I woke up the next morning and saw Penelope asleep in her cage. Mum must've let her in when she got up. There was an envelope sitting on my desk and I recognized George's messy scrawl on the front of it as I got closer.

Lydia,

Since you braved my family, I suppose I can brave yours in return. Just send me a date and time, and I'll be happy to attend. I'll even wear a fancy sweater with a button down shirt underneath because I know you think I look fit when I do.

You were quite a hit with my family it seems, the kids can't stop asking about you. They're driving Fleur mad, I think Vic is quite a fan. Teddy just thinks you're pretty, and I can't say I disagree.

Okay, this is going to get embarrassing and no one wants that. I'll see you soon, beautiful. Just tell me when.

George

"So, I hear you've got a boyfriend?" a voice said from the hallway, making me jump in surprise because I thought I was alone.

"Sammy!" I shouted, dropping the letter onto my bed and rushing over to hug my big brother tight. "I'm so happy to see you!"

He held me back just as tight and lifted me off the ground. "I'm happy to see you, too, 'dia."

"Are you the first one here?" I asked after he sat me back on my feet and we headed downstairs for breakfast.

"John's got class until five or so and Alex is on his way," he started.

"And I got here before Sam," Will finished from his spot on the counter with a cup of coffee in his hands. "It's good to see you, little sister, but I'm more interested in this boyfriend of yours mum told us about this morning."

I stopped on my way over to hug him and rolled my eyes instead. Then I gathered the stuff to make an omelet for each of us since mum was out getting groceries and dad was at work it was up to me to make breakfast. When all five of us were at home, food was gone within hours of her bringing it home. She complained about it with a smile on her face, I knew how much she loved having all of us under one roof again. It was like we reverted to be kids again, and it was no secret that she loved when we were all running through the house.

"His name is George, he's a wizard, and he's coming to dinner sometime this week," I told them, focusing on mixing the ingredients instead of their reaction. "I really care about him, please don't mess it up for me. Like, I've never felt this way about anyone before."

Neither of them spoke for a while, an unusual silence taking over the room. The only thing I heard was the sizzling of the pan and the ticking of the grandfather clock in the living room.

"Wow, guys, is me having a boyfriend so surprising that it renders you both speechless?" I asked, turning to face them with my hands on my hips in contempt. "I didn't know that was even possible."

They looked at each other and I realized that wasn't it at all. They didn't know how to ask me if things were okay, if I was okay in general. My entire family wondered about me after the War, it's hard to understand the wounds of a War you weren't part of. The fact that it was a wizard war made it even harder to comprehend.

"He was in the War with me," I told them quietly, turning back around to flip the omelet. "He genuinely makes me so happy. I didn't know I could ever be this happy, especially not after everything."

I had slid the omelet onto a plate and poured the next one into the hot pan by the time Sam finally spoke. "That's so good. I want to meet him and make sure he's not a total prat. Even if he makes you happy, which I'm glad of."

"Yeah, I don't think we've ever met any of your boyfriends before," Will added. "I kind of thought you were into girls or something… not that there's anything wrong with that."

I just rolled my eyes, there was my big brother. "God, I missed you guys so much!"

"If you're not all out in the car in ten seconds, I swear we're not even celebrating Christmas. We'll all going to eat pizza in the kitchen on the 25th like it's a normal day," dad shouted from the bottom of the stairs. "You are all grown! I shouldn't have to rush you!"

"I'm in the kitchen getting coffee. Don't group me with the heathens," I shouted, making mum laugh from her spot across from me. "I swear, he just looks for something to be angry about."

Mum shrugged her shoulders and sipped on her own coffee. "It's how he shows affection. So, is George coming to dinner tomorrow night?"

It was Tuesday and mum thought it'd be best if we had at least a day to prepare dad for George's arrival. Even if he knew it was going to happen, he still needed to be in a good mindset to accept it. So today we were going to get our Christmas tree and decorating it. There was nothing quite like allowing him to pick the tree and get final say over where the bobbles went on it. He liked being in control.

I heard something akin to elephants storming across a hardwood floor and figured it was the boys coming downstairs. It didn't matter that Sam was thirty and Will was twenty-eight, we were all kids when it came to Christmas merriment and it increased tenfold whenever we were all together. We all loaded into mum's minivan and head to the Christmas tree farm we went to every year. It was a place where you cut your own down, also giving dad a chance to be manly. He also liked being masculine.

"So, Samuel, when are we going to meet a boyfriend of yours?" mum asked as dad drove. "I'd like to have grandchildren someday."

"I'm pretty sure Lydia and her boyfriend are more likely to do that than any of my future partners and I are," Sam replied, trying his best to not sound annoyed or sarcastic. "The last time I checked, men having babies together was still impossible."

"You can always adopt, stop being dramatic," mum sighed, realizing it was a pointless battle. "Any girls on the horizon for you, William? John?"

That was how the conversation continued until we got to the farm and out of the small space when Sam grabbed my arm and tersely whispered, "I swear to god, Shelly Duke is going to be the death of me. I don't want to get married right now and I certainly don't want children yet."

"Can you please not piss dad off today? I'm trying my best to butter him up so he'll be nice to George tomorrow night," I pleaded, clutching his arm. "That way I only have to worry about you lot."

"As long as he's good to you, he'll be fine with all of us," Will said, joining in on our conversation. "Also, letting dad pick the tree was a good idea. That man loves to be in control."

I winked at him and said, "That's what I'm banking on, big brother."

Dad picked the biggest tree on the entire farm that took him, Alex, and John to chop it down and pack it inside. Sam, Will, and I used the older advantage to get out of it. As soon as the tree was in place I did a charm to keep the needles from falling off or going brown, something my parents were grateful for but didn't admit it.

"I'm not even a wizard, but I bloody love magic," Will said, looking at the tree as it sparkled to signal the charm was in place.

"Stop talking and let's decorate this bitch," John said, coming into the room with a bunch of decorations in his arms.

"Johnathan! Language!" mum hissed, throwing a pillow at him and making him drop all the boxes. "Dammit!"

"Shelly! Language!" dad teased before he broke out into a broad grin. "I'm sure none of them broke."

We all laughed at dad and checked on the bobbles, seeing that he was right. Once everything was ready, we got into decorating mode. Dad, John, and Will were placing all the things on the tree while Sam, Alex, and I started hanging the tinsel on the rail of the staircase and mum hung her wreaths around the house.

"Oh my god, Lydia! Do you remember these?" dad asked, holding up a pair of glittery reindeer antlers.

"I do! They're from the one and only time 'dia was ever on stage!" John answered, making me throw a piece of frayed tinsel at him. "She got so nervous she chucked up her cookies all over the front row!"

"You're such an ass!" I shrieked, my face flushing in embarrassment at the memory. "I've always been shy! I can't help it."

I was nine years old and our town was putting on a Christmas play. I was casted as a reindeer who had a solo in one of the songs. I took one look at all the people watching me with their cameras and got so nervous I vomited all over the people sitting in the front row.

"I think it's only fitting you wear them now, to honor those who were in the splash zone," John continued, coming over and putting the antlers on my head. "Now, who's got a bet for how fast she blows chunks?"

"Put me down for ten minutes!" Alex shouted, coming into the room with his hands full of biscuits.

"You are terrible people, all of you," I huffed, but I'm sure my smile was obvious behind my eyes. "Now, I think John said it best, let's decorate this bitch."

"Lydia! Language!"

Don't forget to review!