Two weeks before the winter holidays, an owl drops a letter off in front of Tonks at breakfast. She rips it open immediately, and a wide grin spreads over her face as she reads it. Then she flies across the aisle to where Elena and Phoenix are sitting, waving the letter in front of their faces.

"What is this, Tonks?" Elena asks as she grabs the letter from Tonks's hands.

Tonks's smile grows impossibly wider. "Mum's letting me invite you and your families to celebrate Christmas with us this year! And the Weasleys, too!" She's now practically bouncing on her toes.

Elena grins widely. "Are you serious?"

Tonks nods emphatically. "Yes! I asked her a couple of weeks ago, and I didn't think she would agree, so I didn't tell you guys. Dad must have known how important it is to me and convinced her to let me have you guys over for Christmas."

"I'll have to write to my parents and see if they'll want to join," Phoenix says, then quickly adds, "Which I'm sure they will."

"Same here. When do your parents need to know?"

"As soon as possible." She squeals, "I'm so excited! It's going to be the best Christmas ever!"

~3~

That weekend is a Hogsmeade weekend, and Tonks, Elena, Phoenix, and Charlie all devise a plan to go Christmas shopping to help each other get the perfect gifts for each others' family members.

Elena has a pretty good idea of what she's going to get everyone, and she can buy the majority of the items in Hogsmeade. However, from what Elena's heard about the Weasley twins, she decides that she's going to buy them some muggle joke items she's sure they'll get a kick out of once she arrives back in London.

After a little while, the group splits up to find gifts for each other. Elena and Tonks head to Honeydukes, while Charlie and Phoenix go to another store.

"Your sisters like Wizarding treats, right?" Tonks asks.

Chuckling, Elena takes the bag of blood-flavored lollipops out of Tonks's hands and places it back on the shelf. "Yes, but those are for vampires."

Tonks pouts. "But they would get a kick out of them!"

"True, but you should get something that they can actually eat and enjoy."

"Oh, alright. What about acid pops, ice mice, and cockroach clusters?"

"They'll definitely enjoy those. Just… make sure to give them a fair warning about the acid pops."

Tonks smirks. "Since when have you ever known me to do something responsible?"

Rolling her eyes, Elena says, "I will make sure to bring the proper potion to heal their tongues, then."

Suddenly, Tonks gasps.

Elena looks at her, concerned. "Is everything alright? What happened?"

"I just got the perfect idea for a prank to pull on the bat of the dungeons!"

"Do tell."

~3~

Snape finds it quite concerning Friday morning when he notices that Tonks and Elena have their heads together, whispering, during the entire time they're working on their Pepper-Up potions.

When he sees that Tonks adds too much of an ingredient to the potion, which causes it to release a puff of red smoke in her face, he stops next to her. "If you were not spending so much time talking to Miss Davies, maybe you would not have to spend the rest of the day with your face as red as that hideous hair color of yours. Five points from Hufflepuff." He turns to Elena. "And you, Miss Davies, for disrupting my lesson with your conversation, ten points from Ravenclaw. I suggest you focus on your potions rather than your stupid school girl conversations."

Tonks and Elena exchange a look and a smirk before turning back to face Snape, their faces as hard as stone. "Yes, Professor," they chorus.

Snape isn't quite sure what to do, so he turns on his heel and walks over to the other side of the room to intimidate one of the other Hufflepuffs.

A moment later he hears a muttered incantation coming from the girls' table and turns just in time to see a spell coming straight at him. The spell hits him smack-dab in the chest and sends him flying at the wall. Every student in the classroom stops their work on their potions to look up at the struggling professor, many of them biting their lips so as not to provoke Snape any further with their laughter.

When Snape tries to pull away from the wall, he finds that his robes are stuck, as though they were glued to the wall. He glares at Elena and Tonks, who are both shaking with their suppressed laughter. "Let me down from here, you idiot girls. Now!"

Elena swallows the laugh that's bubbling up her throat. "What's the magic word?"

"I will get Professor Dumbledore."

"Ah, you're no fun." Elena points her wand at Snape again, undoing the Permanent Sticking Charm. "There you go, Professor Buzzkill."

Snape straightens his robes. "Fifty house points from Ravenclaw for your childish prank, you stupid girl, and detention with me this evening."

~3~

As per usual, Elena waits for Snape by his desk at the end of class, a Ziploc bag of cookies in her hands.

"Do not tell me that you are giving me cookies after sticking me to the wall with a Permanent Sticking Charm."

"I would, but then I would be lying. Happy Christmas, Professor."

Snape reluctantly takes the cookies from her hands. "Happy Christmas to you as well, Miss Davies. I will see you this evening for your detention."

Elena rolls her eyes but leaves the classroom without another word.

~3~

Elena gets to Snape's classroom five minutes early that evening for her detention.

"Punctual as usual, Miss Davies. Why am I not surprised?" Snape greets drily from where he's sitting at his desk.

"What can I say, Professor? It's been ingrained in me from a young age to always be early."

"Even for detention?"

Elena's expression turns deadly serious. "Especially for punishments. It shows my remorse for getting into trouble."

Uncertain of what to say, Snape falters for a minute. But then he clears his throat to regain his composure. "An admirable quality, but if your concerning number of detentions have any indication, I am unsure you feel any remorse for how much trouble you have gotten yourself into while at Hogwarts." His voice has a slightly teasing tone to it, but Elena doesn't pick it up.

"I really am sorry, sir. What do you want me to work on during my detention?"

Snape eyes her curiously, almost sadly, for a moment before responding, "I want you to write lines. You should already know what they are by this point, considering the number of detentions you have served with me."

Elena does what he says and gets to work.

After about an hour of working quietly, the silence becomes too much for Elena, and she asks Snape, "Do you have any fun plans for the break?"

Snape looks up from his paperwork and glares at her.

Elena rolls her eyes as she continues writing. "No need to look so stern, Professor. It was only a question to break the silence- you don't even have to answer it if you don't want to."

He's silent for a few moments, and just when Elena thinks he's not going to answer, Snape says so quietly that she almost misses it, "I will be having lunch with my mother on Christmas day."

"That sounds like fun."

"How about you, Miss Davies? Are you staying at Hogwarts again this year?"

"Actually, no. Tonks's family invited me, Charlie, and Fifi to spend the break with them. Our families will also be there, so the whole house is going to be in a constant state of chaos. I know my sisters are already planning on bringing Mafia with them, so that'll be extremely interesting if we actually get around to playing it."

"I am unfamiliar with the game Mafia."

Elena snorts. "Be thankful. It always turns into a yelling match when we play with my family."

"It sounds like an insufferable game."

"It's quite fun, actually. Just very loud."

"Well, seeing as you have a trip to prepare for, you are free to leave. I hope you have a happy holiday at the Tonkses'."

Elena rushes to pack up her things. "Thank you, Professor. I hope your lunch with your mother goes well."

"I hope so, too."

Just before she leaves, Elena stops in the doorway and says, "Perhaps, if you ever get that rod out of your donkey, you would enjoy Mafia."

She's already out the door and halfway through the corridor by the time Snape figures out what she meant. He quietly chuckles to himself.

~3~

Early the next morning, Elena, Fifi, Tonks, Charlie, Ryan, and James all meet up in the Great Hall. The house-elves have prepared sack lunches for each student who is leaving on the Hogwarts Express today, so each of the six friends grabs one from their house tables before following Professor McGonagall out the front doors.

"I call dibs on a window seat!" Tonks exclaims as they're walking to Hogsmeade Station.

"Ditto!" Elena says.

Charlie petulantly crosses his arms. "No fair."

Tonks and Elena both stick their tongues out at him, and they all burst out laughing.

~3~

Riley and Joanna are waiting for Elena on Platform Nine and Three-quarters when she and her friends all get off the Hogwarts Express. The three sisters all run towards each other and hug each other tightly.

"Don't you ever leave us again," Riley demands as she places a huge kiss on Elena's cheek. "We miss you too much- so it's official: you're not going back to Hogwarts."

Joanna chuckles as she pulls Elena out of Riley's grasp. "Don't listen to a word she says. We love that you have found the place where you belong, Ellie Wellie."

Elena hears someone snort behind her, and she turns to see Tonks standing there, trying hard not to laugh. "Ellie Wellie?"

Elena lightly hits Tonks on the arm. "If you ever call me that again, I will call you Nymphadora for the rest of your life."

"You wouldn't."

"Try me."

"So you're the famous Tonks we've heard so much about? Come on, we're huggers," Riley says, holding her arms open and beckoning for Tonks to give her a hug.

"Eh, so am I," Tonks says as she steps into Riley's arms. "You should have seen my Uncle Sirius. He always gave the best bear hugs."

Andromeda steps up to all of them. "Where's your mother, girls?"

"She wanted to be here, but she's performing emergency surgery at the hospital," Joanna answers.

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"We've gotten used to it. She's saving lives, and we're proud of her," Riley states.

"That is a very sweet sentiment," Andromeda says, smiling down at Tonks.

"We would love to stay and chat some more," Joanna starts apologetically, "but I'm afraid we need to get going. Mum will be home soon, and she wants to see Elena as soon as she gets back."

"Of course. Don't let me hold you three. Do you girls need a ride home?"

"No, ma'am. Joanna recently got her license, so she will be driving us home," Riley explains.

"Okay. Well, we will see you in a couple of days for Christmas."

~3~

Elena, Tonks, and Fifi are currently in Tonks's bedroom getting ready for Midnight Mass, which they have to leave for in thirty minutes. Fifi is doing both of her friends' makeup because neither of them possesses the skills to do it themselves. Hell, they probably can't even tell the difference between bronzer and eyeshadow.

"Tonks! Stop talking so much while I'm applying the lipstick," Fifi hisses.

Tonks moves her head away from Fifi. "I don't understand why I need to wear that shit anyway."

"Just stay still and let me work my magic, Tonks."

Tonks huffs but lets Fifi finish applying the makeup. Elena bursts out laughing, and Tonks glares at her.

~3~

Their parents really should have known better than to let Elena, Tonks, and Riley sit together at Midnight Mass. I mean, really. How dumb can they be?

The three troublemakers are currently sitting together, in the center of the very first pew. Elena is between Tonks and Riley, Fifi is sitting next to Tonks, and Joanna next to Riley. Tonks had an exceptionally bright idea to bring exploding marbles with her to the service to add some much-needed entertainment. When Riley and Elena figured out what she was doing, they begged her to let them help, and she happily obliged.

Tonks secretly kicks a marble under where Andromeda is sitting. It goes off a second later, startling Andromeda so badly that she almost jumps out of her seat.

Andromeda glares at Tonks, who is feigning innocence, her head bowed in prayer with the rest of the congregation.

Just as Andromeda bows her own head, Elena launches a marble under Joanna's seat, but it misses its mark and lands under Ted. Elena quickly tries to move it, but it's too late- the marble explodes.

Ted looks up, confused. But when he catches Elena's eyes and sees what she's desperately trying to hide, he laughs silently, winks at her, then bows his head again.

Surprised by his reaction, Elena tunes back into the service, not wanting to get a telling off later by one of the adults for getting caught again by someone less amused than Ted.

~3~

After the massive group gets home from Midnight Mass, Molly puts Ginny and Ron, who had both fallen asleep on the way home, to bed. Everyone else has gathered in the Tonks's beautiful sitting room, not ready to go to bed yet, so they get ready to play a game of Mafia- a favorite of the Davies girls.

"Please explain this again," Tonks says, a slight tilt to her head.

"Okay, so I'm going to give each of you a card," Riley begins as she circles around the room, handing everyone a random card. "Look at what it says, but make sure no one sees it. In a minute I'm going to ask you all to close your eyes. I will then ask the mafia members to wake up. After that, I will ask the vigilante, postman, cupid, detective, grandma with a gun, and the doctor to wake up to perform their roles. This is the only round that the postman, grandma with a gun, and the cupid will 'wake up.' Each day the citizens will be able to accuse whoever they want, but they can only execute one person per day. Make sense?"

Some people nod, others shake their heads.

"It'll make more sense as we start playing. Now, close your eyes, please, and we can begin," Riley states.

Everyone does as she asks.

"Mafia, please wake up."

Fred, George, Andromeda, and Adria all open their eyes.

"Who do you want to kill?"

Fred and George point to Percy, Andromeda to Ted, and Adria to John. They silently confer for a moment, and they end up choosing Percy. What a shocker.

"Mafia, go to sleep. Detective, wake up."

Percy awakens.

"Who do you think is in the mafia?"

Percy points to George. Riley nods.

"Back to bed. Vigilante, wake up."

Tonks opens her eyes. Riley forces back her laughter. Of course.

"Who do you want to kill?"

She chooses Andromeda.

"Go to sleep. Cupid, wake up."

Joanna's eyes pop wide open, and there's a smirk on her face.

"Point to the people you want to be lovers."

She picks Elena and Tonks. Riley chuckles.

"Back to sleep." Riley taps both Elena and Tonks on the shoulder. "If I just touched you, please open your eyes."

Elena and Tonks look up at each other, and they have to bite their lips to keep from bursting out laughing.

"Close your eyes. Doctor, who do you want to save?"

Fifi points to Adria.

"Back to bed."

Riley continues to call out the roles. Molly is the grandma with a gun, and Elena is the postman.

"Alright, everyone. Open your eyes. It is a bright and beautiful Christmas morning here in London. However, as soon as everyone awakens, they know something is wrong. They start investigating, and that's when they discover not one, but two bodies in the dumbwaiter of the hotel we're staying at."

Everyone bursts out laughing.

"The bodies are quickly recognized as Percy and Mrs. Tonks. The doctor wasn't able to save either of you. Citizens, who do you think is behind these deaths?"

The room suddenly goes from quiet to bursting with sound as everyone starts figuratively and literally pointing fingers at each other.

"Quiet down!" Riley shouts. "Who do you accuse?"

"Tonks!"

"Fred!"

"George!"

"Ted!"

"Elena!"

"Fifi!"

"I need two votes for a person in order to put them on trial. To execute them, we need a majority vote. Who do you all want to put on trial?" Riley asks.

All of the remaining Weasleys shout, "Fred!"

Riley chuckles. "Fred it is, then. Fred, what is your defense?"

"I was working on a special project in my room- George was there, too- at the time of the murder. How could I be in two places at once?"

"Okay, all those in favor of executing Fred, raise your hand."

Everyone except for the twins raises their hand.

"That settles that! Now, back to sleep. Mafia, who do you want to kill?"

George and Adria, the only two remaining mafia members, point to Bill.

"Mafia, back to sleep. Detective, who do you suspect?" She pauses a moment as though waiting for a response. "Go to sleep. Vigilante, who do you want to kill?"

Tonks points at Joanna.

"Back to sleep. Doctor, who do you want to save?"

Fifi points to Elena.

"Go back to bed. Good morning, everyone! It's a bright and beautiful morning here at our resort in London. Unfortunately, there were two more murders last night. When Elena woke up this morning, she found Riley asleep in a bathtub filled with freeze-dried pineapple- only, she wasn't asleep. And Bill's body was found stuffed into the resort's walk-in freezer. These killers need to be stopped. Who do you all suspect?"

"Elena!"

"Tonks!"

"George!"

"Arthur!"

"Fifi!"

"John!"

"Two votes makes a court case!" Riley shouts over the noise.

"GEORGE!" Every Weasley left shouts.

George places his hands over his chest in mock-pain. "Me? How could you ever think such a thing?"

"Is that your defense?" Riley asks.

"Might as well be. They're going to kill me off anyway."

"All those in favor of executing George, raise your hands."

Everyone raises their hand.

"Sorry, Georgester, but the votes are in. You're outta here!" Riley says.

"You guys are the worst," George grumps, but he's smiling nonetheless.

"Alright, losers, back to bed," Riley says. "Mafia, who do you want to kill?"

Adria points to Arthur.

"Back to bed. Vigilante, who do you want to kill?"

Tonks points to John.

"Go to sleep. Detective, who do you suspect?" She pauses a moment. "Doctor, who do you want to save?"

Phoenix points to Molly.

"Back to sleep. It is a beautiful morning here in London. However, there have been another few deaths. Last night, upon hearing some suspicious noises, Phoenix went to investigate. She was later found in a vat of grape juice, along with Mr. Smith and Mr. Weasley. Who do you all suspect?"

Unlike the first two times, everyone is quiet as they try to figure out who it is since they've killed off everyone they believe is a culprit.

"I think it's Mum. She's just been sitting here, quiet, the whole time. That's suspicious," Elena finally says.

"I second that," Tonks states.

"Alright, Mum, what's your defense?" Riley asks.

"I didn't do it, honestly. I was at home."

"Likely story, mother dearest," Elena deadpans.

"All those in favor of executing mum, raise your hands!" Riley proclaims. Only Elena and Tonks raise their hands. "Alright! You're safe for another round, Mum."

"Thank God," Michelle mutters.

"Everyone, back to bed. Mafia, who do you want to kill?"

Adria points to Michelle.

"Back to bed. Vigilante, who do you want to kill?"

Tonks points to Molly.

"Go to sleep." Riley walks over to Elena and taps her on the shoulder. "If I just touched you, who do you want to kill?"

Elena nods toward Charlie.

"Back to sleep. Detective, who do you suspect?" She pauses a moment. "Back to bed. Doctor, who do you want to save?" she pauses yet again. "Go to bed."

"Good morning everyone! Sometime during last night, our lovers, Tonks and Elena, were having a tryst outside the hotel when Elena's jealous husband, Charlie walked in on them. They got into an argument, and upon hearing the shouting, someone went outside and shot them all. Mum was also killed and found stuffed into the fireplace in the lobby. Who do you all suspect?"

Adria, Ted, and Molly all look around at each other, unsure of who to trust in this game of wits.

"If you don't want to put anyone on trial, you don't have to," Riley says.

"Then let's not," Molly says.

"Okay. To bed, everyone. Mafia, who do you want to kill?"

Adria points to Molly.

"Back to sleep."

As Riley goes through each role, she pauses after each one that is now vacant.

"What a dreary morning it is. While Mrs. Smith was prowling around the hotel last night, she ran into the grandma with a gun and was gunned down. The civilians have won out, and all of the mafia members have been eliminated."

"Mrs. Smith was the last remaining mafia member?!" Elena exclaims.

"Nice job fooling all of us," Tonks compliments.

~3~

When Elena arrives back at Hogwarts, there's a package waiting for her on her bed. She quietly grabs it, then heads to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom to open it without any of her prying roommates around.

The parcel is wrapped all in black, just as it was last year. She briefly ponders why her mysterious professor is so enraptured by darkness, but seeing as she has an unwrapped gift in front of her, she loses her train of thought pretty quickly.

Elena carefully pries off the ribbon, then rips open the paper. Inside is something that looks like a muggle toy top that she quickly recognizes as a sneakoscope. From what she can tell, it's of very high quality, and she wonders how much he spent on it.

It isn't until later, when she's about to fall asleep, that she realizes he gave her this to help protect her from the Death Eaters.

Huh. Maybe he really does care about her.

Merry Christmas, my lovelies! I hope you have enjoyed this special Christmas chapter. If you haven't ever played Mafia before, I highly recommend it! I don't know when I'll be able to update next, but I'll try to have the next chapter out as soon as possible.

Anyway, as always, I would love to hear y'all's comments, theories, and questions. Until next time, my lovelies!