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

"Yeah. Lien seems to make him happy I guess." She said with a shrug and set her coffee mug on the table, "I haven't really thought much about it really. Maybe some stuff from uncle georges shop. Pygmy puffs are popular again and they're really cute. I like the purple ones." 

@Hermione Granger

She nodded wondering why Lily seemed to feel more ambivalent about Lien; then again, Hermione supposed that James' siblings would have mixed feelings about it after the past few months. All she cared about was that her children, godchildren, nieces, and nephews were all healthy and happy. "Aw, yes, the pygmy puffs! Aren't they adorable? You know, Lily, I'm surprised you didn't get one before returning to school!"

@Lily Potter

Lily sunk deeper into the couch, "I dunno. Didn't think of it I guess." She then saw her cousin Dominique with the care of magical arts professor, "Why is professor Morais here? And I'm in my PJs. Excuse me, aunt Hermione"  She then ran for her room to change into something more sociable 

@Hermione Granger

"It looks like he's Dominique's date?"

Somehow, Hermione managed to completely miss that over the past few months at Hogwarts; were Fred and Mystique still talking? She'd have to find out soon enough.

As Lily left to put on actual clothing, Hermione finally stuck the chocolate in her mouth. That caramel filling's delicious!

Hurrying back from the kitchen with more food, Ginny placed it on the table then smiled around at all her relatives. She couldn't help noticing there was a lack of James, Lien and Lily. Where had they got to? Perhaps James and Lily were showing him around the house? How sweet!

She walked over to Hermione.

"Hello Hermione," she greeted, giving her a kiss on the cheek. "My, my. Who is that, with Dominique?"

She loved Harry very dearly, and no one was more handsome, devoted and loving as he was. However... sometimes girls just had that look in their eye when a particularly handsome man was around. She exchanged this glance with Hermione.

@Hermione Granger

Dominique smiled as she held Javier's hand and conversed with her sister, "I'm gonna go introduce him to the rest of the family. Save him some mushroom chips. I told he has to try them." She laughed and moved over to her aunt's with Javier, "Javier, you already know my aunt hermione from Hogwarts. This is my aunt Ginny. Aunts, this is Javier, my...." She didn't know how to end that sentence. They hadn't established a serious relationship of any kind. Yet, he was at her home for holidays. "This is Javier." 

@Ginny Potter @Hermione Granger  @Javier Morais

Scorpius loved holidays at Albus family's house. It was always so loud and warm and welcoming. He thought it would be good for carina to experience some of it so he dragged her along this year. He figured it would be ok. As he stepped through the floo network with his sister in tow, he smiled as he saw a majority of the family had already arrived, "Hi everyone!" He said as he hung his coat on the rack. Ginny was always so picky about the coat hanging.

"Hello, Ginny! These chocolates are delicious! Where did you get them?" Maybe she could have a few stashed in her office drawer as a snack option... She'd have to make sure to get some before the end of break along with all of the other treat options like crisps, biscuits, etc.

Hermione leaned closer to Ginny and whispered, "That's Javier Morais, the new Care of Magical Creatures professor at Hogwarts..." She loved and adored Ron dearly, but she felt like a schoolgirl again talking about this with Ginny!

Smiling, Hermione waved at Javier. "It's good to see you here, Javier!"

She turned back to Ginny and whispered yet again, "He and his siblings recently came here from Brazil."

@Ginny Potter @Dominique Weasley @Javier Morais

Carina didn't understand why Scorpius was so insistent on her going to the potters with him for this thing. She didn't really know any of them that well besides louis. Maybe he would be there? But then, hazel would be in tow. She didn't want to deal with that. But scorp wasn't taking no for an answer. She brushed herself off as they exited the floo and watched Scorpius run off to go find Albus. She looked around and practically squealed with relief and excitement when she saw Mackenzie, "Thank god. Someone i can talk to here." She then realized she was talking to Louis and hazel. She smiled at Louis and gave a faker smile to hazel, "Hi guys. Louis, you didn't open that gift yet, right?" 

@Louis Weasley @Hazel Cartwright

Lily walked back down the stairs slowly and unable to even blink. She had heard things up there coming from james room she would never be able to unhear. She would need years of therapy because of that. She shook her head and walked into the room everyone was in and grabbed some snacks, she was hungry now.

No sooner had she said it when Dominique appeared to be snaking her way through the guests to get to them. Ginny felt herself arranging her hair like an idiot, but stopped as soon as she remembered Hermione was there. The pair were stood before them, and Ginny wore her brightest smile.

"Nice to meet you, my Javier," she jested goofily, although she probably shouldn't have. She shouldn't be teasing Dom! Hearing Hermione's whisper, she nodded avidly at him. "I hear you're a Professor at the school. I hope my children have been good to you, and made you feel welcome."

Or she would be having words.

"Please make yourself at home! Don't worry about raiding the cupboards and the larder if there's nothing that takes your fancy."

She turned to Dominique.

"It's so good to see you again, Dom. I hope you're sticking around this time."

@Dominique Weasley @Hermione Granger @Javier Morais

When Carina appeared, he didn't question why she was here, nor did he think it was unusual. He just smiled widely at her.

"Hello Carina. It's good to see you here," he said cheerfully, "You told me not to open it until Christmas, so I haven't opened it. Not even peeked."

Chuckling, he thought about her present. What could it be, he wondered. He liked a good surprise.

"Does anyone want a mince pie? I can bring some over for us," he said, beaming.

@Carina Malfoy

Popping in through the Floo, Edith held a meat & cheese basket as a gift of goodwill. She was well aware that she wasn't very liked by the Potter-Weasleys for obvious reasons, but they'll just have to get used to seeing her around more.

There was a lot of people around, some of which she knew weren't Potter-Weasleys. She'd have to keep track of that for later rumor mill articles.

"Hello?"

"Always a rule follower, our louis." She said with a cheeky grin, "I do hope you enjoy it and get some use out of it. IIt took forever to find the right one. You're harder to shop for then Alayna and Pandora together. And they're next to impossible." Carina thought about the mince pie, she had skipped breakfast so her stomach answered for her as it audibly growled, "I guess I'll take one." She said with a laugh 

@Louis Weasley

Dominique was pleased her aunt's we're so welcoming to Javier, "Yes, aunt Ginny, I plan on sticking around. In fact, i just finished enrolling at the University for next semester. I plan on studying to become a professor. I guess I was inspired." She said, smiling up at Javier. He was the reason she was going into the field of study she was. 

@Hermione Granger  @Ginny Potter @Javier Morais

"You're going into teaching? Why, that's wonderful!" Hermione exclaimed; she found the career choice surprising, but Dominique was always full of surprises. "Is there a specific subject you're thinking of?"

She glanced over at Ginny excitedly. It'd be great to have another relative as a Hogwarts colleague!

@Ginny Potter @Dominique Weasley @Javier Morais

"I haven't really decided yet. I really like the idea of Defence against the dark arts. It would line up with what ive done in the past. But I know Professor Riddle has that position on lock. So maybe I'll find a passion for some unexpected subject while I get my degree."

@Hermione Granger

"You could always write to him about it," Ginny suggested, thinking of how good Professor Riddle had been to James. Although she wasn't completely in the know of what they'd discussed, James had told her about him helping.

There was also his daughter, Mackenzie, standing with Louis and Hazel. She looked at her pointedly.

"I always thought Harry would be a good teacher," she said, now looking at her husband. "I mean, he was a great teacher. He taught a lot of things to us students at school. Perhaps you could talk to him about it as well."

She smiled back at Dom.

@Dominique Weasley

"Okay," he said brightly, chuckling. "I'll go get some for all of us."

With his usual, carefree smile, Louis swept away to retrieve the mince pies for the girls.

@Carina Malfoy

Javier thought that Dominique’s aunts were very friendly to say the least. He even got a bit of a chuckle out of how Ginny teased Dom, referring to him as ‘my Javier’ as Dom had. It was always nice to see other family dynamics than his own and Dom definitely seemed to have a lot of family! ”It is a pleasure to meet you, Ginny. And lovely to see you again Hermione.” the words rolled off his tongue along with the ever present Brazilian accent that he would probably never fully shake no matter how long they were here. He smiled down at Dom as she mentioned being inspired. ”I’m just happy you’ll be around more often not out there in danger.” he said to Dom, he was happy that he would hopefully get to see her more and the thought of any harm coming to her was not something he even wanted to think of.

@Ginny Potter @Dominique Weasley @Hermione Granger

"Oh, Harry would've been an excellent professor of defense, but being an auror was his calling!" Her Ron was also a great auror, but he left that life to help run Wizard Wheezes, and she couldn't blame him for doing so. It allowed him to be more present in their children's lives and gives George a helpful hand.

She smiled and nodded in agreement at Javier's statement. "We're so happy to have you home, Dominique! Now we can have Christmas together as one big happy family again!"

@Ginny Potter @Dominique Weasley @Javier Morais

Dom would take her aunts suggestion into consideration about reaching out to Professor Riddle. He seemed like a nice guy. And she would have to make a mental note to talk to her Uncle Harry as well. She listened to Javier speak and found herself getting lost in his gorgeous accent, "I'll be around as long as you want me to be." She saisaid giving his hand a squeeze. She smiled at her Aunt, "I'm glad to be home too. I loved my job, but after a while you start to miss your family."

@Ginny Potter @Hermione Granger @Javier Morais

As her sister and Javier conversated with their aunts, Victoire noticed that Lily looked a bit on edge.

"Lilyyyyyyyyyyyyyy! Do you want some mushroom chiiiiiiiiips?! Candy cane flavored, yep!"

Victoire began rummaging through the gift bags until she found which one contained the flavor. She tossed it over to her not giving her cousin a choice.

@Lily Potter

Rose was finally able to make it to the Christmas get together, it seemed like Hugo had taken forever to get ready! She wasn't sure just what had taken him so long, it wasn't like he looked any different than he always did... But he had finally gotten ready and they made their way through the Floo with Ron. Once there, it was almost a little overwhelming to see everyone all gathered there already. She knew they were going to be late!

She brushed the soot off of her Christmas dress and walked over to where she saw her mother standing with her aunt Ginny and cousin Dominique as well as their COMC professor? That was unexpected. She approached the small group though and hugged her Aunt and cousin. "I thought we would never get here! Hugo was taking forever to get ready!" She said, mainly to complain to her mother but also to explain to the others why they were so late.

@Hermione Granger @Dominique Weasley @Ginny Potter