5 years later...

Petunia was nervous. It was Christmas Eve and she would be hosting a party/family

reunion later that evening. Most of her tension stemmed from one thing: the sister she had

not spoken to or seen for three years. It all began with the invitations. Of course she had to

invite Remus. He had been the first person she thought of. And, of course, hehad insisted on

bringing his old friends: the marauders and Lily.

James and Lily were married, but Petunia didn't know much about their life because

of the frayed relationship with her sister.

The guests would be expected to arrive in about 4 hours. Petunia yanked open the

oven door and pulled out a hot tray full of garlic breadsticks. She only had a few seconds to

marvel at their perfection before changing the oven's temperature and placing a new tray in,

which held uncooked ribs in barbeque sauce.

She set a timer before turning to the dish on the stove and mixing ingredients for a

dipping sauce to be served with the breadsticks. She glanced at a box of storebought

scones on a nearby table and tried to think of what else she needed to do.

The doorbell to her apartment rang and she remembered the catering company that

was going to be doing half the work.

"You're early," she commented while opening the door, assuming the caterers had

come.

"I wasn't aware I'd been set on a schedule,"Remus answered. It was only him.

"I was expecting the catering company," Petunia explained. "You'er welcome to come

in anytime."

She became very aware of the flourand food stains on her grubby apron. Why had

he come anyway? To help?

She asked him if that was why he came.

"No," he said nervously."But I have a gift for yiou that couldn't wait. I sort of cancelled

the catering service and made arrangements with something better. Think of it as an early

Christmas present."

He opened the door and several house elves filed in.

Petunia seemed very confused.

"You have their services for the next three hours," he said. "They're qiuck and provide

excellent work. Just don't give them any clothes. I'm serious."

Remus wondered if he had done the right thing, from the way Petunia stared at the

elves. He made an excuse to leave, kissed her quickly, and exited.

Left alone with tehewide-eyed and big-eared elves, Petunia didn't know what to do

first. She attempted a request.

"I need help to cook both traditional holiday food and snacks for the guests," she said.

"No,"squeaked one of the tiny creatures."You doesn't help us. WE is doing all the

work. We house elves is excellent chefs."

It seemed unnatural, but Petunia stayed out of their way, reading a book in her

bedroom instead. The time passed unnoticed, and brought a soft knock at her door.

She followed the elf into the rest of her apartment, being careful not to step on him,

and stopped abruptly at the scene. Not only had they cooked and put on display the most

beautiful selections of food she had ever seen, they had set up elaborate decorations.

"What is this?" she asked in a near-whisper.

"Is you not liking it?" asked the elf. Tears brimmed in his eyes.

"It's wonderful!" she told him. He cried anyway, tears of joy. The other elves couldn't

help themselves and followed suit. Whaen they were finshed, one elf stepped forward and

held out a small metal dish with a cover on top.

"Take it," the elf urged."We is baking this under SPECIAL request."

"From whom?" she asked.

"Nice man," said the elf.

They all bowed, bid her good day, and filed out the door. So Remus had given them

an extra job on the side.

She lifted the cover and dropped it in shock.

In icing on top of a cupcake, in writing so tiny that only the hands of a house elf could

have accomplished it, were the words "Will you marry me?"