T'was the day of Christmas and all through the Gryffindor house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. And there the children slept, in their beds they lay, unexpecting of what was going to happen that very day.

None of the students expected to awake to the Hogwarts grounds covered in snow, but it was a wonderful sight. "Tori! Tori! Tori! Wake up! It's snowing!!" Alicia squealed, shaking her friend awake.

Tori and Alicia were a couple of the only kids who stayed behind for Christmas. They had stayed up late the night before, talking to Fred and George, so most could imagine how Tori felt. She groaned, turning to her friend who had excitement in her eyes.

"We've seen snow before, Alicia." Tori took a moment to get up, yawning as the other girl looked out the window. "Just get up and look!"

Alicia pulled Tori towards the window, causing Tori to gasp. Outside was like a winter wonderland, everything was gently touched with snow as it laid there on a blanket. "It's... beautiful," Tori whispered. Alicia was quick to agree.

"C'mon. Let's go downstairs!" The two girls raced out of the dormitory hand in hand where the stopped at the top of the stairs to see both the Weasley twins standing there.

"Oi! Happy Christmas you two!" Alicia shouted toward them to get their attention. They were both quick to turn around, smiling. "Happy Christmas to you too, Alicia." George wished her.

"Happy Christmas, Tori. You too Alicia." Fred followed. "Happy Christmas," Tori replied from the top of the stairs, grinning down to her friends. "Now come on! I want to open presents!"

The two girls rushed down, giving the twins a hug before admiring the Christmas tree that the seventh years had decorated. It was covered in the house colors and had little ornaments all over. Tori couldn't wait until they could decorate the tree.

Under it, laid many presents for all the Gryffindor students who had stayed over the holiday break. The twins immediately sat around it, looking over Tori and Alicia's head to see a couple of other students come down as well. Charlie and Percy were among them.

Fred started passing some of them out, handing Tori a soft package, two boxes wrapped in glittery paper, and another wrapped in red paper. She thanked him, placing it beside her as she helped him pass out the rest.

"Here you go, Alicia." Tori handed her four boxes all laid on top of each other. They had just about passed out everyone's in their group when they all started to unwrap them.

Tori unwrapped the one from Mrs. Weasley to reveal another Weasley sweater. This time it was a bit more purple and with still a golden "T" on it. Tori quickly slipped it over her nightgown, feeling immediately happier. She truly loved the sweater.

She then unwrapped the first glitter box addressed from Alicia and Angelina. Inside were a couple of Wizard Crackers and a copy of Quidditch Teams of Britain and Ireland. Tori hugged her friend at once, thanking her over and over again.

"No, thank you for the perfume!" Alicia held up the pink bottle filled with a perfume that smelled like flowers. Tori watched the twins unwrapped their gifts from her. She had gotten them a fake-your-own-wart kit and each a fake bludger bat, their numbers carved into the sides.

She also began to unwrap the red box from them. She ripped off the paper and opened the box to reveal a charm bracelet. The bracelet had a few charms, and Fred explained they could get her more for other things. Tori held the charms in her hand, examining them. There was a quaffle charm, a charm of a wand, and three stars.

Tori smiled, giving both the twins a hug. "Thank you." She whispered, quickly placing it on her wrist.

✧    ✦    ✧

"Reckon we take a little Christmas detour?" It was about four in the afternoon when most of the students were in their common rooms resting by the fire. Tori and her friends had just gotten back from a very intense snowball fight. Now all cleaned up and once again in her Weasley Christmas sweater, Tori was seated on the couch, leaning her against Fred's shoulder when he suggested that.

"Where are you thinking of going?" She asked him, tightening her ponytail. Alicia was with a couple of other girls, talking about who they wanted to catch under the mistletoe. Tori didn't know how to remind them that they were only twelve or thirteen. Fred and George both grinned at each other, lowering their voices.

"It's a surprise... but we hope you're hungry."

Tori gave a confused smile and followed the twins out of the common room, greeting a few students on their way. They walked through many familiar hallways and past a good amount of classrooms as well. Tori had continued to ask them where they were going, but they kept telling her to wait.

They turned by the entrance hall and down a broad stone basement corridor. It was brightly lit, decorated with several food-related paintings. Tori watched each painting as they passed it, confused. She had never been down this way before. She did t even know it existed! Fred stepped forward towards a painting of fruit. He began to tickle, yes, tickle, the pear.

"What are you-" She was cut off by a giggle from the pear and the appearance of a green door. "Doing...?" Fred grinned, opening the door while George pulled her inside.

She wasn't exactly prepared to see the kitchens. Yes, of course, she knew Hogwart's had a kitchen, but she imagined it to be dark with few creatures in it. To her surprise, it was bright and filled with the mouth-watering smell of a feast that could fill thousands.

House-elves ran around the kitchen with trays of food, some even just sitting on the floor. "What... how did you know about this?" Tori looked at the twins, both of them smirking from behind her.

"The map. It suggested we go here. It said it's good for when you're hungry." George explained, watching a house-elf run past them with an entire cooked turkey. Tori felt as if she could float after it based on the way it smelled. She was definitely starving now.

"Mr. Weasleys welcome back. We've seen you brought a friend." One house-elf spoke up, coming over to the boys. "Thank you, Anubis. Yes, this is our friend, Tori Silvers." Fred patted her on the back. The house-elf bowed to Tori, clasping its hands together. "What can we do for you, Mr. Weasleys?"

"We're actually looking for a little snack before... dinner. Do you have any caldron cakes?" Fred asked Anubis, who nodded eagerly. "Yes! We'll bring them right away!" The house-elf snapped, and a plate of the delicious chocolate treats appeared. George took the plate, thanking Anubis. He lead them to a little corner that was untouched by house-elves and sat down.

"How do you do it?" Tori glanced at her friends, bewildered. The twins just shrugged. "All you gotta do is be nice to them. Respect them. They'll do the same to you." George watched as they continued to work swiftly.

Fred raised a caldron cake in the air. "To another fantastic Christmas!"

"And let there be many more!"

finding gifts for them is such a struggle!

merry christmas from me in june!