Modern Hogwarts

Christmas Day: Maggie Finnigan-Thomas

"IT'S CHRISTMAS!" Maggie yelled as she jumped into the bed Nolan was sleeping in. Nolan startled awake, heart racing faster than a horse. 

"Holy shit," he panted, trying to calm down. 

"I'm sorry," Maggie laughed. She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly. "I'm just excited that it's Christmas and you're here to celebrate it with me."

"Is part of your family tradition putting someone in the hospital?" Nolan asked.

"You're fine," Maggie said and stood up. "Come downstairs, you can help me make breakfast!"

"Alright," Nolan said and rubbed his face sleepily. "Let me get dressed first."

"No! We always spend Christmas day in our pajamas until people show up for dinner!" 

"Can I at least wash my face?" Nolan asked. "I didn't ask Santa for acne for Christmas."

"Quickly," Maggie laughed. "I'll be downstairs. I want breakfast to be ready before my parents wake up." 

Maggie ran downstairs and started getting things ready as quickly as she could. Nolan came downstairs soon after and helped. Maggie put him in charge of making the mixed fruit parfaits because she knew Nolan's perfectionist mind could make the layers and proportions perfect. Maggie fried eggs and made toast. 

"Is this it?" Nolan asked as he made plates and set the table. 

"Yeah, why?" Maggie replied as she started making tea.

"It's a bit bare," he said.

"If you're looking for bacon or bangers, you won't find them here," Maggie said. "We're vegetarians." 

"What are we having for dinner then?" Nolan asked. 

"Roasted cauliflower, apple walnut salad, butternut squash ravioli, some honey glazed brussels sprouts, roasted carrots, and corn bread," Maggie said. "Uncle Neville is bringing dessert." 

"Well this is going to be an adventure," Nolan said. "I've never had a vegetarian Christmas."

"You know being a vegetarian is healthier for you and no innocent animals were killed to make your dinner," Maggie said.

"I think if you'd farmed animals, you'd stop thinking of them as innocent," Nolan said. "Cows are mean beasts and chickens are little shits. One of our chickens was sick once and it took me and dad two hours to corner the thing and give its medicine. It died a few months later."

"I'm afraid my philosophy on vegetarianism is completely emotion-based and no amount of argument or debate will change my mind so I'll save you the energy of trying," Maggie said. 

"Nevertheless, I still want you to come see the farm, I think you'd enjoy it," Nolan said. "I do love animals, you know. I don't look at Harriet and think 'hey she'd make a good burger' or anything morbid like that. Collecting the eggs from the chickens in the morning is the fun part; it's like that action-reaction game with the hand slapping. You never know if the chicken will peck you or not." 

"Maybe next summer I can spend a few weeks there with you and get to know your family," Maggie suggested. "Live a country life for a month."

"I'd like that a lot," Nolan said genuinely. 

He watched Maggie arrange everything on the table and make it look perfect. He could tell it meant a lot to her that everything be perfect for her parents on Christmas morning. 

When Maggie walked past him again, he grabbed her arm and pulled her back. "Hey, can I talk to you about something before you go wake your parents up?"