For the Ministry Christmas Party on the Ministry of Magic Discord.
Mary Anne and New Traditions
For as long as Mary Anne can remember, Kristy has helped her put up the Christmas tree. Each year on the first of December (any earlier is sacrilege, according to Kristy), Kristy escapes the madness of the Brewer household and spends several hours helping Mary Anne wrestle with fairy lights and tinsel. She then lounges on the couch and instructs Mary Anne on where to best place the baubles. Richard, usually consumed by ghosts of Christmas Past, has never really bothered to comment, letting the girls do whatever they please provided they do it safely.
But this year, it's not just Mary Anne and her dad. This year, Christmas is a Spiers and Schafer affair. And with a newfound love for the festive season, Richard suggests that there might not be room for Kristy in this year's celebrations—that perhaps Kristy might want to focus her effort on participating in traditions with her own family. And although Mary Anne is thrilled that her father seems one step closer to proposing to her best friend's mother, she is less than excited to break the news to Kristy.
"Oh."
"Yeah." Mary Anne wrings her hands. "I'm really sorry. Dad just wants it to be special with Sharon, you know? I think he thinks this is some kind of test run... Anyway, it just means that we're all going to set up the tree and stuff. Just us. Kind of like a family, I guess."
"Right." Kristy blinks. "Just you and Dawn."
"No! Well, yeah. Plus Dad, Sharon and Jeff. It's not just me and Dawn." Mary Anne looks pleadingly at Kristy. "Maybe we can do something just the two of us later. Hey! Do you think Watson might let you have a tree in your room? You've got so much space…"
But if Kristy notices Mary Anne's desperate attempt to make things right between them, she doesn't show. Instead, she waves a dismissive hand, says something dismissive about Watson, and then makes her excuses to leave. And although she insists that everything is fine, when she leaves Mary Anne's room, Mary Anne can't help but notice that she does shut the door a little louder than usual. It's enough to make Mary Anne's eyes well with tears.
She's been crying for ten minutes when there's a rapid knock and the door and Kristy bursts back in. But her look of dejection has disappeared. Instead, she's grinning from ear to ear. Mary Anne hurriedly wipes at her face, which suddenly feels hot with embarrassment.
"Maybe we can all do a tree together in Claud's room," Kristy blurts. "We could buy one using the Club funds. And everyone can probably contribute some old decorations..."
"All of us?"
"Yeah." Kristy shrugs. "We're all best friends, aren't we? I'll miss doing a tree with you, but maybe your dad's right. Maybe it is time for new traditions."
"New traditions," Mary Anne echoes. "Sounds fun."
"Yeah. I think so too."