Brightest ✯ Sirius Black

✯seventy-one✯

The few weeks that ensued were more than awkward in Cleo's mind. They were no longer the lovely family that they had become, protecting one another and living under the same roof. Cleo's family had become quiet, reserved, and paranoid.

Lily and James had found a safe house to go to. They knew it would be hard to be away from the rest of them, but they had to do what was best for Harry. Unfortunately, there were a few things that they had to do first, and Christmas was one of them.

Cleo had begged and pleaded with Lily and James to stay just until the new year. She wanted to be with her godson on his first Christmas, and James caved first, knowing how important it was for her, and for Harry to have a Christmas he might be able to one day look back on through pictures and see how wonderful his family had always been.

Thankfully, Christmas wasn't far away, because Lily's nerves would be through the roof until then.

"Sirius, put that down," Cleo sighed. Her fingers dragged across the rows of clothes on the rack, searching for the perfect gift for Harry. She had saved the little boy for last, wanting his gift to be especially perfect.

"Don't you think he'd look perfect in this?" Sirius whined. He held a black collar in his hands that was lined with little metal spikes all around. Cleo gave him a hard look, her eyebrows raised.

"He's our godson, not a dog," she said, rolling her eyes.

"This isn't a collar, it's a choker," he muttered, putting it back with a huff. "He'd look like a badass."

"A 6 month old child is not supposed to look badass, he's supposed to look like a child."

"You look like a child," he mumbled under his breath. Cleo rolled her eyes again, pretending to not have heard. She continued to walk through the aisles, trying to find the perfect thing for her godson. She heard Sirius gasp loudly behind her and turned around. She looked at the small item he had clutched in his grasp, and she smiled slightly. He had the largest grin on his face and he looked at her with raised eyebrows until she laughed.

"I think it's perfect," she sighed.

"And?" he grinned mischievously.

"And badass," she shook her head, but her smile remained.

"That's right," he nodded along, walking forward and throwing his arm around her shoulders as they continued to walk. "Now, what is your plan for the little one?"

"I've got a plan," she nodded with a smile, already thinking it was the best gift she's ever given, "but I won't find it here."

Christmas came faster than Cleo would have liked. She knew she had limited time with her friends with each passing day, and she was trying to soak it all in while she could. How long would they have to be gone? Would it be years before she could see Lily and James and Harry again?

After losing her parents, Cleo didn't know how good her holidays could be. However, with the help of her best mates, her Christmases were never shrouded in mourning like they could have been. No matter what had happened that year, Christmas was always the one time she felt happiest.

On Christmas Eve, Lily and Cleo sat at the kitchen table, Lily's legs resting in Cleo's lap. Harry was down for a nap, and they both had large cups of hot chocolate and fire whiskey warming their hands as they chatted and laughed.

"I keep thinking about them," Lily said after some time.

"Who?" Cleo asked. Her fingers traced the scars on her arm absentmindedly.