Rebirth of Lady Morgana

Yule Gifts, Reading in the Dark

The morning after the Gala found the twins happily curled together asleep in front of the fireplace in the Marauder den. They had returned late from their evening of dancing together with Sirius and Remus, having no energy to take themselves back to their Common rooms. So they had changed into their pajamas and snuggled together on the couch, reminiscing about their evening until they had allowed the darkness consume them.

The morning light filtered gently through the curtains of the den, casting a warm glow over the cozy room. The fireplace, now only embers, had kept the twins warm throughout the night. Morgana stirred, slowly waking from a deep, dream-filled sleep. She opened her eyes to find herself nestled against Anthony, their arms wrapped around each other for warmth and comfort.

Sitting up carefully so as not to wake her brother, Morgana glanced around the den. The remnants of their late-night conversation after they'd returned, lingered in the air, a faint whisper of laughter and joy. Her bleary gaze landed on the coffee table, where two neat piles of gifts awaited them, each separated and labeled with their names.

A soft smile spread across Morgana's face as she quietly slipped off the couch, as she rubbed the last of her sleep from her eyes, her bare feet touching the cool wooden floor. She padded over to the table, taking in the sight of the beautifully wrapped presents. The wrapping paper gleamed with festive colors, adorned with ribbons and bows that sparkled in the morning light.

She picked up a small, silver-wrapped gift from her pile and turned it over in her hands. The tag read, "To Morgana, from Sirius." Unable to contain her curiosity, she carefully peeled away the wrapping paper to reveal a delicate silver bracelet, each link shaped like a tiny star. It shimmered in the light, and Morgana's heart swelled with gratitude and affection for her godfather.

Just as she was about to try it on, Anthony stirred and opened his eyes, blinking sleepily. "Morning, Morgana," he mumbled, sitting up and rubbing his eyes. "What time is it?"

"Morning, Anthony," Morgana replied softly, her smile growing wider. "Not sure, but look! We have gifts."

Anthony's eyes lit up as he spotted the piles of presents. He stretched and yawned before joining his sister at the coffee table. "Guess we’re not the only ones who couldn’t wait to give us our gifts," he said, picking up a bright red package labeled, "To Anthony, from Remus."

He tore into the wrapping paper, revealing a beautifully bound journal with a leather cover embossed with intricate patterns. "Wow, this is amazing," Anthony said, running his fingers over the cover. "I’ve been wanting a new journal."

Morgana watched her brother with fondness, then glanced back at the bracelet in her hand. "Sirius gave me this," she said, holding it up for Anthony to see. "Isn’t it lovely?"

"It’s perfect," Anthony agreed, smiling. "Sirius always knows how to pick the right gifts."

As they continued to unwrap their presents, the room filled with the sounds of tearing paper and exclamations of delight. There were books, trinkets, and magical gadgets from their friends and family, each gift carefully chosen and wrapped with love.

Morgana unwrapped a set of beautifully crafted quills from Remus, along with a heartfelt note encouraging her to continue her studies and always follow her heart. Anthony received a sleek new wand holster from Sirius, complete with a hidden pocket for storing small items—a perfect gift for an aspiring Auror.

Amid the unwrapping, Sirius and Remus entered the room, both carrying steaming mugs of hot chocolate. "Good morning, you two," Sirius greeted, his voice warm and cheerful. "Looks like you found your gifts."

"Morning, Sirius. Morning, Remus," Morgana and Anthony chorused, their smiles bright.

Remus handed them each a mug of hot chocolate, complete with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon. "We thought you might like a warm drink to start your day," he said, his eyes twinkling with kindness.