The students and faculty were in high spirits as Christmas approached. Exams in every subject were wrapping up and it had come down to the final days of the term. The Hogwarts Decorating Committee, which consisted of Minerva, Fillius, Elenora, Filch and Hagrid, had gotten together and began their traditional holiday garnishing. As part of their duty to the school, the Prefects were also required to assist the committee with the decorations, a task many of them took on with pride. Several feet of snow were covering the grounds outside while foot after foot of garland was magically wrapped around the Trees of the Great Hall. All three teachers had their wands out using them to hang baubles, bells, stars and other ornaments while Hagrid and Flitch dragged in more trees from the outside. The Prefects were scattered along the house tables, stringing rows of popcorn garland and talking animatedly about the upcoming holiday.
"Is that the last tree then, Hagrid?" Nora asked when she noticed the half-giant dragging in a sizable fir.
"Yep it is. Where do you want it?" He stood the tree up on its trunk and three small shadows emerged from behind him. Harry, Ron and Hermione were staring around the room with gaping mouths and wide eyes.
"In the far corner should be fine!" McGonagall called over her should before returning to her work.
"Far corner it is then." Hargrid smiled. He started off towards the corner while the three children continued to marvel at the Great Hall.
"Christmas at Hogwarts is one of my favorite times of the year." Nora beamed, stepping towards her three favorite students. "I was a Prefect my fifth and sixth years and then my first year as professor I begged Flitwick and McGonagall to let me on the Committee."
"The begging wasn't required." Flitwick piped from a nearby tree. "Minerva and I had been looking for someone to join us for years."
"What brings you lot in here anyway? Shouldn't you be studying for Charms?" She figured she might as well ask, being that Flitwick was within earshot.
"I've been studying all week!"Hermione volunteered proudly.
"We've just come from Potions. I don't feel like doing anything."Harry complained.
"We really should be getting to the library though." Hermione insisted.
"The library?" Hagrid joined them again now that he had settled the tree in its place. "Just before the holidays? Bit keen, aren't yeh?"
"Oh we're not working!" Ron blurted out. "Ever since you mentioned Nicolas Flamel we've been trying to figure out who he is."
"You what?" Hagrid and Nora hissed at a the same time.
"Listen here," Hagrid fumbled. "I've told yeh to drop it! It's nothin' to yeh what that dog's guardinn'."
"I also seem to remember telling you three to leave it alone." Aunt Ellen said. She looked cross.
"We just want to know who Nicolas Flamel is, that's all." Hermione tried her best to sound uninterested.
"Unless you'd like to save us the trouble and just tell us." Harry prodded.
"Not a chance." Aunt Ellen insisted.
"I'm saying nothin'." Hagrid agreed.
"Just have to find out for ourselves then." Ron shrugged. "Don't suppose we'll be able to have you sign off permission to the restricted section any time soon?"
"Go study for your Charms exam!" Nora said pointing towards the Great Hall's doors. "And if I hear from Madame Pince that any of you were so much as staring at the restricted section of the library, you'll be cleaning cauldrons for the rest of your lives!" As the three children scrambled out of the room, she turned to Hagrid. "It was you who told them about Nicolas Flamel?"
"They have a way of trickin' information out o' me." Hagrid admitted, looking embarrassed. "But I'm not gonna tell 'em no more. They'll have to work it out themselves if'n they wants to know."
"I'm afraid they are going to do just that Hagrid." She said, now looking more worried than angry.
"Elenora," McGonagall called out from the corner where Hagrid had just tucked the last tree. She turned to look over at the Transfigurations professor. "Didn't you say Professor Dumbledore wanted to meet with you before Lunch? Why don't you go now? Filius and I can finish up here."
"Well, if you're sure." She nodded before patting Hagrid on the lower back. "Don't beat yourself up about it Hagrid. They're eleven years old. How much trouble can they really get into?"
And so she left for her meeting with Dumbledore, who was waiting for her in his office. He had a bundle of fabric out on his desk and a mischievous twinkle in her eye. She would have recognize that bundle anywhere having seen her brother and his friends disappear under it many times. Without saying anything, or questioning how the bundle had come into the Headmaster's possession, she sat in one of the empty chairs opposite him, and waited. A beat passed and he said nothing.
"Afternoon Albus." She greeted him, hoping to prompt the conversation.
"Yes. It is." He nodded. "I've no doubt you know what lays between us Elenora, and I'm sure you have questions about how it came into my hands. Questions that I will be more than happy to answer. But first I must know, how is young Harry adjusting to our school?"
"As well as would be expected of a typical muggle-born." She answered slowly. "But, he does seem to excel at Quidditch. He also seems to also excel at mischief."
"Mischief?"
"Yes. Apparently during a visit to our favorite Games Keeper, he had his friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, were given a few hints about Nicolas Flamel. While on a separate occasion they stumbled upon that three-headed dog of his. Allegedly on accident."
"Children are curious by nature, Elenora."
"Yes, but why does my nephew have to be curious about the most mysterious object in the castle?" She sighed. Dumbledore offered no explanation to this. He instead looked down at cloak that was folded up on his desk.
"Perhaps it won't hurt to indulge their fantasies if only on a short scale."
"You want to give him the invisibility cloak? James' invisibility cloak?" If Nora was being perfectly honest she was jealous that Dumbledore wanted to pass the cloak directly down to Harry. She had spent years coveting the magical object. When James died it seemed the cloak had disappeared with him, but now it was obvious it had been left with Dumbledore for safe keeping. "Are you sure that's the best idea?"
"As I've said, children are curious by nature. Maybe if Harry and his young friends have an outlet for their curiosity..."
"He'll be more likely to get into trouble. You know the kinds of things James and Sirius would get up to! What makes you think he'll be any more responsible?"
"I have no doubt he will not be responsible." Dumbledore smiled. "But how can we expect him to grow without making a few mistakes?"
"I see you've already made up your mind." Nora said, getting to her feet. "Why bother asking me then?"
"Now, now Nora, there's no need to be so upset." Dumbledore laced his hands together. "If I remember correctly, James was about Harry's age when he was gifted the invisibility cloak. Don't you think perhaps after what he's been through, the boy deserves a little fun?"
"What he's...The only reason that boy has suffered as much as he has is because I let you talk me into leaving him with those Muggles! Should have never...Lilly would have...Do what you want with the raggedy old cloak!" She snarled before storming out of the office.
Her mind was swirling. How dare he. Foolish old man pretended to be this mystic energy who knew everything. She should have never listen to him when he said Harry would be better off with Petunia and Vernon. If she'd have taken him in , if she would have raised him like James and Lily would have wanted, maybe he wouldn't be so curious about the world. Trapped in her thoughts, she didn't see someone coming up the grand staircase. Apparently they didn't see her either and the two bodies collided at the top of the stairs. wooden crate of potions fell to the floor and toppled down the stairs.
"Watch where you're going you blithering..."It was Severus. "Elenora." He sighed. He pulled out his wand and began using it to clean up the mess they had just made.
"Oh Sev, I'm so sorry. I just came from a meeting with Dumbledore and I was rather heated and I wasn't paying attention...I should have been..."
"I was on my way to the Hospital Wing to deliver these elixirs to Poppy before lunch." He explained, picking up the once again full wooden crate. "If you'd like to walk with me, I'd be willing to hear about your appointment with Albus." He tucked his wand away and began striding down the hall. She followed after him ranting the whole way about how Dumbledore had no right to tell her how to raise her nephew. Severus felt the makings of a smirk pull across his face. In such a short time she had already become so protective of the boy. He couldn't help but think that his own efforts to keep the boy safe had been lessened by her involvement.
A/N: Elenora and are I back everyone! I was trying to think of a good way to set up/work in Harry's first Christmas at Hogwarts. And that's all set now, so I hope you all enjoy! (Also a took a super thrilling day trip to NYC which delayed my progress immensely.)
InitialsLK I'm so glad that you think Nora is great and that you find my pairing true to the canon universe!
Archivist613 Nora's had lots and lots of practice at being disorganized!
And now it's time for some shameless name-dropping! Thank you to KDaniels, InitialsLK, Archivist613, Bubzchoc, Sci-fi-rocks, LilianHathaway22, and 2 guests for your reviews of Chapter 12! I hope you guys enjoyed Chapter 13, I can't wait to hear what you think!