A/N: OMG! I'm updating! The world is coming to an end! Well, my comp's been down, so I went back and looked at all my stuff to make sure it was all working okay, and ended up re-reading this! I wanted to keep going as promised, so here we go again!

Filius Flitwick's PoV

"No!" I screamed at Aurora Hooch, "Put it down, I worked too hard on that!"

She was holding a large china vase that I had spent weeks on end decorating. It's a prized possession of mine as painting was the muggle hobby I took up when Albus suggested I try to do something without magic as I was becoming far to attached to my charm work. The vase was a painstaking product of this hobby, and my best piece by far, and I'm overly protective of it. I need a pet or something that can listen to me when I talk to it because Minerva thought I was over-reacting to a tiny crack in the side (she had been the one to find me in the staffroom crying).

Aurora smiled wickedly as she raised the vase precariously over her head and, as I squeaked out in horror, smashed it with a huge BANG!

Wait, shouldn't it crash? Why did it 'bang'?

BANG!

Now, I was very confused. Trembling I opened my eyes, and saw about twenty tiny fireworks going off in front of my face! I squeaked loudly and toppled out of my bed onto the marble floor of my bedroom. This is a very rude awakening on Christmas morning. Well, it's a rude awakening on any morning, but I thought McGonagall might soften up a bit on the holiday! Just a bit! A teensy, weensy, microscopic bit! A my-sized bit!

Now fully awake, I looked up in time to see her walk out, closing the door behind her. I glared at the doorway, having missed my chance to tell her off. I quickly looked around for my precious vase and saw is safely resting on the dresser as usual. Cheerfully, I remembered it was Christmas which meant presents, no classes (a present in itself because it means I'll have nothing to grade), the Yule Ball, and staffroom carols!!!

I believe myself to be a very good singer, even if my voice is high-pitched. I was extremely popular among the younger staff in the 1960's and 70's. For some reason my abilities are not as appreciated as they used to be, but this has never bothered me.

I tried my hardest to resist skipping down to the Great Hall, and failed miserably. However, no one, staff or student, seemed to notice. Breakfast was exquisite, to impress the guests I suppose. I was going to take full advantage of the benefits of having guests: better (and more) food, and more fun! This year we had decided to decorate the Great Hall on Christmas Eve instead of Christmas Day so we wouldn't have to worry about waking up before everyone else.  I was having a hard time keeping my eyes off of them, and admiring my own work. Finally, Sophia Sinistra allowed me to brag about them to her. She said I had outdone myself and went back to sipping her coffee. By this time I had entered my usual "nothing can go wrong" mood, and was beaming at everyone in the room. Karkaroff, who was not used to my cheerfulness, looked very unnerved, but that didn't bother me. I was used to that kind of look from Severus and idly wondered if Karkaroff was a Scorpio as well.  Most Scorpios tend to suspect something sinister in people who are too cheerful, like myself, a contented Pisces. The Daily Prophet was dropped on my lap instead of in my plate for once and I gave the delivery owl some bacon in return. Immediately, I flipped to my horoscope. Confrontations with an earth sign, but an overall good day. Merry Christmas and don't get too drunk at the local pub!

Cautiously, I dug through my knowledge to prepare myself for the confrontation. Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn were the Earth signs. I sighed in relief, remembering Minerva's birthday falling in late August and realized it had already happened! However, the only 'local pub' I would be visiting today was the staffroom which has plenty of drinks for this particular occasion, I've never understood why.

After Breakfast ended, I raced to my rooms to gather the odds and ends that would turn into my presents for the rest of the staff this year. Let's see, a snitch for Aurora; a super effective parchment restorer for Sophia; a rare plant for Rosanne Sprout, mimblis mumbilia or something like that; the usual candy and assorted chocolates for Albus; Unbreakable potion bottles for Severus, so on and so forth. A flick of my wand wrapped and addressed them. They were balanced very precariously all the way to the staff room, but at least I didn't have to carry them. They followed me, stacked on top of one another from largest, Minerva's china set, to smallest, Rosanne's plant.

I opened the staffroom door to see most of my colleagues already there. Albus had been able to convince Alastor to come (I don't have a clue how) and the Aquarius Headmaster himself was watching the pile of strewn wrapping paper littering the floor grow ever higher.

"Ah! Filius, good! That should be everyone, as Irma decided not to join us this year and Minerva and Severus never attend." Albus said smiling and closing the door behind my floating tower of packages.

"Filius! Yes!" Rosanne shrieked as she raced to me, hugging me enthusiastically, "And your presents! I have one for you too!"

Presents: always good news, especially from a generous Gemini. Everyone seemed extremely pleased with my choices. I left Minerva and Severus's presents underneath the tree. Presumably they'd find them eventually. Minerva usually finds presents for us as well, but she prefers to spend Christmas listening to music curled in front of the fireplace with a romance novel. I don't know why I even get Severus a present.

Ten minutes later the singing had begun. We started with 'Jingle Bells', an all time favorite, then went on to 'Here Comes Santa Claus' and 'Merry Christmas Darling" followed by at least ten more, breaking only for sips of cocoa from Albus and Hagrid. This years' cocoa didn't even have an aftertaste! A definite improvement from last year when…. Oh, never mind, we all stopped choking and vomiting eventually. Suddenly, during a particularly high note in our special version of 'Holly Jolly Christmas' that no one in the room quite hit, we were startled by a tinkling sound that only breaking glass can make. We quickly repaired the window only to notice the mirror had suffered the same fate. I checked Minerva's present, but was relieved to see its packaging had protected it from the sound waves that had broken the glass elsewhere. We decided to end it there and prepare ourselves for lunch and the following Yule Ball.

The break between Lunch and the Ball gave me plenty of time not only to change, but also to string mistletoe throughout the castle where I thought it would be most useful. I was sure that the many remaining students would enjoy it. Just for fun, I put the last three in the Great Hall. I was sure that I could catch at least one couple in the middle of the Ball.

Then I retired to my own rooms to find places for my newly acquired tinkering tools. I love little gadgets, especially the kind that look interesting and do practically nothing. They present a puzzle to your imagination and keep you imagination active. They can also be pleasing to the eye. Albus had also gotten me a painting set, which I carefully stored on a low shelf so it would be easily accessible in the near future. All this took nearly an hour, combined with the time it had taken for someone of my stature to hang mistletoe throughout the castle, I had about half an hour before the Ball.

I changed into my distinctly patterned robes of lilac with different charms symbols imprinted lightly on the fabric and bronze clasp. I was one of the few members of the staff who could get away with wearing what I wanted to wear to an occasion like this. The rest of the staff says it's because I can find so few things to fit me that Albus doesn't object, but actually he approves of my professional taste. It's very similar to his own.

I made my way downstairs being careful to avoid the excited students, who were all taller than I am, and ran the perpetual risk of knocking me down. At eight o'clock exactly, the large doors of the Great Hall swung open and I followed the horde of students inside. Albus had told us of the seating arrangements before we began singing, so I knew where I was expected to sit, between Sophia and Rosanne. I was not complaining. I am exceptionally fond of them because of their outgoing positive natures so similar to my own.

As soon as everyone was seated I struck up conversation with Rosanne. She began by thanking me for the plant, which she had been wanting for months, and I happened to come across in a privately owned apothecary. We chatted idly, through our mouths and our stomachs, which were groaning to each other in hunger. Eventually we resorted to Christmas jokes. I started:

"What was Santa's favorite song in the stone age?"

"I don't know"

"Jingle Bell Rock" Rosanne laughed a bit, then proceeded with her own:

"What did Santa say when the reindeer asked for a break?"

"Pork Chops!" We both jumped as this was obviously not the right answer. When we saw Albus sit down. His plate full of Pork Chops, we both glanced at our plates and noticed small menus. We quickly picked them up and scanned them we agreed on getting the goulash. It was wonderful.

For the first time that evening Sophia turned to me and spoke.

"Mad-Eye is beginning to creep me out. He's been looking at Severus but talking to me this whole time. It's really disgusting." I cringed at the thought of the discomfort talking to Moody caused me when both of his eyes we boring into me. Only one eye for five minutes: that would be an absolute nightmare. Moody chose that exact moment to begin talking to Sophia again and the rest of the meal went by quietly until Rosanne finished. We began telling our jokes again.

I stood and applauded as the Weird Sisters trudged up to the stage prepared for them in the center of the hall. They seemed to be a highly emotional group from their radical clothes and hair. Very much like determined rebels, fighting for what they want. So wonderful to see young inspired people.

The champions were varied in their dancing skills. I settled to watch the dancers, being too small to dance decently with a partner myself. I have problems steering. Mr. Potter, a Leo in every way if I ever saw one, couldn't keep his feet in place and was very nearly treading on his partner, though she seemed to have been doing this for years. Young girls are more adept at this sort of thing. My own Roger Davies was not only tripping over his partners feet, but also his own. I felt a flush of embarrassment for my house, but quelled it before anyone noticed. At least Cho Chang and her partner were in complete control of their dance, as were Mr. Krum and his partner, whom I could not identify. Those two couples seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely. When more people came onto the floor, I took to watching them.

Hufflepuff and Gryffindor boys are, as a rule, less adept at dancing than the rest of the houses, but Gryffindor and Ravenclaw girls are the best. This rule proves true every time I watch the students dance. Now was, of course far from an exception. Ginny Weasley, invited by Mr. Longbottom, was attempting to retain her dignity and get a decent dance, while her partner tripped on everything, even the air, it seemed. Padma Patil, who had come with the youngest Weasley brother, was trying in vain to make her partner stand up, let alone dance. Mr. Malfoy seemed an exquisite dancer, however Miss Parkinson was having trouble moving around in her robes, that or she was stepping on her partners feet. Mr. Malfoy was turned the other way, sneering at no one in particular.

I smiled as some fellow staff members began taking to the floor. Sophia looked more jumpy than even Moody as she avoided his wooden leg while dancing uncertainly, though the vigilance race between them was very close. Rosanne had found a dance with Karkaroff, though he didn't seem interested in her and stepped on her feet numerous times without even noticing. The Headmaster was engrossed with Madam Maxime. The size difference was close to Rosanne versus myself. Minerva was readjusting Severus's hands. He looked like she was going to slap him for touching her hips. I knew in an instant he was being forced to dance, as he was always too nervous to dance. He has a problem with being to close to women for some reason, though he'd never admit it. Typical Scorpio.

The staff tables were loaded with snacks and an interesting punch. I couldn't place a flavor on it, but I liked it none the less and downed four glasses in a few minutes. A mixture of tangerine and strawberry with a hint of pumpkin I believe, but I still can't be sure.

Half an hour later and I had lost my favorite people to watch, though I had now seen six couples caught under the mistletoe boughs I had hung earlier, including Minerva, who had turned a deep pink when Severus pecked in her a very repressed, and un-romantic way. I had wished for a camera. Krum and his partner found themselves underneath one, as did Mr. Malfoy and Miss Parkinson. The affection from the latter pair was slightly one sided. Mr. Malfoy didn't seem to enjoy being slobbered on by an overgrown pug. I know that was a rude thought, and I shouldn't think those things, but it's a running joke among the staff.

A few more drinks and another dance and my head was beginning to spin. The fireworks this morning (Merry Christmas to you too, Minerva!) had woken me at the time, but I was tiring quickly. There was still one last dance, but I didn't feel I would be needed. Just then, however, a very bored Rosanne came up to me.

"You haven't been dancing, Filius." She said.

"I'm not all that good at partner dancing." I replied truthfully.

"Dumbledore managed Madam Maxime, and it doesn't really matter anyway." She seemed determined not to let the last dance go to waste. I finally agreed, as long as she steered.

Rosanne dances about as well as she sings. It varies on which note she is attempting to hit. She can swing dance you into oblivion, but her waltzes are a tad jumpy. The late hour was wearing on my mind, but I chatted and joked with her, to keep myself cheerful and awake. Rosanne never grates on my nerves. She's mutable sign, like me and we can talk forever without getting too bored. Besides she always has some juicy gossip.

When the band stopped playing, I bowed to her, so as not to be rude, then left in a hurry and fell asleep in my bed without even bothering to change, the music still pounding in my head.

A/N: IT IS HARD TO WRITE CHEERFUL PEOPLE!!!!! I am a Virgo. Cheerful and cool on the outside, but you do not want to know what goes on in my head.   That's why critical, sarcastic McGonagall and Snape are fun and easy for me to write. This chapter is the most challenging thing I've ever written, including school assignments. Hope you really like it. I wrote 2,598 words with only one snide comment. I believe this to be a record.

I would like the next chapter to be Moody, but I'm not sure if I want to do real Moody or fake Moody, so I'm leaving it up to you! The Reviewers! If no one reviews, I'll just do whichever is easier or maybe one of each and decide which one I like better!

I'd really like some feedback on this one because it took me three days! I promise to update more frequently

Also, if anyone has a better title, make suggestions. If anyone has ANOTHER title, make suggestions, I've always hated this one.

(meow!)