Chapter Twelve

Gwen was putting the finishing touches to the Christmas presents, she'd brought.

She'd got a sewing kit for Nancy, "How to Make a Meal out of Anything," for Maggie and "Muggle Activities: Fishing by I.Gota Bigun, for Arthur.

There was also a bag of sherbet lemons for Dumbledore, Hermione had told her that he was quite partial to them.

Then for Professor Trelawney, she'd brought a new shawl, which sparkled every time, any light hit it. She hoped that it wouldn't blind people, when Trelawney wore it.

"Jasper!" Gwen called out of the window.

Her owl appeared moments later, waiting for her next order.

"Here, these are for Arthur, Nancy and Maggie," she bundled the 3 packages in a tight parcel and handed it to Jasper.

"Do you think you can find them?" Gwen asked, looking at the owl struggle with the heavy bundle.

The owl hooted and nipped Gwen's finger, to reassure her.

"Oh and when you come back.," Gwen said, shaking a box of owl treats, she'd picked them up in Hogsmeade.

The owl hooted and set off, gripping the presents tightly in it's claws.

"Be careful," Gwen yelled after the bird. She could see him, bobbing up and down from the extra weight.

I'd better give these to everyone, Gwen thought, piling the other presents in her arms. Christmas Day was tomorrow.

Most people had already gone home and the snow was falling thick outside the castle. She hurried to Dumbledore's office and said the password, "Bumblebee," the door slid open and she walked in.

Dumbledore was standing by the window, Fawkes perched on his shoulder.

"Gwen, what can I do for you today?" Dumbledore asked, turning around.

Fawkes flew around the room a few times before settling back on the window still.

"Oh nothing really. but here," she said nervously, placing the present on the desk.

Dumbledore eyed the purple package before taking it and looking it over.

"Thank you Gwen. It was very nice of you. It isn't a book, is it?" Dumbledore said, tapping the package with his knuckle.

"No.," Gwen giggled, "I hope you like it. Happy Christmas."

"Happy Christmas," Dumbledore replied.

She quickly rushed down the corridors and made her way up to the West Tower.

"Professor Trelawney!" Gwen called out.

She paced around the room, looking behind the many glittering curtains, scattered everywhere.

But Professor Trelawney seemed to be missing.

Gwen sighed and walked up to the main desk which Trelawney used and put down the bright green packaged present down on it.

***

Gwen woke up the next morning, feeling worried. Jasper hadn't returned yet and she was sure that she shouldn't have let him gone with that heavy bundle.

As she thought this, she heard a loud hoot and Jasper was there, tapping on her window. She quickly rushed and let the exhausted bird in.

He dropped a large parcel into her hands before swooping down onto her desk and pecking at the owl treats which had been left open.

Gwen grabbed the present, unravelled it and three packages fell out. She then noticed at the end of her bed, there were another 2 packages on the floor.

She picked them up and placed them next to her other presents. She'd looked at them for a second, wondering what was inside them.

When she'd been with Carrie, she known what all her presents were before she'd opened them, they were books.

Everyone just seemed to give her books; no wonder, she'd turned into a book worm.

Annabelle had always gotten clothes and pretty things, probably why she turned out the way she did.

All girly and pretty; Gwen winced and imagined what Carrie and Annabelle were doing right now.

They'd probably be in front of the tree, picking a present for each other to open; Annabelle would always cough if you didn't pick the one she wanted.

One year, Gwen had just asked her to pick which one she wanted but Annabelle had batted her eyelids sweetly and replied that she had to pick for her.

Gwen had picked the wrong one.

She chuckled when she remembered Annabelle's face but decided to put thoughts of her past life out of her head and try and get on with her present one. She turned to face her presents.

First she picked up a blue package with a red bow, she read the card:

"Dear Gwen,

Happy Christmas. I know that you don't have one of these and that you might need one for the future. I made it myself, I hope you like it.

Nancy. xxx.

P.S. Hope that Jasper arrived safely."

She slowly unravelled the parcel and revealed a long black cloak with a deep red lining. She held up the cloak and found that, it was feather soft and light for it's size.

Gwen knew that Nancy was a talented seamstress but this was magnificent. She pulled it around her shoulders and settled back onto her bed, ready to open another present.

She picked up a heavy jar shaped one and tore away the paper.

It was a biscuit jar and Gwen licked her lips, she was a bit peckish.

She opened the jar and reached in but only pulled out a slip of paper. Inscribed on it was Maggie's graceful hand writing:

"To Gwen,

Happy Christmas, sweetheart! I know you may be wondering why there aren't any biscuits in this jar; well first you need to tell the jar what kind of biscuits you would like. All you do is place your hand on the lid and say "Munchius.," and then the name of the biscuit. I recommend the custard creams and the digestives.

All my love, Maggie.

P.S. Is Jasper fine? We were a little worried, when he collided with a tree because he couldn't quite get up in the air. I bet the biscuit jar was too heavy, oh dear."

Gwen glanced over at the owl, who was now, sleeping, having filled up on owl treats.

She smiled and replaced the lid and said in a loud voice, "munchius custard creams," she lifted the lid again and the jar instantly filled with the specified biscuits; she picked one out and stuffed it into her mouth.

It was delicious.

The last package that Jasper had brought was suspiciously in the shape of a book. She picked up the note attached and read:

"To Gwen,

Merry Christmas. I hope you are well. I'm sorry you couldn't spend your first Christmas with us, here at Scarlett Wood.

I hope you like the present I got you; I had one myself when I was your age. It's password protected, very helpful, I've found. You begin by writing in a password and when it's accepted, you start writing down, whatever you like. When you're finished, just close the book. Then if someone opens the book and doesn't have the right password, they will not be able to read anything you have written. Very clever invention, I've always thought.

Alfred.

P.S. I hope we didn't kill Jasper."

Gwen laughed softly and opened the present.

It was a book but it wasn't meant for reading, it was for writing in.

It was brown leather with the words, "Gwen's Journal," embossed on the front. She opened the book and in curvy writing appeared "Password?"

Gwen thought long and hard but couldn't seem to settle on one.

She then started to play with her necklace absentmindedly and it struck her; she quickly scribbled down, "eternity."

The writing faded and the book was blank, ready for words. Gwen decided she would write in it later and closed it.

She swiftly moved onto the rest of her presents.

She picked up a sparkly green box and guessed it was from Professor Trelawney, without even looking at the tag.

"To Gwen,

Happy Christmas. I predict you will need these in the near future. Also, thank you for the present.

Sybil Trelawney."

She opened it and found a box of mystical teabags, "guaranteed predictions every time," the slogan read. She placed it on her desk and thought she might try them later.

The last present was long and thin, covered with bright red wrapping paper. She tore the paper away and revealed a wooden box, with a note attached to it.

"Dear Gwen,

Happy Christmas. Thank you for the sherbet lemons, I was running out. I remember you saying that your quills were constantly going missing; this is unacceptable, how can a teacher's assistant perform well without a quill. I hope you will not lose this one.

Yours, Albus Dumbldore."

Gwen opened the box and found a quill, but it wasn't a normal feather; it was a phoenix feather.

She wondered if the feather had come from Fawkes. She closed the box and went to put it with the rest of her presents.

She stroked the sleeping Jasper and he cooed sleepily.

As she peered out of the window, she suddenly felt very alone, so, she decided to go and visit the Gryffindors.

Who ever heard of feeling lonely on Christmas Day?

She rushed out of her room, then rushed back in and grabbed her biscuit jar. She felt like a snack on the way there.

***

"Gwen!" Hermione yelled, running up to her and giving her a big hug.

"Hi," Gwen asked, taken aback by the cheerful Hermione.

"So, what did you get today?" Hermione giggled. She seemed unusually happy today.

Gwen looked over to see Ginny and Ron sitting by the window.

They were each holding up a large red sweater each, with a Gryffindor lion on it. The red clashed very badly with their hair.

Ron looked up and saw Gwen, he beamed at her.

"Hi Gwen," he said, throwing the jumper onto one of the armchairs.

"Nice jumper," Gwen replied.

Ron groaned and walked up to the pair.

"What's that?" Ginny asked shyly.

"Oh," Gwen said, remembering her jar, "it's a magic biscuit jar."

"I saw one of them in Hogsmeade," Ron said excitedly. Gwen could see the biscuits in his eyes.

"Here, try it," Gwen said, handing the jar to Ron.

He took it quickly and with Ginny, the pair started to ask for every biscuit type thinkable.

"Where's Harry?" Gwen asked, looking around the room.

"He's upstairs in his room.he's been ages," Hermione replied, observing the mad biscuit conjuring scene.

"I'll go get him," Gwen called, walking up the stairs.

"Hmm.ok. hey, let me try," Hermione shouted, walking over to Ron and Ginny.

***

"Knock, knock," Gwen said, rapping on the door.

"What? I mean, come in," Harry's voice said. It sounded a little annoyed.

Gwen pushed open the door and found Harry sitting on his bed, with his back to the door. Lying next to him was some wrapping paper and a bright yellow bow.

"What you doing?" Gwen asked, edging closer.

Harry turned and seeing Gwen, leapt up, "Gwen, I didn't think it was you."

"Well, Hermione had said you'd been ages. so, I thought I'd come and get you. What is that?" She asked, trying to see what was on his bed.

Harry walked to block Gwen's view, "umm. it's nothing," Harry said, his cheeks blushing.

Gwen fell onto Ron's bed and started to laugh, "lying is definitely not your strong point."

Harry ran a hand through his untidy hair and sighed. He stepped aside so, Gwen could see.

There on his bed was an assortment of objects; there was a toothbrush, toothpaste, hair brush, quills, parchment, blankets and a wide variety of other things.

"What's all this?"

"A Christmas present," Harry replied, collecting everything together.

"For who?"

"Umm. Sirius," Harry mumbled, before trying to wrap the bundle.

Gwen looked at the pitiful scene, "let me do it."

Harry sighed and made way for her.

Gwen quickly started to rearrange the objects in a more orderly fashion, before wrapping the paper around it.

"I think, I'll leave the bow," she said, throwing the sickly thing into the bin.

"Thanks," Harry said, picking up the large package.

"Could I borrow a quill and some parchment?" Gwen asked.

"Why?"

"I want to write an apology to Sirius about the other night," Gwen replied sheepishly.

Harry nodded and indicated some quills and parchment on his desk. Gwen picked them up and scribbled quickly.

When she'd finished, she handed the paper to Harry, who placed it with the package. He then picked up a piece of parchment and a sugar quill and started to write a quick note.

When he'd finished, he shoved the piece of paper with the present and then handed the whole thing to Hedwig.

She'd been sitting quietly on the window still; she obviously knew that Harry wanted to send something.

"We'd better get downstairs," Harry said, before walking out of the door.

***

When Gwen got downstairs, she found Ron, Ginny and Hermione, all looking a little ill.

"Here. I've had enough," Ron said, handing back the biscuit jar.

Gwen took it and looked inside, there was one double chocolate chip biscuit left at the bottom of the jar.

She picked it up and put the whole thing into her mouth. It was better than the custard creams.

After conjuring a few more biscuits and devouring them all, she walked over to the rest of the group.

Ginny had gone to lie down; she had said that she was about to explode, due to the amount of biscuits she'd consumed.

After a few minutes, the Weasley twins came in and started to relate their newest adventure to the foursome.

It involved their new invention "Runaway Tongue," a mug of hot chocolate and Professor Snape.

Gwen looked around at all the happy, smiling faces and for once, didn't regret being a witch.