Summary: The rest of Christmas 1973
WARNING for some pretty gloomy subject matter, including Remus hearing some very unpleasant stuff. Mention of suicide.
Christmas Day, 1973
Remus's odd late night conversation with Philomena had caused him to re-evaluate his anxieties about girlfriends. His ability to comfort her had stirred no particular feelings of chivalry or affection - only a mild sense of relief that he'd got her to stop crying. He definitely had no desire to get that close to any other girl.
He thought about Narcissa for the first time in a while. Remus had secretly thought Narcissa was the most beautiful girl he knew - before she'd dyed her hair anyway. She had a regal sharpness which appealed to him on some base level. But even she was made foolish by love - risking her own life, in fact.
The sight of Philomena sobbing in her nightie only cemented in Remus's mind the revelation that love and relationships were not worth the misery. He had enough pain in his life. Let Sirius and James work it out for themselves, but for the time being, Remus felt very intelligent for having come to this realisation so early in life. He had probably saved himself a lot of needless stress.
Christmas morning was as wonderful as it had been the year before - even Philomena perked up once she saw the gifts under the tree with her name on them. Remus was able to enjoy the immense satisfaction of handing out his own presents, and Sirius and the Potters were all suitably pleased and thanked him profusely. He himself received a chess set from the Potters, which was perhaps the most expensive thing Remus had ever owned - and bought just for him, not second hand. Along with the usual assortment sweets and practical jokes from the marauders, it was a very good haul.
Sirius looked a bit nonplussed at breakfast, as everyone else wolfed down their smoked salmon and scrambled eggs.
"S'up wif yoo?" James asked, mouth full. Sirius shrugged,
"Nothing from Andromeda," he said, quietly, "I didn't think I'd get presents or anything, now she's got the baby, but I thought maybe a card... I sent her one."
James swallowed and patted his friend's shoulder.
"Owl might just be flying late - you know how the post is this time of year."
James had received a brand new broom for Christmas, and as soon as breakfast was finished with, all three boys headed straight outside to test it. Sirius had his own broom with him, and Mr Potter suggested with an arched eyebrow that Remus take James's old one.
"Yeah, have it if you want, Moony!" James nodded enthusiastically, "To keep!"
"Thanks..." Remus took it, unable to say no in front of James's parents. Goodness knew what he was supposed to do with it over the summer - try explaining that one to Matron.
James and Sirius spent the rest of the morning showing off, and Remus spent it hovering; just skimming the ground with his toes, trying to read his book and look like he was enjoying the broom. He hoped Peter had received his gifts from them, and wasn't having too bad of a time with his own family.
They were called in by the Potter's house elf, Gully, who was dressed in a festive tea towel and had a sprig of holly tucked behind one ear. It was almost lunch time, and the house smelled deliciously of roast beef with all the trimmings.
"Upstairs, washed and changed, the lot of you." Mrs Potter shook her wooden spoon at them, "I've had Gully set your things out."
They washed and dressed quickly, stomachs growling as the wonderful smells from the kitchen wafted up the stairs. Just as they began to make their way down, there was the tell-tale CRACK of apparition outside the front door. Sirius tensed again, and Remus, one step behind him on the staircase, gripped his shoulder in a way that he hoped was comforting.
