I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.
Hello everyone. Happy Friday. One last note to cap the week.
This marks the official end to this fic and story. I hope people enjoyed this. I'm glad I decided to try and write this simple and sweet story with the message of hope and kindness. I envisioned this as something light and tropey, but enjoyable. I've done a few Harmony stories before, mostly just the one-shots or blurbs here and there, and this was my ode to a longer form. I'm glad to have done it and glad people liked it.
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The North Star
Chapter 16 – Bonus Chapter 4: The Feathered Star Part 4
"Well we got the tree up in good time with Harry and Hedwig's help, what should we do now?" David asked, winking at his wife.
"How about some Scrabble?" Jean suggested, eyes sparkling.
"Oh yes! It's been a while!" Hermione cheered.
"We take board games seriously," David said to Harry.
"Sounds fun," Harry said, along for the ride. In a short time, the board was set on the coffee table in the sitting room and the Grangers and Harry clustered around it. David set the fire in the hearth and the room was comfortably warm as they started to play. The air was filled with thinking and clacking wood tiles with plenty of banter from the Grangers, aimed at one another.
Harry watched on, feeling at peace.
"That is not how you spell judgement!" Hermione exclaimed.
"Yes it is!" David retorted.
"You're missing an E!"
"I'm using the American English spelling," David sniffed.
"Oh I'm sorry," Hermione said with scathing rebuke, "but are we in America right now?!"
"It's all English and we invented the bloody language," David snorted. "Therefore, it is all within our remit to use."
"You didn't let me do that the last time we played," Hermione grumbled.
"I was going to let you, your mother on the other hand was the reason you weren't able to."
"Just because you have low standards, doesn't mean I have to lower mine," Jean sniffed.
"That and you would have lost if you allowed it," David said with saccharine sincerity.
"And? I wanted to win legitimately and if we use illegitimate spelling, then there goes the legitimacy!"
"Try-hards! The both of you!" Hermione said loudly.
"Where do you think you get it from, love?" Jean asked with a big smile.
"Harry, I want to apologize for my parents," Hermione said, glaring at them.
"Don't think I won't do the same for you!" Jean said loudly.
"I'm sorry I'm not putting up much competition," Harry said, looking at the board and his tiles. "I'm having a lot of fun though!" He peered at the board and frowned at his tiles some more. Hedwig, who was sitting on his head, hopped down and tapped tiles in succession with her beak and then pointed with a wingtip at an empty space on the board.
"Ooh ooh! I see something! Chick, here."
"Oh, hey! You're right!" Harry set the tiles out. "Nocturnal. Eleven points normally but that's a double word score tile so twenty-two!" He hugged her as she cheeped happily and looked smug.
"We're the best at Scrabbling!"
"Two people on one team isn't fair," Hermione smiled.
"Hedwig's the brain, I'm the one putting the tiles down," Harry declared and Hedwig barked officiously. ("Chick is the best helper.") In the end, Jean won but Hedwig and Harry came in second with a tactically placed 'bacon' that earned them triple letter and triple word score, sending them to second place over Hermione. They reset the board to play again, with Hedwig officially taking point from the start.
That happy afternoon turning into evening would be a memory that Harry would keep very dear in his heart forever.
-0-
Hedwig woke up and looked around sleepily, clicking her beak as she yawned. It took her a moment for her to realize where she was, in the guest bedroom of the Granger home. Harry had made her a nest on the bed and she had slept in that but now awake, she realized he was not there.
"Where did you go?" she mused and flapped out of bed, flying into the hall. She glided down the stairs and noticed Crookshanks walking down them. "You couldn't sleep either?"
"I felt the back door open and wanted to see what was going on," Crookshanks said. He and Hedwig padded and flapped to it and noticed Harry sitting on the back porch, looking up at the stars. "Oh it's just Harry. Why is he out there in the cold?"
Hedwig ruffled her feathers peevishly. "The ones that did a terrible job of raising him made him sometimes feel confined. So he likes to look at the stars to feel better. One day, I will have my vengeance and it will be terrible."
"I want in," Crookshanks growled. "Harry's the best."
"He is. Let's go remind him that he's not alone." Owl and kneazle slipped through the door and went to him.
"Oh hey you two," Harry said, smiling when they appeared. "Want to sit with me? It's not too cold?"
"Nothing a bit of snuggling won't fix." Hedwig squirmed into his jacket and moved around, poking her head out of the collar. "That's good," she said, fluffing up comfortably.
"Perfect," Crookshanks purred, settling on Harry's lap.
"Thank you," Harry said, petting Crookshanks and Hedwig at the same time.
"Love you Chick," Hedwig said sleepily before falling back asleep.
-0-
Jean woke alone in bed and was not bothered by that. Some days she was the first to get up and other days David did. On certain days, they both stayed in bed a little later if they could. She knew he would be the first to wake up today though. He and Hermione sometimes got up early together and start breakfast, a tradition they did and he was eager to spend time with his daughter.
After debating staying in bed for a little longer, she decided she wanted to rise too. After the normal routine, she walked downstairs and stopped, seeing the scene before her. Harry and Hermione were still asleep, lying side-by-side, and holding hands. Hermione was curled into him a little, her head resting against his shoulder and his head lightly canted towards her. Crookshanks was stretched over their legs like a large cat-shaped blanket and Hedwig sprawled out over Harry's chest, wings limp and her head planted firmly down into him.
A smile grew on her lips and she looked to the kitchen and saw David there who was giving her an amused look. She crept around them and joined him. "I'm surprised you didn't wake them up," she said teasingly.
"I was really tempted to," David said wryly. "I didn't because of two reasons. First, I'm pretty sure she instigated it because, well, she's our daughter."
"Yeah she is," Jean said proudly.
"Second, look at that." He pointed up at the ceiling. The spell was there and even with the morning light streaming into the home, the magical space and stars hung over them.
"Oh my," Jean admired. "That's incredible. And really romantic."
"So I decided to reserve judgement for now and wait for her to explain things before blowing my top," David said comfortably.
"That's good of you," she praised.
"I thought so," he said with pride. "I have been trying to think of a fun way to wake them though."
"Let's start breakfast," Jean chuckled. They started to get things ready and soon food was being prepared. As soon the bacon hit the pan though, there was a rustling sound and a sleepy Hedwig flapped into the kitchen, landing on the counter. She yawned hugely, blinking her large eyes and hooted warmly at them.
"I heard and smelled bacon. Good morning you two."
"Good morning," David smiled and gave her a piece. She nuzzled his hand and chomped on the bacon, waking up and chomping more enthusiastically. "Right?" he said at her delighted expression. "Reynolds' bacon is really good."
"It's so tasty! I'll have to keep a stash at school just for me and Chick. Thank you!"
The air was soon full of the savory scents of breakfast: bacon, coffee, tea, butter, toast, and more. The smells drifted out of the kitchen, flowing through the home. Hermione shifted in her sleep, slowly waking. Her eyes fluttered and popped open when she realized she was still holding Harry's hand and that her cheek rested against his shoulder. She pinched herself and smiled, realizing it was not another dream. She closed her eyes and was about to snuggle back against him when a light cough woke her fully.
"Coffee?" David asked mildly, standing beside her and looking down fondly.
"Or tea?" Jean asked, standing beside her husband and with a big smile on her face.
Hermione's face went bright red and she coughed a few times. "I can explain," she said hurriedly.
"I'm sure you can," David chuckled.
By then, Harry woke and found himself in what looked like a very compromising and inappropriate position. "I, uh, oh boy," he groaned, struggling to rise.
"Relax," David said while Jean laughed merrily. "I'm sure the fault is with Hermione," he smiled at her indignant look. "Why don't you two get washed up and we can have breakfast together. Don't take too long though. Or else I'll have to do a second batch of bacon if Hedwig polishes off the first one." He chuckled as Harry and Hermione fled upstairs, carrying the covers and pillows with them.
"Perfectly done," Jean giggled, patting him on the back.
Hermione came down first, changed into normal clothes. She took the cup of coffee from her father with much dignity, trying to ignore her parents' snickering together. "Harry will be done momentarily," she said.
"Soooo," Jean said, drawing the word out. "Care to explain?"
"What's there to explain? Chick and Hermione were sleeping beside each other," Hedwig said prosaically. "Nothing wrong with a good snug and cuddle."
"I will," Hermione said frostily before she sighed, her expression dampening when the memories of last night's conversation came back.
"That's a change," David said, concerned. He and Jean listened intently when Hermione recounted the conversation. Their expressions darkened when they heard more of Harry's past, about what he said and how he said it.
"That's abuse!" Jean said, furious. "How dare they?!"
"Disgusting," David said angrily. The Grangers looked over at a furious Hedwig barking angrily and the owl flew out of the kitchen and up the stairs.
"One day I will have my vengeance! Chick! I'm coming to comfort and love you!"
"We should see if we can do something about it," Jean said. "On our side here. With his permission of course."
"Wait, are you able to share this with us?" David asked.
"Harry said he was going to, to explain last night. I told him I would tell you," Hermione said. "He knows."
"That poor boy," Jean said sadly. "He's endured so much."
"I don't regret doing what I did," Hermione said firmly while her cheeks grew pink.
"It was really nice of you to do," David praised.
"And so romantic," Jean sighed lovingly.
"I wasn't thinking of it like that," Hermione mumbled, cheeks even brighter. "I just wanted him to feel happy and safe."
"I'm sure he did," David said. "And I'm fine with what happened, mostly because I saw you both under separate blankets and with clothes on." He gave her a look that made her turn scarlet and look away. "Just, spare your parents' old-fashioned sensibilities and not try to scare us like that first thing in the morning in the future."
"Don't listen to him," Jean said, giving her husband an amused look. "We were concocting ways to mess with you to wake you up."
"This is your fault, you know," David said with a sly smile. "Sharing your romance novels with her."
"Eugh," Hermione groaned, sticking her tongue out when Jean and David kissed.
"You don't get to complain with what we walked into," Jean said, waggling a finger at her. "Say, I know you've read it by now, but do you need the Talk? I don't recall if we ever had it with you or not."
Harry walked into the kitchen a few moments later with a very fluffed up Hedwig pressed against his face. He blinked at Hermione chasing Jean around the kitchen island with David watching and laughing. "I missed something," he said, smiling at the scene.
"Me too! Usually I'm doing the chasing! What did I miss?"
Jean dodged behind him and playfully used him as a shield against an irate Hermione. "Oh just some family banter. Nothing to worry about."
"About that." Harry rubbed his neck sheepishly. "I swear, nothing bad happened-"
"It's okay, Hermione explained," David said kindly. He looked at Harry soberly. "I'm sorry about what you went through, Lad. I really am."
"Thank you," Harry said softly.
"We're here for you," Jean said, putting an arm around his shoulders. "All of us. You've done so much for Hermione, and we've learned how much more you have through the years." She raised her voice lightly when he opened his mouth. "And yes, I know you're going to say about last year again and while we'll always worry about things like that," she gestured to herself and David, "Hermione was raised to be intelligent and to think for herself. We have to trust her to do the right thing, and we do. And seeing how you treat her and us, well, we know you mean well and will try to do your best too."
"Thank you," Harry said again, softer still.
Hermione looked at her parents with eyes full of love and the hint of tears too.
David cleared his throat gruffly. "Now, let's eat shall we? Can't keep Hedwig waiting from the bacon."
Hedwig looked up from the plate with a large rasher of bacon dangling from her beak. "Keep me from what now?"
-0-
After dinner, Dora took Harry and Hermione out into the back garden to teach them how to cast the Stinging Jinx. The adults sat in the sitting room, looking out the back windows to watch. Hedwig had gone outdoors to watch while Crookshanks shied away from the cold and settled on Andromeda's lap to nap.
"Is this a good idea?" Hedwig asked, sitting on the porch and watching. "Pinky is really clumsy. Then again, she is good at her job so there's that. A girl's gotta have her opposing qualities. Hmm, I take my comment back. She is good at spellcasting."
"He looks very happy here," Andromeda said, watching Harry fondly. "Thank you for hosting him."
"He's been a model guest and a delight," Jean said. "And Hermione has been really happy too. She didn't have many friends growing up and for her to want to bring someone back, we were happy to do it."
"Dora also had a lonelier childhood," Ted said. "She's pretty happy about being in Harry's life more as extended family in a way."
"Thanks again for helping us with a lot of questions and things," David said.
Ted beamed. "Anytime! It's tough being Muggleborn sometimes, so me helping others is satisfying to me. Hermione's got a great head on her shoulders though so I know she'll be fine. But I'll give you our phone number, we have one for my side of the family and friends, and anytime you have any questions, just give me a ring."
"I'm hoping we can meet regularly, this was very nice," Jean said.
"I very much enjoyed spending time with you too," Andromeda smiled.
"How is his godfather, any changes?" Jean asked softly.
"The healers believe he is responding to stimuli more," Andromeda said slowly. "But it will take time. He has not worsened at least, and that is saying something."
"That's good," David said softly. "Lad's had a rough time of things."
Andromeda and Ted exchanged a look but did not pry. "Part of the reason I am taking a more proactive stance in Sirius' affairs," Andromeda said. "I like Harry very much already from our few interactions."
"He deserves it," Jean said. She laughed when Harry jumped, clutching his arm and Hermione look exhilarated and apologetic in equal measure. "Guess she was successful!"
"Hey! Book Biter! Be more careful about that! You should know Chick is delicate-OW! BLOODY FUCKING HELL! COME HERE PINKY!"
Andromeda and Ted watched with shock as Hedwig flew at Dora with evident ire. Hedwig, already glaring at Hermione, suddenly shrieked and hopped in place before she flew at Dora with foul temper. Dora yelped and ran from the irate owl for a moment with Hedwig barking angrily and pecked and swatted at the woman. Harry tried to catch Hedwig but collided with Hermione and they fell into a heap with Dora tripping over them when she ran past. Hedwig took advantage of the chaos and dove, lambasting Dora and chastising her robustly.
"Ow! It was an accident!" Dora yelped as she ran.
"I'll accident you with my talons! Get back here!"
"Hedwig must have caught a rogue stinger," Jean laughed.
"Does she normally act that way?" Andromeda asked, laughing herself.
"She can," David grinned. "One time she flew to the office and someone thought she was a wild owl and tried to shoo her away. Hedwig of course ignored them and they ended up calling for a wildlife official. The official tried to catch her with a net and she ended up wrapping him in the net and chased him off. He returned in force but by then she was gone and we pretended we didn't know what the original official was talking about."
"Amazing," Ted smiled. He winced as Dora, face red from exertion and blows from Hedwig's wings, not to mention being pecked and scratched by beak and talon, created a cloud of snowballs with her wand and sent them flying at the owl.
"You dare use my element against me! Ha! I laugh at you and your feeble attempts! Missed me! You couldn't hit a plate with a fork if you were sitting in front of it! Which with your big mouth that's saying some-AAAAAAH! Okay, that's it!"
Hedwig neatly dodged the majority of them and kicked one back, hitting Dora right between the eyes. She was then hit directly by a few remaining snowballs, sent tumbling through the air. Regaining control, Hedwig flew right at Dora and headbutted her in the middle like a missile, sending both of them over with mutual shrieking.
"FLYING OWL HEADBUTT!"
"I'm going to smother you in snow, you flying snowy chicken!"
"JUST TRY IT!"
"Hey! Stop ripping my shirt!"
"It's already torn!"
Harry finally managed to separate the two and they all trooped inside the home. Andromeda, laughing fit to burst, dried them all with warm air from her wand.
Dora shook her head, digging snow out of her ears as her hair turned snow white with speckled black patterns and her eyes turned amber. "Can we have roast owl next time?" She hissed back at Hedwig who tried to struggle out of Harry's grip, eager to continue the fight.
"I'll roast you! I'll tan your behind until it stays red! Let me go Chick! Let me at her!"
"You got each other good," Harry said, smiling broadly. "Come on, we're friends and family here."
Dora sighed. "Truce?" she asked, holding a hand out.
Hedwig sighed too but stuck her leg out and they shook. "Truce, I guess."
"Only the closest of family can fight like you mean it and make up well afterwards," Andromeda smiled.
-0-
Hedwig sat perched on one of the bookcases, giggling through a full beak. She saw the truce with Dora as an overt truce and subtle acts of adorable aggression were fair game. She had been sneaking treats off of Dora's plate and eating them herself, deeply amused each time Dora looked down at her empty plate with confusion. Harry knew of course and let her be, simply refilling Dora's plate each time.
"Treats are better when taken from the oblivious."
She licked her beak clean before she saw Hermione peeking out from the kitchen, holding a small mirror in her hand. With a scowl, the owl flapped off the bookcase and swooped into the kitchen, pecking at Hermione when she landed in her hair. "Hey! My mirror! How many times do I have to tell you, nosy woman!"
"Ow! Hey! I just wanted to make sure my gift to Harry is a good one!" Hermione said, trying to fend the irate owl off. "If I can get this to work that is."
Hedwig sighed and climbed down onto Hermione's arm. She dipped her head through the chain connected to the mirror and aimed it at Harry. The mirror surface flashed slightly and Hedwig turned and gave the girl a superior look. "Can't even use a magic mirror properly. How embarrassing for you."
"Thank you, Hedwig," Hermione said, not giving the owl the satisfaction. Hermione and Hedwig peered into the mirror and they stared at the image for a long time.
"Oh," Hedwig hooted softly.
"Oh," Hermione said softly. It was a frozen image of her home, of her parents, of Hedwig and Crookshanks, of her, with Harry a part of them. The image felt warm and cozy, the picture of comfort. She looked down at Hedwig who was looking at Harry with plaintive care.
"My poor Chick."
"Don't worry," Hermione said, petting the owl. "We'll make sure that's the case."
Hedwig nodded, resolute. "We sure as hell will."
-0-
"Don't stay up too late now," David said as he and Jean got up from the couch. He hugged a pillow protectively. "Just because you two are being honest about it now doesn't mean certain rules don't apply still."
Jean rolled her eyes and pushed David from behind, guiding him to the stairs as she bid Harry and Hermione good night.
"He can be so annoying," Hermione said with loving irritation.
"He's what I imagine a good dad would be," Harry said with a soft smile.
Hermione smiled at him. They sat together on the large seat for a bit longer before she reluctantly got up. "It is a bit late." They tidied up the sitting room and also moved to the stairs. She stopped at the foot of them, turning and looking up at him. "Thank you, again," she said. "For what you said. I've always had problems standing up to them."
"I'll always stand up for you," Harry said. "You've done it for me for so long. It's time I do it more, and better."
"It's not a competition," she smiled. "And I'll always stand up for you too."
"You always have," Harry said warmly. He hesitated for a moment, visibly drawing courage. He gently brushed hair out of her face, a soft gesture that he never quite done before, not like that. It was slow and shy, but close. His fingers drifting over her face and through her hair. As he slowly bent down, he was surprised when she stopped him. She took a step to the side, pulling him with her.
"Okay," she said, face crimson, eyes glistening.
Emboldened, and confused, he bent down as she stood up higher a little. Their lips met and at first it was a brush, tentative and uncertain. The second touch was stronger, the third made with conviction. They kissed, pressing their lips to each other and feeling every spoken and unspoken word between them. Their lips parted slightly as they met again and the fit together just right. The moment stretched before they finally broke apart for want of air.
"Wow," Harry breathed.
"Wow," Hermione gasped, eyes shining. She flushed even more. "Sorry, there was mistletoe and I wanted out first kiss not to be under that."
"Because of the nargles?" Harry grinned goofily.
Hermione giggled. "No! More like, not because of a sweet but seasonal tradition. More…deliberate, I guess. I'm sorry. That's a silly reason and now I've ruined it and-" She gasped softly when Harry kissed her again and she leaned against him, returning the kiss a thousand times.
"It didn't bother me," he said, his voice husky. "I can kiss you under it though, right?"
"You can kiss me whenever and wherever," Hermione said, her voice shaky and warm.
"Brilliant." A rustle of feathers drew his attention and he looked up and smiled. He leaned down and kissed Hermione a third time. As they kissed, Hermione looked up and smiled, seeing Hedwig standing on the second-floor banister, holding mistletoe in her talons and her looking down at them, shaking her head in loving exasperation.
"Finally! Kiss her like you mean it, Chick!"
"Thank you," she mouthed when she and Harry broke apart again.
Hedwig waggled her tail feathers at them and then hopped off the railing daintily to waddle back to the guest bedroom, feeling content at seeing her chick so happy. "You're welcome! About damn time you two. Bless my feathers. You two dance around each other so much, giving me second-hand embarrassment. Thank goodness you two are adorable together. Still, it does me good to see Chick so happy. Ah me. Young idiots in love."
"She's the best," Hermione smiled.
"That's what I say," Harry smiled.
Later, when he was lying in bed, his lips still tingled and he fell asleep with a smile that did not fade.
Hopeful for the future.
-0-
"Harry dear, we must stop meeting like this."
Harry looked up sheepishly at Jean who stood at the entrance of the kitchen with her hands on her hips. "I really don't mind," he said, standing at the stove while bacon crackled in the pan and Hedwig sat on the counter, watching the dancing bacon with dancing eyes.
"It's true, he doesn't. If he did, he wouldn't do it. Chick's good that way."
"You are a guest," she said firmly. "Which your status will change in the future I'm sure," she winked at his red-face, "but for now, you're a guest. A guest does not rise earlier than the hosts and cook them breakfast. Especially on Christmas morning!"
"It's sort of habit, in a way," Harry said as he turned back to the stove when Hedwig cheeped at him urgently. ("Chick! Chick! It's burning!") "Don't worry, it's not burning," he said to her sigh of relief.
"I don't like the sound of that," Jean said, frowning.
Harry shrugged weakly. "Well, uh, I assume Hermione told you some things. About when I lived with the Dursleys." He noticed Jean and Hermione looked very similar when they got angry. Eyes snapped the same way and their mouths made the same thin line of extreme disapproval.
"Nothing pleasant," Jean said shortly.
Harry smiled at the understatement. "Well this was something I had to do, every day growing up."
"Even on holidays?" she gasped.
He nodded. He smiled at her and there was an undercurrent of sadness there but it was slowly replaced by something else. "The difference here is, I want to do it. You and Hermione and Mr. David have done everything to make me feel wanted and a part of… family."
It was true. Harry had felt bad about being an outsider during an important time for a family, something the Dursleys reminded him constantly and strenuously for years and years. They said they could only celebrate when he was out of sight and mind, hidden away like a dirty secret. He had grown accustomed to it in time. It was better to accept it early on. It gave him a sense of stability in a way, knowing his place there.
Here, however, he was included in just about everything. They had made sure he was comfortable, and not because they felt like they had to but because they wanted to. They cared about him. They had him help with decorating the tree, they asked him for his opinion on lunch and dinner. They played games together and watched shows and movies with one another. While they had danced around the topic of him sharing his past holiday memories, they robustly spoke of their past ones to Harry but in a way that was not exclusionary, but for inclusion. Sharing jokes, poking fun at each other lovingly, making sure Harry understood and could enjoy the merriment.
On the second night, they opened their own advent calendar like Hermione had told him, but to his surprise, he was included in it. The Grangers had added a portion to each drawer that included him and even Hedwig in some of them. They had done it so seamlessly and easily, it felt like they had expected him to come well before they actually did know. They included him without him feeling like he was being included in a way, that it was something natural.
He had not realized it until after and that made him feel incredibly warm.
Seen.
Wanted.
So Harry had done his best to pay back the feelings of warmth and care. He helped clean. He helped with errands. He threw himself eagerly into the fray that was the Granger Christmas Party and was glad for it, not just becoming official with Hermione. He cooked out a of a desire to cook for them, to show how much he appreciated them and what they did for him.
He would never forget this, ever.
The warmth and care they provided was different from the kind he felt at the Weasleys. While he did not doubt that Molly cared deeply for him and was happy to provide comfort to him, he sometimes still felt like an outsider there. It was nothing they did of course, but simply years of conditioning that was inflicted by the Dursleys. While he would always love the Weasleys and what they did for him too, it still felt different from how he felt here.
Jean walked behind him and moved the pan off the hob before hugging him hard from behind, squeezing the air from him. "You're a part of this one," she said warmly. "I always thought of you as one ever since Hermione told us all the way back in first year about a nice boy with messy black hair and bright green eyes had saved her from a troll."
She sighed. "Of course, back then, we thought a troll was a lot less scary than it actually is. And then we heard that it was a score for the O.W.L.s tests, we thought she was being a trifle dramatic. We now know better and are suitably horrified, and even more fond of you because of it."
"Well she did tell me that being expelled was something worse than death," Harry said, smiling fondly at the memory.
"She's so dramatic! She needs to get her priorities in order!"
Hermione walked into the kitchen carrying Crookshanks. At first she smiled at the sight and sound of her mother and Harry laughing, but then her eyes narrowed. "Wait, I know that laugh. Why are you laughing at me?"
"Only you could say being expelled was being worse than dead," Jean said, coughing and wiping her eyes.
"Harry!" Hermione gasped, face red. "I was only twelve!"
"And I bet you still think that in your elder years," Jean smiled.
"No," Hermione sniffed. "There are worse things."
"Then you're an even better influence than I thought," Jean said, ruffling Harry's head.
"I wasn't laughing at you," Harry smiled when Hermione thrust Crookshanks at her mother.
"I was!"
"I know, but she was," Hermione sniffed.
"Only when it's funny," Jean smiled, petting a purring Crookshanks.
In a short time, the rest of the immense full breakfast was finished and David appeared to help finish things up. They sat together at the dining table with a place set for Hedwig and Crookshanks as well and they ate together, breakfast time meandering and nothing was rushed as they ate their fill. Magic made for quick clean up and they then sat around the tree and presents were passed around.
David had already opened his rucksack days ago and was now gleefully seeing how much he could put in, despite knowing it could hold many pounds of bacon comfortably and easily. Jean admired her hat that Harry had gotten her, a magic woven cap with a pom. "I love it! I can fit my hair underneath and it doesn't feel like it's compressing my head!" she exclaimed.
"I saw how much Hermione liked hers and thought you would too," Harry said shyly.
"Good observation skills," Jean praised.
"Youngest Seeker in years," Hermione smiled. She eagerly opened the package that Harry gave her. "Oh my goodness," she breathed, opening it fully and standing up. "It's so soft and wonderful!" She put on the shawl and pulled it close, admiring it.
"Warming and extra durable," Harry said. "And fairly kneazle proof. It's also cloak length but you can roll the top into a scarf a bit so it's less like a cloak for when you're out in more Muggle areas."
"I love it!" Hermione hugged him and kissed him sweetly. "Did you use the mirror?"
"No, I had hoped you'd like it," Harry confessed. "It's not the usual books or things but I remember you saying how much you liked cloaks but wearing them outside of Wizarding areas sometimes got you a funny look."
She beamed at him. "Unless I'm going to a renaissance faire or a recreation or something like that. Now it's your turn!" She picked up a box and handed it to him. "I hope you like it," she said nervously.
"I like everything you've given me," he protested. He colored at her look. "Well, I liked the planner eventually."
"After you learned how to silence it," she said wryly, pointedly ignoring her snickering parents.
Harry opened the box and took out a small lantern. It was made from iron and had crystal sides and though solidly made, it felt light in hand. "It's wonderful," he said, smiling up at her.
"It's mostly for this." She flicked her wand and the blinds came down and the lights went out, dimming the room. She tapped the lantern with her wand and the wick within flared into being. At first it emanated solid light like any lantern but when she tapped it again, the crystal sides shimmered. The light was broken into thousands of smaller one and Harry gasped when he saw them shining on the walls and ceiling. They made shapes and they twinkled.
"They're stars," he said, looking around with wonder.
"Now you'll always have the stars with you, no matter where you go and where you are," she said softly, smiling down at him with eyes slightly glinting, seeing his obvious enjoyment. She squeaked when he hugged her mightily, smiling against his lips with happiness and pride.
David took the handkerchief from Jean and dabbed his eyes. "So romantic," he sighed as she hugged him.
"She's our daughter," Jean said with obvious pride.
Harry held the lantern in his lap after they stopped the light and reopened the blinds. "How did you get this made so fast?"
"Hedwig took a letter to a shop at Diagon and it was actually something very easy to do. The owner of the shop loved the idea and after I gave permission for them to use the idea further, they made it for me in a very short time," Hermione said with a trace of smugness. "Not like I had to give permission really. There are star projectors after all. Just not magical ones."
"Thank you so much," Harry smiled, hugging her and a plump and happy Hedwig.
"Don't show Professor Sinistra," Hermione giggled. "I don't think it's very accurate and she might take offense."
"And this is from us," Jean said, giving Harry wrapped packages.
"You're already hosting me," Harry protested.
"Separate things," David said, waving a hand. "Go on, Lad."
Harry opened the packages and looked at the mug with his name on it and a set of bathrobes with his name embroidered onto them. He looked at them for a long moment. He had noticed that Hermione and her parents had their own and thought that they were lovely. He never imagined he would have his own like this.
"I'm afraid you won't be able to take them though," Jean said softly, giving him a warm look. "It'd break up the set with the others, you understand."
He did in fact understand and clumsily hugged her and David who patted his back. Hermione watched on, eyes shining and heart full.
"Thank you," Harry said, coughing. He turned and laughed, seeing Hedwig sitting beside her own cup and wearing tiny bathrobes, looking very comfortable.
"We had to get her ones too," Jean laughed. "And they looked darling!"
"I love them! They're so soft and comfy and I look even more adorable!"
"Why haven't I seen Crookshanks wear any?" Harry laughed.
"He hates clothing, sadly," Hermione sighed while Crookshanks nodded. "I've tried.
Harry sat back, perfectly content and watched as the Grangers opened gifts from their extended family. He was not expecting anything more, and was quite surprised when Hedwig brough him more packages. "I've got more?" he asked, sounding and looking very surprised. "Oh right, Mrs. Weasley usually sends me something but…where did all of these come from?"
"They're from our friends at school," Hermione said, smiling as she read the names and recognizing some of the handwriting.
"That's so nice of them," Harry said, looking at them all.
"Well, you did give them wonderful things first. I know you did it not expecting anything back, but you really did lift spirits and make things wonderful for others. It only stands to reason they return the gesture," she said.
A smile never left his lips when he opened the gifts. Lavender sent him several handkerchiefs she had sewn for him with a variety of designs. Dean and Seamus sent him a huge array of candy and Neville a set of books about herbology. Parvati and Padma sent him a nice quill and writing set. Luna painted a lovely picture of him and Hedwig. Molly made him a new Christmas sweater with promises of more when he would visit them for the gathering from the other Weasleys. Dora sent him an Auror wrist-holster for his wand and Andromeda and Ted sent him books of spells for all sorts of things, with Remus sending him even more books like that.
Hermione frowned at one of them. "Is that a flask? Who sent you a flask? And socks?"
Harry smiled at the simple metal flask and the pair of very nice woolen socks in purple with gold stars. "I have an idea," he said.
Later, Hermione wrapped her arms around him from behind and smiled as he leaned into her.
"Hermione?"
"Yes?"
"Best Christmas ever," he said, looking up at her.
Her smile was from ear to ear and she bent down to kiss him. "Good," she said, pulling him close and holding him there.
-0-
"Hedwig, darling."
"Yes Mother Firehead?" Hedwig flapped to land beside Molly.
Molly looked at Hedwig with a pained expression. "I must regret to inform you that those two and Ginny ate all the bacon."
"Wait what?!" Fred and George said together, eyes wide.
"No I didn't!" Ginny exclaimed.
"They what?!" Hedwig shrieked.
"They did, despite me not saying to," Molly sighed. "Therefore, should you wish to get a bit of revenge, I'll look the other way for a bit." True to her word, she turned away.
"Here Hedwig," Ron said, holding out a very large and heavy wooden spoon. "Charlie ate a lot too. Worse than a mule he is."
"Get back here!" Hedwig barked as the four Weasleys ran out of the kitchen and into the snow-covered grounds outdoors. "I'll teach you to be greedy!"
"Uh oh, I wonder what happened," Harry groaned as he watched the twins, Charlie, and Ginny fleeing from Hedwig outside.
"Mum told her that they ate all the bacon," Ron grinned, watching with him. "Which is true in the sense that they ate all the cooked bacon. There's plenty more and being cooked now, but Mum wanted them to run a bit and stop annoying her so she told Hedwig that."
"Did she also give her the big wooden spoon?" Hermione asked, smiling and watching.
"No that was me. Ginny distracted me and Fred and George shrunk my sweater," Ron huffed.
"That doesn't sound so bad," Harry said.
"While I was wearing it."
"Okay that sounds uncomfortable," Harry grinned while Hermione laughed. "What did Charlie do?"
"He was going to eat the last mince pie and I didn't want to wait for more to be baked so got ahead of him," Ron said smugly, munching on the pie with satisfaction.
"Well played," Harry laughed.
"Thanks!" Ron looked down and noticed Harry and Hermione holding hands. "So, uh, you two together then?" he asked awkwardly.
"Yeah," Harry said, smiling down at an equally happy Hermione. He looked at Ron. "Hope that isn't a problem."
Ron grinned easily. "Only if you two snog in front of me."
"A kiss here and there but don't worry, no snogging," Hermione said, giving him a look. "Not like what you do anyways."
"We're better about that," Ron said weakly.
"No they aren't," Bill said, walking past. He returned Ron's irritable rude hand gesture.
"Lavender and her family visited over the holiday," Ron said, ears red as Bill cackled.
"They didn't mess with her too much, did they?" Hermione asked.
"The opposite," Ron said glumly. "They made a big show about checking her for compulsions or other things and asked her what she saw in me."
"Of course they did," Harry smiled as Hermione giggled.
"Lavender was cool though," Ron said, puffing his chest out. "Was really nice and sweet and everyone loves her, so it's all good."
"I'm glad," Harry said sincerely.
"Me too," Ron said. He and Hermione shared a significant look and they both smiled easily together. "Oh, and no ganging up on me on stuff. You're not allowed to force Harry to side with you."
"Hey, since when do I do that?!" Hermione said, affronted.
"Just saying don't!" Ron said loudly.
Harry smiled and rested an arm on Ron's shoulder and wrapped his other around Hermione's waist, listening to his two best friends, with one being his girlfriend, arguing with each other in a way that only they could.
It was wonderful.
-0-
"Fair," he chuckled. He watched as Crookshanks mooched into Alexander Harris Potter's room and Hedwig flapped into Camella's. "And there they go too. The best babysitters that aren't your parents or my godfather and godaunt."
"I don't know how we'd live without them," Hermione said honestly.
Hedwig fluttered into the room and landed beside Camellia. "Hi Grandchick!" she hooted lovingly, nuzzling her. "Such a good girl."
She fluffed up comfortably beside her in her nest bed, feeling extra warm and happy. "I love this time of year," she barked, looking at the falling snow through the window. She looked back at the small girl who had woken a little but was looking up at Hedwig.
"Tell me a story?" Camellia asked with a sleepy smile.
"Of course! Hmm, I'll tell you about my perspective from the time Chick and your mother finally got their collective heads out of their rears and were more honest. It was this time of year and Chick had the sweetest idea."
Camellia fell back asleep, listening to the comforting barks and hoots from Hedwig, feeling safe and warm and loved.
-0-0-0-
odonnellzoo99 - I like the idea of her flying and singing her modified carols as she goes about being the best owl.
HoneyBear84 - Thank you.
Hands Off MY Wolfie - That and being the best owl all the time and loving Harry. And causing some mischief here and there. I sometimes wish I lived somewhere more pedestrian friendly. Thanks for reading.
poka - Same. Both lovely wonderful gems. Harmony is one of my favorites to be sure.