Splatters of Red and Gold

The Night Before Christmas

The next day, Peter and Remus "Goodbye" before boarding the Hogwarts Express and headed home for the Christmas Holiday. James did too, with offers of taking Sirius with him, who refused to 'stay in the hospital wing to heal'. James was skeptical but bade fair well to his friend.
Aravyn and Lily sat alone in the Girl's dormitory that morning, snow fell outside the windows.
"I heard that so few students are staying that we have almost free reign of the school and may have extra visits to Hogsmeade!" Lily gushed excitedly.
"Yeah, that's great," Aravyn said, not really listening. She slid on a pair of jeans and her favorite black, loose fitting, V-neck t-shirt, and combat boots.
"Are you going somewhere?" Lily asked, trying to brush out her messy hair.
"Just to visit Sirius, will you pick me up a can of wood resin?" She tossed two Galleons at Lily and headed out the door.
The hospital wing doors were wide open and Sirius sat alone his eyes half closed.
"If it's a bad time, I could just-" Aravyn started.
"Wait! Stay!" Sirius said, opening his eyes all the way.
"If poppy sees me," Aravyn looked worried but sat down on the side of the bed all the same. Snow fell in large swirling flakes outside.
"It's always freezing in this part of the castle," Aravyn muttered. Sirius laughed.
"Some fur would be nice hmm? Something foxy?" Sirius joked.
"I prefer wolf," Aravyn winked back.
Footsteps echoed down the hall and Aravyn panicked.
Professor McGonagall walked in to see Sirius with a silver fox on his lap.
"Black!" Sirius jumped.
"Professor?"
"Do you have your transfiguration essay done?" She asked.
"Not yet, I was planning to work on it this weekend, there had been a complication," Sirius said awkwardly.
"Yes I see that, anyways, I was looking for Ms. Andonovski to tell her that meals will be in their Dormitories, I would tell you but I don't think it matters right about now," McGonagall smiled slightly then walked back out.
Aravyn changed back into herself and climbed off Sirius to the edge of the bed. "I wonder if Blinky could get an extra meal up here so you don't have to eat alone," Sirius looked smugly at Aravyn, who immediately went bright red. She looked away.
They talked all day, stopping only for meals. Lily arrived for dinner, sitting with the two of them, chatting and laughing with them.
"So what did you get James for Christmas?" Sirius asked her.
"I, uh," Lily went bright red. "I got him the newest broom package at the quidditch supply store in Hogsmeade. Oh! I almost forgot!" She reached into her bag and handed Aravyn a small metal tub of resin.
"Oh, right! Thanks!" Aravyn smiled. Lily left about an hour later. Aravyn morphed into a fox as Poppy came out of her office to close the doors.
Before Sirius could adjust his position to lay back, he realized Aravyn was asleep next to him as a fox.

Aravyn awoke on the hospital bed next to Sirius' bed. Someone had moved her while she was still a fox, it was alright though, she thought, it would help avoid awkward questions.
Sirius mumbled something it his sleep. He gasped and jerked to one side. His breathing quickened. Aravyn realized he was dreaming, she jumped up and stood over him. She shook his shoulder. He started from sleep and stared up. He looked up and saw a pair of bright hazel eyes and waves of dark hair.
"Are you alright?" Aravyn asked from above him.
"I am now," he mumbled.
"What? I'm sorry?" Aravyn asked.
"Yeah I'm fine..." He recovered.
Aravyn smiled worriedly. She pushed her hair back into a thick ponytail. Sirius sat up.
"Mr. Black," madam Pomphery said, "you are free to go, the potion is completely out of your system!"
Aravyn smiled at Sirius and helped him up.
"C'mon," she muttered, helping him to his unstable feet. "Easy on," she helped him walk to the doors and up to Gryffindor Tower.

The snow had not yet stopped on the day of Christmas Eve.
Lily sat on Aravyn's bed as Aravyn wrapped presents from the floor.
"Why don't you use your wand?" Lily asked her.
"Oh, I'm dreadful at that sort of magic, I'm better at... Uh.... Anything but the small practical charms I guess," Aravyn shrugged. Sw had just finished wrapping James' gift; a new Gryffindor beanie hat, and moved to the Metallica penny T and a small box.
"What's in the box?" Lily asked, flipping onto her stomach and resting her head in her hands, looking over the edge of the bed.
Aravyn tossed the box up to Lily who opened it and smiled.
"Wow, you know him well, Black will love this! Where in Merlin's beard did you get it?" Lily asked.
"Valley Charm," Aravyn answered. She stacked the little box, wrapped in deep hold on top of the wrapped shirt and tied them together with a piece of ribbon.
As she set it aside Sirius walked into the Dormitory.
"How did you get in here?" Lily asked, surprised.
"Uh, you're speaking to the co-creator of the Map of de Marauders!" Sirius said with false grandure.
He sat on the bed next to Lily and looked down at Aravyn, wrapping Remus' gift, two Toblerone Chocolates.
"Those for Moony?" Sirius asked. Aravyn nodded.
"I'm gonna go wrap up my presents!" Lily said walking across the room grabbing a bag and heading towards the common room.
"So what do you think Snape poisoned me for?" Sirius asked Aravyn, who had been busy wrapping a signed copy of Hogwarts: A History for Lily.
"I'm not sure it was him, actually," said Aravyn absently.
"What?!"
"I mean honestly, he would have been able to walk right up to the table and slip it into your drunk! It must have been someone already at the table!" Sirius made an incredulous face but did not persist.
"Would you hand me that head band?" Aravyn asked, pointing to a black Alastair head band with a small quaffle shaped logo.
"What this?" Sirius asked snapping it onto his head and running out of the room and towards the portrait hole.
Aravyn sprinted after him and down the halls. She finally caught him in one of the secret passage ways. She sprung onto his back, and to her surprise he actually caught her.
"You look good in it, Padfoot!" She smiled, resting her chin on his head.
"I try my hardest," he smiled, carrying her back towards Gryffindor tower. He stopped on the floor just below the tower. An owl tapped on the window and Aravyn opened it up. The great barn owl flew in and stuck his foot out.
Aravyn took at and the owl swooped out the window. "It's addressed to me," she said confused.
She opened it, in a mixture of many handwritings was scrawled:
Half breeds and filthy dirty blood traders like you and your friends deserve to burn... You infect the Pureblood race and diminish the great wizarding world! May hell be unleashed upon you!
~Proud Pureblood
Sirius looked disgusted and pulled the letter out of her hands. "We have to go to McGonagall!" He said taking her hand and starting to walk towards the founder's office.
"Sirius no!" She said pulling him back. "It's not a problem, it's probably just an angry Slytherin!" She pleaded.
"They threatened you! And Remus!" He argued. He began to walk away but Aravyn pulled him back and hugged him tightly.
"I'm not in danger, nor it Remus," she muttered. She kissed him on his cheek then headed up to her dormitory.