The Week Before Christmas (Potter Fam)

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It was the first day that the children would be back from Hogwarts, but James had been back for a few weeks already. Ginny was decorating the living room in a true Weasley family way: the tree was decorated modestly with tartan bows, gold bells and glass baubles in varying shades of gold and red. There was a lot of tinsel, a lot of wreath banners and mini trees on the cabinets and tables. The log fire was lit and had an warm, toasty glow throughout the room. Five stockings were hung on the mantelpiece with each of their names hand-stitched in the corner: a gift from her Mum many Christmases ago.

Happy with everything that she had done, she set a large bowl of snacks and a plate of mince pies at the centre of the table and a box of chocolates near the couch. Now Christmas was really here, and she could settle down with the family and spend some quality time with them all.

Planting herself on the couch with a long sigh, she helped herself to a caramel barrel chocolate and peeled back the foil. It was the middle of the afternoon, so she hoped the children would come out of their rooms and come downstairs now. If not, she would have to start knocking on their rooms!

@Harry Potter @James Potter @Albus Potter @Lily Potter

A wall of heavy, sickly incense struck him as he was welcomed into James's... room?

Well. He wasn't quite expecting this.

He instantly felt as though he was overdressed. To be inside a place like this, you needed bare feet and some linen, tie dye trousers. You needed a necklace made from crystals like the ones they had for communication, only these ones cleansed your something-chakras and centred your meridians or whatever.

Lien stepped inside gingerly.

"This is amazing..."

@James Potter

"Anyway - please help yourself to anything you like! Hmm, I really should think about getting more food..."

There may have been a few more mince pies in the cupboard somewhere, unless James had already cleared her out of them. As she whisked away to the kitchen fretfully, she started opening cupboards and drawers and things. Suddenly she felt as though she hadn't properly prepared, and she cursed to herself.

Think - what would Mum do?

Probably slave away in the kitchen for hours...

But she still wanted to be a good host!

"Bit unexpected, aye?" James remarked as he stretched himself into a comfortable position on the bed. "I dunno, I was always sorta into interior stuff 'cause I liked looking at furniture with mum growing up."

That should've been sign number one that he was gay. Well, sign number two with his love for Thumbelina...

Scooting to one side of the bed, he patted it down. "Ya can join be here if ya want. Or sit in that bean bag chair over there. Whatever makes ya more comfortable."

The only thing he missed about Hogwarts was Lien.

@Lien Chang

As James was lounging luxuriously over his bed surrounded by its drapes and beads and sheets, Lien swallowed away a very dry throat. He looked so good stretched across on his bed like that... it had been a while since they'd last seen each other... Lien had been clawing away at his sheets every night, thinking about him. Missing the warmth of his touch, and the soft purr of his voice.

He breathed out huskily. They were alone now.

Lien went over to him very quickly, leapt up beside him, and grabbed his face. He kissed him firmly, then briskly, then opened his mouth, tasting him deeply...

He moaned. He wanted him. He started taking off his clothes...

"Mm James... James..." he murmured, over and over.

@James Potter

It felt almost natural that the first thing they'd do in his room was express their love for each other. One of the reasons why he slept as much as he did, when he did sleep, was that he was constantly thinking and dreaming of Lien whether it was domestic scenarios or some of the more sensual ideas in his head. If he hadn't imagined Lien being by his side, he probably wouldn't have been able to sleep at all. Just the thought of him proved to be comforting and reassuring in the weeks he was at home, especially once he was able to get all of the initial tears out of his system.

He melted as they kissed with their hands moving over one-another; James had been waiting for Lien to be ready. Wrapping his leg around Lien, he was in pure bliss.

"Lien..."

@Lien Chang

"Hello Victoire," Louis said cheerfully. Although they had only seen each other minutes before at Shell Cottage, he was acting as though they hadn't seen each other for a while.

He looked around the room, but couldn't see James. He hadn't seen him for a while since he'd left Hogwarts...

"Hmm... where's James?"

@Victoire Weasley

She hugged her brother before replying, "I thiiiiiiink he went to the bathroom, yep!"

@Louis Weasley

Popping in via Floo, Hermione smiled at everyone who was there so far. "It's so nice to see all of you! Ron should be here with the kids shortly..."

Hugo had to get himself a quick shower as he managed to cover his entire face in chocolate. If it wasn't for that, they all would've arrived together.

She glanced around before walking to Harry and patting him on the back. "Hello, Harry! Isn't it nice to have the whole family together again?" Working at Hogwarts gave her less time to see her dear friend and brother-in-law.

@Harry Potter

Mackenzie smiled meekly at Harry and watched as Albus ran off to the kitchen, "My father is doing very well. He keeps busy through out the year in some form or another. And Slytherin is doing very well. Im excited for our first quidditch match. Im a beater for the team. Dad says I've got a wicked arm." She noticed Louis walked in and smiled but quickly stopped when she saw Hazel. God, that girl was aggrivating. But she didn't let her annoyance show for long, "Hi Louis. Hi hazel." Fake smile, check. Cheerful voice, check. 

@Harry Potter @Louis Weasley

Dom had decided she would pop over to Harry and Ginnys since she had heard a bunch of family was over there already. She had been spending the day with Javier and decided to have him tag along, meet some of her family. She stepped out of the floo, brushing herself off and smiled when she saw everyone there, "Hi everyone!" 

@Javier Morais

Of course, Javier had met a few of Dominique's family. Though, that was to be expected since some of them were his students and others went to the school where he taught but this was the first time she had invited him to meet the bulk of his family at some sort of family gathering. He wasn't exactly sure what to expect when it came to meeting the Potters and Weasley clans but when Dom had asked him to tag along, he had agreed. He had gone through the floo after her and arrived right after she did, also brushing himself off as he realized that the room they had come out into was quite full already. He reached out and took Dom's hand as she said hello to everyone, not saying anything just yet but letting everyone know that he was there with Dom.

@Dominique Weasley

"Hello Mackenzie," Louis replied cheerfully, smiling at her. "It's good to see you here. Uncle Harry and Aunt Ginny always make people feel welcome. How are you and your sisters?" He didn't know enough about her brother to ask after him, but he hoped he was okay as well. "You did so well in the music festival," he added, beaming.

@Mackenzie Riddle

Seeing Dominique pop in with her date, Victoire squealed as she went up to give the two of them a hug.

"Sissyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy! Hi, hello! You must be Javier, hmmmmmmm?! Dommy told me a lot about you, she did!"

She probably could've brought Aloha Bill as a date of sorts, but he was occupied with Blackrock matters.

@Dominique Weasley @Javier Morais

Mackenzie smiled up at louis, "I can see that. It's a bit of a relief. I was worried I was walking into a trap or something." She said with a chuckle, "My sisters are good. Matilda asks about you... All the time. She misses you." She saisaid shooting a sly almost unnoticable look at Hazel then back to Louis, "You should owl her or something. I also heard Carina might be writing to you soon. Something about a Christmas gift?" 

@Louis Weasley

Dom smiled and hugged her sister. She had gotten used to heher crazy antics again and found them mildly amusing at times, "Hello Vic. Yes, this is Javier. Javier, this is my sister Victoire." She held Javier's hand and felt her smile grow a bit wider. He made her so happy. 

@Victoire Weasley @Javier Morais

Javier was a little taken aback when the random woman came barreling up to them and hugged both he and Dominique. He wasn't used to such affectionate or excited greetings but he hoped he played it off well enough when the blonde spoke and he was introduced to her. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Victoire." He said with a smile as he kept ahold of Dominique's hand as long as she would allow him. It wasn't that he was nervous to meet her family, per say but this was a big step in any relationship to come to family gatherings so he didn't want to screw things up.

@Dominique Weasley @Victoire Weasley

Hermione made her way through the living room some more to continue her greetings until she spotted Lily on the couch. She seemed to be a bit lonely. "Hello, Lily!" she exclaimed with a smile. "What is that you're drinking?"

@Lily Potter

Lily watched as the living room got more crowded, saying hel to everyone as they entered. She smiled up at her aunt, "Hi aunt Mione. It's just some coffee to help me wake up." She knew her aunt would go on some tangent about coffee being bad for her or stunting her growth, "Since when does Albus hang out with Mackenzie Riddle?" Something about the blonde girl put her on edge. 

@Hermione Granger

Coffee? Hermione understood as it helped her a fair bit in her school days, but she didn't even think of touching it until she was a bit older. "Is it decaffeinated?" She hoped it was! Taking a seat beside her, Hermione glanced over at her brother and Mackenzie. "I'm not sure. I know they're housemates, but I thought he would've invited Scorpius over. He's a nice boy."

@Lily Potter

Lily shook her head, "It wouldn't do it's just of helping me wake up if it was, Aunt Mione." She said with a slight laugh. Her aunt was so silly sometimes. "I'm sure scorpius will show up at some point. He usually does. I just hope he doesn't bring his sister with him. When Carina and hazel are near eachother drama usually follows." 

@Hermione Granger

"You could always splash your face with cold water!" Oh, Lily! She was so much like her mother that it was adorable. "I've heard as much in the staff room," Hermione replied to the statement about Carina and Hazel. "I keep reminding them that they're free to come visit my office to work out their differences..."

Why do these students never take advantage of her counseling? She wished Hogwarts had guidance counselors back when she attended! They only had career advisors back then...

"Do you know if James is up yet?"

@Lily Potter

"Why would I do that? That doesnt sound fun." She said frowning the idea. It sounded like a giant mess waiting to happen with Water all over the place. "I don't know, Aunt Mione. Some people think they're too good for help or that they're not wrong, I guess." When she asked about James, Lily nodded, 'Yeah he was awake. I don't know where he went." 

@Hermione Granger

Hermione chuckled hearing Lily's response; oh she was so stubborn! Well, if she kept her coffee consumption to being once a morning, she supposed it wasn't that bad. It'd still be better if she didn't drink it at all.

"Has he been doing well since he left Hogwarts?" She wasn't sure how much Lily knew.

@Lily Potter

Lily shrugged at her shoulders, "He seems to be doing a bit better. He seems more relaxed. But he always smells smokey and like some form of fruit. I think it's the incense he's been burning. He says it helps him." She didn't understand how the smelly stuff could help, but it seemed to do the job 

@Hermione Granger

"That's wonderful to hear!" She had been worried about James for a long while now, so any good news was relieving. Hermione looked over at the table and noticed the box of chocolates. Since it was the holidays, it wouldn't hurt to indulge just a bit! She grabbed one of the chocolates and carefully unwrapped it. "What are some gifts you're hoping to receive this Christmas?"

@Lily Potter