through the woods we ran

“Chaos can be a lot of fun, but I suppose you have quite the point there.” 

“Can be, yes, but only for certain people. Others may not find it half as fun as others. Either way, I suppose we ought to make the most of it, if this is going to be the only party of the year where no one gets... I don’t know, transformed into their costume or disappears or even gets killed.”

“Thank you, so much!” He grinned as he brought his drink up to his lips, taking a sip. “I’m good- great, even. I don’t think I’ve drunk this much firewhiskey since our graduation ball last year. I’m fearing that I’m going to regret this all very much in the morning.” He laughed. “How about yourself?”

“Oh it’s definitely a thing that’s happening right now, my dear,” Amos replied. His words too, were slurred and a huge grin was on his face as he approached Isa. “Happy New Year.”

“What kind of moron saw fit to take away all the magic in this place? That’s just…nice now isn’t it?”

Well, it’s quite nice knowing that chaos won’t break out at at least one Hogwarts party, you have to admit it.

That sounds about right. I think that’s when everyone lost their will to do anything studious last year before we all graduated. Anyway, quills it is for christmas.

“I’ve got to get something for my parents, my sister and my fianc– girlfriend,” Ted sped through the last couple of words and cleared his throat. His parents would probably prefer some sort of handmade thing or some trinket from a shop near home. His sister and Andromeda were proving to be a challenge though. “Why are the girls in my life the hardest to buy for?” Ted gave Amos a confused look. “Sirius suggested a muggle thing for Andy and I – I’m still at a loss.”

Amos picked up on Ted stumbling over the word fiancée and suddenly spluttering out the term girlfriend instead, but he chose to ignore it. It was clear to see that Ted didn’t intend on confirming that he and Andromeda were a serious couple. “I’m asking myself the same question here,” he replied, thrusting his fists into his pockets. “A muggle thing for Andromeda? But would- would she like something from the muggle world?”

“Um, my favourite thing about Christmas is probably… Molly’s cooking? Why’d you ask, anyway?”

“Oh, yes!” Amos exclaimed. “I haven’t had much of Molly’s cooking over the years but from what I have tasted, it’s spectacular. I wasn’t asking for any reason in particular. Just pure curiosity,” he reassured him. “Also, wish Charlie a happy birthday from all of us for yesterday, will you? Mum and Dad do have a small gift for him at home but they’ve been quite busy these past few days. They might be able to pop round sometime next week to see everybody.”

“I’m in seventh year,” She shrugged. “I’m running out of quills faster than I’m running out of the will to study.”

Oh, you’ll run out of the will to study before the term finishes, believe me. If you don’t then consider yourself lucky.

I don’t think just by having pureblood parents it necessarily means that you know what to buy parents for Christmas, but the younger sister somewhat helps, I suppose. Oh, and please don't call me darling. It makes you sound like my mother and that can be fairly patronising coming from someone else that isn't her.

He then gave him a look and pouted a bit more.  “But it looks dead. Why would anyone want to kiss someone if something looks dead, anyway?” 

“It would be wilting if it was dead or dying,” Amos replied, a smile forcing its way upon his lips as he spoke to James. “This is a perfectly fine and living piece of mistletoe. Muggles kiss each other under mistletoe, and they know what healthy mistletoe looks like.”

Lucius honestly didn’t know why he was still talking to Amos. There was nothing entertaining about him besides the fool of a girl he was dating. He actually had a point in what he was saying, but Lucius was too stubborn to admit that. “I suppose so,” Lucius huffed and shook his head. “But that’s not going to stop me from thinking that.”

Amos should be irked by what Lucius had said about Isa; implying that she wasn’t good enough for him and that he could have done a lot better than her. But Amos did his best to not be an argumentative person at any point in his life and instead chose to take this all with a pinch of salt. He knew of Lucius’ opinion on Isa and although he disagreed with it entirely, he accepted it. “I’m not going to stop you from thinking that, Lucius, as it’s your opinion and I have my opinion on her. They’re completely opposite but that’s fine, because not everyone is going to agree on everything. You can keep your opinion about Isa and I’ll be sure to keep my opinion on your arranged marriage to Narcissa Black to myself.”

You liked me at the beginning, too? Gosh, we wasted far too much time dancing around our feelings, we could’ve been together for almost two months before we actually confessed.

Yeah. Merlin, I’ve liked you since not long after we met but I was always far too nervous to say it. I only just about had enough courage to admit my feelings to you when I did because I thought that if I didn’t say anything then, well, maybe I wouldn’t of had the chance to confess at all.

You might be part of the reason behind it. You were an excellent tutor, Amos. I was also completely head-over-heels for you, so that helped.

I was horrendously nervous at the start of all that tutoring, you know. I thought that I would royally screw up because I would get distracted teaching someone that I liked.

Ah, so now you have a love for what used to be your most hated subject? I feel strangely proud that I’ve managed to convince you that it’s not all that terrible.

Perhaps I can talk to your Mum about Christmas, pretend I’m asking for myself, and then you can get her the most wonderful present. I- I don’t know what I want. I really like liquorice.

That’s probably a wise idea. Do you think you could come over once you’re on Christmas break? When is that, by the way? And, as much as I’d love to buy you all the liquorice in the world for Christmas, I feel like you need something a little better than just that.

Lucius opened his mouth, ready to insult Isa again if the action was necessary, but any words were lost when Amos finished speaking. The blond pressed his tongue against his cheek and tilted his head. “While I can admit I feel the same way about Narcissa as you do about Alcott, I must say you’re suffering from appallingly poor judgment when it comes to your choice in females.”

He wasn’t suffering from appallingly poor judgement when it comes to his choice in females. Not at all. Amos knew who was right for him, and it was Isa. “It may be appallingly poor judgement in my choice of females in your opinion - you know, from your point of view - but I expect that. She’s not the type of person you would go for, and neither is Narcissa for me. So it looks like we’re on the same level in that sense, Lucius.”