A/N One review off 100! Thank you all so much for the continued support:) xxx
Chapter Twenty-Two
The Waiting Game
The next morning was very confusing.
Firstly, it became apparent that Ron and Harry were no longer at Hogwarts, and it seemed Fred, George and Ginny had gone with them. This startled Hermione and Amara and panicked them, as they knew something terrible must have happened.
At breakfast, where they just sat in silence, picking at their toast, they noticed Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall looking very serious at the staff table, whilst Professor Umbridge seemed so furious, that if anyone tried talking to her would probably get hexed so badly they'd have to see Madam Pomfrey.
"Whatever has happened, Umbridge was not part of it," said Hermione thoughtfully as they watched Umbridge stab a bit of kipper angrily. Professor Dumbledore had not looked up from his conversation with Professor McGonagall.
The rest of the hall hadn't noticed much yet, but Amara knew it was only a matter of time before they figured out that the Weasleys and Harry were no longer with them at Hogwarts.
Lee Jordan and Neville sat near them at breakfast.
"Harry had some sort of nightmare," said Neville quietly. "I got McGonagall and she took him and Ron away – he said something about Ron's dad …"
"And she came into our dormitory looking for Fred and George," said Lee, eating his bacon and looking slightly worried. "haven't seen them since."
Amara and Hermione had to suffer through the entire days' work before they found out what had actually happened. Amara completely refused to listen in every subject, and she didn't even start making her potion in their lesson that day. Snape, however, seemed to know what was going on, and had ignored it pointedly. This had surprised Amara again – the only other time Snape had been relatively 'nice' to her was last June, when she had been flung across the room by Barty Crouch Jr. and had gotten a broken back and ankle.
In Charms, Amara didn't listen, but Hermione did not tell her off, in fact, she seemed rather preoccupied as well, and didn't seem to be listening to what Professor Flitwick was saying.
At lunchtime, a few people wandered over to them, asking if they knew the whereabouts of Fred, George, Ginny, Ron and Harry, most of them from the D.A., others Amara had no idea who they were, and decided that they were just nosy.
She also had a feeling that they'd be spending time at Grimmauld Place again, instead of going home. She was itching to tell Tally, who had broken up from school the day before, and was going to take a flight to London that day, and was going to make her way to Amara's house to wait for her. But she knew she couldn't without catching attention from Umbridge – she did not want Umbridge finding out about Grimmauld Place.
It wasn't until Professor McGonagall caught them just after their last lesson that they were informed of the plans.
Professor McGonagall lead them to Professor Dumbledore's office, where he was waiting for them.
"As you probably well know, Harry and the Weasley's are not at Hogwarts," he started gravely. "Last night, Harry had a vision of a snake attacking Mr Weasley – he is now being treated at St. Mungo's Hospital of Magical Maladies and Injuries, and the others are at Grimmauld Place for Christmas."
Amara and Hermione had gasped when Professor Dumbledore told them about Mr Weasley.
"Is he alright?" Hermione squeaked.
"He is well, but still needing to be treated," said Professor Dumbledore.
"Can't we go see him? Now?" said Amara immediately. She had to be there for the Weasleys and Harry. Harry must be feeling awful too – he saw it happen.
"The reason we didn't tell you sooner, or let you go, was to not attract attention to Professor Umbridge," said Professor Dumbledore. "I gave permission for Harry, Ron, Fred, George and Ginny to leave because they are obviously family – except Harry, of course – but if we let you two go, it would raise suspicion."
"So when can we go?" said Amara impatiently.
"You will have to leave until term officially ends," said Professor Dumbledore.
"But that's not until tomorrow!" said Amara, aghast. "Can't we leave tonight?"
"I'm afraid not, Amara," said Professor Dumbledore. "Professor Umbridge is sniffing us out already for letting the others go without notifying her."
Amara and Hermione nodded. Professor Umbridge had stomped around the school all day, giving out detentions to random people and docking points off unnecessarily. Amara was very glad that she didn't have Defence Against the Dark Arts that day, because she'd probably dished out detentions to her and Hermione too.
"Erm, Professor Dumbledore?" Amara said suddenly, struck by a thought.
"Yes?" said Professor Dumbledore.
"Well, it's not that big of a deal – but, my cousin, Tally Reynolds –"
"She stayed at Grimmauld Place in the summer, didn't she?" Professor McGonagall said.
Amara nodded. "Well she's come back from France to spend Christmas with me, but now I'm not going home –"
"We'll get her to Grimmauld Place," said Professor Dumbledore, a flicker of a smile on his face, and his blue eyes twinkled. "Tomorrow, instead of taking the Hogwarts' Express to King's Cross the day after, you'll take the Knight Bus, as it is quicker for you. Professor McGonagall will meet you in the Entrance Hall tomorrow in the afternoon – remember to take the things you'll need."
Professor McGonagall escorted them out of his office.
"Professor?" said Amara. "D'you think Umbridge would have stopped Harry and the others from leaving?"
Professor McGonagall looked at her grimly. "Yes," she said. "But I'm glad she didn't." She gave one of her rare smiles. "Mr Weasley will be just fine," she added, seeing the worried faces of the two girls. "Harry managed to let us know and notify the others before it was too late."
Amara hadn't realised how much she relied on the Weasley's presence to help her through the evenings.
Normally, if Hermione, Harry and Ron weren't around, she'd either hang around with Ginny or Fred and George. But now it was just Hermione and her anxiously waiting for the next day to dawn.
Amara missed them all, and she was worried about Mr Weasley, even though she knew he wasn't going to die. She wanted to hug them too, and comfort them, but she knew she couldn't do that either. If Professor Umbridge wasn't around, they'd already be there to see them.
At dinner, nobody really bothered them, as they both looked sad and grouchy. Professor McGonagall had advised them not to go spilling it around, that Harry saw a vision and managed to let people know that Arthur Weasley had been attacked seconds after it had happened.
So Amara and Hermione stayed quiet all evening, forgetting about homework, or in Hermione's case, making elf hats.
Amara also had to tell Tessie and Ethan that she wouldn't be going home because Mr Weasley was in hospital and she had to see the Weasleys. They understood and promised to tell their parents.
"Only reason I'm going home this Christmas," Tessie told her. "Is because I don't want to be around Umbridge at such a happy time."
"And Mum made you," said Ethan.
"Well, you were planning on going to Eddie and Piper's," shot back Tessie. "And Mum and Dad wouldn't let you."
"She would if it was a family emergency," said Ethan. "Like if their dad was in hospital. They'd understand."
"Yeah, well, they don't really get a choice with Amara, do they?" snorted Tessie. "How many times have you been home for Christmas?"
"Once," said Amara. "But we were in third year, but Mum and Dad were going somewhere else –"
"Eurgh, to see Great Aunt Hillary in Australia," groaned Tessie. "The only reason I liked it was because it was sunny. Seriously, Aunt Hillary is a bore. That was the most boring Christmas – all her children have moved off and had their own families … I don't know what Mum was thinking, Dad hated it too."
"I haven't seen Great Aunt Hillary in years," said Ethan.
"She's worse than when we last saw her," said Tessie darkly. "And she kept on and on about not having you two there. Mum and Dad nearly snapped and told her everything. But she's such a muggle, so she'd probably freak out."
"Glad she didn't spill the beans," said Ethan. "We'd be dead for sure."
Amara and Hermione went to bed earlier than usual, so that the morning would come quicker. Amara woke up very early the next morning, and lay there in bed for a while before getting up and shoving the things in her trunk that she would need. Hermione got up too and started doing the same thing.
Before breakfast, Amara went to fetch Archimedes from the Owlery, because she didn't want him to spend Christmas alone. Hermione also found Crookshanks and made him stay in the common room so she could pick him up easily and put him in his basket before meeting McGonagall, as they wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible.
They had to suffer another day's work before they could finally leave. After saying good-bye to Tessie and Ethan in the common room after lessons, Amara and Hermione fetched their trunks, Archimedes' cage and Crookshanks' basket before meeting an awaiting McGonagall in the entrance hall. She was wearing her tartan cloak and hat, and looked quite stressed. Amara and Hermione had put their cloaks and scarves and hats on too, as it had begun to snow again.
She escorted them down the snowy drive, both Amara and Hermione struggling with their trunks and becoming very cold, and down to the village of Hogsmeade. It was very quiet, as it was mid-afternoon and no one was about.
"The Knight Bus is the fastest way to get there," said Professor McGonagall. "It's not – er – the most comfortable, but it gets you to where you want to go."
She then flung her right hand out and with a BANG a triple-decker violet-coloured bus appeared out of nowhere, pulling to a stop next to them. On the windscreen there were gold letters spelling out The Knight Bus.
Amara and Hermione, who had jumped back in shock, were greeted by a pimply conductor in a matching violet uniform.
He looked as though he was in his early twenties, and he looked at them, grinning.
"Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard. Just stick out your wand hand, step on board and we can take you anywhere you want to go. I am Stan Shunpike and I shall be your conductor this afternoon." It was all very rehearsed, and Amara was impressed, that was, until he started speaking in his un-rehearsed voice.
"Two tickets to Grimmauld Square, please," said Professor McGonagall, rather impatiently, as though all this standing around was very time-consuming.
"Right-o," said Stan Shunpike brightly. "Tha'll be eleven sickles each, ma'ams."
Amara and Hermione struggled to get the coins out of their trunks and placed the sickles in Stan's hand.
"Please 'op on board and take seats," said Stan Shunpike, leaping out the way so that there was a clear path onto the bus.
"See you soon, Professor," said Amara as she picked up her trunk and owl again. "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas to you too," said Professor McGonagall, smiling slightly again, she stood away from the bus. "Stay safe."
She turned away from them and started walking back up the drive to the castle, which looked pretty against the snow which was falling gently around them.
Stan Shunpike helped the two girls with their trunks and animals and got them onto the bus. Looking up, Amara saw a massive chandelier swinging precariously on the ceiling. The different decks were filled with mismatched chairs all crammed around windows. There were candle brackets on the walls – none were lit, because it was still daylight outside. As there was room on the first floor, Stan lead them to two of the few free ones as Amara and Hermione received their tickets. They shoved their things away and saw down on the squashy chairs. Looking around, Amara saw that there were a few interesting looking wizards and witches on the bus as well, none of them paying any attention to the two girls who had just walked on. One wizard was holding a very weird creature that seemed to breathe fire in little shots; a woman had obviously been shopping, and some of it had fallen out and smashed on the floor.
Just as they had sat down, the bus lurched into life with a massive jolt, and went through a snowy Hogsmeade before another tremendous BANG and suddenly they were driving fast down a narrow country lane. Lamp posts and post boxes leapt aside to let the bus through, and Amara and Hermione had very nearly fallen off their seats in the shock of disappearing to someplace new. Outside there were lots of hedges and an odd farmhouse or two.
"Sorry ter say, but you're stop isn' fer another load," said Stan apologetically. "But it won' be long, 'opefully. Tha' woman yous was with seemed keen ter get you on 'ere, so we'll try our bes', me an' Ern."
"Who's Ern?" said Amara.
"Eh? Oh, Ernie Prang, the driver," said Stan, pointing at the back of a grey wizard driving the bus.
Amara found out relatively quickly that she did not like the Knight Bus. It tossed her and Hermione about so much, and sometimes they fell on the floor, as the chairs they were sat on did not stand up very well. To make matters worse, Amara had to hold Archimedes' cage, and the owl seemed very disgruntled about being thrown around all the time. Crookshanks started spitting too, as Hermione fell over again, after the third massive BANG (they were transported to a village, which Stan said was on the outskirts of Southampton).
They stopped with a very big jolt, and Amara and Hermione were flung forwards as it pulled to stop outside a pub.
An old witch got off, looking as though she was feeling very, very ill, and she was son disappearing into the pub on the other side of the road.
BANG.
They were now driving madly along a motorway (Amara saw a sign saying they were near Manchester now) where lots of cars were jumping out the way, but the Muggles seemed to not realise it.
Hermione didn't like the bus either, and covered her face with her hands when they sped down the motorway, dodging the cars so fast, Amara was sure they were going to hit one which didn't hop out the way fast enough.
There was a steady trickle of witches and wizards getting on and off the bus. The wizard with the fire-breathing creature got off in a big town square, whilst the woman with the shopping got off in a small town in Wales. Most seemed very relieved to get off, and the ones coming on seemed rather anxious and hesitant. Stan flitted back and forth when they were getting on and off – each passenger paying eleven sickles, or else having their bags thrown out after them by Stan as they left the bus. Amara was reassured to find that it wasn't just her and Hermione being thrown about – everyone else had to pick themselves off the floor too, and there were much older wizards and witches on the bus too.
After an hour's worth of thrashing about, the Knight Bus stopped very near to where Amara lived, and she was very shocked to see Tally outside the bus, talking to Stan and getting on.
Stan seemed overwhelmed when he started talking to Tally, because her hair was in a neat little ponytail and was shining more than ever. He seemed to gape and then shake himself and ask her for the eleven sickles needed for a ticket. Tally paid him promptly and seemed to be looking around the bus hopefully. She brightened and practically shoved Stan out the way when she saw Amara and Hermione halfway down the bus, both looking very dazed as they picked themselves off the floor again. Archimedes was now on the floor in between Amara's feet – she didn't trust herself to keep hold of his cage, as she had had to pick him off some unfortunate wizard's lap twice now. Tally took her blue suitcase off the floor, hurried over and sat on a chair next to them, grinning brightly.
"I was worried you had already got off!" she said breathlessly. "I didn't want to ride by myself, but Dumbledore said you were leaving in the afternoon."
"We had to wait until classes ended," Amara said. "And they didn't end until today."
"Had a nice term at Beauxbatons?" said Hermione.
"No," said Tally, seeming to be rather uninterested about her Beauxbatons' life. "Professor Dumbledore contacted me last night and told me what happened – is everyone alright?"
"We don't know," said Amara, shaking her head. "We haven't seen or written to them yet."
"I must say," said Tally, as the bus started off again with a nasty lurch that made Tally grab a candle bracket in surprise. "What the," she said, startled as there was a familiar BANG and they were hurtling down a main road towards Birmingham. "I was surprised he contacted me," she finished.
"I asked him too," said Amara. "Were Mum and Dad angry that I'm not coming home?"
"No," said Tally. "They understand that you want to be there for the Weasley's. How's your term been? You haven't said much in your letters!"
"We'll tell you more when we get there," said Amara.
"But we couldn't tell you much," said Hermione, who was fiddling with Crookshanks' cage. "Because Umbridge has been reading a lot of people's mail."
"Reading your mail?" Tally said, looking scandalised.
"That's not even half of it," said Amara grimly, and Tally looked bemused.
"So you haven't been able to contact anyone?" she put emphasis on the 'anyone' and Amara knew she was talking about the Order of the Phoenix members.
"No," said Hermione as they fell over again.
"We talked to Snuffles a few times," said Amara as they got up off the floor once more. "But that went badly wrong too."
"And I've obviously spoken to Jesse," said Hermione. "Though, not about anything."
Tally seemed very keen to know what had been happening over the course of just a few months, but she had to wait another hour before they finally got to Grimmauld Square. It looked the same as always – the scraggly patch of greenery in the front of the same, identical tall houses.
"'Ere you go," said Stan, leading them off, all three struggling with their suitcases and trunks, and Archie and Crookshanks. Crookshanks seemed very angry at what had happened, and Archie was in a state of shock.
Once they had left the bus, Stan waved once, and it shot off - with a BANG, it disappeared from view.
Blinking snow out of their eyes, as it was falling more thickly now, Amara, Hermione and Tally looked at each other.
"Let's try not to get back on that in a hurry," said Amara and Hermione and Tally nodded in agreement, each now looking rather cold. Hermione's nose was getting rather pink, so Amara decided they better go inside quickly.
They looked up at the houses and saw that Number Twelve was hidden from view once more, but as all three of them stared at it, it emerged from between Number Eleven and Thirteen.
Once the gate had popped up from the ground, Amara, Hermione and Tally walked up the overgrown path to the front door, which was painted black, but was scratched and the paint was peeling.
"Shall we knock?" said Hermione nervously. "It does make such a racket."
"I doubt they know we're coming," Amara said, now shivering slightly under her cloak. "We can't exactly just barge in, can we?"
"Suppose not," said Hermione, and she rapped twice on the door using the serpent doorknocker. As if in reply, there was a shriek that was Mrs Black screaming about Mudbloods and Scum again, and hurried footsteps from the kitchen.
The door opened slightly and Mrs Weasley's worried brown eyes peered out. Once she saw who it was, however, she opened the door wider and beamed.
"Girls!" she cried, stepping forwards and giving them all a tight hug. "Oh – it's freezing out here – come in quickly!"
Amara, Hermione and Tally hurried inside, brushing snow off their cloaks. Someone had stopped Mrs Black, but had returned to the kitchen, as no one was in the hallway except them and Mrs Weasley. The hallway seemed to have been given a few festive decorations, which brightened up the place slightly.
"It's so lovely to see you again," said Mrs Weasley. "Are you here to spend Christmas with us?"
"Yeah," said Amara.
"Is that alright?" said Hermione anxiously.
"Of course!" said Mrs Weasley. "Everyone will be pleased – I think Ron and Ginny are in Ron's room … I think Harry's further upstairs … I don't think he's very well at the moment." She looked troubled for a second. "Do go up, I've lit a fire in Ron's room, it's getting rather chilly in here. I've sent up sandwiches too – it's already six o'clock you know!" She bustled away and Amara, Hermione and Tally walked up the stairs to the first landing. Hermione went into the room she and Ginny shared whilst Tally and Amara went up another flight to dump their trunks in the room they shared. Archimedes seemed pleased to be let out of his cage as they unwound their scarves and took off their gloves.
"C'mon, Ron and Ginny'll be happy to see us," said Amara, grinning. Tally nodded and they walked out the room again. Hermione was just walking up the stairs, so they walked into Ron's room together.
"Amara – Hermione – Tally," said Ron, looking surprised. "What're you doing here?"
"See if you guys are alright, of course," said Amara, as though it was obvious.
"What about your families?" said Ginny.
"They understand," said Amara, smiling. Ginny and Ron smiled quickly back, their thoughts obviously still on their Dad.
"What's up with Harry?" said Hermione as she sat down on the bed.
"He's been hiding ever since we've got back from visiting Dad," said Ginny, after exchanging looks with Ron.
"What happened there?"
"We used Fred and George's Extendable Ears," said Ginny. "Harry had the dream through the eyes of the snake. And Moody's now saying that Harry doesn't realise what's going on – that You-Know-Who's possessing him."
"What?" Hermione gasped, looking horrified.
"Yeah, but we haven't been able to talk to him yet," said Ron.
"We can find out if it's true," said Ginny.
"Where is he now?" said Amara.
"Buckbeak's room upstairs," said Ron.
Amara and Hermione looked at each other, nodded, and walked out to fetch him. On the third floor, Amara noticed voices and lights coming from Fred and George's room, but resisted the temptation to say hello – they needed to get Harry first.
"I know you're in there," said Hermione, hammering on the door. "Will you please come out? We want to talk to you."
"You can't hide away forever," added Amara.
"What are you guys doing here?" Harry asked them, pulling open the door. "I thought you were skiing with your mum and dad and staying with your family and Tally?"
"Well, to tell the truth, skiing's not really my thing," said Hermione. "So I've come for Christmas. But don't tell Ron that, I told him it's really good because he kept laughing so much. Anyway, Mum and Dad are a bit disappointed, but I've told them that everyone who's serious about the exams is staying at Hogwarts to study. They want me to do well, they'll understand. Anyway," she said briskly, "let's go to your bedroom, Ron's mum's lit a fire in there and she's sent up sandwiches."
"I had to come here after we heard," said Amara. "Tally managed to come here as well, and we're all staying here for Christmas!"
They walked down the hallway and stairs onto the second-floor. They re-entered the bedroom to see Ron, Ginny and Tally still in there, sitting on Ron's bed. They seemed to be explaining to Tally about Umbridge at Hogwarts.
"We came on the Knight Bus," said Hermione airily, pulling off her jacket and putting it on a chair. "Dumbledore told us what had happened yesterday, but we had to wait for term to end officially before setting off. Umbridge is already livid that you lot disappeared right under her nose, even though Dumbledore told her Mr Weasley was in St. Mungo's, and he'd given you all permission to visit."
"Tally joined us on the Knight Bus," added Amara. "They've just been explaining about Umbridge," she nodded towards Ron and Ginny.
Hermione and Amara sat down on Harry's bed and they all looked at him.
"How're you feeling?" asked Hermione.
"Fine," said Harry stiffly, having given no indication that he had listened to a word they had said.
"Oh, don't lie, Harry," she said impatiently. "Ron and Ginny say you've been hiding from everyone since you got back from St. Mungo's."
"They do, do they?" said Harry, glaring at Ron and Ginny. Ron looked down at his feet but Ginny seemed quite unabashed.
"Well, you have!" she said. "And you won't look at any of us!"
"It's you lot who won't look at me!" said Harry angrily.
"Maybe you're taking it in turns to look and keep missing each other," suggested Hermione, the corners of her mouth twitching. Amara stopped herself from snorting.
"Very funny," snapped Harry, turning away.
"Oh, stop feeling all misunderstood," said Hermione sharply. "Look, the others have told us what you overheard last night on the Extendable Ears —"
"Yeah?" growled Harry, his hands deep in his pockets as he watched the snow falling thickly outside. "All been talking about me, have you? Well, I'm getting used to it. . . ."
"We wanted to talk to you, Harry," said Ginny, "but as you've been hiding ever since we got back —"
"I didn't want anyone to talk to me," said Harry.
"Well, that was a bit stupid of you," said Ginny angrily, "seeing as you don't know anyone but me who's been possessed by You-Know-Who, and I can tell you how it feels."
Harry remained quite still as the words seemed to absorb into his brain. Then he turned on the spot to face her.
"I forgot," he said.
"Lucky you," said Ginny coolly.
"I'm sorry," Harry said. "So . . . so do you think I'm being possessed, then?"
"Well, can you remember everything you've been doing?" Ginny asked. "Are there big blank periods where you don't know what you've been up to?"
"No," he said.
"Then You-Know-Who hasn't ever possessed you," said Ginny simply. "When he did it to me, I couldn't remember what I'd been doing for hours at a time. I'd find myself somewhere and not know how I got there."
"That dream I had about your dad and the snake, though —"
"Harry, you've had these dreams before," Hermione said. "You had flashes of what Voldemort was up to last year."
"This was different," said Harry, shaking his head. "I was inside that snake. It was like I was the snake. . . . What if Voldemort somehow transported me to London — ?"
"How would you have got there?" Amara said. "You can't Apparate or Disapparate out of Hogwarts, remember?"
"Even Voldemort couldn't just make you fly out of your dormitory, Harry," Hermione added.
"You didn't leave your bed, mate," said Ron. "I saw you thrashing around in your sleep about a minute before we could wake you up. . . ." Harry started pacing up and down the room again, thinking.
Sirius tramped past their door toward Buckbeak's room, singing "God Rest Ye Merry, Hippogriffs" at the top of his voice. Tally giggled at him, and the mood in the room lifted slightly.
-OOOOO-
The run up to Christmas Day was quite exhausting. Sirius had put it upon himself that everyone had to enjoy themselves – he was so happy that the house was full of people again that he couldn't stop singing or stop putting decorations up.
Fred and George were pleased Amara was there as well – they had both given her such a hug that she knew they had been worried about their Dad, and hadn't been their jokey selves.
The house was completely transformed with magical decorations. They cleaned the chandeliers so well they gleamed, and they had garlands of holly and silver and gold streamers hanging off them all. Magical snow that never melted was covering up the threadbare carpets; Mundungus had gotten (or stolen) them a Christmas tree which the placed in front of the tapestry of the Family Tree, and decorated it with live fairies and put Father Christmas hats and beards on all the decapitated elf heads on the wall. They hung mistletoe up around the house, and Fred and George teasingly tried to get Amara under it repeatedly – they succeeded in getting Tally and Ron, and Ron blushed furiously as he kissed her on the cheek, and Hermione and Jesse, who had popped around to see her on his break. Hermione was very pleased that he'd come, and even ignored Fred and George's catcalls all through dinner after they had kissed under the mistletoe.
Tally, it seemed, was very happy to be back amongst them again – and everyone else was pleased to see her again too. Mrs Weasley treated her in a very motherly like way, the same way she treated Amara, Harry and Hermione. Everyone had accepted that she could be with them, and Amara was very pleased indeed. She didn't want to delve into how her term at Beauxbatons had been, because she said it was very boring indeed, and she wished once again that her family lived in England.
All in all, Amara was in good spirits on Christmas Eve – she owled her parents, who gave a reply quick, along with a bundle of presents (Archimedes seemed exhausted and needed to sleep immediately) that she was told not to open until Christmas morning.