CHRISTMAS WAS JUST AROUND THE corner and Harper was packing her trunk. She would go home for the holidays to celebrate it with Remus and Dorcas. She felt guilty about leaving Harry behind, but was thankful that Ron was staying, too.

When her trunk was packed, she pulled it downstairs with her together with Dale's cage, and headed for the Great Hall. She had still some time before the Hogwarts Express would leave. Glancing around, she saw Harry and Ron playing chess at the Gryffindor table.

"Worst decision you could have made," Harper said, as she sat down next to her brother. "Ron's unbeatable in chess."

Harry grunted as Ron took one of his knights. "Yeah, I noticed." He then glanced at her trunk. "You're going home?"

"Yeah."

"Where do you live?" Harry asked, frowning. "I was actually going to ask that ages ago, but I forgot."

"I live with my godmother," Harper said, as it was technically Dorcas' house. "You should come by sometimes. She would love you!"

Harry smiled. "I'll keep that in mind."

"I see you've packed," Ron said, looking at something behind the twins.

Harper turned around and saw that Hermione had arrived with her trunk.

"I see you haven't," Hermione replied. "You can help Harry look for Nicolas Flamel when we're gone. Owl us if you find anything." She then looked at Harper. "We have to go, otherwise we'll miss the Express."

Harper sighed and gave Harry and Ron a hug. "See you after the holidays and Merry Christmas, you two."

They smiled. "Merry Christmas, Harp."

Harper took her trunk and Dale's cage and followed Hermione out of the Great Hall. As soon as they were out of view, Harper leaned closer to her and whispered, "I bet you ten galleons that they won't find anything."

She chuckled. "Probably."

• ✧ •

HERMIONE AND HARPER SHARED AN empty compartment and, as soon as they sat down, the former opened her trunk and took out several books that looked suspiciously like the ones they kept in the library.

"Did you steal them from the library?" Harper questioned, almost shocked at Hermione's behavior.

"I borrowed them," Hermione corrected her.

Harper rolled her eyes and muttered, "Same thing." Then she added, more loudly, "We have a bad influence on you."

Hermione smiled and gave Harper a book. "Look and try to find something about Nicolas Flamel."

"Yes ma'am."

After an hour of reading, their compartment door opened. Harper looked up and saw that it was Cedric with some friends.

Cedric smiled when he saw her. "Hello, do you mind if we sit here? We got kicked out by some seventh-years Slytherins."

Harper looked at Hermione, who shrugged and she smiled back at Cedric. "Of course."

"Thanks."

Hermione and Harper continued to read while the older boys talked about Quidditch. Once in a while, Harper's eyes seem to dart to Cedric, who sat next to her, before they went back to the book in her lap.

Harper sighed as she turned the page for what seemed like the hundredth time. "We're never going to find it, 'Mione. How many books have you taken anyway?"

"Oh, just a couple more." The way she said it made Harper narrow her eyes.

"A couple more?"

Hermione opened her trunk, revealing another pile of books. Harper groaned.

"You've got to be kidding me. You can't read all of them in just two weeks!"

"Of course I can't, that's why I need you."

Harper sighed. "Wow, I fell right into that one."

Hermione just grinned.

Harper opened her trunk to put the books in, when Cedric looked over. He gasped when he saw the Nimbus Two Thousand. "It's even more beautiful up close.".

Harper grinned proudly. "You want to hold it?"

He nodded enthusiastically and she handed him her broom. While he and his friends admired the broom, Harper took the books from Hermione and put them in her trunk.

"What are you reading?"

Harper looked up when she heard Cedric's voice.

"We are looking for a certain Nicolas Flamel, do you know him?" Harper asked, ignoring the look Hermione gave her.

Cedric frowned, thinking. "No, I'm sorry."

Harper exchanged a glance with Hermione. "It's okay."

• ✧ •

THEY ARRIVED AT KING'S CROSS AN HOUR later. Harper wished Hermione and Cedric a Merry Christmas before dragging her trunk and Dale's cage with her off the train. She looked around and saw Dorcas and Remus standing a bit further, seeming to look for her, too.

Grinning, she made her way to them and jumped into Remus' arms since he was the one who was closest to her. "I missed you."

Remus chuckled and hugged her back. "We missed you, too, munchkin."

"So much," Dorcas added, joining the hug. "The house's been quiet without you."

"Well, I'm back now," Harper grinned, taking a step back to look at them. "And I'm ready to enjoy my holidays."

"As are we, darling," Dorcas said, taking her hand and squeezing it. "Come on now, take my hand. Remus will take your trunk and Dale."

"Yes, ma'am," Remus said, smiling as he took her trunk and Dale's cage. Harper laughed and took Dorcas hand. The three of them Disapparated and Apparated in front of Dorcas's small cottage.

"I'm going to unpack," Harper said, as they headed inside. "Moony, can you—"

Remus flicked his wand and the trunk disappeared. "Already done," he told her.

Harper smiled, took Dale's cage and climbed the stairs to her room. She placed Dale's cage on her desk in front of the window—knowing he loved to enjoy the sunlight. She also opened the door so that he could fly around the house if he wanted to.

Harper turned around and saw that her trunk stood at the end of her bed, exactly where she would have wanted it. Remus knew her well.

The rest of the day, she proceeded to unpack her trunk and wrap her gifts for Dorcas and Remus. In the evening, the had dinner together at Harper filled them in about what had happened. She let out the three headed dog, though, not wanting to worry them.

Dorcas sighed. "Only James' kids could do something so reckless and get onto the Quidditch Team."

Harper would have defended herself if she hadn't detected the proudness in her godmother's voice.

In the next few days, Harper baked cookies with Dorcas, stargazed with Remus and flicked through the books Hermione had given her—trying to find something about Nicolas Flamel. Christmas finally came and Harper was thrilled to give her presents to Dorcas and Remus. For the former, she had gotten a painting set, knowing that her godmother had been into painting recently, and for Remus she bought him a briefcase with his name branded on it. They both had been extremely happy with their presents.

Dorcas gave her a broom kit since she was now a proud owner of a Nimbus Two Thousand. From Remus, she got a photo-book. Opening it, she read The Marauders on the first page. Flicking through the pages, she saw several photos of her father and Remus with two other boys she recognized as Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew.

"From year one your father decided to keep a photo book with all his best memories," Remus told her. "This book has a spell on it so it can never be full, plus the photos will appear automatically so you don't need to worry about that either. The book knows what moment the owner likes to have a photo of."

Harper skipped to the end and saw that a new page had formed. Harper Potter. Turned the page, she saw a photo of her Remus and Dorcas as they sat now.

"Wow," she breathed. "I've never heard of something like this before."

Remus smiled. "That's magic for you."

• ✧ •

     SOONER THAN HARPER THOUGHT, THE holidays were over again. She sat in an empty compartment on the Hogwarts Express, waiting for Hermione to arrive. It wasn't until the train started to move, that Hermione found her.

"Did you find something?" she asked, falling down onto the seat in front of Harper.

Harper raised an eyebrow. "You haven't seen me in two weeks and that's the first thing you ask? No, how was your holiday, Harper? I missed you, Harper. How are you, Harper?"

Hermione grinned. "How was your holiday, Harp?"

"Pretty good," Harper said, grinning back, "but I didn't find anything about Nicolas Flamel," she added.

"Me neither," Hermione said. "It's as if he doesn't exist." She glanced outside for a bit before glancing back at Harper. "Maybe Harry and Ron found something."

"Yeah," Harper said, not sounding too hopeful. "Maybe."

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May 27th 2022
I hope you enjoy it & tell me what you think of it! :)
Sorry for the very long wait! Updates will be more regular now!