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should've known i'd be the first to leave think about the place where you first met me
☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:⠀
The following morning, Celeste was playing with the tourmaline bracelet on her wrist. She examined the scarlet veins in the stone that faded to shades of fern. Layered beside it was the opal bracelet that matched the ones she'd gifted to her friends during Hogwarts.
It was the only thing holding her together at the moment. She looked up at Sirius, who stood across the living room. His face had been distraught since she'd arrived.
"You decorated for Christmas," Celeste said softly. She averted her eyes from the garlands and tinsel scraps through the room. "I thought we agreed to not do it. Since it's so late into the month already."
The twinkling fairy lights from the Christmas tree shone against Sirius' face. Red then green. Green then red.
He nodded stiffly. "We needed a distraction after Dumbledore summoned us," he answered. "It was the only thing I could come up with." He hastily added, "Would've been nice to have had you with us. Lily and Alice weren't taking it well."
Celeste didn't bother to ask what they needed to be distracted from. She feared it would spark another row with him. "When are they coming over?"
"Shouldn't be long now."
Cautiously, Celeste moved closer to him. He didn't object as she stood beside him, looking at the Christmas tree ornaments. There were glitter-covered snowflakes and angels, glass raindrops and crystal orbs, frost-dusted pine cones, and magical creatures that spiraled around the tree. Breathtaking.
She reached out and adjusted a sapphire star. So that she felt a bit more included.
"I don't think you're overbearing at all," Sirius suddenly said, interrupting the silence. "That's not who you are. I shouldn't have said that. I had nothing smart to say, so I said something stupid."
The floorboards creaked beneath them as Celeste stepped to face him. She didn't dare to breathe. There was far more damage he had made yesterday. But his apology was too good to be true. Smiling weakly, she managed to say, "Thank you".
He shifted nervously. "I know that I don't often get you gifts but..."
Sirius reached in the pocket of his jacket a pulled out a small, velvet-cushioned box. Jewelry, Celeste easily surmised before he opened it. On a plush pillow sat a ruby pendant in the shape of a crescent moon. The dainty gold chain gently glinted in the light.
