Growing Up

Part 76.

The cold came quickly with a blistering chill that year, one that stuck to your bones like wet clothes to flesh. It was supposedly a record low, "much lower" than last year, which is what they always said. Remus never believed the weathermen, for they were often wrong. The news on the television was more white noise than informative. Christmas was approaching quickly, and with that came the anxious planning for Harry's gifts. The initial plan was to give him something special since he was older now. They would have to find something like they'd never given him before. Remus used to plan out what ages Harry would gain possession of his parents' items, the list sprawled like ant tunnels through his mind. It took profound and long thoughts, but they knew the perfect answer. The only glaring problem, similar to a giant, old and stubborn boulder, was it would require a trip to Albus Dumbledore's office.

***

"Bambi!" Remus called out, ushering the kid out of his room.

"I know!"

"He's always late." Sirius yawned into his hand, his other reaching into his pocket to grab his box of cigarettes.

"I wonder where he gets it from," Remus snatched the cigarette out of his mouth and curled it between his fingers.

"-No smoking in the house." Leaning against the doorframe, he kicked the sliding door open and snapped his idle fingers at Sirius. Seeing this, Sirius snapped as a small blue flame ignited from above his nail. To that day, it was still one of Remus' favorite party tricks of his.

"I'm ready- ugh!" Harry sang from inside his room, groaning at the fallen object before picking it up again with a quick exhale.

"Brilliant, let's get a move on." Taking the cigarette out of Remus' mouth, Sirius put it in his own and headed for the door.

Hogwarts had never really changed. A few chaotic movements of items and a new ghost was usually the maximum. For people like Remus who wouldn't accept a new scenery if it were served on a silver platter, it was a daydream.

"Harry, why don't you run off and find something to do, Moony and I have matters to attend to."

Harry smiled from afar and began to skip the other way. He had attested to some of the paintings, saying that they were particularly kind to him. It seemed as though many of his friends were drawings now, which sparked an odd and quiet disappointment in Sirius. This silenced thought nagged at him long enough for Remus to ask what was bugging him. Upon hearing this, he reassured him it was normal for kids not to have a large group, especially the ones considered more intelligent. Remus protested that he was the same way up to Hogwarts, minus having any magical ability at the time. Harry did have a couple friends at school, but none like Sirius said he had.

***

"I had many friends" Said Sirius, whipping around in faint disgust at the rejection of thought.

"Yeah? I wonder why."

"I did!" He said even prouder, grinning. Disbelief from another was an idea he couldn't stand.

"Like who."

"Well, they had-" he paused as if he was searching for an answer better than his own.

"I don't remember their names, they just followed me around."

Remus just smiled in mockery and laughed, realizing what they were bickering over was something they didn't need to worry about. They already had their share of things to argue about.

"They probably got paid by your mother."

***

Opening the heavy wooden door to the office, he scanned the shapes and lines indented in it and took a shaking breath. It was the same print on the inside where he used to sit and trace each semicircle and engraved plant. The door he used to sit behind, captive, days before the full moons when a voice above a whisper was piercing.