*Chapter 19*: christmas time surprises
Harry was put down by Draco and Harry stared in shock at the entire Weasley clan, including Oliver, Angie and Alicia. The only one missing was Ron, who had refused to come down to see Harry, or be around Fleur and her family. His place had been taken though, Hermione had accepted an invitation to come and while she loved Harry a lot, it wasn't all for him. Her parents had been offered a chance to take over a practice in Marseilles, and had moved down here in November, and she was trying to decide. She could still attend Hogwarts, but she was considering a move to Beauxbautons, here for a tour and to see her parents as well.
Harry's attention was on the twins and he threw himself at Fred who had been the one to talk, definitely as cool of a surprise as promised. Hermione and Ginny were staying with her parents, but the others were staying in the massive Delacaur estates, except for the twins, who'd stay here.
Fred kissed him on the head."You know we have been missing our guinea pig for our new pranks."
Harry pouted. "You say you use bad ones on Ron."
Laughing, Fred and George assured him that was still true, though harder since the little prat had become more sensible about anything sent to him. Hermione said Ron had become paranoid, and had other people open any mail he got, usually had to scare younger kids into it. Ron had thought being free of Harry would help him out, but he found most people had put up with him, because of Harry, even his girlfriend. The prat found himself less popular then Neville, and Hermione had broken up with him, and now was considering a move as well. Even now he blamed it on Harry, and would rather stew alone, then come down for Christmas.
Harry spotted Oliver. "You come? Are you going to take me flying?"
Oliver smiled and showed Harry his hand. "Charlie and I are getting married. And I could not turn down a chance to come with the family, and see you."
Harry went into his arms, and was so happy they were getting married, even at this age, he considered them family. Before it had to do with Ron, and his summers at the Burrow, but it was now the twins who he adored, and Fleur. Harry wanted Oliver to stay, and since there was eight bedrooms in the house, Draco, his parents, and the twins and their girlfriends, left one guest room, for use. Harry had not done much flying since he was here.
Draco called to him. "You know I am starting to feel left out over here. How about you give us a tour?"
Harry smiled and nodded."Draco can I have piggy back ride? I kept my promise, no one but you give me them."
Laughing, Draco knelt so Harry could clamber onto his back, and as the adults went into the den, Harry gave Draco and the others a tour of the manor. Molly and Arthur smiled as they watched Harry go, any concerns they had from the summer, were gone. The move down here away from them, Narcissa and the Tonks women raised some concern for them, but Fleur's mother and sister in law had been more then offering some maternal care for Harry. Molly was reminded what they had said about male couples, now Charlie and Oliver were to be married in a few months, and start for a child.
Harry proudly showed off his new broom, which they had all contributed to, in hopes he would feel at home there. Draco smiled when he saw Jolly who was lounging on his back on the window seat, not much had changed since the summer, and the cat had not grown much.
Fred looked over at the kitten."I swear I have never seen a lazier kitten in all of my life. Mom never wanted one in her house, said they got into far too much trouble."
Draco shared a knowing smile with Harry."Oh believe me, when Jolly wants to, he can do more damage then you and George combined."
There was a laugh from the twins, who doubted it, but Harry and Draco shared another look, and Harry's giggling raised some questions as well. Harry had never broken his promise, about not telling anyone the truth about his beloved cat, and his special abilities. Severus could definitely agree the cat could cause havoc, but they remembered also how the cat protected Harry the night he had run away. Both of Harry's little winged pets had saved him at some point, but there were many wizards who were scared by things like that, things they didn't understand. There were those who would never try to understand, they would simply seek to destroy what they feared.
Back downstairs they found the adults; Arthur set to take Hermione and Ginny to Marseilles, which was not far from where they were. Both girls would be here for much of the holiday, but Hermione had wanted to spend time with her parents, and Ginny had decided to come with her.
Hermione bent down and hugged Harry."You know if I go to Beauxbautons in the fall, you'll be able to see me more. I could come and visit on weekends."
Harry liked the sounds of that. "I wish Draco come too."
Tickling Harry, Draco reminded Harry unlike Hermione, his parents lived in the UK, and he wanted to be close to them. Harry's pout remained until he was further reminded that he would be here for a lot of the summer, and he would come visit other times as well. Besides he reminded Harry, Harry wanted Slytherin to win in quidditch, and for them to do so, they needed to have their top seeker. Harry remembered his robes, and said he wanted to be Slytherin's seeker like Draco one day.
Oliver over heard that comment and tickled Harry. "What happened to the lions little man? The rest of us were all Gryffindors."
Harry saw everyone else nod and Harry thought for a moment. "Then I be both."
Hermione and Ginny were both laughing as they left, but in a way if Harry became a Slytherin, he would have had his wish to be in both houses. The twins were two of the very few who knew Harry had been given a choice by the hat, and it was Ron who really turned him away from the house. It would be interesting in six and a half years to see where he did end up, well if he ended up going to Hogwarts. They knew is Albus was still headmaster then, Harry would likely remain in France.
Severus cut short talk of going for a fly. "We are supposed to be at the Delacaurs for a visit. Perhaps you can show them your pony instead."
The Weasley parents knew, after taking an oath so they could never be forced to reveal, about Harry's origins. They knew the couple and their children loved Harry, and knowing the truth would only help, they would be more anxious to protect Harry. They had a hard time before believing that Albus had been trying for his money, they had thought he cared about Harry, but this bothered them too much. They were definitely shaken when they learned there was some worry Albus may have been involved in the betrayal of the Fae, and even about the block, which was unthinkable.
They would not allow the man to ruin the holidays for them, and everyone was up bright and early at the Delacaurs, on Christmas morning. Fleur's other brother Felipe was home as well as Gabrielle, and Hermione had come, having celebrated with her parents the day before.
Fleur smiled as she watched Harry with her niece and older nephew."I had a feeling the three of you would soon be three peas in a pod."
Grace looked at her sister in law where she was holding Andre in her arms. "When are you and Bill going to add to your family?"
That made everyone turn, and there was no doubt Molly had been asking the same thing, wanting to be a grandmother, since her daughter was out of diapers. Seven was enough for her, but she loved to have something to take care of and baby, and her kids were too old for most of that.
Bill shared a smile with his wife. "Well we found out a few weeks ago that we're expecting. The baby will be due at the start of August."
Fleur cut off protests of why they waited to tell them."We thought since we would all be together, it was a perfect gift."
Both sets of parents, as well as the extended family, more then agreed with the couple on it. They knew they had only been married since the summer, the baby was due a few weeks after their one year anniversary, but they were still excited about it. Bill was of course the first brother married, though Charlie was engaged and Percy was on the way, and Molly would soon be knitting up a storm for them. Molly was already regretting she hadn't brought her knitting with her.
Severus reminded Harry when he asked about the baby, he or she was a Delacaur too, and was sure to come down to France for visits as well. Of course that was confirmed, and since Harry spent time nearly every day here, he would see the baby.
Corine looked at her Aunt. "Aunty Fleur you have girl. I have too many boys."
Fleur laughed and kissed her niece on the head. "We don't get to choose, but I wouldn't mind a little girl cousin for you."
There was laughter and Grace told Fleur to hopefully have a girl, so her daughter would stop pestering them, she wanted a baby sister. They had not ruled out having a fourth child, but Andre was barely a year old, and they planned to wait, if they decided to try for another baby. Corine and Michel were only a year apart in age, but not again, they had been too close for Grace's comfort. Corine thought they owed her a sister though; they had given Michel the brother he always wanted.
Remus was surprised when he opened the gift from Severus, and had tears running down his cheeks, when he saw it. With everything going on with Harry, Remus had little time to mourn the loss of Sirius only a week before the accident, and Severus knew that.
Severus helped clasp the chain and pendant around Remus' neck. "Just because Harry doesn't remember the loss, doesn't mean the mutt will ever be forgotten."
Remus touched the pendant. "This means so much to me. How?"
There was once a coin, that the marauders had all broken into quarters, and each had one. Peter's was not included, but Severus altered it, so the fourth piece did not seem missing, but instead looked like they came together in an old Celtic symbol. James and Sirius' were destroyed, but he had seen them enough, and Severus had them recreated, and snagged Remus' piece from his bedroom, and had it made. Remus' piece had a wolf and the word cunning, Sirius' had a dog and on the back the word fearless, and James' had the stag and the word daring. They had it made the summer after they first became animagus.
Harry was worried as he noticed his Uncle was in tears."Uncle Moony what's wrong? You not like our gifts."
Remus pulled Harry up into his lap and kissed him on the head."I love my gifts, especially the beautiful picture you drew and framed for me. I'm just happy."
The little boy wasn't used to someone crying in joy, but he was soon assured, and headed back for the gifts. He genuinely thanked Severus for he piece, it meant a lot he would even remember such a thing, but Severus reminded the man of how long they were friends. He promised Remus if he needed to talk, Severus was willing to listen, no matter how much he and Sirius never got along, it didn't matter. What mattered was what the man meant to Remus, and that was a lot really.
Harry soon broke up the moment. "Come on, come on, we're going for a wagon ride before lunch."
Christmas was a happy few weeks, and though Harry was sad when the Malfoys and Weasleys had to leave, he was assured he would see them again. He would for sure see more of Hermione, who was returning to finish her sixth year, but she would be transferring to Beauxbautons. She found that the school was far more academic based in her mind, there was a number of clubs as well, and since she could leave evenings and weekends, wanted to be near her parents. She had never had too many friends in school, and other then Ginny, she was really leaving none behind. Harry was four, and Ron and her were long over.
They had another surprise visit the day after the others returned home, when Harry was in the back gardens, with Alberi. Severus and Remus came out for they heard the wards, and were surprised when Aideen and Cael appeared. They hadn't seen the man since the woods, and Aideen since she brought Alberi.
Cael spoke. "We do not celebrate this holiday you humans call Christmas, but we know of it. We would have come sooner, but for your guests."
Harry smiled at the couple. "Uncle Moony says you are my grandsire?"
The adults, humans and Fae alike smiled at his innocence, and Cael nodded with a smile, he was indeed Harry's grandsire. He had not come before, but they had been receiving reports on Harry from Alberi, and they were very proud to hear how he was doing. Though they didn't have such traditions, they had a gift for Harry. Harry was amazed when he found a beautiful toy bird, with moving parts, and he could see he could use his powers to make the bird fly all over.
Harry looked up with awe. "Thank you very much."
Cael smiled. "I have long liked to work with wood. It has been some years since I had a little boy to make one for."
They knew as Harry played with the bird, the couple had another reason to be here other then the gift. Alberi had told them about Albus and the decay, and from the description of the man, the couple knew they had to come here in person. Remus and Severus were to have their worst concerns, confirmed.
Aideen actually had tears in her eyes. "He is the man we gave Caley too. You need to be extra careful, he means no good by Harry."
Alberi spoke. "My father and the other leaders of the cycle are at your aid. He is a prince of the Fae, we will see him safe."
Albus had taken Lily from her family, and abandoned her to muggles, much the same way he did with Harry. He knew he could become a mentor to them both when they came to school, and would hopefully control their power. Lily dead, Harry was his last access to Fae magic, and he would want Harry back at any cost.
Remus touched his new pendant. "I don't know what, but I will do anything to keep him safe and away from Albus. That man will not succeed again."