Elegantly Wasted: Sirius Black

28- Christmas Eve

________________________
24th December 1976

Sirius woke up to a loud bang coming from downstairs. His first night spent in the Devereux house had been remarkable, Thalia still hadn't warmed up to him though.

He got up from the bed and pulled a t-shirt over his head so he could make his way to the commotion.

Walking into the bright kitchen, Sirius saw Laurie with pancake batter splattered over the countertops. She looked up to meet his eyes and smiled sheepishly.

"I dropped the bowl." Laurie snickered as she tried to clean up the mess she made "I hope I didn't wake you."

"You did, but it's fine."

"Usually when I cook it goes well. So don't take this as a sign that I'm not all completely brilliant." The brown-haired girl scrapped whatever better was left into a pan.

"I didn't know you cooked." He took in her scraggy appearance. How she must have also dropped the flour because it was everywhere. Her hair was tied back but frizzy and she had a cute pink apron on to cover her pyjamas.

"I like to cook breakfast but that's about it. Every other meal bores me."

"Who are the pancakes for?" Sirius quizzed.

"Not you. I'd never cook for you." she joked then looked back at him over her shoulder.

"Why not?" The boy was nearly offended.

"Maybe I would. Not because you're a man. Because I like you." Laurie turned around with two plates of pancakes "Never because I love you." she added on.

Sirius dramatically placed his hand over his heart and groaned "Breaking my heart girl. Really? You'll never love me?"

"It's not like that." she laughed "My mum used to say that cooking for men should stay in the forties, I never want to feel like I'm just some housewife that does everything for a man. Even if I do love him."

Sirius looked up and made eye contact with her for a few short-lived seconds "I'd never ma-."

"Happy Christmas Eve kids!"

"Morning mum," Laurie said while her mother hugged her briefly and kissed her forehead.

"Good morning Ms Devereux."

"It's fine you can call me Thalia." Sirius's eyes widened narrowly. It wasn't that big of a deal but she was warming up to him. Baby steps.

"Mum, can I speak to you in the hall?"

"Of course."

Laurie pulled on thalias arm until they were out in the hallway away from Sirius.

"About the letter, I sent you a while back."

Thalia cut Laurie off mid-sentence "I'll tell you after Christmas Laur. The day I leave for America, yeah?"

"Why not now?" she asked impatiently.

"Laurie," she warned "I want to have a good Christmas and not have you hate me"

"I wouldn't hate you," Laurie whispered.

"I'm going to go shopping for some last-minute things. I won't be home till late." Thalia pulled on her coat and headed towards the door.

"Why do you have to leave me in the dark about my own life?" Laurie felt her eyes start to water.

"Believe me, darling. He will not change your view on your own life." with that she walked out the door.

Sixteen years is a long time to be waiting on one simple piece of information. Thoughts of whenever the day would come that her mother would tell her about her father had made a tornado in her mind from all the way back when she was a little girl. You see Laurie as a Little girl would have believed that this day would finally fill the metaphorical hole in her heart but now, after what Sirius Black said on the astronomy tower the night James got hurt, plagued her "I don't think you need him anyway. Your mum has done fine on her own." that had changed.

As much as she didn't want to admit it, Sirius was right. Her mother had done brilliantly on her own and Laurie certainly did not need a father to swoop in and think he is saving the day by being in her life but is only messing up their routine, that's just assuming he'd want to be in her life after all these years.

So after all those years of believing that finding out who her father is would complete her, now she wasn't so sure. Laurie thought that now the awaited day would just be a letdown. She would have to figure out how to fill that hole on her own.

***

The potter living room was filled with joy and laughter. It was tradition for Laurie and James to spend the holidays together, especially on Christmas eve. Sirius had made his debut in the tradition this year.

James and Sirius were playing exploring snaps on the rectangle coffee table in the middle of the room. Laurie and Euphemia Potter were sat on the sofas drinking tea, watching the way Fleamont tried to interrupt the game on the teenagers.

It was dark outside but was still only early. Normally thalia was here but she had not yet returned from her shopping.

The potter's manner was beautiful. It had the homely vibe mastered but in Laurie's opinion lacked the chaos that she was so comfortable within her home.

"He's a nice boy that Sirius. Don't you think?" Mia nudged Laurie with her elbow.

"Hm," she replied mindlessly.

"He's quite funny."

"Sure."

"Ever the gentleman."

"If you think so." Laurie laughed slighty.

"And handsome."

"Absolutely." Laurie's eyes went wide "but you know in an 'every girl thinks so' kind of way."

"If you think so," Mia smirked to herself as she sipped on her tea.

***

A/N

Sorry for taking so long to get this one out I've been super busy.

The Oscars were crazy but my favourite part was when Andrew was reenacting the slap 😂

Love you all

-Leah