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I Believed in Father Christmas	By : sarcastrow Category: Harry Potter > General > General Views: 1699 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, and I do not make any money from these writings

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I Believed in Father Christmas

Chapter 9

I Wish You a Brave New Year

Seamus, Lavender, Dean, and Luna stood in the little park at Grimmauld Place and watched the house at Number Twelve appear. After checking to be sure that no Muggles were watching, they walked up the steps and Seamus rang the bell. The door opened to reveal Keacher, resplendent in his morning suit, smiling up at them.

“Welcome to the millennium party Master Finnigan, Master Thomas, and a very special welcome to you, Mistress Brown and Mistress Lovegood. Please, do come in.” He opened the door wide and stepped aside. The hallway, once dark and foreboding, had been radically changed over the last year and a half. Gone was the old and peeling wallpaper, having been replaced by a light tan paper with narrow vertical stripes of green. Flowers wound around the stripes and Seamus detected the smell of gardenia scenting the air. Seamus saw that the old clock had been cleaned, and it was ticking its way to midnight. The ancient gas lamps lining the walls had been mended and polished, and the hall was bathed in their yellow-white glow.

Mrs. Black’s former place had been taken by a new portrait: the only one Dean had painted that did not feature Luna alone. Every surviving member of Dumbledore’s Army looked out from the painting, and they waved and smiled at the four as they passed. The other portraits on the wall had been cleaned and straightened. Several of the members of the most ancient and noble house of Black looked out from their canvases, some smiled, others gave a look of polite disdain for the recent arrivals.

“Still kind o’ creepy seeing meself there,” Seamus remarked, tipping his head at the portrait of the D.A.

“I think that it’s Dean’s best so far,” Luna said.

“Yeah, yeah.” Dean hugged her. “The one I’m doing now will be better than that.”

“Perhaps you should paint Lavender next,” Luna suggested.

“With her kit on!” Seamus said quickly.

Lavender gave him a sidelong look and then a smile.

“Actually I’d very much like to paint her,” Dean said, and turned to Lavender. “But I’d like to paint you in wolf, when you’re ready.”

“I’ll think about it, Dean.” She nodded to herself and looked at him. “I will.”

Keacher showed them to the cloakroom under the stairs. They hung their travel cloaks, and the girls left their bags in the little room, then the smiling old elf led them to the drawing room. Lavender had only been to Grimmauld Place once before and had only been in the hall and kitchen then. She was amazed at the display of old wealth that was the House of Black’s drawing room.

The display cases caught her eye, and she wandered over to them. The dark objects from the Black family’s past were long gone, and in their place Harry had put things that were just as valuable even in their commonness. The mokeskin pouch lay on the top shelf, a shard of mirror, a snow white owl feather, and an old snitch lay beside it. The next shelf down held a pair of keeper's gloves, the deluminator, and a prefect’s badge. Sitting on the third shelf was a tattered beaded bag, a copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard, and another prefect’s badge. The fourth held the key to a Gringotts vault, a hollow glass heart pendant with a lock of black hair trapped inside, and a head girl badge. Lavender smiled, so that’s what Harry left you when he went hunting Riddle. On the bottom shelf sat a curved black wand that had been snapped in half and next to it a silver dagger. Lavender knew well the significance of each of these objects to the residents of the house.

The case on the opposite side of the fireplace had only a top shelf. On it sat a Hogwarts house elf uniform and an open locket with a tiny scrap of parchment in it. Under the shelf a fine silvery cloak hung on a peg, a large blank piece of parchment protruding from the inside pocket.

She nodded and her eyes rose to the mantelpiece. At least a dozen framed photos were packed of the narrow plank. Harry’s parents danced and waved in one. Ron, Hermione, and Harry, eternally twelve years old laughed in the next. There was the photo of the original members of the Order of the Phoenix. There was one of Ron and Hermione, the same one that was on the wedding invitation. There was one of Harry and Ginny that appeared to have been recently taken at the Burrow. Lavender smiled and traced a finger lovingly down a photo of Harry taken just after the final battle. He still bore some of the cuts and scrapes, but the joyful, weary smile he wore told of hope and triumph. Thank you, she thought. You deserve all this happiness and more.

“He’s a lucky bloke,” Seamus said.

She snorted. “Good thing.”

“He, at one time, possessed all three of the Deathly Hallows,” Luna said from Dean’s side. “Luck wasn’t part of the equation.”

“Really don’t understand why he didn’t keep ‘em all,” Dean said.

“Because, my old friend,” Harry said from the doorway, “I didn’t want to spend my life fighting off challengers for the wand, or dwelling on the past.”

“Good evening, Harry,” Luna said as she walked to him. She rose onto her toes and kissed his cheek.

“Hands off the merchandise, blondie,” Ginny said. She entered the room in a flurry of red hair and turquoise satin.

Luna turned to her, and Ginny enveloped her in a hug. Luna kissed her cheek as well and said, “I am perfectly willing to share my affections with you both, as I have offered many times.”

Dean was looking at the carpet, shaking his head, and chuckling. “Don’t think Ginny’s the sharing type, my love.”

“Oh yes, I am quite aware of Ginny’s persistent protectiveness of her relationship. I only offer our companionship from time to time.” She kissed Ginny full on the mouth. “Perhaps one day…”

Dean was still smiling broadly and laughing as Luna rejoined him. The rest of the people in the room were shaking off the stunned mental images that had suddenly intruded into their minds. Only Dean saw the look in Luna’s eyes that told him she knew exactly what she had just done and how funny she thought it was. You really do enjoy fooling with people’s perceptions, don’t you, my love? he sent to her.

People are at their most honest and real when prodded from their routine, besides, I was completely honest, and it is very funny. Her smile went all the way to her eyes, and Dean hugged her to him.

Lavender recovered first. “Yes, well, are we the first to arrive?” she asked Harry.

Harry shook his head and said, “Neville and Hannah are in the kitchen making Keacher and Dilly’s lives miserable, but they got here an hour ago.” He chuckled himself. “Neville misread the clock and thought they were late. Would you like drinks?”

“Keacher has anticipated our guests' thirst, Master Harry,” the old elf said as he walked into the room, a large tray with two thirds full champagne flutes floating ahead of him. “I took the liberty of opening a bottle from the cellar for the first arrivals,” -his voice dropped to the mutter he had never really lost- “the first ones at the correct time that is.” He brightened and looked at Harry. “This is a superb vintage from the 1890’s.”

Harry lifted one from the tray and took a sip. “Very nice. Good job, Kreacher.” He looked at his friends. “The Blacks collected a lot of things; one was fine wines. I’m still finding things in the cellar we didn’t know were there.” The others each took a glass from the tray, and Harry lifted his in a toast. “To friends and lovers,” he said as he looked around the room. “May we see many more New Years.”

“I’ll drink to that,” Ron said as he and Hermione entered. He took the two remaining flutes and handed one to his fiancée. “Friends and lovers.” They all clinked their glasses together and laughed as they sipped the champagne.

Hermione and Ron wandered over to Seamus and Lavender, while Ginny, Luna, Dean, and Harry chatted on the other side of the room. “I understand we need to get you a housewarming gift,” Hermione said mischievously to Lavender.

“Yeah, yeah, go ahead, take the piss out of us,” she replied. “But just remember you’re getting married in a month and a half, and there’s a hen party.” The implied message in her expression was clear.

Hermione hugged her and whispered, “I’m so happy for you,” in her ear.

Ron clapped Seamus on the shoulder. “Isn’t it a bit crowded in that tiny flat?”

“It’s not that small,” Lavender said. “Parv and Padma’s place was smaller and we didn’t have any trouble.” She smiled. “The only problem we have is the bathroom, and that’s just getting used to everyone’s schedule. Once Luna and I figure out who’s doing hair on what day we’ll be fine.”

“Yeah,” Seamus said. “All o’ Dean’s art stuff is up in the attic so there’s really plenty o’ room to spread out.” He looked at Ron and smirked. “You’ve just got used to it here, all this big house and empty rooms. I’d think you’d remember what it was like at your home. We’re certainly not as crowded as the Burrow was.”

Ron rolled his eyes and nodded. “Yeah, point to you, mate.”

“Have you met Mrs. Black?” Hermione asked Lavender.

“No, Seamus says she’s very different than when you were first here.” She looked across the room at the tall dark man next to the willowy blonde. “Dean is amazing, isn’t he?”

Ron nodded, and then laughed.

“What’s so funny?” Seamus asked him.

“Oh it just occurred to me looking at them. Dean dated Ginny, and Harry went on a date with Luna, now they're with the people they should be. It just struck me as funny.”

Seamus nudged him with his shoulder. “Almost the same here. You dated Lav, and as I recall I did ask Hermione out once.”

Lavender and Ron turned and looked at the other two. “When was that?” they said at almost the same time.

“The week before your seventeenth birthday, Ronald,” Hermione said smugly.

“Oh.”

Lavender laughed and said brightly, “Yes, well the less we think about those few weeks the better.” She looked in Hermione’s face. “Don’t you think?”

Hermione put her hand on Lavender's. “Absolutely.” The two women grinned at each other for a moment and then burst into laughter.

*

“Mrs. Black, I’d like to introduce my friend Lavender Brown.” Hermione stood in front of the portrait of the matriarch of the Black family. Dean’s handiwork went well beyond simply repainting her, he had rejuvenated her, and in the process she had discovered a gentler side of her spirit. Her pure blood mania had drifted away when she had discovered that the chestnut haired woman living in the house was every bit her intellectual equal. They had become friends, Hermione sharing her rise in the ministry and her frustrations at its incomprehensible bureaucracy, and Mrs. Black laughing and telling her how little things had changed since her tenure on the Wizengamot. The now beautiful woman sat in her portrait and smiled at the two younger women before her. A vase of fresh flowers sat on a shelf just to the right of the painting, mirroring the ones on the table in her portrait, and Hermione smiled at them. Kreacher made sure that there were always fresh blooms in her vase.

“A pleasure, Miss Brown,” Mrs. Black said. “Hermione has told me much about you. I’m happy to see that animal didn’t mar your face; you’re very pretty.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Black. You’re very beautiful yourself.”

The painted woman smiled and blushed. “Dean Thomas’s work. I’ll never be able to thank him enough.” Mrs. Black looked down at Lavender with a knowing expression. “So, you’re involved with young Master Finnigan, are you?” She chuckled to herself. “You know he lived here for almost a year. How is ‘the last living bachelor’ doing these days?”

*

“Harry, who the bloody hell is that?” Dudley asked, wide eyed. “She’s gorgeous!”

Harry chuckled and turned to his cousin. “Her name’s Cho Chang, we dated a bit in fifth year.”

“Oh, sorry, I was going to ask you to introduce me,” the burly blonde man said, his face coloring.

“No problem, Big D,” Harry said smiling. “Come with me.”

Lavender watched as Harry led his cousin across the ball room to the raven haired witch. As much as Lavender hated Rita Skeeter, she had read her book on Harry, and she, like almost everyone else in the wizarding world, knew the history between the two young men. When Harry had introduced Dudley Dursley to his friends on his arrival many of them given Dudley a less than cordial welcome, but then Harry had made it plain to all that he expected them to treat Dudley well. She had listened intently as Harry described the change he had seen happen to his cousin. After they had been attacked by the Dementors in the summer before Harry’s fifth year, Dudley had changed. He had lost easily a hundred pounds, if not more. He had, in the short time Harry had spent with him after that, treated Harry with respect and a kind of friendship, and Harry was eager to have him in his life. He would never have a relationship with his uncle, and because of that his aunt, his only real connection to his mother, was lost to him. “But at least I can have Dudley,” he had told his friends and clapped Dudley on the back. “So be nice.”

Dudley had flushed a bright crimson while Harry talked, but he smiled broadly when the other guests had come forward and accepted him. Then they had peppered him with questions about Harry’s youth. Was it true he slept under the stairs? Did he remember anything from the time Harry was deposited on their doorstep? Was it true that Dumbledore himself had come to their house?

Seamus had been the first to shake Dudley’s hand and offer him a drink, and Lavender had glowed with pride for her love. It was quite a turnaround for him as he had been one of the instigators of a plot during sixth year to exact some degree of revenge on the Dursleys for their treatment of Harry, but Harry had discovered it and scuttled the plan. Good thing Parv and I weren’t in on that, she had thought and smirked. You’d still be undoing our hexes. When she joined Seamus and Dudley part of her was secretly thrilled at Dudley’s inability to control his reaction as he swept his eyes over her, and she was even more pleased at Seamus when he leaned in to Dudley and happily said, “Taken, mate.”

Now, as she watched, she could see the look he had given her was nothing compared to the amazed, awestruck face he presented to Cho. Good, she needs some flattery. Lavender reflected on her friend, for such a beautiful girl Cho had lousy luck with men. Her first love had been murdered, a blow many never recover from, and her second had been Harry. Lavender smirked; inept was the best, nicest description of his courting efforts where Cho had been concerned. After her relationship with Harry had fizzled Cho had not been involved with anyone, save for a fleeting few weeks with Roger Davies before he left on an extended diplomatic mission to South America.

She nodded to herself, sipped her drink, and smiled. Cho was looking at Dudley in a way all women recognize. Look out, Mr. Dursley, she turns on the charm and you are done for. She was still sniggering when Seamus joined her.

*

“Okay everybody, let’s dance,” Harry shouted, and nodded at Dudley.

Behind a screen of protective spells Dudley’s stereo set came to life. Four hundred watts worth of The Weird Sisters pounded out of the two massive speakers he had brought with him, and the crowd bounced and writhed to the rhythm. Seamus looked to his right and smiled at the love of his life. They preferred smooth jazz for dancing, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t enjoy more modern styles. He gracefully took her hand and spun her out onto the dance floor in the ballroom. Seamus liked the slower styles because it allowed him to hug her close and feel her fit against him, but watching Lavender thrash about to a more modern beat did have its appeal. Her hair flew around her face, and her dress clung to her, accentuating the wonderful curves he was so enamored of.

After a few fast numbers a slower ballad started and Seamus pulled Lavender to him. They swayed and weaved across the floor among the other couples. For the most part his eyes were on Lavender, but he couldn’t help noticing the others. Harry and Ginny were glued together, as were Ron and Hermione. While both men had learned to dance, and dance well, what they were engaged in at the moment resembled vertical foreplay more than anything else. Luna, true to herself, was dancing to a completely different rhythm, but Dean didn’t seem to have any trouble keeping up with her. Neville and Hannah were slowly swaying in the middle of the floor, eyes closed and enraptured. He felt Lavender giggle.

“What’s so funny?” he whispered in her ear.

They turned and she nodded her head toward another couple. Dudley had left his musical equipment to mind itself and was dancing with Cho. She looked up at him with her beautiful, coy smile, and he looked at her with a still slightly amazed and dazed expression. “I think we may be seeing the beginning of a romance here,” she said, her breath tickling his ear.

“Good on them,” he said as he looked in her eyes. The music started to fade and Seamus took the opportunity and kissed her.

“You know, if you’re going to do that, there are other rooms in this great big house,” Parvati said as she and Anthony Goldstein came to a stop beside them.

Lavender smiled at her best friend. “Piss off,” she said and laughed. “Where’s Padma?”

“I think she and Blaise are getting drinks.”

Seamus nodded. “I’m glad he’s here. Harry didn’t think he’d come.”

“I knew he would.” Anthony shrugged. “He’s pretty brave, if it wasn’t for his family history he’d probably have been a Gryffindor like you.”

Lavender chuckled. “Yeah, well he’d better be if he wants to keep seeing Padma. She’s not one for the meek.”

They all shared a knowing laugh. Padma and Parvati may have been identical twins, but their personalities differed in several ways. Parvati was far more “girly”, she loved fashion, and perfume, and soft linens. Padma, while she enjoyed dressing well, wasn’t nearly as interested in the latest from Paris as she was in the newest developments in spell architecture coming out of the department of mysteries. Parvati was gentle and easy going in her relationship with Anthony, Padma was firm and a little demanding with Blaise, but the dark Slytherin was obviously in love with her. Both Blaise and Padma worked in the Auror office at the Ministry, and at an after work get together the brash Slytherin had asked her out. From then on, an intense, sometimes stormy, but most often passionate romance had begun. Parvati and Anthony had been together for years, and Lavender wondered when he was going to ask her to be his bride. When she had mentioned it to her, Parvati had simply smiled and said, “He will. All I have to do is tell him the time is right.”

“Well I have this idea,” Seamus said. “I think I need to chat with Mr. Zabini.”

*

“Three, Two, One, Happy New Year!” All around the ball room small explosions of confetti burst randomly from poppers attached to the ribbons hung from the ceiling and light fixtures. It was a reflection of the massive fireworks display a few miles away on the Thames. George and Hermione had spent several hours rigging and charming the poppers to go off just after midnight, and the effect was everything they had hoped for. The revelers laughed, kissed, and drank toasts as the poppers randomly burst, filling the room with a gentle swirling rain of tiny bits of color. After Lavender released Seamus from their loving New Year’s kiss he took her hand and kissed it.

“Got something I need to do, Love. I’ll be right back.”

She looked curious. “Okay, what?”

“Oh, just a little New Years tradition.” He winked at her. “Needs doing.”

She gave him a quick peck. “Don’t be long.”

“I won’t, It’ll just take a few moments. Where’s Blaise?”

Lavender smirked. “Find Padma, you’ll find him.” She laughed. “I think they were over by Dudley and Cho.”

Lavender watched Seamus disappear into the mass of people in the ball room. All around her were her friends and their loves. Luna and Dean, a few feet away, were lost in each other’s eyes. Ron still hadn’t released Hermione from a snog that was turning very sensual. He pressed her to him, one hand in her hair the other around her waist. For her part Hermione had both arms around his waist and one foot was twirling behind her. Lavender giggled at them. The prim, proper bookworm was so lost in her love that she was completely oblivious to the throng around them. Harry and Ginny stood side by side at the fireplace looking out at their friends. She had her head laid against his shoulder and he had his arm around her pulling her close. Oliver Wood and Katie Bell were dancing to unheard music and grinning like fools. She caught a glimpse of Seamus as he found Padma and Blaise before the crowd obscured him again. A hand laid on her shoulder and she turned to find George Weasley standing in front of her with Angelina Johnson on his arm.

“Well, don’t you two make a charming couple,” she said, and chuckled.

“What… wait,” George spluttered. “We’re … we’re just friends, just hanging out as friends.”

Lavender laughed again. “Yeeeaaah right.”

Angelina smiled and glared at her coven-mate. “Stuff it, wolfie,” she sniggered. “We were just wondering where your other half is.”

Lavender tossed her head. “He’s off on a mission of some sort. Said he’d be back…”

Three loud knocks sounded from the front door, and Seamus’s voice, pitched deep and powerful, boomed in the hall. “The New Year has come! Open your door and let prosperity in!”

All eyes turned to Harry who looked puzzled for a moment, and then an expression of understanding appeared on his face as he nodded. Taking Ginny’s hand he strode through the crowd and out the door of the ballroom. Everyone followed them down the stairs and to the front door. Harry waited until everyone had gathered in the entry hall, and then he flung open the door. Blaise stood there, a large loaf of bread in one hand and a lump of coal in the other. Seamus was standing just behind him, smiling.

Lavender beamed with pride. The dark haired man! Her heart overflowed with love and admiration for Seamus.

Blaise looked stern and regal as he delivered the age old lines. “I bring bread, so that all those who dwell here will be fed.” He handed the loaf to Ginny. “I bring coal, so that all those who dwell here will be warm.” He handed the coal to Harry, and then walked through the crowd to Padma. “And I bring love, so that all those who dwell here will know happiness.” He looked into her surprised eyes, and then bent and kissed her soundly. A roar of cheers and applause filled the entry hall, and after he turned from Padma many of the guests patted Blaise on the back and shook his hand.

“I love you,” Lavender told Seamus as she hugged and kissed him. Her eyes were sparkling, reflecting the crystals in the chandelier. “That was such a capital idea! Parv has been complaining that a lot of folks think just because he was in Slytherin that he was a supporter of Riddle. You just went a long way towards fixing that.” She laughed. “You’re really on a roll, Shay.”

“’Twas nothing really, me love.” He brushed her hair away from her face and smiled, looking into the deep emerald pools of her eyes. “I wonder if someone let the old year out yet.” He took her hand. “Let’s go look.”

Seamus led her through the remaining partygoers in the entry hall and then they made their way through the kitchen, now crowded with late night snackers. Just outside the open door, on the patio overlooking the garden, they found Kreacher smoking a cigar.

“Didn’t know you smoked Kreach,” Seamus said, patting the elf on the shoulder.

“You wouldn’t notice a dragon setting your arse on fire with Mistress Brown in the vicinity,” Kreacher muttered, and then turned to them. “I have one a year, at New Year. It’s an old tradition for the elves of Grimmauld Place. Mistress Black procured some fine Cubanos many years ago, and Master Harry is not allowed to have a cigar.” He muttered something they couldn’t hear. “As a consequence Mistress Ginny said I may have them all. Still, I wouldn’t want to make a habit of it, so I have reserved them for New Year, and I keep to the old tradition.”

“Was it you opened the back door to let the old year out?” Seamus asked.

“Another of the house elf duties here, yes.” He turned to Lavender. “I must say I am happy with the effect Mistress Brown has on you Master Finnigan.”

He laughed. “Is that so, Kreach. Why’s that then?”

Mischievous ancient eyes looked at him, and Kreacher’s smile lit his whole face. “Because you are considerably less of an arse with her around.”

Lavender burst into hysterics. Seamus gave her a sidelong look, but then he to cracked and guffawed.

When she had recovered enough to speak Lavender bent and kissed the top of Kreacher’s head. “Enjoy your freedom, Kreacher. I can see you’ve embraced it.” She laughed again.

“Aye, that he has,” Seamus said with a chuckle, and then he turned to Lavender. “The garden’s dormant just now, but I’m still a bit warm, would you care to walk the path and let me cool off?”

“Sure and I’d be happy to,” she replied in a near perfect imitation of his mother, causing Seamus look at her, startled.

He laughed. “You’ve been spending too much time with Sheighly and Mam, you have.”

“Enjoy your cigar, Kreacher,” said Lavender, and she and Seamus turned to the garden path.

*

Lavender dropped her dressing gown to the floor and slid into the bed. Seamus wrapped his arms around her and kissed her forehead. “Happy New Year, love,” he said wearily.

“Um hmm, love you,” she managed before a jaw-cracking yawn overtook her.

“Knackered are you?”

“Um hmm.” She didn’t even open her eyes; she just laid her head on his shoulder, her arm across his chest, and entwined her right leg with his left. “We’ll celebrate in the morning, but right now… I’m…”

Seamus smiled as her breathing slowed; he really envied her ability to fall asleep in seconds. It wasn’t far away for him either, as his eyes drooped shut he thought about how the last week had changed his life yet again. As he drifted off, the last thing he thought was, it’s always her. It’s always been her. Every time me life takes a wild turn she’s in the middle of it; first day of school, the Yule Ball, the D.A., the battle, Mam and Dad’s twenty-fifth, and now this. I guess this is how life goes then, isn’t it, me lad? You go along and everything is in order, everything is the same, and then in one day one thing changes everything else, and the whole world is different. He hugged the sleeping girl in his arms. I love you so, Lavender Brown. Thank you for changing me world... again.
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I Believed in Father Christmas