Chelsea got up and walked over to her husband Drake, Ayla's other eldest brother. Leaving Ayla gob smacked and stuttering.
"Bu- bu- but…" was all she could manage.
Her sisters both grinned at her and strode off to gather round the tree. Well that had gone off as well as a damp firework. She wasn't sure she could move, she was hung over (though not as much as she had been) and trapped in her parents house for at least three days, with no hope of escape. And she was pretty sure her sisters had just put two and two together and come up with marriage. This could only spell trouble. Or was that add up to trouble?
"Come on Aunty A." Her little nephew Bentley was jumping up and down in front of her. "It's time to put the star on the tree!"
Ayla allowed herself to be pulled up and stumbled to where her family was assembled around the tree. Her father had his wand out ready to levitate the star to the top of the tree. Ayla could feel her headache slowly coming back, a dull thumping at the back of her head, her knees felt weak. They couldn't know. Her family couldn't know what had happened between her and Oliver. She'd never hear the end of it. How handsome he was, how popular, how clean cut. She knew all that already and she knew it well. And of course they'd want to know everything. How long she'd known him? What they'd talked about. Everything. Including how close the two had gotten. How close were they likely to get? But the answer to that question she wasn't entirely sure of herself. They had kissed. And he had left. She knew she couldn't tell them that.
She could just imagine her family's reaction. Her brothers and brothers in law would disappear in an instant in order to beat, maim and possibly kill Oliver. Kiss little Ayla and walk off? He wouldn't deserve to live in their eyes. Her mother would of course rally round her, telling her she would get over him and that he wasn't good enough for her anyway. Dear Merlin she hoped that her sisters would be good enough to keep quiet. She locked her knees, standing up straight to stop her legs from shaking. She shot glances at her sisters, begging and pleading with her eyes, 'Don't say anything' she thought, 'Please don't say anything'. Her sisters seemed to understand, whether they would say anything was another matter. They lived to annoy one another and get each other in trouble. They always had done.
"Right then everyone, let's eat!" Ayla's mother clapped her hands together. The dreaded family meal. Oh joy.
They gathered round the table, her mother and father at either end, Ayla was flanked on both sides by her sisters. Both of whom were grinning like Cheshire cats. She took a deep breath and settled into her seat. She could handle this. Her mother flicked her wand at the kitchen door and the food began floating through it.
"Where's Mokey Mum?"
Mokey was the last of the family's house elves. To Ayla he was a part of the family, more than a servant.
"Oh we had to let him go dear. Not enough work for him with just me and your Dad to cook for." her mother replied as she began serving everyone with a gesture from her wand.
"But where's he gone? You didn't give him clothes did you?" Ayla asked anxiously.
"No, no dear. Of course not. He's gone to work at Hogwarts darling. I expect he'll be running the whole kitchen by now."
Ayla smiled, she was glad the elf that had been a friend to her when she was young was still doing something he loved.
"Speaking of work. How's the show going Goldie? I've tried to stay up for it a few time but you know what us old codgers are like" Ayla's father laughed at his own little joke. He was hardly what you would call old, especially by wizarding standards.
"It's going good Gregor. Really good. We've got some great guests lined up." Goldie beamed. He was the host of a late night talk show on the Wizarding Wireless Network. All the witches loved him, and all the wizards envied him for that fact. Fortunately he only had eyes for Ayla's sister Tansy.
"That's right, he's interviewing Oliver Wood after Christmas." Zara pitched in.
Here we go, thought Ayla, knowing her sister was just getting started.
"Should be an interesting show, wouldn't you say Ayla?" Zara smiled sweetly in her direction.
"I'm sure it will be. What with Puddlemere's success so far this year" Ayla was cool and calm. She was not going to let her sister get the better of her.
"Some people find him very attractive too. I'm sure you'll get loads of witches owling you about his love life darling. Don't you agree Ayla?" Tansy had joined in. Weren't little sisters supposed to stick together? Apparently not.
"Oh yes, I'm sure they'll be lots of teenage witches harassing you to find out what his favourite colour is." Ayla smiled at Goldie, trying to give the air of someone who was above such petty things.
"It's not just teenagers who fancy him. I know a lot of older witches who are quite fond of him too. Don't you Ayla?" Chelsea had turned on her now. Three against one. Now that really wasn't fair.
"I suppose you're right Chels', a fair few of my friends think he's handsome." Phew that was close. Surely the silence they were now sitting in signal the end of that topic?
"Don't you Ayla?" Goldie looked at her, a wide grin splitting his face. Tansy had obviously already told her husband about their earlier conversation. Ayla had only just begun to relax. Damn them.
"Pardon?"
"Don't you?" he repeated. "Don't you think he's handsome?" She gritted her teeth.
"Well I suppose he is quite handsome. But not really my type."
"What is your type sis?"
Her whole family turned in her direction, awaiting the answer to Drake's question.
"Well bro', I'm not entirely sure right now" which was true, she wasn't. "But I don't often go for Quidditch players" this again was true, Oliver was the first Quidditch player to have sparked her interest.
"Oh darling," her mother started. "You'll never guess who your father saw in town the other day. Go on Gregor tell her." Ayla looked at her father, thankful for a change in topic.
"Adam Fisher" her father said. She suddenly wished they'd go back to talking about Oliver.
"Yes he's doing really well for himself, working at the Ministry now. Very high profile job. And he's still single!" her mother trilled.
Adam had been her boyfriend at Hogwarts. He came from a well respected family, was nice, clever, and in her mother's opinion was the perfect man for Ayla. The only problem was, he was about as interesting as dish water. His family also happened to be the closet thing to neighbours the Jenson's had, living just a couple of miles away.
"Well that's nice. Good for Adam." she tried to sound happy for him, but not too enthusiastic, or else her mother might try to set them up again.
"Where was it you said you saw him Gregor?"
Her father shifted in his seat. He'd clearly been doing something he shouldn't have at the time.
"Uh well outside the bookies. He was coming out you see. Very nice chap. wouldn't you say Goldie?"
Ayla grinned, she knew very well who had been coming out of the betting shop and it wasn't Adam.
"Yes top man." Goldie looked equally guilty and said no more.
The meal passed in much the same way, with her family laughing and joking together. As usual they hung their stocking over the fire place for Santa, so as not to spoil the magic of the night for the children. Soon it was time to go to bed, Ayla helped get the kids settled with her sisters, who were strangely quiet for a change. Ayla too was feeling sleepy, and fully intended going to sleep herself.
She was in her room, unpacking her small bag when she heard a knock at the door. It was Chelsea.
"This just arrived for you" she held out an envelope with Ayla's name scribbled on the front. Not recognising the writing Ayla tore it open:
"Merry Christmas. Oliver xx" was all it read. She smiled, this had to mean something good.
"Is it from anyone special?" Chelsea winked at her and waited for an answer.
