Ho Ho Ho! Happy HP Holidays!

[mudblood_andproud]

There is something different about the Nexus this Christmas season. There is a light snow falling over the entire Nexus plaza. The snow is gentle, with no real coldness to the falling snow flakes. As one approaches the main gathering area, they will notice that there are many Christmas decorations, including garland hanging from the air, and there are twelve towering decorated Christmas trees, some sparkling with tiny icicles, some glittering with hundreds of candles. There are also thousands of floating tiny candles in the Nexus plaza, that gently move at their own discretion.

In one corner, there is an orchestra, directed by a Dwarf. All of the musicians are playing music on instruments made from ice. In the center of the Nexus plaza, is a huge banquet table, loaded with holiday foods and treats that showcases a variety of food from different cultures, and some of the different worlds that gather into the Nexus itself. The main delight of the banquet table is that magic can make the food replenish itself, meaning Christmas dinner never has to end. Most will be able to find something they would enjoy. With the added perk that the food is LOL-free.

There are some added little Christmas adventures, for those who get caught up in the holidays. Here are some of the extra options for the Holiday season.

Secret Santa!
There is an added bonus to the Secret Santa gifts this year. The presents will deliver themselves! There are tons of wrapped gifts floating through the air, destined to only drop when they reach the person to which they are intended. Please note that not all gifts will be given in the spirit of the season. There are a few prank gifts floating around too. Be sure to watch out for them!

Christmas Crackers!
There are Christmas crackers scattered among the tables, and in amongst the branches of the trees. They are decorated with festive paper that is twisted at either end like a sweet wrapper. Inside of the tube are prizes, and some contain Muggle prizes such as a paper hat, a plastic toy, and a slip of paper with a joke printed on it. But the rare person will receive a unique, peculiar magical prize, and will envelop everyone nearby in a cloud of blue smoke.

Weasley Sweaters!
Time to try your luck at the Christmas Sweater bin. There is a large rotating clothing rack that seems to have an endless supply of them. Each one more Festive than the last! Pick one and show your Christmas spirit for the rest of the day.

Enchanted Mistletoe!
Be warned Nexus traveler, the Nargles** have hung enchanted Mistletoe all around the plaza. If an unlucky person steps underneath the Mistletoe, they will find that they are magically stuck to the spot, until they can find someone to kiss them. Of course, the kiss can be platonic, familial, or even romantic. For a few unfortunate people, the kiss may be the last thing they would want to do... but it is that or be stuck in the same spot for the rest of the season.

**Nargle Wiki
[Click Here for information on the HP Holiday Event!]
[Your character is free to give other Christmas gifts to people they care about -- HOWEVER, please do not deliver your Secret Santa gift. That will be handled by the Secret Santa moderator. Please post details on your Secret Santa gift in this post please.]

Comments

[mudblood_andproud]

When he nods, Hermione does move her hand to his, to show him how to hold the wand. But the sensation of touching ice makes her hesitate.

She glances at him. "Would it hurt you, if I were to cast a slight Hot Air charm on my hand, so I can properly show you how to hold the wand?"

[shardofwinter]

Reynard tips his head briefly to one side at the thought, a smile appearing as he does so, one which he directs to her again. "That sounds more nice more than painful."

[mudblood_andproud]

"Oh good!" Hermione wanted to be careful. With a simple flick of her wrist, the Hot Air charm circles her hand so that it is easier for her to take his hand.

"Unlike a dagger, or a sword, you do not want a tight grip on your wand. You want your touch to be light and gentle. You want to be able to rotate your wrist with ease, without putting strain on your hand."

[shardofwinter]

It's a bit surprising to find she isn't shocked or curious about his icy skin, but perhaps she knows him by reputation. A simultaneously pleasing and depressing thought.

Nevertheless, he finds a warm hand on his guiding him through these unfamiliar motions. His attention is as much on her as it is on her instruction, a smile touching his lips.

He eases his grip, holding the wand more like a pen than a weapon. "Is this better?"

[mudblood_andproud]

She is curious. But she is also polite. Perhaps later, he would be willing to answer some questions. Right now, they are in the middle of something very important.

"Better... have you ever fenced?" Hermione meets his eyes with her own bright brown ones. "That is the kind of light touch you want."

"And then you have to be very precise when you make your movement with the wand. You want to make sure that the drawing of the rune is very accurate... but delicate."

"The hand movement for this spell is a single loop, so you move your hand thusly," and Hermione guides his hand in making the loop. "And immediately when the loop is completed, you must carefully cast Lumos, making sure you are pronouncing it correctly. LOO-mos!"

[shardofwinter]

Fencing, rich sport that it is, is something he's never done. Using a rapier, on the other hand… He decides that now is not the time to bring such topics up. Not when there are more interesting matters to focus on.

Turning his attention from her eyes to her guidance, he takes careful note of her grip, her motion, her tone and inflection… He nods his understanding and mimics her in slow, careful practice. When he feels he's gotten the hang of it, he nods to her. "Let me try again."

Once she's let go of his hand he take a slow breath and concentrates, really concentrates. He draws out the rune, keeping his wrist loose, his movements precise, and confidently commands, "Lumos!"

This time instead of an underwhelming absence of magic there is a bright flash of it, making Reynard immediately recoil as he throws his arm in front of his eyes. When he lowers it again he sees that the wand holds a small light at the end of it, while strands of ice crawl back towards his hand seemingly embedding itself into the wood. Around them the whole area is coated in a flawless coat of snow, just enough to make the blanket one of blinding white. Reynard stops and stares at the scene around them. Suddenly, he throws his head back and laughs, resting a hand on his hip to support himself as he doubles over.

[mudblood_andproud]

Hermione reacted rather quickly to the bright flash of light, casting a quick "Protego!", a shielding spell, so that if there was an explosion both Reynard and herself would be protected. (There have been many young wizards who had caused a fire, when they were learning the Lumo spell).

She places her free hand around his waist too, just in case she needs to shield him.

But the spell ended in a completely different scenario. Hermione looks around to the flawless coat of snow, and laughs softly herself. Her arm that had been at his waist, gently touches his back, when he doubles over in laughter.

"That was expected!"

[shardofwinter]

His laughter slows down into a stutter and he coughs once to calm himself again, shaking his head. By the time he's finished enough to properly look at his wand it's a bit of a mess. Tiny amounts of moisture in the near invisible crevices of the wood have frozen and expanded, making cracks of ice that look like silvery veins along the strained wood.

"It worked... in the same way a blunderbuss works. It does the job, but... not elegantly." The hesitation in his voice extends to his expression which becomes apologetic as he shows her the wand. "I'm not sure if your wand is stronger or weaker for it."

[mudblood_andproud]

"I could get the wand tested." Hermione smiles, taking it from him. Studying how the cracks of ice have changed the wood.

"You never know... the wand might have bond to you now." She laughs.

[shardofwinter]

"Or it might disintegrate come Spring." Tearing his eyes off of it, he looks at Hermione more seriously as he says, "If it doesn't, don't let just anyone use it."

Twisting to look at the snow again, he explains, "This is how I usually create light." Turning back to her, he grins. "I never had a wand to use before."

[mudblood_andproud]

"I won't." She promises him.

Hermione looks around. Then smiles. "You have such a magical gift, Reynard."

[shardofwinter]

The understatement gets a chuckle from him. He puts a hand over his heart. "For me it's less of a gift and more of a talent. I am a spirit of Winter." He gestures to the wand. "The poor thing wasn't connecting with just me, it was connecting to Winter itself. Little wonder why it fractured like that."

He could have drawn out the guessing game, kept up a pretence of secrecy, but in the Nexus especially, his name is easily followed by his infamy.

[mudblood_andproud]

"Wonderful!" Hermione beams at him. "Well met, then."

She hopes he understands how much winter means to her. It is one of the best times of year. Most of her good memories are tied to winter. The Yule Ball is one of those shining moments.

"Yule is a time of celebration. And I am so glad I can celebrate with a spirit of Winter, himself."

[shardofwinter]

Reynard accepts the compliment with a shallow bow and a wide smile. "And thank you for the opportunity to use a wand. I've never tried magic from another world before."

It's then that he eyes her thoughtfully, a cheeky smile twisting at the corner of his mouth. "Do you intend to dance tonight?"

[mudblood_andproud]

"It is often an excitement to learn about magic from other worlds. Perhaps I could learn more about your world? Your magic?"

When he mentions dancing, Hermione smiles. "I honestly had not thought about it..."

But she looks around. And has fond memories of the last time Hogwarts held a Yule Ball. The sensation of having all that flattering attention from Krum. It had been such a lovely evening, until Ron was a prat and ruined it all.

"I have not danced since before the war. Yes... I think I shall take advantage of the suggestion."

[shardofwinter]

"Perhaps," he agrees with quiet amusement.

That only prompts his grin to grow and he extends a hand with a flick of the wrist. "In that case, would you give me the honour of a dance?"

[mudblood_andproud]

"Oh! Yes... that would be a delight." Hermione takes his offered hand.

[shardofwinter]

His skin is still cold but hopefully Hermione's charm is still protecting her as he takes her hand, gently leading her towards the dance floor. With ease he spins her into a dance. Only once they begin to dance to the music, closer again and able to speak easily once more.

"I'm afraid I am not a witch of my world," he says then. "I stayed with one once, but I didn't learn her magic. You might be disappointed to learn I only truly know my own."

[mudblood_andproud]

The charm does protect her from his cold touch. Plus there is the added bonus that he is an attractive man, who keeps flattering her. She has not felt this way since the Yule Ball. It is a nice reminder of how pleasant life can be.

"Not at all. Sometimes it is best to truly know your own magic." Hermione smiles. She moves smoothly on the dance floor (they were all taught how to dance at Hogwarts).

[shardofwinter]

Dancing is one of those things Reynard practices as often as he can, usually for the company it provides, so he dances well, moving swiftly, light as a feather (or a ghost).

"Sometimes," he agrees with a low hum. "But it's also good to learn about the powers of others. Perhaps I could see more of your magic. If I don't keep breaking wands I'd be very interested to try my hand at your magic."

[mudblood_andproud]

"That is the one thing I enjoy about the Nexus... getting to meet different people, and learning about different magic. And non-magic skills."

"Well there are always potions and charms." Hermione grinned.

[shardofwinter]

"If by potions you mean a good drink then I like to think I have both potions and charms covered," he tells her with a wink and a playful grin. "Do you teach much? Or did you make a special exception for me?"

[mudblood_andproud]

"I was asked to teach at Hogwarts, the wizarding school where I had learned."

"But I took a job in the Ministry of Magic."

[shardofwinter]

Reynard raises an eyebrow. "That sounds important. Not the most exciting, but important. I should hope you take every opportunity to get out of whichever stuffy office you've been given."

[mudblood_andproud]

"I take the opportunity to come to the Nexus, learn about new cultures and people, and just enjoy the sights... when I am out of that stuffy office."