Holiday's at home
Vi was easily able to escape her parent’s line of sight on the platform, the train came to a slow stop on the platform, she looked around for Sirius. She beamed brightly when she saw him, without a word she hugged him, Sirius stumbled back a little but laughed lightly.
“Hello again Vi.” he greeted.
“Thank you.” She whispered. “I needed that letter.” She smiled, letting him go to wipe away her tears. “You must be James Potter, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew?” She glanced at the three other boys behind him.
“Have you be snitching about us Black?” James wrapped and arm around him.
“Who else am I going to snitch too.” Sirius stuck his tongue out. Vi giggled at their antics.
“Its nice to meet you all.” Vi greeted. “I’m violet, But call me Vi, everyone does.”
“We’ve just been calling you little Evans to be fair.” James admitted. “You look a lot alike, but you have very different shades of red hair.”
“Yeah, we get that a lot.” Vi grinned. “I hope the trip back was okay?”
“Yeah, it was fine, bit boring being away from the castle.” Sirius sighed, Vi grinned and went to reply, before someone pulled her back. Vi found it was Lily, who had pulled her behind her so Lily was between her and Sirius.
“I told you to keep away from my sister Black.” Lily warned, he threw his hands up in surrender.
“But I kept speaking to him.” Vi pulled her hand free of Lily, who looked at her.
“But Vi…” Lily began.
“You have no right to tell me who I can and can’t be friends with. Severus has always made me feel uncomfortable, but I never told you to stop being his friend.” Vi scowled, glaring at her sister. “I will keep being his friend until Sirius proves to me he is not worthy of being my friend. That is my decision to make.”
“But Vi, he bullies Severus, he is just a bully.” Lily told her.
“Like how Petunia bullies you?” Vi frowned, “But you still love her and want to be close. And he has hurt Tuney before, Lily… its Severus that is not worth being my friend.” Vi found herself looking away to hide her tears, Lily was silent, even their parents were silently watching unsure how to act.
“Hey Vi, its gonna be okay.” James spoke up, Vi looked at him and he grinned. “Besides, Sirius finally completed the gift he wanted to give you to cheer you up! And now seems like the perfect time.” James elbowed Sirius who glared at him but sighed. He opened his trunk and pulled out a box decorated in stars.
“Merry Christmas Vi.” He told her. Vi blushed and took the box.
“And no opening until Christmas!” James added with a grin, Sirius pushed him away, but the other boy was laughing.
“Ignoring him, but you mentioned you like collecting things. In the Wizarding world we have these. The box contains the start of a collection I set up, with James’ help.” Sirius held out a chocolate frog box. “But best to open that at home.”
“Oh okay, I will write a letter to you later then, if you send Jet my way.” Vi smiled.
“Will do.” Sirius grinned. “Anyway, see you for the train to Hogwarts!”
“Okay, bye.” Vi smiled and waved the boys off, she smiled at the gift they had set up for her. She gasped. “I don’t have a gift for them… I need to find something…” She frowned.
“Violet Rose Evans.” He dad frowned sharply; his youngest daughter looked at him.
“You don’t know Sirius Dad; he is my friend.” Vi told him. “And I will remain his friend.”
“Vi, lets go back to the Car.” Petunia held out her hand, Vi nodded and took her hand and she left with her older sister, Lily watched with a sad expression.
“Are you okay Vi?” Petunia asked, Vi shook her head, tears in her eyes again. “Well, I think he is a good friend. I have your back.” Vi looked at her and sniffed.
“Thanks, Tuney.” Vi whispered and lent against her as they waited for the others to return to the car.
~*~*~*~
Vi ran to her room the moment they got home, shutting the door behind her, she didn’t want to deal with Lily or her parents. She knew she went against their wishes. But surely it was her right to decide her friends, she looked at the box Sirius had given her and collapsed on to her bed hugging it close.
“Mom…” Lily began
“Vi has a point. Severus dropped that branch on me before.” Petunia said. “And you still allow Severus around, but what had Sirius done to harm this family?” Her parents were silent.
“Tuney, Severus couldn’t control his magic…” Lily began.
“He knew he was a wizard, so he knew what he was capable of.” Petunia scowled. “Have you not noticed how Vi has withdrawn frome everyone. And no she was just not busy with homework. I have heard her crying when she thinks no one can hear. You keep telling us that it is important we chose our own friends, and to not judge on rumour or what others say. We don’t know Sirius, and well yes they may Bully Severus, but I bullied Lily, shouldn’t you be excommunicating me as being a danger to mental health too?” Petunia was scowling.
“Tuney…” Lily frowned.
“Violet is our baby sister, yes we need to protect her, not smother her and chose her life for her.” Petunia said. “And from what I have seen, Sirius seems to be very considerate of Vi’s feelings.”
“We should have taken Violet’s feelings into account before coming to the decision.” Mrs Evans frowned softly
“I am going to check on Vi, I need to make sure she is okay.” Petunia left the room and headed to Violet’s room, where she found her little sister curled up on the bed, holding the box given by Sirius Black, her window was open and a Black Owl had snuggled close to her. Petunia smiled and grabbed a spare blanket, and covered her sister, the Owl blinked at her. Petunia smiled and pressed a finger to her lips, the Owl hooted and closed its eyes, napping next to her. “Rest well Vi.” Petunia whispered
~*~*~*~
Vi woke the following morning with a yawn, but she took a moment to realise Jet was next to her.
“Oh, Jet. Good morning, I hope you weren’t waiting too long.” Vi smiled softly. Jet hooted softly. Vi carefully moved Sirius’ gift to her desk. She glanced back to Jet to see Jet had a letter. Vi took it from him and opened the letter curiously.
Vi, sorry if I caused any issues between you and your sister. I didn’t want to cause further trouble. Take your time in replying, Jet wouldn’t be accepted by my family seeing how I have ‘corrupted’ the family line. So, he may actually be safer from here. And I can tell Jet likes you too.
I do hope you enjoy the Christmas holidays.
Sirius
“Oh Sirius.” Vi sighed softly. “I’ll send him a reply, but if you need to come back you are welcome here. I know Sirius wants you safe, so do I.” Vi smiled, petting Jet, who hooted happily.
Sirius,
Don’t worry, you have your own family to be worried about. Jet is welcome to stay with me if he needs a safe place. But please, stay safe yourself.
Happy Holidays
Vi
Mind taking this to Sirius?” Vi gave the letter to Jet, who happily accepted it and flew off. Vi smiled softly before taking a deep breath. She had her own family to face.
The following days were awkward, for Vi, she couldn’t look at Lily or her father, still angry with how they treated her friend. But she was happy Petunia had started asking her questions about her magically Pen pal, and Vi was happy to share what they would normally talk about.
~*~*~*~
“Hey, vi? Violet?” Vi grumbled, waving off the voice. “It’s Christmas.”
“Huh…” Vi woke, before jumping as she saw Lily by her bed. “Lily?”
“Merry Christmas Vi… I need to apologise.” Lily said. “You are right, I never should have tried to tell you who you can or can’t be friends. That was unfair of me.” Lily apologised. “I wasn’t very nice about it. I’m sorry.”
“Lily…” Vi frowned. “I get why you were worried and trust me. If Sirius was ever like that to me, or others I know can care for, yes I would stop being his friend. But he has been a good friend to me, and unlike Severus hasn’t hurt a member of my family. Besides, I have been writing to him since before your first letter arrived.”
“You grew close quickly then.”
“Yeah, he loves hearing about the Muggle world. I am sending him a book on Muggle fairy tales for Christmas.” Vi smiled. “But his family is complicated. He doesn’t get on with them and I think I was his first friend too.”
“I’ve heard, first day he got a howler – a letter that basically screams at you. It was nasty, but he just laughed it off.” Lily frowned. “I might not like him, but I guess he has been avery good friend to you too.”
“So, you won’t be mad if I keep being his friend?” Vi asked.
“No, I won’t be mad. But if he hurts you, please tell me.” Lily told her. Vi hugged her tightly.
“I love you Lily.”
“I love you too Vi. Anyway, gifts soon, want to bring Sirius’ gift down to open it with the others. I think I know what he put in the box.”
“Okay lets go!” Vi smiled, she was glad to have her sister back.
Merry Christmas Sirius!
Thank you for the gift. The cards are amazing, and I love the collection you started. That chocolate frog you gave me had Godric Gryffindor; Lily told me about him but also told me to tell you. So, I bet it’s a rare card to get!
Oh, and Lily and I mad up, she promises not to be mad we are friends either! I can’t wait to see you again on the platform.