yuletide festivities | Esther

[alfie edward o'callaghan]

Mid December Weekend

The holiday season had officially fallen upon Scotland. This time of the year was a weird time for Alfie, he had a strange relationship with the holidays. As a product of divorced parents, he learned to despise holidays at an early age. Splitting up holidays between parents as a teen was chaotic and frustrating for him. It didn't help when his mom had a way of making him feel guilty for not visiting her since she was always lonely. As much as he missed her, and adored his mother, it was hard...he never told his mother about being bitten by a werewolf because he knew it would destroy her. Scare her, even, since she was a Muggle and didn't quite understand those things. Somehow, he always finagled a reason why he couldn't make it. Usually blaming it on being unable to leave his precious plants. How convenient. And this year would be no different. Alfie enjoyed the little life he created in Scotland and would live it out for as long as he could. Though he knew the illegal plant actives wasn't very sustainable. Especially if he didn't want to end up in Azkaban. Or worse.

This evening Alfie attended a Christmas party with a group of mutual friends. Most of them being old work colleagues from Hogwarts. He made sure Archie wouldn't be present before agreeing because something about seeing Archie and Esther sitting or standing too close made him feel territorial. What a strange feeling.        

After forcing Esther to wear an Ugly Sweater to the Christmas party, he was feeling accomplished. It wasn't until he they arrived to the party that they realized it was fancy dress.. That was a bit of a humbling expierience but the mortified look Esther gave him made the embarrassment worth it. The night ended up being a success and he was still slightly buzzed from the festive booze and games they were playing at the party. After the final game, Esther and Alfie made they way back to their shared flat with their white elephant gifts in hand. He had won pack of adult potions truffles and a calendar of pooping cats.

Ruffling a hand through his hair as he jumbled around with his keys, "Somehow I forget every year that I hate playing white elephant." he sighed with a chuckle, pushing open the door to their flat and placing his jacket on the hook behind the door. "Now that we're behind closed doors, just know that someday, I will get payback for your stealing the propagation set from me." Alfie stated darkly in an even tone, shaking his head in disappointment and slits for eyes. 

Esther Garnet