alt_sirius | Order Only: Happy Christmas

As it happened, I spent yesterday with Marguerite and my landladies, who insisted that they required someone to do the carving for their excellent goose.

So it was only this morning that I opened all the parcels Alice brought for me. (See, I can be patient when I try.)

Thank you all - I love the muffler and the beanie, Alice. In fact, I wish I'd worn it on the way back from the Channel, it was so cold. Really, Frank ought not to have troubled. I hear red's a hard colour to work with and I can just imagine him going blind and arthritic, knitting all that time he was in quarantine.

Kingsley, I don't even know where to begin. Good on you and Emmeline, mate, for remembering all the lyrics to A Whiter Shade of Pale. Long as I don't have to return the favour!

Molly, thanks. I was surprised, honestly - I mean to say, it seems to me you ought to keep your efforts use them on your side of the wards, as barter or something. But I'm also very impressed. I had some of the honey on my toast this morning and it's tremendous.

Poppy, I shall save the brandy for some major cause for celebration. It's kind of you, though again, I think you'd be wiser to barter it for something you really need, rather than wasting it on me.

I hope you lot all got your gifts in time, as well. Minerva, were you able to pass Harry his parcel? I hope they fit, I had to guess his size and charm them to alter themselves if necessary. Nothing like last year's present for him, but then I only had the one cloak!

Anyway, I only meant to wish you all a happy Christmas, even if it is a bit late.

Oh, Marguerite says that the Calais charger d'affaires will be changing over right at the new year, so we may have new bribes to place. Charming, isn't it?

Still no sign of the wizard who was looking for Nigel last month. Odd, that. I'm sure he'll turn up sooner or later.