Hide & Seek

Chapter 19 - Souhaitant

Chapter 19
SOUHAITANT

souhaitant
(v.) to wish for something

CHRISTMAS in the Bane household had always been a different level of spectacle.

Most wizard families stuck to traditions similar to those held by Muggles, decorating trees, singing carols, kissing under the mistletoe.

Though to be fair, the stars were usually replaced by frivolous gnomes, the carols were bellowed by tinny suits of armor, and the mistletoe bloomed magically overhead of those who fancied each other, whether they were aware of it or not.

Each year in their tiny home back in West Country, the Bane family took it upon themselves to totally transform their average-sized cottage into a winter wonderland worthy of awards.

The slated roof would drip with icicles sharp enough to puncture a lung, the windowsills trimmed with garlands like frosting on a gingerbread house. The small living room would be a sea of red and green, baubles and festive trinkets on every surface imaginable.

The toy train would wind itself beneath the base of an evergreen tree so elaborately decorated that its glittering light would blind guests upon their entry. Candles would float idly in the windows, creating a glow from within the quaint house that would appear welcoming even to those who were most disinclined to festivities.

Jocelyn could be found humming tunes from Muggle ballets under her breath as she whipped up batches of cookies and piles of roast potatoes, while her husband attempted to keep the kids in check and out of the way as they played with all their new toys.

Eventually, as dusk set in and the light faded outside, the family would manage to squeeze together around their well-worn dining room table and feast themselves on the array of delicacies until their cheeks were pink with content.

But that was never Gemma's favorite part.

In fact, the entire day would often breeze by her in a blur of wrappings and ribbons as she tried to distract herself from the true excitement that always came after dinner.

For prior to their evening meal, the day was dedicated to Happy Christmas' and good tidings, but after the ancient grandfather clock struck 6, it became the other day most anticipated by children.

Her birthday.

Gemma had arrived promptly and expectedly on the evening of December the 25th of 1979, to two loving, and admittedly young parents, who never failed to make the day special in the years following.

Despite having to share space with the prominent holiday, Gemma had always felt that the coincidence of her birth made the celebration that much better.

After their Christmas dinner concluded, her mother would bring out an elaborately constructed cake, which always had some sort of magical surprise hidden inside.

One year it had been a horde of chocolate frogs that had emerged croaking upon the first slice. Another year it had been butterflies, which Gemma chased around the kitchen for hours on end.

No matter what it was, Gemma found delight in the effort, and her parents found delight in watching their daughter smile.

And every year, as she closed her eyes and blew out the candles to the rough chorus of song, she'd wish for the same thing.

Snow.

Unfortunately, on Gemma's 15th birthday, it did not appear that her wish had been granted.