"if you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours"

*

Eva and her mother walked home from the church Christmas Eve, snow falling lightly around them. They couldn't afford a car, but neither of the women minded. The cold chilled Eva to the bone, but her spirits were bright enough to keep her warm.

"I thought we could finish our baking and watch some Christmas movies until midnight," Mrs. Taylor said with a smile. "Does that sound good to you?"

Eva's mother always worried that her daughter wouldn't want to continue their family traditions after spending so much time in the wizarding world. She worried constantly when Eva left for the start of the school year and wondered how out of place she felt when she returned home. She didn't understand the sport she loved so much or why wizards just didn't use electricity, but she valued her daughter's happiness over everything else. Eva was her favorite person in the entire world and she would do anything for the girl, even if it meant letting her join a world suited more to her.

"That sounds great, Mum," Eva said, her cheeks pink from the cold.

Mrs. Taylor looked over at her as they turned a corner. "Are you all right, dear?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"You've been awfully quiet this past week," she noted. "Especially around Christmas, that's not like you. I wondered if something had happened-"

"No. No, I'm fine."

If she had any doubts before, Eva's mumbled response convinced her. "I don't think you are."

Eva sighed. Her fingers strayed to her left wrist, searching for the bracelet, but it was gone, stomped to smithereens on Platform 9 & 3/4. Sirius has given that to her for Christmas their third year. Her green eyes momentarily filled with tears before she blinked them away. "Just some drama. It's not important."

"It's your life. Of course it's important." Mrs. Taylor smiled sadly at Eva. "You can tell me."

My first kiss in over a year was with the wrong boy. I fell for my best friend and he left me alone. Then he lied to me. Remus is always getting sick. I'm scared of the war.

Eva didn't tell her mother any of these problems. Instead, she asked a question.

"How did you know when you loved Dad?"

Amelia Taylor looked fondly at her daughter, a perfect blend of her parents. Eva had her mother's long blonde curls and fair skin, but her bright green eyes and infectious smile came from her father. The mention of Jonathan used to send her into depression, but years had passed. She never moved on, but she accepted. It was difficult for her sometimes, mostly because of how much Eva reminded her of Jonathan. Her spirit and creativity paired with bravery came straight from her father.

"I don't think there was an exact moment," Mrs. Taylor said, a faint smile gracing her tired face. "It was a million little ones. When you love someone, it's the little things that matter."

Eva caught herself thinking of the little things she liked about Sirius. The way his entire face lit up when he grinned, really grinned, not just a fake smile. How he grabbed her hand without thinking when they ran from Filch. All the times they stayed up late in the common room talking about absolutely anything. How he'd steal scrunchies from the girls and claim that he wore them better anyway. The protectiveness he displayed for everyone in their group of friends, especially her and Remus. His obsession over Muggle bands and motorcycles. The way he could comfort her when no one else could, not even Marlene or Lily.

"But were there ever times when you weren't sure? There had to be times where you didn't know if you actually loved him."

Mrs. Taylor smiled and rubbed Eva's shoulder in a motherly way. "There are moments like that in everything. It's only natural to disagree with someone you're so close to."

"So what do you do?"

"Eva Brandi, you follow your heart."

*

Christmas morning came with a snowstorm. Eva woke up early as always but didn't wake her mother. Instead, she pulled on Sirius' leather jacket and snuck outside. The snow crunched under her boots and covered the little yellow house like a white blanket. Red and gold Christmas lights were draped over the trees and shone through the snow.

Rings swooped down from a tree and aimed to land on her shoulder but missed and crashed into the railing around the porch. Eva giggled and scooped the miniature owl up.

"Happy Christmas!" she exclaimed. She took a few owl treats from her pocket and gave them to Ringo, who hooted excitedly and nipped her ear with affection. "Yeah yeah, you're welcome."

Christmas always brought back bittersweet memories of her father, but Eva had learned to look back at the good moments through the camcorder of her mind, played back the highlight reel with fond nostalgia. She remembered dragging the tree from the lot a few streets down, placing the star on top from her place on her father's shoulders, and her mother playing carols on the guitar late into the night.

"Happy Christmas, Dad," she whispered into the stillness, closing her eyes as she continued to speak. "It's been seven years now. I'm seventeen. It's Christmas, your second favorite day of the entire year. You always said your favorite was my birthday, remember that?" She chuckled and shoved her hands in her pockets, kicking up some snow with her boot.

"I'm here with Mum. We take good care of each other, don't worry about us, and I have the best family at school, too. I'm sure you know that. Did you see the time when I got sick and they all freaked out? James bought like six blankets from Hogsmeade and Remus had this endless supply of chocolate. Marlene and Peter covered for me in classes and Lily lent me a mixtape she listens to when she's feeling down. That cassette circles around us a lot now, to be honest. And Sirius skipped all of his classes and just stayed with me."

She thought of Sirius locked up in that dreadful house he hated going home to each holiday and involuntarily shuddered. Even though she was still angry at him, she didn't want him to get hurt. With that in mind, she prayed for his safety. An uneasy feeling twisted her stomach.

"Talking to yourself, dear? The neighbors might think you're a witch." Mrs. Taylor stepped out onto the porch, a shawl wrapped around her thin form. She winked at her daughter, who laughed at her teasing.

Eva threw her arms around her. "Happy Christmas, Mum. And I was just sorting out my thoughts."

"I wanted to explain my present. I didn't get you something I could wrap. How would you like to go to America this coming summer for a week?" Eva's eyes widened and she hugged her mother tighter.

"That would be amazing! Marlene's been there, she's said it's amazing!"

Mrs. Taylor laughed at her enthusiasm. "I'm glad. I think we'll go to New York, I've heard good things. Maybe you could bring Marlene and Lily, and we'll have a girls week in the big city. The plans aren't final yet, dear, but I'll let you know when they are. Now, your friends sent some presents for you. Do you want to go open them, or should we stand out here in the cold?"

"Yes! Oh, and I have something for you!"

The Taylors had decked out their evergreen tree in golden ornaments. Underneath, a pile of presents sat untouched. Eva suspected the owls had arrived overnight and flew home. She made two cups of hot cocoa, handed one to her mother, and began to open the presents.

James sent her a new pair of Keeper's gloves and a book full of defensive Quidditch strategies. Peter's gift was a massive box of Honeyduke's Pink Coconut Ice, her favorite sweet. Inside Lily's perfectly wrapped package was a set of watercolor pencils. Marlene chose a pair of pink flats she'd caught Eva eyeing in one of the windows in Hogsmeade. Remus' present consisted of a book on wizarding music and a 'get out of potions jail free card.'

She opened Sirius' present last, eyeing the brown package with curiosity. Inside was a bomber-style leather jacket embroidered with wildflowers. Tears bit at the corners of her eyes as she read the note in Sirius' characteristic swooping cursive.

Thought you might like one of your own. I'm getting cold, Blondie, I need my jacket back!

Happy Christmas, Sirius

"That's a really cute coat," Mrs. Taylor said. "I might have to borrow it for myself."

"Not a chance," Eva retorted mischievously, sliding it on. The jacket fit her perfectly. "I have your present."

She passed her mother a rectangular package and eagerly waited for her to open it. Sensing this, Mrs. Taylor took extra care to open the present as slowly as possible.

"Mum, cut it out!"

"All right, all right!" She tore the paper and held the painting. A proud smile spread across her face. "Thank you so much, darling. You're so talented."

Eva snuggled into her mother's embrace, infinitely grateful to have someone who loved her so much in her life. "You're welcome."

She didn't know how long they stayed like that, just a mother and daughter hugging on the carpeted floor while Christmas music wafted softly from the radio, but it didn't matter. She felt so safe at home, so safe in the Muggle world, even though she truly belonged in the wizarding one.

In her childhood home, there was no war. No injustice. No prejudice against her based on the parents she loved more than anything. Just laughter and warmth and art.

"Mum?"

"Yes, Eve?"

"Can we send Sirius some of the extra cookies we baked?" She didn't meet her mother's eyes, so she didn't catch Mrs. Taylor's knowing smile. "I sent him my Christmas gift already, but Ringo could fly out again. He's fast, he could make it back before lunch."

Mrs. Taylor kissed her daughter's head. "Of course we can. Let's go package those up now, shall we?"

Eva nodded and stood up. She took a final glance at the presents from her family scattered all over the floor and ran to the kitchen to find the cookies.

She didn't know what exactly prompted her to send the extra package to the boy she'd screamed at a week prior. Whether she was angry at him or not, though, she wasn't about to let him suffer more than he had to.