The Halfwolf (Year 1)

The Burrow

The boys stopped just inside the living room next to the fireplace where a cheery fire was already burning. Albus and James were standing by their father, James still wearing a sour expression.

"Do you think Rose will be there already?" Albus was asking excitedly. Harry nodded.

"I've already flooed ahead and Uncle Ron is there with Rose and Hugo. He said Fred and Roxanne are there already, too. George and Angelina are spending the week there leading up to Christmas." James' face brightened at this.

"Fred is already there? Excellent!"

"Guess who else is spending this week there, Harry." Ginny came striding into the living room with the girls following along behind her, Lily on her hip. She stopped in front of her husband as he got up from the hearth, looking at her curiously. "Bill and his family." Harry's eyes widened.

"His family? He convinced Fleur to bring them this year? All of them?" Ginny grinned broadly and nodded.

"Phlegm, the girls, and Louise. All coming for Christmas. They'll be there this afternoon. Mum doesn't know yet. It's a surprise." She giggled. "She'll be surprised, alright." Harry gaped at her.

"How do you know they're coming?" he asked.

"I do owl my brothers now and then, silly." She quipped, walking past him and grabbing the jar of floo powder off the mantel piece. She turned to the assembly of children around her. "Alright, you lot, we're going to send you in pairs. I'm assuming the Finch-Fletchy's know how to use floo powder?" She asked, looking at Gretchen and Zach, who nodded. "Good. Can I trust you two to get there together, or do I need to separate you?" She asked her two sons.

"We'll behave, mum. I can take Albus to Gran's." Albus nodded enthusiastically.

"Alright then. Gretchen, Mary can go with you. I'm going to apparate with Lily. Harry, you'll have to figure out how you and Dudley are getting there, I suspect." Harry nodded. "Right then, make sure you bring everything the children need for the week. Yes, the week Harry. There's no way we're getting away from Mum once she sees everyone but Percy is there early. Might as well bring the tent and settle in early. I've already gotten our children's things together," She patted the messenger bag on her side, "So you'll just need to gather the Finch-Fletchy's and Mary's. Might as well let Neville and Luna know we are arriving at the Burrow a week early. They may be able to make it in a few days sooner. I'm so glad that Luna is going to meet her goddaughter at last!" Ginny kissed the top of Lily's head. Teddy furrowed his brow. Who was Luna? Albus was dancing around beside him.

"Uncle Neville too?! This is going to be the best Christmas EVER!" Ginny shooed her two boys into the now green flames, where James took a pinch of floo powder, grabbed his brother's hand, and yelled "The Burrow!". They spun out of sight.

"Alright, Teddy, you and Zach go next. Make sure those two don't destroy mum's house." Teddy laughed and, taking a pinch of floo powder himself, drug Zach into the fire and yelled "The Burrow!" The two boys went spinning through the fire, past dozens of other wizarding fireplaces until they finally slowed and stumbled out onto the hearth rug of a cramped, but cozy, kitchen.

"Oh, Teddy! It's you! Good to see you, dear." Mrs. Weasley, a plump little woman with red hair came bustling over and started brushing ash off both their clothes.

"It's good to see you too, Grandma Molly." He said as he gave her a hug. She patted his cheek, then turned to Zach.

"And you must be one of Teddy's friends from school." Zach opened his mouth and closed it, unsure what to say.

"This is Zach Finch-Fletchy, grandma. He's in my year and..."

"Finch-Fletchy? As in JUSTIN Finch-Fletchy?" a tall, lanky man with bright red hair and a thin face came striding into the kitchen. He wore a black leather vest like the one Harry wore to work as an Auror.