Daughter of a Witch

A Witchy Christmas

The house stood at the end of a quiet, snow-dusted street, its windows glowing with warm light that beckoned Y/n closer. She smiled to herself as she reached the gate, savoring the familiar hum of magic that seemed to radiate from the walls. Her first Christmas away at college had been fun, but there was no place like home, especially when her moms were waiting on the other side of the door.

Her eyes widened as she slipped her spare key into the lock and stepped inside. The whole house was transformed into a holiday wonderland. Garlands of holly floated in the air, flickering with tiny lights as if touched by stars. In the middle of the living room stood a magnificent Christmas tree that shimmered and shifted colors-green, gold, then a soft lavender-each change revealing a new arrangement of ornaments.

"Look who's finally home!" A familiar voice rang out from the kitchen archway. Rio stood there, a grin stretching across her face, hands on her hips.

"Mom!" Y/n laughed, rushing over to wrap her arms around her. The warmth of Rio's embrace washed away any homesickness she'd felt while away.

"We had a little surprise in mind, but it seems you beat us to it." Rio chuckled, glancing back toward the kitchen with a knowing smile.

Just then, Agatha appeared, a smudge of flour on her cheek and her eyes lighting up as she saw her daughter. "There's my girl!" She pulled Y/n into a tight, comforting hug. "We missed you, sweetheart."

"I missed you both so much, Mama," Y/n murmured, leaning into Agatha's familiar warmth.

"Well, now that you're here," Agatha said, releasing her with a wink, "you can help us finish the cookies!"

With that, she led Y/n into the kitchen, where bowls and baking tools were already floating around in midair, busily mixing ingredients and rolling out dough. The room smelled like cinnamon, nutmeg, and the faintest hint of pine, filling the air with pure holiday coziness.

Agatha handed Y/n a small vial filled with a sparkling golden powder. "Sprinkle a little of this on the cookies," she instructed with a smile. "It's an old Harkness family recipe. Adds a bit of extra holiday cheer to anyone who eats them."

As they worked, Agatha and Y/n settled into a rhythm, shaping the dough into stars, moons, and snowflakes while chatting about everything she'd missed back home. Y/n told them stories from college-about her boisterous roommate Emily, study sessions with Mark and Aaron, and late-night runs to the library with her friend Sidney, who had quickly become her best friend and maybe something more.

"And Sidney?" Agatha's eyes twinkled as she raised an eyebrow. "Seems like you talk about her quite a lot."

Y/n flushed, focusing hard on a snowflake cookie. "She's... well, she's really wonderful. We've been spending a lot of time together."

Rio smirked, clearly enjoying this new bit of gossip. "Mmm-hmm sounds like someone special. We'll need to meet this Sidney someday."

Y/n ducked her head, laughing. "Maybe one day..."

After the cookies were baking, Rio beckoned Y/n over to the parlor. She handed her a small wooden box, intricately carved with symbols Y/n recognized as belonging to their family. "There's a spell I wanted to teach you that's been passed down for generations. We call it the 'Wishing Charm.' It's meant to bring out your truest hopes for the coming year."

Y/n opened the box to find a small red candle with flecks of gold and silver embedded in the wax. She took it carefully, following Rio's instructions, placed it on the table, and lit it with a snap of her fingers. As she murmured the incantation Rio had taught her, she felt her heart swell with a quiet wish for happiness, health for her family, and maybe even the courage to tell Sidney how she truly felt.

When she opened her eyes, the candle had melted into a perfect crystal heart, warm to the touch.

"Keep it with you," Rio whispered, gently squeezing her shoulder. "A reminder of your wish."

Later that evening, Agatha, Rio, and Y/n bundled up and set off on their annual snow walk. The town looked picturesque, its streets blanketed in fresh snow and the houses strung with twinkling lights. The air was cold, but their laughter and magic kept them warm as they walked down the street together.

As they rounded a corner, familiar voices called out, "Y/n!"

Turning around, Y/n spotted Tommy, Billy, and Wanda heading their way. Their faces lit up when they saw her, and the twins raced over, pulling her into a hug.

"Tommy! Billy!" Y/n laughed, hugging them tightly. "I missed you two troublemakers."

"You missed us?" Billy grinned. "It's been way too quiet without you here to keep things interesting."

As they all started walking together, the twins chattered away, eager to catch her up on everything she'd missed since she left. They told her about their latest magical mishaps, a particularly chaotic experiment with a charm that had backfired, and all the things they wanted to try out now that she was back.

Y/n laughed and teased them as they walked, her heart feeling light. Wanda fell in step beside Y/n while Agatha and Rio joined, each sharing stories about their own holiday preparations.

"So," Wanda smiled, "college life sounds like it's been an adventure."

"It has been." Y/n smiled, feeling the warmth of Wanda's gentle presence. "I've made some wonderful friends, and I'm learning so much... there's just so much to take in, you know?"

"And it sounds like someone's caught your eye, too," Rio teased from the other side.

Y/n blushed, ducking her head. "Okay, maybe there's someone. But... it's new."

"New is good," Agatha said, warmly smiling. "You'll know what to do when the time is right."

As they continued through the town, laughter and joy filled the night air, blending with the soft hum of holiday magic that seemed to surround them. They ended the evening with cups of hot cocoa in the town square, where the local carolers sang beneath a giant, glittering Christmas tree.

Y/n looked around, taking in her family and friends with a heart full of gratitude. This was where she belonged, no matter where life took her. With a contented sigh, she leaned against Agatha's shoulder, whispering, "Thanks for everything, Mama."

Agatha squeezed her hand, her eyes soft and full of love. "Always, my sweet girl. Welcome home."