ᴍᴀʀᴀᴜᴅᴇʀs ᴏɴᴇsʜᴏᴛs (ᴍᴀʀᴀᴜᴅᴇʀs x ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ)

ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴏᴡᴇʀ ᴏғ ᴄʜʀɪsᴛᴍᴀs

teaching Sirius Black how to love Christmas

The mere thought of the Christmas season made Sirius sick to his stomach. He was so used to spending his Christmas's hiding from his parents in his room, fear filling his body, that he could never shake the feeling of existential dread when the holiday was brought up.

He sat quietly at the table in the Great Hall as students ate their last Hogwarts meal before going home for Winter break. Christmas music was playing quietly and snow was magicked to fall from the ceiling, melting into nothing before it hit any surface. Sirius' friends laughed loudly with each other, enjoying this day together before they would leave. Sirius wouldn't. He'd stay at Hogwarts, alone, like every other year.

"Could we please pause, for a mere moment? And give our attention to the great Miss L/n, while she sings us a farewell song." Dumbledore spoke loudly and the hall silenced, the only sound being forks scraping against plates. Dumbledore smiled and turned to the girl who sat on a stool, a muggle piano in front of her. He nodded and she thanked him.

"Hi, thank you, I promise I won't keep you from your friends for long." The girl said, her wand at her throat to make her voice louder. "I'd just like to sing you a muggle Christmas song, so we all leave Hogwarts happy and full of good food."

The crowd laughed and Sirius rolled his eyes. In his eyes, she was just another witch privileged with a good family to go home to and have a good time with. And just like everyone else, she completely ignored the students who stayed at the castle for Christmas.

"Have yourself a merry little Christmas." She sang softly and any murmurs that could be heard disappeared. Her voice was undoubtedly breathtaking. "Let your heart be light."

Sirius sighed, "Hey, Prongs, I'm going back to the common room. Have a good Christmas." He whispered to his best friend and James nodded.

"You too, Padfoot. Love you." He focused back on the singer.

"Love you too."

"Next year all our troubles will be miles away." Was the last thing he heard before he shut the doors rather loudly and walked back to the common room.

The sky outside the common room was dark. The train had left hours ago, and the only Gryffindor left in the common room was Sirius. He sighed as he stared at the fire, mentally cursing himself for declining James' offer to spend Christmas with his family.

His head shot to the entrance as it opened quietly and the girl from the Great Hall walked in, a frown on her face. Sirius' brows furrowed, he didn't know she stayed for Christmas.

"What are you doing here?" He asked, not even realizing the words as they spilled from his mouth.

The girl cocked her head, "Uh, going up to my room, I believe. Is there a problem?"

Sirius blinked, "Uhm, no. Sorry."

The girl nodded, "Alright then. Good night." She said and began walking up the stairs to the girls dormitory.

"Your voice is beautiful." Sirius winced, what in the world is he saying?

The girl turned her head and gave him a soft smile, he didn't notice the way his heart skipped a beat, "Thank you."

Day one

The next morning, Sirius ate alone at the long Gryffindor table. He didn't spare a glance as the doors opened, figuring it was just another Slytherin whose parents also sucked.

"May I sit here?" A voice asked and Sirius looked up to see the girl from before. "It seems as if we are the only Gryffindors who have decided to stay for Christmas."