Fucks sake Sirius.
A few weeks had past since James had confronted Remus about his condition and since Remus was forced to stay in the hospital wing. It was mid November and the next full moon was due in a few days time. Winter break was due in a few days but Remus couldn't help but notice a change in Sirius's behaviour.
Lately the boy had been oddly quiet and spending more time by himself, this by itself wouldn't draw too much worry from the other three but they also noticed that Sirius was snappier than usual. The first time it had happened was when James was sharing how he and his parents spend Christmas together, he had been describing how Effie would make gingerbread men with him when Sirius had snapped.
"Would you shut up about your stupid gingerbread men?"
Peter was quick to gasp while Remus snapped back at Sirius, "Hey, let James talk about what he wants. If you don't like it than go somewhere else." Sirius seemed to falter at Remus's confidence with defending James, who had a face of confusion of what had he done wrong. "Fine." Sirius had huffed and left the room with no further questions.
Peter had asked if they should follow him but James had shook his head. "Let him cool off for a bit, and either way Petey you still haven't told us about your Christmas's!" James said with false joy and a fake smile, Peter happily changed the subject from Sirius to about himself and kept James busy while Remus grabbed some parchment and wrote a letter to Minnie with his concerns about Sirius.
Remus knew that The Black Family were not usually nice people, Minerva and Poppy had told him stories about Orion bullying their friend Alphard in school but he also found out a lot by Narcissa and Andromeda.
Bellatrix seemed to love being apart of the Black Family, although there were rumours about her potentially running away from the family to be with Rita Skeeter in Ravenclaw. While her sisters, Narcissa and Andromeda both seemed to be happier away from the family. Andromeda was always complaining about her arranged marriage when all she wanted to do is marry the muggleborn Ted Tonks, she was actually very nice to people compared to Bellatrix hexing someone.
Narcissa was very bold when with other Slytherins but Remus had caught her on multiple occasions helping lost first years and then asking her (not so secret) girlfriend, a Gryffindor called Alice. Narcissa seemed to be a completely different person when Alice was around.
But both seemed to grow anxious towards any Winter or Summer break, Remus remembered overhearing Poppy share her worries to Minnie some point last year about it. So to say the least Remus would guess what was on Sirius's mind.
---
Minerva gave a sigh and brought her hands up towards her face and rubbed the bridge of her nose. Only moments ago she had been looking through some papers Albus had given her but then she had received a letter from Remus, she had given the owl a treat before opening the letter and reading her sons messy handwriting, honestly she blamed Poppy for teaching him cursive.
The letter contained Remus's concerns on Sirius Black, Minerva silently swore as she had expected such thing, how he had been snappish lately and that Remus thought it to be because of the Winter Break. Minerva was all to familiar with the Black family, having gone to school with Wallburga and taught Bellatrix, Narcissa and Andromeda, she knew that Winter Break was a hard time for them. Having to go home and deal with the traditions and punishments that were deemed acceptable from the family.
She had expected no less from Sirius, she actually expected worse since instead of being sorted into Slytherin Sirius had been sorted into her own house, and since Sirius seemed to never back down from a fight.
"Love?" Minerva's head lifted from the letter and saw her wife standing in the door frame. "What's wrong? You've a look on your face." Poppy asked softly as she slowly made her way towards Minerva, who did not answer but held up the letter for Poppy to read. "What can we do, Poppy?" Minerva asked, despair in her voice that she knew her wife would share. They both so badly wanted to help.
"Perhaps try sending a letter to Wallburga? Request that Sirius stays for Winter Break?" Poppy suggested as she put the letter down back on the desk. Minerva shook her head, "No, she'll ask questions on why he needs to stay back, it may only make things worse for him.". Minerva frowned as she saw Poppy go silent and thinking hard for a moment.
"What if he stays in the hospital wing? He has an illness that we do not wish to spread onto the family and requests that he stays until he has recovered?" Poppy asked and Minerva was tempted to kiss her. "That might work, he might not be able to spend the entire break here but at least we can try give him a better Christmas." Minerva said and Poppy stole some parchment and a quill with a ink pot from the desk.
"Help me write this, might be nice for our son as well to have some friends for Christmas."
---
It was after dinner that Sirius returned to the dorms, he had not ate and spent the day avoiding the other 3. When he opened the door he was immediately tackled by Peter and James. "YOUR BACK!" They both exclaimed while squeezing him tight, meanwhile Remus stayed on his bed and put a bookmark into his book. "Uh, are you not mad at me...for you know, being a dick?" Sirius asked, his brows furrowed in confusion.
Both boys let him go and stepped back to give Sirius some room. "Well, we were but Moony told us that maybe your dealing with personal stuff. So all is forgiven!" James grinned while Peter held some thumbs up. Then turned to James.
"When did you name Remus, Moony?" Peter asked, James tried his best to keep the same grin he had but inside he was cursing himself for slipping up and trying to make an excuse while Remus tried not to throw up. "Ah, I caught Remus singing a song about moons and the nickname just fit." James explained.
Sirius took a moment but soon was smirking "Moony? I like it! Our singer Moony!" he dramatically made his way towards Remus who rolled his eyes. "Don't worry Sirius, your voice is far lovely than mine." He teased before adding on "I'm sorry for being a prick to you earlier." Sirius just shrugged and flopped onto the bed. "I deserved it, made me snap back to reality ." He smiled.
Remus sat up and rummaged through his bag, than tossed Sirius some leftovers he had grabbed from dinner and wrapped up in some tissue while grabbing himself a mango. "You weren't at dinner, eat or I'll send Poppy at you." Remus joked before taking a bite out of his mango. Sirius was quick to open the tissue and dig in.
"Thanks, Moony."
"Anytime, arse."
Peter and James both silently started making ship names for them.
---
It would be the next morning that Sirius would be called to Professor McGonagall's office. "Come in." She called as she heard the knocks on the door.
She and Poppy and sent the letter they had written to Wallburga and received one in return that night.
"You called for me?" Sirius asked as he closed the door and sat in the chair opposite Minerva. "Yes I did Sirius, your mother has sent a letter requesting that you stay for Winter Break. The entirety of it." She confirmed and allowed a small smile to creep onto her face as she saw Sirius's face lit up with joy.
"Really? Do you know why?" Sirius asked and Minerva shook her head. "She did not say, just requested for you to stay." She did not feel to tell Sirius why he was actually staying, the less he knew the better.
Sirius left after that with a slight skip to his step. Later Remus would visit her office with a knowing look. "Thanks Mum." He said but Minerva shook her head.
"Thank Poppy, not me."