CHAPTER FOUR.
Green And Red Christmas
December 18th, 1992

"Have a lovely Christmas, Luna!" Helena said, smiling as they stepped off the train.

Helena had spent the majority of the journey with Luna and Ginny, had spent a few minutes with Harry and his friends–but she could see he didn't want to be bothered. So, then she had spent the last hour with Theodore Nott and Blaise Zabini. To her surprise, Theodore had been sweet–sweeter than she expected him to be. He had promised to send her a gift while Blaise had talked about books.

"You too, Lena. Be careful of the Nargles in the mistletoes," she exclaimed as she reached her father.

Helena chuckled, "I will!"

"Nargles?" Harry questioned with a frown as they walked to their parents.

"It's a creature hiding in the mistletoes. Luna thinks they're real."

Before Harry could answer, their mother embraced them into a tight hug as James patted Harry's back and kissed Helena's head. Helena relaxed instantly as her mother grabbed her hand and walked back to the closest pub. It was warm yet a bit cold and the busy streets of London were decorated for the occasion.

"How was the first few months?" Their mother asked as they stepped into the familiar parlour. Helena took the time to brush off the remaining powder. "Harry, we got a letter from Dumbledore. We ought to talk, yes?"

Harry sighed, "But–"

"There's no but, mate," James chirped in. "We have to talk, alright?"

"Fine," Harry sighed in a defeated way. "I'll just go unpack then."

"Right but come back downstairs when you're done. We waited for you two so we could do the Christmas tree," James said with a smile. "So, darling, how was it?"

Helena shrugged, plopping onto the couch, "Fine. I've made a friend! Her name is LunaLovegood," she said, making Daphne smile. "Oh and Professor Snape is not mean to me, he's actually very nice. Draco made it to the team and during a match, there was a crazy bugler trying to hit Harry. He ended up falling and Professor Lockhart tried to mend his bone but he actually removed it," she ranted as her parents' eyes widened. "And, my roommate snores."

"I knew that Lockhart was worth nothing," James said with a sigh as Daphne nudged him. "What? He was already full of himself during school...I can't believe Lily used to have a crush on that idiot."

"James!"

James rolled his eyes, making Helena laugh, "Oh and mum, Draco is...he's really mean. He told Hermione she was a mud–" she started but stopped knowing she didn't want to fully say the word. "He makes fun of Harry too."

Daphne sighed, "Well, he is his father's son," she muttered as James looked at her, almost saying I told you so. "I'll talk with Aunt Cissa, okay? I'm sure Draco doesn't mean it."

Helena couldn't remember Draco being so mean when he was little. Besides, Harry and Draco used to get along until they got to Hogwarts and somehow Draco had developed resentful feelings towards Harry. Even Narcissa was very fond of Harry before, which Uncle Lucius never appreciated. As her father joined Harry upstairs, Daphne sat next to Helena, wrapping her arm around her shoulders to bring her closer.

"It's hard being there by myself, mum," she whispered quietly, staring at the fireplace.

"But, you're not by yourself, darling," Daphne said softly, kissing the top of her head. "Harry is there."

She sighed, "He is not there, mum. He's with his friends and I'm not angry at him for having friends, but he is pushing me away," Helena muttered. "I think it has to do with me being in Slytherin."

"My love," Daphne cooed gently, hugging her tightly. "That has nothing to do with it. I'm sure he's very happy for you. Are the people nice there?"

Helena shrugged, "Draco introduced me to his friends. There is Blaise Zabini, Thedore Nott and then there's Crabb and Goyle. Theodore Nott is very annoying, he teases me all the time!"

Daphne chuckled, "Perhaps he fancies you."

"Who fancies who?" James's voice chirped in as Helena hid her face, making Daphne laugh. "Do you fancy someone, Lena?"

"No!"

"Well, does someone fancy you then?" He queried, wiggling his eyebrows as she groaned, hiding her face in the cushion again. "Oh, I see. Who is it?"

"No one, dad!"

"I see," he replied with a snort as Helena sighed loudly, rising to her feet to start the Christmas tree but Harry came back from the kitchen and ruined it. "Harry, do you know who has a crush on your sister?"

"I reckon Theodore Nott does," he said with a shrug as Helena gaped at her older brother. How could he know? "The twins heard them talking about you."

"Disgusting," she muttered under her breath, grabbing the decorations and starting to hang them around the tree. James, their father, soon followed as the rest did too.

For once, since Harry started Hogwarts, it felt as if they were a true family. James was helping Helena by elevating her on his shoulders so she could reach the upper part of the tree, since she could not use her magic and insisted on doing it herself. Daphne was chatting with Harry about Quidditch, and giving him advice on how to be a better seeker. Their father always praised Daphne for being the best chaser and captain.

By the time the night had fallen on the Potter manor, the Christmas tree was lit up in the living room and Helena could perceive the red and green lights from her seat. Around dessert, the doorbell rang and before any of them could rise up from their seats, Uncle Padfoot and Uncle Moony appeared in the parlour.

"I see you have lost your good manners. Not even waiting for the rest of the family!" Uncle Padfoot said, waltzing near Daphne to kiss her on the cheek. "Ah, my sweet Lena, how I have missed you," he exclaimed, wrapping his arms around as he hugged her tightly.

"Uncle Pads, I can't breathe," Helena notified him by slapping his arm gently. He finally loosened his arms and kissed her on the head before going towards Harry. "Hello, Uncle Moony."

"Hiya sweetheart," he smiled, his hand landing on her cheek to caress it carefully as he pressed a kiss on her forehead. "How was Hogwarts?"

"I don't really know," she confessed softly. If she said yes, it would be as if she was lying to herself and everyone else but if she said no, she felt the same.

"Tell me," he reassured with a smile.

Helena sighed, glancing around to see that everyone was busy, "I sometimes despise it because it is not the house that I wanted to be in. The people in it can be vile. But, I sometimes love it."

"There is nothing wrong in that," Uncle Moony replied. "I once thought I didn't fit in Gryffindor."

"Did you? But...but you're brave! Dad said you were the bravest during the war."

Remus chuckled, "That is very typical of your father, love. I was nothing but poorly trained during the war. I was never fighting or—" he stopped himself, biting his lower lip. "The hat is never wrong, Lena. You were meant to be in Slytherin."

"I know."

Remus smiled softly, "There's a but, isn't there?"

"But I wish I had been sorted in Gryffindor," she said quietly. "I know that it was meant for me to be in Slytherin. Mum always told me that."

"Well, the hat is never wrong and so is your mother, Lena," he said, making her chuckle. "Besides, great people come out of Slytherin. Very brilliant."

"Bad people too."

He waved a careless hand, followed with a grunt, "Bad people are in every house, darling. There is not just in Slytherin, believe me."

Helena nodded, choosing to believe her wise uncle. Remus kissed her head, patting her back softly before heading towards Harry. She watched as Harry chuckled at something Remus said. Remus always had been very kind towards Harry and Helena, apparently he was like this since Dad knew him. Kind and shy.

***

"Harry, wake up," Helena whispered, shaking gently her brother as she held in her excitement for the gifts that were awaiting underneath the Christmas tree.

Harry and Helena had many traditions, one of them took place on Christmas Eve where the siblings would build up a fort in Harry's room, and sleep there after eating too much sweets that uncle Pads brought back every holiday.

"Not now, Lena," he groaned, pushing her away.

Helena sighed, "Well, that's a shame. I'll just open your gifts."

That sentence made Harry sit up with wide eyes as he searched for his glasses, "Don't you dare!" He exclaimed, rising to his feet as fast as possible and Helena followed with quiet giggles. "Hello, mum," he said as the pair reached downstairs, and spotted their mum preparing breakfast.

For some reason, Daphne Potter always was awake before everyone and would prepare breakfast almost all the time. It was rather rare to see James Potter up early. Harry always presumed nightmares as he used to hear Daphne–mum–scream at night when he was smaller, Helena never heard since she was too much of a heavy sleeper.

"Hello, my darlings," she cooed as Harry and Helena kissed her cheek. "Excited?"

"Lena threatened to open my gifts if I didn't wake up, so I'd say she is excited," Harry told their mum, sitting on his usual chair.

Helena did the same, rolling her eyes, "You know how much I love Christmas, Harry," she replied as Daphne snorted. "Mum, go wake up dad!"

"I am, I am!" Daphne exclaimed, putting the plate down and heading upstairs.

Fifteen minutes later, the whole family was gathered around the table. Uncle Pads and uncle Moony were yawning, clearly not used to waking up so early though Remus seemed quite excited by the amount of food on the table. James kissed Daphne's head, thanking her for breakfast and he took the time to whisper some words into her ears that made her blush. Helena longed for a relationship where she loved someone that much and he loved her back as well.

"Lena's first as she is the youngest," Sirius said, pushing her towards the Christmas tree. "I am sure you will love my gift," he said with a smirk.

Remus sent an apologetic look to Daphne, "I tried to stop him."

Helena unwrapped the gift, her eyes widened at the sight of a new broom, "Uncle Pads!" She screamed shockingly. Putting the broom down, she jumped into his arms, burying her head in the crock of his neck as he hugged her tightly. "Thank you."

"Bloody hell!" James shouted as loud as Helena did minutes ago as he hurried to the broom.

"James!" Daphne exclaimed due to his language.

James bit his lower lip, pecking her lips rapidly, "Sorry, love but...but this is–it's the latest broom. The Nimbus 2001. Where did you get that, Pads? It's sold out," he breathed out, shocked.

"I have my ways, Prongs," he smiled. "Besides, anything for Lena."

"We searched for it for weeks," Remus admitted, making Daphne snort. "He was so stubborn about the idea."

"I don't doubt it," Daphne replied with a laugh. "Are you happy, Lena?" She queried, running a hand through her hair as she sat down next to her on the sofa.

"Very."

As usual, there were Mrs Weasley's knitted sweaters under the tree that the siblings ought to wear at the dinner later that day. Harry had gotten plenty of sweets, new equipment for Quidditch as Sirius joked about the burglar that had tried to get Harry's head, then he had gotten books from Hermione–all about the Magical world; but she couldn't name more gifts as it had gotten too much for her. Helena had the chance to get her new broom, a photo book that Daphne had prepared beforehand so she wouldn't feel lonely and to her surprise, Grandma Amalthea had gifted her a kneazle.

Helena always had been very fond of cats before and she always wished for a kneazle as she had read they were smart creatures. The tears streamed down her face as she welcomed the furry yet small kneazle. Then, she opened the gifts from her aunts, all of them very funny and surprising.

"I cannot believe Nan gifted you a kneazle," Harry said as they laid on her bed, eyes on the ceiling. "I mean she got me a bloody notebook."

"Notebooks are great, Harry. I'm sure Nan thought you needed it."

"For what? So I can write what the crazy voices tell me?" He asked sarcastically. "I wish we could stay home instead of going to the Weasley's."

"Why? Your best friends are going to be there," Helena told him.

He shrugged, "Yeah but I'd rather hang out with you."

"Did you talk with mum?"

"Yes," he said unsure. "But it is not the reason why I want to stay with you, Lena."

"Please," she mumbled, rolling her eyes. "Mum told you how lonely I felt and now you feel the need to be there," she added as he sighed. "Listen, Harry...I'm happy you've got friends of your own–I mean, thank Merlin you have friends of your own or I would be very scared for you."

"I know you're happy. Mum told me but it doesn't change the fact that I've been an awful brother to you," he muttered.

"Oh, Harry. You don't have to be good to people all the time," she said softly, laying on her side so she could watch him. "As long as you promise to be there for me when I need it and to never push me away."

"I swear, Lena," he whispered, offering his pinky as she chuckled but wrapped her pinky around his. "Alright, let's go get ready."

"Right, yeah."

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authors note, a bit more insight on their lovely family hehehehe!!! decided to be regular and update at least 1-2 a week!