Disclaimer: All characters except for Hollie, Sam, and other non-Rowling characters belong to J.K. Rowling and we are not (unfortunately) getting any profit for this story.
Christmas Parties and Paranoia
Hollie POV
"Katie, they're here!"
"There's no need for you to shout, Matt," Katerina Rose Lupin walked out of her kitchen, wiping her hands on a Christmas themed hand towel, "I heard them appear."
"Hi, Uncle Matt!" I let go of Father's hand and ran down the hall, jumping into Matthew Christopher Lupin's arms, not caring that I was acting like a six year old. This was, after all, my godfather and my favorite uncle, even though we weren't related by blood.
"Well, hello munchkin," Uncle Matt tightened his arms around me, dropping a kiss on my forehead before putting me down on the floor, "I heard you turned twelve two weeks ago."
"You did?" I grinned up at him, knowing this game well although we hadn't played it in three years, "Who told you?"
"Your Aunt Katie," Matt looked over his shoulder at his wife, his brown eyes filled with love everyone but the other couple missed, "She happened to mention your birthday, which was good 'cause I would have forgotten to get you a gift otherwise."
"Well I'm glad she reminded you," I nodded in pleasure as I turned to hug my godmother around the waist, "Thank you for reminding him, Aunt Kat. You know I hate it when people forget my birthday."
"Of course I do," Kat bent over to return the hug, dropping a kiss on my head, "Remus is in the family room, playing chess with Alex."
"Thanks, Aunt Kat," I grinned up at them before turning to run down the hall, anxious to see Remus after the two weeks spent in Texas.
"Hollie!" Remus looked up from the board just in time to catch me as I tackled him, tripping over the chair he was sitting on, both of us landing on the floor laughing, "You just knocked over the board!"
"Thanks a lot, Holls," Alex grinned as he stood up, reaching down to help me to my feet, "Thanks to you, I didn't lose this one…and since I was ahead, I think we should just say I won."
"I don't think so," Remus grumbled as he stood up, righting the table and picking up the pieces, "You may have had me on check but I was about to take your king before Queen Klutz here attacked me and ruined my entire strategy."
"Excuse me," I frowned at Remus, my fists resting on my hips, "I'm not married, so it's Princess Klutz, thank you very much."
Alex and Remus laughed as Dominic walked into the room, hands in his pockets.
"What's so funny?"
"Your sister," Alex chuckled as he reached out to straighten the ribbons on my hair before tugging at a fat curl, "You're looking real pretty today, Hollie."
I couldn't help but blush as I smiled shyly up at him, "Thank you Alex."
He smiled down at me once more before turning around and walking out of the room with Dominic in tow. I sighed as I watched them turn into the hallway before turning to look at Remus, quickly taking stock of what he was wearing.
"Remus," I grinned at his black slacks and maroon sweater vest over a white button down shirt with a muted gold tie, "We match!"
"You have a crush on my brother," Remus stared at me, his light blue eyes wide in surprise, his mouth slightly opened in shock.
"What," I couldn't help the blush that crept up my neck and into my cheeks, "No!"
"Yeah, you do," Remus shook his head as if trying to clear his mind, "You just sighed as he walked away."
"I don't…I just…it's not…keep it to yourself, okay?"
"Of course," Remus looked offended as he moved to sit on the couch, "When have I ever told anyone your secrets?"
"I'm sorry," I sighed as I sat next to him, "I didn't mean that. It's nothing, really. It's just…well, he's older…and he's really cute…"
"Of course he is," Remus gave me a side smile that let me know he was teasing, "He looks like me."
I giggled as I flopped back into the couch, staring at the framed pictures on the wall across the living room, "So how were your first two weeks of Christmas break?"
"Boring," Remus played with the pleat on his slacks as he wiggled deeper into the cushions.
"Really?" I turned to look at him, "I would think you'd have fun being reunited with Zeus."
"Yeah, no. It seems he's forgotten that he used to be my dog."
"Give him a break;" I pushed myself out of the couch and moved across the room towards the black baby grand piano in the corner next to the fireplace, "He was a puppy when you left. He's been with me for three years…naturally, he thinks he's mine."
"Yeah, well," Remus shrugged, feeling uncomfortable about my mentioning the three years we'd been apart, "Are you going to play something?"
"Do I have to play something," I asked as I picked out a random melody with one hand.
"Since no one but Mum and I touch the piano, yeah, you have to play something."
"Uh," I cocked my head to the side, trying to make up my mind on what to play, "It's been a long time since I've played the piano, so give me some time to figure out what to play."
"What happened to your piano lessons?"
"Well, since your mum was my piano teacher, Mum looked for someone else to teach me but she let me quit after a few lessons because I couldn't stop crying."
"I'm sorry," Remus whispered as he stared down at his hands, remembering how miserable he had been the first year away and knowing it had been just as miserable for me, "Do you still sing?"
"Yes," I smiled at him, not wanting him to feel bad, "And I play the guitar."
"You play the guitar? You never showed much interest before whenever Dad and Alex played. Although Dad did try to teach you...actually he tried teaching both of us."
"I always liked hearing them play but it wasn't until I spent the summer down in Texas with my cousins Cade and Reba that I actually got interested in playing. Cade was the one that taught me the basics then my Uncle Jack gave me a guitar before I returned to London. That was the first summer you weren't here."
"And you kept at it?"
"Yeah, I'm absolutely obsessed with my guitar, which is why Mum didn't let me take it with me to Hogwarts this year. It's been an absolute pain for me…literally and figuratively."
"I take it you've lost your calluses," Remus grinned down at me as I placed both hands on the keys of the piano.
"Yes, but no worries. I'll get them back this summer and Mum said I can take my guitar with me next year if I get high marks this year…and I just figured out what I'm going to play."
"What?"
"Both Sides Now by Joni Mitchell."
"Who's that?"
"She's a Muggle musician," I smiled at him as I began the opening chords, "She's English and her music is beautiful. This is one of my favorite songs. I'll even sing the lyrics for you."
"Alright."
Rows and flows of angel hair
And ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere
Looked at clouds that way
But now they only block the sun
They rain and they snow on everyone
So many things I would've done
But clouds got in my way
I've looked at clouds from both sides now
From up and down
And still somehow
Its cloud's illusions I recall
I really don't know clouds
At all
Moons in June and Ferris wheels
The dizzy dancing way that you feel
As every fairy tale comes true
I've looked at love that way
But now it's just another show
And you leave them laughing when you go
And if you can don't let them know
Don't give yourself away
I've looked at love from both sides now
From give and take
And still somehow
Its love's illusions that I recall
I really don't know love
I really don't know love at all
Tears and fears and feeling proud
To say I love you right out loud
Dreams and schemes and circus crowds
I've looked at life that way
Oh but now old friends
They're acting strange
And they shake their heads
And they tell me that I've changed
Well something's lost
And something's gained
In living every day
Oh I've looked at life from both sides now
From win and loose
And still somehow
Its life's illusions I recall
I really don't know life
At all
Its life's illusions that I recall
I really don't know life
I really don't know life at all
"Wow," Remus stared at me, his light blue eyes wide with surprise, "Your singing has gotten better. That was amazing."
"Are you saying my singing was horrid before," I frowned at him playfully, crossing my arms over my chest.
"No, that's not what I said," Remus bumped his shoulder into mine, "Its gotten better…it's matured…so to speak."
"Well, that's what constant practice does…that, and joining a choir."
"Too true…hey, I have your birthday gift," Remus stood up, about to run out of the family room to head upstairs to his room.
"You already sent me my birthday gift," I looked at him in confusion, my eyebrows lowered over my black eyes.
"Yes," Remus looked over his shoulder as he continued to head to the stairs, "That was for your twelfth birthday. This one's for the last three that I missed."
"Oh," I grinned as I stood up to go find my mother, "Good thing I got one for you to make up for the last three birthdays as well."
Remus laughed as he dashed up the stairs and I turned the corner, finding my Mother in the kitchen helping Aunt Kat with dinner, "Mum, where's Remus' gift? The one I asked you to buy?"
"It's on the counter," Jess looked up from the kneading bread and peeling potatoes.
"Thanks Mum," I grinned at her before I turned to Aunt Kat, "It smells great in here by the way."
I grabbed the wrapped box on the counter and dashed out of the kitchen, calling an apology over my shoulder as my Mother reminded me not to run inside the house. Remus was already in the family room, sitting on the couch, a gaily wrapped gift with a silver bow in his hand.
I plopped myself down next to him, kicking off my shoes before tucking my feet under me.
"So…want to open yours first?" Remus smiled as he handed me his gift and taking mine with his free hand.
"We can open them at the same time," I grinned up at him as he nodded before we both turned to our gifts, pulling off the bows and ripping into the paper.
I opened the lid to a black velvet box to find a gold bracelet. Gasping, I pulled it out. The chain was a simple thin braid of gold that held two small hearts held together by a small diamond.
I looked up in shock at Remus just to find him staring at me with a similar look as he held the black leather portfolio filled with quality music sheet paper, a golden eagle feather quill and erasable ink.
"Remus –"
"Hollie –"
We both laughed as we tried to thank the other at the same time. Shrugging simultaneously, he placed his gift to the side as I held out my right wrist, giving him the bracelet so he could put it on.
"This is really pretty," I smiled at him as he placed the bracelet over my wrist, struggling with the clasp for a few seconds before getting it to lock.
"I wanted to get you something special," Remus grinned as he turned back to his gift, "And I'm glad I did because what you got me is great."
"I knew that you were into music and I just thought that maybe, by this point, you might have started working on writing music of your own."
"Well, thank you. This is the best gift I've ever gotten," Remus leaned in to hug me, his arms closing around my shoulders as mine closed around his waist.
"Thank you for my bracelet. It's the most beautiful gift anyone's ever given me," I hugged him tighter before pulling back and kissing his cheek, smiling up into his blue eyes.
3RD Person
Matt and Chris walked towards the dining room, talking about the ministry and the situation concerning that psychotic sorcerer known as Lord Voldemort and his followers. The possibility of the ministry putting a stop to their antics was diminishing quickly.
"It's getting really bad, Chris," Matt ran his hand through his brown hair as they approached the family room, "These Death Eaters are starting to get worse as time goes by. We need to catch this guy and his followers or things are going to get insane."
"We'll find him, Matt," Chris tugged at his tie even though he knew his wife Jess would make him straighten it as soon as she saw him, "We just have to find a way to get a step ahead of them."
As they walked by the family room, Chris looked into it to see his daughter and Remus hugging. He smiled as they continued walking, nudging Matt so he could get a quick glimpse before they were no longer in sight.
"You think those two will ever get together," Matt asked with a smile as he stopped outside the dining room, leaning against the wall.
"Well, we both know that it all depends on me breaking that stupid family curse."
"So there really is a curse, uh?" Matt pushed away from the wall, stuffing his hands into his pants' pockets.
"I did some research while you were in Switzerland and found out that it is true. It was some prejudice uncle about five generations back that put the curse on the family line. I've been working on breaking the curse, especially after I saw how hard it was for Hollie to be separated from Remus," Chris couldn't help give Matt a stern glare although he no longer blamed him for having disappeared with his family for three years.
"Believe me, it was no picnic for Remus either. He was miserable without Hollie around…although I think it was a good idea to separate them for a while. They were like brother and sister by the time we left," Matt arched an eyebrow at Chris, knowing his best friend and Auror partner would understand where he was going with this.
"And now they just might be able to see each other as something more," he nodded as the door to the kitchen opened and their wives walked out with food stuff to take into the dining room, "But that's something we will talk about later."
"Talk about what?" Kat asked as she moved towards the dining room with gravy and mashed potatoes in hand, her light blue eyes, identical to Remus', gazing speculatively at Matt and Chris.
"Work stuff," Matt shrugged as he tried not to look guilty. He knew that Kat was still, after eleven years, irritated over what she called the idiotic mistake he and Chris had done concerning their younger children. So he knew bringing up a possible marriage between Remus and Hollie, his and Chris' biggest hope, might possibly cause a strained dinner and a later scolding.
"Straighten your tie, darling," Jess frowned at her husband as she walked behind Kat, baskets of freshly baked rolls in her hands.
"Yes, sweetheart," Chris grinned at Matt as he straightened his tie, "Would you like us to help you bring out the food from the kitchen?"
"No," Kat walked out of the dining room, poking Matt on the side to make him straighten up, "But you can go and get the kids. Dominic and Alex are up in Alex's room and I believe Remus and Hollie are still in the family room."
"I'll go get Dominic and Alex," Matt leaned down to kiss Kat before heading towards the stairs.
"I guess that means I'll get the younger ones," Chris turned towards the family room but not before reaching out to pinch his wife's derrière.
"Christopher Matthew Belledrex!" Jess swatted his hand in outrage but the smile on her face and twinkle in her bright blue eyes gave her away.
Chris laughed as he walked down the hallway, turning into the family room to find Hollie and Remus still on the couch, talking to each other in hush tones. He really did hope that something developed between those two…nothing would give him more pleasure than for his daughter to become a Lupin.
Alex's POV
"So they'll be scouts at the next game," Dominic looked up from the cards, his bright blue eyes, identical to his mother's, filled with barely contained excitement.
"There are scouts at every game, every year," I put down my next card, leaning back against the head of my bed, which is where we were sitting while playing a simple card game, "But they'll be inviting players of their choice to the general try-outs."
"General try-outs," Dominic played his next card as he stretched out his crossed legs.
"That's where we'll meet managers and coaches. They'll choose players to try-out for their teams after school let's out. So if we make it into a team, we start training within days of team try-outs," I played my next card, smiling at Dominic's groan as he realized he lost…again, "But we do need to get into the general try-outs first."
"That shouldn't be a problem for you. You're one of the best Seekers Hogwarts has had in a long time," Dominic threw the rest of his cards into the middle of the bed, his blue eyes trained on me. I knew what he wanted me to say and I had no problem accommodating him.
"Oh don't act like you don't know you're one hell of a Beater," I grabbed all the cards and straightened them out before shuffling them for a new game, "You're one of the best Hogwarts has ever seen…except, of course, when Evie's in the stands during practice."
"I wasn't staring at Evie. You must have gotten faint and fell off your broom," Dominic grinned at me as he picked up his cards.
"Yeah, like that will ever happen. Why won't you ask her out? She obviously likes you."
"My sister."
I couldn't help but laugh as I put down the first card, "Blame your sister, that's real manlike."
"No, I'm not kidding," Dominic put down his responding card, his brows lowered in consternation, "I played a little trick on her –"
"The Sorting."
"Right," Dominic watched me as I placed down my next card, grimacing because he knew he would be losing this game too, "She hasn't gotten back at me and I don't want Evie in the line of fire, so to speak, when she finally does. I keep hoping that maybe she's forgotten –"
"Your sister forget revenge? Yeah right."
"Exactly," Dominic looked at his cards to try to plan out his next move, "So I am being slightly paranoid about it."
"Well, your sister does have a long memory when it comes to people who have wronged her," I couldn't help but chuckle as memories of past paybacks came to mind, "But have you ever wondered if maybe making you wait for payback is her payback?"
"What do you mean," Dominic gave me a quizzical look as he dropped another card. I knew he was really concentrating on what I was saying because the card he had chosen was utter crap.
"She knows you like Evie…you talk to her during every meal and I've seen your sister look over at you. Maybe she's using your fear of payback against you by making you wait and therefore, you're not dating Evie like you want to."
Dominic scoffed as he watched me trump his card with my next one, "She's not that smart…or is she?"
"She is Uncle Chris' daughter…remember, she not only looks like him, she thinks like him."
"Son of a –" Dominic threw the rest of his cards into the pile in defeat, "You win. I can't believe she would actually be that mean. Revenge is one thing, but leaving you paranoid and waiting for it…that's just cruel."
"That's your sister," I laughed as my bedroom door opened. We both turned to see Dad standing there, a grin on his face.
"Dinner's ready."
I grinned at him as I jumped off the bed, quickly putting on my shoes, Dominic doing the same beside me, "Thanks Dad. We'll be right behind you."
"One thing, though."
I looked up from lacing my shoes at Dominic, "What?"
"My sister doesn't look over at our table to watch me talk to Evie," Dominic gave me a smile that was closer to a mocking sneer and I knew what was coming, "It's you she's watching. She's got a crush on you."
"I know," I sighed as I straightened up and walked out of my room, followed by Dominic who was grinning like the git he was, "Why do you think I don't date anyone?"
"Oh, so now you're blaming her for your lack of a social life?"
"Your sister's a cute kid," I looked over at my shoulder as Dominic arched an eyebrow in response to my comment, "She's just a little…"
"Frightening?"
"Right," I shrugged as I descended the stairs, "I don't think it's fair for a girl to end up scared shitless by your sister just because I asked her out on a date."
Dominic couldn't help but laugh as he clambered down the steps behind me, "We are a pair of gutless prats. Do you realize that we are allowing a twelve year old dictate our social lives? What kind of sick power is that?"
"The kind of power your sister would love to know she had over us, but we aren't going to let her know," I glared over my shoulder at him, "And you are not allowed to tease her about me, either. I'll kick your arse to Hogwarts and back if you do."
"Oh don't worry about me teasing precious little Hollie," I frowned at the mocking tone in Dominic's voice, "I think she's gotten it into her head to bring me down because of what Sam did. I don't want to add another dark mark against me."
"Ah, yes," I laughed as we turned the corner into the hallway, "I've been expecting her to do something about that…unfortunately, I think I may be included in that payback."
"Why would you be?"
"Because I have the misfortune of being your best friend and not hers."
AN: We hope you enjoyed the different point of views and the introduction of Hollie and Remus' parents. If you stay tuned, you will discover they play major roles later on in the story.
