12. A Very Very Cool Yule

The next morning Alastor woke to find the Albrecht twins weren't abed. With a glance around he could see the others were still asleep. He looked to the clock. It was seven o'clock. I suppose they like to have their breakfast early. Easing out of bed, he began to dress. Outside the sun shone through the clouds, and it was promising to be a beautiful weekend.

After tossing on the knitted jumper Mrs. Pomfrey had given him for his birthday, he made his way down to the Great Hall. From what he could see there were only a smattering of students at their tables. All he found was one first year when Alastor looked over to the Slytherin table. For a few moments he was a bit confused, wondering where they could be- but then he caught sight of them sitting at the Ravenclaw table with Felix, wearing Ravenclaw scarves over their Slytherin robes. They looked up at him a moment later—almost as if they felt Alastor's gaze—and waved him over. Alastor made his way over, still not quite certain what he thought of the twins.

"Sorry we couldn't be there for your party," said Maximilian. He still couldn't tell them apart, but the monogram M on his robe certainly helped.

Alfons smirked, patting the space between himself and Maximilian, "Yes, we heard it was fantastic."

"Yeah, it was," nodded Alastor. "I really want to thank you for the gift. I look forward to reading it." Truth was, he would have started reading it last night, but Quidditch Through The Ages quite lured him away from it.

"We're glad you like the gift," Maximilian said with a smile. "But, before more is said, we'd like to introduce you to our dear friend, and 'Brain Twin' as Fonzie is fond of saying: Felix Stoltz."

Felix held out his hand from his side of the table. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Herr Moody."

"Um… just call me Alastor- or Al, that's even better," said Alastor, shaking his hand.

"All right, Al," Felix winked, his overall expression and demeanor quite calm and steady.

Alastor chuckled briefly and then turned back to Maximilian. "I heard from Danny that you'd been hurt? You're all right now?"

"Yes, I'm fine," he assured Alastor, his expression just a bit wry, "Herr Graeme—"

"Schweinhund," Alfons corrected him as he passed over a dish with a little bit of everything to Alastor followed by a goblet of pumpkin juice.

Maximilian rolled his eyes, "The Schweinhund only got me just below the shoulder," indicating the spot directly above his shoulder blade on his left side. "But I'm lucky. It didn't leave a mark."

"I, however, left my mark on the Schweinhund," Alfons smiled wickedly, indicating a spot below the collarbone on his left side. "The things that he said to me, one would think he had a vocabulary of only twenty-five words."

Alastor was a little amazed that Alfons managed to do that without suffering any hits himself, but there was something else bothering him. "Er… what exactly does 'Schweinhund' mean?" He attempted to pronounce it the same way the twins had, but he knew his delivery was far from flawless.

"In English: pig-dog."

"I'll have to remember that," Alastor mused, having to admit that it was a bit funny.

For his part, Alfons smiled, the epitome of cleverness and charm. "That's your language lesson for today," he winked.

"Thank you, you're so kind," Alastor chuckled, deciding to just go ahead and ask his question. "You know, it's really none of my business, but why is it that you both fight so much?"

Alfons did not appear to be so surprised or upset by the question. He crossed his arms over his chest, smirking again. "We fight because Herr Graeme is a Schweinhund. He doesn't like that I'm Slytherin, German, and open-minded. He seems to think I should be ashamed."

"He also doesn't like that Fonzie always has top marks and that he made the Quidditch team in first year," Maximilian commented.

"But that's the same for all three of us," remarked Felix, "but it's Fonzie who he focuses on."

"I'm just special like that, but really, it's because I give back what he gives out," Alfons just rolled his eyes. "And for this reason, I should warn you," here he let his gaze fall on Alastor, his vivid blue eyes twinkling, "perhaps you should take a small mirror with you where you go and check the corners before you proceed." He smirked. "Constant vigilance."

Constant vigilance. I like that. It's pretty good advice at least. "Maybe I will," he laughed, deciding that, since they weren't put off by his questions, he'd ask what he'd wanted to ask from the start. "I'm curious, why are you both wearing Ravenclaw scarves?"

Now it was Maximilian who responded, his smile a bit playful. "The same reason Percy gave you that splendid Gryffindor-esque ensemble."

Alastor didn't need any further explanation. This was something he understood all too well.

"You know, I should really ask Percy to make something similar for me," Alfons mused. "I would love to see the look on the Schweinhund's face when he sees me wearing it."

"You really seem to like annoying Ross," Alastor simply had to say.

Alfons laughed, "There is a curious American expression that can perhaps explain this: 'If life gives you lemons, make lemonade.'"

Alastor didn't think anything could top the surprise birthday party Daniel organized for him, but he forgot about Christmas and the myriad of possibilities that holiday had in store. He received a letter from Mr. and Mrs. Pomfrey, reminding him of their invitation to spend part of the Christmas holidays with them. Rather than ask Aurelius to speak to their parents for him, Alastor wrote to them himself, having no desire to have a repeat performance of last spring. After sending the letter, he sought out his friends and found them in the library, since it was raining pretty heavily. Pausing in the doorway, he counted the number of heads and came up two short. Belladonna was studying with the twins, and Felix, while Milo helped Percy with his Transfiguration homework, which was strange as he knew Percy rarely, if ever, needed help in the subject. Rremly sat near the two, but was clearly going through his Herbology homework.

Alastor frowned as he approached the table and slid into the seat across from Milo and Percy and next to Rremly.

"Where are Stew and Griff?"

"They raided the kitchens again," Rremly explained, looking at Alastor as Milo caught Percy looking at him again and tried for what seemed like the umpteenth time to get him to pay attention. "Why do you ask?"

Alastor looked around at all the curious faces. Quietly, he explained about the Pomfreys' invitation for Christmas. "I just sent an owl to Mother and Father asking if I may go."

"You didn't ask your brother to ask them for you?" Rremly asked him, sounding mildly surprised.

Alastor shook his head. "No, I figured I was better off asking them myself."

"Good luck on that," Percy inserted, giving him a sympathetic smile.

Alastor sighed and nodded. "Thank you, Percy." Silently, he added, 'I'm going to need it.'

Alastor was practically bowled over when two nine-year-old girls crashed into him after he climbed down from the Hogwarts Express and hugged him as one. He did his best to hug them both at once.

"Poppy! Ro!"

"Hi, Al!" Rolanda was the first to reply, disentangling herself from the group hug. "I'm so glad you'll be spending Christmas with the Pomfreys!"

He laughed, tugging on her ponytail. "So am I, Ro."

"Are you really staying for both weeks?" Poppy asked, the next to disentangle herself, gray eyes shining with hope.

He smiled as he gently brushed her tawny hair—that was taking on more and more gold highlights—out of her face. "Yes, Poppy. Mother and Father gave me permission to stay for both weeks."

"Wonderful." she smiled softly up at him.

"Stew!" Suddenly the two girls attacked him much as they had Alastor.

As they greeted him, a hand landed on Alastor's shoulder. "Boy."

"Yes, Mother?" He turned to look up at Calla, who had a stern expression on her face.

Aurelius at her side, she told him, "Don't do anything to bring shame on the family name or you won't be allowed to spend time at your friends' homes again."

"Yes, Mother," he replied, glancing swiftly at his brother. He couldn't read the other boy's expression.

His mother's voice drew his attention. "Good afternoon, Mrs. Pomfrey."

"Good afternoon, Mrs. Moody. Thank you for letting your son visit us again." Mrs. Pomfrey was accompanied by Stewart and Poppy, both of whom were smiling broadly.

After a moment, Calla managed to say, "You're welcome."

"Are you sure you don't mind if he stays both weeks?" Mrs. Pomfrey asked, sounding a little worried.

Calla nodded stiffly. "I'm sure. Come, Aurelius."

"Yes, Mother." Aurelius followed Calla from the station, dragging his trunk along behind him.

Mrs. Pomfrey turned to Alastor. "Well, Alastor, how was school?"

"It was fine, Mrs. Pomfrey," he replied, smiling, as the others began to gather around him. "Thank you very much for the birthday gifts."

She smiled and smoothed his brown hair back from his forehead, much as he wished his own mother would. "You're quite welcome, Alastor." She looked at the children gathered around her. "Shall we go, then?"

"Yes!" was the general outcry and Mrs. Pomfrey, assisted by Mrs. Hooch, Mrs. Redgrave, and Mrs. Lockley started shepherding the children from the platform.

Alastor couldn't quite understand why the winter holidays were so much fun for him that year. During the week leading up to Christmas, a majority of the time was spent outside with Stewart, Griffith, Percy, Rremly, Belladonna, Poppy, and Rolanda, just playing in the snow. They had snowball fights, built snowmen (and snowwomen), made snow angels, and just generally had fun. Griffith, Rolanda, Belladonna (who was staying with Griffith this time), and Percy went to their homes around midday while Alastor, Poppy, Stewart, and Rremly trooped into Willow House to dry off and warm up in front of the fire with warm cider or hot chocolate before eating dinner. The evenings were spent gathered in front of the fire, playing games, talking, or listening to Mr. Pomfrey play song after song on his violin. Sometimes Stewart would play, either alone or with his father. Poppy might sing a song or two, and Iris joined in a few times with her cello, oboe, or clarinet. Alastor and Rremly were content to sit and listen, although they were encouraged to join in more than once.

Rremly went home Christmas Eve so he could spend Christmas with his own family. Alastor fell asleep wondering what the next day would bring. As usual, he was awakened by a very familiar clear tenor voice singing 'God Save the Queen'. Without even opening his eyes, Alastor pulled his pillow from under his head and threw it in the direction the singing was coming from. There was a soft 'flump' and the singing stopped. The pillow was returned to Alastor none-too-gently. "Hey!" Grabbing the other pillow, Alastor began hitting his 'assailant' with it.

"Boys! It's three-thirty in the morning!" The last statement was made by Mr. Pomfrey, who had heard his son's dulcet tones. He quite literally levitated Stewart out of the room, smiling all the while. "Now you should be able to get some more sleep, Alastor." He winked and left the room.

Stewart could be heard down the hall, most likely still floating inexorably to his room, "Oy! Put me down, Dad!" There was a moment of silence, and then there was a slight thump, apparently Stewart had landed on the floor. "I didn't mean like that!"

Alastor could hear father and son laughing. Even as he settled down into bed, Alastor felt a pang of jealousy. Why couldn't he have had a father like Patrick Pomfrey?

That Christmas was, by far, the best in Alastor's life. All twelve years of it. The presents he received from his friends and their families were the best he'd received and more than he'd ever gotten in previous Christmases put together. To say the least, he was a very happy boy. Boxing Day arrived and brought Rremly, Felix, the Albrechts, and even Milo, which Percy was ecstatic about. Rremly, Felix, and the Albrechts would be staying for the rest of the holidays. Poppy and Rolanda immediately took a liking to Felix, the twins, and Milo, quite adopting them as they had Alastor and Rremly. The second week passed in a similar fashion to the previous week, although Rremly did insist that they spend time doing the work assigned to the students over the holidays. When the nine students were doing the work, Poppy and Rolanda occupied themselves elsewhere.

At one point, Alastor, craving some time for solitude, went out to the orchard and climbed into one of the bare apple trees, wrapping his new dark blue and silver embroidered winter cloak (courtesy of Percy and Joss) tightly around him. As he perched there, he remembered his first morning at Willow House, when he'd looked out the bedroom window to see Poppy and her father picking apples. If he concentrated on the memory hard enough, he could hear echoes of their laughter in his mind.

It had seemed idyllic and perfect, but he'd come to realize that life was hardly ever perfect. There was always something to ruin the perfection. He'd thought everyone's parents were like his, but his time with his friends' families indicated that they weren't. He was even beginning to wonder if he should cling so tightly to his own family. They'd never shown any worry or care about him as a person. Their only concern was that he would do as he was told and not bring shame on the family name.

The only one in his family who seemed to care even the least little bit about him was his brother, Aurelius. Though, Aurelius never seemed to come through when Alastor counted on him to. Whenever plans fell through, it was because Aurelius had either said too much or not enough. It was why Alastor had chosen to owl their parents himself.

He'd originally been invited to spend one week with the Pomfreys, but had told his parents both weeks in his owl to them. They'd agreed, so Alastor had owled the Pomfreys and requested that he stay for the two weeks. Mr. and Mrs. Pomfrey had made sure Alastor's parents agreed to the two weeks before saying he was welcome to stay. Rremly was spending both weeks, but had gone home for Christmas Day. Alastor had chosen to remain with the Pomfreys, a decision his parents didn't contest.

When Alastor really thought about it, his friends and their families were a better family to him than his own. Mrs. Pomfrey, Mrs. Hooch, Mrs. Redgrave, and Mrs. Lockley made sure he had enough to eat, was dressed warm enough to go outside, and generally fussed over him as if he was one of their own children. Mr. Pomfrey, Mr. Redgrave, and Mr. Lockley didn't hesitate to include Alastor on trips with their own sons. Mr. Hooch was sadly deceased, but Alastor was fairly certain he would have acted the same way.

It wasn't just Alastor, either. Belladonna, the twins, and Felix were all fussed over by the women and included by the men. They were, in effect, nine children with four mothers and three fathers. Even Mr. and Mrs. Wilkes, whom he met briefly when they brought Milo over, were exceedingly kind to him and the others.

"Al! Come down! It's time for dinner!" Poppy stood at the base of the tree, calling up to Alastor.

He blinked and looked around. Twilight had settled over the land as he'd been up in the tree and he finally noticed that he was shivering. "I'm coming, Poppy."

"Good, I thought I'd have to climb up there to get you down, and I would too, but mother wouldn't be happy," she called back as he began to climb down.

He dropped the last five feet to land in a heap in the snow. "I doubt she would, as climbing isn't very ladylike."

"No, but it's certainly more fun," she told him seriously as they started toward the house.

He laughed but made no comment. When Poppy's small hand found his, he said nothing, but squeezed it reassuringly.