It was Christmas Eve as the black dog quickly strolled the back streets of London. His pace was quick and every once in a while, would turn his head to the back and then press on without stopping all the while.
"Thanks Remus," Sirius Black thought to himself as he kept pace, a bag hanging from his mouth by its handles. Remus would meet him at Twelve Grimmauld Place when Arthur Weasley was released from the hospital.
Sirius knew he should not be out in the open, even in Animagus form, but sometimes he liked to live dangerously.
He missed his favorite cousin Andromeda Tonks. They used to be close, but ever since he was deemed a murderer and sentenced to jail, he didn't think she liked him very much. No one outside of the Order of the Phoenix knew who he really was anyway.
Since it was Christmas, he wanted Nymphadora Tonks, which was like his second cousin, or something, to bring her a small gift and maybe tell her the truth about him as per Dumbledore's wishes. If Dumbledore didn't like it, he would maybe consider another option. After all, Dumbledore has done so much for him already, and he had much respect for the man. If she were to get the gift, she might get in contact with him…somehow.
Turning a corner, Twelve Grimmauld Place sat invisible between numbers eleven and thirteen. When Sirius entered, the hallway was dark, so he made sure to take notice of the umbrella stand Tonks always seemed to trip over. Upon apparating back to his human form and dressing in the hallway, Sirius walked to the living room to wait for Tonks.
"Honestly honey, I was invited over for dinner tomorrow. What is so important that I ha—"the woman's sentence fell short as Sirius Black entered the dining room. Sirius dropped the bag in his hand. There, standing next to the head of the table, Tonks was being lectured by Andromeda Tonks.
"Sirius," was all she could sputter.
"Before you say anything, I just wan-!" before Sirius could finish his own sentence, Andromeda leapt across the room and embraced her cousin. He could only embrace back. The two of them had grown up in the same family and considered the "black sheep" since they did not share the same views as the others and were burned right off the family tree.
"I know all about you!" Andromeda exclaimed as she let go to get a better look at her cousin. Her cousin gave a look that consisted of shock and confusion. What did she know; just what "everyone else" knew or the truth.
"Do you think the only time I talk to Dumbledore was when I received owls concerning Nymphadora's behavior at school?" she said with a smile. Tonks shot her mother a look.
"I'm so glad you know!" Sirius cried as he embraced his cousin again. "I've wanted to get in contact with you, but I'm not able to do much," he muttered.
"I know. I know. But now, we've got to stick together. Considering the family we've grown up in, we're all we got."
"You mean you're not going to Christmas party either," Sirius joked bitterly. "Oh yeah, I wanted to give you something. Sirius picked up the bag he dropped and handed it to Andromeda. She was a bit surprised. He caught on.
"Tonks was supposed to give this to you and let you know the truth about me," he explained.
Merry Christmas! I thought this was a better fit!" Tonks chimed and went to the kitchen. Andromeda opened the bag and took out a framed photo of two kids smiling and waving, childhood versions of themselves.
"The good ol' days," Sirius mutters.
"Yes," Andromeda agrees. "I want to hear all about how it has been." The two sit down and catch up on their ever-changing lives and are joined by several others when Arthur Weasley and his family arrive. If this was family, then it was love, not blood that determined it.
Merry Christmas!