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Christmas Morning
Author: Ellis
Date: 12-13-19 18:51
Daphne sat in the very crowded living room with her infant brother Thom in her lap. Every seat in the room was occupied, as was much of the floor. The great big Christmas tree, chosen and cut down by their father, was surrounded by presents and torn wrapping paper, ribbons, and bows. Most of the family was still dressed in pajamas.
Daphne was content to wait to open her gifts as long as the baby was in her lap. He was watching everything with interest, including the five cats that pounced on bits of paper and chased after ribbon.
For Secret Santa this year, Daphne got her housemate Georgie Weasley a couple of Gryffindor baseball caps.
Coincidentally, Emily drew the name of Georgie's roommate, Gage Hodfuffer. She got him a Gryffindor jumper in the "ugly Christmas sweater" style.
Franklin's Secret Santa recipient was a bit more challenging, being a professor instead of a fellow student. He ended up selecting a V-neck sweater for Professor Douglass in an orange-red shade that really stood out.
Gavin tore into a large rectangular box and let out a loud whoop. He had asked his parents for a guitar for Christmas and they had delivered. He planned on asking Alys for lessons and maybe next year he'd join Professor Flitwick's music club. His ultimate goal was to get good enough to join Belinda's band. After all, she was short a guitar player.
His Secret Santa recipient was Gage's sister, Danielle. Gavin thought it bad luck he'd drawn a girl's name, but someone had left a girly catalog in the common room one day, and it ended up helping him choose a gift without him having to resort to asking his sisters for advice. For Dani, Gage selected several hair accessories with dragons on them.
Lastly, Haley drew CJ DeMarco's name. She wasn't sure if he was an outdoorsy sort of person, but she figured he was into games. She found a couple of games to play outside, including bowling and boules. She hoped he would keep them at Hogwarts and play with others, herself included!
Christmas Day
Author: Zabrynna
Date: 12-13-19 20:48
Zabrynna plucks an envelope off the tree. "This is for you, Rand."
Taking it he wonders aloud, "Who's this from?"
"Mr. Pennyworth," she says of the neighbor they had in the flat they were in before moving to Hogsmeade.
"Look! It's a picture of him with Pepper in a canoe."
Looking over his shoulder, Declan's niece coos, "Oooh. Pretty. So fluffy!" Isla peers more closely at the photo then asks, "But who are Pepper and Mr. Pennyworth?"
"He was our neighbor before we moved and Pepper was the cat we first gave Rand," Zabrynna explains.
Rand picks up from there. "Pepper was forever wanting to go visit him. She liked me but she loved him. It got to where she'd cry and cry at the door until we let her go see him and then when it was time to go home she'd hide. Mr. Pennyworth was really lonely and loved her as much as she loved him so I finally gave her to him."
Declan adds, "He rarely left his flat but after Pepper went to live with him, he got a harness and started taking her for walks. Then he got a bicycle and she'd ride in a basket. Looks like they go canoeing now too."
"That's so cool!" Isla bends and sweeps up the medium sized, long haired cat alternating between rubbing her legs and Rand's. "And you have Rogue so that's good too. He's so sweet."
Seeing Rogue getting cuddles both Raven and Claw come rushing over to headbutt Isla. Laughing, she sits down so that all three cats can get on her lap. Zabrynna crouches to pet them all. "They don't really fit all at once any longer and the way Rogue is growing, it won't be long before these two will have to climb on top of him for them to all fit on one lap."
Standing back up, Zabrynna puts a hand on either side of the small of her back, leaning back to stretch. From a nearby chair Mariposa comments, "Either you've put on a little weight there, sis, or you're eating for two these days."
Zabrynna's response is to slyly smile at her sister causing Mariposa to squeal. "NO! Really?"
"We've been waiting to see if anyone would comment," Zabrynna laughs.
Those present on the room all start talking at once, offering congratulations and asking when Zabrynna is due. Declan and she wait for the noise to die down some before speaking but by then others have come to see what the ruckus was about and a second and then a third wave of congratulations and questions ensue. When the room has finally quieted again Zabrynna tells them, "I'm due shortly after summer break begins so no Muggle Studies trip this time around."
Declan says with a laugh, "When we realized we'd miss going on the trip Zabrynna told me that for the next one we really need to work on our timing."
After the ensuing laughter has died down and everyone returns to what they'd been doing, Zabrynna picks up one of her gifts, "Who wants to come with me to try this out?"
Mariposa replies, "Let me bundle up my two and we'll come with."
"I'll be out in the back."
Zabrynna gets bundled up as well, grabs the camera and the crystal ball lens Declan gave her and moves towards the sliding door to the backyard. As she's fiddling with how to attach the lens properly Declan joins her. "Nolan has just said he isn't against us naming a boy after him."
"It's not enough Javier's middle name is Nolan?" she laughs.
"I asked the same thing. He said he wouldn't mind if all his grandsons have Nolan as part of their names and for that matter, all his granddaughters too."
Laughing harder Zabrynna says, "Good to know." She holds up the camera and special lens. "I can't believe you got me one."
"I knew how taken you were with the one you got Aaron."
Zabrynna had their colleague Aaron Miller's name for Secret Santa. After a great deal of searching for something different to give him, she'd come across crystal ball lens. Thinking the images taken with such lens are beautiful and unique, she'd gotten him one. She loves that Declan noticed how much she'd liked the lens and thought to gift her one. She puts the camera and lens down on a patio table and pulls Declan into a hug. "Thank you. I love my gift and I love you."
They start kissing but pull apart laughing when nephews Aiden and Joseph call out, "Get a room!" and pelt them each with a couple of snowballs.
Christmas Tradition
Author: Sophie McCourt
Date: 12-14-19 07:49
"It isn't fair," Cecily complained to Wren. "It's Christmas Day."
"It's a tradition," her brother said.
"It's theirs tradition."
"No Cecily. It is also our tradition. You know how it works: Poles and McCallisters are always tied together. I'll be back before you know it, and then we can open the presents together. Be good to Parsifal," Wren added, kissing the top of Cecily's head and leaving the house.
Cecily went to the window, and watched her brother walking away, leaving a trail on the snow. Every year on Christmas Day, the Poles and some guests would ride some sleighs pulled by thestrals around the property. Then they would stop at a lake and do some ice-skating, and sometimes they would also do some snow fights. Wren drove the main sleigh, and took care of the thestrals as his ancestors once did to the other Poles. A house elf was in charge of the food, blankets and the ice skating shoes. He spent an entire week cleaning and polishing the sleighs. Cecily had helped him, and she even sat at the biggest one, in the cushioned seat, imagining she would be invited to ride with the Poles. But despite living in their property, and being born there, she was never invited. She knew the only way she could come was if she assisted Wren with the sleighs, but her brother preferred her to stay at home and watch Parsifal.
Cecily gave a big sight and went to her bedroom. She touched the necklace she was wearing in the shape of a unicorn. It had been a gift from her Secret Santa. She had really loved the gift and she didn't think she would take it off so soon. Cecily's own Secret Santa had been Mira Eternal-Black. Mira was Slytherin's new chaser, so Cecily had been familiar with her name. She was also Professor Black's daughter, although Cecily never had classes with him. Something that was really striking about Mira was her beauty. When Cecily looked at her after learning she was her Secret Santa, she was astonished by her looks. When she played Quidditch against Slytherin she was so focused on the game that she did not really notice how Mira looked like. Cecily decided to buy Mira a make up kit. She didn't think Mira really needed it, but she thought it could be something she would appreciate.
Meanwhile Wren went to fetch the sleighs and meet the Poles and their guests at the front door of the manor. Sophie came outside, holding Jasper's hand. She was already five months pregnant and her baby bump was now starting to show. She had refused to follow her mother's advise and do an abortion and she wasn't in speaking terms with her. The Poles and her own father did not seem to mind the rift between mother and daughter and none had asked any questions. Leslie was married to a Muggle and it was an embarrassing to both families.
Her father, Honoria and her siblings had come to spend the day with her and Sophie had been surrounded by her sisters and Elmer who were curious about her pregnancy. Florence, Penelope, Guildford and Natalie were still too young to understand what was going on.
Wren helped Sophie to get installed on one of the sleighs. He offered his hand to her, so she could climb it, and gave her a blanket that she put over her legs, so she wouldn't get cold. When she went to thank him for taking her to St. Mungo's that day, she was still feeling very frightful and nervous about her pregnancy. He sensed that and he invited her to his house for some tea. His voice was calm, and he spoke to her in the same gentle tone he used with the thestrals. He was actually the one who made her see that having child was not an impediment to continue her studies. The baby would be born in the spring and she could go back to St. Emrys in September.
"Honey, we are going on the faster sleigh," Jasper told Sophie, kissing her lips. "Wren will take you and the others in a more smooth ride."
"I can go with you," Sophie said, standing up. She had heard about the Pole sleigh races at Christmas and she wanted to be part of them. She craved for some outdoor action, as since discovered she was expecting a child she didn't have any of it.
"No, my darling. I don't want to startle our child," he touched Sophie's belly. Then he placed his hands around her arms, and gently pushed her back to her seat. She did not protest and sadly obeyed his wishes.
Jasper climbed to a racing sleigh. Patricia, Belinda and Eileen joined him. Elmer wanted to go as well, but their father did not allow it. He thought such excitement would be too much for his health. Most of the other guests went to the fastest sleighs. Sophie had to sit with Elmer, and the oldest witches who did not wish a fast ride. Their sleigh was the last to depart, and it advanced a very slow and dull pace.
What to Offer a Head Boy
Author: Nathaniel Ross
Date: 12-14-19 08:01
"How is she doing?" Jenny asked Emilia, glancing at the other side of the table, where Hannah was. She was taking turns feeding Nolan and Francis some soup with a spoon. While Nolan waited patiently for his turn, Francis would look at his cousin in dismay whenever he found out he was not going to be fed.
The Powells had come to have lunch with the Rosses and the Gabbles at Harebells.
"Good. I've missed her so much! She writes us once a week, sometimes even often, but it's not the same thing as having her around. She's made friends, she writes a lot about them, I don't know all their names yet, there's a Violet, a Myra, a Georgie, an Alexandra…And she tried out for the Gryffindor Quidditch team, but she didn't make it. She was a little bit disappointed at first, but she got over it with ease. She seems to be doing well in classes, but she complains a lot about how hard Potions is…I think she inherited her father's lack of talent for that area. "
"I am glad she is well. She wrote to us, you know?" Jenny told her sister.
"Yes, she told me."
"Yes. She wanted to know if we had any ideas about what she should offer her Secret Santa."
"She was very preoccupied, because she got the school's Head Boy. She told me she didn't want to offer him something he wouldn't like, that it was a really responsibility to offer him a gift. It seems he is also Ravenclaw's Quidditch team captain, so he is a known figure at Hogwarts and not just another student. I don't know if Hannah is afraid of him or if this might be a little crush," Emilia informed with a chuckle.
"She should have written me," Tim said. "As a former Head Boy I am more than qualified to help her."
"What gift would you have suggested?" Nate inquired also joining the conversation.
"There's this gobstones playing manual…it describes some of the most legendary moves over the last centuries…that would be a good present! I would have loved to get that when I was younger. Now I don't really need it, I know all the moves by heart, but back then that would have been useful."
Tim followed the Gobstones professional league and although he was not a player, he liked the game.
"This is why she didn't write to you. That's a boring gift," Jenny said.
"We suggested something that everyone likes: chocolates," Nate added.
"Not everyone likes chocolates," Tim retorted. "My girlfriend for example, she doesn't appreciate them. I made the mistake of offering her a box the other day…a terrible mistake!" He confessed.
They all laughed. Nate didn't have the chance to meet Tim's girlfriend yet. He kept saying they were taking things slow and that it was too soon too involve the family. Jenny was starting to believe there was no girlfriend at all and that her brother was just making things up. But Nate was sure she was real, because there was a glint in Tim's brown eyes whenever he talked about her.
"Hannah didn't offer chocolates to the Head Boy, which name is Kurt Blackwell, by the way," Emilia revealed.
"What did she offer him then?"
"An equilibrium board. It's a board that comes with a cylinder that you put over it and you use it to work on your balance. But she was a bit afraid he might not enjoy it, so she also offered him a pair of wooden sunglasses and a matching box. "
Nate, Jenny and Tim all applauded Hannah's choice.
(Octavia) Cozy
Author: Ron Weasley
Date: 12-14-19 19:33
Tarquin hopefully asks, "Another game?"
With a shake of her head Camilla pushes away from the table. "I'm ready for something else. Sorry."
"Uncle Pollux?"
Rising from the couch where he'd been reading the paper while listening to a Christmas concert, Pollux comes to the table. "What are we playing?"
"Do you know Kings In The Corner?"
"Yes, but it's been awhile so bear with me if I seem to have forgotten something."
Happy, Tarquin offers to deal first as Camilla decides to sit next to her mother despite Castoria being in a single person recliner. "Well, excuse you," Castoria says with an oomph of air. "Have you grown since Monday because I swear you're heavier than you were when you sat on top of me then."
Camilla gurgles, "Well, I did eat a lot today. Everything was so good!" She snuggles in against her mother. "Thanks for such delicious food."
Castoria puts her arms around Camilla. "I'm glad you enjoyed it."
On the other end of the couch from where Pollux had been sitting Octavia adds her thanks to that of her sister's. "Yeah, Mum, everything was lovely. Thank you."
"Octavia, I meant to ask you yesterday if you got that present sent off."
"Yes, yesterday morning." Octavia had waited to give the Secret Santa gift for Wallace Rex until she was able to shop for it herself. She'd found a few things in catalogs but had hesitated ordering any of the items. She'd ended up going shopping in person when home for Christmas holiday.
Octavia found a colorful t-shirt with the Hogwarts school crest that also looks like it has paint spattered from each of the quadrants. The t-shirt was on sale for such a great price that she ended up also getting him a mostly green and grey patterned sweater. She hopes that Wallace likes his gift and isn't angry with her that he had to wait so long. She did include with the card a short letter explaining that she'd wanted to pick out his gifts in person rather than by owl order or having her mum do it.
Putting her book aside she gets up and stretches. "Anyone else want more hot chocolate or something else to drink while I'm up?" she asks, walking in the direction of the kitchen.
A few minutes later, back in her cozy spot on the couch, Camilla now curled up on the other end, Octavia returns to one of the books she got for Christmas, happy that they've gotten to spend the day with Mum and Uncle Pollux instead of Dad and Kelsey, his obnoxious girlfriend.
Dirty Santa
Author: Kissy Isuki
Date: 12-15-19 06:51
Kissy joins the other adults, collapsing on the sofa next to Cameron. "He's finally asleep."
With so much activity going on with Christmas Valentine had not napped at all during the day and was resistant to going to bed. There have been times through the day when Kissy would have liked very much to take a nap so she has no idea how Valentine at 5 months old was able to resist for such a long time. At least he was only slightly cranky and not the howling, miserable child both Everett and Callista would have been at that age.
Cameron hands Kissy a mug of mulled cider. "Michaela was just telling us about the Dirty Santa game in her office."
"I've heard of Dirty Santa and how it can be fun but I have to say that with Hogwarts I do prefer our regular Secret Santa. I don't want to think what some of the students would bring as gifts to something like Dirty Santa," she says with amusement.
Kissy's name this year for the Hogwarts Secret Santa had been first year Hannah Powell. The last week of term she'd put a gift for Hannah under the massive decorated tree in the Common Commons that has over the years become the spot where many leave the Secret Santa gifts as well as gifts for from one friend to another to give friends the fun of discovering a present with his or her name under a tree and wondering what the package might contain.
The gift for Hannah had two components. One is a jewelry making kit and the other is a set of charms and beads for adding to jewelry and additional jewelry making materials.
Though he doesn't know the students like Kissy does Cameron has met enough of them and heard enough about some of them to know how spot on she is. He chuckles, "Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes would likely sell out of U-No-Poo."
His sister joins his chuckling. "A couple of the Dirty Santa gifts were U-No-Poo and another was the deluxe skiving snackboxes. The person who ended up with that one is someone who has never missed a day of work, once even showing up when she thought she might have broken two fingers. We all had a massive laugh at the irony with her giggling so hard she was crying."
Michaela's husband Heath pats her on the leg. "We should start thinking about what Lancelot can give his first Secret Santa when he participates next year."
Michaela frowns but not in an overly serious manner. "Don't remind me he starts Hogwarts next year." She suddenly grins. "Though with him gone I might be able to soak in the tub without an interruption for once."
Beside her, Heath is shaking his head, causing everyone to laugh. At her sidelong look at her husband he explains, "With two cats and a dog you seriously think you're going to get uninterrupted alone time in the bath?" The laughter grows louder, Kissy keeping an ear open for any sound that might indicate they've woken Valentine up.
Eavesdropping
Author: Philippa Hainault
Date: 12-15-19 07:09
"You're eavesdropping!"
"Isabella, quiet!" Philippa ordered.
"You're not supposed to listen private conversations."
"Isabella, please, we are tying to understand what they are saying."
"I'm going to tell aunt Margaret!"
"If you do that Philippa will turn you into a toad," Richard threatened.
"She can't use magic outside Hogwarts. You can't fool me!"
There was a sound of movement on the other side of the door. Philippa and Richard rushed to the couch, where Berengaria was seated, playing with a doll she had just received. Isabella was slower to react and so she was still by the door when it was open.
"Isabella! Were you eavesdropping?" Aunt Margaret asked, leaving the office.
Grandfather Maximilian came right after her.
"No, I was not! It was Richard and Philippa! They were the ones who were trying to listen to your conversation. I was trying to stop them."
The adults did not believe her, and Margaret told her it was a bad thing to lie. Philippa and Richard covered their mouths, as they laughed. Isabella sulked on the couch, crossing her arms.
Philippa was glad she got away with it. Her aunt and grandfather had locked themselves in the second's office after Richard opened a gift that was under the Christmas tree with his name on it. The gift was sent by their grandfather Ferdinand, and it was no less than a set of blood red robes, a cape with fur and a furry hat. At first sight they pretty seemed normal winter robes, but Maximilian and Margaret looked at them in horror, especially after Richard put on the furry hat and smiled.
They stood up and locked themselves in the office. Philippa and Richard were not able to listen much of the conversation thanks to Isabella, but she was able understand that the robes were from the Durmstrang Institute and that Ferdinand was expressing his intentions of sending his grandchild to that school next year instead of Hogwarts by offering him those school robes. Did he have the power to do that? Philippa didn't know but of course she wanted Richard to go to Hogwarts and not to another school.
She just hoped the gift she offered Octavia for Secret Santa wouldn't cause as much sensation as Richard's gift! Octavia Faircloth was Philippa's roommate. Picking a gift wasn't hard. Her aunt helped her choosing a dress for Octavia. It was a beautiful light dark blue dress with a flowery patter and a vaporous skirt. Octavia was going to look very beautiful in it!
[Harley & Dave] Uncle Scott
Author: S Snape
Date: 12-15-19 17:58
Scott Croft picks one glass of Kevin's new set of pilsners. He reads from one side of one glass, "Police," where the word is set into the image of a law enforcement badge. He turns the glass to read on the opposite side, "Off Duty. Save Yourself. Hilarious! Who gave you these?"
"Dave. He saw them in a catalog when looking for something to get for a Secret Santa exchange at school." Kevin roots under a stack of magazines. "Here it is."
Flipping through it Scott's expression becomes perplexed. "How old is the kid he was getting a gift for?"
"Teachers do the Secret Santa too."
Coming out of the kitchen with a hot cocoa Dave fills Scott in a bit more. "Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen. I think I said that right. He's the," Dave catches himself before he says alchemy substituting instead, "chemistry teacher."
"You're already in chemistry? I had a hard enough time taking it when I was a few years older than you are now."
Kevin jokes, "You have a hard enough time just writing your name on exams."
Scott swats at him with the catalog while Dave answers, "No, not in chemistry yet. Have to be in a higher form but I do want to take it."
"So what did you give this chemistry teacher? Is it out of here?" he brandishes the catalog.
"Yeah, I did." Dave had looked on the Hogsmeade trip earlier in the month but hadn't seen anything that he liked as much as what he'd found in the catalog. Taking the catalog he turns to a page. "These beaker shaped pilsners and," he turns a few more pages, "and these beaker shaped wine glasses."
Scott looks over to where Harley is working on a jigsaw puzzle with Carol. "Oi. Harley. You do this Secret Santa thing too?"
"Yeah, and got the school librarian."
"You got him or her something from Dave's catalog?"
"I did look through it but I got her jewelry. I found a necklace that looks like books on a shelf and earrings that are bookshelves complete with a cat on the shelves."
Tapping a jigsaw piece into place Carol inquires, "Why the interest in the kids' gifts to people at school, Scott?"
"We're having something at work this weekend. We didn't do it before because this coming weekend is the only one everyone could attend. I need to bring a gift that's £25 or less. I've kept putting off getting anything and now here it is last minute. I don't want to bring a shite, er, I mean crap gift so I need good ideas. Some decent jewelry out there for that but I need something more universal I think. This company do rush orders?" He asks as he searches the catalog for the company information.
Dave helpfully points it out. "They've a spot here in London. Be better than trying to order it tomorrow and have by Saturday."
"Excellent. You two up for a jaunt tomorrow?" He asks of Dave and Harley.
As excursions with Uncle Scott often means junk food and going somewhere interesting after attending to whatever errand he's on both of them eagerly reply, "Yes!"
Old Severus, New Severus
Author: S Snape
Date: 12-15-19 19:14
Entering his quarters, Severus sheds the long overcoat he'd been wearing. Students and even many of the adults who know him would be shocked to see the casual light blue jeans and medium blue roll neck fisherman sweater beneath the coat. The wood in the fireplace suddenly blazes and he walks over to a side table to pour himself a mead. He takes a seat by the fire to sip his mead, tired enough that he would swear his bones have grown heavy, pulling him down, draining his energy even more.
Severus arose early to conduct a patrol of a section of the castle. With the holiday break, there has not been a full contingent of staff. The Ministry has sent in a few extra aurors but with so many students absent and fewer professors and with no classes taking place to give the appearance of activity, this time period would provide an excellent opportunity for someone looking to infiltrate the grounds or to secretly breach the castle.
He'd joined in for a festive Christmas morning breakfast then made another round on patrol through a different portion of the building. Afterwards, he'd gone into Hogsmeade for a few hours because Veronica endlessly pestered him into agreeing to come to her father's for a little while for Brian's first Christmas. He'd taken the tyke a gift and knowing Veronica would pout and whine if he also did not give her something he'd taken her a gift of perfume. It's a scent he knows she wears but is also impersonal enough not to give her ideas. She has them well enough without his helping her along.
Part of the time there Veronica had fretted over whether the Ministry will arrest her, though for what she claimed not to know. She simply kept pointing out how long the investigation into the Knights of Walpurgis accounts has gone on. She kept repeating, "What if this is Brian's first and only Christmas with me?"
He'd finally managed to tear himself away with the valid excuse of needing to attend the Hogwarts Christmas feast for those students remaining over the holiday. When the festivities concluded Severus trekked back down the road to the village. Just outside of the gates he'd apparated to the St. John's Woods property The Order still uses from time to time. Just before sitting to supper a request to meet arrived from Kingsley Shacklebolt.
"Thank you for meeting me on Christmas, Severus. I can't stay long but this shouldn't take much time. I wanted you to be the first to know. Veronica Dumbledore is to be arrested in the morning."
At the expression that crossed Severus' face Kingsley asked, "What is it?"
"I saw her a few hours ago. She kept saying she knew just knew she was about to be arrested but also kept saying she hadn't done anything. It's someone else but she doesn't know who."
"Everything points to Veronica funneling money into two different secret funds. One of them seems to be her personal account. The other has been accessed a few times by Edantha Clarkly."
Severus had been told about Edantha Clarkly's associated with secret society Beannacht Bhríde, which in turn has an association with The Knights Walpurgis.
"I don't need to tell you that this information about Veronica's impending arrest stays between us."
"Yes, of course."
Severus imagined he saw a cloud of doubt in Kingsley's face. He couldn't truly blame the man as Severus once gave away a massive secret that ended in lives lost. Not just lost but murdered. He offered, "I'll take an oath if you want or need."
"No, no. That's not necessary. I trust you, Severus."
They'd parted then, Kingsley for wherever he needed to be for the rest of Christmas, Snape to leave on foot, roaming the St. John's Wood neighborhood. He eventually made his way to a pub that was open and surprisingly crowded given the date. After a pint he'd walked more. He had no clear destination in mind. His was an aimless wander, his thoughts on a repeated loop of years ago, heart physically hurting over what he'd done to Lily. A small part of him finally admitted remorse over James. A somewhat larger part at the life Harry had as a child as the result of his actions.
Now in his sitting room, well into his second glass of mead, Severus admits to himself at how lonely he is and has been. He has no interest in a romantic entanglement with Veronica Dumbledore no matter how much she keeps trying to push him that direction nor does he think he's wanting one with anyone, not after all this time. What he would want, want he has deeply longed for but ignored is friendship. He's never been very good at making friends. The dearest one he ever had he's responsible for her death. The other has been gone far too many years now and going to the headmistress's office to talk with Albus Dumbledore's portrait is not overly fulfilling.
He should accept Majandra's offer the next time she invites him over for a family dinner. Miranda and Georgie look at him as "Uncle Severus" and don't have the fear of him as others their ages do. Marzipan's boys chatted him up without being the least intimidated by him. He should try harder with his colleagues and their families. He should talk with Carol Croft about being related.
"You're getting soft and maudlin, Severus. Snap out of it!"
Only he's not certain he wants to, at least not just yet. Deciding it's time to switch from mead to tea, Severus uses the cauldron shaped mug given to him by his Secret Santa this year, Sylvestor Trainor. He smiles as he waits for the tea to steep. The old Severus would never admit to being amused by the cauldron mug or the other cauldron themed items Sylvestor gave him. He's not certain the new Severus would either. He's not even certain there is a new Severus.
The gifts he selected for his Secret Santa recipient Tyler Casey are more new Severus than old but the gifts might also indicate Severus was slightly muddle headed from a cold that he never gave a chance to take hold, keeping it at bay with medicinal potions he brewed himself.
The gifts Severus gave Tyler are a game called Snitch Snatcher, a Gryffindor mug, and a four tins of hot cocoa mix. Severus also got an amusing gift for Marzipan's boys Vallon and Carter. They'd told him an amusing yard involving jellied eel from a book they'd been enjoying. Severus did not think they'd want actual jellied eel but did find for them gummy eels. He hopes they found the gummy eels as amusing as the jellied eel touch from their story.
Severus takes a sip of his tea then slumps down into his chair, eyes closed, wondering if he should consider taking a holiday soon, something he's never really done before.
Emotional (Oliver Family)
Author: Christopher Chant
Date: 12-15-19 21:14
Lying on the floor watching the lights on the tree magically twinkle and change colors, Viola asks Vincent, "What's Mum going on about now?"
From his position in a large leather chair Vincent shrugs though she can't see it. "Who knows. She's been barmy since we got off the train."
They can hear Flora's shrill, nagging tone coming from the direction of the sitting room but can't make out the words. A few seconds later they hear their father's heavy tread coming down the hall, Mum's voice becoming clearer, and louder, as she follows behind, nattering on without a breath about how he'd gone to St. Mungo's and was gone for a few hours even though he should have had the entire day off.
Justin has barely taken two steps into the family room when he abruptly whirls to face his wife. She's surprised into momentary silence. He says in a rush, worried she'll start in on him again, "I HAD to go. There was an emergency and they were swamped. Christmas tends to be understaffed anyway and then someone had to rush off shift early because of a death in the family."
Flora's mouth is gaping open as if she was going to say something but her mouth got stuck in shock at Justin's evident anger and irritation. Her mouth snaps shut. Her jaw trembles. She sniffles. A fat tear rolls from the corner of one eye down her cheek. Flora sniffles again and more tears flow. Voice quivering she wails, "I'm sorrrry!"
Justin sighs and steps closer, arms going around Flora, hugging her close. She stays nestled against him for a full minute. He holds her a moment longer as she takes several shuddering breaths and mutely nods. When they step apart both give a start upon seeing Viola and Vincent staring, eyes wide, both clearly wondering what the heck is going on with Flora.
Flora and Justin exchange looks then move to sit down together on the couch. Flora again looks at Justin, who nods ever so slightly. Their children would have missed the small nod if they'd not been watching them both so closely.
Flora, taking another shuddery breath, starts with an apology. "I'm sorry for what seems to be an overreaction to everything. I've been overemotional because my hormones are terribly off-kilter at the moment. Your father and I thought our family was complete but we will have an addition in the spring."
Viola continues staring, blankly blinking, trying to process what her mother has just said. From the large leather chair Vincent unexpectedly bolts up, moving in a way that causes the leather to make a sort of farting sound that would normally have Viola and him sniggering. He blurts, more loudly than intended, "Are you meaning that you're pregnant?"
Justin smiles almost sheepishly. "Yes, that's exactly the situation."
Vincent stands there a second longer then drops back into the chair. "Wow. Just wow."
Viola eyes shift from her mother to her father then back to her other. "A baby? You're really going to have a baby? But I'm the baby."
Vincent mutters, "You're almost 12."
Viola's expression rapidly shifts from puzzlement to petulance to ecstatic. "I'm great not being the baby anymore! I'll have a little brother or sister. I can be the one bossing someone around for a change!"
Vincent, Justin, and Flora find her assessment so amusing all three start laughing. Once started they have trouble stopping, Viola finally joining in. At little later, when the house is quite again and Viola is back to watching the winking, changing lights on the tree, she wonders what life will be like with a baby in the house. What will it be like to have a brother or sister who's twelve years younger than she is?
The way the lights on the tree wink on and off reminds Viola of stars twinkling, which makes her think of the watch she was given for Secret Santa. She lifts her wrist to look at it, telling herself she needs to owl off the thank you note to Rand Prinsloo that she'd written shortly after opening the gift but for some reason never sent off.
The gift Viola gave for Secret Santa also has lights to wink on and off as well as make musical noises. She gave Rex Applewhite a Simon game. It's based on a Muggle game but the one she gave Rex is magical. The game is played by trying to replicate the sequence the game plays. After each successfully played round, the game adds another light with sound to the sequence, making the play progressively more difficult.
Vincent had also taken part in Secret Santa, getting the name of Arithmancy & Divination professor Saffron Sacheverelle. Despite being clueless about girls and women and what sort of things they like, Vincent picked out a gift by himself, giving Professor Sacheverelle a pair of tweed ankle boots. He was in the Ravenclaw common room when wrapping them. A girl a year behind him, Lisa McCallister, saw the boots and said, "Those are SOOOO cute. I hope that's a Secret Santa gift and that you have my name!" After that, any doubts Vincent had had about whether the boots were a good idea or not were dispelled.