Yoohoo Family

[Francesca Nightray]

This year, Francesca Nightray was in charge of setting up the Annual Christmas Celebration and she was not about to fail in this one. It wasn't the first time that she was in charge of it and it wouldn't be the first time that she planned to succeed either. In a matter of an hour, the gates of the grand Nightray manor were to be opened for other wizard folk, and mostly to other Purebloods. They, after all, needed to expand their relations in order to gain more power and influence in the wizarding world. That's how it goes after all in most Pureblood families and the Nightrays were nowhere near welcoming towards half-breeds and mudbloods. Though they do accept half-bloods into the family, doesn't mean they welcome them with open arms. They are a proud family and those who marry into the family have to earn their right as a Nightray just like any member of the family did. Francesca herself had to prove her worth to her own family and it didn't happen once. She have had to prove herself to the family six times, because she has experienced five losses and they weren't exactly pleasant. She had been no match for Mikael nor Elizabeth, and though the one with Sebastian was a close fight once, she had still lost. And for whatever reason, a loss is a loss and the price must be paid. Ever since then, Cheska has tried her best to be careful in challenging her siblings and not once did she try to challenge her mother nor her father. She already knew her capabilities were well below theirs. Now, she had to organize this event properly, otherwise, she would once again lose her ring and that was one experience she didn't want to occur once more, though it was evident and unavoidable within the family.

As Francesca made the final preparations of the celebration, she was fairly contented with the preparations. Though contentment has never been enough for content stops a person for striving for more. But one could easily tell that she had really taken the time for this. The windows were all cleaned to perfection, though they were covered by red and white curtains draping elegantly to the floor. The chandelier was hanging magnificently from the ceiling as it shined from being newly cleaned and one could see the glass sparkling. The floor had been cleaned and polished that one could see his reflection if he looked hard enough. The tables were arranged at the sides of the room, making the middle of the whole ballroom vacant, to give people ample space to stand and talk, or perhaps sway to the music of the small orchestra of instruments that are played by magic. Even the place where the elders were to sit along with their familiars, Father's eagle, Caspian, and Mother's fox, Pandora, where prepared with much care and thought. Now, only one thing was that was making the woman worried about the gates opening in a matter of minutes. It was who in the Nightray family were attending the celebration.

Aaren was in her OWL year and she wasn't very sure if her daughter could attend instead of being in her room to study. Her sons, however, would most probably attend, though she did hope that Gabriel does not bring any kind of bug to this celebration and if only Laurent would make an effort to actually stop his brother, then Cheska need not worry about anything. Aside from that, the only problem she has left was Elizabeth's daughter, Arianna. That child was no Nightray and even then she was allowed to stay in the manor and even go to the same school where Aaren and the others were. Francesca had always hated Arianna and wished her dead. Partly it was because of her jealousy towards Elizabeth and part of it because the child was so weak that she can never do anything right, and even then her parents had favored her and even Mikael did. That child should have died when it was born and she still believed that. And she still hated the child even now because in the span of ten years, that child hasn't changed. Still the innocent, sickly brat she knew. And she was one that would never be allowed in this family tradition. And so, Francesca had locked the girl in her room before the gates to the manor opened for the celebration of the Annual Christmas Tradition of the Nightray family.

 

[Gabriel Nightray]

Everything was perfect.

Gabriel was in awe at how much work his dear mother had put into her mission. She had obviously worked very hard with her magic to make this possible. However, Gabriel knew that she was a hopeless woman. She could not keep her daughter in line. She could not keep him and Laurent in line, she could not win against her siblings - what use was there of her? She challenged everyone she could, yet did not have the forethought to realise that she couldn't beat them. She would be nothing more than a mother. He did not want to think about the amount of failures she had racked up, and it all made him look bad. It made his brother look bad. It made everyone that would come from his line look bad, and he really wished she would cease her need to try and hit above her level. She was not good enough, and would only get honour through her children. Aaren was no good. Laurent? Too much of a sidekick to truly take over by himself without Gabriel in his ear guiding his every step. Yet, Gabriel was not out to run the family - he would rather them all gone. He just wanted enough power to make the head think twice about bothering him when he was older, but he was much too little to do anything right now.

Releasing another strategically placed bug, Gabriel moved towards the food. He had quite a collection of bugs, both native and foreign. It kept things interesting. He enjoyed ruining his mother, even if it made him look bad. He would make up for everything one day. The more useless he seemed, the less of a threat he was, and the more able he was to play the dark horse and take them all. His goal was not to play, but to win. His other cousins were less elegant in their method. Liam believed if he yelled loud enough he would win. Alexia believed if she argued more often she would win. Aaren could barley think a cohesive plan. Armin? What wasn't wrong with him? They were all defective. He wasn't. Laurent was, however, quite defective, and had to be guided. He did not mind this job, as Laurent had proven himself to be a most obedient brother, helping him whenever he wanted to do something that would annoy his family - without getting caught. It would good having a mirror.

He weakened the strings of the instruments long ago. They would sound as if Caspian, that damn bird, were dying. He hated it. That bird was one of the most annoying creatures that had ever been born on this planet. He worked hard to remain pleasant with the bird, behaving as if he was some kind of bird-loving twit like his grandfather. The bird always tried to eat his bugs. This time, however, he had a very special bug to feed his feathered 'friend'. And it was going to be his final meal. He approached the bird within its cage. He was as much a prisoner as Gabriel currently was, but this would not be for too much longer. Reaching to his hip, the young boy pulled out a very special present for the feathered creature, and went to present it to Caspian - before he heard his mother. Calmly, but quickly, the worm was returned to the pouch on Gabriel's hip, and the red-head boy pivoted to smile at his mother. "Mummy!" He exclaimed, rushing to envelop her in a hug. With his head on her collar, he could almost hear the blood rushing through her veins. He could feel her chest muscles tightening and releasing as she breathed a little hurriedly - worried about todays events probably. He squeezed her gently, hearing the mild constriction of breath and the small gasp when he released. He rather liked hugs, although hated the sensitive connotation they often held. A hug put him in such a position to truly feel the other person.

He smiled over at Laurent, knowing that Laurent had done what was told and ruined the food. Not with bugs - that would lead to Gabriel - but with compost. Enough to make the food dreadful, but not enough for one to pick up what was within. He hoped the his brother had the forethought to wash his hands afterwards. He returned his attention to his mother, and pouted. "But Mummy, I want to be with you..." her sending him to the other children was a great idea - how could he be blamed for anything when with other children? Playing submissive and rolling to his mother's demands, he hugged her, and ran to his brother, before tugging him along to the other children.​

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