Sorry for the Spammage...

[maja_li]

SO. This week & weekend have been studying hell: a concert, rehearsals, MORE rehearsals, plus the sudden realization that the semester is going to be over in less than two weeks.  I've tried to do at least one of the awdt Christmas Quickies each day and got behind pretty fast, but now I'm mostly all caught up.  I'll do a plain links post at the comm once they're all up, which will probably be sometime tomorrow (Monday) night since I still have prompts 7 & 8 to do.

Also: to everyone who commented on my Stress Post of Doom or on any of my fics this week, THANK YOU.  You guys are wonderful and just knowing you're there gives me such a boost going into finals week.  I'll reply soon, promise! *loves and adores and cuddles you all*

So, without further ado:

Title: (I'm Dreaming of a) Black Christmas
Characters: Sirius, Regulus, & Walburga Black
Rating: G
Disclaimer: Sirius&co. belong to JKR.  Not me.
Summary: Before Sirius stopped coming home for the holidays...
A/N: 2/31 for awdt 's Christmas Quickies.  Prompt: "Decorating the Christmas tree"



(I'm Dreaming of a) Black Christmas

“Siriuuuuuus!” Regulus whined, holding out his hand and stamping his foot as though he were two again. “Give it ba-ack!”

Sirius stroked the polished, hollowed out unicorn horn lovingly, running his fingers over spiraled grooves worn almost smooth with age.

“Come one, Reg,” he said, pleading disguised by exasperation. “After this year, ’Cissy and I will both o off to Hogwarts and you’ll get to decorate the tree all by yourself for two whole years – more, if you keep flunking Mis Primtottle’s Divination quizzes.”

“Lucius Malfoy told me Diviniation was a load of rot, and he’s practically almost a prefect already!”

“Lucius Malfoy is a prentious tosser and Divination is a fine tradition of the Ancient and Most Noble House of Black. Just because you’re practically a Squib at it – ”

“Muuuuuum! Sirius called me a – ”

“What is all this ruckus?”

Walburga Black could have stopped a raging manticore with that voice – which meant that it was just about adequate to get the attention of her sons. Sirius was flushed and scowling, his knuckles white where gripped the unicorn horn so fiercely; Regulus, pale and distressed with tight lines at the corners of his eyes and mouth. Walburga suppressed a sigh and laid one slim hand on each of their shoulders.

“Sirius, you ought to be more mature,” she said firmly, ignoring Regulus’ sudden smirk for he moment. “Squibs, Mudbloods and the rest are filthy creatures that I will not have you mentioning in this house. Regulus, on the other hand, is your younger brother, and it is your responsibility to look out for him and save him any distress you can.”

Her grip tightened until Sirius winced and muttered a quiet, “Yes, mum.”

“And as for you – ” Suddenly Regulus wasn’t smiling anymore. “You are no longer a thoughtless babe and must begin learning to have some concern for others. Sirius has loved and protected you since you were born, often acting far more maturely than others of his age, and it is both cruel and thoughtless of you to deny him one of his final childhood pleasures.”

“Yes, mum.” Regulus had always been quicker on the uptake, at least when it came to being in trouble. Satisfied that all had been well resolved, Walburga released her sons and ushered them toward the foot of the tall Christmas tree, which had been decorated by the House Elves with jeweled ornaments and glittering fairy lights. At its foot stood a smaller tree, only about shoulder height, which Sirius and Regulus had been decorating together. All that was missing was the unicorn horn on top.

Sirius, grinning, reached up to place it – and then sighed and paused.

“Come on, Reg,” he said, turning to his brother. “We’ll do it together.”

Regulus’ chubby face lit up, and he jostled into place beside Sirius. Walburga watched them with a smile on her face – and it was warm, and bright, and Christmas at Grimmauld Place.


-fin-