December 24th, 1978

The first week of our honeymoon flew by. We spent most days being lazy at the beach or pool, doing to dinner in town, and just taking a break from all the craziness.

We were originally planning to go home for Christmas Eve and Christmas day, then come back to St. Lucia, but we decided to go back to Paris after Christmas.

Where it all began.

The Beaufort manor in Paris remained empty, and the dust was probably settled from Beatrice and Henry's trip with their friends in August.

I wrote to my dad to let him know that we'd be staying there for the week following Christmas, and he was more than happy to hear that the manor wasn't sitting in the dark and dust.

"You ready, love?" James asked from the living room, where he was waiting for me with our trunks.

I quickly slipped on my shoes sitting in the foyer, and joined my husband in the living room.

James kissed me on the cheek, "Meet you there."

With one hand he held onto his trunk, and with the other hand he gripped his wand as he disappeared with a crack.

I did the same, holding onto my trunk as I apparated to the Potter Manor.

When I landed in the front yard, James was standing a few feet away from me, already reaching out to carry my trunk for me.

The front door cracked open and Fleamont peeked his head. "I'm sorry, but I have to ask," He stated, "James, what did we get you for your thirteenth birthday?"

James looked at his father, "A new broomstick because mine broke, the Comet 220."

Fleamont flung open the door and hugged his son, "Sorry I had to ask, it's the new protocol."

I hugged my father-in-law, "Merry Christmas."

He smiled at the two of us, "Come inside, it's cold out."

When we entered the warm house, the smell of fresh chocolate chip cookies wafted into the foyer from the kitchen.

Sirius, who had been pressed against the window awaiting for our return, pushed past me without a second thought and enveloped James into a bone crushing hug.

"Wow, really Padfoot?" I teased as Remus raced down the stairs.

Remus wrapped his long arms around me and pulled me into a hug. He was wearing plaid pajama pants and a maroon sweater.

"How've you been?" Remus asked as he pulled away from the hug and went to hug James.

I grinned as Sirius hugged me, "Relaxed, it was so beautiful."

Euphemia came into the foyer from the kitchen, where I assumed she had been making the cookies that I smelled from the second I walked through the door.

Her grey hair was braided back, and her smile was wide as she hugged James and me.

"Merry Christmas, newly weds!" My mother in law exclaimed, "How was St. Lucia?"

James hugged his mother tightly, "It was so relaxing, and the beaches were beautiful."

Fleamont smiled, "Well, Reggie went to have a Christmas Eve dinner with Jolie and her family, but the both of them should be back shortly."

"Oh hush, Fleamont," Euphemia teased, "Are you hungry? I just made cookies."

Remus's face lit up.

"Chocolate chip?" He asked, his honey colored eyes bright.

Euphemia grinned, "Of course, I know what my kid's favorite cookie is."

Remus made a beeline for the kitchen in search of chocolate chip cookies.

"Hey-," Sirius called after him, "You better save some for me!"

When there was no response, Sirius rolled his eyes and rushed into the kitchen.

"Oh, it's lovely to have you both back." He called as he disappeared into the kitchen.

The house-elf, Alma, walked in, dressed in a Christmas themed dress made from a tea towel. "Alma is most pleased to see Master and Mistress Potter," She announced, "Can Alma take your things to your room?"

James smiled, "Yes, thank you Alma. Merry Christmas!"

She smiled in response.

"Thank you, Alma," I added, "I really like your dress."

Alma smiled wider, "Alma thanks you, Mistress Potter, Alma enjoys Christmas."

She snapped her fingers and sent our trunks up to our bedroom before running along to busy herself with something else in the house.

"Come sit," Euphemia suggested, "The time change must be exhausting."

James shrugged, "We kind of forgot about that, we're still running on island time."

"Take a sleeping potion before bed, it should help you sleep on your normal schedule." Fleamont stated, "There's some in the medicine cabinet upstairs."

As much as I loved spending time alone with James, the holidays are meant to be spent with your family, whether they're given or chosen.

• • • • •

Shortly before nine in the evening, the fireplace lit up in a puff of green flames, and Regulus and Jolie stepped into the living room.

The Potter's had made it so that only specific people could use the Floo Network to get into their house.

"I missed you!" Jolie exclaimed as she hugged me.

I laughed, "I was only gone a week, but I missed you too, Jo."

Regulus hugged me next, "Merry Christmas!"

Jolie and Regulus said hello to James as well, before Sirius interrupted saying that it was time to party.

Soon after Jolie and Reggie returned home, Euphemia and Fleamont said goodnight to all of us before going upstairs to go to bed.

I was sitting on the floor beside the coffee table next to Jolie.

"How was St. Lucia?" Jolie asked as she poured us two glasses of wine.

I smirked, "It was good, it was really good."

Jolie sipped her wine, "I want the details, but we can discuss that another time."

The large Christmas tree was in the corner, completely decorated with ornaments, garland, and ribbon. There was a plethora of presents beneath the tree, waiting to be opened in the morning.

James looked at the clock, which had recently struck midnight, "Hey, we've officially been together for three years."

I tipped my chin up and kissed James, who was sitting on the couch behind me, softly on the lips.

Sirius shook his head, "I still can't believe that I'm friends with married people."

"You say that like it's a slur." I teased as I reached for my wine glass.

The six of us burst out laughing.

It was officially Christmas day. We were all happy, in loving relationships, and were healthy.

"Have you heard from your family since the wedding?" Remus asked cautiously.

I shook my head, "Nope, no letters, no presents."

"If it makes you feel any better, I didn't get any Christmas presents from my family either." Sirius announced, his words slightly slurred from the bourbon that he was drinking.

Regulus lifted up his cup, "I'll drink to that."

Slightly before one in the morning, we all went our separate ways to head to bed. By this point, Sirius was being a sentimental drunk and kept repeating to us how much he loves us all.

James and I had taken a sleeping potion like suggested to help us readjust to the time.

I took off my sweatpants, wearing James' jumper as I got into bed. James was already in bed to the right of me, shirtless wearing sweatpants.

We pulled the comforter up to our shoulders to shield us from the chill of the room. Our bodies were radiating warmth off of each other as James and I laid face to face talking.

James kissed me on the nose, "You look so beautiful."

"I'm not wearing makeup, and my hair is in a messy bun."

"Exactly," James replied, "You look incredibly beautiful-, you always do, but especially now."

I ran my hand through James' hair, "I love you, James."

"I love you too, Daphne."

I grinned at my husband. The small bit of moonlight from the waning crescent shone in through the window, casting the both of us in a pale, winter moonlight.

James's arms were wrapped around my waist tightly as we fell asleep.

The last thought I had before I fell asleep was that I couldn't be happier than I am right now.

• • • • •

"Wake up, wake up."

I groaned and shielded my eyes with my arm.

James peppered my face with kisses. "Wake up, love," He whispered, "It's Christmas."

"What time is it?" I asked sleepily as I opened my eyes and let them adjust to the dimly lit room.

James grinned, "It's eight in the morning."

I closed my eyes tightly in an attempt to clear the sleep from them before sitting up in bed.

The rising sun was shining in through the window where last nights moon had been.

"You do this every single year," I mumbled as I got out of bed and pulled on my sweatpants and slippers.

James sat on the edge of the bed watching me as I redid my bun. "That's only because it's the best holiday of the entire year," James stated.

I rolled my eyes at him in the mirror, "How long have you been up?"

"Since seven," He replied, "I brushed my teeth, made tea, went to go wake Sirius up, got kicked out of their bedroom by a very irritable Remus, had a nice conversation with Alma as she began on breakfast, and then I came back here."

"You're crazy," I teased as I turned back toward James.

James got up and kissed me on the cheek, "But you love me."

"Yes, I do."

"Want me to go make you some coffee? And you can meet me downstairs." James asked, his voice soft.

I smiled, "That would be lovely."

James blew me a kiss as he exited our bedroom and, by the sound of his footsteps, booked it down the stairs.

I went into the attached bathroom and began to get ready. I brushed my teeth, washed my face, and attempted to make my hair look less awful.

After a few minutes of trying, I gave up on my hair and left our bedroom.

As I descended the steps, I could hear a few voices coming from the living room.

James and Sirius we sprawled across one couch, and Regulus was sitting cross-legged, leaned up against the other couch with a fluffy blanket pulled around him.

"Happy Christmas," I announced as I sat down on the couch between James and Sirius.

Remus walked into the living room with a hot cup of tea, the steam rolling off the edge of the mug. He was wearing pajama pants with Scooby Doo on them, "Good morning to everyone, except for Prongs."

"Why not me?" James yelled, his hands held up in surrender.

Remus sat down on the opposite couch and took a sip of his tea. "Because you woke me up at seven in the morning by flinging yourself on our bed," Remus replied gesturing to Sirius, "Then kept yelling that it's Christmas."

"I'm just trying to give you some Christmas cheer," James assured.

"Anyways," I added, "Where's Jo?"

Regulus looked up at me with tired eyes, "She is still sleeping, we were up late-,"

"I didn't need to know what," Sirius muttered.

"Anyways," Regulus continued, "I'm too scared to wake her up because last time she hexed me."

I laughed, "Wow, she's threatened me, but never actually hexed me."

"To be fair I woke her up before seven in the morning."

James' eyes widened, "Do you have a death wish or something?"

There was a soft footfall on the stairs, and Jolie walked into the living room. Her dark blue eyes were filled with sleep, and her hair was slipping out of its ponytail.

"Good morning, and Happy Christmas," Jolie said cheerfully as she kissed Regulus on the cheek and sat down beside him.

He instinctively shared his blanket with her, not even asking whether or not she was cold.

"Mum and dad should be down shortly," James stated, "They were making last minute adjustments for tonight's Christmas party."

Sirius perked up, "Wait, since when are we doing a Christmas party this year?"

"Since November," Regulus replied tiredly.

As if on cue, Euphemia and Fleamont entered the living room from Fleamont's office. They both looked as if they had been up for awhile, but both had the biggest smiles on their faces.

"Happy Christmas everyone," Euphemia exclaimed as she lowered herself into an armchair.

Fleamont stood behind his wife, "Sorry to keep you lot waiting, lots of preparations for tonight."

"No worries, mum and dad," Sirius replied, "Although James has been up since the crack of dawn."