"Are they here yet?" Emery sighed, sitting on the sofa with a bounce.

"No, Emery, you'll know when they come," her mother replied, preparing the table to its finest.

"When will they come?" she asked persistently.

"In a few minutes. They said they'll be here at noon."

"But it's eleven fifty-eight," we still have ages to go.

Primrose looked up. "Emery, two minutes isn't a long wait."

"It is for me," she grumbled, staring the fireplace.

She gave a loud sigh and smoothened her dress, counting the seconds until noon.

The grandfather clock in the hallway rung, its sound echoing through the Manor.

The fireplace suddenly glowed emerald green, and flames raged from inside, before slowly simmering down and revealing a person.

A tall man, with messy, black hair and soft brown eyes. He looked like an older version of James Potter.

Mrs. Fowl wore a gentle smile. "Welcome," she said. "Happy Christmas."

Mr. Potter smiled at her. "And to you."

"Good afternoon, Mr. Potter," Emery greeted. "Happy Christmas."

The man looked at Emery. "You must be Emery Fowl, dear," he greeted. "Happy Christmas to you too."

Emery beamed as he gave her a bag. "This is something for you. From Euphemia and I," he said.

She opened it. She gasped.

It was a tiny cactus, no bigger than her palm. "Awwww," she purred. "It's so cute. I'm going to name him Elvendork," she said happily.

"Thank you, Mr. Potter," she chirped. "Where are James and Sirius?"

Mr. Potter laughed. 

"They'll be here in five minutes. Euphemia needs to settle something with them," he said with a twinkle in his eye. "Call me Fleamont, Mr. Potter makes me sound so much older."

Emery grinned. "High five," she said childishly, earning a glare from her mother. "The postman calls me Miss Fowl, and I hate it so much."

Mr. Potter chuckled. "You are certainly more entertaining in real life than my boys make you out to be," he said cheerfully. "Not to mention quite pretty too," he added.

Before Emery could answer him, the fire turned green once more.

Out stepped the other three. Euphemia Potter, and the boys, James and Sirius. Emery's heart fluttered when she saw Sirius all dressed up.

Emery rushed to hug James first, who stuck out his tongue at Sirius and smirked at his jealousy. Emery then hugged Sirius, a bit awkwardly, since she was flustered.

"Happy Christmas," she said.

Sirius smiled, and Mrs. Fowl led them to the dining table for lunch, deep in conversation with the Potters.

Sirius, James and Emery were talking about Quidditch.

After lunch, the adults were talking in the living room, and Emery, James and Sirius were playing Gobstones in one of the spare rooms.

"So," asked Sirius. "Can we see your room now?"

Emery shook her head. "It's not yet set up. It's under renovation. I sleep in with Mama," she said sadly. "My room has the coolest stuff."

"Aww man," said James. "Can we go to the library?"

"The library?" scoffed Emery. "Out of all the places to go you choose the library? I thought you hated reading."

Sirius laughed. "Recently Prongs here has been obsessed with books." Emery grimaced. Sirius leaned towards her ear. "He's trying to impress Evans."

Emery bubbled with laughter.

"Really James, you're such a mutt."

"I'm not the mutt," chuckled James, tilting his head towards Sirius. "He is."

"What?" asked Emery, bewildered.

"His patronus is a dog," James said.

Emery gasped. "You- you guys can do the patronus spell?"

"Er- yeah," said Sirius. "I could do it since fourth year. It's not that difficult."

"Whoa."

James nudged Sirius. "Hey Padfoot," he started. "Show her the spell. I still can't do magic outside school," he said bitterly.

Emery nodded excitedly. "Please?"

Sirius nodded, taking his wand out. "Ready?" he motioned. 

Emery hummed. 

Sirius closed his eyes, then whispered the incantation, "Expecto Patronum."

A grim dog erupted from the tip of his wand.

"Wow," Emery whispered in awe. "He's beautiful." She reached forward to touch it.

"Will you teach me?" she asked James.

 Sirius scowled. James looked at Sirius from the corner of his eye, knowing he was jealous. Then he turned to Emery.

"Sure," he said, "I'd love to."

Emery beamed.

When the time came for James and Sirius to leave, Emery sat on the floor with her hands wrapping their legs, making sure they couldn't move.

"Don't go," she whined. "I'll ask Mama if you guys can stay."

James shook his head and patted Emery on the head. "But Remus and Peter are coming over tomorrow," he said. "I promise we'll visit you right after."

Emery nodded tearfully.

Sirius bent down low to her level. "I have something for you," he muttered. "Come with me."

Emery cheered up when she heard that. "Okay."

Sirius led her to the front door. 

"I left it here," he said. He picked up a large box from the doorstep, handing it to Emery. 

"Happy Christmas, love," he winked.

Emery blushed, then began opening the large box. 

"It's fragile," Sirius said. "Be very careful, and very gentle."

Emery slowly opened the box, taking her time. Then, lifting the flaps open, she peeked inside.

In the center of the box, lay some sort of nest.

Inside lay a sleeping duckling, fluffy and yellow.

Emery's heart skipped a beat.

"Awww," she breathed, her eyes tearing up. All of a sudden, she was crying.

"Hey, Emery," Sirius murmured. "What's wrong, why are you crying?"

Emery smiled. "Because it's so adorable," she sobbed. "It's so cute and innocent, and OH!"

She pulled Sirius close to her, hugging him tight. "It's the best Christmas present ever," she told him. "I love it so, so, so, so much. Thank you."

She pressed a kiss to his cheek. "I love it."

Sirius hugged her back, blushing as her lips touched his face. "I didn't know what to get you, at first, and I saw the duckling, and I instantly thought of you."

Emery hugged him tighter. "It's absolutely perfect, he's gorgeous," she cooed.

"So, what are you going to name him?" Sirius asked. 

"Marco," replied Emery without a second thought. "His name is Marco."

Sirius smiled, looking at the sleeping duck.

"It suits him."

Emery let Sirius and James leave on the promise that they would visit her soon. Then, thanking Sirius one more time, she took Marco in her hands and carried him indoors.

"Mama," she said. "Look what Sirius gave me for Christmas."

Mrs. Fowl looked at the tiny, sleeping duckling in Emery's hands. "It's such a dear little thing," she hummed.

"He's Marco," Emery said. "Isn't he the cutest thing ever?"

Mrs. Fowl nodded in agreement.

Emery spent the rest of the day pampering Marco. She petted him, made him a home, and fed him little worms she accioed from outside.

When nighttime fell, she put Marco in her arms and fell asleep petting him.

***

Sirius got home, smiling all the way as he thought of how Emery had smiled at him. Every time he thought of her smile, he suddenly felt lightheaded and carefree. When anyone asked him why, he'd just shrug it off, changing the subject and ignoring their question.

James knew it had something to do with Emery. So at night, when everyone had fallen asleep, James snuck into Sirius' room, demanding to know what happened.

Sirius was lying awake when James came.

"Prongs," Sirius whispered. "You scared the hell out of me."

James shrugged. "Did she like it?" he asked. "The duckling?"

Sirius immediately smiled goofily. 

"You should have seen her face," he chuckled. "She was so excited. "She burst out into tears saying how adorable it was."

"Aww," James said. "That's cute. What did she name it?"

"Marco," Sirius replied.

James chuckled. "She's so innocent, isn't she?" he asked.

Sirius suddenly felt angry. "What makes you say that?" he snapped. 

"Sheesh, calm down, mate," James said, his hands raised. "What's gotten into you?"

Sirius glared at James, deep in thought. "Prongs, do you fancy her? Emery?" 

James burst out laughing. "Me?" he said incredulously. "I don't. I fancy Evans, surely you knew that?"

Sirius nodded. "Yeah," Sirius said uncomfortably. 

"Sorry for snapping, I'm just sleepy. Goodnight Prongs," Sirius said, then turned and faced away from James, who was smirking madly.

Wait till Moony hears.