Second Year, Winter Break
Thursday December 21st 1972
In the late 700s AD, the Vikings raided Scotland and with them, they brought their own set of traditions. One of them being the celebration of what they called Jól. This term had both roots in the time of `Yule`, which were the pagan celebrations surrounding the Winter solstice, as well as meaning `feast`, translated from Norse poetry. This time surrounding the Winter solstice, was highly celebrated in Muggle as well as Magical communities.
However, with the Reformation in 1560, brought on by the powerful Kirk, that frowned upon everything that related to Roman Catholicism, in 1640 a law was passed by the Scottish Parliament to ban all Yule time celebrations. Since the Magical community wanted nothing more but keep their peace with the Muggle world, the ancient pagan celebrations performed by wizards and witches all over Scotland were also banned by the Ministry of Magic.
Even after the throne was restored, the celebration of Christmas or festivities surrounding it were highly frowned upon. This weighed down heavily on the magical community, who heavily relied on their rituals surrounding ancient pagan magic. It wasn`t until 1958 that Christmas was reinstated as a national Scottish holiday.
Ever since the relegalization of the festival of Alban Althuan, or Yule, Marlene`s maternal side of the family had hosted large gatherings surrounding the Winter solstice. This year, it was their turn to host.
Marlene had spent the morning gathering mistletoe out of the oak trees in the yard and hanging them around the house. Lugging around with a chair to get the mistletoe strung on the wooden beams in the ceiling. She had helped her mum weave wreaths out of holy and ivy, hanging them on their door to ward off evil spirits. Marlene had also lit the candles in their windowsills to guide any passing spirts safely on their way.
The living room was a cacophony of chattering relatives and Marlene had a hard time trying to pay attention to what everyone was saying. A tray with mince pies floated by and she took one off, hungrily biting into the doughy pastry, crumbs spilling down her front. Danny wasn’t there yet, though he had promised her he would be and she was starting to get impatient.
`Och, Marlene,` her mother appeared in front of her, sleek hair pulled back in a tight bun. `Yer spilling all over yerself. Here.` she thrust a napkin into Marlene`s hand.
`Ta, mammy.` Marlene answered and wiped the front of her robes. When she was back at home she noticed herself slipping back into speech mannerisms that she hid while at Hogwarts, scared people might make fun of her, or worst of all, compare her to McGonagall.
`And cross your legs.` her mum patted Marlene`s knee and diligently she crossed one leg over the other.
She carefully held the napkin under her chin as she finished up her mince pie. In her back she could feel the watchful eyes of her mother, boring their way in her spine. Instinctively, Marlene sat up straighter before she could be chastised about her posture by her mum.
She heard the door open, the prickly wreath shifting against the wood. Full of hope she turned around, but still no Danny. Her stepfather`s brother, along with his wife and daughter, stepped in, stomping the snow off their boots and lowering the hoods of their robes. Her mother swooped towards them, almost gliding, to bide them a warm welcome.
`Marlene, come say hello.` her mother called out and gestured at her with one robe clad arm.
`Aye.`
Disposing of her napkin, Marlene stood up from her chair by the fire, in which the Yule log was burning, and walked over to their guests. She had met her stepfather`s brother and his family only one time before, but that had been years ago and if her mother hadn`t taken her through everyone who would be coming, she wouldn`t have had any idea who they were.
`Awright.` she nodded, looking at her supposed stepcousin. The girl was about her age, a little older maybe, with large hazel eyes and sleek brown hair, held back from her face by an elegant bow that matched her lilac robes.
Marlene`s own ponytail was held together by a bow as well. Only, not on her own accord. Her mother had sprung it on her this morning and had looked so happy to gift it to her, that Marlene hadn`t been able to refuse. Nervously she fidgeted on it, mostly to stop herself biting her nails, and also because the ends kept slapping against the back of her neck.
`Elena.` the girl put out her hand for Marlene to shake.
Marlene took it, the soft skin of the girl brushing against her own sent a shiver up her spine, `Aye, I know. We`ve met, I think.` she stammered.
The girl looked at her expectantly, her hazel eyes reflecting the light of the fire.
`Och, sorry. Marlene. I`m Marlene.` she answered, stuttering and feeling her cheeks turn red hot. Merlin, what was wrong with her.
Her stepdad joined them and clapped his brother on the back before kissing the wife on both cheeks and nodding at Elena, who smiled back serenely. All four adults migrated away from them and Marlene and Elena were left alone. Nervously, Marlene pulled at the ribbon in her hair and bounced back and forth on the balls of her feet, eyes skittering all over the place.
`You go to Hogwarts, right?` Elena asked finally, after what had seemed like an eternity of uncomfortable silence.
`Aye.` Marlene nodded, staring at her toes once again.
`I`d love to go to Hogwarts,` Elena continued. `But my parents insisted on me being home-schooled. So, you know.`
`Right.` Marlene nodded, still not daring to look at the other girl, scared she might catch fire or something.
Marlene disappeared into the kitchen to get herself some water, just as she turned off the tap she heard the low murmur of voices on the other side of the door. Almost inaudible through the wood.
`Ye hea got a bonnie hoose, Mya.` a muffled voice said.
`Ta,` she heard her mother answer. `Shame we might be moving. If I could I`d stay here forever.` she sighed.
Marlene almost dropped her glass of water. This was the first time she was hearing about this. When was her mum planning on telling her? She pressed her ear against the door.
`Och, really?` the other person asked. Marlene barely dared to breath as she listened in on the conversation.
`Aye,` her mother replied, lowering her voice. `Well, we thought with the latest elections- Maybe it wouldn`t be such an ill idea to move someplace else, make it unplottable.`
`Bit, aren`t you lot-` the other person whispered. `Ye ken? Pureblood.`
Marlene started biting her nails, the irony taste of blood mingling with the leftover mince pie.
`The weans ur nea.` her mother replied, sounding almost scared and Marlene swallowed hard. `It might be the safest for them. Ye ken, especially for Marlene.`
With a jolt Marlene wrenched her ear loose from the door, feeling nauseous. She hadn`t the feintest clue what this was about, but she felt like she shouldn`t be hearing it. Though she had obviously heard whisperings of something dark on the rise after the latest elections, she hadn`t expected it to have any impact on her personally.
`Oi, crakin` bow.` a throaty voice sounded behind her and she felt someone tug on her ponytail.
Marlene almost screamed, but in time she caught herself as she spun around to look directly in her brother`s broad and smiling face.
`Danny!` she yelped and flung her arms around him.
`Oomph.` her brother let out and Marlene kept holding on. `You`re getting strong.` he laughed.
`I`d hope so.` Marlene grinned and pulled away from him, baring her arm and flexing the muscle.
`So, is there a matching bow for me?` Danny asked mockingly, tugging at Marlene`s hair again.
`Och, piss off.` Marlene grumbled and shoved her brother, joy radiating in her stomach, overshadowing the sour clenching feeling of fear and confusion.
***
Sunday December 24th 1972
Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, Lily strolled into the kitchen, thick woollen socks shuffling on the slippery tiles. The Christmas tree glimmering in the hazy morning light that casted into the room.
`Oh, hiya Tunie.` Lily said as she caught sight of her sister sitting on a bar stool, peering over a magazine on the counter.
Slowly, she filled up a glass with water and peered out the window, the sky outside grey and murky, pregnant with clouds. Chugging the liquid down quickly in big gulps she stared at Petunia.
`You`re up early.` Lily spoke as she sat her glass down on the counter and wiped her chin with her hand.
`Couldn`t sleep.` Petunia shrugged.
`Right.` Lily nodded, still starting at her sister. Petunia looked pale, her eyes were ringed dark and her face looked slack and lifeless.
`What are you staring at?` Petunia snapped at her.
`Nothing.` Lily shrugged her shoulders, but didn`t tear her gaze away. There was something different about the way Petunia looked. She had noticed it ever since coming home for the holidays. `You just- Look tired, I guess.`
`Well, cheers.` her sister bit sarcastically.
`No, that`s not-` Lily faltered. `It`s just- Are you okay?`
Petunia blinked and her mouth opened and closed as a fish on dry ground. It seemed like she was going to say something when the door to the kitchen opened again and their mother came in, still in her nighties.
`There`s my Lily girl!` she chimed and gave Lily a sideways hug. `Oh, I`m so happy to have you home, love.` she smiled and kissed the side of Lily`s head.
Lily shot a look at Petunia, but her sister was already leafing through her magazine again, not paying attention to either of them.
`Do you want pancakes?` Lily`s mother asked. `I can make pancakes. Or anything else? Whatever you want.`
`Pancakes sounds good.` Lily grinned, already practically feeling the sweet buttery dough in her mouth.
Lily saw Petunia swallow, the cartilage in her throat rising and falling as she kept her gaze fixed on the women on the page in front of her.
`Do you want pancakes too?` Lily asked.
`No.` Petunia answered and slammed her magazine shut. `I already ate.` She hopped off the barstool and disappeared out of the room.
`Your sister is going through a teenage phase.` her mother said, rolling her eyes, already mixing ingredients in a bowl. `Luckily, you are still my sweet girl.`
`Yeah.` Lily forced a smile. Maybe Petunia was just going through a teenage phase, but it didn`t feel like that to Lily.
The pancakes tasted good none the less and Lily spent the rest of the day curled up in a blanket on the couch, reading from a poetry collection and drinking cup after cup of scalding hot tea. The sky outside kept being grey, getting heavier and heavier, thick and pressing. Slowly, Lily stood up and opened a window, hanging outside and sniffing the air, taking in big lungful’s of air.
`Are you trying to catch pneumonia?` Petunia, who just came back into the living room, asked.
Lily grinned, `I smell snow.`
`You can`t smell snow.` Petunia huffed and quickly shut the window, shivering in her thick jumper. `Besides, the weather report said nothing about snow.`
`Believe me,` Lily smiled wickedly. `It`s going to snow.`
`Freak.` Petunia frowned and plopped herself down grumpily on the couch, yet Lily did notice the feintest hint of a smile rippling across her sister`s face.
Halfway through the day it started snowing, thick velvety flakes dappling down outside the windows, draping down over the neatly trimmed hedges like discarded winter coats. Lily sat in the windowsill, staring outside, the sun already lowering, basking the sky in an clementine orange, almost blazing, making it seem like the roofs of the houses across the street were on fire. A cat sauntered by, leaving deep imprints on the sidewalk, marking the unblemished snow like a signature at the bottom of a letter.
The neighbourhood with its identical houses and its culs-de-sac, characteristic for their discarded bikes and lost footballs, the shouting of children in the middle of the street, the ringing of the ice-cream truck on sweltering summer days, a place of chaos and cacophony, was unearthly quiet and still. Serene almost. That was maybe what Lily liked the most about the snow. The tranquillity that it seemed to bring, carrying it in mitten clad hands and putting it like a giant stole overtop the world.
The lights in their front yard shimmered faintly, trying to break through the layer of white down. Lily took an orange out of her stocking and started peeling it, careful as to take the skin off in one go. The orange so vibrant against the brightness of the outside, that if a person would walk past her window, it would appear like Lily was holding onto fire in her hands. Which, if she had been at Hogwarts, could just as well have been the case. Just before leaving school, she had perfected a warming spell that could be cast into a person`s hands and in a seconds the recipient of the spell would feel a warm glow spread over them. It was highly practical, since winter in the highlands of Scotland was dire cold and most students spent the winter months shivering away in their robes.
Her mother had produced a feast that even Hogwarts could take notes on and they sat themselves down at the table. It was customary for the Evanses to celebrate Christmas Eve with just the four of them and have family over on actual Christmas day.
All throughout dinner Lily chatted animatedly with her parents, telling them all about what she had learned at Hogwarts and about her friends, as well as her foes. Her parents kept asking her questions and she felt like she would never run out of things to talk about. Yet, Petunia, who had always been the chatty one at Christmas, making them laugh until their cheeks ached, was quiet and stared at her place, cutting her food into small pieces and pushing them around on her plate.
At that moment there was a rustling in the chimney, followed by a lot more noise and screeching, both from Petunia as well as the giant owl that flew into their living room. The bird looked around itself, confused, with large yellow eyes and flapped its wings, still circling around the room, raking some Christmas ornaments off the tree that shattered on the floor.
Finally, the owl dropped something on the rug and perched itself on top of one of the bookcases, looking down anxiously, feathers puffed.
To Lily`s utmost surprise her parents didn`t seem to be upset by this sudden intrusion, but rather their faces shone with glee.
`Oh, come on then love,` her mother chimed. `Open it.` She pointed at the note the owl had dropped on the carpet.
Gingerly, Lily rose from her chair and picked up the note. Petunia sitting at the table, white as a ghost.
Lily`s eyes quickly scanned the note and her mouth fell open, `You`re kidding!` she yelped and ran towards her parents. `Thank you! Oh, thank you so much.` She flung her arms around her father’s neck.
Lily`s owl, that she had gotten at the beginning of first year and had served her well all throughout, had disappeared over the summer while they had been in France. Nobody knew where it had gone, Lily blamed the neighbours` cat, but she knew better than to pin a crime on someone without discreet evidence. So, for the past months, Lily had been using one of the school owls when she wanted to sent a message home. Which obviously worked just the same, only the school owls tended to be rather unreliable and it had occurred more than once that her letter had somehow gotten lost or ended up at the wrong place.
`I`m glad you like it.` her mother beamed. `We had such a hard one picking one out for you. We wanted it to be perfect you see.`
`Oh, I love it.` Lily gushed and stared at the yellow eyed creature. `I just hope it`ll like me.` she laughed.
With it seemingly unlikely that the owl would move for the next while, Lily sat down at the table again and they resumed their dinner. Petunia was still looking pale and hadn`t uttered a word.
`Here,` her mother pushed the tureen with cranberries over to Lily`s side of the table and smiled. `Have some mo-` she trailed off and her gaze fixed on Petunia, who was still busy cutting her food into even smaller pieces. `Oh, Petunia please stop playing with your food. You`re not a child.`
***
Sunday December 31st 1972
During the holidays, when the spirits were high and the laughter was plentiful, Mary`s parents loved to reminisce about their childhoods back in Jamaica. So, it came to be that Mary and her siblings had an arsenal of stories that they could flip through in their minds about the rambunctious youths of their parents.
Mary`s dad, who was usually a solemn and reserved man, drawing into the background, seemingly blending in with the furniture, lit up when he sat his children down to tell them about the watchnights on the sandy beaches of Jamaica. He would gesture wildly with his hands, his glasses askew, as he told them about how on every New Year`s Eve they would stay up for entirety of the night, lighting bonfires on the beach and dancing until they dropped. Churches would remain open for the entire night, for it was believed that entering the New Year in a sacred place would bring good fortune. There would be Mass until the birds started to chirp outside again.
The story Mary loved the most, was the one of her dad seeing her mother for the first time. It had been during a watchnight many moons years ago. Her dad had gone out towards the beach with a couple of his friends. That night it had been uncharacteristically cold, almost nobody was heading out into the ocean. Yet, her mother had stood there, barefoot in the surf, waves lapping around her ankles, dress hugging her body in the breeze. As her dad told it, the moonlight had reflected off her skin, making her glow indigo, bleeding blue from the midnight sky, and maybe it had been the spirits in his blood, but in that moment, her dad could have sworn he had never seen someone more beautiful than her mother and he vowed that he would follow her to the ends of the earth to kneel before her and worship her. Which he had.
Mary swooned at this story and promised herself that she would never ever settle for less. She would never settle for someone who adored her less than her dad adored her mother.
While it was practically impossible to recreate the watchnights of her parents youth. The church they attended did host a midnight Mass, usually bleeding into the early hours of the morning. The whole community brought their leftover food from Christmas, and entire families set out in the early evening to settle down in the church pews up until the sun rose again. Instruments were brought along and there was a lot of singing, dancing and laughter. The New Year being the perfect moment to celebrate with loved ones and set resolutions for the months to come.
Though Mary sometimes rolled her eyes at the avid churchgoing of her family, she couldn`t deny that she thoroughly enjoyed the elaborate traditions and celebrations that came with it, even more so now she was going to Hogwarts and these moments were the only ones she got the spend with them.
It was still some time till midnight, yet the church was filled to the brim with families. A loud and bright kerfuffle of voices and colour. Their church was mostly attended by first generation immigrant families, trying to find community in the sometimes hostile environment that was London. Her older sister, Gabi, volunteered two nights a week to teach an English class for those trying to pass the civic integration test and her mother was involved in all sorts of functions, the hosting of watchnight being one of them. Thus, Mary`s family was well known and highly esteemed in their small community.
Mary`s youngest siblings were fast asleep, tucked under blankets on one of the back pews. Abigay and Tarone were outside with Jayden. The tell-tale hollering and hullabaloo from firecrackers being lit off penetrating through the walls of the church.
With her cheek rested on Gabi`s shoulder, Mary stared at her parents as they danced in the soft candlelit hall. Being back home, with family, filled up something that she lacked at Hogwarts. This deep pit in her chest dug by unbelonging.
`You`ve got an admirer.` her sister whispered in her ear.
`Where?` Mary lifted her head and started to look around the church.
`Hush.` Gabi whispered urgently. `Don`t make it so obvious. Slowly. Try to be discreet.`
Mary adjusted her scarf and slowly moved her eyes between the partygoers until she met the eyes of a boy about her age. When she looked at him, he quickly tore his gaze away and scratched the back of his neck self-consciously.
`Who`s that?` Mary asked, still staring at the boy.
Gabi shrugged her shoulders, `Don`t know. He`s fit though. For you, I mean.`
`Hmm.` Mary mused, gazing at the back of the boys head. `I suppose. But I already told you, I`ve got a boy I fancy.` She grinned satisfied. She had told her sister all about Sirius in the last couple of days, glad to finally be old enough to have a boy to gush over.
Her sister`s brow furrowed, `Yea I know.` She started plucking lint off her skirt.
Mary turned to face her sister, `What`s with the tone?`
`What tone?`
`Don`t give me that. Why did you say it like that? Like it was something bad?` Mary asked, frowning and looking intently at Gabi. `What`s wrong with me fancying Sirius? You haven`t even met him.`
`Forget it.`
`No, say it, you obviously meant something by it.` Mary pressed, feeling annoyed.
Her sister shrugged her shoulders and turned to face the front of the church, biting her bottom lip, the plump skin under her teeth draining from blood.
`Gabi,` May nagged. `You`re being mean.`
`Well,` her sister sighed deeply. `All I`m saying is that it wouldn`t hurt to fancy someone from our own community as well.`
`What`s that supposed to mean?` Mary bit back.
Her sister sighed, `From what you told me, and correct me if I`m wrong, I understood that Sirius is the heir to some bonkers wizard royal family, with rather questionable morals at that and- Well, I guess I`m just not sure if it`s such a good idea if you- Ugh, I hate how this is coming out.` she rubbed her forehead.
Gabi turned to face Mary and grasped her hands in her own, `Mary, I want you to be careful. It`s scary being a girl. And we especially need to be careful. We can`t leave anything up to fate.`
`I know that.` Mary replied primly.
`I know you do.` Gabi responded. `But I don`t think you understand how dangerous it can be. I just want you to think about it, before you make any rash decisions.`
Mary sighed. She did understand where her sister was coming from, she really did. Over the years she had seen girls disappear or fall victim to the racist and predatory climate of South London. Her mother had tried to shield her from it as best as she could, but that didn`t mean Mary wasn`t aware it was happening. And the Black family, with it`s pureblood prejudice, would certainly bring it`s dangers with it.
`Thank you for looking out for me,` Mary replied softly. `But it`s just a crush. Just a silly crush. It`s not like I actually talk to him.` she laughed. God, imagine her actually talking to Sirius, as if.
Her sister laughed along and put a soft arm around her, squeezing her in. They rose from the church pew and went to find their parents, dancing along with the others until the clock struck twelve and the hall dissolved into singing. Lifting them up for yet another year.
///