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Under the Christmas Tree

Hugo bounced around the lounge room, excitement building in him at the sight of the presents under the Christmas tree. There were so many and he couldn't wait for Christmas morning when he would be allowed to tear into them.

The front door opened and he heard his mother greet someone. A moment later his mother entered the room with his Aunt Ginny and his cousin, and best friend, Lily. She bounded across the room with two brightly wrapped presents in hand. She threw her arms around him and Hugo hugged her back tightly.

'I've got your gift and Rose's,' she said as she put them under the tree. 'Mum and Dad have another one for you guys but these one's are just from me.'

'I've got one in my room for you, c'mon,' he said as he grabbed her hand and began to drag her towards the stairs. They raced upstairs together and burst into Hugo's bedroom. While Hugo headed towards his desk Lily threw herself onto his bed and gazed around the room. There were several Chudley Canons posters on the walls much to his fathers delight and his desk was a mess, nothing like his sisters. At least his bedside table was neat with three different photos sitting in frames. One of him and Lily at age five at Lily's house giggling to themselves on Lily's bed; the second of him and his parents and sister at a park in autumn with hundreds of red and gold leaves swirling around their feet; the last was of him and Lily last year at a festival.

He grabbed Lily's present and passed it over to her and she threw him a dazzling grin. He lay down next to her and eyed the ceiling.

'Can you believe there are only four sleeps to go?' she exclaimed, the smile evident in her voice. Hugo smiled at the thought.

'I know. It's so close and yet-'

'- it feels so far away, I know,' Lily finished.

They lay in silence for a while before Lily rolled onto her side and smiled at him, her fiery red fringe falling into her warm caramel eyes.

'Do you know what your wish will be?' she asked and Hugo shook his head. Every year all of their cousins and themselves got together on New Years Eve and wrote what their wish for the new year would be. Then all the pieces of parchment were sealed and put in a jar and buried at Shell Cottage. They were never read and never spoken but they were there.

'Absolutely nothing,' Hugo said. 'What about you?' Lily tilted her head slightly and nodded.

'Yeah I've got something,' she confirmed. 'You had better come up with something quick,' she added and Hugo sighed.

'I know but I just can't think of anything. I want it to be realistic but not something stupid.'

'Hmm,' Lily bit her lip and Hugo knew she was trying to think of something for him. 'You could wish for a book or something like that or how about the Canons winning the season?' she suggested and Hugo considered it for a moment before shaking his head.

'No, neither of those seem right, you know?'

'How about I stay over and we stay up all night finding you the perfect wish?' she said with an impish grin causing Hugo to smile.

'Sure thing,' he agreed and Lily sat up before bouncing off the bed. He climbed off the bed as well as Lily gently picked up her present.

'C'mon then,' she said once more taking his hand as they rushed back downstairs to their mothers and to what would hopefully be approval to their night fun and wishes.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please review before favouriting/following. Only four sleeps to go…