Author's note:

Home again! Ok now I really have to end this party. I hope this makes up for all the time I spent away from my precious fan fiction. Thanks to everyone who has encouraged me in some way or another, without your help none of this would be possible. Also thanks to those who said to have a good time in NZ, apart from the worst cold I ever had (don't you hate people coughing on planes?) the trip was the best ever. I can't believe the place was so green and beautiful!

-Alatariel Aldarian

"Have a nice dance Evie?"

Evie turned pink. "It's all your fault you realize?"

"Of course!" Char sat on the chair next to her. "But it was worth it".

"Yeah I guess". Evie grinned at her. "Met that special someone tonight?"

"No. They all seem to think without using their brains. At least all the one's I've spoken with".

"Pity". Evie watched some of their friends dancing. "What will we do with the punch?"

"Huh?" Char pretended she didn't know. "What about it?"

"Well someone spiked it and I know for once it wasn't the guys".

"It is?" Char still played the innocent. "How did that happen?"

"Char". Evie produced a bottle from the hidden pocket in her dress. "Can you explain?"

"Oh alright! It was me I confess! It was so much fun but!"

Evie grinned. "Pretty clever I admit".

"Like the distraction?"

"Yeah that was funny but I think Lessa liked it more!"

"GOING UNDER!" Lessa came rushing over screaming out the words to the song.

"Yeah GOING UNDER!" Char joined in and started a crazy dance with Lessa.

"Ok I'm just going to go over here for awhile until you lot get your minds back". Evie left them to it.

"Evie!"

Evie spun around and saw Cathy. "What's up?"

"Evie I am so going to kill you for putting up that Mistletoe!"

"Oh yeah well it wasn't my fault you know, I didn't hang it up".

"This is all your fault!" Cathy started shaking. "It was your fault!"

"Cathy?" Evie was feeling worried. "What are you on about? Has something happened?"

"I HAD TO DANCE!" Cathy started turning pink. "With him!"

Evie held a hand over her mouth to stifle her laughter. "How does this involve mistletoe?"

"Don't laugh!" Cathy begged her. "The mistletoe fell onto us as we danced!"

"Oh Cathy!" Evie choked on one of her laughs. "How awful! Are you okay?"

"Oh yes I'm fine, just PERFECTLY MORTIFIED! I can't show my face again!"

"Let me guess, someone saw you right?"

"Oh yes lots of people! Then the mistletoe started talking and it wouldn't let us go!"

"It talked?"

"Yes it talked!"

"What did it talk of and why was it talking?"

"Well of course it spoke only jibberish but still it tried to make…….."

"Yes?"
"I CAN'T SAY!" Cathy ran off in a hurry.

"Cathy!" Evie called after her.

"What's going on?" Nicola was standing beside her.

"Cathy's been mortified by mistletoe".

Nicola started laughing. "Should I be concerned?"

"Maybe".

"How does mistletoe mortify people anyway? I think it would more likely be the people under it wouldn't it?"

"Well I guess we'd better find this mistletoe in question".

"And what tell it to explain itself?"

"Well seeing as it talks that might be a good idea".

"It talks now?"

"On second thoughts lets find out later".

Laura was finding that as the night went on she was looking at the clock more and more. Time really didn't seem to fly when she was watching it, made even worse by her continuous glances at her present under the Christmas tree. After awhile she made herself stop.

"Laura!" Amanda was calling her back to reality.

"Yeah?"
"Laura, Char says we're going to open presents now!"

"Really?"

"Yes!"

"YAY! PRESENTS!" Laura lunged over to her one and picked it up before hugging it. "Yay!"

Amanda came over with her own green one. "Yeah!"

Alexis was standing off to the side with Joel. Laura noticed she was holding a framed picture and hugging it profusively.

"Wonder what he gave her for Secret Santa?"

"Oh that's easy; it's a signed picture of her favourite singer".

"How'd you find out?"

"I was over there a minute ago talking to Char".

"Cool!" Laura's fingers started twitching over the blue paper. "Oh what am I waiting for?" She ripped it open.

A long silvery blue cloak fell out into her lap. "OH!"

"Oh Laura!" Amanda knelt next to her. "It's beautiful! So silky and soft!"

Laura held it out and as she did so a silver necklace fell onto the floor and a matching bracelet.

Amanda's eyes were wide. "Laura!"

Laura put the cloak on and swirled around in it's folds. "It's wonderful! I always wanted a cloak!"

"Laura the colour is amazing! Just like the icy blue waters of rivers in the Glacier regions!"

"I think it might even be one of those ones that grow with you!"

"It might be!" Amanda felt the smoothness of the fabric with her fingers. "You have to show this to Evie!"

A tap on her shoulder as a present was slipped into her hand. "Merry Christmas Laura!"

"Evie! Oh Evie isn't the cloak wonderful! It came with silver jewelry and everything!"

"It brings out your eyes really well!" Evie grinned at her. "Just don't let that cat of yours get at it!"

Laura laughed. "He won't!"

"Go on Amanda, that present of yours isn't going to bite you know!"

"I know". Amanda opened her present. A green cloak just like Laura's fell out. Amanda's eyes watered. "Green is one of my favourite colours!"

"That green reminds me of fir trees in the sunshine mingled with the brightness of grass!" Evie looked it over. "It is pretty".

"It is!" Laura helped Amanda to put it on. "Did it come with jewelry too?"

Amanda felt into the paper and pulled out some jade rings and a necklace. "Yes it did!"

"Greenstone!" Evie nodded. "Just perfect with the cloak!"

Laura looked down at the present in her hand. "Oh I nearly forgot! Merry Christmas Evie!"

Evie laughed. "That's ok! Go on open it!"

Laura ripped the paper off before anyone could say 'Merry Christmas' and was overjoyed at the little toy cat that she found inside. "So you were my Secret Santa the whole time! That's what you meant by you'll see! Oh Thank-you!" Laura hugged Evie.

"I thought it looked like the cat you have at home, I know you miss him".

"I do, sometimes, but then I think about how he destroys things and then I don't feel so bad!"

Evie and Amanda laughed.

"Evie have you opened your present yet?"

"Well no I haven't, should I have?"

Amanda was looking at some of the names of the presents still under the tree. "Laura there's one for Sarah here even though she couldn't stay for the holidays!"

"Possibly a cloak for when she gets back". Evie replied. "You can borrow Merlin if you want it to arrive for her tomorrow".

"What's the bet it's yellow?" Laura picked up on the pattern. "I mean my paper was blue and Amanda's was green!"

Amanda pulled out Evie's present from amongst the small pile. "Here Evie".

"Thanks!" Evie shook it and scrunched up her nose. "Well that definitely doesn't sound like a CD player!"

"Wouldn't work at Hogwarts anyway and besides don't you already have one at home?"

"Yes but it's fun to make jokes". Evie started unwrapping it carefully.

"Just rip it!" Laura was impatient.

"Alright then". Evie ripped it open. Inside was a purple velvet covered book with a sparkling silver dragon on the cover. "Hey cool a book about Dragons!"

"You didn't get a cloak!"

"No of course I didn't Laura, I already have one in my trunk but I hardly ever wear it". Evie opened the book and started flicking through it. "Look at the sketches! They look like real dragons not just the cartoon ones and look at the colours!"

Amanda stared at it. "What a cool book! Can I borrow it sometimes to read?"

"Sure you can!"

"Cool!"

"Anything else in the paper?"

"I don't know, want to look and see?"

"YES!" Laura slipped her hand in and pulled out a silvery purple dragon pendant holding a crystal. "WOW!"

Amanda's eyes widened again. "Woah!"

"Hey cool!" Evie tied it around her neck. "That's just incredible!"

"Let's go and take Cathy her present". Laura pulled out a bright green and yellow present. "We can also show her what we got!"

"Yeah that's a good idea!" Amanda gathered up all her paper. "Coming Evie?"

"You know that's a really good idea Laura!"

Searching the dance floor Nicola saw nothing of the mistletoe. "Whatever happened?" She had to ask herself. "Where do I find this mistletoe?"

"Ouch!" Nicola had stepped on something or was it someone. "Watch where you're going will you!"

"I'm so sorry….. wha?"

"I believe you would be standing on my beautiful arrangement!"

"What on Earth?" Nicola jumped backwards.

"The name's Mistletoe and I resent that comment".

"You wouldn't happen to be the mistletoe that fell onto a couple of people who were dancing here are you?"

"Oh sure blame the Mistletoe why don't you! What is the most common form of Christmas end to the relationship? Mistletoe! We magical Mistletoes are so fed up with all this blaming! We should really start a union!"

"I was only asking you know".

"Yeah…right!"

"Stop being so childish!"

"You're talking to a Mistletoe you do realize?"

"Yes I do now do you want me to set fire to you or what?" Nicola had pulled out her wand.

"Did you or did you not read my tag? I'm fire resistant which means that I'm not a real Mistletoe and you can't set me on fire! Ha ha!"

"You think you're so smart? Well get this I'm taking you to be thrown into the lake with the giant squid!"

The Mistletoe sighed. "I am smart, even for a Mistletoe". It disappeared.

"Hey! Where'd you go?"

"Up here where you can't get me and I can't see you. Fair enough?"

Nicola looked up at the ceiling and saw the Mistletoe hanging just out of reach. "How'd you do that?"

"Mistletoes aren't just a centre piece for the Christmas decorations you know. We can perform limited magic as well as being quite the conversationalists".

"So why did you fall down onto the dancers?"

"Can't a Mistletoe have any fun around here?"

"Yes but.."

"But what? I was bored and those two were boring me stupid. I had to do something to spice it all up!"

"I see".

"Yes so in reality I was being nice which is something I am seriously going to have to regret!"

"So can you tell me what happened?"

"Oh I can tell you anything but it's more a question of do I want to?"

"Please!"

"Fine! Just to make you silent but I'm warning you I'm not being nice here!"

"Thank-you!"

"Humph! Well there they were dancing, I was up here watching. It was pathetic! They were both way too shy so I took pity on them and cast a romance spell. The guy he got the idea, leaning over and whispering the traditional Merry Christmas. The girl was like a tomato and it didn't help that everyone else had turned to watch".

"Go on".

"Patience is a virtue! I realized that something wasn't right so I fell onto the floor to cause a distraction but that didn't work because I fell onto them instead. Now she got all upset and ran off in a hurry to leave the poor guy feeling like a fool".

"Ok, is that all you have to tell me?"

"I can tell you many things but if you're referring to this particular topic, no"

"Alright then. I suppose I must say thank-you?"

The Mistletoe seemed offended. "Only if you have the knowledge of how to say it, which I doubt".

"Well thank-you very much for wasting my time and giving my friend something to be embarrassed about!"

"Aren't I wonderful then?"

"Forget it!" Nicola stormed off to find everyone.

Alexis opened her present from Joel and started screaming.

"What's wrong Alex? Don't you like it?"

"BACKSTAGE PASSES!"

Joel laughed. "Well hello my Dad practically owns the theatre he's performing at. We get to talk to him for longer than the media does. Isn't that cool?"

"JOEL!" Alexis hugged him before jumping excitedly around the room. "This is incredible! Oh my god!"

"There's more than just a ticket you know, see the framed picture?"

Alexis pulled the rest of the paper off. "A framed picture of Shannon! Oh Joel! Thank-you! Thank-you!" She started hugging the picture.

"I'm glad you like it Alex! The performance isn't until the summer holidays but I think that by then we can arrange for you to come and stay with my family for a couple of weeks. You'd get the guest bedroom of course!"

"I'd have to write to my family to ask them but they have to say yes, they have to!"

"Well if they don't I'll have to say something to them won't I?"

"Oh Joel I almost forgot!" Alex pulled out a dark blue present and handed it to him. "Merry Christmas!"

"You were my secret Santa?" Joel started unwrapping it. "Is this a coincidence or fate?"

"I don't care! I have my precious Shannon!"

"Oh wow you knew exactly what I wanted! A Shannon Album! How did you guess that I only had a burnt copy?"

Alexis stopped dancing around the room. "Because I've been into your room remember? I took a look at your CD collection when you weren't looking".

Joel laughed. "I expected something was up when my Shannon CD was first on the pile".

Alexis smiled. "Shannon is more important!"

"He is!" Joel started to lead her over to the Christmas trees. "Let's open more presents!"

"More Shannon?"

"There better be!"

"Oh good!"

"Perfectly Mortified!" Sobbing came from a nearby disused classroom. "I'll never get over this, never!"

Evie crept along quietly with Laura and Amanda until they came to stand right outside the door.

"I can never talk to him again!"

"Cathy?" Evie called out. "Cathy are you ok?"

The sobbing ceased immediately. "I'm fine!"

"Cathy!" Evie opened the door and walked in. "Cathy you're not ok!"

Cathy sat on the floor with her arms leaning over a low chair. "I said I was fine! I want to be alone!"

"We brought you your present Cathy!" Laura had followed Evie in. "Go on open it! It might be Frodo!"

"Frodo!" Cathy grabbed at it. "Precious!"

Evie looked to see where Amanda was. A small head peeped around the open doorway. "Come on in Amanda, she isn't going to hurt you!"

Amanda crept in silently to stand next to Evie. "Yes I know, I just didn't think she wanted us to be here that's all".

"Oh it's ok now". Cathy looked up at them. "It was just so embarrassing!"

"I bet it was". Evie sat down next to her on the floor. "Is it just me or is it cold in here?"

"It's cold now but I didn't notice it before when I came in". Cathy started to shiver.

"Let me". Amanda flicked her wand at the disused fireplace. Almost instantly a bright blue fire was sending jets of warm air in their direction.

Evie stared at her. "For a first year you're pretty clever! I didn't know that spell til after Christmas when I was a First Year".

Amanda shrugged. "Not really, I learnt that one from always watching my brother set fire to things".

Laura poked Cathy in the back. Cathy yelped. "OUCH! Hey what was that for?"

"Your present, go on open it up! I want to see what it is!"

Cathy rubbed where Laura had poked her. "Alright in a minute!"

"It might be Frodo". Evie helped to hurry her along.

Cathy ripped off the paper in frenzy. Inside was a beautiful green Elven cloak and a Frodo plushie. "FRODO!" Cathy hugged him.

"Look at the cloak!" Evie held it up for everyone to see. "It even has a replica brooch!"

"It's all shimmery!" Laura felt the fabric gently with her fingers. "It feels magical".

"Hello?" Nicola had walked in and joined them. "I heard what the mistletoe said by the way".

"Oh you did?" Cathy stopped hugging Frodo. "Did you crush it?"

"Um no but it did tell me a few things".

"Ok".

"Oh and Evie you're wanted outside, someone in a cloak". Nicola winked at her.

"What the?" Evie stood up. "Ok I'd better go see what drugs Nicola is on".

"Seeya!" Everyone called back as she left the room.

Evie's mind was jumping to conclusions. Who wanted to see her and why?

Halfway around the corner of the corridor a hooded figure stepped away from the wall to stand in her path. "Evie?"

"Can I help you?" Evie recognized it as the Gryffindor 3rd Year guy who had asked her to dance earlier.

"Well yeah you can actually, see I have this Secret Santa present to deliver and was wondering if you could direct me to an Evie Crikman. She's supposed to be in the 3rd Year same as me but well it would be way too easy if I just gave this to her, don't you think?"

"Well you found her alright". Evie looked at him strangely. "Have you lost your mind?"

"Not that I've noticed but then again since when does someone's brain say that they're leaving you?"

"Very funny!"

"I try to be now about that present!" He pulled out a bright purple wrapped present and handed it to her. "Tell her not to open this until I'm safely back in the party room and please no screaming, it ruins the effect".

"Um sure, ok".

"Excellent! Well Seeya Eve's! Merry Christmas!" He started to walk away in the direction of the party.

"You too!" Evie called back as he disappeared. When he was out of sight she stared at the present in awe and wonder. Why had he been so mysterious? He hadn't been wearing the hood before when she'd been made to dance with him so why was he wearing it now?

Her fingers itched to uncover at least one mystery, what was inside the present? "Crazy!" Evie started to unwrap it. "The guy's a complete nutcase! Wha?"

The paper fell away to reveal a little purple box with a silver ribbon wrapped around it. Carefully she lifted up the lid and peeked inside.

Her eyes caught on a beautiful silver and crystal necklace in the shape of Arwen's Evenstar. Attached was a note 'Can't be an Elf without the final touch'.

Evie wanted to fall over and faint, this must have cost the guy a lot of trouble to find and how had he known she was going to be an Elven Lady at the party?

The only answer that came to mind was Char. Char must have said something or known. Where was Char?

Char and Lessa were at this point in time opening their presents from under the Christmas tree.

Char was about to open a red and black wrapped one and Lessa had already started on a black and white one.

"I hope it's Evanescence!" Char started to rip it open.

"EVANESCENCE!" Lessa had already torn the paper off and was drooling over a large poster of John Lecompt.

"Hey don't get drool all over John's face!" Char laughed at her. "You might destroy all his features".

"Not from my mind!" Lessa continued to obsess. "John! Mmmmmmm!"

"I would ask you to explain what you mean by that but I don't really want to go there".

"John!"

"Yay more socks to destroy and turn into arms!" Char started smiling. "And look more Evanescence!"

Lessa stopped drooling over John and looked over. "Amy Lee poster! You have to hang that up!"

"We have to hang up more Evanescence clippings! 500 is not enough!"

"We need more Amy! John!"

"But where do we find more room to hang this up? Both our wall and ceiling space is already covered!"

"Evie hasn't got anything on her wall space yet; maybe you can put stuff up there?"

"You know, that's a good idea! We should ask her".

"You haven't given your secret Santa yet have you?"

"No but it's in our room next to your bed. I say only one word 'laminated'!"

"Is it John? Why is he laminated?"

"You'll see!"

"DID YOU LAMINATE JOHN? WHY DID YOU LAMINATE HIM?"

"Well I couldn't let him be destroyed".

"Who are you laminating?" Evie came over clutching a purple box.

"She laminated John! John!" Lessa started drooling again.

"I gave her a laminated John Lecompt cardboard cutout for her Secret Santa present".

"I thought that was just a joke when I saw you carry all that cardboard up the stairs, I didn't know you were serious!"

"Well I was and he's there, waiting for Lessa".

Lessa was rocking backwards and forwards.

"Anyway how's it going Evie? Good party? Nice dance?"

"You knew didn't you?" Evie showed her the box. "You told him that I was going as an Elf!"

"Well did I now? I can't remember! Lessa did I know about this?"

Lessa paused her rocking for a second. "Yes".

"Ok I knew about it then. He didn't know what to get you so he asked me, didn't seem to think he could trust the others but then again I'm just as crazy as they are". She started laughing.

"Well thank-you Char, it's beautiful! Tell him that if he asks".

"Well go on put it on".

"Aright then". Evie removed her other necklace to make room for the Evenstar.

"Excellent! Looks good!" Char nodded.

"We're going to have to end this soon aren't we?" Evie looked around at the people still opening presents.

"Maybe".

Evie yawned. "I'm getting so tired. I know I'm going to be awake early tomorrow".

"Presents!" Lessa cried out.

"Oh I almost forgot to ask, can Lessa and I hang this poster up on your wall space? We've only got room for the one of John".

"Um ok but hang it on the ceiling. I might be getting some posters tomorrow".

"Thank-you!" Lessa hugged Evie. "Yay Evie is nice!"

"Um, well I try to be, I guess".

"Lessa you have to give your Secret Santa his present don't you?"

"Yes".

"Then let's find him then!"

"Ok".

Donna was sitting with several people of her own year as they opened presents. She was happy with what she had been given, who wouldn't get excited over a Orlando Diary and several other related items.

She'd been surprised when one of the guys she was sitting with had handed her a present with a grin and a 'Merry Christmas!' but she wasn't surprised to find that the present was a giant poster of Orlando. At that point she was willing to hug him.

She wasn't jealous of the other girls who had come as fairies since most of them had come over to beg for the charm that kept her wings moving. Being a nice person she had told them and now all their wings were moving too.

She'd had fun and was deciding whether or not to end the festivities and head on back to Gryffindor tower to finish up with her last minute Christmas wrapping before her other room mates (Laura and Amanda) came back.

A yawn shortly after made the decision for her. "Seeyas later!"

"Seeya Donna!"

"Merry Christmas!"

"Thanks for the charm!"

"You too!" Donna walked past Alexis and Joel on her way out.

"Donna guess what Joel got me!"

"I don't know, Shannon?"

"HE GOT TICKETS TO SEE SHANNON IN CONCERT!"

"Oh wow! Cool!"

"I KNOW I KNOW!"

"That's really great! I bet you guys are going to have so much fun!"

"Damn straight!" Alexis was jumping excitedly again.

"Hey Alex have you told everyone yet?" Joel was laughing.

"No but I will! Seeya Donna!"

"Seeya". Donna watched them go before finally exiting the room and heading up to Gryffindor Tower.

Halfway along the corridor she spied Evie. "Hey Evie!"

"Hey Donna, you heading back to bed?"

"Yeah probably".

"I'll come with you then but we have to be careful. I just saw Mrs Norris sneaking around".

"Shouldn't you warn everyone that Filch might appear?"

"I was about to ask you to wait just a sec so I could do that".

"Ok but be quick!"

"I will!" Evie dashed off.

A few minutes later she was back. "Had to use a spell on my voice to get them all to hear what I was saying". She muttered. "Most of them won't be leaving until Char says it's all safe anyway so there shouldn't be any problems".

"I hope not. It would be awful if Filch caught anybody!"

"Well as long as they stay in the room it should be ok, I even heard some of them talk about sleeping out there for tonight".

"That's a cool idea! Do you want to?"

"Me? No I'd miss my bed too much besides the party is still in full swing for some of them back there".

"Yeah".

"Get some cool stuff from the tree?"

"Lots and lots of Orlando!"

"Cool! You so have to show me tomorrow, I mean later on today".

"I will then, what did you get?"

"I got some dragon stuff from the tree and this necklace from some guy".

"It's just like Arwen's Evenstar!"

"Yeah".

"Cool! Do you remember the password Evie?"

The fat Lady was asleep in her portrait. "Hello?" Evie woke her up with a start. "Mistletoe".

"What? Oh yes the password! Shouldn't you both be in bed this time of the night?"

"Yes but it's a special night". Evie replied. "Merry Christmas!"

"Merry Christmas to you too!" The portrait door opened.

"Let's go Donna".

They said goodnight when they reached the First Years dormitory and Evie headed up the stairs to her room on her own.

The room was freezing when she walked in, no wonder since the window was open. "Cold!" Evie cried as she reached out for her jacket. Merlin was sitting on her bed making hooting noises. "Merlin? What the?"

Merlin stared up at her with his large amber eyes reproachful. "Merlin it's not like I'm not glad to see you but what are you here for?"

Merlin shook one of his legs to show her that a note was attached. "Oh I see a note, ok just let me untie the cords so that you can fly up to the owlery". She reached for her cord knife and cut it quickly. Merlin hooted before flying out the window.

Evie opened the note. 'Evie, Merry Christmas! Glad you like the necklace'.

"As if I wouldn't!" Evie placed the note in the top drawer of her beside table before getting up to close the window. "The others are going to be freezing when they come back!"

The door opened and Nicola came in yawning. "Why is it so cold in here?"

"Because the window was open". Evie changed into her pyjama's and fell into bed.

"Oh ok". Nicola changed and climbed into her bed. "Did one of us leave it open?"

"I think it might have been opened by Merlin but I'm not sure".

"Ok". Nicola yawned again. "Merry Christmas I guess".

"Yeah it is now isn't it?"  Evie grinned. "Night Nicola!"

 "Night!"

Evie pulled her curtains closed before falling asleep.

Ok well now that is over. Hopefully I didn't go overboard on the Mistletoe.

It has been suggested to me that maybe I should re-write sections of this story and make them as a separate story with a much higher rating. I don't think I will at the point because I sort of like keeping my characters 'innocent'. Trust me I've seen what R-rated fiction can do to people, it totally messes them up!

I mean I can't say certain words around them anymore for fear of them being taken the wrong way.

Cathy you know of which I speak and don't say 'lies'.

Your thoughts on this is welcome as are any requests. Anyway thanks for reading.