Work Text:
October
“My Mom has this Spiced Pumpkin Juice recipe that she only makes for Christmas, it’s super delicious.” Alec rambles towards Magnus.
Magnus just nodded at his friend’s eagerness.
“Hey you ok?” Alec asks concerned.
Magnus snapped out of his haze,
“Yeah, Sorry, my mind was focused on something else.” Magnus apologises.
Alec looks at him doubtfully.
“Hey didn’t you want to check out Tomes and Scrolls while we were here in Hogsmeade?” Magnus distracts.
Alec lights up.
“I did, let me pay for our ButterBeers and we can head over.”
Before Magnus could argue that he could pay for his drink, Alec was already gone.
Once they were done at the three broomsticks they headed over to the bookstore,
“Hey, You never told me your plans for Christmas.” Alec points out.
November
“My Mom sent me a letter saying Luke’s joining us for Christmas this year.” Alec groaned over at Magnus as they were eating breakfast together.
“Wait, I thought you liked Luke?” Magnus questioned.
Alec took a sip of his Orange Juice,
“I do, he’s way better for my mom than my dad ever was.” Alec confessed.
“But That means his daughter Clary is joining us too.” Alec growled.
Magnus laughed,
“She isn’t that bad.”
Alec pouts
“Hey! You’re my best friend, you are supposed to have my side no matter what.”
Magnus laughed again at his friend’s dramatics.
“Sorry. Sorry. You were right, Clary is the worst girl ever.” Magnus agrees.
Alec squints his eyes.
“You’re lying.Whatever be friends with the enemy.” Alec fake sobs.
Magnus arched his brow.
“In case you forgot I’m supposed to be the dramatic one.”
Alec waves his hand dismissively.
“We are getting off track. How am I supposed to spend winter break with her?” Alec whines.
“Maybe be nice to her and I don’t know, try to be her friend.” Magnus suggests as he takes a bite of his biscuit.
“We can have that as a backup plan.” Alec compromises.
There was silence for a while as they continued to eat.
“So are you and your family doing anything specific this Christmas?” Alec inquires.
Just as Magnus was about to respond Isabelle, Jace and Simon came to sit down at the table.
December
“When are you going to tell Alec?” Catarina questions Magnus as they head to potions.
Magnus looks at her confused,
“What are you talking about?”
Cat rolled her eyes,
“Oh you know the fact that you spend every holiday here at the Castle.”
Magnus sighs.
“It’s not that big of a deal Catarina. “ Magnus dismisses.
“And besides spending time here isn’t bad, I can train for Quidditch, Read some books from the restricted section without anyone finding out.” Magnus adds with a smile.
“Oh please don’t hide behind this fake facade we both know it’s for your safety so your crazy father doesn’t try and murder you.. Again.” Cat hisses.
“Look, Alec is a good guy, and I know if I told him that I spent every holliday here at the castle he would try to cancel his plans and stay here with me. I can't let him do that.” Magnus explains slowly.
“You're right, he is a good guy.” Cat agrees.
“I mean for the past three months he’s been buzzing about going back home, Christmas is his favorite holiday and I don’t wanna be the reason he misses time with his family.” Magnus spoke with finality wanting to end the conversation.
Cat wanted to open her mouth to continue but they had arrived at the potions classroom.
Later that night Magnus and Alec were just sitting outside looking at the stars in silence.
Alec clears his throat,
“Remember when we first met?” Alec asks.
Magnus laughs.
“How can I forget, I was having trouble in Herbology and you were the only student in Professor Sprout’s class that she was proud of so she had you become my tutor . “ Magnus recalls.
Alec chuckled then cleared his throat again,
“What if I told you Sprout didn't make me have to tutor you and it was actually all my idea?"
Magnus thought about it for a moment,
“Nah, no way, I was going to fail Herbology if I didn’t have you tutor me. And besides why would a Ravenclaw like yourself help out a helpless Gryffindor like myself.” Magnus jokes.
Alec went silent.
“You are anything but helpless Magnus Bane.” Alec declares.
Magnus smiles at his best friend.
“Thanks Alec.”
“Magnus, can I ask you something?” Alec whispers into the cold night air.
“Sure.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you were spending Christmas alone.”
Magnus froze. How did he find out?
“What are you talking about?” Magnus questions in bewilderment.
Alec sighs,
“Don’t try to lie to me, okay, I overheard you and Cat talking earlier about how you’ve spent every holiday alone here in the castle.” Alec reveals.
“Wait, were you listening to my personal conversation with my friend?” Magnus demands.
“It’s not personal if you’re talking in the hallways, Magnus.” Alec snaps.
Okay maybe he has a point Magnus notes.
“Why didn’t you tell me, you know that you are more than welcome to come home with Isabelle and Jace and I for Christmas, my mom wouldn’t mind, in fact she’s dying to meet you.” Alec presses.
Magnus did not know what to say.
“Magnus you can’t just stay here in the castle by yourself.” Alec continues ranting.
“Look why don’t you just consider coming home with me, we can play games on the train, and once we get home my mom will have a feast waiting for us, we can watch all those cheesy Christmas movies in cozy pajamas.”
“Thank you for the offer but I really quite enjoy staying here at the castle.” Magnus defends.
Alec rolls his eyes,
“Magnus, why are you being so stubborn? Are you really that scared of your dad that you are just going to keep hiding in the castle.” Alec spits out vehemently.
With that Magnus stands up and glares at Alec,
“You know what just because I don’t have a family like yours does not mean I don’t have a family of my own here in Hogwarts that I could spend time with during Christmas . So what if I do enjoy being here in the castle by myself, it’s nice and peaceful here without all of the students. I didn’t wanna tell you because I didn’t want to ruin your Christmas plans with your family, I didn’t wanna be selfish or sound stubborn.” Magnus rants tears stinging in his eyes.
Alec scrabbles to get up and try to diffuse the situation.
But Magnus holds his hand up to stop him from talking.
“I think it’s best if we use this upcoming break to not be around each other right now.”
And with that Magnus fights back the sobs as he heads to his dormitory.
A few weeks later Magnus refused to leave his room to say goodbye to Alec.
CHRISTMAS DAY.
Magnus was sleeping peacefully in his bed until he heard a loud thud coming from the Gryffindor Common room. Magnus shot up in bed scaring the cat that was on his chest. After having a lengthy conversation with his cat Magnus left the room to investigate the sound.
“Alec?” Magnus gasps.
The Ravenclaw turned around with a sheepish smile on his face.
“What are you doing here?” Magnus questioned slowly.
“I felt bad with how we left things between us, so I sent a letter to my mom telling her that I was an idiot and had to stay at the castle to make it up to my best friend for trying to ruin his Christmas.” Alec explains proudly.
Tears stung Magnus’s eyes.
“You gave up your family’s annual Christmas traditions to stay here with me.” Magnus sums up slowly.
Alec smiled,
“No one should ever be alone on Christmas.”
Magnus ran to hug Alec tight with the intention to never let go.
Alec just held the man super close his chin resting on the fluff of hair underneath.
“I should probably change out of my pajamas.” Magnus whispered.
Alec shook his head vehemently,
“You look amazing just like this.” Alec praised.
With that they both settled onto the couch by the fire roaring in the fireplace and Alec summoned some Hot cocoa to sip on.
“I uh got you something I hope you like it.” Alec stutters.
“Alec you didn’t have to get me anything.” Magnus brushes off.
Alec shook his head,
“Of course I did, fine then think of it as an apology gift.” Alec insists.
Magnus just nodded his head in agreement.
Alec then has a package appear on Mganus’s lap.
It’s covered in Red and Gold wrapping paper, and it feels thick like a book Magnus notes.
Magnus takes his time opening the gift and lets out a soft gasp.
“I saw that you kept glancing at it in the bookstore in Hogsmeade, and kept talking about it so I went back and bought it for you.” Alec explains softly.
As Magnus kept looking at the book on his lap he suddenly gets attacked with memories.
How Alec volunteered to help him in Herbology even though they didn’t know each other quite yet.
Alec always insists on paying for their Butterbeer.
Alec brought him a simple book for Christmas.
Alec gave up his Christmas to stay with Magnus.
“You're in love with me.”Magnus mutters.
“What was that Magnus?.” Alec questions as he takes a sip of his cocoa.
Magnus looks up from the book and makes direct eye contact with Alec.
“You’re in Love with me.” Magnus explains softly.
Alec blushed.
“I was wondering when you were going to find out or start noticing.” Alec admits
“I thought you were just being friendly.” Magnus defends.
Alec’s head just shook with laughter.
Magnus gently sets the book on the glass coffee table in front of them and slowly starts leaning into Alec’s personal space.
Alec starts leaning too.
“Is this okay?” Magnus asks, batting his eyelashes.
Alec nods his head enthusiastically.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment since forever.”
Magnus and Alec’s lips meet in a passionate kiss.
Let’s just say after that Magnus never spent another Christmas alone ever again.