Chapter two.
Sirius spent the night in comfort. His doggy mind was satisfied to have a full stomach and a warm bed. His mind did wander briefly to his friends and what they might be doing.
The house with no hint of Christmas felt alien to him, as if he were on another planet. James would no doubt be sat beside a toasty fire with his close family, roasting chestnuts and watching some sappy muggle movie. Lily would be wrapping presents that she had bought that day, a mess of paper surrounding her. She really was hopeless at wrapping presents. And Remus, he would be curled up in a quiet corner indulging his annual Dickens consumption, A Christmas Carol glued to his hands his eyes never leaving the page. Of course without Sirius there would be no raucous carol singing. There would probably be no never-ending supply of heavily buttered pop corn at James's. No tangle of ribbons at Lily's. And certainly no fun to speak of at Remus's. What on earth had he been thinking? To leave all that, for this. He had abandoned his friends at this, the most special time of year.
He debated leaving, transforming back to his usual form and slipping out of the back door. The blankets were too soft however, and snuggled deep within he found it hard to muster up the enthusiasm to save his friends from their hopeless attempts at frivolity. They'd manage one night without him, he'd be a far better festive hero in the morning, after a good nights sleep.
When he did wake the next day he wasn't entirely sure that he wasn't still dreaming. The smells that filled the air were phenomenal, making his nose twitch with excitement. He could smell a goose, albeit a small one, roasting in the oven. A pan was on the stove, steaming the windows up and giving him a tremendous cause to drool. Mulled wine. Merlin be praised for the wonder that was mulled wine
"Ah you're up I see. Well I suppose you deserved a lie in. I've been out and got us some grub. Thought I'd best make the effort now that I have company for the holidays." Delyth said as she turned off the stove, leaving the wine to cool slightly.
Well that settled it for Sirius. He was company. Delyth had bought food especially. He couldn't leave now, and let it all got to waste. It would be rude, most un-gentlemanly. First and foremost Sirius was always a gentleman, especially when it came to food. He'd help her eat all she had first, then get back and rescue his friends from their lonely Christmas's without him.
"We've got goose tonight, thought I'd give it a whirl. I've never had it before. I'll bet you'll enjoy it eh? You'd eat anything wouldn't you? And tomorrow I've got a ham. We'll boil that up and then slow roast it with a honey and cider baste, like my dad used to cook. And of course I got a turkey. He's not very big, poor chap. But I couldn't really afford a big one. Besides it's just me and you. I'm not sure we'll get through all the food before the New Near. I ended up with a truck load, what with the vegetables and the puddings. Can't have Christmas without Christmas pudding, can we?"
Sirius licked his lips in expectation. It was going to be a feast. It almost sounded better than the Hogwarts Christmas feast, but he'd reserve judgement until he had sampled both. It was only fair to Delyth.
"Oh and a guy's dropping the tree round later. It's a pretty pathetic sort really. Last one on the lot. I was lucky to get it. They were about to put it through the chipper. But it'll suit us just fine. So we can decorate that later. What d'ya say Blaidd, fancy getting into the Christmas spirit?"
Sirius barked, jumped and wagged his tail, giving him the look that he was about to take off any second. Now this was more like it. This was what he was after, someone who really knew how to celebrate. He'd found the woman of his dreams, his own Mrs Christmas. She had obviously been saving all her Christmas cheer to really have a blow out.
"Right then, what we need is some music. So what do you say, traditional or something a bit funky?"
Delyth rummaged about in the bags littered along the counter tops, and pulled out two c.d.s. Sirius jumped up, resting his front paws on the marble effect surface. How could he choose?
"We've got some male voice choir singing traditional Christmas carols. Or this mixed one. It's got Rockin' Robin, and Lonely this Christmas. Oh and Santa Baby. Should be good for dancing round the kitchen."
The dog jumped back down onto four legs and began to chase his tail. He loved dancing around the kitchen to Rockin' Robin. Who didn't?
"Dancing round the kitchen it is."
The house was filled with music, and finally some Christmas cheer. Sirius was having a whale of a time, scampering round the kitchen as Delyth cooked. He was of course helping. He tried every spoonful of food she offered him, checking that it was fully cooked and not poisoned by some evil, invisible Christmas fairy. Occasionally he tried to sing along to the music but the effect was sadly lacking. While his human voice was naturally beautiful and loved by all, his dog voice made Delyth cringe several times.
"Ok pup I think you need to calm down a bit. You'll have the neighbours complaining."
There was a ring at the door bell, swiftly followed by some very loud knocking.
"See I told you." she said, wiping her hands on a tea towel.
She made her way to the door, her company for the holiday period followed with his tail between his legs. A sorrowful expression crossed the proud dog's face. It was Christmas, he couldn't help getting excited. Delyth opened the door, ready to apologise profusely to her neighbour.
"Got a tree here for Delyth Evans."
"Oh great, could you bring it in?"
In a short time the tree was set up in the corner of the living room. Delyth hadn't been lying, it was a pitiful looking thing. Sirius decided to give it a magical helping hand as soon as he could. He doubted the thing would last the week if he didn't.
"Right, I know you're a dog and its only your natural instinct but if I find you cocking your leg against my tree I'll have you fixed, you hear?"
Sirius looked from the tree to the woman in front of him. Truth be told he'd been holding in the urge to go for some time now. He headed for the back door.
"Where you going?" Delyth called.
He sat in front of the door, whining and scratching at it. Delyth soon followed.
"Okay that's strange. It's like you understood me. I mean I know you understand me but….weird. Okay out you go then. Let me know when you want in again."
She opened the door and Sirius burst out, barely waiting for the door to open fully. He wouldn't be long, the ground beneath his feet was still crunchy despite the appearance of the midday sun. his panting breath came out in clouds. He was sure his business would freeze on leaving his body. He finished quickly, not wanting to be out any longer than he had to.
Once again he scratched at the door, but there was no reply. He padded along to the window, trying to see where Delyth was and why she was ignoring him but there was no sign of her. He went back to the door and did his favourite trick. He jump up at the door, his right paw hitting the handle. It bounced up, not opening. He tried again, this time keeping his weight on the handle. Bingo, it opened up. He trotted back in feeling immensely proud of himself just as Delyth came back into the kitchen.
"What on earth?"
Sirius just wagged his tail as he nudged the door shut with his nose
"You know I'm beginning to wonder about you Blaidd. You're way too clever for your own good. I suppose that's how you got in last night right?"
Sirius barked and nodded his head.
"And now you're nodding at me. I should put you on television. I'd make a mint." she said jokingly. "Come and see what I've found."
She patted her thigh for the dog to follow her and walked out of the kitchen, heading for the front room. On the rug in the middle of the room was a battered, old, brown suitcase. Delyth knelt in front of it and flicked the locks. As she lifted the lid dust flew into the air, causing Sirius to sneeze.
"Been a long time since I had these out. All my old Christmas decorations, from when I was a kid. Let's decorate this tree, maybe it'll look a bit better with some baubles and tinsel."
Sirius yipped in agreement. After eating Christmas food, decorating the tree was his favourite festive activity. Not that he could actually join in this time. Delyth was good enough to ask him his opinion however. She even let him choose what should go on the top of the tree: a raggedy angel or a battered star. Sirius chose the star, the angel only had one eye and hardly filled him with joy to look at. It wasn't long before the tree was fully dressed, far from improving it, it now just looked bedraggled and too small for it's fittings.
"I know they're not much cop. I had to rescue them from the dump. My mum chucked them after my dad died. She hates Christmas now. Never used to. We used to have so much fun at Christmas. We'd all be together, and we'd be happy. It was like out of those old films. Where everyone loves everyone else, and it always snows at the end. It's not like that anymore. I'll have to move again soon. Shame really. I thought I could be happy here."
Delyth stood back and looked at the tree. A small tear was pricking the corner of her eye.
"What a bunch we are. You, me and this tree. I'd feel sorry for us if I was anyone else. Oh well, the goose should be done. Let's eat Blaidd. I got gallons of ice cream at the shops, we'll have some for pudding later. I could do with some comfort food."
They sat on the floor in front of the tree to eat their supper, having had nothing else all day they were both famished though neither had realised it until they started eating. The night started to draw in, the world outside the front room window grew progressively darker. Before long nothing lit the small room but the old fairy lights, most of their covers were broken and the colours were harsh all pink and orange. The street light outside did little to improve things. The pale glow it cast barely reached the window, all it lit was a small semi circle behind the couch.
Delyth soon feel asleep where she sat, leaning slightly to the side with her back against the couch. Sirius moved behind the couch and pulled the curtains shut with his teeth. He nudged the switch of the fairy lights with his nose so that they switched off, not wanting the already miserable tree to catch fire because of faulty electrics. Finally he pulled a blanket from the back of the couch, and tucked it around Delyth. He lay down at her side, his body heat would keep her warm if the blanket didn't. Outside he could hear the far off voices of Christmas carollers down the street. One male voice rose above the rest, singing his favourite.
"Silent night, holy night."
Sirius closed his eyes and let the voice send him off to sleep, the woman beside him gently snoring.
Forgot to mention that Blaidd means wolf in Welsh xo