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"Of all the ridiculous ideas that could have come to me, that one was the worst."
Juniper groaned over the phone to Nova and Gwen who sat side by side in front of the Tallis household landline,
"I'm sure if you'd 'ave turned him into a pigeon or something it would have been worse,"
"You're not helping, Nova."
"And your munching on my mam's sugar cookies is? Look, we aren't exactly love experts! Just follow your gut."
Juniper sighed heavily, the landline hot against her ear,
"Right now my gut says get food."
"That's not your gut that's your stomach!"
Gwen chirped,
"Oh hush you with your technicalities...I'll call you after dinner again so you can give me your reviews of the presents."
Juniper had gotten Nova three gifts; a pair of leather boots that she'd eyed in Quality Quidditch Supplies before school had started- apparently they helped the players maintain their grip on the broom but Juni had her doubts, then she got Nova a stainless steel ring with various Celtic engravings circling it, Juniper charmed it to heat up when suspicious folk were nearby and finally, she sent a last minute book about the Quidditch tactics. Gwen also had three gifts- a set of metal flowers that were charmed to circle plaits to style them so Gwen wouldn't have to wrestle with her hair and two books, one on wild beasts and creatures, the other on the making of marmalade. It had been the weirdest book Juniper could find.
Sounds of acknowledgment sounded before the line beeped and went dead; Juniper groaned again, dropping her arm over the side of her bed, the phone dangling by the cord,
"I have made a sticky situation."
Had she kissed Sirius Black in the middle of a snow storm? Yes. Had she also ran away right after, manoeuvring through the woods so he had to shift into Padfoot to catch up to her? Also, yes.
She'd avoided him the night before, complaining she was exhausted and rushing up to her room the minute they made it inside the cottage but avoidance was no longer an option because it was Christmas morning...and she would not be missing her Grandparent's brilliant Christmas shenanigans for a boy.
Slowly, Juniper put the landline away, dusting off her Christmas pyjamas decorated with dancing, disco reindeers and crept towards her door. She popped her head out, turning it left and right to check Sirius was nowhere in sight before exiting and tiptoeing across the landing and making her way down the steps. From the sitting room, she could hear laughter and Smokie playing on the radio and when she finally entered the room, she was pleasantly surprised.
