At the time I am posting this it is Thursday night. Crownedtiger is sadly at her parents house. I am hoping whens eh returns to us this will brighten her day. Hopefully all the chapters I post between now and then will.
Crownedtiger I love you sweetie!
minerva's-kitten
Chapter 37: Christmas
Harry, Hermione, and Stephanie crept into Minerva and Albus' room with Billy, Vanessa, and Annabelle. Jackson and Margaret stood in the door way of the room grinning madly. Elizabeth stood behind them nervous but excited. They had convinced their children to sneak up on the professors and wake them up by throwing ice cold water on them. It was going to be something.
The three fastest; Harry, Billy, and Vanessa were on Minerva's side of the bed. The other three; Stephanie, Hermione, and Annabelle were on Albus'. At the count of three and a shot of now from Billy two buckets of ice cold water were thrown on top of the two peacefully sleeping professors.
Albus shot straight into a sitting position screaming words that were definitely not for children's ears and certainly not for a Headmaster of a respected school to be saying.
Minerva had yowled like an angry cat and had shot straight into the air and was clinging to the drapery at the top of her bed much like a cat; shaking violently.
Jackson, Elizabeth, and Margaret were slowly slipping to the floor in terribly fits of laughter that looked like seizures. Their six children were rolling on the floor laughing as well.
A minute later they heard a scream from down the hall that informed them Hercules and Venus had just woken up Katherine in the same manner.
"Thank Merlin I'm dead. I hated that Christmas tradition," Marcus stated floating past the Dumbledore's room.
"Aw man I missed the ice water?" Aberforth frowned jumping over Margaret and Jackson with his camera.
"Y-yes," Margaret choked out holding onto her brother.
"Ah well she's still in the air," Aberforth chuckled quickly snapped a few picks of Minerva and Albus.
"I'll give you lot ten seconds," Minerva stated quietly slowly climbing down the curtains.
It took less and five for a pregnant woman, a man, and six kids to vanish.
Aberforth was still chuckling as Albus and Minerva climbed out of their soaking wet bed. They looked like pair of wet rats.
"You know that gets better every time I see it," Aberforth chuckled.
"Aberforth I'll hex you into next year!" Minerva shouted flinging a pillow at her brother-in-law's head. He just barely had time to dodge it and dash out of the room from the irate Scottish/Irish lass.
Breakfast was a strange sight.
Breakfast was always had before presents at Lion's Gate so children wouldn't be too tempted to eat all the sweets in their stockings and get stomach aches.
At the breakfast table Katherine, Albus, and Minerva were seething. They were dry now and in clean robes but still seemed highly annoyed.
The children were seated around them giggling like mad. Apart from the victims of the prank everyone was in their pajamas.
"I'm so glad I'm dead on days like this where there's the traditional parent pranking," Marcus sighed from where he was hovering in the corner.
"Why is it Elizabeth and Jackson and Margaret didn't get pranked?" Aberforth asked.
"Well technically we're still their children. And since we were up for the prank we had the grandkids prank the grandparents," Jackson explained.
"Either way…it was incredibly funny!" Aberforth laughed.
"For you," Albus grumbled.
"You know Grandma Diana always took it in stride. I shall attempt to be like her," Margaret proclaimed.
"All right then…take this!" Jackson smirked as a stream of ice cold water shot out of his wand.
Lowering his wand everyone braced themselves knowing she'd explode…surprisingly she did not. Actually she was sitting their shivering like a baby lamb lost from it's mother. She sneezed and Minerva was up and at her daughter's side in an instant. She conjured a towel and wrapped it around her daughter as they disappeared.
Jackson groaned as his head hit the table.
"You're an idiot you know she bated you right?" Hercules smirked.
"Yeah," Jackson answered. His voice muffled by the table.
"Bated?" Billy asked.
"She made you soak her to get you in trouble didn't she!" Harry exclaimed.
In answer a rolling pin came to life and began beating Jackson with itself.
"That would be a yes," Marcus laughed, "A little to the right Minerva!" he shouted.
The pin moved to the right and clocked him good in the nose.
"This house is a sanitarium," Elizabeth exclaimed, "Mother Minerva never acts like this."
"A home makes you vulnerable. Especially one with secrets like this one. No one's the same leaving it or entering it," Katherine explained.
"All right Mina he gets the message!" Albus shouted.
The rolling pin abruptly stopped and dropped to the table.
"All right kids everyone up for gifts," Katherine stated as she stood and the table cleared itself.
Hermione and her siblings and cousins suspected elves were here though they'd not seen them at all.
"Presents!" Vanessa squeal and dashed from the kitchen.
"When in Rome," Hercules smirked and grabbed his sister's hand, "Presents!!!!"
The two ran from the room closely followed by the others.
Comfortably seated around the large and beautifully decorated Christmas tree in the living room Hercules put on a Santa hat with Venus in an elf hat as they passed out the presents. The rule was all the gifts were given and when the tree was empty then you opened them.
"Any reason why they're wearing those hats?" Harry asked his uncle.
"Well if Marcus was alive Katherine would be in the elf," Aberforth stated. Harry didn't really understand but shrugged and waited.
It took about half an hour before everyone had their gifts. The children had larger stacks and even the unborn baby had its own little stack.
When that was done everyone started the un wrapping. The families were given sweets, books, toys, clothes and other items.
Margaret squealed delightedly at one point and got up quickly jumping into Albus' lap and repeatedly kissing her parents.
"Thank you…thank you!" she said in between kisses.
"Thank you for what?" Hercules asked laughing. He and his sister were sitting at Katherine's feet with scarves wrapped around them their mother had hand knitted.
"I just got a whole bunch of Muppet movie and TV series videos!!" Margaret squealed.
"Maggie and those bloody Muppets," Jackson sighed rolling his eyes.
"Everyone has something to keep themselves childlike. Leave her be," Katherine chuckled.
The presents unwrapping continued on again with people oohing and awing over the adorable baby clothes Margaret received. Everything was good for either a girl or boy as Margaret refused to find out what the baby was till it was born.
"Has it ever occurred to you knowing would help you be better prepared?" Marcus asked.
"You can't prepare for everything," Katherine stated.
Eyes shifted sensing another Marcus and Katherine fight starting.
"Granted it would be but the surprise of whether it will be a boy or girl is much more fun. I already have the room done," Margaret stated.
"Oh what's it like?" Venus asked as she sat on the arm of Margaret's chair.
The children blinked not having seen her move from beside her brother on the floor.
"I painted the room lime green with monkeys and tigers on the walls. The crib's white," Margaret answered.
"You've always been a brilliant little artist. I wish you'd have gone into it more," Katherine sighed.
"An artist is not a good career path," Marcus stated.
Everyone ignored the couple and continued unwrapping.
Much like Molly Weasley, Katherine had knitted everyone scarves, hats, and mittens. Coupled with the sweaters Molly had sent everyone it was a sight.
"I have an idea!! Let's get dressed and go play in the snow. Mum can try out her new camera and Maggie can try out her camcorder," Jackson stated holding his black sweater and red scarf, gloves, and hat.
Everyone agreed and in twenty minutes the group was bundled up and standing in the foyer.
"I shall meet you," Marcus bowed and vanished.
"Grab hold kids," Katherine stated holding out her arms. Apparently her jacket was the port-key for as soon as they all touched her they found themselves in the filed by the barn. Marcus was floating not far away.
It took less than three minutes for a full on snow war to erupt. Margaret and Minerva participated while also operating their new gadgets. The day was grand and fun and by tea time when they returned to the home in front of a roaring fire they warmed themselves with cookies and cocoa.
Minutes after the fire began to warm them everyone was out cold. Marcus floated around the room with a smile. This was his favorite part of the holidays.
Katherine was curled up in her armchair with her fee up on a footstool. Little Vanessa was with her sleeping under a large afghan that was over them.
Albus and Minerva were curled up together on a settee behind Katherine's chair. Billy was lying on the floor just under them.
Jackson was in Marcus' chair curled up with his wife.
Margaret was lying on the couch with Hermione on top of her and Stephanie by her in her arm. Margaret's other arm was hanging off the couch and her hand was being held by Harry. Harry was sleeping on the floor.
Annabelle and Aberforth were together on the other couch sleeping.
Hercules was sleeping under Katherine's feet.
Venus was sleeping curled up by her brother. Her head on his chest.
It was peaceful and wonderful. Time was not a factor at the moment. Marcus smiled.