"HAPPY BIRTHDAY HARRY!!!!"
"Happy Birthday Daddy," Lily Luna echoed everyone else, and she gave her Dad a big kiss on his cheek, knocking the party hat on his head to one side.
Harry laughed as he lowered himself onto the chair at the head of the Potter's dining room table. He kissed Lily's cheek back. "Thank you," he said to her, then looked around the table. "Thank you, all of you." He smiled at the cake that sat before him, homemade by Gran the night before, and said, "That's a bloody lot of candles."
The fire glowed on his face from thirty-two candles, plus the one to grow on, as they sparked and flickered.
"Don't worry, I know a water spell," I joked.
"Oi Harry, Tedder's gone and called you out on that," Uncle Ron chuckled.
"Thirty-two isn't that old," Aunt Hermione, who would be turning thirty-three in October, said quickly. Gran nodded her agreement.
"It's ancient," said Albus, wide eyed.
"Did you know things are considered antiques after twenty-five years?" James-Sirius asked. "You're officially an antique, Dad."
"I prefer the term vintage," Ginny said, leaning over to hug her husband from behind and kissed the top of his head.
"Blow out the candles, Daddy!" begged Lily.
"If your antique lungs are strong enough," James-Sirius jeered.
Albus and Rose giggled.
"You better stop being fresh," Harry laughed, pointing at his son in playful anger.
James-Sirius grinned.
"Don't forget to make a wish!" Rose squealed as Harry took a deep breath.
"Oh, right," Harry stopped mid-inhale and paused, then closed his eyes, squeezing his eyelids up tight, took a deep breath, and blew out the candles in one go.
"Good job! Good job!" Albus clapped.
"What did you wish for?" Lily asked.
"I can't tell you or it'll never come true," Harry said, booping her nose.
"I hope it does this year," I told him.
Harry looked up at me and I could see it - I could see the wish in his eyes.
I wish my parents were here to see this.
"Me too, Tedders," he said.
Mostly Summer of 2012 was dull. I spent most of it at home, reading. I finished Chamber of Secrets by the end of the school term, but hadn't started another by the time I'd gone home for the summer. I'd left the books in my room at the school, so I wouldn't be able to start the next one when I returned in the Autumn for second year.
I did however take the time to thank Dierks Bell for lending me his books - I wrote an owl, at least, and sent it off with the post in mid July, assuring him I would read quicker and get the books back to him in tiptop shape. I got a reply back on the first of August.
Hey Teddy,
Don't worry about reading quickly through them. You have plenty of time with the books, don't worry. I hope you enjoy the others. Let me know if you want to talk about anything. Any time.
See you at Hogwarts, Dierks
I would've been itching to know when I'd get my books back if it was me, so I really appreciated how relaxed he was being about me borrowing the books. It was good to know I could read at a leisurely pace as I wanted to and not have to speed through and miss any details. I also was rather excited Dierks had offered to talk if I wanted to and I wondered if I could come up with something and maybe, just maybe, Dierks Bell would become my friend.
A real friend.
No offense to Dobby or George Michael, of course.
With that ultimate goal in mind, I'd written back to Dierks asking if he wanted to share a compartment on the Express but hadn't heard back by mid-August.
But I did get a letter from the Headmistress:
Dear Mr. Lupin,
Due to your unique circumstances, I have decided that it is acceptable for you to have permission to attend the school's Hogsmeade Weekends this year, despite being in your Second Year. Included is a permission slip. Please have your parent or guardian sign the form and you'll be welcome to attend the Weekend beginning with out first in October.
After reviewing your schedule and grades, I am also inclined to offer you a chance to choose an elective class to take this year, should you find yourself interested in any of the special courses Hogwarts has to offer in addition to the standard grade courses. Should you wish to do so, I have enclosed a list of classes you are welcomed to take this upcoming year.
Please select one and see me on 1 September in my office following the Welcome Feast in the Great Hall and we shall discuss.
Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry
I flipped the letter over to find the list of courses, and, on a separate sheet, my permission form for Hogsmeade.
Gran would never sign it, I thought, staring at the line where her signature would go. I glanced at the door, then turned back to the parchment, reaching for a quill.
I usually was left handed but I could write righty if I wanted to. So I signed it right handed so it didn't look like my own signature at all.
Andromeda Tonks
With a flourish so the tail of the S swept under the other letters.
Excellent, I thought.
I'd post it off in the morning.
And I was on to the list of options for classes.
Alchemy
Ancient Runes
Animagi Private Training (must apply)
Arithmancy
Basics of Healing & Magical Biology
Divination
Dragonology (year 6+)
Care of Magical Creatures
Magical Engineering
Muggle Studies
Numerology
Philosophy of Magic
Psychology of Magic
Theology of Magic
Wards & Abjuration
My finger had paused on Magical Engineering.
"Me and my new friend can have stuff to talk about for sure now," I muttered and I circled the option twice with my quill.
YOU ARE READING
It's Christmas Time Again: A Time-Traveling TMS Holiday Extravaganza
FanficChristmas has always been strongly related to Harry Potter for many of the fans of the series. Is there a reason that the season is so deeply entwined with The Boy Who Lived? Perhaps only Time can tell.
