Friday 20th December 1974

Evans House, 19:30

"Oh wow!" Lily exclaimed as the house came into view.

"Wow!" Chryssie echoed, eyes alight in wonderment.

The house looked gorgeous. It really did. The wreath was on the door with fresh red ribbons and Lily could just about see the garland wrapped along the bannisters through the door. The nativity was set up in the front window and the Christmas tree was tucked into its usual corner in the living room from what Lily could see. See craned her neck to try and see better before remembering that she was in the car. She and Chryssie turned to look at their parents.

"Don't worry, we haven't decorated the tree yet," dad assured them.

Good. It wasn't really Christmas until you decorated the tree in Lily's opinion.

"We even bought more tinsel," mum added.

"Ours was starting to get pretty ratty," Lily agreed.

It definitely hadn't been full and lush.

"Hopefully the new ones won't shed as much," dad muttered.

He was always finding it all over the house despite it being restricted to just one room. Lily knew that he really didn't like it for that reason but he was outnumbered by all the females in the house. Christmas wasn't Christmas if the house didn't sparkle after all.

"Your cousins are arriving tomorrow around lunch time," mum said.

"That soon?"

Daisy would be just out of school as well. Did they really want to travel just as they got home?

"They wanted to beat any Christmas traffic."

"Oh."

That made sense. And anyway, it wasn't like Lily was really complaining, the sooner she got to see her cousins the better. Why did they have to live so far away?

"Maybe you could all decorate the tree together," dad suggested. "Many hands make light work and all that."

"Or cause a massive argument," mum said knowingly.

"Let's do it now!" Chryssie said, running out of the car.

"Aren't you tired?" Mum asked as Lily quickly followed her. "It will still be there tomorrow."

[xxxxxx]

Saturday 21st December 1974

12 Grimmauld Place, 11:00

Sirius curled up on his bed, trying to ease the pain in his side.

Yes, his parents were definitely not impressed with his suggestion for the holidays. Though, they were going to let him do it. Which made no sense. Why couldn't they have just replied like that to his letter? That way he wouldn't have to even be here.

A twinge of pain shot through him and he gasped. Bad idea, bad idea. That really had been a bad idea. He was really out of practice with dealing with this. He used to be able to manage the pain just fine. But now he was seriously considering sneaking a pain reliever potion - something that was fraught with consequences if he was caught. That's how sore he was. Sirius knew there was no point in asking Kreacher to fetch it for him - he wouldn't as he was under strict orders not too when he or Regulus were being "disciplined". Not that a lot of that happened to Regulus. Or any of it. Not since Sirius started going to Hogwarts anyway. Even before then Sirius could count on one hand how many time Regulus got into trouble and most of it was down to one of his plans anyway. Regulus was just a good son. Something Sirius very much was not. He was quite aware of that, thank you very much. Not that he couldn't be with the way his Mother was constantly calling him a disgrace.

"Ow," he said quietly as a muscle spasmed.

That was sore. He really should not be moving but this curled up position was not going to help. As awful as his current pain was, stuff muscles were also not fun. It made his posture bad and Sirius really didn't need any more disapproval from his parents. Well, normally it was kind of funny but not when he was in no position to enjoy it.

A thought suddenly struck him and he groaned - not from pain this time.

He had completely forgot that today was freaking Yule so he couldn't just stay up here and hide for the rest of the day. No matter how much he nee- wanted to. No, he was going to have to get himself out of bed and cast the incantation and take part in all the stupid rituals. Which were stupid. Okay, maybe they weren't but even the idea of extending his arm out made him wince in pain. And any Sabbat involved a lot of extending your arm. Not to speak of how long he'd have to hold it aloft.

Fan-freaking-tastic. Today was definitely not going his way at all. Or this holiday even. Maybe this was rock bottom and it could only go up from here.

A guy could hope, couldn't he?

[xxxxxx]

Potter Manor, 12:00

James followed his nose down to the kitchen. The best smell in the world was coming from it. Biscuity, ginger with a tiny hint of cinnamon. Like he said, best smell in the world.

And there they were, a whole plate of gingerbread men - iced to perfection and dusted alternatively with sugar and cinnamon. His mouth watered. Yes, he definitely needed one of those. Or several. Maybe even a whole tray.

He came to a stop just outside the kitchen and kind of loitered there like some sort of lout like his parents liked to say. It wasn't like he could go straight in there and take one! He needed a plan. A well thought out one. One where he wouldn't get caught and come away with his prize. Or, hopefully, prizes. He had to be very careful about it or he would leave with nothing and that just wasn't an option.

Thankfully, the door had been left open a crack (hence the perfect smell drifting about the house). This meant that he could peep in and plan how he was going to do this. The best idea would be to wait for a moment of quiet. Something that didn't really happen when it was so close to a meal but he had to try! James felt like he couldn't possibly wait any longer. It would just be cruel to, really.

Why did House Elves have to rush around so? There was always one of them darting across the room in the way of his prize.

Except for now! There was a gap. James didn't think any further and darted in, reaching for the plate. His fingertips had just touched it when it vanished.

He made a pained noise and scrabbled his hands helplessly against the wooden table. Where had they gone.

A tsking noise came from in front of him. looked up to see the large, disapproving eyes of the Head Kitchen Elf.

"Not before lunch, Master James!" he was scolded by Pip, who was holding the steaming plate aloft.

"Just one?"

"No!"

He even got a swat of the hand by the spatula the Elf was holding for his trouble!

"Ow!"

"No stealing of the gingerbread," came the admonishment.

James made a huffing noise. What happened to Elves being subservient? The House Elves of Potter Manor didn't know the meaning of the word. Which was great and all but it meant he couldn't get his gingerbread biscuits!

"I wasn't stealing."

Pio looked extremely unimpressed. "You was taking without asking. Stealing."

"I'm asking you?" he tried.

"And I is saying no. They are for after meals. Not before."

James grumbled but acquiesced. It wasn't like he was going to be able to change Pip's mind. He ruled the kitchen.

[xxxxxx]

Saturday 22nd December 1974

12 Grimmauld Place, 16:00

Sirius was hiding on the stairs. Again. Listening for any sort of movement indicating people elsewhere about. Again. Because he wanted no one to see him coming and going. Mainly going. Aga- well, you get the picture. He needed to be quiet and sneaky.

At least this time there wasn't the risk of him getting found out when he was coming back. Because he wasn't coming back. Not until Easter anyway. That's if he got his own way here of course. He had a bag packed and on his back and everything. He was prepared. Now all he had to do was follow through with it. He could do it.

Things had definitely not got better and they weren't going to get better. That much could be said in the last twenty-four hours. Things had just been awful. His mother was in one of her moods which meant she was pick, pick, picking at every single little thing he did wrong. Which was a lot apparently. Father was more silent than usual - not that he ever really stopped her and Regulus preened under all of the praise he got. Stupid brat. Then mother had moved on from him to his friends and would just. Not. Shut up. It was annoying. It was exhausting. Sirius swore that she didn't use the same complaint twice. And he was just expected to sit there and take it all in silence? No way.

So, he didn't. With not-so-great result. The screaming match between him and his mother had been brief but effective until his father had dragged him away. Not before his mother got in a stinging slap. His cheek was still swollen nearly twenty-four hours later. Oddly, his father hadn't dealt with him yet- Sirius didn't know whether or not he agreed with Sirius, had forgotten about it or was just biding his time. Well, Sirius wasn't going to stick around to find out. Definitely not.

Which brought him to here. Lingering on the stairs like some sort of House Elf. Sirius stared at the closed door. The only hurdle between him and the floo. He looked up and down the stairs. No one. He peered over the bannisters. Also no one. Okay. This was it. Taking a deep breath, Sirius carefully made his way down the stairs, making sure to avoid all the creaky spots. Easier than it sounded because it was really only the very middle parts. Easy enough to avoid. Well, it was made easier by the fact that Sirius was very used to treading lightly. Mother couldn't stand when he or Regulus stomped around like they were some sort of Erumpent. So, as a consequence, they learned to tread lightly. Quite literally and figuratively. It was something even Regulus would get scolded for if he didn't do it.

Now he was at the door. The closed door. Which wasn't good. This door always creaked. He didn't know why when every other hinge was oiled to perfection but it was just an accepted fact. But this was not the time for creaky doors!

Deciding to take his fate in his hands, and demonstrating some of the Gryffindor brutishness his parents were always complaining about, Sirius yanked the door open as quickly as he could. It gave the tiniest of squeaks that sounded awfully loud in the silence of the hall. Sirius looked around him, looked like no one had heard it. His breathing was probably louder.

No matter, he was now in the room. Well, Sirius took a step over the threshold, now he was in the room. And he was going to have to act fast. Nearly stumbling over his own feet, he quickly made his way over to the fireplace.

It took three times for his shaking hands to lift the lid off the floo powder pot but he managed it. Finally. Now he was good to go.

"And just where do you think you're going?" Father demanded.

Sirius froze, his fist hovering over the fire. It was very warm.

"Back to Hogwarts," he said, without turning around.

"At least do me the courtesy of looking me in the eyes when you speak to me."

That tone always sent shivers down his spine at now was no different. It was a tone to be obeyed so he did. He came face to face with the thunderous expression of his father. Sirius couldn't help but gulp.

"Would you like to try that again?"

Another order. Again, he obeyed it, albeit it in a wavering voice.

"I'm going back to Hogwarts," he said as bravely as he could muster.

He even pushed his shoulders back to make it look like he was actually confident - which, of course, he was the complete opposite of but he at least looked it. Which was wavering in the face of such a big challenge as his father.

"I'm going back to Hogwarts," he said in a firm tone that belied what he was feeling.

Were his knees knocking? They felt like they were knocking.

"You are, are you?"

His father actually sounded amused. Amused! As if this was something you would find funny.

"Yes."

"Hmm."

A hum, that's all he got. Sirius hadn't wanted some big confrontation, that's why he had slipped down here when the house was silent after all, but to get no reaction at all?

Sirius took another step closer to the fireplace, he was practically of top of it now. No emotion whatsoever from his Father.

"I'll just be going now," he said, wincing at his slightly too loud tone.

Even though he knew he wasn't shouting it still sounded far too loud. He looked anxiously at the door.

His father gave him an inscrutable look. He was very good at those. Sirius couldn't help but fidget slightly, getting some floo powder on the floor.

"Very well."

Sirius took that as his permission to leave. Not that he needed it, of course. He didn't.

With a more dramatic swoop than strictly necessary, Sirius threw the floo powder onto the fire. The flames instantly turned bright green.

"Professor McGonagall's Office!"

[xxxxxx]

Professor McGonagall's Office, 16:10

Okay, maybe he didn't exactly think this through. At all. Sirius hadn't expected McGonagall to be in her office, it was her holiday as much as his, so of course she wouldn't be in her office where she did work. What he hadn't expected was for her to have locked her office door. Which was pretty obvious in hindsight. Hindsight sucked. Just like being stuck in an office sucked.

He'd tried physically opening the door - which was how he had discovered that it was locked - and he'd also stupidly tried Alohomora. What adult would use a locking spell on their office that would be undone by a mere Alohomora? A stupid one, that's what, and Professor Minerva McGonagall was definitely not stupid.

So, what was he supposed to do now? Break down the door? Sirius eyed it. No. It looked far too solid. A blasting charm probably wouldn't even dented. Worst case scenario, it sprayed him with splinters. Definitely not something he wanted to happen. He was stuck in here.

Well, there was no way he was going back home. No way. Not to hot tempers and almost guaranteed more pain. Even if his father had been behaving quite oddly when he left. Nope. Definitely not. Maybe by Easter things would have calmed down. A bit anyway.

Sirius looked all around him and frowned slightly. McGonagall's Office looked different from this angle. He was used to seeing it from standing in front of her desk as she loomed over them. Not exactly a position you got to look at your surroundings in.

He hadn't realised how many little knick knacks she had. They were all neatly placed on shelves, obviously, but there were more than he thought she would have. Was that a little tabby cat figurine up there.

Stepping forward, he stood on his toes to get a better look at it. It stretched and stared at him before giving a short "meow". Cool. Was it enchanted?

What else was there in here? Anything interesting? Sirius looked around him, trying to figure that out.

Suddenly, the office was flooded with light as the door swung open. There was a Professor McGonagall shaped silhouette in the doorway. Sirius couldn't help but jump in shock.

"Mr Black?" she asked in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

[xxxxxx]

Monday 24th December 1974

Evans Home, 17:00

Gavin came home from work and stomped his feet on the mat by the door.

"It's snowing," he announced as he walked into the living room.

A cheer went up from the cousins. Well, from most of them. Peter and Petunia were far too grown up to do such a thing. As Peter pointed out, he was nearly an adult now - above such childish things. That, however, didn't stop him playing board games with them all. Something Petunia now refused to do. And he still looked pleased at the prospect of snow even if he didn't cheer about it. Petunia just rolled her eyes. Lily swore that's all she did these days.

Anyway, she, Chryssie and Daisy were all very happy about the prospect of snow. It just wasn't Christmas without snow and she had been missing it since she left Hogwarts.

"Oh, can we go out in it, please?" Chryssie turned around from the window to beg.

It did look so pretty and tempting swirling around like that and coating everything.

"Dinner first," their mum said firmly, poking her head out of the kitchen.

"Aw!" came the noise of disagreement.

"Food."

Well, that was a tone to be obeyed. Lily's stomach rumbled, to be echoed by several others. Food it was.

[xxxxxx]

Shacklebolt Flat, 21:30

"Hayden, what are you doing?" Kingsley asked his brother.

He had a good reason to as said brother currently had his face pressed right against the window. So much so that his face was squashed right up and Kingsley was pretty sure that anyone looking in would think they had seen an alien or something.

"Just looking.""

Kingsley peered out the window and saw absolutely nothing of interest. Except a bloke peeing against the wall but that was really nothing special in London.

"For what?"

"Snow."

"Snow?"

"Yes."

Hayden sounded so calm and chill about it, if a little bit nasally due to his nose being squashed.

"Why?"

Why was his little brother suddenly looking for snow? They had just left tonnes of it behind at Hogwarts. Too much of it in Kingsley's opinion. He was quite happy to see absolutely none of it here.

Hayden gave him a look that screamed he thought Kingsley was stupid.

"Because it's Christmas, stupid."

"Idiot," Kingsley shot back without even thinking. Hey, they were brothers after all. "That doesn't mean there has to be snow."

"They were called white Christmases for a reason!"

"Yeah, in Dickens' time," Kingsley scoffed.

That got Hayden to turn around, even if it was to only scowl at him at cross his arms.

"So?"

"He was an author. He exaggerated things or made them up. That's what authors do. And even if he didn't, he was living in a mini Ice Age or something. Of course, it snowed for him!"

"Well, how do we know that it's not a mini Ice Age now?"

[xxxxxx]

Potions Lab, Dungeons, 22:00

Severus couldn't help but make a pleased noise as the thin blue steam rose from his cauldron. Automatically, he looked around for people who might have heard it but saw no one. Of course, there was no one. He was the only person who seemed to use the Lab in the evenings recently. Not that he was complaining. It was nice not to have to deal with vapours from multiple cauldrons like he would have to when Christmas was over.

"Christmas," he scoffed to himself.

He didn't understand why people made such a big deal over it. Sure, the excuse to have good food was great but everything else was just superfluous. All this decorating and party-going was just silly. As was exchanging gifts that people barely even liked. Just a load of nonsense really. Give him the food, some extra snacks and time spent alone in the Potions lab and he was good. Brilliant actually. Especially the no people in the lab bit. No stupid chattering and whispers to ignore or people constantly peering into his cauldron like some curious monkeys. Just him and the cauldron. Perfect.

He couldn't help but get startled when the door opened. He hadn't been expecting anyone to bother him at all.

"Hello?"

Oh, Severus relaxed. It was only Slughorn.

"Hello, Professor," he greeted, turning the flame down under his cauldron.

He would have to give it a minute or so before turning it completely off or the consistency of his potion would be all wrong.

Slughorn looked around the room, frowning.

"It's curfew, young man," he said jovially but with a stern undertone.

Whoops. Not good. He hadn't realised that.

"Sorry, sir," Severus apologised quickly. "I just lost track of time and-"

A hand was held up to stop him.

"Say no more, I understand but rules still have to be upheld."

"I understand, sir," Severus agreed with an internal eye roll. "I was just about to decant my potion and I'll be done."

For tonight anyway. Severus watched as Slughorn peered into his cauldron. A disappointed look crossed over his face.

"Pimple Remover?" he asked.

Severus shrugged, "I'm getting paid for it."

Definitely something he wasn't going to complain about. Sure, he would like something more challenging but he wouldn't be able to afford to do that if he didn't brew potions like these.

[xxxxxx]

Tuesday 25th December 1974

Great Hall, 14:00

Sirius trailed down to the Great Hall after Professor Slughorn. It had been odd seeing him in Gryffindor Tower but apparently, he was one of the few Professors staying over the break.

He couldn't help but pick at his robes a bit. He wasn't sure how Christmas at Hogwarts worked after all. Sure, he had woken up (alone) in his dorm and all his presents had somehow been migrated to the foot of his bed. Which was kind of nice if a bit lonely. At least he could rip them open with abandon, something he and Regulus definitely wasn't allowed to do at home.

Regulus. That was the one thing he missed. Or rather, the one person. Even if they had been growing apart the last few years. But that's what growing up meant sometimes, wasn't it? But Sirius still missed him. Quite a bit actually, which was soppy but still the truth. The loneliness was getting to him. That was something he definitely hadn't thought through when he had dramatically flooed over. Well, he didn't feel lonely all the time. He had kept himself busy - doing schoolwork and just relaxing. Which was nice to do without the oppressive air at home. He could read and do what he wanted too, also a nice thing.

In fact, he had been so engrossed in just messing around that he hadn't realised it was time for dinner. Not that he'd k own when Hogwarts had Christmas Dinner but it was nice of Slughorn to come get him.

The Great Hall was very nicely decorated but he already knew that, none of the decorations had changed since school had been let out. But what had changed was the layout of the room. The long House tables were gone making the Great Hall look, well, great. It was so big! A smaller, round table had replaced it. Just enough to seat the small number of students who had stayed over, like him. There really weren't many. Maybe just over a dozen? Definitely not more than twenty. Two Slytherins, him from Gryffindor and the rest were pretty evenly split between Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs. He thought so anyway, it was hard to tell who belonged to which House when no one was wearing their robes.

Speaking of Slytherins, Sirius hadn't realised that Snape was staying over the holidays. Sirius thought that all Slytherins went home. There were always parties to attend, after all. Apparently not.

Then again, Snape wasn't a pureblood so be supposed that he didn't have any parties to go to. Something else that he was missing this year. Not that he minded. No having to stand up straight and plastering a smile on his face - not too big a one though. No having to listen to adults talking about things he hated hearing about. No complaining from his mother.

Either way, it wasn't that he cared about what Snape did. As long as they weren't sitting anywhere near to each other, Sirius was good. So, he sat in the opposite side of the table, there as an opposite side on a circle, wasn't there?

"Is that everyone?" Professor Dumbledore asked happily, looking around from under his hideous red and green striped hat.

Sirius also looked around, it looked like the table was full. Whoops, was he the last one here? How rude.

Suddenly, the doors burst open and two Ravenclaws came running in.

"Sorry!" one panted out as he struggled to catch his breath.

"We nearly forgot about dinner," the other added with a blush.

Professor Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as he brushed their concerns away.

"Not a problem at all, children. What matters is that we are all here now."

[xxxxxx]

Wednesday 26th December 1975

McKinnon Farm, 13:00

"Why is it called Boxing Day?" Marlene asked as she dried the plates from a lunch of turkey and ham sandwiches.

"Not a clue," Ciaran replied, waving his wand so they floated into the appropriate shelves.

Marlene gave him a look. "You don't know? And I was going to do that!"

"Too slow and nope."

Waving her own wand in response, the cutlery she had dried floated over to the drawer. She frowned, realising she hadn't exactly thought this through. The drawer was closed. Smirking at her, Ciaran opened it. Marlene did not appreciate that and dropped all the knives she had been directing into it except for one that she floated near his face threateningly. He just plucked it out of thin air and lobbed it back into the sink.

"Still dirty," he announced, a grin stretching across his face.

"Last time I checked, you were the one washing," she informed him.

"Oh yeah."

Snorting, Marlene rolled her eyes and started directing spoons and forks to their appropriate places in the drawer. It was a good way to refine your windgardium leviosa as you could practice doing a few at once.

"Back to Boxing Day," she said conversationally.

"I told you I don't know why it's called that."

"But you're a Ravenclaw."

"And?"

"You're supposed to know these things.

That got her a wet dishcloth to the face. Yuck! It was sudsy!

[xxxxxx]

Friday 28th December 1974

Potions Lab, 11:00

Severus stretched his hands out and wriggled his shoulder, wincing slightly as he did so. Everything was stiff and ached. His fingers were semi-permanently in the shape of a stirring rod. Maybe he had spent a little bit too much time down here... Nah, no such thing. But maybe the next thing he brewed should be a muscle liniment. A strong one or else he'd end up being a hunchback or something.

Okay, maybe he shouldn't brew this much but he didn't want to stop. At least this time it wasn't anywhere close to curfew so no one was going to disturb him. Everyone was too busy sleeping off all the Christmas food or playing in the snow. Nothing Severus wanted to partake in. And no one was going to force him either. Nope, he was going to spend the day brewing all the potions he could. Only coming out for food. Maybe. Dinner definitely but lunch might get in the way of this potion he was brewing. It had to be watched carefully during the last twenty minutes, the timings of the ingredients then were very precise.

Not that it mattered, no one was going to insist he eat lunch.

[xxxxxx]

Monday 30th December 1974

12 Grimmauld Place, 17:00

Regulus absentmindedly prodded at his mashed potatoes with his fork. His parents were talking about something to do with Mr Riddle but for once he didn't really care. Too preoccupied.

Sirius still hadn't come home and it looked like he wasn't going to come home in time for their New Year's party. He would have been back by now otherwise, wouldn't he? He wouldn't wait until the day if the party to come back? Though that would be a very Sirius thing to do. Just to put everyone's nose out of joint.

In his heart, Regulus didn't think that would happen. For whatever reason, Sirius really did not like the parties or spend time together. He got bored and annoyed which meant mother got angry and indignant. It just wasn't good. Now, parties weren't Regulus' favourite thing but they weren't annoying or boring to him. He just had to smile and not talk too much. And all his friends were usually there (or close acquaintances) so it could be fun as well. You just had to make it fun. Without causing a spectacle. Definitely not hard to do.

Either way, it didn't look like Sirius was returning and it looked like his parents weren't making much of an effort to make him return. It certainly wouldn't be hard. Just floo over to Hogwarts and drag him home. But they weren't doing that.

Maybe it wasn't such a big deal after all. Maybe they were okay with Sirius skipping his duties as Heir. It wasn't like Yule was overly important except for political reasons and Sirius was a bit of an embarrassment on that front. Being a Gryffindor and all.

[xxxxxx]

Tuesday 31st December 1974

McKinnon Farm, 11:45

The nest part about living on a farm was the fact that you could see for miles and miles all around you. Which meant that you could see everyone's fireworks on New Year.

They were already going off despite the clocks not striking twelve yet. People were that eager to set them off. Not that Marlene minded, it made for a great show to watch as she waited for her dad to set theirs off. He was a stickler for waiting until the stroke of midnight.

"Marlene, get out of that tree before it gets set on fire or something."

She stuck her tongue out at her oldest brother and pointedly did not move.

"You get the best view from here."

'BANG!'

A bright red firework exploded above them.

"You don't need to be up a tree to see that," Kevin told her. "Come down."

"Nope."

"Marlene."

"You aren't the boss of me, Kevin Tierney McKinnon!"

"I think I am though," a voice called over to her.

A very familiar voice. Marlene craned her head so she could see past the branches.

"Grandad!" she yelled, waving vigorously from her perch.

"Grandad's here?" Kevin asked. "Was that his voice?"

"He's coming up the driveway," she told him and waved again. "Hi Grandad!"

Her grandfather waved back at her with a chuckle. Soon he was standing by Kevin at the foot of the tree.

"What are you doing up there, Marly?" he asked. "Pretending to be one of my clouds?"

Her grandfather was a stormcaller. A strong one too, even at his age.

"Getting the best view," she replied, slipping down the tree so she could greet him properly with a hug.

"Oh, you come down for him and you don't even have to," Kevin muttered.

"Of course, I have to!" Marlene told him from her grandfather's arms.

Kevin rolled his eyes but gave their grandfather a hug as well.

"Good to see you. I thought you weren't coming?"

The man didn't exactly enjoy fireworks. He disliked bangs and crashes that he didn't create. Took it as a personal insult.

"I wanted to see this contraption your father said he'd built to launch more fireworks at once."

Kevin groaned at that while Marlene giggled.

"Don't encourage him," Kevin grumbled. "Pat's bad enough with him."

"It will be great," Marlene said loyally.

"It's probably not going to even work. Or it's going to go wrong and set something on fire."

"It's why your mother called me," grandad agreed. "I'm supposed to call up a storm if that happens."

"Thank Merlin."

[xxxxxx]

Wednesday 1st January 1975

Evans House, 12:00

"Bye!" Chryssie waves to her cousins alongside the rest of her family as they drove off.

They had a long drive ahead of them so they hadn't wanted to stick around. Most of them were still in their pyjamas, not seeing the point in getting changed. That actually sounded like a good idea to her but mum didn't like them doing that. She insisted that unless they were sick, they had to get dressed. Something about putting yourself in the right mind for the rest of the day.

"Finally," Petunia groaned as the car drove out of sight.

"Petunia," Rosemary scolded.

"I get my room back," she grumbled, walking back to the house.

Daisy had been sharing with her, something she definitely had not liked.

Rosemary shook her head and looked down at her other two daughters.

"Do you two have homework to finish?"

Now that was definitely one way to ruin the mood. Both of them mumbled affirmative. It wasn't like they had had a lot of time when their cousins were over. Chryssie knew for a fact that although she had started all her essays, they were all pretty disjointed. Definitely not something she wanted to hand in.

"May as well start the new year off on the right foot," Gavin said cheerfully.

Of course, he was cheerfully, he wasn't the one who had to do homework.

With matching groans, both Hogwarts students trudged back into the house.