The Christmas Feast

As the days grew shorter, December arrived without a sound.

More hearty soups and hot drinks began appearing on the tables at Hogwarts, and the after-dinner ice cream was replaced by a wide variety of cream cakes and fruit puddings.

Even the little creatures in the Owlery in the West Tower had to be given more food before they would deliver letters for the students. Rose had heard several Gryffindor students complain about it.

Potions Class and Herbology became the two classes Rose dreaded most. One was held in a freezing dungeon, and every time she finished handling Potions ingredients, she had to tuck her icy hands against her neck to warm them before moving on to the next step. When Mary noticed, she thoughtfully told Rose to watch the cauldron, so Rose warmed herself with the heat it gave off.

And every time she went to Herbology, she had to cross the grounds behind the castle. Those few short steps were enough to freeze Rose's legs almost numb, and she needed ten minutes in Greenhouse One to warm up again.

On the morning of the second Friday in December, Rose woke to find the castle covered in thick snow. The distant mountains were hazy beneath a veil of mist, a pale blue-white expanse.

In her previous life, December had also been a month when many people put extra thought into rituals, from what they ate to how they dressed. Even for Rose back then, whenever this time of year came around, feeling joy and happiness became very simple.

The Christmas holidays would begin the next day, and Professor McGonagall had already asked them to put their names on the list of students staying at school the previous week. Only a handful of Gryffindor students were staying for Christmas, and Rose was naturally among them.

To Rose's surprise, Marlene had checked her name on the list too.

"My parents and older brother are going to Poland to visit one of my relatives," she said helplessly. "Of course I didn't want to go with them, so Mum agreed to let me stay at school."

"You have an older brother?" Natasha Macmillan exclaimed softly. She had never heard Marlene mention him.

"He's in Ravenclaw, two years above us." Marlene shrugged and gave Natasha a look. "You know, they all think we're little kids, so he usually can't be bothered with me."

"I have an older brother too, but he's a Muggle." Mary leaned in as well. "He was so jealous when he found out I could go to Hogwarts that he didn't speak to me for days."

Hearing this, Rose glanced at Lily. She must have been feeling sad about Petunia again.

"Have you decided what present to take your brother when you go home for Christmas?" Rose prompted. "Maybe then he'll talk to you."

"He wouldn't dare stay mad at me over Christmas. Mum would tell him off," Mary said proudly. "But you're right. I should get him a little present."

Lily, who was interested in the same question, leaned over, and the two began discussing it enthusiastically.

Rose was delighted to see Lily's expression gradually grow animated again. When she turned her head, she saw Marlene smiling at her.

"Good girl," Marlene mouthed to Rose.

Rose picked up her orange juice and took a sip, embarrassed.

Once the holidays began, Rose slept until she woke naturally each day in her large bed with its scarlet hangings. After breakfast, she spent half the day in the library, then played a couple of games of Wizard's Chess with Marlene in the afternoon. In the evenings, the two put their heads together to study the spellbooks Rose had borrowed from the library.

In the blink of an eye, Christmas Day arrived. Rose woke to find a small pile of presents at the foot of her bed.

These were the first Christmas presents she had received in this world.

Rose flung back her covers, jumped out of bed, and ran barefoot to the foot of it. She carefully picked up the box at the front.

It was Mary's present, a Muggle novel called Gone with the Wind. Rose had only heard the book's title in her previous life, and seeing it now gave her a dazed sense of unreality.

Rose put the book on her bed, intending to finish it over the next few days.

She unwrapped another box and found a dozen sheets of brand-new parchment and a bottle of fresh ink. It was Lily's present. Lily had thoughtfully noticed how Rose struggled when doing her homework and used the Christmas present to give her exactly what she needed most!

Rose missed Lily more than ever and hoped she would like her own present. Rose had spent several days making a categorized list of books related to their first-year courses. She didn't have much money, so she could only give presents that took effort to make.

Next came presents from Marlene, Natasha, and several other Gryffindor first-years. Some had given her homemade treats or little toys, and Rose couldn't put them down.

Just when Rose thought she had unwrapped presents from everyone she could think of, a paper parcel in the corner caught her eye.

She couldn't think who else might have sent her a present. Surely it couldn't be Snape?

Rose unwrapped the parcel. Inside was a bright red scarf that looked quite ordinary.

She picked up the note that had fallen to the floor when she unwrapped the parcel. It read:

A long-lasting Warming Charm has been cast on it

Signed S.B

It was Sirius Black.

Rose could just make out another line on the back of the note. She turned it over, and it read:

I apologize for misunderstanding you.

Rose wrapped the scarf around her neck, and a feeling of warmth immediately enveloped her whole body. Even her toes, cold from standing barefoot on the marble floor, seemed to feel warm.

Rose gently stroked the soft scarf, savoring this moment of warmth from Sirius Black.

Then she suddenly slapped her thigh with her fist. She hadn't given Black a present.

And at that moment, she had nothing particularly suitable to give him, so she decided to go to the kitchens. Perhaps she could bake him some biscuits or another sweet treat. She had noticed before that Black had an unexpected fondness for sweets.

The dormitory was quiet. Marlene had gone somewhere, so Rose got dressed and had no choice but to go to the Great Hall alone.

As soon as she entered, Rose was awestruck by the sight before her. The walls of the Great Hall were hung with garlands of holly and mistletoe, and more than a dozen Christmas trees stood neatly around the hall. Professor Flitwick and Professor McGonagall had enchanted every tree, decorating each one differently, but all of them were full of festive cheer.

The long tables were laden with all kinds of food, as well as piles of wizard crackers. Rose pulled several and was delighted to find a purple bowler hat and a complete set of teacups with strange patterns.

By the time dessert arrived, Rose's stomach had no room left for the Christmas puddings, Licorice Wands of every color, and sweet, fresh cakes. She rubbed her stomach and looked at them regretfully.

Rose saw the professors sitting at the long table. Professor McGonagall's cheeks were flushed from drink, Professor Flitwick had excitedly climbed onto his chair, and Hagrid was so drunk he was almost sliding off his.

Rose's overstuffed stomach had left her head spinning again. She looked around, but there was still no sign of Marlene.

Then Rose suddenly remembered that she still had to find the kitchens!