This Beautiful Mess

“It's ok. Give it to me straight.” Remus said, closing his eyes and lying back on the couch.

“Alright, but you asked for it.” Sirius said, straightening a piece of paper. “Twenty.”

“What?” Remus shouted, shooting upright, “Only twenty?”

“Seriously. Yeah, well, I’m not surprised, Moons, we did send the invites pretty late.” Sirius squinted at the paper where a long list of names were more than half were crossed out, various reasons for decline scribbled next to the names of Aberfoth and Albus Dumbledore, Alastor Moody and several others.

Remus shook his head, “Unbelievable. There were forty names on that list.”

It was coming closer and closer to Christmas time every day. The invites for the Ludwig House Christmas Eve dinner party being sent out on the 12th and having gotten answers back with apologies and reasons from most of the invitees back only two days after.

Snow fell lightly outside the window of the lounge room. Harry and Iris played with toys of Muggle styled elves on the rug next to the fireplace.

“Real elves are a lot uglier than these.” Sirius had said bluntly when he had given them the gifts, earlier that day.

The family had begun to decorate the house with twinkling lights and an abundance of tinsel and various decorations of muggle and magical kind. For example, there was the teleporting mistletoe which popped up over the heads of any coupling with chemistry and the only way to get rid of it was to kiss. Right now it was dangling tantalisingly over the heads of Sirius and Remus as it had done since they had brought it. The two of them had given up trying to get it to go away because it only disappeared and reappeared seconds later right over their heads again.

“Twenty people isn’t bad.” Sirius said, rolling up the paper and gazing at Remus. “Nine of them are the Weasleys.” Remus pointed out.

“Ah.”

The two of them watched Iris and Harry walk their elf dolls across the floor in babbling voices. The fire crackled with laughter.

“You know what?” Remus said finally, “Its a lot less work to cook and prep for nineteen people.”

“Twenty-five if you include us and the kids.” Sirius nodded, he crawled up from the floor and onto the couch, lying on top of Remus, settling himself between his partner’s legs. “We need to buy groceries - make a menu before that - presents, probably more crockery if I’m going to be honest… Yeah, you know what? This’ll be fine.”

Remus played with Sirius’s hair, deep in thought, “Do you know what we’re going to get all of them? How much money are we willing to spend on this event?”

“Don’t you worry about that.” Sirius wriggled around so that he was lying on Remus’ chest, facing his partner, “You don’t need to worry about that anymore. Not while I’m here.”

Remus kissed his forehead.

“You can call me your sugard–”

“Nope, thats enough.” Remus declared, standing up.

Sirius flopped onto the empty space of the couch, laughing.

“Time for bed, kids.” Remus said.

Harry pouted and threw his elf at Remus with a defiant, “Noh!”

“Oooh you’ll pay for that, Harry James!” Remus said, laughing and scooping Harry up into his arms, tickling him all over until Harry cried with laughter.

Sirius was tucking his godson into bed a hour later, pulling the reindeer printed blanket up and helping Harry to sort himself out.

“Why does Fatha Christmas have nine reindeer?” Iris asked from her bed opposite Harry’s.

“I don’t know.” Remus said, brushing her hair out of her face.

“Why not just one big one?” Iris asked

Sirius smiled at her from across the room, “Maybe you can ask him, put it in your letter with your wish list and we can send it to him.”

“Thats a good idea.” Remus said and kissed her forehead, “We’ll do it together in the morning.”

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Father Christmas,

My name is Iris Black and my uncles are helping me to write you a letter. For my Christmas present I would like a pack of exploding snap like my friends do and a teddy bear for me to give to Harry (who is my little brother).

If you can, please give Uncle Remus some new books and Uncle Sirius the new Rolling Stones album that he keeps talking about.

I would also like to ask why you have nine reindeer instead of just one big one because it could be easier to look after one and not many.

Love,

Iris Black (With help from Remus and Sirius)

—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Christmas eve rolled around, chaperoned by a mild blizzard and playful winds. On the day of Christmas eve, the Ludwig house smelt of cinnamon and roast ham, Remus and Sirius being busy in the kitchen preparing a feast for twenty-five (twenty guests plus the inhabitants of Ludwig House). This feast included a roast ham leg, a stuffed turkey, potatoes and vegetables, various snacks and crisps, homemade bread rolls and coney stew. Molly Weasley was to bring mince pies and Hagrid had offered to make dessert (although Remus was wondering if he should have prepared treacle pudding instead).

There was a buzz of excitement in the air that Iris and Harry surely felt, giggling as they chased each other through heavily decorated hallways.

On the dot, at 7:00 in the evening, the fireplace roared green and Molly Weasley appeared, shaking soot across the freshly vacuumed carpet.

“Oh, sorry about that, dear.” Molly said, juggling mince pies and a bag of presents.

“Not at all, Molly, let me help you with those.” Remus waved his wand and the mince pies floated into the air and danced their way into the kitchen.

“Hello, lovelies!” Molly said, squeezing Iris and Harry into a hug.

“Hi Mrs Weasy.” Iris said, not quite able to pronounce ‘Weasley’ properly yet, being a titchy little three year old.

There was a pop at the fireplace and Bill walked into the room followed by Charlie who were brushed down vigorously by their mother.

“Check the shed,” Remus told Sirius, “Arthur and I set up a two way portal from here to the Burrow, just to make it easier for the littlies.”

Sure enough, Sirius returned from the outside chill with Arthur who had Percy, Ron and Ginny in two.

“Brilliant idea that was.” Arthur said grinning, “Conveinent too. Shall we close the connection for now? Just in case?”

“I’ve got it.” Sirius said, helping Ron through the door and then bounding out into the garden.

“Hello, Remus, how have you been?” Arthur said, embracing his friend.

“Good, lots to prepare, especially with these two bugs.” Remus said, ruffling Harry’s hair affectionately. “I don’t know how you two manage it.”

“Aw, well, its really just about finding the right partner.” Molly said, pecking Arthur on the cheek as they made their way into the lounge room, “You and Sirius have got that, what else do you need?”

“Six extra hands, maybe?” Remus said, fussing over the throw pillows on the couch.

“I hear you.” Arthur said.

They chatted as the clock on the wall ticked softly, the radio next to it playing the Wizarding Wireless Network, Christmas music floating through. The kids ran rings around the lounge room and the kitchen, apparently enjoying the connecting doorways.

Sirius strode back through, shaking snow from his shoulder length hair, “Took me ages to fix that,” He said in regards to his curls, “The bloody wind, ruined it in minutes.”

“It really is coming down out there.” Molly said, “So glad you have a fireplace, you two. I have no idea how others do it.”

A knock on the door signified the arrival of Professor Minerva McGonagall, arm in arm with Madam Poppy Pomfrey.

“Madam Pomfrey!” Remus said, hugging his beloved old caretaker.

“No need for formalities, Remus, I haven’t been your school nurse in years.” she said. She looked younger for her age, dressed in a red and green dress. 

“Minnie…” Sirius said, smiling.

“I will never get used to you using my first name,” McGonagall said, smiling all the same. She wore slightly ugly red and green tartan robes.

Pomfrey glanced down to where Harry was hugging Remus’ leg, “Ah, and this must be Harry Potter.”

She bobbed down and took his hand, “I knew your father, did you know that? He was a good man.”

Harry babbled and touched her face, Pomfrey smiled, her eyes flicking up just for a moment to his lightning shaped scar on his forehead.

“Butterbeer? Firewhiskey anyone?” Sirius asked, leading the charge into the house.

“Just gillywater for me if you have it.” McGonagall said. “Arthur, Molly, good to see you? How’re your laddies and lass?”

Soon enough, drinks were pouring and conversations running like a happy stream. Dedalus Diggle and Arabella Figg arrived at half-past seven, bringing gifts for the Weasley children, Harry and Iris.

Henry Blunge showed up with a plus one, his daughter Tabitha, bearing gifts for the several children as well as a bottle of aged Dragon-Gin for the adults.

Kingsley Shacklebolt arrived with his partner Avery Wright, both of them working in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Both of them carried large bunts, drizzled with icing.

“We heard Hagrid was making desert.” Kingsley said in a low voice, “This is… just in case.”

“And this is for you.” Avery said, handing Remus and Sirius small, silver wrapped packages, “Its really good to meet you, finally.”

“Thank you! Butterbeer?”

Andromeda and Ted Tonks arrived just before eight, with Ted holding the hand of seven-year-old Nymphadora and Andromeda carrying a large pot of soup.

They were just about to move into the kitchen-dining room when the door slammed open with a chilly wind and an enormous face poked in.

“Hagrid!” Sirius cried, his drink sloshing in his hand, “You made it!”

“Happy Christmas, Sirius!” Hagrid called, trying to fit himself into the doorway that was squeaking and groaning under the strain. “Yer doors a tad small.”

“Here, let me help you there.” Remus said, stifling a laugh. He waved his wand and the doorway enlarged itself so that Hagrid could step through with ease.

Rubeus Hagrid was a giant of a man, his face was almost completely hidden by a long shaggy mane of hair and a wild, tangled beard, but you could make out his eyes, glinting like black beetles under all the hair. On this occasion he was wearing a lurid orange and red suit with his moleskin coat, a green scarf and giant knitted mittens.

“Got somethin’ for yeh.” he said and pulled out from his various coat pockets a mouse, “Oh no, that's not it.”

He searched around and pulled and placed back one white mouse, a scroll of parchment and ink, a packet of seeds, a small vial and finally, a large bag of gifts. There was no way it could have physically fit inside his pocket so it must’ve magically fit instead.

“Tha’s for you n’ the wee ones.” Hagrid said and handed Sirius a large box, “This ones the dessert.”

There was quite a commotion trying to get everyone into the small kitchen and dining and eventually they made the smart decision of just having the food laid out on the table and getting everyone to take their food onto their plates and eat in the lounge or any space available. Even though there were a lot of people in quite a small house, it seemed to work out fine and everyone had a rather pleasant time.

As the evening went on, Sirius, Avery and Hagrid partook in a tipsy karaoke which left Kingsley and Remus in tears for laughing.

The kids had made various groups; Fred, George and Iris were getting up to some mischief involving a hiccup serum which they had found in one of the presents and were trying to tamper with peoples drinks. Every once in a while someone would hiccup and bubbles would emerge from their mouth in an stream like they were a weird kettle or something. Ron and Harry were trying to get Ginny to play with Harry’s toy broomstick but she was too little. Charlie and Bill were chasing a giggling Tabitha and an annoyed Percy with a stream of tinsel.

The adults too had made their little groups. Kingsley and Sirius were engaged in a conversation about muggle law enforcement, Avery and Arthur were talking about work matters, Molly and McGonagall were giggling and laughing over some story Hagrid was reciting very loudly and Remus was catching up with Andromeda. It was splendid indeed with the conversation flowing thick and freely like the drinks, the fairy lights and fire flickering away cheerfully and music from Sirius’ record playing filling the house with Bowie and the occasional Christmas tune.

“Dessert anyone?” Ted asked, poking around in the kitchen.

“Sure, let me get the plates and–”

“Ah, no need.” Hagrid said, opening the white box he bought with him. Inside seemed to be small caramel coated cakes. “Rum balls! With.. er, no rum because of the kiddies.”

They laughed and everyone helped themselves to the rum balls. They turned out to be quite nice other than the fact that they were extremely sticky and some had the occasional hair or two.

The party was just about to dig into the bunt cakes when there was a loud, sharp rap on the door. The crowd fell silent, looking to one another.

“Are we expecting anyone else, Sirius?” Molly asked.

“No.”