Chapter Twenty One: Christmas Plans
It was only two weeks until Christmas and all over there was decorating for the occasion. Hannah and Neville had now taken over the Leaky Cauldron as Hannah's Uncle Tom had decided to retire. Harry and Ginny decided to have all their family in Potter Manor for the holidays which they accepted.
"Babe, should we buy two turkeys?" Ginny shouted into Harry.
"Is Ron coming?" Harry asked knowing the answer already.
"Yes." Ginny said wondering why that mattered.
"Then we need about six turkeys." Harry said laughing and holding Teddy in his arms walking into Ginny with Dobby signalling him to run.
"We'll need two I mean we have your parents, my parents and brothers and their wives or girlfriends, then theirs Sirius, Hagrid, and Hermione's parents." Ginny said writing a list of people.
"I'd make it three just in case and Dad said Sirius is bringing his girlfriend for us all to finally meet." Harry said smiling at the idea of Sirius with some twenty year old woman.
"Cool so all that's left is Santa's list for Teddy." Ginny said kissing Teddy's forehead and taking him of Harry amidst Harry's protest of her being six months pregnant. "Harry I'm able to hold my beautiful son ok." She said hugging Teddy in her motherly way. It was known to everyone Teddy was a momma's boy.
"Naptime for a tired little man I think." Harry said seeing his son dose off in Ginny's arms he took him to his room and placed the young child in bed.
"So Harry…what do you think we should get him for Christmas?" Ginny asked looking at her husband smiling and thinking.
"I think we get him a lovely little companion like a dog or an owl." Harry said thinking of Hedwig and Padfoot's Animagus form.
"Good idea a dog would be nice or maybe even a little owl chick." Ginny said lying on the sofa in the living room.
"I want to know Gin, are you excited about the Harpies?" Harry asked sitting down and began rubbing her feet as they swelled badly with the pregnancy.
"Umm…I love you so much. I wrote professor Slughorn a letter and he said that you agreed to ten slug club meet and greets for the meeting with Gwen." Ginny said letting herself relax as Harry massaged her aching feet and smiled hoping their child would have his eyes and maybe her hair.
"Not too bad of a deal, I mean the meet and greets are just a dinner party really. Besides this way I'm married to a famous Quidditch player." He said jokingly while turning his attention to her feet once more massaging them for an hour or so while she relaxed slipping in and out of a small sleep.
When Ginny woke up she saw Harry and Teddy in the kitchen eating lunch and a third plate set up while Harry fed Teddy who insisted on feeding himself and making a mess. She looked at Harry and saw his laugh at the stubbornness of his son which was like his own. 'He is really after taking to raising Teddy like he was our own…because I guess he is our own.' She thought of Dora and Remus who trusted her enough to raise their child and of Harry who shares a bond with the child who calls him dada and her mama. 'I wish you were here Tonks…' was all Ginny could think she imagined what it would have been like not raising her daughter she was anxious to meet.
"Gin, are you hungry?" Harry asked putting lunch on a plate for her and sitting down to join in to her family.
"Famished." Ginny said tucking in to a lovely salad and chicken sandwich watching Harry cut small pieces of chicken for Teddy made her laugh as she always envisioned her Harry Potter prince to be a muscular warrior not the loving dad he was now.
"So I talked to our parents and everyone else coming and we're all set, I'll buy the turkeys tomorrow and Hermione and Ron have offered to take Teddy for the day so we can talk to Santa-" Harry winked, "-and buy everything else we need." He finished his sentence and feeding Teddy.
"Perfect, how long was I asleep?" Ginny asked looking amazed at Harry's speed.
"Two hours. So I went to my mom's house and Sirius was there so then I floo'd to the Burrow and told the in-laws about the arraignments and then to Hogwarts using the Floo since the Burrow and cottage are still connected to the school told Hagrid, then I came home gave Dobby Christmas off to spend with Winky and his friends in Hogwarts and made lunch." Harry said cleaning Teddy's face softly and putting his and Teddy's plates in the sink.
"Wow!" Ginny said looking truly gobsmacked at the idea of all that planning in a short time.
The next day they awoke early and Hermione and Ron arrived to take little Teddy on a fun day out to the cinema to see a new muggle children's movie. Harry and Ginny decided to use the car to drive to London and walk through the Cauldron meeting Hannah and Neville inside.
"Harry, Ginny hey guys." Hannah said running over to hug them.
"Hey Hannah." They both said together.
"So what are the cutest couple of witch weekly doing in my old pub?" Hannah asked pouring three pumpkin juices.
"Christmas shopping in the Alley we're going in a few." Harry said taking a glass and drinking it.
"Ah a romantic first family Christmas, it sounds so nice." Hannah said thinking of her and Neville.
"It will be. We have all our family coming over for dinner and they all seem to have announcements." Ginny said sipping the drink and resting.
"Tell you what Gin. You rest her for a few minutes while I run to a muggle grocers for a few turkeys." Harry said taking £200 from his pocket and going out the door.
"He really is supportive Gin, isn't he?" Hannah said looking at her friend and smiling.
"Yeah he is. I mean he always makes sure I'm relaxed and rested and I think he wants to be the best dad and husband and he's succeeding…I took a nap earlier and when I woke up he sorted everything out in two hours." Ginny said thinking of the night he revealed his whole ordeal of a childhood.
Meanwhile in a small muggle butchers, Harry is negotiating about three turkeys.
"Sorry lad, it can't be done I mean I have a few left but three is a lot kid." The butcher said. He was an old man who looked close to retirement.
"I can pay £300 for the three of them." Harry said explaining his predicament and the need for the need for the three turkeys.
"Alright, but I'm no crook and it's the holidays so, I'll take £150 for the three turkeys." The butcher said taking the money and wishing him a happy Christmas.
"Thank you so much." Harry said giving the money and leaving telling the butcher to use the money to help some poor homeless people.
"Generous young man you are." The butcher said putting the money in a small box marked 'homeless shelter funds'.
Harry then went to his car put the turkeys in the boot with a freezing spell to keep them fresh and re-entered the Leaky Cauldron, "Are you ready Gin? Or do you need more rest?" he asked walking to his wife and friend.
"I'm ready babe. Did you manage to get three turkeys?" Ginny asked him and smiled when he nodded. "Bye Hannah." The two said together and left for the Alley, Harry had never been to it during the holidays the streets were lined with snow and decorations hung everywhere.
"First stop Flourish and Blotts for Hermione's gift." Ginny said leading Harry in were the two saw Rita Skeeter smiling showing her new book 'Harry Potter: The Real Boy Who Lived'.
"SKEETER, a word please." Harry said looking annoyed.
"Yes darling, how are ya these days?" She asked looking like she was a close friend.
"You remember what I know about you Rita…and I think that the Ministry would be very interested in your endeavours in your career, don't you?" Harry asked with a smug smile on his face looking at the once major pin in his side and looking at the book.
"You wouldn't Potter. I know all about your son." Rita said looking smugger than Harry. "And I kept it out of the book being a good girl but I'm warning you Potter I will put it in if you even attempt to reveal my Animagus status to anyone."
"Vim extermina memoriae!" Harry said as a small white light removed Teddy from Rita's memory. "I never authorised this biography so please do not purchase it as it will be 90% dragon dung." He said as people looked at the killer of Riddle and put down the book. "I'm buying a copy to read the lies and sort the problem out myself." He said handing Mr. Flourish four galleons for the book.
The rest of the day was spent buying gifts for everyone including; a small library worth of elf's rights books for Hermione, a signed Chudley Cannon's snitch for Ron, a full baby set for Bill and Fleur, A Firebolt for Charlie, a new shop in Ireland for the twins, a new car for Arthur and Celestina Warbeck tickets for Molly. As well as some lovely jewellery for Lily and a powerful Inferno Broom for James and a book of dog tricks for Sirius' girlfriend and a new bike for Sirius. They finally found a pet for Teddy a husky dog called Spear. A/N: Next Chapter will be a real shocker for all.