Could she keep her hand in his forever? Maybe not, but Cole was super happy that Naya didn’t withdraw her hand from his right away. She kept it there even as they headed over to the large tree that they had picked out to decorate. Eating up the last of his cookie he commented. "We could ask an elf sometime if it wouldn’t be considered rude of us." He wasn’t sure how house elves ethics worked. Maybe there was things like baking skills that you didn’t ask or talk about?

As they stopped in front of the tree Naya let go of Cole’s hand. He hoped just a little bit that she reluctantly let go and not with willingness because his hand was sweaty. With as much cheer as he could muster Cole agreed with a wide smile. "Yes, let’s get started! If you two start with setting up the lights on the lower branches then i can get started on the lights near the top." Seeing Carys looking alone and a little lost Cole waved and called over "Hi Carys! Want to come over and help us?" They were already three so the more the merrier. Fetching a chain of lights Cole raised his head to take in the tree. Now how best to get the lights up?

And here was ABOLI hugging him. Oh hey! The boy failed to notice how tightly she hugged him and the small smile that his girlfriend offered. Yes, Noah just thought his Slytherin friend was just being enthusiastic in her own Aboli-Calico way. "Calico! Happy Christmas," he returned her hug before taking a step back to see Minjae placing a ladder down.

Minjae was so cool and his sense of style was always on point. "They're awesome. Love the color," he smiled. Seriously the color suited Minjae and was very festive. "How's your Christmas so far?" He tried to keep the conversation upbeat and focused on the now instead of what would have been. It was difficult to do so cause every moment of the day reminded him that he ought to be at home.

Kimmie's question on where to put the thistle grabbed his attention. "Doorway?" he suggested and was about to reach out to lend a hand when Professor K was talking. OOH. So she was stoked too! Sweet. He offered Professor K a smile when she got all excited. Seeing her get excited just made the boy more excited himself. Yes, very excited! Wide smile now, Noah felt his spirits uplifted. "Kimmie? Wanna join the dance off?" he asked, making his way over to her. He felt the need to pull her into a hug. He didn't know why.

His eyes scanned the room and he saw the Hufflepuff Prefect (Carys, wasn't it?) join the room and he waved to her. "Happy Christmas!" he grinned. He hadn't gotten a chance to talk to her but if she was anything like his house Prefect, he was sure that she was nice.

Oh, it had been a birthday present from his brother? "That's pretty cool." Looked like a pretty nice gift! She would've asked when his birthday was, out of curiosity, but then he noticed her socks. Ivy's grin grew. "Thanks! I didn't have a Christmas jumper so I thought the socks would be fitting."

And now Claudine was here! And...inviting them to help decorate one of the trees! She LOVED decorating! It was her favorite part of the holiday, truth be told. She had a lot of favorites, technically, but this one was definitely a big one.

"Yeah, definitely!" she said, nodding at Heath and moving to follow Claudine over to the tree.

in which i try to make up for not posting in like eight years (i'm so sorry ;-;)
 

Really, Williamson could say that again. Except it would be better if he didn't, so they could avoid adding unnecessary repetitive statements to the general din of the Hall.

Despite being none too happy about being shepherded back into the Great Hall and the celebrations, Nem didn't make a comment on the matter, or any great fuss at all, because... "I can be very helpful when I want to be." Which, maybe they would. Maybe not. Nem only knew that they didn't want any part of this 'decorating and singing' business, and that their curiosity might have been piqued. Slightly.

Stopping by the table of refreshments, Nem looked up at Williamson - he didn't have a nickname yet, but there was plenty of time for that, no point forcing these things - with a shrewd sort of look. Because that was definitely flattery, and he was definitely acting a little shifty - take it from a professional.

... What was this?

"Huh." Nem held out their hand to accept delivery of the creature, then casually cupped it to their chest in case of nosy neighbours in the vicinity, all the while eyeing Williamson, who was already sidling off to fill his boots. "Don't worry, sir. I won't tell anyone you're giving gifts to your favourite students." Because this baby knarl? Nem was happy to claim it. It was theirs now. One person's furry problem was another's spiky gain. They slipped the little creature into the front pocket of their hoodie, still with a hand cradled around it, and made as if to inspect the food on offer as well.

Wow. Rainbow (aka Smiles (aka the artist formerly known as Sunny Raine)) got just about everywhere, didn't he? Nem cast him a glance, an eye roll, and turned back to the table to grab a candy cane or three. Providing for the siblings. Sure.

*slinks out*
 

WWW had almost forgotten all about the knarl handoff. Not because he was all that forgetful on an ordinary day okay, maybe that wasn't true but because Nem had so seamlessly slipped it into their hoodie.

Huh. WAS the kid one of his favorites? Had he said that too? "Right, thanks, appreciate it," he replied lightly, stuffing an entire cookie in his mouth anyway and grinning around it. What was the harm in handing out a few animals now and then, huh? Maybe he had also forgotten the Headmaster's strict pre-term warning about no pets in the castle, too... ahaha oh well.

WWW was just finishing up stuffing his jacket pockets full of cookies wrapped in napkins when a small but very bright blonde person sing-danced-HUGGED him. He froze in place, almost saying something that would have certainly spewed crumbs all over Cassie's head. But fortunately, he realized who was hugging him, and since he didn't mind her, he managed to not be TERRIBLY awkward as he pat-patted her back.

Also, it was a blessedly short hug, because no one really wanted to see William turn the color of holly berries, amiright?

He was nearly finished raiding the treat table and was preparing to depart when lo and behold... Beezley the house elf appeared. Ah. Well. He had to snag a few of THESE cookies, right? Fresh cookies?!

"Thanks, Beezlebub, you're the best," Willy greeted the house elf, absent-mindedly butchering her name as he now stuffed his trouser pockets and his mouth with fresh cookies. Once he was fully loaded, for the umpteenth time, he smiled amicably at anyone watching him, filled up a cup with hot chocolate, and departed the great hall.

He REALLY didn't want to witness a dance-off, and the more Christmas carols he heard, the more hard of hearing he was convinced he became. So. Off to his hut he went, leaving the knarl baby in Nem's care, and all the rest of these Christmas shenanigans in someone else's capable hands. Not his kids, not his problem, right? Right.

Sunny Raine and Blake
 

Just when Isla thought it was safe to apologize to Sunny Raine and give him a second chance for sneaking into the school and bringing his shenanigans along with him, he decided to change his attitude altogether. "You're bound to know something we don't know," she said, trying to be polite, even though she felt like rolling her eyes. "You came all the way to our school, which is apparently the exact and only location of the storm, snuck on to the grounds, and even camped out here."

...and after that, he had the nerve to laugh at her when she wanted more details? WEIRDO. But just like that, he was gone. Whatever. He could go off and enjoy whatever the professor had planned for him. "I think I'm heading back to the common room, Blake. I just don't feel like being holly and jolly," she said, giving him an apologetic look. "Try to have a fun night, mmkay?" With that, she left the Great Hall. Was it safe to say this was the most miserable Christmas ever?

Cole & Islay
 

It was time to get to work, so Naya got some lights and began to string them around the bottom of the tree. Looking at Islay, she said, “I think a ladder would be a good idea.” Since magic was out of the question, a ladder would help in reaching the top part of the tree. Did they even have a ladder around? Magic would make decorating so much easier, but not as much fun.

Naya kept taking peeks at Cole. Watching him just made her feel better. “Hey Cole?”, she said with a smile. “How are you doing up there?”. Just checking. At this point, Naya was determined to make the best of the situation. She was going to enjoy this party.......or else.