Meeting the Marauders

Christmas Morning

Chapter 46: Christmas Morning
-Bex p.o.v.-

Christmas morning. The one day of the year that I don't mind Lily waking me up before ten o'clock.

The whole house was up at approximately seven-oh-two. Everyone was in the living room at approximately seven-oh-nine. We were opening presents at about seven-thirteen.

Large piles were set out, each pile was for a different person. Mr. and Mrs. Evans had gotten each of us a large gift of some sort and a smaller, more sentimental gift. In my pile was also a gift from all of the girls and a few more friends.

At eight o'clock everything was unwrapped, cleaned and neatly stacked in piles.

I had received a beautiful dress from Mrs. Evans, one that I would much rather wear than the pink disaster I got at the mall. Mr. Evans had given me much more practical gift of a lighter. And together, they gave me a photo book of the pictures from when I would play with Lily as a child.

I smiled at the two, "thank you so much, I love them all!" I hugged them both tightly.

Lily gave me a pair of heels, to match not only the pink disaster but the beautiful blue dress her mother had gotten me. I smiled brightly, thanking her.

Petunia had been forced to give me something, so she got me a coupon for a free haircut at the local barber shop, placed in a regular envelope with a green bow on top.

I smiled sarcastically at her, "thank you Petunia, how kind of you." I rolled my eyes. "But I think your forgetting that I can change my hair at will."

She rolled her eyes and went back to examining the pack of Bertie Botts jelly beans I gave her. Specially designed to be only horrid flavors, but she didn't know that.

I looked to Lily, "how'd you like your present?"

"I love it, thank you for the locket." She smiled brightly, fastening the locket with an engraved "L" around her neck.

"And I love this handbag, it's wonderful." Mrs. Evans gushed over the bag.

"Only the best for you mum." I smiled at her.

"And what about me?" Mr. Evans joked, "did I not get the best tool kit?"

I giggled, "of course you did. Top notch set of tools you got there."

At eight thirty I was being pushed out of the door by Mrs. Evans. "Go go go! We've already taken up enough of your Christmas morning! It's time for you to spend the day with your father!"

"Alright, thanks for letting me stay with you, mum. Love you." I smiled, hugging her.

"Oh, dear, your always welcome here. You're like another daughter to me. I'm honored that you call me mum." She smiled, returning the hug. "You will be visiting for Easter and summer, yes?"

"Of course." I grinned, "wouldn't miss it for the world."

"Alright dear, have fun with your father!" She called just as I apperated away with the house elves.

We landed in my dad's office. The house elves leaving me alone, saying they were off to the kitchens and to call if master needed anything.

So I sat in the large chair behind the desk. All of my gifts had been taken back to my home, except for the lighter Mr. Evans had gotten me.

I pulled the lighter from my pocket and flicked it open, controlling the fire with my power. As I was messing with the fire I couldn't help but look around the room.

It looked like it usually did, but something was different. Something was not like it normally was.

Shrugging the feeling off, I popped a lemon drop into my mouth. The familiar bowl of candy out on display, as it usually was.

"This is boring!" I groaned aloud. "When is my dad going to be here?"

"Your father is still at the Christmas breakfast." Someone spoke, answering my question.

"Hmm?" I hummed confused. I glanced around, searching for the source of the voice.

"I'm over here." He spoke again.

This time I spotted the speaker. "Your Slytherin, yeah?" I asked the portrait. It happened to be the same portrait that I had always caught looking at me when Sirius and myself had to come here.

"No. I am a past headmaster, not the founder." He informed, "the founders portraits are in the headmasters living area. Only the headmasters are in the office space."

He had a long white beard with bits of dark grey and light brown in it. He also had dark eyes, like two coals. He was wearing a long green robe, silver lining with silver accents. Around his portrait were engraved words, 'Virtutes, Archangeli, Angeli, Principatus, Dominationes, Seraphin, Cherubin, Throni.' In his hand was a staff, and he wore at least three rings on his fingers.

I nodded, "That makes sense. So who are you?" I asked him curiously.

"I am Fytherley Undercliffe," he introduced himself with the air of sophistication.

My eyes narrowed in concentration, where have I heard that name before? Then it hit me, "you're the headmaster from the forest."

"So you did find my head stone." He looked rather impressed. "It has been predicted that one who finds the place of my burial shall have power that is unimaginable. It is now my will to help you on your journey." He gave a slight bow.

"What do you mean?" I asked, confusion enveloping me like a hug.

"All in time, my dear." He reassured.

"Ariana dear, how wonderful," dad strolled into the office. "I have your present."

I nodded, looking away from the portrait, "yes, I have yours too." I held out a flimsy package for him to take.

We switched parcels, opening them together. I pulled a bag from the box. One that much smaller than the one I had now, it was a sort of pouch, but I could feel the magic that was woven into the thread, this bag would be able to hold things much larger than it's size and not weigh anything at all. "A new bag, just what I needed." I smiled.

"Oh how wonderful! Socks," he smiled.

I rolled my eyes, "I don't know why you always act so surprised, I always get you a pair of socks."

He nodded, "yes, but each pair has a new design on it. And each pair is wonderful because it comes from you."

I smiled at his cheesiness, "hat exchange?"

"But of course," he chuckled, magically making a large, brightly coloured top hat appear.

I pulled a vintage Victorian hat from my old bag, the large feather on the side poking up into the air.

We traded hats, placing them on our heads. I giggled at the sight of my father wearing the hat made for women.

We created a tradition years ago, when I was a little girl. Each Christmas we would get each other a present and a hat. We wore the hat all day long, no matter where we went. No exceptions.

The day was relatively normal, like every Christmas. We spent the day in his office, talking. There was a platter of cookies between us and we talked about anything and everything.

The conversation started as it always did, what we received from others.

"I got some good gifts this year." I nodded, "Mrs. Evans got me a dress, I got a lighter from Mr. Evans, and a photo book from the both of them. Lily gave me a pair of shoes that matched a dress I bought. And I got some candy and jewelry from my roommates. Severus made me one of his potions. I received a bracelet from Regulus, and a charm for it from Lucius." I continued on about my gifts.

My dad nodded along with me, "yes, I got the usual amount of books from other scholars." I nodded in understanding. "Minerva gave me a lovely pair of new gloves. Horace gave me a bottle of wine." He went on, telling all of the things that the professors had given him.

"That was very nice," I smiled.

"Yes, it was." Dad smiled with me. "So what did you do with the Evans'?"

I grinned, "we went Christmas caroling, it was quite the show."

"Yes? How did it go?" He asked curiously.

"It went splendid, I didn't sing along though. I just enjoyed the view." I smirked, "Petunia decided to put on a solo."

"Ah, the magic of music." Dad smiled wistfully.

I giggled, "yes, it was certainly something special."



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So that's Christmas morning, sorry it's short. Her and her dad don't really talk of anything interesting, just how they've been and stuff going on in their lives.
You can still guess the Christmas surprise! There's still a little time left until it happens!
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