Large, fat flakes of snow continued to pelt against the kitchen windows and, given the thick grey clouds overhead, the snow showed no signs of lightening up anytime soon.  A very stir-crazy and cranky golden eagle sat on his t-perch by the window, staring out at the snowy landscape like a forlorn, housebound child.  The eagle was doing his absolute best to ignore the equally bored, yet hyper antics of Pazi'[1]

It was still early morning, no later than 9:30 but the kitchen was already alive with holiday preparations.  A fresh, warm batch of cinnamon rolls were set out on the table for those who awoke early enough.  The hearth fire in the main room had burned down to embers overnight but the kitchen fire was blazing brightly with several rolls of bread dough rising in the bowls in the alcoves along the hearth's brick wall.  The turkey and roast had already found their way into the cabin's wood-burning stove and cider and mulled wine were cocoa were simmering on the stove top. 

Tulojow sat at the wooden kitchen block, peeling a large bowl of potatoes and yams while music[2] rose, quietly, from the phonograph in the corner.  Pippy, the house elf, was standing in the center of the kitchen, arms crossed over her chest in dubious uncertainty as she watched Tulojow wielding the parring knife.    Apparently, accepting the elf's help but under the stipulation magic would not be used was a little too abnormal a request for the house elf to wrap her wrinkly head around.  She'd been in the midst of explaining such foolishness was just that - utterly foolish - when the Healer and elf were joined by the next riser.

The door between the main room and kitchen swung open and Tulojow glanced up, offering a warm smile.  "Good morning and Merry Christmas.  There's some breakfast, if you're hungry," Tulojow offered, pointing towards the plot of cinnamon rolls.  All those who'd chosen to stay in the cabin overnight had woken to find gifts and stockings - a variety of simple items: thick socks, chocolates and a couple select Zonkos or Weasley items along with any gifts that might have been sent from home.   

"There's some melon in the ice chest as well.  Feel free to commandeer the music selection if you need something a bit more energetic to wake up." 

1.	Leonard's white gyrefalcon Pazi
2.	Joni Mitchell's River

Katy could see the snow from where she lay.  It fell heavily outside with bits of it clinging wetly to glass before disappearing.  It was pleasantly warm under the covers of her bed, so much so that she could stay under them all day.  Just pretend that this day wasn't happening.  She used to get up early and make sticky buns from scratch with her mother for breakfast.  Then they would go to church, come home, and open presents.  They'd had their own traditions that they formed together after Katy's father left and this would be her first time without them.

Tulojow was nice enough to give her time to students who couldn't go anywhere else for Christmas.  It would be rude to ignore that kind of benevolence, despite her initial resentment of the pity.  She pushed back her covers and quickly dressed in a pair of old jeans and thick brown sweater that hung down to just above her knees.  It had been her mothers.  The floor was cold against her bare feet but she tiptoed past the other sleeping forms and pushed into the kitchen where it would surely be warmer.

The kitchen was indeed very warm and it was fragrant, smelling like home.  Tulojow was sitting at a cutting block, peeling potatoes, looking happy and beautiful.  The offered cinnamon rolls drew her like a magnet.   She pulled one off and nibbled on it gratefully.  She turned her eyes on the school's healer stood the eating slowly and watching the process of peeling.  When she finished, she pushed a stool over to the chopping block and climbed onto it.

"Do you need help?" Katy asked.  She looked down at her hands in her lap and added quietly, "I used to help my mom cook for Christmas every year."

Tulojow smiled, warmly, when the young Hufflepuff took a cinnamon roll and settled on the far side of the cutting block.  Pippy continued to appear slightly lost but, finally, slipped through the doors back into main hospital room to find some beds to make or surfaces to clean.  There would, of course, be plenty for the elf to do that evening once they were cleaning up from dinner and cooking. 

"I would love some help, thank you," Tulojow answered when Katy offered.  "There's a bowl over by the window with some walnuts that need shelling.  The drawer to the left of the sink has a cracker and mallet." 

The Healer wiped her hands clean and dry on a towel before fetching a second small bowl from one of the cupboards.  She set it down on the block for the cleaned bits of walnut meat before returning to peeling the stack of potatoes. 

"Were you warm enough?  Did you sleep alright?" Tulojow asked, casually, despite knowing well enough it was a loaded question.  She was well aware, in many ways, she was still a stranger.  It was entirely up to Katy how casually or honestly she wanted to answer the question. 

Holidays were a time to be with family which, often, made their absence all the more prominent.  Years had passed since the loss of her own family but, still, not a Christmas went by where she didn't think back and remember.  Akando would have been fifty-one this year, most likely with grandchildren - maybe even great grandchildren in tow.  The twins would have been forty likely, again, coming to visit with a full assortment of grandchildren. 

"Are there particular dishes you look forward to having or making during the holidays?" Tulojow asked.  "Any must haves?"

Katy finished her cinnamon roll and slid off the stool to get the bowl of walnuts.  She watched the snow fall for a moment before returning with it.  She set it in front of her and stared at the tan shells of the nuts.  She picked at the seam of one shell with her finger nails.  Katy didn't really know how to shell a walnut.  Her mother had always bought packages from the market that were already shelled.

"I slept alright," Katy murmured.  Sleep had done its best to avoid her, though.  Memories of Christmas with her mother kept popping into her head, along with a deep and pervasive sadness that the traditions they'd cultivated together in the wake of divorce were never going to happen again.  It showed on her face, she was certain, although she didn't want it to.  People already pitied her.  It would all be easier if she could just pretend everything was ok but she'd been rubbish at that long before her mother died so it was unlikely to change now.   

Food had never been the most important part of the holidays for Katy and her mother, although the sweets had been a truly wonderful aspect of the time of year.  She put a walnut into the cracker provided and squeezed.  Nothing happened.  With a frown she tried again, this time harder.  Still nothing.  Red grooves marred her palms from the pressure of the device in her hands.  "My mother makes apple pie for Christmas dessert."  Katy paused and her eyes grew distant.  "Made.  She made them."

Tulojow glanced up from her own work when she spotted Katy picking at the walnut shell out of the corner of her eye.  With a warm grin, the woman set the potato down, again, and wiped her hands off on a towel.  "I'm afraid you'll have to get a bit more destructive then that.  Best to avoid obliterating it but you have to use some force.  A few firm whacks around the center and it should fall apart in the middle."  Tulojow set a walnut on the counter and hit it firmly around the center.  The shell cracked and she pulled out the meat inside in one piece, setting it in a bowl. 

She leaned back, waiting to watch Katy have a go.  She would show her a few more times, if necessary, but waited patiently as the Hufflepuff seemed to lose herself in her thoughts.  The Healer gave the girl a few moments with her thoughts as she picked up the half-peeled potato and resumed her work. 

It was a few minutes before the older woman spoke, again.  "Apple pies are a wise choice."  Tulojow placed the finished potato in a bowl and turned to the next one.  "Cinnamon-y and warm but light with the fruit.  Such a wonderful smell, as well.  What type of topping did she use - the crunchy, crumble, strudel stuff or more traditional crust?"