Chapter Sixty-Seven: Christmas Presents From An Escaped Prisoner
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Christmas was a time of year Lina normally loved, the food, spending time with her family, presents were an added bonus, there was nothing she didn't love about the holiday but this year with her staying in the castle without Lucy, Danny and Cedric, or the Weasleys bar Ron but he was always with Harry so she couldn't go see him. Of course, Remus was there for the actual day due to the full moon two days before Christmas day he wasn't around very much.
On Christmas morning when Lina first woke up she stayed in bed for a good half an hour, she didn't know if Remus was awake and didn't want to be the reason he suddenly awoke especially when he needed lots of sleep around this time of the month, but when she heard shuffling around in the small front room that separated the two-bedrooms she knew it was safe to emerge.
Remus was sitting in an armchair looking pale and sickly but when he saw Lina in her bumblebee Pyjamas holding her wolf teddy bear looking like that little girl Remus was brining up years ago now but Remus felt could only have been weeks ago he smiled.
"Merry Christmas" Remus said.
"Merry - oh - presents," Lina said perplexed at the same pile of presents on the coffee table.
"What weren't you expecting any?" Remus asked amused.
"I don't know I hadn't really thought much about it" Lina sat down in her own armchair. She insisted Remus answered her present to him first. Lina watched him anxiously as he opened the set of new robes she had bought him.
"I love them" he assured her.
Lina then opened her presents, she got more than she thought she would, she got her normal fudge and a knitted jumper from Mrs Wealsey, but an added box of mince pies, Bill and Charlie had sent her a little something, Andromeda had gotten her a new arithmancy book with a note saying she fireproofed it, amongst other things. Lucy, Danny, and Cedric had sent her presents and of course, Remus got gifted her a present as well.
Finally, when all those were open there was only one left, a long thin package Lina looked at Remus confused, she didn't have the faintest idea who this could have been from "is this from you?" she asked Remus.
"No, open it there might be a note" although Remus was pretty sure he already knew who it was from.
Lina tore open the packaging to reveal a beautiful gleaming broomstick, Lina's mouth dropped, a firebolt, a real-life firebolt was right in front of her and it was hers. "What, who-" Lina stopped, on top of the broom was a square picture of Sirius in a hospital bed holding a small baby, Marlene was asleep next to him. Lina slowly picked up the picture just as the Sirius in the picture looked at her.
"Lina," Remus said.
"I think I know who it's from" Lina replied handing over the picture.
"Sirius" Remus said in surprise.
Lina picked up the broom and twirled it around, imagine the future matches she was going to have on it and the face Cedric was going to make when she told him, she couldn't wait.
"You know maybe dad didn't get me this, maybe Aunt Andie got me it, a broom isn't a hard thing to get and the picture I'm sure is in a photo book or frame somewhere."
"It's not," Remus simple said, "Lily took that picture and for your first birthday she made a photobook of all the picture that she had taken in your first year of life."
"So where's that photobook now?"
"I don't know, I imagine it's buried under mountains of dust in the loft of your old house."
Lina took the picture back "so how do I have it?"
"I have an idea, have you been reading the paper."
"Ha! No, I've been avoiding them, I accidentally burnt a couple. Why do you ask?"
"Your dad was spotted in the village you all lived before ."
Lina looked at Remus incredulously "so you're telling me you think dad broke into his old house just to get one picture, why not stay, get a change of clothes."
"I can't say., maybe because he got seen before he could, but I don't think you should fly on your broom until it's been tested."
"what?"
"We don't know if there is anything wrong with it."
"Anything wrong, what? You think dad would jinx a broom and then give it to me."
"I don't know, but to ensure your safety I think it would be best to tell Dumbledore or McGonagall."
Lina scoffed and stood up still holding the picture "you're talking but all I'm hearing is the Minster for Magic" Lina turned on her bare foot hell and went back into her room.
Lina wasn't mad her Remus and she hoped he knew that she was just so frustrated that people continually said how much her dad loved her and her mum one minute and the next think he'd gift her a present that could potentially cause her harm, it didn't make sense.
"Yay Christmas" Lina said sarcastically. "No, you are not going to hate this holiday, No Lina. No" Lina went straight back to open the door, Remus hadn't moved. "I'm sorry," she said.
"I know" he replied
***
At lunchtime due to Remus's condition, Christmas lunch was served in the room, there was a full Christmas dinner with all the trimmings and desserts were sent up after the dinner was finished, they both also had a goblet that refilled itself whenever it got near open, Lina overall had near ten glasses of pumpkin juice, and there were crackers too. Lina and Remus pulled apart a jet black one that Remus won, he got a jesters hat and a snowy white one which Remus also won, Lina told Remus she was going easy on him, the white one had a jewelled crown, that Remus gave to Lina.
After they had finished eating Lina curled up on her armchair with Demeter, she was watching the picture wishing her dad had sent her more than one when her eyes began to close in a series of long blinks until finally, her eyes closed in sleep.
Lina slept undisturbed for an hour until a knock on the door woke her up, she rubbed her eyes but she didn't lift her head from or move Demeter who was also asleep. Remus went to the door and opened it to Professor McGonagall.
"Sorry to disturb you both Remus."
"Not at all Professor" Remus gestured for the Professor to enter which she did. Lina pushed herself up.
"Are you here about my broom Professor?" Lina asked.
"Yes, Miss Lina" she took the broom from Remus and examined it "are you sure this isn't from Mrs Tonks, Mr Lupin?"
"We're sure."
McGonagall pursed her lips and said something inaudible "well I'll have to take it away obviously, have Professor Flitwick and Madam Hooch examine it, make sure it's safe, you should have it back in a couple of weeks."
"I understand Professor," Lina said somewhat bitterly "but can I at least keep the picture?"
"Picture, what picture?"
"The broom came with a picture of Sirius holding Lina when she was born" Remus explained.
Professor McGonagall's face softened "of course you can Miss Lina."
"Thank you, Professor" Lina went back to watching the picture, she didn't notice Professor McGonagall leave or Remus came up behind her until he placed a hand on her head.
"Are you hungry enough for some leftovers?" he asked.
