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Christmas…

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"Wow!" Sirius said as he walked out of the fireplace and looked around. The place had been changed completely with Christmas decorations hanging everywhere. "You and Harry have been busy these last two days."

"We are," Remus said. "Are your family matters officially over?"

Sirius smiled wide. "Yeah," he said. "Almost became deaf showing my lovely mother the family ring. And Number Twelve is being renovated at full speed."

"I never thought you'd go back there," Remus said.

"Neither did I," said Sirius. "I think it's the fact that I was born there makes me want to give that cursed place one last shot. It won't be permanent though. I secured a nice plot with a small house in Hodnet, Shropshire; for my retirement there with Amelia."

Remus grinned. "You proposed to her yet?" he asked.

"If I can ever gather enough courage," Sirius said waving off his hand. "Do you think she still likes me?"

"There is still that tiny amount of flushed look she carries every time you two are together," Remus said. "So I guess, yeah. She still has feelings for you. Maybe you should ask her out, properly this time."

"I don't want to distract her though, with all this Voldemort stuff going on," Sirius said. "You know how she was in Hogwarts. She hates distractions when she wants to stay focused."

"You're right about that," Remus said. "Maybe just let her know then, that you would like to give your relationship with her a second chance? The rest can come later. Maybe telling her that might actually be good for her, you know? Her life hasn't been easy. She lost her entire family and was entrusted caring for a young Susan during a time when most adults enjoy their lives. Then the Halloween incident happened and you were sent to Azkaban. I only saw her once after that and she was a complete mess, with no family and a child to look after that she wasn't ready for at that time. But she held on and became who she is today. She is a strong woman."

"She is," Sirius said slowly. He hated not being there for her which is why he wanted to now. "I won't waste any more time. I'll ask her tonight after dinner."

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Unlike others at Hogwarts Dumbledore didn't share the Christmas spirit. The reason was simple – his old friend and colleague had been murdered. It had been two days since the body of Horace Slughorn was found in a muggle home which the man was supposedly occupying while the family was on vacation. The ministry got wind of it before the muggle authorities only because Slughorn had put wards around the place.

It wasn't that Dumbledore was too close of a friend with that man but there was something that Slughorn had which he really wanted and now couldn't. He had asked Scrimegeour to inform him of any leads the DMLE got on the case but he had very little faith on Rufus' delivery on that request. Dumbledore knew that the true players were actually the DMLE. Rufus was just a figurehead and nothing more. The real powers lied with the aurors and Amelia Bones, and she wasn't someone who technically liked Dumbledore.

That means that the old wizard would have to do everything on his own…again.

He closed his eyes to calm his thoughts when the cawing of his phoenix grabbed his attention and he looked up. The sun was about to set at the horizon and soon it would be dark. The snow-covered lands around the castle looked beautiful in the dusk light. Dumbledore got up and walked over to the window. He opened it to let Fawks out when someone knocked on the door. It was Flitwick.

"Would you like to joins us in the great hall for snacks and tea, Dumbledore?" asked the charms professor. Unlike other times there were no students at Hogwarts this Christmas; only teachers.

Dumbledore nodded with a small smile before leaving with the small professor. Maybe taking a break would help him think better.

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Harry came out into the main hall when the wards alerted him of the next guests' arrival. As he stood near the fireplace it flared green before Daphne and Astoria walked out of it, followed by her parents. Harry hugged them all, with his hug with Daphne lasting a bit longer. He had really missed her as she had him.

"Merry Christmas, Lord Potter," Matt said as he took out a small present from his pocket and handed it to him.

"Please don't call me that," Harry said with a worried tone before smiling as he took the present. He then pointed to the left of the hall where a makeshift bar had been made. It consisted of all the magical and muggle drinks Sirius and Remus could find. "Please, make yourselves comfortable," Harry said.

The Greengrass couple obliged wholeheartedly before joining other adults by the bar when Daphne looked at him. "I was worried that we were going to be the first ones to arrive," she said.

"Why worried?" asked Harry.

"Well, nothings horrible than arriving first at a party," she said like it was the most obvious thing.

Harry rolled his eyes before smiling. He held her hands in his and looked her in the eyes. "I missed you," he said before placing a soft kiss on her lips.

"I missed you too," Daphne said when they were distracted by Astoria's dramatic sounds of barfing. Harry couldn't help but chuckle while Daphne looked somewhat embarrassed. "I'm seeing some new faces," she said looking at the bar.

"They are Edward and Andromeda Tonks, Dora's parents," Harry said.

"Andromeda," Daphne said thinking. "I remember now. Wasn't she removed from the Black family for marrying a half-blood?" she said before realizing it as she looked at Edward. "I'm sorry for the way I just spoke," she said apologizing.

"Don't worry," Harry said. "It takes time to change old habits. Oww!" he winced slightly as Daphne hit him by the shoulder. "Yeah, Sirius took her back into the family when he got his lordship back. He also kicked Bellatrix out."

"Good for him," Daphne said. "Are Neville and Hermione here yet?"

"Neville said he'd be late as his grandma is hosting some of their own guests," Harry said, "and Remus went to get Hermione and her parents…which was half an hour ago." He paused before continuing, "Maybe I should call to see if everything is alright." He took out the mirror from his pocket and a few seconds later Hermione's face appeared on it. "Where are you guys?" Harry asked.

"We ran into a bit of complication," Hermione said sounding a little embarrassed. "My dad fainted when while we were halfway to Diagon Alley."

"Halfway?" Harry asked.

"We took the knight bus," Hermione said. "Let's say my dad couldn't handle the driving."

Harry perfectly understood what she meant. He hadn't either when he first took that bus two years ago.

"Why didn't Remus apparated you or used a portkey?" Daphne asked coming beside Harry.

"I don't want my parents to lose a limb!" Hermione said sounding horrified. "We are on our way to the Leaky Cauldron to use the floo."

"Alright, just be careful," Harry said before the call was cut. He sighed. "I should've thought about how her parents would be able to get here."

"I wonder how Remus is handling the situation," Daphne said.

"He'll do fine," Harry said. "Is one of the calm-headed ones."

Twenty minutes later the Grangers and Remus finally arrived. The werewolf looked like he had been through hell while he helped Dan Granger walk out of the fireplace. Behind them were Hermione and her mother Emma. Dobby immediately popped in to give the family some rejuvenation potion which helped with Dan and Emma's nerves as they settled down.

"I'm sorry," Harry said. "I should've thought about how to get you guys here properly."

"It's not your fault, Harry," said Emma. "Hermione told us how the floo worked long ago. It was the bus ride that took us by surprise."

"Yeah, even I don't have any pleasant memories from travelling on that bus," Harry said smiling weakly. "I am glad though that you all came. Also, I apologize once again for all the trouble."

"Don't worry, Harry," Emma said. "And Merry Christmas."

After exchanging pleasantries with the Grangers Harry and his friends went upstairs to his room while the adults remained in the main hall, talking and taking full advantage of the bar. This was the first time Hermione had been to the manor and she couldn't keep her mouth close from shock and awe as she looked at the antiqueness of the place. And as Harry had already guessed, she realized that a place this old should probably have its own library or a record room, and before she could ask him where it was or if she could see it Harry had already taken her to it.

"Before you faint," he said, "just know that you are free to borrow any book you like. However, I have a condition, which is that you mustn't give these books to anyone, especially without my knowledge." Hermione nodded. "Also, since we are having a party tonight, I wouldn't mind if you spend time with your friends instead of getting busy here. It's Christmas after all. So just for tonight, maybe hold your love for the books?"

Hermione nodded, although Harry could see that she wasn't too happy about it. He had to put down his foot though as he knew how obsessed she was with books. However, that didn't stop her from taking a look around the place which Harry thought was probably for the better, to quench her excitement a little bit, until dinner started.

An hour later Neville finally arrived with his grandma with just a few minutes to spare before dinner.

Dobby set the table. He had gone all out preparing various kinds of dishes so the guests wouldn't have shortage of anything to eat. As everyone settled around the table, Harry grabbed his goblet of butter beer and stood up.

"I would like to thank all of you for coming tonight," he said. "It means a lot to me…to be surrounded by people who care about you and have helped you. Two years ago I wouldn't have imagined anything like this. I was a boy living with my relatives with no idea that I had a godfather," he said looking at Sirius. "Then I found some new friends," he looked at Neville and the Greengrass sisters and also Susan who had come with her aunt Amelia, "and managed to keep some old ones," he looked at Hermione. Her parents looked slightly confused but said nothing. "So, I would just like to go out and say that I will do everything for this bunch and I mean it. Thank you for being a part of my life. Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas," others echoed after him as they raised their goblets before everyone started to eat.

Harry didn't bring up the Voldemort issue for two reasons – one was that they were supposed to have a peaceful and fun dinner with close people, and the other was that with Hermione's parents present, he had told everyone to not say anything to the Grangers about the magical world's current problem.

Everyone soon got busy with their own conversations. Daphne saw Nymphadora talking to Remus, who did his best to not blush every time the metamorphmagus put her hand on his hand or shoulder.

Sirius was talking to Amelia and they seemed to be having a very deep conversation which had the DMLE head blushing slightly. The Greengrass and Grangers were talking amongst themselves with Ann being particularly interested about the latter's dental practice. As a healer herself she found muggle medicine interesting.

Harry was talking to Susan Bones. While she wasn't technically part of their 'group', he still considered her their friend and there was a good reason for that. Her aunt had played a major role in helping Sirius get his trial and for that both Harry and his godfather felt indebted to Amelia.

An hour later the dinner was over and everyone came to the main hall to exchange presents. It was then that Ann and Matthias asked Harry if they could talk somewhere in private. He looked at them for a moment before nodding and then took them to his room upstairs. Daphne watched them go wondering what her parents wanted to talk to Harry.

Entering the room the Greengrass couple looked around. It was very simple. Apart from the double-sized bed, a study table and a cabinet for clothes, there wasn't much else in the room. He had his trunk in one corner and Hagrid's perch was by the window. The owl had probably gone out to hunt. They also saw his brand new firebolt by the cabinet. After the Horntail had burnt his old one – which Sirius had given him – Harry had bought the latest model on the market. Needless to say it was crazy fast and he had yet to learn how to properly control it since he hadn't gotten any time to fly.

"What did you want to talk about?" Harry asked once they were all settled in. Even though he knew no one would try to overhear them, he had gone ahead and applied a privacy ward around his room out of habit.

Ann and Matt looked at each other before the former spoke. Harry listened with shock and complete focus as she told him about his blood and what she had found out about it.

"It might sound a bit weird but…I think I would need more of your blood to do further tests," Ann said. "It's just that before I didn't know your blood could do something like that." She reached into her pocket and took out the small vial which had the black powder before handing it to him.

"This is what it turned into?" Harry asked as he looked at it.

She nodded. "I don't know what that is," she said, "as no magic works on it." She then looked at her husband for a moment before continuing. "I was wondering whether your mother had made notes on whatever magic she used on your blood. Maybe she kept it in this manor or in your family vault."

"My parents never lived here after they married," Harry said. "So there's nothing here that belongs to my mother. But maybe I can look into my family vault. I haven't given that place a proper look anyways. As for now though, you can have my blood if you want. Although I can't promise if I will be able to find my mother's notes, that is, if it even exist."

"I understand," Ann said, "and thank you. Also, I apologize for asking this from you."

"You don't need to," Harry said waving his hand. "After what you told me, I am even more curious to find out what magic my mother used to put her protection on me."

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