Christmas was drawing nearer, and the students of Hogwarts seemed to be in a constant buzz of excitement. Many discussed their holiday plans, discussing whether they would go home or stay within the castle's walls. The castle had been beautifully decorated with Christmas trees appearing overnight; even the Great Hall hadn't escaped the Christmas buzz. The professors had decorated the trees in the large hall, and even the floating candles had holly wreaths around their bases. Meanwhile, snow fell from the clouded sky that often hid the towering arched ceiling.
Of course, each Common Room had been given a Christmas makeover, too; each had a tree hidden near the fireplace, decorated in house colors with Hogwarts emblem baubles here and there. Other festive decorations had appeared around the castle, too, everything from tinsel and bubbles to sparkling magic orbs; even the pictures surrounding the moving stairs had begun to sing festive songs. Occasionally, mistletoes would appear randomly, usually in doorways and arches, but on a few occasions, they would appear in random areas where students gathered.
"Are any of you staying here for Christmas?" asked Isolde, a soft smile gracing her lips as she recalled when her parents had informed her and Allegra of the plans before they returned to Hogwarts. Everything was in place for their parent's romantic getaway. Even their siblings would be staying with their grandparents for the holidays. Isolde had accepted it without fuss, wishing her parents well and promising her siblings she'd write and send something back for them. On the other hand, Allegra had thrown her expected tantrum, demanding their parents to cancel their plans or change them to accommodate her going. Demands that had only gotten worse since their aunt had refused to take Allegra for the holidays due to her past behavior.
"I will be, same with my siblings," stated (Y/N), recalling receiving a letter from her parents; they would be traveling for Christmas, visiting distant family members worldwide. Her uncle in Egypt and Paternal Grandpa in America were two on the visit list. The plans had been in place for some time, even more so when they rarely saw family members who lived overseas.
"I'll be going home. Hopefully, I'll get to spend some much-needed time with my sister Petunia," stated Lily, her bright smile dimming briefly as she remembered how their once strong bond as sisters had faded in recent years. To the point that they barely spoke without Petunia calling her a freak. It saddens Lily to think Petunia would rather ignore her, but she understands her sister had a life of her own now and friends that were normal rather than magical. "I'm hoping we can mend our relationship; things haven't been the same since I got my acceptance letter," commented the redhead, awkwardly moving to brush her fingers through her long hair. She looked around the quiet dorm room. Her trunk was packed, and the presents she'd received sat on top of it. Like every time she went home, she had many stories to share.
"Family Christmas for me," chuckled Marlene, recalling the mayhem that happened every year. Her brothers and cousins were always excitable on Christmas morning, eager to tear into their gifts; her grandparents never failed to tell stories of the past, even if they added little details. Her parents, aunts, and uncles would cast a few spells to help the day go a little easier and entertain the younger ones for a little while. However, despite all the screaming, terrible singing, and often embarrassing stories, it was another perfect family Christmas, even if the grown-ups did end up tipsy or flat-out drunk by night's end. "Three generations in one house."
"At least I get rid of most of you and the boys," grumbled Allegra; the tension between the Smith twins hadn't eased much over the past month or so; if anything, it had gotten worse to the point it was difficult for most to be around them, a top of that the shared dorm had often become a warzone and unbearable for the others sharing it. The two sisters barely spoke now and only stayed in the same place if they were given no other choice, such as classes and visits to the Great Hall.
They tried to avoid each other while traveling between classes and the Great Hall. However, Allegra stayed close enough to the group she tagged with, if only so, she could still make rude comments and interrupt conversations to share her ill-mannered opinions. She often acted like the de facto leader of the girls and the Marauders, fighting to control what everyone did and shouting when things didn't go her way or when the inevitable mischief occurred. Even when she said the mischief and pranks were worthless, they didn't stop.
"Sirius is staying in the castle this year," Marlene recalled when he mentioned it during Care of Magical Creatures. Marlene glanced over to (Y/N), sitting on her bunk with her favorite penguin plushy resting in her lap, and she saw an open box of Berty Bots on the trunk at the end of her bed. "He had a falling out with his parents, so he opted to stay behind," she added, mindlessly braiding her blonde locks, almost laughing as (Y/N) once again missed why Sirius had chosen to stay at the castle rather than taking James up on his offer of going to the Potter's for the holidays.
"He's a tosser," started Lily with an unmoveable bright smile, "But he's somehow adorable at the same time," she commented, noticing how (Y/N) still seemed clueless about what almost everyone could see. However, she did at least look around this time, almost as if she was debating whether or not to defend Sirius against the tosser comment. "Remus, too, he's cute in a nervous way," laughed Lily, her laughter growing louder as Marlene's cheeks reddened. Marlene soon looked over to (Y/N) with envy; although clueless to the obvious, she still laughed the teasing off as if it did not affect her.
"How in Merlin's Beard haven't you noticed?" asked Isolde, directing her question to (Y/N) while silently debating if (Y/N) had noticed and was just good at acting. (Y/N) only looked back with confusion sparkling in her sapphire eyes, at least displaying that she hadn't forgotten what they were discussing. "Come on, James practically yelled it from the astronomy tower weeks ago."
"The toss pot has a crush on you," laughed Lily, blurting out the undeniable truth and saving everyone the awkward sidestepping. On the other hand, Isolde looked thankful that someone had said what she was consciously trying to avoid, especially given that she was still trying to figure out a way to tell her friends about her recent adventures with love. "He's an idiot, but you two would make a cute, mischievous couple."
"If Sirius and (Y/N) are the Cute, Mischievous Couple, does that make Marlene and Remus the parents of the group?" asked Isolde, turning the attention to Marlene in time to see her hide her burning cheeks behind the fluffy blanket resting across her bed. "At least you two recognize there's something there, and again, you'd make an adorably cute couple," she added to soothe the growing embarrassment a little. On the other hand, Allegra merely scoffed and rolled her eyes, but at least now she knew who all three crushes had ignored her in favor of.
"And yet neither of you attended the pathetic winter dance together," harshly commented Allegra, pointing out Remus had never asked Marlene to attend with him despite both recognizing their growing connection. Likewise, despite how obvious his crush on her was, Sirius hadn't summed up the courage to ask (Y/N) to be his date.
"It may have escaped your notice both Remus and me within the hospital wing that week," replied (Y/N); her reasoning there was obvious enough; if it wasn't her clumsiness getting her in trouble, then her curiosity was the reason, although for once this time was different, her private lessons with Dumbledore had ended in disaster, even more so when she struggled with controlling her abilities. The constant war between Isolde and Allegra wasn't helping.
"Speaking of going on dates, though," started Marlene, her smile growing as her attention turned to Isolde. The other girl looked like a deer caught in headlights as it dawned on her where the turn in conversation was going. "How was your date?" asked Marlene, at least confirming that she had seen Isolde with the fifth-year student at the Three Broomsticks during the last visit to Hogsmeade.
"At least tell me, my smartie pants brother, Joaquin, was a gentleman," commented (Y/N), her mischievous grin turning gentle as she displayed she was already aware of the date. As much as Isolde and the others found the hypothetical relationship with Sirius adorable, she found it cute. On the other hand, Isolde looked over to (Y/N) with horror written across her features, as if she was terrified that one of her best friends knew about the months-old relationship. "He told me weeks ago, said he didn't want things to be awkward or the friendship to be weird," (Y/N) admitted, recalling when Joaquin had pulled her aside to ask her permission to date Isolde. (Y/N) had asked why he was asking her and not Isolde, although she playfully threatened to jinx him if he hurt one of her best friends.
Once again, Allegra scoffed, grumbling to herself. She should have been the first twin to find love and go on dates; she was the oldest. Yet again, Isolde had beaten her to it, with an older boy no less, someone she hadn't met or likely seen before. After all, Allegra was sure she would remember someone willing to date her twin, even more so when he was related to the Bane of Hogwarts herself (Y/N).
"See, this is why I say you Wolffe Siblings are something to admire," worded Lily, playfully throwing her pillow at Isolde. The brunette returned the favor in quick succession, leading to a pillow fight and laughter that broke out between the two. Marlene and (Y/N) watched on from their bunks, glancing at each other with broad smiles before hearing someone calling their names from the Common Room. No doubt it was one of the boys.
"Ah, that will be the boys with the presents," spoke Marlene, jumping from her bunk to answer the calls. A soft smile graced her lips upon seeing James waiting below; Peter stood awkwardly at his side, either looking around for the next prank or the two missing Marauders. In both boys' arms was a small pile of presents intended for each of the girls they considered girl counterparts, each wrapped to the best of the teenage boy's abilities.
"You and Lily Flower, will you join us on the train home tomorrow?" asked James, raising his voice slightly so Marlene could hear him over the constant, loud chattering among the students filling the Common Room. All were preparing to leave for the holidays the next day.
"I will be. I'm not sure about Lil," replied Marlene, recalling the conversation of where Lily would be sitting had yet to come up. They all knew she would be in one of two places, with them in a little compartment or Severus in the Slytherin carriage. Either way, it depended on whether Severus was heading home for Christmas. "You get Mason and Regulus, though."
Secretly, Marlene was looking forward to going home for Christmas; she would see her family for the holidays and escape the growing tension and constant warzone the dorm had become. Everyone knew eventually, the explosive fight between the twin sisters was coming; most just hoped they weren't around or nearby when it happened. At the same time, Marlene felt guilt; although she and Lily could escape the warzone, (Y/N) couldn't. Although she had little doubt both (Y/N) and Sirius would find reasons to leave the immediate area if it came to that. Perhaps the Marauders' secret task would be the distraction needed.
