Chapter 37: Christmas
Lily woke up early on Christmas day. The sun was just beginging to peak up and a light snowfall was hitting the earth. Lily opened up her window and wonderful smells wafted into her room. Lily smiled to herself and then pulled on her lilac colored robe and stuffed her feet into purple slippers and hurried downstairs. Her parents were already sitting downstairs at the table and sipping hot coffee.
"Happy Christmas." Lily said sitting at the table.
"Happy Christmas pet." Lily's Father said smiling. Minutes later Petunia came into the kitchen. She looked her usual ugly self and was just as moody as ever. The Evans gathered around their Christmas tree and opened up their presents. Lily's Mother kept snapping pictures like crazy and held a warm cup of coffee. Lily got a quick notes quill from Faith. Clothes, books and music from her parents, A butterfly hair clip that looked like a real butterfly and actually flapped its wings.
"Lily dear you have another." Lily's mother said slidding another present over to her daughter. Lily looked at the small purple wrapped box. She opened it a found a ring inside. It was a beautiful silver and had butterflies surrounding it. There was a card at the very bottom of the box. It read:
I saw this and thought you would like it
The butterflies change color with your mode.
Be sure to come to the New Years party
-James.
"Who is it from Lily?" Lily's Father asked.
"Just a friend." Lily said smiling in spite of herself.
Sarah pulled the blue ribbon off of a box her parents said had just arrived for her. Sarah's parents were seated in large armchairs in front of the fire, glasses of wine carefully poised in their hands. Sarah lifted the lid off the box and gasped.
"What is it Sar?" Sarah's father asked looking at her.
"A kitten." Sarah said reaching into the box. It was a kitten that looked exactly like Sasha except for the tail had a dark purple tip. Sasha picked up the card at the bottom of the box as the kitten climbed playfully out of the box.
Faith wanted to write the card but I would't let her. This is from both of us. We saw it at the last Hogsmede trip and had them deliver it on Christmas. Hope you Like it!
-Lily, and Faith
Sarah cracked a huge smile and rubbed the kitten between its ears. Sarah opened up another present that was close by. Inside it was a beautiful leather bound book and a large book of poetry.
"Oh my that's nice who is it from?" Sarah's mother asked seeing the leather bound book. Sarah read the card.
Saw this book and instantly thought of you. I imagined your fine flowy letters dancing across its pages and knew you would love it. Faith and Lily told me that they got you a kitten. I've also enclosed a necklace my mother gave me before she died.
All my love, Remus
Sarah blushed slightly at the gift and pulled out the necklace. It was a beautiful half moon shape that glowed a light blue. It hung off a silver chain that seemed to sparkle.
"Wow that's a mighty fine gift." Sarah's father said.
"I know...it's from my boyfriend." Sarah said softly putting on the necklace.
Faith yawned as she stumbled down the stairs and into the living room of her home. The Weasleys were already seated down on the couch with her father.
"Happy Christmas." Faith said through another yawn and plopped herself in front of the fire place, facing the tree. Bill and Charlie clambered off the couch and raced into Faith's lap. Faith let them sit on either knee (shes sitting cross legged) and reached for a present. It was from her father and it was more muggle music. Her father was always giving her one gift that was a muggle thing. This year he had gotten her 2 Aerosmith cds and a Beatles cd. Faith smiled and knew she would be blasting them on her cd player later. Bill then handed her a gift.
"From Charwee an me." Bill said giving her a big smile. Faith opened it a discovered a box, inside the box was a dragon miniature.
"You wike dawgons?" Charlie asked pointing at the gift. ( I'm guessing he'd be about 4 or 5 and if you have been around some kids you know they still talk like that)
"I love dragons." Faith said giving them a big hug. In her other gifts there were a book, from the Weasleys, a new silver cross from Sarah ,a new watch from Lily. (Faith has an obsession with knowing the time) and some other assortments from her father and grandparents. Faith gathered all her gifts and was prepared to put them all in her room when her father stopped her.
"Theres one left." Faith's father said pushing the last present towards her.
"Can me open it?" Bill asked. (Who is older I forget....Charlie is right?) Faith nodded and Bill tore at the wrapping paper. A book lay on the ground in the shards of the wrapping paper. Faith lowered down and picked it up the cover read: 101 pranks for the everyday life. Faith opened the book and read on the inside cover:
I think the title should be 101 ways to make a Slytherin' s life Hell
Make good use of the book! Hope to see you at the New Years Party.
-Sirius
Faith chuckled and placed the book on her bed when she went upstairs.
Remus pushed aside the full moon dart board Sirius and James had gotten him for Christmas and reached for the gift that was wrapped with sparking paper. Remus opened his last present as he heard the sound of his father apparating to work. 'At least he stayed to open most of them...unlike last year' Remus thought. Underneath the sparkling wrapping paper was a book. It looked rather plain looking. Remus opened it up and saw that all its pages were full with writing. Remus opened it up to the first page and read:
Remus, A book of my poetry for you to look at when we're apart. I filled it to the brim with my thoughts and feelings. Hope to hear and see you soon.
Much love, Sarah
Remus grinned widely. He got up wrote Sarah a big long letter, made a cup of hot chocolate and then settled down to read the book in front of the fire.
Sirius was shocked to see a card with the Black crest on it. Upon opening it he discovered it was from his grandmother (who always favored Sirius) and not his parents. The letter told him how much his grandmother missed him and how much hes probably grown. Also inside she included her ring. It was an old ring that was supposed to be passed down to his mother but never made it. The ring had a sparkling silver band and a medium sized diamond. Engraved in the Diamond was a cursive B. On either side of the diamond was a small blue diamond. This was the prettiest piece of jewelry in the Black family. At the end of the letter it said : Give the ring to some lucky girl.
Sirius smiled and knew who he wanted to give it to.
"Nice ring." James said picking the ring out of Sirius hand.
"A little to feminine for my taste." Sirius smiled.
"No I think it suits you well." Alden Potter said laughing. His laugh soon turned into a whooping cough and Hannah Potter looked at her husband with worried eyes.
"Look at what the girls sent us." James said picking up a large book.
"The big book on getting out of trouble." Sirius said reading the title over James's shoulder. James opened the book. On the inside it read:
We hope this keeps you out of trouble for a while.
-Faith, Lily and Sarah
"Faith wrote it herself." James said nudging Sirius.
"I know." Sirius said smiling.
Serverus's Christmas was uneventful as usual. He did get his mother a necklace he had bought. He gave it to her before his father awoke. Serverus lay down on his bed staring up at the ceiling.
"Serverus." His mothers voice whispered out.
Serverus sat up. His mother came into his room quietly and placed two gifts at the side of his bed. She flashed him a weak smile then scurried off. The first gift was from his mother it was a book on Potions.
The other gift was from Faith, Lily and Sarah. Serverus held his breath as he opened it. It was a book on Defense against the Dark arts. 'How did they know I liked the Dark arts?' Serverus thought. Serverus ran his hand over the cover of the book and opened it. The inside read:
Serverus, Knew you liked Defense against the Dark Arts, even though you study more for Potions. There is also a small section on charms in the back. You could 'charm' your way through school. Ok, bad joke. Have a happy Christmas!
-Faith, Lily, and Sarah
Serverus smiled and ran his hand over the note knowing that Faith had taken time out of her day to write it. Serverus read half of the book and slept peacefully.
(A/N: Ok next two chapters are going to be the New years party....I want to tease you all a bit so I'll tell you this: You can expect a letter being sent and maybe a slap. I haven't decided about the slap yet. Review!)