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Christmas Morning at the Burrow
Author: Hermione Granger
Date: 01-09-11 14:05
Piles and piles of presents sat underneath the Christmas tree at the Burrow. The children and some of the adults (like Fred and George) eyed the packages longingly, but Molly was adamant that everyone eat breakfast together before opening any presents. By the time everyone sat down at the table, which had been elongated to fit all of the adults (the children sat at another table next to the long one), it was more like brunch than breakfast.
Part of the delay had been all of the witches crowded in the kitchen, attempting to fix the various dishes without bumping into one another. There was even the need to make a run to the grocer's... twice!
Hermione, who had gotten better at cooking since living on her own, had fixed a large portion of scrambled eggs with bits of bacon mixed in. Her contribution made the rounds at the table, as well as a platter of smoked salmon, a basket of bagels and croissants, a few different types of cream cheese, and several jars of homemade preserves.
Molly sat at one end of the table, while Arthur was seated at the other. The next generation sat between them, Bill and Fleur, Charlie and Hendrika, Percy and Audrey, Fred and Blossom, George and Majandra, Ron and Hermione, and Ginny and Harry.
It was Hermione's first time meeting Audrey. She seemed nice enough, though Hermione had liked Penelope too.
Harry and Ginny weren't that talkative, which had Hermione wondering if they still hadn't made up and had come to the Burrow separately.
The food was divine, even the scrambled eggs and bacon Hermione had made. She'd put some on a bagel half, and then spread cream cheese and some salmon on the other half.
For a little while, even the children forgot about presents. But, as they often did, they finished before the adults and eyed the packages hungrily again.
The adults ate a little faster then, and after clearing the table and setting the dishes to magically wash themselves in the sink, the whole family gathered around the tree and started exchanging gifts.
Small Gathering
Author: Carys
Date: 01-09-11 14:43
Carys lounged on the sofa in her living room and watched as Tristan played with all of his new toys. Torn wrapping paper littered the floor and had ever since early this morning, when Tristan had jumped into his mother's bed and announced that it was time to open presents. She'd said that he would have to wait until Griffin arrived, which hadn't gone over well with Tristan, but luckily for him, he didn't have to wait for very long.
Griffin had arrived with an armful of gifts and Ruth Gainsborough in tow. It had not gone unnoticed to Tristan that Ruth had carried a number of packages as well. Most of them had been for him, though there'd been one for Carys and Alun as well.
Ruth and Alun talked from where they sat at the window. The curtains were wide open and showed the snowy scene outside. Unfortunately, it was rather overcast and unpleasant looking.
Griffin came in from the kitchen holding a small tray he'd found leaning against the counter. On it were four small glasses of dark red liquid that gave off some steam.
He offered Ruth and Alun each a glass and then joined Carys on the sofa. She moved her legs out of the way so that he had some room to sit.
"What is that?" Carys asked, when Griffin offered her a glass.
"Careful. It's hot," he said.
She took it by the handle and gave it a tentative sip.
"It's called Glühwein," Griff said. "There was a mention of it in yesterday's Daily Prophet. It's a traditional Christmas drink in some parts of Europe. It's also known as mulled wine."
"It's good," Carys said. The red wine had a bit of spice in it. Carys thought she detected cinnamon and vanilla.
"Isn't it a bit early for wine, though?" she teased him, after taking another small sip.
"Well, I left out the shot of rum," Griff answered with a grin. "It's not quite hot enough for the liquor to burn off, but it shouldn't be too strong."
"It's not," Carys said. The spices made it taste less like wine and more like cider.
"Can I taste?" Tristan asked, coming up from the floor to inspect his mother's drink.
"I don't think you'll like it," she replied, "besides, it'll burn your mouth. I think it's still too hot for you to try."
It was almost too hot for her, which was why she was only sipping it.
Tristan frowned. "Just blow on it."
"When it cools down, I'll let you have a little taste, okay?"
"Okay." He turned and went back to his toys. He'd gotten a replica of the Hogwarts Express and pushed it along the floor, making choo-choo noises as it went along an invisible track.
"I'm glad you and Ruth could come," Carys said, after a while of watching Tristan play.
Griff replied, "Wouldn't have missed it for anything, Carys."
She smiled and settled back into her lounging position, careful not to tip her glass.
Visit to Azkaban
Author: Ronan Eastwick
Date: 01-09-11 15:29
Azkaban was the last place Ronan wanted to be on Christmas Day, but he felt he owed his mother a visit. He'd spent Christmas Eve with Illyria's family. Her sister Erigone was so big it looked like she would pop any second, but her baby wasn't due until the end of January. The other big topic of the night had been Olympia's fiancé Lyell. He'd presented his bride-to-be with a gigantic diamond ring at the beginning of the month. Ronan was surprised Olympia could even hold up her hand, the rock was so large!
The one thing Ronan could say about his Christmas trek to Azkaban was that he wasn't the only one doing it. Plenty of others with loved ones in prison were making Christmas Day visits to the wizarding fortress. Ronan checked his wand at the door and then went into the waiting room to see his mother. She arrived with an escort a short while later.
"Happy Christmas, mum," Ronan said, wishing he could give her a hug and a kiss, but the magical barrier between them prevented them from touching.
"Happy Christmas, Ronan. I'm glad you came to see me."
"I thought it might cheer you up," he replied. It kind of depressed him, but he tried to keep his true emotions from showing. "I would have brought you a gift, but I wasn't sure what you wanted, or what I could legally bring you."
"Your visit is good enough for me," Enid replied, with a wave of her hand. "You're not cross with me that I couldn't give you anything, are you?"
"Of course not," Ronan replied honestly. "I didn't think you had the means."
"I certainly don't," Enid agreed. "Tell me," she said, leaning forward on the table in front of her, "Have you heard anything about the investigation into Caden's death?"
That was definitely a topic Ronan didn't want to discuss on Christmas, but he obliged his mother. "I haven't. Besides, I thought it was more on the group behind it rather than his actual murder."
"Yes, yes, but it's still connected."
"I'm sorry. I haven't heard anything at all."
"That's too bad," Enid said, disappointed. She really wanted the group taken down for what they'd done to her oldest child.
"If I hear anything, I'll tell you," Ronan promised.
Enid nodded. "Now tell me about your work."
Ronan launched into a description, telling his mum everything she wanted to know about parchment manufacturing, distribution and sales.
Around The Douglass's Table
Author: Declan
Date: 01-09-11 19:10
Finella Douglass Völker accepts a steaming hot roll from a bread basket being passed around while telling her younger son, "Joseph, if you flick another pea at Aiden, I will take one of your presents."
"But, Mum, he " "I don't care. Stop flicking peas. Both of you."
"Boys are so yucky," six year old Isla primly announces.
Declan accepts the bread basket of rolls from his sister, trying not to smile at his niece's pronouncement, instead gravely asking her, "Does that mean I'm yucky too?"
"Don't be silly, Uncle Declan."
"It's good to know I'm not yucky."
Kenna Douglass interrupts by asking the table at large, "Does anyone need anything? I haven't forgetten to put something out have I?"
"Stop worrying and sit down and eat, Kenna," Hamish Douglass tells his wife.
Declan's brother-in-law Kurt Völker says to her, "Everything is so good."
"Really good, Gran," Aiden pipes up between bites. "What's for dessert?"
"That's an interesting jacket, Aiden," Declan says.
"Pretty cool, right? Someone from school gave it to me. Secret Santa. You know what that is?"
"I'm familiar with it, or one way it's done anyway. We have Secret Santa at Hogwarts."
Declan had hesitated for a split second about putting his name in for Secret Santa, concerned that he would get Zabrynna's name or that Zabrynna would get his. Things have been awkward enough without adding that into the mix. The hesitation was so brief because as soon as Declan had had that thought, another thought immediately countered it. Knowing what happened Professor McGonagall, who oversees the Hogwarts Secret Santa, would allow Declan to put Zabrynna's name back and draw again if he'd pulled her name. Zabrynna would probably have been privately told that if she draw his name she was to put it back and get another. It would be easy enough to say to anyone else who might witness, such as her friends Anne and Philippa, that she'd drawn her own name, or some similar excuse.
As it was, Declan didn't even need that split second of concern. He'd drawn third year Ramona Mickle's name. If not for her having been sent to Happy Haven his first year at Hogwarts, she would have been in his history class. Though he now only teaches fifth, sixth, and seventh years, at that time he'd taught all the history classes.
After doing a little shopping around to give him some gift ideas, Declan had gotten sizing information with a little help. After more shopping he'd gone with a blue and black lounging set in an Oriental style. The set can be worn out and about, lounged in, and even used as pajamas. He'd gotten a gift receipt in case the size runs big or small and included it in the box, which he'd left for Ramona a week ago on the last day of term.
Declan looks at his plate then at the food on the table. As he reaches for a nearby platter with slices of roasted goose, he tells his mother, "It's seriously good, Mum. The food at Hogwarts is stellar but I do miss your cooking."
Christmas With Mum's Family
Author: Georgia Copperpot
Date: 01-10-11 18:52
"More presents!" Libby yells as we fall out of Vati's clown car. Seriously. We fell out. It's very small and Libs was so eager to get out she made for the first open door, which meant shoving me. She's extremely strong for a child her age and it's not as if I was expecting her to shove me. The reasonable thing would have been to wait until Vati opened his door and go that way. As Libby is the least reasonable person around, next to Vati and his Muggle clown car fixation that is, I really should have known better than to expect to be able to get out of this ridiculous contraption with any sense of style or dignity.
If not for the ignorant of the Wizarding World relatives being at Granddad's, we could have apparated. But, no. Couldn't risk having one of being in the garage. Couldn't have one of them wondering how we arrived then claiming not to have seen a taxicab and we'd come from the garage. Also, Vata adores his clown car and insists we use it whenever venturing into wholly Muggle settings. It's times like this I do so wish Mum had renounced her Muggle relatives and told people she was an orphaned full blood. Not that I'm into that whole blood status thing, especially after the time in glorious Ha Ha. I only mean that with no ties to the Muggle World, I would not have to be subjected to Vati's insanity that involves clown cars and karaoke nights he drags me to when home from school. Mum loves those karaoke nights and Libby probably would too if old enough to go. That or she'd try to take over the stage putting on some mad production involving Sandra (the dressed up Merlin statue she carries around as if it's a doll) and Angus the somewhat tamed wildcat that allows us to call him a pet.
Before I'm able to fully get off the ground, and out of the clown car, Libby's crawled over me and gone running towards the house, maniacally giggling, "Presents! Presents!" the entire way. Why oh why was I forced to come to this when I could have been with the sex god for at least part of the day?
About the time I'm back on my feet and starting for the house myself, several squirts of icy cold water hit my face. "Andy, stop that right now! Anderson! Did you hear me?"
Dear cousin Andy shoots me one more time for good measure causing his mother to yell at him again. He grins at me and takes off, me loudly telling him, "Like I'm giving you a gift now you little wanker!"
My own mum, partway up the walk, turns and chides, "Language, Georgia."
"Well, he is a wanker, Connie."
She stops and turns to look me straight on. "Don't start. I'd hate to have to banish you to the room over the garage for the duration of today."
"Banish me. Please, banish me."
"Georgia," Mum says, her voice laced with great warning.
I scowl but don't say anything else as I trudge up the walk and into the house in time to hear her loudly saying, "Liberty, put that gift down. You don't know if it's for you."
"I don't care. I want to open it, you cheeky monkey."
I sigh and roll my eyes, going straight for a side table where glasses and drinks are available. Grabbing a glass I plop a couple of ice cubes in then eye the assortment of beverages. If I thought I'd get away with it, I'd definitely put a splash of something in my cola. As if reading my thoughts someone says, "You think they'd noticed if I added a little something to my drink?"
"Hallo, Tess. Give it a little time and they'll all be gone enough not to notice."
"Not sure I can wait that long," my cousin grins.
"How's Canada?"
"It's very... Canadian. Like the earrings."
I reach up with one hand to touch the circular blue earrings given to me by Glori Hodfuffer. "Thanks. They were a Secret Santa gift."
"Cool. Did you have to give anything back?"
"Yeah, but not to the same person. I got a girl called Aleydis."
"Aleydis? Unusual name."
"Her last name is Vanderbilt. I think they're Tulips."
"Tulips?"
"You know. Hollandaise."
"You mean Dutch?"
"That's what I said."
"You called her a flower and a sauce. I wouldn't mind getting sauced. There's talk of both charades and karaoke later. So, what did you buy for this saucy flower Aleydis?"
"She's a little sporty so a plushy blue velour track suit. Is that a new watch?"
"Yeah, from Gordon's parents." Gordon is Tess's boyfriend.
"I got this from Sage's mum," I say pointing to the cable knit jumper I'm wearing. "The sex god himself gave me this." I hold up my right hand so Tess can see a puzzle ring on my pointer finger.
"And his dad?"
"His dad doesn't like me but then, he doesn't really like anyone. What did Gordon give you?"
"This locket with our pictures in it." Tess holds out the pendant around her neck.
"Tess, Georgia, we're doing the gift exchange now," Vati calls from near the tree.
Tess and I exchange shoot me now looks then move to join the others.
Translations:
Vati = German for father or something
clown car = Vati's Reliant Robin, a small three wheeled auto
Ha Ha = Happy Haven School For Nons
sex god = Sage Porter, my boyfriend
wanker = a tosser, a loser