Surprises

Rose's POV

I was trying hard not to mope. Especially because Riley seemed to be at every meal. He kept switching households, like he did every vacation. And it was irritating beyond belief to not get a dinner without him lurking around, reminding me of his homosexuality. I know, I sounded homophobic, but that wasn't it. I was angry at him. I was angry that he had deceived me. I was angry that I had been used. Or he tried to use me anyway.

I was really starting to like him for a moment there.

James had already confronted me about everything, and I supposed that Riley had told them we broke up. Usually, James would've killed the other guy. Or threatened him pretty severely. But I guess this case was pretty different, as Riley was as close to him as a brother. I was just glad Riley had stuck to my story about not feeling it and not come up with something else and confused everyone until the truth came out.

That's how it usually happened around here.

Anyway, I tried to focus all my frustrations on trying to make sure James and Eve didn't call it quits on their friendship. They were always two seconds close to it too. Personally, I thought it was all the sexual tension between them. Seriously, all of us knew it.

That's why when every time it looked like they were quits, I'd come in with something like, "hey James how great is it that Eve is your best friend?" or "hey, Eve, isn't it awesome how James totally got you out of that drug mess?" and then the bad feelings would disappear and they'd be friends again.

Until Christmas Eve at the Burrow, when James asked Eve something that made her so uncomfortable, I didn't think I could step in

Eve's POV

I had never had eggnog before. It was spiked with firewhiskey, and I found it delicious. It was warm, and as I sat amongst all the Weasley family, I felt so peaceful. James was sitting next to me, a little tipsy himself, cracking jokes that didn't quite make sense, but made everyone laugh anyway, due to the slight insobriety of the entire group.

James stood up and stretched and looked toward me, motioning me out to the back porch. I stood up, slightly dizzy, and followed him there. I could feel the family's eyes on my back but ignored it. We were just friends. Everything everyone else seemed to think was untrue.

"I needed air," James said, sitting down on the porch swing. He patted the space next to him and I sat down, trying not to slosh my eggnog all over the place.

"Well, I didn't have to come then," I said quietly. He shook his head.

"Don't be silly. If there was anyone I wanted air with, it's you," he said dismissively. "Can I get a sip of that?" he asked. I gave the glass to him, he took a gulp, and handed it back.

"Eve, do you know who your father is?"

I stared at him. It was so random, so unexpected, and made me uncomfortable. But I turned to look out to the garden, trying to fight the sinking feeling in my chest. I didn't think about my father too much, but when I did, guilt ended up sitting on my shoulders like a huge, heavy anvil.

"No," I said shortly. He didn't seem fazed.

"There's that thing in your voice again."

"What thing?"

"The thing. When I know you're feeling guilty," he said. I just felt silent. "Is he alive?"

"I don't know."

"I'm sorry," he said quietly.

"Me too." I swallowed hard, trying not to cry. I felt James's arm snake around my shoulders and pull me into him. I leaned into his chest, for the first time in my life letting myself lose a bit of control. I let him take over for a moment as he stroked my cheek and rested his head on top of mine. "It's my fault," I said quietly. I said it in a whisper, because I wasn't sure if I wanted him to hear it or not. He was silent for so long that I didn't think that he heard me, until he pulled his arm away from me and turns to look at me.

"Eve, listen to yourself. How could something like that be your fault?" he asked, frowning. I put my head in my hands.

"How could it not be?" I said, my voice muffled, "He left as soon as I was born, James. What does that mean?"

"Maybe that your mother was too much to handle for him."

"Then why wouldn't he take me with him?" I asked.

"I—maybe she wouldn't let him. Eve, you were a baby. Babies can't do anything wrong," James said. "Don't be ridiculous. Think clearly. How could it be your fault, Eve?" I watched my cat sneak around the garden, trying to paw at a gnome.

"I am not meant to exist," I said, looking straight into his eyes. "And I know it every single fucking day of my life."

"No. Fuck this, Eve," James said angrily, standing up in front of me. "I am going to find your father and then ask—"

"You will do no such thing," I hissed at him.

"I hate your parents, Eve. I hate what they've done to you," he said, clenching his fists.

"James, whatever you hate or love, you will not find my father. I do not want to find him. I've never wanted to. Not a single part of me has ever wanted to. Please," I said, changing my tone to one of pleading. Because the more I spoke to him, the more I realized how easy it would be for James Potter to find my father. His father was an Auror, for Merlin's sake. "Please, James, if you value our friendship."

And then I started crying. He was holding me in under a second.

"Don't cry, I'm sorry, I won't. Just don't cry. I just got mad for a moment," James explained.

"It's fine," I said, embarrassed at my outbreaks. Which were happening more often than ever in my life. Something in the English air. I never used to cry. "Just please don't. I know how easy it would be for you, just please—"

"Shh, no, I won't," he said, holding me tighter.

"What's going on?" I turned and saw Dominique and Rose standing at the doorway, grinning hugely at the both of us.

"Nothing," James said, while I brushed away the rest of my tears.

"We were just talking," I confirmed, hoping my eyes weren't red.

"If by talking, you mean snogging," Dom said, winking at James, who turned red and denied it profusely.

James's POV

I knew what I was doing would probably end my friendship with Eve, but seriously, this girl was completely messed up. Everyone wants to know their family. I wanted to fix her, and I saw this as my only option. So on Christmas morning, I went to my dad.

"Dad," I said, standing at the door to his study.

"Merry Christmas James! The presents are downstairs, so we can—"

"Wait, dad, I wanted to ask you something." He looked concerned and gestured to the seats in front of his desk. "How easy is it to find somebody?" He looked at me suspiciously.

"Easy," he said, waiting for me to continue.

"I need to find Evelyn Martin's father. Lived in Salem, America around 16 years ago, possibly married to someone there. Most probably a wizard. Um probably middle aged. Don't really know his na—" Dad put his hand up, drew his wand, and shut the door with a wave. He folded his hands in front of him and looked toward me.

"James, is Eve okay with this?"

"I mean… who doesn't want to know their father?" I said, trying to avoid the actual question.

"Is Eve okay with this, James?" he repeated.

"Yes," I said. I had to lie if it came to this. Dad nodded and pulled out a parchment from his desk. He took a quill and began scribbling something. "Dad…Dad what are you writing?"

"Um… a note to my assistant. Ray will find out what he can." He still sounded disapproving.

"Dad, wouldn't you want to know?"

"I did. But it's different, James. My dad didn't abandon me. He died."

"But how you do you know her dad didn't leave from those kinds of circumstances?"

"I don't. But if he did abandon her?"

"Then she'll know. Dad, this girl is broken, and I don't think there's any way to fix it until she knows why her dad left her."

"James, if you're wrong about her father, and she finds him or knows about him and he doesn't want anything to do with her, it will be like her father left her again. Only this time, the damage may just be irreparable."

"Dad, I think the damage is at its worst."

"You're obstinate like your mother, James. But okay, I will send this off to see what I can do."

"Thank you."

"Now let's go open presents. Mums already got some delicious food cooking and Ron and Hermione are coming over soon."

Rose's POV

I opened mum's present first. It was a leather bound homework planner, which was already color coded for me. It was really what I needed for these upcoming O.W.L.s. She was over the moon when I said I loved it to. Dad gave me a lot of money, as he always did. I did appreciate it though. It always guaranteed I'd have a beautiful dress for the Potter Boxing Day party. Hugo gave me like five pairs of socks. Just as I thought I had finished, I saw an envelope lying under the tree. I took it and opened it. Out fell a long letter, as well as a tiny, ornate box.

I looked around, but mum, dad, and Hugo were too busy opening presents to notice me. I stole away to the kitchen, sat myself down and began reading.

Rose

Merry Christmas! I know what you're thinking: this is the first time I've ever written you. I was a bit scared it would land in one of your humungous family's hands, so I didn't put my name on the front of the envelope. Hopefully you'll have had the good sense to move somewhere more private to read this. If not, well… I can't say I'm very much surprised.

So how are you? I hope you're still not moping about the stud monkey White. You dodged a bullet there, if I may say so myself. I chuckled and kept reading. How are your drastically discriminant cousins? I hope they're reveling in this joyous season! It's hard to accurately portray sarcasm in a letter…

I hope Eve is doing okay and has kept from falling in love with one your aforementioned cousins. (I've been reading a lot, hence all the big words). I know you're partying it up over there Weasley-style, but not all of us view Christmas time as so endearing. My parents are off to Romania. I adamantly refused to go, knowing they probably went to meet and greet our millions of boring relatives. So I'm stuck here, reading books. I've even moved on to Muggle books, aren't you proud of me?

Anyway, I hope you're enjoying your holidays. Write back if you can.

Love,

Scorpius

P.S. Enjoy the gift. I hope it makes up for all the grief between us these past few months.

I smiled and picked up the tiny box. I flicked it open with my pinky finger and gasped. It was a crystal rose charm. It was insanely detailed, down to the dew drops on the petals. It was tinted with the slightest red and green for the leaves. I felt the tears coming before they actually wet my eyes. I didn't even know why I was crying, other than the fact that I had a fabulous best friend.

Lou was sitting on the counter next to me and staring at me accusingly. "What?" I asked grumpily, stuffing the letter back in my jacket pocket. "Oh come off it, Lou. Where's your owner anyway?"

"Right here," Eve mumbled, sleepy-eyed.

"Oh good," I said quickly. "Your presents are in the sitting room."

"Presents?" Eve asked, looking confused.

"Yeah, it's Christmas you dolt."

"I know, but you're probably mistaken about the presents."

"Oh shut it and go look, will you?" She gave me a curious glance before heading to the sitting room.

Eve's POV

I gaped in surprise and horror. There was a pile of presents sitting there with my name scrawled on a parchment and stuck to the top. I made my way over to them, ignoring Hugo's large grin, and picked the first one off the top. I immediately felt terrible. I hadn't gotten anyone anything. I opened the present carefully.

It was a Wizarding chess set from Ron and a homework planner from Hermione. I turned to stare at them. "But I didn't get you—"

"Oh come off it, Eve," Ron said, glaring at me.

"I…thank you. It's beautiful," I said, completely in awe. I opened the next one to find a beautiful silken scarf from Hugo, who was blushing profusely. "This is… this is altogether just wow," I muttered, running my hands over the silky material.

"It was nothing," Hugo mumbled, before hastening out of the room. The next present was from James. I opened it to find a ivy-colored bracelet. I put it on my wrist and admired it for a few seconds before moving to Rose's, which was a pair of wooly socks and a bright yellow cardigan. I made a mental note to thank her, even though I wouldn't be caught dead in bright yellow. Al had gotten me a stationary set, complete with a peacock feather quill. Neville and Hannah's gift was money and a note attached, reading, For a beautiful dress for the Boxing Day Ball.

"I don't even know what to say," I said, my gifts in front me. "This is the first time I've ever…been given gifts. I'm not sure what to do."

"Nothing, dear. You just sit there and enjoy Christmas!" Hermione said happily, patting my shoulder.

"Thanks for the bracelet, it was beautiful," I told James when we all went over to the Potters after coffee.

"Looks pretty on your wrist," he said, smiling. He handed me a Christmas cookie, courtesy of Ginny, and led me outside. It had snowed last night and the snow seemed to have covered the entire world in a thick white blanket. Hugo, Rose, Al, and Lily were all already outside, steaming cups of cocoa in their hands.

"Oh hey, it's the lovebirds!" Al called out, grinning widely. I glared at him, but he just laughed, probably finding this whole thing amusing. I glanced at James, who was expressionless and staring at his cup of hot chocolate like it was the most interesting thing in the entire world. I wouldn't have been surprised if he put his cousins up to the constant barrage of references to our non-existent love life.

I would be lying if I said I didn't find it charming.

Christmas at the Burrow! Best time of the year? Definitely 3 James isn't being a nosy idiot for no reason, guys, go easy on him. :) More coming! I love your reviews, keep them coming. Whenever I get one, I start writing again like mad! 3