When the Roses Bloom Again by TheBlack'sResurgence

Chapter 12

The First Noel

He remembered the Christmases of his early years fondly. His mother, along with the elves, would prepare a banquet for the entire family, and the dining room within Grimmauld Place would be full.

But that had changed when Arcturus had been seven, the same year his mother had passed away. With her gone, everything had changed.

His father had closed the doors of his home to all, and he had not seen his Uncle Alphard, nor any other relatives since.

His father's reaction to his mother's death was what he found odd most of all.

Even as a young boy, Arcturus knew the way Orion Black treated his wife was not with kindness. She was little more than a maid. There was never any affection between his parents, and his father had not shed a single tear.

Arcturus had, and though her face had faded from memory over the years, he remembered her smile.

Dorea shared the very same one, as did Cassie, but he had not seen her in almost five years, along with his brother Perseus.

Both had chosen Christmas day to take their leave of the family, leaving behind only a brief note and the heir's ring.

Once more, there had been little reaction from Orion Black who had disposed of the parchment in the fire and thrown the ring at Arcturus.

"It looks like you're my heir now," he'd grunted.

There had been no mention of the wayward Black children since, but every year around this time was the same. The yuletide blues would set in, and the holidays were even more miserable.

His father no longer made any effort to acknowledge the festivities, choosing to ignore Christmas altogether, something that was only made worse by his failing health.

It had been subtle things that Arcturus had noticed at first.

Orion would have episodes where he forgot what he was doing and wander aimlessly around the house. Things only progressed from there, and now, it was a common occurrence that he could be found somewhere within Grimmauld Place having conversations with his dead wife who he believed was still alive.

When he did snap out of it, he would shake his head in confusion before locking himself in his study.

It was sad to see, and though Arcturus did not share a close relationship with the man, he felt for him.

It was as though he was now merely waiting to die.

The boy shook his head at the thought.

His father had never been the most rational of men, but with whatever was ailing growing steadily worse, his choices, and decision only became more detrimental to the future of the family.

He had tried to help the man, had even sent for healers to see if anything could be done, but they were not willing to work with him, not when he became immediately angry and violent at the sight of them.

If truth be told, Arcturus was at a loss as to what else he could do.

How could he help a man that did not want it?