Chapter 21- Boxing Day at the Burrow

Remus walked into the parlor, later that evening, to find the kids chatting away, asking questions about each other's lives, both Muggle and Magical. Glancing around, he returned their greetings, but a frown was forming on his face.

"Where's Sirius? I thought he'd be here with you lot when I didn't find him in the kitchen."

"Well, now that you mention it, he hasn't been in here at all this evening, has he?" answered Ron, looking round at the rest, who were shaking their heads.

"We thought he must be down in the kitchen with Mum," Ginny added.

"She thought he was in here, playing host," replied Remus. Then he snapped his fingers. "I bet I know where he's been . . . he often goes and hangs out upstairs with Buckbeak."

"Buckbeak is here? Really?" Emma's eyes opened wide. "Oh, I'd love to see him."

"Come on then, let's go track down both of them," called Remus over his shoulder, as he led the way to the very top of the house.

The attic room that served as Buckbeak's stable had been magically enlarged to accommodate the winged Hippogriff, with double doors overlooking the back of the house, with a small deck attached.

When Remus opened the door, Buckbeak swung his head around and gazed at the crowd of people in the doorway. As he realized he was seeing two of Harry, Ron and Hermione, he shook his head and cocked it first to the right, then to the left, as if trying to figure out what was happening.

"Better do this one at a time," Remus suggested.

"Right," Harry agreed. "Come on Dan, let me introduce you. You know the routine, don't you?"

"Too right I do," gasped Dan, as he bowed, keeping eye contact with the huge animal. After a pause, Buckbeak nodded his head and allowed Harry and Dan to approach him.

"Buckbeak, this is Dan; he's a new friend, he's a Muggle and he gets to pretend to be me in Muggle movies . . ah . . well . . ." Harry stuttered to a stop, wondering how to explain movies to the creature looking from him to Dan with his large, luminous eyes.

"Hello, Buckbeak, I've heard all about you and you are every bit as handsome as I was told. Would you mind if I touched you . . . petted you?"

In answer, Buckbeak lowered his head and Dan scratched just behind Beaky's 'ear' tufts, as he had with the animatronic Beaky, with whom he was used to dealing. He did, however, get the same reaction, much to his surprise; a deep, rumbling 'purr' of contentment.

Remus, in the meantime, had sauntered over to the door which opened onto the deck, where he could see Sirius sitting on a stool, staring out over the rooftops. He let himself out and pulling up an empty crate, joined his friend.

"Making yourself scarce for a reason?"

"Had a fair bunch of things to think through, sort out and deal with, old sod," was the morose answer.

"And you've come to what conclusion, if you don't mind my asking?" Remus leaned forward, elbows on his knees, hands clenched, waiting.

"That I spent almost half of my life in Azkaban for something I didn't do, then I screwed up trying to get my revenge by letting Peter escape. I'm slated to die, stupidly, and Harry will have no family left, at all, except the Dursleys, if I don't get it right this time. Also, I was a total ass at school and I have a lot of crow to eat, as far as Severus is concerned. Hopefully, the truce, or whatever this is, that's already going on between us isn't just because we're both . . . what's that Muggle expression? . . . between a rock and a hard place."

"Don't be so down on yourself, Sirius. This is all happening for a reason and we will live through it this time . . . all of us. I think you will have a harder time getting used to dealing with him than Severus will, dealing with you . . . you're able to openly help, he's still a spy and his life, second only to Harry's, is the one most likely to be in danger from Voldemort," Remus reassured him.

"Don't forget Albus, he's in the crosshairs, too." Sirius reminded his friend.

"AH, true, but I think our new, young Muggle friends have a few tricks up their sleeves that might keep our esteemed Headmaster alive, too."

Laughter from the room behind them drew their attention and they turned to see Tom being dragged forward to meet Buckbeak, Emma and Rupert having already been introduced.

"Oh, dear, I hope Buckbeak will be able to tell the difference," Sirius stood, as did Remus, ready to come to Tom's aid, if the Hippogriff didn't react favorably to the tall replica of Draco, standing before him. However, leaning forward and sniffing, Buckbeak nodded his head and seemed to accept the stranger.

"Let's join the party, shall we?" Remus asked as he opened the door."

"Why not?!" replied Sirius, as he stepped through the door, to be heartily greeted by the occupants of the room.

X X X

"I'm going to be popping over to The Burrow this morning to show Winky her new home, so I want you all to . . . "

"Come with you?" piped up Fred.

"Show the Muggles the old place?" suggested George.

"Take all our Christmas loot home and store it away?" Ginny offered.

"Get out of Sirius' hair for a bit?" Ron added.

"Quiet! All of you!" Molly raised her voice over the din that threatened to drown out her instructions for the day. "Actually . . . yes, to all of those suggestions. I'll be going to see your father this afternoon and he's due to be released on Friday, if he's sufficiently healed. I'll try to explain to him what's going on . . . ."

"Perhaps seeing and hearing all about it in person would be better, Mum," suggested Ron. "You know how he is with all things Muggle; for him to know there are Muggle thing-a-ma-bobs from seventeen years in the future sitting here to be investigated would have him running out of St. Mungo's in his hospital gown."

"Back panels flapping . . . " George added, grinning.

"Witches fainting in the halls . . . " Fred described, to growing laughter from the others.

"Merlin help us, we can't have that!" Molly agreed, covering her mouth with her napkin to smother her own giggles.

"Best just spring it on him, like you all experienced yesterday," Dan nodded.

"Was it just yesterday?" Ginny shook her head and then looked at Hermione. "How did you not go loopy when you used the Time Turner in your third year?"

"Oh, I had to keep very close watch on where I was going at what time, and believe me, it did nearly drive me to distraction." Hermione replied.

"If you'll pardon the pun in that sentence," injected Tom, as he reached for the toast rack. "Close watch - Time Turner?"

"Oh, goodness, you're right," snickered Hermione, as Ginny rolled her eyes.

"Why can't Sirius come with us to The Burrow," Dan asked. "He's no more in danger there than we will be, is he? You don't have Aurors popping in regularly, looking for him, do you?"

"Actually, I think that's a brilliant idea!" Remus agreed, "He needs to get outside, even in the cold and get some exercise and fresh air . . . would do him and his gloomy mood a world of good!"

"We'll stay well within your property boundaries, Molly," Tom reassured her, seeing the worried frown on her face. "I personally promise to keep an eye on Sirius, okay?"

"Oh, I suppose it wouldn't do any harm to have another adult there to keep you all in line," she answered.

"As if," muttered Fred, George nodding solemnly.

"Right then . . . Kreacher, could you pop upstairs and tell Master Sirius to get his act together, as we're all leaving in a few minutes for The Burrow and he's going to make us late!" Remus instructed the ancient House Elf.

"Certainly, Mister Lupin, sir." 'pop'

X X X

"This house is brilliant! Our set does a good job, with the descriptions Jo had in the book, but, really, I'm gob-smacked!" Dan declared as he, Rupert, Emma and Tom looked around the first floor of The Burrow.

Winky was already busy getting tea ready for everyone, as Molly beamed proudly at the praise being given her house by the young people.

"Oh, look! The Weasley Clock!" Rupert declared, pointing. Taking a closer look, he smiled. "Looks like everyone is in fine fettle today, Molly! Even Arthur is classified as 'Healing '!"

"Come on Emma, I want to show you my room," Ginny said, as she grabbed Emma's hand and dragged her toward the winding staircase.

"And you guys have to see mine!" Ron started after the girls, Rupert, Dan and Harry close on his heels.

George and Fred pulled Tom aside and whispered in his ear. He nodded, "Meet you outside in five minutes." Then he followed his friends to the upper reaches of the house.

X X X

Remus, Sirius and Molly were sitting at the kitchen table enjoying a cup of tea when there was a knock at the back door. Sirius stood and took two steps into the living room before Molly opened the door.

"Hello, Mrs. Weasley. I understand the visitors are here." It was Luna Lovegood.

"Oh, good morning, Luna. Do come in. They're all upstairs," Molly replied. "Ah, how did you know . . . ?"

"Dobby popped in and told me they were here, so I came over to say hello," Luna replied over her shoulder as she turned toward the stairs. "I like Dobby, he's ever so nice." She leaned over the banister and called, "Come back in the kitchen before your tea gets stone cold, Sirius."

As he walked back to his seat, he looked up at the blond headed girl with a frown on his face.

"How'd you know . . . ?"

"Three cups of tea are on the table and both Mrs. Weasley and Professor Lupin visibly relaxed when they saw it was me . . . who would be here, besides the kids, who would have to hide?" She turned and skipped up the stairs.

"Not much gets by her, does it?" Remus looked to Molly.

"My observation . . . she just sees things differently; notices what's out of place."

"Glad she's on our side, then," Sirius added, as he lifted his teacup to his mouth, the other two nodding agreement.

X X X

"Sweet Mary, Mother of Pearl!" exclaimed Tom, as he entered Mister Weasley's workshop with the twins. "It looks like a jumble sale exploded!"

"Yeah, Dad's a bit of a hoarder when it comes to Muggles things," George agreed, picking up a light switch from a carton full of similar junk, looking at it quizzically and then dropping it back in the box.

"Pity is, he doesn't know what most of these things do," added Fred.

"Or what goes with what," said Fred, tapping on the keys of an old typewriter.

"Well, a fair bit of these need an electrical source to work, but lots of this is just . . . well, everyday stuff that I don't even think about, I'm so used to it." Tom stood looking around. "I should get Emma and Hermione in here with some sticky notes and turn them loose to label everything . . . that'd be a start . . . at least he'd know what he has, if not how it works and why."

"We're going to have to really be firm with Dad about not going too crazy with you lot," Fred shook his head.

"You'll never get back to 2012 if he gets too wound up, right Fred?" George asked.

"Too right . . . maybe you'd better leave well enough alone, Tom . . . don't want to get him started . . . watching the movies will be enough to contend with, eh, George. Especially if we show him the 'behind the scenes, how it was done' bits." Fred smiled at his twin, knowing it would be a bit of a challenge keeping their father from disemboweling the DVD player, much less the TV.

"Right, in that case, let's join the others . . . they were talking of heading for the broom shed, when I left to come meet you two."

"Quidditch!" shouted the twins, as they ran out of the garage workshop, Tom following, closing the door with one last look over his shoulder, a smile on his face.

X X X

"They look almost identical to the ones we used in the films," Dan remarked, as he hefted the broomstick Ron had handed out to him. But we had seats and some padding added, after there were a fair number of complaints from the cast. How do you stand it, without any protection for your bits?"

"Cushioning charms, mate. Won't mount a broom without applying a good one!" Harry laughed.

Dan held the broom level and threw his leg over, gripping it in the correct way. Ron and Harry watching him, nodding. Fred and George came running up and dove into the shed to get their own brooms. Re-emerging, they took a look at Dan and then, glancing at each other, seemed to come to one of their silent agreements. They mounted , each grabbed one of Dan's arms and the next thing anyone knew, Dan was forty feet in the air, astride a broom, zooming around the field by the edge of the orchard. He was holding the broom tightly, but was enjoying the sensation of really flying to be too concerned about how he was suspended in the air.

Tom sauntered up and seeing everyone looking skyward, glanced up and then started to roar with laughter.

"What, exactly, Thomas Felton, is so funny?" Emma scowled at him.

"Dan!" he gasped. "If he survives this ride with Fred and George . . . who can he tell about it . . . people will think he's barking mad!"

"Oh, well, surviving being the operative word . . . ," admitted Emma, as she looked up and then started to giggle a bit. "And he won't remember, in any case, so no harm done, I suppose."

"Better go to his rescue, Harry," Ron said to his friend, as he kicked off the ground.

"Right, can't have me dropped in the brambles, now, can we." Harry grinned as he, too, shot into the sky.

"They won't drop Dan," Luna said. "They're just having some fun.

"Let's find a place to sit and make a fire to keep warm while we watch, shall we?" asked Hermione, as she positioned some benches around a nearby stone fire ring. Soon a cheery blaze was casting its warmth for the spectators. Remus, Sirius and Molly joined the group, as did Dan, having been safely returned to terra firma.

"Oy, Remus, Sirius, grab a broom and join us!" Harry yelled.

The old school mates looked at one another, then sprinted into the shed to emerge and push off to join in the fun. Ginny acted as referee, then Remus took over those duties, as he admitted to being too far out of practice to be any help to his side. After almost an hour, Winky popped into view, announcing luncheon, so, with reluctance, the teams declared a tie, brooms were put away, and the whole group trooped down to the house, glad to regain the all encompassing warmth of the kitchen.

X X X

"I'm off to St. Mungo's. Winky, you're in charge, here, so don't let them make too much of a mess!" Molly bent over to be on the level of her new 'employee'. "Don't go in the twins room, there's too much . . . well, let's just say it might not be safe for you . . . but the rest of the house is yours to clean and tidy, alright?"

"Yes, Mrs. Molly, Winky will be very happy doing the rest . . . but does Winky have to go in the attic . . . the ghouly is very noisy!" Winky looked up at the ceiling apprehensively.

"No, he's harmless, but best to leave him alone, in any case." Molly patted Winky on the shoulder and stood up, throwing her traveling cloak over her shoulders. Walking to the fireplace, she turned and impaled Remus and Sirius with one of her 'I'll take no foolishness from you' looks.

"You two are the adults here, so get everyone back to Grimmauld Place in time for dinner, please, with the house still standing!"

"Yes, Molly."

"Of course, Molly."

After another look around, she took a handful of 'Floo' powder, threw it into the fire, called out "St Mungo's" as she stepped into the green flames and POOF, she was gone.

"What do you want to do first, Sirius, help the kids run amok, or take a walk around the orchard and stretch your legs?" asked Remus.

"I think the kids are fine, let's get some fresh air!" declared Sirius, as he donned his old motorcycle jacket and headed for the door.

As the two wizards headed up the hill, Fred, George and Tom came down the stairs, watching out the window to gauge their progress.

"Good, they'll be gone for a bit and the rest are too busy chatting to notice we'll be gone," Tom observed. "Let's 'Floo' back to Grimmauld Place and then take the Tube . . . I happen to know there's a station within 3 blocks of the old place and it'll be the fastest way."

"Splendid!"

"Road Trip!"

"Right," Tom shook his head. "This is going to be interesting."