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FIFTH YEAR
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TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS AT HOGWARTS AMONG TEACHERS AND FRIENDS IS SOMETHING EVERYONE SHOULD EXPERIENCE AT LEAST ONCE IN THEIR LIVES. Most students go home to their families for the holidays, meaning the castle is empty.
Amara Potter, now fifteen years old and no longer the tiny, scrawny girl she had once been at the age of eleven wanders around the halls after hours without a single care. She'd been unofficially granted special permission to do this, so long as she stays within the castle and doesn't get into trouble, which she adheres to. Nighttime walks are her favourite way to clear her head.
Deciding to call it a night, she begins to make her way back to the Gryffindor Common Room. As she is walking, however, she pauses at the soft sound of crying. She spins around, looking for the source of the noise, and locates it in a broom cupboard. Her hand hovers over the handle for a moment, but she eventually pushes the door open.
Inside, a thirteen-year-old Regulus Black sits on the floor. His knees are drawn to his chest, with his hair covering his face. If he noticed her walking in, he certainly doesn't show it. Amara kneels down in front of him, placing a gentle hand on his head. "Reggie, love? Are you okay?"
He immediately jumps back at her touch. His head snaps up and he looks at her with teary eyes. He doesn't say anything, but the heartbroken look on his face is enough for Amara to understand.
"It's okay, love." She sits down beside him. "You're alright, you're okay." She tells him, slowly wrapping her arms around him and pulling him into a hug. His head rests on her shoulder as he cries quietly, this time with someone to hold him.
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"So, I told Minnie to take the present I got for her, but when she opened it, the whole thing exploded and now her hair is pink! It's hilarious." James boasts, grinning as he unwraps a present.
"So, I told Minnie to take the present I got for her." James grins at the group crowded around the fireplace in the common room. He sits on the floor, unwrapping a present of his own. "But when she opened it, the whole thing exploded and her hair turned park! Hilarious." He boasts.
"Incredible." Amara laughs from her spot on the couch. "How many detentions did you get from that one? It's got to be a few at least." She hands Sirius a neatly wrapped gift from her.
"Two months." James grins proudly.
"You're so silly." She rolls her eyes, placing down her last gift on the small table in front of her. She leans back on the couch, subconsciously curling into Sirius's side. Sirius doesn't react to it, simply putting an arm around her without even looking away from a Christmas card that he's reading.
James smiles knowingly at them, unsure about how both of them can be so oblivious to their love for each other when it's so blatantly obvious to everyone else. "So Sirius," He starts. "Tell me, any new girls lately?"
"Nah." He shakes his head. "They all went home for Christmas, and said something about having a stable family. I don't know, I've never heard of that, must be excused." He shrugs in mock confusion, his eyes lingering on Amara for a little too long after hearing the question.
"You are an idiot." Amara laughs in response, smacking him lightly.
"Maybe so, but I'm a hot idiot." Sirius smirks.
"Sure, sure." Amara rolls her eyes. She sets her head on Sirius's shoulder, leaning into his side entirely. Her eyes begin to shut as her energy slips away from her. The day had been lovely, and her presents are wonderful, but she can't control the yawn that escapes her mouth.
Sirius looks down at her, a small smile on his face as he gently strokes her hair.
Unbeknownst to them, James takes a photo with his camera to give it to Lily later. The two of them have secretly been making a scrapbook they call 'A book of all the times Sirius and Amara have been completely oblivious about their love for each other.'
This is, interestingly enough, one of the only things James and Lily can agree on.
Amara stifles a yawn and untangles herself from Sirius. "I think I'm going to turn in for the night. Goodnight, boys." She explains, gathering the gifts she'd received in her arms.
"Yeah, I will too. I have a big essay that's due tomorrow." James nods his head seriously. He motions to a small, blank piece of parchment on the table in front of them labeled 'Homework.'
Amara picks the parchment up into her hands, careful not to drop the gifts already in her hands. "The parchment is blank, James." She raises her eyebrows, rolling her eyes. "Whatever, goodnight."
As Amara walks out, James calls after her. "What?!" He says. "I do! There's no saying that I'm going to even write the essay, but it's there. Minnie set it for me as part of detention."
Amara only shakes her head with a laugh, heading up to her room. As soon as she reaches it, she dumps her gifts on an empty bed. She takes out some parchment and a quill and sits at her desk.
Dear Mum and Dad,
Thank you so, so much for the presents! I loved them so much, they were so thoughtful. And I know James is at the age where showing gratitude is physically impossible, but you should know that he really did love them. Sirius did as well. He couldn't stop smiling as he looked at his new broomstick care set.
Our Christmas Day was wonderful. James, Sirius, and I had the entire common room to ourselves. Can you believe it! It was so much fun. We had dinner in the Great Hall with the other students that had stayed and the teachers, and then we went and opened presents.
It was amazing, but I do wish that we could've spent it with you as well.
That's all for now, I'll write to you again when term starts.
