Boxing Day
I didn’t actually make it to my room. When I got upstairs James grabbed me and pulled me into his room. I had never seen James so scared.
“I told him it would be ok.” He sat on the floor against his bed and hugged his knees. I sat next to him.
“So did I.” I sighed in defeat. The two of us managed to give Sirius so must hope for this holiday and today it was all crushed. I tried to think of something helpful to say.
“I shouldn’t have let him come here! His mum punishes him like… she hurts him ok? Like actually hurts him.” James wiped his eyes so that I wouldn’t see him crying.
“Hurts him..?” Curiosity got the better of me, I should’ve known better. I should’ve let it be.
“He has scars from knives, she even curses him. Silencio was one of the nicer punishments.” James explained, I stared at the floor. I couldn’t speak or believe it. How could someone hurt their own child? How could we let this happen? We should go to Mcgonagal or someone and let Sirius stay with us forever.
“I should’ve told him he couldn’t come here, at least then he wouldn’t get punished.” James continued. I wondered if that would be true or not. Sirius is stubborn and headstrong, he will do whatever he wants to do. Even today he tried fighting back. It seemed that anything Sirius did would get him in trouble.
“I don’t think that’s true.” I looked at him, “I think that coming here only delayed his punishment. That women today doesn’t like her son, anything he would do would get him punished. I think we gave him a fun holiday before the horrors started.” I sounded so sure, I actually started convincing myself.
“You think he’d get punished eventually?” James asked.
“Yeah probably. I mean you saw that women, she looked like she would punish him for breathing.”
“I wish we could do something.”
“I’ll bet you anything mum and dad are trying to come up with smt as we speak.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.” I decided, our parents had to save the day. It’s what they’re good at.
Suddenly something crashed into the widow. We stood up to find an owl standing on the windowsill outside.
“It’s from Sirius!” James brightened up and the two of us ran to the window. James opened it and I grabbed the letter. I opened it as fast as I could without tearing it.
Sirius is home, do not try to contact him.
R.A.B.
I read it twice to make sure there wasn’t anything else before I handed it to James. He read it and sighed. It wasn’t from Sirius. I gave the owl a few crackers that were on James’s nightstand before he flew away. R. A. B. meant Regulas obviously, I started to wonder what his middle name was until I realized I had more important things to worry about.
We heard the bathroom sink run and James poked his head out to the hall to grab Remus. It took awhile for Remus to leave the restroom but we he came. The three of us sat on James’s bed, I hugged one of his pillows.
"Regulus sent this," James said handing the note to Remus.
"What does it say?" Remus asked before grabbing the note, in all the trouble I completely forgot Remus had a spell to read, now with no magic, he was left without books.
"'Sirius is home, do not try to contact him.'" I said before anyone could say anything.
"That's all?" Remus asked.
"That's all." James repeated.
"Nice of Regulus," Remus shrugged and stared at the note. "Thought they hated each other."
"Yeah, well they're still brothers, aren't they?" James thought aloud, "Family ties and all that."
“He did come to quidditch tryouts.” I said remembering my second interaction with the younger brother. James looked at me like I spoke a different language.
“Really?” He asked, I nodded.
“I saw him.”
"Do you think he'll be ok?" Remus changed the subject back to Sirius.
"I don't know." James chewed his lip. "I never got to give him his present. He said he never gets anything christmassy from his lot, just family heirlooms and stuff."
"I had a go at him the other day." Remus sighed, guilty, "About... y'know, my furry little problem."
James smiled and gave out a small laugh,
"Don't worry about it. You two are always having a go at each other about something. Just your personalities."
"Oh. D'you think?" Remus looked hurt by James’s words. I didn’t hand around them long enough to know if this was true or not. Remus didn’t seem to think so.
"I told you, don't worry about it. Black loves an argument." James grinned.
Christmas morning was a lot duller and morbid then it normally was. Opening presents felt somber and like we were all faking being happy. I loved all the gifts I got from my family and friends but my mind kept going back to the house of Black. I could tell everyone else was thinking about Sirius too.
The day moved on and our friends came over for our annual party. My dad spent most of the evening talking to Alastor Moody, my mum talked with the Pettigrews, I spent the night with peters older sister Philomena.
“You’ve grown so much!” She smiled when she hugged me. “Are you wearing eyeshadow!” She gasped.
“Just a little bit.” I blushed and smiled awkwardly. I wasn’t as good with makeup as Mary was but I could do a little bit.
“I love the color, I think you would look ten times prettier with mascara, would you like to try some?” She went through her purse and handed me the tube.
“How do I..?”
“Here.” She uncapped the bottle then applied some mascara to herself slowly so I could see. She then handed it to me then held up a hand mirror so I could see myself. I very slowly and carefully applied the mascara. She was right, I did look prettier with it. I couldn’t help but smile.
Philomena smiled at me, I didn’t realize how tired she looked until now. I wondered if everything was alright with her boyfriend or if her parents approved of her boyfriend.
“Come on, I think dessert is being passed out.” I said and we walked to the kitchen.