love, cider and ripping paper(all Potters/weaslys)

[.VICTOIRE GABRIELLE WEASLEY !]

Two years ago, Christmas had not been very different. It was her second one in the same flat with Teddy, and they had a little girl, but not much was different. They visited family and brought around the baby who gained attention by just being in the room. She had not cared that it was Christmas. She had liked tugging on her mother's hair and squirming when aunts and uncles and cousins tried to kiss and hug her. The next one had not been very different either. She knew that their were presents the next day, but she was still out like a light by nine, which was a good hour for any day. She woke up when they shook her awake, and they had gone to the Burrow without any problems. Victoire had apparently not been thinking ahead this time. Olivia was three now. She should have known that the same things she had done as a child would be reflected in her little girl.

Teddy and Victoire had told Olivia about Santa, of course, and the gifts he would bring her for being a good girl this past year. For the whole week before Christmas she had been very good about going to bed on time for fear that Santa would not come Christmas Eve night if she did not do what her parents asked of her. She would squirm onto Victoire's lap when she was working on something and give her a kiss, probably to show Santa that she loved her mother and wanted presents on Christmas morning. Victoire could not imagine her getting nothing. Her family spoiled her enough without having a holiday for just that. They would not stand for her getting nothing or even frowning, probably, on Christmas Day. It was a good thing that they had something of a budget or Olivia would probably be spoiled beyond the amount she was even now. Her father could not say no, her godfather, anyone in her family... The girl was certainly very well taken care of.

Victoire, however, should have known that she would try to stay up all night in hopes of getting a glimpse of Santa like in the story that Victoire had read her as a bedtime tale. Olivia seemed to pop into the living room or their room or where ever they were at the time every half an hour or so to ask if it was time to see her aunties and uncles and the presents under a tree in the Burrow. Victoire laughed the first few times, but after a whole night of it, she just wanted to sleep so that she would not scare everyone the next morning with the circles under her eyes. By midnight, Olivia had just taken a place beside Victoire in bed and had poked her awake anytime she turned over to get any time to sleep. It was a long night with little sleep, and she did not know how long she would last when she got to the noise and craziness of the Burrow.

The blonde yawned widely from the lack of sleep. She had put black pants on that morning since she was fairly sure that she would be playing Quidditch in the snow later. Because of the cold that got in despite the warm fire, she had grabbed an old sweater with the knowledge that it would probably be left somewhere when her grandmother gave her a new sweater for the year. She had grown fond of the fluffy pink sweaters that were warm enough but not too hot and soft enough to fall asleep in. How anyone dealt without getting a new Weasley sweater ever year was beyond her. She wore it as long as she could. Some days in the summer she even had to pull it out because of the wind.

Now she had pulled an old sweater on and was trying to force Olivia's arms through the holes. She did not want any of it and tried to get the sweater and her mother away from her. Victoire sighed and pushed the sleeves on her anyhow, regardless of her claim that it was not cold, and she did not want it. She was used to a small fight to get ready. Once she was, she did not throw a fit or try to take the sweater off. Victoire buckled her little shoes and smoothed her hair from where it had settled when she had turned and turned last night. "Livvy, be a good girl for Maman so that Santa does not come and snatch your presents away." Olivia's eyes widened with worry at that, and she ran off to get her coat from the hook by the door. She put it on without any issue and bouced on her heels in anticipation of the presents she was sure would be there on the other end of the floo.

When she was ready herself, Victoire scooped her daughter up and yelled behind her shoulder. "I'll go ahead, Ted! Don't be too far behind." She turned back and lowered her voice to talk to Livvy. "Don't be worried, sweetheart. The fire won't hurt you." She threw a pinch of powder into the flames and stepped into them once they turned the familiar green color. "The Burrow!" she yelled and instantly felt the strange feeling that came along with any form of wizard travel. Somehow she thought that muggle travel was a much more comfortable way to go, even if it was not the fastest. She brushed the soot off of her clothes and out of Livvy's hair and hardly had a moment before she was hugged tightly by her grandmother, and Livvy was being kissed and squealed over. With a sudden thought, Victoire hid her engagement ring behind her daughter. They had not even told Olivia that Maman and Daddy were getting married. They were going to say it later tonight after the excitement of presents and everything was over.

[.LILY LUNA POTTER !]

((LILY AND LOUIS))

"Mmm!" Lily groaned, stretching her arms high over her head and squeezing her eyes shut tight, her nose scrunching like a rabbit's. She yawned and dropped her hands. "M'not tired either, Laney," she mumbled into the palm propping up her head, in response to the younger girl's question. Laney shook her head defiantly and Lily grinned, the dark circles under her eyes seeming to vanish when she smiled. Another gigantic yawn later, and Lily heard laughter behind her.

"Morning, Gran!" She managed brightly, hopping up from her make-shift bed on the couch to receive a warm hug from Grandma Molly. Laney beamed and rubbed at her eyes, and Gran Molly laughed again. "Waiting for St. Nick again this year, girls?" Lily nodded enthusiastically, her knotted hair getting in her eyes. She pushed it out of the way when Molly asked if they'd seen him, and with a disappointed frown Lily replied that they hadn't. "Nodded off a bit towards the end, there," she admitted, and Laney added that it was getting light out by that time anyway. Molly smiled and tutted, "Well, come along anyway and have a spot of cider to wake up both up again, eh? Everyone will be arriving shortly." She bustled off to the kitchen, the first one awake, and Lily and Laney followed happily after her.

"What time is it, then?" Lily asked, taking a seat at the worn kitchen table, battle scarred and sagging a bit from years of cheery meals. Molly informed her that it was approaching 6:30 and Lily blanched. "No one's going to come so early, are they, really?" Molly shrugged but smiled, passing Lily and Laney each a warm mug of cider. Lily sipped at it carefully, the sleeves of her baggy nightshirt covering her fingertips against the hot glass.

She must have looked a mess. Hair disheveled and tired eyes, her clothes stretched, her pajama pants pooling at her bare ankles. Lily was a violent sleeper, tossing and turning, kicking, all in her sleep. She didn't sleep badly, just... dangerously. She couldn't have imagined anyone would want to go near her in her current state, however...

"Dad!" Lily put down her cup and launched herself into her father's arms, squeezing him tightly before craning her neck to look into his familiar green eyes. "Happy Christmas!" She cheered, detaching herself as quickly as she had come. Harry laughed and moved to greet his mother-in-law, and the two promptly fell into conversation. Lily returned to her cider and smiled happily into the mug.

- - -

You know you don't fit in with them, so why bother? A pack of savior complexes, the lot of them, but you're nothing like that. No, you'd just turn tail and run-

«Louis? What are you doing up so early, my love?» Louis's head swiveled to face his mother, tearing his eyes from gazing out at the thrashing sea. «And close the window, darling, you'll freeze!» Louis obliged automatically, more out of habit than from actually wanting to close the window.

"I was just... awake." Louis said plainly, shrugging his thin shoulders briefly before taking a seat on the window bench. His mother frowned when he spoke in English, but nodded and moved into the kitchen to make them breakfast. Already she was fully clothed and made up, and, that in mind, Louis considered that he'd never actually seen his mother look disheveled before, save the few times he'd been sick in the night as a child. Louis was also ready for the day, though, with jeans and black fitted sweater, a white tee shirt under it. But he looked tired despite his polished appearance, and Fleur tried again at conversation.

"No luck sleeping?" She asked in English, her wand flying about to make them something to eat before they'd leave for the burrow. Louis only shook his head though, looking out the window again onto the gray water. Recognizing Louis's reluctance to speak, Fleur only nodded again and fell into silence.

"Happy Christmas!" Bill boomed, his scarred face contorted in a hearty smile at his wife and son. Fleur returned the cheer with equal vigor, but Louis only smiled, tight lipped, at his father. Bill shook his head and sighed, sitting at the table when Fleur put food on the table.

Louis ate in silence while his parents chatted happily. It's going to be like how it always is, his mind insisted between bites. Nothing's changed. They haven't. Godric knows you haven't.

"Lou, you coming or what?" Bill called from the living room. Coming? What, they were leaving already? Louis arrived in the living room to see Bill's arms laden with presents, Fleur holding the box of floo powder beside him. Louis nodded once, waited for his parents to leave, then looked back at the house. With one foot in the hearth and one hand on the mantle, Louis hesitated. Just force another smile. They'll never know.

Or maybe... Maybe you could make an honest effort this time.

Louis walked into the hearth and was gone.

- - -

"Oh, Livvy, don't you look cute in your little sweater! Oh, and hey Vic, Ted. Happy Christmas!" Lily had greeted each cousin and relative that came flooing in with a tired grin that probably only added to her... good looks. There was a pause in the flow of relatives then, though, and Lily seized the chance to dash up to the room she shared on the third floor and change for the day. She returned moments later in a sweater, short skirt but with thick black stockings underneath it, and sneakers. She joined everyone in the living room, laughing at Fred's jokes, poking curiously at different packages under the tree, and generally waiting for the time when she could open some.

Louis arrived in the living room a little later, leaning up against the door frame. His face was blank as he took in the scene. Well, so far, so good. Everyone appeared to be in a good mood (at least from his understanding), and frankly, Louis couldn't thing of a reason to make an excuse to leave. Yet, anyway. But he still didn't venture farther into the room just now. All of his family in one room... It put him on edge. They were a raucous group, and that was the last thing Louis needed after another fitful night.

[mgirl03]

((Al and Ron))

It seemed that Al wouldn't have the chance to forget about what happened between he and Rory in the garden. He had hoped by acknowledging her and trying to act normal, Rory would do the same, so they could at least pretend that everything was the same as before. However, she avoided his gaze, and he felt the awkwardness in the room rise and rise. However, he was hoping it was just between he and Rory; of course, he was wrong, and it was obvious as soon as Fred opened his mouth, saying that it was like it wasn't Christmas. Al swallowed guiltily and looked down.

Then of course, he was looking right back up as Fred shouted, and threw up some fireworks, and found himself smiling despite the fact that he was feeling like quite the brokenhearted teenager. After all, who wouldn't smile a little at Fred's antics, which were hyper and amusing and full of Christmas spirit? As he sat down on the arm of the chair Al occupied, he didn't feel like he was completely faking it as he grinned and laughed and looked at the lights, and then his cousin. "Yeah, pretty brilliant." It was true, it was an impressive display, obviously something from Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. However, it still wasn't enough to completely bring him out of his mood.

So for a while Al sat around, watching as his cousins came in, usually in large masses, and greeting everybody with the same smile that hopefully fooled them enough to let him alone. There was Ted, Vic, and Olivia, and Louis, Uncle Bill and Aunt Fleur, Uncle Charlie, Uncle Percy--the list went on and on. Most of the parents seemed to congregate in the kitchen, and the kids came to the sitting room, where loud games of exploding snap occurred, as well as screaming conversations and laughing and basically being full of energy as they waited for the present opening time. Al kept himself occupied, with different games and conversations, always consciously aware that his best mate was completely avoiding him now. It did nothing for his mood.

---

Ron felt his mood constantly lifting as he stood next to his best mate, taking his jab in stride with nothing but a laugh and a shove, before sipping at his cider again. Nothing could break his good mood. He was out of the office, as Harry had said, looking better than ever now that he got at least a little bit of sleep. Hermione was home for the holidays, as were his kids, so he wasn't alone in the house anymore. There were things to catch up on with his wife, of course, and he knew that his work didn't disappear, and that he was just making it wait, but none of it mattered. For now, everything was great, and he was going to keep enjoying his cider and the rest of the holidays.

Ron moved away from Harry as more of his family came to the Burrow, greeting anybody who stopped by with a cheery "Happy Christmas!" and a large grin, as well as hugs and handshakes and slaps on the backs. Still his mood continued to grow, with Hermione nearby to kiss and hug, and his kids in the other room having a good time with their family. By the time they were all heading into the completely crowded sitting room, Ron felt like his cheeks would break with all his smiles and grins and laughter. He helped pass out the presents, giving over the ones to his kids and one to Hermione, sitting down to receive his own gifts.

There was the Weasley sweater, of course (his was maroon, surprise surprise), and he looked up in time to see Harry's grin at his new wand holster. He got his own assortment of gifts, like a Canon book, signed by players ("Oh, for the love of Merlin! That's brilliant!"), and was rewarded with a lingering kiss from Hermione for the necklace he bought her. As he looked around at all the wrapping paper and grinning kids, Ron felt himself finally relax. Even Regulus could wait, right?

---

Finally, the time for presents came, and Al felt himself sigh in relief at the distraction. He moved over to a free spot on the couch and was promptly handed his sweater, which he tore at with a grin, nothing fake about it. He didn't get it all the way opened, however, before his dad was setting a very long package on his knees and saying it was from him and his mum. Al's eyes widened as he looked at it, but paused. He quickly took out his new Weasley sweater (green with navy blue trimmings and the navy blue A), noting that he matched his father, and then slipped it on.

It didn't take a genius to know that a broom was sitting on Al's lap. However, when he took off the paper and saw the Phoenix sitting in his hands, he nearly collapsed in surprise. Immediately the rest of the family was around admiring, wanting to hold it and asking for a go. With a grin, he handed it safely off to James for the moment as he quickly moved to give his mother and father a hug. When he went back and took his broom back again, he glanced at Rory and felt his smile fizzle out a little, thinking how this time last year, she would have been hanging on his arm in wonder of the new broom he had.

So much for the Christmas spirit.

[.THEODORE REMUS LUPIN !]

So he was pretty sure the legend of Saint Nick was, by far, his least favorite tale.

Now that he was the father of a three-year-old, anyway.

Teddy stared, dazed and hardly coherent, into the mirror in the bathroom, dark circles under his eyes obvious under his blue eyes. He frowned at his reflection and splashed some water on his face, not particularly caring that his fringe stuck now in heavy clumps to his forehead, or that a little rivulet of water ran down his face and dripped off his stubbled chin. No, right now he was too preoccupied wondering how he was going to stay awake through out the day.

Maybe he could sneak a nap later in the afternoon.

Probably not, though.

You see, three-year-olds happen to have a very active imagination, and Olivia Rachelle Lupin was no exception. Every story Vic read to her, every tale Teddy could think of, Livvy took to heart, and clung to tenaciously. The idea of Saint Nick sliding down the chimney to deliver presents to good little girls such as herself, had taken hold of the starry-eyed toddler, and she was gripped by the desire to see this fat fellow in action. "Daddy, Daddy! Will he come soon?" "Oh, I'm sure he will, sweetie." "How soon?" "Very soon, Livvy, now come on, off to bed." "Very soon?!" And she had smiled so widely that Teddy's heart broke a little, and his resolve melted. He sighed, smiled back at her and said yes, Saint Nick would appear very soon.

Not soon enough.

Later that night, Olivia had squirmed into bed next to Victoire and proceeded to whisper, loudly, through out the night about presents, the Burrow, all the possibilities of the following morning. Every so once in a while Olivia would poke Vic just as she had drifted off, making Victoire start awake and thus also freak Teddy the hell out, so that, between the three of them, there was probably about an hour of sleep that got done.

Ef you, Saint Nick.

But it was Christmas and the mood was infectious. It was, after all, endearing, and being poked awake all night by his daughter was definitely not the worst it could have been. It hadn't been a full moon, anyway, so Olivia was in record-high spirits, and that always made Teddy happy. He'd've been even happier with a bit more sleep, however. Godric. And this was going to last how many more years?

Lighten up, he poked fun at himself as he dried his face and hair on a towel. He exited the bathroom to see Vic struggling to get Livvy into her coat, to which Olivia was making a valiant effort for the complete other conclusion. A few clever words from Vic, though, had Olivia darting off to put her jacket on, and Vic smiled triumphantly. Teddy chuckled in amusement and went to get dressed.

"I'll go ahead, Ted! Don't be too far behind!" Vic's voice reached him in their bedroom just as he grappled to fit his shirt over his head. "Alrigh'!" Came his muffled reply as he finally poked his head out the proper hole, his hair sticking up at odd angles from the event. He heard the fire roar and then die out again, and Vic and Olivia were gone. Teddy took only a moment more to fix his hair (morphed a festive red with green fringe in honor of the holidays) and grab the small gifts they had for everyone off the table. A pinch of powder and a rush of flames later, and Teddy joined his daughter and fiance in the packed kitchen of the Burrow.

He could swear he'd never seen more movement in one place in all his life. It was if the air itself was alive, practically shimmering with the energy and happiness of the place. It was crowded, and loud, and all of it happy, and instantly Teddy cracked a grin. He felt a bit like a broken record for the first few minutes he was there, wishing Happy Christmas after Happy Christmas, stooping down to give hugs and kisses, ruffle hair and the like. Out of the corner of his eye he was Victoire turn the ring on her finger around, and with a jolt Teddy remembered that later tonight, the two of them would make their big announcement, in his mind, three years late. But that was his own fault, and he wasn't about to worry himself over that now.

He took Vic's be-ringed hand briefly and squeezed it, smiling at her and planting a kiss to her forehead. "You ready to tell everyone tonight?" He asked quietly, trying to gauge her reaction against his (as he was a bit nervous, himself.) Teddy looked down and touched the ring on her finger, tilting his head to look at it. And then he felt his nerves subside as he saw the stone nestled between her palm and her finger. It was Christmas, and they were happy. They didn't have to worry about the Order right now, or work, or bills, or the full moon coming up in a few days. Right now, they could just worry about the day and conversation and cider and presents. They could just be happy, and that was alright.

[.Fred Miles Weasley !]

Although dear little Rory had said that she was all up for entertaining him, Fred found it rather difficult to believe. There was something off about her and he wasn’t really the type to take note of people and things of that sort, but she was definitely off. Rory was his co-beater and he spent some time with her and the Rory in front of him now, was not near to the Rory that helped him bash bludgers in a good quidditch match. Al was also hardly the same Al. He spent enough time pranking the boy with Al’s own older brother, who he had no idea where he was at the moment, to know that he wasn’t at his best at the moment.

It was however difficult to remain that way for too long around the type of person that Fred was and when he had jumped from his chair and shot at the box to release the twinkling Merry Christmas lights it seemed to brighten the mood for a moment. Lucky for them Uncle Harry strode in followed by the other adults and started to hand out all the Christmas gifts and there was nothing like a good gift to brighten up the mood, not to mention a good game of exploding snap, raucous laughter and all the other things that made Christmas at the Burrow the day of the year.

It didn’t take Fred long to forget about Albus and Rory not being themselves as he was handed all his presents. One would swear he was Olivia’s age as his eyes brightened as his little pile grew ever so slightly and just then he looked up to see that sometime during the gathering of all his presents Victoire and Olivia had arrived, Olivia already being fussed over by all the relatives that adored her. He made a mental note to make his way over to her later, when it was a tad bit quieter and her attention would be solely his. Then he watched on as Teddy made his way in to the mass filled living room and took the hand of his long time girlfriend.

Shrugging, at the display of love and affection Fred turned his attention back to his pile of presents. He automatically opened up the lumpiest present first knowing full well what it was and knowing that today would be the first and only day he would wear it. Ripping the paper open despite himself, because Weasley sweaters were his least favourite thing, but he couldn’t help Christmas tradition and pulled on the navy sweater knitted by grandma Weasley. The next present he opened was a limited addition prank book, with description of pranks pulled by the most infamous pranksters and well as ‘how to’ pictures. Fred looked up to see his father blink at him and then place a finger before his month as he looked in the direction of Fred’s mother. Fred nodded in understanding.

Fred was just about to make way at opening one of his other presents when he heard a few ‘oohs and aahs,’ coming from somewhere in the room and immediately his attention was directed toward where the noise came from. As soon as his eyes set themselves upon Albus’ new broom he shot up from his position to go take a gander at it. It was then that he saw James as Albus handed over the broom to him. It was just like James, not be present for almost the entire day and then only make himself present when something related to quidditch emerged. Fred rolled his eyes. He would get his best mate back for leaving him to fend for himself for most of the morning, but first he had to deal with what was important at the moment and that was opening the rest of his presents.