The Last Maruaders: Year One

Chapter 8: Christmas joy (Elijah's POV)

Elijah sat on the train in a compartment, watching the countryside roll by as they drew closer to the station. "-bet Abuela and Abuelo will be so excited to hear about Hogwarts!"

"Yeah." He replied, half-heartedly. "They probably will."

"Cheer up, amigo." Oscar flashed his brilliant smile. "Christmas is a happy time."

"I'm not sad. I just haven't heard from my dad in a couple months, so I'm a little worried."

Oscar patted his shoulder. "I'm sure your mum would have wrote you if he wasn't."

"Yeah, you're probably right." Elijah smiled at his friend. "Thanks."

"That's what I'm for." He grinned. "Looks like we're here."

Elijah grabbed his bag and followed the other boy off the train. Oscar made a beeline for his parents, waiting a little outside the crowd, and he looked around for either his mum or grandma. "Eli!"

He spun around, a huge smile forming when he heard his dad's voice. "Dad!" Elijah ran over, hugging the man tightly. "You're okay!"

Remus chuckled, hugging him back. "I'm great. Just been a little sick. You know how that goes."

"Yeah." Elijah couldn't stop smiling. "Can we go home now?"

Remus nodded, Disapparating from the platform with his son. As soon as they walked into the Holmes' house, Elijah's worries about his classes disappeared. He could hear his grandma fussing at his mom in the kitchen, and their tree was up and decorated in the living room. "So, Eli, how's classes?" Remus asked, sitting down at the end of the couch.

Elijah flopped down on the other end, sighing dramatically. "Defense is going well. Potions is okay, mostly because I think I'm the only non-Slytherin that Professor Snape likes. Herbology's alright. Transfiguration and Charms are kind of hard. And I'm pretty sure I'm going to fail my flying lessons."

"I'm no good on a broom either. As long as you have the basics, Hooch won't fail you." Remus hid a smile. "And I'm sure if you ask, either McGonagall or Flitwick would be more than happy to help you."

"Well, there's this annoying girl in my Transfiguration class, she's a Slytherin, and she's such a know-it-all. And she thinks we're friends. So she's always talking to me and Oscar." He groaned. "Which Oscar thinks she's cool for some reason."

"What's her name?"

"Ryan." He scowled.

Remus's brow furrowed. "Ryan Black?"

"Yeah. She's so cheery all the time. No one's that happy, Dad. Plus she decided to try and help me in class but I told her I didn't need her help."

"She isn't the girl I made you help on the platform, is she?"

"Yes! She's annoying, right?"

Remus glanced up as Victoria came into the living room, her brown hair in a messy bun. "She probably is, Eli, but try to be nice to her."

"Who?" Victoria asked curiously. "Cookies are in the oven, by the way."

"Ryan's at school with Elijah." He looked up at her. "And, apparently, is very annoying."

"Well, she takes after her father, then." Victoria stated. "He was always annoying."

"Sometimes." Remus sighed.

"Wait. You knew her parents?"

"We were best friends: I with her father and Victoria with her mother." Remus explained. "You and Ryan actually share a birthday."

"Ew. I'm glad you aren't friends anymore. I'd hate to share a birthday party with her. Four classes is bad enough."

"Enough about annoying girls." Victoria said cheerfully. "I need both my boys to help decorate the Christmas cookies."

"Loup!"

"Grandma!" Elijah kissed his grandma's cheek. "I missed you!"

"I missed you too." She smiled warmly at him. "Tori, I'll be back."

"Alright, Mum. Be careful!" Elijah and Remus followed Victoria into the kitchen where she'd prepared various bowls of icing. "The cookies will be done soon. Remus, will you finish cleaning those dishes for me?"

"That the only reason you wanted me to move back in?"

"Yes." She joked, laughing with her former boyfriend. "You don't have a crush on Ryan, do you?"

"Mum, gross!" Elijah stuck his tongue out. "I'd rather have a crush on the giant squid."

"To be fair, your father thought I was annoying."

"Tori, I thought everyone was annoying except for Lily." Remus interjected from the sink. "That doesn't mean anything."

"What if she has a crush on him?"

Remus's face paled. "That would be incredibly awkward."

"I don't have a crush on anyone." Elijah stated. "Unless kissing McGonagall would raise my grade in her class."

Victoria snorted. "You really are your father's son."

"First year Transfiguration is the hardest, I think." Remus ignored her comment. "Just talk to her. She'll help you, like I said."

"I'll ask her when I get back."

"Good."

Christmas morning dawned bright and Elijah sneaked into the kitchen for another cookie before his parents woke up. "-miss you every day." He heard his grandma talking to someone. "I wish you were here, Tom."

"Happy Christmas, Grandma."

She jumped slightly, smiling when she saw him. "Happy Christmas, Loup."

"Talking to Grandpa?" He asked, looking at the portrait of the tall, handsome man she had in her hand.

"Christmas is always the hardest for me. It was the first time I knew he loved me." She glanced down at the silver snake bangle she always wore. "This was the second present he got me."

"What was the first?" Elijah asked curiously.

"Come now, Loup. Your uncle will be here soon." She evaded the question, tucking her late husband's photo back into her cloak. "Help me with breakfast?"

He nodded, making sure to set five settings on the table. Before long, he heard his mum getting up and a quiet voice from the front entrance. "Rori? Tori?"

"Uncle Xan!" His mum rushed to him, hugging him. "You made it!"

"I did." He followed her into the kitchen, kissing his sister on the cheek. "Look at you, kid. You're growing up. In Hogwarts yet?"

"It's my first year, Uncle Xan. I'm in Hufflepuff."

"Ah, that's unfortunate." He laughed. "But I'm sure you're doing great."

"It's fun, at least."

"He's apparently inherited your fear of heights, Xan." Aurora said teasingly. "Poor Loup's worried about failing the flying lessons."

"You won't fail. I didn't."

Elijah smiled at his great uncle gratefully, feeling a little better about the next half of the term.