Beloved - F. Weasley

18.

{.18. Christmas Day}

Carina Bella Zabini loved waking up on Christmas morning normally. Usually her and Blaise would run into each other's rooms and wake each other up, as they grew older Blaise took to smacking Carina over the head with a pillow but when they were younger one of them would tickle the other, carina loved it. After they had spent some time annoying another they would then exchange presents and go to see their mother. Carina loved their little Christmas traditions, she loved Blaise and she wished that this Christmas morning was like normal.

This year was slightly different and Carina couldn't help but feel sad. She had stayed in the room she shared with Granger and the girl Weasley she saw to her hair and cleaned her face before crying at the realisation of how alone she felt.

She had only been apart from Blaise for less than twenty four hours and she hated it. Blaise was her home, wherever Blaise was is where she felt safe and she didn't think that she would ever feel safe if she wasn't with him. She had begun feeling safe with Orion too, but it was a different kind of safe and a different type of home to how she felt with Blaise.

She sat in the window of the room pulling her knees to her chest and put her head in her arms to cry. She truly hated feeling alone. It had been a while but there was a knock on the door.

Carina wiped her eyes and opened the door to see Professor Lupin standing there with Sirius, both wearing Christmas hats and jumpers. She smiled and wiped her eyes again as she could feel tears stinging her eyes.

"Why are you not downstairs? It's Christmas! Marcello said you loved it!" Sirius exclaimed — he had noticed the girls absence immediately and sought to rectify it as he truly knew what it was like to be on your own, he understood her all too much as he had hidden in his room when he first celebrated Christmas with Mia, Monty and James.

"I'm sorry, I just don't feel like celebrating," she explained and Professor Lupin frowned

"It's Christmas! There's presents downstairs for you, it won't be long until Arthur is back home and we'll be having dinner," Professor Lupin explained kindly "I'll even give you firewhisky!"

"Am I even wanted downstairs? Marcello isn't here and I'm not a part of your family," she said sniffing at the end

"Nonsense! Luca Zabini would be turning in his grave if we let our little Carrie crying in her room on Christmas Day! Now come on angel," Sirius said wrapping an arm around her "you're always part of our family," Sirius smiled using the words James said to him to the young girl

Carina didn't have time to question what he meant as they walked down the stairs. They arrived at the kitchen and Professor Lupin walked in and gestured for Carina to follow. Everyone at the table turned to look at her and she pulled at her sleeves, hiding behind Sirius.