Christmas Eve at Flint Lodge proved tense. The week before Esme attempted to start planning the wedding. Alva behaved poorly, She disagreed with every opinion and mocked them openly in front of the shopkeepers, reducing her daughter to tears. The result had been the Flint siblings delivering an ultimatum: accept their choices in life, as she repeatedly said she wanted them to have, or be exiled from them. She resented being called on her behavior and began sulking. Merrick ignored her, annoying her further. They overruled her objections to Percy and Hermione's presence at the holiday. "I just want it to be family," she protested.