Twilight

Twilight

L.S. Song

Chapter Twelve - Presents and Surprises

"Wow that was amazing..." said Ron as they went to sleep that night.

The one-month trip back to his parents' time had certainly been interesting. Harry had caught up with Remus, Sirius, James and Lily, telling them about everything that happened in the future. Harry, Ron, Ginny, Remus, Sirius and James had played Quidditch in the backyard of Godric's Hollow every day. Ron was so happy because Sirius and James had taught him quite a few tricks. Ron was practically bouncing in anticipation of the Gryffindor vs. Ravenclaw match that would come at the end of the year when they got back.

Lily and James had treated Hermione, Ron, and Ginny as their own children. James especially had a certain fondness for Ginny - Harry had laughed as he knew then that he was indeed his father's son. The Sirius of 1980 had liked Ron the most - they spent every day laughing and discussing Quidditch - it turned out Sirius had also supported the Chudley Cannons. Lily on the other hand preferred Hermione's quick wit, and her strong nature - the previous one month trip had allowed them to become good friends, and they remained that way on this trip. Remus Lupin had visited quite a few times, and Harry was amazed at how different Remus was in 1980. He did not look old or tired, despite his lycanthrope condition. Harry guessed that it must've been the thirteen years he lived without his friends, believing them all to be dead or traitors that had turned the handsome man into the long-suffering tired man that Harry had known.

One month away from all the terror going on in the world and Harry had felt perfectly ready to take anything that Voldemort could throw at him. He was rejuvenated, spending another month with his family, both blood and friendship families. Harry's family had decided on a name for his little mysticat, Fortuna - for luck.

Of course, in their timeline, just one minute had passed, and they were still in the position they were in before they left. Hogwarts had been infiltrated with something or someone, and Voldemort was gathering power once again, as Mr. Weasley had told them.

Harry had gone to sleep that night with a smile on his face however, as he thought happily of the month spent with his family.

The next morning was just as cheerful. Harry was awoken by a jet of water sent into his face by Ron who, on his now grown up face, had a grin of childish delight.

"PRESENTS!" he yelled.

Harry sprung up, pulled on a pair of jeans and a black top, and ran headfirst out of the room, with Ron tailing him. Loud footsteps behind them meant Ginny and Hermione were there too.

Ron pushed past Harry and ran towards his magically enlarged stocking hanging over the fireplace in the living room, which held all his presents.

"Accio stocking!" cried a voice.

Harry and Ron whipped around, as the stocking flew away from Ron's outstretched hands and into the hands of Molly Weasley.

"Wait until everyone else is here, Ronald!" scolded Mrs. Weasley. "Arthur! Bill! Charlie! Percy! Come down, its time to open presents!"

"Yes Mum!" called three voices, and Arthur Weasley was already behind Mrs. Weasley by the time she finished calling.

"Hermione, dear, would you mind calling your parents?"

Hermione ran up the stairs, and a few minutes later came bounding back into the room with her parents looking very tired behind her.

"Alright! We're all here! Time to start opening presents! Eldest first, I say, okay?" said Mrs. Weasley.

Harry watched happily as Mr. and Mrs. Weasley opened a present from him, a large album of paintings by the esteemed painting Megan Wartmeyer, and a bicycle for Mr. Weasley to experiment with. The Weasley parents beamed at Harry, and offered their thanks.

It turned out that everyone had thought to get the Weasley parents either a book or some form of art, which they appreciated all the same, but by the last present (from Percy) Arthur Weasley's smile had started to look a bit tired.

Next was Mr. and Mrs. Granger. Harry had gotten them a present from the 1980s popular music section when he had traveled back in time to meet his parents - he thought they'd appreciate it seeing as they were from that era.

Harry noticed that the Grangers had a significant amount less of presents than the Weasleys. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had gotten them a present, Hermione and Harry had, but none of the other Weasleys had thought of it. Harry knew that their muggle friends wouldn't be able to find Mr. and Mrs. Granger, now that they had sacrificed their daily lives for their (and Hermione's) safety.

The Weasley brothers had gotten quite normal presents, like quills and candy, although Fred and George Weasley did in fact get a massive box from Zonko's - they were thanking the twins for the inspiration they brought to the world of magical entertainment. Everyone had smirked at that.

When Ron opened his Keeper's gloves from Harry, he gasped and held them up, dancing around and insisting to everyone that they go outside and play Quidditch right away, so he could test his Keeper gloves.

"Absolutely not! Go on, Ronald, open Hermione's present."

Harry leaned forwards. This was the part he was looking forward to. Ginny had told him about Hermione spending days and nights making a present for Ron.

"Okay, Mum..."

Ron ripped open the wrapping unceremoniously, and took out what looked like a fang attached to a gold chain.

"Do you like it?" asked Hermione hopefully.

"Yeah, thanks Hermione! But... what is it?"

"It's a saber-tooth tiger fang - its supposed to have a lot of magical properties, like..."

"I love it, Hermione, thanks!" interrupted Ron.

Hermione looked rather taken aback but gave Ron a hug anyway.

Harry stood up and grinned. It was his turn.

First he opened a present from Tonks, who couldn't be at Grimmauld Place but sent a present along anyway.

He opened it, and found a bottle of Dr. Sleezey's Hair Tamer, and a note.

Dear Harry,

Merry Christmas! I hope you enjoy this hair potion, its one of the newest on the market, I reckon it'll even work with your hair! Use it on a special occasion!

Tonks

Harry smirked. Tonks had just inadvertently insulted his hair, but he thanked her for providing a solution to it.

Next was a dragon-hide wand holster from Ron, which Harry tried on immediately, finding it was feather-light. Harry thanked Ron, and he said, "No problem, its nothing compared to these gloves... wow..."

And Ron went back to examining his brand new black gloves.

"Open mine!" squealed Hermione.

Harry opened it, and not to his surprise, he found a book. However, to his surprise, it wasn't any old book. It was a diary.

Hermione motioned for him to open the diary, and as Harry did so a note fell out.

Dear Harry,

This is an account of all the adventures we've had together, and all the memories, good and bad of our friendship. I hope you'll add to it, and one day let me read it too. I hope you enjoy it, and Merry Christmas!

Love,

Sis

Harry again was touched. He smiled at the thoughtfulness of the present, and how Hermione had signed it 'Sis'. She nodded at him with a smile, and he grinned back at her. Harry thought back to the bossy eleven-year old Hermione used to be, and he thought to himself that he'd never have thought Hermione could be so sweet to him.

"Harry?"

"Oh, sorry."

Harry opened the next present, a set of navy blue dress robes from Mr. and Mrs. Weasley.

Harry nodded his thanks, and opened the present from Bill and Charlie, a silver pocketknife.

"It's supposed to be able to cut into anything - dead useful for Aurors... thought you might need it one day."

"Thanks Bill, thanks Charlie..."

Harry opened the next few presents from Neville, Luna, Mr. and Mrs. Granger, and Percy, which all contained various sweets, and Harry found himself with a large boxful of sweets at the end.

Harry then looked to the last two presents, both in small boxes.

Harry opened a box first, and found it was from Parvati.

It was a bottle of muggle cologne, and a pair of contact lenses, with a short note wishing him a happy Christmas.

Harry hoped that Parvati was pleased with his gift - she must've gone through a lot of trouble to go into the muggle world to buy Harry those presents.

Harry looked to the second box, and decided it must be from Ginny.

He tore open the wrapping gently, and looked inside. It was a plain silver ring - it was attractive but not flashy. He opened the note that was next to the ring.

Harry

A ring represents my love for you. Its simple, but pure, it encircles me forever, and it has no beginning, and no end. Wear this always if you feel the same way.

Forever yours,

Ginny

Harry grinned at her, and immediately placed the ring around his finger. Harry walked over to Ginny and kissed her on the cheek, oblivious to everyone else there.

"POTTER GET OFF MY SISTER!!!" yelled Fred and George, and Percy.

Bill and Charlie made no response - they had heard that Harry and Ginny were together.

"Shut up Percy... Fred... George... I'm going out with Harry, its alright..."

"BUT!"

"George," said Mr. Weasley in a scolding tone.

"Okay, okay."

"Anyway, thanks Gin, I love it."

"Sure, Harry... Is that the last present?"

"Yeah..."

"MY TURN!" yelled Hermione, and she dived into her pile of presents.

She came out with Harry's first. As she ripped apart the wrapping, Hermione squealed in delight. "Wow, HARRY! How did you know that I didn't have this book?"

"Easy, there are only a hundred copies in the world... I ordered it from Hogsmeade - they got it from Egypt."

"REALLY? Wow...! I love it! Thanks, bro!"

"Glad you like it, sis."

Hermione set Harry's present gingerly down on the coffee table next to the long red sofa that Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione sat on.

Hermione ripped open a few more presents, books on random things, from Arithmancy to chemistry (from Mr. and Mrs. Granger, as they were used to buying muggle books for their only daughter). Harry had to stop himself from laughing - every single present was a book so far, besides a box-full of Wizard Wheezes from Fred and George.

Finally, after taking out Ginny's present (Jinxes for the Witch at War), she opened the last package, which Harry knew by process of elimination, was from Ron.

Hermione was grinning in anticipation as she slowly ripped off the wrapping - she seemed to be trembling, but still teasing herself by opening it slowly.

Ron watched with a wide smile across his face.

Hermione opened the package, not to find a book, not to find jewelry, but to find a bottle of butterbeer and a white rose.

She immediately pushed the butterbeer away impatiently, and picked up the rose.

Hermione must've expected something special to happen, but nothing did. It was just a rose - a beautiful rose, but a plain rose nonetheless.

"Err... thanks Ron..."

Ron beamed; apparently unaware of the incredulous looks Ginny, Harry, Bill and Charlie were giving him.

Hermione was obviously very disappointed, gifts from everyone - even Percy, had been better than Ron's. There were bottles of butterbeer everywhere around Grimmauld Place, and the rose showed nothing interesting - it wasn't especially beautiful.

Ron obviously thought his gift was remarkably romantic, as he was still beaming, and he slung his arm around Hermione. She looked as if she wanted to shake him off.

"Okay... Ginny's turn!"

Ginny cheered and immediately opened her presents, a necklace from Arthur and Molly Weasley, a variety of Wizard Wheezes from Fred and George, a bottle of perfume from Bill and Charlie, a new owl from Hermione who had just flown in as Ginny opened Ron's present - a Chudley Cannons book. She had finally come to Harry's present, and Harry watched in nervous anticipation.

He observed how she was (like Hermione) unwrapping the package slowly, a lock of bright red hair falling in her eyes, but she left it there, as she squinted to see what it was, until she couldn't take it anymore, and ripped off the wrapping paper altogether.

A quiet gasp went throughout the room, as they looked at the beautiful watch inside a solid crystal case.

"Wow... its beautiful Harry..." Ginny sighed.

"D'ya... d'ya like it?"

"Like it? I LOVE it!" cried Ginny, and started to place it on.

"No, wait Gin! It's more than just a watch. You have to say the activation charm - its in the user manual's second page to brand it to you - it's a protective item, not just a pretty watch. Read about it when you have some time, but now, activate it!"

"Okay... it says... 'Boomslang Skin!'" The watched glowed silver for a second, and found itself attached onto Ginny's wrist.

Fred or George had started to murmur at this, obviously discussing how much it cost Harry.

"Here... for a short demonstration... may I?" asked Harry.

"Okay... but what do I do?"

"Just stand there, and don't dodge my spell."

"Okay..."

"Expelliarmus," said Harry softly, sending a jet of red light to Ginny.

Instead of the white net of light that came out of the shopkeeper's watch to reflect the spell, an orange net flew out of Ginny's watch, and the spell flew straight back at Harry, and he found his arm flying out of his hand and into Ginny's.

"Just like that."

"Wow..." murmured multiple voices in shock.

"And it's so beautiful too... what's it made of, Harry?"

"Oh... something like titanium and silver... I don't remember..."

"Its wonderful, Harry. Thank you so much..."

"Okay okay, enough of the mushy stuff, lets go play some Quidditch!" yelled Ron.

"Now boys, you mustn't fly too high... the protective wards only go so far..."

Ron nodded and ran out of the room, Charlie, Fred, George, and Bill following him quickly, Percy walking up the stairs - apparently not joining his brothers, leaving Harry, Hermione, and Ginny behind.

"Shall we go, then?" asked Harry, however his mind was far from Quidditch. Yet again, he found himself itching to run his hands through Ginny's silky red hair.

"Yeah... listen Harry, I'm serious, thank you so much for that watch... I'm so lucky to have such a considerate boyfriend..."

Hermione made a strangled sound and ran out of the room.

"Oh shit... I didn't mean to remind her of Ron..." said Ginny.

"Don't worry, I'll fix it, go outside and play."

Harry brushed his lips across her cheek and ran to find Hermione, who was sitting on her bed silently fuming, with tears welling up in her eyes.

"Sis?"

"Go away, Harry... I want to be alone..."

"No. If I'm your brother than I'm going to damn well act like it. Hermione, I'll talk to Ron today, okay? Just cheer up, please, it's Christmas!"

"He's so hopeless! That was EMBARRASSING you know? You go off and buy Ginny the best gift a girl could possibly want and Ron comes along with a dented bottle of butterbeer and a stinky three-day old rose! It's not fair!"

"Shh..." Harry whispered quietly, and sat down next to Hermione. "I'll get you one too if you want, sis..."

"Harry, that's not the point! Ron doesn't CARE about me at all! He comes and probably conjures up the stinking rose, and takes the butterbeer from under his bed..."

"But Hermione, I'm sure he does care... he DID go to Hogsmeade to buy those two things..."

"Harry," Hermione said, her voice dropping down to an extremely quiet whisper. "I saw him with Lavender..."

"WHAT?"

"I said, I SAW HIM WITH LAVENDER! The day before he asked me to the Christmas Ball... THEY WERE HOLDING HANDS AND LAUGHING!"

"But..."

"Damn straight!"

"He was probably just doing that as a friend - you know, they did get to know each other a bit after you two broke up the first time..."

"HARRY! STOP SIDING WITH RON! It doesn't matter if it was 'just as a friend', I don't like it!"

"Actually Hermione, I think you're right. I'll have a word with Ron after lunch. On one condition though."

"What?"

"You cheer up, and have a nice snowball fight on broomsticks with us."

Hermione pretended to think about it, then said, "Deal."

Harry pulled Hermione up, and pushed her out of her room, grabbing her broom on the way.

Summoning his broom from next door, the two friends walked down.

"FINALLY! There you two are! Okay, let's make teams," shouted Ron.

The Weasleys flew down, and they immediately suggested Charlie and Harry as captains, as they were the seekers.

Hermione objected, "We can't fly too high, so they can't be seekers, the wards only go..."

"Fine, fine, whatever Hermione, they'll be chasers then, we'll play up to 300."

Hermione looked like she was about to say something but restrained from doing so.

"You pick first, Harry," said Charlie, as he climbed onto his broomstick and lifted up.

"Sure... I pick Ginny," said Harry, hovering above Ron, Fred, George, Hermione, Bill and Ginny.

Ginny grinned and joined Harry hovering in the air.

"I take Bill."

"I take Ron!"

"I take George..."

Harry, who was still hovering above them, watched as Fred was mounting his broom, certain Harry would choose him over Hermione - she could barely fly properly, and by the slightly disappointed, unhappy look on her face, she knew it.

"I take Hermione."

"WHAT?" exclaimed seven voices, including Hermione.

"But I never get picked..." she stuttered.

"C'mon Mione, sibs gotta stick together now... c'mon lets get a game plan together."

Fred looked outraged as he flew to join George, Bill, and Charlie, who were laughing heartily at Fred being 'beaten' by Hermione.

"Alright, forget any game plan. Hermione, me, and Ginny are chasers, Ron you're Keeper."

"ALRIGHT C'MON LET'S PLAY ALREADY!" hollered George.

Harry's team launched up, and flew into formation, and the four on four Quidditch game blew into action.

Harry was at his prime as a seeker, but he sure wasn't bad as a chaser. Harry flew mainly with Ginny, as Hermione on Ginny's old Comet couldn't keep up with Ginny's Nimbus, and was far out of its league when comparing with Harry's Firebolt.

The Weasleys, Harry and Hermione had an hour and a half of fun, zipping around on broomsticks (Hermione was still going just a few meters above the ground, and at an annoyingly slow pace), and Harry's team, which was practically short-handed, lost 300-220.

Fred had joked with Harry for his poor choice in teammate on the way back to their rooms in Grimmauld Place, heading for lunch. Harry merely gave Fred a deaf man's smile, and with a wave, slung his arm around Ginny and walked up the first flight of stairs together.

At Harry and Ron's room, Harry and Ginny broke apart, Harry going in to take a shower, and Ginny proceeding to the shared room between her and Hermione.

Before Harry had walked in though, Hermione had pulled him by the arm.

"Thanks, Harry. I know its just a game, and I know I'm no good at Quidditch... thanks for choosing me anyway. I appreciate it," said Hermione, quite nervously Harry thought.

"Anytime sis, anytime..."

***

"Come on now, get ready, Professor Dumbledore expects you all in by 11:30..." called Mrs. Weasley.

The Christmas holidays were over, and it was time to return to Hogwarts. Apparently Dumbledore decided that whatever entered the school was probably just a creature of some sort - no real threat to the school.

Harry now stood in the living room of Grimmauld Place, after being hugged by Mrs. Weasley, he watched Hermione hug her parents tightly, Ron and Ginny being fussed about by their parents and brothers. Fortuna leaped onto Harry's shoulder, and he stroked him lightly. Harry was surprised to see that Fortuna's big feline green eyes looked strange, almost as if it looked extremely worried about something.

Fortuna let out a soft meow, and Harry hugged his beautiful little mysticat tightly.

Harry had a strange feeling of foreboding, but shook it off, as Hermione broke apart and came over to him. They waited as Ron and Ginny made their goodbyes.

Ten minutes later, Ron and Ginny were ready to leave. Mrs. Weasley had tears in her eyes as she fussed about the state of Ron's collar and Ginny's hair.

"Got your portkeys?" sniffed Mrs. Weasley.

Mr. and Mrs. Granger hugged Hermione once again.

"Yes, Mum," said Ron and Ginny, holding up a Weasley sweater that was the portkey.

"Yes, Mrs. Weasley," said Harry and Hermione, holding up a goblet that was theirs'.

"Okay... in three... two... one..."

With an almighty tug, four students disappeared from Grimmauld Place.

Two of them arrived in Hogwarts.