Closed Holiday With the Harringtoms Finished

The entire family was caught off-guard when Eris distributed presents of her own to each and every person. Adam didn't know when the girl had been able to even fetch the money required for the gifts, much less buy and wrap them all on time. Apparently, she was a lot more stealthy than Adam had realized. He'd have to watch out for that during their next six-and-a-half years together. When Bridgit received the final package -- and after a round of protest from Mrs. Harringtom that seemed to be required of all adults when they received a gift -- the occupants of the living room began the unwrapping process.

Adam had received his present first, but he wanted to wait until Eris could open the one that he'd gotten her at the same time. Turning his attention to Dean, Adam watched with his family while he stripped away the wrapping paper and grinned at its contents. Holding up a few issues of the comic collection for everyone to see, he reached for the card that had fallen from the box and laughed as he read it. "Thanks, Raggedy Ann."

By the time the last parcel had been opened, Adam guessed that Eris would never want to hear the words "thank you" again. Sydney had been the next up after Dean, complimenting Eris on her wrapping and hugging the dress close to herself. She got up from the couch and gave Eris a tight hug as the room's attention shifted to Bridgit, remarking on how she wouldn't have to worry about what to wear to the rumored Hogwarts spring dance later in the year. Though Adam didn't know much about purses or bags, Bridgit certainly seemed to love hers, and let Eris know it gratefully. Adam's parents were the most surprised about their presents by far -- even before seeing the amount written on the checks, Mrs. Harringtom had looked to Eris and exclaimed, "Oh, dear, we can't accept these! It's too much!" His father had echoed Kristine's hesitance, but eventually they both relented. Eris would have to be careful, of course; one way or another, Adam knew that his mom would find a way to make sure the check ended back in Eris' position, or at least find a way to repay the sum.

At his question, Eris had agreed quickly and they'd both dug into the boxes in front of them. Adam was more than delighted to find the polished surface of a wooden chess board and two rows of expertly-crafted pieces accompanying it. After thanking Eris profusely, he gave a small wave to the soldiers still in their casing, looking forward to getting adjusted to them and building the level of trust that all wizard chess players needed with their armies.

While Adam had been busy discovering the chess board awaiting him, Eris had cleared away the wrapping paper and cracked her box open to see what Adam had packed for her. After getting the new game from Eris, he felt like his gift was a little, well....impersonal. He was sure that she'd still like it, but he was beginning to worry that he'd taken the first interest of hers he'd learned about and ran away with it. One by one, the pieces of the gift were lifted into view as Eris picked them up eagerly. To start, he'd given her new copies of two Marvel origin movies: Captain America and Thor. After the movies was a little figurine of the villain from The Avengers: Loki, stylized with scepter, helmet, and all. Finally, there was a box of microwave popcorn that Adam thought the girl would enjoy while watching the movies. It was a heavily Muggle-culture gift, he realized as it was unveiled, and she wouldn't be able to use much of it while at school. Nevertheless, he had hoped she would like it, and it seemed like she did. His best friend thanked him with the same level of enthusiasm that he had given her, and with that, the last present was opened.

Pulling herself up from her sitting position, Mrs. Harringtom announced that breakfast would be ready in a matter of minutes, and that they should all start making their way to the dining room to eat. Bridgit and David started up a conversation on one side of the table, seemingly lost in the details of his father's management job. As the children took their seats, a discussion of what to do for the rest of their allotted break time sprang up. Sydney would be going home to celebrate New Years' Eve, but Eris was staying with the Harringtoms until they caught the train back. Laughing as more and more intricate activities were laid out, Adam leaned forward in his chair and quickly got caught up in the amusement. It wasn't long until Mrs. Harringtom brought out the first round of Christmas-morning French toast, and Adam smiled brightly at Eris before taking his first bite.

Whatever they decided to do for the next week, he knew it would be amazing. He had his best friend, a new chess set, and a small army of plastic dragons by his side. In the cold English midwinter, things couldn't seem any brighter.

Everything was right with the world.

[THREAD CLOSE]