Facilier was ecstatic when Lily and Mcgonagall arrived with a loud crack, he had never seen the use of a portkey and wanted to know all about it. He proudly showed his prowess in voodoo to Mcgonagall, who was impressed that a muggle could do such things, and sent her off with a well-used book of the title "A Beginners Guide to Everything Voodoo."
With McGonagall gone the two siblings shared everything that they both forgot to include in their letters. On Facilier's side, his business has slowed down after a rather loud sermon started preaching that magic corrupts but he still makes enough to have a full belly. Lily shared everything she could about Hogwarts, the teachers, her house, even the Marauders (and yes she knew their dumb nickname, they aren't very subtle). They even met up with Miles and the rest of the gang, who were all happy to see Lily again.
Lily was peacefully sleeping in a hammock above Facilier, he managed to buy the apartment that was above his shop until two hands pushed her over and she fell to the floor with a THUMP. Scrambling up she glares while pointing her wand at Facilier, who was smirking at her innocently. It was Christmas morning and Facilier apparently wanted Lily up as early as possible.
"Come on Lily, you've got presents," He says, dragging her down to the shop. Lily grumbles along.
"Why are you so excited, you don't celebrate Christmas." Ms. Jones was quite appalled once she heard the boy never had a proper Christmas and she made sure to give him many gifts to make up for it.
"Maybe not, but who doesn't like free stuff," Facilier grins shark-like.
Their small Christmas tree was decorated with classic ornaments, candles, stencils, and shrunken heads; Facilier thought it added character. Lasagna was passing about cookies to the other dolls, despite them not being able to eat, as Spagetthi orders Feticunie to separate gifts. Lily snorts amusedly.
"Seems you aren't the only one excited about presents," She says as she grabs a gingerbread cookie, "Good job with the cookies Lasagna." it puffs its chest proudly.
Opening the gifts was a chaotic affair, Facilier wanted to tear them open as fast as possible but Spaghetti was being a control freak and kept stopping him. Eventually, the gifts were opened at a moderate pace and all the wrapping paper was picked up by the dolls. It was a good haul. Facilier got presents from their new Orleans friends and Lily, most of them were more voodoo materials but Lily gave him a couple of wizarding books. Lily got candy from Frank and Alice, another charm bracelet from her family along with clothes, Severus gave her a few books about scrying and astrology, and Facilier's gift was a huge box of quartz. She squealed when she saw all the rocks and made to start the familiar ritual.
With an angry Spaghetti watching, it wanted to finish cleaning the present mess, Lily and Facilier traced circles with chalk before placing the quartz along the edges. Poe helpfully hopped into the center of the circle, squawking in curiosity, Lily patted his head. She had already gained his permission to perform the familiar bond. Facilier stepped back once the circle was finished. Lily stood in it with Poe her shadow over him.
"You sure about this?" Facilier askes lily one more time, "once you do this neither can go back to their original form."
"I know Facilier," Lilys says a touch annoyed, "I want to do this, it will make me stronger, something that I'll need for the future."
Facilier nods, fully stepping out of the way. It wouldn't be good if he got trapped in the ritual as well. Lily's attention goes back to her young raven as she begins.
"Friend of feather, meld your will with mine," the quartz starts glowing, spreading through the chalk, "to be one with me I give up a piece of myself." Lily's shadow swirls around Poe flowing onto him like a reverse waterfall. Her shadow completely encompassed him, chaining him. "The bond is sealed," at Lily's last words the glowing stops. She lets out a breath and looks at her handiwork.
Poe was larger now, almost bigger than an adult raven. His feathers look semi-alive shifting like a shadow and darker than ever before. But his eyes, which were turning brown, were now a vibrant blue-grey like when he was young. Poe looked at her and Lily smiled in surprise, she could feel his emotions. Not thoughts per se but instincts and feelings. Right now Poe was very excited, he could feel the same thing as Lily and their conjoined emotions were ramping each other up. Poe flew on her shoulder, and she smirked. The students of Hogwart won't know what hit them.
The rest of winter break passed uneventfully, well as uneventful as two powered children plus one suped-up bird can be. When McGonagall returned she apperated in the middle of an all-out-prank war, Lily and Poe vs Facilier.
A potion vial swung over her head which Poe swooped down and dropped it on its thrower. Facilier yelled in annoyance and attempted to scare the bird away with sunlight, the downside of having a shadow bird is it doesn't like light. McGonagall has to dodge a spell from Lily, a bright red one that Lily had no business of knowing yet. McGonagall cleared her throat.
"Ms. Evans, I've come to bring you back to Hogwarts." Lily stuffed her wand into her skirt pocket hastily with a sheepish grin.
"Er, hullo professor, didn't hear you come in." Facilier snickered at Lily before shrieking at Poe, who dived at him.
"Yes, I can see that," She raises her eyebrow at the battle-torn room, "As much as I would love to leave you to your business, I'm contractually obliged to make sure you return to Hogwarts safely."
Lily sighs and pulls her trunk out as her dolls crawl in, with a quick hug from Facilier, and promises to come again as she stands next to McGonagall. Poe flys out of a shadow and lands on her shoulder, cawing at McGonagall to get on with it. McGonagall raises her eyebrow at the bird's new appearance but decided to ignore any questions. And with a crack, the two witches and one witch familiar apperated back to Hogwarts.
Facilier stood in his shop, the table was enlarged and turned over, bookshelves strewn everywhere, and various colorful blobs on every surface.
"How am I suppose to fix this?" He mumbles to himself.
AN:
UnnaVox: Yeah some Facilier action, I missed the little baby. On the topic of Facilier would anyone be interested in a series of one-shots about his time alone?
And thank you to all who favorited, followed, and reviewed! It means a lot!
DuoAnimi: Hey you took my line! Anyway, we really do appreciate all who've shown their support! :D