A Post-It Christmas

"She collects those little... um, winged things with the crowns."

"Sir, I don't think you understand. The nature of this business causes us to have many of those so called 'winged things with crowns' lying around the shop. Could you possibly be more specific?"

"Um, I think she wants a green one?"

Neville Longbottom was lost. Curio shopping and antique dealings and searching for little winged things with crowns was not his slice of cake. He was more of a working in the lawn and knocking said little winged things with crowns off curio cabinets and the antiques they were placed on. He picked up a little monkey statue and turned it over in his hands. It seemed that his wife was always the hardest person to shop for. Everyone else on his Christmas shopping list had a gift, including his grandmother and his nine-month-old daughter, Celeste.

He placed the statue back on the counter and sighed. Last year, he had bought her a necklace with a diamond snowflake on it. The diamonds moved and made different patterns, and she had been mesmerized by it. This year, she had pointed at a picture of a thing with wings and a crown, said it was a very rare northern Snorkack and then proceeded to tell him she wanted one for Christmas.

Of course, he'd been to every bloody magic curio shop from Scotland to the Channel and still hadn't found the thing she'd pointed out.

"Might I suggest this?"

Neville whirled around and faced the curio dealer. He was a short, balding man with huge spectacles and a crooked mustache. He was clutching something, and as he raised his hand to show Neville, his eyes widened. "My wife found it, out in Norway ten years ago. It was always her favorite, and after she passed..." his voice broke as the object became visible.

It was a small, about six centimeters long, green speckled toad statue. On it's head was perched a crooked gold crown that would fall over it's eyes every few moments, and on it's back were a pair of pale pink wings. Neville blinked as the toad swelled and let out a loud RIIIIBBIT. The crown flew to the top of its head and began its familiar downwards slip. "And it's a statue?" Neville asked, amazed by how life like it was.

The little man smiled proudly. "Yep, and the only one of it's kind. I can give it to you for a special price."

--

Neville finished wrapping the box and placed it under the tree. He stood up and turned around, almost jumping out of his skin when he found himself nose to nose with his wife.

"Luna," he stuttered, taking a step backwards.

"Neville," she replied, taking a step forwards so that their noses were touching again. "I see you put a gift under the tree."

Neville swallowed hard. Every year he got what he called the 'Luna Inquisition'. She just couldn't wait. "Um, no I didn't?"

She smiled as her hands found his. She laced their fingers and wrinkled her nose. "I think you did."

"Um... maybe?"

Her smiled widened and she rubbed her nose against his. "Is it a gift for anyone special?" she asked softly.

Neville opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, they heard a cry from the other room. "That's Celeste," he stated dumbly, moving towards the door. He had expected Luna's hand to leave his, but she clutched his as he walked away. She was quiet as he lifted the baby from the bassinet. "Good morning baby," Neville whispered, kissing the baby's forehead. She stopped crying immediately. "And you," he said, turning on Luna, "Can't interrogate me in front of your daughter."

Luna wrinkled her nose and swiftly stepped towards him. Standing on the tips of her toes, she pressed her lips to his and pulled back just as he was beginning to enjoy it. She whirled around and walked towards the stairs. "Hey, you can't do that in front of your daughter either!"

He put Celeste in her walker before strolling to the foot of the stairs. Neville found himself having to shield his face from the random assortment of throw pillows that had formerly resided on their bed. One by one, and sometimes even two at a time, the colorful masses of fluff were hurled in the general direction of his head. Celeste giggled and stuffed her fingers in her mouth as the last pillow hit him. He faked a fall and lay there for a moment as he heard footsteps on the stairs.

"It seems as though Daddy wants to play a game," Luna cooed to the baby as she stepped over him. He lifted his head after she passed and watched as she scooped the baby up from the walker and held her. "And I want you to be on my team."

--

"Neville, psst... Neville. Neville... NEVILLE!"

A foot making contact with his lower back and pushing him out of the bed rudely awakened Neville. "Owww."

"It's Christmas!"

Luna tossed back the covers and flew to her knees, hopping up and down excitedly. Neville shook his head and stood up, reaching up to flick on the lights as well. "Good morning to you too," he told her, scratching his head.

She moved to the edge of the bed and reached out for him. He found himself being pulled forward rather roughly by his collar. "Sorry love," she whispered, flattening his rumpled hair. She kissed him quickly and smiled. "Happy Christmas."

He took her hand and pulled her up. She laughed and pulled on her dressing gown before taking his hand and leading him down the stairs. When they reached the landing, she reached up and twisted her wand in her hair before making a dive at for the gifts under the tree.

Neville shook his head and smiled, moving to put a log in the fire before sitting next to her. She handed him a package before tearing into hers. Neville carefully unwrapped his, being sure to watch as Luna tore hers open. He set it aside as she came to the box, and by the time she had gotten it open, he had completely forgotten about the package.

Luna lifted the bubble wrapped statue out of the box and began peeling the layers off one by one. She squinted when the first bit of green became visible, and once she tossed aside the final piece, she squealed. "It's perfect!"

She had barely finished her sentence before the toad jumped out of her hand and began dancing across the floor. Not hopping, but line dancing with itself. Instead of watching the toad, he watched his wife.

Her face was glowing and her hands were covering her mouth as she laughed. The toad did somersaults and back flips, occasionally letting out a loud ribbit and Luna clapped her hands when it finally stopped and sat back down. After the last ribbit, it's mouth fell open, revealing a ring.

Luna looked from the toad to Neville, and he smiled and cocked his head to the side. She got down on her hands and knees and looked into it's mouth. She took the ring out, but before she could put it on or even get a good look at it, Neville took her hands in his. "Luna," he told her seriously, taking the ring from her. "I don't think I've ever told you how wonderful you really are." He kissed her left hand first, then her right. "You gave me a beautiful daughter-" he kissed her hands again, "-and you've been so much more than I've asked for." He slid the ring up her finger until it met her wedding band. The small silver toad attached to the ring seemed to stare up at them. "Thank you."

Their eyes met and she cupped his face with her hands, brushing her thumb along his lower lip. "No," she said, feeling the trace of stubble on his chin as her thumb ran across it. "Thank you."

She leaned in and kissed him gently, but as the kissed deepened, she pulled him back as she lay back on the floor. Not breaking contact, he braced himself by placing his hands on either side of her. His left hand squished the bubble wrap that had earlier been wrapped around the toad statue, and several loud pops ensued. They broke the kiss and stared at each other for a moment before Luna began giggling. Neville began laughing too, and before he knew what had happened, they were both lying on their backs, staring up at the ceiling.

The firelight cast shadows across the ceiling and Luna raised her arms, making shadow puppets with her hands. "It's a Snorkak," she informed him, making the shadow dance along the wall.

Neville made something similar to hers. "It's another Snorkak!" Luna exclaimed gleefully. Her Snorkak hopped over to his and she made a kissing sound and pecked his hand. Their arms fell and she moved closer to Neville, putting her head on his chest and tossing one of her legs over his. She extended her arm and wiggled her fingers. Her new ring glittered in the roaring firelight, and she smiled.

She reached behind her and grabbed his previously discarded gift. "Open it," she demanded, leaning on her elbow and watching him.

He unwrapped it carefully, and after sixteen layers of wrapping paper he was beginning to wonder if there was anything in it. Finally, he reached a small, blue checkered, Post-It covered box. He looked nervously from his wife to the box, wondering if one of her animals was inside. She wrinkled her nose and arched her eyebrows, silently urging him to open it already.

He peeled off a Post-It and read it. I bought green socks today, it informed him. Luna took the note and stuck it on his forehead. He peeled off the others one by one, each one saying something about socks. When another little red box became visible, he stopped. "What is it?"

"Just open it," she said, kissing his cheek. Her lips trailed across his face until they finally met his lips. She pulled back enough to meet his eyes. "Open it."

He sat up, and when he felt Luna's chin on his shoulder, he lifted the lid off the box. A piece of paper zoomed out and fell into his lap. He picked it up and read it. "A Bogsroot bush?" he asked, realizing the paper was a receipt. "But those only grow in Asia."

"I bought one," she told him. "It's being delivered here after the holidays, and I figured you could put it in the greenhouse."

Neville smiled and wrapped his arms around her. "Thank you."

A loud shriek came from upstairs and Luna stood. "Time for Celeste's first Christmas!" she squealed, bolting towards the stairs.

Neville smiled and shook his head, standing up to follow her. "Luna?" he called up the stairs. "What happened to all those socks you seem to have bought?"

Luna reappeared, a bundle of multicolored socks in her arms. It took Neville a moment to realize that the socks were strategically arranged in what appeared to be some sort of sock snowsuit, and that his daughter's face was peeking out of a cluster of green and yellow ones. Luna smiled proudly, holding Celeste up so Neville could inspect the outfit. "Ginny helped."

"It's very-" he found himself at a loss of words. "-creative. Very creative indeed." He took the baby and walked over to the tree, Luna following. As his wife piled the rest of the gifts in front of a drooling Celeste, Neville realized just how much he loved Christmas.

"I like spending it with you too."

Neville was brought out of his thoughts by his wife's voice. "Huh? I didn't say anything."

She shrugged and smiled, handing little Celeste her first gift. "It's what you don't say that counts."