Work Text:
Dec 23 1995
Remus Lupin walked into the kitchen at Grimmauld Place and was suddenly engulfed in a bear hug. Wrapping one arm around her back and patting her hair with his other - how did he forget how small she really was? He thought to himself, oh right it was because she was so fierce. They pulled back gently and he pretended to not see her tears. “How is he?” He already knew, of course, but he also knew it helped her to talk about it.
“He’ll be fine,” she patted his hand as if he needed comforting. “Something to eat?” She said brusquely.
“No, no, I’m fine Molly,” Remus replied. “Are you sure you want us here this evening? We can postpone you know, no problem.”
“Absolutely not!” She turned to him sharply. “Arthur is looking forward to hearing about all the goings-on when he comes from the hospital tomorrow. Now, give me a hand with the tea and hot chocolate while the others arrive…” She had him starting a fire, lighting candles and decorating the kitchen until it was warm and inviting.
Most of the single members of the Order of the Phoenix filtered into the kitchen one by one. Snape was one of the few who had declined to “impose his presence on them” as he put it to Flitwick when he was invited.
When everyone had taken in the garlands of holly and faerie lights, remarked on the giant poinsettia in the corner, found a drink and a seat, Flitwick began.
“Welcome, friends to our annual holiday get together and gift stealing fun! Now,” he said sternly, “I hope I impressed on you the importance of doing something a little more heartfelt than last year! If I see one bottle of booze you’re uninvited for the future.” Too bad no one believed him.
“To remind you of the rules, the person with the number one chit takes a gift and unwraps it so we can all see.”
“JOY TO THE WORLD….” The poinsettia in the corner sang out loudly.
“Oh!” Cried Molly, “That Pomona, always having a laugh.” And she waved her wand, lowering the volume.
“Yes, well, let's go on then. The second person can steal that gift or take a new one. If number one’s gift is stolen, they get a new one. The third person can steal, or take a new one. If they steal, that person can steal as well, but that’s it, only 2 steals then back to the pile. Any questions?” Since no one had been paying any attention, there were no questions.
Tonks had number one. A book on charms by Gilderoy Lockheart. “I guess I got the joke gift.” She sighed and put it down a little too close to the candles.
Harry and Ron grinned at her as they joined the party, sitting back and watching the fun with some butterbeers.
Next up was Remus. Technically, he and Tonks were a couple so wouldn’t have been invited to this singles-only evening. But as they hadn’t told anyone, everyone else pretended along with them. Not interested in the book, he found something in the pile. “Oh new knives for my potion kit, very nice.” He said, smiled and sipped his wine.
Fleur and Bill arrived, interrupting the merriment and allowing some people to get fresh snacks. “I’d like to introduce you to Fleur Delacour, she’s recently joined the Order” Bill said. “She’s working at Gringotts too,” he said, to explain why they came together.
Fleur nodded to everyone and looked around, “Oooo are zer childran here who made zee cute decorations?” Remus blushed. They added their gifts to the pile, got drinks and seats.
Kingsley also took from the pile, despite the chants of steal! steal! from the others. He found a heavy, plain, cardboard box at the foot of the table where the other gifts were laid out, most of them wrapped in bright paper and ribbon. Intrigued, he didn’t bother moving it but cut it open with his wand on the spot. A large round stone, something… rolled out of the cardboard. It seemed to have some moving parts but no one who gathered around seemed to know what it was, even Hermione, who had joined the gathering by that time.
Eventually, Flitwick called “number 4!”
Minerva stood up and took the potion knives from Remus after a small tug of war. “Mine are older than you, let alone older than your knives!” She remarked with a grin and went back to her scotch. Molly and Ginny moved through the room refreshing drinks and sharing treats.
Remus looked around at the options, Tonks was trying to sell the book by wearing Lockheart’s face and doing an excellent imitation of an as-seen-on-TV advert. They all chuckled. He found a gift wrapped in paper he knew from Tonk’s house. The package was medium-sized, soft, and a bit of a mess. Kind of like her, he thought. He opened it and found a beautiful new cloak to replace his ratty one. It was even long enough for him. He met her eyes and smiled with the promise of a better thank you later.
“5?” Called Flitwick.
“Oui?” Replied Fleur. He briefly explained the rules to her. “So I can take zee knives, book, or ozer tings?” She asked. “Well I would like a new cloak but not in that ‘orrible colour.”
Carefully unwrapping a small cylinder by peeling back the tape made a few in the room roll their eyes, but when she opened it she screamed as a snake jumped out right into her face! 15 people jumped to their feet, wands in hands ready to fight when the toy fell to the floor.
“Oh ya, I’ve seen those before at my brother’s shop. Muggle trick that is, pretty good one too.” Said Ron
“Well they were on sale,” said Moody, who’d had a good laugh at them all. “There should be a paper in the tin.”
“Certificate for a 2 hr cooking class on fine English cuisine,” Fleur read out, “mushy peas, Yorkshire pudding, and steak and kidney pie will be covered. Bring your appetite.” She said with a distinct lack of enthusiasm.
“Right good classes they are,” said Moody, “I’ve got my roast beef up to boot leather standard thanks to them.”
Bill tried to hide his chuckle at Fleur’s reaction. They’d only been friends for a couple of months but he already knew what she thought of traditional English cooking. “Hmmmm,” he thought, “I wonder what she’d think of my cooking…”
“OK thanks Moody, who’s number 6?” Asked Flitwick, “oh right, I’m 6.” Everyone laughed as the candles flickered.
Flitwick received a book on non-verbal magic. Everyone Ooo’d at that and it promised to become the favorite. “Perfect for my dueling! Or, hrumph, fighting death eaters.” He mentioned to Remus sitting next to him.
Dumbledore put down his hot chocolate and nodded to the stone circle underneath the table. “I’ll take that Kingsley” he said. The room noisily erupted in chatter, asking what it was and speculating wildly. But Dumbledore looked inscrutable and just drank his hot chocolate, and smiled as his eyes twinkled.
Kingsley opened a carton of Patented Daydream Charms from Weasley’s Wizarding Wheezes. “All right, that’s much better.” He smiled and nodded. “Just what I need for guarding the Prime Minister on long train rides.”
Sirius, however, had different ideas, stealing the Daydreams from Kingsley. “If I can’t leave this miserable place in person, at least I can leave it in my mind!”
Kingsley sighed and went back to the table for a third time, choosing a largish box wrapped in newspaper. A chorus of hoots and laughter met the reveal of a lime green bowler hat. Everyone but Kingsley praised Hagrid at the gift idea.
Ginny came around with shots of Firewhiskey. “Snape sent something after all. And like its owner, it burns a bit.”
“Happy Christmas” they all cheered.
After a while, when they’re bellies were warm from the drink, Flitwick called “9?”
Moody stood up, looked around, said “I’ll take that book Filius,” and reached out his hand. The crowd chuckled as Flitwick tried to pretend he hadn’t heard, and acted like he didn’t know where the book had gone. That is until they realized he really didn’t know where it was. Various people started searching the room for it, but Alastor simply walked over to Mundungus and held out his hand. “You don’t bring a gift, you don’t get one.”
Fletcher handed it over with a sheepish “I was jus lookin at it, didn’t mean nothin.”
Flitwick went back to the table which was looking sorely depleted. He opened a board game called Hounds and Jackals. “It’s based on a Bronze Age game from Egypt,” said Bill, “I couldn’t bring you the treasure so this will have to do.”
“Lovely,” said Filius, “I look forward to learning more about it!” And he smiled.
Bill went next, always the risk taker he went straight to the table. He chose a large gift bag which rattled quite a bit when he shook it. “I’ll unpack it when I get home.” He said with a grin. “Not likely to get it stolen this way!”
“Poor sport!” “Booo” “Open, open, open” came from the gathering.
“OK, OK” he said. He pulled out Extendable Ears, a Comb Cameleon, a Jinx Off Kit and Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder. “Ahah! A Phoenix Special from WWW! Nice thanks for this!”
Hagrid went next and took the book from Tonks, mumbling about “learnin’ some’in”. Hermione and Ginny came over for a look and promised to help if he wanted.
Tonks took the small and impeccably wrapped last parcel from the table. It contained a necklace with an amulet. Most of the room was silent in suspense of the reveal of the magic. Minerva cleared her throat, “it’s a silencing amulet. When you wear it, any noise you make from footsteps, coughing or even knocking over the troll leg will be absorbed. I’ll show you how to empty it out for reuse, which in your case will be frequently.” But she said it with a smile.
“This is amazing Minerva! Thank you so much! But how did you know I’d get it?” And Minerva’s eyes twinkled.
Hermione whispered to Harry, “was that present even there before?” She pondered.
Everyone started to stand, mix and mingle, chatting about this and that. “Wait,” Hermione called out, always thinking… “Albus, what is that stone thing?”
“Ah, my dear, it’s definitely the most valuable item of the evening, which is why I daren’t risk it being stolen away!” He expositioned. “It’s a locking lid for a pensieve. Apparently, someone thinks I could use some help keeping certain Chosen Ones out of my memories.” And he quirked an eyebrow at Harry. Everyone laughed.