Wands and Wishes

Butterflies and Mistletoe

"If you stare at that cup any harder you might just make it combust."

The soft sound of her sister's laughter drew Iris's attention from her current task of studying the tea leaves at the bottom of her cup. Her blue eyes fixated on the older girl with a look of confusion. It wasn't often that Lily came over to the Slytherin table.

"Is everything alright?" Iris asked with a raised brow.

It wasn't that she wasn't happy to see her sister, quite the contrary actually, but she knew that the other Slytherins would be far from pleased about having a Gryffindor about and they may be tempted to act on that displeasure. Lily sighed then took the vacant seat beside her sister, seeming oblivious to the nasty looks she was receiving.

"Aunt Cressida is ill," Lily explained, "so mother and father are going to Wales to help Uncle Augustine take care of her."
"So we'll be staying here for Christmas." Iris stated matter-of-factly.
"I'm afraid so." She sighed, "Petunia is forced to go with them as well."
"Oh, I'm sure she's thrilled about that." The younger girl laughed as she turned her attention back to her tea leaves.
"What are you staring at?" Lily asked, momentarily distracted by her sister's interest in her cup.
"I know you've taken Divination, you're the one who gave me Unfogging The Future last year." Iris commented.
"I know but you have a better eye for things like that than I do even if you are only a second year." Lily huffed, Divination not being one of her better subjects, "So what do you see?"
"A butterfly." Iris muttered, face hardening as she considered the design.
"What does it mean?"
"Passing pleasure and power of attraction." Iris scoffed, pushing the cup away and looking back at her sister.
"Maybe it means-"
"Lily?"

Both sisters turned to see their dearest friend as he approached the Slytherin table, a look of confusion pulling at his features as he reached the girls and took a seat. As always, beside Lily.

"What are you doing here?" He asked, looking over at the green eyed sister after grabbing a few pieces of bacon and putting them on his plate.
"I needed to tell Iris that we were going to be staying here over the Christmas holiday." Lily explained.
"What brought that on?"

Iris stood up, feeling her appetite vanish, and with a quick good-bye to the pair she was off to her first class. She scoffed to herself as she left the Great Hall, if Lily seriously thought the butterfly omen was meant for Severus then she was more unaware than Iris thought.
~*~
There were no classes for the next two weeks and only a handful of students were scattered around the castle. Snow covered the grounds outside and cheer filled the corridors of the school. Christmas was coming.

"It would figure they would be remaining as well." Iris sighed, taking a seat beside her sister at the Gryffindor table and noticed three of the mischief makers.
"Normally they do leave." Lily noted, following Iris's gaze to the end of the table where Remus, Sirius, and James sat.
"Well whatever it is that's made them stay this time, I don't like."
"Oh be nice Iris." Lily scolded, looking back to her sister with a frown, "They haven't done anything to bother you."
"Yet." Iris retorted, biting into her steak and onion pie.

A week later Iris awoke in the comfort of her bed to find herself alone in the dormitory and surrounded by presents. It was only at this moment that she realized what day it was. This was her first Christmas in Hogwarts but it seemed like something she could get used to. At the end of her bed there were a number of presents stacked prettily, practically calling to her in anticipation.
The first of her presents to capture her attention was the sleek black crow staring at her from its silver cage. The purple envelope told her all she needed to know. This was the present from her parents and as Iris stared into the black eyes of the creature she was left wondering what her parents might have gotten Petunia and Lily but soon carried on with the rest of her gifts.
Lily had gotten her Sugar Quills and a notebook with the Slytherin crest on it while Petunia, no doubt also from Lily knowing their eldest sister would give them nothing, got her Cauldron Cakes and Butterbeer.
From her best friend Emily Edwardson, a fifth year in Ravenclaw, she received Quidditch Through The Ages by Kennilworthy Whisp. And numerus Chocolate Frogs from Severus.
It was turning out to be the best Christmas she had ever had and Iris couldn't wait to see what the rest of the day had in store.