FIRST YEAR - Christmas 1971
After the Halloween party, Sirius spent his birthday with his lovely cousins, Bellatrix of who scared James because of how open she was about hating muggles, the way she carried on sometimes, even as a seventh year made him irrational mad at the entire black family. How was it that you could grow up to hate an entire portion of the wizarding world? And why? James knew muggles didn’t have any pure wizard blood and that their parents were both magic-less muggles but why did that then make the magic of the muggle-born witch or wizard themselves be less superior.
If, like Bellatrix and other pure blood wizards said, that pure blood made you better with magic then James wondered why then, were Lily Evans and Remus Lupin the top of most of their classes?
Sirius’ other cousin Narcissa was not nearly as vocal about muggles as her sister but didn’t have anything nice to say about them either. Narcissa seemed to hate everyone no matter their blood. Whether it be pure bloods or muggle born, Narcissa always had a vendetta she was working on or someone she wanted her family to fire from the ministry. Her reasoning could have been something as petty as them walking slowly in the hall and so their family member would never walk again, or a girl dyed her hail a shade too much like Narcissa’s so that child should get detention for a month.
Narcissa didn’t seem crazy however, not like her sister rambling on about a dark lord this, you know who that. Instead, she just seemed bored with having anything she wanted at hand. In a twisted way James thought he could understand, when your life is perfect you look for any little crack just to give yourself something to do, something to focus on. In her case it was lashing out at anyone she deemed not perfect whereas for James, he thought it unfair that he could have such a great life when people like Sirius had to go through so much suffering.
With Halloween done with, it wasn’t long before the semester was coming to an end. James although having fit into Hogwarts well, did miss his parents and was keen not to have homework for a while.
Sirius was also going home for Christmas, as was Peter.
Remus however was staying at the school.
Knowing that neither would be having much of a ‘Merry’ Christmas, James tried to invite Sirius and Remus to visit over break but was declined by both boys.
Over the following weeks while Remus explored the castle with not much else to do in his spare time.
Sirius, back in London, was explained to in depth just how much of a disappointment and let down he was, not just verbally but in many other ways, some which had him bleeding from cuts or crying without making a noise.
One night he’d challenged his mother’s use of the term mud-blood at dinner which he knew had been stupid before he’d done it and was now laying on the floor of his father’s study unable to move, one thought replaying in his mind over and over, ‘home sweet home.’
If James had known what Sirius was going through whilst he was singing Christmas carols and baking homemade treats with his mom, he would not have told his parents just how great being home was. ‘Home sweet home’ had been one of the first things he had said when he stepped into the house. The smell of ginger and apple cinnamon the same scent that followed Euphemia wherever she went, was a welcoming reminder of James’ great childhood.
Christmas at the Potters was a great affair, the week before was spent baking and setting up decorations for the Christmas dinner and then Christmas eve James would open his first present of new pajamas, this year they had small trees on the pant legs and then a knitted sweater with a statement tree in the center. Some years there was no Christmas theme, such as the year he was given a set of yellow pajamas with suns and then other years his mom had hand knitted an ugly Christmas sweater with silver bows up and down the sleeves.
Christmas started with a warm breakfast, like what James had for breakfast every day, a glass of orange juice, a blueberry pancake and fruit salad with cream. Then for lunch James was reminded of the welcoming feast at Hogwarts with the amount of options there were, more meats than James could name were spread on the table in front of him with pasta’s, dips, and all the classic Christmas features. That was because his parents always seemed to invite half the wizarding population to stop by, bring a dish eat what’s here sort of deal. As a child James was astonished by the sheer amount of people that circulated through his lounge room in a single day, but now, he was not just used to it, but he could name most of the guests.
By the time all the guests had left it was late into the night, and James’ parents sat outside talking to Peter’s parents over a glass of wine, the two boys laid down parallel on the floor of James’ room. Their heads side by side as they slipped in and out of matching food coma’s.
For as long as he could remember, the day went the same every year, but as repetitive as it might seem, Christmas was one of James’ favorite days.
Two days after Christmas James had just come in from playing on his broomstick in the garden, practicing his quidditch skills when his mom handed him a letter.
James raced to his room and had read it three times by the time he got there.
It was a letter from Sirius. James had sent a letter to both Remus and Sirius the first day of break but had yet to hear from either.
Sirius’ letter wrote.
***
Dear James,
Merry Christmas, Sorry I haven’t replied. Mother has been watching me closely ever since she found my collection of muggle books I accidentally left out of my trunk.
I hope you had a nice Christmas; it must have been great or at least better than mine, did you know that Bella has found herself a fiancée, I was shocked until I met the guy. They think much the same way if you get me. The announcement did take much of the attention away from me so for that I’m grateful.
Look forward to seeing you at Hogwarts.
Sirius
***
It was a very short letter but if he had been hiding it from his mother James could understand why Sirius would want to keep it short.
Sending a quick reply wishing him a Merry Christmas and saying he was keen for the school term, James returned to his buzzing home.