"Hello? Sirius?"
"Hiya."
"Oh my god, what did they say? Did you like them? Were they nice? Do you think you got it?"
"Which one of those questions do you want me to answer first?"
"The last one, do you think you got it?"
"Yeah I do."
"Why?"
"Because at the end of the interview they offered me the job."
"That's so exciting!"
"They want me to start on January the fifth."
"Oh my god. You're going to have to go and talk to Lil, get it over with."
"I'm going straight there. She's on the island right?"
"Yeah, you can't miss her."
***
Barry Island, Wales
Sirius walked over to where the large tent stood. "Sirius!"
"Alright Severus." Sirius nodded.
"I'm not being funny, but don't call me Severus in front of the punters, alright?" Sirius looked at the line of kids. "It's Rudolph." Severus pointed at the antlers on his head.
"Sorry."
"What's going on? I thought we were coming to you?" The tent opened and a child left clutching a tiny square gift.
"Yeah you are but-"
"Bear with me Sirius," Severus nodded at the next child in the queue, "In you go then." The child grinned and skipped into the tent. "Sorry, you were saying?"
"I'm in a bit of a rush actually, I just need to have a quick word with Lily."
"I'm afraid she's working. It's a busy time of year y'know?"
"I literally need two minutes with her."
"Okay, but you'll have to queue and it's two quid to get in."
"Severus, I just-"
"You will get a gift."
"I don't really want a gift."
"I don't think anyone does, Sirius. I'll tell you what, I'll let you in for a pound if you're leaving the gift." Severus winked at Sirius.
"Right." Sirius sighed as he joined the back of the queue.
***
Barry Island, Wales
"Sirius, you're up." Sirius put his phone away in his back pocket. Severus held out his hand and Sirius sighed before placing a pound coin in it. He entered the tent to find Lily sat dressed as Father Christmas.
"Alright Sirius, what's occurrin'?"
"Well-"
"Oh, Rudolph!" Lily called.
"What?" Severus called back.
"How's the boy?"
"Harry?"
"Yeah."
"He's fine!"
"Crackin'." Lily removed the Father Christmas beard and put a cigarette in her mouth, offering the box to Sirius.
"No thanks." Lily shrugged and tucked the box away. "Look, what it is-"
"Sirius, I'm not being funny, but you've got to sit on the knee, it's the rules." Lily lit her cigarette.
"What?"
"Don't worry, I've been checked." Sirius raised an eyebrow before gently sitting on Lily's knee.
"Look, it's a bit delicate."
"Go for it."
"I've been offered a job in Cardiff."
"Tidy."
"It's with the same company and it's only for six months, well I say it's the same company-"
"Oh, Sirius, spare me the details, where to you going with this?"
"I hope you won't take this the wrong way but we were wondering how you'd feel about letting Rem have his room back."
"Leave it with me." Lily whistled and Severus entered the tent holding baby Harry in his arms.
"Yeah?"
"Can me and Harry move into the caravan with you? Sirius has got a job and they need the room at Lyall's."
"Sure thing."
"Done and dusted." Lily handed Sirius a gift. "I've gotta get on, there's your gift."
"Actually, he doesn't get a gift, he only paid a pound." Lily took the gift back from Sirius.
"We'll see you tonight in Essex." Lily said as she stubbed out her cigarette.
"Are you coming with us on the bus?" Severus asked as he placed the dummy back in Harry's mouth.
"Nah, I've got the car but I'll see you later."
***
Barry Island, Wales
"Prongs?"
"But say a prayer, pray for the other ones. At Christmas time, it's hard, but when you're having fun." James sang down the phone. "PADFOOT!" He cheered. "There's a world outside your window. C'mon, sing it!" Sirius laughed but joined in.
"And it's a world of dread and fear."
"Yes!"
"Where the only water flowing."
"Is the bitter sting of tears."
"And the Christmas bells that ring there."
"Are the clanging chimes of doom."
"Well tonight thank god it's them, instead of you!" James turned down the radio. "Oh my god."
"That's a great song." Sirius exited the service station and headed towards his car.
"A Christmas classic." James sighed.
"Bob Geldof at his best."
"And Midgeure, don't forget Midgeure."
"Do you mean Midge Ure?"
"Yeah, Midgeure."
"It's not one word, it's two. Midge Ure."
"Is it? I thought it was Midgeure, like Midgeure cheddar." Sirius laughed. "What?"
"I think you mean mature cheddar."
"Oh."
"Why have you left me six messages?"
"Because IT'S CHRISTMAS!"
"How's the shopping going?"
"I ain't started, I overslept."
"Who have you got to get for?"
"Everyone I know. Where are you?" Sirius looked at the sign for the service station.
"I'm...I'm just leaving work."
"I'm just around the corner, wait there and I'll meet you."
"Nah, it's alright. You've got your shopping to do."
"You can help me; I've got bags of time."
"You can't come here anyway."
"Why?"
"I've got your present in the car."
"What've you got me?"
"I'm not going to tell you."
"Go on, I'll still act surprised in front of Remus."
"No."
"Is it clothes?"
"No."
"Can I eat it?"
"No."
"I know what it is."
"What?"
"I'm not saying."
"Go on."
"No, you have to guess."
"What?"
"You wouldn't tell me, so I'm not going to tell you."
"Okay, I can live with that."
"Just tell me!"
"No."
"Ugh."
"Look, I've gotta go but I'll see you tonight."
"Alright."
"Prongs?"
"Yeah."
"You're a really good mate."
"What?"
"Never mind, see ya."
"Alright, see ya."
