Chapter 7: A Christmas of Dread

Harry slowly awoke with a pleasant feeling about him. He attempted to stretch his arms, but Ginny remained firmly wrapped around his warm body. Harry and his wife rested in her old bedroom within the Burrow, with Ginny wearing the only clothing between them, and but an old tee-shirt at that.

With a soft and pleasant moan, Ginny opened her eyes and slowly moved her head up until she was face to face with Harry.

"Merry Christmas." Harry said with a warm smile. He tried to kiss Ginny, but she kept him back, a playful smile on her face.

"Not yet." She giggled, reaching for her wand before aiming it over them. After muttering something, Harry saw mistletoe grow on the ceiling over them.

"Marry Christmas!" Ginny laughed before sharing a long and passionate kiss with her husband, their tongues dancing around each other.

Despite McGonagall asking them to remain at Hogwarts for Christmas, Harry and Ginny wanted to be home with their family. This year, Percy and George would be home, both having gone to their wives' families for Christmas the previous years. The entire Weasley clan would be together, and not just them.

"Got any early presents for me?" Ginny asked in a certain manner.

"Come on. We pressed our luck last night. You want to risk your mom or dad to hear us this morning?" Harry laughed, and soon Ginny joined, kissing him again.

"Come off it. My mum wouldn't pass up the chance for us to give her the gift she really wants from us."

"Maybe, but we don't want to miss out on Teddy opening our presents, do we?"

Ginny took a deep breath and nodded.

"You're right." Ginny sat up and stretched. She turned to the floor, intentionally moving her exposed backside in front of Harry's face and moving it in a way that beckoned him on.

"That, that's not going to work, Ginny." Harry didn't sound the least bit convincing as he spoke, earning a sly grin from his wife, who remained where she was.

"Alright, I'll make it up to you tonight." Harry said, moving ahead and kissing both cheeks, earning another soft moan.

"Accio cloths." Ginny finally said, her underwear and pajama bottom flying over alongside Harry's. A few minutes later, they walked out across the upper floors of the Burrow.

A few other bedroom doors lay there, and as they came out, Harry and Ginny noticed none other than Chiara sneaking out of one bedroom into another. Ginny threw her hands over Harry's eyes with her lightning-fast Quidditch reflexes when she saw the Flemish witch was butt-naked.

"That stupid, horny, prat!" Ginny growled. Charlie ended up bringing Chiara home for Christmas, but the fact that they weren't married quickly caught Mrs. Weasley's eye. With all their children moved out, Molley and Arthur could afford to add more rooms, much to Mrs. Weasley's desire when she met Charlie's girlfriend.

She insisted they sleep in two separate rooms, though not that it mattered much. This wasn't the first time, nor were they the only ones to catch a naked Chiara sneaking out of Charlie's room.

Harry and Ginny distinctly remembered hearing Fleur yelp in french two days prior, and Hermione did the same in English three days ago. Despite having a full house, Mrs. Weasley couldn't stop Chiara.

"Honest to God, what if Teddy or Victorie see her?!" Ginny continued to growl. Harry, however, put his hand on her shoulder with an easing grip.

"Come on. It's Christmas. Let's not get worked up about it." With a reluctant breath, Ginny nodded and continued with Harry downstairs, where Percy, Audrey, Molly, Arthur, and Hermione's parents were already up drinking coffee. In the living room rested a large Christmas tree with several moving ornaments and a vast hoard of wrapped presents.

"Morning Ginny, Harry! Merry Christmas!" Molly beamed with a glowing smile.

"Morning, mum." Ginny yawned.

"You two are just in time. Coffee is always best when it's fresh." Percy said, waving his wand at the pot and pouring two mugs before floating them over.

"Thanks." Harry said. However, he and Ginny noticed slightly uneasy looks from Hermione's parents as they watched the whole thing unfold. Despite having a witch daughter and being part of the Weasley extended family for years now, the two muggles had to feel a bit overwhelmed by the magical world.

Mr. Weasley's obsession with muggles and constant questions on their life certainly didn't help. Though for Author, having one of his kids marry a muggle-born made him beyond happy.

"Is it true you have machines that brew coffee on their own?!" He asked Mr. Weasley with a child-like curiosity.

"Well, they need water, filters, and coffee grounds, but-" He started.

"Incredible!"

"They need to stop answering his questions. He thinks of three more for every one answered." Audrey whispered to Harry, Ginny, and Percy. After sitting down, more and more of the house woke up to join them.

Ron and Hermione came down first, much to Hermione's parents' relief. Both undoubtedly felt more comfortable around so many witches and wizards with their daughter among them.

George and Angelina came after, followed by Bill, Fleur, and Victorie, then Andromeda and Teddy. To Harry's surprise, Teddy and Victorie seemed more interested in playing with each other than the mountain of gifts waiting in the living room.

"I think they like each other. Maybe they'll get married one day." Ginny chuckled, earning a widening smile from Harry.

"Is the ham ready?" Molly asked nervously, looking over at Fleur, who nodded.

"A few more minutes, I'll get to work on the toast." The French witch said in a similar tone.

"Harry, Ginny, do you mind giving us a hand?" Molly asked in a frantic voice.

"Sure, we-" Harry started.

"Bonjour! Joyeux No?l!" Chiara's voice carried from the staircase as she came down with Charlie close behind. Molly and Fleur both grit their teeth as if sandpaper rubbed against them.

"Damn it." Molly muttered at the same time Fleur cursed in french.

"Morning, Charlie, Chiara." Ron said in a slightly cautious tone as he watched them enter the kitchen. Hermione's face turned slightly red when she noticed the flemish witch's pajama bottoms sagging down to expose an inch or so of her behind. She muttered something, aiming her hand at Chiara's backside and the pajama bottoms moved up.

"Need any help?" She asked a very flustered Molly and Fleur.

"Actually, we think we have-" Molly started.

"I insist. Besides, I need to get Claire's breakfast ready!"

"...Yes, the dragon you had to bring." Molly suppressed a growl and gave a very stern look towards Charlie, who nervously retreated behind Bill and George.

Harry remembered how much Molly Weasley and Ginny hadn't like Fleur during her engagement to Bill. But now, she and Fleur stood in a united front against Chiara, who Mrs. Weasley loathed with such a passion that it made her initial dislike of Fleur look warm.

Harry glanced out a window at the Hungarian Horntail Chiara, and Charlie brought with them. Despite Hagrid insisting he could watch after her, Chiara refused to leave the dragon in anyone else's care.

Both were beyond terrified that Claire would hurt Victorie, who, like Teddy, showed immense interest in the Horntail. Plus, Chiara's other demeanor regarding her decency got on all the witch's nerves, especially Hermione, as it wasn't the first time she'd been forced to keep the flemish witch from 'accidentally' exposing herself.

Chiara would often try to converse with Fleur in french, but somehow this seemed to irritate Fleur even more. After preparing a vast amount of sheep meat, Chiara beckoned Charlie over.

"I think Claire's going to love her breakfast! I made it extra bloody! Let's go feed her! Are you sure she can't eat with us, I know she-"

"Keep the dragon outside!" Molly almost snarled.

"Yes, please!" Mr. and Mrs. Grandger pleaded. Both beyond terrified of the beast.

"It's probably for the best. Claire is still getting used to so many strangers." Charlie said as he took Chiara by the shoulder.

"Alright. But I'm telling you, she's gentler than that cat." Chiara said, turning her glance onto Crookshanks, earning a sharper look of contempt from Hermione.

"Can we watch, mama, papa! S'il vous pla?t!" Victorie shouted in glee.

"No!" Molly, Fleur, and Andromeda all shouted in unison towards Victorie and Teddy, who looked beyond disappointed. Both glanced at Bill and Harry, who shook their heads.

Charlie shut the door behind them before Molly cast a sound barrier over it, and Bill covered Victorie's ears while Harry did the same to Teddy.

"That french harlot!" Molly snarled.

"Flemish, don't bring France into this." Fleur corrected her mother-in-law.

"Right, sorry."

"You're right about her, though. I swear, she-"

"Come on. I think you're a bit hard on her. She's very nice and clearly loves Charlie-" Arthur started.

"Come on. She practically goes at him like a rabbit." Angelina chimed in, backing up Molly and Fleur.

"That's not even mentioning her decency! I swear if it weren't for my quick magic, she'd be walking around here naked, more than she already does!" Hermione growled.

The men glanced at each other nervously, none willing to comment on this particular point.

"Does she even consider the children here!?" Andromeda added.

"Maybe she is a bit eccentric, but aren't we all in some way?" George asked before Ginny pointed out the window. All eyes turned to Chiara, who held half a piece of sheep-meat in her mouth as she offered it to Claire, whose large tongue slid into Chiara's mouth as she did so.

Audrey, Angelina, Fleur, and Mrs. Weasley all cringed seeing this, but Chiara seemed happy about the ordeal and even began licking the Horntail's snout while Charlie laughed.

"That's not right." Molly muttered, struggling not to gag.

"So she's passionate about dragons. That just makes her a perfect match for Charlie." Harry said in her defense.

"Maybe, if she had any intention of marrying him." Ginny said in a way that made all heads shoot to her.

"What?!" Molly almost shouted before Ginny explained Chiara's desire to be Charlie's mate for life.

Molly and Mrs. Granger almost fainted, and even Arthur looked disturbed by this.

"...Did she mean-" Ron nervously started.

"No." Hermione answered in a stern voice.

"Well, this is Charlie's life, we shouldn't-" Bill began.

"Bill, two weeks ago, I saw them sneaking out of the prefect's private bath chamber. Charlie looked terrified when he saw me, but Chiara just held up a playful finger to her lip while laughing.

Harry's mouth dropped. Ginny hadn't told him about this story and now wished it remained that way.

"That's it. I'm putting a stop to it now!" Molly roared, having turned red in the face. She turned to the doorway only to feel Arthur's hand on her shoulder.

"Molly, confronting them about this isn't going to solve the problem."

"So do what!? Sit back and watch until she has a few illegitimate children with him? Until she gets him into trouble! I won't!"

"No, I think dad's right, mom." Ginny said begrudgingly.

"Charlie's an adult. If you tell him to leave her, he's just going to cling on even harder."

Audrey nodded.

"Yes, he might even pick her over you."

"He, he wouldn't do that." Molly didn't sound sure of herself and even began shaking.

"Let us handle it." Hermione said with a determined expression.

"Yes, we'll make sure she understands she can't keep at Charlie like this." Ginny said.

The men continued to look at each other uneasily.

"This won't end well." George whispered, earning a nod from each of them.

Eventually, Chiara and Charlie came back in and joined the others for Christmas breakfast. Fried eggs, sausages, bacon, ham, french toast, and more filled their plates.

"So, how does it hold up to Hogwart's feasts?" Fleur asked with a growing smile alongside Molly.

"Oh, that's a tough one. Those house-elves are skilled." Ginny chuckled.

"Oui! But this is delicious too." Chiara said with a smile. Despite this, Molly struggled not to look upset with her.

"Well, I'm glad you like it." Chiara didn't notice the contempt in Mrs. Weasley's voice, but Charlie did and shot an unsavory look at his mother.

"I take it Neville's enjoying his time as a teacher then?" Ron asked while taking a sausage.

"Yep, and he's really good at it."

"He's great, and the students love him." Ginny added.

"Well, we certainly miss him in the office. But I'm glad he's teaching at Hogwarts." Hermione said with a beaming smile.

"Aww, don't miss me at the office, then?" Ron asked as Hermione shook her head.

"Nope." She answered playfully.

"Don't let it bother you, Ron. You're much better suited for a joke shop than the ministry of magic." George said, laughing halfway through when he and Ron noticed a somewhat approving look from Percy.

"I like it at the shop better anyway."

"How's Hagrid doing?" Hermione asked.

"He's finally got dragons to look over and loving every moment of it." Harry answered with a growing smile.

"He's a fast learner, that Hagrid, and very friendly." Chiara said.

"I knew he would be. I can't tell you how many times he wrote to me before this year asking about them. But sir Guillot knows even more than us." Charlie said. At the mention of Guillot's name, Fleur almost blushed.

"Sir Guillot! That's right. He's, he's at Hogwarts, isn't he! What's he like! Please tell me everything!" Fleur nearly shouted.

A glance from Bill made her straighten up.

"Well, he's happily married to a Veela, for starters." Ginny said with a slight smirk.

"Ahhh, he does have good tastes then." Fleur said proudly, earning a slight chuckle from Bill.

"I don't know how he does it. His dragon obeys his every command like a well-trained dog. I'm actually a bit envious." Charlie sighed.

"Aww, ne t'inquiète pas. We'll get there, mon amour." Chiara half-kissed, half-licked Charlie's cheek in a way that made Molly and the other women grit their teeth.

"What about that attack from the Protectors of Life?" Percy asked, the mood dimming instantly as if someone turned out the lights.

Andromeda covered Teddy's ears while Fleur did the same to Victorie. Harry, Ginny, Charlie, and Chiara all looked quite uneasy, each remembering the attack well.

"It just happened one day during quidditch class. They were attacking students, Charlie, Chiara, and I held them off until Harry arrived with backup, and they retreated." Ginny said in a somewhat cold voice.

"Protectors of Life?" Mr. Granger asked cautiously.

"Oh right, let me explain." Hermione explained the cult to her parents, both of whom gasped with pale faces.

"Bunch of foul gits they are." Ron growled, earning a few nods.

"Why do they want children?" Molly asked in a disgusted voice.

"For their experiments. It all comes down to their sick desire to defeat death at any cost." Harry muttered.

"I'm surprised we haven't heard anything about it in the Daily Prophet." Bill said, placing another fried egg on his plate.

"The Hogwarts governors are hard at work. They've pleaded with the Ministry not to close down the school." Percy said in a slightly annoyed tone.

"They have the best Auror in England, the fiercest Knight who ever lived, and Minerva McGonagall defending the school. That's helped put the Ministry at ease, for now." Arthur said.

Harry, Ginny, Charlie, and Chiara all knew another reason they were interested in Hogwarts but decided not to bring it up at breakfast. Once they finished eating, the Weasleys and extended family went to their presents.

Teddy went ecstatic for a small broom Harry and Ginny got him while Victorie gave both her parents more kisses than they could count after opening a set of magically moving combs and brushes.

Harry opened his first gift from Ginny, and to his delight, he saw a small snow-owl.

"She looks just like Hedwig." Harry started before the owl flew up and landed on his shoulder, where she began biting at his ear.

"Acts just like her too." He laughed.

"I thought you'd like her." Ginny said, opening her gift from Harry. Ginny saw a gleaming silver locket with a changing symbol on the front. It first turned into the Hogwart's seal, then Gryffindor, then the Hollyhead Harpies. Ginny opened the locket and saw herself back at Hogwarts during some of her happiest times there. Soon it shifted to her and Harry's wedding, many of her best moments on the Harpies, and any other fond memory.

"Ohhh, Harry." Ginny pulled him over before planting a warm kiss on his cheek.

That evening, Harry sat in an armchair across from Ron, both playing a game of wizard's chess, whose pieces were miniature versions of those McGonagall had used in the underground chamber. They drank glasses of brandy while Mr. Weasley bombarded Hermione's parents with questions. Bill and George looked over new Weasley products. Percy and Audrey read new copies of the Daily Prophet, the children played with their gifts, and Molly sat with Fleur and Angelina.

"It's going to get worse!" Angelina nearly shouted while stroking her pregnant stomach in terror.

"I'm sorry, I might have exaggerated." Fleur said, slightly embarrassed.

"You'll be fine, dear." Molly said in a comforting tone.

Ginny contained the explosion of another howler from Gwenong as she sat with Hermione, who tested Ron's gift, notepaper that wrote down what someone was thinking. Both noticed Chiara and Charlie cuddling up on another couch. However, the flemish witch's demeanor caught them by surprise.

For the first time since the Protectors of Life attack, Chiara looked upset and almost bitter as she heard the three nearby women talk. Charlie gave Chaira a comforting look as she rested her head on his shoulder.

"What do you suppose all that's about?" Ginny asked.

"Not sure." Hermione said, noticing the words appear on her parchment before she even spoke them.

Harry felt a bit of excitement when his Rook moved on its own, and the armored figure atop the turret leaped down to stab Ron's bishop.

"Not bad, Harry, you're improving." Ron gave a triumphant smile, and to Harry's despair, his Knight charged forward and smashed the Rook apart with a spiked flail.

With two more moves, Harry found himself in checkmate.

"And that's game." Ron crossed his arms as Harry sighed.

"Care for another round?" He asked, waving his wand over the pieces, instantly repairing them.

Harry took another drink of brandy while considering the offer.

"Oh blimey, you might need to refill that, Harry." Percy muttered, sounding very annoyed.

"What do you mean?"

Audrey came over and handed him a copy of the Daily Prophet. Ginny and Hermione approaching to look at it too. Much to their dread, they saw a Rita Skeeter article on the front page titled "Potters finished?"

"Oh, that can't be good." Ron grunted.

Harry began reading the article.

"It seems despite his fearsome reputation as a top Auror, Harry Potter remained secluded at Hogwarts despite the rising attacks from Protectors of Life. One would think that in such circumstances, Harry would be on the case to find their leader. Yet instead, he hides. Could it be Harry is afraid of them or is losing his touch? Then there's Ginny Potter, rather than practicing with her team, she spends all her time at Hogwarts. Her team Captain Gwenog Jones reports she's isolated herself and won't return any letters. She went on to say she's considering replacing Ginny along with Lena."

Harry and Ginny looked at each other with narrowed eyes.

"Well, that settles it." Ginny growled as she summoned a piece of parchment and began furiously writing something down.

"What's that about?" Ron asked with growing interest. Harry thought he already knew and smiled.

"I'm accepting the Wimbourne Wasps's offer. Next season I'll be chasing for them." Ginny said with pride as she placed the parchment in an envelope and gave it to Linda, Harry's new owl, who eagerly flew off.

"Well, it looks like we know which team is winning next year." Ron said proudly, much to Ginny's approval.

Moments later, everyone inside jumped after hearing an explosion-like roar from outside.

Hermione's parents fell out of their chairs as Claire began to roar again, louder than the Horntail Harry faced in his fourth-year.

"What the bloody Hell is she on about?" Percy growled.

Charlie and Chiara sprung up before looking out the window. Harry and a few others did the same. The dragon thrashed violently against her enchanted chains, breathing fire into the air and snarling.

"Charlie, do something!" Molly shouted.

"We will!"

"What's gotten into her?!" Chiara sounded more afraid for Claire than of her.

They were about to head outside when a chilling sensation overcame every one of them. Harry noticed his breath fog up as a sense of foreboding dread filled his very soul.

"Mommy." Victorie muttered with a terrible shiver.

Drops of water on the windows instantly turned to ice, and the cold feeling nearly made Harry tremble.

"No, it can't be!" He nearly shouted. Claire began breathing fire again and snapping her jaws as if trying to catch something in the air. Outside, they heard a strange shriek of pain near the dragon.

Without warning, the front door burst open, and in came a dementor. It's black-cloak donned and blistered hands outstretched. The dark creature flew right at Teddy, Andromeda screaming in terror while the boy's eyes went wide.

Without hesitation, Harry threw himself in front of his godson, wand raised.

"Expecto Petronum!" A gleaming silver and white stag raced from Harry's wand and impaled the dementor on its antlers, sending the creature racing backward while crying out in pain.

Before anyone could react, three more dementors flew in, two from the doorway and one bursting through the windows. All came for Teddy and Victorie in their path.

"Mommy! Daddy!" She shrieked.

Fleur nearly toppled over as she raced in front of her daughter.

"Expecto Petronum!" She roared. Her Patronus didn't have a corporeal form, but it proved no less powerful. The cloud of silver light slammed the nearest dementor against the wall, trapping it.

"Expecto Petronum!" Bill shouted, a silver falcon soaring out and joining his wive's Patronus. Unable to get away, the dementor continued to shriek in pain until, at last, the combined Patronuses became too much, and it burst apart into nothing.

"Expecto Petronum!" Ginny and Ron cried together. A dog and horse came from their wands, putting both remaining dementors to flight.

"What's happening?!" Hermione's mother cried.

"Dementors!" Arthur shouted, clearly making them more confused. As muggles, they couldn't see dementors but clearly felt their presence.

"What the bloody Hell are they doing here!?" George shouted. However, moments later, another raced in.

"Expecto Petronum!" He roared without flinching. From his wand came a silver hyena, just like Fred's Patronus had been. The dementor shrieked and retreated.

"Expecto Petronum!" Charlie and Chiara shouted. From their wands came two silver dragons, a Swedish shortsnout and a Hungarian horntail. Both flew through the air, joining the other Patronuses as they chased away the other dementors outside.

Claire breathed fire into the dementors, setting their cloaks ablaze. The monsters tried to attack her but did not affect the dragon, who continued to set them on fire.

"We need to get the children out of here!" Andromeda bellowed out, seizing a trembling Teddy in her arms.

"Yes, get the floo powder!" Arthur and Molly desperately looked for their powder before they found it.

"Alright, let's send them too-" Arthur started. However, the house shook, and he dropped the powder, spilling it across the floor.

"What was that?" Angelina muttered.

The house shook again, and Harry raced outside with Bill, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione close behind.

Standing on a hillside overlooking the Burrow, two hooded figures emerged, the dementors regrouping around them.

"We're all mad here." The figure spoke in a calm voice, and Ginny went still.

"No, it can't be!" The first figure drew out his wand and waved it around the fields. An instant later, they heard hundreds of scuttering footsteps. Ginny's answer came when she saw playing card soldiers emerge from the crops, spears in hand.

"The Protectors of Life!" She cried. Both wizards unleashed a series of spells at them, including the killing curse. Harry aimed his wand at Hermione's parent's car and sent it flying in front of them. The killing curses tore the doors off but didn't continue.

Harry unleashed a fiery spell that shattered the protego shield both figures conjured. The others nearly disarmed the attackers before several of the card soldiers ran straight at them.

Each now had to divert their attention to the cards, blowing them apart with a series of spells. Ron, however, had a better idea. He aimed his wand back at the Burrow before shouting two spells.

Moments later, the doorway broke apart after thirty-two armored figures ran out brandishing weapons. The black and white chess figures were now life-size and animated, immediately going to work on the card soldiers, slashing or smashing them apart.

The four knights charged across the Burrow, flattening every card in their path while the others focused on defending the house.

Those inside kept the dementors back with their Patronuses, while Harry's team divided their attention between the cards and attacking wizards.

Harry couldn't deny both had exceptional skill, far more than many of the dark wizards he'd battled over the last few years. However, he and Ginny managed to drive them back with well-synched attacks. Unfortunately, another three dementors came for them, and they had to unleash another Patronus.

The first figure took out something from his cloak and waved his wand over it.

"Beware the Jabberwock, my son! The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!" He laughed, and an instant later, the item transformed. Harry's mouth dropped open alongside the others. A monster flew over the attacking wizards. It looked almost like a rugged dragon with a fat body and skinny neck that drooped forward, buck teeth fangs sticking out.

"Bloody Hell!" Ron screamed as the Jabberwock flew at them.

"Grauuuu!" A gust of wind nearly knocked them off their feet, and soon they saw her. Claire flew through the air, snarling as she collided with the Jabberwock, hurling it backward.

"Allez ma belle fille!" Chiara roared while riding the dragon's back.

Charlie came charging up laughing.

"Bet you prats are glad we brought her now!"

"Yes!" Ron shouted, even Hermione nodded as she unleashed her otter Patronus on two dementors trying to flank them.

More playing card soldiers emerged from the fields, and Harry had enough.

He shouted a spell, and soon a colossal lasso of fire flew from his wand, circling the Burrow as he waved it around. Its flames didn't harm anything but the attacking soldiers and dementors. Within a minute or so, the entire card army lay on the ground as ash. Similarly, Claire roared triumphantly, the Jabberwock's head in her jaws.

Both figures looked at each other, and without a word, they apparated away. The dementors didn't linger either. Seeing their masters gone and more patronuses, they quickly fled into the night. Harry lowered his wand and exhaled in relief.

He turned back to his family, but none of them spoke. Claire soon landed beside them, Chaira coming down.

"Is everyone alright?"

Ginny nodded.

"Bastards, attacking us here, going after our family!" Ginny snarled, looking more ferocious than the Horntail.