Chapter 29: Home for the Holidays
The ride home was a quiet one, mostly so Richard could focus on the getting there in one piece. Driving through ice-covered roads, they eventually pulled up to the house. There was snow on the ground and the Grangers had put up Christmas lights, making the house look like the a Christmas Card.
Harry grabbed his bag and walked in the house. The first thing he saw was the owl perch with Thibault and Hedwig perched next to one another. The Grangers already had their tree up and decorated. There was garland on the mantle over the fireplace. It was absolutely perfect.
Smiling inwardly, Harry moved up to drop his bag off in the guest room. Opening the door, he stopped dead. The walls were painted a light gold and his bed had a crimson blanket over it.
"Do you like it?" Harry hadn't even noticed Helen follow him. "We decided that this isn't the guest room anymore; it is your room. We wanted to make it look as such."
"Thank you, Helen," Harry hugged her from the side. "Not just for this but also for taking me in and everything you've done for me. I truly appreciate it."
"You're family, Harry," she said. "Family takes care of one another. You've taken care of Hermione while at school and you've taken care to protect us as well. Richard and I are overjoyed that Hermione decided to walk up to you at the station."
"Me too," Harry said. "It changed my entire life,"
Harry set his bag inside his room and returned to the main room just as the doorbell rang. He moved toward the door when Richard called out.
"I've got it!" He opened the door for what turned out to be the pizza delivery man. He gave to boy the payment plus a healthy tip. "Here you go. Figured it would be easiest since we didn't know how long it would take us to get home."
Sitting in the Grangers dining room with fresh pizza, Harry let the stress of Hogwarts wash off him as they updated the elder Grangers on their term.
"So someone is going around attacking children?" Richard asked. "Do you have any leads? Are you two safe?"
"We are as safe as we can be," Harry answered seriously, resting his chin on his hands. "Aside from Mrs. Norris, the other victims have recovered well enough but they don't remember anything helpful. At least Colin was a little bit helpful. Marietta and Cho don't pay enough attention to their surroundings to give us anything. Though Marietta would probably be a great resource. I'm not sure how she escaped and also didn't see or hear anything helpful."
"We are trying to track down who might have opened it the last time and who the Heir of Slytherin might be," Hermione said. "Hoping that might be a way for us to track the person down. The last family with a direct descendancy went extinct 70 years ago."
"Who was that?" Helen asked. She was always interested by a good mystery.
"The family was called the Gaunts," Harry said. "We saw records of a Marvolo Gaunt who had a son, Morfin and a daughter, Merope. There isn't anything about either of the kids. Susan is going to talk to Auntie Amelia to see if she has any information.
"I would ask the goblins in our meeting but they are understandably reticent to share anything about other families and accounts they oversee."
"Well you have two weeks with nothing to do," Richard leaned. "Do you have anything you would like to do?"
"Honestly, I'd like to relax," Harry said to which Hermione nodded vigorously. "Between classes, Potions Club, the D.A., and Flitwick's sessions, I am a little tired. That's before you factor in this Chamber business and everyone suspecting me as the culprit."
"Which is ridiculous, honestly," Hermione huffed. "the Heir of Slytherin best friends with a mudblood- sorry Harry but you know that's how the Heir would see me- is just ludicrous."
"I am sure the culprit will be caught before long," Helen soothed. "Your letters mentioned something about Professor Lockhart?"
"Oh well that's the highlight," Hermione giggled. "The entire school has been merciless. Now that it's cold, his colorful robes are all colored a dull gray. (S/T Earth Guardian 28) Someone even made his hair color match. Meanwhile, another person has given him a severe case of bad breath."
"And they have two weeks to devise new ways to torment," Harry started to laugh. "I think someone wants to take credit for the claim that they drove him from the castle, honestly."
"What else have they done?" Helen usually abhorred pranks but after Hermione wrote them about the dunce vanishing the bones in Harry's arm, she thought it was a fitting punishment.
The rest of the night, the kids regaled the parents in perfect detail the pranks pulled on Lockhart.
"So he's walking down the hall, trying to make his pink robes turn back to lilac which he slips on a banana peel on a greased floor. Someone set up bowling pins at the end of the hall. Lockhart slams into them and the word "Strike!" flashes on the wall."
Richard was doubled over in laughter, wheezing in breaths at the stories while Helen, usually more reserved of the two, was leaning on him to remain in her chair.
"Okay," Richard wiped tears from his eyes. "That's enough for one night. Poor Lockhart doesn't have any idea the hornet's nest he kicked up."
Harry gathered their plates and took them to the sink before taking care of the empty boxes. Still chuckling at the memories of the everything the student body was doing to that one professor's body, Harry went upstairs, crawled into bed and promptly fell asleep.
Waking early the next morning, Harry moved quietly down the stairs. Richard was seated comfortably on the couch watching what Harry recognized as Dragon Ball Z.
"Mind if I join you?" Harry asked, excitedly. He has still not forgotten the pleasure of watching the program last holiday. With everything that happened during the summer, Harry never got a chance to sit down and watch it.
"Of course, Harry," Richard made room for him to sit next to him on the couch.
"What's happening?" Harry inquired as he sat down.
"Goku is about to face off against Frieza," Richard pointed out the silver and purple creature across from the heroic Saiyan.
"Is that Vegeta? Is he one of the good guys now?" Harry was trying to catch up.
"More like 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend' situation," Richard said. "They're on Namek, Piccolo's homeworld, looking for that planet's Dragon Balls. They're hoping to wish those who died against Vegeta and company back. Vegeta wants to become immortal but they both just want to keep them out of the hands of Frieza."
"Wow!" Harry sat and once again was pulled in to the storyline. Even in Japanese with subtitles, it was an incredible experience.
"I can't wait until they release some of the dubbed versions," Richard smiled at Harry's excitement. While he was overjoyed at being a father to Hermione, a part of him always wanted a son.
"This is brilliant," Harry never took his eyes off the screen.
"Are you boys having fun?" Helen asked as she descended the stairs. Seeing what they were watching she shook her head. "I see my dear husband is corrupting you, Harry."
"I'll have you know I am incorruptible," Harry put his hand over his heart, trying to look austere. "It's what makes me the Boy-Who-Lived, after all."
"Uh huh," Helen had none it. "I'll make sure to tell that to Hermione when she wakes up. I'm sure she'll corroborate that statement."
"Oh that's not necessary," Harry's grew wide. "I think we should let her sleep."
"Mmhmm," Harry noticed Helens satisfied smirk was the same as her daughter. "Star Wars, Dragon Ball. Next thing I know you'll be introducing him to comics."
"What are comics?" Harry turned to Richard who was positively glowing.
"This one is your fault, I think," Richard teased his wife.
"I shouldn't have said that," Helen said as she walked into the kitchen. After cooking herself breakfast and making coffee, she reemerged into the living room to see Harry crouched over a few comic books.
"What have I done?" she asked but seeing the wonder in his eyes, she relaxed. She ruffled his hair and then walked back upstairs.
While Harry was digging in to the comics, Hermione was just leaving her room. It was obvious from her hair that she had just woken up.
"Do I want to know what they're getting up to?" she asked her mother, groggily.
"Probably not," Helen sighed and replied. "After claiming he was 'incorruptible,' Harry then got turned on to comic books. Why did I have to marry a man-child?"
"Because you needed someone who could get you to not be so serious all the time," Hermione answered honestly. "I'm glad, though. It's been nice to see Harry bond with daddy. Harry's father figures have been so lacking to this point, it's nice to see him forge a relationship."
"That doesn't bother you?" Helen asked her daughter seriously. "I see the way you look at the boy; your father and I both do."
"Yes, mum," Hermione rolled her eyes. "I have a crush on my best friend. He's only 12 and is a typical oblivious male. Perhaps one day we will be more but if we are, I like the idea that a potential boyfriend already gets along with my parents. I know teenagers are supposed to be rebellious and hate their parents but I don't. I love you guys and… I miss you during the school year."
"Oh, Winter," Helen wrapped her daughter in a tight hug. "We miss you too. The house is so quiet when you're not around. We also love having Harry around. I think if Richard and I could have had a son, we would have wanted him to be just like Harry, not that Richard would admit that aloud.
"Enough about your best friend, how are classes this term?"
"They're really good. Professor McGonagall is teaching us how to conjure items out of thin air, Professor Flitwick keeps pushing Harry and me. Herbology is just as fascinating. Even Professor Snape seems to be letting up. If it wasn't for Defense, I would be over the moon."
"Your last letter mentioned you get to pick electives for next year?"
"Yes you can choose up to three from Care of Magical Creatures, Arithmancy, Ancient Runes, Divination and Muggle Studies."
"Do you know which ones you want to choose?"
"I know I want to do Arithmancy. It is closely related to math which I always liked in primary school. Ancient Runes seems fascinating and learning about different magical creatures would be useful. Divination is all about fortune telling and doesn't hold a lot of interest and Muggle Studies would be fun to see how wizards look at the muggle world. After looking at the course books I don't think that's much for me. The program is too outdated to be worthwhile."
"Sounds like you've made up your mind then?" Helen prodded further.
"I think so but sometimes I just think it would be fun to find a way to do all of them," Hermione nodded, acknowledging her fledgling desire. "But with the D.A. added to everything we did last year, I'm already being pushed for time. Doing five extra classes would just be exhausting. I wouldn't have any time for anything but classes."
"Good," Hermione looked at her mom in shock. "When you were in primary school, you didn't have any interests beyond school. I am glad that you are expanding beyond your schooling, making friends and learning how important it is to relax."
"That's probably got something to do with Harry," Hermione said, thoughtfully. "He's a good student but there's a limit to how much studying he can do. He keeps me from studying too much."
"Meanwhile you get him to focus on schoolwork," Helen finished with a nod. "Sounds rather harmonious."
"That's a good description for it," Hermione's thoughts were punctuated by laughter from downstairs.
"I better go make sure my darling husband isn't corrupting your hard work." Helen said. "And you need a shower. Wouldn't want Harry to see you like this."
"Mum!" Hermione yelped before sprinting to the bathroom.
Good to know I can still give her a hard time, Helen thought as she leaned into the doorframe of her daughter's room. She's growing so, so fast. My little girl is on the path to womanhood. Wiping a latent tear from her she changed into her day clothes and returned back to the living room.
"So Thor's brother turned him into a frog?" Harry was wiping tears from his eyes.
"Behold!" Richard stood and raised his voice. "The mighty Throg!"
"Looks like we have a fan," Helen startled both males. "Heaven help the rest of the world."
"You're just jealous," Richard chided, playfully. "Living in a world with the impossible things: Magic hammers, aliens who fight for Truth, Justice and the Amercian Way, suits of armor, aggressive Canadians with metal claws. I mean have you even met an aggressive Canadian who wasn't wearing skates at the time?"
"Well we have our meeting with the goblins here shortly," Helen reminded them. "You best be getting ready."
Harry yelped, not noticing the time. He sprinted up the stairs to get ready at the exact time that Hermione was exiting the bathroom, wrapped just in a towel. Hermione let out a quick "eep" and sprinted to her room as Harry quickly turned away muttering "sorry."
Once he got over his embarrassment, Harry admitted to himself that it wasn't altogether unpleasant to see Hermione in just a towel, though he couldn't quite figure out why. Filing it into a corner of his brain for further investigation later, he hurriedly got ready for the trip to Diagon.
A short ride later, the group stood in front of the white building a Gringotts.
"May your enemies be buried beneath your horde," Harry bowed to the teller.
"How may I help you, Wizard?" The teller set down his ledger and gave Harry his full attention.
"We are here for a meeting with Gripclaw," Harry answered.
"Yes you are expected," the teller said. "He has a new office. I will show you the way."
Instead of moving along the path they usually took, the teller lead them straight back to an office with double doors and a gold plaque that said "Gripclaw" on it.
"In through here," the teller said.
"Thank you," Harry said as he and Grangers knocked on the door.
"Enter!" they heard and opened the door. Gripclaw's new office was huge and lined with filing cabinets.
"If it isn't my best clients," Gripclaw gave them his best smile. "Your suggestions at investments, Mr. and Mrs. Granger, have paid off immensely. I've been promoted and given a bigger office. Director Ragnok is particularly pleased with your suggestion of the company Microsoft."
"I am glad to hear it," Harry smiled. "It's a shame more wizards don't spend time in the muggle world. How are the repairs on the manor going?"
"They are moving on schedule. We have just about completed the exterior structure and are about to move on to the individual rooms. It should be ready at the end of next summer."
"Excellent to hear!" Harry smiled at the thought that his family was healing from the wounds of the war. Even though it was just him for now, it was a start at a rebuild. "What else do you need of us?"
"As long as they," he pointed toward the Grangers. "Continue to give us companies that allow our horde to grow, there's nothing much else we require. Do you require anything more from me?"
"Some gold for holiday shopping is all," Harry said. Gripclaw reached into his desk and withdrew a money bag, handing it to Harry.
Their pockets heavier with the coins, the quartet embarked down the street. Quietly, Harry tugged on Richard's sleeve. Locking eyes with the man, Harry motioned toward a shop and then toward Hermione.
"Hey," Richard spoke up. "Why don't you and Hermione check out some of the fashion shops. We'll meet you at the bookstore?"
Helen and Richard had a special conversation that only the best couples can have. In a few seconds, they traded a look that communicated everything. Helen nodded and pulled Hermione down the street.
"Now," Richard turned to Harry. "What is it that you wanted to do?"
"I would like to do something special for Hermione but I have no idea what she would like," Harry said while staring at his feet. "I was hoping you could help me."
"What are you thinking?" Richard asked, intrigued at where this boy's head was.
"I was talking to Neville and he said that women liked jewelry," Harry's eyes became unfocused as he stared off into the distance. "I'd like to get Hermione something but I don't want something too gaudy. I'd like something that suits her."
"Let's go in there," Richard pointed toward the jewelry shop Harry nodded toward. Entering together, Harry browsed through the shop before something caught his eye. Gesturing, he brought Richard over. "Oh that'll do."
Richard laughed as Harry purchased the item with a blush on his face. He's starting to figure out what everyone else has, Richard laughed inwardly. Good.
A few days later, Harry felt his hands shaking as he presented Hermione with his gift. Hermione looked up from the book on Occlumency that Professor McGonagall had given them both. She looked at her friend and smiled tenderly, noticing just how nervous he was. Richard prodded Helen, pointing his teacup toward the two as Hermione took the parcel and felt the weight in her hands. It was small, wrapped in red paper with gold ribbon. With gentle care, she removed the ribbon and unwrapped the paper. That's when a black velvet box the size of her palm fell into her hands.
"What did you do?" Hermione said breathlessly as she rotated the box around to have the opening face her.
Taking a deep breath, she opened the box. Inside, on a bed of red silk sat a gold locket necklace with HJ engraved on both sides, with the H in the style of the Hogwarts crest. Opening it, she saw their picture on one side and picture of the castle on the other.
"I wanted you to carry Hogwarts wherever you go," Harry said. "And I also wanted you to carry me with you wherever you go as well."
Tears blossomed in her eyes as she ran her fingers over the locket, memorizing the feel of it in her hands. Noticing her tears, Harry was confused.
"Did I do something wrong?" Harry asked with mild panic. "I thought you'd like it."
"No." she said she wiped the tears away. "You've done something very right. It's perfect. Can you help me put it on."
As Harry worked the clasp and Hermione lifted her mane of hair, Helen turned and kissed her husband deeply.
"I assume you helped?" She asked.
"Not really," Richard kept his eyes on scene in front of them. "The kid wanted to get her something but didn't want anything too extravagant. He did all the picking, I just added my opinion when I knew he had found it."
"So nice of you," Helen smiled. "Helping the boy who has turned your daughter's head buy jewelry for her. Who knew you were such a softie?"
"Me?" Richard said in fake affront. "Soft? Never."
Helen laughed and kissed him again.
"That's okay; I know you're not soft all the time," she leaned in to whisper in his ear. "And I like that also."
Richard was mid-sip of his tea and started a coughing fit.
"Are you okay, dad?" Richard waived the question away as Helen laughed. He had momentarily forgotten his daughter and Harry were in the same room.
"Just went down the wrong pipe," he wheezed out.
Richard was saved from any further inquiry when an owl flew in with a package. Curiosity piqued, Harry moved toward the bird. He released the burden from the bird and saw a present wrapped in gold paper.
"To Harry, from Colin," Harry read aloud. "Wonder what this is all about?"
"Open it!" Hermione demanded excitedly, her curiosity positively raging.
Tearing off the paper, Harry saw a photo album titled Harry vs. the Rogue Bludger. Taking it to the couch, everyone else gathered around as Harry turned the first page which showed Harry lining up for the start of the match. Page after page featured Harry outflying the Bludger.
"I never realized I looked like this," Harry said in amazement. "I can imagine why you're tense when I play."
"You're really good, though," Hermione said as she watched the picture of Harry wrecking the Slytherin formation played over and over.
"It's rather entertaining," Richard was enamored by the moving photographs. "Colin really does a great job of telling the story. I need to have a copy of these ones."
Replaying over and over was Harry snagging the Snitch while inverted over Draco. The next photo showed the Bludger knocking Draco off his broom.
"That doesn't get less funny with subsequent views," Hermione giggled. "Say what you want about Draco but he had it coming."
"If Colin wanted," Helen flipped through the pages again. "He could probably make some money selling these. They're really, really good."
On the last page was a note from Colin.
"Thank you for making my first Quidditch game a memorable one," Colin said. "I didn't mean for these photos to tell a story but I loved the way they turned out. I was coming to tell you this when I was petrified. Thank you for getting the school to import the products to get me back to my family this holiday. Merry Christmas, Harry."
"Wow…" Harry read his note again and again.
Later that night, Harry was in his room, putting away his gifts when someone knocked on his door.
"Yes Hermione?" Even without looking, he knew her knock.
"I wanted to thank you again," Hermione was holding on to the locket hanging from her neck. "This was so sweet and thoughtful and then Colin gave you the photo book. What did I give you? A bloody book!"
"Language," Harry chided the way she would everyone else. He picked up the copy of The Lord of the Rings that Hermione had given him. "This book? the one Vernon took away from me? The one I never got to finish? Nobody would know that but you.
"Before last year, I never had someone celebrate Christmas with me. Nobody knew me; nobody cared to. You cared, Hermione; you always have. While your gift may not be as shiny, it is no less special."
"But my rose… the photo… breakfast for my birthday," Hermione was lightly crying. "Why do you have to be the more thoughtful one?"
"It's not a competition, Hermione," Harry admonished with a small smile. "Remember that you surprised me with my first birthday party. You also did this."
Reaching into his pocket, he withdrew a needle.
"Courage, Bravery and Love."
He handed it to her and she slid her hands over the engraving.
"You made this," Harry said. "This wasn't something you bought, you made it. To remind me of what's important. I carry it with me at all times so I don't ever forget. I wanted to do something for this Christmas that's half as good as what you did for me.
"I had a teacher once in primary, Miss Blumenthal. She was one of the few I actually liked. She told me that it's the little things we remember the most. It can be a sight, a smell that transports us back to that memory.
"This needle always transports me back to you. To the station where we first met. To our train ride. The bathroom with the troll, Quirrell even. All our adventures. But what I remember most is that bushy head of hair, those brown eyes with specks of golden amber flickering through them and the smile of my best friend."
"Thank you, Harry. I was being stupid."
"As you often tell me: you're really special, to a lot of people," Hermione wrapped her arm around Harry as he spoke, leaning her head on his shoulder. "I am glad you like the locket. I was so nervous that you wouldn't like it."
Hermione giggled, leaned in and kissed him on the cheek.
"Merry Christmas, Harry," She smiled as she headed toward the door.
"Merry Christmas, Hermione," Harry said, vacantly as he watched her go.
Harry sighed, contently, relaxed and ready for whatever the next term could throw at him.
(A/N: Just a response to a few people thinking Harry apologized to Snape for his father: he didn't. He just stated the fact that his father was brutal to him; he did not say whether or not it was justified. That scene wasn't Harry apologizing, that was Harry doing something uncomfortable to help Colin. On the other side, Snape is a character who is always out for himself, what will be the best for him. With McGonagall putting pressure on him and Dumbledore shifting, he should be feeling a little exposed, which has shifted his behavior, at least outwardly.)