December 12
(or close enough!)
For the December meme,
jules1278 requested Sirius's favorite Christmas.
There were no surly house-elves, no annoying brothers, no stuck-up cousins, no silver-and-green decorations. There weren't any stern faces or tales of blood purity, no tapestry names being banished. On the WWN, Aristolea Shrank played - of all things! - Muggle Christmas carols.
"She's been doing that lately," Mr Potter said with a grin. "Something about the spirit of the season."
Being sixteen was freeing enough, but being sixteen and not having to go back to Grimmauld Place, ever, was the best holiday gift Sirius could have imagined. It wasn't just getting to spend time with James: it was the entire Potter family. They laughed! They sang songs! They told silly stories. They decorated for the holiday, with a tree twice as tall as any he'd seen other than at Hogwarts. Mr Potter had to magic it to get it into the house and once inside, the tree sprang back to its full height.
Mrs Potter busied herself stringing cranberries and popcorn, the tip of her wand pointing the way in such a jolly fashion that it looked as if the fruit and corn were dancing their way onto the string of their own volition. It was a merry sight.
"Different from what you're used to?" James threw a casual arm round Sirius's shoulder and pressed a bottle of Butterbeer into his friend's hand. "I mean, holidays are holidays, right? How different could it be?"
Sirius looked at James with disbelief. "You're kidding, right?"
James shook his head.
"I suppose all we know is all we know, until we know differently." Sirius took a hefty swig of his Butterbeer. "All right then. Imagine two scenarios: first is a party in the Gryffindor Common Room. There's a lot of noise and celebration. Someone's got some fireworks and sets them off, and everyone's having a jolly decent time. People are telling jokes, stories, playing pranks, listening to music, enjoying themselves. You've got your mates, who are just like your family only better because you've chosen them yourself."
James nodded. "I see where this is going."
"Right." With a grin, Sirius continued. "The second scenario is an evening in the Slytherin Common Room, just before exams. The silence is deadly. If you smile, you lose house points. If you speak too loudly, you lose house points. If you say something kindly, you lose house points. Merlin forbid that you laugh: you'll be expelled."
James let out a huff of air. "Worst of all, every single person there is Snape."
Sirius laughed. "Each and every one."
"Then I'm doubly glad you're here." James grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "I've never had a makeshift brother before."
Sirius had one, but there wasn't much love lost between him and Regulus. He supposed one of them was bound to have been the black sheep of the family, no pun intended, and he found he didn't mind the inconvenience at all. He knew only too well what Christmas supper at Grimmauld Place was like. He didn't have time to dwell, though. A knock at the door served as an entirely pleasant distraction.
Mr Potter gestured toward the door and it flew open, bringing with it a small flurry of snow and the smell of winter. "Well, boys," he announced, "it looks like we've got company. Come in, come in. I'll take your coats."
By now the smell of food wafted in from the kitchen while Mrs Potter finished up her tree decorations. For a family of three - four now that Sirius was here more often than not - the home was benevolently hectic, filled with little touches of magic here and there, but not in any sort of imposing way. Sirius looked beyond the huge tree and let out a surprised laugh.
"Remus! Peter!" Charging over, he wrapped his friends up in a glad hug. "I didn't know you'd be here."
"Surprise," Peter squeaked.
As always, Remus was the more reserved of their small quartet. "Happy Christmas."
Remus looked threadbare and worn, but that was normal a week after the full moon. He also looked happy, which was quite a welcome sight. Peter was his usual small but contented self. The two of them stepped in together; Sirius turned to James. "Did you know about this?"
James simply gave him a look that said what do you think and shrugged in a way that was almost arrogant. "I've always thought," he said, "holidays were much more fun when you're surrounded by the ones you like best. Now I think we ought to have the sort of festivity you were just describing, Sirius."
Sirius nodded. "You mean the one in the Slytherin Common Room."
"That one exactly." James grinned like he had something up his sleeve, which he probably did. "Come on, you three. I've got some Dr Filibuster's hidden away. I say we turn this Christmas into one to remember."
Turning back, Sirius caught sight of Mr and Mrs Potter. They stood side by side, grinning like a pair of… of wonderful people who'd taken him in. Mrs Potter motioned for Sirius to follow James, Remus and Peter.
"Thank you," he mouthed. "For everything."
"Go on. We'll let you boys know when dinner is ready." Mr Potter tilted his head. "Have fun."
For the first time at Christmas since Sirius could remember, having fun was absolutely guaranteed.
This entry's here too with
comments.
For the December meme,
jules1278 requested Sirius's favorite Christmas.
There were no surly house-elves, no annoying brothers, no stuck-up cousins, no silver-and-green decorations. There weren't any stern faces or tales of blood purity, no tapestry names being banished. On the WWN, Aristolea Shrank played - of all things! - Muggle Christmas carols.
"She's been doing that lately," Mr Potter said with a grin. "Something about the spirit of the season."
Being sixteen was freeing enough, but being sixteen and not having to go back to Grimmauld Place, ever, was the best holiday gift Sirius could have imagined. It wasn't just getting to spend time with James: it was the entire Potter family. They laughed! They sang songs! They told silly stories. They decorated for the holiday, with a tree twice as tall as any he'd seen other than at Hogwarts. Mr Potter had to magic it to get it into the house and once inside, the tree sprang back to its full height.
Mrs Potter busied herself stringing cranberries and popcorn, the tip of her wand pointing the way in such a jolly fashion that it looked as if the fruit and corn were dancing their way onto the string of their own volition. It was a merry sight.
"Different from what you're used to?" James threw a casual arm round Sirius's shoulder and pressed a bottle of Butterbeer into his friend's hand. "I mean, holidays are holidays, right? How different could it be?"
Sirius looked at James with disbelief. "You're kidding, right?"
James shook his head.
"I suppose all we know is all we know, until we know differently." Sirius took a hefty swig of his Butterbeer. "All right then. Imagine two scenarios: first is a party in the Gryffindor Common Room. There's a lot of noise and celebration. Someone's got some fireworks and sets them off, and everyone's having a jolly decent time. People are telling jokes, stories, playing pranks, listening to music, enjoying themselves. You've got your mates, who are just like your family only better because you've chosen them yourself."
James nodded. "I see where this is going."
"Right." With a grin, Sirius continued. "The second scenario is an evening in the Slytherin Common Room, just before exams. The silence is deadly. If you smile, you lose house points. If you speak too loudly, you lose house points. If you say something kindly, you lose house points. Merlin forbid that you laugh: you'll be expelled."
James let out a huff of air. "Worst of all, every single person there is Snape."
Sirius laughed. "Each and every one."
"Then I'm doubly glad you're here." James grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "I've never had a makeshift brother before."
Sirius had one, but there wasn't much love lost between him and Regulus. He supposed one of them was bound to have been the black sheep of the family, no pun intended, and he found he didn't mind the inconvenience at all. He knew only too well what Christmas supper at Grimmauld Place was like. He didn't have time to dwell, though. A knock at the door served as an entirely pleasant distraction.
Mr Potter gestured toward the door and it flew open, bringing with it a small flurry of snow and the smell of winter. "Well, boys," he announced, "it looks like we've got company. Come in, come in. I'll take your coats."
By now the smell of food wafted in from the kitchen while Mrs Potter finished up her tree decorations. For a family of three - four now that Sirius was here more often than not - the home was benevolently hectic, filled with little touches of magic here and there, but not in any sort of imposing way. Sirius looked beyond the huge tree and let out a surprised laugh.
"Remus! Peter!" Charging over, he wrapped his friends up in a glad hug. "I didn't know you'd be here."
"Surprise," Peter squeaked.
As always, Remus was the more reserved of their small quartet. "Happy Christmas."
Remus looked threadbare and worn, but that was normal a week after the full moon. He also looked happy, which was quite a welcome sight. Peter was his usual small but contented self. The two of them stepped in together; Sirius turned to James. "Did you know about this?"
James simply gave him a look that said what do you think and shrugged in a way that was almost arrogant. "I've always thought," he said, "holidays were much more fun when you're surrounded by the ones you like best. Now I think we ought to have the sort of festivity you were just describing, Sirius."
Sirius nodded. "You mean the one in the Slytherin Common Room."
"That one exactly." James grinned like he had something up his sleeve, which he probably did. "Come on, you three. I've got some Dr Filibuster's hidden away. I say we turn this Christmas into one to remember."
Turning back, Sirius caught sight of Mr and Mrs Potter. They stood side by side, grinning like a pair of… of wonderful people who'd taken him in. Mrs Potter motioned for Sirius to follow James, Remus and Peter.
"Thank you," he mouthed. "For everything."
"Go on. We'll let you boys know when dinner is ready." Mr Potter tilted his head. "Have fun."
For the first time at Christmas since Sirius could remember, having fun was absolutely guaranteed.
This entry's here too with
comments.