The witch arrived just inside the grounds of her large imposing ranch. To her though, it looked homey despite having no say in the construction or decorating. The ground was wet and it was starting to snow. From rain to snow, she smiled, this is going to be a perfect holiday! She pulled the hood of her dark green cloak up over her dark hair and walked quickly into the warmth of my home.
What she saw took her breath away! The home was adorned in flowing white Christmas decorations. Ribbons billowed down the banister, and wrapped the trees, white flowers everywhere.
"Good Evening Mistress Mirinda," Galdor, her head elf greeted her as she lowered her hood and let her shoulder length hair fall around her ivory face.
She pressed her hands together and breathed, "Oh Galdor, it is lovely! You and the elves have done a magnificent job."
"I am pleased it is to your liking," he croaked.
"Liking? It is beyond my wildest imagination!" She looked down at the elf and smiled, "Thank you."
Galdor was not one for small talk or compliments, "You trunk arrived a little while ago. I placed it in the sitting room near the tree. The children's rooms are all decorated and I have tea ready for you."
"You are simply too efficient," she spoke kindly while removing her cloak, "So Gwen and the twins are here?"
"Yes Mistress, and in bed, I might add," he made a sour face, she was sure the twins had done something, but was too in awe of the decorations to ask.
"Wonderful, I'll be in the sitting room. Please bring my tea when you are ready," The witch turned and walked to the tree and her trunk. The tree was easily 15" tall and, like everything else, decorated all in white with candles. They'd opted not to have a singing tree this year, and she was happy with the choice, it would have been a distraction compared to everything else.
She sat on the couch, opening the truck with her wand to reveal a large pile of perfectly wrapped packages. White paper, white ribbons. Galdor returned with tea a few minutes later.
"Thank you Galdor. I won't be requiring your services this evening," she told him absently.
The house was silent. This was one of her favorite times before Christmas. Everyone asleep while she placed packages under the tree. She sat back and levitated each one, looking at the tags, before settling them under the Christmas tree.
A new watch for Sam to keep track of each of the stores
A rembrell for each of the twins, she smiled, maybe they'll remember to get to classes on time.A dragon hide journal for Gwen to write all of her stories
seashell cufflinks for Aidan
A book -"Owls of Africa" for the Headmaster
She stopped her task and looked at the last gift. She was so happy, so full of Christmas spirit. In a few days time this ranch would be filled with all my children and many many friends. A witch couldn't ask for more. Sipping tea, she went back to the task at hand.
A potion for Professor MacCrimmon, no doubt something rare that Sam had picked up
Another book - "Finding and Spotting Hinkledorts" for Luna Lovegood
Another book, goodness, we have a lot of readers this year, she thought happily,
"A Herbologist Walk through New Zealand" for Professor Winterberry
A first edition of Wuthering Heights for Jenny, and an antique quill and well for her mother.
She looked at the last set of gifts. Ella Prewett had been her close friend since the first war. After the final battle, with both their daughters underage and in danger, they'd become extremely close, and while rarely seeing each other, wrote often. She was so happy her friend and her daughter would share this holiday with them.
A new broom servicing kit for Harry Potter
I wonder what is going on with him and Maisse. I do hope that they are just friends, after all, she worried, Jenny will be here.
She looked in the trunk, empty except for two small packages tied together - matching sapphire earrings for Maisse and Lucy, she smiled.
Her task complete, She check in on the children that were home - Gwen and the twins, Harris and Fiona - and retired to her room. Before falling asleep, she thought of her oldest daughter, Maisse. She'd been so distant lately, her cousin and roommate wouldn't say what was going on and even Ella's letter had changed when it concerned Maisse. Well, she yawned, I guess I'll find out tomorrow
---
Mirinda was up early, before the sun, as she always was when she was staying our their ranch. She dressed quickly in her green robes, after twenty years, I just am not used to muggle clothes, she mused as she fixed her hair into a low pony tail. Noticing a few grey hairs, she pulled the band out, fluffed her hair and walked down to the kitchen.
"All done with exams then?" She heard a young man's coming from the kitchen.
Obviously not Harris, that boy'd sleep till past noon if we let him, must be Harry. Who is he talking too? She wondered.
"Yes, my love," a female voice answered.
Mirinda stopped mid-step, who in the world does he have here? This young man doesn't have that type of reputation ...
"So what shall we do today? Go flying?" the young witch asked.
Mirinda walked into the kitchen to See Harry and .. is that Jenny? She smiled to herself knowing her friend would be thrilled for her daughter because they were clearly together, holding hands across the table. I can be happy for my friend, I do hope this is what Maisse wanted. I have wondered about their recent friendship, certainly that's all it is ... Ahh, young love, so passionate, so sweet.
"Good Morning, Jenny," Mirinda beamed, "And you must be Harry?"
Harry stood, such a polite young wizard, "Yes ma'am. Thank you so much for allowing me to stay. You've been most generous. I hope you don't mind that we came up for breakfast?"
Mirinda walked around the kitchen, checking the cabinets .. do we have coffee? So many here drink coffee..."Of course not, our home is yours, as long as you need it. You're staying in the cottage then? The one next to the creek?"
Mirinda noticed Jenny blushing that cottage is the one bedroom, "Yes Mrs. Pottinger, we are and it is lovely.
"Please, both of you, call me Mirinda."
"Thank you Mirinda," Jenny smiled, "So when is everyone else arriving? Gwen, Harris and Fiona arrived last night. We had dinner with them."
Mirinda finished looking through the pantry and the ice box, a quill on the counter next to her was frantically making a list of what she'd need, "Your mother should be arriving shortly I believe. Maisse and Lucy will be here late morning and I believe, correct me if I'm wrong, Professors MacCrimmon and Winterberry, along with your roommate will be here tonight?"
Jenny nodded, "Yes, that is what they told me."
"And Mr. Pottinger," Harry asked
"And Aidan?" Jenny asked quickly.
Poor Aidan, he will be crushed when he see's Professor Prewett has a love interest, he did take Ruins for much longer than necessary, "Both are working until the last possible moment. They will be here, day after tomorrow."
Mirinda and Jenny talked about Aidan and what he was doing. Aidan and Lucy were the first Pottinger children she'd taught. She raved to Mirinda about Gwen, and tried very hard to find nice things to say about the twins.
"Oh, Jenny, no need to sugar coat the twins to me. I have been to way to many conferences concerning their behavior - I just hope they can make it through to graduation," Mirinda smiled as she laughed, "Well, I'll let you two get on with your day, I'm going to wait for your mother and take her to the market to pick up a few last minute things."
---
Green flames burst into the fireplace and Ella Prewett walked out.
"Ella!" Mirinda exclaimed like a schoolgirl.
"Mirinda," the witch echoed her friend's enthusiasm and they hugged. House elves arrived quickly and carried her bags off to her room.
"Mirinda, it has been too long, we have to make a point to see each other more often!" Ella said as she raised her wand and cleaned the soot from her face and robes.
Mirinda looked at her friend, Scottish through and through, she thought, She doesn't look like she's aged one bit. No grey hairs in that reddish pony tail. "You are so right, Ella," She link her arm through her friends, "Harry and Jenny have gone flying I believe. You daughter was nice enough to let me have you all to myself this morning, before all my children arrive."
"Jenny?!?" Ella looked shocked, "Jenny is here? With Harry?"
"Why yes, and from what I saw this morning," She winked at her friend, "I'd saw she was here last night too."
"What!?! When?!?" Ella looked happily dumbfounded.
"Come on, Ella, Let's go shopping and we can catch up." Mirinda didn't wait for a response, but disapparated with her friend, so they could go shopping.
---
The witches returned with bags from the market, laughing. Lucy, Mirinda's second oldest daughter was sprawled out on the couch reading a magazine and Maisse was staring absently out the window, her arms wrapped around her like she was cold, though the fire was ablaze.
"I'm going to go find Jenny, Mirinda," Ella said looking from Maisse to her friend with a concerned look.
"Thanks, Ella, I had fun today," Mirinda answered, "I'll see you later this afternoon."
Ella had told Mirinda about some of Maisse's troubles over the past few months. She didn't go into too much details, but did say something in her personal life was affecting her training, though she was able to make up a lot of ground with her exams. Ella insinuated that the problems were boy, man related.
Mirinda walked into the sitting room, tussled Lucy's hair and went to put her arms around her first born, "Are you ok, dear?"
"Ok, mom? She's fine!" Lucy answered for her sister, something she'd almost always done since she could talk. Mirinda turned her head quickly towards her other daughter, frowning.
"Ella, Healer Prewett," she corrected herself, "mentioned you'd been preoccupied over the past few months. Is it Harry, dear? Harry and Jenny?"
Maisse turned from Mirinda's arms, shaking her head, "Oh no mom! Not at all! I'm thrilled they are back together," she assured her mother. Well, Mirinda asked herself, If it isn't Harry, then who could it be?
"Then -"
"Mom! It's some wizard who's been keeping her bed warm at night," Lucy cut Mirinda off, not looking up from her fashion magazine, "or, she's been keeping his bed warm."
"LUCY MIRINDA POTTINGER!" Mirinda scolded but couldn't continue because Lucy interrupted.
"Oh please, like you and dad don't know a thing about it, how many kids do you have?"
Maisse chuckled, "Lucy, enough"
Always coming to her rescue, the elder Pottinger witch thought.
"Yes, mom, it is a wizard, and ... well ... things are fine, now."
"Now?" she raised her eyebrows.
"I'll tell you all about it, but first, I think he might be coming for Christmas brunch. And," Maisse looked down at her feet.
Not a good sign, Mirinda thought and then pressed, "Well, of course that is fine dear, but you were going to ask ..."
"If he could stay, he's coming from London," Maisse replied quietly.
"Oh, Dear, of course," Mirinda then hesitated, "I'll just have to figure out where to put him ... Harry & Jenny in one cottage, Professors MacCrimmon and Winterberry in the other, Ella in the guest room, Luna in Aidan's room, Aidan with Harris
"Mom!" Lucy exclaimed, frustrated, "Don't you see that rock on her finger! Just let them stay in Maisse's room!"
Mirinda grabbed her daughter's hand to look at the ring and realized it was on her right hand, "Maisse, let's go to your room," she glared at Lucy, "for some privacy."
As she escorted her daughter up the stairs, Lucy called up to them, "Better yet, put Maisse's lover in the cottage and send Professor MacCrimmon to my room!"