Johana Leonie loved Christmas. She loved most holidays, but Christmas had become a favorite of hers since beginning school at Sonora. It was a short enough trip home that she didn't mind so much when Hilda couldn't come and her parents only asked for help when they needed it, believing firmly that a growing child needed play, rest, and responsibility, in that order. Of course, there was a heaping enough serving of responsibility at the Zauberhexen house that play and rest came in even greater measure and the entirety of the holiday break was as much a blur as any other busy month.
With gentle hands, Johana Leonie was encouraging a row of marching nutcrackers into place on the mantel. It was easier than carrying them, so her mother had simply waved her wand to get them out of the box and left Johana Leonie to the wrangling. The little magics that came with being home were also one of the reasons Johana Leonie loved it so much, and summer rarely called for them the same way. Summer saw subtle water charms filling cups just one more time, but Christmas saw dancing lights that no one could quite tell weren't electric, and cups of hot chocolate that never grew cold. It also meant being so far away from any other part of the magic world that sometimes those rules were just a little bit more lax.
With the small soldiers in place, Johana Leonie nodded firmly at them, satisfied, and waved her hand to still their temporary animation. She turned to smile at whichever family member she heard approaching from behind. Friederike Albert was grinning at her and licked his lips with an exaggerated motion as he drew nearer.
"There's probably still some left," he told her mischievously, eyes twinkling.
Johana Leonie gaped at him, although she knew he would never be so cruel as to eat all of anything without offering her any first. Or at least, not without saving her any.
"What was it?" she asked, wiping her hands on her off-white skirt and running past him for the kitchen. Her hair was falling out of the messy bun she'd tucked it into but she was used to the tangles in her face and didn't bother with those. Friederike Albert muttered something that sounded sarcastic and happy all at once, but Johana Leonie was too far away to hear it.
As she ran through the doorframe, she was reminded again of how much taller she'd gotten. The lines cut into the wood showed that she'd grown several inches since she'd left for Sonora, and she was nearly considered tall now. She certainly hadn't expected that. But then, she was growing in all sorts of directions that she hadn't expected. The thought made her more aware of the straps digging into her shoulders, and the skirt she wore to do errands that was much shorter than it had been just a few years previous.
Her mother and father were stooped over the dining table together, talking in quiet, cheery voices, and Johana Leonie pulled up short behind them. "Do you need any help?" she asked, knowing full well it wouldn't be acceptable to ask for something without offering to help first. She wondered what Friederike Albert had done to get whatever he'd been treated with. In his case, it was probably a bribe.
Her parents stood up and turned to face her together, just as Friederike Albert walked by to stand beside them. Her father was holding the softest looking thing Johana Leonie had ever seen in her life. Soft pink gauze cascaded over layers of thick ruffles, and a satin ribbon was tied into a bow at the waist. Short sleeves flared out with smaller ribbons and smaller bows tied at the shoulders. Her mother was holding a pair of matching pink shoes with ribbons, the sort that brought to mind the most delicate of ballet dancers without any of the commitment to the art. Johana Leonie's eyes widened and Friederike Albert grinned even wider.
"Merry Christmas," they said together, happiness reflected on all their faces.
Friederike Albert leaned behind his father to retrieve something else from what Johana Leonie now realized was a box on the table. "There's nothing to eat yet," he said, ignoring the side-eye their father shot him. "But I am also ready for the Ball." He held up his own garments, a shining, rich purple bow-tie and matching waistcoat. A pair of black pants and a crisp white shirt were still folded on the table, visible now that he had stepped to the side some.
Johana Leonie stood in silent shock, her eyes damper than she had remembered. "For me?" she whispered, moving closer to touch the beautiful dress.
"For you," her father said, leaning forward to kiss her forehead and embrace her as her major did the same from the side. Friederike Albert shrugged and joined in as well.
"Don't cry on it, Hana," Friederike Albert said softly. "You're supposed to wear it, not make it wear you."
Johana Leonie laughed and reached her arms around her family, grateful that she had the best Christmas present already, well before a dress or shoes arrived.