ourselves into teams. And it was not a fair fight.

Most of the boys had banded together. The smaller boys and the girls were left to huddle together. I ended up being thrown with the females and knew it was on purpose. James shot me a sinister smirk and an aggrivating wink as I pulled by the back of my jacket. I felt a feeling bubble in my chest. I realized it was anticipation of a good fight. While we were outsized by the 'greater' sex, I knew that these girls were fierce and conditioned for a fight. I returned James' smirk with my own cold and dark one.

"Alright ladies. We need a game plan." I whispered and heard a soft cough to my left, "And gentlemen. Lorcan and Lysander, I'm Calesta. Nice to meet you." two sets of wide silver eyes met my hardened gaze, "I need you two to get behind the line we are about to form. You will be our secret weapons." I realized I was talking fast, but they seemed to have the ability to keep up. Rose raised an eyebrow at me and I winked at her, "The scoundrels over there purposefully left me over here because they have a feeling I am dead weight."

"Why are we lining ourselves up for the slaughter?" Roxanne sounded angry. I glanced at her.

"Because we aren't." I replied, "As soon as the twins flank over to the right, we are going to scatter and cause pandemonium. I need Lorcan and Lysander to head straight for Fred. He is going to be the leader."

"No he isn't." Molly interrupted my plan.

"Yes he is. They want us to believe that it will be James. But they will be putting Freddie in the middle. As soon as you can, Scamander Twins, you will pelt him with as many snowballs as your little hands can make. Lily and Hugo will be your shields until you get to him." I explained.

"How do you know that?" Lucy piped up. I sighed.

"Well, wouldn't it be the perfect plan? Make us believe that James is the leader and have us needlessly throw snow in his face, not that he doesn't deserve it? They might even let us believe that Louis is the leader because he is the oldest, but I doubt that. This is James' show and he is going to try his hardest to pull it off." I let my gaze wander the circle, "They might think that you are going to make me the leader because they know that I am mad now."

"Then we should make Lily the leader." Lucy offered.

"That is too obvious. What wouldn't be obvious is to make Lorcan the leader." I whispered in case someone was trying to listen, "Since he will already be under Lily and Hugo's protection. And he is so small, they wouldn't suspect that." I stared at the small, pale boy and he nodded his head.

"So, we line ourselves up and the twins flank to the right and have Lily and Hugo lead them to Freddie to be pelted with wet snow?" Lucy dumb downed my plan. After my nod of affirm, she grinned darkly, "Excellent. Lorcan, you are our official leader. Calesta will be our unofficial leader. I like this plan. Start pressing snow together, cousins. We are at war!"

After making sure that the boys were still conversing, we set to making as many snowballs as we could manage. I pulled my knit cap off and started stuffing it with ready ammunition. The others took my cue and began to follow my lead. I felt a sense of accomplishment fill my chest. We might actually end up winning this unofficial war and get bragging rights. Or, the girls will hate me for leading them into a slaughter and I get made fun of for the rest of my life. Because that was the other end of the spectrum for me.

"Ready?" I whispered as my counterparts cradled caps of snow in their arms. Murmurs and nods answered my question and I turned around.

I heard my battle mates line up next to me and we squared off, facing the older boys. And true to my line of thought, James was out in the front, looking smug. I glanced down the line and noted that Fred was safely to the back. He had a shield of tall young men to safely guard him.

It was eerily quiet.

I decided to break the silence.

"CHARGE!" I screamed and true to my plan, chaos ensued.

The air was filled with flying snow. Flashes of bright and dark red scattered around me. For a moment, James looked lost, but he quickly regrouped. I seemed to be his main target. Well, if that was how he wanted to play it, fine. I can return fire.

"Prepare to be defeated, Manslayer!" he yelled as a volley of snowballs came from him. I ducked and returned fire only for him to dodge my assault.

"In your dreams, Potter!" I ground through my teeth. I started to throw my ammunition harder and faster.

And then I heard the sound of someone mimicking dying. I glanced past James and saw Fred with snow splattered all over his front. I was able to pull out a smirk before my face went instantly cold. I sputtered melted ice out of my mouth and shook the snow from my hair. I had to swipe the back of my glove over my eyes to clear the warming slush.

"HA! Draw!" James yelled. And I doubled over in laughter.

"Wrong, Potter." I gasped through my laughter. I heard the other girls join in, "I'm not the leader."

"What?" James' face went slack in confusion.

"Lorcan, are you hit?" I called out through my fits.

"No." a soft voice called back. My features morphed into a shit eating grin.

"We won!" I yelled and a victorius roar was my answer.

James walked up to me and had his gloved hands on his hips. I watched him cautiously. I did not know if he still hand snow hidden somewhere. I do not fancy another face full of snow. The first one stung and I did not want to experience that again.

"You chose Lorcan?" his voice was incredulous. I nodded my head and he shifted his weight to one foot in thought, "How did you know that Fred would be ours?"

"Because your ego is the size of the moon. You would try to play it off as if you were. Because trying to out play a coniving Slytherin is a bad idea." I replied with a shrug of a shoulder, "It would either be Fred or Louis, but Louis would be obvious since he is the oldest." I dumped the remaining snow from my cap and gave his shoulder a patronising pat, "But that is alright. The girls and I can will tell Scorpius all about how James Potter was out thought by a bunch of girls."

I caught the wince from the older boy and grinned darkly.

"Oh, is that embarrassing?" I sneered.

"Green to the core, aren't you?" he narrowed his eyes. I lifted my chin and leveled my gaze on his forest green orbs.

"I suppose. I seem to be gathering certain traits." I responded before shoving my cold hat over my hair and walking past him.

"Well played, Manslayer. Well played." James murmured as I brushed by. A small smile graced my features.

"Dinner!"