Day 12- Tinsel
The first Christmas Sirius and Regulus had spent at the Potters’s had been unusual. They hadn’t been there for that long, only a few days and were still recovering from the hectic night that had led to them running away. They hadn’t fully assimilated and therefore hadn’t been able to fully take in the experience, Regulus had barely even left his room.
This year they’re being dragged into every single activity possible: ice skating, carolling, markets, sled-building contests, quizzes and game nights. They had helped pick the tree, strung up lights and made batches of cookies with Effie to distribute to all the neighbours.
The Potter family was big on Christmas, Sirius and Regulus were just happy to be included. They had never experienced anything like this in the past, it had always been sitting up straight at the table, eating ridiculously expensive foods with ridiculously small portions and listening to their family members making snide comments and biting with their words.
Last year they never would’ve dreamed of being this carefree, this happy. Last year they would’ve been sat in a dreary, life-draining dining room, making eye contact across the table as they tried to ignore the absurdness and disgustingness of the conversation.
Today, they stand in the living room of the Potter’s home, making eye contact with uncontainable smiles, in a haze of festive joy.
“C’mon Regulus, we can’t trust the others with these lights,” Effie holds out a string of tacky, colourful string lights that are perfect, they would choose this over their childhood house anytime.
James and Sirius protest, spluttering out comments about their skill and trustworthiness, which only makes the others laugh. “Mum please,” James whines, “I only fell off the ladder once!”
“And you broke your bloody arm!” Effie exclaims, looking at her son as if she can’t believe what he’s saying, “If I had my way, you boys would be wrapped in bubble wrap with the havoc you get into.”
James begs and begs to be allowed to help and eventually Effie gives in, rolling her eyes and waving for them to follow her and Regulus. They wrap up in thick hand-knitted scarfs, gloves and winter coats the Potter parents carefully made or picked out for them, an extra layer of warmth from the gesture setting over their skin.
They carefully hang up the lights, keeping both of James’ feet close to the ground, not letting him more than a step up the ladder. James throws a snowball at his father and Sirius feels his brother stiffen beside him, but Monty just laughs, retaliating. Effie quickly joins in, checking it is okay with the brothers before she includes them too.
It’s nothing like they ever could’ve dreamed, running around in a snowball war, laughter echoing even through the vast space and nothing to remind them of the past. Today is look solely to the future and creating memories.
Soon, they traipse back into the house, leaving muddy, sludgy boots by the door and filing into the living room. Effie flicks on some Christmas music and it fills the room, a quiet, happy tune that reminds Sirius that things really do get better. Monty spins his wife around to the music for a moment before retreating to the kitchen to make some hot chocolate.
James drapes a piece of tinsel around Regulus’ shoulders, using it to pull him closer, the two of them looking at each other so softly Sirius’ heart feels ready to burst, his brother deserves that, and James does too.
The world didn’t end when Sirius was 17, it won’t end when Regulus is 17, and when their grandchildren are 17, they’ll listen to the tales of how happy they have been and happy they still are and laugh in unhindered joy.