Love finds its way through the cold night.
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Waking up late wasn't typical for Daphne, even during the holidays, so it was no surprise that she was the first to rise on Christmas morning. The soft morning light entered through the bedroom window, illuminating the colorful packages at the foot of her bed. Hermione and Ginny were still sleeping peacefully in their beds.
Daphne, sitting upright on the edge of the bed, began opening her stack of gifts calmly, each wrapper carefully torn into thin strips. She liked to prolong that moment, savoring the feeling of anticipation. This year's pile of presents was surprisingly generous, more than she remembered from other Christmases.
The first present, as always, was from her parents. She removed the golden ribbon with precision and unfolded the wrapping to reveal a beautiful acromantula silk robe, dark as night. The fabric shimmered slightly in the room's light. Along with the gift, a short note was attached:
"We expect your presence with us for the New Year's arrival.
With affection,
Your father."
Daphne reread the words a second time, pondering the tone. The message, though brief and direct, sounded more conciliatory than she expected. Her parents, clearly upset about her abrupt and unexpected decision to spend Christmas with Harry due to circumstances, seemed, at least through the letter, to have adopted a restrained stance, perhaps even reluctantly accepting.
She carefully folded the note, storing it alongside the robe, and placed both in her trunk. With a sigh, Daphne turned to the next package. Tracey's gift came wrapped in shiny paper, accompanied by a small card full of hurried scribbles that she immediately recognized as her friend's handwriting:
"I couldn't decide which to pick, so I chose both. Enjoy!"
Upon opening it, she found a box filled with her favorite sweets and a set of high-quality self-correcting quills, something she'd been coveting for months. Daphne chuckled as she imagined Tracey animatedly gesturing in the shop while picking out the gifts.
The next package, sent by Blaise, bore the seal of an Italian magical confectionery shop. Upon opening it, she revealed an elegant box of Sugar Quills, the brand he always claimed was superior to any British one. Daphne smiled, already anticipating their next conversation, where he would inevitably mention the product's superiority with his usual arrogance.
Hermione and Ron's gifts were more varied. Hermione sent two books: one on advanced runes, titled Secrets of Ancient Runes, and another, Romeo and Juliet, a Muggle classic Hermione had mentioned during a casual conversation weeks prior. Ron's choice was a generous selection of Honeydukes sweets, clearly sent without much idea of her preferences but still genuinely well-intentioned.
When she reached Astoria's gift, Daphne felt the comforting warmth of something special. Her younger sister had sent a small enchanted vase containing a Llyrfaen Flower, a rare magical plant that delicately floated above the soil, with petals that changed color depending on the light. It was a beautiful and enchanting sight. Daphne smiled, feeling a twinge of pride as she imagined the care and dedication Astoria had put into preparing something so unique.
Then came the most unexpected gift in the pile: a knitted sweater made by Mrs. Weasley. The deep green color perfectly contrasted with the silver D embroidered on the chest. It was simple and surprisingly comfortable. Daphne put it on immediately, the cozy fabric enveloping her like a warm hug. She knew what it meant to receive a gift like that from the Weasley matriarch, and it warmed her heart in a way she hadn't anticipated.
Finally, her eyes landed on the last present. It was a small box, wrapped in plain paper but with a meticulously tied bow. There was no identified sender, but Daphne knew exactly who it was from.
Carefully opening it, she revealed a delicate star-shaped pendant, sculpted in silver, with a small blue stone embedded in the center. The room's light danced on the stone's surface, reflecting hues identical to her own eyes. Daphne's heart raced.
At the bottom of the box, a small folded note awaited. She opened it, immediately recognizing Harry's unmistakable messy handwriting:
"To brighten your days, as you do mine.
Merry Christmas, Daphne."
For a long moment, she just stared at the gift, feeling a wave of unexpected emotion. A soft, genuine smile formed on her lips as she ran her fingers over the pendant before placing it around her neck.
Hermione stirred in her bed, her sleepy voice breaking the silence: "You're already awake, Daphne? It's Christmas; you should sleep a bit longer."
Daphne chuckled quietly, still touching the pendant around her neck. "Trust me, I couldn't be more satisfied to be awake."
[...]
The dining table was crowded with people for Christmas lunch. Harry sat between Daphne and Ron, with Hermione and Ginny directly across from him. Along with them were Fred and George, Bill, Mrs. Weasley, and the recently recovered—though still pale—Mr. Weasley. Sirius occupied the head of the table, with Lupin and Tonks nearby, along with Moody, who maintained his taciturn presence.
The smell of roast turkey, pies, and sweets mixed with the sounds of laughter and lively conversations, bringing a sense of life to the old house.
"More mashed potatoes, Arthur?" asked Mrs. Weasley, already extending the serving dish before he could reply.
"Molly, I'm already full!" protested Mr. Weasley with a tired but grateful smile.
"Full or not, you need to eat," she insisted, placing a generous portion on his plate.
Daphne observed the scene, and a small smile curved her lips. Her eyes wandered over the rest of the table, capturing the interactions around her. Ginny and Hermione were laughing at something Ron had said, though he looked slightly embarrassed, gesturing as if trying to defend himself.
Sirius, Lupin, and Tonks were animatedly discussing Muggle Christmas traditions, with Tonks' hands constantly knocking over small objects as she tried to make her point. Further down the table, Fred and George were whispering something to each other, their mischievous gazes alternating between Moody and Bill. Moody's magical eye spun rapidly in its socket, as if trying to catch what the twins were plotting, while Bill, oblivious to it all, talked about his work at Gringotts.
It was so different from the formal and restrained dinners Daphne was used to attending at her own house. Here, there was only laughter, overlapping conversations, and a palpable warmth that filled the environment.
Her chest swelled with joy and warmth. Without thinking too much, she turned to Harry and placed her hand on his.
Harry, who was about to take a sip of juice, paused and looked at her curiously. "What is it?"
Daphne stared at him for a long moment, her blue eyes shining in the firelight. She hesitated, the words seeming to escape her for an instant. She didn't know exactly how to express what she was feeling, so she opted for simplicity and pure honesty.
"I'm happy to be here."
Harry blinked, surprised, but soon a soft smile illuminated his face. He intertwined his fingers with hers and gave her hand a light squeeze, as if to assure her that he felt the same way.
"So am I," he replied softly, his voice filled with sincerity.
[...]
"Do you really have to leave?" Harry asked, looking at her with that gaze that made her heart falter.
Daphne sighed, a sad smile curving her lips. She didn't want to leave—not at all. Despite the tumultuous start—the vision of Harry and the attack on Mr. Weasley still fresh in her mind—this Christmas at Grimmauld Place had been one of the best she could remember.
An involuntary thought crossed her mind, and her cheeks warmed slightly as she recalled what had happened a few days earlier with Harry. The memory came with such vividness that she could almost feel the same emotion from that moment. Daphne bit her lip, trying to suppress the blush that deepened. "What will Astoria and Tracey say when I tell them about this?" she thought, a mix of embarrassment and amusement crossing her face.
The idea made her cheeks flush even more, and she cleared her throat, trying to organize her thoughts. She turned to Harry, avoiding his eyes for a moment in the hope of hiding her internal turmoil. "I… well… I'd like to stay, but I think it's better if I go back. My parents…" she said, her voice low, while her mind was still divided between the present and the memory that insisted on appearing.
Harry's shoulders dropped slightly, and he nodded, a resigned smile forming on his lips. "I understand," he replied, his tone soft, which made Daphne's chest tighten.
Silence hung between them as Daphne finished packing her trunk. Strangely, she and Harry had been left alone in that moment, something that hadn't happened often since she arrived at the old house. Mrs. Weasley always seemed to be around, or at least ensuring that someone else in the house was nearby. It was as if she were keeping watch, fearing something reckless might happen between the two of them.
Daphne suppressed a smile at the thought. Oh, if she only knew…. Her thoughts involuntarily drifted back to a few days before, and the heat rose to her face again.
Harry, still standing near the door, seemed oblivious to her thoughts. He himself appeared lost in thought as he watched her with an indecipherable smile on his face.
She closed the trunk with a final click and took a deep breath, turning to him. "I guess that's it," she said, trying to sound casual.
"I guess so," Harry replied, stepping toward her. "Tonks and Lupin will be your escort." He made a move to grab the trunk. "Let me help you with that."
Before he could pick up the trunk, Daphne extended her hand and held his, stopping him mid-motion. The touch made Harry look up at her, his green eyes shining with curiosity.
"Aren't you forgetting something?" she asked, her voice low, but with a slight smile that made it clear she knew exactly what she was doing.
For a moment, Harry seemed confused, as if trying to figure out what she meant. Then, as if something finally clicked, he smiled slightly, a bit sheepishly. "I think I am," he murmured, in a way that made Daphne's heart skip slightly.
"Hmmm… then I guess I'll have to remind you," Daphne said, with a tone of mock admonishment, her smile becoming slightly more mischievous. She took a step forward, reducing the distance between them.
Harry took a deep breath. "Is that so?"
Daphne tilted her head slightly, studying him for what felt like an eternity. "Yes," she said softly, before wrapping her arms around Harry's neck and kissing him deeply.
Minutes later, both of them descended toward the entrance of Grimmauld Place. Their faces were flushed, their hair slightly disheveled, and there were silly smiles on both their lips.
"So… make sure you survive without me for the next few days," Daphne teased, adjusting the scarf around her neck.
Harry chuckled softly, his eyes sparkling as he held her hands for a few more seconds. "I'll try."
"Promise you won't hide away from everyone while I'm gone," she said, her tone growing more serious, her blue eyes fixed on his.
"I promise," Harry replied, squeezing her hands lightly before letting go.
Daphne studied him for a long moment, her eyes filled with tenderness. Then, she smiled, seeming satisfied with his response. Without saying anything else, she turned and quickly said goodbye to Sirius and the others nearby.
Harry stood there, watching as she walked away, with Lupin and Tonks following close behind as her escort.
He sighed, feeling a momentary emptiness, but also a strange sense of peace. Closing the door slowly, Harry leaned against it, thinking that perhaps Christmas might be his favorite holiday.
————
And with that, we end the fifth grade Christmas. In the next chapter, we begin the sixth grade Christmas.
I wanted to post this chapter on Christmas Day, but I accidentally deleted it and had to rewrite everything.
See you later