Magnolia's POV:
Juniper and I did our best to stay out of the way while Elliot finished up paperwork in the back office, Mum counted the register down, while Willow and James split off the books to go back on shelves. Juniper took a seat on the counter beside where Mum was counting. She watched in amazement at the Muggle money being counted in front of her. This was likely one of the first times she'd ever seen this much at once, and I knew there were bills she'd never seen before now. I stacked bags on the counter, getting them prepped for the next business day.
Once everything was finally finished, Willow and James went back to their house to get ready themselves while Elliot packed us back into his car. As we sat in the car my fingers found the pendant beneath my sweater again.
"I meant to ask you, where'd you find that necklace?" Mum asked, twisting around to get a better look at me. "I noticed it at breakfast but I hadn't gotten around to asking you about it yet."
My fingers dropped the sapphire stone back under my collar, hiding it away again, "It was a gift." I replied, I glanced at Juniper hoping I'd come up with a better answer but it escaped me as she gave me a weak shrug with a smirk, "From a friend."
"Are they one you've told me about?" She asked, "Or is this a new boyfriend?" Mum snickered.
It was awkward having this conversation with Elliot sitting beside us and Juniper holding back a cheeky grin while my face broke out in a blush.
"It wasn't a boyfriend." I quipped, embarrassment was sinking in with every kilometer closer to the Cottage. "It was just a friend, Mum. I'm kind of tired, so maybe we can just talk about this later." I mumbled before glaring out the window. Fred was a boy who was also my friend, not my boyfriend, ew.
Elliot flicked the radio on filling the silent car with the music of the last decade playing through the car's speakers. I cursed the snow for slowing the flow of road traffic, I wanted nothing more than to hide out in the kitchen and avoid this conversation completely. I felt so out of place right now and out of touch, I almost wish I hadn't come home for the holiday at all. I was feeling more and more conflicted as the day went on, conflicted about the necklace around my neck, the roses sat in my lap, the feeling of being replaced in my own life. Today was meant to be polished and perfect for Mum. I had to put together the answers to each of my questions alone. The necklace was just a thoughtful gift from Fred and George, and it didn't matter which of them actually picked it out, it was thoughtful and perfect. The roses were a symbol of affection, meaning I must have left some lasting impression on James, which was good because I was worried I hadn't passed anyone's mind in that way. And I was the farthest thing from being replaced, and it was stupid to think I was.
A voice kept picking at me in the back of my head though like it was telling me to watch my step or else I'd slip. A flash of Mum's twisted expression when I saw the Boggart flashes through my head for a moment, and the string of screams of pain from everyone filled my ears again. I clamped my eyes shut, clutching the edge of the car seat as unnoticed as I could, I wanted this feeling gone more than anything, I craved the feeling of normalcy again.
I feel a hand grip mine, I squint my eyes open to see Juniper giving me a sympathetic look, "Are you okay?" She whispered.
I forced a nod, tightening my grip on her hand, "Just a weird moment, promise." I reassured her quietly.
Since the fainting during dueling club, it was like all my friends kept undivided attention on me all the time. I felt like I'd been pinched under a microscope, it all made sense though, I'd been feeling off since I'd gotten back to Hogwarts for whatever reason. I needed to shake it off. I need to feel like myself again, but I felt like I had forgotten what makes me, myself.
Juniper held my hand the rest of the car ride, it was her silent way of comforting me. When Juniper comforted someone she fell unusually silent like she had to listen out for any requests. I could feel her worry fade as we finally pulled up to the Cottage. Elliot had barely parked before I was stumbling out the door to get inside. Maybe I'd feel even more relaxed once I was safe within the Cottage again.
••••••
Despite her hope for more relaxation, she wasn't given much time alone before Magnolia stood in the kitchen peeling potatoes at the sink, a small apron wrapped around her waist while Juniper stood beside her rinsing them for Elizabeth to cut and prepare to boil. The three worked like a conveyor belt working in good time to prep the important bits of supper. Behind them, the radio hummed the same music Magnolia had grown used to her entire life.
With a young mother, it came with completely different exposure to trends and the media, meaning Elizabeth still enjoyed the little luxuries that came with youth, one of which being music. The same lively rock music playing through her radio at Magnolia's age. The collection expanded into soft pop hits from the 70s and the early 80s. David Bowie and Elton John were the closest things Magnolia had to father figures until Elliot began to work in the bookstore below their small flat.
Elliot stood in the other room humming along to the music, while he prepared the dining room to hold more than the three that usually resided in the Cottage. Pushing the leaf into the center of the table, pulling up extra chairs from his office. Elliot and Elizabeth had waited until Magnolia returned home before putting up any Christmas decorations, saving the best parts for her. Elizabeth loved seeing her daughter in the spirit, she was like the sun when it came to Christmas, Magnolia shining as bright as she did.
"How does that thing even work anyway ?" Juniper leaned over to Magnolia while glaring over at the stove, rinsing the peeled spuds.
"I'll try my best to explain it later, but we haven't got time right now." Magnolia nodded back to the sink.
Juniper took another glance back at the stove before going back to her task. Elizabeth flicked the stove on, the potatoes filling the pot now. Juniper would steal the occasional glare at the stove in between rinsing spuds.
"So June, tell me some more about yourself. You've been here all week and I barely know anything about you," Elizabeth finally broke the silence as she washed her hands from the starch covering them, "What kind of stuff do you do for fun?"
"I'm into gardening, I guess." Juniper shrugged, the vocabulary she had to pick up while being with the Muggle family made it feel like she was working harder to say something so small. "I like flowers and stuff like that," June added simply, as she put her words together.
"Got a green thumb? I wish I had that luck! I kill just about every living thing I've ever brought into my home." Elizabeth laughed as she moved across the kitchen to start prepping the carrots.
Magnolia shook her head, she remembered her Mum's many attempts at bringing plants in. Elizabeth's frustrated sighs as she tried doing everything she could to revive the greenery while Magnolia was able to simply water, place them in the window, and with some patience, it would come to life again.
"Maggie though, she was a natural and revived almost everyone she could." Liz gripped her daughter in a hug, "Must be a witch thing." She added with a mumble between the two younger girls, so Elliot couldn't hear from the next room. Which made Juniper grin, relaxing more into the conversation.
"Thanks, Mum," Magnolia smiled, slipping underneath her arm and back over to the counter to continue what she'd begun chopping for the next dish.
Juniper and Elizabeth continued chatting happily beside Magnolia as she finished preparing the feast. The feeling of a double faded as they giggled together, Juniper had struggled a little to adjust but she was willing to try for her friendship with Magnolia.
Magnolia had a whole chicken to roast, nearly a pound of potatoes to mash and feed the army that'd be flooding in within a few hours. Elizabeth said she'd whip up the dressing used when they'd celebrated Thanksgiving when Magnolia was ten. She had learned just a sliver of information about pilgrims and became obsessed. The young child had access to an insane amount of books, as well as some very well-read adults working in the shop beneath her feet. filled Magnolia in on all the Puritans and Pilgrims she could soak up, the older American woman removing the gruesome parts from her retelling. However Magnolia was a bookworm, she was eleven when her dreams of pilgrims and indigenous people eating a large bird together in harmony were crushed.
"Liz, turn the radio up, I like this one and it deserves to be blasted," Elliot called from the other room.
A single, drawn-out tune, "Can…" plays through the radio. Magnolia felt her body was covered in familiar chills.
"Anybody…Find me…Somebody to…" The man's voice can be heard. Magnolia knew exactly what was playing, Freddy Mercury was one of the most distinguishable voices and Magnolia could spot it anywhere.
Magnolia found her Mum listening to Somebody to Love every Valentine's Day for as long as she could remember until she met Elliot. It always filled her head with the hope she'd find her perfect person one day and they'd be together for the rest of time. It felt almost as if the song had shifted meaning, Magnolia felt that her mum had finally found her somebody as she heard Elliot singing along from the other room. Now it was time for her to start singing along and waiting for her somebody. Elliot slipped back into the kitchen to grab plates to set the table.
"Love.." Freddy Mercury's lone note was chorused behind filling the room. Harmonizing along with Elliot's loud singing.
Elliot looked over to Liz, setting the plates back down swiftly, and wrapped an arm around her waist forcing her to dance throughout the kitchen. She threw her head back singing along to the music. Laughing in between lyrics. Avoiding stepping on his feet while he aimlessly led her around the kitchen.
"Can anybody find me… somebody, to love?" Elliot and Elizabeth harmonized loudly over the radio before falling into a fit of giggles as the music carried on behind them.
Juniper pinched Magnolia's side, "This is what you live with?" She mumbled in amazement as she watched the giggling couple in front of them.
Elliot kept leading Liz around dramatically, dipping her back, her dark hair falling from its clip as he dipped her back. Magnolia couldn't help how effortlessly beautiful her mother was when she was happy, it wasn't until she had stopped working at the diner that she'd taken even more years off her features.
Magnolia nodded with a wide grin," The last two years he's done it. I think it's kind of their thing now. Last year it was Bee Gees so I'd say it's an improvement."
"The Bee Gees?" Juniper echoed confused. "What is a Bee Gee?" She pondered aloud.
Magnolia waved her off, guiding her to turn back around and start with the next thing while the two carried on behind them. Magnolia had the confidence as long as Juniper was there to lend an extra, she could do this almost by herself.
"I'll just tell you about it later." Magnolia dismissed her, the list in her head was wracking up quicker and quicker.
••••••
Magnolia POV:
While Juniper and I worked on finishing up the final pieces to dinner, Elliot and Mum had been decorating the living room where the tree stood near the fireplace, the sun had set and the Cottage was lit up with the warm lights and the glow from the fireplace crackling behind them. My apron was covered in crusted food from the last of the prep we had done and I felt icky from the hot stove working overtime to finish everything in time.
The radio melted from the music of Elliot and Mum's teen years into a soft chorus of Santa Baby and the other Holiday music I'd grown used to hearing every year.
The timer rang beside the stove loudly signaling the chicken should be ready to pull out. I pulled it out and struck the thermometer inside to check the temp. Once it read 73 degrees celsius, I flicked the oven off pulling my oven mitts off.
"Okay, now that's done, we can finally get changed for dinner really fast." I sighed tiredly, patting Juniper in the back as she watched the snowfall outside. "Mum, June, and I have to get ready. Can you finish up the carrots?" I asked as I jogged to the stairs. She gave me a quick nod passing the tinsel wrapped around her like a scarf off to Elliot.
This was the first time I had tackled something to this degree, I was exhausted and now the nerves of everything going perfect for the remainder of the evening was settling in. I wasn't sure what would be the best thing to wear to witness your mum's engagement.
Juniper split up at the bottom of the stairs to my room and went to her room. I dug through my trunk searching for something to wear. On my bed was a short, deep navy-toned dress covered in fine glitter. I had been so busy with prepping dinner, I didn't even notice Mum or Elliot slip upstairs, and my window was closed so it couldn't have been from Roxy or The Twins. Beside it sat a small note that read,
Maggie,
I thought you'd like this. I had Willow's help picking it out but I just thought it'd be nice for you to wear it tonight. Don't feel like you have to though.
Elliot
I picked up the material and held it close to my chest, it was a beautiful dress and one of the nicest things I now owned. It was the perfect color to compliment the stone around my neck. Things matched up perfectly but I had no clue what shoes to pair with it. My nicest shoes were the Mary Janes I wore with my uniform but those were tucked under my bed in my dorm. That was a problem to deal with later, I was too excited to debate it anymore with myself.
Once I'd changed into the dress, I settled on just wearing my high Converse with a pair of daisy socks. When I met June in her room she was changed into a long-sleeved burgundy dress with a pair of grey flats.
"Where'd that come from?" Juniper grinned while taking in the dress.
I twirled dramatically, "Elliot and Willow picked it out for me since it's a special occasion." I beamed.
"You know something you're not telling me," Juniper arched her brow with a grin.
I mimicked a key locking my lips, "Secret's being kept until it is meant to be revealed," I replied cryptically.
Juniper brought her hands up to her curls, fluffing them, "You're so weird sometimes." She chuckled.
As we made our way back down to the living room, I heard the door thud with a solid but rhythmic knock.
"I'll grab it!" I called out making a detour to the door.
Behind the door stood Willow bundled in a thick coat with a fluffy pink knitted scarf around her neck holding a wrapped box beneath one arm, the other one gripping a large bottle of Champagne.
"Merry Christmas! I've brought gifts and spirits!" She cheered, knocking the snow from her boots as she stepped in.
James walked up the front step behind her, holding a pair of wrapped gifts in his arms, zipped in his own winter coat. His curls were shielded by a red Santa hat slung on his head. He gave me a warm smile before tucking one of the gifts under his other arm to pull me in a half hug. The jittery feeling returned, and I tried to fight the blush teasing my cheeks.
"You look beautiful, Maggie," James mused as he switched the gifts back around again, taking a step forward so I could shut the cold out behind him.
I let out a sort of snorted chuckle as I looked away feeling the warmth ripple through, "Thanks, let's get those under the tree," I tried to play down my nerves, guiding him into the living room.
Willow had plopped down on the chair that sat beside the fireplace, using the poker in the flames. I took the gifts from James's hands and tucked them under the tree. Dinner was on the table ready to be served. Mum and Elliot had gotten all the final touches in place, the bouquet from James stood up bright red among the white plates and plain dark green place settings.
"Everyone is welcome to pick a seat at the table, Elliot can carve up the chicken once we're all settled in our seats," I announced, waving everyone over to the table.
••••••
I sat squished Juniper and her Mum while James and Willow sat across from us, plates filled with the roasted chicken, scoops of roasted carrots, the fresh bread from the bakery, with fluffy piles of potatoes plopped in the corners of everyone's dish. Holiday music remained in the background, quietly behind the conversation that flowed through the table. Even Juniper was comfortable enough to add her own quips when she wanted to.
I couldn't help but feel like I was living out a scene in a perfect Christmas movie as my friends and family chatted happily at the table. Eating at the meal I slaved over all afternoon and dressed in their winter best. Elliot had the engagement ring tucked into his blazer discreetly tucked out of sight, Willow kept stealing knowing glances from his breast pocket, and Elizabeth between conversation. She nervously sipped at her glass of wine to cover up her grin. I felt like I was more composed than Willow was right now.
"The Cottage looks great, by the way, Liz, I see where Maggie gets her sense of taste from." James pointed out as he looked behind me at the wall covered in pictures collected from my childhood.
"Thank you, James. It wasn't just me though, I did let Elliot choose the paint and those types of things," Mum smiled at Elliot fondly, her hand stretching the table to grip him softly.
Elliot lifted her hand to his lips placing a sweet soft kiss against her knuckles resting along her ring finger, "Don't be so modest, Love." He grinned.
If it was anyone else I might gag but something about the way Mum grins and blushes so furiously around him made it okay.
"I think if everyone is just about finished we can clear the table for dessert." I wiped my mouth with a napkin before standing.
"I can take the plates, Maggie, if you want to get it all served up." Willow offered knowingly.
I stared at her across the table like I'd be able to read her mind to confirm our thoughts. We were both aware that Elliot had the ring tucked in his pocket to propose after dessert. I wished I could just hear what she knew to see if she had more of an exact time. Rather than the blind guess, I'd made.
Once we'd shut ourselves up in the kitchen, I stacked the old dishes into the sink, setting what food was left off to the side to save for leftovers. She pulled new plates from the back of the counter where I had put them before dinner, placing them on the opposite counter.
Willow gripped my shoulders pulling me into an exuberant hug, "How are you feeling?" She asked with slight concern as she pulled away.
"I'm not the one getting engaged…" I whispered with a shrug, "I just want this perfect for her,"
"It will be, I've got my camera stashed and prepped with tons of film. Has he given you any info on the plan?" Willow asked, pulling the fresh whip cream from the fridge behind me.
I tried busting myself but cutting the pumpkin pie Mum made into slices. My holiday food was stuffing and Mum's was pumpkin pie exactly like had made. That woman kept us fed many times and after eating it enough after she'd moved away we'd both figured our own ways to recreate her food.
I finally shook my head, "All I got was that it would be this evening, so I've been a little on edge," I mumbled as I focused on serving each plate.
Willow chuckled, "I could kind of tell, you've been kicking me under the table all night," Willow stuck out her shin, which had a faint bruise forming from my shoe, "It's going to be after gifts, the ones we've brought you three and then Elliot will pop the question,"
"Sorry about your shin," I apologized, going back to serving the empty plate in front of me, "Let's go before they think we're plotting," I excused. She grabbed a couple of plates with one hand, taking them back to the party.
In my moment alone I took a deep breath before grabbing a few more plates and taking them back to the table. I felt like the moment I sat down everything went by in a blur, I heard everything in muffled sounds. I couldn't even taste the pumpkin pie I was so familiar with anymore, I was just waiting for the time to disappear and we'd have our little family finally completed.
"I'll clear the table, everyone can head over to the living room for gifts." Elliot announced, "Make sure you're comfortable,"
Time was ticking quicker, Juniper linked to my arm pulling me into her side as plopped in the big chair beside the tree. James sat down on the ground beside the chair stretching his long legs in front of him. Mum sat across from us beside Willow on the love seat. Willow pulled her tucked camera, snapping a few shots of the group.
My knee bounced the entire time I was waiting as Mum and Elliot opened their gifts from James and Willow. Mum opened a nicely decorated antique trinket box that Willow found at one of the local antique shops near the bookstore. I guess the two had spent quite a bit more time together outside of the store than I realized. While Elliot opened a first edition copy of, Of Mice and Men, a book he'd been searching for his collection for a few years now. It was my turn and then it'd be showtime, I thought to myself. Willow snapped a few more photos of Mum and Elliot's gift before turning to me and flashing the camera in my face obnoxiously.
Everyone stared in my direction waiting for me to open the brightly papered box in front of me. I carefully pricked open the paper, trying to keep it as intact as I could to save the paper. I liked saving gift wrapping for another wrapping later, if I could save it why shouldn't I?
"It's two parts so, just don't be let down by the first one you see," Willow warned with a smile.
I gave her a mixed look of confusion and slight anxiety before I finally got the paper removed, underneath were two books neatly stacked on top of one another, the top was a book called "A Woman's Ultimate Guide to the Male Brain,"
I shot Willow a pointed look to which she giggled and nodded, "I said two parts, let's move on and we can discuss part one later." She grinned, snapping another shot of my blushing cheeks.
I shook my head passing the book off to June, weakly, she let out a cackle as she read the title before biting her lip to keep it in.
Beneath the joke literature was a leather-bound copy of Little Women, opening the cover to reveal an embossed monogram of my first and last initial.
"It's sturdier than that paperback thing hanging by threads and James and I figured you could go for a new one," Willow explained as I admired the print in my hands.
It was rich with the smell of leather and freshly printed pages, and the texture of my own initials felt so nice under my fingertips. I gave them both a grateful smile, gripping the book close to my chest.
"Thank you, this is incredible." I thanked them happily. Willow took a final picture of me press-style before standing on her feet.
Willow broke up the distance pulling me into a tight hug, and for the first time in a long time, she smelled of more than just tobacco and floral. The floral perfume lingered so strongly and tobacco had been replaced with the strong scent of peppermint.
"I'm glad we met, little one, even though you're almost taller than me now," Willow mumbled into my neck, "Elliot and Liz are lucky to have you as a daughter." She mused into my side.
Elliot stood up from his spot on the arm of the love seat beside Mum, "I've got one more gift to give tonight," He announced nervously.
Willow pinched my side knowing what was coming next, she took her place tucked back into Mum's side. I sat back down by Juniper tucking the books by my side as I waited for Elliot's next step.
Mum turned to Willow, "You guys got her such a thoughtful gift, I'm glad she's got friends like you guys in her life." She grinned,
Willow shrugged with a grin, "Thanks for raising a pretty badass kid." She laughed winking at me from across the room.
Elliot bent down under the tree like he was searching for something, I could see him dig into his pocket and turn around to Mum holding the ring in between his fingers. However, she turned towards Willow making conversation while she was waiting for Elliot. I could see I got my habit of nervous rambling from her.
"Mum!" I called, pulling her attention back towards the tree and Elliot. She paused mid-sentence turning to the man beside her.
"Elizabeth… Uh Liz," Elliot corrected himself nervously, "I have waited since I was 23 years old for you to give me the time of day. I watched you work your arse off to raise a perfect daughter, who is incredibly intelligent and talented just like her mother. You remind me everyday how lucky I am,"
Mum was in shock as her hands fell in her lap, Elliot picked up the same hand he held at the table just a few hours ago before he continued, "I want to spend the rest of my life with you, so I can keep being reminded how lucky I am. I love you, Liz, will you marry me?"
Mum leaped to her feet in excitement clutching on Elliot's neck. She pressed wet kisses against his cheek, "Of course I will!" She beamed in between kisses.
She fumbled her hand into Elliot's as he slipped the Emerald jewelry onto her ring finger. It was the perfect fit. Willow wiped away a fake tear before taking more pictures.
Mum clapped excitedly once before pulling from Elliot and pulled me from the chair with Juniper into her arms. Hugging me tightly, she smushed her face against mine, I had gotten closer to her face as I had grown a little bit while I was at school. I caught the flash from Willow's camera.
"You knew about it didn't you?" She whispered, pinching my cheek.
I nodded, finally letting a grin painted across my lips, "Mum, this has been one of the hardest secrets I've ever kept from you," I admitted.
Mum pulled away, giving me a stern look, "Other secrets?" She arched her brow.
It was rare that she gave me that, "I'm your Mum so you're going to spill or risk a grounding," and I was one who never got grounded, young mum usually equaled an easygoing mum, not in this case. Snape had unfortunately gotten around to writing Mum a letter about my poor choice of language. Lucky enough for me, Juniper being a guest saved my ass from more severe consequences than doing laundry and dish duty every night.
"Nothing important, Mum," I forced a smile again, "You're engaged now! Yay!" I tried to cheer in my attempt to change the subject.
Willow read the room, pulling Mum's attention back around to her. Willow insisted she takes pictures of her ring in the light of the kitchen light where it was brighter. The rest of the night passed without Mum asking any other question of what secrets I might have kept from her. She didn't know about the Potter mission, or the fainting during dueling club, or quite frankly much else about this term. I'd neglected to write her in more detail. I was slightly worried she'd pull me from attending Hogwarts. I wasn't ready to end this chapter in my life yet, there was an entire side of my history I discovered more about every year and Hogwarts was the first place I actually felt like I kind of belonged. She didn't need to know there was a beast petrifying students like me, I had people with the intent to protect me. Mum was worried about me and she had every right to, I was fourteen and had already done things people wouldn't have ever dreamed of doing in their lives.
The rest of the night passed without another hiccup, Juniper and Willow danced together enthusiastically to the Christmas music that Elliot and Mum had turned up. The engagement livened the already joyous holiday as it got later into the evening. I was doing my best to take my mind off the worried look in Mum's eyes at the mentions of secrets. I tried watching everyone else dance happily but I found myself staring off at the snow falling outside. I had never had secrets to keep from her before, though this was the first time in my life I had this much independence to keep secrets from her.
"Pretty cool your Mum is gonna marry Elliot. He's a really cool guy," James finally spoke from the floor beside the tree, he looked up at me, our eyes meeting.
I nodded, doing my best to be polite and pay attention to James. To be truthful I was avoiding him, the last thing I wanted was another nagging thought in the back of my head tonight.
"Yeah, I'm excited for her. I really like him," I replied, as thicker flakes fell from the sky.
My fingers found the sapphire pendant around my neck again. It was an easy thing to focus my hands on that wasn't wringing them anxiously. The necklace was an easy way to distract myself.
"Your necklace makes your eyes look bluer," James pointed out, "I like it on you,"
He moved to sit on the arm of the chair, his knee resting beside my hand, "You can really see that there are little flecks of blue in your eyes," James smiled as he tucked a loose hair behind my ear, "They're not just grey," He added.
Even though I found him boring, I couldn't fight my body's reaction, I felt the flutters in my stomach and my cheeks warmed up. I kind of wanted to kiss him, but that would be so stupid. I'd be just as bad as the girls Roxy and I made jokes about, for just sticking with what was on the surface. There was more to a person than just appearance. People had interests and hobbies. James was an artist and he knew a lot about other artists too, but it wasn't enough to hide the nonsense he sputtered in non-art-related topics.
Willow gripped on her brother's arm, with a tipsy huff, "Best if we get going before I'm too tipsy to be your supervised driver," She hiccuped, "Mum'll have my arse if I do," Adding with a grin.
James rolled his eyes, pulling away from me, and moving to his feet. I stared for a moment before I got up to my own feet quickly, "I'll walk you out," I insisted.
Juniper clapped as Elliot sang along dramatically to Jingle Bell Rock, and Mum shook her head at his antics but sang along cheerfully. Elliot proceeded to break out in an exuberant dance that caused Juniper and Mum to laugh even louder from the other room. Willow struggled to pull her coat back on before stumbling out to the car, kicking a path through the snow as she went. Her boots were definitely going to be filled with snow in the morning. James pulled his coat on with much more ease being sober and stuffed his hands into his pockets while he waited for me to put my own coat on.
"You don't really have to walk us out, it's too cold," James shivered, "And you haven't got any tights on."
Now, as I saw James shiver in the winter chill, I had gotten much thicker skin from the winter quidditch games. I looked down at my bare knees where my dress had ended, they were scraped from tripping all the time keeping up with Fred and George.
I laughed shrugging it off, "I like the snow, it doesn't bother me much anymore,"
He shook his head, pulling a hand from his pocket he pulled a crushed green sprig tied with a red velvet bow. Holding it above us to use the moonlight as light to see it better "Goddammit Willow," James sighed, "It's mistletoe,"
"It's stupid, she does this every year to get whoever to kiss," He muttered annoyed.
I stopped in the snow, using this as my excuse to do something I'd be debating all night. I knew I didn't have feelings for Cedric after the kiss, so maybe this could be my way to know with James. The flutters would have to turn into sparks if I wanted it to be real. I placed my hands on James's cheeks, they were cold against the warmth from my hands. If I wanted to like him, I had to try to like him. Not everyone is perfect after a first impression. I, of all people, should understand that.
He stared between my eyes and my lips like he was waiting for me to make the first move. I'd gone this far, I pulled James down to my head pressing my lips to his. The mistletoe fell from between his fingers onto the thickening blanket of snow. I felt James snaked his arm around my waist pulling me closer while bringing his hand up to my jaw deepening the kiss. The flutter in my stomach felt thicker. But it didn't melt into warmth, just the ripple of butterflies tickling at my tummy.
Honk!
Honk!
Honk! Honk!
Honk!
Willow stuck her head out the car window over the steering wheel, "Operation Mistletoe strikes again! Another success!" She cheered loudly.
I pulled away, dropping back down to the balls of my feet, "Merry Christmas, James. I guess I'll see you this summer," I sighed breathlessly, my lips felt warm from his and I could feel the hot blush on my cheeks.
His hands dropped from my waist as he stepped back, "I'll see you this summer," He confirmed before shoving Willow back through the window, shooing her back to her side of the car.
I stood outside until they pulled out of sight between the trees. Leaving me alone with my parents and June inside, I smacked my palm against my forehead before staring down at my feet. I kissed James without any feelings attached, just a gust of confidence at the wrong time.
"What the fuck did I just do?" I cursed to myself out loud.
I turned around at the sound of a laugh, as I saw Juniper leaned in the front door with a cat that ate the canary grin across her lips.
"I can tell you but you might not like what I saw," She giggled as she closed off the distance joining me in the snow, "How was it? Improvement from Cedric?" She finally asked when she was closer.
"Improvement but to be completely honest, he is just cute and I'm not sure I can listen to him all day." I finally admitted, "If he could tell stories the same way he kissed and made art maybe things would be different." I groaned.
Juniper wrapped an arm around me, bringing my back inside, "I guess that's the mistake with mistletoe," She replied sympathetically, "Maybe you're going for looks before substance, and putting pressure when they don't have the substance,"
Juniper made a point, liking Cedric because I felt these surface jitters were one thing. Trying to like James for surface jitters and hoping a kiss would go into a crush was something completely different. I nodded in weak agreement, waiting to join the warmth of the cottage again. Mum and Elliot were blissfully unaware as they swayed to romantic love songs playing through the radio.
A/N:Maggie is going through it, what's gonna happen next? Buckle up because things are getting even more confusing for Mags ;) Would you want to see the playlists I made for this fic?
Also the official face casting for the OCs are available on my TikTok, @Strawberrycake98