New rules.

“I should have taken this entire week off,” he said, reaching around the other for his drink order. “I feel like I live in a constant stat of I have no idea what’s going on the week between Christmas and New Year’s – how was your Christmas?”

“Too late for that now.” He said with a laugh. “Nothing or everything. Those are really the only two options for that week. As for mine, it was fine. Everyone got the gifts they’d been hoping for and no one went crazy.”

“Yeah, that’s why I went to this department. More fieldwork, less of this.” Teddy let out a huff and looked over at Lestrange’s desk. He tilted his head in thought, “….I wonder if he’d notice.”

“In all honesty, I wanted to deal with quidditch all day. Then again, I do wish I’d finished auror training.” He mused, letting out a sigh. “Nah, I haven’t seen him in ages so if anything it’ll take a bit.”

“I take off for two weeks and come back to this – “ Teddy sighed, looking at the mountain of paperwork waiting for him on his desk. “What happened exactly?”

“I have absolutely no idea. The ridiculous patents office looks like this pretty much on the daily. Well like this but with more paperwork just...” He motioned all around. “Everywhere?”

He shook his head, “Okay, I’m not that crazy. I guess having decorations up at the holidays is just somewhat nostalgic.”

“That’s good to know. If you were crazy, I’d have to say our friendship was over.” He paused before grinning. “I kid, I kid. Nostalgia is certainly a good thing.”

“She doesn’t care,” he shook his head. “I’m telling you. She’s got that even Black gene or something. I doubt that child has a moral compass.”  Teddy looked at him, seriously. “Do yourself a favor and don’t have kids. But in my defense, I think my dad put a curse on me so I’d have a child that is literally a clone of me.”

“Maybe it’s like magic... it manifests when it wants to?” He offered up before letting out a laugh. “Well I’d first have to find someone that wants to have children with me. So I think the world is safe from tiny Brutuses.”

Daisy shook her head at Brutus, smirking at him, “Ba-humbug! You sound like you really need some holiday cheer. At least it sounds like your mum gets some love. What a good son.” Daisy reached up to pat him on the top of his head. She pulled her hand back and raised an eyebrow at him, “Mistletoe? You trying to have a pass on me, Scrimgeour?”

“Seeing as it’s just me and her, I would hope I can at least give her that.” He mused with a grin. At Daisy’s question, a smirk tugged at his lips. “Depends, is it working?”

“I have more if you need any.” Asra said, “My mum was big into the yuletide season, and she always needs the latest fashion, meaning that I have all the hand-me-downs. I have about a stores-worth of five-year-old decorations.”

“I... wow that’s rather intense. I’m imagining a room in your house that is always Christmas.”

“Hm.” Daisy hummed happily, “Well that’s lucky for you.” She tilted her head up to look at him, “And what of your family, Brutus? Are you bringing holiday cheer to them?”

“Oh I’m the Grinch. They get nothing but a heart that’s three sizes too small.” He teased before letting out a laugh. “I try to be a beacon of holiday cheer for my mum. You can let me know if it’s working or not.” He paused. “Have you run into any mistletoe yet? I’ve heard some of the shopkeepers have been putting it in the doorways.”

Teddy looked at him. “Bold of you to assume I have any sort of fatherly sense.” He shrugged, “Maybe if I ignore it, she’ll just….not do this.”

“Well I was never the sharpest tool in the shed.” He teased with a grin. “Alright so... perhaps we ignore it and she will stop. We can talk about how Santa is disappointed?”

“Without decorations? You just leave a bare tree up in your living room for more than a few days?” Asra looked offended, “How awful. Well, if you need help decorating this year, call me over. I live for this stuff.”

“Yes.” He mused. “I mean, if you want to. I don’t exactly have any decorations stored away... maybe a strand or two of lights.”

“Point taken.” Daisy nodded, “Dunno what’s with having a million kids. But maybe that’s just a Weasley thing.” She smiled, “You have nothing to do today?”

“Nothing as important as helping you bring the gift of Christmas cheer to your family.” He mused with a grin. “Ridiculous patents seem to come to a halt until after new years.”

“Good.” Asra said, putting his hands on his hips and beaming proudly, “I prefer to go all out. Keeps things interesting.”

“Someone has to. I’m very much a put the tree up the day of Christmas kind of guy then I leave it up without decorations until it dies.”

“Five is still a lot. You buy them all presents? Because I seriously blow at thinking of things.” She nodded, “Yes, please.”

“In the grand scheme of wizarding families it seems small.” He offered up. “Alright then, I’m at your disposal for... well as long as you need me really.”

“No. I just did it for fun,” he gave him a blank expression, before shrugging. “How was I supposed to know she’d morph herself into a damn Christmas elf?”

“I thought there was like a fatherly sense where you knew stuff like that wouldn’t work. I’d not take my chances on putting up anything she can turn into which is well... everything?”

“You know, Christmas is damn stressful when you have a million cousins to buy things for. And yeah, I know most of them aren’t blood related, but I can’t not buy gifts for them.”

“I wouldn’t know. I think I have a total of... 5 cousins? If that many. And I’m an only child so there’s that. Do you need help?”

Asra finished setting up the small Christmas tree in his office and stepped back to admire his handiwork, “Pretty festive, right?”

“Certainly one of the most festive displays I’ve seen as of yet. People either go all out or say who cares.”

“Don’t go in there,” he warned. “I went all muggle with that elf on the shelf thing to scare Iris  out of being a brat and it backfired. She morphed herself to look like him. It’s horrifying.”

“Oh.... Oh no.” He mused, looking from his friend to the door. “Really? You thought that would work?”