Chapter Text
November has rolled into December, and Hermione realises her holiday schedule is busier than it’s been in the past. New festivities to attend with new friends, new groups, new families. A new love, and Oa doesn’t that feel good, and still surprising, and incredibly good. All from skipping work one day. Well, and not dying either. That had been the tricky part.
It’s going to be a busy month. This planet might slow down for the various end-of-year holidays; her sector and its worlds don’t feel obliged to do the same. And work is apace on the sector house now that the homestead asteroid is anchored. All ten of its Lanterns are regularly meeting there to monitor construction and development. A nice way to get to know her fellow co-workers, and especially spend more time with Tomar. Whom it feels like she’s been utterly avoiding for the past year, despite his sector being next to hers.
Hermione’s spreading the word about the new facility during patrols, which she’s also going to be stepping up this season. Oa knows lately she’s been… ‘slacking off’ isn’t the appropriate phrase, surely. Except between numerous serious injuries, battling an arch enemy, breaking her ring, launching a PR offensive for her personal life, and yet more injuries, her logged hours on the job don’t feel strong. She doesn’t include time with Wally; that counts towards mental health care maintenance, and there’ll be no backing down on that point.
All told, a beefier patrol plan for the month, to be worked around the variety of holiday activities. It’s sure to be a busy time for her. And Hermione wouldn’t trade it for anything.
~~~~~~
She’s indeed busy the first couple of weeks. Invasions to halt, disasters to thwart, exploitations of new civilisations to cease. A stranded colony reunited with its homeworld. All in a day’s work.
In the third week, there’s a yuletide celebration with her school friends. Winter Solstice, aka the Longest Night of the Year. They’ve often continued into the dawn. Hermione’s unsure to what level things will go this year, and briefs Wally appropriately. Also on the dress code; this is a Serious Occasion in this community.
Usually it’s done at someone’s house; this time Theo has rented a space within an upscale Soho establishment. The Electric House in Notting Hill, and why is she the only one of her friends who thinks that actor looks like the new PM?
Regardless, it’s a good choice as reporters continue going after Harry and Ginny. A place firmly in Muggle London will put them all off the radar. Plus, nobody needs to cook, clean up, or prep their house. Just show up and have a grand time.
The event’s evening start time allows for a robust morning patrol including a First Contact and multiple rescue efforts. Also, to work up an appetite. What had started as a small, sombre affair during Eighth Year has since grown to epic gastronomical proportions.
The two of them are early, at Hermione’s insistence, and chat with the Patels while Theo supervises setting arrangements. Roughly half are on time, and all is the normal level of discourse until an uninvited schoolmate shows up. Unexpected and exceedingly welcome. Dean enters the hall, and behind him, hand in hand, is… Seamus Finnegan.
Loud cheers herald his arrival, and after hugs and drinks are pressed on him, he relates that his family had abruptly and covertly left Britain after the war’s end. They’d had enough of that society, and frankly he couldn’t blame them. He’d no great desire to finish school and so joined them in Canada. One of many ex-pat groups there, peoples who’d fled their increasingly dangerous homeland over the last forty years.
He has the same grin, Hermione thinks. Looking a touch embarrassed perhaps, as Seamus had felt badly for not braving Eighth Year like they’d done. He’d quietly returned several times to Britain several times as the rep for a company that manufactures high-end reinforcement charms for houses and vaults. And yes, he does extensive work in the testing department too. Anything that withstands his efforts is judged worthy of production.
Dean had run into him earlier in the year, one thing led to several others, and they’d been a couple. Quietly. “Bit like you and the ginger here, yeah?” as Seamus puts it, and who is Hermione to disagree. Dean’d mentioned Hermione’s new job to him, along with her new flatmates on the Moon and the one she’d been surreptitiously seeing. He’s watched her flying about over London as well as Montreal, and Godric Hermione does that mask fool anyone?
That ignites discussions on disguises, which Hermione attempts to divert away by properly introducing her boyfriend to her old housemate. (Re-)Introductions to the Slytherin contingent are less friendly. Thankfully Dean’s also gone over how Eighth Year’s Survivor House had, indeed, survived, via communication and understanding. Hermione feels there may be a long process before Seamus is willing to accept that. Oa knows Hermione herself had been the last of their group to reach that state.
Theo, ever the master, has already arranged for an extra setting at the magnificent table while talk ventures to easier matters. Ginny’s ring, Hermione’s ring, and congratulations to them both. The latest concerning Hogwarts, the latest concerning the Ministry.
Hermione’s encouraged to hear that Minerva and Kingsley are reaching out to her friends, particularly those who’ve been ostracised from both areas. Starting with asking for their input on future political and educational issues. Not a big start, but still a start. Tying in with this, a few such as Hannah and Neville are thinking of taking active roles in the Wizengamot.
The timing is perfect, as dinner is announced before talk of politics can deepen. A wonderful meal of roast pork and hams, baked potatoes and grilled carrots, mulled wines, exotic breads, and a terrifying assortment of pies and tarts awaits them.
Plus small touches a few have brought as well. Gingerbread biscuits, a quiver of sugar quills (Hermione’s willpower is put to the test not to grab them all), minced pies, all sworn to be handmade. Hermione brings out those spicey citrus things that everyone likes, definitely not made by hand. Or human ones, at least; she still refuses to say what they’re really made of, only that they’re compatible with human biology. There’s also a platter of deep-fried cheese curds, courtesy of Wally. Blaise rolls his eyes yet winds up eating more of them than anyone else, save Ron.
First, they contribute yule toasts with glasses of exceptional mead.
“To a rather interesting year.”
“To an even better one to come.”
“To fewer secrets!” Hermione gets looks her way, and is happy Dean is there to draw a portion of the mock glares.
“To the best of friends.” She might have let her ring glow a tad with her words.
“To romance,” with raised glasses to the three couples present. (There’s a fourth here too; they won’t reveal themselves until one of the couples exchange rings next year.)
“To those who should be here,” and they all join in for this, as they always do. “And to those fortunate enough to have survived.”
With that, Theo lights a series of thick candles, most older than the building they’re in, a few older than the city they’re in, and slowly plates are passed around the table for filling. Everyone helping those around them, a large lesson they’d learned in their final school year.
It’s simply not fair, Hermione thinks for the nth time, to have a boyfriend who can eat everything he wants. She’s having to request miniscule portions to approach sampling what she’d love to dive into. Though she’ll conduct ninja attacks on his plate over the next hour or so.
They do presents after leaving sizable dents in each dish. Special presents, less emphasis on magic and more thoughtfulness. They know hers can’t be magical, Seamus as well after Dean explains that element of her job to his bewildered look.
She can’t do magic. She can, however, visit shops no one else here is able to. One table features her offerings for the group: assorted high-end Atlantean teas and multi-hued, strangely wicked candles from distant worlds featuring unearthly scents.
They have books for her, of course, and she can’t wait to read each one. A new jumper from the Weasleys, in GryffWally colours. Two tickets to the Quidditch World Cup next year, courtesy of England’s finest Chaser. A gift certificate for her favourite café in Croydon, which is greatly appreciated. A box of jaffa cakes, perhaps more so. From the Slytherin females, a trilby hat as evidently she’s gone entirely too American in their estimation. A non-singular sentiment, as she also gets a splendid Union Jack shawl.
Wally gets a bag of chocolate frogs to his delight, everyone figuring he’s the only person who will never let any escape. Which brings up the tale of Harry’s first encounter with them, all those years ago on the train.
Midnight approaches. Chandeliers are extinguished, and as one they softly, carefully, blow out the candles. A charm is issued at the ceiling, and a night sky devoid of light pollution fills their view. Filled with constellations that Draco knows. Filled with people that Hermione knows.
A few of them watch her watching the stars, her lips silently saying names of planets humans will one day visit. Not soon, but one day. Then the charm fades, light is restored, and the days grow longer. Hugs for everyone, Wally included, and Hermione’s well happy that Seamus is willing to shake hands with the Slytherins.
It’s perfect. They’re perfect. Well, no, they aren’t perfect. None of them are.
They’re family.
It still amazes her that only a few years ago they’d been trying to, well perhaps not kill, at the least hurt each other as much as possible.
~~~~~~
The next day, the League has an annual gathering. A very private one. No costumes, no masks. This is for the core actives and dedicated reservists, along with the civilian essentials who devote their lives to supporting them. A short, six-system patrol as she’d slept in after joining the hard-core survivors to witness dawn on the Thames.
Hermione’s been to League-related parties since joining, many of which are also sans-supersuits. This is her first Christmas event. A little more formal than those she’d attended across the year, and she’s dressed in a dark skirt, blouse, and vest ensemble that’d passed Pansy’s muster. Along with her lightning bolt earrings and the new shawl, which gets good notices. Wally’d gotten her a marvellous corsage for her vest, a red rose with a sprig of bright green that matches the one he’s wearing on his coat.
The cafeteria is appropriately decorated and hosts a wide buffet. An international range of foods and drinks, of which the growing international membership audibly approves. It allows for trying items not only uneaten before but also unimagined, such as the ancient Norwegian (ancient, as predating the country’s unification) dishes which Tora had overseen.
They’re doing a Secret Santa, everyone agreeing to keep presents humorous, low-key, and not obtained/created using powers. No handmade diamonds, for example. Hermione’d gotten Ollie as her recipient and had found him an authentic Sheriff of Nottingham badge she’d acquired after taking the train out to the city.
She in turn gets a student textbook loudly entitled ‘How to Drive,’ a combined US and UK edition. Ha bloody ha, though she does laugh along with everyone else when it’s unveiled. And yes, Hermione’s been promising many people for far too long she’ll get licensed. Now to figure out who it came from…
Plenty of additional clever gifts. A box of thin fabric squares for cleaning eyeglasses. An antique magnifying glass. A mock 1908 Cubs jersey. A Marvin the Martian bobblehead. A set of world map flash cards, and Hermione is the first to giggle at that. Then checks them out, as they could be useful.
It eases into a relaxed mode after that. They steer away from actual League talk; they do laugh and reminisce of the year’s activities. Bossy new members. Abrasive old members. Thwarting an interdimensional invasion. Rescuing cats. Young love, and the two of them get raised glasses. And a special toast from Clark to all those who’ve joined them over the last twelve months to defend this small, precious planet.
Relaxed fades to mellow. Turns are taken on a grand piano, slow and soft (and non-competitive) being the guide. J’onn leads off with old blues numbers. Hermione remembers enough to not embarrass herself and performs a few pieces from her previous life. Bruce and Diana duet on the keyboards as everyone sings along with seasonal carols.
If somebody’d told her a year ago, while she’d been morosely sitting before an arrangement of firewood in the dark, what she’d be doing today… Hermione smiles, and leans her head on Wally’s shoulder. They sit back with their super friends and watch the Earthrise in the cafeteria’s window.
~~~~~~
Several days and nights of heavy (and usually calm) patrolling later, there’s a special meal with her honorary aunt and uncle, who are also among her foremost mentors. They’re thrilled Wally has come as well. Hal’s not observant but continues his family’s cooking traditions as best he can, always trying to duplicate the ideal matzo soup of his childhood.
Carol isn’t religious at all, only loving the sentiment and the food. And the fiancé. No date’s been set, as Hermione discovers later. No rush, as Carol says.
Hermione brings brisket and challah bread from a deli in NYC that’s become a nearly regular meeting place for a Lantern and her Minder. Wally brings wines, Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Carol does roast chicken, Hal does latkes, and they’ve ordered rugelach as in their experience there’re some things you leave to the professionals.
The former superhero and supervillain tell Barry stories, JLA stories, Year One GL stories, Sapphire stories. Carol has hilarious tales of the Secret Society of Super Villains, which hadn’t been very secret to anyone. Hal shares a few of the pranks he’d pulled during his Lantern training, and Hermione feels he would have been right at home with Fred and George.
They also talk about their wedding. Probably two versions, one for family and one for community, is the latest thought. Clark and Lois had done similar. It’s hard to explain certain incredibly famous people appearing at such events, after all. Diana and Arthur foremost, as no matter how they try to disguise themselves, it’s always clear who they are.
Carol’s range of morally flexible pals, however, may require strict rules for the community ceremony given who might be showing up. An established demilitarized zone and one minute head start before going after anyone with outstanding warrants, so long as they’ve played nice.
Hal has slight concerns Sinestro might show. Hermione says she’ll talk with him next time they run into each other. Which gets a raised eyebrow from her predecessor and a low whistle of respect from the woman who’d spent years on that side of the fence.
The younger heroes have small gifts, as Hermione mysteriously says to watch the skies for more. A box of crackers that a merchant she’d met on Grax IV says the last Lantern had always asked for. A bottle of powerful barbeque sauce from Wally (which has a strong recommendation from Shandra as well). Their hosts have jars of jams, a hobby they’ve gotten into using all-Californian ingredients. Carol advises to test each in small amounts, as Hal’s gotten experimentalist in the concoctions.
The four drive out to the actual coast for ice cream on the pier. The Sun’s long since set by then, and the Moon’s rising over the ocean. They eat and jokingly try to pick out the small home located in the Sea of Serenity.
~~~~~~
The League Christmas gathering that Hermione had attended is a tradition she’d known about. Kara introduces her to another, less of a League thing, more her cousin’s. Normally he’d be undertaking it, lately with Kara’s aid, except this year she’d conspired with his wife to give him the night off. They both insist the Girl of Steel can ensure it’s successfully carried out. Kara confidently adds that she’s arranged for a helper, and that gets the final nod of acceptance once she gives the name. Not that there had been any doubt when Lois Lane is involved a discussion.
Hermione’s reaction to her super-bestie’s request hadn’t been as accepting. “No. Guardians, Kara, no. I don’t care what you’re planning to wear, I’m not ringing up an elf costume.”
It’s not like Clark had been dressing up as Father Christmas when he’d gone flying across the globe each year, delivering gifts based on letters sent to him and the League. Or Santa Claus, given his official nationality. His way to give back to a world that had adopted him, but he stays in his usual costume. The most he’d done according to Kara had been wearing a festive stocking hat.
Kara doesn’t feel constrained in her apparel, as can be imagined. This year Supergirl has a white and red variation, winter-themed with gloves and a long, thick cape more akin to a cloak. Hermione has to admit it does look fetching. That doesn’t change her mind concerning elven-wear, nor do puppy eyes from her friend.
She does allow for a ringed-up sleigh and reindeer. A gigantic, teetering bag to store gifts. All in green, which does go well with Kara’s red. And yes, she’s alerted astronomers that a bright green object will be swirling about the sky, and don’t even think of arguing over it.
Their first stop is Midvale, home of Kara’s adoptive parents and now also a teen Martian named M’gann. Who seems to be watching entirely too much TV, judging from her vocabulary. It’s also the hometown of Hermione’s Junior Lanterns, who are amazed to see not one but two heroes descend from the heavens. They love seeing her (and with presents). Mixed feelings remain about Green Lantern kissing anybody. Yuck.
Speaking of kissing… the sleigh travels to Chicago for a quick (and furtive) stopover at a penthouse roof. Hermione politely averts her gaze. Then to the northern East Coast to surprise the Lanternettes and Young Justice with gifts, and New York to surprise Spider-Penny atop the Flatiron. While in the Big Apple, they ride to the Village and a greatly surprised Agent Chase.
The duo does hours visiting people across the planet who’ve written to either of them over the year, catching up on their lives and reassuring them that they hadn’t been forgotten. Autographs, hugs, group pictures, hot cocoa. Kara says it’s her favourite part of the gig, and Hermione agrees.
Green Lantern herself had gotten holiday letters she’s been busy responding to, from the new PM to Pack Leader Lavender, who only gave a PO Box in Wyoming for an address. Tim Hunter, Robin in Viburnum, Percy and his family. Shandra, Minerva, Kingsley, Alfred. Her mentee Cameron, her minder Cameron. A secret one from Lena, asking to help keep their mutual friend from doing anything stupid while being a superhero. (Wally had gotten a similar one from Harry and Ron asking the same)
The besties talk of seasonal things while flying from continent to continent. Krypton hadn’t comparable customs; Rao hadn’t been worshipped in the ways humans would recognise, Kara says. “Respect, that might be closer. We respected Rao, respected the power of that supergiant star.” Gifts had been of information, personal assistance, creative support; items that can’t be replicated. “Our technology allowed anything physical to be created at will, after all.” There’d been no winter season or seasons at all, having long ago realigned Krypton to remove any axial tilt.
Hermione talks about holidays growing up in England, then at Hogwarts. The Yule Ball, and she promises to find pictures. Someone in her group must have them, she’s sure. Colin, and rest his brave soul, had given handfuls to Harry the next day. The location of the topic fits well, as they stop to offer cheers to Sam and her family, who flies up in an emerald streak to see them. She’s getting good at using her green magic, Hermione thinks. Young Justice had better be ready for her.
The bag is diminished to a nearly empty state, and the sleigh turns west. Hermione drops off a 1940s RAF pilot scarf and a 1960s Carnaby wrap in Coast City. Kara leads her partner to Al’s to offer best wishes and snacks for the regulars, who all call her out by name. Their final stop is in San Francisco on Titans Tower, where the two sorta-Titans join the annual party already in progress. Wally’s there, and for him Hermione shifts out of uniform and into the elf costume. She’s off duty now, sue her. Not to be outdone, Kara superspeeds into a fresh outfit with a cute, shorter cape and sprigs of holly on her hairband.
This could be a thing for London and Central City’s local heroes to enact next year, Hermione thinks. Red and green are the appropriate colours for the season, after all.
~~~~~~
A long patrol for Christmas Day, as she’s not needed until late afternoon at his house. She’s feeling nearly caught up on her ambitious schedule. A longer shower on her return, notes for the reports, and off and across the Atlantic for the first annual Granger-West-Wilkins-Allen joint Christmas dinner. Hermione’s first Christmas with Wally, with Wally. And both their families. And her familiar.
It's exactly what she needs. Silly cultural clashes over Father Christmas vs Santa Claus, Happy vs Merry Christmas. Explaining Christmas Crackers, then demonstrating how to use them. Particularly how to wear the hats.
Cross-cultural foods as well. The Wilkins have seafood, fruit salad with cherries, and pavlova. Granger has Christmas pudding, fruitcake, and trifle. West arranges for turkey, and lots of it. Stuffing on the side, he explains as if it should be obvious to all. Allen does most of the rest including cranberry sauce, both from scratch and not (the latter complete with proper ridge lines from the can). Which launches another round of arguments.
Arguments are decidedly kept to silly subjects. No work-related issues, no matter the work or where it takes place.
Hermione’s happy to see her culinary skills are getting better. The gravy, for one, comes out quite well, and honestly why should it be difficult when she spent years brewing magic potions? It does help that Wally’s over her shoulder and helping to stir, regardless if that does distract from monitoring progress. Severus would be going spare if he’d seen this kind of behaviour in class.
It all comes out well, and everyone gets rave reviews for their efforts. Crookshanks loudly purrs his approval as he gets hand-delivered offerings.
During afters, Iris asks of Hal and Carol, which leads to talk of Hermione and Wally’s romantic costumed selves getting media attention. Which leads to Wally asking what Iris has been up to, as he hasn’t seen much of her these past couple of months. She doesn’t try to deny; yes, she’s been if not seeing someone, maybe talking about seeing someone. Which leads to happy encouragement from the younger couple. Who completely don’t notice that the Wilkins don’t act surprised.
Coffee, tea, and presents are afterwards. Hermione mentions gift exchanges with Lissam’s expanding brood family, which does skate the approved subject matters to a degree. She’d spent a day with her adopted reptilian family a couple of hundred light years from here, and Wally’s keen to meet them too. She does really need to take him out to see her sector one day.
Her parents get her a gorgeous navy pea coat, and there’d been clear collaboration as Iris has a set of scarves that perfectly match. Wally has an assortment of witchy gifts, such as a fake wand, broomstick whisk, and a cauldron-shaped slow cooker. Goofy, yet perfect; she’d mentioned of wanting a wand to display in clear sight of her bedroom mirror, and the cooker means she can load it up before a patrol and have a hot meal ready on her return. It gets him a long kiss.
Hermione gets Iris a handknit scarf, Flash colours of course. Her parents get matching M and W jumpers, also handknit. Wally gets a flat cap; Crookshanks a vest, which he deigns to wear for now. Yes, Hermione’s been busy with the needles. Getting better at that, too.
They close out with confirming plans for New Year’s Eve in Australia. That’s when Hermione goes seriously into work-related talk.
“There’s a person I’d like to invite for it,” she starts. “None of you have met her,” and that sets off visible alarms. Hermione continues, nonetheless. “She shouldn’t be alone, not anymore. I want you to meet her, and I think she’d like to meet you.”
They know who. Wally very much knows who; she’d already talked with him on it. There’s no yelling, no disappointed expressions from the parental figures. No decisions, either. They’ll talk about it; they have almost a week to decide. Wally’s made his feelings quite clear to her.
Hermione won’t call it a win. It’s not a loss, either. A work in progress.
That not-really-settled, Hermione flies her contingent back to Sydney for a sleepover in the room they keep for her. Crookshanks curls up at her side with purred contentment.
~~~~~~
Boxing Day brings Hermione to Boston Common for a small get-together. Just her and one other person.
A week ago, they’d had their own private gathering with a third, who’s sometimes a fourth, down in Gotham. No uniforms or costumes, just two normal young women there to see an immortal ex-Knight of the Round Table. That the city is still intact speaks volumes as to how it had gone. That most of the interior had been left as burning ash also says a lot. He’d made his points, and they’d been good ones. It’s still not enough for the two of them. There will be future discussions, of that they’re all certain.
It's cold by the duck pond and Hermione’s thankful of her new coat. Meeting here feels like her first meeting with Cameron, in a way. Equally perfect camouflage; no one would ever expect two superpowered people to be found sitting on a park bench.
Parsimony is already there, looking entirely too warm. Magic, of course. They don’t quite hug, they’re not quite there yet, but they do come close.
Hermione has a rolled-up gift she hopes Parm will appreciate. Namely, her Wanted poster from Wizarding Britain. Ron had provided one, no questions asked. They’d never gotten a picture of her, so there’s an artist’s animated rendering. No resemblance whatsoever to the woman next to her; it feels more like a distillation of what a Wicked American Witch would look like to frightened British wizards.
Parm loves it. She even cackles. In turn, the witch has… Hermione’s beaded bag? What?
“No, not the real thing Herm,” she says as she notices the combined panic and amazement. “I found it in a thrift store. Took a huge locator spell as nobody makes them anymore. And relax, the real thing is still inside that hidden house. I amped up the sealants on it as the spellwork really needed reinforcement. Good job with the extension charms, by the way. For a kid in school.”
That gets her a smack on the shoulder with said bag. Hermione hadn’t been sure she’d see it again, be able to have it in her life. It’s rather ordinary, and incredibly special.
Which leads Hermione to asking what Parm might be doing a few days from now.