Emma woke up to Fred kissing her face softly, and running his fingertips through her hair. Her eyelids fluttered open to the dimly lit room that she knew instinctively wasn't their bedroom. Only when George made a groaning sound and sat up on a nearby bed with a loud squeak did she recall that they were at the Burrow, and that it was Christmas morning.
"Happy Christmas, my love," Fred whispered when he saw that she was awake. "Are you cold?"
"No," she sighed, leaning her head back to let him kiss her neck. "This quilt is lovely warm."
There had apparently been a bit of a row about where Emma was meant to sleep while at the Burrow for the night. Molly hadn't thought it proper for her to share a room with Fred, obviously because she didn't know that they were married, but Arthur had intervened on their behalf. As he pointed out, they shared a room every night anyway, and George would be with them. It wasn't as though anything improper would happen with George in the room.
To everyone's surprise (and Bill's annoyance, since he was not allowed to share a room with his fiancee), Molly gave in.
"If you two are done being sappy," George said with a yawn, "we have presents."
At this, Emma sat up, ignoring Fred's puppy-dog pout, and pulled the stocking hanging off her side of the bed up onto her lap. A surprising number of presents were inside, and Fred seemed to have decided that it wasn't worth fighting, grabbing for his own stocking.
The first thing she opened was from Ginny. She and Luna had crafted Emma some jewelry: a necklace and matching earrings of Charm-formed crystal in the shape of daisies. The work was incredibly impressive for a couple of fifth-year girls, especially that they would have time to do such a thing with O.W.L.s hanging over their heads. Hermione had gotten Emma a book on the history of magical appropriation of Muggle items and methods which was disgustingly thick. Tonks had bought Emma a set of lingerie, the attached note simply being a picture of Tonks winking at up from the photograph. Harry and all the Weasley brothers had gifted varying amounts and types of chocolate. Fleur had given her a designer set of blue silk robes that looked more expensive than anything Emma had ever owned.
Arthur and Molly had given her the traditional gift of homemade fudge and treacle, and some extra-special toffees along with her Christmas jumper. The blue was both perfect for a Ravenclaw and a lovely shade for her eyes. She pulled it on over her pajamas, feeling the lovely warmth of the slightly-lumpy knit of a woman distracted by far too many things to make every sweater perfectly. It even had a letter on it, a beautiful bronze-ish E.
"Lovely," Fred said, kissing her cheek. "You look like a proper Weasley now."
"I hope Mum didn't give one to that prat again." George's voice was thick and muffled through the jumper he was pulling over his head.
Emma kissed Fred's cheek and pushed the quilt off to compensate for the warmth of the addition to her outfit. She then reached for the final gift in her stocking.
It was neatly wrapped, and she felt compelled to open it with gentle care. Inside was a small box and a note. She read the note first.
Emma,
It seems far more than four years since I was your teacher. You have grown into a self-assured, brilliant, and beautiful young woman that I could never have anticipated would grow out of the shy young teenager you had been. The beauty, perhaps, I could have foreseen, but I am pleased that you are confident in a way I would not have guessed. Perhaps I am annoyed that this confidence has been turned on me, but I will try to be gracious.
Sirius adored you, and it is a shame that he cannot see how wonderful you have become. He would be immensely proud, likely give himself most of the credit, and would spoil you immensely for the pleasure of being a part of your transformation.
Speaking of transformation, I think that you might find this interesting, and perhaps someday, useful. It was difficult for me to decide who Sirius would want to have it more, you or Harry, but since Harry has received many gifts from Sirius's youth and has one gift in particular that will aid him in disguise just as well, I have decided to give it to you. I don't think Harry has the diligence or bookishness required to really make use of it.
If you do decide to use it, use it wisely.
Happy Christmas.
-Remus
Emma carefully lifted the lid off the box and saw a book, which was not what she was expecting. There were no words on the cover, no pictures or designs or anything. It was a heavy, black leather bound tome with very old parchment pages. She carefully lifted it out of the box, but the rest of the leather was as nondescript as the front cover.
But then she opened it to read the title page: The Turtletower Method to Self-Transfiguration. The title was not one she recognized, and there was no author to give her clues on its credibility, but there were small scribbles of notes in handwriting she could easily identify as that of a young Sirius Black, notes on Animagus transfiguration.
This, she realized, was the key to their Animagus achievement, and Remus had gifted her something so powerful, so rare, so dangerous. Perhaps, when she had time to herself to practice the steps, she would make use of it. Being an Order member, it might come in handy to be able to even partially transform.
"Shall we check in on the others, then?" George asked, startling her out of her reverie. "I'm anxious to see what Ronnie's girlfriend got him for Christmas."
The boys tossed back and forth all sort of ridiculous ideas, everything from furry handcuffs to a large brew of love potion. Whatever it was, Emma figured it was probably not good, from what she recalled of Lavender Brown, and from what Hermione had written about the girl's behavior.
Emma pulled her hair into a ponytail while the boys hurried upstairs to check on Ron and Harry. She changed into a modest pair of jeans she'd brought along, and pulled on the jumper over a plain t-shirt of Fred's she'd brought as an option to sleep in.
As soon as she finished putting on her clothes, however, she felt the pull of the Turtletower book and she licked her lips, deciding that no one would be terribly offended if she didn't surface for a few more minutes.
Quickly, she crawled onto the bed and pulled the book toward her, flipping through the table of contents. Unsurprisingly, Emma was very familiar with books. And this book was set up with all the typical logic of a how-to book. It was just long, elaborate, and very particular. Some of the word usage and spell suggestions were archaic, which she could tell from simply scanning it, but she was determined to follow it to the letter if she chose to use it. Human Transfiguration, as McGonagall had impressed them with regularly, was not something to be toyed with. Wizards far more clever than Emma had damaged themselves beyond repair by trying to tinker with proven methods.
"Emma?" Fred poked his head in and Emma snapped the book shut, only a few pages into the section on the history of Animagus transformation and research.
"Yes?" she asked, shoving it under her stack of gifts.
He smirked at her.
"Really, love? It's a family holiday and you've got your nose in a book. Typical Ravenclaw."
Emma sniffed.
"It was a gift from Remus."
"I know."
"I wish you wouldn't stereotype me."
Her voice had a bit more bite in it than she'd meant, and Fred frowned slightly, taken aback. Then a slow grin developed on his face.
"Ah, I see what this is about," he said, moving into the room. Emma frowned up at him, curious. He stood in front of her and lifted her hands to his lips, pressing a warm kiss on them. "You, my love, are not a typical Ravenclaw." Emma raised her eyebrows and he kissed her hands again. "You are a spectacular Ravenclaw." Kiss. "Remarkable Ravenclaw." Kiss. "Perfect Ravenclaw." Kiss. "Sexy, brilliant, wonderful Ravenclaw."
Emma giggled as he leaned forward and pressed his lips to her forehead, still holding her hands. Then he pulled her to her feet and kissed her, first slowly, but with building passion and aggression. Emma's legs were beginning to melt beneath her when George barged into the room and they jumped apart.
He chuckled.
"You two really can't wait one day, can you? Always shagging like little bunnies. Anyway, Emma, Mum wants a hand with lunch, if you can spare your hands from my brother's trousers."
Fred snorted in amusement, and Emma didn't bother protesting before rushing downstairs, feeling her face still flushed from the excitement of being with Fred and the rush of being caught, even if it was just George.
"Guess what," Ginny said as Emma came to the kitchen. "I overheard Ron and Harry opening their presents." Emma smiled, leave it to Ginny to spy on her brother and Harry. "Apparently Lavender's given Ron some awful necklace. Too bad he's not likely to wear it."
Emma shrugged, rolling up the sleeves slightly on her Weasley jumper.
"I wouldn't be surprised if she makes him wear it at school. Girls like that can be very pushy."
Her mind flashed back to Alicia, the way she constantly through herself at Fred. If Ron were a bit more self-confident perhaps he could have avoided this Lavender, held out for someone he really wanted. But then, if he'd been more self-confident he wouldn't have been Ron.
Molly was stirring a sauce and Arthur and Remus were sitting at the table, drinking tea, chatting about something.
"Oh, Emma, that shade of blue is perfect," Molly said happily. "I was worried it wouldn't be quite right, but Arthur said I was being silly."
"It's a lovely jumper," Emma said happily. "I doubt if I practiced my whole life that I would ever be able to knit something so lovely. Much less about a dozen of them every year."
Molly flushed and said airily how it was really nothing at all, and Emma noted that she was already wearing the hat and necklace she and the boys had picked out.
"You both look very lovely," Arthur said from the table, smiling at his wife and daugther-in-law with his kindliest smile. Remus was also smiling a little, something Emma hadn't seen him do in such a very long time. Not since Sirius died, she thought.
"Thank you, Arthur. What is it you need me to do, Molly?"
They managed to get everything set up on the very long table in supposedly record time, and when they all settled down at the table, Emma found herself across from Fleur, between Fred and Remus.
"Everything looks lovely, ladies," Arthur said, smiling at them, rubbing his glasses on his collar and setting them back on his nose. "How you can make such delightful meals in so little time I will never know."
Emma knew he was flattering his wife to make up for Fleur's behavior the night before, but Molly seemed well recovered simply from presents and a good night of sleep. As it happened, it did not escape Emma's notice that Fleur was the only one not wearing Weasley sweaters. Not that she thought Fleur would have donned one happily, but still.
Harry was blinking at Molly's new hat and necklace, and Molly must have caught his gaze because she said, "Fred, George, and Emma gave them to me, aren't they beautiful?"
"Well, we find we appreciate you more and more, Mum, now that we're washing our own socks," George said with a wave of his hand. "Parsnips, Remus?"
"Harry, you've got a maggot in your hair," Ginny said happily, as if that were the most normal thing in the world, and she reached over to pick it out. Emma smirked down at her plate after seeing Harry's neck turn just slightly pink at this gesture.
"'Ow 'orrible," Fleur said, shuddering with a bit of force. Emma raised her eyebrows as Ron jumped to attention at the sound of her voice.
"Yes, it is, isn't it?" he said. "Gravy, Fleur?"
To everyone's horror, Ron hurried to pass her the gravy, which went flying as he upturned the boat. Bill reacted quickly, flicking his wand, causing the flying gravy to return to the boat gracefully. Fleur kissed Bill in thanks and then laughed at Ron, saying, "You are as bad as zat Tonks. She is always knocking-"
"I invited dear Tonks to come along today," Molly said over Fleur, and Emma let her eyes dart over to Remus, who was studiously stirring his tea. Molly put down the carrots rather forcefully and glared at Fleur. "But she wouldn't come. Have you spoken to her lately, Remus?"
"No, I haven't been in touch with anybody very much," he said casually, still stirring his tea. "But Tonks has got her own family to go to, doesn't she?"
Emma knew that Tonks's parents were going to be in France for Christmas, but she didn't want to push him, make him feel guilty. Molly was doing splendidly with that all on her own.
"Hmm, maybe," Molly said skeptically. "I got the impression she was planning to spend Christmas alone, actually."
To Emma's surprise, Harry then chimed in, saying, "Tonks's Patronus has changed its form. Snape said so anyway. I didn't know that could happen. Why would your Patronus change?"
She bit her lip a little to keep from laughing. The way Harry asked it was completely artless. He had no idea the mechanisms he'd just stepped into, and Remus took especially long chewing his turkey. He avoided Emma's eye as she looked at him expectantly, obviously trying to find a way not to put his foot in it completely in front of Emma and Molly.
"Sometimes...a great shock...an emotional upheaval..."
Fred put his hand on Emma's as she caught Remus's eye and opened her mouth to say something that she would no doubt regret when she was less angry at Remus. Before she could shake him off and continue anyway, Harry continued.
"It looked big and it had four legs." He then had a sudden look of recognition and began to say something that suggested he'd had a thought, but he was cut off by a sudden gasp of Molly's.
"Arthur!" she cried, standing, moving toward the window with her hand pressed over her breast. Emma turned to see if she could get a look out the window, but George's head was in the way. "Arthur – it's Percy!"
"What?"
Arthur turned around from his spot at the end of the table to get a glimpse out the window, and Emma actually stiffened in her seat. Did Percy know she was dating Fred? Would this reflect poorly on her in the Minister's eyes?
Others were crowding around the window to get a better look.
"Arthur – he's with the Minister!"
Emma almost felt her heart stop, and Remus gave her a significant look. She nodded, quickly pushing her plate in front of Fleur, who caught on quickly and set it on top of her own clean plate while Emma ducked under the table, holding Fred's legs. Remus got up quickly to move the chair off to the side, then scooting his own over to fill the fairly noticeable gap.
Perhaps they couldn't fire her for her love life, but it was the sort of thing that would stick to her record in the future, when the Weasleys might be even less in public favor.
A moment after Remus reached down and grasped Emma's hand comfortingly, the back door opened and Lydia could hear two sets of footsteps on the wood floor followed by painfully awkward silence.
"Merry Christmas, Mother."
There was nothing loving in Percy's voice, but Emma bit her tongue to keep from screaming. Molly Weasley was so desperate to have her son back that she would have heard anything he said in that moment as loving reconciliation.
"Oh, Percy!"
Emma dug her fingernails into Fred's thigh and Remus's hand. Both seemed to take this well, and Remus even gave her hand a little squeeze.
The familiar voice of Rufus Scrimgeour – lies and all – then said, "You must forgive this intrusion. Percy and I were in the vicinity – working, you know – and he couldn't resist dropping in and seeing you all."
Translation, he cooked up a scheme for some reason to get himself into their house over the Christmas holidays. It didn't take much for Emma to guess who he was after. There was an awkward pause and Emma could feel Fred tensing under her touch. Finally, a flustered Molly broke the silence.
"Please, come in, sit down, Minister! Have a little purkey or some tooding... I mean-"
"No, no, my dear Molly," Scrimgeour said kindly, and Emma held in a snort. He'd been planning this a while, obviously, if he bothered to learn her name before. I don't want to intrude, wouldn't be here at all if Percy didn't want to see you all so badly..."
"Oh, Perce!" Molly tittered tearfully.
"...We've only looked in for five minutes, so I'll have a stroll around the yard while you catch up with Percy. No, no, I assure you, I don't want to butt in! Well, if anybody cared to show me your charming garden... Ah, that young man's finished, why doesn't he take a stroll with me?"
Emma dug her fingers in again, not needing to see to know who Scrimgeour was gesturing at. Even down to the fact that he pretended not to know Harry's name, it was a sloppy artifice, and the temperature of the room seemed to drop by degrees in an instant. Remus had even risen slightly from his seat.
Harry, though Harry didn't seem afraid.
"Yeah, all right," he said from the other side of Remus. He got to his feet and saying very softly, "It's fine." He passed closer to the door and she heard him say fine again, a little bit louder.
Albus had been keeping Harry from Scrimgeour for a reason, and Emma knew why: Scrimgeour wanted Harry to be a poster-boy for the Ministry, supporting their efforts in the war. Not that she thought Harry would be interested, but he didn't need to deal with this stupidity.
"Wonderful!" Scrimgeour said as Harry came to the door. "We'll just take a turn around the garden and Percy and I'll be off. Carry on, everyone!"
Emma heard the door closed, curled herself more tightly so as not to make noise underneath the table, and held her breath, waiting for something to explode above her.