Author's note: Anyways, I started listening to Christmas music because of who I am today. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: The following characters belong to J.K. Rowling, and this story derives from her original works, storylines, and world. Please do not sue me, I can barely pay tuition.

Hogwarts: Assignment #8, Anatomy and Physiology Task #2, Write about traveling with something important.

Warnings: NA

Playing Owl

A little-known fact about the Hogwarts Express was that it made its trip back and forth from Hogwarts to Hogsmeade year-round. Of course, it was never as packed as it was when the school opened and closed—nor was the trolley lady around, as Dora unfortunately learned. She'd been surprised to find out about the train's year-long commuting as an Auror, but it made sense. How else was a little town like Hogsmeade supposed to sustain its bread-and-butter tourist industry after all?

Anyways, armed with this knowledge she figured that Teddy would get a real kick out of taking the train down to the castle. And sure enough; she had been right. When she'd let him sleep in that morning and he'd walked in on her making waffles, he'd been confused at first. But when she'd told him that if Daddy had to work over the holidays because of staff shortages, then they were going to go to the castle and join him… well, that big and nearly toothless smile of his had given her the first big reaction of the day. Now, she couldn't wait to see Remus' face. McGonagall had okayed the project and promised to keep it quiet, and as far as Dora knew Remus had no idea that they were coming… but she couldn't wait.

She was being a bad mum and had snuck candy in Teddy's activity bag on the train, but he was so excited about seeing his Dad on Christmas after all that he'd barely touched it—or any of the colouring books and stuffies she'd also packed. Excited, and a little bit worried.

"Hey," she said, touching Teddy's knee. "We can put Daddy's present in my bag so that you don't have to hold it…"

Teddy shook his head decisively, which sent today's lilac hair flipping and flopping around. Her little hooligan had been on a kick of shaggy hairstyles recently, and he always made Dora think of a dog trying to dry off.

"Nope," he said. His arms actually tightened around the package in his arms, wrapped in red paper and golden ribbons. "It's too important."

"I know it is," Dora said. "But it won't break if we put it in your bag."

Teddy looked at her suspiciously.

"Yeah?" he asked.

"Yeah," she promised. "How come you're so worried about it, sweet pea?"

"Usually the owls bring Daddy presents and letters at school," Teddy explained to her. "But now it's my job and I just wanna make sure I do a good job."

She bit back a grin—Teddy was a very serious child, he didn't like to be laughed at. She wondered where he got that from.

"Sometimes owls take breaks when they deliver packages, especially heavy ones," Dora said.

"Even when they're important?"

"Yup," Dora promised. She held out her pinky and Teddy hooked his own tiny finger with hers.

"I just want Christmas to be perfect," Teddy said.

"It will be," she said. "You'll see Teddy; Hagrid and the elves decorate the whole castle… and they make food that's nearly as good as Grandma Molly's."

Teddy's jaw dropped.

"Do they make pudding, too?"

Dora clucked her tongue and tousled his hair.

"More than even you and your father together can eat," she promised. She put an arm around Teddy and pulled him closer. "Icicles start dripping from all the nooks and crannies outside, you'll see the biggest Christmas trees you've ever seen… And we'll be all together, right?"

"Right," Teddy said. He huddled the package closer to him and then cuddled into her. She kissed the top of his head.

"That's all that matters, then," she said. She kissed the top of his little head. "Daddy's going to love your present Teddy, but I promise that he and I don't need anything more than that to be happy."

"Me too," Teddy agreed. "But if Santa still comes, that would be okay."

Stacked with: MC4A; Hogwarts

Individual Challenge(s): Black Ribbon; Black Ribbon Redux; Small Fry; Hufflepuff MC; Brush; Seeds; Times to Come; Old Shoes; Themes & Things A (Love); Themes & Things B (Joy); Tiny Terror; True Colours; Rian-Russo Inversion; In a Flash; Yellow Ribbon; Yellow Ribbon Redux

Word Count: 650