Emma had a gold envelope that she was now afraid to open; they were all watching her as she pulled back the flap and removed a picture of a yacht. The word yacht didn't even begin to describe the ship in the picture; it was brilliant white with three decks and not a sail in sight. It was named 'First Kiss' and was the most beautiful object Emma Granger had ever seen.
She was about to show Dan the picture when she noticed writing on the back; it was a notice informing her that she had lessons in yacht handling and what exams she would need to pass before she could captain the 'First Kiss'.
Hermione knew her mother loved studying almost as much as she did and had always loved boats, "look inside the envelope mum," she said.
Emma found a dozen invitations to Potter Island, dated for Easter.
"We never got to meet your friends at the wedding so you can invite them to spend Easter with us. They will fly to a nearby island and then you can pick them up in the 'First Kiss', bring them to your children's island where dad can then clobber them on his own golf course." Harry could see the gleam in their eyes.
So could Hermione, "mum, dad, I know it's tempting to invite people who turn their noses up at you but I tried that and it's a very hollow victory. Besides, we have to spend a week with your guests!"
Everyone was laughing but Dan was shaking his head, "I can't believe how much you've grown up and, of course my brilliant daughter is right as usual. It's a much better idea to invite our friends, and it will make the bastards so jealous when they come back and tell everyone how good it was."
His language earned him a slap to the back of the head while Harry was on the floor with laughter. When he could eventually speak, his admiration for his father-in-law was there for everyone to see. "You need to tell Sirius and Remus that one, they'll make you the first Muggle Marauder."
Hermione opened her gift, which was obviously a book, but what a book! Her eyes nearly popped out her head when she realised what she was holding. "Where did you get this?" she whispered, in reverence to the treasure held in her hands.
"Godric told us where to find it and Winky got it for us. Do you like it?" her mum asked.
Hermione was speechless and could only nod, though her eyes never left what was now her prized possession.
Harry looked at the book in his wife's hands then looked at her parents, "are you serious? You just handed her the equivalent of the Holy Grail. The journal of Rowena Ravenclaw is a legend, no one even knew if it actually existed. 'Like' doesn't even begin to scratch the surface, you just gave my beautiful bookworm the greatest gift she's ever had."
Hermione actually spoke, "not quite love, you did that but this comes bloody close."
Her language told everyone what she really thought of the book that she hadn't even opened yet, in fact she put it away saying, "I have the rest of my life to study this but Christmas only comes round once a year."
Harry then gave Amanda and Emma bracelets while Dan got a wristwatch, after explaining they were portkeys and the activation words, they all promised never to take them off.
Hermione told her mum that the 'First Kiss' was the only way for non-magical people to access the island unless they had a portkey made by them.
Emma was a bit daunted with the task of captaining such a vessel until Harry pointed out it had so many charms on it, the 'First Kiss' could sail through a hurricane without getting it's paint scratched or making her passengers sea-sick.
The family chatted and the Grangers decided to put their affairs in order before joining the Potters for the New Year. With four magical children on the way it wasn't a hard decision to make and, with the portkeys they could come and go to please themselves.
An elf announced that dinner was ready before leading them through the kitchen and into the garden.
Snow was gently falling on the Granger garden and the whole scene was illuminated by hundreds of fairies and multicoloured floating candles.
A large table with a canopy magically suspended above it held so much food, its legs must be in danger of collapse.
They were all lost for words at the beauty of the scene when Harry and Hermione suddenly stiffened, "we're about to get visitors by portkey," he said.
.....
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