Heya... the last of the Christmas chapters... thanks to canterwoodgames for another amazing review! Speaking of reviews... this story has 78 at the moment... I'm hoping that by the end of the story we'll have 100... you game?

Chapter 45:

Charlus and Dorea had invited a few friends round for Christmas lunch. It was a small get together supposedly. When the family had finished opening presents they all went and got changed into their dress robes and the house-elves made their way to the kitchen to finish preparing the meal. James was wearing a set of bottle green dress robes whilst Sirius wore a similar set in a dark red, almost black colour. Nancy wore her new purple dress robes. Her siblings had also received new dress robes as a Christmas present. Dorian's were a dark navy colour that brought out the colour of his eyes. Doreen's were a bright yellow colour because Dorea hated the idea of putting young girls in dark colours. Cynthia's were a bright pink colour. Dorea knocked on Cynthia and Doreen's bedroom door (they shared a room); "do you need a hand with your hair?" She asked as she made her way into the room, "Oh don't you girls look lovely!"

Nancy was curling Doreen's hair with her wand, "could you do Thia's?"

"Sure thing," Dorea set to work on Cynthia's hair. When they were finished, the two girls looked in the mirror, smiling happily. "Would you like me to do yours Nancy?"

"Oh, yes please, Dorea." Nancy smiled at the older lady who had in a way adopted her into her family.

Mr Potter stood at the bottom of the stairs in jet black dress robes, "our guests will be here any minute." Mrs Potter arrived at the top of the stairs in a beautiful set of flowing dress robes. They were silver and looked remarkably like liquid.

"Sorry love, we got distracted doing hair…" she said as she made her way down the stairs. The three girls followed Dorea down the stairs. "Don't they look stunning Charlie?"

"Indeed. Girls you look beautiful." Charlus nodded. The boys walked into the entrance hall from the living room. "The boys are looking sharp as well."

"We should get a photo," Dorea smiled, "Milly!"

POP, "yes mistress?"

"Could you take a photo of us all?" Mrs Potter asked as they all gathered together at the bottom of the stairs for the photograph. Once it was taken Mrs Potter thanked the elf before turning to James, "sometimes I wish your hair would sit down properly."

"You and me both mum," James smiled.

"It doesn't help that you all play with it constantly," Sirius laughed, "Seriously if James isn't playing with it, one of you two is…"

The Potter family and their guests sat together at the dining room table. The food magically appeared on the table. Mr Potter began carving the turkey. The guests helped themselves to vegetables and roast potatoes, "I love Christmas dinner."

Charlus turned his head to Dumbledore, "Albus, how is your brother?"

"Aberforth? Still not speaking to me but he's ok I believe. He's recently bought the Hogshead Inn. You know the one – Hogsmeade…"

"Ah lovely," Charlus nodded. "I can just see Aberforth behind a bar."

"Yes indeed," Albus smiled.

At the other end of the table Mrs Potter was speaking gently to Mrs Lupin, "did you have a good Christmas morning?"

"Well it wasn't the same without John but it wasn't bad. Remus got some lovely presents. Your son has been such a very good friend to him… young Black as well… they've been so good."

"James told me about Remus' condition," Dorea smiled sadly, "it's such a shame…"

"You aren't going to stop them being friends are you?" Mary asked worriedly.

"No, of course not. I'm proud of my son for not listening to stupid prejudices."

Minerva was sat next to Elphinstone. Their knees kept bumping into each other; "do you think she keeps throwing us together on purpose?" Elphinstone asked.

"Oh I don't doubt it," Minerva laughed, "there's nothing more Dorea Potter likes more than a little match making, Elphin."

The pair laughed together, "one day she'll have here way…"

Hildegard turned to the pair and said loudly so that the whole table would hear, "so when are you two going to get together?"

"Er," Minerva frowned.

"Well, we…" Elphinstone stuttered.

"Don't put pressure on the poor things, Hildegard! They'll get married when they're good and ready. I'm absolutely certain of it!" Dorea smiled.

Ignatius leaned in to talk to Charlus and Albus, "do you think the ministry will fold on the knights' demands?"

"I'm not sure," Charlus sighed, "The minister is very worried about annoying the pure-bloods but he can't afford to keep them happy at the expense of the rest of the wizarding society unless…"

"Unless they change the laws," Dumbledore continued.

"But there's no way he can make that many changes in such a short space of time. Change education laws, sack a fair few ministry employees and make new legislation on marriage? It seems farfetched."

"They're more likely to take it slow. One law at a time – secretively, ruffle as few feathers as possible…" Dumbledore agreed.

"Which of course is exactly what Voldemort wants – he doesn't want people to panic just yet…" Charlus frowned. "If the minister isn't careful, he'll be playing right into his hand. Of course I've tried to speak to the minister but he's naïve to say the least. He doesn't see a connection between these bloody knights and the death eaters."

"Isn't it obvious?" Ignatius laughed.

"If you don't want to see something the human mind is more than capable of hiding it from you," Dumbledore said astutely.

Dinner went on for some time. The group of friends chatted for what felt like hours about all sorts of things. The main topic around the table was the recent disappearances and these Knights of Walpurgis and their demands. Once all the guests had gone, the Potters' and their adopted family sat in the living room drinking hot chocolate. Charlus and Doria snuggled up on the sofa together. Cynthia decided to sit with them. She was very sleepy so she fell asleep on Dorea's lap. The boys sat on the floor talking about Quidditch whilst Nancy and Doreen cuddled up on the second sofa. An hour or so passed before Charlus realised that everyone except him and the boys were asleep. "Boys, I think it might be time for bed. Off you go," Charlus smiled.

"Do you need a hand getting this lot to bed dad?" James offered.

"Why, yes son," Charlus smiled, "could you carry Thia up to her room. Sirius do you think you could carry Doreen?"

"Sure thing Charlus," Sirius said as he picked up the ten year old girl.

Charlus asked if Dorian could help his sister Nancy up the stairs. Dorian was fourteen but his sister was significantly taller than him as she was seventeen. He struggled to pick her up but managed it in the end and carried her up the stairs. Mr Potter brushed a hair out of wife's eye before lifting her easily into his arms and carrying her up to bed. He lay her softly on the bed and kissed her on the forehead, sighing gently.

Thanks for reading... please review...

Normally I'd give hints as to what is happening yet but to be honest I don't know yet... :)