Christmas surprise [OPEN]

[Helga Artemis Hufflepuff]

Helga Hufflepuff was a habitual early riser, especially since becoming Hogwarts's official cook. However, on this particular December day she had woken up earlier than usual in order to prepare a surprise for the students and professors alike. Helga was standing in the middle of the Great Hall with her hair swept up into a loose bun and draped into the simplest pale blue dress she owned. Her wand was in her hand and she was gazing around the room wide eyed. Helga had already seen for some fresh pine trees to be cut down and brought inside the castle. All she had to do was choose where to place them. She pointed her wand at the largest of the four pines and directed it right behind the staff table.

With a series of sharp simple waves tinsel; christmas lights; and various decorations appeared around the tree, with a majestic golden phoenix perched high on the top of the tree. Satisfied with its overall appearance, Helga repeated the procedure for the four smaller pines placing them to the sides of the House tables. Under each tree was a cluster of presents, one for every student and professor that would be staying at Hogwarts for the Holidays. Helga moved backwards, until her back was resting against the oak doors. A satisfied smile appeared on her face.

She aimed her wand at the walls and a couple of cheerful lit fireplaces appeared out of thin air with bright red stockings hanging from their mantelpieces. Helga directed her gaze at the enchanted ceiling, which was currently a pale bleak blue with streaks of yellow and magenta. She tilted her head to one side thinking that snow would be the perfect finishing touch. Helga started nibbling her lower lip and decided to cheat a little bit. She pointed her wand at the ceiling and quietly muttered a weather controlling spell. Soft wifts of snow instantly appeared gliding slowly towards the ground, only to disappear into thin air inches away from the tables.

Helga collapsed contently behind one of the Hufflepuff benches and gazed heavenwards, mesmerised by the falling snow. It was almost sunrise and she still had to prepare breakfast. Helga knew she needed to attend to her duties, but it felt so nice standing still for a while; doing nothing and simple enjoying her own company. The door cringed open and Helga automatically straightened herself, and turned her head towards the door.

[Cornictacus Leroy]

Corni left the joke shops in Hogsmeade early, trusting his assistant with all of the work in there, she was young and he knew she could do her job well. He arrived near Hogwarts sighing calmly, a bit excited, sometimes Corni could be such a delinquent, his objective, get inside Hogwarts, go to the Kitchen, take some of Helga's cookies and eat them. It was time to do so, her cookies were so irresistible that he couldn't control himself much longer. He sneaked into the Castle by the front doors, walking on his toes were was the kitchen though, he remembered Helga talking about a portrait but she didn't specify where it was. He scratched his hair, Hogwarts was definitively great, a pity he finished the school thing earlier, he sighed calmly. Still walking silently, maybe it was in the great hall, there shouldn't be someone there.

He opened the door to the great hall, returning to close the door, he didn't even see that Helga saw him, as he soon backrolled and crawled underneath the tables advancing slowly, and with epic fail since he was already seen, he just didn't know yet, as he came out the table, right next to Helga, without noticing her as he looked around for portrait. "Aww I want some of my fiancée's cookies.. where is that Kitchen." He said in a sad tone, still a bit of a silly person as he didn't realize that Helga was here.

[Helga Artemis Hufflepuff]

Cornictacus? she thought to herself. Helga had to blink several times before believing what she was seeing. She broke into a smile but before she had the time to speak to him, her fiance crawled under the table. Helga raised her brow and bent down to peek under the table. She covered her mouth with her hand and giggled softly. Cornictacus reemerged by her side, grumbling softly to himself. She leaned forwards from behind him and whispered in his ear, "Directly beneath us. Near the Hufflepuff House."

[Cornictacus Leroy]

"Ah thank you voice from my conscience... who awfully sounds like my fiancée, wait a minute..." Corni said, smelling Helga's perfume he turned around and saw her, all he could do was blush and look at the floor calmly with that shy smile. "Hello honey." He managed to say, with a shy voice.

[Helga Artemis Hufflepuff]

Helga started laughing and could not stop as fat tears rolled down her cheeks. She leaned against Cornictacus and wrapped her arms around his neck. Helga grinned at him and asked, "Did you really think I was your conscience?" She then rested her chin on his shoulder still smiling.

[Cornictacus Leroy]

He wrapped his arms around her back, looking at her, the way she laughed, even to him was irresistible, he smiled kissing her cheek softly, he missed her a lot and did not expect to see her here, this early. "I might of, my conscience does have your voice, sometimes." He admitted, a bit shyly as he kept hugging her. "Took the day off today, thought I'd come and surprise you, well take the cookies first and then surprise you." Corni said, eventually laughing as it sounded a bit silly. "Don't worry, my assistant Gloria is capable of handling the joke shops."

[Helga Artemis Hufflepuff]

Still chuckling Helga nudged his stomach and teased, "Always thinking about your tummy." Her eyes lit up when he said he had taken the day off. She was not worried about his assistance; if Cornictacus trusted her, Helga trusted her. All of a sudden her face grew dark and she slumped against him while saying, "That's wonderful darling but I have to work today." She sighed and continued, "I haven't even started breakfast yet."

[Cornictacus Leroy]

Corni sighed calmly, but still his face approached hers and he kissed her on the lips softly, still hugging her in his arms. he really didn't want to let her go. "Maybe I can help? You work too much honey, you shouldn't this by yourself... maybe we should take in some house elfs and protect them from their crazy masters... or just give a home to the house elfs that have been abandoned." Corni looked at her calmly, kissing her lips softly again, eventually his lips approaching her ears. "You have another life inside you honey.. don't forget that, you need a break from time to time."

[Helga Artemis Hufflepuff]

Helga sighed softly and nestled her head in the base of his neck, "I had the same exact thought. Now I have to put it forward to my colleagues. And I'm sure that Monsieur Slytherin will not be happy about it." At the mention of the unborn child, Helga stiffened and pulled out of his grasp. She stood up and braced her arms around her body while replying sadly, "I know that."

[Cornictacus Leroy]

"Monsieur Slytherin huh, the one who is against the idea of having muggleborns to study in Hogwarts?" He asked, already hating the man, he didn't like people who judged others by blood, he looked at her, the mention of the unborn child, it seemed to have made her sad, he looked away calmly, it was his fault. "I'm sorry dear.. I just worry a lot about you and our unborn child, the way you work too much, it scares me a lot.. that something might happen to both of you."

[Helga Artemis Hufflepuff]

"Yes he is the very same one," Helga let out a sigh. "It's a shame because he is a nice man really." Seeing Cornictacus upset by her reaction made her feel worse. She hurried to his side and sat down beside him. Helga passed a hand through his blonde curls and replied, "We are fine... we will be fine. Try not to worry too much my darling." She cleared her throat and tried changing the subject, "What do you think of the decor?"

[Cornictacus Leroy]

Slytherin a nice man? Perhaps he was, he couldn't be too sure about it, as he looked at her, she got closer and she told him they were fine, it did make him feel a bit better, but he was still worried and that clearly wouldn't stop. "I am trying, but you're both precious to me." He said, he didn't want something bad happening to the both of them after all. He caressed her cheek softly listening to her question, as he looked at the decor for the very first time, whistling as he did so. "Wow.. how did you?"

[Helga Artemis Hufflepuff]

Helga lightly kissed his lips and said nothing in response to his words. Her face lit up when he appreciated what she had done with the Great Hall. Laughing softly she leaned into him and whispered, "I have a wand... and a nice caretaker who brought in the trees for me." Once again, she wrapped her arms around his neck and gazed upwards watching the falling snow.

[Cornictacus Leroy]

Corni smiled, looking up in the sky to the falling snow, of course it was all done by magic but it was beautiful, he looked back at her, receiving the kiss, he just smiled, soon looking back up in unison with her, eventually he had a mischievous grin taking his wand out, he conjured a mistletoe just in front of them a bit up, as he looked at the mistletoe and then at her, with an innocent smile. "Oh look, a mistletoe you know what that means don't you?"

[Helga Artemis Hufflepuff]

Helga was staring at the enchanted ceiling when a mistletoe sprouted out of nowhere in front of her eyes. She looked at Cornictacus and saw him with his wand out. Helga laughed out loudly at his words and whispered back, "You do not need mistletoe to be treated to kisses." With a smile she leaned towards him and kissed him.