Lily?" he asked with a smile as the five wizards turned and headed toward the Floo. "I don't
see any hex marks or bruises."
Grinning, Sirius suggested, "Check under his clothing."
Christmas was celebrated with less enthusiasm than in years past. Without Dorea
there to lead the charge, it just did not feel as spirited as normal. Peter went home to his
family after only one night at Potter Manor, while Lily stayed three full days before
Apparating home to Cokeworth to visit with her parents, sister, and brother-in-law.
The full moon fell on Christmas Day, so instead of opening presents early in the
morning, they had done it all the night before and spent the twenty-fifth of December
napping the day away before setting up protective wards in the orchards out back.
As night fell, the dog, stag, and little fox sprinted across the wide open space,
followed casually by a golden-eyed wolf. The four creatures fell asleep curled up together
beneath a large tree near the river and woke to snow covering the ground.
After shifting back into her human form, Mia smiled at the sight and cast a Warming
Charm on Remus before transfiguring her scarf into a blanket with which to cover him.
The rest of Christmas holidays were spent relaxing, at least for the young adults.
Charlus had meetings to attend, and, while James, Remus, and Sirius were all curious about
what these meetings entailed, Mia remained silent. She assumed that her father was a
member of the Order of the Phoenix and that trouble was drawing near.
Despite their offers to help, James and Mia were politely declined when Sirius and
Remus left in search of a flat. They returned home hours later, looking victorious, but
insisted no one was allowed inside their new place until the summer when they had a chance
to put things in order.
Just before the New Year, the four young residents of Potter Manor decided to pay
their mother a visit. Dorea's final resting place was in a lovely cemetery just outside of
Somerset. Mia had taken out her wand and waved it, creating and then placing a Christmas
wreath on the grave of Dorea Potter. In very little time, the four found themselves in the
mood to drown their sorrows. Apparating to the Leaky, they were faced with an abundance