If anyone had asked him way back in September what his winter plans would be, there was a 1000% chance he wouldn't have said he'd be spending it in the Great Hall with his students. In fact, that's the last thing that would've ever crossed his mind.

And yet....

And yet here he stood by a box of decorations with a mug of hot chocolate in his hand waiting for the students to begin arriving. In these few precious moments, he tried to remind himself to remain positive, afterall, how could he ask of the students what he wasn't prepared to provide himself?

Yes, they were stuck here until something gave. YES apparently there was a rather determined reporter now stuck with them. YES he wanted his wife. But what would moping do, especially on the eve of Christmas?

Malachi was determined to sing carols and decorate things and make this at least a little better for all involved.

Despite the visible sadness on her face, Missa showed up at the great hall - somehow hoping to take in some of the positivity the headmaster was trying to put out.

Dressed in her pajamas, the brunette walked up to the headmaster, a small smile forced on her lips. “Evening, headmaster Trent, where should I begin?” she asked, looking at all the decorations AND trying not to think of her siblings who loved doing this together with her.

>.<

Cassidy had never been in such a sore mood for the holidays. She was already unfortunately homesick since she arrived at school, and it only intensified when they couldn't head home for Christmas. Similarly, her entire dorm seemed...almost sad too. While she appreciated getting hugs from some of her dorm mates, the hugs can only provide so little compensation for not being able to cuddle up to her daddy and mummy. Even the thought of hugs from her annoying brothers seemed appealing at this rate, and that was saying something!

Her only motivation to keep her head up for the rest of their holidays was the idea of a massive Hogwarts sleepover. Cassidy made (not so much, honestly) effort to dress the part in her pyjamas and joined everyone else in the Great Hall. The young lioness, spotting nobody she was close to, made her way to her head of house immediately. Oh hey, hot chocolate looked very tempting but her tummy wasn't in the mood for it yet. "Hi, headmaster," the redhead greeted in a little sing-song voice. She also noticed the Ravenclaw prefect and smiled at her briefly—she was really pretty—before looking back at Headmaster Trent. "Can I help with the ribbons?"

Wait, wait! "Also, can we maybe sing Jingle Bell Rock later too?" That might lighten up her spirit. And everyone else's. Just might.

Ronan was not comfortable with walking around in his pajamas, for the record. At all. They were old and frayed and didn't match. If only he'd known there would be a school wide sleepover in advance, with the lights on and all, he'd have made sure to bring some fancy PJs. Or even just a single proper pair, because the T-shirt he was wearing wasn't even nightwear since he usually slept without one. Said T-shirt that, on close inspection, was very visibly worn inside out, on purpose. It was one of his brother's old merch shirts and they were really soft, so he'd hoped that by turning it inside out no one would notice that he's wearing it. Because that's embarrassing.

So, tugging self consciously at his clothes and hoping the hole at the bottom of his sweats wasn't too visible, Ronan shuffled into the Great Hall. "Um.. hello Headmaster," Ronan waved to him, and nodded towards the Ravenclaw prefect. She seemed sad. Ronan had been sad too at first, but he'd chosen to look at the positive side instead. Christmas with his friends, and all that. He offered her a small smile, then took a moment to look around. The young first year got a wave from him too. Had the professors dragged the tables away themselves? Some of them were old, hadn't that hurt their backs? Ronan made a mental note to offer assistance in putting them back tomorrow morning.

Oh! Cookies! ... Could he take one now? Or did they have to decorate first? Ronan slowly meandered over to the food table.

Jillian was feeling a lot of things right now and not even yoga can fix the stress she is feeling. The seventh year Slytherin walked into the room and can somehow tell that they all are in the same boat on this. They were mostly homesick or just want that warmth you get at home during the holidays.

She sees Missa and gave her a comforting smile. "Hey, you okay?"she knows how she felt because she was feeling the same thing too. Jillian was trying her best to be optimistic about this. Maybe she should help herself a cookie or two.... wait is there some coffee? Steaming hot coffee?

Ahead was the headmaster with his mug, she gave him a bigger smile before greeting "Hello, headmaster. Anything I can help with?"

Yes, Jina was miserable that she was not at home for Christmas. She could not even write to her parents and her elf owl Dobby was nowhere to be seen. But she knew that almost all students and surely all members of staff felt the same, so she could not complain. And she truly appreciated the effort the professors put into organising this heartwarming event. The only drawback was that they all had to wear PJs. She really did not want to wear pyjamas in front of her professors (and Sunny Raine, if he was joining). It was embarrassing!!

Her ears bright red, she shuffled into the great hall. After nodding briefly at Headmaster Trent, she joined Missa and Jillian. These were girls who often saw her in pyjamas, so she felt comfortable around them. “Hey guys,” she offered a small smile. It was clear that none of them was very happy about this situation. She hoped helping with decorations and eating all the Christmas food would help them to cheer up.

Stupid PJs. Stupid Christmas. STUPID sleepover. Aboli couldn't express just how glum she was right now. She missed her parents like crazy, and she missed Liam even more. Christmas was going to be so FUN with him...the presents and watching him unwrap them would have been the cutest thing. She had his present packed in her trunk, too....the thought of what she was missing at home - and how awful her parents probably felt, too - was enough to make her feel ill.

So it was with this attitude AND an upset stomach that Aboli entered the Great Hall, her misery clearly on her face as she did so. Could she sit in a corner and curl up and sleep like, forever? Because she wanted to. For some reason, she spotted Missa and Jillian and went to stand by them until more people got there. She didn't greet them. She didn't greet anyone, not even Trent.

All she could do was rub her stomach and lean on whatever was around. Also, there was a lot of groaning under her breath.

Sleepovers were not Fiona's idea of fun especially ones at her place of education. However, she decided that she was going to try and have a somewhat enjoyable Christmas, no matter what. Entering the Great Hall, wearing her dark green winter pyjamas, Fiona gave a small wave of greeting to the room in general and spoke, "Hey everyone. How can I be of assistance?"

Where had her slipper gone?

Flora was POSITIVE that, when she left the common room, there were EXACTLY two slippers on her feet. TWO of them. One on each foot. She knew. Because she had two feet. But now? Now, as she entered the Great Hall, she was one slipper short. Sure, she had thought of walking alllllll the way back up to the Gryffindor tower to fetch it, but it was a really long trek and well, she knew about the hot chocolate and cookies.

And she saw how some of the students ate. She SAW how Professor Williamson ate. She wasn't going to miss cookies and hot chocolate over a slipper.

She didn't take her lone slipper off her foot, though, and only after filling her little hand with as many cookies as she could possibly carry did she make her way over to where the headmaster was. "Hello, Professor Headmaster! Everyone looks sad." But not her! "But not me. Know why?" Probably not, so she was going to tell him. She didn't give him a chance to answer anyway. "My parents are going to get me double the presents now because they miss me so much!"

And maybe she'd finally get that pony she always wanted! Flora moved closer to the box that he was standing next to and took a loooooong peek inside it. "Can I put the star on top of the tree?" Or a cookie. She'd put a cookie on top of the tree.

K didn't know the words to what she had been feeling the last few days, and she also didn't want to delve too deep into thinking about them either. When she let herself THINK her head would start to hurt and her eyes would feel all weird and moisture would happen and just no. She didn't want to think. So when the giant sleep over was demanded suggested she was even into the idea. It sounded like a good distraction from the fact it was Christmas and half of her family was far away. But THAT was thinking too much anyways, so she quickened her pace into the hall as if to run away from emotion.

She was in her pajamas, as requested, random bottoms and snuggled into one of her dad's old sweaters which she was even more comforted to have now. Stepping into the hall she could see Professor Trent and other students having arrived. She couldn't pick out her siblings in the crowd, so they must not yet have arrived. She did see Aboli and Jillian already being around, and Jina as well who she was certain used to be at Ilvermony though she couldn't remember having spoken with her. K turned to force a quick smile towards Trent, always determined to attempt to make up for her lack of manners the first meeting, and muttered a quick "Hello, Professor. Thank you for putting this together." Before she set off in the direction of Aboli, the only person she knew quite well in the room. Stopping near her, K raised an eyebrow as she glanced at her, seeing her holding her stomach. "Hey. You feeling physically alright?"

Because none of them were fine emotionally.

The last few days had been made him worried and at this moment he was supposed to be at home spending Christmas with his family. But with everything going on, Minjae was all ready to get some positivity back at Hogwarts.

Having zero problem with wearing his pajama in front of everyone, Minjae had chosen his high-end quality dark green silk material for this event because the color looked Christmas-y.

The Hufflepuff rolled up the sleeves of his pajama twice as he entered the Great Hall before walking closer to the group already present. "Hey everyone" he greeted them in general. "Is there anything i can help with?"

Avalon made her way back to the Great Hall for the second time this evening, finally donning a comfy set of winter pajamas. For some reason, she had completely forgotten to wear them the first time she came down for the Christmas sleepover. She knew ahead of time that they were supposed to wear their PJs, but it had completely slipped her mind while she was getting ready. Maybe it was because she was so disappointed about having to stay at school for the holidays. It wasn't that she didn't like Hogwarts, but she was looking forward to spending time with her family.

Plus, she was a little scared about what was going on. The last time she had been outside on the grounds, the entire outside world seemed to have completely disappeared. Avalon was used to some wonky things going on at Hogwarts, but she had never seen anything like she did the other day at the Entrance Gates. Not to mention the fact that she hadn't heard from her parents in weeks, and she wasn't able to send them any owls.

She was grateful, however, that the professors had set this up. At least they would still be able to decorate and somewhat enjoy the Christmas spirit. Avalon nodded politely at Headmaster Trent before heading over toward Kimmie and Aboli, who both looked a little glum. She couldn't blame them. The Ravenclaw gave them a wave. "Well, the entire outside world may have completely disappeared, but at least we have Christmas cookies!" she said sarcastically, gesturing to the tables along the side of the room that were filled with holiday treats. She had to make a sarcastic joke about it. It was the only way to keep her from panicking.

Isla wasn't sure how she felt. On one hand, she didn't even want to leave the comfort and safety of her bed, but on the other hand, she just felt like she needed to get out and try to have some normalcy. Whatever that meant with the whole world vanished. She'd had a good cry last night. She missed her family, her kneazle, and just Christmas in general. She didn't even know if they'd ever get to leave the castle again.

That literally TERRIFIED HER.

But as she entered the Great Hall, she started to feel a little better. A little. The staff had really tried hard on this one, and even though Isla felt miserable, this did brighten her spirits some. "Thanks, Headmaster," she said, gesturing to everything around her. Was it too early to get a cookie? Because she wanted a cookie.

Literally everybody was asking what they could do to help, so Isla spared Trent from having to hear it again. She'd just to learn what she needed to do when he answered everybody else.

While decorating for Christmas was normally one of Carsyn's favourite pasttimes, with the change in plans the sixth year honestly felt like she'd been robbed of Christmas. What would her parents think? She was sure by now they'd noticed the lack of arrival of the students at Kings Cross. Wait was Kings Cross even still there? Were they caught in this storm too? Could they still do magic? Did they just assume she and Carys voluntarily stayed at Hogwarts without notifying them?

The only good thing about Christmas at Hogwarts was that she had traded her skirt and button down shirt for athletic shorts and Wales U-17 tank top. But like most of everyone, she really didn't want to be here especially with a twig for a wand and a non-flying broomstick. Not that she would admit any of that to anyone. If anyone asked, she was content .... it would help them to appreciate their magic abilities when they returned. Because there was no if, it was a when.

Also a good thing? When she entered the Great Hall was the cookies she spotted, which it seemed the younger Ravenclaw (Avalon) had similar sentiments as she overheard her proclamation. She smiled and nodded at everyone before moving to join Cassidy by the ribbons. Because as hard as this might have been for her, she knew it had to be ten times harder for her first year cubs.

Claudine knew there was a reason she had been relieved and happy to go back to the Blaze mansion for the holidays but at the moment, as she stepped into the Great Hall in her pale blue silk pajamas and matching fluffy bedroom slippers {minus it being silky, of course}, she couldn’t remember. Giving up in trying to jog her memory, she drifted towards Trent and the gang of students there though she did stand a little way off.

The Snakette rolled her eyes. Why were some persons so daft? Did they not see the decorations? It was obvious they were to help decorate the place; obvious that there was enough for everyone to help out with. Ignoring them, she beelined for the cookies where a gingerbread one in the shape of a reindeer was selected before she drifted back over to the boxes of decorations.

Christmas <3

It was Claudine’s favourite holiday and as she bit into the cookie, was suddenly nostalgic for her home.

After all that crazy weather and everything that has happened so far this year Blake was really looking forward to some fun. So he was totally ready to 'deck the halls', drink some little hot chocolate and eat his body weight in cakes.

Immediately upon entering the room he spotted Isla, it would be hard to miss her really, almost as if his eye was trained to find her ... but that thought just made him blush, so he tried to avoid that. "Hey Isla" Blake said coming up to her to give her a hug. "How are you doing?"

He got it, really he did. And even if some of the students forgot that their professors were people too with their own families and losses, he wouldn't try to assure anyone that he felt their pain. He could see the disappointment on many faces as they entered and admittedly could appreciate those who'd come in with a bit more of a pep in their step. It helped him think this wasn't all for nothing, that at this some of them would appreciate the gesture.

No one should be locked in their dorms on Christmas Eve. It just didn't seem right.

And it seemed they were already ready to help. "Ribbons are in the box over there." He nodded at Belrose's question. "Renaldi, maybe you can help her?" Could...maybe lighten her mood a bit. "And Jingle Bell Rock will be first on the agenda." Students already putting in requests. That helped, too.

He offered a warm smile to the next few that entered (Wallace, Kim, Morin and even Song who seemed non too happy about anything.)" Could use some help getting the tree started if you lot are interested." The tree was still in its box and would need assembling. "Decorations for it are right next to it."

And another sip of his hot chocolate. He'd have to go find the music in a minute, get things started.

In just a few sentences, Thiese had earned herself the status of Precious Bean. It had been a while since he'd given it to a first year. His current beans were now third years. He was even willing to forgive her snout comment earlier in the year. "I'm sure your room will be flooded when you get home." He said, finding it a little easier to smile this time. "Why don't you and Jenovick give Renaldi and Belrose a hand with the ribbons?"

The thank you was also nice. "You're welcome Amstern. A little holiday cheer could help everyone." And it looked like Yoon was equally ready to jump in. Nice.

Sinclair's comment, sarcastic as it was, caught his attention. "Help yourself to as many as you'd like. Then maybe you, Yoon and Amstern can get the thistle up? A few mistletoes...well out of the reach of anyone." Please and thanks.

And another thanks. No problem, Bellchant." The physical effort required earlier was well worth it if even some of the students appreciated it. "We've got another tree, if you Rose and Blaze don't mind helping with that one." It was in the box by the first. "Set it anywhere you'd like. Ryan, you can help, too."

Now where was that music?

With another sip of his hot chocolate, the Headmaster moved over to another, smaller box containing CDs. AH, here it was. The Christmas mix Schmoe had so kindly offered.

Malachi put it in. Seconds later, courtesy of the Muggle Studies Professor's boom box, the Great Hall was filled with

Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock....

"Sing along if you know the words!" He encouraged.

Carwyn would almost have placed a bet on a chocolate frog, that his students hadn't expected to see him in a Hereford Hippogriff's deep brown sweatshirt with the name "ERIS" blazing on the back in team-yellow when they had started school this year. The Hippogriff was stitched above his heart and the black, white and pale yellow plaid bottoms were more than enough pattern to complete the pajama's - even if they weren't a proper set. His feet were clad in black fluffy slippers that made his steps soundless. Wasn't that fun when his usual shoes made a racket?

Right now however, the Professor was up a tall, tall ladder. There was a box of decorations resting on the top step as he reached upwards to put one bauble, then another, then another, on the patch of branches that he could reach. Gold, Red, Silver, Black. There didn't seem to be much specificity or thought going into the decorating, but then it was hard to see the whole tree when he was so close... Besides, it had been a long time since he hadn't used magic to decorate his trees at home and he was rather enjoying the task.

"Anyone want to check how this looks?" He asked, looking over his shoulder towards the students who were arriving. "Or pull up a ladder. It'd really rather enjoyable doing this by hand." Grinning, he turned around and this time added a navy teardrop to the decorations he had already hung. "Jingle bells chime in jingle bell timeeeee, Dancing and prancing in Jingle Bell Square! In the frosty air!!" Oh yes, this Welshman liked to sing too. He wasn't altogether bad at it either. Mostly.

Nem really had not cared a whole lot about having to spend the holidays here as opposed to at home. Neither was particularly appealing, and neither was particularly unpleasant; made it easy to not descend into misery or total prolonged hysterics, like a certain irritating little brother. Maybe that was the worst part about being here, dealing with everyone being firmly in their feelings, which really got boring after the first two or three minutes. But then, at home, there were four two-year-olds and two eight-year-olds, not to mention M&D. So, swings and roundabouts.

They also had little issue going along to the decorating-event-plus-sleepover, even though approximately none of it was even remotely their sort of thing. Nem had dressed in black shorts and a grey hoodie, and some old trainers too. It could pass as sleeping attire, sure. Except the shoes, but what idiot would go around this place barefoot?

Figuring they'd probably find Pax and sit somewhere together, and even put up with Ezra if he also happened to be lingering - or be the audience to whatever their twin had up her sleeve at the moment - Nem entered the Great Hall, neither particularly gloomy nor cheery. They got maybe six feet into the room before music began blasting, as if festively announcing their appearance. Nails on a blackboard, honestly.

Without a second's deliberation, Nem turned abruptly back around around, and made to leave the Great Hall again.

No.

Bye.

Phoebe James was wearing a reindeer onesie with jingle bells on her slippered toes, and she was STILL not looking very merry. She missed her mother and father and little sister and her aunts and uncle and cousins and grandparents... and all the food and merriment and noise that big family Christmas brought.

She carried three gingerbread men per hand as she perused the Headmaster's offerings, although her lip was stuck ALL the way out. And her gingerbread men had no heads anymore. Tasted good, though.

"Headmaster, does this make you Santa? My mum says he's a Dark Wizard who eats babies, but at least he brings gifts." She offered him a gingerbread man, sans head.

WWW was dragging his feet in coming to this event, but the promise of food and drink had him reluctantly entering the Great Hall perhaps a little late. He wasn't here to help, to be clear. He was here for the food.

He was just entering the hall, fidgeting with something soft and sleepy in his pocket, when he nearly crashed into Nemesis Upstead. Always up to something, this Upstead, huh?

"Where ya goin?" he stopped the Slytherin with a hand to the shoulder. Not to force Nem to stand in place or anything, but WWW was trying to keep them from walking straight into each other. He had a thing in his pocket, see. "Isn't this...........thing...........er, mandatory?"

Isla's heart melted into a million and one pieces when she saw Blake. He was one of her very best friends here at Hogwarts, and ever since the whole vanishing scare happened, she hadn't laid eyes on him. She was so happy to see that he was safe, and truth be told, it made her feel a million times better to see such a familiar face.

She returned his hug and gave him a second-longer squeeze than normal. When she released him, her eyes were a little watery. "I'm sorry, Blake. You must think I'm crazy, but...it's just...everything. It was just good to see a familiar face," she said. "I mean, I guess I'm okay. We're still alive, after all. I think." That part was still a little questionable at times. "You doing okay?"

At the sound of loud singing, Isla looked over to see...Trent singing? "Wow," she said to Blake, "that's honestly a sight I didn't think I'd ever see." Trent was trying so hard, and Isla had to give him credit for that. She just wasn't in the spirit to sing. Maybe after a good cookie or two?

Alexandre had never felt more lonely than he did walking into the Great Hall filled with people. Normally he would have loved this kind of thing. A huge sleepover. Getting to be with all of his friends on Christmas. But with the way things were right now... all he could think was that with everyone here it meant his friends would be off with their friends and where did that leave him? He was really trying not to think that way but it wasn't really working. Plus with everything else going on, he was just feeling a bit overwhelmed and wanted to be alone.

He wanted his family.

At least he had Willow. But Willow was not taking this whole thing very well and it just made him more worried. He wasn't really feeling in the Christmas spirit. Not even the music was cheering him up. He spotted some of his friends. There was Aboli, looking upset. And Ronan by the cookies. He started to head that way, thinking that cookies were always good, when a familiar voice drifted down to him. He looked up to see Uncle Carwyn on a tall ladder decorating a Christmas tree. Seeing another family member did make him feel a little bit better actually.

"I can help you Uncle Carwyn." He called up. Was he supposed to still call him professor? They weren't in class. And it was Christmas.

Up to something? This Upstead? Not at all; Nemesis was the good one, everyone knew that. Duh.

"Is it?" Nem replied, ostensibly nonplussed. There had been some mention of 'non-negotiable' somewhere, sure, but that was clearly open to interpretation. "I don't know, sir. But my ears are about three seconds away from bleeding from all over the place and I figure it's probably best we don't have any medical emergencies right now." That music. The singing. Who could have the heart to inflict that on a poor little magic-less teenager, who was stuck at school and at Christmas, no less? Very sad, so tragic, et cetera, et cetera.

Smiling ever-so-innocently, Nem made a bold attempt at ducking away from Williamson's grip and under his arm to make another bid for freedom.