Hogwarts in Ruins

Eilir turned to Debbie's voice and smiled. "Look Kristof, Mummy and Daddy are here!" She said to the child, taking a step towards Debbie to let her give her baby a cuddle. When Branko entered, Eilir read his expression and doubtfully took two steps back, curling her arms around Kristof uncertainly. What have I done? she wondered in despair but slowly her expression changed from frightened to confused. He was upset about the presents???

Eilir had always been used to lots of presents. They had rarely been for her, but when she'd been little, she'd always been excited by the mystery of what each package contained, rather than who they were for. And, knowing this was Kristof's first Christmas; Eilir had just smiled understandingly at the piles of presents and not thought anything more of them. She watched Debbie and the headmaster with wide eyes and glanced at Kristof every so often. Although the baby always seemed to think of Branko's shouting as a game, it was not going to take him long to figure out something was not right when his mummy started to sound like she was crying.

When Debbie started making an attempt of excuses, Eilir's heart went out to the woman. What mother needed an excuse to buy her child a present? Yes, there were a lot...but that made Eilir think that they'd been accumulating over time. Debbie hadn't gone on one wild shopping spree. Eilir bit her bottom lip and tried to figure out what to do. She couldn't let an argument over presents ruin the little family's first Christmas.

She summoned over a little bag that she had hidden in the corner of the room and sucked in a deep breath. "Excuse me Headmaster, Commander..." she said softly but loudly enough to perhaps shock them at the interruption. "Kristof and I wanted to give you a present each." she said, fishing out a small box wrapped in pink sparkly paper and handing it to Kristof. "This one is for mummy." she said, walking closer to the pair and holding out a slightly larger green wrapped box to Branko.

“Kristof helped me choose the gifts, I just.....mmm, put them together.” She said, thinking of how she’d gone into Franco’s garden and let the baby pick up bits of wood. She’d said they were for mummy and daddy, and he’d seemed to understand, choosing larger pieces and solemnly handing them back to Eilir without trying to chew them. The girl had spent weeks forming the wood into shapes. First by hand and paint, then with little charms to animate them. She was proud of the little cheetah she’d made for Debbie, but figuring out what to make Branko had been more difficult. So she’d formed the two largest pieces of wood into Branko and Debbie’s likenesses, and a little piece into Kristof. She didn’t know how he’d react to such a simple gift but smiled at them anyway.

“They are only little gifts, but they are special because they are from Kristof on his first Christmas, and when you see them in the future, you’ll be reminded of this time, and every Christmas to come.” She looked at the pair solemnly and cuddled the baby to her. “I hope that they will bring you good memories.” She said very quietly.

Kristof's sickness slowly calmed down as Eilir stopped spinning and they went enjoin a nice time together watching the decoration and sparkly things on the tree and the all colored things lying under it that he did not yet associate with 'presents'.

The boy's particular curiosity on a colorfull sphere suddenly ended at the sight of mommy and daddy entering, and greeted the couple with a enthusiastic giggle and making noises although impossible to understand, the tone of it almost seemed to be calling 'mommy!!!! daddy!!!!'... and his excitement turned into more giggles as daddy started the 'babababa' game... till mommy's voice started sounded strangely funny.

Kristof's smile fade of half curious of what was going on with mommy's voice, he had not idea but for some reason that sound of her made him feel odd, as if the sun had extiguished for good, as if a Dementor had appeared in and sucked all the happiness in him away.

And the baby looked in confusion at Eilir as if asking her with the eyes what was going on. But before sadness sank deeper into him, Eilir's cheerful manner came into action and took off two little colored things that the baby could not help but lie eyes on them as they passed from Eilir to his daddy and his mommy's hands and they started taking all the color away. WOW that was so cool thing, kill colors!

And Kristof peeked his head eagerly, giving a look at mommy which expression had changed to a not so sad one and daddy looking solemn, although not playing anymore.

He looked frozen at Debbie as she jumped in between him and the presents as if defending some kind of victim in danger and could not help the look of surprise on his face. At his eyes he was doing nothing wrong as he was the one trying to follow what they, as couple and as family, had agreed on. But the trail of his thoughts changed as Debbie pointed out the presence of the baby and just then he came to realize that burning the baby's present would not do any good to him either, and to his wife's sanity for what it seemed.

And although he had not yet overruled the fact that Debriana was once more breaking their agreement and pampering Kristof, he could not help but feel shame to make her react that way, almost crying...

Branko lowered his arms and his eyes looking also rather confused of how he suppose to react or feel about this. He was not the one wrong here!, part of his mind claimed but the other part just want to dismiss the matter to spare Debbie.

His confusion turned to more awkwarness as suddenly Eilir stepped into their little discussion with something so irrelevant like more presents. Who would have said that his anger because of presents would be fought with more presents! Perhaps noone would have thought that would work, but Eilir's kindness seemed to think so...

Branko looked at the woman suspiciously, then moved down to look at the present. Receive Debbie's present was somehow he found just logical. But what made that young woman he hardly met to give him a present too? After so many years death Christmas he was not getting TWO PRESENTS. That was enough to feel again he was in another dimension or another planet where the natural laws did not work the same.

And just after Debbie took her present, his hands went to take his... as if just looking at what Debbie had done he knew what he suppose to do with those little colored thing. And he opened it in silence... and what he found inside... overwhelmed him.

Branko looked more than ever lost like in Pinkyland unsure of what to do as nobody had never seen him before.

"... Thank you." he said most likely because something in his head knew that was the right thing to say, and cleared his throat rather uncomfortable with his always very neutral attitud which contrasted severely with Debbie's reaction. It was not that this anger him or that he did not like Eilir's gesture. Quite the contrary but he was not used to deal with this kind of situations.

Debbie deftly took her gift and stared at the colorful paper for several seconds. She had almost forgotten Eilir was in the room which hightened her embarressment over the matter tenfold. The object was obviously oddly shaped. The paper wrapped around it in odd angles and Debbie couldn't help but to smile past her blush and watery eyes to the baby and Eilir.

Her nails carefully pulled at the tape, watching it pop off and pulled each piece back carefully as if she were scared of tearing the paper. It fell away to the floor with a soft 'pat' and left in her hand was a small cheetah made of wood, moving into a sitting position and looking up at her. She was amazed at the likeness, looking back to Eilir and over to the small present in Josef's hands.

She wasn't sure what to say yet, between Kristof and Eilir doing this but mainly Eilir's thought and workmanship, not to mention the little charms she placed which were exquisite.

The tears started back up in Debbie's eyes and before she realized it, she had draped Eilir and Kristof in a huge bear hug and poured her tears out on them both. "Thank you!" She sniffed and dabbed at her eyes, not sure if she wanted to let go to clean her face or hold on to them and cry some more. Debbie was horrified internally at the way she was acting. One of the only things she really hated about being pregnant was her constant want to cry or be overly emotional over every little thing like this.

Debbie let the two go and kissed Kristof on the head, pulling a handkerchief out of her pocket and dabbing at her eyes. Yet the moment she turned around, Debbie took a better look at the present her husband held and all of the ill-feelings she harbored moments ago disappeared as she shuffled over and cuddled up to Josef, tears pouring into her handkerchief again. "I-Isn't that the sw-sweetest thing you 'ave ever seen!" She sniffed and dabbed at her eyes again.

She looked up to her husband's face and was immediately horrified again even through her tears, "O-oh I'm sorry, I promised I wouldn't make this hard for you! I can't help it.." she sniffled and dabbed at her eyes again with the little cheetah in her hand.

Eilir struggled to resist the instinct that made her want to scrunch her face up, she didn't know if the gesture had been a good idea, but she had to stop the arguing some how. She glanced down at Kristof and was relieved to see he no longer looked upset, but curious, he was going tio have lots of fun ripping the paper from his own presents. The girl snuggled the baby close and watched his parents open their presents with vastly different expressions.

She watched Branko with most curiosity, wondering how he really felt. She was shocked to watch his expression change subtly, not to one of disdain - which she'd been dreading. When he spoke she smiled slightly and simply said "You're welcome." before turning to Debbie and meeting the bear hug head on. She was actually surprised by the levels of emotion Debbie had met the little gift, but a warm tingly sensation lit the girl and she squeezed her free arm around Debbie in a hug. "You're welcome Debbie." she said quietly into the woman's ear, holding back the giggles she felt bubbling at the woman's reaction.

She grinned at Kristof once Debbie had moved over to Branko. "Hey Kristof! I think Mummy and Daddy liked your presents!" she said, nuzzling his neck again. Outwardly she shone with joy, and inwardly she felt a great relief at having averted disaster. Eilir felt a faint sense of pride at her part in bringing a happy Christmas to the little family. As she watched Debbie snuggling against her husband, Eilir smiled and soon began to blush when her friend commented on the presents again.

Branko looked rather uncomfortable at the whole situation as things were going the way he had been fearing it would... and at some point worst. For a start he had not expected a fourth in the deal, and 2 dozens of extra presents... at least...

"So..." he said as suddenly it seemed the silence was about to take over the room, at least for him who did not find anything to say that sounded like the right thing to say "Now what..." he said hopping the night would move on a little bit faster than currently.

"You do not expect a present from me, do you?" he asked raising an eyebrow at Eilir, a little bit awkward for have been taken unprepared. Nobody had told him they would have another one in, for a start! She did not really expected him give her something in bright stupid colors and funny shapes, did she? Although, to be honest, even he would have known about her presence beforehand, he would not have prepared anything... The only arrangement he had made with presents was the one he and Debbie had chosen for the baby and one he had prepared to Debbie and was yet to give her... although with the younger woman there he was starting to have double thoughts about give his present to Debbie then or after Eilir had gone.

One side of him preferred to do it later, but on the other hand, being Eilir kind of Kristof's official babysitter, she would have to know about it too... Or perhaps no... Must he leave Debbie to decide that? For his sake could be better...

"Ohh, enough enough!" Debbie clucked and dabbed at her eyes before turned away, placing the small cheetah down so she could take Kristof. "Why don't we go ahead and open presents? That seems safe enough, maybe." She sighed and moved to take her chubby cheeked little monster.

The presents were sparkling beneath the tree and it would be fun watching him tear at all the paper and make a big, fat mess of everything. Perhaps by then everyone would be off edge and more relaxed. She could only hope.

'You do not expect a present from me, do you?' After tucking Kristof in her arms, Debbie immediately worled on Eilir and pointed a finger directly at her, "Don't you answer that." she whispered and sat her son on the floor right in front of the present from her and Josef together. "No one expects anything. Now come sit down and relax." Debbie had actually gotten Eilir a present but she wasn't about to spell that out right now with him on edge. Perhaps later after everything had settled down, then she would pull it out.

Or maybe sneak it to her, maybe that would be easier?

She knew Eilir would settle down and Debbie dropped to the ground right behind Kristof, turning to catch her fussy husband's eye, "Come on," she smiled and patted the ground next to her. "It won't be so bad, I promise."

Branko looked rather awkward for a second, watching Debbie settling down comfortable on the ground and placing the baby on her arms. Why can't they use chairs as normal people in a normal day? he had not the slightest idea. However as Debbie was the one showing him a Christmas day propperly he did not object on the matter, but approached rather uncomfortable and follow her lead, dropping down on the floor next to her.

But the look of the baby already excited to be surrounded by colored sparkly boxes was enough to get a slight smile from the grumpy man. Really it was all a show watching Kristof finding out new things in the world, specially when those things were the good kind of things one could ever find.

Debbie was right... he knew just watching her and Kristof around the presents... it would not be so bad at all...

The presents sparkled beneath the bright Christmas tree, each one begging to be opened and laid out at Kristof's mercy. None of them were heavily wrapped. Each easy for him to tear into and not too heavy. Debbie moved the one from her and Josef right in front of him and moved his little fingers to tear the paper open, watching it pop up easily.

She wanted to make sure that one was opened first. There were a lot of presents and only so much of his attention was going to go into opening each one of them. The most important should come first. Debbie had a feeling that before this was over with, Kristof was going to lose interest in opening so many presents and either fall asleep or become more occupied with actually playing with each one of his toys.

"Here we go, pull here.." she cooed and helped him rip the rest of the paper off, revealing the little staff Josef had made just for him, "Look! Now you can beat people up just like daddy!" She grinned and helped him wrap his hands around the wood.

Kristof looked around with interest. Never in his entire short life had he seen so many colors all together surrounding him. Just the look of them were enough to make this day special for him, the day colors came to pay a visit to him.

And to his surprise, Debbie took one of those funny looking things and the color started melting to reveal another form hidden inside it... a not so funny colored... stick...

kristof frowned slightly at the look of it, then looked down at what left of the colored paper... he wanted the paper...

Look! Now you can beat people up just like daddy!

Debbie's words get the kid's attention back on the staff for a moment and then he felt it on his own hands. Kristof looked at the long thing, then looked down at his father's staff. Branko's was bigger! why?? He did not like that either. Why he had a little staff and daddy had it bigger?

"Mmmm...ahhhhh..." the boy called out as held his arm toward 'Branko's toy' and throw himself toward it with no fear to fall from his mother's arms. He wanted THAT one.

The girl smiled slightly at Branko's question, and grinned at Debbie as she handed Kristof to his mummy. Of course she didnt expect anything, she was just happy to be here. And watching Kristof tear the pretty paper up, seeing if the toys held any interest for him would be wonderful. Eilir's favourite part of Christmas - other than the dinner! - was watching people open their presents. Their expressions changing from curiosity, to surpirse and then reflecting how they felt about the gift. She smiled as the little family moved to gather around the presents. she moved to position herself close enough to watch and not seem odd, but not near enough to distract the headmaster. She sat, legs crossed and hands in her lap like a little girl and watched Kristof with sparkling eyes.

The baby seemed more interested by the paper, but looked up curiosly as Debbie mentioned his Daddy. Eilir watched the boy's expression change from interest to disgruntlement as he compared his miniature staff with Branko's. She chuckled softly as Kristof reached out and try divebombing his father's staff. The girl grinned.

"Oh hold on, becareful!" Debbie couldn't help but burst into laughter as she grabbed her son around the waist and swung him back to herself before he hit his head on the floor, or grabbed Josef's staff. "You can't pick that up silly, that's why you have a smaller one!" She swung him up into the air and back down, resting him facing her on her legs and planted little butterfly kisses all over the baby boy's face.

It was so funny, Kristof was more interested in what his daddy owned that what they got for him. Whether Josef wanted to like it or not, Debbie could see with every single day that passed how much they were more and more alike despite their son's age.

"Here, let's try this one next." Debbie pulled an elogated box to the front, several presents tipping over and moving to the side that were stacked on top. She couldn't help sending a cheeky little grin toward Eilir knowing what would be inside. Josef was going to have a baby calf, right there in the middle of the Christmas tree. Debbie just knew it but the moment she saw it, she couldn't take her eyes off the display in the window.

The beautiful red bow easily fell away from the golden paper, folding it over so she could help Kristof tear it away. What he couldn't tear, she pulled to the floor to reveal the plain, simple box that was nearly longer than him. "Don't get mad." Debbie took a fleeting glance toward her husband and back toward the box, almost afraid to open it.

She didn't want him to get mad over it, Debbie just wanted her son to get all of the things she never got as a child. The war had torn everything, there were no schools, no broomsticks or places for children to play. Always running from the gases leaked from muggle bombs, always avoiding gunfire or hiding out in a basement to learn and understand magic. All that was over now. Thanks to her husband for pulling everything they had now together, the toyshops were coming back in some of the towns. People were organizing schools and there were real fields where they could play.

That was why when she saw it, Debbie had to have it. The rest of his toys were majority the odd litter of a babies play things but this, this she nearly couldn't wait to get her hands on.

Branko frowned at the baby's attitud and before he could realize how stupid his reaction would be as well his hand slipped to grab the staff firmly in his hand as if to make sure the baby would not take it away from his side... as if he really could... Years of experiences sometimes played fool on him, who never left a living creature to take any chance on his weapon no matter how unlikely was to even a worm do anything to put his special staff against him.

At least some interest the baby had on the weapon, he thought, and that by itself was a good think. Even at his age, being son of a man like him, little Kristof would do better learning the way of the weapons ASAP, and not to be scared by one, but indeed somehow excited was a good start...

His attention turned, as well as the baby's attetion, to the next present as Debbie brought it into the scene. Father and son frowned at the introduction of the new present then their looks relaxed as the curiousity of what was in sank into them. Although the trail of their thoughts were 'slightly' different, the gestures were quite similar.

Whereas baby Kristof did not see more than a hairy version of daddy's staff, which in his own mind was quite interesting and also strange; the father did understand what this new present involved and though it was quite a good choice, the man was not as sure that this was something fitting the baby's age. Of course his own present had not been the best of choices but let's face it: it was easier for a baby to figure out the staff purpose (hit things) than a broomstick.

(OOC: god-mod aproved)

Debbie couldn't help but to laugh at the confused expression on Kristof's face. "He won't be able to use it for now but I thought it was better to go ahead." Her face turned serious as she spoke, pulling the cherry wood into her hands and examing the beautifully done end that looked akin to exploding flames.

With Chevalier still in power at the H.R.S., Debbie didn't dare think that this time next year would be just as peaceful. She trusted that thought as far as she could take hold of it and throw it away; Debbie couldn't.

It was her main fuel to ensure Kristof had a happy Christmas this year whether he would realize it or not in the future. It was a fifty-fifty chance. On one side, everything could be ended by next Christmas and maybe the world would be right again and safe as it majority was now. Then again, what if it wasn't? What if another war did break out and they were forced away from this temporary peace? The thought made her shudder involuntarily.

"Here, let's open the rest. I'm sure he's tired of things he can't play with." she mused and scooted backward a bit so Kristof could move if he wanted to.

Several of the other presents moved forward from beneath the tree while Debbie moved the staff and broom to the side for later, but instead of in front of her, she moved them in front of Eilir. "Let's let Eilir help you open some, hm?" She pushed two boxes toward her and picked Kristof up to sit him right in the middle where they could all see and he could grab the bright, shiney paper if he liked.

The whole night was one of the most strange but also exciting one. Specially when the first two presents were forgotten to a side and the real toys started to emerge from the other boxes and with Eilir there looking as excited as him while helped to open the boxes, little Kristof could not help but cheer around in delight trying to take some of the toys with his own hands and feel the texture on them.

What is that! what is that!? the boy giggled looking at sparkly balls moving by themselves, colored robes, funny hats and objects with strange shapes he had not seen before nor he could even guess what they were for... they looked like yummy though, with those shiny colours they displayed that made Kristof think on jellies.

And soon enough he was struggling to get off his mother's arms and crawl around the floor to inspect everything at please.

Eilir watched the unveiling of a broomstick and she struggled to hide her perplexed expression. What would a baby want with a broom??? The girl guessed that there must be some use to it, other than sweeping the floor, but resigned herself to asking Debbie another time, when they were alone. She didn't want to appear foolish or stupid before Branko. The girl allowed her attention to be directed by Debbie to the other gifts and she grinned at Kristof's expression.

She sat with the baby, tearing the paper slightly so that he could scrunch it in his hands and rip it from the boxes. A part of her wondered if he was more interested in the paper, the boxes or the toys. She laughed at his cooes of delight as she opened boxes and watched in wonder as Debbie's shopping was revealed. It may have been difficult to distinguish between who was enjoying theirselves more, Eilir or Kristof.

Debbie laughed with glee and watched the scene unfolding before her; beautiful bows of red and gold, all ripped to pieces and strewn across the floor. Paper flew through the air and made loud sounds of crunching and crashing everytime Kristof picked up a piece and threw it with a happy laugh on his face or pounced an unsuspecting piece laying too close by.

It almost seemed he enjoyed the paper more than the toys, until one began whirring in the air and zipped right past his head. It only made it a few inches before his chubby little fingers clutched the propellor and inserted right into his mouth.

"Uh-oh, no let's not eat that." she laughed and pulled it out. It wouldn't hurt him but she thought it better to discourage anything that could lead to a bad habit or accidents later on.

Kristof gave her a look that clearly spelled out mutiny, his tiny eyebrows furrowing and puffing out those chubby cheeks in disapproval. But just as he became angry, his fascination changed to a new target as a fluffy mass hopped right past him and darted around to his other side. It had big eyes and seemed to chirp, peeking around Kristof's knee before disappearing to the other side. It almost looked like..a fuzzy little bean bag chair, Debbie thought. Which was part of the reason she bought it.

The man in the store had told her it was only enchanted, not really alive which had made her worry. Kristof couldn't exactly tell living from animated and pain to another creature versus treating it nicely. With it only being a funny toy that would un-animate when put up, she felt much less worried about the thought of walking in to find her son having strangled a poor creature to death, or worse..biting the poor thing up.

Eilir and Kristof were both having so much fun opening up presents, that Debbie thought it was enough distraction to lean back toward Josef. She leaned back with a silly smile until she was leant against his shoulder, looking up through her hair; "You can give yours too now, if you want." she smiled, remembering his question in the halls earlier.

Branko raised an eyebrow and watched the scene unfolding before him; beautiful bows of red and gold, all ripped to pieces and strewn across the floor. Paper flew through the air and made loud sounds of crunching and crashing everytime Kristof picked up a piece and threw it with a happy laugh on his face or pounced an unsuspecting piece laying too close by...
This room had never been THAT messy! Although watching Kristof having so much fun was delighting he could not help a little hint of disaproval on his eyes watching his once private quarters turning into some play ground.

It almost seemed Kristof enjoyed the paper more than the toys!!! Branko watched rather exasperated at the kid's reactions with a look of 'Oh crap, he has got his mother's brain!' being distracted with funny colors and silly things instead the important ones!

But all in all, deep inside, he knew this was just right. For kids Christmas were times to have fun and do a mess... and that was exactly what Kristof was getting, almost the same way any kid would have a Christmas eve before the war broke in. And his eyes took a picture of that scene and put it just besides the one of himself with his parents in the first christmas his mind could remember... He was way older than the baby but yet he could remember now, pretty clearly, how it felt like.

You can give yours too now, if you want.

Then her voice interrupted his deep thoughts, and just then he raised his head back to the scene in front of him. His eyes turned to Debbie, kind of clueless at first as if needing some extra hint to find out what she was talking about, and then it hit him.

"Oh... right..." he murmured giving a quick look at Eilir as if for a second he felt shy to give Debbie her present in front the younger girl. But soon enough he was right into the matter and summoning a box, just a little bit bigger than her hands. It was way smaller compared with the present Debbie had for him but it was already to late to just pick something more of that level... he thought hopping she would not be that dissapointed.

"It is not... you know... just a detail..." he said already feeling rather ashamed for not be on Debbie's level at how-important-christmas-was things. It was handmade... part of it at least, he had not really time to go out to buy anything. Nor that he would do such a thing! The snowball was indeed an old one that he had fixed on a stone base with familiar look and modified to not show just a stupid snowy scene. It has four signs around: a snitch, a leaf, a drop of water and a moon. The scenes insied the ball switched into a silver mist before turn in the next and the images would only stay if the right sign was pressed first: a quidditch match, a walk on the yards, a day besides the lake and a night on the top of a tower watching the view of the whole castle fields... all of those memories of mere mirages.

His eyes watched Debbie's reaction in silence and could not help but to excuse himself again.

"You always said you wanted to meet the castle before the war. They are just... memories but you can enter in them as we do with pensieves... and take Kristof... don't last but a couple hours each though..."

Debbie stared oddly at his behavior before glancing back over to Eilir and Kristof, checking to see if they were still occupied with throwing toys and playing with paper. Wasn't that suppose to be the other way around? She gave an amused grin, turning her attention back to her curious husband just as a box floated past him and dropped right into her lap.

"Oh! It's heavy.." she mused, pushing her fingers beneath the bottom and picking up the plainly done box. She examined it for several seconds, curious of it's contents but always giving in to that old Christmas feeling of guessing what was inside before opening it.

The box itself fell away easily enough, pulling it open carefully at the top first as if she were opening a mysterious treasure that was both dangerous and enchanting at the same time. Her fingers reached inside next, giving a curious glance over the top as she met with the sight of round glass and gave a puzzled look. Now what could that be? Her fingers closed around the cool material easy enough and hefted it from inside. That was funny, it wasn't particularly heavy but did have a significant weight that felt greater as she was lifting it from the box rather than when she held the entire object in her hands.

The empty container fell to the floor almost immediately afterward and Debbie shot a hand up to cradel the base, careful not to break the object.

She barely heard Branko speaking or noticed his movements next to her. Instead, her eyes were slightly glassy as she stared at the globe, turning it over carefully in her hands to inspect every little detail. It was marvelous, the craftsmanship was beautiful yet simple. The symbols were slightly raised beneath her fingertips and Debbie found herself outlining each one as she turned it slowly still in her hands. "It's beautiful.." she whispered, focusing her eyes on the globe atop.

A figure zoomed past her sight just as she stared at the deceivingly pretty glass, catching her off guard as that same person swung around and connected a bat to another boy's head. The last thing she saw was the person flying toward the ground before the scene shimmered, melting into pearly white mist before shimmering again as the pictures became real again.

Yet this scene was different than the last..

Endless, star filled sky stretched the expanse of glass. It curved around, making some of the stars look bigger and brighter than the others. Yet it seemed it was moving...and so it was! It was almost like watching a movie, seeing it shift downward to show a boy sitting on the ground and looking out into the night sky quietly. A movie, she had seen those before. They played them inside the HRS headquarters, sometimes on the walls. Debbie could remember walking up and asking the receptionist if it was a pensieve of memories. Surely the battle scene going on the flat box couldn't be real? If so, why focus on that person? Maybe he was a hero.

The woman had explained it all to her next and she vaguely now associated it the same way. It was like a movie of different things that had happened during his life when Hogwarts was still a school. Debbie could feel the brutal sting of tears threatening to fall, gathering in her eyes and the horrible feel of her cheeks burning a bright pink.

But she wouldn't cry in front of him again. He hated that and she knew it.

"It's...the best thing I've ever gotten." She smiled slowly, brushing her fingers across the glass slowly. For all of the thoughtless trinkets she had received in her lifetime, Debbie could not remember anyone having given her something this personal since her time with Ella. It really was the best present anyone had ever thought to give her.

She couldn't help it. Debbie knew he wasn't exactly approving of emotions in front of other people but she barely noticed lifting up and pressing her lips to his in a chaste kiss, barely pulling away with a soft smile and holding it close to her chest. "Thank you.." She moved away just as quickly so as not to aggrevate him, looking eagerly down to the globe once more and soaked up every scene that passed by. "You were a tyrant." she snickered, seeing the quidditch scene play across again as he sent the poor kid flying to the ground and yelling curses all the while.

Eilir was partially aware of what Debbie and Branko were doing, and - registering the Headmaster's hesitation - the girl fully immersed herself in occupying Kristof, giving the couple a degree of privacy. Besides, Kristof's pile of new toys were as much a source of joy to Eilir as they were to the baby. Her attention was drawen by flcikering lights and whizzing sounds as she attempted to keep an eye on Kristof to make sure the boy didn't try to eat anything he shouldn't. She watched what she first thought to be a rabbit bound into a pile of paper and giggled.

To Eilir, this was the most amazing kind of magic she'd come across. Her big smiles crumpled for a second as she watched a small cluster of sparkling lights reveal themselves to be tiny faery-like figures dancing around the christmas tree. In that moment, Eilir knew that - had there been no war - she would have liked to be a toy maker. The thought made her blush and glance at the headmaster, as if he could hear her thoughts. Of course, she loved her work with the hippogriffs, learning to use her staff and gaining a grasp on as many magical spells she could, as well as occupying Kristof and watching him grow but, had she the opportunity, one day she would become a toy maker.

Her smile returned as she spotted Kristof craftily trying to suck a peice of red paper. She swooped across and gathered him into her arms, deftly hooking the paper from his pudgey hand and blowing a raspberry on his tummy to distract him. "Hey Kristof!" she said, her voice excited to grab his attention - hopefully averting tears. "Let's look at this toy..." she plopped the child into her lap and dug through the pile of paper the 'rabbit thing' had hidden under. "What's this Kristof?!?!?" she said, picking the odd thing up and examining it for any sign of life before placing it in the boy's hands.

It was the most bizarre thing she had ever seen. It resembled nothing more than it did a huge rabbit, but it chirrped like some kind of bird. It's eyes were large and cute, making Eilir just want to squish it. She smiled down at Kristof and patted the toy gently, hoping he'd copy her. "ahhh, isn't it nice Kristof!?" she cooed, wondering what the baby would make of it.