"Happy Christmas!" Amanda said brightly, as she descended down the stairs.

Aly looked over her shoulder and grinned up at her. "Happy Christmas, Amanda!"

Amanda grinned at the sight of presents on the floor underneath the fifteen foot tall Christmas tree. "Nice load."

"Yeah."

"Where's everyone else?" Amanda asked, walking over to the fireplace.

Aly tied her red robe and got out of the chair that she was sitting in. "They're coming."

"Ah."

Amanda sat on the down and fingered the presents. "Where's the rest of the Gryffindors?"

"Probably home, or out of the country," she shrugged. "I think everyone was desperate to get out of here."

"Yeah. I bet a nice Christmas in Sweden wouldn't have hurt anyone," Aly grumbled. Amanda frowned at her.

"Let it go. Besides," she grinned. "It'll be a bit more fun and exhilarating to escape out of here to visit Adam."

"Yeah, that's true. I've been thinking of some plots already," Aly smirked.

"Plots for what?" Hayden asked. The boys were coming down the stairs.

"Escaping from Hogwarts to see Adam, of course," Damien said sarcastically, rolling his eyes. "What else?"

"Happy Christmas to you, too," Aly grumbled. She sat back down.

"Yeah, yeah. Hand me a present, will you?" Damien said, sitting down near the presents. He looked among them for one belonging to him. It was silent.

"OW!" Damien exclaimed. He turned around, glaring at Aly. "What'd you go and do that for?"

Aly smiled with satisfaction while the others roared in laughter. "You asked me to hand you a present."

"Yeah, but you didn't have to throw it! Ow..." Damien winced, rubbing his head. Aly smiled brightly and reached down to pick up a present and hand it to Hayden.

"Happy Christmas!"

"Thanks, Aly. I really needed a new set," Hayden said, holding up the quill set. "My other ones are completely dead." She nodded.

"Damien!" Amanda exclaimed. "You got me fudge from Honeydukes?" She stared at the bag of delicious chocolate fudge in her hand.

Damien grinned hugely. "You like it, then."

"Of course, but do you know how much weight I'll gain?" Amanda asked.

"No. But I know you like fudge," he winked.

Aly picked up one present with her name on it and sighed, looking up at Char. He smiled. "Another one?" she asked.

"Open it," he responded. Aly opened it, reluctantly. Inside of it was another charm; this time it was an emerald in cased in silver, with a little hoop at the top perfectly fitting for Aly's bracelet.

"Char..." Aly choked. "This is...beautiful."

Char nodded modestly.

"But...It's...so expensive!"

Amanda groaned. "Oh, why do you worry so much?" Char groaned. "Just accept it, Aly, I gave it to you."

"But..."

"No." He crouched down to Aly's level. "I want you to keep it."

Aly frowned.

"You don't have to wear it, but I want you to keep it."

Aly sighed and reluctantly slipped it onto her charm bracelet, to Char's satisfaction. "When we're married, we're going to be penniless."

"Yeah, right. I'm getting a high paying job at the Ministry," he winked. His eyes sparkled and Aly grinned back at him.

"Hey, Char! Come here, there's a present for you!"

Char turned his head away, fuming as he stared at Damien, who held out a present for him.

"It's from mum," he said.

"Can't you see I'm busy right now?" Char said angrily.

"Doing what?" Damien asked skeptically.

"Shut up, Damien," Hayden snapped. "Go snog a hippogriff."

"Who's being the hippogriff here-OW!"

Char snickered at Aly, who threw another present at Damien's head. "Shut up, Damien. Can you see we're busy?" Aly teased.

"You're an idiot," Damien grumbled, rubbing his head. "A pure idiot."

Char turned her head and kissed her on the cheek. "When that idiot's not around..."

"I heard that!"

Aly giggled.

"I'll hold you to that," Aly grinned. She summoned a present from the pile of presents. "Open up. And I don't want any complaints."

Char opened it slowly, his grin widening as the lid came off. "Wow!"

Inside of it was a small stud earring made of sapphire. It sparkled in the light.

"An earring," Aly said proudly. "That red one has got to go."

Char immediately took out his old one and put in the sapphire earring. He smiled at Aly. "How does it look?"

"Incredibly...handsome," Aly said, finding the right word. "I should be a jeweler."

Across the room Damien looked at the maroon scarf with a pleased look. Then Amanda handed him a present. He took with it confusion and opened it. Then he grinned. "Dragon hide?"

"Your fingers are always so cold!" Amanda complained irritably. "Happy Christmas."

Damien leaned forward and kissed Amanda sweetly. He grinned. "Thank you." Amanda blushed and then noticed a present wrapped in blue.

"Aly, you have another present," Amanda said, walking over to them. She handed Aly a bright, blue wrapped gift.

"Who's it from?"

"I dunno. Doesn't say." Aly opened it up carefully, wondering who it's from and if it contains a bomb. The others looked on. Aly opened it and inside of the gift was a box. She opened it.

"It's from...Adam," Aly said, surprised.

"How do you know?" Amanda asked.

"Well...There's a letter in here. And a book."

"What type of book?" Hayden questioned.

Aly reached in the box and pulled out the book that was nestled inside the paper tissue. She turned it over and stared at the cover in surprise.

"It's...their family history."