In so many ways, this chapter is a giant ball of cliche. In other words...FLUFF.
Chapter Fourteen
Her sitting room was nearly bare of furniture. Two comfortable looking chairs stood near the fire. On the other side of the small room, the sun shone through a frost covered window onto a small tree decorated with little, intricate, wooden figures. About ten presents were lined up under the tree.
Lin guided him over to the tree first. Remus looked inquiringly at her for this, but she simply said, "Your presents are under there, as well."
Remus merely shook his head and chose one of his presents. He should have expected that she would do that. By the time he looked up, Lin was not beside him anymore. He looked around to see her already curled up in one of the chairs, waiting for him. "Come along, Remus. I thought you were looking forward to this," she said teasingly.
Remus chuckled and walked over to plop himself down in the other chair. As soon as he was settled, he asked, "From whom is your present?"
"Albus," she said with a smile. "And you?"
"Harry," Remus said, obviously surprised.
"Think of it as a compliment for your terrific teaching," Lin said, smiling.
"Terrific teaching?" Remus echoed. His eyes held a pensive look that made him too silent for Lin's liking.
"You are the best Defence teacher the boy's ever had. He's just showing his appreciation. Open it," Lin urged.
Remus snorted before ripping into the paper. He heard Lin begin to do the same with her gift. Seconds later, each held a book. Lin's was Philosophy Vitæ Aeternae, while Remus's was simply Encyclopaedia Noctis Monstra.
As they each read the titles of each other's books, they could not help but laugh at how precisely these books characterised them both.
"What a coincidence," Lin said, smiling.
"All right, next gift," Remus said. He quickly set his book on the floor and hurried back to the tree.
He chose another at random and checked the label. It was for Lin. Without even looking at the sender, he handed it to Lin. He then chose another present at random. This one was for him.
They returned to the chairs to open their next, but first, Lin said, "McGonagall. Yours?"
"Hermione," Remus said.
"My, my. Aren't we popular with the students?" she said jokingly.
"And just who are you popular with?" Remus asked.
"Teachers," Lin said bluntly.
"Even Snape?" he asked, obviously teasing.
"He barely even knows I exist," she shot back.
"Back to the matter at hand..."
"Ah, yes..." And with that, they were tearing into their next set of presents.
When Lin saw the contents of her box, she smiled hugely and said, "She always knew these were my favourite."
"What did you get?" Remus asked.
"Sugar cubes," Lin said, showing him the about twenty or so boxes of sugar cubes. "And you?"
"Blood pops," he said, trying very hard not to laugh.
"If you don't want those, I'll have them," Lin said quite seriously.
Instantly, Remus was frowning in confusion. "Do you like blood?" he asked carefully.
"It tastes good," she said with a shrug. Remus could hold it in no longer. He burst out laughing.
"All right, stop poking fun at me. Remember, I'm a sprite," Lin said, setting her box on top of her new book.
Remus's laughter died down, but he was still smiling. "Let's go. There are still presents," he said, pulling her to her feet.
Once again, they each returned to their seats with a new present. Remus began to tear into the packaging, but Lin said, "Wait. Who's it from?"
Remus looked at the tag before looking up and saying bluntly, "You."
"Well, mine's from...you." She looked up at him and said, "You knew."
Remus merely smiled and said, "Let's guess what these are."
"You first," Lin said, smiling.
Remus shook it and listened. After a second, he asked hesitantly, "Clothes?"
"Open it," she said. Her smile had become more secretive.
Carefully, Remus tore away the rest of the wrapping. What was left in his lap had him in awe. "Lin...You didn't have to...Really..."
"But you need them, and you're my friend," Lin said.
"Thank you," he said, looking down at two new pairs of robes in his size and a very comfortable looking winter coat that was most certainly warmer than his.
"I thought you'd like that." She's beautiful when she smiles.
Remus looked up to her again and said, "You won't be able to guess what yours is."
"We'll see about that," she said teasingly. She shook the box, but the sound did not give away any specific item. She looked at him and said seriously, "I don't know."
"I told you. Now, open it," he said.
Lin snorted but did as she was told. There was a beautiful, wooden box under the wrappings, but that didn't show much. She looked up at him questioning, but he just gestured back to the box.
Carefully, she opened the box, only to be awed by the contents. It was a jewellery box designed to hold but one item: a beautiful, cameo necklace on a gold chain. On it was the picture of a woman.
"It's beautiful..." Lin said in awe, simply staring at it.
"It's yours," Remus said, standing to walk over to her.
"I couldn't..." she insisted, looking up to see him standing over her.
Remus gently placed his hand on hers. "It's yours." After a second, he picked the necklace up gently and fastened it around her neck.
"Who was she?" Lin asked, looking down at the pendant still.
"My great-great-grandmother," Remus said before pulling her slowly to her feet.
"She was beautiful," Lin said breathlessly, looking gratefully up into his eyes.
So are you, he thought, but he could not bring himself to say it. He couldn't ruin this moment by revealing the depth of his feelings.
"Well, I don't think my other present for you compares to this, but open it and see," Lin said after an awkward moment.
Remus smiled at her for another second before her words sunk in. By the time he realized what she had said, she was already looking at him expectantly. Quickly, Remus hurried over to the tree and retrieved the other package from her.
He quickly sat down with the package in his lap but neglected to open it. "Go on," Lin said encouragingly, gesturing to the package.
Remus smiled fondly that she was the impatient one and began to open the package. The brown paper fell away revealing a stack of three books: Destiny Continuitque, The Curious Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and Animalia Silvas.
Remus looked back up at her with wide eyes and an open mouth. "How...how did you know?...Where did you find it?" he asked, struggling to find words.
"I found that book in a curious room here called the Room of Requirements. The other two are relatively common in comparison," she said matter-of-factly, though she still smiled at him. Of course, the latter two books were far more common in relation to the former. The first of the three was decidedly more rare than the others in that no more than a hundred copies of it existed, and he was holding one.
"I couldn't..." Remus said, shaking his head seriously.
Lin stood and walked over to him. She placed her hands over his and wrapped his fingers around the books. "They are yours just as this necklace is mine. I will not take them back," she said seriously.
Remus looked down and remarked quietly, "What a change. First you are reluctant to receive such a gift, and now I am. This really is a wonderful Christmas."
Lin leaned down and whispered in his ear, "I agree." She then stood straight and touched the tip of his nose before returning to her chair.
A few seconds passed in silence as each contemplated the wondrous gift they were given. Finally, Remus broke the silence to ask, "Are there any more?"
Lin glanced back at the tree and said, "There are two more."
Remus smiled to her and said, "Ready?"
"As ever," Lin replied with a nod. The two rose from their seats as one and walked over to the tree. Each retrieved a gift and went back over to the two chairs on the warmer side of the room.
The two both paused before opening their gifts. They glanced at each other, almost preparing themselves for whatever the last presents would be. After a second, Lin nodded. Remus returned the nod. With that, they were tearing into the packaging.
ooooooooo
Philosophy Vitae Aeternae means "The Philosophy of Eternal Life."
Encyclopaedia Noctis Monstra means "Encyclopedia of Nocturnal Monsters."
Destiny Continuitque means "A Touch of Destiny."
Animalia Silvas means "Woodland Animals."