The morning of January 5th dawned crisp and bright, the snow outside Bell House glittering under a pale winter sun. Inside, however, it was utter madness.
"Where is the banner?!" Eliza shouted from somewhere in the drawing room, her voice carrying through the halls.
"I hung it three times already! Rosaline keeps changing her mind about the colors!" Sol's exasperated voice shot back.
"It's lopsided!" Rosaline yelled, arms flailing dramatically as she hovered beside the wall, wand pointed at the banner reading: Happy 14th Birthday, Henry!
"It's fine!" Gwenog called from the floor, sprawled out as she painstakingly enchanted the floating snack trays to circle the room without crashing into anyone.
"Nothing we do is ever fine," Vivian said, stepping over her, balancing two trays of enchanted cupcakes, each frosted in blue and silver — Ravenclaw colors, naturally.
It was barely noon, and they were already in pre-party meltdown mode.
Artemis, from her self-assigned station near the corner, was adding the finishing touches to a small pile of wrapped gifts. The centerpiece — a sleek, leather-bound journal with the WIX crest subtly embossed on the cover — sat at the top, its enchanted runes faintly glowing beneath the wrapping. The journal's charm system, which she had worked on tirelessly throughout December, would link all nine WIX journals into a group chat network, allowing them to write directly to each other — with private pages as well — and, if they wished, one linked copy for each WIX member to give to someone outside the group.
It was, in Artemis's quiet opinion, one of her best works — a gift of connection for the boy who had, for months, been drifting further away.
"How's the food coming?" Magnus asked, walking in with his hands in his pockets, eyes darting around the chaos.
"The elves have it under control," Gwenog said, sitting up. "Fenny's been barking orders at Grent since breakfast. Something about the correct ratio of icing to cake."
Magnus snorted. "Fenny's terrifying when he's on a mission."
"More terrifying than Artemis with a chronicle deadline?" Sol asked, appearing beside him with a grin.
"Let's not get reckless," Magnus replied.
As if summoned, Artemis turned, one brow arched. "I heard that."
Sol winked. "Love you, darling."
Before Artemis could respond, Aunt Aurelia's gentle voice cut through the chaos from the doorway. "Is it safe to enter?"
The WIX collectively spun around.
"Aunt Aurelia!" Artemis's face lit up with a smile as she rushed over, carefully wrapping her aunt in a hug. Aurelia looked a little thinner than usual, her movements slower, but her eyes still sparkled with fond amusement.
"Goodness," Aurelia said, eyeing the banner, the enchanted snack trays, and the pile of gifts. "You lot do not do things halfway, do you?"
"It's Henry," Iris said, her expression soft. "He deserves it."
Aurelia's smile warmed. "Yes, he does."
From the hallway came the distinct sound of small feet pattering on the polished floors, followed by a high-pitched squeal.
"Katie, no running!" a harried voice — katie's mother — called, but the tiny four-year-old burst into the room anyway, curls bouncing wildly as she skidded to a halt in front of Artemis.
"Artie!" Katie shrieked, immediately lifting her arms.
Artemis, grinning, scooped her up, spinning her once before setting her back on her feet. "You're getting taller, Katie-bug!"
"I'm BIG now," Katie declared, eyes shining. "Cousin Henry's OLD!"
The WIX collectively burst out laughing.
"Fourteen isn't old," Magnus said. "Just— moderately ancient."
Katie's face scrunched up in confusion. "What's moderately?"
"Older than me, younger than Aunt Aurelia," Magnus said brightly, earning himself a whack from Artemis.
"Speaking of Henry," Vivian said, balancing a stack of party hats on her head, "do we know where the birthday boy actually is?"
"His parents were taking him out for breakfast and some family time in the afternoon," Eliza said. "But they're all coming back here for the 'casual family dinner.'"
"Casual," Rosaline snorted. "If Henry hasn't figured out we're up to something by now, he's blind."
"Or oblivious," Gwenog said.
"Or both," Artemis muttered, wrapping the last of the gifts.
The afternoon slipped by in a blur of final preparations, laughter, and minor disasters — Grent accidentally launching a tray of spiced cider into the air, soaking Sol; Rosaline's ongoing feud with the banner, and Eliza discovering Katie had snuck several cupcakes under her dress for 'later.'
By the time the doorbell chimed, announcing the arrival of the Bell family, the WIX were assembled in strategic hiding positions, snickering into their sleeves.
"Happy birthday, Henry!" his parents chorused as they stepped inside, Henry grinning sheepishly between them.
"Thanks—" Henry started, only for the WIX to jump out at once, Sol's enchanted banner unfurling overhead with a loud POP.
"Happy birthday, Henry!" they yelled in chaotic unison.
Henry stumbled back in shock, eyes wide. "What— you— you guys planned this?"
Artemis stepped forward, her grin soft but sincere. "Of course we did, Bell. Did you really think we'd forget?"
Henry's ears went pink. "Well, I mean—"
Vivian slung an arm around his shoulders. "No sulking, birthday boy. We've got cake, chaos, and a four-year-old terror waiting to steal your presents."
Katie, from her position clinging to Artemis's leg, grinned mischievously. "Mine now."
The next hour was a blur of food, laughter, and organized chaos — Fenny and Grent running a surprisingly well-oiled snack service, adults catching up in the corner, and Katie insisting on sitting on Henry's lap for the duration of cake cutting.
But the real moment came after the cake, when Artemis stood up, a small box in her hands.
"This," she said, voice steady, "is from all of us."
Henry unwrapped it carefully, eyes widening when he saw the journal inside. "It's… a WIX journal?"
"Not just any journal," Artemis said. "It's a linked set. All nine of us have one. We can write to the whole group, or to each other privately. No waiting for owls, no chasing people down in the corridors."
"And," Magnus added, "there's a tenth copy. For someone outside the WIX — family, or anyone you want to stay close to."
Henry ran his fingers over the cover, and for a moment, he couldn't speak.
"I know you've been feeling a bit…" Artemis hesitated. "Distant."
His shoulders hunched slightly, but he didn't deny it.
"So this is us saying — you're stuck with us," Eliza said, her smile soft. "Always."
Henry swallowed hard, blinking rapidly, before he grinned. "You guys are so sappy."
"You love it," Gwenog said.
"Yeah," Henry admitted. "I do."
The party carried on late into the evening — full of warmth, magic, and the kind of chaotic joy that only true friends could bring. But it was that moment, when Henry held the journal close to his chest, the weight of belonging settling in his hands, that made the day unforgettable.
And from across the room, Artemis met Aunt Aurelia's eyes — and knew that some things, the important things, always found a way to endure.
The grand party had finally faded into soft laughter and yawns, the lights in Bell house dimmed to a gentle flicker. The adults had retired to quieter corners, and little Katie Bell had long since been carried off to bed after falling asleep with a half-eaten cupcake still in her hand.
But in the cozy den off the main parlor, the nine of them — The WIX — had gathered in a loose circle on the floor, blankets and leftover snacks sprawled between them. There was something unspoken but comfortable about the way they settled, shoulders brushing, limbs overlapping. The kind of closeness that came after years of surviving each other's worst and best days.
It was Sol, of all people, who broke the easy silence.
"So," he said, stretching out on his back and folding his hands behind his head, "who else is ready to admit this year's been a mess?"
A soft snort came from Eliza. "We've survived worse."
"Doesn't mean it's not a mess," Magnus said quietly, twirling an unlit sparkler between his fingers. "Feels like we've all been… off."
There was a hush, not awkward, just heavy. Because it was true.
Henry, sitting cross-legged between Artemis and Iris, ran his fingers along the edge of his new journal, the leather warm from his touch. "It's not just me, right?" His voice was small, but hopeful. "It's not just me feeling like… I don't belong?"
"Of course it's not just you," Rosaline said, her voice softer than usual. "We're all trying to figure out who we are — and who we are to each other."
Henry shifted, shoulders curling in a little. "I know I've been— I mean, I feel like I'm always playing catch-up. You lot are older, smarter, OWL students, doing all these things — and I'm just Henry. Tagging along."
"You're not just Henry," Vivian said, her voice uncharacteristically serious. "You're our Henry."
"You make it sound like I'm a pet," he muttered.
"More like our little brother," Iris added, nudging his knee with her own. "Which means you get to be a pain, and we still love you."
There was a beat before Henry's lips quirked into a small, reluctant smile. "I'm good at being a pain."
"We've noticed," Gwenog said dryly.
"Look," Artemis said, curling her knees to her chest, her hair falling forward like a curtain. "I know we've all been… wrapped up in our own messes this year. Me included."
"You mean especially you," Magnus said, his tone gentle but firm.
Artemis shot him a glare, but there wasn't any real heat in it. "Alright, especially me. But I'm trying. And I want to be better at—" she gestured vaguely, "this. Us."
"Is that why you made the journals?" Henry asked.
Artemis hesitated, then nodded. "Partly. But mostly because I know what it's like to feel… cut off."
Magnus, watching her closely, saw that flicker in her eyes — the one that always showed up when she was thinking about things none of them could know. But instead of pressing, he just nudged her foot with his.
"We could've been better at making sure you didn't feel like that either," Magnus said softly. "You're not the only one with a bad habit of shutting people out."
There was a pause, the kind where truths hovered just below the surface, waiting to be said.
"I mean," Rosaline said, tucking her hair behind her ear, "I've spent half the year pretending everything was fine even though I hate how different I feel from Eliza now."
Eliza's head shot up. "Wait — what?"
Rosaline shrugged awkwardly. "You've got your Quidditch thing and your own crowd now, and I just — I don't even know who I am when I'm not 'Eliza's twin.' So I've been throwing myself into fashion and stuff, but it's not the same."
Eliza's face softened, guilt flickering across her features. "Rose, I don't— I mean, you're not just my twin. You're you. You've always been you."
"Then why does everyone still get us mixed up?" Rosaline's voice cracked slightly.
"Because people are stupid," Eliza said fiercely. "But I see you. And I should've said something earlier. I'm sorry."
Rosaline didn't respond right away, but Eliza leaned across the circle and grabbed her hand, squeezing tightly. Rosaline squeezed back.
"See?" Sol said, propping himself up on his elbows. "This is the emotional heart-to-heart we all secretly needed."
"Alright, your turn then," Gwenog said. "What's your mess?"
Sol blinked. "Me? I'm perfect."
The entire group groaned at once.
"No, really," Sol said, but the smirk slipped, just slightly. "I guess— sometimes I worry I'm only good at making people laugh. That if I stopped being the funny one, none of you would really need me."
There was a small silence, before Iris, of all people, said, "That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard."
Sol's mouth opened in mock offense, but she shook her head, her expression earnest.
"You're not just our comic relief, Sol," Iris said. "You're the one who makes everything feel possible when we think it's too hard. You make us laugh, yeah, but you also make us believe we can handle whatever comes."
Sol looked a little stunned. "Well… alright then."
"Since we're all confessing," Gwenog said, rolling her shoulders, "I've spent all year pretending I have my shit together when actually I have no idea how to be someone's girlfriend."
Iris's face flamed red. "You're doing fine."
"I stepped on your foot twice last week," Gwenog pointed out.
"That's… endearing," Iris mumbled into her knees.
Gwenog grinned. "See? I'm a mess."
"You fit right in," Magnus said, smiling crookedly.
They kept going, taking turns — Vivian admitting that she sometimes felt like she was drifting too far into her own ambition, losing touch with who she was. Magnus admitting that half his nerves came from not knowing how to act around Artemis anymore, because he liked her too much to be normal.
Artemis's face went pink at that, but she didn't comment. Not yet.
Finally, Henry cleared his throat. "Okay, my turn."
They all turned toward him.
"I've been—" He chewed the inside of his cheek, fingers tracing the corner of his new journal. "I've been scared that you're all moving on without me. That you're all going to grow up and do big things and I'm still going to be… Henry. Just Henry."
Artemis leaned forward, resting her hand over his. "You're never just Henry."
"Yeah," Sol said. "You're our pain in the arse Henry."
"And our CEO-in-training," Vivian added.
"And the only one who can handle Katie without getting hexed," Rosaline said.
"And the best Bell," Eliza grinned.
"Oi!" Henry swatted at her, but his grin was real this time.
"And," Magnus said, his voice soft, "you're our family. And no matter how much we grow, that won't change."
The silence this time was warm, the kind that felt like a blanket wrapped around all of them. Henry's fingers curled around the edges of his journal, holding it tight — holding onto them.
"Alright," Gwenog said, her voice suspiciously rough. "That's enough feelings for one night. Someone pass me a biscuit."
Laughter rippled through the room, but it was softer, the kind that came after walls came down and hearts cracked open.
And as they sat there, warm and tangled in each other's flaws and hopes and fears, The WIX became something even stronger than they'd been before.
They became unbreakable.