Christmas is a time for family

A/N: sorry if you are getting notified twice about this chapter, I had to reuplode it as it wasn't showing up for me! Anyhow how you enjoy!

Lily stood watching the scene before her in horror. Never before had she felt herself be so shaken to her core. She blinked a few times, pinched her side but the image before her stayed the same.

She had woken up that morning feeling refreshed and happy. She had been home for two days now and was loving every minute. Christmas at the Evans house was always lively. They celebrated like no other family Lily knew, in fact, Lily was helping her mother prepare for a party that would be starting in the evening.

Lily jumped out of bed, brushed her teeth and made her way downstairs to breakfast when the horror struck her. She had been blissfully unaware when she climbed down the steps towards kitchen that morning. Happily living her life when she opened the door to the lounge. As she loomed towards the kitchen she heard a strange noise.

Thinking nothing of it, Lily pushed it out her mind and opened the door to the kitchen. There she saw her sister being practically mauled to death.

Lily watched in horror as her sister engaged in a heavy looking make out session with, what she could only describe as, the giant squid that lives in the black lake back at Hogwarts.

Lily's surprised yelp seemed catch Petunia's attention as they locked eyes and she quickly detached herself from the squid.

Lily, now having a further look at the boy could see that he was a head shorter that Petunia. He was heavy set and had a very red, blotchy face. Looking closer Lily could make out the beginnings of a pubescent moustache gracing his top lip. He wore a light blue and maroon Christmas Jumper with a snowman popping out in white pom poms. Lily locked eyes with him to notice that her was giving her a very annoyed look, possible at the fact that he was being interrupted.

'Lily!' Petunia yelped as she blushed.

There was a silence in the room where Lily found herself trying to look anywhere but at her sister.

'Where is mum and dad.' Lily asked examining a porcelain cow sugar bowl she had bought for her mother when she was five.

'Shopping.' Petunia answered. 'We where just about to have breakfast.'

Petunia seemed to have decided that she would rather not dwell on the past five minutes and try and move on. Lily on the other hand could not, for the life of her, get the image out of her mind. Figuring it would be rude to run away up to her room till her parents came home, Lily joined Petunia and the boy who still seemed to be annoyed at her, at the table.

'Lily, this is my boyfriend, Vernon Dudley.' Petunia introduced. 'Vernie, this is my sister.'

Lily had to give all her effort not to gag a the nick name 'Vernie'.

Vernon grunted his hello and nodded his head towards Lily. Lily returned the nod and managed a small smile. Lily glanced at Petunia who was now looking at her imploringly as she subtly jerked her head towards Vernon who was now filling his bowl with cereal.

Lily knew that she shouldn't judge a book by its cover. Her mother had always told her that it's easy to jump to conclusions about someone. To keep your first impressions. But you should always look for the good in people, even if you doubt that there isn't any there.

'How did you two meet?' Lily asked as she reached for the cereal, attempting polite convocation.

'Well, you know I did that tutoring last summer? Vernie was struggling with his algebra so I came to help him and.' Petunia stopped and looked into Vernon's eyes who looked back at her. 'It was love at first sight.' She finished dreamily.

'What about you.' Vernon said through a mouthful of cereal. 'Do you go to boarding school or something.'

Lily glanced over to Petunia who glared at her and shook her head. Not that Lily was planning to tell Vernon that she was a witch, although she was curious to see what his reaction would be, she decided to make something up.

'Oh yeah, boarding school. It's in Scotland.' Lily said, thinking it best to stay with a moderate sense of the truth, just in case he brought it up again.

'Scotland! What the bloody hell would you go all the way up there for, they have plenty of schools here.' Vernon grunted as she scrunched his bulbous nose in displeasure.

'It's not like any school around here. It's for...for artists.' Lily thought quickly.

'Drawing eh?' Vernon replied raising his eyebrows like he didn't think much of it.

Lily resisted scowling at him as she ate her own breakfast. She didn't want to get into an argument and she would hold her tongue for Tunie's sake.

'Oh Vernie! You're spilling on your jumper.' Petunia said in an amused tones as she grabbed a tea cloth and dabbed away the remnants of his fallen breakfast.

Thankfully, by the time breakfast was finished with, Mr and Mrs Evans had brought back their mountains of shopping. Finding a good excuse to get away from her sister and Vernie, Lily opted to help her father hang up fairy lights outside.

However, if you where to look at the Evans's house you would think that it really didn't need any more lights. In actual fact, It didn't need any more fairy light twenty packs ago. But Her father loved Christmas more than anything. He was one of those people that would never stop thinking about it.

'So, Tunie has a boyfriend.' Lily smiled at her farther as he hammered in the hooks on the wooden overhang above their front door.

'Yes.' Mr Evans said grinning at his daughter. 'He seems to make her happy, all a father can hope for. What about you, any boyfriends I should know about?'

'Ew, no.' Lily said as she scrunched up her face. She was sure she would never want to date or kiss a boy after watching Petunia.

'Good! I don't think I could handle loosing you as well.' Mr Evans laughed, although there was a hint of sadness in his face.

'Losing me?' Lily frowned. She didn't understand what her father could mean, it wasn't like Tunie was moving out. University was still a way off and it wasn't as if Vernon hand proposed to her.

'Hold this will you.' Mr Evans said passing her the hammer as he draped the lights across the hooks.

'You'll get it more when you have kids of your own Lils. But Petunia's growing up so fast. I still remember when she used to fit in the crook of my arm. Now shes almost finished secondary school. She's got a boyfriend. The next thing you know, she'll be wanting to move away from home and she won't need her dad to look after her.' Mrs Evan spoke. 'That's why I'm thankful that I also have you, at least I can have a few more years at being dad.'

'But you'll always be dad.' Lily smiled at him.

Mr Evans attached in the last bit of fairy lights and turned to his daughter and hugged her. 'Thanks sweetie, it means a lot. You and Petunia are both my greatest accomplishments. I love you both very much.'

Lily hugged her father and smiled. She found it so easy to go day to day at Hogwarts not think about how much she missed the simple warmth of a hug.

'You know, I think we could squeeze in one more set of lights.' Mr Evans said seriously as he looked above them. 'Wait here, I'll get some more hooks.'

Lily watched her father leave, she decided she wanted to be just as eccentric as him when it came to Christmas. It made everything so much more enjoyable.

'Brought you some hot chocolate.' Petunia spoke bringing Lily out of her thoughts.

'Thanks Tunie!' Lily said excitedly as she reached for the warm mug. She also glanced behind Tunie's shoulder and was relieved to see no giant squid leering behind.

'So?' Petunia asked smiling.

'So what?' Lily looked back at her sister.

'What do you think of Vernon?' Petunia grinned. 'I know you don't know him like I do yet, but I want your honest opinion.'

Lily mulled in her mind back and forth between telling Tunie the truth. On the one hand she didn't really want to be in the habit of lying and she couldn't stop herself from thinking that Tunie deserved someone so much better. On the other hand, things with her sister had been going better than ever and she knew once she stood against Vernon she could lose her sister too.

Lily opened her mouth not even sure what she was going to say. 'He's...he's-'

...

'All wrong for you James!' Mrs Potter fretted as she paced back and forth holing a letter with a Hogwarts crest on it. 'I don't want you seeing that boy again! Do you hear me!'

'Mum you're being dramatic.' James rolled his eyes which seemed to rile up Mrs Potter even more.

'Am I now! Do you know how many letters I've had from Hogwarts about all the detentions you been getting. SIX. Six letters and it's only been three months! It's because we let you be friends with him. He's a bad influence.' Mrs Potter said angrily

'Sirius is my friend! I would have been in trouble with or without him so it doesn't make a difference!' James argued back.

'James! Do you even know the kind of family he's from! The Black family have always been supporters of pureblood-' Mrs potter shot back before James interrupted.

'Sirius isn't like that! He doesn't believe in all that crap!' James yelled.

'Don't use that language James! You have no idea what that boy is capable of, the Black family are manipulative! He could be getting you into all sorts of danger. Next thing you know he'll get you killed!' Mrs Potter proclaimed.

'I think if he wanted off me, he'd of done it by now.' James retorted with slight amusement.

'This is no joke young man! I don't want you seeing that boy again.' Mrs Potter said scowling.

'You can't make me ditch my best friend! You don't even know him. I thought you raised me not to be prejudice against others.' James accused.

'Yes I did. But the path your going down now James, you're going to be expelled within the next month.' Mrs potter shot back.

James scowled at his mother and turned on his heel and out the living room slamming the door behind him. He could hear his mother stomp off in frustration well. James climbed up the stairs to his room slamming that door as well to get rid of his rage. He was furious at his mother. He new logically that she was just worried about him, but right now he didn't want to see logic.

There was nothing, not even his mother, that could split up him and Sirius. They where best mates, they helped each other, they laughed with each other and they looked out for one another. James simply couldn't see why his mother couldn't see that.

James took his pillow off his bead and chucked it across the room, feeling the anger start to seep away. He finally huffed and fell back onto his bed and gazed at his collection of posters. From Mathew march to Florence Green to his newest one. Henry Davidson, seeker on the Ballycastle Bats. Sirius had gotten him the poster for him birthday.

James's mind drifted to Sirius. Thinking about the Christmas he was probably having. When James arrived home he was greeted by a shower of hugs by his mother and father. A bright and warm decorated house. Fresh Christmas cookies on a plate. It had been heaven. He wondered if the Black family even celebrated Christmas.

The thought of Sirius caused James to get out of bed and walk towards his desk. He wrote out his letter being careful to omit anything about his mothers determination to break them apart. The last thing he needed to worry about was losing his friend.

'You all set Jupiter?' James said tickling his owl on its neck as it gave him an affectionate nip on his hand. James tied the letter to her foot and opened his window. She took off and flew off into the distance. James watched until she was out of sight before sitting back down at his desk and resting his head on his hand and staring off into space.

xxx

It wasn't until dinner time that James finally made his way back downstairs for dinner. He was still royally annoyed at his mother and if he wasn't so hungry from missing lunch he would have happily stayed up in his room.

He heard his stomach rumble as the smell of a roasted ham hit his nostrils. He quickly jumped the last few steps and walked towards the dining room.

'Mia, don't you think you're taking this too far.' Mr Potter spoke.

James stopped short before opening the door and listened.

'I just want to make sure our son is safe. I know I'm being...I don't know.' Mrs Potter sighed.

'James will do what he wants to. That's how he's always been. As for the detentions, I know you like to think the sun shines out his backside but James has always been a trouble maker. Need I remind you of spiked punch incident.' Mr Potter chuckled.

Mrs Potter chuckled as well. Both looked up when James pushed the door open.

'Sirius is a good person. I know his family are...questionable, but you can't choose who your family is. You can choose who your friends are.' James spoke.

Mrs Potter smiled at her son. 'Very wise James. Who told you that?'

'You did.' James grinned back at her as he pulled a chair back and sat down. 'Look's delicious!'

'Smells it too.' Mr Potter smiled looking between his wife and son. 'Merry Christmas you two!'

James felt his spirits rise once more as he spoke. 'Merry-'

...

'Christmas.' Peter spoke to himself as he sat at the grand dining table. The table it's self would easily fit twenty guests. Peter sat at one end and looked at the empty seat at the other end where his father would commonly sit.

Peter looked away and out the window at the falling snow slowly cascading down from the sky, creating an untouched snowy blanket. The house was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. It had been years and years since the house had been noisy on Christmas day. When his mother was alive, everything was more lively.

Peter dug into the only breakfast he could make for himself. The hired help where always given Christmas off, and so peter grabbed his toast and ate by himself. For as long as he could remember, there had always been people to make his food for him. He had never been required to even step into a kitchen.

Peter once again looked across the table and at his fathers empty chair. The loneliness and sadness was almost too much to bare. The last thing he could remember was his father saying he was popping over to see a friend on Christmas eve and he would be back shortly. Now it was Christmas day and instead of being beyond excited, Peter felt isolated. He felt like the frozen snow that surrounded the earth.

He had opened his presents, one by one that morning. Made notes of who gave him what for the thank you notes that he would write later and sat by himself. He missed his friends. He missed Hogwarts. Even though he was a poor student and didn't have any amazing skills. There was one thing Peter never was. Lonely.

Peter finished up his toast and grabbed the plate walking towards the kitchen. He cleaned his plate and put it away safely before walking to the lounge. His house was very large. There where thirteen bedrooms all together three different sized dining rooms. Many bathrooms to choose from. But the house always got cold. Since Peter was underage he couldn't simply perform a warming charm. He looked at the fire place but dismissed the idea completely. There was no one to light it and Peter didn't trust himself to try. He wouldn't even know where to begin.

Peter let the day flow past him. He played with some of his new toys. He even started his homework. At every small noise he would snap his head up to see if his father had returned but was always left disappointed.

It wasn't until the evening that any sign of life came to the house. Peter was cuddled under a blanket from his room dreaming about Hogwarts and wishing time would go faster. A clang sound echoed in the rood and Peter found himself awake in the living room that was now dark. He had slept most of the day away.

*CRASH*

The alarm bells in Peters mind started to ringing as he heard the noise. He hopped of the couch and walked towards the foyer. The noise was now paired with a grunt of pain and laughter.

Mr Pettigrew had attempted to apparate into his home when he fell onto a expensive looking vase. The vase cracked under his weight and he felt the sharp pottery slice his hand. He grunted in pain but in his inhibited state began to laugh at himself.

Peter watched as his father stumbled about. The blood that dripped from his hand now staining the cream carpet and making Peter feel queasy.

In his father's drunken state he tried again to make it further into the house as Peter watched. Peter was unsure as to why he wasn't helping his father. Perhaps he was scared of what his father would do? Or perhaps he didn't feel like helping him. Peter had put up with a lot without ever a complaint.

Peter chose to stand still, still shrouded by the darkness. He watched as his father stumbled forward and lost his footing. His body didn't even try to prevent injury as he smacked into the ground.

As if being snapped back into reality, Peter leapt forward to aid his father who was now cursing to himself as he gripped his wrist.

Peter looked at him worriedly. He tried to get him to stand so he could get him to his room but as he did he noticed his father slipping out of conciseness. Finally the light sound of snoring filled the room as Peter gazed at his father.

'Dad?' Peter said slightly alarmed. 'Can you hear me-'

...

'Dad?' Remus spoke surprised.

Remus had woken up early Christmas morning like he did every year. He would race down to the tree to gaze at his presents. His mother would always be there sitting in her chair smiling at him. She would have two cups of earl grey tea ready to start the festivities.

However this Christmas was different. When Remus had gotten to the tree he noticed his mother was not there and instead of two cups of tea there were three.

Remus had gazed at them in confusion when his mother's voice spoke.

'Happy Christmas darling.' She said softly. Remus was about to wish her a merry Christmas as well when he noticed the figure standing behind her.

xxx

Lyall Lupin looked exactly as Remus remembered him. He was tall. He had dark sandy blond hair. His face was kind and his eyes a deep chestnut brown. He used to be a Professor, years ago, and he still dressed like one. He wore his usual tweed jacket and brown waist coat. His trousers where black and had a rip in the knee where he had likely fallen down and his shoes where worn. One having, what looked like, a roll of spellotape around it.

Remus ran to his father and hugged him. They hugged each other for the longest time. Almost making up for years of missing each other. Mrs Lupin wept unashamedly at the sight of her husband and her son.

Remus was filled with questions. Why was his father here? Was he here to stay this time? Could finally have a life where his father was included and not just a stranger who popped by every month to make sure the villages didn't hear his transformations?

'I'll get some breakfast ready.' Mrs Lupin smiled as she squeezed Remus's shoulder.

Remus let go of his father and the two stared at each other. Taking in every detail.

'You've grown up so much, Remus.' Lyall said as he looked at his son.

'That happens when you don't see people for months.' Remus replied without thinking. There was no malice or anger behind his words but as soon as he said them he watched the smile of his father's face fall and look to the ground.

'Sorry, I didn't mean-' Remus said quickly.

'No. You never have to apologise Remus. It's my fault.' Lyall spoke quietly.

Remus watched his father walk to the chair beside them and collapse into it. Thinking of what his mother did for him when he was upset. Remus reached for the cup of tea on the table and walked over to his father.

'Here.' Remus said as he passed his father the tea. The two boys sat across from each other and drank in silence. Remus reached into his pocket and pulled out a rapper of plain chocolate. He popped a square into his mouth and offered the rapper to his father.

'Do you always have chocolate on you?' Lyall asked his son amused. He took the remaining chocolate and ate it.

Remus nodded his head as he continued to suck at the chocolate in his mouth. 'Professor Dumbledore told me too. It helps.'

'Smart man. How is school going?' Mr Lupin asked.

'Great. I got top marks on my Defence against the dark arts assignment. I'm not too good at potions thought.' Remus spoke.

The two discussed every subjects at Hogwarts. Lyall told his son about the time he got soaked by the giant squid in the lake. Remus told his father about the pranks he and his friends would get up too. Mrs Lupin soon called them into breakfast and they ate together as a family.

They spent Christmas laughing together. Opening presents and having numerous cups of tea. Mrs Lupin cooked the dinner whilst Remus and his father played one on one Quidditch outside. The snow how begun again forcing them back inside shivering and dripping wet.

The evening was peaceful. After gorging themselves on third and fourth helpings of Christmas dinner, the Lupins relaxed by the fire in their sitting room.

Remus trotted downstairs after fetching a blanket when he heard his mother and father talking to each other.

'At least wait till he's asleep Lyall.' Mrs Lupin said sadly.

'He's not a baby anymore. He deserves a goodbye when I leave.' Mr Lupin argued.

'You don't understand what it does to him when you leave. He's not the same, for weeks I watch him. Every time you go he-we both wonder if you are ever coming back to us.' Mrs Lupin confessed.

'I have to go darling. There's a man in Deveron who studies werewolves. He might have some answers for me.' Mr Lupin replied.

'But you just got here. It's not like the man's going anywhere.' Mrs Lupin spoke. Remus could plainly hear the plea in her words.

'It's my fault our son has to live with this curse, Hope. I can't just rest if there is any chance of finding a way to fix my mistake.' Mrs Lupin said resoundingly.

Remus looked at the watch on his arm. His father had bought it for him for Christmas and he loved it. It was similar to one he had seen Professor Dumbledore wearing the first day he met him. Remus had told his father about the watch over a year ago, it had meant so much to him that his father had remembered such a trivial thing. Only when Remus looked at the watch not he felt a queasy swirl in his stomach.

Remus peeled the watch off his wrist and walked towards his parents.

'I don't want it.' He spoke as he voice broke. Mr and Mrs Lupin whipped their heads around to look at their son startled. 'I don't want another reminder of you leaving.'

'Remus...' Mr Lupin said sadly.

'You said you where leaving.' Remus said shortly. He tried his best to keep the tears from his eyes but could stop the sorrow he felt. He wanted his father to stay. He didn't care about his curse. It was his to deal with.

'You know why-' Lyall started.

'Yes. I know why. I know that you think I deserve to be normal and you want to do everything you can to make that happen. But it's not your fault I'm like this-'Remus ranted.

'But it is my fault! I'm the reason you got bitten! If I hadn't said those awful words...you wouldn't of had to suffer the consequences' Mr Lupin choked.

'Lyall.' Mrs Lupin said cautiously.

'What?' Remus said as he looked between his mother and father. Remus had very little memory of that fateful day years ago. He was five at the time, playing in the garden by himself. He heard a noise coming from the trees just beyond. He remembered clearly thinking it must be his father retuning from work at the ministry. He had walked over to the noise not to find his father but a large scary looking man. The man had pounced on him.

His memory of what had happened next was hazy. He remembered the pain and the blood. He remembered his mother screaming and his father suddenly appearing and cursing the monster away. The next thing Remus knew, he had been half dead and cursed for eternity.

'I-I did this too you Remus.' Mr Lupin chocked as he stumbled to his knees.

'Lyall! You promised you would wait.' Remus's distress mother yelped.

'Tell me.' Remus whispered to his father. 'Please, dad.'

Lyall couldn't bring himself to look into his sons eyes and he spoke.

'You remember when I was in charge of the regulation for control of magical creatures. It was then that I met a man named Greyback. He was being questioned about the death of two muggle girls. The rest of my team where convinced that he just a confused muggle. After all he had no wand, he pretended to be shocked and confused about everything we were saying and about the wizarding world...' Lyall spoke.

'I wasn't convinced. I thought he was hiding something. I had studied all sorts of dark creatures and he seemed to tick all the boxes of a werewolf. His eyes where tied. He had bite marks and scratches all over him...I told the others my suspicions but they simply laughed at me. I got angry. Really angry. Greyback was getting away with murder. I said-' Lyall stopped suddenly.

'Dad, please.' Remus said placing his hand on his shoulder.

'I said that his kind, werewolves, where "soulless, evil and deserved nothing but death.". They took him away and released him. But he was angry. He didn't like what I had said. So he hunted me down, he wanted to punish me. Then he saw you playing in the garden. He knew that turning you would hurt me the most. So he attacked you and bit you. You had to pay for my mistake.' Lyall spoke. His head was hung in shame and a rogue tear had rolled down his cheek and onto the carpet.

Remus didn't know how to feel or what to say. The words of his father floated around his head. He now fully understood his father's obsession with finding a cure. Why it had consumed his life. Remus shifted his body towards his father and hugged him.

Remus could feel his father tense in shock. Remus then spoke the three words that Lyall Lupin had never expected to hear in his life.

...

'I forgive you.' Sirius said to his younger brother, Regulus. Regulus had grinned at him as he continued to gently take the broken glass that was protruding out his hand.

Two Hours earlier

It was a rare moment for the brothers to be alone in the house together. Their mother and father had been in the sitting room when they had suddenly both looked at each other and stood up. They had been grinning like Cheshire cats as they announced that they had been called to a meeting and had to leave. Regulus had thought that it was odd. There had been no owl delivery. His mother usually gave advanced warning if she was going out.

Regulus had put a pin in his thoughts about his parents sudden 'Meeting' When Sirius had come bounding down stairs.

Sirius strolled into the living room without a care in the world. He grinned at his brother and stepped strait into the kitchen to grab something to eat. Regulus had noticed the subtle differences in Sirius every time he came back from Hogwarts. He had smiled more when no one looked. He was constantly trying to make Regulus laugh at the dinner table by pulling silly faces or messing with his food.

Regulus had tried extremely hard not to laugh at his brother. The one time he was caught off guard when he had noticed Sirius eating his dinner, as normal as could be. But on closer inspection he had shoved a pea up each nose.

Regulus had to fain a coughing fit to hide his laughter.

Regulus had also noticed the amount of time Sirius spent writing letters. Every time he walked past his brothers room he was always scribbling away at his desk. It had made Regulus happy to think of his brother having friends. He knew better than anyone how it felt t be isolated by your family. He wished that summer would come fast. He would be joining his brother at Hogwarts soon enough.

Regulus watched as Sirius re-entered the living room with a piece of toast in his mouth.

'Where are the folks?' Sirius frowned.

Regulus closed the book he was reading. 'Emergency meeting.'

Regulus heard Sirius whispered to himself, 'They could be gone hours' under his breath.

'And creature?' Sirius asked, his eyebrow raising.

'Sorting the attic.' Regulus said.

'Well, best get cracking!' Sirius clapped his hands together and took a bite of his bread.

'Cracking with what?' Regulus said cautiously as he watched Sirius grow even more excited.

'When was the last time we have ever been in the house without being constantly watched by mother or the bloody rat, creature?' Sirius asked him. Regulus thought but came up empty. 'Never. Are we going to let this opportunity pass us by?'

'What do you want to do?' Regulus asked growing steadily excited. He loved and idolised his brother a lot. He had wished that they could have spent more time together but he was always trapped under his mothers thumb.

Regulus watched as Sirius scrunched his face and thought. As if he had been smacked on the head, Sirius's eyes popped open and he grinned.

'Grab your broom. There's this game me and James play all the time in our dorm.' Sirius said as he took off towards his room and grabbed his own boom.

Regulus soon followed after him and dug out his own broom. It had been years since he was allowed on it. One day, his mother had decided that she didn't want him to be 'messing with toys' as she put it. It was probably around the time she gave up on Sirius and focused all her efforts on him.

When Regulus finally found his broom and made it downstairs, he found the living room to have drastically changed. Sirius had pushed the couches to the sides and their Christmas tree to the corner. The coffee table had also been pushed up against the fireplace leaving the centre of the sitting room bare. On the floor, Regulus noticed the pillows and couch cousins that had been strewn across the large space.

'Welcome to Broom Bashing!' Sirius announced as he hovered in hid air with his arms stretched out.

The cautious side of Regulus reared its ugly head once more. He thought of the consequences he would have to pay if their parents chose to apparate home now.

'The object of Broom Bashing is to knock your opponent off their broom. Our dorms a lot smaller than this but I reckon it'll be more fun with the extra space. Come on.' Sirius grinned.

Regulus flittered between the punishment and his brother.

'Come on Regulus! Do you really want to miss out on all this fun? Do it as Christmas gift for me!' Sirius spoke noticing the hesitation in his younger brothers face.

'I already go you a Christmas present.' Regulus counted but hopped on his broom to join his brother anyway. He hovered so he was directly facing Sirius.

'There are three rules to Broom Bashing. Number one, you can only use one arm or leg at a time. The other must stay on the broom at all times. Number two, no scratching, biting or spitting. And finally, rule number three, there are no time outs. If you want to stop you have to either concede and say I'm the greatest in the world or fall off your broom. Ready, GO!' Sirius yelled suddenly.

Regulus quickly sprung into action as his brother launched himself towards him. Anyone looking could tell Sirius was miles better on a broom than he was. Sirius tried to tackle him repeatedly as Regulus dodged his blows.

They circled each other predatorily. Regulus ready for any attacks Sirius could throw at him. Regulus felt the enjoyment fill him instantly. He couldn't remember being so like a kid in years.

'You're better that I thought you'd be, dear brother.' Sirius said as he narrowed his eyes playfully.

'Not one to give up easily.' Regulus replied as he flew forwards and yanked on Sirius sleeve almost pulling him off his broom.

'How dare you!' Sirius laughed as he retorted.

Regulus felt Sirius take a hold of his jumper and yank on it. As much as he tried to fight it he felt his body slide around the broom. He was now gripping the broom in a hug as he flew directly under Sirius. He quickly kicked his foot up as he gained the upper hand.

Sirius felt his body lose balance as he flew off the broom and landed half against the couch cushion and half against the Christmas tree. He was certain he heard the sound of one of the glass ball balls shattering beneath him.

'Sirius!' Regulus fretted as he flew over and dropped next to his brother.

'Nice one Reg! You sent me flying. I'll have to tell James about that one.' Sirius laughed. As he tried to sit up he winced looking towards his hand. He could see three pieces of glass now sticking out of it and bleeding down his arm.

xxx

'All done.' Regulus announced as he secured a piece of cloth around Sirius hand. Since neither one could use magic and where not prepared to tell their mother how Sirius had gotten injured they settled for the muggle healing way.

Both brothers set to correct the living room and dispose of the broken Christmas ball ball before their parents arrived home. They went back to not talking or glancing at one another just as their mother made them. But their mother could never take away the fun they had had.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed the chapter, i't tried to make each of the flow into each other, hopefully that came across. I know once again I have neglected Severus in my chapter but 1) I think the chapter would have been too long and 2) I have a chapter planned for him in either the next one or the one after.

Hope you enjoyed! Please review and share bla bla bla