The Butterfly Effect

Neun: Christmas Revelations

Holidays at the Greengrass manor were generally quiet affairs. The living room (which boasted the whopping size of a small house) was covered in Christmas decorations with enchanted ornaments flying overhead and a five meter tree towering over the inhabitants. Around the tree, enchanted snow formed mountains and various Muggle ski resorts, with animated people, of course, giving the tree an illusion of being bigger than the mountains. If the adults were asked to point out the strongest magic in the room they would describe the constant magic of the fake northern lights or the lifelike animation of the area around the three which made the atmosphere feel alive. However, to the two girls of the house, the most magical feeling of the holidays was seeing the pile of presents. Thought the pile was overshadowed by the size of the tree, the girls always flew towards the presents like heatseekers.

Despite the size of the manor's living room, only six people generally occupied it on Christmas morning. Along with the 4 Greengrasses, Tracey and her mother had been occupying the room since the time of Mr. Davis' death. The school did not know it, but the two girls who were best friends at school were practically sisters outside of school. Though Greengrass Manor was rarely occupied by more than six wizards during the holidays, the familiar bonds generated a lively environment that could only be described as magical.

The piercing green eyes of Astoria Greengrass were the first to open on Christmas morning. Since Daphne could remember, Astoria (or Tori, as she had been nicknamed by her sister) had woken up everyone in the house to open presents earlier. Tracey's mother had been quite surprised and irritable the first time Astoria had jumped on her bed in the guest room until she had woken up. Ten years had passed since that first holiday at the Greengrass', but Ms. Davis still had to restrain herself from cursing Tori into the wall. She was definitely not a morning person, not even on Christmas.

Tori's shoulder length hair that could only be compared to gold flowed behind her as she snuck through the hallways to wake up her first victims. Astoria silently opened Daphne and Tracey's room and let her trademark mischievous smirk etch itself onto her face. In her modest opinion, her smile beat out her sister's irritating trademark smirk. Posing herself in a position to jump, she began her tirade of "Wake up!" and "It's Christmas! Let's get presents!" Moments later, she was jumping between Daphne and Tracey's beds dodging swipes and swings from her sister and her friend. Though Daphne was loathe to admit it, she enjoyed having her sister wake her up as she rarely saw her throughout the school year.

"Honestly Astoria," called out a sleepy Tracey who had finally stood up while rubbing her eyes, "don't you think that you should be more mature considering you're thirteen years old? Don't you Ravenclaws have any respect?"

Tracey made an attempt to sound stern but smiled shortly after, ruining the effect. She truly loved holidays at the Greengrass Manor and also enjoyed Tori's antics.

After making sure the two older girls were fully woken up, Astoria made a beeline to her parents' room and woke them up with little difficulty. Luckily, they were usually morning people. Astoria had more problems waking up Ms. Davis, and though like her daughter she protested and pointed out Astoria's age, she was thankful for holidays with her closest friends and their children.

Though Tracey and her mother had playfully jabbed at her about her age, she felt freed by her immature routine. It allowed her to feel free and away from the studious and lackluster life of a Ravenclaw. She loved her house, but her housemates could feel like black holes for fun sometimes. Astoria could study when she needed to, but she also needed a quota of fun to not go crazy. The cheery Ravenclaw skipped down the stairs after confirming Ms. Davis was indeed awake and waited in the chair closest to the presents by the tree.

"Bixby!" she called.

"Yes Mistress Astoria? What can I do for you on this Christmas day?"

Astoria smiled at the older house elf. Bixby had been with the Greengrass family for over fifty years and had always been treated by an equal by every member of the Greengrass family. "Can you bring the usual Christmas snacks and tell Zinsey and Bobby to start breakfast?"