Chapter 12.

Ayla's family was large, loud and growing by the second. She was one of five children and the only one who was not married with children. Much to her mother's annoyance. Beverley Jenson, Ayla's mother, was eager for her daughter to find someone to settle down with and be happy. Ayla had been working in that damn shop for nearly six years now and she still hadn't found a nice young wizard to look after her. Her mother could only conclude that Ayla wasn't looking hard enough. There were plenty of available Quidditch players, surely one of them had noticed how attractive her daughter was? The rest of her family shared this opinion and were forever trying to set Ayla up with someone.

"Hey everyone!"

Her family immediately crowed around her, pulling her into many different hugs. Once her mother had scrutinized Ayla's appearance "far too skinny, decent wizards like a bit of meat on a witches bones', it was back to business as usual. Namely Ayla's love life.

"So dear, any handsome young men show any interest in you at that party last night? Very good of you to go on Mike's behalf you know." her mother began the questioning. It was a time honored tradition, and no one messed with tradition.

"Just doing my job mum. And no, no knight in shining armour offered to whisk me away on his white horse."

Her mother smiled peaceably. "Well there's always next time dear. Do try to keep your eye out won't you? We don't want you ending up an old maid like your aunt Sylvia."

Ayla's sister Zara was smirking, this was never a good thing. Zara was the eldest sister and as such was always ready to tell tales on Ayla and their baby sister Tansy.

"That's not what I heard mum. I heard Ayla spent the night dancing with George Weasley. Seems they were quite close. Almost inseparable."

"For you information I was dancing with Fred Weasley, and he's just a friend before any of you start. Nothing more." Ayla shot her older sister a triumphant smile. Try to drop me in it, she thought, you haven't got a chance in hell.

"Ah don't worry Ayl' we all know that Zara's the one with the ginger fixation, not you." Tansy said patting her big sister's back for support.

"I'll have you know there's nothing wrong with being ginger" Zara started.

"Damn right!" her husband Darrell had joined the festivities. "Ginger and proud me." he smiled charmingly round the room and pulled Ayla into a hug. "How's it going kiddo? Got a man yet?"

"No Darrell, not yet. Guess I'm not as lucky as my sister to bag such a prize as yourself."

Darrell had the good grace to pretend that he was embarrassed by his sister in law's compliment, but everyone knew he loved the attention. It was why he and Zara had gotten on so well in the first place. Both of them loved attention, and they loved giving each other attention even more. It was quite sweet, in a sickening sort of way.

"Right then kids, time to dress the tree!" Ayla's father shouted. She mouthed a silent thank you to him for distracting the rest of the family from her love life. She knew it wouldn't last long though, and her father could be just as bad as the rest of them when he wanted to be. Gregor Jenson wanted the best for his children, but he knew there were some things you couldn't rush - and Ayla was one of them.

She laughed as she watched her young nieces and nephew drag their parents into the sitting room. Decorating the tree was a family activity, besides the children could still only reach the lower branches.

Ayla looked at her brother Parker, the second eldest of the Jenson children. Christmas wasn't his favourite time of year, his wife and son had been murdered around this time seven years ago, killed by Voldemort's followers. Ayla could still see the pain in his eyes, she pulled him into another hug. She knew how much he missed his wife Maylea and son Finn. Finn had been the apple of his dad's eye, and possibly the most adorable child Ayla had known. She left him alone, knowing it was what he needed. Parker gazed up at a portrait of his family, Maylea blew him a kiss whilst Finn waved at his father, a cheeky smirk plastered on his face.

Ayla entered the sitting room to find her other brother and two brother's in law, each with a child on their shoulders, running around the tree trailing tinsel behind them.

She sat down off to the side with her sisters and sister in law Chelsea, to watch the fun. Zara and Chelsea were busying gossiping about Glad-rag's latest collection of robes, and how the Paris branch differed from those in London and Hogsmeade. Fashion wasn't Ayla's thing so she left the two alone, choosing to talk to her baby sister Tansy instead. Although Tansy wasn't much of a baby anymore. She was married and expecting her first child in August. A fact which pleased their mother greatly - 'you can never have too many grandchildren'.

But Tansy wasn't all that much fun to talk to either. She was too busy watching her husband Goldie run around with his nephew on his back. Ayla could tell that Tansy couldn't wait for the time when her husband would be doing that with his own child.

"So come on Tans', is it a boy or a girl? You must know"

Her sister shrugged.

"You don't know?"

"Nope, Goldie wants it to be a surprise. If you want the truth I think him and Dad have bet on what the baby will be. You know what those two are like when they get together." her sister gazed lovingly in the direction of her husband.

Ayla knew exactly what they were like. Her father never missed an opportunity to make a wager. Even though his wife had forbidden him after he lost three house elves and a considerable amount of galleons betting, and losing, on fixed Quidditch games. And Goldie, Tansy's husband, was just as bad. He would often place bets on his father in laws behalf, because Gregor had been banned from every local wizarding betting shop. But boys would be boys she supposed.

"But what do you want? A little witch or a little wizard? Come on you can tell me" Ayla grinned hoping her sister would take the time to give her a sentence instead of one word answer, so as not to interrupt the oh so important gazing at her husband.

"A boy." well two words were better than one Ayla supposed.

"Why?" she ploughed on regardless, desperate to keep the subject of conversation away from her for the time being.

"Because he'll look like a miniature version of his daddy. And I think Goldie wants a boy too."

Ayla had suddenly run out of things to say. She had very little in common with her sisters. She was single, without children. She had a job, something no dignified married woman had. Especially if her husband had pots of money. In short, they were worlds apart.

"So Ayla you can't seriously expect us to believe that there isn't a young hot Quidditch stud out there that spends his nights lying awake thinking of you?"

She had to laugh at her sister in law Chelsea, the woman was mad and had an equally mad imagination.

"I bet there's a fair few who'd offer you a ride on his broomstick!" Chelsea also had a filthy mind and a mouth to match it.

"I'll be honest with you Chels' I don't know what goes on in their minds half the time, but I'm guessing its 'quaffle, quaffle, quaffle'. I could be wrong mind."

Chelsea looked at her skeptically, "So there's no one? Not one wizard out there that's caught your eye? Come on there must be one? What about that Wood guy? He's always in you're shop right?"

It was scary how much Chelsea knew. Ayla was sure she was some sort of Seer and not just connected to an amazingly fast gossip train. How could she know Oliver had been in? She didn't set foot in a shop unless it was at the height fashion, and certainly not a sports shop.

"Uh yeah, I think he comes in from time to time" Ayla tried to keep her face as neutral as possible as the memory of last night came flooding back to her.

"Time to time? Once a week, every week is more what I've heard. Apparently he's got a thing for someone who works in Diagon Alley. Wouldn't happen to know who hun?"

Dear Merlin that woman was scary at times. Ayla could tell by Chelsea's raised eyebrow and knowing look that she knew exactly where that person worked. She tried not to blush, she could feel three sets of eyes watching her. Scrutinizing her.

"Uh no. He hasn't said anything to me about this mystery girl." Ayla was sure she was stuttering. She raised her glance to the three women staring at her. All their faces had lit up, Ayla's on the other hand had dropped. She realized what she had just said. She had just landed herself right in it.

"Not that he would. Tell me that is." Ayla's brain was screaming at her to shut up before she incriminated herself any further.

"Yeah sure sweetie. Whatever you say." Chelsea's voice may have sounded trusting, but the expression on her face told Ayla she wasn't convinced.