The Collision Theory | Remus Lupin

39. Christmas With New-found Family

"Hey..."

"Off..." I pull the duvet over my head, too tired to get up.

"Aylin!" A hiss pulls me out of my sleepy state, "Get up!"

"Mim?" I scowl, confused that instead of sunlight greeting me it's moonlight. A figure crouches next to her, "Black?"

"Hey." He grins, steel eyes bright in the dim silvery light of the room, "Y'know what it is?"

"Two am in the bloody morning?"

"No... well yes." Miriam shrugs.

The pair glance at each other before replying with an enthusiastic whisper in unison, "Christmas!"

"And?"

"We need to wake everyone up." Sirius tries to pull me out of the bed by my arm, but I yank it back with a glare.

"Two in the morning."

Sirius whines, "But-"

"Two. In. The. Morning." I clench my jaw.

Miriam pouts, "Lin-"

"Go to sleep." I mumble, turning over on my shoulder and squeezing my eyes shut.

"Come on Mim," Sirius gives an over-exaggerated sigh, "I guess we'll have to make cinnamon cookies without your sister."

"Not gonna help." I hiss, trying to pretend that the prospect of cookies isn't enticing.

*

"And for those of you who care more for something little more fast-paced," the distant radio downstairs wakes me up after what seems like only mere minutes, "Let it Snow!"

As the sweet melody starts to drift through the house, the others begin to stir. I pull on my cardigan, and smile at the groggy faces of Lily, Remus, Peter and James, "Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas." They reply with equally big smiles. We may like to pretend we're grown-ups, but in all honesty we're all more excited than five-year-old kids.

"Cinnamon?" It's almost a half-statement half-question as we all turn towards Remus, who has paused halfway through putting on his jumper.

"I don't smell anything." Peter says.

Lily feigns annoyance, "Merlin Moony, stop flaunting your werewolf superpowers."

"Oh, bite me." He rolls his eyes.

James smirks before retorting on Evans' behalf, "She wouldn't be the first to."

"Just be glad it's Christmas." Remus bares his teeth, yet he fails to stop a forming grin. We practically fly out of the loft room and down the stairs, where we can hear Sirius and Miriam belting out Let it Snow quite unceremoniously.

"OH THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS FRIGHTFUL!" Sirius yells.

Miriam follows, "BUT MY DEAR YOU'RE SO DELIGHTFUL!"

James rushes into the kitchen to join in, "AND SINCE WE'VE NO PLACE TO GO!"

"LET IT SNOW LET IT SNOW LET IT SNOW!" They cry out together.

"Merry Christmas my sweet muffins!" James yells, pulling us all into one giant suffocating hug.

Sirius yells in a sing-songy voice, "Good bless ye merry hypogriffs!"

"And I thought you were all supposed to be young adults." We all turn to see dad leaning against the kitchen door frame with a look of amusement plastered on his face. The parents are standing just behind him, also looking rather smug, "And we thought we'd open presents before breakfast..."