Happy Christmas
"All aboard the Hogwarts express!" The conductor shouted. The Weasley's got 4 compartments to themselves. When I say Weasley's, I mean everyone going to the Weasleys. Hey you never know, they may all be Weasley's at some point in time *hint hint* *wink wink* *nudge nudge*. Now if you were on the Hogwarts Express this particular day, you would think school was let out early. Sharley, who you would usually say was the perfect role model, was acting like an idiot high on sugar. She was jumping around the compartment singing muggle Christmas carols with the rest of them. You could tell she raided the Musketeers stash of Sugar Quills. Skylar, Tim, and Meg were currently going through the compartments and turning the wall paper red and green, holly print here and there, and several fat Santa Claus'. Jessica was sitting quietly, looking at everyone around her.
"What's up?" Morgania sat next to her.
"Nothing really. I've only now noticed how many people you guys are related to. I know that some of these people are just friends of your families, but there are alot of people here."
"Yup, very crowded at holidays. But we usually stay at other peoples houses. I'm staying at Max's. You could probably stay there too."
"Nah, I think I'm going to ask Skylar or maybe Alannah."
"Okay." Tim fell into the compartment, followed by Skylar and Meg, all laughing hysterically.
"What are you guys laughing about?"
"Hahaha....Malfoy....red nose...hahaha....elf....fat....hahahaha." Meg gasped, holding her stomach and rolling around. "Mistletoe....SNAPE!" Skylar snorted and ran to the bathroom. Everyone in the compartment that heard started laughing.
"Hello everyone!" Mrs. Weasley said happily, after the 5 Ministry cars pulled into the drive way. Skylar and Tim ran up to her and hugged her tightly.
"Hello Grandma." Skylar said.
"Now Skylar I'm not your grandma."
"But don't you wish you were?"
"Most defiantly not." Mrs. Weasley smiled. "Your grandpa is inside, he'll want a hug too."
"Grandpa Weasley! You're favorite not so granddaughter is here!"
"Hello Skylar, how are you?"
"I'm great. Me and Meg need to run to the muggle village for a couple of hours today. Could we borrow one of your bicycles?"
"They're in the garage. Isn't Tim going with you?"
"No, he's setting up the sleeping arrangements with Grandma."
"Alright." Meg came into the house, and hugged Mr. Weasley too.
"Hello dear. So I hear you guys are going to the muggle village. What for?"
"We're what?" Meg looked at Skylar who gave her a 'yes, you better agree look'. "Oh yeah. I almost forgot. Yeah, we are."
"We're getting my mom's and dad's Christmas present. Come on Meg."
Jessica stepped out of the ministry car that she and the other first years shared. Niaomi turned Max into Santa Claus by "accident".
"So my little elf, wanna be Santa's little helper?" Max teased.
"I'm not an elf, I'm not little, and I defiantly don't want to help you." Jessica said as she pulled Max's beard.
"Hey! Watch it." Morgania pulled Jessica into the Weasley household.
"Hello Morgania dear. And who is this?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
"This is Jessica Ely." Harry's ears perked up.
"Ely huh? What are you doing here?" Harry asked politely.
"Um.... Skylar invited me."
"Well anyone that can save my god sister is welcome here."
"Thank you sir."
"Come on Jessica, I'll go introduce you to everyone!" Max said.
"Maxwell, what happened to you?" Harry asked.
"Um, magical mishap?" Harry shook his head and undid the spell.
"Lets go Jess." Jessica waved goodbye to Harry as Max dragged her into the pool of guests.
"Why are we going to the muggle village again?"
"To get my parents present." Skylar replied, taking her robes off, and revealing muggle clothes underneath. Meg did the same, and got onto one of the bikes.
"Which is?"
"What have they wanted since last summer? What did my mom cry over for a couple of days?"
"You mean...oh. So we are getting...."
"Yeah."
"Same color?"
"Same color."
"What about the length?"
"Pomfrey taught me some lengthening charms when I was in the hospital wing. I've managed to get 11 inches."
"Cool, but how did you get it back?"
"Oh I didn't put it on myself. Mrs. Norris was great help." Meg snorted and opened the door to the store. "Where would we find it? You're a muggle born."
"Over there."
"How about this one?"
"Too light. Here this one looks like a perfect match. It may be a tiny bit darker."
"Okay, what if we'd mix them?"
"It would probably explode. Wait here's one that is perfect."
"Okay, lets get it." Skylar reached into her pockets. "Shoot, I only have wizard money. You wouldn't happened to have..."
"I think this will be enough." Meg pulled a couple pound notes out, and paid the cashier.
"Thanks. It says it takes a hour or two, so we will do it tomorrow night, before the big feast, and surprise them when we open presents."
"Oh yeah, that's right. Weasley's are weird, you open presents at night instead of in the morning.
"That's us. Torturing poor kids with all of those mounds of presents sitting under the gigantic tree."
"And you and Tim with all of your presents opened before everyone else wakes up."
"It's tradition."
"You're doing that again this year?"
"Nope, at least we're going to try our hardest not to." Meg laughed and parked the bike into the garage. "So is that all you're getting your parents?"
"Well, almost. I had a wizard mechanic fix up the motorcycle. That's being delivered Christmas Eve."
"Awesome. So what are we going to do for the rest of the day. It's like only." Meg looked down at her watch. "8 o'clock."
"Umm...we can figure out how to use this stuff."
"Yeah, we don't want your head to burn off." Meg and Skylar raced to the deluxe bathroom.
"Max, you're going to make my arm three feet longer." Jessica whined.
"Come on, there is only a few more people you need to meet. Mum! Mum!" Ginny Weasley turned around.
"Max! I'm so glad your home again." Ginny said as she embraced her son. Jessica inched away slowly. She wanted to get out of the crowd and into a silent little corner. She finally disappeared into the mob of red heads.
"Mum, this is Jessica. Where did she go?"
Jessica crept upstairs, and explored the house.
"Who are you?" Jessica jumped at the voice, and turned around. Another red head was standing in front of her.
"I'm Jessica, who are you?"
"I'm Tory, Niaomi's brother. Who's friend are you?"
"Skylar's and Tim's. Oh and Max's. I'm a first year Gryffindor."
"What were you doing?"
"Exploring."
"Me too. Do you know where the kitchen is?"
"Nope, do you?"
"Yeah. Lets go down there! Grandma makes lots of good food!"
"Who are you're parents?"
"My mom and dad." Jessica held back a laugh.
"No, what are their names?"
"Umm...dunno. Niaomi might know though."
"Okay." She followed Tory through the halls, looking at all of the pictures of the Weasley's hung up.
"She just made pumpkin cookies. I can smell them from here." Tory started to run, making Jessica pick up her pace.
"What's with wizards and pumpkins?"
"Umm, never thought about it. I guess we just don't like apples. Yummy, I can smell pumpkin pie too."
"I hear my little bottomless pit. Come in here Tory and help me put the finishing touches on the Gingerbread houses." Tory grabbed Jessica's hand and pulled her into the kitchen.
"Hi Grandma!" Tory grabbed a cookie and quickly stuffed his mouth.
"Hello Jessica." Mrs. Weasley asked.
"Errup...mmph...urmp." Tory shallowed. "You know her already?"
"Yes, Morgania introduced us. Would you like a pumpkin cookie dear?"
"Thank you Mrs. Weasley." Jessica took a bite. "These'm good. Yummmm."
"Tory! Leave some for after dinner. Would you help me round up the guests in the dining room?"
"Sure."
"How many people are here?" Sharley asked, looking over the large number of red heads.
"Let's see." Britney looked down at her list.
Potter- Harry, Ginny, Morgania, Maxwell
Weasley(Ron)- Ron, Hermione, Tory, Niaomi
Weasley(Fred and George)- Fred, George, Alicia, Katie, Kurt, Paul, Tim
Weasley(Bill)- Bill, Nicole, Jill, Philip
Weasley(Charlie)- Charlie, Britney
Weasley(Percy)-Percy, Penelope, Mitchell
Weasley(Arthur)-Arthur, Molly
Black- Sirius, Joanne, Skylar,
Doors- Lorna, Alannah
Lupin- Remus and Ryan
"33. Man this place is going to be crowded. I didn't even count all the friends and stuff coming." Britney said.
"Wow. Do you know how many other people are going to be here?"
"Well Erica, Jessica, Mitchells girlfriend, some other Gryfinndors, and random people stopping by."
"Who's sleeping at who's house?"
"I think Jess is sleeping at Skylar's, and so is Meg and Erica. You're sleeping at mine. The Door's are sleeping at Remus'. And I'm pretty sure the Potters are sleeping here."
"Cool, come on, I think I just heard someone say to go to the dining hall."
"Yum, dinner." Remus said, rubbing his stomach. "I haven't eaten in 2 days."
"Well there's plenty for seconds and thirds." Mrs. Weasley said, setting a large bowl of mashed potatoes on the table. Ryan sat down next to Remus, causing Skylar to jump out of her seat and move to the other side of the table.
"Think we'll get through this dinner with out a food fight?" Remus whispered to Lorna when she sat down.
"Hmmm? Don't know. We'll leave that up to the Musketeers." Remus looked down the table and saw them whispering to each other.
"I think they are already planning."
On the other side of the table Skylar was playing with her hair again.
"Are you flirting with Ryan?" Tim teased. Erica sat down next to Meg.
"Who's Ryan?"
"Her cousin!"
"Shut it you."
"Oh, I'm missing something ain't I."
"Yeah."
"So what did you guys get your parents?" Skylar looked a bit horrified.
"My dad doesn't really care about presents and stuff. He just wants me to come home after this party is done. He'll probably grill me on what 'those muggle-lovers' have been doing. I'll make up stuff of course. 'Yeah dad, it was really boring, all we did was sit around and discuss how much money we made. Did you know Aurors make 1000 galleons a month?'"
"I sent mine some candies, and a wizard pic of me."
"Cool, how about you Sky?"
"My sweet ol' self."
"Why did you guys go to the store then?"
"I had to buy a nifty key-chain to go along with my dad's newly fixed bike."
"Cool. How many pieces is it in now?" Erica asked, stuffing some turkey into her mouth.
"One, but it use to be five."
"What are we doing after dinner?"
"Well, we're going back to my house. Dad and Mom don't want to 'intrude.'"
"Oh darn. I guess we'll just have to pull stuff tomorrow."
"Look at all of those presents." Jessica whispered. All of the adults sent the kids upstairs to busy themselves. The adults were wrapping presents, and were clueless that Meg found a secret passage that allowed the kids to spy on them.
"Looks like you got that new broom Skylar." Tim whispered back, to the three chatting girls.
"Hey Jess, Lorna is wrapping something for you." Max informed her.
"What's it look like?"
"Can't tell, I can just read the card, 'To Jessica Ely, from Santa Claus.'"
"Santa Claus? I thought he was fake?"
"What do you mean he's fake? Then who are all of those presents from? The tooth fairy?" Erica exclaimed, not being able to keep a straight face. She started cracking up and gasping for air.
"Kids! Are you ready to go?" Sirius screamed up the main staircase. Erica, Meg, and Skylar scrambled out of the secret passage. Skylar stopped to kiss the sleeping Tory on the head.
"Night kiddo." He turned over and started sucking his thumb.
"We wish you a happy Christmas, we wish you a happy Christmas, we wish you a happy Christmas and a Merry New Year." The kids sang. The older ones(fifth year to nineteen) had a few too many butterbeers, and were carrying the chorus. It was the next day, at 10pm.
"How many did you guys drink?" Jessica asked.
"Umm..." Tim started to count on his fingers. "I need more fingers." She shook her head and went over to the big tree.
"This is the biggest pine tree I've ever seen." She said outloud.
"This is small compared to last years. Uncle Sirius had to cut off the top to fit. The top alone was 5 feet tall." Max said coming up behind her.
"Really? That's how big our normal trees are. How come those lights look like they are moving?"
"Cuz they are faeries."
"Oh." She started looking at the ornaments. "Is there any significance to these?"
"Every year we get a new ornament for Christmas. This was mine last year." Max showed her a heart frame with two sets of pictures. "The ones on the left are my grandparents, the others are my parents."
"They look alike, except for the eye color."
"Yeah. I never met my grandparents on my dad's side, only my mom's. My dad never met them either. Sirius told me stories when I was little."
"You're not alone. I've never met my parents, grandparents, or great grandparents." Max looked down at his feet. Jessica circled the tree looking at all of the ornaments. "There are a lot on here, when did the tradition start?"
"When Skylar was born. Professor Black started it with us."
"Cool. What are some of your other ones?"
"This one, and this one, and this one...oh and this one. I got this one for my first Christmas, and Skylar gave me this one after I lost my first tooth. She hit me with her bludger bat when she was 8." The ornament was a gold tooth.
"I'm gonna go talk to Skylar."
"Hey Jess, what's up?"
"Nothing much, just getting away from Max and the history of his ornaments."
"Well, mine are alot interesting."
"Like what."
"Well see that heavy looking rock thing towards the bottom? Well that's a ceramic paw print of my dad's. He is an animagus. My first ornament is a lock of my hair. I use to have really pretty long hair. Now it's this."
"Well, I like your hair now."
"Really? Well, my parents don't, and I'm getting bored with it now."
"And here's the last present to Sirius and Joanne." Hermione picked the card out from the tree and handed it to the two. Sirius opened it and read it out loud.
"I know you didn't like it all that much when I came home after the accident with the Blue Dye Bubblegum, but I'm making it up to you. Happy Christmas and a Merry New Year. Love Skylar." Sirius looked up and around the room, Skylar wasn't in the room. "Skylar?"
"Here I am." She came out from the hall, her hair back to normal, but to her shoulders, no blue streaks in sight. No one noticed it before because she was wearing a Santa Claus hat.
"Skylar! You're hair!" Joanne rushed up to her and hugged her.
"That's what you said before."
"I love you so much. But you didn't have to do this!"
"I didn't? Can I change it back then?"
"No!" Sirius and Joanne at the same time.
"Oh and Dad, you're other present is in the backyard."
"Let me guess, the motorcycle that I've been missing for six months?"
"Uh, maybe." Skylar grinned. Tim walked over to her and pulled her hair. "What was that for?"
"To see if it was a wig or not."
"Skylar! Timmy!" Erica said in a singsong voice.
"What?"
"Look up." They both looked up and noticed the annoying plant hanging above them.
"Mistletoe. The evilest plant in the world."
"Well you guys have to kiss now."
"No they don't." Sirius said, joining the circle around the two.
"It's tradition, Sirius." Joanne said coming up to him.
"With Skylar it isn't."
"Sirius, she's a teenage girl, and I'm sure she's done it before."
"If you all wouldn't mind, we would like to get this over with." Everyone stood watching.
"Ready?"
"As ready as i'll ever be." Skylar closed her eyes and bent foreward, Tim did the same.
"I'm finally getting to do this." They both thought as their lips touched.
"Okay, I think that's long enough. Skylar! Quit kissing him."
"I don't think you're suppose to kiss that long under mistletoe."
"They must have big lungs. It's been a whole minute."
"They don't have super glue on their lips do they?"
"If they did, it doesn't look like they are struggling to get apart."
"How long has it been now?"
"I don't know." Skylar opened one of her eyes, unknown to the rest, well except for Tim. She winked her eye and broke away from him.
"I don't see all the fuss about it. One little kiss." She walked away, smiling to herself.
"Five galleons that they make out later." Erica whispered to Meg.
"You're on." Meg and Erica ran after Skylar.
"How was it?"
"I'm not saying."
"Oh come off of it."
"I don't kiss and tell, go bug Tim." Skylar had a stupid grin on her face. Meg and Erica took her advice and went to Tim.
"How was it?"
"I'm more confused than before. I told her how I felt, she never told me how she felt. And now she just said it was no big deal. She is so hard to read."
"How was the kiss? You never said." Tim didn't respond though, he just sat staring at the ceiling and smiling.
"That good huh?"
"Don't tell her I said anything though, but it was heaven. Simple but really great." Tim got up and walked away, still smiling goofy.
"Doesn't she like him?"
"She's head over hells for him. I don't understand. I thought she told him."
"Maybe she did, but he didn't realize that's what she was telling him."
"All aboard the Hogwarts express!" The conductor shouted. The Weasley's got 4 compartments to themselves. When I say Weasley's, I mean everyone going to the Weasleys. Hey you never know, they may all be Weasley's at some point in time *hint hint* *wink wink* *nudge nudge*. Now if you were on the Hogwarts Express this particular day, you would think school was let out early. Sharley, who you would usually say was the perfect role model, was acting like an idiot high on sugar. She was jumping around the compartment singing muggle Christmas carols with the rest of them. You could tell she raided the Musketeers stash of Sugar Quills. Skylar, Tim, and Meg were currently going through the compartments and turning the wall paper red and green, holly print here and there, and several fat Santa Claus'. Jessica was sitting quietly, looking at everyone around her.
"What's up?" Morgania sat next to her.
"Nothing really. I've only now noticed how many people you guys are related to. I know that some of these people are just friends of your families, but there are alot of people here."
"Yup, very crowded at holidays. But we usually stay at other peoples houses. I'm staying at Max's. You could probably stay there too."
"Nah, I think I'm going to ask Skylar or maybe Alannah."
"Okay." Tim fell into the compartment, followed by Skylar and Meg, all laughing hysterically.
"What are you guys laughing about?"
"Hahaha....Malfoy....red nose...hahaha....elf....fat....hahahaha." Meg gasped, holding her stomach and rolling around. "Mistletoe....SNAPE!" Skylar snorted and ran to the bathroom. Everyone in the compartment that heard started laughing.
"Hello everyone!" Mrs. Weasley said happily, after the 5 Ministry cars pulled into the drive way. Skylar and Tim ran up to her and hugged her tightly.
"Hello Grandma." Skylar said.
"Now Skylar I'm not your grandma."
"But don't you wish you were?"
"Most defiantly not." Mrs. Weasley smiled. "Your grandpa is inside, he'll want a hug too."
"Grandpa Weasley! You're favorite not so granddaughter is here!"
"Hello Skylar, how are you?"
"I'm great. Me and Meg need to run to the muggle village for a couple of hours today. Could we borrow one of your bicycles?"
"They're in the garage. Isn't Tim going with you?"
"No, he's setting up the sleeping arrangements with Grandma."
"Alright." Meg came into the house, and hugged Mr. Weasley too.
"Hello dear. So I hear you guys are going to the muggle village. What for?"
"We're what?" Meg looked at Skylar who gave her a 'yes, you better agree look'. "Oh yeah. I almost forgot. Yeah, we are."
"We're getting my mom's and dad's Christmas present. Come on Meg."
Jessica stepped out of the ministry car that she and the other first years shared. Niaomi turned Max into Santa Claus by "accident".
"So my little elf, wanna be Santa's little helper?" Max teased.
"I'm not an elf, I'm not little, and I defiantly don't want to help you." Jessica said as she pulled Max's beard.
"Hey! Watch it." Morgania pulled Jessica into the Weasley household.
"Hello Morgania dear. And who is this?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
"This is Jessica Ely." Harry's ears perked up.
"Ely huh? What are you doing here?" Harry asked politely.
"Um.... Skylar invited me."
"Well anyone that can save my god sister is welcome here."
"Thank you sir."
"Come on Jessica, I'll go introduce you to everyone!" Max said.
"Maxwell, what happened to you?" Harry asked.
"Um, magical mishap?" Harry shook his head and undid the spell.
"Lets go Jess." Jessica waved goodbye to Harry as Max dragged her into the pool of guests.
"Why are we going to the muggle village again?"
"To get my parents present." Skylar replied, taking her robes off, and revealing muggle clothes underneath. Meg did the same, and got onto one of the bikes.
"Which is?"
"What have they wanted since last summer? What did my mom cry over for a couple of days?"
"You mean...oh. So we are getting...."
"Yeah."
"Same color?"
"Same color."
"What about the length?"
"Pomfrey taught me some lengthening charms when I was in the hospital wing. I've managed to get 11 inches."
"Cool, but how did you get it back?"
"Oh I didn't put it on myself. Mrs. Norris was great help." Meg snorted and opened the door to the store. "Where would we find it? You're a muggle born."
"Over there."
"How about this one?"
"Too light. Here this one looks like a perfect match. It may be a tiny bit darker."
"Okay, what if we'd mix them?"
"It would probably explode. Wait here's one that is perfect."
"Okay, lets get it." Skylar reached into her pockets. "Shoot, I only have wizard money. You wouldn't happened to have..."
"I think this will be enough." Meg pulled a couple pound notes out, and paid the cashier.
"Thanks. It says it takes a hour or two, so we will do it tomorrow night, before the big feast, and surprise them when we open presents."
"Oh yeah, that's right. Weasley's are weird, you open presents at night instead of in the morning.
"That's us. Torturing poor kids with all of those mounds of presents sitting under the gigantic tree."
"And you and Tim with all of your presents opened before everyone else wakes up."
"It's tradition."
"You're doing that again this year?"
"Nope, at least we're going to try our hardest not to." Meg laughed and parked the bike into the garage. "So is that all you're getting your parents?"
"Well, almost. I had a wizard mechanic fix up the motorcycle. That's being delivered Christmas Eve."
"Awesome. So what are we going to do for the rest of the day. It's like only." Meg looked down at her watch. "8 o'clock."
"Umm...we can figure out how to use this stuff."
"Yeah, we don't want your head to burn off." Meg and Skylar raced to the deluxe bathroom.
"Max, you're going to make my arm three feet longer." Jessica whined.
"Come on, there is only a few more people you need to meet. Mum! Mum!" Ginny Weasley turned around.
"Max! I'm so glad your home again." Ginny said as she embraced her son. Jessica inched away slowly. She wanted to get out of the crowd and into a silent little corner. She finally disappeared into the mob of red heads.
"Mum, this is Jessica. Where did she go?"
Jessica crept upstairs, and explored the house.
"Who are you?" Jessica jumped at the voice, and turned around. Another red head was standing in front of her.
"I'm Jessica, who are you?"
"I'm Tory, Niaomi's brother. Who's friend are you?"
"Skylar's and Tim's. Oh and Max's. I'm a first year Gryffindor."
"What were you doing?"
"Exploring."
"Me too. Do you know where the kitchen is?"
"Nope, do you?"
"Yeah. Lets go down there! Grandma makes lots of good food!"
"Who are you're parents?"
"My mom and dad." Jessica held back a laugh.
"No, what are their names?"
"Umm...dunno. Niaomi might know though."
"Okay." She followed Tory through the halls, looking at all of the pictures of the Weasley's hung up.
"She just made pumpkin cookies. I can smell them from here." Tory started to run, making Jessica pick up her pace.
"What's with wizards and pumpkins?"
"Umm, never thought about it. I guess we just don't like apples. Yummy, I can smell pumpkin pie too."
"I hear my little bottomless pit. Come in here Tory and help me put the finishing touches on the Gingerbread houses." Tory grabbed Jessica's hand and pulled her into the kitchen.
"Hi Grandma!" Tory grabbed a cookie and quickly stuffed his mouth.
"Hello Jessica." Mrs. Weasley asked.
"Errup...mmph...urmp." Tory shallowed. "You know her already?"
"Yes, Morgania introduced us. Would you like a pumpkin cookie dear?"
"Thank you Mrs. Weasley." Jessica took a bite. "These'm good. Yummmm."
"Tory! Leave some for after dinner. Would you help me round up the guests in the dining room?"
"Sure."
"How many people are here?" Sharley asked, looking over the large number of red heads.
"Let's see." Britney looked down at her list.
Potter- Harry, Ginny, Morgania, Maxwell
Weasley(Ron)- Ron, Hermione, Tory, Niaomi
Weasley(Fred and George)- Fred, George, Alicia, Katie, Kurt, Paul, Tim
Weasley(Bill)- Bill, Nicole, Jill, Philip
Weasley(Charlie)- Charlie, Britney
Weasley(Percy)-Percy, Penelope, Mitchell
Weasley(Arthur)-Arthur, Molly
Black- Sirius, Joanne, Skylar,
Doors- Lorna, Alannah
Lupin- Remus and Ryan
"33. Man this place is going to be crowded. I didn't even count all the friends and stuff coming." Britney said.
"Wow. Do you know how many other people are going to be here?"
"Well Erica, Jessica, Mitchells girlfriend, some other Gryfinndors, and random people stopping by."
"Who's sleeping at who's house?"
"I think Jess is sleeping at Skylar's, and so is Meg and Erica. You're sleeping at mine. The Door's are sleeping at Remus'. And I'm pretty sure the Potters are sleeping here."
"Cool, come on, I think I just heard someone say to go to the dining hall."
"Yum, dinner." Remus said, rubbing his stomach. "I haven't eaten in 2 days."
"Well there's plenty for seconds and thirds." Mrs. Weasley said, setting a large bowl of mashed potatoes on the table. Ryan sat down next to Remus, causing Skylar to jump out of her seat and move to the other side of the table.
"Think we'll get through this dinner with out a food fight?" Remus whispered to Lorna when she sat down.
"Hmmm? Don't know. We'll leave that up to the Musketeers." Remus looked down the table and saw them whispering to each other.
"I think they are already planning."
On the other side of the table Skylar was playing with her hair again.
"Are you flirting with Ryan?" Tim teased. Erica sat down next to Meg.
"Who's Ryan?"
"Her cousin!"
"Shut it you."
"Oh, I'm missing something ain't I."
"Yeah."
"So what did you guys get your parents?" Skylar looked a bit horrified.
"My dad doesn't really care about presents and stuff. He just wants me to come home after this party is done. He'll probably grill me on what 'those muggle-lovers' have been doing. I'll make up stuff of course. 'Yeah dad, it was really boring, all we did was sit around and discuss how much money we made. Did you know Aurors make 1000 galleons a month?'"
"I sent mine some candies, and a wizard pic of me."
"Cool, how about you Sky?"
"My sweet ol' self."
"Why did you guys go to the store then?"
"I had to buy a nifty key-chain to go along with my dad's newly fixed bike."
"Cool. How many pieces is it in now?" Erica asked, stuffing some turkey into her mouth.
"One, but it use to be five."
"What are we doing after dinner?"
"Well, we're going back to my house. Dad and Mom don't want to 'intrude.'"
"Oh darn. I guess we'll just have to pull stuff tomorrow."
"Look at all of those presents." Jessica whispered. All of the adults sent the kids upstairs to busy themselves. The adults were wrapping presents, and were clueless that Meg found a secret passage that allowed the kids to spy on them.
"Looks like you got that new broom Skylar." Tim whispered back, to the three chatting girls.
"Hey Jess, Lorna is wrapping something for you." Max informed her.
"What's it look like?"
"Can't tell, I can just read the card, 'To Jessica Ely, from Santa Claus.'"
"Santa Claus? I thought he was fake?"
"What do you mean he's fake? Then who are all of those presents from? The tooth fairy?" Erica exclaimed, not being able to keep a straight face. She started cracking up and gasping for air.
"Kids! Are you ready to go?" Sirius screamed up the main staircase. Erica, Meg, and Skylar scrambled out of the secret passage. Skylar stopped to kiss the sleeping Tory on the head.
"Night kiddo." He turned over and started sucking his thumb.
"We wish you a happy Christmas, we wish you a happy Christmas, we wish you a happy Christmas and a Merry New Year." The kids sang. The older ones(fifth year to nineteen) had a few too many butterbeers, and were carrying the chorus. It was the next day, at 10pm.
"How many did you guys drink?" Jessica asked.
"Umm..." Tim started to count on his fingers. "I need more fingers." She shook her head and went over to the big tree.
"This is the biggest pine tree I've ever seen." She said outloud.
"This is small compared to last years. Uncle Sirius had to cut off the top to fit. The top alone was 5 feet tall." Max said coming up behind her.
"Really? That's how big our normal trees are. How come those lights look like they are moving?"
"Cuz they are faeries."
"Oh." She started looking at the ornaments. "Is there any significance to these?"
"Every year we get a new ornament for Christmas. This was mine last year." Max showed her a heart frame with two sets of pictures. "The ones on the left are my grandparents, the others are my parents."
"They look alike, except for the eye color."
"Yeah. I never met my grandparents on my dad's side, only my mom's. My dad never met them either. Sirius told me stories when I was little."
"You're not alone. I've never met my parents, grandparents, or great grandparents." Max looked down at his feet. Jessica circled the tree looking at all of the ornaments. "There are a lot on here, when did the tradition start?"
"When Skylar was born. Professor Black started it with us."
"Cool. What are some of your other ones?"
"This one, and this one, and this one...oh and this one. I got this one for my first Christmas, and Skylar gave me this one after I lost my first tooth. She hit me with her bludger bat when she was 8." The ornament was a gold tooth.
"I'm gonna go talk to Skylar."
"Hey Jess, what's up?"
"Nothing much, just getting away from Max and the history of his ornaments."
"Well, mine are alot interesting."
"Like what."
"Well see that heavy looking rock thing towards the bottom? Well that's a ceramic paw print of my dad's. He is an animagus. My first ornament is a lock of my hair. I use to have really pretty long hair. Now it's this."
"Well, I like your hair now."
"Really? Well, my parents don't, and I'm getting bored with it now."
"And here's the last present to Sirius and Joanne." Hermione picked the card out from the tree and handed it to the two. Sirius opened it and read it out loud.
"I know you didn't like it all that much when I came home after the accident with the Blue Dye Bubblegum, but I'm making it up to you. Happy Christmas and a Merry New Year. Love Skylar." Sirius looked up and around the room, Skylar wasn't in the room. "Skylar?"
"Here I am." She came out from the hall, her hair back to normal, but to her shoulders, no blue streaks in sight. No one noticed it before because she was wearing a Santa Claus hat.
"Skylar! You're hair!" Joanne rushed up to her and hugged her.
"That's what you said before."
"I love you so much. But you didn't have to do this!"
"I didn't? Can I change it back then?"
"No!" Sirius and Joanne at the same time.
"Oh and Dad, you're other present is in the backyard."
"Let me guess, the motorcycle that I've been missing for six months?"
"Uh, maybe." Skylar grinned. Tim walked over to her and pulled her hair. "What was that for?"
"To see if it was a wig or not."
"Skylar! Timmy!" Erica said in a singsong voice.
"What?"
"Look up." They both looked up and noticed the annoying plant hanging above them.
"Mistletoe. The evilest plant in the world."
"Well you guys have to kiss now."
"No they don't." Sirius said, joining the circle around the two.
"It's tradition, Sirius." Joanne said coming up to him.
"With Skylar it isn't."
"Sirius, she's a teenage girl, and I'm sure she's done it before."
"If you all wouldn't mind, we would like to get this over with." Everyone stood watching.
"Ready?"
"As ready as i'll ever be." Skylar closed her eyes and bent foreward, Tim did the same.
"I'm finally getting to do this." They both thought as their lips touched.
"Okay, I think that's long enough. Skylar! Quit kissing him."
"I don't think you're suppose to kiss that long under mistletoe."
"They must have big lungs. It's been a whole minute."
"They don't have super glue on their lips do they?"
"If they did, it doesn't look like they are struggling to get apart."
"How long has it been now?"
"I don't know." Skylar opened one of her eyes, unknown to the rest, well except for Tim. She winked her eye and broke away from him.
"I don't see all the fuss about it. One little kiss." She walked away, smiling to herself.
"Five galleons that they make out later." Erica whispered to Meg.
"You're on." Meg and Erica ran after Skylar.
"How was it?"
"I'm not saying."
"Oh come off of it."
"I don't kiss and tell, go bug Tim." Skylar had a stupid grin on her face. Meg and Erica took her advice and went to Tim.
"How was it?"
"I'm more confused than before. I told her how I felt, she never told me how she felt. And now she just said it was no big deal. She is so hard to read."
"How was the kiss? You never said." Tim didn't respond though, he just sat staring at the ceiling and smiling.
"That good huh?"
"Don't tell her I said anything though, but it was heaven. Simple but really great." Tim got up and walked away, still smiling goofy.
"Doesn't she like him?"
"She's head over hells for him. I don't understand. I thought she told him."
"Maybe she did, but he didn't realize that's what she was telling him."