Tweak

InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "He brought me flowers."

Username: 
Password:    
Remember Me
  • Create Account
  • IJ Login
  • OpenID Login
Search by : 
  • View
    • Create Account
    • IJ Login
    • OpenID Login
  • Journal
    • Post
    • Edit Entries
    • Customize Journal
    • Comment Settings
    • Recent Comments
    • Manage Tags
  • Account
    • Manage Account
    • Viewing Options
    • Manage Profile
    • Manage Notifications
    • Manage Pictures
    • Manage Schools
    • Account Status
  • Friends
    • Edit Friends
    • Edit Custom Groups
    • Friends Filter
    • Nudge Friends
    • Invite
    • Create RSS Feed
  • Asylums
    • Post
    • Asylum Invitations
    • Manage Asylums
    • Create Asylum
  • Site
    • Support
    • Upgrade Account
    • FAQs
    • Search By Location
    • Search By Interest
    • Search Randomly

hg_reads ([info]hg_reads) wrote in [info]snark_n_bark,
@ 2008-12-17 20:46:00

Previous Entry  Add to memories!  Tell a Friend!  Next Entry
Christmas time is here, by golly
Characters: Hermione, Harry, Ron, Leila, Starless
Status: complete



The air was crisp and cold, cold enough to turn Leila's nose almost as red as her hair. Not that the little girl seemed to care as she dashed from pine to pine, "listening" to each one in turn as she sought THE Christmas tree. She was old enough to know that Father Christmas would be coming very, very soon, and she'd babbled of nothing else for weeks, to the point that Hermione had stored all her presents in her desk at the Ministry to prevent Leila from spoiling her own surprise.

Now it was time to get a Christmas tree. That meant a "really, really BIG tree!" with lots and lots of ornaments. Hermione had already tried out a few expansion charms on the ceiling of the lounge in case The Tree turned out to be too big to fit, which was likely from the way Leila kept gravitating to ones that would have fit nicely into the Great Hall.

Not that Hermione minded. After this past year Leila deserved the best Christmas her parents could give her.

She hooked her arm through Ron's and leaned against him as Leila ran to yet another tree. "Think she'll ever make up her mind?"

(Post a new comment)


[info]oz_keeper
2008-12-17 08:07 pm UTC (link)
"I can't see the differences she keeps finding between them. I mean, they're all big, green and spiny, right?"

Ron grinned when she started dashing between her short-list of favourites, all five of them, babbling on about needles and heights and various other things that made little to no sense to him. He was smiling through it all, though, just the same.

(Reply to this) (Thread)


[info]mussed_hair
2008-12-17 08:23 pm UTC (link)
Harry knew he didn't have any right to be feeling as tired as he was. He didn't hold down a job, and Leila was no longer a daily responsibility, no matter how much she wished she was. Faelan had been around the Loft more often to help out, as well, although he wasn't talking much. Harry thought that not seeing Padma around her shop lately had something to do with it.

Watching Leila dashing back and forth brought a smile more easily to Harry's face than he'd been able to muster recently. It wasn't as if he didn't know that he had a case of the holiday blues, he was used to them, but without Sirius this year, it was even harder to care.

For Leila, though, he could fake it.

"How about that one over there," Harry asked, pointed out a particularly scrawny tree, just to see her laughing eyes as she rejected it.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]hg_reads
2008-12-17 08:44 pm UTC (link)
Hermione had to laugh as Leila shook her curls and made a face at how silly DaDa was being. "What do you think, love?" she said to Ron. "Something a bit bushier?"

The scrawny tree looked as if it needed a bit of well, something, and Hermione considered for a moment before drawing her wand and casting a strengthening spell on its root system. Neville could have done it better, but this would give the poor thing a fighting chance to get through the winter.

That is, if Starless -

"Oh no!" she groaned as the dog trotted over and made as if to lift its leg against the trunk. "Starless! Bad dog! Leila - no, darling, don't encourage him!"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]oz_keeper
2008-12-17 08:59 pm UTC (link)
Ron pulled Hermione into a one-armed hug and whispered into her ear. "You starting SGST now? Society for the Growth of Scrawny Trees?"

He ducked just out of her grip when she tried to swat at him and scooped Leila up onto his shoulders. "Come on, peanut, lets find us the perfect tree before Da freezes his toes off and Starless marks each one as his own, hmm?"

Ron tossed a sly look at Harry, trying to offer as much comfort as he could with just his eyes.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]hg_reads
2008-12-17 09:03 pm UTC (link)
"Ronald! Don't encourage him - I mean her - I mean - " Hermione gave up as Ron swung Leila up into the air. She squealed with delight and pointed to a large, fluffy tree. Fortunately Starless had bounded off toward a scrubby bush and was ignoring it, which augured well for Crookshanks leaving the nice one alone.

She followed Ron's gaze and slipped her hand through Harry's elbow. "What do you think, Harry? Think that one's good enough for our girl?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]mussed_hair
2008-12-17 09:11 pm UTC (link)
"Best of the lot," he said, squeezing her arm to his side. "I- I know some charms that will keep the needles on the tree through the new year."

He didn't mention where he'd learned them, and just held on to Hermione harder.

"Oi, Ron, don't forget to get the fronds. Our girl will want a real wreath on the door."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]oz_keeper
2008-12-17 09:16 pm UTC (link)
"Righto," Ron piped up and swung Leila down of his shoulders with a quick tickle and pat on the behind. "DaDa needs a hug," he whispered, smiling when she sprinted over to wrap her arms around his legs.

"You get the tree sorted, yeah? And I'll go get us a wreath and some," he paused, searching for the right word, "the rope bits, for the mantle right?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]mussed_hair
2008-12-17 09:33 pm UTC (link)
Harry began walking with Leila still wrapped around his leg, and she giggled wildly as he staggered through the snow.

"Come on and help me, you clingy little koala," he said, helping Leila stand up enough so that he could swing her up into his arms. Her butt was snowy, but he knew she couldn't be feeling it through all the layers of clothes and charms that Hermione put on her.

Regarding her seriously, he said, "Do you want to help me cast the spell to get the tree?" Leila's red curls bobbed and Harry continued. "Repeat after me. Treeus Christmas Cutus. Treeus Christmas Cutus. Now you say it."

"Treeus Christmas Cutus," Leila intoned with all the gravity of a wizard facing her first foe. Casting silently, Harry severed the tree at the base while keeping it floating upright in the air. He let it bob up and down so Leila would know their spell had been successful. "How's that, Leilalove? You did good!"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]hg_reads
2008-12-17 09:42 pm UTC (link)
Hermione applauded. "That was brilliant! Good job, Leila!" She hugged them both, kissing first her daughter and then her friend. "Once Da has finished, we can go home and have some hot chocolate - you're both freezing!"

Harry's smile had been a fraction slow, and she hugged him a bit harder than usual. "I laid out all the ornaments so we can decorate as soon as we get home. Help me charm the tree so Crookshanks can't knock it over? Please?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]oz_keeper
2008-12-17 09:48 pm UTC (link)
Ron, with roping over one shoulder and a wreath over the other, caught the end of Leila's spell work and added his applause to the mix.

He also caught the gleam in his daughter's eye and leaned down to tweak her nose. "You remember you're not aloud to use the wands without Mum, Dada or Da around, right?"

He ruffled her curls at her solemn nod then turned to the others. "Righto, then. Apparate this lot home and get started with the tree decorating and hot chocolate drinking it is!"

(Reply to this) (Parent)


[info]mussed_hair
2008-12-17 09:55 pm UTC (link)
Drawing the tree to within reach, Harry put one hand on it and the other held Leila more tightly. "See you there." In a cascade of sparkling light, they Disapparated and reappeared in living room of Ron and Hermione's flat. The tree immediately crunched into the ceiling, and a few white flakes of plaster fell down around their ears.

"Oops."

(Reply to this) (Thread)


[info]hg_reads
2008-12-17 10:00 pm UTC (link)
Hermione winced as the tree hit the ceiling. She immediately cast the expansion charm, throwing in a quick reparo on the plaster before Leila could giggle too much. "Here, that's better - right, perfect!" She plucked Leila's hat off her head and gave her a kiss. "Mummy's going to fix us a snack, so you help Da and DaDa with the tree. We'll be ready for Christmas before you know it!"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]oz_keeper
2008-12-18 08:45 pm UTC (link)
Ron stood and looked at the tree, then at Harry, then at the tree again. One hand raised to cup the back of his neck and his face twisted into something quite sheepish.

"Ah, Dad always did this at home and I've not had much of a call for Christmas trees in the past. So. Er. You have any idea how to keep it from toppling over? Especially if that blasted cat decides to scale it to play with the angel?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]mussed_hair
2008-12-18 09:06 pm UTC (link)
"Well, uh-" Harry thought about the spells he knew, and decided that sometimes a simple spell did the most work for him. "Get it where you want it, and I'll use a sticking charm."

He watched Ron maneuver the tree until it was standing perfectly straight,not quite wedged into the corner of the room. "Stand back, Leilalove, unless you want me to make you an ornament, too!" Leila ran away, laughing wildly, and Harry threw the strongest sticking charm he could conjure at the base of the tree. A great mound of sticky residue built up around the base, but Harry thought it could be covered with a skirt or something. "All right, Ron, let it go."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]hg_reads
2008-12-18 09:32 pm UTC (link)
Hermione emerged from the kitchen, a tray of cocoa and cookies floating behind. "Is everyone ready? I've brought - "

Her voice died away as she saw the tree, firmly planted in a lump something that looked like resin that hadn't quite dried. Harry, whose wand was still out, was clearly responsible for whatever it was, while Ron had just let go of the tree trunk.

So much for bringing out the tree stand, thought Hermione.

" - cookies for us all, Molly's recipe," she finished. "Should I get the ornaments after we've had a chance to warm up?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]oz_keeper
2008-12-19 05:24 pm UTC (link)
Ron, already nicking a cookie from the plate, surveyed their handiwork. "Blimey, will you look at that? Staying up perfectly. Well done with the sticking charm, mate."

He gave Leila a wink when she took two cookies from the plate and scampered away with a giggle. "I dunno," he said around half the cookie, "don't the lights go on first? Seem to remember Dad cursing something awful over them while Mum nattered at him that he was putting them up unevenly."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]mussed_hair
2008-12-19 08:45 pm UTC (link)
Starless had finished sniffing around the room, and now he returned to the tree to get a closer look. He knew he was indoors, but so was the tree, so he felt fairly certain of his next move....

"You're asking the wrong man here, mate. I wasn't even allowed in the room when- Starless! Put your leg down right now!"

Harry was mortified.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]hg_reads
2008-12-19 08:57 pm UTC (link)
Hermione's father had insisted on putting the lights on the tree before allowing his wife and daughter to place a single ornament in the boughs, even after Hermione had assured him that she could position the bulbs perfectly with a single wave of her wand. She was just about to tell Ron and Harry not to worry when Starless gave the tree a good sniff, danced in place, and angled himself to give the tree a proper watering.

Harry shouted, Leila pointed and laughed with delight, and Starless jumped. And before he could resume his business, Crookshanks dashed out of Hermione's office with a yowl and lunged for his nose.

Starless yipped and fled for what he probably thought was the safety of the kitchen. Hermione closed her eyes, counted to ten, and aimed a shield spell at the kitchen doorway to keep the dog there, at least for a while.

Thank God the kitchen floor had linoleum.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]oz_keeper
2008-12-19 09:04 pm UTC (link)
Ron had scooped the giggling girl into his arms when she showed all the signs of inciting further adventures between the dog and cat, tickling her to extend the giggles.

"That was an adventure, now, wasn't it?" He grinned at Harry. "Can't blame Starless, mate. He's doing what comes natural. Trees, marking. I reckon its a dog thing. So! With that bit of fun out of the way, lets attack the lights and see if we can't make this bit of green sparkle, hmm?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]mussed_hair
2008-12-19 09:29 pm UTC (link)
Harry went to have a word with the hapless dog. A few pats on the head, a scritch behind the ears, and Starless seemed to settle down happily on the rug in front of the sink. He went back to the living room and clapped his hands together. "Right! Lights. Would my lady like fairy lights?"

It was nothing for Harry to conjure a score of twinkling lights to flit about the branches, ones that would last well past twelfth night.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]hg_reads
2008-12-19 09:44 pm UTC (link)
Hermione gave Harry a mug of cocoa and a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you. They look lovely."

She gestured to the boxes of ornaments, which obediently opened themselves, and selected two balls of iridescent blue and silver glass. She'd spelled them not to break in case Crookshanks climbed the tree or Leila got too close, and now she held out one each to Ron and Harry. "Shall we?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]oz_keeper
2008-12-19 09:49 pm UTC (link)
With Leila still in his arms, Ron walked over to take the ornament with Hermione. Together, they placed on a branch about halfway up the tree. He turned to smile at her and, with a saucy grin on his face, swooped in to drop a noisy kiss to her cheek.

Leila giggled over the kiss then scrambled out of Ron's arms to take other shiny ball from Hermione and dash over to Harry with it.

"You an' me, DaDa?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]mussed_hair
2008-12-19 10:01 pm UTC (link)
"We'll each hang one with you, love. Then you have to do one all by yourself. All right?" She nodded and Harry had her hang his ball deep in the fronds, which parted for them with a whispered spell.

When she was done, Harry leaned over and moved Leila's mass of curls aside to whisper, "Now your mummy. Go on."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]hg_reads
2008-12-19 10:10 pm UTC (link)
Hermione rested her head on Ron's shoulder as Harry and Leila hung their ornament. "Love you," she murmured.

Leila toddled over to the ornament boxes and chose a delicate spire of silver and violet glass. "Mummy? Your turn now!"

Hermione knelt and hugged her daughter close, breathing in the scent of cookies and chocolate and just a trace of pine tree. "Where would you like it to go? It needs to be high enough that Kitty can't bat at it."

Leila pondered for a moment, then pointed at a hollow in the branches. "Right there!"

"Perfect!" said Hermione, and lifted Leila to the correct height. "This will be the prettiest tree ever!"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]oz_keeper
2008-12-19 10:15 pm UTC (link)
Deciding that more cookies were definitely in order, Ron ambled over to the tray and took a few more while Leila gabbled over each ornament and started sticking each pell mell all over the tree.

Taking out his wand, he levitated a few of his own to the upper branches to space things out more.

"Not looking half bad, this."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]mussed_hair
2008-12-19 10:24 pm UTC (link)
Harry stood next to Ron and let his women do the intricate work of filling in the tree. He levitated Leila whenever she said "up" and popped some popcorn in the fireplace for stringing later in between demands.

After a while, he knocked into Ron's shoulder affectionately. It was all he wanted to say.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]hg_reads
2008-12-19 10:32 pm UTC (link)
The ornaments were all on the tree, even the star Hermione had steered onto the very topmost branch. She settled Leila on her hip and stepped back so that she could nestle between her boys.

"Happy Christmas," she murmured. "For all of us."

(Reply to this) (Parent)

Home | Site Map | Manage Account | TOS | Privacy | Support | FAQs