I Am So Glad On Christmas Eve
"I take back everything I ever said about your cooking skills, Sirius. That was the best roast I have ever eaten," Remus sighed happily, hooking his hands behind his neck.
"Everything?" Sirius shot back, skeptically. "Even the thing about the eggplant?"
"Okay, not that one. Or the one about the rabbit. But most of them." Sirius began to open his mouth. "Okay, fine, for once you refrained from poisoning anyone. Are you satisfied?"
"Extremely. Now, is everybody ready? We should leave in just a few minutes if we want to arrive fashionably late."
Harry and Hermione looked at him blankly. "Where are we going?" Harry asked quietly.
"Just to the little church down in the village. They always put on something of a show on Christmas Eve. I used to go watch it with my mother when I was growing up."
Remus bit his lip softly. "I'm not sure I'm up to it tonight, Siri. You know I would love to, but it's been a long day and I'm just feeling wiped out."
Sirius's face fell and he whimpered slightly. "Please, Moony? It's been fifteen years since I've seen it, I'd really like you all to come with me."
"No, Padfoot. Not tonight. I'm sorry." He cast his eyes down so he wouldn't have to see Sirius's disappointed expression. "Take the kids. I'll just light a fire, tuck in on the couch, and get some sleep so I can play tomorrow."
"You don't have to stay here by yourself, Remus. I'll stay here to fuss over you, and Sirius and Harry can go spend the evening together. I'm sure they'll have more fun then if they brought me along."
"You're sure, 'Mione?" Harry asked.
'Absolutely. We can't leave Remus here by himself on Christmas Eve. Go, enjoy yourselves."
"You're sure everything will be all right? Remus knows how to contact me if you need anything."
"We'll be fine, Sirius. Just watch out for Harry and be back before dawn." Remus gave Sirius's hand a squeeze, reassuring him.
After a short flurry of coats and scarves, Sirius and Harry disappeared into the entrance door. Hermione stood pensively until she heard the soft pop of his Apparation. "Well then," she began, plopping herself in one corner of the large couch, "what do you feel like doing tonight?"
"Dickens, perhaps?" he asked, still staring at the door. "I know I've at least got a copy of The Christmas Carol in my trunk. Care to read some with me?"
"Oh, I'd love that. I've never read the book, but Mum and Dad took me to see it at the theatre a few years ago."
Remus turned gracefully and propelled himself up the stairs, returning moments later with the book in hand. "Would you like to start, or shall I?"
"Oh, you're welcome to go first," she replied, as he took a seat on the other corner of the couch. "Would you like anything before we start, so we don't have to pause in the middle?"
"A glass of eggnog, I think. Perhaps you should just bring the pitcher of it out here with two glasses. The book is a trifle long."
She pushed herself up and returned a minute later with a heavy jug of creamy eggnog and the requisite glasses. She poured carefully, trying not to spill on the carpet, and set it all down on the little table behind the couch. "All set." She curled her legs up beneath her on the cushion and leaned her head against the back.
Disclaimer: I don't own the book, or any of the characters. The title, if you hadn't recognized the pattern, is the title of a Christmas song, which I also don't own.
Author's Note: Sorry this one was so short, but I am really trying to do better on this one. Okay, I know this was really short, but I just had to catch up past and present, and the next one should be out soon, really really really. Chapter four should be in actual chronological order after chapter one. When it comes.
Green Eyed Lady - Thanks for your honesty. I promise, I will actually get around to the part where the story is progressing soon. I'll try to write some of it today. And I'm glad your are liking my characterizations. And I'm not homicidal just because I like to see you suffer! That only makes me a little sadistic! I'm homicidal for an entirely different set of reasons. And they really only had a little more eggnog than they thought. Mostly, they had had a busy day and were distracted by things. It isn't really in the same universe as TOO was (so you know, because that would be really confusing) but this is part of what I intended to do with that Christmas. I did like the kind of cute fluffy picture of Hermione and Remus on the couch reading. They seem like people who'd be natural reading out loud to each other. Soon we will have the full explanation of what came of that night. And then, things will get interesting.
warm in fuzzy pink pants - I'm glad you like that. I figured it would get along better if I could bring out the action right from the beginning. My updates aren't really fast, but they come about as often as I can bring them.