[ The house is quiet and empty, the rooms free of dust - Hermione has gone through, carefully, gathering things and tidying them away, dusting here and there and cleaning in other places, shooing pets out from under her feet and trying to be, for all intents and purposes, a very good housekeeper. Spring cleaning has come early and it's not entirely for her own benefit; this time it's for Nico, for her desire to make him a good, perfect Christmas.
Now, though, she's pacing, staring at the space in the lounge where she had left room for a tree, Crookshanks moving into the spot and settling there with a purr. She can hear Godric bounding around upstairs and she shifts, crossing her arms before she scolds herself for being silly. Nico is her brother, the closest she's had to a younger one in her time here, and he even calls her sis. He's not going to care if it's perfect or not.
... Still. She moves a chair closer to the fire and purses her lips, nodding. ]
[Nico can't remember a time he's spent Christmas in the company of family or close friends. Not since he was nine, if he thinks about it. He doesn't, though. It just reminds him that it had been near Christmas that Bianca died. It's not something he wants to remember when Nico will be spending the holiday for the first time with a family member.
It's also the first time he'll have it with a big as hell, black mastiff-looking hellhound.
His arrival at the front of the house is heralded by a huge bark from Clifford, who is running through the snow after their shadow travel like a maniac. He buries his black snout into the snow while running and snaps at the snow he flings into the air. Nico can't help chuckling, although he'll also feel sheepish at how he's probably just scared the ever-loving Hades out of Hermione (for the umpteenth time) and anyone in the vicinity. Regardless, he goes up to the door and knocks politely.]
[ She does jump a little at the sound of the dog, her eyes widening before she pushes herself up and away from the sofa she had found herself flopped down on. There's a bark and a knock, together, and she goes, moving to rush forward and get the door. Smoothing down her shirt and jeans she breathes out before she shakes her head, opens it and beams, practically throwing herself at Nico and wrapping her arms around him. ]
Nico!
[ She leans, tilting to kiss the side of his head before she leans back, her hands touching his cheeks before she - ah. ]
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christmas, haven.
Now, though, she's pacing, staring at the space in the lounge where she had left room for a tree, Crookshanks moving into the spot and settling there with a purr. She can hear Godric bounding around upstairs and she shifts, crossing her arms before she scolds herself for being silly. Nico is her brother, the closest she's had to a younger one in her time here, and he even calls her sis. He's not going to care if it's perfect or not.
... Still. She moves a chair closer to the fire and purses her lips, nodding. ]
no subject
It's also the first time he'll have it with a big as hell, black mastiff-looking hellhound.
His arrival at the front of the house is heralded by a huge bark from Clifford, who is running through the snow after their shadow travel like a maniac. He buries his black snout into the snow while running and snaps at the snow he flings into the air. Nico can't help chuckling, although he'll also feel sheepish at how he's probably just scared the ever-loving Hades out of Hermione (for the umpteenth time) and anyone in the vicinity. Regardless, he goes up to the door and knocks politely.]
no subject
Nico!
[ She leans, tilting to kiss the side of his head before she leans back, her hands touching his cheeks before she - ah. ]
... That's a really big dog.