Christmas Day
Author: Santhea Fennally
Date: 04-08-04 00:38
A fire was burning merrily in the fireside, and the lights of the Christmas Tree bathed the room in a warm light. Santhea was laughing to herself. The great family Malfoy had apparently resorted to Muggle tradition for the Season.
Mr and Mrs Malfoy had already given out their presents, and Santhea had been surprised to receive some small trinkets as well. That was before a Owl Delivery owl swept into the room and planted a larger parcel in front of her. It was from her mother, green dress robes probably from one of the designers in Paris. No letter, no note...
"Don't ponder, Fennally. She's the one making the mistakes here..." Draco was sitting by her side now, holding a small box. In answer to her questioning glance, he just shrugged and said, "Thought I might give you something as well..."
Smiling at him, she waved her wand and levitated the last remaining gift from under the tree into her lap. Handing Draco the green and silvery wrapped parcel, she said, "You first."
The wrapping was taken care of quickly, as was the packaging... "Where did you get this?" Draco's eyes almost popped out as he gazed at the old tome.
"Rue Demi-jour," Santhea answered, eyes twinkling, "The French have a much healthier attitude towards the Dark Arts and I thought you might like it."
"'Spells of the Dark'. They say, Slytherin himself co-wrote this..." For one short moment, Draco reminded her more of a five-year-old who had just gotten a toy he'd pined for than the young man he really was. "Father will be so envious... Thank you."
Placing a gentle kiss on her cheek, he pushed his own gift into her hands. Green velvet was covering every inch of the box with the exception of the silver handle. Slowly opening it, Santhea held her breath when she saw the tiny silver snake glance at her with big, emerald eyes.
"As I said, it's nothing. You can show everyone, which House you belong to, that's all." If the anticipation in his voice was something to go by, that was not all. Suddenly the young Malfoy heir found himself in a tight embrace, and Santhea whispered into his ear, "Thank you. It is lovely..." Pulling back a little, she titled her head so that their lips met shortly. This Christmas seemed to become the best of all her life...
Christmas Day...
Author: Annie Paul
Date: 04-08-04 06:51
I was so happy to be home again for the holidays. Snow fell softly on the ground and all seemed quiet. I made my way downstairs and met up with my parents and our housekeeper. "Merry Christmas everyone." I greeted and each hugged me in turn and whispered "Merry Christmas".
The presents were great and then I saw one from Tim to me. Opening it I saw a pair of slippers and a bottle of perfume. I blushed a bit and showed my mum. She giggled and looked at my father. "You know what? Your father gave me that scent when we were first going out for Christmas."
I just stared at the bottle and thought of Tim and what he would think of the gift I got him. Soon the house would be filled with guests for our Christmas Dinner.
Merry Christmas!
Author: Sora
Date: 04-08-04 09:12
As always, Sora couldn't get to sleep last night, but surprisingly enough he was bursting with energy! After waking Felix up giving her a nice play pillow full of cat nip, Sora burst out his door and headed for Riku's room across the hall from his.
He snuck inside as quietly as possible and stood over Riku (he was snoring). 3... 2... 1... "MERRY CHRISTMAS RIKU!!!!!!" screamed Sora, and Riku shot up shouting "I WAS FRAMED!!! THE SEAMONKEY HAS MY MONEY!!!" After pulling himself together, he looked up at Sora. "Oh... it's just you!"
After getting dressed, Riku and Sora headed down to the living room where they met Sora's parents, Jack and Garnet. "Good Morning boys!" greeted Jack. Garnet just hugged them both. "Merry Christmas! Did you sleep well? I thought I heard some screaming!" she said. Riku only glanced at Sora, who turned a shade of red.
After exchanging their gifts, they all settled down and talked a little. "Hey Riku, later we should go outside and have a snowball fight!" Riku only laughed. "Why? So I can clobber you?"
"Ha ha, very funny! But we both know that I'm the one who will do the clobbering! You're looking at the KING of snowball fights of Ireland!"
"YOU? A snowball King?"
"I lied... I'm not a king... But I still will kick your sorry butt! C'mon!"
Not wanting to turn down an opportunity like this one, Riku and Sora then raced to their rooms to get ready to go outside, and then they let the snowball fight begin!
Not a Very Merry Christmas
Author: Drucilla Eternal
Date: 04-08-04 14:08
"What's wrong dear?"
I sat next to Sirius, curled up on the couch, watching his face carefully. I could tell something was on his mind, but I had assumed he was upset that Harry was spending Christmas with the Weasleys instead of here.
After a short pause, Sirius answered. "It's Harry. I've… I've admitted him to St. Mungo's."
I started in surprise, and the hot chocolate I had been sipping spilt over the rim of my cup.
"What!? But why Sirius? What in the world is going on?" My thoughts were racing so quickly I could barely listen to Sirius’ reply. Harry Potter was in St. Mungos. That meant that the Dark Lord would already be well advised on the situation, since we had loyal followers on the hospital staff serving Him. I felt disappointed - I wanted to be the person watching over Harry. It would have impressed my Dark Lord so much…
Shaking my head slightly, I set down my cup. I had to get a grip! I still had Sirius, who was proving very valuable. I couldn't blow it now, just because I was upset over Harry. I needed to keep up my façade.
Leaning close to Sirius, I took his hand and squeezed it gently.
"It's going to be alright, Sirius. You've made the right decision. Harry is upset now, but in the long run this will all work out for the better. You'll see."
I made my voice come across in a soothing, musical lilt, until his face relaxed and the smallest hint of a smile crossed his lips.
Diamond Family Christmas
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 04-08-04 16:07
The Diamond family and Bronwyn sat around the Christmas tree in the living room exchanging gifts. Torn and discarded wrapping paper lay everywhere amidst new books, gadgets and other presents. Bronwyn had just given Desi her gift (a set of colorful bangles to match the various shades in her hair, which also jingled when they rubbed against each other), and sat well away from Bianca, who shot threatening looks at everybody and everything within eyesight.
"I know you like your jewelry noisy, so I thought you'd like these. Plus, they match your hair." Bronwyn smiled at her friend.
"They're not black," Desi commented. "Black would've been good, too."
Bronwyn rolled her eyes and said, "Black is boring unless you accessorize with some color, and no, hair isn't an accessory."
Now it was Desi's turn to roll her eyes, but then she smiled and thanked Bronwyn for the gift.
"You're welcome!" Bronwyn then looked at Bianca, who was handling a pocket knife with frightening dexterity. The Hufflepuff sixth year could still feel the pain her foot had endured briefly last night when Bianca intentionally trod on her. She had a huge, black-and-blue bruise that ached each time she walked or otherwise engaged her foot in movement.
"Umm, this is for you," Bronwyn said uncertainly, sliding a package across the carpet towards Bianca.
Bianca looked at Bronwyn, then to the package and then stabbed the knife into the center of the box. The blade made contact with whatever lay nestled within and felt resistance. Intrigued, Bianca tore open the package with her hands and removed a round object made of pewter.
Bronwyn expelled a breath she didn't realize she'd been keeping. The gift was intact and had no mark to show for Bianca's violent gesture. In her hand she held a round, pewter box painted with blue enamel in parts to depict the night sky. A moon, sun and many stars speckled the box, which when opened consisted only of a plain, smooth pewter-colored surface.
Bianca looked at Bronwyn, folded her pocket knife and stuck it inside the box. Then she shut the lid and tossed the whole thing over her shoulder, concentrating her efforts on a new package.
"Does this mean she likes it?" Bronwyn whispered to Desi, who merely shrugged.
Knights Walpurgis: Wounds and Woods
Author: Dierna ní Cíaran
Date: 04-08-04 19:07
Somewhere between walking from the field to the storeroom, it occurs to me that my initial idea to get Hawkins to like me (However grudgingly) hasn't been working out as planned. It's his own fault, of course. He is the one to start our constant verbal sparring. I just finish the conversation.
The storeroom is dark and damp. I mutter lumos. A sphere of light hovers above my outstretched hand. I keep it floating above the room as I wander around, looking for the antiseptic herbs and medications. Once I find them, I next locate some gauze and bandages and quicky cleans and dress the cuts and wound on my arm. I didn't notice the Aqua Vitae. I wonder where they get it from? Not that this cut was serious enough for that anyway.
"Nox." The light goes out, the room becomes dark again. I quickly incinerate the used gauze. I leave the building and walk instinctively for the wooded area - which reminds me of the Lark.
What had I been thinking, sending a small bird like that into the cold winter of northern Scotland? I hope she made the trip there safely, and to where she goes from the Castle. I hope the Shining Ones can forgive my selfish desire to send a message. A shamed, I leave and return to the dorm.
Lost But Not Forgotten
Author: Bellatrix Lestrange
Date: 04-08-04 19:22
"Bellatrix, you might be interested to know that ni Ciaran is missing and has been for some time. N.H."
Bellatrix crumbled the parchment in her fist, enjoying the feel of the stiff paper as it was destroyed. So, she thought, the Daily Prophet was right. Ni Ciaran was gone and nobody seemed to know where. She sincerely hoped her spell had worked and the woman was buried in a shallow grave somewhere in the woods, but she knew it wasn't the case.
Rodolphus was in the living room, tucking back on a glass of scotch and waiting for Bellatrix to come inside so they could open presents. "Are you coming back dear?" he called.
She forced the feeling of anger down inside, not wanting to spoil the day. She felt like she had a stone in her throat, forcing its way upwards. She caught sight of the scar on her hand, making her angrier. What was Dierna up to? Had she purposely left and was off on one of Dumbledore's scouting missions again? It was well past time for the Dark Lord to return and Bellatrix looked forward to the day when they would all be out in the open at last.
For now though it was time to put on her pleasant face and go and give Rodolphus his gift.
About as Merry as They Come
Author: Sebastian Sjoblom
Date: 04-09-04 00:40
It's five AM on Christmas morning when Sebastian wakes up. The vestiges of a dream fade away like morning dew drying from grass. He regains his mental faculties quickly, partly because of the freezing cold in the room brought about by leaving the window open on Arley's sister's request. Pulling aside the bed-curtains with a dramatic sweep of his arms, he glances around. No one's up yet. "Good," is his sleep-dulled whisper. He draws the thick plaid blanket around him like a cape, grabs his wand from the bedside table, and leaps from the bed to the floor with a thump.
He wiggles his bare toes in the carpet. I always was a morning person, he thinks.
The room is still five-AM-in-a-Scottish-winter dark, but the edges of everything are crisp, as they always are in the mornings, and the soft glow from the small, crooked Christmas tree in the corner lends a warmth to the room. Glowing balls of magical light float steadily between the pine's branches, simple but enchanting ornaments.
After closing the window, Seb places his hands on his hips, the plaid blanket trailing behind him, and considers the year's gifts. There's a particularly long one that would've needed two owls to haul. That must be Fallon's, he thinks. He drops onto his hands and knees and sorts his presents into a little pile against the wall, then stands again. He tiptoes to Arley's bedside, casts Sonorus on himself, and then....
"Merry Christmas!"
Arley bolts upright, crying out and then catching himself mid-vocalization.
"Ow, geez, Sebastian..." he mutters.
"Sorry," Sebastian says. Any apologetic sentiment is nulled by the grin on his face. Lawrence's bed curtain pulls back.
"G'morning," a sleepy Aussie-accented voice says. With Lawrence risen, the Hufflepuffs congregate around the Christmas tree in their pajamas.
Presents are opened as the sun slowly rises. Arley, it seems, got a matching Mysterious Large Gift, in matching blue and grey wrapping paper, and they agree to save those for last.
"Enwrap this one," Sebastian says, meaning "unwrap." It's one of the few slip-ups he's making anymore, transposing the occasional vowel. Being surrounded by English-speakers has otherwise made his English flawless, other than the accent and the occasional forgivably awkward wording. He offers Lawrence his present. The cursed Spellotape now comes off without argument, since Christmas Day has arrived.
Lawrence unwraps the package, the layers upon layers of Spellotape giving him some difficulty even if they are no longer predatory, and puzzles at the book with the red leather cover.
"Who's Albert Camus?" he asks.
"Honestly," Sebastian admits, "I don't know. I think a Muggle writer, an Existen-something."
"Interesting prezzie," Lawrence says. Sebastian, for his part, tears through his own presents. First, Muggle clothing from the girls. Delighted, Seb pulls the black t-shirt that reads "REBEL" on over his pajama shirt. Lawrence, in kind recognition of his sweet tooth, gave him a load of candy. Lee's gift is a new set of inks, and Ellspeth, the proprietor of the new store in Hogsmeade, has sent them all gift baskets. There's nothing from his parents, but then he wasn't expecting anything from them.
Arley's present, finally, is round and wrapped in tissue paper. Sebastian picks it up, and immediately recognizes the weight and balance of it. It feels familiar in his hand. He tears off the tissue paper unceremoniously.
"Häftigt*!" he exclaims, clapping a hand over his mouth. It's a beaten-up Quaffle with grass stains and stress on the leather, which in and of itself would not be too remarkable, if not for the square of parchment Spellotaped to the side. In Arley's handwriting, it says: "Hufflepuff- 190, Ravenclaw- 170." Scrawled in little slanted capital letters at the bottom of the note is, "Merry Christmas, Quidditch champ." Sebastian untapes the note and pockets it before Lawrence can get a closer look, because he spots a tiny word between the comma and "Quidditch." "My," it says. Merry Christmas, my Quidditch champ, Sebastian thinks.
He and Arley make all the overtures of a platonic friendship. Arley explains in a gripping narrative how he snuck into the supplies closet, pored over the balls until he found one with the stitching coming out in just the right spot, and recognized it. Then he sat there for hours puzzling out the tracking spells and movement charms on it, and finally, when he had disabled them all, made a narrow brush with Filch while he was making his furtive escape to the dorm. Lawrence and Sebastian applaud.
"You're both Quidditch fanatics," Lawrence says. Sebastian can only guess at whether Lawrence thinks Arley's devotion to getting that Quaffle for him was more than platonic. Eventually, Lawrence, being as enamored as he is of Vera, goes down to the common room to celebrate Christmas morning with her.
Sebastian gives Arley his present after all the others are opened and the floor is littered with wrapping paper, none of them being too enthusiastic about neatness. Arley peels back the tape and then the wrapping paper decorated with Quaffles. The first thing visible is a logo: SQF, in red, black, and gold.
"I bought it by mail-order," Sebastian explains as Arley tears the rest of the paper aside. It's a miniature Quidditch briefcase, like the one Sebastian has. "All the teams are Swedish. I do not know how the spell works for broadcasting of the matches, but you could configure it, probably. You're good with charms, Arley."
"Thanks, Seb," Arley says, smiling.
"Anyway, I wonder what the surprise is," Arley says, picking up the present from Fallon and weighing it carefully in one hand. He looks to Sebastian for an answer, but the gift is already open on the Swede's lap, and Sebastian is struggling for words.
"The Peregrine G-70 Lightspeed, Mark IV," Arley says, slowly and deliberately, reading aloud the name inscribed in navy on the sleek broom handle. Sebastian gapes at the black grips on the handle. The impossibly narrow, neatly combed twigs secured with three black metal bands to the broom body (they're hollow inside, like a bird's bones). The perfect grain in the willow that makes up the light, polished handle. The awe-inspiring aerodynamic curve of the thing....
"Wow," Arley says. "Well, Peregrine's one of Fallon's team's sponsors, but a Lightspeed? Wow." He looks up to Sebastian, only to spot him in the process of opening the window. The plaid blanket falls from his shoulders and pools on the floor next to him.
"It's cold, hold on--" Arley begins, and then Seb is leaping off the windowsill, Olympic diver style, broom outstretched before him, wearing his pajamas.
The only thing Arley can do, of course, is follow.
The horizon is brushed with a thin layer of watery pink, and the sun rising over the Forbidden Forest scintillates golden in the wan sky. Sebastian is cold, but he doesn't notice, hovering there on his broom. It has such smooth turning and such a gentle cushioning charm that he barely thinks about its presence beneath him.
Arley pulls up from below him, braking cleanly.
"Boo," he says. Sebastian offers a smile, but doesn't say anything.
"This thing handles like a dream," Arley says, and then falls quiet. The sun is rising over the trees, the new day making itself known with a gold-and-pink corona ascending to its place in the sky. Sebastian holds out a hand to Arley.
"It's pretty, huh?" Arley asks. He looks up at Sebastian and reaches his fingers out to lay them upon his palm.
At that point, Sebastian zooms off on his new broom, laughing, swerving and diving and pulling up showily. Arley grins, sets his teeth, and chases after him.
They zip through the sky, chasing after each other. Sebastian's feet, unbeknownst to him, turn slightly blue, and his fingers go brittle in the cold, but he doesn't mind. The sun rises higher on the castle and the pale grey cloud cover on the sky fades to stratus-streaked light blue. Sebastian dives close to a snowbank, the cuffs of his pajama legs grazing the snow, and Arley finally catches up to him, tackling him with both arms outstretched. They fly in an awkward embrace, laughing and wavering dangerously close to plummeting into the snow, and then carefully untangle their limbs.
Sebastian flies up, making a lazy loop around a snow-capped oak tree with Arley following. He grasps the broom between his knees and rubs his hands together, blowing on them. Arley lists up beside him.
"I would say that was very merry," Sebastian says, nodding his approval at the landscape, "as Christmases come."
* wow
