firecracker ???

7-8

They closed her door and exchanged a look in the hallway.

Then a matching grin.

"Well," Harry said, "that's decided."

Draco smirked. "Pitch black, just like Aunt Bella."

Harry rubbed his hands together. "Perfect."

-

Room by room, floor by floor, Harry and Draco became twin terrors.

They enchanted tinsel to sing off-key Christmas carols in six languages.

They bewitched Regulus' bed to spin slowly midair while he slept. Regulus woke with his hair standing on end and swearing loudly.

They set off spark showers in Sirius' bathroom while he was shaving.

"WHOSE BRIGHT IDEA WAS FIREWORKS WHILE I'M HOLDING A RAZOR?!"

"You still have a face," Draco yelled back. "You're welcome!"

They bewitched the doorknobs to scream when touched. Replaced every soap bar in the guest baths with blocks of ice. Filled Sirius's closet with snow.

Harry let loose a dozen fake owls in Snape's room, each one enchanted to cry, "Professor, you forgot to assign homework!" every time he stood up.

Draco turned Bellatrix's wand holster into a candy cane that squeaked when she moved.

They decided Sirius wasn't energetic enough yet, so they switched his hair tonic with glitter-infused shampoo.

They heard him punch something twenty minutes later.

"Festive spirit, get into it!" Draco shouted as a response. Sirius didn't bother yelling back.

They then rearranged Regulus's bookshelves into alphabetical order.

Incorrectly.

Then they charmed Snape's quills to hum Celestina Warbeck. 

Off-key.

When they reached the master floor, Narcissa's mirror complimented everyone but Lucius.

"You look divine," it told Harry.

"Unworthy," it told Lucius.

Lucius blinked at his reflection and said, "Honestly, I expected worse."

"We're not done yet," Harry promised cheerfully.

"I think you're Fred and George at this point," Sirius complained as he ducked a flying stocking.

"No," Draco said suddenly, unusually cheeky. "We're you and James."

Harry beamed.

"Potter and Black," Draco added. "Perfect."

Regulus groaned. "Oh Merlin help us."

The final blow?

They charmed Lyra's hair to turn pitch black like every Black before her.

When she emerged later in a silk robe, sleepy and elegant and vaguely threatening, the family paused mid-tea.

Even Bellatrix blinked. "She looks like me."

"Ugh," Lyra said in realization. She reached up to inspect a lock. "Draco. Harry."

Harry raised his cup. "You look divine."

Draco coughed into his sleeve. "It was Harry's idea."

"It was Draco's spell."

She rolled her eyes and sat down in the armchair like a queen returning to her throne. "Fix it before I fix you."

-

The chaos died down around seven.

Kreacher snapped and banned them from the second floor until tea.

And so, the family gathered in the drawing room.

All of them.

Sirius lounged across the chaise, hair full of glitter and fury. Regulus sipped tea like he hadn't been airlifted out of bed. Narcissa perched perfectly on the couch with Lucius reading the Prophet in quiet disdain. Snape glowered beside the fireplace and Bellatrix was still poking her candy cane holster like it might hex her back. Draco sat cross-legged on the floor, drinking cocoa. Lyra brushed her hair again and Harry hovered near her, grinning like a menace.

The presents began quietly—gifts exchanged, passed hand to hand. Light laughter. Familiar rituals.

Harry watched Narcissa open a thin, gold-framed package.

Inside, a painted portrait.

Of her.

Regulus. Sirius. Bellatrix.

Together. Laughing.

She didn't say anything for a moment.

Just looked at it.

Then placed her fingers on Harry's arm.

Pulled him in.

Held him softly. Carefully. Not for show.

"Thank you," she whispered.

Lucius gave Harry a slim box next.

He opened it to find a Malfoy signet ring.

White gold. Green stone. Ancient.

Harry looked up, startled.

Lucius met his eyes.

"It belonged to my grandfather," he explained.

Narcissa placed her hand gently on Harry's arm. "You're one of us now."

Before he could breathe a word, another box landed in his lap.

Regulus.

Inside was a Black family ring. Sleek. Silver. Uncompromising.

Harry stared.

Regulus just looked at him and said, "Don't lose it."

Everyone else melted into noise—more gifts, more stories, Kreacher clinking teacups.

They all exchanged gifts— rare books, enchanted relics, dazzling jewellery, expensive clothing. Regulus gave Lyra a new protective brooch. Bellatrix gave Draco an invisibility-enhanced wand holster. Everyone had put thought and care when picking out presents. By the time the last round of presents had finished being exchanged, Lyra and Harry stillhadn't exchanged theirs yet.

Everyone but Lyra shared a knowing look. 

She was too busy complaining about Harry losing her original brooch and admiring the new replica to notice.

But everyone else seemed to know what to do.

Regulus cleared his throat.

"Well," he said. "If that's everything—"

"Back to bed," Snape muttered.

"Yes, please," Bellatrix said. "Wake me for New Year's."

Everyone slowly drifted away.

Leaving the drawing room in quiet, flickering firelight.

Leaving just them.