ernie and hannah
WHO: Ernie MacMillan & Hannah Abbott WHAT: Celebrating Christmas WHEN: Backdated to Christmas Day RATING: PG STATUS: DONE
Ernie might not have been in the festive mood, but he'd never disappoint Hannah. Why should his lousy luck affect his best mate? Christmas was a time to celebrate with loved ones and Miss Hannah Abbott might as well have had "MacMillan by choice" embroidered into her clothing. In honor of that feeling, Ernie obediently tugged on the Santa hat his sisters insisted would thrill Hannah before he made sure the fire was lit and the Christmas tree shone brightly. "She'll like this," he declared as he stepped back to admire the scene. "It looks just like a Rockwell painting."
Though she wasn't a Macmillan, Hannah felt like one. She loved each and every one of them as if they were a part of her own family, and Ernie more than some of her own family. It would be strange, the first Christmas without Ernest there, teasing them all and buying her the same wonderful gifts he did his own daughters. That made it all the more important to be there for Ernie and his mother. The first year after they'd lost her mum had been awful and she knew it wouldn't be any easier on their family.
She supposed she could've used the floo, but she was still so proud to actually be able to Apparate like normal witches her age, Hannah arrived at the Macmillan's door with a good loud 'pop'. As she waited for someone to answer her knock on the door, she lightly shook the snow out of her hair and pulled her cap further down over her ears.
"That's Hannah," Ernie announced to no one in particular. He straightened his hat and made a face. He looked bloody ridiculous, but his mother kept saying something about keeping their spirits up so he didn't have to heart to argue the point with her. At least he didn't have to wear any dreadful reindeer sweaters, right? With a resigned sigh, he stepped over some presents and headed for the door. He pulled it open and smiled softly. "Hey, you. Come on out of the cold. Let me help you with those."
But the bag of gifts she was holding and the coat over her arm fell with a slight 'thump' as she reached up and covered her mouth to muffle her gasp. "You look so cute!" she blurted only a second later, before she threw her arms adoringly around his neck. "Look at you, you precious thing!" This was the reason she loved this boy so much. He went out of her way to make her smile. He probably felt like a total berk in that silly little hat, but it had made her smile like crazy.
Ernie groaned, but he hugged her back just as hard. "I hope none of those are breakable!" He released her and tossed her a firm look. "No photographs, Abbott." He bent to pick up the bag. "Is mine the big one? Hm, is it, is it?" He pulled her inside by the hand. "We'll let all the heat out." He lowered his voice. "Dad was better at the heat charms than Mum."
She squeezed the hand in hers, shaking her head slightly. "You could always try them, you know. Or just a plain old fireplace fire like those silly muggles," she added teasingly. "And yes, the big one is yours, who else would it be for? But the next biggest one is your mum's. I saw the vase at this little shop by the shore and I couldn't help it, she had to have it."
"She'll love it, I am sure." He didn't tell Hannah that he already snuck things like that around his mum. He didn't want Jean feeling helpless or missing Ernest too much. It was easier if he kept quiet and silently looked after her. He was sure his father would have approved. "What's mine? Is it every chocolate frog card in existence? Is it, is it?" He nudged her, acting very much like a little boy rather than the prim and proper Ernie most knew.
Rolling her eyes, Hannah attempted to shrug innocently. "You'll just have to wait and open it, won't you?" she teased. Of course she'd given him a few chocolate frogs, it was tradition by that point. But he also had the beautiful nameplate for his desk with the gold engraving, the yellow and black winter hat and gloves she'd knitted herself, a rather impressive looking desk set, and a body board that he'd probably look at her like she was insane for buying. Maybe she was, trying to get him into water sports, but hey, she had to try! And that was to say nothing about the badger boxer shorts she'd snuck in as a gag gift. She just had to hope she'd put those in the right box instead of one of the ones for his sisters.
"How mean you are." Ernie tugged her arm and nodded toward the living area. "Come see the tree. There's a surprise. I think you'll feel like you are at home." He was excited for her to see their tree and fire; he worked hard to make it a special time for his entire family, which included Hannah. They deserved it after their hellish year.
Hannah grinned and followed him, gasping the second she caught glimpse of the room. "Oh, Ernie," she whispered, pleasure and a bittersweet joy mixing in her voice. His father would've loved this. So would her mother, for that matter. "It's gorgeous!" With great care, she unpacked each and every wrapped present she'd brought with her and placed them tenderly under the tree. "There," she added with a flourish. "Now it's perfect."
Ernie couldn't help but grin when Hannah looked so ecstatic. It made him forget, for a little while at least, that his father wasn't there to spend the day with them. "We have a bunch of things for you to bring back for your family," he told her as he watched her carefully arranging the presents beneath the tree. "I can help you with them. Join you, if you like." He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her back to admire the glow from the fire mixed with the glittering lights. "Complete with some of those horrid ornaments we made. Remember those?"
"There is nothing wrong with my pinecone reindeer," she informed him, thought she was laughing as she leaned back against him. "But your candy cane Christmas trees do leave a bit to be desired." She leaned her head against his shoulder as she casually flicked the white pom-pom at the end of his Santa hat. "You look so cute," she teased again, but honestly, she meant it. Besides, Hannah figured Ernie could use a few good compliments since Hermione wasn't exactly doing it any longer.
Ernie's ear tips reddened as she flicked his hat. He was so, so embarrassed by the silly hat and even more so at being termed cute. "Watch it," he warned, "I'm going to ask Mum to dig out some antlers for you." He took a few steps nearer the tree to finger some of the mentioned ornaments. It all seemed so long ago...
Hannah's lips tilted into a smirk and she settled against him, pulling his arms around her so she could get comfortable. "And I'd wear my antlers with pride, thank you very much. Or we could get me an elf outfit and I'd be your helper. I'd make the best toys in the North Pole and you know it."
Even when Ernie had been with Hermione, he had never through twice about holding Hannah close. It felt warm and right no matter how bad the outside world appeared. In fact, he had only worried when Teddy had dated Hannah. Why shouldn't good friends share affection if they wished? "Course you would. You'd make these brilliant blends of wizard and muggle devices. Children would beg for them." He rubbed a hand into her back, trying to relax any tight muscles. "I'm really glad you are here," he confessed after ducking his head around to make sure no one was in earshot. "It...it can get a little odd around here."
Reaching up, Hannah lightly rubbed the curls at the back of Ernie's neck. "Hey, I wouldn't miss it for anything," she reassured gently. It took her a moment of looking at the tree and the gifts beneath it before she could answer him. "The first year's the hardest, Ernie. I promise, it'll get easier. You'll always remember what it was like and you'll always wish he was here... And sometimes you'll be Christmas shopping and get mad because you'll find the perfect gift for him and he's not here." Reaching down, she took his hand in hers and gave it a tight squeeze. "But it will get easier."
How many times had he heard that? It was true, he supposed, since he was able to forget about the untimely death more often than when it first occurred, but considering what Fred said, Ernie found himself dwelling again. He smiled softly, accepting Hannah's squeeze with one of his own. "Now isn't the time to think about such things anyway," he replied. "Shouldn't we be thinking about New Year's now? Don't make me spend it all alone."
"Why, Mr. Macmillan, that almost sounded like a date," she teased, though Hannah knew better. To be honest, she'd rarely let Ernie be alone for New Year's, except two years ago when her father hadn't allowed her anywhere near the magical community except through the post. "What should we do, hmm? Go into London? Catch a portkey to Paris? Where is it that first sees the new year come in? Sydney? I could do the beach, no problem."
"Whoa, big plans!" That didn't bother Ernie in the least. It sounded nice to get far away. As usual, it made him feel guilty that he could travel so easily when others couldn't, but he didn't entertain his dour thought for long. The holidays weren't times to feel negative, even for the proper Ernie MacMillan. "I'll take you where ever you want to go," he promised, "I'll even get you one of those year hats."
Hannah beamed, loving how easily he went along with her crazy suggestions. "You know I'd be just as happy having popcorn balls and sparkling cider at my house watching the coverage on the telly, don't you?" she told him, nuzzling against his side. "You know, we'll be ringing in a new millennium soon? What, are you going to cave to my every wish and go to New York City with me then?"
Ernie would do anything for most any of his friends, but especially Hannah. Seeing her smile made it all worthwhile. "New York City? Are you bonkers? We'll be mugged! Or killed!"
Batting her eyelashes up at him, she smiled innocently. "Mmm hmm?" she said simply, as if it were absolutely nothing.
"Oh, now, come. We'll have an equally festive millennium here in England and you know it!" He moved to sit on the couch though soon found it was impossible with all the wrapped presents. "Honestly, if they can't fit under the tree, there's too much."
Instead of joining him, Hannah just sat in front of the big pile with a grin. "I think they look perfect!" she said simply, patting a bow on one of the larger boxes lovingly. "Just like you in your super cute hat!" Okay, she couldn't let it go. Too bad.
"I'm going to take it off," he threatened.
"Oh yeah?" Hannah asked, dropping her chin to her hands and grinning widely. "Would you, Ernie? Would you take it off? In front of little innocent me?" She was turning pink in her desperate attempt not to burst out laughing.
Ernie's mouth dropped open. He felt his face warming, but was powerless to stop it. "Hannah!" He hissed. "Someone could hear!"
A sly grin crossed her face, almost impressed with her own boldness. "Oh, come on. It's me! They'd insist they heard wrong. I'd never say such a thing, especially not to you."