Chapter Forty-Three: Teach My Feet to Fly
It's coming on Christmas,
They're cutting down trees.
They're putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace,
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on.
- River, by Joni Mitchell
Hermione tried to smooth her hair for the dozenth time.
"Will you relax?" Draco teased. "It's a party."
"What was I thinking?" Hermione moaned. "This was a mistake."
"This was a brilliant idea," Draco assured her as he shook out the cuffs of his shirt. "Everything will be fine. Even Potter seems relaxed."
Hermione had to admit that Harry seemed completely at ease as he crouched down on one knee and spoke to Kreacher about food arrangements. Ron was already in the kitchen munching on something or other and Molly and the rest of the Weasley clan would be here at any moment. Harry didn't want Kreacher to get defensive about his kitchen. Molly was sure to begin to oversee the food the second she walked in the door and Harry was trying to help Kreacher understand that it made Molly happy to help feed the dozens of people that would be arriving in about an hour.
The change in Kreacher since their first encounter with the old elf was remarkable. Even on the run he had warmed to Harry, Ron, and Hermione in a way Hermione could have only dreamed. In just a few short days Kreacher had Harry's home sparkling like it never had before when they all lived there. Enchanted tinsel glistened above their heads in every room and holly and mistletoe garnished every doorframe. In a far corner of the living room close to Harry's wide fireplace stood a Christmas tree taller than Hagrid twinkling with what might be faeries, Hermione hadn't had a chance to get close enough to tell for sure. Dangling in front of the lights were glass orbs as big as her fist in various shades of purple- the color that represented Hogwarts.
Hermione's favorite decorations, and the ones she couldn't determine the origin of, were the Hogwarts house banners that hung on the sweeping mantle in front of the roaring fire. A Griffin, a snake, a badger, and a raven all hung in leu of stockings each with a red and white Santa Clause hat on their head.
Hermione shook her hands out at her sides in the hall where Sirius's mother's portrait once hung. "Why am I so nervous?" she asked Draco. "I feel like all these people are getting forced into this social situation and I'm to blame. Harry's going to have to invite everyone in like they're vampires thanks to my handiwork and it's going to be so awkward!"
"Well that's because you are," Draco deadpanned. "Nervous, that is. But that doesn't mean it's a bad thing. It's an unprecedented thing, but not bad. And your charm on this house is extraordinary, as long as Potter plays the gracious host no one will think anything of it."
Hermione groaned. "You are not helping," she told him. "Your mother is coming."
"My mother is not the Kraken," Draco retorted. "Don't worry about her."
"Still not helping," Hermione told him. "What if she hates me? Or Harry? Or the Weasleys? What if she feels out of place? What if I feel out of place?"
"I seem to recall the gathering after my father's funeral going well, all circumstances considered," Draco replied evenly. "My mother was charmed with Teddy, and was quite impressed with Potter and Weasley and their venture into the tapestry."
"I feel so out of place here, now," Hermione confessed. "Everyone coming here is some how connected to somebody else."
Draco narrowed his eyes. "You're already connected to the only three blokes here right now," he told her sternly. "Stop second guessing yourself and you're going to have a marvelous time."
Hermione reached up and kissed him. "Are you really real?" She asked him.
"Yes," Draco said. "And this is really going to work out. It's Christmas Eve, get festive."
"You know," Hermione mused. "I always wondered why the magical community celebrated Christmas, given that it's a Muggle holiday."
"It wasn't always that way," Draco reminded her. "The early Pagans actually take the credit, and they were part of the magical community."
"That would be an interesting topic to research," Hermione nodded. "I would like to see how they were linked with the magical community and then broke off to become more of a religious sect."
"There's a lot to learn about that group," Draco told her. "And not a lot of information. They're close with the ancient Druids, and they both jealously guarded their secrets, even today."
"Mmmmm." Hermione acknowledged him dreamily, thinking about all the things she could learn with the right texts.
"Your thirst for knowledge is insatiable, you know that, right?" Draco teased.
"It's deliciously distracting," Hermione rebutted. "The Weasley's will be here any minute."
"You're afraid of how they will react to me," Draco asked without making it a question. "That's what you're really on edge about."
"Fred died in the war," Hermione told him with more strength in her voice than she felt. "I spent summers with him, George lost his twin. I feel like I lost my own brother and now I'm throwing one family I love against the man I love. I don't know how to do this."
"You love me," Draco repeated with a nonchalant shrug.
"And I love them, too," Hermione whispered.
"And you don't have to choose," Draco added. "It's not me versus them, Hermione. Anyone that shows up tonight knew that this isn't just a Hogwarts Christmas party sans Slytherin house. Blaise will be here, so will my aunt. Andromeda was in Slytherin and turned out just fine."
"Good point," Hermione admitted with a smile.
Before Draco could answer the door knocker echoed through the house with a sound that brought him back to whose house this originally had been.
BAM. BAM. BAM.
"Hermione, can you get that?" Harry's voice yelled out from the kitchen.
Hermione shot a panicked look at Draco.
"Go on, then," Draco grinned. "They're your wards."
"What if it's your mother?" Hermione began moving towards the direction of the knock.
"What if it is?" Draco challenged, following her.
Hermione stopped at the front door and took a breath before opening it. Behind it she encountered the ecstatic face of Teddy Lupin at her eye level, hoisted up on one hip by Andromeda Tonks.
"Teddy!" Hermione said with so much delight that Teddy didn't hesitate a second before reaching for her.
"Come in, Teddy, Andromeda," Hermione said quickly before accepting Teddy's outstretched arms and letting him latch a hold behind her neck as his small legs secured themselves behind her torso.
"Happy Christmas," Hermione said to the small boy now making a jungle gym out of her. "How are you this evening?"
"Gramma said pweasents," Teddy told Hermione matter-of-factly. "Pwesents for everyone who is good."
"Your grandmother is a smart lady," Draco said without missing a beat as he took Andromeda's wrap and stashed it somewhere Hermione missed.
"Gramma smawt?" Teddy repositioned himself on Hermione's hip to turn his eyes to his cousin.
"Very smart," Draco told him. "Cousin Draco has something for you under the tree, but we need to wait for the rest of the guests to arrive."
"Cousin Draco?" Hermione repeated, dumbfounded.
"What?" Draco looked at her innocently.
"Cousin Draco."
"Well, I am," Draco said with a shrug. "Second cousin, technically."
Hermione shook her head with amusement and looked at the small boy in her arms.
"Are you excited for Christmas?" She asked him.
"PWEASENTS!" Teddy brought his hands together with so much delight Hermione had to shift him quickly to her other side to avoid losing her grip on him.
"How about some food for now?" Hermione asked him. "There's plenty of Christmas pudding and cakes and lots of other good things to eat. I bet Grandma will let you have some."
Teddy nodded enthusiastically at the idea and Hermione let him wiggle his way down until he caught his footing and went barreling into the direction of the kitchen. Hermione hoped Harry, Ron, and Kreacher heard him to give themselves enough time to prepare for impact.
"I love him," Hermione said fondly. "How someone that small can inspire so much joy is simply magical."
"Amazing things can come in unexpected packages," Draco agreed with amusement. "See? First guests in the door and everything is going well."
"Andromeda and Teddy were not the ones I was nervous about," Hermione pointed out.
"True," Draco admitted. "But a victory is a victory. Let me go fetch some Butterbeer to celebrate with."
Hermione watched him venture off into the kitchen alone, and felt her heart lift at how at ease he seemed. Perhaps it was a carefully honed skill to appear that nonchalant, but whatever it was, Draco carried himself well.
BAM BAM BAM
Hermione knew Draco wouldn't come running back, regardless of who might be behind the door now. Bracing herself, she took a few steps towards the entrance and opened the door for the second time that evening.
"Happy Christmas, Hermione," Luna's familiar dreamy voice floated into the hall to welcome ears.
"Luna!" Hermione exclaimed happily. "And Mr. Lovegood, please come in, both of you."
Luna skipped across the threshold happily, humming a tune to herself and dodging the path directly below the hanging mistletoe. Xenophilius Lovegood stood in the doorway, obviously not sure what to do with himself.
"Please, sir, do come in," Hermione said kindly and reached out to shake his hand.
Luna's father looked startled at the attempt at contact but took Hermione's hand in his and stepped forward into the house.
"Miss Granger," he said awkwardly. "Thank you for inviting us."
"Hermione," Hermione corrected him. "And of course. You and Luna are welcome here.
Luna turned to Hermione back from inside the house. "Did Harry get the house banners I painted?" She asked the older witch.
"The Santa hat houses?" Hermione grinned. "Those are yours?"
"Yes," Luna smiled and looked about the bare hallway. "I worked on them around the clock once we sent our return owl. The badger was the hardest to convince that a hat was necessary party attire."
"I love them!" Hermione looked between Luna and her father. "They were just the thing this old house needed. Kreacher hung them on the mantle if you would like to see them. Drinks and food are set up in the kitchen, and I believe the Weasley family will be here soon."
Luna nodded happily and pivoted on her heel to follow her nose to the delicious food Kreacher had been hard at work on. Xenophilius continued to hover uncomfortably in front of the open door.
"Miss Granger, I-" He began.
"Hush," Hermione waved both hands in front of her shaking head. "I know what you're going to say. There's nothing to talk about now. Consider the past forgotten."
"But I-"
"Luna's my friend," Hermione looked up at him and hoped she could convey with her eyes what words would fail to do. "I would do anything to protect her, too."
Xenophilius looked abashed for a moment his face changed in a way that reminded Hermione of Luna's own gentle smile.
"I asked Luna what I should bring," he explained to Hermione as he reached into his robed and pulled out a magazine. "She said I should use my words, as I am want to do, so I wanted you to have this. It's the first copy of the Quibbler that's set to run next week. She enjoyed it, and thought you might as well."
Hermione took the rolled-up magazine from his outstretched hand with curiosity. On the front page was a scene Hermione had left behind her barely a month ago. In it, Hermione stood in front of the casket of Lucius Malfoy, her wand gently lowering the Peace Lily she conjured onto the hidden remains of Draco's father. Also captured in the picture behind Hermione stood Blaise, Pansy, Narcissa, Draco, Harry, and Ron, all looking on at Hermione with varying expressions of admiration in their eyes. The boldest print on the page simply read; "Funeral of Hogwarts Alum Brings Two Houses Together to Mourn."
"Oh!" Hermione continued to gaze as she watched herself materialize the flower and lower it time and again. She studied the faces that had been at her back that day and felt the sting of tears begin to well up in her eyes.
"I hope it's alright," Luna's father said nervously. "And don't ask how I obtained the picture. I planned to run the funeral in a different way, but Luna reminded me of who I was and what I stood for. I can't stand here and ask your forgiveness, but please take this as my way of trying."
Hermione tore her eyes away from the beautiful and heartbreaking scene and surprised Xenophilius by throwing her arms around his neck.
"Thank you," Hermione said as she let go after a moment. "This is lovely. This is perfect. Thank you."
"Thank you," Xenophilius said breathlessly. "For bringing my Luna back to me. She's the reason I breathe. She's the reason I live."
"We all should be so lucky to have someone like that in our lives," Hermione replied kindly.
"We should," Draco's voice drifted up behind Hermione and Xenophilius glanced over Hermione's shoulder at the newcomer.
"Butterbeer, as promised," Draco said and handed a glass to Hermione. Hermione took it gladly and raised a faux cheers to Xenophilius, who watched them with careful eyes.
"I'll just go help myself to one of those," he said, not taking his eyes off Draco.
"Please, enjoy yourself," Hermione implored him as he retreated to the kitchen area.
"I sure know how to clear a room," Draco said mildly as he took a sip of his own butterbeer.
Hermione then showed him the gift she had just received and Draco's eyebrows disappeared into his hairline.
"That's generous," he finally said. "Considering his daughter was being held in my family's dungeon."
"Yes, it is," Hermione said with some choked emotion.
"But it is really," Draco faltered. "Nice. It was nice of him to spin my father's funeral in that way. I haven't looked at a Prophet in days but I'm sure they're still running editorials about it. That was really decent."
Hermione smiled as she ducked into the cloak room to tuck the magazine into her purse. Maybe things fall apart just to fall back together again.
BAM BAM BAM
"Again?" Hermione muttered as she returned from the cloak room. "Where's Harry? Does he expect me to be the door witch for the entire evening?"
"Well technically this was your idea," Draco reminded her mildly.
"Did he say that?" Hermione demanded as he made her way to the door. "What did he say in the kitchen just now?"
"Nothing," Draco insisted. "He's still discussing handing over the reins to Mrs. Weasley with Kreacher."
"I don't believe you," Hermione said tartly as she opened the door.
"Hello Hermione, Draco," Blaise Zabini said politely from the stoop.
"Please, come in Blaise," Hermione said almost absently.
Blaise entered the foyer and shrugged off his winter coat and went to hang it in the cloak room.
"Where are your parents?" Draco asked his former roommate without preamble.
"Visiting relatives far, far away," Blaise replied in the same bored voice. "I'm beginning to see that the best part about being an adult is not having to pretend to fawn over your great-aunt's silver collection."
Hermione managed a smile. "I'm glad you came," she said honestly. "Food and drinks are in the kitchen."
"And Potter and a Weasley, a small Lupin, a Tonks, and two Lovegoods," Draco added with a smirk. "Help yourself."
"Gladly," Blaise returned with a wink as he crossed the threshold. "Still not my great-aunt. Are you two in charge of the door or can you join the party?"
"Harry seems to be leaving the greeting to us," Hermione said with less bite than she used earlier. "But I am truly glad that you decided to come."
"We eighth years must stick together, right?" Blaise asked with a conspiracy grin.
"We are certainly a rare entity, are we not?" Hermione mused.
Draco smiled to himself as Hermione and Blaise bantered back and forth. The more guests that came through the door the more Hermione seemed to relax into herself. Granted, he had yet to encounter a Weasley recently except for the younger two, but this was shaping up to be a successful evening, as long as everyone took everything in stride.
Hermione was still chattering with Blaise when Draco's gaze was called to the open door by his mother.
Hermione stopped mid-sentence and flushed. "Mrs. Malfoy, do come in," she said quickly.
Narcissa inclined her head to the hostess and Blaise, and then stepped across the threshold and handed her wrap to her son.
"You all look so well," she said, taking them all in turn. "Blaise, how are your parents? And your grandmother?"
"The silver is still shining, ma'am," Blaise said with his easy smile. "And how are you?"
"Nothing changes too terribly much at the Manor, I'm afraid," Narcissa smoothed over the death of her husband. "I'm thinking some renovations are in order to make the place more hospitable. Perhaps we shall do some entertaining of our own, Draco?"
It was a questions that sounded more like law to Draco, who was not necessarily against entertaining, but the last two years had made him wish they lived in a hovel not grand enough to house the Dark Lord.
"That sounds lovely, mother," Draco replied. "Hermione and I were actually just discussing obtaining the reins to New Years Eve entertainment, although we thought the house in France might be better suited."
"That sounds like a wonderful idea," Narcissa seemed genuinely pleased. "I hope you will visit soon so that we can discuss the changes I had in mind. The Manor, after all, will eventually be yours."
Draco nodded and Hermione wondered if she would ever feel used to the formality that Narcissa invoked in those around her.
"Drinks and food are set up in the kitchen," Hermione managed to say. "There are already a few guests here, and I'm sure Teddy will be delighted to see you again."
"That darling boy!" Narcissa came to life at the sound of his name. "And that must mean my sister has arrived before me? I will meet them."
"Allow me to accompany you, Mrs. Malfoy," Blaise said and offered his arm like they were about to proceed down a wedding isle.
Narcissa took his arm with a fond pat and navigated Blaise to the kitchen, as he had never actually been to the house before.
"See?" Draco couldn't help but gloat. "Not a kraken to be seen,"
"Hush, you," Hermione said with a laugh. "Your mother truly seems to..enjoy herself. Now. I mean-"
"I know," Draco took a step to situate himself in front of her and took her hand. "I've been wondering if the woman I have grown to know over the course of my childhood was really not the woman the girl ever intended to be. Now she's free from everything that haunted her, how can she not be happy for that? And she thanks you, you know."
"I think she's rather remarkable, even after everything," Hermione struggled to word it properly. "She's so different from Bellatrix, and yet so different as well as alike as Andromeda. Does that make sense?"
"They're all sisters," Draco brought Hermione's hand to his lips before releasing it. "Perhaps Aunt Bella was the mad one, Andromeda the overly passive one, and my mother was stuck somewhere in the middle."
"I wouldn't refer to either Andromeda or your mother as passive," Hermione pondered. "Perhaps observant. They both seem to weigh the tone of the room before they venture to contribute to what is going on around them."
"Very astute, Granger," Draco agreed.
"Much like you," Hermione added with a smile. "Born diplomats."
"I would shudder to picture myself involved in any government agency," Draco said with a frown.
"Why?" Hermione asked, genuinely curious.
"I saw enough corruption under the Dark Lord," Draco said evenly. "There is no winning in politics."
"That's absurd," Hermione argued. "Not when the right people are in place. Kingsley, for example. He's doing a wonderful job."
"It's still yet to be seen," Draco said quietly. "I've seen what power does. Once you have it, it's hard to let go and easier to justify clutching onto it by any means necessary."
Hermione was about to object when a flicker of a cloak drew her attention back to the open door. At the door stood Arthur Weasley, followed in succession by the rest of the Weasley clan save Bill and Fleur.
"Hello dear," Molly said to Hermione as she walked through the door, having already been invited in on a previous occasion. "Bill is in France celebrating Christmas Eve with Fleur's family. He'll be joining us tomorrow at the Burrow but won't be able to make it tonight and sends his apologies."
"That's perfectly alright," Hermione flushed as Arthur followed along with Ginny. "Percy, Charlie, George, please come in. Harry's in the kitchen. I think he is still trying to reason with Kreacher that the kitchen isn't exactly his kingdom and something he has to share."
Molly smiled warmly at Hermione and then turned to face Draco.
"May I take your coat?" Draco asked automatically. He hadn't even meant to say it, but his brain seemed to fall back on the decorum that was so completely ingrained that his mouth seemed to just start spitting words before he could think about it.
Molly had shrugged of her coat at that point and without missing a beat, handed it to him. Before Draco could turn to make his way to the coat room she touched his arm lightly, as though not to startle him. "I am sorry you lost your father," she said sincerely. "I hope you find peace here." Molly's eyes flicked to Hermione before returning to Draco's gaze as she gave him a motherly pat.
Hermione let out a breath she didn't know she was holding as she collected the coats of the rest of Ron's family. She noticed that Molly had said she was sorry Draco had lost his father, not that Lucius was dead. To Hermione that was the most eloquent gesture she could have imagined. Hermione herself knew she wasn't sad that Lucius Malfoy was dead, but her heart ached for the son who lost his father.
The Wealsey clan followed Molly then as she made her way to the kitchen. They had all been there when the Order used the house as headquarters, but only Molly, Arthur, and Ginny had visited since. As she walked past, Ginny took Hermione's hand and gave it a light squeeze. There was much to talk about, but first she wanted to see Harry.
"See?" Draco said to Hermione as soon as they were alone again in the hall. "What were you worried about?"
Hermione merely shrugged. "I'm a worrier," she told him as she closed the front door. "I'm not sure if you've noticed by now, but worrying is what I do. I plan for every outcome and make a backup plan in case the originals don't work out."
"Some might say you're nutters," Draco commented affectionately.
"Some might say you need to put a sock in it, Malfoy," Hermione laughed and took a few large gulps of the butterbeer Draco had brought her.
BAM BAM BAM
Draco pulled the door ope this time to reveal Hannah Abbott and Terry Boot in a large shadow casted by Hagrid from the streetlight below them.
"Happy Christmas!" Hermione exclaimed as she greeted her fellow eighth years. "Hannah, Terry, come in and get warm. Hagrid, come in, what is that you have there?"
"Meh own rock cakes," Hagrid's beard twitched as he smiled. "Happy Christmas, Hermione. Grawp also sent ya along a little somethin'. I'll just stick it under the tree for ye. He passes along his greetings too, I found him a lady friend in the forrest, do ye believe it?"
"No!" Hermione said, half terrified and half bemused. "Hagrid, where?"
"Little thing, in the forrest after the battle," Hagrid dropped his voice. "Left 'er there. Poor little mite. She musta come from the mountains too. She and Grawp have taken a fancy to each other. I made them a special Christmas dinner before coming here."
"Well," Hermione said faintly. "I'm glad Grawp is happy. You'll find Harry in the kitchen, please, everyone, go find some refreshments."
Hagrid's beard twitched again and Hermione knew he was grinning widely at how his holiday was coming together. Hermione wondered briefly about Hagrid's own lady friend, Madame Maxime, but decided against bringing her up until Hagrid did.
"Grawp?" Draco asked Hermione as soon as the new guests were out of earshot.
"Hagrid's half brother," Hermione said absently.
"There's another wizard the size of Hagrid running around?" Draco asked incredulously.
"No," Hermione corrected him. There's a short giant running around the Forbidden Forrest, and Hagrid just told us he made another short friend."
Draco was ready to question her further when he caught another cloak flicking in the corner of his eye.
Professor McGonagall paused just appropriately to be polite and then let herself into the corridor and out of the snow that began to fall.
"Hello, Professor," Hermione said happily. "Happy Christmas."
"Perhaps Minerva will do outside of Hogwarts," McGonagall told Hermione as she slipped out of her traveling cloak and handed it to Draco. "I have so been looking forward to this evening."
"Really?" Hermione couldn't help herself. "I mean to say, it was a little late notice, but I think Harry is pleased with the turn out, or I would assume he's pleased if he actually came to the door."
"And how is the ward?" McGonagall turned to face the doorway. "I assume you still have it up?"
"Hermione nodded. "No hiccups so far," she told her teacher. "But I haven't tried keeping someone out since Harry, Ron, and I tested it when it first went up."
"I would expect nothing less from you, Miss Granger," McGonagall said with a rare smile. "Truly remarkable to think of it."
Hermione felt her face flush with pride. "Hermione, if we're tossing formalities," she corrected the older woman. "I think nearly everyone is here. Draco and I will watch the door for a few more minutes, but there are drinks and food set up in the kitchen. Luna painted lovely Hogwarts themed decorations that are hanging in the living room if you care to see."
"I believe I will," McGonagall smiled again at the both of them before making her way back to the kitchen, which was becoming louder with every additional voice.
Hermione took another long drink of her butterbeer. "I hate to stroke your ego, but you may have been right," she told Draco as she dabbed her mouth to check for foam. "So far, so good. I think we're just waiting on Neville and his grandmother."
BAM BAM BAM
"Oh really?!" Hermione huffed, half exasperated, half cheerful. "That must be Neville now."
Hermione opened the door with a smile, but Draco saw from her expression that it flickered before he heard a startled; "Pansy! Please, come in."
Pansy Parkinson crossed the threshold into Harry's home with a bit of a stumble.
"The weather is starting to turn," Pansy said towards Draco's general direction as she pulled her hat off and shook off her hair unceremoniously in the foyer. "I think we're in for a blizzard tonight. "How are you fairing?"
The question was obviously for Draco, who was momentarily blindsided by seeing his former housemate arriving at an intimate Christmas Eve party.
"Alright there, Draco?" Pansy asked again.
"Er," Draco faltered. "Don't take this the wrong way, Pans, but why are you here?"
Pansy blinked for a moment. "I was invited," she said. "By Potter, if you'll believe it. Which you don't. Obviously. I assume you were not expecting me?"
Hermione looked from Draco to Pansy, remembering when she had broached the idea of a Christmas party to Harry she did indeed include Pansy.
"Remember, Draco?" Hermione asked gently. "We talked about who to invite when I asked Harry if we could have a Christmas party here."
"Did you only want your new Gryffindor friends around?" Pansy crossed her arms over her chest in a defensive sort of way, but Hermione could tell the girl was hurt and not used to feeling so uneasy.
"I didn't think I'd have any friends here, except Hermione," Draco shrugged. "Turns out Potter went ahead and invited my mother and Blaise. Stranger yet, they came."
"And you didn't think to ask him to invite me?" Pansy raised an eyebrow in the haughty way Hermione was used to seeing on Draco.
"Not my house," Draco said dismissively. "Not my party. Honestly, Pans, I didn't think you would want to come even if you were invited."
"As you can see, you were wrong," Pansy huffed with a glimmer of self consciousness as she held her hat in her hand.
"Let me take that for you," Hermione approached Pansy smoothly and took her hat and then her cloak. "And there's some representation from all the houses here tonight, it's not a big Gryffindor gathering. Draco, why don't you show Pansy where she can get a drink and some food?"
Pansy looked torn between wanting to stay right where she was and the thought of potential booze in the next room, eventually she consented to being escorted by a very uncomfortable Draco to the kitchen.
Hermione sighed with some relief when they were out of earshot. She hadn't expected Harry to invite Pansy, but at the same time she was also a little bit in awe of her best friend. He really seemed to take this night seriously, and if Draco could smooth things over with Pansy Hermione thought they might have a really wonderful night on their hands.
BAM BAM BAM
Hermione silently cursed Harry with a smile as she opened the door again, this time to find Neville standing by himself in the doorway.
"Happy Christmas, Neville, come in." Hermione said happily. "Where is your grandmother?"
Neville came on and brushed the snow from his front and shoulders. "She's feeling a bit under the weather. The cold really doesn't agree with her," Neville told Hermione. "But she insisted I come and send her best."
"I hope she's okay," Hermione said as she directed Neville to the cloak room.
"I don't think she particularly likes large groups," Neville said with a shrug. She's happy to enjoy her eggnog in quiet with some holiday music and her fire."
"Well," Hermione said once Neville's things were hanging. "I think everyone is here now, let's see what they're doing."
"I hope you weren't just waiting on me," Neville said anxiously.
"I have the house warded," Hermione answered. "Either Harry or I need to invite you in."
"I see," Neville said as he followed Hermione to the commotion near the kitchen. "I hope I didn't keep you from the party."
Hermione waved her hand to dismiss his concern. "Sounds like everyone is having a good time," she said hopefully and opened the door from the hall and into the kitchen that led up to the living room.
The atmosphere of this part of the house nearly took Hermione's breath away. Neville made his way to the cookies displayed out on the kitchen table, but Hermione stopped at the threshold into the room and took in the scene in front of her.
Hagrid was over by the tree, discussing something with Charlie, Arthur, and Percy. Hermione hoped that Charlie could give Hagrid a good report about Norbert. Narcissa, Molly, Andromeda, and McGonagall were in a corner of the kitchen each with glasses of wine chatting in between nibbles of Kreacher's Christmas spread. Kreacher himself was eyeing up something in the oven while Harry, Ginny, George, and Ron were talking to Teddy...who happened to be in Draco's arms. Hannah, Terry, Blaise, and Pansy both hand a glass of amber liquid in their hands as they looked over Luna's decorations with the artist herself and her father.
Draco looked up and caught Hermione's eye over Teddy's shoulder. Teddy seemed to be regaling his audience with some sort of story and Hermione made her way over to the group, followed by Neville.
"I Think everyone is here," Hermione told them. "Harry, it was so kind of you to make me the door witch."
Harry grinned sheepishly. "I was caught up in here. I see it went well?"
Hermione closed her eyes for a moment but returned his gaze with a grin. "Things seem to be going well in here, too." she observed.
Harry shrugged. "I think Kreacher made enough food for an army, and there's plenty to drink. He even whipped up some sort of punch, but I'm weary to try it."
"I'll grab you a glass," Ginny offered with a wink at Hermione. "Anyone else?"
Hermione joined Ginny a fetching drinks and said softly; "How's your family?"
Ginny raised her shoulders a fraction of an inch as she reached for the glasses arranged on the table. "You mean how is George? He's here, that's a huge step. He even seemed to look forward to tonight. This was a brilliant idea, Hermione."
Hermione absently took the glasses as Ginny filled them and set them to hovering over the table. The drink was a reddish color with some sort of sorbet mixed in and she wondered what Kreacher had concocted for them. Three, four, five, and six glasses floated lazily around Hermione when Ginny finished up and when the girls turned their backs Kreacher was back at the bowl mixing a few more ingredients in to keep it flowing.
"How are you?" Hermione asked as they slowly made their way across the kitchen.
"I'm a little shocked at the guest list," Ginny admitted. But Christmas has always been my favorite. Look at Teddy!"
The two girls and the six floating drinks arrived to see Teddy as he stood on Draco's shoulders, fist pumped in the air like the child had just climbed a mountain. Hermione steered the drinks to the recipients while holding a couple for herself and Ginny when she met Harry's eye.
"I think you've outdone yourself," she told her friend.
"It was your idea," Harry said with a smile as he watched Teddy drop from standing on Draco's shoulders to wrapping his legs around his cousin's neck and perching on top to watch the room.
"Even the decorations are beautiful," Hermione told him. Kreacher outdid himself."
Harry bowed his head with agreement. "I don't know where he found the tree or the fairy lights, but they're wonderful. When Luna's banners arrived I knew right where to put them. I think everyone is enjoying themselves, don't you?"
Harry's question was for the group at large. George looked to Teddy with a smile that broke Hermione's heart.
"I think I know what this evening is missing," George said to Teddy. "Hey, little buddy, are you ready for some presents?"
"PWEASENTS!" Teddy pumped two tiny fists in the air and started kicking with excitement. Draco hurriedly grabbed the toddler around the middle and removed him from kicking range of Draco's face.
"PWEASENTS!" Teddy hollered again once his small feet touched the ground and made a beeline for the tree that sat atop a mountain of wrapped gifts that Hermione hadn't noticed before. It appeared the guests had shrunken the gifts they brought and returned the parcels to normal size once they were under the tree.
Teddy was on his knees under the huge tree ready to grab the first thing his little hands could grab, regardless of who the package was addressed to. George got down and sat beside the little maniac to help him pick out the gifts that were actually meant to be opened by Teddy.
"Here's a good one," George said with a grin as he pulled out a large gift wrapped with purple paper. "I should know, I made it."
Teddy tore into the present without hesitation. Inside was a replica of the cars of the Hogwarts Express.
"Push this little lever, right here," George instructed Teddy to hit a switch at the base of the set. When Teddy pressed it, the cars lined up and began to take off into the room, billowing purple smoke.
Teddy jumped up and began to follow the train, first back into the kitchen and then down and up the stairs that connected the kitchen to the foyer.
"It's built to travel anywhere," George explained. "Technically it's a prototype, but I'll have them on the shelves in another month or two."
Hermione thought George looked sad when he said he would have them on the shelves. Perhaps it was her imagination, but she thought George struggled with using 'I'll' instead of 'we'll'.
Determined not to let the thought of George's lost twin bring her to tears, Hermione looked up and blinked several times with a small thank you to Fred, who she was sure was a part in helping with the toy train. Hermione gave Draco her glass of punch and reached under the tree for her small beaded handbag that had served her so well in the past.
Teddy was still following the locomotive when Hermione turned to those gathered around her. She looked at the small boy and ran her fingers through his soft baby hair as he passed under her, the train now circling under the tree.
"My turn, then," Hermione said to the group. "I struggled with what I would be able to give this Christmas. After last year this Christmas seems like such a gift in itself, and to see all of you here, I can't help but wonder how it could get better than this," Hermione paused and locked eyes with Pansy and Blaise, with Narcissa and Andromeda, and with Molly and George and finally her Draco. "I realized I am incredibly lucky. I wanted to bottle that feeling and was given the opportunity to do so." Hermione reached into her beaded bag and began handing out vials of her liquid luck. "This still needs to mature for another six months," Hermione said as she passed out the small glass vials to everyone in the room. "I want you all to have the best day you can imagine, with a little help from Liquid Luck."
Hermione handed Blaise and Pansy their vials and Pansy took hers with a sharp intake of breath. "You certainly don't do things half way, do you, Granger?"
Hermione merely smiled and continued on passing out her gift, happy that she made enough to accommodate the unexpected guests. She saved Draco for last and folded the vial into his hand and closed her hands around his.
"Happy Christmas," she said shyly.
Draco took his other hand and covered hers with it. "You're pretty amazing, you know that?" He asked with a smile. "How did you even get the time and space...?"
"Hush," Hermione smile and pulled her hand away. She looked expectantly at Harry who got the message immediately.
"Well I don't think I can really follow that up with anything comparable," Harry said awkwardly. "But I have these." Harry started passing out gifts to Hermione, Ron, and the rest of the Weaslesys except for Ginny.
Ron opened his parcel to find a ring similar to a Sneakoscope, all of the dark magic indication was centered into a glossy black band. Molly unwrapped a bracelet that she swore she couldn't keep but tried on anyway, Arthur was delighted to receive a Muggle telephone with a phone cord, Percy got a set of peacock quills and George opened a framed copy of the Marauder's Map.
Ginny was, for once, standing sort of shyly as she watched Harry watch the rest of her family open their gifts. Harry then looked to her and grinned.
Hermione watched Harry walk nonchalantly to the bookcase she had enchanted for him the previous summer. She held her breath when he pulled out a random book as if to glance at the title, then let the air out with a smile when the small green box she was looking for was slipped deftly from the pages and into Harry's hand. Ginny, for how observant she was, was looking on at her family's gifts and wondering if what Harry had planned for her was more private in nature. Hermione found Draco's hand and grabbed it as she watched Harry approach Ginny and then drop to one knee in front of her.
"Ginevra Molly Wealsey," Harry said slowly. "And I only dare say that because I know you would hex me into the next century if I ever tried it any other time. You've been the brightest light and the biggest promise in my life. Please, will you do the honor of marrying me?"
(A/N) Gosh, it's been awhile, huh? To keep a long story short, the health issues I've discussed in the past is a pretty ever-present issue in life right now and inspiration is a little lacking. I am really happy with this chapter and glad I took the time to try to capture everyone, and very pleased with Harry at the end =) Let me know what you think!