A/N: Hey y'all! This was written for Hogwarts.

Muggle History: Task 2: Alt: Write about someone mending clothes instead of buying new ones.

Back to School September Event: 9. (object) school tie

Word Count: 702

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. Those rights go to JK Rowling.

Enjoy!

Something Old, Something New

The needle poked in and out of the fabric quickly, as if it was some shameful secret that kept getting pushed into the light. But Sirius wasn't watching it so much as the fingers skillfully controlling it. Littered with tiny scars, the slim fingers worked deftly, threading the material of the torn robe sleeve back together.

Sirius watched for a few more minutes, then spoke. "Remus, why don't you just buy some new ones?"

The boy glanced up, startled. His amber eyes were masking some hidden emotion that eleven-year-old Sirius Black couldn't decipher.

Remus laughed a bit nervously and tried to wave the question aside. "Why do that when I can fix it myself? That'd be a waste of money."

But James pulled him aside later that night and informed him that some people just didn't have the means to replace every torn bit of clothing, and that is wasn't something they liked to talk about. Sirius immediately felt guilty, but once he took notice of something… well, he couldn't unsee it.

He saw the frayed cuffs of Remus' shirt, the worn soles of his shoes, and where his ankles peeked out from under his too-short pant legs. He could tell the other boy was bothered by the state of his uniform— every tear was immediately stitched up, and he always made an effort to look as put-together as possible. Still, Remus held himself with a sort of quiet pride that Sirius admired; it was a pride that came from having to make the best of a situation, and coming out stronger because of it.

The stitches and patches were difficult to spot, but they were there; much like the mysterious scars etched onto the other boy's skin.

There was one article of clothing, however, that Remus could not patch up— his school tie. Remus had confided that it had been bought second-hand, as his father had been in Ravenclaw, and that it had already been in bad shape when the Lupins had purchased it. Its red and gold stripes had faded into dull colors barely recognizable as their originals, and it was fraying badly. Every morning, Sirius watched Remus carefully put it on, his movements quick but gentle, as though he were afraid it would break.

Because it was nearly impossible to hide the sorry state the tie was in, Remus did his best to keep as much of it hidden as possible— closing his robes up as high as he could, never adjusting it during class, and taking it off as soon as classes were over.

It always troubled Sirius. He felt that it was wrong for Remus to be so ashamed of the tie. Still, he understood Remus' reluctance to show it to the world; it was a bit like wearing a vulnerability where everyone could see.

Near Christmas, the seams of the tie finally began splitting. Remus tried desperately to repair it, but all the thread did was make it look even more hideous. Sirius witnessed his friend's shoulders slump, the defeated frown take over his face. Sirius' stormy eyes were worried as he watched his friend grow slowly more depressed, all because of the constant reminder of his family's financial status that he was forced to wear around his neck.

Sirius was determined to do something about it. Remus was the kindest person he'd ever met; he didn't deserve to be put down in any way, especially by himself.

Christmas rolled around, and Sirius anxiously waited while Remus opened his gifts. It wasn't much, what Sirius had given him. It had only cost a few galleons, and it would eventually wear, just like the old one. But when Remus opened the slim box and found the brand-new red and gold tie, the genuine grin that lit up his face told Sirius that he'd made the right decision.

Remus looked up at him, shyly beaming. "Sirius, you didn't have to—"

Sirius interrupted him. "I know you said getting new robes every time you tore them would be a waste of money… but mate, it's Christmas."

Remus opened his mouth to protest, but then thought better of it. "Well. Happy Christmas then, Sirius."

Sirius grinned widely. "Happy Christmas, Remus!"