Chapter 10 - New year

December 24th 1991

0836

I watched as Hedwig flew off into the winter sun and away from Little Whinging and to deliver my presents.

For Hermione, I'd gotten a copy of the first books that the school ask students when starting Arithmancy and Runes in third year, and a note telling her I've already gotten started and a cheeky challenge to 'catch up'.

For Ron, despite not being as close with Ron in canon, a nice wizarding chess set, and muggle chess book recommended by a number of Grand masters.

Neville got a book on Herbology and a mixture of seeds for both magical and non magical plants.

For Terry, a bag of tricks from Zonkos, something he'd mentioned his parents refusing to get him for as long as he'd asked for it, and Kevin got a nice selection of quills from Scrivenshaft's he'd also mentioned.

Everyone also got a packet of sugar quills, Bertie Bott's and a chocolate frog.

I went down to breakfast and cleared my throat.

"As Marge is getting here mid-day I thought I could give you your magical gifts now."

I handed each Dursley their present.

Dudley ripped his wrapping paper off with a smile plastered on his face, Vernon and Petunia unwrapped theirs hesitantly.

I'd gotten Dudley a book titled 'most devastating Quidditch injuries and mishaps' complete with moving pictures showing them in real time, for Petunia, a pair of ever sharp garden shears and plants to perfection plant grower, which I told her was to ensure that her garden was the envy of Little whinging and Vernon, the hardest to shop for, I got a magical mens grooming kit, that did all the work for you. I also got them a much more varied assortment of magical sweets and chocolate.

They were all quite pleased with the gifts, though Vernon looked apprehensive about using magical tools to trim his facial hair.

As the hours rolled by it was about quarter to one when the taxi deposited Marge outside four Privet Drive. I thanked whichever God it was that allowed her to arrive sans Ripper.

1253

"You still here boy?" Marge grumbled at me.

"Is he still as worthless as his parents were Vernon?"

"Actually, Marge, we need to have a talk about his parents and...the truth about them." Petunia said.

Marge merely raised an eyebrow at her and Vernon.

We had gone over what we were saying to here and worded it all carefully.

Petunia turned to me and Dudley as we had been playing on Dudley's NES and asked, "Boys, the blinds please."

We made a show of making sure all blinds were shut firmly.

Now sat on the sofas in the living room, there had been a nervous silence which Marge had to break.

"Well get on with it then!"

Petunia started the agreed spiel.

"Harry's Parents weren't what we told you they were, let me start at the beginning..."

We spun the story that Lily and James had been snapped up after leaving school by MI5 recruiters and ended up taking out some major threats to life in the UK, and when there was a data leak at MI5, they had to go into hiding to avoid those that had been foiled by them. They were eventually betrayed resulting in their deaths, and everything about them dying in a car crash was part of the cover up.

We also added that I had been approached by those that trained them and sent to a specialised school in Scotland should I decide to follow them into that kind of work.

As we went further into the story she became quieter than I'd ever seen her.

When Perunia was done she stared at Vernon.

"This true?"

"As mad as it seems, yes." He replied.

"We would never have found out if not for them approaching us this summer. We don't even know the full list of subjects they teach him and we are all sworn to secrecy. They provided a letter to read bearing the Royal seal, which once we read they took with them."

We, and by we, I had thought it best to play up the Queen and Country aspect.

"Well boy, I have to admit that I need to apologise for how I've spoken to you in the past. What are they teaching you? Any self defence?"

Shocked that she had bought it without me having to do the light wandless confundus charm I'd been working on, I sighed with relief internally.

"Yes actually, though the training won't be to intensive until everyone in the class is about fourteen, so we don't over or under develop in any areas, we do quite a range of things. In fact you missed the owl they've given me as part of our falconry course, I sent her to fly back to the school as part of the end of term tests."

I finished.

"And why have you been allowed to tell me?"

I shrugged like a pre-teen might, "You're closely enough related that we can tell you some of my parents actual deaths."

She seemed to be mulling it all over.

Then suddenly let out a low whistle.

"Phewwwww, well Vernon. That's a doozy of a tale."

After that the rest of the day she was no longer her rude self, at least not aimed at me. Unfortunately she was still a horrible person as she went on about how the Soviet Union seemed to be crumbling, happily using wording that was rather horrible in her description of the Russian people.

Also whenever she could, she would mention Ripper, reminding me there was a likelihood of illegal and certainly sketchy dog breeding on her part.

Me and Dudley went back to playing on the NES.

I shot him a grin to say 'she bought it' and he sent one back.

The next morning I was shaken out of sleep by Dudley.

"Harry get up, get up, It's Christmas, Get up!" He yelled.

"Uurrrggghhhh." I replied intelligently.

"Getting you some cold water in a minute if you're not down."

He rushed away to the staircase and thundered down it. He may not have been the lard arse in the books, but he was still quite muscular for an eleven year old, or stocky I supposed.

I trundled downstairs to the living room, with four presents to give.

"Here you go everyone." I said while dishing them out to their recipients.

Dudley attacked his, first again, he unwrapped boxing shorts to match his gloves I'd gotten him before leaving for Hogwarts, wrapped in the shorts was a vhs tape of the 'best in boxing' a history of the best fights in the sport.

Petunia got a cooking book she had mentioned some point over the summer holidays, and for Vernon o had booked an appointment at a fancy tailor on Savile Row and a promise of a full three piece suit, with the caveat it was a joint present for Christmas and his Birthday in March.

For Marge I'd gotten a book on dog breeding, both something that looked thoughtful but was also a bit of a dig at whatever methods she may currently use, and also a fancy dog treat I said was for Ripper.

Everyone was happy with these and I even got a surprisingly heartfelt merry Christmas from Marge and a brief clasp and light squeeze on the shoulder from Vernon.

I'd gotten a fancy ballpoint pen and refills for it from Dudley and a pedometer, as I had joked about wondering how many steps I was taking in a day in Hogwarts the size it was.

The rest of the day was one of the best Christmas I'd had at the Dursley's.

Meanwhile...

The snowstorm had lasted for three whole days, finally breaking in the early hours of Christmas morning, and two owls had finally mad their destination, the first a white snowy with a light freckling of black spots clinging to the magically lightened packages.

She had first flown to London to deliver a few of her packages to the post office to be delivered separately, then a second to a dental practice in muggle London, before heading north to Hogwarts to deliver the rest, when she had reached the edges of the violent storm she had been forced to rest for the night as she had flown most of the day.

It was here, the second owl, a scrawny post owl had found her, he too sporting a package, one she recognised, but made no comment beside a short hoot of a greeting.

When the storm broke they headed towards the owlery, to await the morning light.

Ron Weasley, three of his brothers, two unknown Slytherins, a trio of Hufflepuff and a lone Ravenclaw, along with staff sat at the table, when Dumbledore had finished a short speech about the meaning of Christmas and the spirit of given and forgiveness he sat down and breakfast appeared.

When most were half done, the mail was delivered, four owls swooped in, one for the Ravenclaw, one for one of the Hufflepuff's and The snowy owl to three of the four redheads.

The last however went straight to the Headmaster.

The package was small and other than rudimentary safety charms nothing seemed amiss.

Dumbledore unwrapped it to find three pairs of thick woollen socks, as he lowered them onto the table as he thought about who could've sent him this, there was an audible thunk. Upon further inspection he could see that one of the socks had a lump, re removed it to reveal the fabled Philosopher's Stone, the one and only that he had misplaced, much to Flamel's chagrin. He quickly stowed the stone in his deep robes pockets and saw a note between the pairs of socks, the note simply said 'found in mirror, please return to rightful owner'.

And for the first time in quite a few decades, Albus to-many-names Dumbledore was speechless.

After Marge's departure the four privet drive fell into an easy relaxing end of year holiday, it was on the 30th Dudley suddenly sat up straight from his lazy position on the sofa and yelled.

"OI, Harry, you promised to show me some magic!"

Petunia harumphed his out burst and said.

"He can't do magic out of school, I remember your aunt telling me it was illegal."

"Actually, I have a wand or two that doesn't have that restriction." I said while smirking.

"Would you like to see some magic?"

By the end of me showing off some spells, even Vernon was fighting a somewhat impressed look from resting on his face, Dudley loved it. I really was slowly winning them over.

New years, we went to Little Whinging's own fireworks display, candyfloss and burgers from the side of a van made for a late dinner out of order, and a pretty decent fireworks display to usher in the new year.

It was with both regret and excitement that had me and Dudley packing to go back to our respective boarding schools, and with me going back on the third and Dudley on the sixth I had elected to go via knight bus that morning of the third.

As I walked with all the Dursley's to a side street at about 8.30am (Vernon had somewhat sheepishly said he wanted to see me off).

Dudley gave me a bear hug, a short but increasingly warmer than usual smile from Petunia, and a repeat of the shoulder squeeze from Vernon; I held out my wand and felt the rush of air as the Knight bus appeared with its usual gusto and swaying frame.

I stepped on, asked for the leaky cauldron and was off.

A/N : had to split the Christmas stuff to avoid a long dragging chapter, for those just started reading, my uploads will be erratic as I write this during downtime at work. I know where this Fic is going and will be completing it slowly but surely.

Please enjoy and do leave a comment, suggestions may, or may not be taken onboard.

Til next time, onwards. :)