Happy Hanukkah, Anthony

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Summary: In which Anthony and the rest of his dorm-mates share a typical evening in their dorm up in the Ravenclaw Tower… Well, maybe not so typical this time.

Rating: K

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Anthony and Terry were greeted with the pleasant aroma of citrus as they entered their dorm. Their school bags and arms heavy with books they had obtained from the school library moments before. Their dorm was the standard size and crescent-shape that all Ravenclaw dorms came in. It was comfortable and functional with the five beds, five nightstands, bookcases, desks and in the middle where the crescent was the broadest sat a small sitting area complete with a coffee table, chairs rug and an enchanted grate affixed to the wall. The grate didn't guard a fireplace or furnace but did function as a sort of air control system. In that, it would provide cool or warm air depending on the current season and weather.

"What's with the oranges?" Terry was the first to ask as he made his way directly over to the sitting area and picked up one the many that sat in a crate atop the coffee table. He blinked when he saw another crate, this time, filled with lemons, on the ground aside of the table. "And, lemons?"

"I don't know," Anthony replied honestly as he joined his friend and examined the crates. "It doesn't have any labels on them."

"That was not a bad practice actually," came Stephen's voice as he opened the door to the dorm and entered.

"Choir was rather tedious. With old Christmas carols taking up the whole evening." Kevin added as he closed the door after him.

Terry and Anthony could see that they had just come from band and choir practice. Kevin being in the choir while Stephen played flute in the band.

"Hey, Terry. Anthony. Short day at the library this time?" Stephen asked in way of greeting.

Before they could answer Michael arrived. His arms ladened with two wooden crates. He smiled as he greeted his dorm mates.

"Happy December Eve guys! Thought we should get decorating for Yule early. Since we all going home over the holidays."

"Good idea," Stephen agreed putting his flute away before joining the others over in the sitting area. He frowned as he noticed the four crates of limes, lemons, oranges and grapefruit. "What's with the fruit?"

"They're for the Yuletide season," Michael explained as he rearranges the crates to provide more room on the table. When he noticed everyone's confused expression he asked, "Don't your families decorate with citrus?"

Anthony's brows wrinkled and exchanged looks with Terry, Kevin, and Stephen before they all replied in unison that no they didn't.

"You got to be kidding."

"Nope," Terry, Kevin and Stephen reaffirmed.

"I'm Jewish. So, I don't celebrate Yule or Christmas." Anthony explained picking up an orange and pealing it slowly.

"I didn't know you were Jewish," Kevin replied taking his seat at the central table.

"I didn't know either," Stephen said selecting a fruit from each crate.

"Same here," Michael added as he began pealing an orange.

"You didn't? I thought it was rather obvious." Anthony remarked, surprised. "I don't do any school actives on Saturday, and haven't you wondered why I get different food choices served to me sometimes? When you are eating pork I'm eating chicken or grains for example."

Michael, Kevin and Stephen exchange looks before shaking their heads no.

"Wow. Okay then." Anthony trailed off, shock at the revelation.

"Hey," piped in Terry as he grabbed a grapefruit and sliced it with his pocketknife, "it took me about three years of hanging with him to see that he was Jewish. So don't feel bad about missing it."

His remarked had the intended effect and everyone shared a quick laugh.

Anthony was grateful when the focus of attention was shifted off of him back to the fruit and what Michael had envisioned doing for decoration purposes. He did not like being the center of attention. He rather liked being on the boundary, so to speak.

As the night progressed the small group of Ravenclaw students had managed to create two dozen ornaments that were hybrids of the four citrus fruits in various shapes: crescents, stars, circles, pentagrams, and triangles. Before turning for the night each boy, except Anthony who chose not to use them, placed one of each shape ornament somewhere on their own belongings or assigned furniture. The remaining ornaments they affixed randomly throughout the room.

"And, I believe we're done," Michael announced as he placed the last pentagram directly above the grate by the sitting area. "Happy December guys!"

Anthony frowned and checked the time. Sure enough, it was one minute past midnight and the start of December. Just one day till Hanukkah would start. He went to his trunk and pulled out the small bronze menorah and placed it in his window. He observed it for a moment before taking out his old dreidel and placing on the shelf below the menorah.

"Happy December."

Fini

Disclaimer: For the full disclaimer please refer to the first installment.

Submission for: The 1991 Challenge at HPFFC.

Prompts:

September Event Prompt: Object – Dormitory

1991 Challenge Prompt: Anthony Goldstein. Orange.

Word Count: 809.