A/N: Hooray, I managed to get a chapter out earlier than I regularly planned. Enjoy!
Chapter 24: Christmas with the Grangers
The Granger family lounged in the living room following the completion of presents being opened. Shyla had received a lovely pair of black flats, and ribbons for her hair, all which would conveniently still fall under dress code regulations at Hogwarts. While the packaging was labeled "From, Santa" Shyla knew better. She was also gifted with a new collar for Wiskers, as well as a bundle of cat treats and toys. Her favorite gift was from her grandparents. It was a beautiful silver necklace with a matching bracelet. Hanging from the necklace was a scripted S. Her grandmum finally got her way with picking out the present for Shyla, regardless of what book her grandpa thought was the most fascinating. Instead, he got books for Hermione.
Every book that Hermione received, and it was several, came with a commentary explanation from her father, why he thought she would love it. Several were fictional pieces of work, that was recommended to him by a series of book reviews he read on the internet, but majority were non-fiction books he had read himself in the past. Hermione loved her books. It never mattered how frequently her mum tried to encourage her that there were fancier gifts to be appreciated, she always loved the books from her dad the most.
Shyla and Hermione reclined on the couch playing with poppers that Hermione had purchased in Diagon Alley. They released waves of gold glitter that floated far longer than Martha would have liked. Shyla released another popper, which was closely followed by a shriek from Martha, "No more poppers!"
Shyla glanced at her grandmother, her eyes glistened reflecting the changing colors of the christmas lights on the tree. "One more?"
Hermione instantly recognized Shyla's manipulative stare, but even she had to admit that it was far more effective with the addition of the lights. "Don't fall for it, Mum!"
Martha glanced between Shyla and Hermione before throwing her hands in the air, "Oh bloody hell," Hermione's eyes widened, her mother almost never swore, "It's Christmas!"
John sat quietly in his large, cushioned chair. He was scanning a book that Hermione gave him about the history of space exploration, while he wore a new Arsenal jersey, scarf, and knit hat. Martha had even surprised him with season tickets to the Arsenal matches for the remainder of the season. Hermione had never seen her father that giddy on Christmas. Oh, he had been happy, but to say he was giddy, would have been a huge exaggeration.
There was a quick knock at the door, and Shyla dropped the poppers. She may not have always liked the idea of having muggle grandparents, but she respected their desire to prevent their neighbors from knowing the truth.
Martha opened the wooden door and grinned, "Shyla! The door is for you!"
Shyla squealed and ran to the door. She knew exactly who it would be. "Emily!" She yelled as she rounded the corner.
"Shyla!" the girl with long, honey blonde hair called back. "Happy Christmas!" Emily lived across the street to the Grangers in a small cottage with a large, and extravagant garden. The girls had met when they were only two years old, on a play date that Martha had arranged.
"You too!" Shyla laughed, launching herself into a hug. Emily was several inches taller than she was now. She must have hit a recent growth spurt.
The girls giggled as they entered the living room. Hermione smiled, "Emily, it's nice to see you."
Emily returned the greetings, and gave Hermione a quick hug. Turning back to Shyla she grinned, she pulled a small package from behind her back and presented it, "I got this for you."
Shyla tore the iridescent purple paper and opened the small brown box. Inside was a set of hair pins with faeries on them. They were just girly enough to remind her of their childhood games, yet sophisticated enough that Eva wouldn't dare make fun of them. She hoped. "I love them!" Shyla finally replied, giving the girl before her another hug, "Thank you." A pang of regret struck her, she hadn't even thought of getting Emily a present. Her oldest friend.
Yet, before Shyla could regretfully explain she did not have a gift for her, Hermione spoke up, "Shyla, I believe you put Emily's gift under the tree. The one in the silver paper, yes?"
Shyla smiled gently at her mum. She always remembered to get gifts for all of their friends, even if they hadn't seen them in several months. Shyla retrieved the package from the back of the tree. Sure enough, Emily's name had been neatly printed on a sticker label. "This is for you." She was just as excited as Emily to see what was inside.
Emily was much more careful with the unwrapping of the gift.
Shyla's impatience took over quickly, "Oh, just tear it!"
The girl's two braids swung as she shook her head, "Oh, but I couldn't. The paper is too lovely."
Shyla sighed, "But it'll just go out to the bin."
Emily began to stare down her friend, and proceeded to slowly unwrap the present. But before long, she smiled again. Once the gift box was opened, she revealed a set of earmuffs, that were in the shape of penguins. Emily began to lightly bounce, "These are perfect! Penguins are my favorite!"
Hermione was successful again. "I believe there was one other item in the box." she hinted.
Emily returned to the present and looked inside, moving the white stuffing paper aside. "Oh, I love dragonflies!" She grinned as she removed a silver chain with a silver dragonfly pendant with blue wings. "Thank you, Shy."
The young girls hugged, as Shyla mouthed a "thank you" to her mum.
Hermione helped Emily put her necklace on as the girl continued, "I hate that you go to a boarding school now, I never get to see you."
Shyla shrugged, "I know. But it's really great, I wish you could go there with me." She wasn't sure about the protocol of telling muggles that you're a witch, and she definitely wasn't ready for that discussion. Emily was her first best friend outside of those she thought were cousins. Emily never expected her to be a certain way. Even though she was a muggle, Shyla adored her and their friendship.
"What if I could? What if I could convince my parents to send me to boarding school?" Emily proposed.
Hermione bit her lower lip in anticipation of how Shyla would respond. She had to leave these discussions up to her daughter.
"It's really hard to get in to. The only way I did was because my mum went there. She had to pass loads of special tests to even be considered." Shyla quickly spat out. She was trying her hardest not to reveal their family secret, but at the same time, she wanted to tell this girl everything. Everything about Hogwarts, Slytherin, and Quidditch. Maybe someday, but not today.
Emily glanced at Hermione, before frowning a little, "Yeah, I don't think my parents would allow me to go away to boarding school."
Shyla nodded, frowning a little herself.
"Promise me, that over summer, you will stay with your grandparents for at least a week." Emily insisted.
Shyla smiled, "I promise."
Hermione and Shyla had said their goodbyes to the Grangers in crispy air, that as Shyla put it, smelled of snow. Shyla knew she would see them again before returning to Hogwarts, but it was still a little sad. Christmas was the one time of year that she couldn't help but be happy, nice, and loving. It even weirded herself out a bit. "Where are we going now?"
Hermione started the small car's engine, and backed down the driveway. "Dinner with Tonks and Lupin."
"I like these new traditions." Shyla commented finally.
Hermione smiled, "Me too, kid." She drove the car back to the parking lot of their flat. All the while, the Granger girls sang along to wizard Christmas tunes on the radio that Draco had previously bewitched.
The road to visit Tonks and Lupin was guaranteed to be snowed over this time of year, so they decided that Floo Network was the only way to travel.
Tonks responded instantly to the wooshing sound that her fireplace emitted and ran to greet the girls. "I'm so glad you're here!" She cried, embracing Hermione and Shyla at the same time. "Remus! Our girls are here!" She wore a red and white Santa hat, and an ugly red Christmas sweater. Hermione had taken her to an ugly Christmas sweater party once, and that was the end of it. She thought the sweaters were brilliant, and bought a new one every year, trying to top her other purchases.
"Happy Christmas, Tonks!" Shyla laughed, struggling to be freed of Tonks' hug. "You look ridiculous."
Tonks grinned, releasing the girls, "Thank you! I love it!" She led them to a dining table that was already set with festive dishes, and wax Christmas tree candles. "Remus is just finishing preparing dinner, and then we can eat."
Hermione fawned over a wedding picture of the two. It felt like so many years ago, and even though it was such a impromptu and short ceremony, they were happy, and that was all that mattered. "Look how young you were," Hermione teased.
"We could get out pregnancy pictures and compare!" Tonks teased back, a look of mischievous play on her face.
Hermione cringed and turned to Shyla, "You are never allowed to like boys. And if you do, for some obscene reason, you aren't allowed to date them until you're thirty."
Shyla's face scrunched into a look of disgust.
Tonks laughed lightly, "Just think, Shyla. Your mum was only 7 years older than you when you were born."
"Gross." Shyla cried out. It didn't matter if she wanted to find her father some day. She hated the idea of herself ending up in that similar situation in such a short time. At ten, her mum gave her a very condensed version of 'the talk,' yet Shyla had felt like it was the grossest thing that could have been discussed. Hermione's reasoning at the time was her belief that a girl should never be ashamed of being a female, but it came off more as a discussion about the complications of being a female in the nearing years. It was awkward.
Lupin entered the dining room from the connecting kitchen with a ham covered in a honey and rum glaze. "Are you ladies finished teasing Shyla, yet?"
"Oh, Lupin, that smells incredible!" Hermione commented, ignoring his own teasing.
Lupin placed the ham in the center of the table, and hugged Hermione. He kissed her cheek tenderly, "Happy Christmas." He turned to Shyla and did the same.
He was like a combination of an uncle and a grandfather all rolled into one. Yet, Shyla always just called him Lupin. "Happy Christmas!"
The females took their places at the table as Lupin sliced pieces of ham off for each of them. Hermione opened the bottle of wine sitting on the table and poured herself a glass. She continued with Lupin's glass and turned to the one sitting in front of Tonks.
Tonks reactively placed her hand over the top of her wine glass before Hermione was able to pour any.
Hermione paused and raised an eyebrow. "Since when do you pass up a glass of wine with dinner?"
Lupin stopped and stared at his wife.
Tonks gave a playful shrug with a smile that nearly shouted, "I have a secret!" She glanced at Lupin and her smile softened, "We're going to have baby."
It was as if time had briefly stopped. Hermione nearly dropped the bottle of wine in her surprise. She threw her arms around Tonks and gave out a girlish squeal. "Merlin! Congratulations! How long have you known?"
Tonks grinned, "Two weeks. We wanted to wait until Christmas to tell everyone. I nearly spoiled the surprise when I saw you last!"
Shyla had experienced enough new baby arrivals with the Weasley family to know that the first year they just seemed to eat, cry, and poop, but eventually they turned into little humans.
Lupin smiled at Tonks, "How about some cider instead?"
Tonks smiled back at the man before her, "Perfect."
After dinner, they exchanged gifts. Hermione got Lupin a variety box of muggle teas. He had some at her house one day, and couldn't stop raving about the flavor combination options. For Tonks, she got a new ugly Christmas sweater, which Tonks, of course, loved, and a box of fine Belgian chocolates.
Hermione received a cookie jar in the shape of a fat cat that vaguely resembled Crookshanks. It was hideous, and perfect all at the same time.
Shyla's gift consisted of a mystery box from Weasley Wizard Wheezes. Shyla opened it right away to reveal a "Comb-a-Chameleon" hair brush, and a set of "Weasleys' Wildfire Whiz-bangs."
Lupin grinned, "I told them the gift was for you, so I believe this was a hand-picked mystery box."
Shyla smiled widely, "These are going to be so much fun! The whiz-bangs will be perfect for celebrating the New Year!"
The four once again exchanged hugs as Hermione and Shyla made their exit through the fireplace. Back at their flat, Hermione gave Shyla a large hug, "Happy Christmas, Shyla."
Shyla hugged her back, "Happy Christmas, Mum." With that, Shyla gathered up the sleeping Wiskers in her arms and retired to her bedroom.
A/N: Happy holidays to all of my readers! I have another chapter in the works to go up before Christmas, so keep an eye out for that. And if you're looking for more wizarding cheer this holiday, and have yet to experience the wonders of the Jingle Spells albums, check them out. They're AMAZING! Thanks for all of your amazing reviews, and I'll see you soon!
~PurplePygmypuff