wDaria Ravenclaw: The Year of the Owl Holly Jolly Christmas Three

DISCLAIMER: As I have repeatedly stated, I did not create either Daria or Harry Potter. They belong to their respective owners. This story is written for personal amusement, not for profit.

Daria Ravenclaw: The Year of the Owl* Daria Ravenclaw: The Year of the Owl* Daria Ravenclaw: The Year of the Owl

The girls went back to cooking after the Crows Flooed away.

Well that was interesting, thought Daria. The Crows were off to a nice, warm Caribbean holiday. Daria wondered how they'd get away with their holiday without upsetting the Cuban authorities. Something to puzzle out later, she thought.

Mrs. Waring and the girls chopped the vegetables and readied the roast, then paused until Mr. Waring got back. Mrs. Waring had Anahita and Dana set the table.

Mr. Waring Flooed in after dusk and walked into the kitchen, brushing a little soot on the kitchen floor, annoying Mrs. Waring.

"Hello, Darling. How was your day?" said Mrs. Waring.

"All right," he said. "I think I have some leads for some promising properties."

"Whereabouts?" asked Mrs. Waring.

Mr. Waring gave an address that Daria didn't recognize.

"But Da," said Anahita. "Aren't those in Muggle areas?"

"They are," said Mr. Waring. "But the boundaries between Magical and Muggle Britain do shift from time to time, Anahita. They have before and they will again."

Mr. Waring turned to Daria. "Is that true about Wizarding America, Daria?"

That was a good question, thought Daria. "I don't know," she said. "It could be. Of course in Highland, most of our witches and wizards live out in the country, so I couldn't tell you."

"I've got a question for you," said Mrs. Waring. "Do you celebrate Winter Solstice?"

Another good question, thought Daria. "I don't know," she replied. "I'm still new to the wizarding scene, most of the wizards and witches in Highland are of Mexican descent, and I don't know if they do or not. I'd have to ask."

"Well, we do," said Mrs. Waring. "As a matter of fact, I'm a sort of part-time priestess for the local heathens."

Oh-Kay, Daria thought warily. She hoped that Mrs. Waring wasn't planning to push her religion on her. She did not react well to evangelizing.

After dinner and clean-up, everyone retired to the parlor for a while to listen to the Wizarding Wireless. Daria knew of the Wizarding Wireless: some of the older kids had their own sets, but she'd never listened to it at length. After a while, she decided that she wasn't really into it: most of the music that most West Texas radio stations had stopped playing before she was even born.

Her boredom inspired her to ask a question. "Is there only one channel or are there others?" she asked.

"Only one channel for Magical Britain," Mr. Waring replied. "If you want variety, it helps if you speak French, although we sometime get one of the Dutch channels and once in a while we pick up something from Spain."

-(((O-O)))-

The next morning, Daria was awakened by Anahita shaking her.

"Wake up, Daria! Wake up!" she said. "We've got to get ready for sunrise!"

"Hunh? Lemme sleep," said Daria.

"Daria, wake up! It's Winter Solstice," said Anahita. She yanked the sheets off Daria's bed. She's on a tear, she thought.

"Hey!" Daria said grouchily. She opened her eyes and saw that Anahita had quietly charmed the glow-globes, which was a mixed blessing. Daria realized that she was going to have to get up and get dressed, but at least she wasn't going to have to do it in the dark. She grumpily put on her eyeglasses and got out of bed.

She was surprised to see that Anahita was already dressed, and not in the sorts of casual Muggle-style clothes she'd worn the day before. Instead, Anahita was wearing something that looked like it came from the Dark Ages: a very loose dress with open sleeves and a white blouse under it.

"Did you pack anything?" she said.

Anything appropriate, Daria guessed.

"Just my school uniform and my street clothes," said Daria.

"Well, get your cloak and hood," said Anahita.

The other Warings were already up and dressed. Daria saw that Dana wore an outfit much like Anahita's, while Mrs. Waring wore something that looked like it was meant for grown-ups, the difference being that her dress had a hem-line that went down to her ankles. Mr. Waring was wearing a sleeved robe, although with baggy trousers underneath. Daria noted that they'd made a few compromises in their outfits: Mr. Waring, Anahita and Dana were wearing rubber boots.

Mrs. Waring looked at Daria's Muggle clothing and shook her head. "Daria, one of these days, we'll have to get you to dress like a respectable witch," she said.

"But I'm from Highland," Daria replied. "What I've got on is good enough."

"But Daria, you told me that Highland isn't a respectable place," said Anahita.

"Curses! Betrayed by my own tongue," Daria replied.

The Warings chuckled and Daria smiled.

"Well, you've got what you've got with you," said Mrs. Waring. "We can worry about your wardrobe some other time. All right, everyone! Outside!"

It was still dark outside. The sun had yet to rise, but there was some orange on the horizon. It was no longer rainy, but the wind was wet and cold. The Warings walked out the front door over to what looked like an island in the middle of a traffic circle, howbeit edged in cut stone. Someone had set up what looked like kindling for a bonfire.

Daria looked around and saw that they weren't the only ones there. There were several clusters of people that Daria had never seen before. The neighbors, Daria guessed. Nobody said anything, but they looked at each other and the Warings and nodded.

Mrs. Waring looked at an older wizard and nodded at him. He waved his wand at the bonfire and it began burning. Daria thought about her Dad back in Highland and was grateful that he couldn't work that spell. Who knew what sort of disaster he'd work on the outside grill?

Mrs. Waring took her wand and put its tip to her throat. The effect was like she had a microphone, although one that was mercifully set on "low." "On this, the winter solstice," she began, "we thank the Mother for her blessings and for harvests past and for the bounty of harvests come. We thank the sun and celebrate his warmth and blessings as he rests on this, the shortest day of the year."

"So mought it be," she ended. The "So mought it bes" were echoed by the others in the small gathering.

Daria wondered if they'd start singing or praying or something, but nobody said anything. Instead, they stood around the bonfire and watched it burn. She thought about her visits to the Temple in Sweetwater and her visits to the church in Highland. Maybe they prayed silently, she thought. This didn't seem to be the time to ask questions. Maybe later.

Whether they'd been praying or just standing silently, the crowd began to break up. As the Sun began to rise, Daria could see that most of the others had been family of some of the other people who lived nearby. One wizard stayed behind to keep an eye on the bonfire. Daria, being a Highland girl, approved. Still, that didn't stop her from making a little snark: "Smokey the Bear, Smokey the Bear, prowlin' and a-growlin' and sniffin' the air…" she sang in a very soft voice. (1)

"What?" said Anahita.

"Oh, nothing," Daria replied.

Anahita raised her eyebrows.

-(((O-O)))—

Daria later remembered the day part of the Winter Solstice as one for cooking and socializing. The Waring's Floo had no less than four groups of visitors that morning, mostly friends of either Mr. or Mrs. Waring. She ate lunch with the Warings, thought about Christmas shopping, and felt guilty for neither shopping nor having anything ready for the family tree back in Highland.

"Can you guys take me to the nearest phone?" she asked.

"I'm sorry, dear, but not today," said Mrs. Waring. "We're rather busy. Tomorrow, promise. By hook, crook, or apparation, if necessary."

"All right," said Daria, partially mollified.

There were more visitors after lunch. Daria saw them as they entered the kitchen where she and Anahita were helped Mrs. Waring prepare the traditional feast. That meeting proved memorable later on, although Daria didn't think so at the time. One of them was a tall, fair-skinned man with dark hair dressed something like that wizarding VIP that Daria had seen with Professor Snape months ago, and a dark-haired girl that Daria guessed was his daughter. The girl looked to be about her and Anahita's age.

"Hallo, Anthea, Happy Yuletide!" he said.

"Thank you, Marcus," Mrs. Waring replied. "A Happy Yuletide to you and your family."

"I see that you have both of your girls and…" He paused, staring at the unfamiliar auburn-haired girl standing at a counter littered with chopped vegetables, kitchen knife in hand. The girl looked like yet another Barksdale. "Excuse me, Miss, but I don't know you."

"Daria Morgendorffer, sir," said Daria. The British were so damn formal, she thought. "I'm a friend of Anahita's and a house guest."

"You sound like an American," he said.

"I am, sir," said Daria. "I'm from Texas."

"Daddy, are those people civilized?" said the little girl, who'd said nothing.

"Pansy, you needn't be rude," said Marcus. Daria could have sworn she'd heard a silent "…to our inferiors" appended to his statement.

"I like to think so," said Daria, turning her attention to the young girl. "I already knew how to use a serviette before I came to Hogwarts and Anahita and her friends have taught me not to pick my teeth with a Bowie knife at table."

The girl stared at Daria for a moment wondering if Daria was serious, then realized that she wasn't.

"You're making fun of me," she said accusingly.

Anahita made a half-chuckle, then hastily covered her mouth.

"How could I?" said Daria. "We've only just met."

"Well, then," said Pansy, trying to gain the upper hand, "I'm Pansy Parkinson. Pleasure to meet you."

"Daria Morgendorffer," said Daria. "Honored to make your acquaintance."

Anahita recognized that tone of voice and urgently gestured for Daria to tone it down.

"Daria," said Mrs. Waring warningly.

"Girls," said Mr. Parkinson.

Daria nodded in acknowledgement.

"See you at Hogwarts next year," Pansy said haughtily. Daria noted Mrs. Waring's disapproving expression and bit back on telling Pansy that she'd make a fine Hufflepuff.

"The same," said Daria.

Pansy turned her attention away from Daria and towards Anahita and Dana, while Mrs. Waring and Mr. Parkinson made small talk. Daria was displeased to note that Pansy's condescension extended to both her friend and little Dana. A few words more, and Pansy decided to take her leave of the Waring girls. Daria contented herself with frowning in disapproval.

Daria's frowning at Pansy was interrupted by Mr. Parkinson.

"Excuse me, Daria, but you look like a Barksdale," said Mr. Parkinson. "Are you related to the family?"

"I believe that I am, sir," said Daria, "but my mother's branch of the Barksdales has been estranged from their part of the family for at least two centuries. It must have been something awful, because the Barksdales at school refuse to tell me what my forebear did."

Mr. Parkinson laughed. "Hard to tell with that lot," he said. The Parkinsons left shortly afterwards.

Mrs. Waring sighed, shook her head, and looked Daria in the eye. "Daria, I realize that you don't find Pansy endearing," she said. "It might be early for you to learn such things, but Mr. Parkinson is one of Mr. Waring's business partners."

"All right," said Daria.

Mrs. Waring then banished the girls from the kitchen and told them to go change. Despite the fact that it was only mid-afternoon by measure of the clock, Sundown came fairly early.

-(((O-O)))-

The Warings plus Daria were outdoors in the chill even before the sun had set. Someone had rebuilt the bonfire, although this time its construction looked a little more haphazard. Daria suspected that there had been burning embers left from the morning's bonfire. The crowd was somewhat larger this time; Daria noted that some of the people were wearing what she considered to be street clothing.

Mrs. Waring, again clad in her Dark Ages costume, lifted her arms high and said "And so we bid goodbye to this, the shortest day of the year, and the year now passing. We pray for the Earth's blessings and for the coming of the Harvest King and the bounty of the harvest to come."

The wizard with the wand then re-ignited the bonfire. Mrs. Waring's prayer was followed by a short song by a couple of muscians that Daria hadn't noticed. She was unfamiliar with the tune or the lyrics, but it sounded traditional, like something she'd heard ona Saturday morning world music show on one of the local educational radio stations back in Highland. The song ended, then the musicians started playing another tune. This time, people began to dance, hand linking hand, and began dancing around the bonfire burning in the middle of the circle. They danced through two more songs, then broke up with Mrs. Waring giving a hasty "So mought it be!" as some lost motorist hit a couple of speed bumps Daria hadn't seen or noticed and came to a stop short of the dancers. The crowd began to break up even before Mr. Waring approached the driver's side of the small sedan to point out how to return to the main road.

-(((O-O)))-

Daria soon learned what the last couple of days' cooking and baking had been about when she got back to the Warings'. It was the custom of the pagans', or at least the Warings' sort of pagans, to have feasts following the rites of Winter and Summer Solstice, as well ass for Spring and Autumn Equinox. The guests started arriving shortly after Mrs. Waring and the girls started setting the tables and bringing out the food. Most of them were relatives of Mr. and Mrs. Waring's: a brother, sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles, and older relatives. There were more old people than Daria expected, but Mrs. Waring reminded her that most wizards and witches tended to live longer and healthier lives than their Muggle counterparts.

Daria was introduced to yet another member of the Waring family when an older boy came through the Floo. He was tall, light-complexioned, and had curly brown hair.

"Uncle Mordred, Happy Yuletide!" he said.

"The same to you, Anselem," Mr. Waring said with a smile. "We were hoping to see you earlier."

"I'm sorry, uncle, but I couldn't make a decent withdrawl from Iseult's family," said Anselem.

Dana and Anahita recognized him and greeted him with hugs and welcomes.

Daria's eyes rose. Who was this guy?

Mr. Waring saw her expression and said "This is Anselem. He grew up with us after the last war when his parents were murdered. He was my older sister's boy. Anselem graduated from Hogwarts a couple of years ago."

"I'm sorry to hear that," said Daria. The British Wizarding War had ended nine years ago, and Daria was learning that there were still casualties, orphans, and bitter feelings.

"I don't suppose you had anything quite like that in America," said Mr. Waring.

"I have heard a little about people who fell in with Grindelwald, but the only thing I know that's comparable is the American Civil War, which was fought between Muggles. My mother's family was involved in that."

"Well, Death Eaters attacked the house of one of Igraine's friends," said Mr. Waring. "Igraine had the misfortune of being at the wrong place at the wrong time and they murdered her anyway. My parents took care of Anselem for a couple of years, then he came to stay with us after Althea and I married. Anahita and Dana think of him as a sort of older brother."

"Good looker," said Daria. There's so much about British wizarding society I don't know, she thought.

"I know that we kept you here most of today and that you wanted to telephone your parents," said Mr. Waring, "but we'll try to get you to a telephone tomorrow."

-(((O-O)))—

The Ballad of Smokey the Bear is a children's song about Smokey the Bear, an orphaned bear cub who since became a mascot and totem for the US Forest Service. Smokey's most famous quote is "Only you can prevent forest fires." I included this snark not only to illustrate a little pre-teen irreverence but also to show that worry about wild fires is a concern of many rural or semi-rural people living in the American West.