2nd/3rd year
Early December, 1972
Oldies Christmas music lightly drifted through the air, filling the ears of Emmeline Vance early that snowy December morning as she slowly awoke from her light sleep. Pushing down her mess of curls, she grunted out "Cas?"
"In here!" Chirped the older girl's spirited voice before a light thud filled the air "Merlin's Beard!" She exclaimed in surprise.
Fully awake now, both Emmeline and Hestia shared a look of surprise before sprinting to the Ravenclaw Common Room. Much to her surprise, the place was messily decorated in Christmas lights. The gentle lights lit up the place like a city.
Meanwhile, Cassiopeia herself was trying to put together a small Christmas tree. Ornaments laid around her as her face brimmed with frustration and humiliation, tears filling her brilliant eyes.
"Hey, hey, it's all okay," Hestia carefully helped Cassiopeia away from the ornaments, knowing from experience how painful they could be. She looked the older girl in the eye "What are you trying to do?"
Her face flamed with further embarrassment as she played with strand curls of dark hair "I--I wanted to set up a small Christmas tree....to give you guys a surprise..."
Emmeline felt her face soften, seeing the tears of despair in the older girl's face "Oh, Cassie, why didn't you come to us? We could've helped you!"
One of her free hands now fiddled with her Ravenclaw tie "I....I wanted to make it a surprise..." she shifted from foot to foot, avoiding eye contact.
"Oh, it's all okay!" Hestia chirped, trying to cheer the normally stiff Cassiopeia up "Let us help you!"
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"The poor dear tried to what?"
"My sister did that?"
Both Sirius and Dorcas talked over each other in surprise as Emmeline relayed to them what exactly happened earlier. Sirius in particular looked very surprised, his grey eyes wide with thought "Cas....this is her first time trying to set up a tree..." He stated softly, a proud grin spreading across his face "She's finally coming out of her shell!" He cheered happily.
"Was she hurt in any way?" Dorcas asked quietly, her face pinched with a thoughtful worry. Her dark locs hung over her shoulders in braids.
"No," Emmeline shook her head at the question "Me and Hestia got her away from the ornaments before she could hurt herself." A soft smile tugged on her lips "We even helped her set up the tree."
"Hey Em, Sirius," Dorcas called out, her face now in deep thought. She looked to be planning something "For this Christmas....how would Cas like to have some of my old records?"
Even in their second year, Dorcas Meadowes was well known for having a love for music, having records of everything from the likes of Elvis Presley to Queen. Her music could be heard playing even from the Ravenclaw Common Room.
"Are you sure?" Sirius asked hesitantly, knowing how much Dorcas loved her records. For someone to willingly give up some of their old things without any ulterior motives was still something very new to him.
I know dear sweet Bella never did that Sirius thought bitterly before pushing any thought of his deranged cousin out of his mind. He already knew what he, James, Remus, Peter, and Andromeda were getting for Cassiopeia this Christmas.
Dorcas' bright brown eyes lit up like a bunch of Christmas lights "Sure, Sirius! Christmas is the time for giving! I know I'll be getting some new records from my mum and brother!" She twirled her locs half-heartedly, trying to think of anything else of her old things she could give Sirius' twin.
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Two days before Christmas, Cassiopeia found herself frantically searching for James Potter, nearly on the verge of tears. Tears leaked down her pale cheeks as her voice weakly called out "J-James?" She cried out softly.
Frustration brimmed within her, this wasn't funny! Now wasn't the time for any games!
"Cas?" A different, yet soft, kind voice came from behind her. Behind her stood Remus Lupin, his amber eyes soft and concerned as the second year Gryffindor took in her frenzied state "Hey, what's the matter?"
"I--...." Cassiopeia looked down at her shoes, trying to hold back tears. She wouldn't cry, couldn't show any weakness "I'm trying to find James so he can sneak me into Hogsmeade under that cloak of his...."
Confusion filled those amber eyes as Remus rubbed his chin in thought, looking as if he were trying to figure out something "Cas, what's so important in Hogsmeade that you're in literal tears trying to find James?" He knew that it was more than just trying to cause mischief. The look on her eyes and in her face confirmed that.
"I--I want to buy Emmeline and Hestia their last minute Christmas gifts, but I don't know what to get them," Cassiopeia explained in frustration, tears brimming in her eyes as she clenched her trembling fists. The Gryffindor's face softened at her plight "They've been so patient with me, even after I was sorted into Ravenclaw. But I...."
"You don't know what to get them?" Remus finished for her, his heart aching at the Ravenclaw's plight. Normally, finding gifts for friends wouldn't be this big of a problem.
But Cassiopeia was different, unique.
"Hey, hey, I'm sure everything will turn out okay," Remus placed his hand on the trembling, thin shoulders, hidden underneath the heavy, almost Victorian-era esque dress "Can you breathe for me?"
Seeing the calm, understanding look in the amber eyes of Remus Lupin, Cassiopeia slowly took a few steadying breaths, unclenching her hands. She tried to follow his breathing to the best of her abilities.
"How about I help you find James?" Remus offered, a sudden smile spreading across his face as his eyes sparkled with something "He's probably trying to think of ways to build up courage to talk to Lily Evans."
A laugh burst through her lips, an airy, breathy noise that melted Remus' heart. Slowly, a smile threatened to spread across her face "I'd like that."
"There's that smile!" Remus crooned softly, causing the smile to become bigger.
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December 25th, 1972
"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,
Had a very shiny nose~"
The moment that the intro's song started to play, Remus' eyes lit up as a bright smile spread across his face "Oh, I remember this movie!" He could remember getting a Rudolph stuffed animal when he was younger.
"I-Is this movie fun?" Cassiopeia asked curiously, seeing the smiles on Peter and Dorcas' faces as the group of twelve-year-olds cuddled up together in the Room of Requirement.
The night of Christmas found the small group cuddled up in the warm Room of Requirement, an old....what was that word again? Oh!.....television on a wooden table and hot chocolate and popcorn near them.
"It is very beautiful, this movie," Peter proclaimed proudly, rubbing his hands in excitement "I'd have to say that the visuals are more beautiful than any movie I've ever seen...."
James' hazel eyes shot open with surprise, a similar expression on Cassiopeia's face "Really?" He ran his hand through his untidy jet-black hair.
As the group of twelve-year-olds watched the film, Cassiopeia felt her eyes growing heavier and heavier as she fell asleep in between her twin brother and Remus. Them all being cuddled up together didn't help the warmth surrounding her.
A smile spread across her face as she saw baby Rudolph "Awwww..." she cooed softly, unable to take her eyes off the baby reindeer.
He's so cute, why can't he stay like this forever?!
Surrounded by her friends and such warmth, Cassiopeia slowly drifted away, the lyrics of "There's always tomorrow" etching themselves into her mind.