Reality Bites Harry Potter

Can somebody say... Distraction?

It took a week after waking up for me to feel well enough to go back to classes. That week left me with lots of time on my hands, time I spent planning an epic Christmas party. Who cares if Christmas was 2 weeks ago already, I wanted all of my friends to have a fun day to forget about all the bad that had happened during first semester. Brendan, one of the first year recruits, got elected to bring me my homework one day and I took full advantage. "Brendan, I need your help" I say and he looks at me worriedly. "As much as I love being part of the team I didn't exactly sign up for solo missions" he says. I sigh. "I can't ask any of the older members though. I want to surprise them" I say. He frowns but nods. "What can I do to help?" he asks. "I have designed an epic Christmas party as a thank you to all of my friends and fellow Gingerpuff members for putting up with me the last few months and also as a way to relax after the whole basilisk disaster. I drew up plans for how I wanted everything to look and left a list of where all of their presents are hidden, they're already wrapped so no need to worry if anyone sees that part" I say. I hear a gasp from the door and look up and see Lexia standing there. "That sounds so fun! I want to help surprise the others" she says excitedly and I smile. "Great! You two are the only two allowed to know other than the kitchen elves and possibly McGonogall if you need adult supervision of any kind" I tell them. Lexia nods excitedly as I hand them the papers and Brendan follows. I relax a bit, trusting the two of them to execute my plans.

********Lexia's POV********

I was so excited to get to start actually helping with Gingerpuff tasks. Party planning has always been my favorite past time but Brendan seemed a bit nervous. "Don't worry, B. It'll be fine" I tell him, smiling reassuringly. He smiles back nervously and I head to the library with him so we could sit down and get started. "Can you handle getting the candy canes and cocoa arranged while I make the streamers and place mats?" I ask and he looks at me confused. "Never mind, you can just help me. Let's go to the ROR, it'll be a safer place to craft" I say. I didn't mean to take full control but he seemed a bit lost, even when I gave him directions. He nods, following me. "I can handle cutting things out and outlining with glitter if you can do the handwriting and talk to the house elves. I don't have the best social skills" he says softly and I smile at him. He's so cute in an awkward, nerdy kind of way. Like a puppy, though his hair at the moment reminded me of baby bird feathers. "I can handle Rosey and Posey and we can both paint and cut, though I'll handle spelling. I have practice from muggle school at making posters and signs so I can write pretty well with a paint brush" I say. He smiles. "You seem pretty good at this party planning stuff" he says and I shrug. "I was student council president at my middle school and helped plan the school dance last year so I guess you could say I have experience. People just don't really take the time to get to know me much, it's been a stressful semester after all. But I'm ready to show off my skills" I say as we get to the room of requirement. I think of what we need before grabbing his wrist and dragging him in with me. There's fabric everywhere on neat rolls and a set of drawers full of scissors, rulers, paintbrushes, and stencils. the walls are lined with cans of paint. "This is amazing. No wonder Pansy was able to make so many costumes" I say and Brendan laughs. We start with streamers first and I make personalized place mats for everyone while Brendan makes the tablecloths. "Next on the list is stockings. How do you make stockings?" Brendan asks and I think. "Hand me the red felt" I say. he hands it to me and I use cardboard to make a mold before wrapping the felt around it and sewing it together. I sew some white on the top and fold it over so it looks like a basic stocking. "Can you decorate them with the glitter glue?" I ask him and he nods, still in shock. "You're amazing" he says and I blush. "I wouldn't say amazing, just crafty. I got very good at entertaining myself" I say, starting on the next stocking and making them as quickly and carefully as I can so they all look perfect. "We should ask McGonogall about getting a Christmas tree" he says and I shake my head. "I'm way ahead of you. Gryffindor is slacking and they haven't taken their tree down so I'm moving it tonight. All we have to do is move this stuff out so we can have the room reset itself so we can set up for the party and then go talk to the kitchen elves" I say. Brendan quickly gathers things and we leave the room, resetting it and then going inside. "This is the closest to empty I've ever seen it in here" Brendan whispers and I nod. "You start on table cloths, I'll start on streamers" I say, moving to start. I realize quickly I picked the wrong job as I'm not tall enough to reach. Brendan walks over and lifts me up so I can reach. "You don't have to pick me up, you'll hurt yourself" I say and he rolls his eyes. "You're not that heavy. Just tape the streamers" he says and I tape it before we move along. "Thanks, you're amazing" I say and he blushes. "You're welcome. I'm not that amazing though, I just was helping" he says. We finish the table cloths and hang the stockings before going to talk to the kitchen elves. "You kids are always up to something" Rosey teases and I giggle. "It's all Shayla's fault. She likes throwing parties" I say. Posey smiles big. "I actually have something you could use We have a hot chocolate fountain and we could have a candy cane and marshmallow bar next to it so people can flavor it if they want" she suggests. I smile big. "Sounds perfect. Then just desserts of any kind for food would be amazing. You girls are the best" I say. Posey smiles and promises to have the party food set up for us the next day when Shay got out of the hospital wing. I was so tired but proud of how much we had accomplished. "We make a good team" I tell Brendan and he blushes again. "Yeah... it's not so hard when I have you there to help" he says. I hug him before heading to my common room. I was pooped and still had a Christmas tree to deliver.