Poppy thought that 25th December 1991 would go down as one of the happiest days she had ever had. She had adopted Harry in March, so this was his first real Christmas.
Poppy was determined to make it a good one, as was Minerva but Minerva had cautioned her friend not to go too overboard and try and make up for ten years of lost Christmases. They were gone and try as Poppy might, she couldn't bring them back.
Thus Poppy's Hogsmeade house was decked throughout with holly and tinsel and other Christmas decorations. There was a tree in the corner of the living room that Harry had decorated himself and his stocking was hung above the fireplace. That was now filled with presents that spilled onto the floor. The sherry that Harry had left on the mantelpiece had been drunk and only the end of the carrot remained. Around the base of the tree were many brightly wrapped presents. Most of them were addressed to Harry but there were several that had Poppy's name on. There was Christmas cake that Harry had brought home from the last time he was at the Weasley's in pride of place in the table. Molly had provided him and Ron with one each and they spent an afternoon in the Burrow kitchen icing and decorating it.
As Poppy looked around, looking to see for anything that was wrong, she saw out of the living room window that it was snowing. They were thick flakes and they were settling fast. She knew that Harry would want to go snowballing later and today she didn't have the heart to deny him. Today was his day and even if he wanted to fly, she would let him.
As she turned back to the kitchen she spotted Harry in front of her.
"You're up early!" she greeted him with a smile.
Upon hearing the voice Harry shot forward into the kitchen and hastily started trying to find ingredients to cook with.
"Harry? What are you doing?" Poppy wasn't sure what Christmases in Surrey had been like for her nephew, but she wasn't expecting that reaction.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I didn't know you'd be up so early!" Harry seemed genuinely frightened.
"What are you sorry for Harry?" Poppy enquired.
"That I've not cooked breakfast, or cleaned the house, or counted Dudley's presents or started on lunch yet or brought up the whiskey or made myself invisible so you can have a pleasant family Christmas without me reminding you of freaks." Harry blurted out.
Poppy turned off the oven with a flick of her wand.
"You aren't in Little Whinging Harry. You shouldn't have to do chores on Christmas Day. Come here." She gently beckoned him over.
"Look - there's your cake in the middle of the table and there's the tree you decorated. There's a stocking filled with presents here as well but there's only one child in this house. Santa doesn't come to adults, so it must be for you. Also have you looked under the tree? Most of the presents have your name on them! Does that look as if I want to spend Christmas not being reminded of you?"
Harry stood completely still as Poppy showed him how a Christmas morning should be. He was entirely stunned. Presents were never for him. He had never been a boy good enough for a stocking or a visit from Santa. This was all a dream and he would soon be woken up by Aunt Petunia's forceful hand on his cupboard door or Dudley jumping on the stairs. He pinched himself and gasped. It was not a dream!
"It looks like Rudolph might have been here too last night. There's only the end of the carrot left!" Poppy continued.
Poppy sat down in front of the tree and started pulling out presents for Harry. She held out to him one in scarlet paper with flying snitches.
"This is from Auntie Minnie for you."
Harry hesitantly took the parcel and unwrapped it. In it he found a book "Quidditch Through the Ages" and some gloves.
"Ron has this book!" Harry said excitedly. "I've wanted to read it for ages!"
"Remember to thank her when she comes over Harry." Poppy reminded him, a huge grin on her face as she saw Harry's excitement. "This one's from Hagrid I think."
Harry opened the next parcel more eagerly. He could see what the thrill of Christmas was now, why everyone seemed to love it so much! It was exciting opening presents! Kind of like his birthday had been, but bigger in a way.
"It's a photo album" he said, discarding the brown paper wrapping and showing Poppy the leather bound book. "Are these my mum and dad?"
"Yes they are Harry. Hagrid thought you might like some pictures of them to remember them by."
"They're amazing. I've never seen pictures of them before and I don't remember them at all."
"Make sure you tell Hagrid you like them then. He'll be as pleased as anything! Here this next one is from Molly Weasley."
This carried on for an hour or so. Harry's unwrapping got less and less careful and more enthusiastic the more he got into it. He got a basket of treats from the Weasleys along with a Weasley jumper, "The Whys and Wherefores of the Cauldron, A Beginners Guide to Potions" from Severus, a lot of flying gear or books from other Hogwarts staff and new clothes from Poppy. There was soon paper strewn around everywhere in the living room.
"What are those remaining parcels? Are they for you?" Harry asked
"Am I allowed Christmas presents, Harry?" Poppy asked with a smirk.
"Yes, yes, yes you are. Sorry." Harry babbled.
Poppy ignored the apology. It was Christmas Day after all. "Well then, let's see how many books I got this year!" She reached for a parcel and ripped off the wrapping paper with a flourish.
"Typical Severus ." she muttered "I imagine these will come in useful, especially if it snows on Christmas Day." she read aloud for Harry to hear.
"What did he send?" Harry asked
"Bruise paste, swelling reducer and Pepperup potion! He knows both you and me far too well!"
"Open another one!" Harry said excitedly
"Alrighty, which do you think I should open next?" Poppy was very pleased with Harry's excitement.
Harry passed her a blue and gold wrapped up cube. "This one!" he said.
Poppy read the label:
To Auntie Poppy
Happy Christmas
Lots of Love
Harry x
"You bought me a present? You didn't need to do that." She ruffled his hair with love.
"Made it actually. With help from Professor Flitwick." Harry was bouncing on his heels in anticipation.
Poppy opened the parcel eagerly but carefully. She didn't want to break whatever it was that Harry was so excited about. If Filius was involved it had to be a charmed something. Opening it up, she saw it was a cube glowing a faint green.
"What is it?" she asked. She felt like it was rude to ask such a question, especially when Harry was so excited about it, but she could not tell what it was!
"It's an Indicator. It can tell you anything about a person that can be good, middling or bad. Like their health or mood or things." Harry looked up warily, trying to judge his auntie's reaction, looking for an escape route if she didn't like it. "Professor Flitwick could tell you more." he added.
"Wow Harry, that's really useful! Thanks!" Poppy pulled Harry into a tight hug. "You look as if you have energy to run off, why don't we get dressed and go outside for a bit before Minerva and Severus arrive?"
Harry nodded vigorously and ran up the stairs.
"Such a resilient child." Poppy mumbled to herself "he got so excited about his presents bless him."
She cleared up the paper with a flick of her wand and then went up to her own room to get suitably dressed.
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Christmas lunch was a great success. Poppy, unbeknownst to many, was a decent cook and Harry had begged to help until she had let him.
Minerva was particularly complimentary of the decorations of the cake and even Severus grudgingly admitted that "the boy has some of Lily's talent" in decorating.
After lunch Harry took Minerva to see all of his new presents and told her in detail about how he had made the Indicator.
"Have you thanked Minerva for your present yet?" Poppy's voice came from the kitchen
"Thankyou very much for the book and the gloves Auntie Minnie!" Harry quickly said. "They were the first things I opened!"
"I'm glad you like them Harry. You're very welcome." The mischievous look came into her eye again. "There's all this snow around it seems a shame not to use it, don't you think Harry? I think a girls vs boys snowball fight would be just the job right now, don't you?"
"Will Professor Snape mind? He won't give me detention for being bad will he?"
"No Harry. I will make sure that that does not happen. As for him minding, it will do him good. It will do us all good."
Not ten minutes later was there a big non magical snowball fight going on. It soon attracted other Hogsmeade residents to watch as Minerva and Harry were going for it full on. A few spectators were hit by snowballs from Harry by mistake, but instead of being upset, they joined in! This set the rest of the village off and around an hour after the professors and Harry had started their snowball fight, it had mutated into all out war: Hogsmeade boys vs Hogsmeade girls.
When it had finished, at sunset, there was no decisive winner. Both sides claimed the victory in loud voices, Harry no different from the rest. Minerva had conjured a tent in the village centre and on that night, the community became closer. They sat round a camp fire, all together with Harry just another excited kid and it made the perfect end to a perfect Christmas, thought Poppy.