Secret Santa Gift Drop-off thread

[OSUSprinks]

Happy Christmas, Ro! Here's your present (which for the record I already sent her, but it is late because I was trying to find a title. lol)!

Charming Roots, She Wrote

[lenora]

I tried for humor...I don't know if I succeeded.

_____________________________________________________

Minerva McGonagall busied herself with pouring three goblets full of spiced cider in the kitchenette of the Headmaster’s suite of rooms in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Her grown daughter Athena stood next to her, pouring mugs of cocoa for her three children: Aaron, Anna, and Aristotle (you can blame Albus for the name of her youngest son).

“Minerva my dear,” came the voice of Minerva’s husband of fifty years, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore as he walked into the kitchenette. “It’s that special day again Dear,” he said, bouncing slightly as he stood before his girls.

Minerva’s eyes flew to the muggle calendar that hung above the sink. The contraption had been an anniversary gift from her husband and it featured images of sweets of the muggle world. Her gaze narrowed in on the current date: December 24th and she groaned inwardly. She forced a smile onto her face as she turned to her husband. “So it is Albus, why don’t you go get everything ready while Athena and I bring the drinks out,” she said, forcing a cheery tone to her voice.

“It’s already done Minerva,” Albus said, obviously waiting for his wife and daughter to hurry up.

“Here Da, why don’t you help me give cocoa to the children,” Athena said, noticing the look in her mother’s eyes.

Albus eagerly took two of the mugs of cocoa and he bounced out of the room, calling for the children to come get their cocoa.

“This was always my favorite thing about Christmas,” Athena told her mother as they walked into the living room.

Minerva rolled her eyes and she handed Athena one of the goblets of cider and she saw five pairs of pleading eyes staring at her. “Oh go on,” she said exasperated.

Albus and the children cheered as Athena popped a shiny disc into a contraption that Minerva had never bothered to learn how to use. The fact that both the disc and the “contraption” were technically illegal never really bothered her since it made her husband happy to have them around.

Once the other’s attention was caught by what was happening on the screen before them, Minerva stealthily pulled one of her Transfiguration texts out of her pocket and she began reading it.

“Look, the Winter Warlock is melting!” cried Aristotle, pointing at the screen.

“Ready children?” Albus asked, standing up. ”Put one foot in front of the other, and soon you’ll be walking cross the floor,” Albus sang along with the movie. The three children followed his lead, singing along with their grandfather.

Minerva sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. “He’s 150 years old, and still acting like a child,” she muttered.

Santa Clause is Comin’ to Town was quickly followed by Ruidolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, then Frosty the Snowman, and Frosty Returns.

Halfway through Frosty, the three children were asleep, deposited in their room in the Headmaster’s suite. Athena had gone to sleep after Frosty Returns.

The ending of The Little Drummer Boy was playing when Minerva looked up and saw that Albus was asleep before their tree. She smiled softly at her husband and she closed her book. How could she begrudge this man his childishness? No matter how childish he may act at times, he was still the love of her life. She waved her wand and levitated her husband to their bed. “Happy Christmas my love,” she whispered, kissing his cheek.

The last thing she heard as she walked out to turn of the movie was Albus humming in his sleep. “Ba ruh ba ba ba bum…”

Fin

A/N: If you don’t know, what Albus was humming at the end is the tune of the Little Drummer Boy.

[OSUSprinks]

I knew it was that song before I read your note. lol Awesome job!

[jayejaye]

I am so. so sorry this is late. Real life got in the way and I was worried it wouldn't be finished by Christmas, so I stayed up after my night shift to type it...which you all know takes a loooong time...lol. I am well aware this is not my best work, but it’s my first attempt at any ADMM since Deathly Hallows, which I’m afraid killed my muse for a while. Still, I hope you like it Elo, it didn't turn out quite as fluffy as I planned... Anyway…on with the story.


A MMAD Christmas.



Albus Dumbledore awoke excited, today was Christmas Day, an excellent day to be up early. However on poking his big toe out from under the maroon eiderdown Albus revised his decision. No…Christmas Day was an excellent day to stay right where he was. Hastily withdrawing his toe, Albus snuggled deeper under the covers. The figure next to him grunted in a most unladylike manner and burrowed deeper into his embrace.

“If you think I am leaving this bed just so you can unwrap your presents at this ungodly hour you are sadly mistaken” mumbled the woman, her eyes still firmly closed.

“On the contrary my dear,” Albus chuckled,” I was just contemplating lying here all day enjoying the company of my lovely wife.”

“Shame you’re stuck with me then” Minerva giggled.

Albus sighed dramatically. “Yes it is rather, but I shall have to make do… ouch!”

Minerva playfully slapped his chest, still steadfastly refusing to open her eyes and admit it was morning.

“Merry Christmas my darling” Albus whispered, placing a gentle kiss to his wife’s forehead.

“Merry Christmas Albus,” Minerva smiled, “But can we please go back to sleep, at least until its light outside.”

Albus drew his wife close, silently wondering how she was able to tell it was five o’clock without ever opening her eyes.

Several hours later Albus was reawoken by something tickling his nose. He brushed it away with the back of his hand and settled back to sleep. There it was again…something tickling. Opening one eye he was met with Minerva’s gaze. She was flicking the end of his beard over the tip of his nose. Well really…a man’s beard should never be used against him…

Minerva had been watching Albus for several minutes before she woke him. He looked so peaceful dozing in his purple nightcap, but they were in danger of wasting the whole day.

“We really should be getting up now you know; we need to firecall the children before lunch.”

With a sigh Minerva rose, padding across the stone floor, now warmed by the fire crackling in the grate, toward the window.

“Oh Albus” she breathed “It’s beautiful.”

Slipping from the bed, Albus adjusted his cap which had fallen forward, obscuring his view and joined his wife at the window. Wrapping his arms tightly around her, he surveyed the scene before him. It had been snowing; the Hogwarts grounds were covered in a crisp white blanket, the weak winter sun causing icicles on the trees of the Forbidden Forrest to glisten and gleam like the diamond on Minerva’s finger.

It was the first time in many years that Albus and Minerva would be spending Christmas together alone and they were both looking forward to it immensely. Their two children Catherine and Alan, both aurors had elected to spend Christmas in London with friends. For once all the students had left for the holidays, even Severus had left for the festive season, albeit on a spying mission for Albus. Filch would be safely lurking in the dungeons and the only other people in the castle, Pomona and Filius would be leaving that morning to spend the day with their daughter Amy.

“Let’s go for a walk before we call the children” Minerva suggested.

“What a wonderful idea my love.” Albus had secretly been hoping Minerva would suggest a stroll. All that pristine snow, just crying out for a snowman and some snow angels, not to mention how beautiful he found Minerva with rosy cheeks from the crisp air.

Twenty minutes later, having eaten a light breakfast, the couple were wrapped up warmly in matching red and gold hats and scarves, ready to brave the elements. Just as they were about to leave their chambers there was a hurried knock on the heavy oak door.

Opening the door Albus and Minerva were faced with their long-time friends Pomona Sprout and Filius Flitwick.

“Albus, Minerva, Merry Christmas. I’m afraid we are running very late” squeaked Filius. “Poor Pomona was up nearly all night, a small greenhouse emergency.”

Albus looked alarmed.

“Oh, no real harm done Albus “Pomona added hastily. “My fanged geranium doesn’t seem to have entered into the Christmas spirit. It tried to destroy my muggle Holly bush. Anyway, we just dropped by to deliver Minerva’s present. It only arrived late last night.”

The foursome had exchanged gifts the day before, but Minerva’s had yet to arrive.

“I’m sorry we can’t stay Min” Pomona Sighed. “I hope you enjoy the present. It’s called a DVD, a muggle invention. I watched the films with Amy and her muggle friends. It’s about the Queen of a land called Genovia and the love of her life. I know you love muggle fairytales and I found the couple strangely familiar.”

Behind his wife Filius snorted. Pomona had insisted he watch the film and he had to admit the relationship between Queen Clarisse and her head of security Joseph did bear a striking similarity to the Headmaster and his Deputy in years gone by. Glancing at his watch Filius shrieked

“Pomona, quick, we’ll miss the portkey. Goodbye all, Merry Christmas.” With that he ushered his protesting wife toward the entrance hall.

Albus and Minerva had been strolling hand in hand across the Hogwarts grounds for some time. Minerva had initiated a snowball fight, something her students would surely never believe. Albus felt privileged to be one of the few people with whom she felt able to drop her guard. She had also indulged him and assisted as he made an army of snowmen by transfiguring pebbles into hats, scarves and carrots for noses. As they neared the black lake Albus pulled Minerva close to him and embraced her tightly. She stepped easily into his arms and rested her head on his shoulder. As they stood in silence surveying the ripples as the giant squid lazily swum in circles, Minerva spoke.

“Albus, do you think our world will ever be safe? First Grindelwald, now Voldemort. There will always be others won’t there…It scares me Albus.”

“It scares me too.” He admitted. “But as a wise man once said, Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear. We must have courage Minerva.”

She nodded and gazed up at him, reaching up to plant a gentle kiss to his lips. As she drew away Albus studied his wife’s face. Her usually porcelain skin was rosy from the cold. Her blue eyes, bright as sapphires in the midday sun and her long ebony hair, not restricted in its usual bun, contrasted with the stark brightness of the snow. Suddenly he longed to be somewhere else. Not that he disliked being at Hogwarts, but either of them could be contacted easily and whisked away on some urgent mission. He wished to be completely alone with his wife, just for one afternoon, perhaps at their private home.

“Min, let’s go to the cottage for lunch, we can call the children from there. The house elves have the day off so won’t have prepared any food, we can cook it ourselves, and it’ll be fun.”

Somewhat bemused Minerva regarded his excited face and knew she could never refuse him anything.

“On one condition.” She smiled slyly, knowing he could never refuse her either. “You watch my present from Mona and Fil with me. I think Alan left the box to play one of these DVD things there.”

Albus despised muggle fairytales… He preferred muggle stories of pirates or cowboys. However if that was how his Minerva wished to spend the afternoon, he would be only too pleased to accompany her on the sofa, perhaps with a glass or two of mulled wine.

Many hours later the couple were curled on an overstuffed sofa in their small home in the North of England. After a delicious meal and calls to both their children they had settled together to watch the film. As the picture ended Albus found he was rather drowsy, he blamed the heat of the roaring fire, but knew deep down it was probably the excessive amount of Christmas pudding washed down with his wife’s potent spiced cider. Albus felt his eyelids droop.

Minerva however was indignant.

“She meant us didn’t she?”

“Who my dear?”

Pomona, when she said the Queen and Joseph reminded her of someone. She meant us.”

A low chuckle rumbled in Albus’ chest. “I do believe she did my dear… However here we are, perfectly aware of each others feelings and readily acknowledging our own.”

With that he summoned a soft rug, draping it across them and settling for a nap once more. Minerva thought for a moment then settled down to nap with her husband, she was rather sleepy too. Resting her head on Albus’ chest she whispered.

“I love you Albus.”

“And I you Minerva, Merry Christmas.”

His wife did not reply, for she was already sleeping; Dreaming of facing her enemies, her husband at her side.

[childminerva]

What do you mean, not as fluffy as you had planned? With this and Mona's fic, I'm on fluff overload!!!
This was charming...I loved the reference to Elo and just everything!, esp this line...

"Well really…a man’s beard should never be used against him…"

[Smaug]

I do love it so much! I don't think I can say that enough. It was wonderful, and very fluffy. The beginning with even Albus wanting to stay in bed was truly wonderful. You write them together so well.

“If you think I am leaving this bed just so you can unwrap your presents at this ungodly hour you are sadly mistaken” mumbled the woman, her eyes still firmly closed.

A perfect Minerva And a perfect Christmas present!

Thank you very much

Happy Christmas everyone, now I finally have some Christmas spirit.

[OSUSprinks]

That was amazing Jaye! If this wasn't as fluffy as you had planned, I can only imagine what that story would have been like. lol I loved your reference to Elo as well and there were several lines that made me laugh out loud! Merry Christmas dear. I hope you can get some sleep tonight.

[laundrybasket]

For dmf1984, aka Dianne- MERRY CHRISTMAS! ;D

Yellow Flowers

Pomona picked the petals off of the flowers one by one, depositing them into a small container to be sealed and sent to England’s Herbology Center. She could hardly bear to see the sunshine yellow of the blossom be peeled away and slipped into the darkness, but she sighed and realised that this was her job, like it or not.

She kept careful count of the petals—it was the downside to being one of only three Herbologists in the country that bred these flowers. As she carefully tore them from the green stem, her mind wearily tallied—thirteen petals, fourteen petals, fifteen petals…sixteen, he loves me, seventeen, he loves me not…

Pomona shook her head and tried to stop her internal debate. Damn Filius for wearing such a smart set of robes to breakfast; now she couldn’t get her mind off him.

Still, she didn’t take it as meaning anything when the pattern of petals ended on he loves me.

--

“Wait!” Pomona cried, lifting up the edges of her dress and looking wildly about for Minerva. “Have you seen my bouquet?”

“It’s right here,” Minerva placated her, handing over an arrangement of pale blue roses, a special breed of the kind. “Do you need anything else?” Pomona thought for a moment.

“Yes,” she said decisively. “Stay here, Min. I’ll be right back.” Minerva looked surprised but nodded before she was swept away by Rolanda, and Pomona hurried down into her gardens. She bent down and scooped into her hands the sunshine yellow flowers. Their soft scent wafted up through the air as she picked them, and an odd spicy aroma came from the roots. Pomona placed them strategically throughout her bouquet, the yellow and blue melding together, and finally slipped one final flower behind her ear.

When she stood up, there were green grass stains littering her dress, but she knew Fil wouldn’t mind.

--

“Mummy!” Pomona turned around and felt a tiny pair of arms wind around her legs, and looked down at her daughter, who was holding a basket in one hand that was pressing into Pomona’s calf.

“Hello darling,” she smiled, winding her fingers through the girl’s hair. “What have you got?”

“Flowers,” her daughter answered, dumping the basket on the ground so that the contents spilled across the ground. “Let’s make a crown, Mummy.”

“All right,” Pomona agreed, sitting down and settling the girl in her lap. She picked up several flowers and artfully wound the stems together, while her daughter watched, mesmerized.

“It looks pretty,” she observed, blowing on a strand of her long hair to get it out of her eyes.

“Doesn’t it?” said Pomona mildly. “Here you are, sweet. Look.” She slipped the circle of flowers onto her daughter’s head. Her daughter laughed and let her fingers dance around the edge of the incredibly soft petals.

“One for you, Mummy,” she said shyly, handing Pomona one that she hadn’t seen the girl weaving in her lap. It was lopsided and the petals were slightly mangled from being held too tightly. The stem was shredded, and the flower was on the verge of falling apart.

“It’s beautiful,” Pomona told her, holding it delicately in her hand. “Just perfect.”

--

“Are you ready, Mona?” Filius squeezed her hands in his, hiding his joyful tears by blinking up at the sun. Pomona smiled and kissed his cheek fondly.

“Of course, I just—oh!” she gasped suddenly, twisting around and looking for the familiar face of her daughter. Filius’ face was marked with confusion and a small amount of concern as he brushed his fingers lightly across her arm.

“Mona? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Pomona said, pulling herself apologetically out of his grip. “Hold on a moment, dear, I’ve forgotten something.” Filius nodded and said no more, allowing Pomona to race across the warm spring grass, watching carefully for a flash of white.

“Ah!” she murmured, spotting her daughter perched on a wooden bench beneath several trees. Her white dress floated around the oak, and her hair was already falling out of the bun it had been tied back with earlier that morning. She smiled brilliantly when she saw Pomona.

“Mum, I thought you were going to sit down with Dad.” She stood up just in time to meet Pomona, absently running a hand through her hair and coming up with a fallen leaf.

“I forgot something,” Pomona said, catching her breath. Her daughter watched her with raised eyebrows as she reached into the flowers adorning her own hair and pulled one out at random. A softer smile met Pomona as she pressed the flower behind the girl’s ear, pale brown offset by loud yellow.

“Good luck, darling,” Pomona whispered, leaving

[OSUSprinks]

LB, you are so talented you make me more than a little green with jealousy. These were just breathtaking. I love the way you wove this all together. So amazing. I love your take on the characters. Utterly charming.

[dmf1984]

Yay!

Anyone who knows me and my garden, knows that I love yellow anything that grows...Jimmy and I even grow yellow tomatoes (which are quite nice, actually).

This was lovely, and thank you very much, LB! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone here at CR.

Di

[stefdarlin]

All the fics were wonderful.

Here are some of my favorite lines from each:

dmf1984: “Oh, Filius; I’m so sorry to have been so foolish,” Pomona sobbed softly, holding both arms wide open to him. “I love you!”
“Pomona, I would go anywhere in the world with you,” Filius promised, his voice breaking. “Just tell me your heart’s desire…” (Di, you already know I love this fic and the song but I thought I would tell you again. ;D When they make up it gives me a warm fuzzy feeling every time. )

mmadlyinlove: “Happy Christmas to you, my Little Snowflake,”
*giggle*

morethanacrush: He thought it would be easier to be mean to the child, but like a stepfather meeting his new wife’s son, Severus felt a part of him attach to the boy. (I simply knew he felt something!! This was great as Snape is my fav.)

furandfeathers: Well, I decided not to take the quote as it is rather long but I loved Minerva's speech during the trial. Absolutely awesome!! ;D

pinkie: Filius had a hard time breathing. The dress hugged Pomona’s body tightly. Her curls were down and invited him to wrap some around his finger. Her curves were so close to him… She kept on singing, sultry, steaming, purring almost. (I am so glad someone did this song. Even better that it was Fil/Mona. *giggle* This was so ....warming...tee hee!)

childminerva: He had loved the winter, and she had loved him. (This fic was so poignant...I truly felt how she misses him. *sniff*)

EloquentPhoenix: He stood opposite her, a single sprig of mistletoe hovered between them, above their heads.

A second later his arms were wrapped around her and his lips covered hers. (One word only for this: YYYEEEESSSSSSSS!)
~~~>I also love the giant Fluff Bat, as long as I never get chased with it. lol

OSUSprinks: Pomona choked and sputtered on her soda and cherry syrup. “Leave it to you, Jess, to shoot an arrow in the dark and still find the apple.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“It’s not beautiful enough, you mean. But then, I don’t think anything could be.” He was still gazing at her longingly and Jessica felt goosebumps as she watched the two of them. She wondered if this was what she and Seth looked like. She hoped so. (I liked this so much and I couldn't decide on which quote to use so I used them both. Fantastical Sprinkles! Just Fantastical!)
;D ;D ;D
lenora: Her grown daughter Athena stood next to her, pouring mugs of cocoa for her three children: Aaron, Anna, and Aristotle (you can blame Albus for the name of her youngest son). ~~Aristotle...lol...awww.

jayejaye: “Shame you’re stuck with me then” Minerva giggled.
Albus sighed dramatically. “Yes it is rather, but I shall have to make do… ouch!” (tee hee! Serves him right...this piece was so lovely and fluffy. ;D)

laundrybasket: When she stood up, there were green grass stains littering her dress, but she knew Fil wouldn’t mind. (This fact is wonderful...I am falling in love with this pairing.)

They were all lovely and I look forward to more soon.

Cheers!

Stef =o)