Hey everyone,
All I can say is, I'll try to make this chapter and the way the Johnsons celebrate Yule/Christmas a little different from how the Diggories do it.
Can't make any guarantees, though, outside of the design of Johnson Hall and one character. Oh, and for inspiration for Johnson Hall, just imagine the castle of Prince Eric from The Little Mermaid – but with less floors and without the staircase that leads to the ocean.
Okay, let's do this,
Venquine1990
Chapter 32
Home For Christmas – Day 02
28th of December 1994
Johnson Hall, England
Jillian's POV
"Oh no."
The fact that these words leave Angelina's lips as soon as we walk through the fancy gates of her own family home worries me.
Cedric and I turn to her and I notice her looking at a fancy looking cat that has gem-covered ribbons all over its fluffy tail.
"If Maurice is here – then that means that my grandmother is here. What is she doing here? She hasn't come over to celebrate Yule since I was 4 years old. She is the Recluse of Society."
The cat spots us and the stare it sends Angelina actually makes me feel like both Ripper and Petunia are looking at the girl.
As if she'd never be good enough to be in the cat's presence and as if the cat has the right to attack her as soon as its master commands it to.
A shudder runs through my body at the fact that a cat can send such a stare at a person, let alone the granddaughter of its owner.
I decide to distract myself from the feline and look up at the home of the other of my two new partners.
My eyes widen when I see the huge marble building, that is actually made of four towers of various thicknesses alongside one long rectangular building that leads out to the pond on the west of the premises, with a dock build up against the thin side of the building.
There is a patio between us and the front doors of the house, which seem to be made of the richest wood that is probably available.
The doors open and instantly a voice rings out. "Well, as Regent of House Johnson, I do believe I have the born right to determine whether the future of my House is going the proper way or not."
Another shudder runs through my form as I think: "It can't be. Surely there can't really be a magical Petunia. Surely I'm not that unlucky."
Silently I praise the fact that I took a little more of that potion Madam Pomfrey provided me with this morning. At the same time I wonder if its potency will be enough if my fears get proven right.
Yet before the woman can walk past the beautiful gazebo that is set in the patio between us and the front entrance, Angelina steps up between us and her grandmother.
And the look on the girl's face as well as how she holds herself proves two things. This is the future team Captain of Gryffindor and the future Lady of House Johnson.
"Grandmother, no. You gave up the full rights that come with the Regency title when you told mother that you would make your unofficial title of Recluse official.
You do not fool me and you will not make Yule uncomfortable for my partners nor insult my parents with your belief that they did not inform me of this when I took up my lessons as Heiress.
You are as much a guest in House Johnson during this celebration of Yule as my partners and I expect – and I know my mother will and does too – that you will behave like one."
The cat, during the whole conversation/confrontation, has moved to seat itself besides its owner, who is now leaning on a walking cane underneath the gazebo ceiling.
And even the way the woman looks reminds me of Petunia, even if the woman herself doesn't have the same long neck as Petunia does.
Yet everything else, from the stiff upper lip to the glowering gaze, to the hair that is styled in a way that is eerily similar to Petunia's, even if it isn't blond, but such a dark brown it could almost be mistaken for black.
"How dare you. You have yet to be fully recognized as Heiress to the Family. You know darn well that your niece is still eligible.
So don't you dare take that tone with me, young lady.
I may not like that your mother told you information that you are clearly not yet ready to know, but she seems to have offended us both in not properly informing you either.
I still have the right to decide who will be Heiress and Lady of House Johnson. So know your place lest you incur my wrath."
I don't even need to look at Angelina to know that, somehow, the woman is right. She didn't know this.
Yet while I had been horrified that a magical Petunia exists, the fact that this woman dares to treat her oldest granddaughter the same way Petunia treated me doesn't scare me.
It infuriates me.
I step up from behind Angelina and before the woman can do more than raise her chin and look down on me, I speak up:
"I really didn't want to announce this just yet. I was going to save this announcement for our first anniversary as an engaged and bonded couple.
But I refuse to let anyone treat my partners with such disrespect and such a lack of care and heart. I swore, when I got adopted, that I would never let anyone I knew and cared for be treated like this again.
And you, Lady, might think that I am insolent, but unfortunately for you, I have intel you don't have. Intel that puts myself and my two partners above your station by landslides.
You see, while it will not be made fully official until my father so declares it before the Wizengamot, which as I said was supposed to be at a meeting of earliest convenience to the aforementioned date, Gringotts has already declares their acceptance.
So next time either Heir Diggory enters Gringotts he will be granted access to the Black family vaults and the next time your granddaughter enters Gringotts she will be granted access to the Peverell Family Vaults.
The legacy of the Houses of Potter, Black and Peverell are, from this day, to be shared between me and my partners – and that includes their standings."
If cats could stare wide-eyed, the one at the side of the spluttering woman is doing so. The grin on my face hides the annoyance I feel as I state:
"So I'd think twice about threats like yours, milady, seeing as how they are made against one of your betters. Or, if you treat your granddaughter as she deserves, your peers."
Again I seem to have startled the woman.
Yet this isn't important to me. Instead I turn to Angelina and whisper: "Sorry if I overstepped my bounds or said something insulting."
Yet while the girl is in tears, she shakes her head and whispers: "You didn't. I – I really didn't expect you to be willing to do such a thing. Should've, though.
There's just – one problem."
The way she hesitates worries me.
"Where's the runt? I'm waiting and that door being open is letting way too much cold in. How can any guests be so rude and insensitive to me? What, are they too stupid to know how to walk through a front door or something?"
A shudder runs through my body again at the shrill sounding voice that comes from the doorway. I turn around and notice the grandmother sending me a look.
"Well, care to go for round two?" She almost silently asks me.
Yet this time Cedric steps forward, as if to silently tell us all that it's his turn now. For some reason this seems to disappoint the woman.
Cedric moves past her, just as a young girl – who looks to be too young to be a Hogwarts student – walks out.
My eyes widen at the sight of the girl as I can only think: "Who decided to bring Anastasia from Cinderella into the Magical world?"
Yet while the girl doesn't have Anastasia's round nose or black eyes, everything else about her makes her look as if the Disney antagonist decided to walk out of the movie and into real life.
Cedric falters for a moment, clearly not having expected such a snide voice to come from such a young-looking girl.
Yet then the girl ruins everything for herself. She sees Cedric and her eyes widen before she giggles and says:
"Well, well, well. Isn't this a pleasant surprise? The Hogwarts Champion as a late Yule gift to pretty little me? Tardy, true, but also truly wonderful.
You may now kiss your future bride, handsome Champion. Unless you wish to rescue me from the tower first. I can easily get our –
Why are you turning around?"
Cedric walks back to us as he turns his head and says: "I'm doing as you said. I'm going to kiss my two future brides."
"WHAT? WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? I'M RIGHT HERE! YOU'RE THE HOGWARTS CHAMPION AND I –!"
"Am about to get send home for breaking the promise she made her mother." A strong voice suddenly snaps loudly, silencing the little brat.
Mr. Diggory appears in the doorway, glaring down on the girl. Yet the girl seems determined to prove how arrogant and spoiled she really is.
"GRANDMA! YOUR SON-IN-LAW IS MEAN TO ME! DO SOMETHING!"
Yet while the cat hisses and glares at Angelina's father, the woman keeps standing there. And from where I'm standing, I can see the look in her eyes.
It is full of disbelief. As if she's seeing her granddaughter for the first time and can barely believe that such a young girl would dare to order her around.
Yet then Angelina's mother also steps into the doorway and turns from sending the girl a look of sheer disappointment to looking into the front yard as she says:
"Mother, I am sure you remember me telling you that Drusilla only be allowed to spend Yule with us if she kept her tongue, showed proper respect to her hosts – aka my husband and myself – and showed proper care and attention to Angelina and her partners."
The grandmother nods, yet the girl seems determined to dig her own grave. And while I silently snort at the fact that she looks like Anastasia, yet has a name that is close to that of Anastasia's sister, the girl shrieks:
"YOU NEVER SAID PARTNERS!
YOU SAID ENTOURAGE!
AND CEDRIC IS A HOGWARTS CHAMPION! THAT MAKES HIM PERFECT! LIKE ME! LIKE I'VE BEEN EVER SINCE I GOT HERE!
THAT MEANS HE'S MINE! THAT DAUGHTER OF YOURS CAN'T HAVE HIM! I WANT HIM!
HE'S MINE!
HE'S MINE!
HE'S MINE!
HE'S MINE!
HE'S MINE!
HE'S MIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINE!"
The fact that the girl has gone to rush back into the entrance hall, which makes her screeching voice echo horribly makes the whole situation several times more cringe-worthy.
Yet before either of the adults can speak up, Cedric himself speaks up:
"You're right."
Everyone stares at him, yet he continues before half a smile can form on the girl's face, he continues – with a big smirk of self-confident glee on his face, I suddenly notice.
"I am a Hogwarts Champion. And one of the reasons I was chosen was my strength of character. By now the girl's smile starts to falter. As such, I have enough character strength to decide that I would rather face that dragon from the First Task again than spend two minutes in your presence.
I also have enough strength of character – and honor – not to throw the incredible Yule Gift that Lord Black and Heiress Potter presented to me back in their face.
For you see, girl, you're not just talking about a Hogwarts Champion, but about the Heir to House Diggory – which exceeds House Renslow that you descend from through your father, the younger brother of Lady Johnson – and about the future Lord Black.
Once the current Lord deems me worthy of that title, of course.
I care too much about my partner to wish a deadly fate upon her father, after all."
The thought of losing dad scares me, yet I just keep smiling at Cedric regardless.
"THIS IS SO UNFAIR!
I'M GOING HOME!"
The girl screams, stomping her foot several times. And while I pegged her for someone who might only be two or three years away from Hogwarts, now she acts like a five year old.
It really doesn't do anything to improve my impression of her.
The girl leaves out of the doorway, yet she doesn't seem to take too many steps before she asks: "Well, isn't anyone going to stop me? Isn't anyone going to apologize?"
And while I'm not sure it was intentional, everyone but the grandmother choruses a loud NO in perfect sync with each other.
The girl lets out a frustrated yell and actually reminds me of Malfoy as she snarls: "Wait till my father hears about this."
And this time, I actually hear her as she storms off. Yet when Mr. Johnson is sure that she's out of earshot, he mutters just loud enough for me to hear:
"He already does. Before she got here, I got her dad to agree that the House Elves should watch her. It was mostly because you and I were going to be at work a lot this week, but I also ordered them to report her to him if she misbehaved.
They'll probably already have told him what happened. So I guess now it's just a matter of waiting to see who he's willing to believe. Her or us and the Elves."
At this I can't help but look at Angelina. Yet the look on her face makes me decide not to ask.
An hour later
Mr. Johnson took Cedric under his wing and guided him to a room close to Angelina's. Mrs. Johnson told me that, unless I asked otherwise, I'd be sharing with Angelina.
I happily told her I have no problems with this.
Everyone decided to just take some time to ourselves before we'd meet downstairs. And while Mrs. Johnson went to take care of her mother, I followed Angelina into her room.
That's now an hour ago.
"So I guess this is what you didn't want to tell us the other day?"
The girl looks at me for a moment before she sighs with her head down. I worry that I might have let my curiosity get the better of me.
"A few months ago, my aunt died. She was born with a weak heart, which is why she spent most of her time growing up here, where the walls and the enchantments on the house helped her keep strong and calm.
That's also why Uncle Andrew was such a perfect match for her. He's the biggest teddy bear you could ever imagine having come to life. He always treated auntie with both a ton of care and heart as well as an almost extreme amount of caution.
You should've seen him when auntie was pregnant of Drusilla.
Anyway, like I said. Auntie had a weak heart. And unfortunately, she was misinformed about the Dementors that had been stationed at Hogwarts last year.
She thought that they had all been removed and moved back to Azkaban by the time the train left for London.
So she thought she could go to Honeydukes and pick up some of my favorite chocolate, as a welcome home present.
But the Aurors were still busy racking up the last few stragglers, as the whole situation of the previous year had actually caused their numbers to multiply."
I try with everything I have not to remember the train ride, the Quidditch match or the lake. Yet my heart still beats with horror at what I'm hearing.
"They didn't get to her.
They didn't need to.
Their very presence affected her poor heart something terrible. She had a heart attack. She – she was revived by Madam Rosemerta and sent to St. Mungoes.
But – it wasn't to be.
She – she died in her sleep two days later."
I have my new partner wrapped tightly in my arms as she lets out a few tears while talking. I get that she already cried over the loss of her aunt, yet at the same time I wish I had gotten close to her sooner. That I could've been there for her when it mattered.
After a few minutes, Angelina continues:
"Either way, after auntie died and had this amazing burial, uncle Andrew put his full focus on Drusilla. At first it was to help her cope with the loss as well.
But – Drusilla never inherited her dad's sweet heart or her mother's grateful spirit. So instead, the increased amount of care and attention got to her head.
And – well – as great as auntie was – she never felt comfortable with telling uncle Andrew when he was going too far. That was usually the job of either my grandmother or my parents.
And, as you saw, Drusilla, in the months since, obviously didn't feel the need or see any reason to not follow in her mother's footsteps.
That's, I guess, why mum and dad had that deal with Uncle Andrew. They probably saw the signs of where Drusilla and her attitude were going.
I noticed a few signs myself before I left on September First. Kind of hard to miss when your younger niece starts to behave like Malfoy's younger sister."
I can't help myself.
I try to suppress a snort.
I fail miserably.
Angelina smiles at me.
She sits up straight again and mutters: "I really hope Uncle Andrew will believe the Elves. He knows that mum and dad and grandmother wouldn't lie about something like this.
And Drusilla's behavior really was unacceptable. Especially towards Cedric. The Johnsons are only just barely on equal standing with the Diggories and the Renslows would still need another generation or two to get to that standing."
Yet again I can't help myself. "Did your aunt and uncle know about the Muggle kids story called Cinderella when they named your niece?"
My partner looks at me startled. I shrug and continue:
"It's just, she looks like one of Cinderella's evil stepsisters – without the black eyes and round, upturned nose, that is – and her name is actually similar to the name of the other evil stepsister.
They're called Anastasia and Drizella."
Angelina stares at me for a few more seconds and then suddenly bursts out laughing. "They had no idea! I – I don't believe that they did! I – I've never even heard of that story! And I – I know more Muggleborns and Muggle-raised than they do."
I grin widely, glad that I got her to cheer up, especially at a time like this. And after she's done laughing, I help her up and guide her out of the room.
And while we head downstairs, I ask her if it's okay that I call on Dobby. As I get permission, an idea forms in my head.
A few days later
Marcus' POV
"Hey Andrew. Didn't expect you to come over. How's your little girl?"
I ask as my brother-in-law suddenly comes out from the Floo-grate.
The man sighs, accepts the cup of tea from one of our best house elves and takes the seat that Lorraine offers him.
"She's been better. To be honest, I have your House-Elves, and your future daughter-in-law, to thank for showing me how bad things were getting."
At this my wife and I share a confused look.
"You didn't know? She sent me a book called Cinderella on the 29th. At first I didn't really get why, but once I read past the first quarter or so, it became clear.
My little girl is, somewhat, named after one of the antagonists. A mean young teenage girl called Drizella. And to make matters worse, she's actually started to look like the other evil girl, who is called Anastasia.
Here just look at this."
The man hands me the book in question, with a bookmark a few pages in. My wife and I open the book on the marked page and my eyes widen.
While the young teenage girl in the pink and purple dress in the book has black eyes and an upturned round nose, I can actually see my own niece in her, if the girl keeps growing up the way she is.
"Thankfully, when I read Drusila this story, she was smart enough to instantly get the hidden message herself.
To make matters even better, she's grown to absolutely love Cinderella and says that the precious little girl reminds her of her mother.
I agreed with her and earlier, just this morning at breakfast, my sweet Drusy made me a promise.
I'm not going to be like those stepsisters, daddy.
I'm going to be like Cinderella.
I'm going to work hard on my chores and my schoolwork and I'm going to earn the heart and love of my own Prince Charming.
Needless to say, the sincerity and determination in her voice really brought tears to my eyes. I know her, Marcus, and I know that she's going to do everything to keep her word.
Trust me, Marcus, that young lady is going to be either a Badger like her cousin or a Snake. And I mean the good kind, not the Malfoy kind.
Oh, and I sent a letter to Lord Black. Not just to thank him for the brilliant gift, but to ask him if he could tell me where to find more of those books. I can only imagine what other gems my little girl might be able to enjoy if I knew where to find this stuff."
Lorraine looks the book over and her eyes widen as she spots something on the cover. "Eh Andy, I think I know the perfect way to reward your little girl if she manages to keep to that promise until her birthday in May."
My brother in law and I share a glance.
"This book is from Disney. That's one of the most famous companies in the Muggle world. I know a lot about it, thanks to Angy being friends with Katie, who's a Muggleborn.
Either way, she told me about this huge amusement park that her own dad takes her to every summer. It's called Disneyland and it's in Paris. I do believe that you always take Drusy to France, so maybe next time you can try to see if you can visit the place."
Naturally Andrew gives his sister a big hug for her wonderful advice.
Okay, that happened.
And while I have no idea why I keep skipping the actual gift giving part of Yule/Christmas – must be because the season was 3 months ago or something – I definitely enjoyed this chapter.
And yeah, I developed the Johnson family way more than I did Nella and Amos. Don't worry, though. They'll get their time to shine before the story is over.
Still, I hope you enjoyed this installment. I'm not sure if I'm still going to go through with the whole Funeral at New Year thing or if I'm just going to skip over that.
At best expect a slightly altered version to what I described in Chapter 26. I still think burying the wand is a good idea that will probably be implemented, but the photobook
Having doubts,
Venquine1990
