Plot Twist [GEORGE WEASLEY]

60.

Christmas was here, allowing for a merry end to the year of 1995. Despite the absence of their loved ones, Amara and her father chose joy. They resumed their long-standing traditions which had skipped a year since its inception because she stayed at Hogwarts for the Yule Ball.

That jolly morning she was tempted from the snug comforts of her bed by the siren call of Zane's Super Super Special Christmas Cinnamon Waffles. The name was resentfully lengthy. She uttered it once a year so all could be forgiven.

They wished each other and enjoyed the waffles in peace, untroubled by anything. After they ate, they moved on to sprawl across the living room rug to open their presents. Amara was delighted for her father to unwrap the present she got for him. From August, she had been saving some of her allowance to buy it for him.

It was a recipe book for baked goods. Rashida Marie's Guide to Baking Everything was a title that long enticed him in bookshops. Rashida Marie, an Arab-French baker, was his role model in the baking world. On multiple occasions, she tried to persuade him into buying it. It was costly but he would prove its use thousand times. However, he held the stubborn idea that he wouldn't be able to master one recipe.

Let alone hundred and twenty.

"Amara, this is..." Zane's mouth dropped.

He lifted a pastel book from the shreds of gift wrapping paper. In disbelief, he flipped through its sheafs, giving her a wide-eyed look. A smile spread to his cheeks.

"I love it. This is the best present you've ever given me," he paused. "The glittery macaroni necklace you gifted me when you were six might come second place to this."

She laughed and watched him wave at Rashida's picture on the cover. Rashida winked, before stepping out of the oval frame. Her hand stuck out to beckon him in. He beamed and got lost in a recipe till he snapped out of it.

"Oh...right," he shut the book and kept it aside with much scruple. "It's your turn."

He picked up a thin, rectangular present swathed in blue, shiny wrapping paper. The boxy shape betrayed nothing of its contents. Her excitement simmered as she unravelled the paper gently as she could.

A gasp flew out of her.

Her lovely, dear father had gotten her a vinyl of one of her favourite musical groups. The Misery Tower. In September, they released their third album. It had slipped her notice then and she hadn't listened to it nor bought it for herself. She hadn't in the slightest how her father knew she wanted it.

On the vinyl's cover was a moving photograph of three women in outrageous gowns, running in a misty forest. The title was gilded. It read 'Magic and Misery: Limited Edition'. An inhuman screech tore from her. Zane yelped, clapping his palms over his ears.

"You got me the limited edition. I never had a limited edition...anything!" she claimed, soaking up the beauty of the vinyl she slid from the cover. It was a shimmering gold snagging pieces of light as she tilted it. Her father had bought the most gorgeous thing she could ever have the pleasure of owning.

"How did you ever know that I wanted this?"

"I happened to be looking for a vinyl for Emily and the other thing you wanted to get for your friend. I went to this special record shop and I found it while I was looking for it. It was hidden behind some other records. I was lucky to find it because it was actually the only one they stocked," he explained with a smile. "I'm guessing you like it?"

She wrapped her arms around his middle and mumbled into his sweater. "I love it."

Later they dressed up in their warmest clothes and took to the meandering path into the forest near their home. The birds sang a sweet song as the snow crunched underneath their boots. The air Amara inhaled was brisk and clean. Icicles glittered on the wiry branches of trees shooting towards the heavens.