"For the last time, Julio, I ain't gonna talk t'Hermione," Bryt snapped, closing her eyes and holding her hand over her face as she flopped backwards across her bed.
"Bryt, just—"
"No."
"But—"
"No!"
"Please—"
"Julio, leave her alone," Sofí said.
"Thank you," Bryt said, looking towards the girl, who was sitting next to Bryt's trunk, "Can we talk 'bout somethin' else, please?"
"Well, Astrid finally got her own place," Sofí said.
"She has?" Bryt asked, sitting up. Astrid had wanted to come to visit, but she was working practically every day, it being so busy at the Ministry. Bryt wondered how she got the time to look for a new place.
"Yeah, she got an apartment—"
"Flat," Julio cut in, "They call them flats here."
"Whatever," Sofí waved him off, "Astrid has a flat in London, pretty close to the Ministry of Magic."
"And now when they're both off, however rare that is, Sofí spends her time at Astrid's instead of buggin' me," Julio said from where he was sitting at Bryt's desk.
Bryt rolled her eyes, still annoyed at Julio trying for the tenth time since holidays began to broker peace between Bryt and Hermione. Bryt had been hoping holidays would get her away from the trouble with Hermione but she instead had to deal with it every time Julio came over.
"Hey, what's this thing?"
Bryt looked to Sofí, who was holding up a vile of gold liquid.
"Be careful with that!" Bryt said, getting up and snatching the bottle away, "That's my Felix Felicis. I won it during my first Potions class this year."
"Well, y'need a better place for it than the bottom of yer trunk."
Bryt rolled her eyes again as she went over and put the vial into the top drawer of her desk.
"It was wrapped in a shirt, it should've been safe there if you hadn't messed with it."
"Until you went t'get that shirt and ended up with that potion all over yer clothes."
Bryt sighed, putting her hand over her face. It was still early in the morning. She wasn't in the mood for all of this.
"Can't we just watch whatever movie you brought?" Bryt asked Sofí, "Mike and Drew should be up by now."
Sofí had decided that they should have a 'movie day', even though they were only planning to watch one movie, which was about a dinosaur park and the trouble that happens after the power goes out. Bryt remembered Mike and Drew wanted to see the movie when it was in theaters a few years ago, but Mrs. Watkins wouldn't let them because they were 'too young' as she said. After Sofí reassured Mrs. Watkins that the movie wasn't overly violent and didn't have that much language, she decided it would be okay for Mike and Drew to watch it with Bryt and the others.
Bryt should have known from the second she put the VHS in the player that movie time would be more entertaining than just watching the movie. The living room only had just enough seats for them, with Bryt sitting with her brothers on the couch and Sofí and Julio taking the armchairs. Sofí kept wanting to sit sideways in the chair and lean her head against Bryt's armrest on the couch, causing them to argue as Bryt tried to push her away. By the time all that was settled, the VHS had gone through its usual previews and was finally starting the movie. Of course, Sofí hadn't stopped there. She spent half the movie quoting random lines along with the characters, only to have Mike to snap at her to shut up so he can hear.
Bryt knew she should have been expecting this, but she had forgotten what it was like watching movies with Sofí, especially if it was a movie she'd seen so many times she knew it by heart. At least Bryt had liked this movie. Usually Sofí made her sit through haunting movies or chick flicks.
Over two hours later—with stops to refresh popcorn bowls, then later to clean up popcorn after Merlin ran through and knocked over Mike and Drew's bowl—they finally made it through the movie. Unfortunately, Sofí decided the best thing to do with the leftover popcorn was to start a food fight. Within minutes, Bryt was crouched behind an armchair, trying awkwardly to share her space with Drew. Mike as wedged between the back of the couch and the Christmas tree, Julio was behind a different armchair, and Sofí not bothering with any protection. Bryt had just ducked out from behind the chair to launch a piece at Sofí when she noticed her mother in the archway and froze.
"What in the world are you four doing?" Mrs. Watkins demanded, "I thought you were teenagers, not toddlers!"
Bryt stared at her mother, embarrassed. She slowly came out from behind the armchair, still holding her handful of popcorn ammunition. She noticed Mike standing up as well, trying desperately to keep his hand behind his back to hide the popcorn he was holding, as if Mrs. Watkins would believe Mike just happened to be there instead of participating in the fight.
"We'll get it cleaned up," Bryt offered.
"You'd better get right on that," Mrs. Watkins said, glancing at Julio—who had popcorn caught in his hair—with a look as if she thought that he, at least, was mature enough not to get into a food fight, "When you do, there are sandwiches waiting in the kitchen for you."
Mrs. Watkins left with that and Bryt picked up the bowl next to Drew on the floor. The mood destroyed, the group began slowly getting what popcorn they could find, which was quite a lot considering their bowls had been refreshed halfway through the movie but they didn't eat all that much afterward.
The cleaning took nearly ten minutes, but when they were finally done, Julio offered to trash the popcorn and they went into the kitchen, where Mrs. Watkins did indeed have sandwiches waiting for them.
"Well, at least you're all acting like humans again," Mrs. Watkins said as they sat down to eat. Bryt gave an awkward grin, knowing her mother had the right to be angry. After all, they were just in the middle of a food fight in her living room.
"Next time, Bryt," Mrs. Watkins went on, "Invite Hermione over. I'm sure she, at least, would be able to keep you all under control."
Mrs. Watkins gave one last stern look to Julio, as if the food fight had been his fault, before leaving the room. Bryt guessed she was going to make sure they did, indeed, get up all of the popcorn in the living room.
Just as Bryt was about to go back to her sandwich, she noticed Julio staring at her.
"No," Bryt snapped before he could speak up.
"But—"
"Julio, I swear, if you mention Hermione at all for the rest of my holiday, I'll curse you into oblivion. Expulsion from Hogwarts or not."
Julio frowned, but seemed to think better of speaking up again. Bryt just hoped he took the hint and left her along about the subject. She noticed Mike and Drew both staring at her curiously—both knew Bryt and Hermione had a falling out, but neither knew why. And not knowing those facts was something that Bryt knew was driving Mike insane, but he knew better than to ask.
With the subject dropped, Bryt went back to her sandwich, soon distracted by Sofí talking about difficult clients she got at Madam Malkin's.
xxxxx
Bryt woke up on Christmas morning to the sound of Christmas tunes playing softly from across the hall. She grinned, remembering there was only one time before she'd woken up to this scenario. She had been seven and tried to sneak downstairs—she still believed in Santa then and was trying to take a look at what gifts she got before the rest of the family was up. She had gotten halfway down the stairs when she hit a creaking step and froze. The music had stopped and her mother came from the kitchen, her hair still tangled since she'd yet to wrap the bandana around it before starting her cooking. Bryt remembered grinning awkwardly at her mother, then running to hide in her room, only to Mrs. Watkins demand she come back downstairs. Bryt had been terrified that she was in trouble, but instead her mother just had her help with making breakfast that morning.
Bryt opened her eyes, though the memory was still fresh in her mind as she swung her legs off the bed, glad she was wearing socks as her feet hit the cold floor. She crept over to her desk and grabbed her housecoat, pulling it on. Her bedroom door was still hanging open, so she didn't have to worry about the noise or creaking floorboards as she crept as quietly as she could across the hallway and glanced into the kitchen, greeted by a site that almost made her laugh out loud.
Her mother was in the kitchen with her back to her, the radio on to a station playing Christmas music, and she was doing this odd little dance as she worked to tie her apron around her waist. As she turned, Bryt noticed her mother had been lip-singing to the music—until she noticed Bryt peeking around the doorframe and froze, her hands still on the tie of her apron.
"Oh, good morning, Bryt," Mrs. Watkins said, grinning as if she hadn't just been caught dancing along to Christmas music, "I didn't realize you were awake. You usually sleep in late."
Bryt shrugged, coming on into the kitchen.
"Just woke up," she said, "I heard the music and was wondering if you had started cooking yet."
"Oh, I'm just about to start," Mrs. Watkins said, turning and reaching to turn off the radio.
"C'mon, leave it on this time," Bryt said, "It'll be fun listening to music while we eat and open presents this year."
"I guess you're right," Mrs. Watkins said, seeming all too eager to let the music keep playing, "I could use the help with breakfast if you're willing."
"Sure," Bryt said, coming on into the kitchen. She pulled off her housecoat again and laid it across the back of a chair before pushing up the sleeves of her pajama top. She helped her mother get out what she needed for the pancakes, then offered to cook some sausage to go along with them.
As Bryt got out the frying pan and opened a pack of sausage, dropping a few in the pan to cook, she glanced at her mother. She was mixing the batter for the pancakes, swaying side to side and barely moving her lips along with the music.
"You can sing if you want," Bryt said, "You don't gotta hide it 'cause of me."
Mrs. Watkins grinned a bit, but didn't say anything. Though Bryt noticed she was more open about her lip-singing after she said that. The mood got a bit addicting and Bryt found herself lip-singing to the music herself about halfway through cooking the sausages, bouncing slightly from foot-to-foot to the beat of the music.
"Watch that you don't burn the sausage, Bryt," Mrs. Watkins said, leaning over from where she was focused on the pancakes.
"Yeah, I'm watching them, Mom," Bryt laughed, "Keep your eyes on the pancakes. I'd rather have them brown than black."
"Keep that up and I'll burn yours on purpose."
Bryt grinned, then realized this was the first time in years she and her mother had really just had time alone. Even during her summer holidays, whenever Bryt was around her mother, someone else was there as well—her father, brothers, the Garcías, Hermione, and more recently, Emily or Astrid. It was what happened when five people lived in a small house. It was nearly impossible to have alone time or even just time with one person. Bryt couldn't help but feel a bit guilty about how little time she'd been able to spend with her family, especially her mother.
But she was getting time now. That she was grateful for. Especially for the fact that Mrs. Watkins hadn't once brought up the fact that Bryt hadn't been home for the past four Christmases. It was like she was just as happy to have Bryt around, so she didn't want to say anything either.
"Bryt, the sausages!"
"Oh, damn it!" Bryt hissed, pulling up the frying pan fast as thick smoke started billowing from the pan. She cried out and dropped the pan, forgetting that she had been using cast iron and the handle had been just as hot as the pan itself.
Bryt cursed loudly as she ran for the sink, tossing down the spatula she'd been using as she turned on the cold water, shoving her hand under. Her hand was throbbing, but at least it wasn't the worst pain she'd ever experienced. The cold water helped slightly, but she could barely feel the water over the burn.
"Oh, sweetie, are you okay?" Mrs. Watkins was at Bryt's side the instant she had turned on the water.
"Burned myself," was all Bryt said through gritted teeth, fighting hard not to bite her mother's head off. She just grabbed a hot pain, was in pain, and Mrs. Watkins was asking if she was okay? Of course she wasn't.
"Let me see it," Mrs. Watkins said, reaching over and taking Bryt's wrist gently, pulling her hand out from under the water. The burning sensation on Bryt's hand increased immediately and she took a sharp breath through her nose, pushing her hand under the water again.
"It looks bad, maybe I should take you to the emergency room..."
"No, I'm fine," Bryt said quickly. The last thing she wanted as to spend her Christmas anywhere near a hospital, "Just get me an ice pack or something. I'll keep that on it. If it keeps hurting, I guess we can put some antibiotic cream on it or something. I think Julio did something similar when Sofí burned herself making grilled cheeses a few years ago."
"Bryt, are you sure—"
"I don't wanna go to the hospital, Mom," Bryt said, "If the burn's really that bad, I'll go. But I don't want to go if I don't have to, okay? I'm sure I'll be fine with the ice. Besides, we gotta finish breakfast for the others."
Mrs. Watkins had already started making Bryt's ice pack by putting ice in a plastic zip-bag before wrapping it in a dishtowel. She had come back to Bryt by the time she finished talking, holding out the bag. Bryt took her hand out from under the water, drying it off—wincing when the paper towels hit the burn—then put the ice pack on it.
"Don't keep it on there all the time," Mrs. Watkins said, "Ten minutes on, ten minutes off, no matter how much it burns. Sit down at the table and I'll clean up the sausages and make breakfast. We'll just keep an eye on your burn."
Bryt nodded, then realized Deck the Halls was playing on the radio. 'Tis the season to be jolly, yeah right. Bryt was sitting at the table, frowning, dealing with her throbbing hand as she watched her mother cleaned up the mess she had made before scrapping the pancakes that were starting to burn and start making more.
'First Christmas home in years, couldn't it have gone right?' Bryt thought, glaring at her hand. Maybe it was karma for spending holidays away for so long. If so, she felt she deserved it.
Bryt sat still, trying to ignore her hand as she watched her mother go back to cooking and was soon lost in her little dance again. When the food got close to being done, she asked Bryt to go get everyone awake and let them know food was done. Bryt took the ice pack off her hand, glad that it didn't hurt nearly as much as before—but still hurt quite a lot—and went to wake up her siblings and father.
It turned out Mr. Watkins was already awake, but Bryt had trouble getting the twins up. Mike finally got up after the fifth shake, but Drew took until Bryt had nearly shoved the boy out of bed before he finally seemed to wake up. All three of them had asked about Bryt's hand when she had told them breakfast was ready, and with each she simply said she burned herself and she was okay.
Breakfast passed by like a normal Watkins Christmas breakfast, though Bryt kept her burnt hand lying next to her plate on the table. She was very grateful that she hadn't burned her dominate hand. She didn't want to have to deal with trying to eat with her right hand for a change. The more the numbness of Bryt's ice pack wore off, the worst her hand felt, but she forced herself to wait the full ten minutes before putting the ice pack back on.
After eating, they moved to the living room and were just about to start on presents when Sofí, Julio, and Astrid came over. Bryt grinned, glad they had decided to come, and realized that this was the first time she'd seen Astrid at all since holidays began. She looked tired, but she was grinning brightly and seemed in a good mood.
Sofí was obviously in a very, very good mood, which was proven more when Sofí began cracking up over finding out how Bryt burned her hand.
"What idiot grabs a hot pan?" she asked through her laughing. Bryt glared and would have thrown a couch cushion at her, but couldn't because she was sitting on the floor away from the couch and had her hands full holding the ice pack.
"I just reacted, I didn't think," Bryt shot back.
"You never think."
Bryt glared and Mrs. Watkins cleared her throat. Sofí grinned at her, but sat down on the floor near Bryt and Bryt's parents began dividing out the presents from under the tree. Bryt had to admit, she liked this much better than just having a pile of presents at the foot of her bed. She liked seeing other people's reactions.
Opening presents around others was just as chaotic as Bryt remembered. It seemed everyone was opening their presents simultaneously, constantly trying to talk to another to thank for gifts. Bryt herself got a good haul as usual, the only setback being the usual unwanted jewelry from her grandparents. Bryt even got a present from Hermione—granted, it was literally just a scented candle with a note that only read 'Happy Christmas'. Hermione usually got her a scented candle plus some other thing and Bryt felt hurt over this, but tried not to focus on it. She and Hermione weren't speaking, after all. She should be lucky to get anything at all. At least Bryt had gone through with going ahead and sending Hermione the gift she had bought months ago, otherwise she'd be feeling even more guilty than she already did.
Bryt pushed Hermione from her mind, turning back to her friends and family. Unwrapping presents one-handed was especially hard, but she managed. And just like Sofí, she decided she wanted to help just as Bryt picked up her present from Ron. Sofí had been confused and disappointed when it turned out to just be a new journal, however. Bryt found herself fighting very hard not to show how pleased she was with the gift—and the fact that Ron had actually remembered Bryt did keep a journal, even if he did find out in a very embarrassing way for Bryt. Bryt was determined Sofí wouldn't find out, so she passed off the gift as just Ron trying to be a good boyfriend and stashed the thing in the box with her other gifts.
The rest of Christmas passed in the simple, normalness that Bryt had missed for years. Though where Bryt had before talked in her room with Sofí and Julio, she stayed in the living room this time with everyone, enjoying talking about anything they could think of. Past Christmases, Sofí and Julio's jobs, how Astrid was adjusting to living in London on her own.
Bryt missed having Christmases like this and, even with her burned hand, she wouldn't trade today for anything. Despite her accident in the morning, today had been great. If she was lucky, there'd be many more Christmases like this in the future.