Disclaimer: I don not make money out of this story. The characters belong to J.K Rowling.
Chapter Ten
The food fight had been fun while it latest but the students knew they would not be getting away with it for too long. A little later in the boys dorms in the Gryffindor tower three boys where getting ready for the night.
"I'M SORRY PADFOOT. I'M SURE I WOULD HEAR YOU BETTER IF I PULLED THIS BANANA OUT OF MY EAR!" James had the dirtiest grin on his face as he pulled the banana out of his ear.
"You daft prick." Sirius threw his soap bar at James.
"I assure you that my prick is not daft," James answered as he turned around and pointed downwards.
"Not looking. Not looking." Sirius turned away from James as quickly as he could.
"Would it be too much if I asked the pair of you to grow up already?" Remus sighed while he dried himself a towel.
"Is that my towel?" Sirius walked over to Remus grabbing hold of the towel Remus was using.
Dropping the towel on the spot, Remus turned and quickly put his clothes back on, leaving his friends behind.
"I am perfectly clean," Sirus grumbled underneath his breath. He felt a bit insulted by Remus' actions.
Remus chuckled to himself. They can be so immature sometimes.
"What is so funny?" Remus almost jumped when he heard Mette's voice close to his ear.
"How did you get here?" Remus looked her, his eyes wide.
"My sister is not the only one who's up to mischief." Mette smiled at him mischievously, "Besides that, you, Mr Lupin, have not kissed me goodnight."
"Mr. Lupin bids ye a good night, fair lady." Reaching for Mette's hand, Remus planted a chaste kiss on it.
"That is not what I meant, and you know it, you silly git." Mette let out a soft giggle which made his heart beat a bit faster.
"How appalling! I have been downgraded from 'Mr. Lupin' to 'silly git'." Remus pretended to be shocked.
"Yes, silly git, kiss her already." The sound of James' voice made Remus' smile even broader.
Logically, Sirius' voice followed his best friend's. "Prongs, do not pressure the boy. Why do we not help him?"
"No way," Mette protested and quickly moved away from Remus. "Until we meet again, Mr. Silly Git Lupin."
Remus watched Mette blow a kiss towards him as she walked away from the threesome. He felt like hitting his friends.
The following day began with a DADA lesson in which Professor Vonuntenundoben's Assistant explained to the next assignments. The Gryffindors had learned some of the details from the Slytherins, who had had their lesson the day before, and it did not look good for the Slytherins. For their part, the Gryffindor students could not wait for their next assignment, for it would prove to be very different from the normal lessons.
The Assistant had started the lesson: "Your next assignment is to see how you handle situations in which you do not or are not allowed to use a wand."
You could have heard a Bowtruckle squeak in the room as she continued. "You are all aware that Muggle devices do not work at Hogwarts castle; therefore, the next assignment has been moved to a Muggle holiday park." For a moment the Assistant let the words sink into her students' brains. "You will all be put into groups of four students. Mixed houses and years. Together, you will have to survive a week without magic. The Professor will place a special spell around the park, which will make sure that during this week there will be no magic possible. The group that adapts the best to the situation gets a good grade, of course, but there will also be something else to win. This assignment will start in the second week of the new year."
For once, the entire Gryffindor contingent were quiet as they all waited for the Assistant to tell them more.
"All your other classes will be adapted so that you can perform them inside the cabins for the seven days we will be away. And now I think it is time to get back to today's lessons." Holding one hand up into the air to signal to the students that no further questions would be answered, the Assistant turned to the day's lesson, but most of the students were too busy wondering how they would survive without magic to listen. Others stared at the Assistant, trying to focus on what she was saying, while questions raced through their heads
During lunch break, the students started discussing the new DADA assignment, but since it was still a big, unpleasant blur to them, the conversation drifted to the subject of the Christmas holidays that were coming closer and closer.
"I am going home to my parents' like every year," James stated into thin air; it was something that his friends already knew.
"Me too," Lily added.
"We are staying," Mette spoke for herself and her sister, who had mysteriously disappeared right after classes were finished.
"Since Sirius is living with me, he will get the best Christmas ever." James revelled at the thought of giving Sirius a real Christmas filled with fun and pleasantries.
"I am sorry, Prongs, but I feel like staying here this time. Get some thinking done." Sirius had been in a deep thought for some time about whether to go home with James or stay at Hogwarts.
"Like you can actually think for yourself." Isa had resurfaced from behind some other students.
But before either Sirius or Isa could grab each other's throat again, Mette turned everyone's attention to Remus who had been awfully quiet during this entire conversation.
"What about you Remus?"
"I have not decided yet. I will write a letter home today." Most of the holidays, Remus had spent at home; that being the safest thing he could do. However, this year he felt like he wanted to stay with Mette. Something told him that he might miss Mette too much.
"I am also going away for the holidays. Michael has invited me over to his parents place." Jessica still had her head firmly planted within the seventh cloud she had been floating around on ever since her first date with Michael O'Brien.
Then Mette and Isa placed a little distance between themselves and their friends when they discussed what they really wanted to do this year. They knew that it was impossible to go back home, but perhaps Dumbledore or McGonagall would agree to have one or two of their relatives come and visit.
"Perhaps grandfather could come?" Isa really missed the old man, as he was one of the few who understood her.
"Do you not think that they will notice that he does not look even remotely Danish, Izzy?" Mette said firmly as she tried to keep her voice down.
"But I really miss him."
"I know you do," Mette rubbed her sister's arm for a bit, "but we cannot risk it. Maybe we can ask Ronan and Dolan over?"
"Like they won't draw any attention to themselves." Isa rolled here eyes at her sister.
"Maybe they could perform a spell so that they would look less obvious." Mette looked hopeful at her sister for she longed to see her favourite brothers.
"Well, it is worth a shot." Isa shrugged her shoulders, wishing she could use that solution for getting her grandfather to visit, but he hated disguises of any kind.
"Let me see if I've got this right: you are having some old man come for a visit?" Sirius had moved closer to Isa as the conversation had drawn his attention.
"Not nice," Isa warned Sirius. "But no, you could not be more wrong."
"I do not suppose you are willing to tell me what is going to happen then?" Somehow the answer intrigued Sirius and he wished to know more about the possible answer.
"We have decided to invited our two brothers so that they can help me in my effort to irritate you even further." Isa turned towards Sirius with a threatening look in her eyes.
"HAHAHAHA." Sirius' barking laughter filled the Great Hall.
She stepped towards him menacingly. "I suggest you go find yourself a nice little hiding place in the castle where I cannot find you."
"I am intending to stay away from you during this holiday." Sirius held his hands up in front of him and walked away.
"I fear that you are losing your touch, dear Sister," Mette murmured. "Sirius did not look half as frightened just now as when you threatened him with that chessboard." Mette smiled kindly at her sister as she rejoined Remus and the others.
Christmas arrived far quicker than any of the students of Hogwarts had expected, having been so absorbed by their classwork. Today the holidays would begin; the number of students staying at Hogwarts was at its lowest point ever. Hufflepuff House had three students left; the Ravenclaws had five; the Gryffindors had four students staying, and the Slytherins only one—Severus Snape. Most of the teachers had returned to their homes also, so when the other students had left Hogwarts for home, Headmaster Dumbledore moved one table closer to the teachers' table so that it would be more cosy during the holidays.
But one student had other ideas. At breakfast, Severus had taken a seat at the far end of the table away from all the other kids. He is being a stubborn ass, thought Isa. She got up from her seat in between Remus and Mette and went to sit in the empty chair next to Severus. Keeping Remus out of her sister's panties could wait until later.
When breakfast was finished, Headmaster Dumbledore motioned for the twins to come over to him, his eyes filled with warmth.
"Girls, I have such good news: your brothers will be able to come and pay you a visit. But they will have to leave on Boxing Day, so you had better make good use of the time that you have with them here."
Mette and Isa could not help but beam at their Headmaster who was pointing out a window which gave onto the Lake. There were their brothers, coming in like Hogwarts first years --in a small, magically propelled boat.
Mette could not prevent her sister from storming out of the Great Hall, screaming loudly in happiness. It, of course, drew the attention of the other students, and they looked at Mette for an explanation. Running over to Remus, she informed him that her brothers were coming. Then she followed her sister, though not quite so loudly.
Always curious, Sirius urged Remus up from the table and pulled him outside where they watched the most unbelievable scene come alive.
"NUTCASE!" one of the persons sitting in the boat shouted out.
"LOSER!" Isa shouted back with great enthusiasm.
"FREAK!" The person retorted.
"PIMP!" Isa answered with a huge grin on her face.
Before the boat had reached the shore, the person jumped into the knee-deep water, but before he had managed to stand up straight, he had been tackled by Isa. Both emerged covered in weeds and mud and coughing up water. While they stood together still shouting epithets at each other, the other person in the boat got out and made his way over to Mette, giving her a big hug.
Turning towards Remus with a big smile, Mette also gave him a big hug because she felt that he needed it.
"Remus, I want you to meet my brother Esben, and Esben I want you to meet my personal furnace, aka Mr. Remus "Silly Git" Lupin," Mette said while still holding on to Remus.
"Now there is an introduction you do not hear every day." Esben reached out to shake Remus' hand.
"I guess not, but it is a pleasure to meet you." Remus grinned back at the tall boy before him.
Sirius, who had been left behind, observed the scene before him; there was something wrong with the appearance of the two boys. Neither of the brothers showed any resemblance to either Isa or Mette. Both of them had white-blond hair, fair skin and blue eyes
While Sirius stood pondering to himself, Isa and her brother got out of the water and made their way over to Mette, Remus, and Esben.
"DO!" Isa screamed at the sight of her brother and jumped on him, soaking her brother in the process. Without thinking about it Isa had called out for her brother with one of her nicknames for him.
"Gross!" Esben detangled himself from Isa.
"I am sorry for our sister's behaviour, but then she was brought up the same as us boys, so what could one expect?" the other brother explained to Remus.
"Remus, this is my twin brother Gunnar, who has no manners at all," Esben informed Remus. This of course earned Esben a punch on the arm from his brother.
"Two sets of twins in one family?" Remus found it amazing.
Gunnar walked to the other side of Remus. "You can make that three, for there is another set out somewhere in this world."
"See, our parents actually only wanted three kids, but there must have been a sale on. You know: make one, get one free." Esben smiled.
All this time, Sirius had stood there behind his friend and the members of the Christianson family. That was until Remus decided to include Sirius in the conversation as well, and Sirius was dragged forward to meet the brothers.
"Gunnar and Esben, meet my friend Sirius Black." Sirius just blinked his eyes when the brothers shook his hand.
"You are friends with a Slytherin?" Gunnar looked accusingly at his sisters.
"What did you just call me?" Sirius felt his rage starting to rise.
"It is a well known fact that members of the Black family always get sorted into Slytherin house—uh--don't they?" Gunnar sounded a lot less sure of himself as Sirius grabbed his coat and glared at him ferociously. .
Suddenly out a hand waved in front of Sirius accompanied by the voice of Isa. "Hey Sirius?"
If the interruption had not come at that precise moment, Sirius might have lost his temper, and no one could know what would have happened then. Taking a few deep breaths, Sirius turned his back on the group and walked quickly away from them, feeling the need to distance himself from the fellow who had called him by the execrable epithet of 'Slytherin'.
"Okay, that was strange," Gunnar and Esben said at the same time.
"Not really, when you hear what Izzy has done to the poor boy," said Mette. "Remus, why don't you go and make sure he is alright."
Nodding his head, Remus ran back in the direction of the castle, trying to find out where Sirius had gone to. The remaining four soon followed after getting their suitcases out of the boat. They headed towards the common room to settle the brothers in for the days to come.
Both brothers were led to their beds by Remus who had been assured by Sirius that there was nothing seriously wrong with him at this moment, but that he wished for some peace and quiet.
Mette settled down in the common room with a book she had borrowed from Remus while Isa decided that it was time to find out what had happened to Severus.
When Isa reached the Slytherin common room, she sneaked into it having managed to threaten a first-year Slytherin for the password just before the holiday had begun.
After Severus left the Great Hall, he had taken a shower and put on his PJs, deciding to read for a little while in the Slytherin common room. Somehow he had managed to fall asleep with his face resting on the book he had been reading, and that's exactly how Isa found him.
Moving through the common room, she decided to snoop around a little; perhaps she would find some incriminating evidence she might be able to use as blackmail when the holidays were over.
Having had enough of rummaging through slither stuff, Isa walked over to Severus who was still fast asleep. Nudging him did not appear to have much effect on the boy.
"SEVERUS!" Isa bellowed causing Severus to jolt back in his chair with a page from the book still stuck to his head.
"What? What--stop laughing!" Severus yelled back at Isa, who found the image she had created very funny.
"Severus, since when do you read books about women?" Isa said when the page drifted down to the floor, revealing it to be from a woman's magazine.
"I don't read about women."
"Right. What was that on your head then?" Isa pointed towards the page on the floor causing Severus to develop a lovely crimson blush on his face. "Severus, if you want information about women, go to the source."
"There's a book about women somewhere in here?" Severus asked bluntly.
"No, you idiot, if you want information about women, you go to a woman. That would be your source of information about women."
"Oh." Severus sounded somewhat disappointed.
"But that's not why I'm here."
"Why are you here then?"
"Do you not remember me promising to help you get back at Black and Potter?"
"Yes, but Potter has gone home to his mummy and daddy."
"Absolutely right. But we can start with Black." Isa smiled evilly.
"And when are we going to get back at Potter?" Severus asked doubtfully.
"I think the next DADA assignment will be the perfect place for that."
"What good is that going to be? We're not allowed to use magic."
"Darn. Okay, what about the next Quidditch match?"
"Yes, we could make him suffer a great defeat."
"We're not allowed to disrupt the game; Dumbledore will know."
"How about before the game? We can get him so scared that he will be afraid to play ever again." Severus was really getting in the mood for it.
"Excellent idea. Now, as to Sirius, I was thinking about setting our revenge up for the night before Christmas." Isa took out a piece of parchment and handed it to Severus.
"What is this for? Severus said grabbing hold of the parchment.
"To write down some notes and start planning." Isa pointed out, while taking a seat at the table.
In the Gryffindor tower, however, Mette confided in her brothers that she was helping Remus, James, and Sirius to take revenge on Isa. Both of her brothers agreed that it would be very cool indeed. Both of them had been the victims of Isa's pranks many times.
"Maybe you could use some snakes in your plan?" Gunnar suggested to Remus.
"Yes, Isa is absolutely terrified of snakes." Esben smiled.
"But the prank will have to wait until James has returned from his parents' home." Remus wasn't overly enthusiastic about the prank James and Sirius were planning.
"Is she here?" Sirius' voice sounded from the boys' staircase.
"No, Sirius, she hasn't returned yet." Mette laughed.
"Don't you dare laugh. She's pure evil I tell you," Sirius said seriously.
"I am sorry about the prejudiced remark my brother has made, " Esben apologized since he knew his brother would be to stubborn to ever admit he made a mistake, "You have to learn to ignore him from time to time. That seems the best way of handling him.
Gunnar looked at his brother with an open mouth which quickly became a glare at the way his brother was insulting him. "It is a common fact that members of the Black family go there, but, hey, it is nice to see someone not playing by the rules for a change."
"So you're my sister's latest victim," Esben said to Sirius.
"Victim is an understatement."
"Isa has gotten you good then. Tell us: what has she done to you?" Gunnar asked Sirius.
"No." Leaving the foursome behind, he went back up stairs.
"Mette, what has our lovely, angelic little sister done to this poor boy?" Esben asked.
"You don't want to know, and I believe she's planning on doing something far worse," Mette said while she made herself comfortable. Both Gunnar and Esben watched their little sister snuggle up against Remus.
"Anything you want to tell us about?" Both boys asked while Remus played with Mette's hair.
"Euhm…" Mette started to blush.
"Right. I get the picture." Gunnar said, yawning.
"I think, dear sister, we need your boyfriend to show us to our beds .For I fear if we stay up any longer Gunnar is going to drop right here on the floor and start snoring," Esben said.
"My boyfriend?" Mette asked confused. It wasn't as if she and Remus had announced their relationship yet.
"Well, what do you call that thing you're practically lying on?" Gunnar asked with an evil smile on his face.
"Euhm, Remus?"
Remus had been very quiet during the boyfriend discussion. Maybe they really should have a little boy-girl talk very soon. Kissing both her brothers and Remus goodnight, Mette went up the girls' staircase.
"Follow me please. And just so you know, there's a spell on the girls' staircase, so don't try and go up there. You can ask Isa what the penalty for being caught is," Remus said while walking up towards the bedroom.
"She got a penalty for being in the girl's dorm?" Gunnar asked.
"No, Sirius got caught in the girls' bathroom, and then Isa admitted being in the boys' bathroom, and then both of them got detention for it."
"Our little sister is more evil then we thought was possible," Gunnar beamed with pride.
"Evil, no. Perverted, yes." Esben raised his eyebrows at his brother.
As soon as Remus had showed the boys their beds and the bathroom, they changed into their pyjamas. As soon as Gunnar was ready, his head hit his pillow, and he fell asleep.
Esben took his time to get to know Remus a little better. He could feel that his little sister really liked Remus and that Remus was an okay guy. There was however an ancient vibe about Remus, something that went beyond his years of the earth.
"Well, Remus I think you're a wonderful person, but I'll still have to kick your ass if you hurt my little sis's feelings. And I'm perfectly sure that I speak for my brother, as well," Esben said before turning to his bed.
Great, Remus thought. I haven't even officially called Mette my girlfriend , and I'm already being threatened by my in-laws. That is just perfect. Remus had a hard time finding sleep that evening.
Early next morning, the remaining Hogwarts students and the special guests made their way over to the Great Hall where Headmaster Dumbledore was eagerly awaiting his students.
"Come, children, settle down, settle down." He smiled broadly at the students.
"I know Muggles have their Christmas tradition, and since I'm particularly fond of this tradition, I have decided that this year we will be celebrating it differently than in other years. Muggles have this custom called the 'Secret Santa'. Does anybody know what this means?" He asked the students.
"It means that we put all our names in a bowl and then everyone pulls one out, and that's the person you will be buying a gift for." One of the Ravenclaws answered.
"Absolutely right Miss Fortinbrass. Since we do not all know each other that well, I suggest that beside one's name one might also write down what kind of present he would like for Christmas."
"She!" Isa yelled over the table.
"Excuse me, Miss Christianson, what did you say?" Dumbledore looked at Isa confused.
"You said what 'he' wants for Christmas and I ain't no HE, I'm a 'she'." This earned Isa some sniggers from her brothers and some cheers from the girls.
"Absolutely right. Excuse me for forgetting the ladies. It appears that my age is finally catching up with me." Dumbledore replied, unoffended.
Headmaster Dumbledore summoned one of the house-elves forth. He asked for some small pieces of parchment and a hat to put them in. The house-elf quickly returned with the requested items.
"So, if you will please write something down, but don't make your requests too expensive," Dumbledore said while floating the pieces of parchment over to the children and teachers.
Isa grabbed hold of her parchment. Now what would I want for Christmas? A Horse? Nope--boring. A Flying Horse, No. Something more dangerous. A BMX bike. No --too slow. I got it--a flying motorcycle would be so cool. Shoot, that would also be too expensive. Maybe a really old and broken down motorcycle wouldn't be too expensive. I could fix it up myself. That would be so cool. Isa enthusiastically started to write down her wish, hoping that she would get it.
Remus didn't have to think very long; he decided to ask for a book. Mette also wanted a book. Esben and Gunnar decided to go into the game as a unit and asked for a Quidditch game, since they were both players. Sirius didn't know what to ask, so he simply wrote down: a personal bodyguard to protect me against a certain dark-haired bully.
After all students had written down what they wanted, all the pieces of parchment were thrown into the hat. Dumbledore shook the hat vigorously to mix the pieces well.
One by one, he called the students up to draw a piece of parchment.
Soon the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws each had someone to be a secret Santa for. The Gryffindors were next.
Sirius was first; he got Isa. Oh for the love of Merlin, out of all the people here, I have to get Isa. Let's see what she wants. A motorbike? She's really lost it this time. A: What the hell is a motorbike? And B: Where would I get one?
Gunnar drew Sirius' name for himself and his brother. When he looked at the present they were supposed to deliver, Gunnar had a hard time not laughing out loud. My sister must have been terrible to him, but if he wants a bodyguard I'll give him one. And I know exactly what will keep my sister away from that poor boy. Maybe I'll give him some pointers on her too, Gunnar smiled as he returned to the table.
Remus was the next one up, and he got Mette. Remus couldn't believe his luck. Never had he been so happy. He could give Mette a wonderful book, or he could also do something more romantic.
Mette ended up with Severus. She really didn't mind. Severus hadn't done anything wrong in her mind. She would make sure Severus would have a nice Christmas.
Severus got Gunnar and Esben. How the hell am I supposed to arrange a Quidditch match? I never go near a Quidditch game, even if it is a school event.
Isa was really pleased with the person she got. She had, since her birthday, been hoping to buy Remus a razor for his legs. For a nice book, she was thinking along the lines of the Kama Sutra. I just love seeing Remus turn red.
During the week before Christmas, all the students were busy buying gifts, wrapping them, and hiding them. Dumbledore had summoned a great big Christmas tree to go in the middle of the Great Hall. He even decorated it like Muggles did, with popcorn strings, glitters, candy canes, and a big fat angel on top. Dumbledore had asked the students to lay the gifts under the tree on Christmas Eve. So the day before Christmas, there was a big display of gifts surrounding the tree. And of course, there was the occasional shaking of the gifts by certain curious students.
Just before they finished dinner, Isa made her way over to Severus and pulled him away from the table into an alcove. It had been several days since Severus and Isa had completed their perfect plan for getting revenge on Sirius. They had even thrown a full rehearsal of the plan just to make sure it would go alright.
"You found a picture of Sirius' mother?" Isa asked Severus.
"Yes, I have it in my trunk."
"And the rest of the family?"
"You would be amazed what one can find out about the Black family."
"And you have everything prepared?"
"Yes, everything is in place, and you should know this because we rehearsed it last night."
"You are right; it must have slipped my mind," Isa said with a impassive face. "Listen carefully," she continued, rubbing her hands together. "I shall only say this once. I'll meet you this evening at eleven thirty outside the Gryffindor common room. Come alone!"
Frowning at Isa for a moment, Severus wondered whether he should comment on the fact that he was the only Slytherin currently present. Isa shoved Severus back out of the alcove and looked around, paranoid, before returning to her brothers and sister. Esben and Gunnar had started a game of chess with Remus and Sirius.
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