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Christmas Hangovers
Author: Janine Fox
Date: 11-21-07 19:19
Janine had started Christmas day with a dull headache. Now that it was approaching late afternoon, the headache's dull throb had turned into a pounding nightmare. The smell of Sirius's cooking wafted through the house. But instead of making her mouth water it was giving her stoumac an alarming twitch.
"Are you alright?" Harry asked her as he tried to entertain James who was walking in wobbly circles around the coffee table.
Janine closed her eyes for a moment. Opening them again she murmured, "I'm fine. Just a bit of a headache." Afterall, it was Christmas. She could grit her teeth and bear it for a day.
Harry seemed about to say something else, but then Drucilla asked him about work and his attention was drawn away from her.
Given a moment to herself, Janine sank back into the couch and closed her eyes. This is what she got for having too much fun at the Weasley's last night. She couldn't quite remember who had started the first toast last night, but by the time she and Harry had left she had been toast. Seriously looped. In fact, Harry had even had to help her apparate to their front porch. She cringed slightly at the memory. Normally, she was a pretty good guest, enjoying the odd drink but never going overboard. But last night...
Janine opened her eyes to look over at Harry as he pulled James onto his lap and started to float him upwards with a flick of his wand. Watching the smile on his face, and his easy laugh made her remember last night. His easy laugh floating across the room. His smile. His hand touching her shoulder. Not Janine's shoulder but Ginny's.
Jealousy. That's what had hit her. She wasn't sure why. Ginny and Harry were practically sister and brother and yet... They had dated for awhile in Hogwarts, Janine could still remember that. But as far as she could remember the break-up had been mutual. Amicable. They remained friends afterwards. Yet, as Janine had watched them, she could see something in Ginny's eyes. A look that definately wasn't sisterly.
Rubbing her forehead in an attempt to erase the memory and erase her headache, she gave a soft sigh. She really liked Sirius and Drucilla, and the twins, and Pinky and Rocko too, but today the combination was just a bit too much for her to handle.
Celebrating with the Lancasters
Author: Anthony Beck
Date: 11-22-07 08:11
After a wonderful morning with his family, Anthony finally managed to pull on some clothes and round up the gifts he'd yet to give away. He'd gotten something for Plum, Mr. and Mrs. Lancaster, and for little Alex, who was not only celebrating his first Christmas but also his first birthday. Anthony said goodbye to his family, who for the most part were playing with their new "toys", or snuggling in the case of the couples.
With his loot in tow, Anthony apparated for Hogsmeade. He shivered instantly. He hadn't been outside at all today. The weather wasn't really much different than it had been yesterday, with snow flurries dancing around his head but hardly accumulating on the cold ground. Still, he was farther north now and he could feel the difference in the air.
He stopping standing still and pressed towards the castle, hoping someone had left the gates unlocked so that he wouldn't have to stand in the cold waiting for someone to come. Perhaps since it was Christmas Day and the possibility of family members visiting family at the castle seemed high, the gates were mercifully left unlocked. Anthony quickly stepped onto campus and trekked up the slope to the front doors to the castle.
He stepped inside, basked in the warmth that suddenly assailed him, and then went to the Lancasters' quarters. The family was expecting him and welcomed him with hugs. Alex plastered a wet kiss on his cheek. Anthony deposited one on Plum's but with considerably less spittle. She complained that his nose was cold. It apparently hadn't thawed out during the walk through the castle.
He set down his pile of gifts and took of his coat, which Mary took from him and hung up with the other coats. Plum got him a mug of hot cider, which tasted delicious and warmed him to the core. He pulled Plum into the empty space next to him and put his arm around her shoulders, glad to get to spend at least part of Christmas with her and her family.
Gift Exchange
Author: Alex Whitmen
Date: 11-22-07 12:11
Alex woke up earlier than usual. Most of his younger cousins were already awake and trying to stir their parents. All the older children slept in one room, the younger in another and the adults were downstairs. He sat up slowly and rubbed his eyes just as his little cousin Arabella entered. She automatically jumped into his lap and giggled.
"Feliz Navidad!" she said happily. He grinned at her. She was always attached to him whenever they got to see each other.
"Feliz Navidad. Alistar para abrir presentes?" Merry Christmas. Ready to open presents? he asked. She nodded and finally the other kids ran in screaming wake up in English and Spanish. Arabella hopped down and joined the other children in the race of who can wake up more people the fastest. He glanced over at Cailyn and Skyler who were tickling some of the other children. His family really liked her and she seemed to like them too.
"Aye! Get your cute little behinds downstairs. We have a lot of gifts to get through!" his aunt said bursting into the room. The younger kids ran full pace down the stairs while everyone else lagged. Breakfast plates were being handed out and it was loud as usual. Alex loved the noisiness of his family and laughed as his uncle tried to play fight with him. It didn't last long because all the women yelled at them to knock it off. His uncle promised to resume later but Alex only shook his head and laughed as he went to say good morning to his grandpa.
"Mornin' Gramps," Alex said cheerfully. His grandpa smiled and beckoned him to have a seat next to him.
"So Alex. Your girlfriend...she's a very sweet girl. You make sure you treat her well," his grandpa warned. Alex nodded respectfully.
"Yeah, Grandpa. I will. I like her a lot," Alex answered. His grandpa chuckled and patted his head.
"I know, boy. I know. Now go get your mother. I want to speak with her," his grandpa told him. He nodded and told his mother that grandpa wanted her. It seemed to take forever before he had a chance to speak to Cailyn.
"Hey, Happy Christmas," Alex said. Cailyn smiled brightly taking another plate and handing it to him.
"Happy Christmas. Here eat some breakfast," she said. He took the plate and laughed.
"You are becoming one of them already," he told her. She looked puzzled but her smile never faded.
"Who?" she asked curiously.
"The women of the house, telling everyone to eat to stop playing in the house. It was only a matter of time" he joked. She laughed and shook her head.
"Hey. Come with me," Alex said setting his plate on the table. It was barely out of his hand before his cousin Eric picked it up.
"Thanks, Cousin!" he said and walked away. Alex shook his head and led Cailyn upstairs. He went into his room and rummaged around in his trunk before coming up with a neat little red packaged box and handed it to her.
"I got this for you," he said. It was a tiny locket that held a picture of the two of them being silly together and the other side held a picture of her and her father. Alex had written him requesting a picture which he sent with no problems. He stood there hoping she liked and it wasn't too much for their first Christmas, but it seemed like a good idea and his mother thought it was nice but he knew the only opinion that really counted was hers.
Talking
Author: Bambi Fandango
Date: 11-22-07 13:28
"More eggnog, dears?" Chillzab Hodfuffer asks her daughter-in-law Bambi and Bambi's, AJ's, and Lar's friend Kissy.
Kissy holds up her cup, "Yes, please."
Bambi shakes her head, "None for me, thank you. I think I'm switching to water or tea."
Chillzab fixed Bambi with an amused expression. "I'm sure you mean that iced concoction that we keep telling you is not tea. You Yanks need to come up with another, more suitable, name for it."
Bambi laughs. "And as I keep telling you, it's tea but over ice so what better name is there than iced tea?"
Chillzab grins, shaking her head as if to ask what is she going to do with this particular daughter-in-law. Before walking away to offer more eggnog to others there for the huge Hodfuffer Christmas day gathering, she asks, "Did you get that gift owled off?"
"Yes, I did. Thank you for letting me use Knotly," Bambi says in reference to her in-law's large owl.
To Kissy Bambi says, "I nearly forgot to send Cora Fields her Secret Santa gift. I found the perfect fleece pullover for her. Light green with little yellow and white flowers. It even has a matching hat, scarf, and gloves."
"I'm sure she'll be delighted to get it and you're truly late in getting it to her. I drew Evan Lancaster's name. Speaking of Evan, are you coming to his son's birthday party with AJ and me?"
"We're going, at least for a little bit. Don't let me forget the gift," Bambi says with a laugh. "I swear I'm so forgetful lately. Do you know, I even forgot for two straight days that Snider's got Jelly the House Elf in the library keeping tabs on things there."
AJ plops down beside Kissy just then and asks, "Has anyone heard yet what Snider's doling out for that little show in the Great Hall on the 14th?"
"No," Bambi shakes her head. "To think, if I'd not gone to lunch with Lars then returned to the library instead of going to the Great Hall, I'd be on pins and needles wanting to know what my fate is. Are you worried?"
"Not really," AJ shakes his head, "but then, I don't really need the job either. I'm mainly wanting to know so that it's over and done with, we can move on sort of thing."
Kissy sighs, "I"m sorry I missed it but yet I'm not because, unlike you, I do need the job."
"Couldn't you go back to St. Emrys if needed," Bambi asks.
"Yes, I think so, but would I want to if things are getting bad there?"
"If St. Emrys gets as restrictive as Hogwarts, the university won't pull in the number of foreign students it's been getting, especially not with other colleges and universities opening up around the world," Bambi states.
AJ stands up and pulls Kissy up with him. "Enough of this moping. I promised to cheer you up today and besides, it's about time to get to the Lancasters', isn't?"
Bambi gets up as well, "Let me grab Lars and the baby's birthday present and we'll be good to go."
Merry Christmas Mr. and Mrs. Black
Author: Drucilla Eternal
Date: 11-22-07 16:06
“I hope Janine is okay.”
I helped to manually gather the dishes, while Sirius deftly cleaned them with his wand and put them away. I supposed I could have helped with the cleaning too, but my wand action was still a bit hit and miss. And with good dishes on the line, I didn’t want to push my luck.
“I’m sure she’ll be fine,” Sirius answered. And then with a mischievous grin he added, “I’m sure it was just last night catching up to her.”
I almost smiled, but didn’t share Sirius’s amusement. Something was bothering Janine tonight. I could feel it. Maybe it was Veela intuition but I had an overwhelming urge to wrap a comforting arm around her and tell her things were going to be fine. But I didn’t. I still didn’t know what kind of past relationship I had with Harry's girlfriend and I didn’t want to do anything that would make her feel uncomfortable. Still, I made a mental note to myself to visit her soon and make sure things were going okay.
“Are the twins asleep?” asked Sirius as he tucked his wand away.
“Yes, I believe so. It’s too quiet for them to be awake. Unless they’re planning something naughty together, but with the busy day they had today I’m going to go with the former rather than the latter.”
“Good. Because I have a gift to give you.”
“Oh?” I followed Sirius out of the kitchen feeling pleasantly curious. We had already opened most of the gifts this morning with the twins and then the few remaining gifts while Janine and Harry had been over. I had assumed gift giving was complete. But apparently not.
I took a seat on the couch as Sirius went in the other room to fetch the gift. When he returned with a small square package, I reached up to take it from him. As the gift was exchanged I noticed his hands lingering on mine before releasing the gift. With slightly unsteady hands, I peeled open the paper.
“A photo album.” I gave Sirius a curious look, wondering why he waited to give this now.
“If the twins were awake now, they would be grabbing at the book, and demanding your attention. I wanted you to be able to sit down and enjoy it.” As Sirius spoke, two champagne flutes appeared as if from thin air (with magic, you just never know!) Taking a bottle that was chilling in a bucket next to the couch, he poured two glasses. I waited until he handed a glass to me before opening the album. Sirius shifted on the couch until he was sitting snug beside me, his free hand circling my waist.
It took me a moment to realize what the first picture was, and when it sunk in I could feel tears start to sting my eyes.
“That’s the first day Mira came home,” Sirius said in a low voice slightly hoarse from emotion.
I turned the pages. Pictures of Mira and James reuniting made my hand tremble. It had been such an emotional time period. At the time it had felt like we would never get the paperwork together quick enough to get Mira home. But as the pictures showed as I kept turning the pages, things had worked out. The final picture was a family portrait of Mira, James, Sirius and Wendy the cat of course. And me. I remembered having the picture taken a few weeks ago, but hadn’t seen the results until now. By all means, it wasn’t a perfect picture. James was sticking his tongue out, Mira was wailing miserably, and Wendy was standing with her back arched all hairs sticking up in her show of annoyance. And then there was Sirius and me. Big goofy grins on our faces as we stared at each other. The picture made things so clear. My feelings for him. His feelings for me. I blinked in surprise as the reality of it hit me.
“I can’t begin to tell you how much I love this picture,” Sirius murmured softly, his cheek rubbing softly against mine. “I can’t believe I didn’t see it until I saw this picture.”
I set my glass down next to Sirius’s on the coffee table, afraid if I held it much longer I would loose it in my numb fingers.
“Sirius?” I asked the question in a single word, hoping that he would answer, afraid that he wouldn’t.
“Drucilla, I love you.”
I felt my breath catch, felt my heart start to pound loudly just as it had at the Christmas Eve party when Sirius had kissed me. Turning in his hold, I wrapped my arms around his neck and spoke the same words in return with a kiss.
(Nice, France) Forgetting Christmas
Author: Artemis Evangeline
Date: 11-22-07 18:37
Three weeks previous:
Artemis had become rather resigned to her life at Hogwarts. She had also resigned herself to never attaining a social life of any kind. This did not bother her too terribly much though, she was used to solitude and found peace in silence and alone time. Artemis was more fit to be friends with animals and other more accepting creatures.
Happi, Apollo and Lilly had always made sufficient company, with them Missy could always get by. On the bright side it was not as if she had no human being whatsoever to talk to. Tianine and Tatiana were always just an owl away, and they had even invited her to stay the winter break when it came around.
Missy held to this prospect with every fiber of her being. The idea of a parentless, school- less Christmas was a wonderful idea; Missy had even planned out what she would take with her to Nice. Christmas with her cousins meant parties of every kind every night! Parties usually meant boys, was also another very nice thing.
……………………………………
Christmas day:
Missy woke up when her cousin’s foot smacked abruptly into the side of her head. Wincing at the bright light in the room Artemis pushed her into an upright position and straightened her dress. The three of them had only returned home at 4 am from the Christmas eve party at the neighbors house, and they never even made it to their rooms but crashed right on the rug and couch in the living room.
Groaning she searched for a clock. It was 9:55 in the morning. Rubbing her eyes Missy stumbled into the downstairs bathroom and washed her face. When she returned to the living room she found her cousins in a jumbled mess. Tianine was face down on the floor and Tati was hanging half off the couch on top of her.
Rolling her eyes she stumbled into the sitting room, headed for the kitchen, she was considering going strait to bed when she caught site of the Christmas tree. “Aggg!” She had forgotten it was Christmas! How stupid do you have to be to forget Christmas!?
Missy smiled and raced back into the main living room to wake her cousins. It was time for presents!