A/N: Hey all you readers! If you don't mind, I'm writing a series of one-shots based off of a challenge about this Potter family, and even though I've only written one so far I have a feeling that a lot I put in them will coincide with this story. So basically what I'm asking you is if you could read the one-shot(s). The story is called "Sweet Peas" with Ginny and Harry in the character list. So thank you and I hope you read it! Anyways, enjoy this chapter!
Jenni was given firm lectures in the days after the dinner at the Burrow from Ginny, and Hermione that were full of concern for her. She was beginning to feel confused about her sudden outburst at dinner towards Ron. These lectures about how 'that was very unlike you Jenni, I cannot tolerate it' from Hermione. And, Ginny stating 'I would have expect something like this from James or Fred, but never you'. She felt as though standing up and defending her friend and her father – despite how disliked he may be from his teenage years – would have been, not praised necessarily, but, admirable.
It wasn't until the day before Christmas Eve when she knew someone knew where she was coming from. She was in her room reading a book at 10 0'clock when a knock came to her door.
"Can I come in?" asked a voice.
"Sure," Jenni said while continuing to read. When she saw who entered she put her book down and looked up at Harry.
Jenni gave him an expectant look as Harry sat at the foot of her bed and looked at her for a few seconds. "Listen, Jenni. I know you've gotten a lot of… stern words about that dinner," Jenni looked down with a guilty expression. Harry saw this but continued on, "and what I came in here to tell you is that I'm proud of you."
Jenni flicked her head up at those last words and said in astonishment, "You are? Why's that?"
"Well," Harry started with an amused face, "Ron can be a prat about things, and everyone knows it – him including."
Jenni gave a small laugh but looked at him curiously, "I'm still lost. How can you be proud of me? It was 'very unlike me' as Hermione put it."
Harry began to explain, "See there's a huge difference between Hermione and me. She's a brilliant friend, wife, and mother, but most of the time in these situations she looks at what's happening as opposed to why it's happening. I on the other hand understood where you were coming from.
"I'm not sure if you knew this about me, but the summer going into my third year my Uncle's sister came for a visit, and at dinner she was insulting both my mum and my dad. I was in the room and she knew it, but I snapped. I yelled at her and told her to shut up. The, with all my anger and frustration towards her I blew her up into the shape of a balloon."
"As hilarious and troubling as that story is, I'm afraid I don't understand the point you're trying to make," Jenni said softly.
"The point I'm trying to make it that you shouldn't stand by as a person insults someone or something you believe in. You can't let them trample on you and get away with it, even if it is family," Harry continued on, " and that is why I am proud of you, Jenni. When everyone was against you, you stood up and defended yourself. And that's something that should never be overlooked."
Jenni gave him a teary smile and embraced him in a hug, "Thank you," she whispered.
"No," Harry said as they pulled away, "Thank you."
"Get up Jenni! Get up, get up, get up!" cried Lily as she hopped onto the older girls' bed.
Jenni grumbled, "Lily, why do you have to do this?"
"Because it's Christmas!" Lily exclaimed as though it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Fine," Jenni huffed, "give me two minutes."
"Okay," gleamed Lily.
Jenni got up, stretched, and then proceeded to go downstairs where she knew a magnificent breakfast awaits her. On her way down James bumped into her and groggily said, "Sorry 'bout that."
Jenni couldn't help but giggle, "I see Lily attacked you to get up."
"Yeah," he replied sadly.
"You miss your bed right know don't you?" she asked knowingly as they walk down the stairs.
"Yeah," he said. Jenni patted him on his shoulder.
The breakfast was just as she expected; French toast, bacon, sausages, eggs, fruit, and a special surprise –Santa pancakes. She felt like she was in heaven with all this amazing food on her plate. Once everyone finished eating and cleaned up their plates they heading towards the living room and the four kids sat by the tree to open their presents from each other while Harry and Ginny sat on the couch and watched them.
Lily opened her presents first. She got a box of chocolate frogs from Albus, a jewelry box from James, a purple and black patterned scarf from Jenni, and a goblin made silver bracelet from her parents.
Albus' turn was next; he was given a book about his favorite Quidditch team – the Montrose Magpies - from Jenni. Lily gave him two boxes of cauldron cakes, wizards chess set from his parents, and a small box of simple prank set ups from James – to which Ginny shook her head in disapproval.
Next was Jenni and she got a frame to put pictures in from Lily, Albus gave her an emerald green sweater. Harry and Ginny got her a beautiful bracelet, similar to Lily's but hers had her peridot birthstone that matched perfectly with the sweater Albus got her. And James got her a box of sugar quills with a small bottle of Jasmine perfume to his parents and Jenni's surprise.
James was last and he received, a charcoal jacket and striped scarf from his parents, Treacle fudge from Albus, a framed collage of the family from Lily, and Quidditch Through the Ages from Jenni.
Ginny started to open her presents and got a coupon for a spa in the town from the four kids, and Harry gave her a bottle of Sweet Pea perfume to which Ginny gave him a sweet, knowing smirk.
Harry was given Montrose Magpies vs. Chudley Cannons Quidditch match tickets from Ginny, and a Montrose Magpies tee shirt from the four kids.
After everybody opened all their gifts Ginny said, "Okay you four, you have four hours to get what you need to get done until we leave for Grandma and Granddad's." All four of them gathered up their presents and headed to their rooms to try everything out and pack for the night.
For tradition, the Potter-Weasley clan spends Christmas night at the burrow; the kids all sleep in the living room, while the adults each get a bedroom in the house. Many times the cousins will play either midnight Quidditch or snowball fights – which alternates each year. And this year is a midnight game of a snowball fight.
By the time it was 2 o'clock they meet in the living room before leaving for the Burrow. "Alright you lot you're all packed?" Ginny asked to which she got nods and some mumbled "yes'".
"Okay, good. Lily, Jenni, you're with me. James and Al you're with dad," Ginny said and with that they apparated away. When they arrived everyone besides George and Angelina Weasley's were there and Bill and Fleur Weasley's were in France spending Christmas with the Delacour's. Rose and Hugo immediately went from the kitchen to the living room to hug their cousin's hello. Hermione followed soon after, but Ron came in slowly.
Once they three got their hugs and hellos in Ron asked, "Jenni, may I speak to you for a moment?" She nodded briskly and followed him.
"I wanted to apologize for saying what I said about your friend's father at dinner. I say things that are on my mind, and sometimes my brain doesn't catch up on how it impacts the people I'm saying it to. So, once again I'm sorry," he says with sorrow.
Jenni looks at him carefully for a minute before saying; "I think this is a lesson not just for you, but for me too. For you, it would be to be more careful about the words you say, and for me it's that I have to stand up for what I believe in because I couldn't ever let any rude words go unnoticed. And with that all said, apology accepted."
"Thank you," Ron says as he hugs her, "it would be interesting to see people's expression about how an eleven year old girl scolded me for being a prat."
Jenni laughed at him and said, "Well you don't have to say it was you. You could always say to people 'I saw an eleven year old girl scold a thirty year old man for being a prat'. That's a great conversation starter."
The day seemed to be getting better and better. The dinner was as spectacular as ever, the gifts were amazing, and the midnight snowball fight was like no other. It was full of intensity, speed, and agility that were given from both teams. When they finished the game they went inside to the warm house and Teddy put a fire and Molly, Lucy, and Jenni started to make hot chocolate for everyone. They all had to be as quiet as possible because all the adults had gone to bed.
Once the hot chocolate was ready they served it to everyone in the living room and all the cousins went around to talk about their Christmas and what they liked best about it. All of them talked about how they loved their gifts, some – namely Fred and James – explained how Grandma outdid herself for this years dinner.
Lucy said, "You say that every year."
Both boys replied in a snarky tone, "That's because it happens every year."
As for Jenni, this was her first Christmas at the Burrow and told them how happy she was that even though she didn't spend it with her parents; she still spent it with her family.
When morning came, and it was time to eat breakfast, many of the adults were reading the Daily Prophet and eating their breakfast at the main table while the kids were at their own table joking around while eating.
As Harry was reading the Prophet a certain article caught his attention. He had a concentrated expression that soon transformed into a worried expression as he read on. When he finished, he looked over to Jenni and saw she was laughing at something Albus said to James, who was glaring at his brother. Hermione saw this and whispered to him what was wrong.
Flabbergasted, he stuttered, running his hands through his hair, with his voice barely audible over the chatter, "The… that man… who… who murdered her parents… he's been spotted. In a village close by."
"What?" she whispered nervously "let me see that article." She read the passage Harry pointed to and her anxious expression was similar to Harry's worried one.
"Will you tell her?" she whispered fervently.
"I will, but not know. She's still in Christmas mode and they last thing she needs to hear is about her parents' murderer," he whispered back, "I have to tell Ginny first, and then decide."
Hermione nodded then said, "Okay, but until then, do not let her go off anywhere by herself without someone who can legally use magic. Merlin knows where that man is now."
Harry knew she was right; he couldn't let Jenni get hurt. He wouldn't allow it – especially by that monster of a man.