The image of a cackling Sirius on Harry's Pokedex had both Third Years glaring, sitting in impotent frustration while waiting for him to settle.
"Are you done yet?" Nasrin snipped, Togetic and Squeakers huffing from their perch on her loose braid.
"Yeah, yeah, I think so…"
The man took a deep breath.
"Nope, I was wrong!"
The thirteen-year-olds rolled their eyes as he continued to laugh, dialing back the volume lest anyone check and find she had snuck into the boy's dorm again.
"Sirius!" Harry hissed, Hedwig and Robin matching his tone.
"Okay, okay, I'm good. I can be serious." The Lord replied, a huge Garbodor-eating grin on his face. "Get it? 'Serious'?"
Snow and Ludwig gave the screen a deadpan look.
"We get it." Nasrin replied dryly, Star rolling her eyes.
"I don't think you do! You see-"
"We. Get. It." Harry ground out, Eevee, Scooby and Squishie growling in agreement.
"Party poopers, no cake for you." Sirius pouted. "I still can't believe you think Remus is out to kill me."
"We can't believe you aren't considering it might be true!" Nasrin argued, Dobby and Prince peering over her shoulders.
"You're the one that's hiding himself from him!" Harry added.
"Not because I don't trust him, pups! Far from it. Remus is a true friend. If it had been him instead of Peter that night, he'd have given his life for mine." Sirius explained, pausing thoughtfully. "Or not. Remus was always smarter than all of us, so I suppose he would've come up with a plan that actually worked. Maybe something involving robots…"
"Sirius." Harry prompted, refocusing his godfather.
"We heard him-"
"When you were bonded for the first time, congrats again by the way, knew you two could do it, ignore what I said about the cake, we'll get an ice cream one when we next see each other. You were bonded for the first time, and several tens of feet away from him and Snape."
"Yes, Snape! The professor that hates all things Gryffindor and has never said a kind word to us?" Harry argued.
"Maybe Remus isn't the traitor, but Snape could be the traitor." The half-Gem agreed.
"He could be feeding Remus bad information, trying to throw him off the scent and focus on you!"
"Again, trust me on this. You misheard them, or aren't getting the whole story." Sirius assured.
"Why are you so sure Snape isn't involved?" Nasrin wondered, Snow shaking out her ears.
"Listen, after all of this is settled, you two and I will sit down and talk, and I swear I'll explain exactly what's going on." The Lord promised. "For now, though, I need you to trust me. Snape isn't our enemy, and Remus certainly isn't. You both need to stop worrying, okay kiddos?"
Both Third Years scowled, their Pokemon huffing and grumbling.
"Fine." They chorused reluctantly.
"Come on, none of that!" Sirius teased. "It's Winter Solstice, and you two shouldn't be up in your room sulking. Sulking is for ugly people, and I'll have you know that none of your parents were ugly, nor did they make ugly babies. You should be downstairs-"
"Sulking?" Nasrin drawled.
"-Opening presents. I mean it."
"What had you done?" Harry accused, suspicious.
"Never you mind, just get going! I can't spend all my time bugging you, especially when I have my own holidays to enjoy."
A loud explosion came through the speakers, and Sirius whipped around.
"Damn it, Jack, you promised to wait for me before you blew up the ham!"
The screen went black, and both sighed, sharing a glance.
Might as well head down, then.
Recalling their plethora of Pokemon, all except for Star, the Third Years went over to the teleporter and whirled down to the common room together.
There was Hagrid, in red flannel footie pajamas and with Snubbull on his lap, Steelbeak napping in a corner, Norbert trying to eat a coaster, and Tiny serving as a cushion for Luna and her own Pokemon.
The blonde was happily instructing Hermione in putting a tree skirt around an aluminum pole, and Remus settled back in an easy chair by the fireplace, coffee mug in hand.
"So, why are you decorating a pole?"
"Because it's tradition!" The half-Veela answered happily, adjusting the red-and-white-fur-trimmed hat on Luna Junior's head.
"And what tradition is that, Miss Lovegood?" Professor McGonagall asked as she entered with a cart full of breakfast foods.
"The tradition of Festivus!"
Luna gave Harry and Nasrin a grin.
"I can't wait for the Feats of Strength."
"And a Happy Solstice to you, Luna." He replied, ambling over to Remus while Nasrin hopped up to wrap the Second Year in a hug.
As the group settled around the fire to open presents, she could not help but smile at all the good cheer and excitement as the boxes were shared.
"Oh, how utterly delightful." Professor McGonagall voiced, running a hand over the black leather-bound journal in her hands, a set of antique pens still sitting in the paper. "Thank you, all three of you."
Hagrid sniffed back tears as he was given a big bucket-sized mug that read 'Number One Groundskeeper', claiming his own gifts paled in comparison, but Harry and Nasrin assured him that the Poke Flute and Cleanse Tag were much appreciated.
Hermione-and most of the room-teared up when she got a book on Avalon history from them, and gotten a couple of books on Pokemagnus training in return, though Harry shot Remus a sour look for having claimed said books were out of print before.
Luna's presents had been a shock; a pair of photo albums, with pictures gathered from the Quibbler archives and professors, of James and Lily Potter and Samson and Cammi Universe that told the tales of how each couple grew up and fell in love.
Nasrin had a little trouble not crushing the blonde in her gratitude, and Harry thanked her over and over, while Luna only smiled and thanked them in return for her own gifts.
Unable to think of a single gift for the half-Veela, they had gotten her four sets of interchangeable earrings, a color-changing necklace, and Silph Co.'s newest Silph Scope Glasses, which she had not taken off since unwrapping.
Remus marveled over the collapsible bag they had gotten him, and the stylized M that was now the official logo for the Marauders, which he could now place on anything he wanted.
Harry had been moved by the collapsible bicycle he got in return, a twisted pile of metal the size of a cookie sheet that could unfold with the press of a button, while Nasrin ran her hands over the many packets of seeds and planting pots before her, misty-eyed.
"Well, I must say, that was quite enjoyable." Professor McGonagall stated, stroking her Purrloin, Southpaw.
"Have to agree with that, Min!" Hagrid agreed, wiping his mouth with an extra-large handkerchief Hermione had gotten him.
"But it's not over yet!" Luna claimed, sliding off Tiny to waddle through the torn remains of wrapping paper, new retro red fedora-Hermione's gift-perched on her hair.
Plunging in, the half-Veela returned with a small box, a large envelope attached to it.
"I spotted this while I was looking for Waldo, the crafty bugger! It's for you two."
Curious, Nasrin accepted the box while Harry carefully opened the envelope.
"Who's it from?" Remus wondered.
"It says it's from the Lord of Sevii." Harry answered after a moment, sharing an agitated look with Nasrin.
"My word." Professor McGonagall voiced, shocked.
"Blimey!" Hagrid exclaimed.
"Shazam!"
After a moment, Luna looked up and pouted.
"What does it say?" Hermione pressed.
"Dear Mister Potter and Miss Universe. I realized that our first meeting was not fair to either of you, and I must have caused you quite a fright. For that, I apologize. I have thought long and hard about how I might make amends, and it is only within the last few days that I came to an answer. A great injustice was done to both of you, and while I can never undo all that was done, there is a small thing I can offer to help ease your pain. As you both may know, I was installed by the Father of Johto. I told him of your plights, and he agreed that it was wrong-"
Harry cut off, trembling, and Nasrin reached for his hand, continuing in his place.
"-It was wrong that you do not have a Potter or Universe family Pokemon to call your own."
After a heartbeat, she tossed the paper aside towards Professor McGonagall as Harry tore open the package, revealing two Poke Balls within.
One was red and gold, Gryffindor colors, while the other was done in a crystal-like pattern in pink, a stylized rose sitting right over the release button.
With steadying breaths, both Third Years grabbed the custom Balls and tossed them up, the beams of red energy shooting out to consolidate into-
"Bloody hell." Hagrid whispered, and Luna smiled, a tear slipping out from under her Silph Glasses.
"Oh…" Hermione breathed, staring at the pair of Pokemon in open amazement.
A Cyndaquil nuzzled into Harry's chest, chirping happily, as a pink-faced Comfey floated around Nasrin's head, little white hands gripping the end of her empty grey thread, silver eyes shining with joy.
"This is Firebolt." Professor McGonagall read. "And this is Lei. Use them well. Use them in the name of justice. Yours truly, the Lord of Sevii."
Harry hugged his new Pokemon tightly, and Nasrin held up a hand for the uniquely-colored Comfey to perch on, vision swimming with tears as their Pokemon popped out to greet the new arrivals.
"A Rose Quartz Comfey…" Hermione realized as Togetic and Squeakers floated around said Fairy, Star leaning out to touch noses gently. "No one has seen one since…"
Pulling the tiny Pokemon in, Nasrin choked on a sob, knowing that the last one seen had been her father's.
Snow paced around the pair with Ludwig, making sure that the young Firebolt and Lei were being held properly, while Eevee and Scooby sniffed around, curious.
Robin and Hedwig fluttered around them as well, hooting to each other, while Prince and Dobby leaned over their trainers' backs for a better look, Squishie grumbling from his perch in the latter's arms.
"This is amazing…" Professor McGonagall stated, hand pressed to her mouth. "Oh, Harry…Nasrin…"
Harry looked up at Remus, and the sudden loss of his smile had the half-Gem on high alert, eyeing the pensive look on said man's face.
"Remus?" Harry ventured, uncertain.
"Sorry, just thinking." Remus replied. "These are a bit much."
"It is!" Hermione exclaimed before Nasrin could think. "I mean, these are amazing gifts, and you must make sure you let the Lord of Sevii know that you're thankful for them."
Hermione shrugged at the confused looks she received, trying for nonchalance.
"I mean, the Lord of Sevii is a powerful man who does Avalon a great service by holding the Team Nocturne agents and grunts in his prison. If Harry and Nazz don't express their gratitude properly, the Lord might take offense, and…Well, I don't want any of those prisoners anywhere near Avalon."
"That's true." Remus admitted. "But-"
"And then there's the whole issue with the Father of Johto!" Hermione continued. "I mean, Jack Kenway isn't known for being the most calm or level-headed person! If you were to do something stupid, like return Firebolt and Lei, saying you couldn't accept them, Mister Kenway might see it as a slap in the face, and the next thing we know, Luna and I are leading an army against invading Johto forces."
"Sons of Gondor, of Rohan, my brothers!" Luna declared dramatically, standing and waving her cane like a sword. "For all that you hold dear on this good earth, I bid you stand, men of the West!"
Luna Junior joined in posing heroically, bone club held aloft.
"Exactly! Thank you, Luna!" The bushy-haired Third Year acknowledged, locking eyes with Remus and smiling sweetly. "I think the only thing you can do is accept Firebolt and Lei, and make it known you're thankful, lest we start some international incidents."
"Yes…Yes, you're right." Remus admitted, any doubt or concern fading when he saw how tightly Harry and Nasrin were hugging their new Pokemon. "I'll have to pull up my notes on raising Cyndaquil so you can be prepared, and do some research on Comfey."
"Thank you, Remus." Both replied, too full of emotion to just mean the notes.
"Well, I suddenly feel drained." Professor McGonagall stated, standing. "I think I need a cup of tea."
"I'll have a cuppa myself." The Battle Professor agreed, following his old Head of House while Luna plopped down next to Hagrid.
Harry and Nasrin, however, were focused on Hermione, whose smile turned shy.
"Hermione…" The half-Gem started, voice low enough for only their ears.
"We don't know how you knew…"
"I don't know what you're-"
Harry held up a hand, cutting off any denials.
"When you're ready to tell us what your secret is, we'll be ready."
The pair smiled, pulling the bushy-haired into a hug with their Pokemon.
"Thank you."