Chapter 17 – Quiet and relaxing Christmas break
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I exited the wards on the third floor and gave a quick wave to all the prison guards before retreating behind the wards again. Later that night after everything had quieted down and the guards had headed to bed I 'flamed' and left a note on the kitchen table saying I was fine and would be staying on the third floor for the next couple of days to catch up on my homework. Lora and I were heading to Diagon alley in the morning as we had a ton of presents to buy.
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Diagon alley was crowded as was most of London it was Christmas after all. After the Weasley family was covered we started on the professors and order members. We also got a number of generic presents should some unknown people suddenly show up like maybe…
"Lora let me stop by WWW and see if the twins have a special gift while you take Lea and Tiger with you and buy those special presents for your special people. After you get back to the twins I can do my special shopping."
"Fred, George, I have a prank gift I wish to buy and have delivered would you by any chance have…"
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The next morning was spent wrapping gifts that the merchants didn't wrap. By lunch time Lora and I headed downstairs to put the gifts under the tree in the living room. Our surprise was all the gifts were gone…Dobby?
How the little fart knew which presents to take down stairs and which to put under the tree upstairs brought up the question did he know what his gift was? We had just entered the living room downstairs when we again got the blasted end of the shrew. She was determined to put Lora in Ginny's room. I think Lora was having her fill of Mrs. Weasley as she deftly stated, "I am quite comfortable in Harry's bed and have no intention of moving."
"Varoom! Mrs. Weasley was off and yelling. This brought the whole kitchen, minus Ron who was still eating, into the living room. "What are you a scarlet woman? You cannot be sleeping in a boy's bed, why I would never let Ginny sleep in your bed, so Lora shouldn't either."
Mrs. Weasley then almost got whip-lash as Ginny said "Can I Mom?" Followed by me immediately saying, "Ginny is already sleeping in my bed."
While Mrs. Weasley was momentarily silent while building a head of steam to explode, Bill and Fleur were laughing so hard they collapsed onto the couch. Charley had drawn his wand but Remus had whispered something into his ear causing Charley to chuckle. Hedwig took that second to enter the room with a letter. I waved an 'Impedimenta' charm on Mrs. Weasley and read the letter. I dropped the letter, transformed, grabbed Lora and 'flamed'.
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In magic there are certain laws that normally are unbreakable. If you see one Deatheater in black robes there are usually more around. In an emergency you cannot call Dumbledore on the phone and calling 999 will get you the police but how do you explain magical terrorists in your neighbor hood? 'Apparition' distance is determined by the magical's core power. Side along 'apparition' is usually done with one other as it is again based on core power, two is almost unheard of. Hermione had felt anti-apperation and anti port-key wards fall over her house which normally meant Deatheaters. Hermione was in a dither, both of her parents were home and she knew she could not take on more than one or two Deatheaters.
Hermione was almost to the point of screaming when Hedwig gave her two hoots and Hermione jotted out a letter for Harry and the Order. Even in Hermione's flustered state she laid out the problem and put down her address and telephone number. Hedwig was sent less than fifteen minutes ago and the Deatheaters were still destroying the neighborhood. Their neighbor's house was on fire and the Deatheaters were now throwing curses at the Grangers house. The few wards that Hermione had put up would not keep them out; the only solid ward was the anti-fire ward. Her parents were also causing her problems. Her mother was almost in hysterics and Hermione was having difficulty stopping her father from running outside with his revolver. The Grangers were in big trouble.
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Harry arrived two houses down the street and behind a hedge row. Luck and his phoenix senses was what put him in safely and unobserved. Lora had started to grumble about being grabbed but that stopped as she saw the Deatheaters destruction and the attack a building two houses down the street, she had not seen the note. Lea and Tiger had already transformed and were heading in to cause trouble. "Harry, I am going to transform and circle around to the other side so we can get them in a cross fire, try and not hit me with your lighting bolts." Lora transformed and flew off.
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Pandemonium had erupted at Grimmauld Place as Remus had grabbed the letter to read while the others read over his shoulder. Thrusting the letter in Ginny's hand Remus order her, "Contact Dumbledore through the 'floe' and stay here. Bill, Fleur approach from the West, Charley and I will attack from the East. Good luck everyone." Four pops were heard leaving Ginny with her head in the fire and Mrs. Weasley still under the 'Impedimenta' charm. Ron was still eating in the kitchen.
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I hoped to make this quick and deadly, I had already called storm clouds. Dark clouds were not that unusual in December for England weather. A scream erupted and seemed to last forever, Lora was on the attack? I threw up anti 'apperation' and 'portkey' wards and started to get to work. While I could have flooded the area with lighting strikes I had family around the area so I delivered one bolt at a time. I am proud of my accuracy, dead on hits you could say. As I side-stepped an orange curse I noticed that Lea had one Deatheater who had wandered to close to a hedgerow wrapped up with her fangs deep in his neck. Tiger looked to be having a rather good time mauling a couple of Deatheaters.
Bang; I got another one that was an 'Avada' into the killing curse aimed at Lora, the cockatrice, who was dive bombing two Deatheaters. I would have to kid her about having bad breath later, a cockatrice's breath is deadly but a friendly joke shouldn't get me in trouble. That's when she really impressed me. The last Deatheater still standing charged Lora flinging curses fast and furiously. She dodged one curse and appeared to opened her mouth to let a little bad breath escape but it didn't happen. She let loose a stream of blue flames ending the Deatheaters reign of terror in a tower of flames. I decided about then not to tempt fate with a bad joke.
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Albus Dumbledore stepped through the 'floe' to find Molly trying to shake off the 'Impedimenta' charm and Ginny waving a letter. Undoing the charm he led them into the kitchen for a quick explanation and a plan of action. Ron was still cleaning up what the others had left by stuffing it down his gullet. A series of pops in the living room brought Albus, Ginny and Molly back to the living room. Ron decided he was not finished eating and remained in the kitchen.
"Harry James Potter what were you thinking? You could have 'splitched' yourself or my parents." While Hermione was ranting at Harry the rest of the Grangers looked like they were going to be sick. Bill and Fleur were on the couch laughing while Charley and Remus sat on the arms of the couch watching the show. Albus took out his wand and fired off a loud "bang". "Now could someone please tell me what is going on?" Albus regretted that question within a few seconds as everyone was explaining at the same time.
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Voldemort was not happy; his ten Deatheaters were sent to create havoc and who were not arrested but dead. Their deaths meant nothing; it was that they died at the hands of Harry Potter. This embarrassment had to be revenged.
"Send in Lucius I have an assignment for him."
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"Morning love, sleep well?" I whispered in Lora's ear.
"Very well thank you. So what is on the agenda for today?
Hedwig had been dispatched to all our non-resident friends with their gifts and with this being Christmas Eve there wasn't much to do today.
"Well I guess its time to get dressed we have reservations in a couple of hours for dinner. Dress for the rich and famous." I was laughing at the look of panic on Lora's face. Girls never missed a chance to dress up but never had enough time to get ready.
Lora was curious as to where we were going and all that but there was not enough time to prepare. I just said, "Black tie Christmas party, be beautiful." I put two vials of hangover medicine on the tables by the bed and two more on the living room table.
The Shard was a great choice in our opinion and it got better as the night progressed. Of course the wine was flowing and I had a gorgeous girl on my arm. At midnight the Champaign broke out and of course had to be finished before we left.
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Molly Weasley was a light sleeper; well that was important raising seven children. If it wasn't one being sick there was the stray nightmare. Early in the morning on Christmas day she heard noises downstairs. Her first thought was Ron or Ginny couldn't wait to shake a present or to see how many they would be getting. Still half asleep she forgot her wand on the bedside table and rushed downstairs to give the kids what for. What she found stunned her for a second before she erupted in a voice that would put a howler to shame. "What are you two doing? You're drunk! You're not old enough to drink! Where have you been! When I find out who gave you alcohol I will skin them alive!
What Molly found when she entered the living room was Lora and Harry dressed in formal wear trying to get up off the floor and not doing too great a job of it. All the while they were laughing as they were having the greatest time as only two drunks could. Finally getting up by leaning on each other, they headed to the stairs pointing at Molly Weasley and laughing all the harder. This only got the screaming Molly to grow louder. The two having the time of their lives finally passed everyone in the house who were now up thanks to Molly and watching Lora and Harry stagger into the third floor wards and disappear.
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Late morning on Christmas day I was snuggled into Lora in front of our roaring fire on the third floor. The day so far had been disappointing to say the least. We had headed downstairs early to find every one up and eating a buffet style brunch. "Lora, Harry, just in time, grab a plate and help yourselves." Remus appeared to be in a good mood but got a nasty glare from Mrs. Weasley as did we. The adult Grangers looked uncomfortable sitting off to the side so we joined them.
"Alright you lot its time to open presents, Bill you play Santa and hand out the gifts." Molly ordered.
The herd stampeded to the living room where Remus and Tonks took possession of one of the large chair. Fleur joined the Weasley adults on the couch. Fred and George took to sitting on the couches arms. Ron was on his knees in front of the gifts under the tree as if not wanting to miss anything. Ginny had another large chair with Tiger getting her petting. Emmeline Vance was probably the Order's token guard sat on the arm of the chair. Percy was of course missing. With nowhere else to sit I conjured a large couch for the Grangers, Lora and myself.
While the adult Grangers looked lost Hermione and Lora were surveying the room. I was just comfortable with Lora in my lap. Lora and Hermione shared a look with each other. Hermione just shrugging her shoulders and tried to start a conversation with us the ignored five.
"So what did you get Dobby for Christmas?"
He got his usual, socks and the day off to take Winky and do whatever elves do at Christmas." I replied.
Before Hermione could start on elf rights Lora added, "Harry wanted them to join us but they refused. What was odd was they were delighted with the time off and offered no arguments, strange."
Mr. Granger leaned closer to me and whispered, "Is it our being here that is causing the chill aimed at this couch?"
"I whispered back, "No Sir, I have been having some problems with them and Hermione has been rejecting the youngest sons, err, table manors. It's quite complicated but I must offer you my apologies for your treatment. Lora and I will be leaving as soon as politely possible."
"I doubt that your leaving will make much difference, hissed Hermione."
So here I am snuggled into Lora in front of our roaring fire on the third floor deep in thought. I was a loved family member when I was a prisoner and obeyed everyone. Now I am trying to live my life and they are mad at me.
"Lora to Harry is anyone at home?
"Sorry just thinking."
"Just forget them and let's just enjoy our Christmas. I really like the diamond ear rings you gave me."
I laughed and reached into my pocket and handed her a velvet box. "You know how touchy the Weasley's are over money and such so I waited till we were alone. This is to go with those ear rings." It was a flat woven gold chain with locket, a pearled heart locket that was surrounded in gold and embedded with diamonds. My Christmas decidedly improved as Lora snogged me into oblivion.