One Moore Christmas (Sethia)

[payton]

Ever since that first meeting late in the common room he had never been so long with out talking to her. They made final plans the day before they left Hogwarts, and he promised to meet her at the ferry port a week later so she could come spend the the majority of their vacation at his house.

It seemed like forever since they had last talked, no thtat he hadn't been happy to see the family again. He almost forgot how nice it was to be together with everyone. Especially since everyone, even Logan who was away at college, came home for a short time. He was to some extend, happy to have some time wiht the family before Sethia came, because when she did, he knew that she would get the majority of his attention, and he had a lot to catch up on with everyone.

Now though, as he waited, rather impatiently, for Sethia's ferry to arrive, that was the furthest thing in his mind.

[sethia]

Sethia said goodbye to her friends, Celina and Alexa, as she boarded the ferry to London. She had spent an incredible few days with her friends, but now she was going to the Moore’s home in London, to stay with Payton and his family for the remainder of her Christmas holidays. The wind was up as she got on and watched as they raised the ramp after her, she waved goodbye and then made her way to the front of the ship. Most people were inside hiding from the cold, but Sethia was the only one who was still on deck, watching the waves and looking towards London.

She still couldn’t believe her aunt had consented to her staying with the Moore’s, and even more surreal was the circumstances under which Sethia had been invited. It had been the Halloween ball at Hogwarts, and Sethia had gone as a medieval woman, while Payton went as a half devil, half angel, however he hadn’t gone with her, but they did spend sometime together during the evening. At some point during a dance, she mentioned to him that she was going to be staying at the castle during the holiday, and just like that Payton invited her. Of course it was not that easy, he had to write his dad for permission and once they got that Sethia had to write her aunt, which was not as easy as Payton’s dad, but after talking to Mr. Moore she thought it was okay.

Sethia wore blue jeans, black and white sneakers, a blue sweater over a white shirt and a black wool hat on her head. She wind nipped at her nose and cheeks, making them flush, but she didn’t; care she was looking forward to this trip too much to sit inside patiently. After a while she saw the city come into view and before Sethia could really get her breath they were docking and people were getting off. She grabbed her two bags and walked down the gangplank looking for the familiar red hair of Payton Moore. She took a quick surveillance and then spotted him, “Payton!” she shouted and walked towards him, her blonde hair blowing gently in the cold air.

[payton]

The wind was picking up as he waiting, and he pulled he stuck his hands into the pockets of his jeans to keep him warm as he waited. His father, being the man that he was, had tried earlier that day to make his fifth born “look presentable for the lady” but in true Payton fashion, he decided to express his own taste in his clothing instead of the navy trousers and pale yellow shirt Mum-N had said would look so charming on him. He instead wore a pair of jeans, quite his Pop’s disapproval, as he very openly said that if this girl was cute, he should at least try and be the same, and a long sleeved orange shirt with a navy stripe along the chest. He did listen to Mum-N at least when she told him to put on his navy vest when she told him that “if you don’t want to look nice, the least you can do is match.”

He had been waiting for ten minutes when he saw a ferry pull in, and he immediately started to search the crowd for Sethia. He was still well aware of how their relationship was when they parted, rather up in the air really. He had admitted that he liked her, and she had said the same, but they never did anything beyond that. For a moment he wondered how he should great her. Even if he tended to act completely confident about most things, he still had worries. It wasn’t until he heard his name being called and he spotted Sethia in the crowd that any concerns seemed to melt away and a bright grin broke out across his face. He immediately started towards her, he was so happy that everything had worked out and she would be spending so much time with him over break. Especially as when he asked it was such a spur of the moment, half joking thing.

When he finally reached her, all of his worries gone away and instead replaced with happiness that she was there, he didn’t even think about his actions, instead his arms went around her for an immediate hug even before he said anything.

[sethia]

Sethia’s face lit up at the sight of Payton, though in her head her mind had returned to that day in the Courtyard when they had both admitted liking each other. Sethia wasn’t sure what that meant at the time, and she still didn’t now. So Payton liked her, and she liked him, but this was new territory for Sethia she wasn’t sure what to expect or what was expected of her. She tried to look as composed as possible, but she was nervous, very nervous and inside her stomach was doing flips upon flips.

When she and Payton finally reached each other all her worries disappeared and he gave her a warm hug, and surprising to Sethia she had gone to do the same thing he had. Payton always seemed to read her mind. She blew into her hands once they parted in an attempt to warm them. ‘Hi. How are you? How was your Christmas so far?” she asked him, a cheerful tone in her voice. Her skin was pale from the cold and her hands blotchy, but she didn’t care what she looked like at that point in time she was with Payton and that made everything okay by her.

She looked behind him, “Umm, how are we getting to your house?” she asked him timidly. She was freezing from all the time she had spent on deck, with the extra cold air off the sea, and she wanted to warm up. “I really have to thank your dad for letting me come; it was really very nice of him. Please don’t let me forget?” she asked him with a small smile. She adjusted her bags on her shoulder; she had brought clothes and some gifts with her; one for Mr. Moore as a thank you and one for Payton.

[payton]

He smiled at her question about how his holiday had been so far. It was as the Moore holidays always were, rather loud and chaotic, but filled with energy and spirit. He still had to laugh at how his father always held midnight 'boogie bashes' in the kitchen when anything happened, including when his son's came home from Hogwarts. There were of course random ones, when you would simply wake up to loud music at the moment the clocks struck midnight, but on days when you knew there would be one, no one fell asleep, instead they all waited for the sound of music so they could jump out of bed. It was one of his father’s strange traditions. One he was rather sure Sethia would get to experience. He was sure that he saw too much ice cream in their flat, and his father always made ice cream drinks on the night of a kitchen boogie bash.

“Brilliant. It was great to see everyone again. And I think there is always a party at our house. I can’t imagine what Pop’s was like when he was younger.”<br>
He reached forward to take one of her bags when she started to adjust it. He had enough sisters, and a father who liked to him himself rather good at ‘charming the ladies’, so behavior like that, on occasion at least, was automatic.

“We have to walk to the trolley…should only take a few minutes. Then that will take us to London center, and then we need to walk to the flat.”<br>
He wished that the weather had been a bit more agreeable, his fingers were stiff with cold and the tip of his nose was tingling, but he brushed it away, and reached a hand out to take Sethia’s. With all the passengers from the ferry, as well as everyone already on the dock, it was rather crowded, and he wanted to make sure she stayed close by him.

[sethia]

Sethia smiled as Payton told her of his Christmas so far, “I’m glad to hear that,” she told him as he took one of her bags, “Thanks.” She nodded as Payton told her how they were getting to his home; trolley first and then they walked. He took her hand and Sethia felt a tingle throughout her body, and she knew it wasn’t the cold. Payton worked his way through the crowded dock with Sethia right behind him, she wanted to talk to him but in that crowd she could barely hear her own thoughts.

Finally they escaped the hustle and bustle of arriving and departing passengers and were able to walk more freely; Sethia was now able to walk next to Payton. “My Christmas has been great so far. Paris with Celina and Alexa was great, I bought so many things, even something to wear to that club you were telling me about, if we go. Alexa was nice enough to help me find something appropriate. Are we still going?” she asked him.

Sethia wand Payton walked to the trolley line and hopped quickly on the first one they came across, which was a task in itself and so many people were trying to get on it as well. So far, the city was amazing, but she didn’t like the crowd, she could barely move or breathe in that trolley and the air was not like at home, where jasmine and heather filled the air, here she smelt care exhaust and a rather potent perfume the woman beside her was wearing. The city was something she would definitely have to get used to.

[payton]

Of course it all felt normal to Payton, who moved through the crowds easily making sure to keep a tight hold on her hand. Having been around the city enough, he knew a side street that would take them to the trolley, which reduced the crowd and let Sethia tell him about their trip.

“It sounds wonderful. And of course I am still taking you out. The clubs here are brilliant, especially on New Years.”<br>
He flashed her a bright smile before they reached the trolley line, once again surrounded by the crowds again and he fell silent as he worked his way on. Once on, he settled himself so he could face her, not letting go of her hand even though they were now safely together and could not be separated in their short ride into the heart of the city.

“It won’t be long now. Its about a ten minute ride, and then a five minute walk. The flat is in the center of London really, so its easy to get to. I should warn you though, be prepared for chaos.”<br>

[sethia]

“Okay,” Sethia managed to reply to Payton’s statement about the clubs as they walked. Once they were on the trolley Payton turned to face her so they could talk, he was still holding her hand and it made her feel a little better about being on this crowded trolley full of strange faces and people she didn’t know.

“I think I am ready for your family Payton,” Sethia said with a smile. “I have spent enough time around you and heard you talk about them to know what to expect. I am sure they are great Payton, I mean they did produce you,” she said with a smile. She was really excited about being with Payton and his family at Christmas, her most favourite time of year ever since she was small.

As the trolley came into the station Sethia gripped Payton’s hand a little tighter as she was bounced and shoved by people trying to get off, and those trying to get on before the trolley was empty. Finally, after a little manoeuvring she managed her way off and took a look around. London was full of people, all with bag of shopping, with children in hand or on cell phones talking, she had to smile, this was so different than her home. She looked at Payton and smiled, it was amazing.

[payton]

He gripped her hand as they wove through the crowded London streets. It was normally a busy city, but with the addition of the holiday, there was hardly a place to go. That being the case it took them a bit longer to reach the Moore residence. It was just off a side street, just south of London center. Luckily this street was a bit les crowded, though people were still doing their bit of shopping in the shops that lined the narrow road. He lead her down to the fifth building on the left, it was old, and made of brick, and had a sign out in front of it that say “Another Page: Used Books.”<br>
He led her to the door and pushed it open. Straight ahead was an open door that lead to a room heavy with the sent of old parchment, a rather plump bearded man walked around.

“’Good Morrow Henry” Payton called as he paused in front of the door, the old man glancing up to give him a wavy and a bright smile.

Payton then turned back towards Sethia and smiled at her.

“Henry and Pops are old mates, and Henry bought the shop just about the time we moved back to London, so he let us have the flat on the second floor.”<br>
Flashing her another smile he lead her up a set of stairs that was just off to the right, and paused on the landing before letting go of her hand and reaching for the door knob. Once he pushed it open they were hit by a rush of light, the scent of gingerbread and the tune of Alvin and the Chipmunks’ “All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth” filling the air.

He turned to Sethia and flashed her a bright grin before stepping, the whole family sitting in the living room eating freshly made cookies when they did. The first person to stand up was Mr. Moore. He was a tall, very slender man with legs that look almost too long for his body. His hair was a deep, almost unnatural shade of red, but his expression was so jolly he could have passed off as Santa Clause himself.

“Payton! Good to see you made your way home!”<br>He made his way over to the door and stretched his hand out to Sethia.
“And you must be Sethia, he has done nothing but talk about you since he got back.”

[sethia]

Sethia followed close behind Payton, she was afraid to lose him in that crowd, in a city she barely knew. There were too many people and no space to move, she was jostled and pushed as they walked and once or twice her hand began to slip from Payton’s but he took a better grip of it so to avoid losing her. They walked down to a building and entered; it smelled of parchment and a large man was walking around inside.

Sethia followed Payton trustingly, she was a little out of her world now and she needed him to keep her on the right track. Payton greeted the man; Henry was his name she would learn. She smiled back at Payton as he turned to her, “Oh,” Sethia said as Payton explained the relationship between his father and the man he had just spoken to, Henry. “Really? That was very nice of him to do that. Your dad and him must be really great friends.”

Sethia followed Payton up the stairs to his home. He pushed the door and the sound of The Chipmunks singing filled her ears, she liked that song when she was small. The air was filled with the aroma of gingerbread and baking, and she instantly felt warm and welcomed even though she had yet to actually speak to anyone. Sethia went in after Payton, her bag over her shoulder and she was soon greeted by the scene of the entire family seated together eating cookies. Mr. Moore was the first to stand and greet her. Sethia took his hand and gave a friendly shake, “Yes, I’m Sethia, Mr. Moore. I am pleased to meet you.” She blushed profusely at his statement and gave Payton a little look of embarrassment and then looked back at his father. “Thank you so much for allowing me to join your family over the holidays. I hope it wasn’t any imposition,” she told him.

[payton]

"Oh no!" Mr. Moore replied quickly, now the rest of the family peering over from their spot to eye the newcomer. "None at all! First things first though, call me Pops, keeps the chaos down, Pops to the family Mr. Moore to my students."

Payton shook his head at his father, Pops always did think everyone should be at home in his house. It was then that he remembered he hadn’t told Sethia much about his father, he leaned in slightly and whispered
"Pop's is a teacher."

It was just then that a a woman rose from a chair in the middle of the gathering of children and made her way to the door. She was a small woman, bairly over five feet, making her look even smaller when she stood next to her husband.
"You know Max, not everyone is comfortable calling you that. Hello Sethia, I am Nadia."

Max rolled his eyes at his wife when she first made the comment, then smiled brightly at her before looking over at the remainder of his children, who after their fleeting moment of peace seemed to have broken out into total chaos with the absence of their parents. Dillion had been leaning up against the Christmas tree, and when he started to get up his hair got caught in one of the ornaments, and he almost pulled the whole tree over before a boy who looked to be in his twenties rose to his feet catching the tree. It seemed that the near collapse of the tree started some of the other kids as three girls when tearing off across the room towards the kitchen and another child still in the sitting area of the flat screamed at another boy who was holding a cookie up above his head. It was then that the noise seemed to spread a bit too far, and suddenly the sound of a baby crying filled the air. Nadia sighed slightly, and turned on her heals heading off towards a hallway that lay across the room almost directly across from the front door. The sudden chaos seemed to bring to how small the flat really was to reality. The door they had just entered through lead to a single room. Just off to the right of the door was a large table and just right of that was a kitchen. To the left was the sitting area, littered with chairs and couches, none of which matched.

Payton looked over at Sethia smiling.
“Ah, finally things are back to normal, I was starting to get worried.”

[sethia]

Sethia smiled politely at Payton’s father, it was nice of him to tell her she could call him ‘Pops’ but she couldn’t bring herself to do that. She used to call her father poppa, and she could never call anyone else anything remotely close to it. “Thank you Mr. Moore,” she told him. She looked at Payton when he leaned in towards her, “Oh, I figured that one out on my own,” she whispered back with a smirk. Sethia straightened up, Mr. Moore was a teacher, she liked most teachers and at one point she wanted to be the Care of Magical Creatures Professor at Hogwarts, but her mind had changed a little to focus only on her magical creature ranch.

A woman rose in the background, she was short and she looked even smaller next to Mr. Moore. “Hello Nadia,” Sethia said with a smile and a little wave. Mr. Moore rolled his eyes at Nadia and Sethia smiled at that, and also as the children who broke out in chaotic behaviour since their parents were watching. Sethia’s mouth dropped open for a moment as she saw the Christmas tree coming down after catching in Dillion’s hair, thank goodness for one of their older brothers who caught it before calamity, but the near collapse sent some of the other children scattering. Suddenly the cries of a baby rang through the other chatter and shouting, and Nadia disappeared into another room.

Payton looked at Sethia and told her that things were now back to normal. Sethia looked around her; there were children screaming, some were running around, others were pulling at the tree and poking at the gifts underneath it. She looked at the scene and smile, the apartment though small felt really homey, and totally welcoming. “Umm,” she said and looked at Payton, “where am I staying?” she asked, not able to fathom where they had fit her in with all the children.

[payton]

Payton laughed at Sethia’s response to Pop’s request. In his opinion someone needed to rock the man’s world every now and then. Pop’s would probably keep working on her during her stay at the Moore flat, but Sethia wasn’t quite the type to give in when she decided something.

He looked out happily at his siblings for a moment, it was great to be home. He couldn’t see the older girls, but he assumed they were around somewhere, this close to Christmas, the only one who might be allowed out was himself to get Sethia and maybe Emma for work if she couldn’t get off.

He glanced over Sethia when she asked about her things and reached down tot grab her hand.
“You will be staying in one of the girl’s rooms. I am going to take a bold leap and say the older girls, unless you want to stay with a nine and six year old.”<br>
He grinned slightly before picking up her bag and moved around his parents, who were now trying to control the zoo of children, and walked across the room and down the narrow hall directly in front of them. The hall wasn’t very long, and there were two doorways on the right side and three on the left. He first walked to the center door on the left and pushed it open to reveal two sets of bunkbeds.
“This is the boys room, so its where I stay.”<br>From the angle they were standing at one could see that on the right side of the room there was a flag that said Hufflepuff, and there were Hogwarts trunks at the end of the bed. He paused for a moment before pulling the door closed and moving down the hallway to the last door on the right, which he pushed open to reveal two beds.
“This is where my older sisters sleep, I will have to find a sleeping bag…”

[sethia]

Sethia nodded at Payton’s dad and then followed Payton as he pulled her behind him by the hand. “With your sisters? I am not putting anyone out am I?” Sethia said as Payton showed her to her room, “Umm where are they I don’t remember seeing anyone older than me out there, except one of your brothers?” she said. Sethia smiled, at Payton’s humour, he could make a joke to nearly everything.

They walked down a hall that wasn’t very long with three doors on one side and two on the other. He opened one door on the left, the centre one, and inside there were two sets of bunk beds, which he explained that was the boys’ room where he would be staying. “Oh, all of you fit in here? It’s like being at school, just that they’re your family. You guys are really close.” Sethia always had her own room, it just wasn’t right for her to sleep with the boys, though she did when there was a storm, because she was afraid of lightening and thunder. In Payton’s room there was the standard Hufflepuff paraphernalia that adorned the walls of Sethia’s room at home.

After showing her where he would be, it was now time for her to see where she would stay. He opened the last door on the other side; it held two beds and Payton said he would have to find a sleeping bag. Sethia went in and found a little corner to put her bags down, “I can put it right here,” she said pointing out where she was thinking the sleeping bag could go. She looked up and flashed him a bright smile.

[payton]

He shrugged at her comment about not seeing his older siblings, he hadn't seen them earlier, but he guessed that they would make themselves known soon.

"Well, there are two of them. Emma works at the paper, so she is probably there, and then Caitlin...and I'm sure she is somewhere. She is pretty short so she blends in."

He grinned as he watched her set her bags down. He did feel bad that she had to sleep ont he floor for her stay here. He wished pop's would let her sleep in his bed while he slept ont he floor, but of course he wouldn't have anything to do with that.

"My sister's wont mind at all. They will probably be happy to have someone around that is a bit closer to their age. There is a big gap between eighteen and nineteen and ten. I just hope you don't find the floor too uncomfortable, its a lot time not to have a bed. You could sleep on the couch but its not very privat."

He shrugged again, but smiled at her again. He really was happy she was here.

"So are you hungry or anything?"

[sethia]

Sethia looked at Payton, “At the paper? What does she do there?” she asked interested. “So it is Emma and Caitlin, I’ll remember that,” she said with a smile. Sethia was really glad to be staying with the Moores and she wanted to make a good impression, and remembering their names was a start.

The room was pleasant to look at and had a comforting feel to it. She wouldn’t mind staying there at all, even if it meant she had to sleep on the floor, she was a country girl it would not be the first time she slept on the floor. When Sethia’s dog had pups she slept in the barn with her all night, and there was no sleeping bag, only hay and a blanket. She would be fine here.

“As long as I don’t put anyone out, I’m fine,” she said and walked towards Payton. “Well at least there are girls around I can talk to. I don’t know how I would do with all your brothers.” She looked at the floor and then back at Payton, “Oh, this is great. I’ll be just fine. I’ve slept on worse than this,” she said with a smile, “it doesn’t bother me at all.” She stuck her hands in her pocket; they were still a little cold.

“Umm… if I can get something hot? I am kind of cold,” she told Payton.

[payton]

He was standing near the doorway looking over his sisters room. He didn't spent much time in here, as it was the older girls room and there was a unwritten no one allowed rule. It was much neater than most of the others though, but that may have to deal witht he fact only two of them were crammed inside.

"She is an intern. She was always really intrested in journalism, so it made sense for her to intern there and just take a few classes on the side."

He shrugged slightly and listened to her talk about the room. He was happy that she seemed okay with the idea of sleeping on the floor in his sisters room. There wasn't any extra space in the house and he wanted her to like staying with him.

When the topic turned to food he felt a happier. He was after all the chef in the family.
"Cafe al'a Moore is always open and at your service. Do you just want some hot chocolate and a cookie or do you have something else in mind?"

[sethia]

Sethia looked around the room, the girls had it better than the boys it seemed, since there were less of them to one room, and they were neater of course. She rubbed her hands together, the chill was still in them and she was doing her very best to warm them.

She smiled at Payton, the cook of the family, “Hot chocolate and a cookie sounds great Payton. Lead the way.” Sethia was really very happy to be there. The Moores were great people and Mr and Mrs Moore and had been really courteous to her, even though calling him “Pops” was out of the question for her.

She was starting to understand what it was like to be part of a big family; it meant no privacy, sharing everything and having a really great time as well, at least if the Moores were any indication of a typical large family. She turned around and took off her coat and put it over the back of a chair to dry a bit from the snow and cold. Once she had put it neatly in place she walked back to Payton, “Right…that hot chocolate and a cookie,” she said smiling.

[payton]

The walked back into the front room, which was still chaotic with children running every which way. To Payton, this truly was home. It wouldn't be the same if life was quiet and normal, of course life would never be normal because he was a wizard, but it was still an oddly comforting feeling to have everyone there all the time.

He glanced over at Sethia again, a wide grin on his face as he grabbed her hand and made his way past the large table in the middle of the room to the kitchen, ceperated by an island that seemed far to large for the space. There was a place of cookies still on the island, thought most had been stolen by the runaway children. He motioned for Sethia to help herself while he walked to a kettel still simmering on the stove. He fussed int he cupboards for a moment, trying to find two mugs, before putting in the coco and mixing it up.

"Hot Chocolate madam"

He grinned again, still holding his own mug as he looked out at the room.

"I will give you a while to enjoy your self before I introduce everyone to you."

[sethia]

Sethia walked with Payton back to the front room and into the kitchen, the kids were still screaming and running around, but they we so happy. It was a true awakening for Sethia, seeing all this excitement about Christmas and so much family around, it was something she hadn’t known for a very long time, and until then she did not know how much she missed it.

The kitchen looked a bit small with the large island in the middle which seemed to be trying to take up maximum space, but it was a nice kitchen with everything one would need to take care and feed a large family. Payton pointed her towards the cookies, and she took two, slowly biting into the delicious morsels of chocolate, she was saving a gingerbread one for after. She ate her cookie and watched Payton as he made is way around effortlessly, he really was at home in the kitchen

When he was finished he presented her with a large cup of chocolate, “Thank you sir,” she said in the same tone she had used the night of the Ball. “Thanks, I am looking forward to meeting everyone, but I am a bit nervous,” she admitted and took a sip of her chocolate.