Death and Darjeeling [Darla]

Santa!

The name rung repeatedly in the air in sweat peals of children’s voices. The tiny humans began to crowd around a man with a large, impressive white beard. It was a common sight to see everywhere, with children eager to sit on Santa’s lap, with watchful parents just a short distance away.

It was the middle of December, well into the holiday season. The other usual symbols of festivities were spread about: small evergreens decorated with tinsel and tiny ornaments, set on nightstands and corner tables. Holiday tunes could be heard in the radio. Red and green lights and ribbons were strewn tastefully. All in all, nothing seemed out of the ordinary, except that the current setting was not a mall or shop or public square. Santa was currently in a hospital ward, and rather than his traditional red and white suit, this Santa was in designer wizarding robes.

Truth be told, Santa didn’t intend on being called Santa at all. Far from being a jolly old man, this figure was tall and imposing, his expression stern and piercing. It was the mien of Jonathan Wellesley Emerson, Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic. He was currently in St Mungo’s Pediatrics Ward, his purpose to pay a visit to a dear acquaintance. But he had barely taken two steps past the door when some little munchkin thought he was jolly old St Nicholas.

Even Jon senior didn’t have the heart to correct him, or the other mini-people who looked at him with wide-eyes and excitement at hearing the magical name. So he played along, easily warming his generally cool demeanour, using his naturally deep and loud voice to great effect. He took residence by the nearest chair, inviting the children to sit on his lap to answer their questions and hear their wishes. Why yes, his elves were making sure they would all get toys for Christmas! Of course he enjoyed the cookies and milk they laid out for him the previous holiday. No, he wasn’t wearing his red suit that morning because it wasn’t Christmas Eve yet, and he was trying to blend it to check who was being naughty or nice.

Such questions were easy to answer. Others, though, required his talent of answering like a politician, to say much without actually saying anything at all. Could little Emmeline get well and be home for Christmas if she stayed a good girl? Well, Santa was going to make sure her Christmas this year be full of joy and presents, and that always makes any person feel better. Could Santa make sure mum gave Alicia a baby sister and not a gross brother? Hmm... a good girl would take care of her baby sibling no matter what, and even though it must stay a surprised, Santa promised Alicia would get the best, perfect sibling just for her.

And so the bulk of the morning passed in that manner. Many of the underage witches and wizards who came to him were admitted patients to St Mungo’s. Others were with their mums, who were expected to deliver a bundle of joy any moment now. Jonathan senior kept a mental note of each child’s requests, filtering the wishes he could grant. He would make sure to coordinate with the hospital to give his suppliants as great a holiday as he could.

But Jonathan senior, with his innate sense of time, realised that he needed to go. Otherwise he’d miss the first lunch break and his whole point of coming. But out of the corner of his eyes, he spotted the very person he’d come to see. He wasn’t sure whether she’d just appeared or had been there a while and he just noticed. But he gave her a playful wink, and silently mouthed that he’d be with her in just a second. He bid the children farewell, saying he’d visit again, perhaps in a different disguise, making another mental note about hiring some actor to play the part.

He stood up and walked over to a young Healer about half his age, motioning to take her arm as any gentleman of proper breeding should.

‘Ah, my dear! I hadn’t kept you too long have I?’ Jonathan senior began. ‘I didn’t realise how busy this ward was at this time of year. I was hoping to keep you for a little while, but I shan’t impose too much if you’ve a full schedule.’

@Darla Boyd

Ever since she had started working at St. Mungo’s, Darla had become tragically aware of the fact that December was always the busiest month for a healer. Not only that everyone was in such a rush with the upcoming holidays that they didn’t even pay attention to themselves, but some individuals also didn’t pay proper attention to their children. It was particularly unpleasant because many little ones came to the Paediatrics Ward with problems that could have been avoided quite easily during a normal season; for example, Darla had spent her entire morning treating children who had been eating the wrong amount of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans and were now having severe tummy aches.

After spending one entire hour treating just little Henry, who had been quite difficult, slapping, screaming, crying and eventually pulling Darla’s hair and completely messing up her two previously perfect buns and eating one of her ribbons while stealing the other, the healer went to her office to finish completing the little one’s file. However, the young witch had found herself being completely exhausted, and ended up just resting her head on the desk, in the hope of finally getting some rest (and a well-deserved power nap). The children though didn’t know the notion of privacy, as always – little Marnie just barged in Darla’s office, door opening as wide as she could, hitting the wall, the impact’s noise causing the former Gryffindor to jump up from her seat.

Darla, Santa, Santa! Marnie squeaked with joy, as she stretched out her hand towards the healer, so she could show her the way towards the children’s favourite person ever. As Marnie started pulling Darla through the hallway, one of the former Gryffindor’s rebellious curls got stuck in some tinsel, and she had let go of the little girl’s very tight grip. “Go on ahead sweetie, I’ll come and greet Santa too.” And so Marnie went ahead as Darla drew out her wand and took out the tinsel from her hair, and arranged the decoration back on the wall. Remembering that young Henry completely destroyed her ribbons and messed up her rebellious curls more than usual, Darla figured that the tinsel was actually better than nothing. Taking back the piece of green tinsel (to match her lime green robes), Darla arranged her hair in a ponytail and gathered it with the Christmas decoration. It was unquestionably better than nothing, as whenever she had her hair loose, it was quite the adventure, for her curls were always tempting the children to pull them as hard as possible; definitely not the best side of being a paediatrician.

The young witch completely forgot why she was on the hallway, but she remembered quickly enough, for the children wouldn’t stop running around towards the main hallway. Picking up one of her younger patients, as one would figure that a three year old should not be running around after the seven year olds, Darla made her way among the excited children who were eager to talk to Santa. It was weird however, because Darla was pretty sure that at the last weekly meeting they had voted that Santa would visit on Christmas Eve. The sudden change of plans hadn’t been on her notes either, and especially during December she was particularly thorough with everything.

Passing on the little one to a nurse as soon as he ran into one, Darla’s eyes widened in surprise as her jaw dropped upon seeing who the Santa all the kids were so excited about was. Her seeing her much-loved Uncle Jon playing the part of Santa quite perfectly, Darla’s cheeks flushed, her hands now covering both her cheeks to hide her rosiness. It was a sudden amalgam of emotions; firstly, she was very embarrassed that the children had mistaken him for Santa, as Darla felt like she hadn’t done well enough in educating them, even if that wasn’t her role at all. Secondly, the entire scene was so endearing that she couldn’t help but feel her chest warming up at the loveliness of it all. Hands down, Jonathan senior was obviously the most amazingly adorable person ever. Thirdly, a bit of her couldn’t wait to tell every single detail of this beautiful painting to the much younger Jon. It was definitely something his son should know, right? He unquestionably had some serious competition in every one of the little children at Mungo’s, Darla could tell.

Lastly, the former Gryffindor made a mental note never to set a meeting with Jonathan senior at the hospital again. He already worked so much at the Ministry that, even though it was absolutely adorable, Darla felt pretty bad to have put one of her favourite people in the situation of doing extra work. Much to her surprise, her uncle noticed her and winked in her direction, Darla returning the gesture and silently mouthing herself that he is the best person ever, which was undeniably true.

The requests session soon ended and Darla started giggling excitedly as Jonathan senior approached her and encouraged her to take his arm, which she quickly did. She had liked this certain gesture of his ever since she was a little girl, and even forced her brothers into adopting it as well. “Not at all! I’m sorry the children bothered you, but you’re an angel for playing along.” Darla gently hugged his arm, before loosening her embrace. He was probably tired enough from the children’s hyperactivity, surely he needn’t have any more of that from her.

“I have all the time in the world for my favourite uncle. Let’s go to the café.” Darla encouraged Jonathan senior to take the hallway to the right, which lead directly to the visitors’ tearoom. “They have the best green tea right now, I pushed for this specific mixture to be served – “ She nodded, quite proud of herself. “ – it’s both very calming, warm and yet very invigorating. The perfect mix after dealing with the kids.” Darla giggled, slightly embarrassed that Jonathan senior had ended up doing the work they were generally paying people to do. Maybe she could arrange for her uncle to receive a gift from the Ward as a reward, perhaps one of their mascot plushies with a shirt with his name written on it, surrounded by a lot of hearts. That seemed like a good choice actually, and she will definitely mention it at her end-of-shift meeting.

“How are you though, Uncle Jon? Surely you didn’t drop by just to play Santa.” She inquired, taking a step ahead and pushing the café’s door with her shoulder, before Jonathan senior would offer to open the door, like the perfect gentleman that he was. “Let’s sit there, on the best sofa!” Darla pointed towards a sofa in the one of the corners, next to a window. Normally, it was the sofa on which she napped in between patient visits, however, today it was the perfect place to host her uncle. The best sofa for the best uncle, it seemed like the perfect combination.