2021
Boxing Day - a Potter and Granger-Weasley family affair. Good food, light-hearted banter and gossip, wine and lots of love. The friendship between the two families was something no one really could understand, their kids siblings in every way but blood. Ron, Hermione, Harry and Ginny had promised to never take this day for granted. Christmas Eve at the Burrow was fun, but Boxing Say at Grimmauld was much more intimate and relaxing.
As their kids grew older the adults found themselves very entertained by the drama they encountered in their daily lives at Hogwarts. Whether it was how much detention Hugo got in one week, or how many Howlers James received in two days. Between Lily’s first-year crush on the Gryffindor head boy and Rose’s latest complaint about Slughorn’s club (that James was part of, and she was not, which she was most definitely not salty about in the slightest). This year however the biggest drama revolved around the middle, usually quiet and drama-free Potter boy.
Albus had come out to his family the summer before his 5th year after he had gotten annoyed at someone asking about a girlfriend. Ever since then the adults, especially Ginny, had been waiting for him to finally let slip which boy he liked. In a surprising turn of events, Rose was the one to let it slip.
“I can’t believe you’re seeing my ex-boyfriend,” she muffled through her mashed potatoes before shooting her hand to her mouth.
“Rose!” Albus glared at her, killing curse behind his eyes.
“I’m so sorry, really!”
“Whatever,” he mumbled.
Ron was the first of the adults to respond to the sudden revelation. Of course, he had to laugh and pat Harry on the shoulder saying he had got his karma for making fun of Ron when his daughter had started dating a Malfoy.
“How the tables have turned, mate.”
“No, dad! They are really sweet together,” Rose chimed in again, “it’s quite disgusting to witness sometimes, but it’s sweet.”
“Oh this is so exciting,” Ginny cheered, “I knew there was someone and Scorpius is such a good kid,” she rose from her chair and rushed over to her son giving him a tight hug. Albus, in return, tried to brush her off, “mum, please, this is embarrassing.”
“Malfoy, huh,” James nodded at him, “how come you didn’t tell me?”
“You were busy snogging every single girl in Gryffindor tower.”
“Touché.”
“I knew! I knew!” Lily yelled out, “I saw them kiss once and have been traumatised ever since!”
“Yup I was there too,” Hugo agreed.
“I’m really happy for you Al,” his aunt smiled at him.
All eyes then went to the black-haired man at the table. Harry seemed to have fallen into some sort of shock. He wasn’t moving but just stared at his son.
“Mate, you should probably close that mouth of yours. It’s rude,” Ron snickered.
“What? Oh… Uhm… Sorry.”
“That’s why I didn’t wanna tell anyone,” Albus spoke again glaring at Rose who just shrugged her shoulders, “because I knew it would make things uncomfortable.”
“Oh Al, no. It’s not that. I’m really happy for you. Just needed to process it.”
“Uh, sure.”
“I promise you, I am! I just needed to remind myself Scorpius is not much like his father.”
“He really isn’t,” Ginny agreed to step in to help her husband, “he’s a good kid. I’m glad he’s your first boyfriend.”
“Ssh, dad,” Rose whispered, “that’s how you’re supposed to react.”
“Oh shut it,” Ron threw a pea at his daughter, both laughing.
“Okay now that everyone knows,” James spoke, “I need to know how it happened.”
“Rose happened,” Albus stated.
“Wot?”
“You happened.”
“Yeah no shit, I could hear you the first time, but what do you mean?”
“Remember the beginning of year Slytherin party this year?”
“Yes of cour -,” she eyed her parents quickly, “No I do not.”
“Nice try,” Hugo laughed.
“Anyhow, you made us play that stupid muggle game of spin the bottle and Scorp and I had to kiss and we did. And then things started from there.”
“Why was I not invited to that party,” James said in disbelief.
“Because all the Slytherins are like afraid of you or something,” Lily rolled her eyes.
“That’s my nephew,” Ron laughed and gave him a high-five.”
“Wait wait wait, you’re telling me that’s why yall got together?”
“Pretty much, yeah.”
“Damn,” Rose leaned back in her chair, “and all this time I thought it wasn’t my fault I became the Harry of our trio.”
“Excuse me?”
“Please,” Hermione retorted towards her best friend, “you know what she means.”
“Yeah, but it’s still rude to say it,” Harry muttered.
Everyone started laughing and Rose shot her uncle a sympathetic look. They continued eating until they was barely any food left. The group decided to move into the living room, the adults with wine in their hands. James had also gotten a glass, since he was of age now and pulled through not saying he didn’t like it, despite making a face every time he took a sip. In the sitting room, they made themselves comfortable on sofas, armchairs and the floor.
“Any other drama we missed?” Ron asked sinking into the cushions of the sofa.
“Depends,” Lily said, “what do you wanna know?”
“Anything. In fact, I would like one juicy fact about each one of you.”
“When did you become our mother?”
“Okay okay,” Lily jumped up from her position on the floor, “I have one for Hugo.”
“Oh no.”
“The other day in Herbology he lost his wand in one of the plants and it took Neville half of the class to retrieve it again.”
“I did that on purpose,” Hugo whispered.
“No, you didn’t.” Lily grinned and plopped back down on the ground.
“The fact that that is his juicy drama says a lot about him,” James chuckled, “anyways I have one about our precious youngest over here.”
“Hit me with it,” Lily challenged.
“First week of school -”
“- actually don’t!”
“ - she went to the…”
She jumped from her spot on the floor again and tackled James holding her hands in front of his mouth.
“I wanna know!” Ginny exclaimed.
“Not a chance, mum.”
“This is all boring,” Harry sighed, “don’t you have something more exciting?”
The kids stared at him before Rose spoke up, “I’m sorry we don’t almost die every two weeks?”