Modern Hogwarts

Christmas Day: Martha Snape

Martha woke up in her own bed at home in Whitehaven. She loved the massive castle of Hogwarts, but it couldn't compete with the seaside cottage she grew up in.

"Mar-fa," a squeaky voice said from below.

Martha looked down over the bar holding her in the top bunk at her wide-eyed little sister.

"What is it?" Martha asked her cheerfully.

"Iss Christmas!" Mary cheered.

Martha laughed. "Yes it is, but let's not wake mum and dad yet," Martha told her. "They were up late helping Santa put all the presents under the tree. Let's let them sleep another hour so Mum isn't cranky all day."

"OK," Mary said and climbed back into the bottom bunk.

Martha didn't love sharing a room with a four-year-old, but she did love her step sister and missed her while she was at Hogwarts.

Martha dozed back to sleep until someone came knocking on the door. "It's Christmas Day and there was no little wizard in our bed!" Martha's step dad said as he came into their room.

"Marfa wanted to let you and Mummy sleep in," Mary said innocently.

"Well that was very nice of you," her dad said and kissed her forehead. "But Mummy and I are up now and we're ready for Christmas!"

Mary cheered and ran downstairs.

"Are you awake, Martha?" He asked.

"I am now," Martha laughed as she sat up.

Her step dad came over and kissed her cheek. "I'm so sorry I wasn't home when you arrived, had a late shift at the office," he said. "Someone tried to apparate home with a bag of presents and it ended in a mess. How are you?"

"It's alright," Martha said. "And very tired, but happy to be home."

"Glad to hear it," he said and smiled. "We better get downstairs before Mary starts Christmas without us."

"I'll be right down," Martha said. "I just want to text my friends Merry Christmas first."

"Sounds good," he said and smiled as he closed the bedroom door.

Martha grabbed her phone off of the charger and texted everyone she knew to have a Merry Christmas.

Mary was waiting on her downstairs, jumping up and down over how excited she was to open presents.

"Good morning dear," Martha's mother greeted her in the kitchen and kissed her cheek. "Did you sleep well?"

"I did," Martha said. "Though Mary woke me up at the crack of dawn."

"It's her favourite day of the year," her mum laughed. "Gary?" She called for her husband from the other room.

"Yes, love?" He popped his head in the kitchen and responded.

"Are we eating breakfast before or after presents?" Her mother asked.

"I think Mary might burst if she has wait any longer," Gary laughed. "And she'll upset her stomach if she eats while she's jumping up and down. I'll make breakfast after we're done."

"Are we having the Evans special?" Martha asked her step dad with a smirk.

"What else would we be eating on Christmas morning?" Gary replied with a smile.

The family gathered around the tree and Mary passed out all the presents, having to ask her mum whose they were sometimes, as she couldn't read cursive yet.