Jamie gazed between the two unopened Christmas gifts on her bed; trying to decide which one she should open first. She crossed her arms over her chest, frowning. If she was truthful to herself, she really had no desire to open either. Charlie's gift made her feel guilty, and her father's… well, it was her fathers… she gave a huff, deciding she was reaching much to far into the gifts, and reached down for her father's packaged first. She reached down, taking the package gently into her hands; she turned it over, looking at the plain brown wrapping paper. It had no address, no name, nothing to mark who it had came from… she pulled open a corner, peaking into the opening, she saw a piece of folded parchment she pulled it out, opening it, a smaller piece of paper fell out, fluttering to the ground. Jamie picked it up. It was a picture of a small child, giggling as her father held her up, twirling around the room. The man was wearing a dark robe with a hood that came up and covered his head. He stopped, bringing the wriggling child down into his arms and turning towards the photographer. Even though the photo was black and white, she could tell his eyes were the same as they are now, but he had a full head of curly dark hair. He looked at the camera with a cold gaze. She saw what she realized was her tiny hand reached up towards her father. His gaze dropped down to her as he clasped her tiny hand, a controlled smile reaching his lips. Jamie shuddered and turned the photo over. In her father's neat writing it said: Christmas 1979. She dropped the picture onto the bed, pulling the letter open. There were only two lines written.

Merry Christmas.

I will see you soon.

Looking at the lines sent chills down her spine, she placed the letter down on the bed on top of the haunting picture, picking up the package once again, and she peered into the top of it, and then began to rip at the paper.

Suddenly, the door behind her opened, she turned to the door, hiding the package behind her back. To her surprise, it was Charlie, holding a fist-full of roses. He smiled meekly at her, holding out the flowers to her.
"Merry Christmas." He said softly.

"What are you doing here?" She blurted out, covering her mouth a moment later in embarrassment.

His smile disappeared, and he lowered the flowers.

"Didn't you get my letter?" He said, she could hear a coldness creeping into his voice.

She looked towards the bed; his gaze followed hers to the unopened package.

"I was getting to it…" She said softly, her eyes trailing downwards.

"What are you hiding Jamie?" He said, looking at her.

"Nothing!" She said, looking at him dead in the eye. He cocked an eyebrow.

"Jamie, I know you much to well to know when you're lying."

Jamie shifted the packaged uncomfortably behind her back.

"It's nothing Charlie…." She said.

He walked quickly towards her, sticking out his hand.

"Let me see it."

Jamie sighed, bringing out the package from behind her back. He turned it over in his hands.

"Who did you get it from?" He asked, peering into the top.

"Who do you think?" She whispered.

Charlie looked at her with a stunned expression, dropping the package as though it contained hot coals.

"What did you do that for?" Jamie yelled at him, reaching to pick up the package, he stuck out his arm, stopping her.

"Don't touch it!"

"Why in Merlin's name not!" Jamie said, yanking her hand from his grip.

"Jamie! Don't you realize what kind of spell he might have put on It."?

Jamie snorted.

"If he was going to kill me, I'm pretty sure he would've done so by now."

Charlie glared at her.

"For all you know, it could've been a port key."

Jamie paled.

"I didn't think of that…"

"No! You didn't think!" Charlie said, storming to the other side of the room.

Jamie sat down on the bed, waiting for him to calm down. She watched as his shoulders rose and fell with each breath, and as his breathing slowed. Finally, he turned around, looking at her apologetically.

"I'm sorry Jamie…. I just don't know if I could bear to lose you…" He said, running a hand through his hair.

"I'm sorry I haven't written…." Jamie said, breaking the silence that seemed to fill the room.

"We should get dad…." Charlie said, making his way to the door.

Jamie opened her mouth to talk, but it was obvious that neither her, nor Charlie was ready to deal with their issues right now. She sighed in frustration, sitting down on the bed and looking at the picture of her father…

Charlie came into the room a few moments later, followed closely by Arthur and to her surprise Remus.

They ignored her, walking over to the package and bending down to it. She heard Remus mutter a spell, pointing his wand at the still concealed object. He shot a glance towards them, and a small nod. Jamie felt her stomach drop.

"So it was a port key then?" She asked anxiously.

"Yes." Her father said as Charlie turned away, she could feel his anger.

"Jamie… why didn't you tell us about the gift?" Remus asked as he stood.

Jamie shrugged.

"I thought it was harmless… he's given me things before…" She said.

"But that was before you escaped his grasp, surely you realized that there was the possibility he may have done something to the gift." He said.

Jamie sighed.

"Like I told Charlie, I thought that if he wanted to kill me he would have done it a year ago. I didn't think of any other possibilities…" She said.

"Who gave it to you?"

"Draco Malfoy. I tried to refuse it, but he said that he would be punished if I did…"

Remus nodded, looking at her father.

"We should go send word to Albus…" Arthur gazed between her, and Charlie, and nodded. Remus came forward and grabbed the package gently, taking it with them as they exited the room, the door clicked close softly behind them.

Charlie turned around to face her; she could still see his anger. The last time she had seen someone this angry, she had ended up in a near coma state for a week, and she felt the hairs on her spine stand up. Jamie hugged her arms to her body, waiting for him to speak.

"How can you be so careless with your life Jamie?" His soft reply came. It shocked her; she was expecting him to yell.

"I made a mistake Charlie… everyone makes mistakes."

"But not everyone makes mistakes that could cost them their life… their freedom." The truth in his word made her shiver, she had been moments away from touching the object inside the package when Charlie had burst through the door. She felt tears sting her eyes.

"I'm sorry." She said softly. The silence that followed seemed to grow around them, reaching up and nearly suffocating Jamie.

"I…." She looked up from where her gaze had fallen, searching Charlie's eyes as she tried to articulate what she needed.

"I think we need to take a break." She said quietly. She saw shock spring into his eyes.
"What?" He said loudly.

"Charlie…. I just need some time."

"Is this about what happened last year? Jamie, that wasn't your fault!" He said, coming over and cupping her hands. She felt tears pour out of her eyes as she sobbed. All she wanted at that moment was for Charlie to hold her, but the guilt of what had happened with Sirius, and her father's lingering threat pushed her onwards.

"No Charlie… I wasn't. But it made me a different person, and I'm not sure if I'm right for you anymore."

"You're being stupid Jamie! You are the only person for me! Please don't do this." He said.

Jamie felt her heart breaking as she pulled back from him.

"I'm sorry Charlie, I just need some space right now."

She could see his own heart breaking, just as hers was as he got up.

"Fine." He snapped, heading for the door.

He wrenched it open

"Merry Christmas." He spat, slamming the door shut behind him. He left before she could say goodbye.