Not Welcome at Christmas

Harry was woken at seven o'clock in the morning exactly when his daughter Lily jumped on him. As he opened his eyes, all could see was an orange blur jumping up and down on him. Lily had her mother's hair. Harry was still tired as he and Ginny had been up late doing the last minute present wrapping. It was Christmas Day and they were to play host to their family and friends this year.

"Wake up Daddy! Christmas! You said seven o'clock!" Harry seriously regretted teaching his three year old daughter to tell basic time, mostly because it had worked.

"I said you can get up at seven. Daddy wants to sleep some more." Lily just bounced some more until Harry yielded. She was out the door like a Firebolt, running down the stairs chanting 'Christmas Christmas!' Harry sat up and picked up his glasses from the bedside table. He turned to Ginny.

"How are you two this fine Christmas morning?"

Ginny smiled. "We're fine Harry." Harry stroked Ginny's belly lovingly. She was at least eight months pregnant, and showing it. Harry helped her out of the bed and they both put on their slippers and dressing gowns. They found Lily sitting cross legged on the living room floor, speedily eating a bowl of cereal. Her parents had made it quite clear that she had to have breakfast and wait for her grandparents to arrive before she could open her presents. A quick wave of Harry's wand cleaned up the spilled milk and cereal Lily had left in the kitchen.

The fire in the Potter's fireplace suddenly turned green, and Mrs. Weasley appeared, followed shortly by Mr. Weasley with a large bag of presents. Lily hugged her grandparents and gave them each a kiss. Harry took their coats and offered to make tea. Molly was particularly happy to see Ginny.

"Merry Christmas, dear, how's the baby?" she asked, putting her hand on Ginny's stomach.

"The baby's fine,mum." Ginny felt a little kick from inside. "See, it's kicking!"

Lily made a huge start on her presents under the tree. She had all kinds of new dolls from her parents as well as her grandparents. She found a long, oddly wrapped present for her at the back of the other presents. She unwrapped it to find, to her delight, a toy broomstick. Molly was a little concerned.

"Are you sure, Harry, I mean, do you think she's old enough?"

"Well you have to remember, Molly, Donald was the same age when he got his," said Arthur. Lily hugged her parents half to death. Harry made sure she understood the rules for using it.

"You're not to use it outside, not unless we go to Uncle Ron and Auntie Hermione's, or Grandma and Granddad's house. Okay?"

"Okay, Daddy!" Lily was soon hovering all over the house. After Harry cleared away the wrapping paper with his wand, he and Molly started making Christmas dinner. Arthur and Ginny sat in the living room chatting while Lily showed them her new toys and explained what they did.

In the kitchen Molly tapped a saucepan full of sprouts that started cooking. She sipped her tea then turned to her son in law.

"So, Harry, how many have we got coming?"

"Well, five extra for dinner, Ron, Hermione and the boys. Neville said he'd be over later this afternoon. I don't know about Fred and George."

"They said they'd be over later as well." Molly put her cup down. "Now, Harry, how are you getting on?"

"I'm coping," he sighed. "Lily's been excited, what with the new baby on the way and all. She's never any real trouble. It's all just anxiety from me really. It would help if Ginny wasn't so sure of everything." Molly put a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"Well, Ginny's always been like that. She hardly ever worries about anything. Today's not a day for worries. It's Christmas. Now you set the table and I'll keep an eye on things here." A few flicks of Harry's wand and the table cloth, plates, glasses and cutlery flew to the table.

There was a knock at the door which Harry answered. As soon as he opened the door he was almost knocked back when the two twins, Henry and Jonathan, charged forward, both clutching new Christmas toys, and hugged his legs.

"Unca Gary!" the two year olds cried in unison. Harry's youngest nephews were just starting to speak, so to them he was 'Unca Gary'. The two toddlers ran into the house to find 'Ganma', 'Gandad', 'Auntie Gimmy' and 'Lilla'. Harry's other nephew, Donald, walked through the door and offered his hand to Harry.

"Hello, Uncle Harry," he said politely. Since he turned six, he had been trying to establish himself as a 'big boy'. Harry shook his hand but stifled a laugh; to him Donald was still the young toddler showing him something he had found in one of his books. Donald was followed by Hermione, who hugged Harry. Ron came staggering after her, carrying two large bags of presents. Harry took one from him and laid it down carefully.

"Bloody hell, those are heavy," said Ron as he put the other bag down.

"Buddy ell!" came the voices of the two young twins. They had wandered back into the corridor.

"Ron!" scolded Hermione. "Please watch your language. You know they pick things up from you."

"Yes, dear," said Ron wearily. Henry and Jonathan ran up to Harry to show him the new toys they had got that morning.

"Unca Gary, ook! Dagon!" squeaked Henry. He showed Harry a small dragon figurine. Jonathan pushed in front of him.

"Unca Gary, Giffin!" he held up a small figure of a griffin. Harry chuckled, the twins always made him laugh.

"Come on, you two, let Uncle Harry finish dinner," said Hermione as she ushered the boys into the living room. Dinner was wonderful and very little of it ended up on the walls, despite the twins' best efforts. Donald and Lily both pulled Wizard crackers together while the twins just hit each other with them.

After dinner they all sat in the living room, all four children sat in front of all the new presents under the tree that people had brought.

"Can we open them?" asked Lily pleadingly.

"Please?" added Donald.

"Peas?" said Jonathan, coming to his brother's aid. Harry shook his head.

"Not until Neville gets here. He shouldn't be long. He's going to apparate just behind the tool shed so no one should see him." Sure enough, there was a knock at the door. Harry opened it to find Neville with even more presents.

"You'll be popular. Everyone's in the living room; go on through." Neville was indeed popular. He was greeted by the twins' cries of 'Unca Nemmel!" Before Neville had taken a single present from the bag, Harry's voice was heard from the kitchen.

"What are you doing here? You know perfectly well you're not welcome here!"

"Come now, Potter, not welcome on Christmas Day? Where's your holiday spirit?" said a voice everyone but the children recognised.

"You're not welcome the other three hundred and sixty four days of the year. After what you did, today's no different."

"Whoa! Well you can put that away for a start. I don't have one anymore, remember?"

"Mum, Dad, keep the kids in here. No, you stay here as well, Ginny," whispered Ron as he, Neville and Hermione went into the kitchen. They found Harry pointing his wand directly at the chest of Draco Malfoy. His robes were filthy and his hair, that had once been slicked back brilliantly, was messy and wild. He swayed slightly as he stood. He had been drinking.

"Ah, the whole gang's here! Well, aren't you going to invite me in?" he said loudly.

"Get lost!" hissed Harry though his teeth.

"Sorry, Harry, he must have followed me," said Neville quietly.

"You've nothing to be sorry for, Neville, said Harry without turning. "You, however, have a lot to be sorry for, Draco. Thanks to you, three Aurors lost their lives. You deserved what you got. Just turn around and leave, before I do something to land myself in Azkaban."

Draco shook his head and laughed. "You think you're so great, don't you, Potter? Yeah, the Boy Who Lived is great isn't he? Everyone loves him and why shouldn't they? He's helped people, he's a hero, and he still has his fucking wand and job, but not Draco. No, no one gives a toss about Draco. No one ever has. Seeing as I'm not welcome, I shall leave....and a merry fucking Christmas to you all!" Draco staggered out the door and disapparated.

Harry, Ron, Hermione and Neville went back into the living room to find Fred and George emerging from the fireplace with sacks of gifts and Santa hats on their heads.

"Merry Christmas everyone!" said Fred cheerfully. No one spoke.

"What's the matter everyone?" asked George casually. This time no-one spoke but Henry in his little voice,

"Bad man Daco, Unca Gorge,"