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Gifts for Seekers
Author: Susan Fricks
Date: 12-30-16 15:16
Susan and Blair were at their grandmother's kitchen, helping their grandmother with food preparation. It was a little bit annoying not to be able to use their wands, but they were still having fun. Susan was mixing some ingredients in a bowl to create a batter for some Christmas biscuits, while Blair was breaking some eggs and put them inside another bowl.
Rose and Dean entered the kitchen occasionally, in the hopes of stealing some food but whenever they tried to reach to the table, Blair would pretend to smack their little hands, and they were sent away with kindness. Andrina was in the living room, lighting the fireplace and setting up the table with their grandfather. The Fricks would be joining for the meal later, but not the Hazeltons since they would be on some Christmas Eve gala dinner.
Blair was hoping their absence would be compensated by good gifts. Susan on the other hand was hoping to receive a new pillow for Buttercup. She wanted her cat to be at its best when she would have to present it to the judges during the SAT Best in Show: Magical Creatures. She was also thinking of getting Buttercup a pink bow.
"You should want presents for yourself, not your cat," Blair told Susan. "You spoil it too much."
"There is nothing wrong with showing love to an animal," their grandmother says. "And there is no greater joy in the world than to give."
"I prefer to receive. I am really curious to see what I got from school's Secret Santa."
"I got mine a pair of boots," Susan said.
"Boring gift," Blair muttered.
But Susan didn't think so. Her Secret Santa was Slyhterin Sylvestor Trainor. He was from her school year and last year he had been Slytherin's seeker, so he was well known around the school. Susan got him a pair of forest green boots. They looked comfortable and they were capable of endure all sort of conditions, such as snow, mud and they were even water proofed. Sylvestor could get everywhere with them, and they were also good for Quidditch.
Blair's Secret Santa was Bran Hyland. Just like Slyvestor Bran was also well known at Hogwarts, as he had been Ravenclaw's Quidditch team seeker. Blair wanted to get Bran something original, but in the end, she got him a briefcase, where he could hold his school books and supplies. She thought that as a Ravenclaw he might appreciate that. However, inside the briefcase there was an exemplar of Quidditch Through Ages, autographed by several famous seekers. Blair had written to her parents and asked for it. As diplomats, they had connections and could arrange this for her. They often felt guilty they did not spend time with their children, so they indulged all their wills. She had asked Coach Krum's autograph herself, although she tried not to blush when she did so, as it was a little bit embarrassing to ask a teacher for his autograph. Unlike Susan she preferred to give good gifts to people and not cats.
(Willow) Christmas Eve
Author: Rowan Westwick
Date: 12-30-16 19:47
Willow sat in front of one of the fireplaces at Westwick Grove and roasted a marshmallow on a stick. Her brother Ash sat beside her and seemed to stare into the flames, though she could tell that he was thinking intensely about him. He had the look he always gets when he's contemplating something serious.
"What's bothering you?" she asked him, turning her marshmallow so that it wouldn't turn black.
"Hmm?" Ash asked, hearing but not quite listening to her question.
"You seem deeply concerned about something," Willow answered. "Is it your work?"
"No, I like my job."
"Then what's the matter?"
Ash hesitated and then said, "My girlfriend's been lying to me for as long as we've been dating, but I haven't called her out on it because I think there's something more going on that I want to figure it out on my own."
"What is she lying about?" Willow asked. She knew about the witch named Jupiter he'd met through Magical Match, but she had never met her. Willow hadn't felt one way or another about Ash's girlfriend since learning about her, but she suddenly had an intense disliking for her.
"About who she is," he said. "I think she's with me for the wrong reasons."
"Do you think she's a Death Eater?" The question came from Rowan, who had entered the room and heard enough of the conversation to take part in it.
"Maybe."
He filled his siblings in on the artist named Antoine Dolov, who reminded him so much of Antonin Dolohov, the Death Eater who had cursed the Westwick family decades ago. He told them about how Jupiter had never mentioned they were related, or that Antoine's real name was Janus.
"I bet there's a connection to that Death Eater who recognized you when the Ministry of Magic was attacked," Rowan said.
"I wondered that too," Ash said, "and for a while, I had the feeling I was being watched. What if it was Jupiter and Janus making plans to do whatever it is they are wanting to do with me?"
The three fell silent and thought for a moment. Willow removed her marshmallow and ended up giving it to Rowan to eat. She put a new one on the spit and put it over the flames.
"I think you should use your being an employee of the Ministry of Magic to find out if Jupiter and Janus Jones are suspected Death Eaters, or if anyone in their family is. That'll at least tell you if there's a connection," Rowan said, licking gooey, melted marshmallow off her fingers.
"You should spy on them the way they are obviously spying on you," Willow added.
"Who's spying on you?" asked Linden, having just entered the room. Unlike Rowan earlier, he didn't seem to have any idea what they were talking about, and the siblings wanted to keep it that way. They didn't want their formerly incarcerated father getting riled up over Ash's situation and possibly winding up in prison again or worse for going after the Death Eaters.
"You misheard," Ash quickly answered. "Willow was just talking about the Secret Santa gift she gave to… who was it again?"
Willow almost choked on her own spittle. "Professor Snape."
Rowan laughed out loud. "You poor thing. What ever did you get the man?"
"Well," Willow began, turning her marshmallow. "I found this assortment of flavored salt, which I thought he might like to use to season his cooking. I would think that he's probably a very good cook, since cooking is a bit like brewing potions in some cases, don't you think?"
Ash nodded. "Yes, probably so."
"You should ask him to prepare a dish for you," Rowan teased.
Willow smiled thinly at her sister and looked over her shoulder at her dad, who told them to ease up on the marshmallows or they'd all spoil their dinners.
Somehow Overlooked
Author: Majandra
Date: 12-31-16 20:26
Majandra holds out her hand as Georgie places another gift in it. She put it into a Christmasy tote asking as she does, "Is that all of them?"
Georgie and Miranda have been wanting an excuse to pick up the wrapped packages under the tree to examine more closely, even those not addressed to them. Maj allowed them to do just that by having them help her gather up gifts for the various Weasley family members. They're taking them to the Burrow soon along with a few food dishes for dinner there tonight. Anyone who won't be there for the morning can take theirs home tonight or open them this evening. Tomorrow afternoon, they'll take the gifts for the Fine side of the family. Miranda is excited to see how much Giovanni has grown though she saw the baby just two days ago.
Under the tree on the side away from Maj Miranda picks up a gift wrapped in green with a silver bell pattern and a silver bell bow. "Mum, who's Blair Haslyton, I mean Hazelton?"
Majandra drops on all fours, crawling under the tree. "What? You have one that has Blair's name? Fudge!"
Miranda waggles the gift. "But who is Blair?"
"One of my students. I drew her name in Secret Santa. I thought I left this under a tree at school where most of the Secret Santa packages were placed for the recipients to find."
"What's a recipent?" Georgie asks, now under the tree as well to see this gift that has his mother saying fudge in a bad way.
"A recipient is the person who is getting something, in this case a gift."
Maj backs out from under the tree. "Right. We'll take it to the Burrow and I'll owl it from there."
"But who's Blair?" Miranda asks again, Georgie parroting the question right behind her.
"Blair Hazelton is a second year student in Gryffindor House."
Maj had gotten Blair a selection of sunglasses, which can be used any season but can be particularly helpful in late spring and through the summer and on sunnier winter days when snow on the ground can make things seem brighter.
Before leaving for the Burrow Maj places Blair's wrapped gift into a regular box, which she then addresses. She'll send it along as soon as they reach the Burrow, Maj asking herself the entire walk there how could she have overlooked the gift and have it end up under her own tree.
New House, New Names
Author: Dante Knight
Date: 01-01-17 12:01
As they step outside to take in the backyard Rocky asks, "What do you think?"
"It's nice. Still mind boggling that you've actually bought a house and have plans to stay put for awhile."
"It was time. Past time if I'm being honest with myself."
Dante's nephew comes pushing between them. "Swing, Daddy."
The two men follow him to a swing set where Rocky helps his son into one of the swings then gives it a gentle push. Rocky tells Dante, "We're staying in one spot, staying with one set of names. Angel and I were debating new names for each of us when it struck me how difficult it must be for this little guy to never know who he's supposed to be and too young yet to understand even the most basic, most simple explanation. I remembered how hard it was for me at first and I was older than he is when Mum and Dad did what they did. I finally grasped what you'd been saying for years. Angel has already been talking about us getting a house or flat and staying put for awhile so here we are."
"You've finally settled on a name to use for months, possibly years?"
"As you know, Angel thought I should go with Pete or Peter as that's the name I was using when we met. I was leaning towards Elijah but on second thought decided it didn't suit. Peter it is. We decided to stick with Logan for this guy. Logan Gabriel. Angel has used a few aliases since we met but mostly she's been Angela, nickname Angel. Angela is her middle name so she's going to stick with it."
"What's her first?"
"Dorcas. She hates it."
Sunshine comes out then, camera in hand. She's also picked a permanent name. At one point when visiting Dante she'd been introduced around as Tamara and has decided that's the name for her. She snaps a few pictures of Dante, Peter, and Logan at the swing set prompting Dante to say, "As many pictures as she's taken today I'll have a good start on picking some for a multiple photo picture frame I was given by a student."
"Someone looking to be teacher's pet?" his brother asks.
"No, it's actually not unusual at Christmas for students to give professors a gift of some sort. This one, though, is from something called Secret Santa."
"Secret Santa? What's that?"
"Anyone taking part, students and staff alike, sign up by a given date. After that date all the names are put in for a blind draw. Everyone signed up draws a name then gets a gift for that person."
"So if you were given a present from it that means you have to give one."
"Right. I got a student, a girl, called Maud Montgomery. Sunny happened to be with me the day I was looking for a gift. She encouraged me to get Maud several hair combs."
"So what did you get me?"
"Ha. As if I would spoil the surprise. You've find out soon enough."
"Then tell me what you got Sunny."
Dante laughs and walks away to go see what has Sunny's attention in the corner of the yard, leaving Rocky pushing his son on the swing as Logan giggles and urges him, "Higher, Daddy!"
Kaycee - Christmas Day
Author: Lee Sickleby
Date: 01-02-17 13:15
Kaycee put some fungi food into the pot where she kept the leaping toadstool she was planning on showing at the Best in Show: Magical Plants SAT event and watched as the red-capped mushroom came to life, happy to have its meal for the day. It didn't leap around because it was planted, but it swayed and shook itself enthusiastically.
After a few minutes, Kaycee left her plant to join her family in the living room. The Christmas tree was lit with candles and family ornaments. Most were from her aunt and uncle's side of the family, but there were a few that had come from the household of her own, long-dead parents.
She found her aunt talking to cousin Lee's wife and mother. Her uncles and cousins were standing around a 150-gallon saltwater fish tank, which her uncle Garrett had gotten for himself for Christmas, having decided to hobby in keeping exotic fish. Kaycee liked the tank herself because the water was so very blue and the fish were every color under the sun. She'd spent ages watching the various marine wildlife upon first coming home from Hogwarts.
Today was the Sickleby family gathering. They'd already had a delicious breakfast of waffles, fresh fruit, and pumpkin juice and now were getting ready to settle around the Christmas tree and exchange gifts. The Christmas festivities had started yesterday, when Kaycee, her aunt Secunda, uncle Garrett and cousin Sean celebrated with the maternal side of the family.
"Are we ready?" Aunt Secunda asked, when Kaycee moved to join the other ladies on the sectional sofa.
"Yes," Kaycee replied. She was eager to receive more presents after getting some at yesterday's family gathering.
The fleece sheets she'd received from her Secret Santa, Marlow MacDougal, were already washed and on her bed. They were definitely warm and comfortable.
Kaycee's own Secret Santa recipient was Justin Hodges. She sort of knew who he was because he was also a Hufflepuff, so she saw him around the common room. He also stood out because he had an Australian accent, and though he certainly wasn't the only Australian at Hogwarts, he was definitely in the minority at the school.
Kaycee had been clueless what to get him, but then she'd picked up someone's discarded sports and outdoors owl order catalog in the common room. After thumbing through the catalog, Kaycee settled upon a personal bowling set. She'd played the game at various Hogwarts carnivals and fairs and found it quite fun. Kaycee thought Justin would appreciate a bowling set, because it wasn't just a game he could play himself but it was one he could play with his friends.
"Why don't you do the honors and dole out the gifts?" Aunt Secunda suggested.
Kaycee liked the idea and went to the biggest gift under the tree. Her fingers were crossed that her name was on it.
Mariposa's House
Author: Zabrynna
Date: 01-02-17 14:16
Refilling his mug with the mulled cider Zabrynna had made Nolan asks, "Anything more on Rand's mother?"
"Nothing concrete. He's gotten two more letters that are signed Melanie but don't actually seem to be from her. We're being stone walled by that stupid group. We have been assured that Melanie is indeed the author of the letters and that she is fine."
"Then why doesn't she come herself to tell you that?" Nolan asks somewhat rhetorically. "There's been nothing further on that man's, the one they call Father, sort of threat that Rand will be leaving Hogwarts."
"No, which makes these odd letters and no sign of Melanie all the more worrying."
Rand comes charging inside with one of Declan's nephews so Nolan and Zabrynna change the topic of conversation, Nolan asking what she'd finally decided upon for her Secret Santa present to fellow Hogwarts professor Sirius Black.
"A home beer brewing kit along with pint glasses with the crests of the Hogwarts houses."
"Home beer brewing kit? That sounds interesting."
Zabrynna laughs prompting her father to grin. "You got me one, didn't you?"
"You'll find out soon enough when we open gifts."
"As long as we're talking about beer, do you think Mariposa and AJ have any? Your mulled cider is excellent but I'm about ready for a change."
Coming into hearing range just then Mariposa answers instead. "We do, Dad. There's a selection in the cooler in the kitchen. Help yourself when you're ready."
Nolan thanks her and drains his mug on the way to the kitchen leaving his daughters to finish putting out some snacks to tide everyone over until supper this evening.
Christmas in Japan
Author: Lysander Stratford
Date: 01-02-17 15:30
Noah's maternal grandparents lived in Japan, and it was there that he was spending his winter holidays. His grandparents didn't celebrate Christmas normally, but they had climbed onto the bandwagon this year for the sake of their grandchildren. There was no Christmas tree in the Saito household, but there was a small maple in a wooden box with red-orange leaves that had been decorated with a few ornaments. All the presents that had been underneath were now gone.
December 25th, in fact, was almost over. There was a whole nine hour difference between London and where the Saitos lived in Japan. Noah was used to the time difference now, but it had taken him a good while to not feel constantly out of sorts. He wasn't looking forward to the return trip, if only because of the disruption to his sleep cycle.
As a new student at Hogwarts, this year had been Noah's first participation in the annual Secret Santa gift exchange. He was very pleased to have gotten someone only a year older than him and a fellow Ravenclaw boy. Noah wasn't sure what he would have done if he'd drawn the name of a teacher or an older girl.
His recipient was Vincent Oliver. For Vincent, Noah had purchased a few items that he himself liked and that any Ravenclaw might appreciate, since they involved using one's brain. The gift was in two parts: First, there was a set of four metal brain teasers––the sort in which one had to figure out how to take all or some of the metal pieces apart. The second was a 3D puzzle of Himeji Castle in Himeji, Japan, which Noah had last visited before moving to London a few years ago.
"Noah, your grandmother wants to know what you want to do tomorrow," announced his father, who had just come within the doorway of the tiny room Noah's bed was in. "Your sister said she wants to go shopping. She specifically requested pearls."
Noah shook his head. His sister was only a kid. What did she need pearls for?
"I suggested we go see the shrine at Ise-Shima," his father continued. Noah fell into step with him, wandering to the patio at the back of the house, which was warmed by magic and smelled fragrant due to the many flowering trees in the yard. "We can walk around the gardens, visit the aquarium, eat some seafood for lunch, and buy your sister some pearls. What do you say?"
"Have we been there before?" Noah asked.
"You haven't, but your mother and I went when we were dating. It's nice. You'd like it."
"Let's do that then," Noah said. He liked the outdoors, so visiting a park and wandering through a fishing village sounded fun to him.
Talk Of Gifts
Author: Declan
Date: 01-03-17 09:48
Declan's sister Finella sits down near AJ. "Thank you again for including the children last night."
"Happy to have them. Happy to have all of you. It's traditional with my family that anyone coming to the Christmas Eve party gets at least one gift."
"As many of you as there are and all the others invited keeping up with a list of some sort must take some doing."
"It can be at times, especially now that some of the younger set, like Wiggy and Gus, are getting older."
Declan joins his sister on the love seat. "You only thought it was chaotic having three to keep up with."
Finella laughs. "Given that your nephews can seem like they're four people each, yes."
Declan looks in the direction where those nephews Aiden and Joseph play with some of their gifts along with their sister Isla and Rand. Jacinda is there as well, happily pounding on a toy keyboard that thankfully is not overly loud. "Rand can be energetic, especially when with others around his age, but so far he's been an overall quiet child."
"I still can't believe Melanie more or less dumped him off on you." Finella leans forward to snag a piece of fudge from a plate on the coffee table.
"Based on what we know of that group she's been living with, it's looking more and more like she did have Rand's best interests in mind when she left him with me."
Finella sighs, about to say more but changing her mind. Instead she says in reference to the plate on which the sweets are arranged, "I do like this Christmas plate, AJ."
"That one's Zabrynna's actually."
Declan nods, "It's part of the set she was given in our Secret Santa gift exchange at Hogwarts."
"The children don't do that at their school but Kurt does at work," she says of her husband. "I belong to a woman's group that does something called Secret Sister. Did you all take part in the Secret Santa?"
"I gave a pair of hiking boots to Ethan Somerset, one of the Defense Against the Dark Arts professors, and received that clock that's waiting for photos from a Doug Dippet, a student," AJ tells her.
"Zabrynna got the Christmas dinnerware from a girl named Libby and gave Sirius Black, you met him, a beer brewing kit like the one she gave Nolan, and gave him some pint glasses as well. A student named Franciscus gave Rand some sketch pads and colored pencils and Rand gave a boy called Bertie Nutcombe a pair of Quidditch trainers. A student, Rex Applewhite, gave me two sets of Muggle history related trivia game cards. I had the name of one Daphne Ellis. I gave her a mermaid blanket similar to the one I gave Isla."
"Sounds fun. I know doing Secret Sister can be. We draw names at the beginning of the year and throughout the year give anonymous gifts and cards. At our first meeting of the new year we reveal whose Secret Secret we each were and then we draw names again for another round."
Declan dryly notes, "If we did that among the professors I'd end up with a hard to buy for Potions professors."
"No, it's for certain I would," AJ laughs.
This prompts Finella to ask who they are talking about and why the potions professor in question is hard to buy for.
Martha Interrupts
Author: Plum
Date: 01-03-17 18:41
Martha jumps onto the chaise next to Justin, her wet hair splattering him.
"Hey!"
"Sorry."
"But not really."
She grins and tickles him with a finger at the side of his stomach. "But not really," she confirms. "Don't I smell good? It's the new shampoo and bath gel someone gave me for Christmas."
"When I gave you all that I didn't mean for you to come share your shower water with me."
Laughing, Martha sits up and begins toweling off her hair. "I miss having you around to harass."
"As you are no longer at Sydney's, even if I still went there you'd not have had me around regularly to harass anymore."
"I'd find a way," she assures with a sly smile. "Have to ask. What prompted you to give us girls spa baskets?"
"The Hogwarts Secret Santa. I got the name of one Belinda McCourt. I was trying to think of something she might like without having to consult you other girls. One place in Hogsmeade had a big selection of baskets of all sizes and there was an option of putting together one's own basket. I thought a basket of bath and spa items might be something Belinda would appreciate, which led me to think you, Betsy, and Mum would as well. Got one for Plum too."
"I can't speak or Betsy, Mum, or Plum, or for that Belinda girl, but I like mine, thanks."
"You're welcome."
Martha rolls off the chaise. "I'm getting something cold to drink. Want anything?"
"Yeah, sure, whatever you have. Thanks."
Martha leaves long enough to finish drying her hair and to grab the drinks, leaving Justin to finish reading the newspaper.
Christmas News
Author: Sophie McCourt
Date: 01-04-17 12:43
Sophie, Patricia and Belinda were gathered at a cozy corner of the living room. Last night, on Christmas Eve they had received the news that Honoria was pregnant again, during dinner.
While Sophie and Belinda shared a sofa, Patricia occupied an armchair. Their Christmas gifts rested on the floor and on the coffee table between the sofa and the armchair there was a plate of biscuits that Sophie went to fetch for them to eat. Belinda attacked the biscuits right away, with hunger. However, despite her appetite she was not thrilled with the news of going to have another sibling.
"This Christmas day will be all about about her pregnancy. As if having Florence isn't enough. As if we aren't enough. Soon we will be like the Ellis siblings."
"It's not the same. He just wants another son, that's all," Sophie said.
They all fell into silence for a moment. Their brother Elmer was a fragile sick little boy, and it was no secret their father wished another male child. Someone stronger. Instead so far he had five healthy daughters, four from his first marriage and one from his second.
"I don't care if it's a boy or a girl, as long it is a cute little thing like baby Flo," Patricia said.
Sophie caught Belinda rolling her eyes. Patricia was always the most enthusiastic regarding Florence and she seemed not to mind the fact she was going to have a new brother or sister.
Sophie was somewhat indifferent to it. She had OWLs this year and other things to worry about. She would be sixteen years older than this baby, so she doubted they would have the same relationship has she did with Patricia and Belinda, or even Eileen and Elmer.
She picked up a biscuit and to change subject said:
"I hope they like our presents," she was referring to their Secret Santas. This year the girls team up and decided to give the same gift to everyone: cozy jumpers with their houses colors.
Sophie's Secret Santa was Kurt Blackwell, a Ravenclaw, like Patricia.
Patricia's Secret Santa was Louis Kegg, a Hufflepuff like Sophie and Margaret's brother.
Belinda's Secret Santa was the school's Head Girl, Heather Rabnott. At first Belinda, did not want to get along with her sisters and offer a jumper to Heather. She wanted to give her something more interesting. However, she couldn't figure out what. Heather was way older than her, even older than Sophie and none of them could really decide what would be the perfect gift for her.
Christmas Night
Author: Sirius Padfoot Black
Date: 01-04-17 18:35
Harry and Sirius carefully tiptoe around the children sprawled in sleeping bags, the cats Hero and Wendy lightly tripping along beside and in front of them. The men had been enjoying the fire in the study as the children played but tired from the excitement of Christmas Eve and Christmas the frenetic energy rapidly ran out. When all has passed out the two men had carefully moved each into a sleeping bag near enough to the fire to be warm but not so close as to be stifling and overheated.
Sirius dims the lights then follows Harry, and the cats, to the kitchen where Drucilla and Ginny are laughing over mugs though Sirius has no idea what they're drinking until Dru says, "Spice wine simmering on the stove."
"Harry?" Sirius asks.
"Yes, thanks."
Sirius ladles wine into two mugs then joins the others at the table only to get back up to put food in the cats' bowls. Once he's seated again Dru says, "I was just telling Ginny when you joined us how we ended up having to charm the area around the tree to keep Reg from getting into everything."
"We had to do that with Albus and the presents," Ginny says.
"Only after he tore into the wrapping of five gifts. Would have been more but he got caught in the act," Harry adds.
Sirius grins. "Regulus got into gifts, pulled ornaments from the tree, tried to climb the tree with Hero there showing him how. Turns out that at one point Mira caught him getting into one box but as her name was on it she didn't try very hard to stop him."
This brings laugher from them all. As it dies down Dru sighs. "I'm not ready for the twins to start Hogwarts next fall. They've grown up far too fast."
Sirius nods in agreement. "Mira is so grown up she helped me pick a Secret Santa for Larkin Weasley. James and she were with me and every time I picked out something I would be a good gift Mira would roll her eyes and say, 'Oh, Dad.' This happened enough times that I finally asked her what she thought would be a good gift for Larkin."
Mira ended up picking both a panda hoodie and a skirt and jumper set. After being unable to decide which of the two to give Sirius ended up getting both. Mira, of course, then expected a treat or her own hoodie or something, which meant James wanted something as well for being bored while they shopped for a girl, even if it was for a girl he knows.
The four talk late into the evening. When Harry and Ginny go home rather than disturb the children they leave Albus and Jamie sleeping in the Eternal-Black study.