Author's Note: 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.

Warnings: NA

Happily Caught

Music flowed through the Burrow along with smells from the kitchen and chatter from the living room, staircase, and wherever else people could find a place to sit. This was the absolute fullest Remus had ever seen the house, which was saying something. But for everybody's sake as their first Christmas since the Battle of Hogwarts and all their losses approached, Molly had announced that this would be the biggest, funnest, busiest Christmas yet. There would be food, drink, warmth, joy, happiness, a massive gift exchange, reunions, rest, peace, games… Of course, Remus had still found Dora crying in the bathroom, missing and grieving her father, throughout Hanukkah and up until that morning—and he'd seen the haze and weight lifting off of everyone as the day went on, showing that it had been there after all. But as the day went on and as more and more people crammed into the house, the spirits rose. So did everyone's appetites.

Remus brought an empty plate to the kitchen to reload it with more food from the kitchen. In the doorway of the kitchen he nearly bumped into Dora as she walked out, holding a teapot. Her hair was her usual pine green Christmas shade, and she'd piled it up on top of her head. She was wearing a black turtleneck and a golden skirt that Teddy had quite liked watching the light catch and release.

"Oh!" she said, nearly bumping into him. He'd reached out a hand to stabilize her before she had a chance to drop the teapot. It would be her third of the month if she did, which would be a bit much.

"Thanks," she said. "I thought the baby was with you?"

"He's with Harry and Ginny," Remus said. "They're playing with those stuffed reindeer he got him."

"Those are cute," she smiled.

"Very cute, you should go have a peak," Remus said.

"I will, after refilling Kingsley's cup," she said. "I can't believe the man's actually taking time off—Christmas or no Christmas."

"Wait, wait, you're forgetting something," Remus said. He tilted his head up and nudged her attention towards the mistletoe hung in the kitchen doorway. Dora smiled when she saw him and looked back at him.

"Convenient," she said.

"I think so."

"Did you put that there?"

"I didn't even have to," he said.

"Well go on then," she said. She smiled and eased herself up on her tiptoes to help him. She winked before running off again.

"Hi Molly," Remus said, turning his attention back to his task. "Was there anything in particular I should bring out?"

Molly waved her hand absent-mindedly, focusing on the wine she was mulling, so he made his way to the kitchen table, overflowing with dainties and squares and biscuits and sweets. He knew Andromeda had a soft spot for shortbread and he'd watched Arthur and Harry steadily eat through the pecan pie squares—so he made sure to prioritize those on the plate, alongside minced meat tarts, gingerbread, chocolate bars, and peanut brittle.

"You know, I wouldn't have put money on any of that before," Molly said.

"On what?" Remus asked, adding some rum balls to the plate.

"You being so playful and affectionate so openly," Molly said. She peeked over her shoulder and smiled. "I mean, we always knew that you loved her. But we saw it so rarely…"

"Well, there was mistletoe," Remus said.

Molly clucked her tongue and he couldn't help but smile.

"There are more important things than worry," Remus said. "I suppose I should have known that earlier, but after all the worrying we've had to do… well, it's nice to let those things go and just have her. Or to just have Christmas."

"I like Christmas too," Molly said quietly. On his way out of the kitchen he stopped to hug Molly. She turned and hugged him back.

"You're doing splendidly," Remus said quietly. "And you are taking care of all of us so well, I'm thankful that you get this happy day too."

Molly nodded. She was biting her lips.

"I'm just trying," she said. "Now get those out there, hungry crowds are known to riot, you know."

Stacked with: Hogwarts; Shipping War

Individual Challenge(s): Gryffindor MC (x2); Hufflepuff MC; Winter Wonderland; Home for the Holidays; Old Shoes; Themes & Things A (Friendship); Themes & Things B (Joy); Themes & Things E (Teapot); Ethnic & Present; True Colours; Rian-Russo Inversion; In a Flash

Word Count:

Shipping Wars

Ship (Team): Remus Lupin/Nymphadora Tonks (Technicolour Moon)

List (Prompt): Fall Micro 1 (Teapot)

Winter Bingo

Space (Prompt): 2D (Mistletoe)