20- Christmas Presents

                                    

                                          

Over the next few days Celia learned everything she could about the secret organisation known as the Order of the Phoenix. And she got to meet many of its members, including her old teacher Remus Lupin, whom she hadn't seen since he had been outed as a werewolf.
Celia also spent her time decorating the dark pure-blood house, with Christmas ornaments, along with everyone else who was staying there.
So, by Christmas Eve, every inch of the house was looking festive, and even the be-headed house-elves had little Christmas hats and white beards on.
                          
On Christmas morning, Celia awoke to find a heap of presents at the end of her bed.
She immediately made her way over to them, and began tearing the wrapping paper of the first present.
This noise woke up her roommates; Hermione and Ginny.
"Morning" said Hermione.
"Good morning, merry Christmas" replied Celia.
"Merry Christmas to you too" yawned Ginny, as she headed towards her own pile of presents.
                          
Once they had unwrapped everything they showed off their gifts to each other.
"So, you got a Weasley jumper from mum, as well" said Ginny.
Celia picked up the purple jumper and held it to her chest.
"Yes, I will have to thank her" smiled Celia.
"She makes loads every year, and we each get the same colour" revealed Ginny.
"What's Ron's colour?"
"Maroon, which he hates".
                          
"Ron got me a very unusual perfume" informed Hermione, as she picked up the bottle to show them.
"How sweet, what did you get him in return?" Asked Celia.
"I got both him and Harry homework planners, so hopefully they won't leave all their work until the last minute again" answered Hermione.
"I think it will take more than a planner, to get them to do their homework early"
"Yes, I think you might be right. But at least I tried"
"You did. What did Harry get you?"
"A book on Numerology"
"That's useful".
                          
"What else did you get?" Questioned Ginny, as she looked at the pile surrounding Celia.
"I got a collection of Charles Dickens books, from Benjamin" revealed Celia.
"Wow, he has good taste" admitted Hermione, as she looked at the box set of books.
"He does. And I gave him a book in return" informed Celia.
"Great minds think alike" replied Hermione.
"They certainly do. I also received a blue quill from Fleur and a necklace from Viktor".
                          
"Are you still in contact with both of them?" Quizzed Ginny.
"We write to each other from time to time, but we haven't met up since the end of school last year. Fleur wanted to see me during the summer, but I kept saying no, as I didn't want her to see how bad I had gotten. And I only sent her and Viktor Chocolate Frogs for Christmas, nothing extravagant" admitted Celia awkwardly.
"I'm sure they will appreciate your presents, as it's the thought that counts" reminded Ginny.
"Viktor sent me a bracelet, but don't tell Ron, because I don't want him to get mad" informed Hermione.
"I won't tell him" promised Celia.
"Thanks" replied Hermione.
                          
"You know something, I wish that you guys were my roommates at Hogwarts. Because I feel like we would have a lot of fun together if we shared a dormitory" announced Celia.
"We would get up to a lot of mayhem" grinned Ginny.
"Definitely. And you're a lot more fun to be around than Cho" admitted Celia.
"Well, she is in rather a delicate place right now" Hermione said softly.
"She's always in a delicate place. But let's not talk about her, let's focus on more enjoyable things, like Christmas presents" announced Celia.
"Good idea. What did your parents get you?" Asked Ginny.
"They umm... They sent me a card" mumbled Celia awkwardly.
                          
"You mean that they didn't get you a gift?" Frowned Ginny, completely abandoning her line that it's the though that counts.
"I don't know why I'm surprised, since they forgot my birthday as well" admitted Celia.
"Yeah, but this is Christmas, it's a lot harder to forget about, since everyone celebrates it" replied Ginny.
Celia shrugged, "I don't care that they didn't get me anything, because I don't want anything from them anyway".
"How did they react when you told them you were staying at Hogwarts for Christmas?" Questioned Hermione.
"They sent me back a letter saying O.K, and wishing me a Merry Christmas, that's it" revealed Celia.
                          
"That's not on" said Ginny.
"Everyone grieves in their own way. And I wouldn't want them doing what I did" admitted Celia, as she subconsciously rubbed the scars on her wrists.
"What else did you get?" Asked Hermione, as she tried to change the subject.
"I got a broach from Luna, although I'm not sure what it's supposed to be of" answered Celia.
"Maybe it's a Crumple-Horned Snorkack" grinned Hermione.
"Yeah, maybe. I also got a box of Every Flavour Beans, from Ron. And a history book from Harry, he knows me well. Fred and George also got me a new hat, because the one with my invisibility charm on, is getting quite worn out. I also have some brightly coloured socks, from Dumbledore, which is a suprise" smiled Celia.
                          
"I guess he thinks you need some more bright colours in your day" suggested Ginny.
"Perhaps" replied Celia.
"Anyway, let's get dressed and head down to breakfast, so we can find out what the other's got" announced Ginny.
"Good idea. I also have one more present to give out" informed Hermione.
"Who's it for?" Asked Celia.
"Kreacher" answered Hermione.
"The ugly, rude, house-elf who lives here, and hates everyone who's not a pure-blood?"
"Yes, him. I've made him a quilt to keep him warm".
                          
"Well, that is certainly very kind of you, and I'm sure he will appreciate your gift" said Celia, as she tried to hold in a laugh.
"I would have preferred to get him some new clothes, so that he doesn't have to wear those hideous rags. But since we aren't allowed to set him free, because he knows too much about the Order, I had to settle on making him a patchwork quilt" admitted Hermione.
Celia caught Ginny's eye, and had to quickly look away so that she didn't burst out into laughter, since they both knew how bad Hermione was at knitting.
"Come on, let's get dressed" Celia insisted, desperate to change the subject and rejoin the others, who were waiting for them downstairs.