The Burning Pen

A New Beginning
by Ruth Solomon

The story content is adult in nature and can contain graphic sex and violence.  Those under the age of 18 are asked to leave this site immediately.  You are not welcome here.  The author is not responsible for those under-aged who view these works.

CHAPTER 66

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 66 ~ Christmas Morning

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Rod wriggled in his bed, then turned over and stretched long and hard, his foot hitting something. Groggily he sat up, rubbing his eyes then looking down at the end of his bed. There, resting in a pile, were brightly wrapped presents.

Presents?

Rod had never received any presents his entire time at Hogwarts. Disbelievingly, he crawled down to the end of the bed, blinking.

They were real!

Rod quickly turned himself into a sitting position and studied them. Some were oddly shaped and one was rather long and thin and thick on the bottom. He picked this one up first. It was wrapped in emerald green with a silver bow on the thickest part. A little card dangled from it, also shining emerald green with silver bells on it. He opened the card. It read:

”Happy Christmas, Mr. Dormers. Learn to use this so you don’t kill yourself when you have to harvest plants on higher grounds.

SS

Rod ripped the wrapping off the gift, his eyes bulging out of his head. It was a broom! His own broom. He studied the beautiful smooth polished wood grain handle and the adjustable metal stirrups. The words “Firebolt XL40 was etched in gold on the top of it, and the bristles were streamlined.

”Wow!” he said, jumping off the bed and mounting it. He didn’t dare kick off however. Firebolts were the fastest brooms there were. He carefully lay the broom down on the bed and picked up a small rectangular present that simply said, “From Hugo.”

He opened it and it was a picture of Hugo and Rose smiling and waving. Scrawled on the bottom was, “To Our Friend Rod.”

He smiled and ran his finger over the frame, then carefully set the picture on his nightstand next to his bed and looked at it again, focusing on Rose. Oh she was pretty. He turned back to the gifts, picking up a lumpy one this time. It was soft. He ripped it open.

It was a sweater. It was Slytherin green with a large “R” embroidered in silver on the chest. It looked warm. Rod held it up to his chest and looked at himself in the mirror. He liked it. He also found a matching scarf, gloves and a hat with a silver pom pom on top.

”From the Weasley Family” the card read.

The next package Rod opened was full of homemade sweets and treats from Molly and savory meat pies. Rod bit into one and his eyes rolled up into his head it tasted so good. The next package he opened was a small box. Inside was a bottle of cologne.

”To Rod from Rose,” the tiny card said.

Rod opened the bottle and sniffed it. It smelled great. And what was better, Rose liked the way it smelled so if he wore it, she’d automatically like it. That sure took the guesswork out of it.

The next package he opened contained a pair of nice blue jeans. He read the card.

”From Hermione Weasley”

Wow. Rose’s mum had given him a present. Jeans too. All he had were dress trousers. This was great! He stared at all his presents and knew this was the best Christmas he had ever had.

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In a small hospital room, Dean and Joyce looked down at their son Winston. They had gotten him to the hospital and the healers had done all they could for him. Now they were waiting to see if he regained consciousness.

He had lost a lot of blood.

The Aurors recognized Jugson from the Pensieve Dean provided of the attack. The wizard couldn’t tell the Aurors why Jugson came after him. He didn’t know him.

“Well, we’ll catch up to him, don’t worry,” the Auror assured the family. He looked down at Winston, who was pale and unmoving. “I’m sorry about your son.”

”Thank you. Just catch that maniac,” Dean said as his wife sobbed.

She was sitting in a chair next to Winston’s bed, holding his hand, Dean’s hand resting on her shoulder as she looked down on her only son.

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At the Burrow, everyone came charging down the stairs, tearing into their presents, wrapping flying everywhere and laughter and shouting abounding as they opened their gifts. James came down too, rubbing his eyes.

Arthur, who was at the kitchen table reading the paper said, “My word. Dean Thomas and his family were attacked on Christmas Eve by a former Death Eater named Henry Jugson. Dean’s son was stabbed.”

”What?” James cried, “Winston was stabbed? Is he dead?”

”It just said he was taken to St. . . .” Arthur began as James flew back up the stairs.

Molly entered from the kitchen carrying mugs of hot chocolate to start the day. She had sweet rolls in the over and was just starting breakfast.

She sat the platter of mugs down on a table, then looked up to see James come flying down the stairs fully dressed and racing for the door.

”Where are you going on Christmas morning?” Molly called at him as he ran past.

”I have to go to St. Mungo’s to see about Winston,” he cried, flinging open the door and running out of it. There was the crack of apparition.

Everyone had stopped opening presents the moment James reacted to the story. Hermione came down in her pajamas, rubbing her eyes, her hair a mess.

She looked at everyone in the room.

”What’s going on?” she asked sleepily.

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Severus sat at the kitchen table slowly drinking a cup of coffee, looking over the paper and eating his breakfast. Eli stood near him, his ears slightly flattened. This was the first time since being in the Master’s service that he felt actual sadness and loneliness from the wizard.

Oh there had been pensieve times and depressed times, but nothing like this. His master was pining, and had been pining for several weeks now, but this was the worst Eli had ever felt.

“Happy Christmas, Master,” the elf ventured in his squeaky voice.

Snape looked down at him in surprise.

”Thank you, Eli. Happy Christmas to you as well,” he said, returning to his paper. He scowled slightly as he read about Winston being stabbed by Jugson.

“A fine Christmas for the Thomases,” he muttered.

He had never like Jugson. He was sneaky, cruel and cowardly when in service to the Dark Lord.

”I hope they get him,” he breathed.

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On a sunny beach, John Bartleby lay outstretched in a lounge chair wearing a huge striped one-piece bathing suit that covered his belly and chest, a big beach umbrella propped over him. A pretty native girl brought him a brightly colored drink with a little umbrella sticking out of it. Bartleby lifted his sunglasses and looked at her appreciatively as he took the drink.

“Thank you my little Island Beauty,” he said with a smile, taking a sip of the drink, setting it down on a little table beside him and sitting back with a sigh, looking over the sparkling water.

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Shivering behind some boxes on a dock, lay Henry Jugson, his face covered in deep scratches, his winter cloak wrapped tightly around him for warmth. He had spent his first week free visiting the Ministry library, studying Hogwarts history. There were a number of yearbooks and he used them to identify the boy who hexed him and got him caught.

Dean Thomas.

He then went to the Ministry tax records, which were available to anyone and looked up Dean’s address. His Azkaban issued wand wasn’t strong enough to cast a Killing curse. He could barely use it. He’d have to take the wizard out physically. Next would be that turncoat Lucius, then that traitor Snape.

Jugson never dreamed Dean would have the kind of family he did. He had to get out of Wizarding England. He couldn’t go back to the Reintroduction house looking as he did. They’d know he’d been up to no good. Anyway, the Aurors were probably out looking for him, and that would be the first place they’d go.

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Rod, dressed in his Weasley sweater, cap and gloves, the scarf wrapped around his face and wearing his new blue jeans, pushed open the double doors leading outside with a whoop, his broom in hand.

He bounded down the stairs, ran out a little distance from the castle, crunching through the snow, mounted his firebolt and kicked off, whooshing away into the cold winter air, hooting with delight as he soared, a bit shakily.

Yeah, he needed practice. But there had never, ever been a Christmas like this.

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Winston blinked and opened his eyes, startled by the unfamiliar white room he was in, then his brown eyes shifted to the side of the bed where his mother was sitting, holding his hand, her head bowed. His father stood by her, his head also bowed.

What had happened?

”Mum? Dad? Where am I?” he said to his parents. Both of their heads jerked up.

”Winston! Winston!” they both cried, Joyce gripping his hand so hard, Winston winced. His dad was crying and so was his mum.

”What happened? Where am I?” he asked his parents.

Just then the door opened and James rushed in.

”Winston!” he cried, stopping by the bed, his chest heaving as several healers followed him in angrily. They had tried to stop him but he darted around them and ran until he found a room that read “Thomas” on the door.

“You can’t be in here,” one healer said to the wizard who scowled at him stubbornly.

”He can stay,” Winston said, “He’s my best friend.”

James beamed down at him, glad the wizard was still alive.

”I saw Sharon outside. They wouldn’t let her in,” James informed him.

“Sharon? Who’s Sharon,” Winston’s mother asked him with a slight frown, though her heart was overjoyed her son was back.

”I think she’s my girlfriend, mum,” Winston replied with a smile.

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At the Weasley house, they all had a big breakfast, giving a moment of silence for those who were not there in body but in spirit, Molly’s eyes glistening as Arthur embraced her with one arm. They also said a prayer for Winston, hoping that he would come through his ordeal. Hermione silently gave a thought to Severus, hoping he was well. She’d see for herself soon enough.

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”All right, Jugson. Out of there and move slow. We’ve got you covered,” an Auror called to a shocked Jugson. How did they find him.

Slowly the wizard rose from behind the boxes.

”Put your hands behind your head and come out slow,” one of three Aurors said, his wand trained right between his eyes. Jugson stumbled forward and two Aurors grabbed him, turning him around and binding his hands behind his back.

The first Auror reached into his cloak and pulled out his Azkaban wand, eyeing it.

”It might not be that great for spell casting,” the Auror said to his prisoner, “But it’s excellent for tracking down repeat offenders.”

Jugson cursed under his breath as he was led away.

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James returned home and announced that Winston was going to make a full recovery. Everyone was overjoyed and the celebrating continued, the Christmas feast absolutely delicious, featuring a huge turkey served with potatoes, vegetables and stuffing with gravy and bread sauce. There were sweets and treats and a delicious Christmas pudding with brandy sauce. Everyone, with the exception of Hermione, ate heartily.

She picked at her food, but Molly was engaged in conversation with Fleur and Bill so didn’t really notice, thank goodness. As soon as she was able, Hermione excused herself and went upstairs as everyone else gathered in the living room, sang songs, played games and chatted.

Hermione showered carefully, taking time with herself, her stomach full of butterflies. Severus would be so surprised to see her. She dried off, brushed her hair to silkiness, then pinned it up into a loose bun. Then she put on a bright Christmasy sweater and jeans, heavy socks and trainers. She looked at herself in the mirror. Yes, she just looked like she was going visiting. Nothing fancy. She donned her heavy traveling cloak, then picked up Severus’ present and another smaller present she had purchased for Eli at the last minute, then took a deep breath and headed downstairs. She walked into the living room.

”Well, I’m off,” she said in a cheery voice.

Everyone looked at her and then at Molly. Hugo and Rose knew where their mum was going, but no one else did.

Molly scowled at Hermione.

”You’re off? What do you mean you’re off? Where are you going?” the matriarch demanded.

”To bring Severus his Christmas present,” Hermione said, holding up the brightly wrapped present for all to see.

Molly frowned, but couldn’t say anything really. It was Christmas day and people were supposed to get their presents on that day.

”You couldn’t have given it to him earlier to put under his tree?” Molly asked anyway.

”I don’t think he has a tree,” Hermione said, “Plus I’d like to see him open it. It’s nicer that way.”

”It sure is,” Hugo said helpfully, wincing a little at the look his grandmother gave him.

There was a moment of uncomfortable silence.

”Well, I’m off,” Hermione said again.

”You’ll be back tonight, won’t you?” Molly asked, her eyes narrowed.

Hermione hoped she didn’t flush.

”Well, if it gets too late, I’ll just go to my apartment and come back tomorrow,” she said lightly.

Molly frowned at her for a moment, then sighed.

”All right. But wait just a minute,” she said to the witch, rising and going into the kitchen.

There was a lot of rattling and clanking, then Molly came back out with a dish covered in tin-foil.

”Here,” she said, handing it to Hermione, “Take him a plate and tell him I said ‘Happy Christmas.’”

Molly’s eyes began to glisten as did Hermione’s.

”Thank you, Molly. He’ll appreciate that, I’m sure,” she said, giving her a quick peck on the cheek, hurrying out the front door and disapparating.

Arthur smiled at his wife. He knew how difficult that had been for his wife to accept. But she did accept it.

”Molly Weasley, you’re an extraordinary woman,” he said to her opening his arms..

Molly sniffed and walked into her husband’s embrace as everyone smiled.

”It’s Christmas, Arthur,” she said softly, “No one should be alone on Christmas.”

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A/N: Thanks for reading. For those on ff . net who would like to hear the audio with this chapter please go to my site at theburningpen . com and click on the “A New Beginning” link and go to the last chapter posted.

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