Christmas Filks, Elves, and Mistletoe

Susan Bones meandered down the halls, singing cheerily. She and one of the Ravenclaws had been running a contest for Christmas filks this year - between the two of them. Terry's latest had gotten him a half-dozen snowballs from the Gryffindors... She'd have to make sure to put the lyrics down in her diary...

"Deck the halls with snakes and garters, fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la, String up tinsel and Gryffindor martyrs, fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la, Slytherins hanging from the ceiling, fa-la-la, fa-la-la-la-la-la, I think my mind has lost all feeling, fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la...."

She stopped as a snowball whizzed past her head, and there was a curse behind her from the person who threw it. And more once it hit Filch, and she doubled over laughing...

"You'll regret that, Longbottom!" The stuffed elf that had been Filch scurried off down the halls towards Dumbledore's office, as Susan spun to face Neville, a sweet smile on her face.

"Oh, Neville, did you have a problem with the song?" Her voice was cheery, and as sweet as her smile. She really was having too much fun with this.

Neville just grumbled under his breath, and turned to trundle away. Susan pouted a moment, before turning back the way she'd been going, and continuing to sing. "Ravens crashing into the snake-dens, fa-la-la-la-la-la- la-la-la, See them forget their books and quill-pens, fa-la-la-la-la-la-la- la-la, While lions sit and watch the year fly, fa-la-la, fa-la-la-la-la-la, And the Quidditch cup going good-bye, fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la...."

This time the snowball came from Finnegan, and Susan nearly shrieked as she found herself the proud owner of a brand new pair of feathered wings in red and gold. Though they might be handy if they worked, still... she threw back her own, smirking in satisfaction as Seamus became a decoration over the doorway to the Great Hall.

"Nice work, fly-girl." Terry was leaning against a wall nearby. "I liked the part about hanging the Slytherins from the ceiling. Perhaps Parkinson?"

Susan turned, and shrugged. She tried to stretch the wings, and smiled as they proved to work. "We could hang them from the ceiling, but what's the point? I like watching their reactions to the songs. I'll see you this evening, Terry, I have to go talk to Professor Sprout about removing these wings."

"Ta then." Terry looked up at Seamus, and the two berries that appeared to serve as eyes. "Hmm... I might have to make use of knowing where the mistletoe is later..."

***

The Gryffindor common room was listening intently to Neville telling them about the latest atrocity in the inter-house snowball and filk war, Pavarti growling when he told them Seamus was now a piece of mistletoe above the door of the great hall.

"And Filch is a stuffed elf?" Ron had a grin on his face. "That's a great one, Neville! Wish you had hit that Hufflepuff, though. That filk is just mean."

"Since when aren't they?" Lavender spoke up absently, chewing on the end of a quill, a sheet of parchment in front of her. "Speaking of which, would you be a little quieter, I have to get my sally done before Zabini or Boot get one done."

***

Welcome back for a new round of the wars. Snowballs are flying fast an furious, and this year, they got a filking war going on as well. It provides amusement, and ups the stakes in the games. Keep reading, hope you enjoy....