“Jules!” Charlotte’s voice rang through the apartment, and soon a face appeared in the doorway of the kitchen. One look, and it was obviously property of the voice that had preceded it. Charlotte St. James smirked as her eyes scanned the living room, looking for her favorite little nephew, the Prince Charming in Training, her personal project. Her hands busied themselves on the glossy porcelain countertops, atop which sat a pitcher of her famous Christmas brew.

Charlotte was not a chef. She was not even a tender of bar. She usually paid people to do that for her. Pour her own drinks? Try hiring an elf. But the holidays always brought out the girl in her, and the woman couldn’t help but wave her wand over her favorite recipe, year after year. She’d perfected it. And, as she’d come of age, she’d also added an edge to it.

The liquor tilted itself into the strong, frothy peppermint concoction.

“Be a doll and help your Aunt Lotte bring the refreshments into the living room. Your little friend will be here any minute. You don’t want her to think you’re a lazy little boy, do you? Girls don’t like that.”

Another wand wave, and the liquor bottle uprighted, capped itself, and disappeared into the cabinets under the kitchen counter. Charlotte smirked and picked up a larger sterling spoon, giving the drink a swirl. Kids should be allowed a little taste of adult life around the holidays. Christmas was for everyone, after all.

The high back overstuffed chair was perfect for him to lounge in, with his leg crossed over the other. It also allowed for a small collection area in the open of his lap where a cloth lay over, the bits of clay he discarded from his work landing forgotten. He heard his name but merely responded with a soft “Hm?” not bothering to turn his head in the direction of his aunt. Julian loved her, he did, but she was still technically an adult. And he clearly had important things to focus on.

His eyes did roll, however slightly, and he sighed under his breath before smirking. Be a doll, he did that well. Setting the nearly finished rose aside, Julian cleaned up the cloth across his lap and set it down, finally forcing himself up from his seat as if the very act was detrimental to his health. Surely Jordyn all ready knew he was lazy, but why not keep up pretenses. “Of course.” He sauntered into the kitchen with all the care of a kid on holiday. Wait a minute… “Definitely don’t want her to think I’m lazy.”

Pulling his hands out of his trouser pockets, Julian spared a grin for his energetic aunt. She was always her best when putting on a show. Picking up the biscuit tray in one hand and the cheese tray in the other, he made his way to the living room, setting it out near the sofa for easy access. And just to test it, he picked up a biscuit and popped it into his mouth, enjoying the buttery goodness.

Of course, he didn’t expect to be caught in the stolen bite. “Oh… Thish ish gweat.” His mouth was full as he tried to give his Aunt an innocent look, pausing in mid bite to give her a sheepish grin. It lasted a moment more before he lifted a hand over his mouth to munch as quietly as possible, glancing around to see about any last minute things. “So…” He pursed his lips to the side. “This’ll work, right?” His best ‘how to understand girls’ guide was up to date with the mess he’d made of the last private meeting with Neely.

He could ride a horse… he was sure of it. Once he figured out how you did it.

Going to see Julian was almost painful.  She could not believe what he had done to her – without her permission and with his best friend! It was totally unforgivable, and the only reason she was still in this was because they needed a way to get out of it without ruining Neely’s chances of having Julian as a boyfriend.  Honestly, didn’t he know there was such a thing as a witch code?  You didn’t date your best friend’s ex!  You just didn’t. 

That made things incredibly awkward.  She just wanted everything to go back to being normal and open herself up to real opportunities instead of fake dating Julian, who she had no interest in dating!  She didn’t ever date boys her own age! Always older… it was odd, but it was Jordyn. 

So, whenever she was invited to Charlotte St. James’ house to meet with her and Julian, she at least had something to look forward too!  Charlotte St. James was notorious in socialite circles and she was a fabulous role model.  Jordyn could not believe she was going to her flat!  So, she had to look fabulous, making sure she put together everything just so and did her make-up to the T.  It wasn’t Julian she was trying to impress, in fact, if she gave him what he deserved, she would have rolled out of bed and just come as it was. 

Getting out of the house was easy, her parents seldom cared where she was anymore, and going through the Floo was easy enough, since she did not have her appiration license.  Before stepping into the flames, she glanced at her watch, glad to see she would be just on time – maybe even a few moments late – acceptably and fashionably – and stepped in.

The ride was awkward, but Jordyn was used to it by now, hoping it would not muss up her skirt, and sighed anxiously as she gracefully tripped out of the fireplace.  She tried to cover it with a little skip and a tiny yelp, and raised her eyebrows as she saw Julian with a plate of cookies, anxious looking as ever, questioning the plausibility of something working.

“If it works as well as anything else you’ve done,” Jordyn cut at him, “it’s surely going to fly like an iron flag.”  She smirked and plucked the plate out of his hands to put on the table, “where’s my shiny present?”

Smirking despite herself, Charlotte promptly extended a hand and patted the top of Julian’s head, as if he were her prize-winning, thoroughbred canine in the annual puppy show. “I’m glad you like. But don’t talk with your mouth open. It’s the biggest turn off since the cauldron haircut, Julian.”

Sitting down across from him, she poured out two holiday goblets of the wintry brew, eyes flickering from the frothy pitcher to Julian, and back again. A third, immaculate glass sat untouched, waiting for Julian’s little friend. “Of course it will. Has your Aunt Charlotte ever embarrassed you, love?” She tilted her head just a bit, lifted her goblet in a cheers of sorts, and took a relishing sip. “By the way, I didn’t make the biscuits. The elves did. You can tell your lady friend that you did all the hard work...”

White lies weren’t so bad. It was the sincerer brand of laziness Charlotte wanted to squash out of him. Or, rather, hide under the rug. Because honestly? Every St. James deserved a perfect lavish life of luxury and leisure.

“But we will have to do some damage control. I don’t know how you managed to choose her best friend out of the sea of available girls, Julian. Really!” She shook her head, settling back, straightening her shoulders, and crossing her legs. She took another sip, prepared to ask for details on his newest creation, when suddenly a petite brunette with a vivacious (and vicious)voice for sarcasm half-danced out of the fireplace.

Charlotte watched the teenage exchange with mild fascination and pride, before turning back to Julian. She laughed, her voice sounding like silver on crystal. “I take back what I just said-- you’re a little genius, Julian. I love this one already...”

Standing up, Charlotte kept her goblet in one hand, and sauntered toward the girl, placing a sisterly hand on her upper back. “Jordyn, is it?” She asked, bending to kiss the girl’s cheek. “I told him it would be best if we let you choose your own present. We are making the shopping rounds, after all, aren’t we? Anything you want-- it’s on me. We’ll just take it out of his trust fund later.” She winked. “With interest.”

Sitting down again, Charlotte patted the seat beside her, inviting Jordyn to join. “He might have good taste, but he’s still got a broom down there, hasn’t he? Best let the girls makes the executive decisions. Have a drink with us.”

Had his Aunt Charlotte embarrassed him? Not in public, at least. Or if she had, he had been conditioned at an early age to let those things dust off his shoulders and be left in his path. Besides, the things you were noticed for were sometimes embarrassing, and if you wanted to be noticed in the world, you had to accept that some things were going to make you look silly. The price of fame, wasn’t it?

Accepting his own drink, he merely shook his head and toasted her back, enjoying the strong sip and trying not to let the fleeting feeling of ‘this tastes like the most wonderfully awful thing I’ve ever drank’ slip over his face. Because he knew that after a few more sips, he would start agreeing that it was the most delicious thing you could drink, ever. It was just his taste buds were not accustomed to such strong flavors.

Chuckling, he shook his head and glanced at the biscuits once again. They looked delicious. “She wouldn’t believe me.” And he didn’t need to impress Jordyn. She was all ready his friend and all ready liked him because of his family, right? Cooking wasn’t that impressive anyway.

Wincing at his aunt’s gentle scolding, Julian shook his head and glanced down into his glass. “It was… the only person I could think of who she might be jealous of.” Biting his lower lip, he took another sip. “There aren’t that many fifth year girls anyway. None to get too impressed—”

The noise of someone arriving behind him made Julian stand up momentarily straight—if it was his father, he’d be told to stop slouching. Seeing who it was only made him ease back, pursing his lips to the side. It took him a couple seconds to think about what she said, but once he got it he rolled his eyes in slight annoyance. However, he kept his response to himself (partially because his Aunt was talking to her, and because he didn’t have much to add) and instead enjoyed another sip of the strong concoction. See? All ready better the second sip in.

“He might have good taste, but he’s still got a broom down there, hasn’t he?”

Was it necessary to talk about his broom while he stood there? Smirking slightly, he set his glass down and poured Jordyn some of the brew, offering it to her before lounging back in his high backed chair. “I’m here to listen. Have a biscuit, Jordyn, they’re delicious.” As if to prove the point, he leaned forward and snatched a couple, enjoying a bite out of the first before leaning back. “Is she jealous at least?” He hadn't talked with his 'girlfriend' recently, not really. Just bickering back and forth.

Jordyn was immediately swept up.  Charlotte St. James was like… a goddess!  She was absolutely stunning and she had this effortless charm, she looked like a perfect lady, and she already seemed fun!  She certainly wasn’t afraid to speak and laugh, which put Jordyn at ease almost immediately.  She was vaguely aware of some Purebloods that found it uncouth to have a sense of humor, and while Jordyn perhaps was not the best example of a humored individual, she could laugh and smile with the best of them, especially if it was in pursuit of being polite and fitting in.  She was very good at that. 

And she was enjoying herself immensely, already!  Charlotte guided her to a seat and made her feel right at home, like she should have been.  A very sincere smile graced her face, this was the life!  Even Julian was looking dapper in his button down and trousers, she must have forced him to look nice.  “Yes, Jordyn,” she smiled at her, “it’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss St. James.”  It truly was, and she giggled softly as she indicated that they would go shopping for her own present.

Oh! How jealous everyone would be!  Of course, that was providing she still had friends to be jealous of her!  Julian was doing a right job of mucking that up and who would she gossip with if Neely were still so angry with her she wouldn’t speak.  Granted, she had Arielle and Sophie, she even considered Kit Branwell something of a friend, but it wasn’t the same as Neely.  It would never be the same. 

His forward thinking with his broom rather than his head, as his cousin explained, was exactly why they needed to make the decisions, and Jordyn nodded eagerly.  “I agree,” she slid a look toward Julian, meeting his eyes rather than Charlotte’s at the moment, “One-hundred perfect.”  She flashed a grin and then turned toward Charlotte more fully, piquing an eyebrow at Julian as he mentioned how good the biscuits were. 

She leaned forward and picked up a cookie, to appease Mr. St. James, and lifted it to her lightly polished lips, glad that she had stocked up on clear lip gloss.  She wouldn’t want to appear under done.  Nibbling at the cookie, she was actually surprised.  “Did you make these, Julian? You must have used a spell or five,” she giggled and looked to Charlotte, trying to make her an ally already. 

It appeared that wouldn’t be a problem, and after she continued to nibble the cookie, she frowned at Julian.  “If she would talk to me, I’m sure I’d be able to tell you,” she cut at him, nippy as ever when it came to the fact her relationship with her best friend was as tenuous as ever.  She sighed and looked at Charlotte, “We need to make sure that this works, or I’m out a best friend because of him,” she motioned with her head, brown hair bustling against her neck, as she did. 

“I would dump him, but then I’d need a reason, which couldn’t just be ‘so you can date him, Neely,’” she started with a sigh.  “Really, what excuse is there?”