Chapter 8- A Late Christmas
Harry and Hermione woke up early on the following morning to the sound of Dobby with a tea tray.
"Dobby, what are you doing here this early in the morning?" Harry asked.
"Well, Master Harry Potter sir, Dobby was wondering if he could be giving you your present now."
"Of course, Dobby, let me go fetch yours right fast," Harry replied as he rushed out of the room.
"Dobby, we want you to know that we appreciate both you and Winky working for us. We don't know what we would do without you."
"Mistress Mione, you has made Dobby a very happy elf," Dobby stated starting to tear up.
"Your welcome, Dobby," Hermione replied.
At that moment Harry rushed back in with a wrapped package.
"Here you are, Dobby," Harry said handing him the brightly wrapped package.
"Thank you, Harry Potter sir!"
Dobby opened his package which opened to reveal a coupon to Madame Malkin's for any clothes that Dobby could want. Harry's package turned out to be a pair of socks made by Dobby that were red and green and had snitches on them.
"Thanks, Dobby, I think I'll wear them now," Harry stated.
Dobby left them to wake the others while Harry and Hermione got dressed in some simple muggle clothes. As soon as they were done, they headed downstairs where they met Hermione's parents who had been brought thirty minutes before by Winky.
"Mum, dad, it's so good to see you," Hermione squealed, hugging her parents, "there's someone I want you to meet. Harry Potter, my husband."
"Hello, Harry," both Hermione's parents said together.
"Hello, Mrs. Granger, Mr. Granger," Harry said nervously.
"Don't worry, Harry, we won't be giving you the third degree, yet," Mr. Granger said jokingly.
"Harry, don't listen to my husband. If he doesn't play nice, then he'll be introduced to the sofa again. Now, why don't you tell us about yourself."
"Well, I suppose Hermione has told you about our adventures at Hogwarts," Harry said and seeing them nod, he continued," my life before Hogwarts wasn't that good. My relatives liked to attempt to squash the magic out of me, of course to no avail. They would constantly call me freak and other demeaning names. I didn't know my name until I was five and didn't know my birthday until I was seven. Other than that, there really is nothing more that I'm willing to say just yet."
"I think that we could all use some more tea before the rest of our family gets up and we have our Christmas celebration. Dobby!"
"Yes, Mistress Mione?" Dobby asked.
"Could you bring us some more tea please?"
"Yes, Mistress Mione."
At the Grangers confused looks, Harry and Hermione explained that Dobby was a house-elf and served them and received payment.
"Is he always that excited?" Mrs. Granger asked.
"Yes."
Just as Dobby got back with the tea, the rest of the group came in.
"Morning, all," Harry greeted them as they sat down to pour themselves some tea.
He received six "Morning Harry's" in return.
"So, what do we want to do first? Eat breakfast and then open presents or vice versa?" Hermione inquired.
"Eat breakfast" was the reply most heard, so the group headed to the dining room and ate a wonderful English breakfast. After they all were full to the brim, they marched back into the living room and Dobby and Winky, wearing little Santa hats, began to pass out the presents.
Digging into his presents, Harry found a book on Defense from Neville and his Gran, a charm necklace to ward of Crumple-Horned Snorckacks from Luna and her dad, a foe-glass from Severus, a pensieve from Minerva, a vast array of muggle clothes from the Grangers, and finally, he received a framed portrait from Hermione of his parents.
"Harry, when I sent Dobby to Godric's Hollow to see if he could find anything about your parents' assets, imagine to my surprise when I found out from him that the house was intact. Not only that, but there was no sign of a struggle anywhere in the house. On the mantle, he found this portrait of your parents, but it isn't an ordinary portrait. Apparently, your parents' spirits reside within the painting."
"Hermione, you have just given me the best Christmas ever," Harry said.
Harry went and put the portrait of his parents on the mantle where they belonged.
"Hello, Harry," his mother said.
"Hi, mum, dad" Harry replied.
"We want you to know that we are so proud of you."
"Yeah, like your mum said, we're proud of you. Did you know that we actually visited you your first year?"
"No, I didn't- unless- the Mirror of Erised."
"Yes, the mirror of Erised."
"Well, not to be rude to my own parents, but I should get back to my guests."
"Of course, Harry, after all we have all the time in the world."
"I'll come back later then."
"Alright."
Harry went back over to Hermione and noted that there was some of Fred and George's enchanted mistletoe over her head, so he dipped her back and kissed her deeply.
"What was that for dear? Not that I'm complaining."
"Well, dear, you know Fred and George's mistletoe. If I hadn't kissed you in that manner, then you would have been soaked with water."
"Ah."
"Now, since everybody else seems to be done with opening their presents. I have two final presents to give out. One is to you my dear."
He handed her an engagement ring, that had emeralds entwining around a central diamond.
"Oh, Harry, it's beautiful."
"Glad you love it. Now for my second gift, Dobby I need your help."
"Yes, Master Harry sir?"
"I need you to fetch my dogfather and Uncle Moony."
"Of course, Master Harry."
Dobby popped out and while waiting on him, the others began to thank each other for their gifts. After thirty minutes, Dobby popped back in with a raggedy-looking Sirius Black and Remus Lupin.
"It's Sirius Black," Mrs. Longbottom shouted.
"Yes, yes, it is, but don't worry. He won't harm you. Please let me tell my story," Harry said quickly.
"It all started a year ago. I found out the truth of my parents' murder. Or so I thought. Peter Pettigrew betrayed my parents. Now, whether he betrayed them to Voldemort or Albus Dumbledore is the question. Either way, Pettigrew told the secret and my parents were killed. Besides, Sirius Black is my godfather. You know what that entails, don't you Mrs. Longbottom? He couldn't have betrayed me due to the bond between us. It wouldn't have allowed him to let me be harmed in any manner."
"You're right, it wouldn't. But why would Black be framed, then?"
"Well, it was mainly to get him out of the way so that Dumbledore could dump me at my mum's sister's, where I wouldn't have a happy childhood."
"Why would Dumbledore do that?"
"He's a master manipulator and wants to control everything from his office at Hogwarts."
"So, Sirius is innocent, but where is Pettigrew then?"
"He escaped and where he is now, we don't know. All we know is that we have to find him to clear Sirius's name or get someone who will believe us to administer Veritaserum to him."
"Have you thought of Amelia Bones?"
"Ah, no we have not. Well, we will worry about that after today. For now, I have to give my dogfather and uncle their gift. I would say gifts, but these two go hand in hand so that is why it is only a gift."
To Sirius, Harry handed a license engraved with Padfoot. It gave some technical information in case he ever got lost. To Remus, Harry gave one: a license engraved with Moony, and two: a leash for Padfoot. Both Marauders roared with laughter at their gifts until Hermione was heard clearing her throat.
"Umm, no offense you two, but you both need baths."
"No, I don't," Sirius began to retort, "this is my natural scent, which all single women are drawn to."
"Good thing I am married then, isn't it?"
"What?"
"Long story, Padfoot, I'll tell you later. Right now, some of us need to get ready to go visit the Longbottoms in St. Mungo's, and no, Padfoot, you cannot come."
"Aw, but what if I went as the family mutt?"
"No."
"Spoilsport."
The group cleaned up the living room and then proceeded upstairs to get ready to floo to St. Mungo's. All except the Grangers and Padfoot and Moony would be going. An hour later, the group was ready and they proceeded to floo to the hospital.
(A/N Sorry for the long wait, but school was awful and then I had finals. Funnily, on our last day of finals, I was sick and have been since. I wanted to get this out yesterday, but all day I was in bed, and I fell asleep early. Anyway, next chapter is the hospital visit. Also, if anyone can get the James Bond reference in this chapter, then I'll include them some way in the next. Thanks for reading and please review.)
Riddle Potter 23