Romy held on to Coal as the train came to a stop. They had learned that he wasn't a fan of transport having hid in the corner the full train ride. He even refused to come out when Sirius came in and she had reached the conclusion Sirius was his favourite person.

She walked off the train and hugged Lily and Alice as they made their separate ways to their parents. She waved excitedly when her dad came in to view and began to run when a force ran in to her almost knocking Coal out of her hands.

"Didn't think you were getting away without saying goodbye did you?"

James had her in a tight hug and grinned down at her. Poor Coal was squirming in her hands when James moved away revealing Sirius. She handed him over as she said goodbye to Remus(who also hugged her) and Peter who stuck to shaking hands with her.

"Will we be seeing you during the holidays then?" James asked.

"Em," Romy said casting a glance at Sirius. "Yeah, of course. Just write me when and I'll be there."

"Fantastic!" James said. "Do you think Lily would come too?"

"I will try to persuade her but I won't make any promises."

James grinned and Romy rolled her eyes. Beside her she could hear Coal purring and she turned to see the tiny kitten lying on the palm of Sirius' hand being scratched behind his ears.

"I always thought you'd be more of a dog person," Romy said to him.

Sirius looked up from Coal and smiled. "I've made an exception for this one."

All of a sudden, the other three Marauders had seemed to have disappeared and much to Coal's objection, Sirius handed him back to Romy.

"Am gonnae miss ye like hell, lass," he joked and pulled her in to a hug.

Romy closed her eyes. He was so warm and she never wanted him to pull away but he did. She looked up at him and pulled on a smile. She knew all too well that she was going to miss him just as much he would miss her.

"Write to me," she said. "I'm going to miss you're terrible Scottish accent."

"I'll write in Scots for you," he grinned. "I'll see you soon."

With that he disappeared in to the crowd of people. Romy felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to see her dad who had an amused look on his face.

"Care to tell me what that was about?"

She rolled her eyes as they headed for the exit, mentally preparing herself for the questioning she was going to get from her mother when she found out.

X

"How can you say not one of those boys is your boyfriend?"

"Because they aren't."

Whilst Romy unpacked, her mum sat at the end of her bed and as expected was questioning Romy on the Marauders because her dad couldn't keep secrets.

"Are they the boys you told me about when your Father was in hospital?"

"Yes."

"So none of them are attracted to you?"

"How am I meant to know?"

"Why are you hanging around boys that don't want to be with you?"

"Because they are my friends."

"What's there names again?"

Romy sighed. "James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew."

Her mum sat with her chin resting on her hand as she sat and thought through the names.

"Black?"

"Yes, Black."

"As in, Walburga Black?"

"I don't know mum," she muttered. "Sirius never talks about his family."

"Dangerous lot they are," her mother mused. "All Slytherins. Is this Sirius one?"

"Gryffindor."

"He must be the one that ran away!" Her mum exclaimed. "Everyone was talking about it this summer, apparently Walburga and Orion never showed their face in public for a good while."

"Mum," Romy whined. "I really don't care."

Romy loved her mum, she really did but she was so nosey and judgemental that sometimes she irritated her. But she had to admit, she loved a bit of gossip just like her mother did.

"Will you be seeing them during the holidays?"

Romy shrugged. "Maybe."

"You could have them round-"

"No," Romy said. "I am not putting them through an interrogation from you."

That seemed to have done it. Eleanor Wallace stood up and left her daughters room, clearly having ran out of questions to ask her daughter.

Romy sighed in relief.

X

The next few days coming up to Christmas were terribly dull for Romy. She was helping her mum buy food and presents for Christmas Day and then helping her dad decorate the house as they usually did. She usually enjoyed the build up to Christmas but this time she had just felt more alone.

Usually, during school she would have Alice and Lily and then when she got home she had her parents. Her life had always consisted of always two extra people but now she had more friends in her life and she felt like she had lost a part of her being back home.

It was the eve of Christmas Eve and Romy and her dad were finishing decorating the Christmas tree. They always did it the muggle way and Romy preferred not using magic because then it would be perfect. When she and her dad done it, her mum would always try to fix some of the ornaments to make the tree look better – they weren't a very creative pair.

"Eleanor," Brandon Wallce said as he finished putting the last decoration on the tree. "Roms is about to put the star on the tree!"

Eleanor came running in to the living room as Romy picked up the star. As composed as her mother tried to be, Romy knew Christmas was her weakness. Everyone, even adults, were children when it came to Christmas. Romy placed the star at the top of the tree and the family stared at it, all with smiles on their face.

"This Christmas will be good," her dad declared.

"You say that every year," Romy laughed.

"Am I right when I say it though?"

"Yes," she replied with a smile.

"So do you want to go to Edinburgh tomorrow?" Eleanor asked, walking back through to the kitchen. "Or Glasgow – oh!"

Romy exchanged a look with her dad before walking through to the kitchen. Her mother was talking a letter from an owl.

"Sorry," she said, reading the name on the letter, "I got a bit of a fright there. It's for you, darling."

Eleanor handed Romy the letter. Her heart jumped to her mouth as she recognised the handwriting and ripped open the letter.

Roms,

I know it's really last minute but would you be able to meet me at the Leaky Cauldron tomorrow?

I need you.

S.B x

Oh, what could Sirius possibly need her for? Any ideas?

Postcards and Polaroids by Sleeping With Sirens