The Hollis House
Carmilla had never been on the Hogwarts Express in the snow before.
Usually, she would have watched the Hogwarts Express depart Hogsmede Station, carrying Laura with it, from Ravenclaw tower, and then turn back to her bed and curl up with a book. Sometimes she would take walks around the grounds in the snow to stretch her legs, clear her head.
This was new.
She watched out the window as the snow fell and the trees flew past, fingers comfortably laced with Laura’s, who sat beside her, nursing a mug of cocoa from the lunch trolley. She was laughing at something LaFontaine said, but Carmilla couldn’t recall what it was. She continued to watch out the window, lost in thought, when she felt Laura squeeze her hand.
Carmilla looked to Laura to find Laura watching her with a small smile, eyes soft.
“Nervous?” Laura asked, stroking the back of Carmilla’s hand with her thumb.
“A bit,” Carmilla confessed, ducking her head slightly. She still couldn’t believe that they were on their way to Laura’s house. That Laura’s father would willingly invite her to stay with them for Christmas. That she would be spending two uninterrupted weeks with Laura.
That she wouldn’t be alone.
“Don’t be,” Laura said, and kissed Carmilla’s cheek. “He really likes you. It’s going to be fine.”
“He does?” Carmilla asked, not for the first time.
Laura nodded. “I’ve told him all about you,” She said. “he doesn’t know everything, but he knows your mum isn’t nice. He just wants you to have a nice Christmas.”
Carmilla smiled a little, and nodded. “Okay,” She said softly, and bumped her head against Laura’s.
Laura grinned and hugged her, careful not to spill her cocoa. She was shaken from the moment though when she heard wolf whistles and whoops come from her friends, and her and Carmilla quickly broke apart, wondering what on earth was going on. Upon hearing the tinkling of a tiny bell, Laura and Carmilla looked up to find a tiny Santa Clause on a broom floating above them, brandishing a sprig of mistletoe.
Laura grinned at Carmilla's bashful expression as heat bloomed across her own face, and kissed her full on the lips.
-------
Evening fell as they were on the train, and by the time they had reached King’s Cross Station, the sky was dark, the headlight on the front of the engine cutting through the light snow.
They filed out of the compartment and onto the platform, exchanging hugs and goodbyes as they parted with their friends for the holidays. Gifts had been exchanged on the train and carefully packed into backpacks.
Carmilla gripped Laura's hand tightly to avoid losing her in the crowd as they made their way with the other students towards the luggage cars to retrieve their trunks. Along the way, Laura kept her eye out for her father, scanning the crowd for his usual plaid shirt and round, happy face.
“We'll find him, cupcake,” Carmilla said, squeezing Laura's hand.
After locating their trunks, the two of them waited by one of the pillars, where Laura and her father usually met. Carmilla was scanning the crowd for the man she'd seen in so many photos, when suddenly she heard a shriek beside her, and when she whipped around to see what was wrong, she saw her girlfriend, a blur of honey brown hair and excitement, leaping into her father's arms.
Carmilla watched, amused, as Sherman Hollis easily scooped his daughter up, spinning the tiny Hufflepuff around.
“Hey pumpkin,” Sherman grinned, hugging his daughter tight, nose buried in her hair. “I missed you so much,” he sighed, refusing to put her down.
Laura giggled, indulging her father even though she felt a little silly still hanging there, feet dangling a foot off the ground. "I missed you too," She murmured, breathing in the homey smell of his cologne.
Sherman finally set her down after a moment, and turned to Carmilla as Laura straightened out her jacket, brushing her hair back. "This must be Carmilla," he said cheerfully, and Carmilla's nerves immediately spiked.
“It's nice to meet you, Sir,” Carmilla said stiffly, extending her hand. Laura smiled at Carmilla’s formalness, finding her jitters endearing.
Sherman waved her extended hand off and swept Carmilla up into a bone crushing hug like he had with Laura, much to Carmilla’s shock, and she stood there for a moment, dazed, when he put her down again.
“You can leave all that “Sir” hogwash by the door, Carmilla.” He said with a chuckle, and checked his watch. “I think it’s time we get something to eat, yes?”
-------
It wasn’t long before Carmilla found herself seated at a small table in a warm, dim restaurant, surrounded by chattering people, bustling waiters and the scent of spices and baking bread.
She’d only been in a muggle restaurant once before, for some dinner meeting her mother had insisted she be present for. It had been in one of those cold, all white, glass and chrome restaurants where the portions were hardly more than a speck for the price. Not that Carmilla was sure about the exchange between Galleons and muggle money, bu it had sounded ridiculous.
This place though, was entirely different.
Laura had explained that her and her dad had a tradition.
The first time Sherman had driven Laura to London to catch the Hogwarts Express, they had both been so excited and nervous that they had left far, far too early in order to make it there with time to spare in case there was traffic. Sherman had planned the entire thing out, down to the tiniest details. The only thing he hadn’t remembered, in his frantic state that morning, was breakfast. The two of them had been starving by the time they arrived in London with two hours to spare, and after circling King’s Cross several times, eyes peeled for an eatery or a coffee shop, Laura had pointed to a small restaurant nearby called Dishoom that had been buzzing with activity. A blackboard outside promised hot chai inside, and an ample breakfast menu.
Since then, every time Sherman would drop off, or pick up Laura from King’s Cross, they would go to Dishoom on Stable Street for something to eat.
Laura looked over at Carmilla, who’s eyes were wandering around, taking everything in. “What do you think?” Laura asked, nudging Carmilla’s foot under the table. Laura’s hands were wrapped around a warm mug of masala chai, fingers still defrosting from their walk from King’s Cross.
Carmilla’s eyes finally fell to Laura again, and she smiled. Outside, the lamp posts that lined the street were wrapped in evergreen garland and white Christmas lights, the light from them shining golden through the window and against the softly falling snow, and Laura’s head was wreathed in the soft light, her cheeks red from the warmth of the restaurant. For a moment, Carmilla nearly forgot that Laura’s father was seated on her other side.
“It’s...wonderful,” She said, shaking herself from her trance.
-------
Dinner had gone well.
Really, really well.
Laura couldn’t stop grinning.
Carmilla had still seemed nervous and a little stiff during dinner, but after a while Laura watched that soft smile she loved so much spread across Carmilla’s face easier, more often. Sherman made small talk, asking about their classes and how Laura was doing on the quidditch team. Pride had swelled in Carmilla’s chest as she recounted Laura’s first game, from her perspective in the stands. Laura cringed through the whole story—her first game had been dreadful—but her heart swelled, and she took Carmilla’s hand under the table.
Carmilla had watched Laura briefly turn a delicate shade of green when Sherman added lamb’s brain to his order of lamb stew and naan after Laura had ordered her usual chicken tikka, Carmilla opting for lamb samosas. She tried to pretend she wasn’t as grossed out as Laura, busying herself with her mug of chai, but the amused glint in Sherman’s eye told her that yes, he probably noticed.
Sherman avoided asking about Carmilla’s family or home life, or why she wasn’t spending Christmas with them, and Carmilla had a sneaking suspicion that Laura told him to avoid those topics, but she was grateful. She didn’t want to ruin the night with talk of her family.
After a few hours and many, many cups of chai between the three of them, they hurried back along the street to Sherman’s truck. Before entering the restaurant, Laura had let Frodo out of his cage, instructing him to fly home where there was an open window in the attic waiting for him.
Carmilla found herself nervous again. Once they got in the car, the three of them would be squished together on the bench seat in the cab of Sherman’s old truck. For nearly an hour. She was surprised however, when she climbed in after Laura to find that the cab was...much bigger on the inside. Since Laura’s dad was a muggle, she’d been expecting a muggle car.
Sherman noticed Carmilla’s surprise, and chuckled. “Laura's mum charmed the cab years ago to be bigger on the inside. Really came in handy when her car broke down.”
Carmilla smiled a little and nodded, eyes flicking to Laura, but Laura was busy situating herself in the middle seat as she fought back a yawn. Carmilla hurriedly climbed in the truck and closed the door as Sherman started the car.
Soon, they were speeding down the motorway, Christmas carols playing low on the radio. Again carmilla sat, holding Laura's hand and staring out the window. Though this time, Laura's chatter had ceased, being tired from a day of travelling, a full belly and the warmth of the car making her sleepy. Laura's head rested on Carmilla's shoulder, her soft, even breathing causing a calm to wash over Carmilla that she rarely felt. She stroked Laura's hand with her thumb, lightly leaning her own head on Laura's.
Carmilla decided that she liked travelling in the snow.
Especially with Laura beside her.
-------
A quiet smile quirked Carmilla's lips as she entered the Hollis home behind a half asleep Laura, who kept yawning as she dragged her trunk behind her.
It was so...fitting.
The house was a little disjointed, small but rambling with a rough wooden fence around it. The shingles were painted a deep red, the roof covered in snow. A large wreath hung from the brown front door, and a path was shoveled through the snow from the driveway to the door, a lean-to situated at the side of the house where a large pile of firewood was stacked. Warm light shone from within, and when Carmilla entered the house, she saw where the warm light was eminating from. Mismatched lamps sat on end tables and a desk that was tucked into the corner, warm yellow light shining from them. The wood stove in the living room was still going, warmth pouring from the fireplace, little flames crackling safely behind the small glass window, and in the corner by the window, stood a tall Christmas tree decked in white lights and all manner of homemade ornaments.
Carmilla looked around in wonder at the small, warm house with it’s squishy couches and framed photos on the walls. It was one of the most beautiful things she had ever seen.
Laura glanced at Carmilla, looking a little apprehensive as she stood her trunk up near the door. She knew the kind of Christmases Carmilla was used to. They weren’t good, but they were...grand. Opulent. No expense was spared. Carmilla had told her about it, how her Mother’s house was draped in silver garlands and icy ornaments, a massive tree residing in the foyer, weighed down with fine silver ornaments and magical candles. Laura knew that Carmilla never like that kind of Christmas, but she wondered what her small little muggle-like home looked like to Carmilla, in comparison. She wanted Carmilla to like it, to feel at home. To feel wanted and cared for on Christmas.
Carmilla squeezed Laura’s hand and kissed her cheek. “It’s beautiful,” She said, smiling against Laura’s blushing skin.
-------
Later on that night, Carmilla sat at the kitchen table, changed into sweatpants and an old Weird Sisters teeshirt as Laura stood at the stove, stirring a pot of hot chocolate while Sherman made up the couch for Carmilla with at least half a dozen blankets and three pillows, and Carmilla didn’t quite know what to do.
She wasn’t used to this.
Normally, she would be holed up in the girls’ dormitory in Ravenclaw tower, passing the hours with books on her own. She hadn’t left Hogwarts for Christmas in six years. Being at Laura’s house was wonderful, but she didn’t quite know what to do with herself.
Thankfully, Tibbs had decided that it was his job to occupy Carmilla’s attention.
The orange tabby lounged on the table, nudging Carmilla’s hands with his nose, and pawing at her whenever there was a pause in her petting of him. He was purring contentedly, yawning occasionally, and Carmilla watched him, a small smile on her lips.
“He likes you,” Laura said, breaking the silence.
Carmilla looked up to find Laura leaning against the counter, smiling. She’d also changed into her pajamas, a pair of Dr Who sweatpants and a plain green tank top. Her hair was slightly mussed up from changing, stray strands sticking in different directions, but Carmilla thought she looked beautiful in the soft light, the scent of chocolate clinging to her. Carmilla held out her hand, which Laura took, and pulled her closer until Laura was mere inches away, and then wrapped her arms around Laura’s waist, smiling as she felt Laura chuckle as Laura ran her fingers through her hair. Carmilla rested her head on Laura’s stomach and breathed deeply, finally beginning to relax a little. Laura smiled down at her girlfriend, wrapping her arms around Carmilla’s shoulders, and sighed contentedly.
After a moment, Carmilla looked up at Laura after kissing Laura’s stomach. She opened her mouth to say something, but the moment was interrupted as they heard Sherman’s slippered footsteps draw nearer to the kitchen. They broke apart, but kept their hands linked as Sherman walked in.
“Is the cocoa ready, pumpkin?” He asked cheerfully, going to one of the cabinets for three mugs.
Laura blushed slightly in embarrassment at the nickname, but nodded anyways. “Did you remember to get marshmallows?” She asked, pulling Carmilla up from her seat and towards the counter.
“I did,” Sherman said proudly, and plopped two into each mug after filling each with cocoa. He placed one in front of Laura and one in front of Carmilla as he blew on his own to cool it off. “your bed is ready in the living room, Carmilla,” Sherman continued after taking a sip of his cocoa. “and there’s extra blankets on the loveseat if you need it, but the wood stove should keep you toasty all night.”
“You already put six blankets on the couch,” Laura giggled, and Sherman gave her a mock glare.
“You can never be too prepared,” Sherman said seriously.
“Thank you,” Carmilla said, looking at Sherman, her eyes bordering on the softness they only held when she looked at Laura. She tried to show how grateful she was, and she desperately hoped he understood.
That was something else she wasn’t used to.
Sherman had just set about making up a bed for her shortly after they arrived. No prompting whatsoever. There had already been a pile of blankets and pillows on the couch when they arrived. Carmilla had been planning on just curling up with a spare blanket, she would have been content with that. She hadn’t wanted to create extra work for them, be an inconvenience. She was grateful simply that Sherman had allowed her to visit for Christmas break. That alone had already made this the best Christmas possible. But Sherman and Laura were trying to make her feel at home, and she wasn’t sure what to do with that.
It made her ache inside. But it was a good ache.
Beside Carmilla, Laura yawned, the warmth of the cocoa seeming to make her sleepier. She leaned into Carmilla’s side, and Sherman chuckled as he watched them.
“I think it’s time for bed after you finish your cocoa,” He said with a laugh. “you two have had a long day.”
Laura nodded with a yawn, causing Carmilla to breathe out a laugh as she stroked Laura’s hand gently under the table with her thumb.
Soon, the three of them had finished their cocoa, and Sherman bade them goodnight, padding up the stairs with a yawn to his bedroom. Laura and Carmilla lingered in the kitchen, not looking forward to sleeping apart. Laura had hoped that maybe they would get to both stay in her room and finally get to sleep together since they never could at Hogwarts, but Sherman had been loud and clear. Carmilla was to sleep on the couch, no if ands or buts.
Laura wrapped herself around Carmilla, grumbling about Sherman’s rule, but Carmilla just held her and smiled amusedly, honestly just happy to be in the same house as Laura. Though she did wish she could curl up in Laura’s bed with her.
“Goodnight, sweetheart,” Carmilla said, and kissed Laura gently, reluctant to let her go.
“See you in the morning?” Laura asked as they broke apart.
“Wouldn’t dream of being anywhere else,” Carmilla promised, and pecked Laura’s cheek.
“Good,” Laura grinned. “g'night.” She said, and hugged Carmilla tightly, but Carmilla caught her hand as she began to walk away. “Carm?” She questioned, the thoughtful look on Carmilla’s face worrying her a little.
Carmilla bit her lip, gently playing with Laura’s fingers. “Thank you for bringing me here,” She said, eyes soft in the dim light. “this is already the best Christmas I could...ever ask for.”
Laura smiled softly, a lump forming in her throat. “Of course. I just want you to be happy.” She said, and kissed Carmilla’s forehead. “‘Night,” She murmured, kissing her again, and then she was gone, bare feet padding up the stairs.
Carmilla smiled as she watched her retreat to her bedroom, and finally moved herself, walking towards the living room.
The lights were snuffed out except for the Christmas tree, and the glow of the wood stove. The couch was covered in a patchwork quilt, flannel sheets tucked around the cushions, and three pillows at one end. A glass of water was on the coffee table next to the couch, and on top of the blankets sat a pair of fluffy socks.
Carmilla felt a lump rise in her throat.
Carmilla set her wand on the coffee table and sat down to pull the socks on. They were warm and soft, yellow and black stripes. They must be Laura’s. Carmilla tossed one of the pillows onto the empty loveseat and hugged the other one, smiling a little as she slipped under the covers, humming contentedly at the weight of them as she pulled the blankets over herself. She pressed her face into the pillow beneath her head, the homey scent of Laura’s house enveloping her, and after some time, she drifted off to sleep to the soft crackling of the wood stove.
-------
Carmilla slowly woke up to the sound of a tea kettle beginning to whistle and the scuffling of somebody running over to take it off the burner before it started screeching, and Carmilla wasn’t exactly sure where she was for a moment.
She was warm, but the room was bright, not dark like her bed at school with the curtains drawn.
But then she heard Laura’s voice as Laura muttered to herself, and the last twenty-four hours came rushing back.
She was bundled up on the couch under a mountain of blankets in Laura’s living room, and there was a soft weight on her feet. The homey scent of fresh laundry and wood and the citrusy scent of the Christmas tree was everywhere, and it sounded like Laura was cooking, the soft clang of pots and the sizzle of bacon in a pan reaching Carmilla’s ears.
Carmilla sat up and looked around blearily, a smile playing with her lips as she looked around Laura’s living room. That had been the best she’d slept in a long time. She looked down at her feet to find Tibbs curled up, fast asleep on top of the blankets, and she carefully moved so as to not wake him. She pulled a sweater on as she stood up, yawning, and shuffled into the kitchen where Laura was, indeed, cooking breakfast.
“Hey,” Carmilla rasped, her voice still scratchy from sleep.
Laura turned around, grinning. “Hey,” She said, and stepped forward to give Carmilla a kiss. “did you sleep okay?” She asked, tucking Carmilla’s hair behind her ear.
Carmilla hummed as she nodded. “I did,” She said, wrapping her arms around Laura’s waist as Laura turned back to the stove to flip the eggs that were sizzling in the pan. “did you?”
“Mhm,” Laura smiled as she slid two eggs onto a plate and then cracked another two into the pan. “Your breakfast is getting cold," She said, leaning back to kiss Carmilla’s cheek. Beside the stove sat a plate with two eggs, bacon and toast, and a large mug of tea with cream.
“You’re wonderful,” Carmilla said, and hugged Laura tightly before letting her go to collect her plate.
Laura giggled and shook her head a little as Carmilla sat down at the table, and set about preparing a plate for Sherman. Just as she slid the next two eggs onto a plate, Sherman came shuffling into the kitchen, yawning, and made a beeline for the coffee maker.
“Morning dad,” Laura said cheerfully as she buttered a few pieces of toast. two plates sat on the counter with two eggs and several pieces of bacon apiece. She dropped two pieces of toast onto each, and carried them to the table, taking a seat beside Carmilla.
“Morning ladies,” Sherman said with a smile as he set his coffee mug down on the kitchen table and took a seat. “Thanks pumpkin,” he glanced up at Laura as she put his plate in front of him. “I’ll make pancakes tomorrow, its my turn to cook,”
Carmilla looked up from her eggs and quirked an eyebrow, but said nothing.
Laura looked over, catching Carmilla’s confused look. “We alternate the days we cook,” Laura explained as she sat down. “I cooked breakfast today, so he’ll cook tomorrow,”
“And I’ll cook dinner today, so Laura will cook dinner tomorrow,” Sherman said through a bite of toast.
Carmilla nodded, but stayed quiet for a moment. “I can cook a little too, if you’d like me to,”
Sherman paused, a piece of bacon in hand. He smiled at Carmilla. “Only if you want to, don’t feel like you have to,”
“I’d like to,” Carmilla nodded.
“Well alright then,” Sherman grinned, patting Carmila on the shoulder.
-------
So how do you know how to make beef bourguignon?” Laura asked, looking up at Carmilla.
The two of them were sitting on the couch, Sherman having run out to the store for the things Carmilla needed to fix dinner, Laura’s head in Carmilla’s lap as Carmilla read.
Carmilla’s eyes shifted from her book to look at Laura. “Sometimes I would sneak down to the kitchens at my Mother’s house,” She said with a shrug. “The house elves taught me a few things. And Mother originally wanted to send me to Beauxbatons,”
“What?” Laura asked abruptly. “Why would she want to send you to Beauxbatons?”
“My Mother prefers French sensibilities,” Carmilla said with a small shrug, “and she doesn’t like McGonagall. But Mattie persuaded her to send me to Hogwarts, she reasoned that it would benefit our reputation to all have gone to the same school, and be in the same house.” She let out a huff of laughter. “That went down the drain when I got sorted into Ravenclaw, but it was too late by that point,"
Laura scowled and shifted closer so that her cheek was pressed up to Carmilla’s stomach. “Your mother is awful,” She grumbled. “I mean, Beauxbatons is a good school as far as I know, and who's their headmistress…Maxime? She sounds nice, but that’s so far away!”
Carmilla quirked a smile at Laura’s outburst, and ran her fingers through Laura’s hair. “That’s mostly why Mattie pushed for me to attend Hogwarts.”
Laura blew out a sigh, her eyes flicking up to meet Carmilla’s. “Remind me to thank her for that,” She said quietly, fiddling with the hem of Carmilla’s teeshirt.
Carmilla smiled a little, laying a hand on Laura’s stomach as she turned back to her book.
A few moments of silence passed, Laura enjoying the quiet sound of Carmilla occasionally turning a page, the faint sound of Tibbs purring as he slept on the on the rug.
“He really likes you, you know.” Laura said after a while, looking up at Carmilla again.
“Hm?” Carmilla hummed, looking away from her book.
“My dad, he really likes you,” Laura said with a smile. “He does,” Laura insisted, giving Carmilla a look when Carmilla opened her mouth to protest. “You have a home here, Carm. With us. With me.”