December 24, 1995

It was early morning on Christmas Eve, far too early for Fred to be awake during the holidays. However, there was the distinct tapping of an owl on his and George's bedroom window. After trying to ignore the tapping for several minutes, hoping that it would just fly to another window and try to wake up someone else in the large house, George finally threw one of his pillows at Fred's face, mumbling something about "opening the damn window, already." After the second jolt awake, Fred rolled off the four-poster landing hard on his knees.

"Dammit."

"Brilliant." George mumbled through the pillow he had positioned over his head.

"Shut it."

Fred got up as quickly as his sleepy body would let him and crossed to the heavily draped window. As he pulled the curtains back, he saw a tiny tawny owl, that reminded him very much of Ron's owl, Pig, chirping happily, despite the package that was about the same size as it. When Fred opened the window, the owl flew directly to his unoccupied bed, dropped the package, and quickly began to fly around the ceiling in circles.

"Blimey, you sure do have some energy for such a tiny little thing."

The tiny owl continued to chirp happily, as Fred rubbed sleep from his eyes and rummaged through the bottom of his trunk where some owl treats lay scattered about. Fred and George always had to butter up the school owls to get them to send a rather large package for them, or even just a letter some times. They both considered it to be a good deal when they bought the largest bag of owl treats they could find, until they spilled all over the bottom of his trunk. George continually snickered every time Fred opened the lid of his trunk and the smell of stale owl treats wafted up to his nose.

Fred didn't find it as humorous. It didn't seem to matter how many of those damn things he threw away, the smell was rampant, as if it has sunk into the fabric lining. But he figured he could count his blessings, because at least he didn't have the green sludge that seemed to ooze out of the walls of George's trunk. Fred just kept telling himself that once they turned their first profit, he would buy a new trunk, something fancy. He would prove that he was important. He would prove that he was intelligent, business savvy, and more than just a prankster to everyone who doubted the two of them.

When the tiny owl had finally calmed down and seemed to be taking a small nap on his dresser, Fred made his way back over to his bed. A chill from the hardwood floors climbed through his bare feet and all the way up his legs. Trying to get away from the cold, he slid back under the covers before grabbing the package and letter. He opened the letter, surprised to find it to be from someone he never expected to hear from over this holiday.

Dear Fred,

Happy Christmas! I hope that your holiday is going nicely. I heard that your father was in St. Mungo's. I hope that he is okay and is healing well from whatever ails him. I didn't see you at the end of term feast. Actually, I didn't see you at all after I accepted your apology. I hope you aren't mad at me now. If we continue on a path like that, we'll be apologizing back and forth until the end of time.

Anyway, I hope you like your gift. It was just something I had my mother make for you and George. She spends a lot of time making things like that; it's her new hobby. She tries to sell some things at this event that muggles call a jumble sale. It's where groups of people get together and try to sell the old rubbish they have in their houses or crafts they've made. Nevertheless, it is the zodiac symbol for Gemini. I know that it's not your zodiac sign or anything, but I thought you might like it anyway.

I'm sure that even in times like these you are in high spirits, so I have no need to wish you well. Happy Christmas!

- Michelle

Ps. Please, make sure Noctuna is safe to fly before you send her back. I knew the package was too big for her, but she insisted.

Fred quickly threw the letter onto the bed next to him and pulled at the wrapping on the small square box. As he ripped through the brown wrapping paper, he realized he was also ripping through a layer of Christmas wrapping paper that Michelle had wrapped the tiny box with first. He wanted to appreciate the care she took to wrap the present, but was too excited to see what was inside. When he finally got to the box and flipped the lid off, he saw the gleam of two silver charms that hung from two tightly braided leather necklaces. It was cool enough that he though even his brothers Bill or Charlie might wear it.

He ran his fingers over the curves of the metal charm. It was cool beneath his fingers, the way water feels straight out of the tap. After a few minutes, he had been sitting there rubbing the charm between his fingers absentmindedly. He wasn't sure if it was because he was still feeling the effects of sleep or because he was trying to take in every inch of the necklace.

"Wake up, Georgie!" Fred yelled as he threw the pillow that had hit him in the face only moments ago back at him.

"Wha?! What happened?! What?!" George awoke with a start, creases from the pillowcase lining his face. He sat upright, with both hands planted firmly on the bed. Fred thought his half-asleep brother looked like a newborn animal unsure of its surroundings.

"We got our first Christmas present, ya git."

"Presents?" George asked, slightly more awake, yet no less confused.

"Yeah, Michelle sent us twin Gemini pendants," Fred said throwing the other necklace at his brother.

"Oh, cool," he said, running his fingers over the cool metal. "What's a Gemini?"

Fred shook his head at George before getting out of bed to check on little Noctuna. As he got closer the small bird woke up and hooted at him cheerfully. George had already fallen back to sleep, the necklace clutched in his right hand.

"You remind me of Pig," Fred said, reaching his finger out to stroke the small bird. "I'm sure you two would get along famously."

Noctuna happily cooed, nuzzling closer to his finger. Fred was surprised by how friendly and sweet the bird was in comparison to its owner. However, the size certainly matches, Fred thought. His mind wandered to Michelle and the way she seemed to fit perfectly, the top of her head just barely grazing his chin. He could practically wrap his arms around her twice in a hug, with how slight her figure was. It was her eyes that bore into him, though. They were like an emerald color when reflected off the starch white of her school uniform, but this light seafoam color when she wore her school robes. Her eyes showed every emotion she felt, even if her face never betrayed a single feeling. He remembered the way they looked on their trips up to the astronomy tower; even through the panic, it seemed to be the only place where she seemed totally comfortable and at peace. He couldn't help but smile at the way her eyes lit up watching the testing of their fireworks; it was if they had given her something beautiful in the world of ugly that she saw every day in the hospital wing.

Oh God, I might be falling for Cartwright. As Fred made the realization, he stopped petting the owl, who returned her discontent with a nip at his finger, still poised closely to her body.

"Ow, dammit!" He said, quickly shoving his finger into his mouth.

The tiny bird moved backward, frightened; her eyes wider than normal. Fred pulled his finger out to see if he was bleeding, even though he knew he wasn't, having not tasted blood. He made a sidelong glance at Noctuna; his aggravation still obviously present on his face, causing her to hoot back defensively. It was evident to Fred that it was his own fault, knowing full well that owls were temperamental birds. Yet, he wanted to be mad at anything else right now. With his new found realization, nothing was going to be the same. He couldn't help but see Michelle as anything but an object of affection. She wasn't supposed to be that. She was supposed to be the mate that got him a good score on his NEWTs. Not that he knew how she was going to do that. She would certainly never let him cheat off of her and he wasn't really up for the crazy revising schedule she would surely plan out for him.

And now, worst of all… he had to get her a bloody good Christmas gift!