Christmas in the Town Square
Tess lay on her bed and cried for a while before changing into her nightgown. Her mother checked on her, but Tess was in no mood to talk. The next morning, she was still feeling low. She did not say a word to her family at the breakfast table.
Once her mother had sent little brother Max off to the shower, Aylie decided it was time to see what was the matter with her older sister. She said, “You’re in a gloomy mood this morning. It’s Christmas! You should be happy!”
“I guess I’m not very happy today.”
“Why not?”
“If you must know, I broke up with Pierce last night.”
“Why? I thought you liked him.”
“I decided I didn’t like him as much as I thought. I liked his brother better, but Reid has a new girlfriend, and he doesn’t want me anymore.”
“That’s dumb. Boys are dumb. You shouldn’t let them make you depressed. You need to get with the Christmas spirit!”
Just then, their mother returned to the kitchen. “Oh, Ayles, you have a letter. It came with this morning’s owl.”
Olivia handed Aylie a white envelope. It was addressed, in careful labored print, to Aylie Covenshire, Godric’s Hollow. Up in the top left corner was an address in Borehamwood and the name R. Parker. “Who?” asked Aylie, puzzled. Her nose wrinkled as recognition dawned on her. “Richie Parker? Why on Earth …?” Aylie got up from the table and disappeared up the stairs.
Tess allowed herself a smile, the first one since she had returned home from the Magefords.
An hour later, Tess was sitting on her bed, leaning against the wall of her room. Her Witchter ball was in front of her. Mist swirled within the glass ball and then Morwena’s face came into focus. “Hullo, Tess. Happy Christmas. How are you this morning?”
“I broke it off with Pierce,” said Tess.
“Tell me.”
Tess gave a recap of the previous evening, including Reid’s firm rejection. “There was nothing to do at that point except go home.”
“The Reid gambit was a stretch, I always thought,” said Morwena. “It’s best to move on. You’ll have another boy coming around before you know it.”
“Aylie says I need to get into the Christmas spirit.”
“You know what I would suggest.”
“Yes – caroling. Let’s do it.”
“Trouble is, I’m stuck up here in Druid’s Grove for the duration. Grand-mum is sick and Mother is organizing all the family to-dos. If you want to organize a caroling party, it’s got to be up here.”
“How am I to get myself to Druid’s Grove?”
“Your parents could take you.”
“If they go up, they’ll want to come caroling, too. Alyie and Max and everybody.”
“I understand that Philip has learned how to drive a car,” said Morwena.
“Now that’s an idea! Maybe Hark can take me.”
“With any luck, his father’s car has a magically enlarged backseat. He could bring the whole gang up here.”
“I’ll ask him, and then I’ll start rounding up the troops,” said Tess. She could feel the Christmas spirit flowing back.
An hour later, Aylie was sitting in her bedroom with her cousin, Rainey Pixieburg. Aylie said, “Tess broke up with Zyla’s boyfriend.”
“Really? She broke up with Pierce?”
“Yep. She decided she didn’t like him anymore.”
“Zyla doesn’t like him anymore, either.”
“Oh! Guess who got me a Christmas card. Richie Parker!”
“Who?” asked Rainey.
“That’s what I thought, too. Who is this?”
“I really don’t know, Ayles. Who is he?”
“It’s Goonah!”
Rainey’s face brightened. “Goonah sent you a Christmas card? Can I see it?”
“Sure.”
The front of the card shows a drawing of a cardinal against a snowy background. Inside was a holiday message in silver foil and Richie’s signature: Richie Parker, Gooner.
“Look!” said Rainey. “It says Gooner. I wondered about that, if he was dropping his ‘r’ like he does when he says his name.” She mimicked the boy. “Richie Parkah.”
“I still don't know what Gooner means. It's some Muggle term, I guess. Did you get a card from him?” asked Aylie.
“No.”
“Then why did he send one to me?”
Rainey laughed. “Because he’s in love with you, silly.”
“In love with me? He doesn’t even know me! It’s not like we talk or anything.”
“He talks to you more than he does any other girl. And he looks at you with googly eyes when you’re not looking.”
“He does not.”
“Yes, he does.”
“Boys are so dumb. Especially the boys our age. The older boys, not so much.”
“Boys like Pierce Mageford?”
“Pierce Mageford isn’t dumb. He’s just not a good boyfriend. But I was thinking about the boys from our House. Boys like Philip Harkenborough and Liam Wren.”
“You and Hark have a ‘special relationship.’”
This made Aylie blush. “We do not. But, speaking of Hark, my sister is trying to talk him into taking us up to Druid’s Grove tonight. She wants to go caroling with Wennie and Freya. She says if she can swing it, she’ll take us, too.”
At that very moment, Tess was speaking to Philip with her Witchter ball. “So, Wennie tells me you know how to drive a car.”
“Yes, I do,” said Philip. “Are you needing a ride somewhere?”
“Wennie and I are wanting to organize another caroling party.”
“Down here, or up in Druid’s Grove?”
“Up there. The houses are really far apart, but if we go to the town square, there should be Christmas shoppers to entertain.”
“I’ve never driven that far on my own.”
“I’m sure you can do it, though. Do you think you can get your dad to loan you the car for the night?”
“I could ask. How many people am I picking up?”
“Me and Aylie. And our cousin Rainey, who is in your House. Plus anyone else that you want to see.”
“I’m not driving to Biggleswade,” said Philip. “Not this year, anyway. But I’ll see if Lara and Stacy are interested.”
“That’s the spirit! Let me know, okay? I’ll iron out the rest of the plans with Wennie.”
That evening, at quarter to seven, Philip drove his father’s sedan out of their neighborhood. Lara and Stacy were in the backseat. They drove first to the Covenshires to pick up Tess, Aylie and Rainey. The next stop was at the Ashfeld Estate for Rhiannon and Shona. Shona sat in the back with the others while Rhiannon sat up front next to Philip.
“I missed out on this the last time we did it,” said Rhiannon. “I’m glad I got to go this time.”
“That’s right,” said Philip. “When we did this a few years ago, you were grounded. I distinctly remember stopping you from murdering Mona Pitchfork.”
“Lucky for her that you were there,” said Rhiannon. “Do you know the way to Druid’s Grove?”
“I think so. I drove up there a couple of times last summer, but not at night, and not in the snow.”
“I’ll help you navigate.”
“That would be much appreciated.”
Rhiannon directed him out of town. One road connected the two villages. A wooden sign with carved letters and an arrow directed them north to Druid’s Grove. The car’s headlamps lit up the road ahead of him. Enchanted tyres defeated the ice and snow. On either side, the English countryside was black. Philip drove cautiously, feeling a great weight of responsibility for all the girls in the back, and for Rhiannon as well.
Another wooden sign caught in the headlights read “Towne Square” with an arrow to the right. Philip turned at the sign onto a narrow lane with houses on either side. There were shops and a small theater, and then they came to the square, a patch of grass with a statue of the village’s first mayor at the center.
“A relative of yours?” smirked Rhiannon.
“Undoubtedly,” said Philip.
“Up ahead. Do you see them? It’s Wennie and Cy.”
“Yes, I see them now.” Philip pulled the car into a stall. The doors opened, and the carolers streamed out onto the sidewalk. Claire Quillan was not there to remark how much it looked like a clown car.
Morwena wore her grey wool coat and black beret. Beside her, tall and broad-shouldered, dressed in navy blue, was Cyrus Kane of Durmstrang. Behind them was Freya, plus the Thompson siblings, Sadie and Aiden.
Morwena’s hand rested on Cyrus’ arm. I guess I can’t pretend to be Morwena’s boyfriend, thought Philip, when the real thing is here. Morwena said, “You remember Philip, don’t you, Cy?”
“Of course, I do!” said Cyrus, cheerful and gregarious. “I used to give him a hard time when we were little, but that was all fun and games, wasn’t it, Hark?” He extended his hand. Though Cyrus’ bullying hadn’t felt like fun and games back then, Philip knew he must be civil. Even Liam has buried the hatchet with Cyrus Kane. I should, too. The two boys exchanged a firm handshake. “Look at you now, Hark! You used to be the runt of the litter. Now, you’re taller than I am. The girls must be swooning for you these days.”
This comment elicited giggles from Aylie and Rainey. Tess moved past Philip to give Cyrus a hug. Philip, in turn, received a hugs from Morwena and Sadie. Sadie’s bright blue coat and beret made him think of Pauline. “Happy Christmas!” he said.
“I was so shocked when I got the owl this afternoon,” said Sadie. “Morwena Felwich wants me to go caroling with her tonight? I guess I’m still not used to being part of the in-group.”
“You were always in my group,” said Philip.
“Awww. I love my Hufflepuff boys.” She rested her head briefly on Philip’s chest. “Is Liam here?”
“No. I’m not proficient enough with the car to go all the way to Biggleswade.”
“Jill and her brothers are going to bring him up here for New Year’s.”
“Brilliant.”
Next to Sadie were Aiden Thompson and Freya Felwich. Philip nodded to the two, but before he could speak to them, Morwena was calling to him. “Oh, Hark! There’s something we need to show you. Come this way!”
Morwena and Cyrus led Philip and the others down the street. In a corner of the square was an Auror kiosk. “Did you bring your phone with you?” asked Morwena.
“Yes, I’m trying to carry it with me everywhere I go, like the Muggles do, while I’ve been home.”
“Take it out and check it,” she said.
Philip pulled the phone out of his pants pocket and unlocked the screen. “I have all my bars!” he exclaimed.
Cyrus pointed to one of the oaks in the park across from the kiosk. “That tree there is an antenna. The Muggles put it in for us. The thing looked like a child’s drawing of a tree. As soon as they left, we changed it to make it more presentable.”
Philip nodded, though he was thinking, You say that as if you transfigured the antenna yourself, and aren’t relaying the story third-hand like you actually are.
Tess drew up on his other side. “Call Pauline!” she said.
“She told me to text her first to make sure she wasn’t busy.”
“Oh, don’t bother with that,” said Tess. “Call her!”
Philip needed no further prompting. He opened his address app and selected Pauline’s name from the list. He felt his stomach tighten as he heard the dial tone. God, I hope I don’t completely blank out when I hear her voice.
There it was, soft and low. “’Allo?”
“Pauline, it’s Philip.”
“Hi there! You called me.”
“Yes. I’m finally in a place where I can get a signal. Town Square, Druid’s Grove, of all places. There’s an antenna down here. It’s by the Auror’s office.”
“How’s your holiday going? What have you been doing?”
“Tonight, I was practicing my driving.”
“Driving a car?”
“Yes. I drove my dad’s car up here. The whole gang’s here.”
Tess leaned close and said, “Hi, Pauline!”
“Is that Tess?”
“Yes.”
“Hark, put the phone on speaker,” instructed Pauline.
“Sorry! That wasn’t on my last Muggle Studies exam,” he said. She had to guide him through the steps, but eventually, he managed it. “Okay, you’re on speaker.”
“Who’s there besides Tess?”
“I’m here,” said Morwena.
“So am I,” said Rhiannon.
“Cyrus Kane is with us tonight,” continued Morwena. “Lara and Stacy are here as well as Sadie and her brother, Aiden. Freya is here, too.”
“Oh my gosh! I miss you all so much!”
“I promise,” said Philip, “next year, I will come and get you. I’ll practice driving all summer, and wherever you are, I will find you and bring you here.”
“I wish I could be there now.”
Morwena stepped close to the phone and said, “You are with us now. We’re out caroling. Let’s sing a song!”
“Let’s sing a French song!” suggested Stacy. “How about ‘Bring a Torch, Isabella!’” With Morwena directing, the group began to sing the old French song. They followed with “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear,” and “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing.”
“That’s your song, Philip,” said Pauline, and they all laughed.
Cyrus pointed to the transfigured antenna. “In honour of the noble oak providing us this signal, let’s sing ‘O Tannenbaum!”
A crowd of shoppers began to form, listening to the teens as they stood in a circle around Philip’s phone. Pauline sang along until her voice cracked. “I’m so happy right now, I’m crying. Please come and get me, next time. Promise me you’ll come for me.”
“I shall,” said Philip solemnly. He felt the promise fill his soul and knew he would not let her down.