The Heart of Black - A Harry Potter Story

Chapter 9 - The Parents and the Pawprint

Snow coated the grounds of the Hogwarts Castle. Frost glistened on tree branches, ice covered the lake. Christmas was nearly here.

"Sky, please! They'll never find out!" pleaded Sirius.

"What about Regulus? He knows, do you really trust him to keep his mouth shut?" said Sky.

"He will if I tell him too, trust me!" a mischevious smile played on Sirius's lips. Sky rolled her eyes. That wasn't what she had meant, Regulus didn't need to be hurt as punishment. He needed to be spoken to.

"Sirius, you already know your parents will hate me! And so will your cousins! What's the point?" exclaimed Sky.

"The point is, I want them to meet you! They don't hate you, they can't, they've never met you. As long as Regulus keeps his mouth shut about your blood status everything will be fine." Sirius was pleading again. When Sky threw hime a filthy look. She knew he was right, but she hated admitting she was wrong.

"I don't know Sirius. What if they find out and try and ki-" she was cut off by Sirius's lips on hers. Warmth radiated from his body, his strong arms pulling her closer. When they broke apart Sirius gazed at her. "Fine!" exclaimed Sky with a small smile. Sirius punched the air triumphantly, grasped her hand in his and set off towards the library to find the rest of The Marauders.

Remus was absorbed in a book. James was tilting back on his chair, staring at the ceiling. Peter gazed at him in awe. This is how Sirius and Sky usually found their friends.

"You guys packed for the holidays?" asked Sirius, making all three of the boys jump.

"Yup." said Remus and James.

"I don't know, I may have forgotten to get something from the..." Peter trailed off, glancing around nervously, as if he expected someone to anounce what he had forgotten. James rolled his eyes at him and fell back onto all four legs of his chair.

"I'm starving, lets get dinner!" James rose from his chair and made his way towards the door, closely followed by Peter. Sky and Sirius helped Remus wrestle his monstrous book into his bag and then they followed.

The Great Hall was decorated, ready for Christmas. Twelve Christmas trees lined the the sides of the hall, real fairies darted in and out of the branches, illuminating the tinsel as they went.

When everyone was seated, Dumbledore rose from his seat to say a few words. Then dinner began.

It was as good as any. Varieties of meat and vegetables and sauces spread across the tables. This was then followed by cakes, trifles, mousses and cookies. By the time The Marauders went to bed they were stuffed.

The students would be going home for Christmas the following day. On Christmas Eve, Sirius would pick Sky up from her house and take her to Grimmauld Place, where she would have dinner and stay the night.

Christmas Eve. 5 o'clock. Sky waited patiently in the living room, gazing out of the window at the snow covered grass. She was nervous, Sirius's parents were sure to hate her. She hadn't told her family anything about Sirius's parents, knowing they would worry. Consequently she had had to suffer the nightmares and worries on her own.

The bell rang. Sky was dragged back to reality as she approached the front door and opened it. Sirius Black, tall, dark hair, grey eyes, stood facing her. A smile broke across Sky's face, seeing the person she loved most banished all fears. She leapt into his arms and felt his arms weave around her waist. She pulled away and Sirius placed a soft kiss on her lips.

"Hello,Sky" he said with a smile.

"Mum, I'm going!" Sky yelled into the house. She grabbed her bag and they set off.