Christmas morning fun

[Connor Manning]

Thursday, December 25th
10:00 a.m.

Connor woke with a groggy start. He moved to stretch his legs out only to discover that there was something sitting on the end of his bed. Not bothering to look down, he prodded the object with his foot. It didn't prod back, so he figured it mustn't be living. He reached up and tried to rub the tied out of his eyes as he leaned forward and sat himself up in his bed. He looked down to the pile and was finally able to distinguish them as presents. Presents! Connor grinned, in his sleepy state he had forgotten all about Christmas. He untangled himself from his bed linens and stood up, taking the time to stretch, another attempt to wake himself up a bit more.

A small frown fell across the Slytherin's face as he looked down to the pile of presents. It wasn't at all dissapointed in the presents, just dissapointed that he couldn't be with his family. Christmas was for just that - to be with one's family and to celebrate. Picking up the presents in his arms, Connor made his way down into the common room. There were a few people in the room, none that he recognized too well and he felt a bit bad for it. A good prefect would know people in their own house. He nodded and smiled at them all the same, wishing them a Merry Christmas and all. He gently tossed the presents onto a sofa and began to unwrap. What fun was it to open presents by himself in a lonely dorm? None at all. The first present he opened was from his sister, wrapped in lime green wrapping paper with frilly little blue ribbons. He stared at the wrappings and wondered why his sister always liked to bother with the frilly things. It didn't make sense to him.

It was a basket containing the works, Drooble's, Chocolate frogs, Bertie Bott's, and even some gag candy like Acid pops, licorice wands, and jelly slugs. Not always apetizing, but good for giving to an unknowing first year. He looked around to see if he could spot any and saw a new arrival, a person he hadn't noticed to be in the common room. " Hello. " He said with a nod and a smile. Maybe he could offer them an acid pop?

(open to any and all Slytherins)

[vi]

Violetta stormed into the Common Room, her face streaked with tears. It wasn't the fact that she hadn't received any presents; no, she had a sufficient amount piled in her room. She found that everyone had sent her a present. Mum had sent a beautiful green snake pendant on a silver chain with rubies for eyes (a splurge, truth be told). In fact, Vi had no idea how her mum had been able to afford such an extravagant gift. She had shrugged it off when she opened the gift her sister Zooey sent. Zooey sent a simple letter, a letter that was worth the necklace and more. It was filled with emotion and honest feelings, and it made Vi feel a little less cold. The thing that made Vi the angriest was that her friend, Bane, hadn't bothered to send a thing. She had received other gifts from her other skater friends; Rowan, Jess, Mike, and Willi all sent her small little knick-knacks. Bane however, her very best friend, the guy that she had put so much into, sent her nothing in return.

The move to Hogwarts was relatively quick and easy, save the 'getting there' part. Vi had been dropped off hurriedly at the train station and waved goodbye from the parking lot. She had spent at least an hour trying to find the ridiculous Platform, and then followed a pair of twins who vanished through the column. She didn't think that being at Hogwarts would be like being in isolation, but that's what it felt like. Never before had she felt so lonely, alone, and even a little bit scared. She didn't show it, of course, but hid her sobs and wiped the tears from her eyes angrily.

She plopped into a green chair in the Common Room in her black robe and stared at the fire.

" Hello. "

She looked over and gave the boy half a smile.

[Connor Manning]

Hello was probably not the best thing to say to a girl who looked like she had just been crying. He didn't know what else to say, though, because he wasn't so good with the crying thing. Hit him, okay, yell at him, he could deal with it. But cry in front of him? He just stood there like a blubbering idiot with no clue about what to do.

She didn't look too much like she was crying anymore, and a small part of the Slytherin was rather thankful for that fact. She even diverted her gaze from the fire and tossed a small smile at him, which he took willingly as a sign that she was neither going to try and curse him nor she would start crying again. Whew. He felt selfishly relieved, but felt a little redeemed as he tossed a chocolate frog into the girl's lap. She just didn't really look like she was in too much of an acid pop mood just yet. Maybe he would try later.

" Something wrong? " He asked carefully, unwrapping his own chocolate frog and thinking of the first time he had officially hung out with Celina, the melted chocolate frogs and what a mess it had made. The frogs his sister had sent him, though, had peanut butter in the middle of them, one of Connor's favorites.

[vi]

Vi clutched the frog that had found its way into her lap, recognizing it at once. It was a Chocolate Frog like the one she had bought on the train. It looked delicious and chocolate was always welcome where tears fell. She took a bite and tasted peanut butter mixed with the rich chocolate. It was comforting and even raised her morale a little bit. She glanced over again at the boy who had thrown the frog and sighed.

" Something wrong? "

Vi buried her head in her hand, a little embarrassed that she had been so weak to let her emotions emerge. "It's nothing." She lied quickly. "Thanks for the frog." She looked over at his array of candy in a basket with frilly wrappings all around it. It must've been from his mother, his sister, his girlfriend...someone who certainly wouldn't forget to give a Christmas present.

His gift reminded her more of her loneliness and she gazed into the fire once more, imagining the first day that she had met Bane, the day that she had completely wiped out on the half-pipe. He had been the first and the only guy around the park that day, and he had lovingly checked her scrapes and bruises, making sure nothing was hurt. He cared for her like no one else had. She was only 11 and he was...well...she wasn't sure, but he wasn't that much older, but they felt a bond, like a sibling-bond. Surely he wouldn't forget Christmas, the ultimate season of care and goodwill?

[Tallulah Skeffington]

(dives in )

Christmas morning! Oh Tallulah was happy that this day finally came. She tossed and turned in her bed all night, waiting for a somewhat decent hour to come so she could go downstairs and open her presents. Every half hour or so she would jump up and glance at her watch. Every time she would snuggle back down into her bed and pout that the time was still too early. After languishing in her bed for long enough she just thought "To heck with it!" and got out of bed. She changed her p.j.s to a warmer pair. She put on a green t shirt that had some wizard rock band on the front, a pair of black sweats, and a green hoodie, just for extra warmth. On her feet she wore thick wool socks that were an eye killing lime green. A little spice in her wardrobe.

She grabbed her wand and jumped out of her room. Running toward the stairs she almost threw herself down them in excitement. When she got to the bottom she grinned sheepishly at the two people already down there. Giving them a wave she walked over and plopped herself on the couch nearest the pile of presents that looked to be hers. She reached over and grabbed the one on the top and looked at the card. It was from her parents. Giving a grin to the kids near her she ripped the wrapping paper off and opened the box. She pulled out a book about famous witches and what they did.

She finally turned fully to her fellow Snakes and gave them another grin. "Happy Christmas all!" Her voice was very cheery, something that Tallulah wasn't used to. "Oh, dear me. What manners I have. I'm Tallulah. Fifth year." She put her book aside and crumpled the paper into a ball and put it in the opened box.

[vi]

Vi looked from the roaring fire to the new arrival. It was an older, rather peppy Fifth Year. She said her name was Tallulah. She was wearing a cozy ensemble, and hideous green socks. Hmmm. Albeit the socks, Vi liked the look of this Tallulah. From what she had heard slithering through the Common Room, this girl was almost as icy as herself, and not afraid to be...well...mean. We'll have to see about that Vi thought sneakily. She didn't make friends often, usually at all, but she might make an exception for this girl. She could be the older sister she never had...never wanted until now.

Vi realized that she missed her sister Zooey something fierce. That need to be in camaraderie with just one person, for secrets and for fun, hit Vi like a ton of bricks. Vi was utterly alone. She wallowed in self-pity and pouted in her seat, the tears now gone from her face, vanished without a trace. She watched as Tallulah opened up a plethora of presents, one of which was a book. It looked like a nice book...an expensive book. Vi's mouth curled into a smirk. Rich girl. She continued to observe from her chair, throwing her woes of home out the tower window.

[Connor Manning]

Connor was glad that the chocolate seemed to comfort the young girl. Then again, now that he thought about it, most girls like chocolate on most occassions. Most people did, for that matter, and she was no exception, either. He smiled a small smile at her as she accepted it, and thanked him for it. " No worries. My sister's absolutely crazy with sending me candy. I think she's trying to fatten me up... " He joked out loud with a small wink to the girl. There really wasn't much about Connor that would make a person think he ate too much candy, but that was just because he like to keep fit as well as eat the candy. It was a win-win situation for the boy, eating sweets but also staying in shape.

" You sure? " He asked, quirking his head to the side slightly as he looked back to the girl. She had said it was nothing, and he didn't want to irritate her by asking more than twice.

Just then, a bouncy swirling sunny person sprinted into the room, drawing Connor's eyes to the younger girl. He recognized her, but nodded at the introduction all the same. " Happy Christmas. " He commented to the fifth year before introducing himself to the two of them. " I'm Connor. Sixth year... Prefect. " He added in as an after thought before tossing another chocolate frog at the younger blonde girl. He didn't know if the older one would want one, but tossed one to her all the same. " Get anything good? " He asked the two of them, meaning presents.

[Tallulah Skeffington]

Tallulah's eyes went from the girl with the unknown name to the boy who introduced himself as Connor. She nodded as he threw a chocolate frog at her. Still being a little sleepy the frog hit her in the shoulder then fell into her lap. She grinned at the boy, opening the wrapper. Taking a small bite she instantly felt more away. "Thanks Connor. Chocolate is the perfect breakfast." Snuggling into the couch she crossed her feet below her bottom and looked at the two snaked in her company.

" Get anything good? "

"From the looks of it my haul this year should be pretty good. Hopefully more books. I'm always wary about checking them out from here. Don't want to get a speck of dust on one and get hexed!" She laughed quietly, covering her mouth as she did. Tallulah took another bite of the chocolate. It gave her a warming sensation that ran from her stomach to the rest of her body.

She turned her body so she was facing the two of them. Turning her head slightly toward the younger girl she gave her a smile. Tallulah could be mean, wicked, and all together evil but today was Christmas. All bets were off for her. "What about you? Got anything good from home?"

[vi]

Vi feebly smiled back. She had to be quick with an answer, perhaps she could mask her disappointment somehow. Christmas wouldn't be ruined for them on account of her...another day, maybe. She sat up in the chair she had been slouching in and nodded. "Mum sent me a snake necklace, and my sister sent me a letter. My friends sent me all kinds of ridiculous little toys." She felt another pang for home. It's only Christmas. Get ahold of yourself, God. Vi shook herself. These little annoyances weren't necessary. She didn't need anybody, not now and not ever. This was stupid. Play nice and suck it up, cupcake. She smiled at the other two, hiding whatever was brewing inside, and piped up.

"Well, I'm glad we're all here for Christmas. It's fun." She found these words quite easily as they were true. Being alone on Christmas morning would have depressed her even more so, but the chocolate and the cheeriness seemed to lessen it. She looked over at Connor and Tallulah, both so happy, and decided to finally join in wholeheartedly.

[Connor Manning]

" I know.. " Connor said with a sly grin, agreeing that chocolate was indeed a good breakfast. Candy in general was a good breakfast to the sixth year, candy, sweets, desserts, that type of thing. But then again, according to Connor everything was about moderation, so having sweets for a morning meal everyday would be a bit extreme. Connor smiled slightly as he took a couple of Bertie Bott's out of the package and tossed them into his mouth, hoping they were good ones. Thankfully, they were, popcorn and buttered toast. Random together, but better than other combinations he could think of. He listened to what the girls were saying about getting for Christmas, books, a necklace, toys.

" Sounds like a good haul, don't you think? " He asked with a small shrug of his shoulders before going on, " I got.. I dunno, random junk from my family. Candy, always a plus... some books as well. A new watch... " He trailed off with a slight smirk, finding it funny that his parents would give him a new watch for the holidays when he really didn't need one. They probably just couldn't think of anything else to give the sixteen year old. He didn't mind, though. " Really? " He questioned the smaller of the girls when she said she was glad to be here for the holidays. " I guess it's sort of fun. " He added, giving another shrug. He would have much preferred to be home now, sitting around the fire and chilling out with his family, but he guessed it was alright to be stuck at Hogwarts.