Christmas Pt. 2
Although Sage had met everyone at the ‘party’ at least once before, they never had seen so many of them at the time. At most two or three, once five, but not all of them. That combined with the unusual festivities were enough to overwhelm the baby, hence why they and Harry stayed outside a little after 8:00.
When they did walk back inside, everyone was gathered in the living room which had been, for obvious reasons, temporarily magically expanded. Everyone was ready to start opening presents, so it began as soon as the last pair sat down.
“Alright everyone.” Molly stood and clapped to quiet everyone. “We are going to start with the kids first from youngest to oldest which means: Sage first, then Victoire, after that is Teddy, and then we’ll begin with adults going in order around the circle starting with Bill and ending with Hermione!”
Everyone got everyone a present which led to Sage getting at least twelve here, though it would end up being more, another reason why Harry only got them three.
Molly bought them a yellow blanket with brown bear prints, and Arthur provided his own present of a rubber duck, much to Harry’s amusement. Continuing with Weasley’s: Bill gave a a plastic set of Russian Nesting Dolls, Charlie a very on-brand rainbow colored dragon stuffie, Percy a toddlers book on animals, George a stacking toy, Ron gave a brown teddy bear, and, finally, Ginny provided them with a set of plush versions of sports balls—buth muggle and magical. Bill was the only Weasley ‘child’ in a relationship, and, like Molly and Arthur, Fleur gave Sage her own gift: a yellow sleeper with pink and white flowers.
“I know clothes aren’t the best gift ever, but they're only a baby, and already getting so many toys and such. I figured it couldn’t hurt to provide you with something useful. Anyway, I won’t say anything about your gift, but I did a sort of similar thing—you’ll see.”
“It’s perfectly fine! Actually, it’s really appreciated. This sleeper is so cute and soft, it’ll do Sage good.”
Next Hermione gave a children's book about space, and Neville gave a book from the same series, his about plants.
“Although I love plants, I actually bought them that because of their name: Sage. I looked through the book, and Sage is actually the second plant gone over. One fun fact the book won’t tell you is: Sage is one of the easiest perennial herbs to grow.”
“Cool!” Harry smiled with no idea what perennial meant.
Luna and Lee Jordan teamed up to give two baby dolls, two toy cars, and two sets of blocks—one set wooden with the alphabet painted on, the other colorful, large, plastic, Fisher Price blocks.
“At first we were just going to get the blocks because they’re gender neutral.” Lee explained.
“But, then we decided that was boring and conformed to gender expectations in a different way.” Luna continued.
“So,” Lee finished, “we got something stereotypically feminine, something stereotypically masculine, and, of course, the gender neutral blocks.”
“All fun and great for development too.” Blaise Zabini commented, handing over the last present for Sage, which he had bought.
This last present was opened to reveal a dollhouse version of Hogwarts including a drawing of a squid in the ‘lake’. With that present opening moved on too soon-to-be-eight-months-old Victoire who was exactly one month older than Sage.
After the children finished, Harry was the seventh person to get to open his gifts, so had managed to work up quite a bit of excitement in the meantime.
Molly gave him the same as usual, a sweater, this year red, with a white ‘H’ and a thing of treacle tart, while Arthur gave a less practical, but just as appreciated, camera. Bill, Percy, and Hermione all gave him different books about Quidditch while Charlie gave one about dragons, Neville plants, and Luna defense.
“When did I become such a bookworm?” Harry laughed with the group.
“Honestly? Around the same time Sage was born.” Hermioen informed.
“Is that so? I hadn’t noticed.” He really hadn’t
“Seriously, mate? You’ve been insufferable. Hence my gift.” Ron handed the package over which was revealed to be a new set of quidditch balls.
“Is this a hint?”
“It’s a demand.”
Harry laughed again before continuing with the gifts. Next up was George who also bought him a quidditch related thing, gloves, and Lee who also got him gloves, but these just for winter usage. Ginny seemed to be on the same wavelength as the last two, or maybe they all planned it, because she gifted a pair of herbology gloves for when he offered to help Neville with some gardening in the spring, summer, and fall.
“What I’m learning from today is: I’m a book nerd in love with quidditch who is in desperate need of gloves.”
“I mean, yeah.” Blaise agreed. “That and being a single father of a six month old are pretty much your only character traits.”
“Oh, shut up.” Harry joked, snatching his gift from Blaise out of the man’s hand. Inside the wrapping Harry found a Holyhead Harpies supporters tee-shirt, which he was very excited about since they were his favorite team. “Oi! Sage gets a dollhouse and I get clothes?!”
“Did you want a dollhouse?”
“No….But, still.”
“Listen I just figured since you like going to the games to get the girls up, you would want a team shirt.”
“I do not go there for that, and you know it. I go because A) they’re the most talented team, and B) Ginny plays for them and she’s one of my best friends.”
Of course, Blaise and Harry were just joking, but Harry couldn’t help but remember school. He and Blaise never specifically had any problems, but the latter was friends with Draco Malfoy, so he and Harry weren’t exactly close. They were becoming so now, though, since Blaise, Ron, and Neville had formed some sort of trio.
“Alright, alright, boys. Harry still has a present to open before the rest of us can, so let's hurry this along.” Molly cut in, but she was smiling.
“Yes, ma’am.” Both men chanted, and the day went on.
The last present was from Fluer and Harry could instantly see what she was talking about with “I did a similar thing”. While Sage’s gift was something for them that would benefit Harry, Harry’s gift was something for him that would benefit Sage. That was: a very warm looking, pink and white blanket.
“Aww, the colors match Sage’s sleeper.” Harry couldn’t help cut coo in delight, feeling oddly emotional.
“That was the closest thing the store had.”
“It’s perfect!”
In the end it took the group until 12:00 to finish open presents, clean up, and get the opened gifts situated in the bags brought specifically for this purpose.
As soon as they were finished, they had lunch which was the typical feast, some provided by everyone—turkey, ham, glazed carrots, apples, dressing, rolls, and more. Harry was happy to see there was a puree or cut up version of almost everything for Sage and Victoire. He had been nervous when told not to bring any extra food for Sage, even though Molly and Arthur raised seven of their own kids, but was definitely glad he hadn’t—it would’ve just been a waste of space and effort.
The meal went on until 1:00, people leaving periodically, usually coming back for more, after which everyone went outside. Some talked, some admired the decorations, some took a walk, but most played. Forts, snowball fights, snow angels, really any snow specific activity. Then Luna got the bright idea of using beach stuff to make a snow version of classic summer activities, which everyone ended up enjoying.
Everyone except Sage, Victoire, and Bill. The kids because it was their nap time and Bill because someone needed to watch over the kids and he volunteered. Said he wanted to spend any time with them he could since he was busy working so much.
Harry and Ginny were the last to go in at 5:32, where they were met with jokes about what they’d done alone for the past half-hour, cookies, and hot chocolate. Neither minded the jokes, but very much weren’t interested in each other—another thing the war changed, though they didn’t really think they’d have lasted long regardless.
Dinner was served at 6:00 and lasted a little longer, until 8:00(ish), because of the deserts now served. But, Harry and Sage didn’t see the end of the meal as Harry wanted to get home in time for Sage to go to bed on time.
Luckily, the excitement of the day seemed to tire Sage out and they were asleep by 8:00, at which point Harry went down to examine the presents from Andromeda. She was the only one too busy to come today, so dropped everyone’s presents off at their houses. Harry would let Sage open theirs tomorrow, already knew it was a red teething ring, but figured it wouldn’t hurt to open his now.
He did know that it was a muggle book because that’s what he and Andi agreed to get each other, but he didn’t know what book, the genre, author, anything. She hadn’t known hers either.
In the end the book was found to be It by Stephen King, a book almost as old as Harry himself, with an attached letter saying Harry read far too much non-fiction, especially sports books.
Laughing a bit, Harry headed up to his room, set the book on his bookcase, and decided to go ahead and get ready for bed—take an early night which was only possible now that Sage was sleep trained and didn’t need middle of night feedings anymore.
Today was a good one.