Neville took a deep breath as he turned the doorknob. He heard his mum humming tunelessly through the cork door. Augusta, his grandmother, patted his back encouragingly. His hand tightened around the small black enamel box. He exhaled and pushed it open.
The room was a faded yellow, but the daisy and lace wallpaper hadn't begun peeling yet. The recently vacuumed shaggy brown carpet smelled of dust. The simple white fan whirled slowly and silently. Sunlight poured in through the white curtains and a bush flower rested against the window. A woman sat over the ruffled blankets wearing a red yule hat.
Alice turned her head and confusion came across her expression. Neville whispered, "Hi, Mum. It's me, Neville." He came closer and sat on the edge of the bed, close to her. She didn't seem any more receptive than the visit in September. "I'm your son," he added. She brightened to a smile after that.
"Hi, son!" she spoke excitedly. Neville almost smiled at that, until the nagging at the rear of his mind told him that she didn't actually know who he was. Not anymore, or ever again for that matter. He held up the glossy black container.
"Happy Christmas, Mum..." he hesitated. "I-I've made you something." He lifted the lid soundlessly to reveal the contents within. A bracelet lay glittering along a bed of maroon silk, reflecting the afternoon sun on the ceiling. Ausgusta gasped at it. "I've been working on this all term."
The bracelet did not possess a color, but every one at once. It was ever changing; shifting through images and rainbow patterns. A green kangaroo followed by a pack of the other colors of the rainbow leapt across the bangle. As the last one tailed along, it's form began a swirling array of patterns and transformed to a pair of swallows dancing around each other. Then, the northern lights appeared, fading to the starriest sky you'd ever seen. The three of them sat gazing at the magical jewelry for a few moments before Alice picked up the piece and slid it onto her wrist.
"Thanks, I love it!" She said bubbly. Her face suddenly burst with realization, her mouth agape. She spun around and pulled a bag from between the mattresses. Reaching inside, she grabbed a fistful of bubblegum wrappers and shoved them into Neville's hand. Augusta rolled her eyes, but Neville smiled back at his mother. She, however, had returned to her tuneless humming and rocking back and forth.
His grandmother whispered to him, "I think it's time to go home, dear." His face fell and he nodded. He wouldn't see her again till Easter, but he could always send an owl. The two left Alice to her own and headed home. Perhaps it was best Neville had not seen his mother's memories of the Cruciatus curse return to her as she writhed on the floor, wailing hysterically.