With December finally drawing to an end, everyone was excitement to be back at home for the Christmas break, spending more time with their families throughout the holiday.

Just like the previous years, James and Jenna were in charge of decorating the Christmas tree at the Potter Manor, but after the chaos they had caused last year, Mrs. Potter ordered Mickey to keep an eye on the twins, so they wouldn't get themselves into any more mischief.

On Christmas eve, just like always, the Potters were hosting a magnificent Christmas Ball in their manor, inviting friends, distant relatives, a few Ministry officials they worked with, and many famous witches and wizards from all over the country.

For this year's party, Jenna chose to wear a bright dress with long bell-sleeves that had started to become very fashionable those days, and wore a pretty headband around her hair. She stood before her bedroom's mirror in her brown boots, changing her hair color to find one that could suit her dress perfectly. She could do with some help.

     "Mum!" Jenna called out loudly, looking back at her own reflection as she turned her hair a golden color.

     When she got no answer from her mother, Jenna left her room and ran downstairs, skipping a stair every once in a while. She then followed her mother's voice into the kitchen, where she was talking to Mickey.

     "...will arrive in less than an hour. Do you think you can set up the dishes on the table in the hall?" Mrs. Potter was saying.

     "Of course, my Lady!" Mickey squeaked happily and then bowed deeply, the next moment vanishing from the kitchen.

    "Mum," Jenna called again, catching her attention. "Do you think blonde looks good with this dress?"

     Mrs. Potter smiled at her direction. "You look amazing, darling."

     "But what about the hair? Does it go with the dress?"

     "As long as you like it, then yes, it goes with everything," Mrs. Potter said reassuringly, going on one knee in front of Jenna to place a little kiss on her nose, making her giggling.

     "Ah, look at my little angel!" Jenna turned around at her father's voice, seeing him walk into the kitchen, already in his tux. Jenna laughed as he picked her up in his arms. "Whoa! You've grown up so much! Slow down!"

     Mrs. Potter chuckled as he put Jenna back down. "I better go and check on James. He's taking too long to get ready. He'll be late for when the guests arrive."

     "Five Galleons says his not even out of the shower yet," said Mr. Potter with a smirk as he took out his wand and bewitched the champagne glasses to float out of the cupboard and lay down on the kitchen counter.

     "Five Galleons says he's not even awake yet from his afternoon nap," said Jenna, but Mrs. Potter had already gone upstairs.

     After almost an hour, James finally walked downstairs after the first few guests had already arrived. After greeting them in a hurry, James rushed toward the window which was closest to the entrance door, his gaze fixed on the distance where the guest Apparated one by one.

     A beautiful music was already playing; Mr. Potter had enchanted a piano, a violin, a harp, and a cello to play on their own in a corner. The guests talked and laughed, each having a glass of champagne in hand, which magically got filled whenever it emptied. A few couples were waltzing to the classical music in the middle of the dance floor.

     Their Christmas tree stood proudly in the middle of the enormous hall, right bellow the golden chandelier. Mrs. Potter had done a few last-minute changes to its decoration, to make it look more elegant.

     The appetizer dishes floated in mid-air magically, and the guests had to be careful not to bump into them. There were so many different food and snacks on the floating trays that made Jenna's stomach grumble. From Shrimp Cocktail Shooters, grilled chicken Skewers, and Spinach Balls With Dipping Sauce, to little Prosciutto-Wrapped Persimmons with Goat Cheese.

     Jenna helped herself to a few mini burgers and sliders, but her attention was caught by her brother, who was still standing in front of the window, looking outside impatiently.

    Curiously, she walked toward where James stood. "What are you looking for? You're missing on the mini sliders. I already had five."

     "I'm waiting for Sirius," said James, without taking his eyes away from the window.

     Jenna's eyes widened in surprise. "Sirius? He's coming here tonight?"

     "I sent him an invitation two days ago, but he didn't send back a reply. I'm not sure his mother would allow him to come here, but... well, we had a plan, in case his mother didn't agree..."

    "A plan?" Jenna repeated worriedly, sighing. "James, what are you two up to?"

    "Nothing too dangerous —" he was saying, but then a loud BANG erupted from outside the house in the front yard.

    Some of the guests turned their heads curiously, but James, who was now grinning like a fool, ran toward the door and opened it.

    With a rush of excitement in the pit of her stomach, Jenna followed James outside into the yard, but her jaw nearly dropped at what she saw.

     A gigantic, triple-decker, violently purple bus had appeared out of thin air and stood in the front yard. Gold lettering over the windshield spelled The Knight Bus. Its doors then opened, and they saw Sirius exit it through it with a wide grin on his lips.

     The moment he stepped out and into the yard, the Knight Bus disappeared behind him with another loud BANG.

     "Took you long enough," James said as he mirrored Sirius's smirk, walking toward him and patting him on the back in a welcoming manner.

    "Hey." Jenna sent him a small wave, holding her hair from turning pink or orange. "I didn't know you were coming."

    "Good. I like being unexpected," said Sirius, winking at her.

    "James, what is g— oh, my! Sirius? What are you doing here?" Mrs. Potter, who had walked out of the house and into the yard to see what was that loud bang, came to a halt at the boy's sight.

      She had come to the door with surprise and welcome mingled on her benevolent face, but Sirius's smile dropped immediately at her sight, a look of worry replacing it on his face.

     "Does your mother know that you're here?" said Mrs. Potter, though not ungently.

     She looked around the yard which was brightened by numerous lanterns that magically hovered in mid-air to light up the lane for the guests, but she didn't see any sign of Sirius's parents. She recalled how his mother had bashed out at them in King's Cross station a few months ago, when they had tried to invite Sirius for the Christmas Ball.

"No," Sirius muttered, afraid of her reaction. "I — I came here myself."

"Oh, Godric..." Mrs. Potter sighed while she pondered uneasily as to what she ought to do.

     "I-I'm sorry," Sirius mumbled, avoiding her eyes as he looked down at his feet nervously, his heart beating rapidly. "I... I could leave, if you want..."

"What? Oh, nonsense! Of course you're welcome here!" Mrs. Potter said heartily, turning her kind gaze back on him. "Although I will have a talk with James when tonight's over. Because something tells me this was his idea."

James only grinned. "I don't know what you're talking about, Mother."

"Well, let's go inside," said Mrs. Potter smiling at the young boy once more.

Sirius ventured uncomfortably into the house after James and Jenna, grievously troubled in mind and vexed in soul.

He thought that maybe if Mrs. Potter had yelled at him for running away from home and coming here tonight he would've managed to deal with it better, but he had been taken off guard when she greeted him with nothing but kindness as she showed him the way into the hall, where all the other guests were gathered and the mesmerizing music was playin.

Deep down, he felt nervous for returning back home at the end of the night, knowing that he would be met with his mother's rage. But he tried to put the thoughts aside and enjoy himself for the evening.