Changes

Chapter Twenty

Sirius Black

Sirius was not disappointed, he thought maybe because there weren't many people there for Christmas that the Great Hall wouldn't be too decorated, boy was he happy to be wrong for the one and only time in his life, the hall had only one table set for the students who had remained instead of going home for the break and the space where the tables had been was now a row each side of the largest Christmas trees Sirius had ever seen and he had to wonder what spell they used to get them through the door the decorations were spectacular as well, four trees on each side obviously decorated to represent each house and one, the largest of them all place where the teachers usually sat was all four colours which they had somehow achieved without it looking cheap and tacky. It had cheered his poor mood this morning, but only temporarily until Remus had noticed and stepped in banishing all his worries just in time for them to return to the Great Hall for the Christmas feast. Sirius sat next to Remus grinning as food appeared on the table silver boats of gravy, bowls of peas, butter corned, and roast turkey, the food was a lot and Sirius had to wonder what happened to any leftovers or did the house elf somehow know with their strange magic how much was needed for each person present, quite the feat. Sirius began piling food onto his plate as did Remus. "Mr Black, I'm pleased Albus has sat us so close, I've been quite impressed with your potions skill and have thought to invite you to the club that I've created for the students, called the Slug Club" Professor Slughorn invited and Remus choked on the pumpkin juice he'd been sipping obvious laughing at the name of this club. Sirius had heard of the club before, he was pretty sure one more of his cousins was in it, Andy had warned him that Professor Slughorn liked to collect people either for their family or because he thought they might be important in the future. "I'm actually not so great as potions as you might think Professor, I owe all my success to Mr Lupin here." Sirius patted Remus's back mockingly as if he was helping him not to choke. Remus shot him a glare, "Really it's nothing, Sirius has a brilliant aptitude for learning." Remus denied elbowing him in the ribs. "Not surprising, Mr Lupin, your mother was always quite the potioneer, shame she isn't more ambitious she could have become quite the healer had she not quit." Professor Slughorn mused and Remus looked stricken by these words. "Well, one should always take care of their own health before thinking of caring for others." Sirius voiced and Slughorn looked confused, "Is your mother not well? I had not heard." Slughorn mused, "She's quite ill, Sir, it's why I'm not home for the holiday, she'd worried I'd catch it." Remus informed. "I see, well, do give her my best, I hope she gets better soon," Slughorn replied and Remus nodded looking uncomfortable but was saved by Dumbledore standing, "It is so wonderful to spend this merry day looking at all your happy faces, those that choose to spend Christmas amongst friends are those that will remain close a bonded through the years, now raise and eggnog and enjoy this marvellous feast." Dumbledore finished as they all raised cups and food appeared on the table. The feast was delicious, roast pork and roast turkey, smoked ham and mashed potato, green beans and corn. Desert consisted of trifle, an array of puddings, gingerbread and yule logs, ice cream and more. Sirius was stuffed by the time the plates disappeared and with a short goodnight Remus and he were making their way back to their dorm and collapsing on their beds. "Sirius?" the whisper caught him off guard because it wasn't from Remus, he almost dropped the mirror in his rush to get it out. "Reggie?" Sirius grinned as his younger brother. "Shh." Regulus hushed him putting a finger to his lip, "Mom, will freak if she hears you." Regulus worried looking at something he couldn't see. "Are you alone?" Sirius wondered. "I'm in my room, but you know she hears everything." Regulus worried. "Yeah..." Sirius grinned then frowned, "She has hurt you has she?" Sirius wondered. "Nothing out of the normal routine, the occasion slap on the wrist." Regulus looked away. "Reg, hey, you just have to last until the end of the school year, okay, then I'll be there, I'll take the heat and we'll both be at Hogwarts," Sirius promised. "How is it there?" Regulus wondered, "It's awesome, we feast for every meal, I've made some great new friends, Quidditch will start after Christmas break, there a bunch of secret passageways to sneak around in, and we did this really amazing prank, where we made it rain in the great hall on Halloween..." Sirius explained laying back in his bed, "Sirius, you should be focusing on school, that's your only way out of here, Mother already cut your funds do you want her to kick you out?" Reguslus questioned, "Relax, we didn't even get into trouble, anyway who cares I'm leaving as soon as I can." Sirius insisted. "I care... I have to go, before Mother sees, Merry Christmas." Regulus said the first part so quietly, that Sirius could process it until his brother had already disappeared, "Reg... Merry Christmas." Sirius sighed lowering the mirror to his chest and sighed, sitting up and going over to Remus bed and knocking on the post before opening the curtain, Remus rubbing his eyes and looked up. "Sirius, are you okay?" Remus worried, "Yeah... Just, move over." Sirius rubbed the back of his neck and Remus looked confused but slid to the side so they could both fit in the bed. Sirius climbed in laying down next to him and Remus's eyes fluttered shut. "Did your brother get in touch?" Remus wondered, "Yeah, we got a few moments to talk." Sirius agreed and Remus rolled so his head was on Sirius's chest surprising him, "Remus?" Sirius wondered and the boy just hummed, making Sirius smile striking his hair like Remus had his, "Merry Christmas."