A/N: I don't own Harry Potter or any related characters

This is for the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Assignment 2 Mythology Stories Task #12: Chinese - Nian - There was once a scary monster who came down to hunt people (Nian). People would lock themselves away in fear, but someone suggested they band together and chased the monster away. They did this by scaring the beast with drums and fireworks, they chased it till it was exhausted, and were able to kill it. This is how the first Chinese New Year celebration started.

Prompt: Write about people working together to achieve something. Alt: Write a fic inspired by this story.

Word Count: 2393

"It's Christmas in July," Lily Luna sang as she danced through the house hanging long strands of shocking pink garland. Ginny stepped out of her room and stared at her daughter. Lily Luna had been doing some insane things since Ginny and Harry had divorced the previous year. While the divorce had been amicable, it had still had an affect on the children, Lily especially.

"What are you doing young lady?" she asked, looking around. The walls were covered in gold paper snowflakes that were currently shedding glitter all over the floor. The floor was covered with white blankets, forming little peaks around the edges. If Ginny squinted, it might almost look like snow.

"We're having Christmas in July," Lily stated, her tone daring her mum to argue with her.

"I see, and the blankets?"

"There has to be snow. It has to be a white Christmas. We didn't have one in December, so we have to have one this month."

"Where are your brothers, are they helping you with this project?" Ginny asked, mentally going over the few things she'd bought for the kids that she'd yet to give them. She could wrap those items, if Lily was serious about doing this. It wasn't such a bad idea. The kids had been going crazy from boredom lately.

"They're my elves. They're making gifts and decorating the upstairs," Lily replied. Ginny nodded, heading up to check on them. She knew what Lily was like when she got an idea in her head. She found James and Albus wearing green felt hats and their Weasley jumpers. '

"Isn't a bit warm for those?"

"Lily said we had to wear them. It's Christmas," James answered. Ginny nearly laughed. Despite the being the youngest of the children, Lily was the bossiest, what she said usually went. Even her brothers obeyed her out of fear. Ginny had to admit her daughter was definitely a miniature version of herself.

"Well, take them off before you overheat. Now what are you two working on, do you need help?"

"Lily says we need to make presents, but we don't know how," Albus said after a moment.

"I've got an idea on that, just leave it to me. When is Lily planning on having us open gifts?"

"After Christmas dinner," Lily's voice announced from the stairwell. "Mum, you'll be making the dinner."

Ginny turned and faced Lily.

"I am, am I?"

"Yes, it has to be you since we're not allowed to touch the stove," Lily stated, pulling a sheet of parchment from her pocket. Ginny saw it was a checklist full of names.

"Lily, how many people am I cooking for?"

"At least ten, I invited people over. It's not Christmas without family."

Ginny felt her face paling. She could cook, but the idea of making a dinner for a bunch of people without any prior warning was a daunting task.

"Lily."

"And you have to make dessert too," Lily stated, as if it was the most obvious thing on the planet. "Alright, Mum, off to the kitchen. Albus, James, are you done with the presents yet?"

Ginny saw James and Albus exchange a glance before answering.

"We're working on it," Albus finally stated.

"Good. Now, I need you two help me put up the tree. I found the one in the attic and I need it downstairs," Lily demanded.

"Lily, you can't just demand for your brothers, or me to do something. There's no way those two could bring down that tree. It's large and heavy. Also, how am I supposed to cook a holiday dinner without knowing about it ahead of time. I don't have most of the ingredients on hand. I certainly don't have a turkey or a ham."

"You can make it happen?" Lily asked.

"I've got an idea on how to make a dinner happen, but you're going to have to stop bossing us around and let me handle a few things. Do you think you can do that?" Ginny asked. She knew Lily liked being in charge.

"I can try," she finally said.

"Good. I'm going to get the tree down, since I'm allowed to use magic. Lily, could you please floo everyone you invited and tell them that the dinner's going to be a potluck?"

"Potluck?" Lily asked.

"Yes, everyone will bring something. Do you know how to make floo calls? I'm pretty sure I've taught all three of you."

"I do," Lily said, darting off to accomplish her task. Ginny smiled. The idea of having a Christmas in July celebration still seemed fun, although it was becoming a lot of work too. Maybe working for it would make it that much better?

"What do you need us to do, Mum?" Albus asked.

"Go to my room, top shelf of the closet are three shopping bags. Take them down and wrap what's inside."

"Do we have wrapping paper? Lily didn't give us any. She told us to figure it out."

"It's also in the closet, in the round bin in the corner."

Ginny watched Albus and James head off to wrap the presents. She got the tree down easily with a simple levitation charm. Continuing to hover it, she got it to the living room before setting it down in the corner. She then grabbed a few boxes of ornaments and set them on the floor next to the tree.

"I called everyone," Lily said, walking into the room. Her eyes lit up seeing the tree.

"Are we going to decorate it now?"

"In a bit, we're going to wait for your brothers."

"I want to hang the first ornament. This was my idea!" Lily stated, grabbing at the box. Ginny slid it away from her.

"Lily, you can hang the first ornament but we have to wait for your brothers. They'll be down in a minute."

"I want to do it now," Lily screamed. Ginny simply glared at her.

"Keep that up and you won't get any gifts. Only good children get gifts, remember?"

"That's only for Santa."

"Are you sure?" Ginny asked. Lily pouted but stopped trying to grab the ornaments. True to her words, Ginny heard the boys coming down the stairs in minute later. Albus had a bow stuck in his red hair.

"Now that we're all here, we can decorate the tree. You will take turns. Lily's going to go first since this was her idea," Ginny explained, handing Lily a white snowflake ornament. Lily put it on the tree, turning so James could hang his next. They did this a few rounds.

"Albus! You can't hang it there. You have to hang it on the other side!" Lily yelled, nearly knocking the cardinal from Albus' hand.

"Lily, your brother can hang it where he wants," Ginny said. She'd been going back and forth between the kids and the kitchen, trying to make something for the dinner. She hoped Lily had actually told the guests it was going to be a potluck and that not everyone brought green bean casserole.

"Fine," Lily muttered, glaring at her brothers, but not ordering them where to hang things anymore. The kids finished the tree just as Ginny's pie came out of the oven. She set it on the stove to cool while she helped James put the angel on top of the tree.

"Mum, there's someone at the door," Albus announced. Ginny walked over opening it. Her mouth nearly feel open seeing Viktor standing there.

"Um, hello?"

"I vas invited to Christmas in July," he explained, holding out a small stack of gifts.

"Come on in. We're still working on getting set up," Ginny said, stepping aside to let the man in.

"I also brought rolls," he added, holding up a clear bag full of rolls. "I do not cook, so they are store bought."

"That's fine. We'll just bop them in the oven, heat them up, and they'll be perfect," Ginny said, taking the rolls while Viktor put the gifts under the tree.

"I vas surprised when your daughter called me about coming."

"I was surprised to see you too," Ginny said, as Viktor hugged her tightly, her body tensing slightly at the strangeness of hugging him. She hadn't even been friends with him and a small part of her was starting to wonder who else Lily had decided to invite. That question was soon answered as people started to arrive.

"Ginny, how's it going?" Harry asked, stepping inside. They'd realized they could still be friends, at the very least, for the children's sake.

"Great, Lily sprung this on me this morning. Did you bring a dish?"

"No, I brought several jugs of pumpkin juice though," Harry answered, holding up a bag. "Can't have a dinner without drinks?"

Ginny laughed. Leave it to Harry to bring something practical.

"Is Draco joining you?"

"He's coming, but a bit later. Work, you know," Harry explained as the kids mobbed him.

"Sounds good. Oh, look, there's Hermione, oh and she's managed to drag Severus with her!"

Ginny opened the door for them. Hermione and Severus' kids darted inside, heading off to find Lily, James and Albus.

"Ginny, what a wonderful idea," Hermione said, handing her a casserole dish.

"It was really Lily's idea. I think she was bored and looking for something to do. Or this is some dramatic ploy to get gifts. She invited Viktor."

"Krum?"

"Yes. Where did she even get his name from?" Ginny asked, still amazing she had a professional Quidditch player standing in her living room talking to her ex-husband.

"No idea. Who else is coming?"

"I don't know. Lily made all the invites. For all I know she invited everyone we know," Ginny laughed as more people started coming in. She recognized Susan and Hannah Bones-Abbott and their daughter, Lindy. Lindy joined the small group of children.

"Ginny! When we heard you were hosting a Christmas celebration, we thought about what you'd forget," George said, throwing an arm around his sister's shoulder.

"And then we realized the most important thing any celebration needs."

"There are kids here," Ginny pointed out, noticing that a punch bowl had somehow magically appeared on the dining room table.

"No, not that, although, I do have my flask," George offered. Ginny rolled her eyes, but mouthed 'maybe later'. She knew this party might get out of hand.

"No, we brought our latest product! Non-flammable fireworks. They're safe to launch inside!" Fred exclaimed, pulling out a large box. Ginny raised an eyebrow skeptically.

"Don't worry, we tested them!"

"They did, in my house," Bill said, walking over. Ginny could see Fleur and their kids mingling with the crowd. She also saw her parents talking to Lily about something, either she'd done something again or they were praising her on this idea. Either way, there was now a large turkey sitting in the oven staying warm.

"And?" Ginny asked, wondering if the fireworks were safe after all.

"And I now need new curtains, but other than that..." Bill said with a laugh.

"Fine, I'll let them know they can set them off in...in the back yard," Ginny stated. "I'm not taking any chances," she added, giving the food table a quick glance. So far, there were only three green bean casseroles, that was a good number.

"Mum! Uncle Neville brought mistletoe!" Albus yelled. "Tell Rose I don't want to kiss her!"

"Rose, if Albus doesn't want a kiss, you do not need to kiss him," Severus' voice echoed through the room. Ginny shook her head. She wondered how Lily had managed to put all of this together, well, most of it together. She walked into the living room, making a quick mental head count. There were at least twenty-five people milling around.

"Ginny, I snuck a few presents under the tree to cover to the other children here," Molly whispered. "I know Lily didn't think about it, but everyone is getting something now."

"Thanks, Mum. How many of them are Weasley sweaters?" Ginny asked.

"Seven. Domique's out grown theirs. I know little Fred set his on fire."

"Great! Oh, someone put filled stocking on the mantle?"

They looked over and there indeed several stockings hanging on the mantle, each with a child's initial. Ginny watched as another one appeared as Draco walked in with Scorpius. Ginny could count on one hand the people who could be behind it and she smiled, because none of the people she'd thought of would take credit. The children would believe it was Santa's doing, and that would make this even more magical.

"Alright, everyone, time to eat," she announced, looking at the small crowd. Slowly people started meandering to the dining room. Viktor paused in the doorway near were Ginny was standing.

"You are under the mistletoe," he stated. "Can I give you a kiss?"

Ginny looked up and saw the green leaves.

"Sure," she replied, giggling slightly at the fact she'd had a crush on Viktor as a teenager, he was after all a famous Quidditch player. Viktor leaned over and gave Ginny a quick kiss on the lips. She returned it slowly. Viktor was a decent kisser, she'd have to remember that. They parted.

"I am glad I came," Viktor stated, smiling at Ginny. "You said the food was ready?"

"Yes, right through there," she pointed. Viktor joined the group and Ginny wondered if he was single. He was a good kisser after all.

Finally, everyone sat down to eat. Chairs were summoned from the attic, a few boxes were transfigured into chairs, but everyone had a plate and place to sit. Ginny watched everyone chatting and eating.

"This was brilliant," she whispered as she passed Lily, who had bossed her way to the adult table.

"I know. And, Mum."

"Yes?"

"Thank you for helping me, I think my idea got too big for me," Lily said, giving her mum a hug, and smearing gravy on Ginny's shirt. Ginny just laughed, ruffling Lily's hair.

"There is no shame in asking for help, just remember that next time."

Lily Luna nodded, waiting impatiently for everyone to finish eating so she could finally open presents and see what was in the stockings that had appeared on the mantle. She was sure she'd heard the squeaking of ice mice in hers, and they were, after all, her favorite.