As the Christmas holidays approached, Noelle began to get nervous. She didn't really feel like staying at the castle, and she sure couldn't go home.

Before they had left James' house for Hogwarts in September, Mrs. Potter had hugged her extra tight and said, "You always have a home here, Noelle. Always."

With tears in her eyes, she had returned the hug. But now, since her and Sirius were not speaking, she didn't think she was welcome. Lily was going to visit family in Ireland, and her parents had surprised her with it, so she had no time to ask if Noelle could come home with her. So Noelle had resigned herself to staying in the cold drafty castle, along with most of the students that had been harassing her. She laughed to herself, thinking how ironic it was. These people were making fun of her, and yet they too had no place to go for the holidays.

Two days before school recessed, she was heading back to Gryffindor tower from the library. Just as she reached the portrait of the Fat Lady, James came hurrying up the stairs.

"Noelle! Hold the door, eh?"

She held the door wide as he turned his Cleansweep Eleven lengthwise so it would fit inside.

"Thanks." he said breathlessly.

He leaned the broomstick against the wall in the corner. She was halfway up the stairs when he called her name. She peeked over the railing of the balcony.

"Mom is meeting us on Platform 9 ¾ on Friday, ok?"

She blankly stared at him, and then slowly walked back down the stairs.

"I cannot come to your house James. It is not fair to you or to Sirius. He is your friend, and he always stays with you."

James laughed. "Noelle, what did my mother tell you? My home is your home now, for as long as you need it. And don't worry about him. His family is insisting that he go home this Christmas, for a change."

He looked angry, which Noelle suspected was in sympathy for his friend.

"He really does not get along with them, does he?" she asked.

James shook his head with another laugh. "Sirius is unlike anyone in his family. The whole lot of them have been in Slytherin, did you know that?"

Surprised, Noelle shook her head.

"Yeah. His father was humiliated when he was sorted into Gryffindor. His little brother is in Slytherin too. He's a second year."

Again Noelle was surprised. "I did not know he had a little brother." She said incredulously.

"Yup and he's a little prat. Sirius isn't too keen on reminding people that Regulus is his brother."

James leaned forward conspiratorially and Noelle strained to hear him.

"His family is into what you would probably call Dark Magic. Not a thing to be real proud of."

Noelle gasped and covered her mouth.

"They rarely even want him around, not like he ever wants to be there."

Noelle eyed him suspiciously. "James, why are you telling me this?"

James sighed and leaned back against the couch. He swiped a hand through his unruly black hair, making it even messier.

"I guess what I'm trying to say is, don't be so hard on him. You know he cares for you, right?"

Noelle nodded slightly. "I thought he did."

James leaned forward and stared her right in the eye. "He does. His entire life, he's never had someone that has cared for him the way you do, and he's never had anyone to care about. He loves you, Noelle, and that scares the stuffing out of him."

Noelle's navy eyes softened and she chose her next words carefully. "James, I understand what you are trying to do. Sirius cannot accept the fact that I had a life before I met him. I cannot change the past. If I could change what happened, I would, but I cannot."

The tears that had been threatening to fall spilled over onto her cheeks. "He is not the only one who had a family where he was treated different. I love him, but sometimes love is not enough. There must be trust and understanding, as well as love and compassion, and he does not know how to trust, not even me."

She bowed her head and James put his arm around her shoulders.

"All I ask is that you don't block him out of your life. Give him some time, Noelle, and he will realize how much he needs you."

She laughed. "Sirius Black? Admit that he needs someone? I have a better chance of reconciling with my parents."

James laughed in spite of himself. "Well, you'll have plenty of time to think about it over the holiday. At my house." He said firmly, with no room left for discussion.

"James Potter, you are a pain in the..."She sighed in fake exasperation."Alright, fine. I will go to your house." She winked at him. "I did not really want to stay here anyway."

He laughed heartily. "Remind me not to let Lily teach you any more British expressions, okay?"

The train ride back to London passed uneventfully. On the platform, Lily hugged Noelle and told her to have fun.

Noelle returned the hug tightly and whispered into Lily's ear, "Try not to hex Petunia too many times, alright?"

Lily laughed and hurried towards the train leaving for Yorkshire. James loaded his and Noelle's trunks onto a trolley and pushed it towards the Manchester train. They managed to find an empty car and quickly pulled off their Hogwarts' robes.

Noelle tugged awkwardly at the scarlet and gold tie around her neck until it loosened, then smoothed her gray skirt under her legs before she sat down. She reached into her carryon to find a book, and settled comfortably in for the ride to James' house.

A few hours later, she nudged a sleeping James sharply. Peering out the window, she could see Mrs. Potter waiting anxiously on the platform. As they dragged their trunks down the stairs, she gave a shout and waved her arm over her head. Mrs. Potter hugged them both and hurried them off to the warm car.

Inside the car, Noelle breathed on her hands to warm them up. The ride passed quickly, and soon enough, the car was pulling up to the sprawling Potter estate. Noelle hauled her trunk to the same room she had shared with Lily last Christmas. She unpacked slowly, hanging her robes in the tall wardrobe.

James poked his head into the room. "How are you doing? Okay?"

Noelle smiled and nodded.

"Can I come in for a bit?"

Noelle nodded and gestured to a chaise near the bed. She kept hanging her clothes in the wardrobe while he sat there.

"Did you need something?" she finally asked him.

James nodded. "I kind of wanted to talk to you...about what happened at the welcoming feast."

A chill ran through her body, and she slowly turned to face him.

"I know you probably don't want to talk about it, but it might help." He said sympathetically.

Noelle studied her shoe, and then walked over to the bed. She sat carefully, twisting her hands in her lap. "What do you want to know?" she said, with defeat in her voice.

Surprised, James didn't even know where to begin. He couldn't believe that she was actually going to talk to him.

"What happened? What was that all about?" he asked softly.

Noelle took a deep breath before she spoke. "I met Olivier the first night I came to Beauxbatons. I fell in love with him the moment I saw him. He was older than me, already in his third year, and I was just a first year. I never imagined he would even look twice at me. He has a younger brother, who is only a year older than I. His name is Antoine; we became very good friends. Antoine knew that I had a crush on his brother, and he teased me all the time. I was assigned a tutor, because I was falling behind in Defense against the Dark Arts. Just my luck, my tutor was Olivier. In my third year, I fell even more in love with him, if that was possible."

Noelle lifted her navy eyes to meet James'. "One night, he confessed to me that he had feelings for me as well. I was shocked. I could not believe he felt the same way. We began to see each other, secretly of course. Soon enough, everyone knew that we were together. I thought my parents would be furious, but Olivier is from a well respected family, so naturally, they approved. I loved him so much. One night I made a mistake."

Tears clogged her voice now, but she struggled through them. "I was very upset, and very emotional. I cried for hours. He tried so hard to make me feel better, but nothing worked. We promised we would not tell anyone, and he broke that promise. He told Colin at the Ball, probably to get back at me for being with Sirius."

She wiped her tears away, and James reached for her hand.

"Noelle, he's horrible for having done that to you. That's inexcusable. But know this. Not all of us are as insensitive as that."

Noelle laughed in spite of herself. "I know that James. It is just that I never dreamed that anyone at Hogwarts would find out."

She rubbed her arms nervously. "I did not want anyone to think badly of me."

"No one thinks badly of you, Noelle. Not even Sirius. And who cares if the Slytherins do? Look at most of them, it's a miracle they can even put two and two together and find their way around the castle."

Noelle burst out laughing and James cracked a wry smile.

"That's more like it. You should smile more, your whole face lights up when you do."

Noelle put her hand on her hip and struck a mocking pose. "James Potter, are you giving me a compliment?"

James playfully punched her in the arm. "Don't get used to it, Lemieux."

Christmas was definitely one of the best Noelle had ever had. She finally had a chance to wear the hunter green cloak she had bought at Hogsmeade to the elaborate dinner the Potters held.

With James as an escort, Noelle had sailed into the party, looking more like herself than she had in months. As they were sitting down to dinner, Noelle leaned over to James.

"Well, once you get your crazy hair calmed down, you actually clean up pretty nice."

James guffawed. "Oh and it's wonderful to see you with your head actually facing forward, and not staring up at the sky."

Noelle's jaw dropped. "James, I did not know you owned anything other that Quidditch robes." She shot back.

He laughed again while his parents shook their heads.

Elizabeth Potter leaned over toward her husband.

"You see Charlie? James really doesn't need a sibling. Now he has Noelle."

Charles Potter laughed uproariously. "And at least this year, we won't have to keep sending the house elves back into the kitchen for more food, since Sirius isn't here."

His face turned serious for a moment. "Have you talked to Sirius, James?"

James shook his head. "Nope. I sent him an owl, but never got an answer."

A flicker of panic traveled across Noelle's heart. While the adults resumed their conversation, she whispered to James, "Do you think he is alright? It's not like him not to answer."

James swallowed some wine. "I'm sure he's fine."

The nervous look on his face did nothing to calm her fears.

The food was absolutely scrumptious, and she ate more than she had ever thought she could hold. After dinner, there was dancing in the ballroom. James twirled her around, and she felt heavy on her feet.

"I ate way too much." She groaned as he pulled her back from a spin.

"Oh yes, Noelle. You shouldn't eat for the rest of the week. Lord knows you're too heavy as it is." He teased.

She playfully gave him a shove before returning to his arms. "You know what I meant, James!"

Outside in the snow, Sirius peered into the steamed windows of the Potter house. He was shivering violently. He blinked sharply; his eyes were stinging from the icy air. This fight with his family had been the worst he could ever remember. His brother Regulus had been moaning about how embarrassing it was to have a brother in Gryffindor, and his parents had agreed, causing Sirius to explode at the dinner table. His father had thrown a tankard of ale across the table, and it had struck the side of his head.

He lightly touched the bloody gash. The pain was unbelievable and stars swam in front of his eyes. He wiped the foggy glass in front of him and looked in the room again. He saw Noelle floating across the dance floor in the arms of his best friend. She looked like an angel. He ducked his head to try to stop the tears from falling. He had really screwed up this time. Noelle believed in him, she believed that he could do anything he put his mind to, and he had pushed her away from him.

He stumbled along the side of the house, every once and a while steadying himself against the cold stone. On the front stairs, he reached for the chimes. He never made it. Instead his body collapsed on the marble stoop.

About two hours later, when James' aunt and uncle were leaving, they opened the door to discover an unconscious Sirius on the stairs. James' aunt screamed and the others came running. Once Noelle saw who it was, she began to shake uncontrollably. She sank to her knees, the cold marble seeping through the thin silk of her dress robes. She grabbed his hand and pressed it to her lips.

"Sirius, can you hear me? Wake up Sirius."

Tears flowed from her eyes, and she gasped when she saw the blood through his dark hair. James and his father quickly picked Sirius up and carried him inside. Noelle pushed through everyone and took his to his side again. She smoothed his hair away from his face and studied the cut. It was wide and deep. She gently pressed a clean cloth to it, and his grey eyes opened a little bit. She smiled at him and he gave her a weak one in return. He licked his lips and opened his mouth.

"Shh, do not try to talk yet." She whispered to him.

He shook his head. "Noelle, I need to say this now. I am so sorry. I love you, and you didn't deserve the way I treated you. I'm sorry. I need you."

She leaned down and kissed his forehead. "I forgive you." She said simply.

He raised his eyebrows, even though it hurt like hell. "Just like that?"

She nodded. "Oui. Just like that."

He shook his head slightly. "I do not deserve you, Noelle."

She pretended to think very hard. "Non, you do not. But you are lucky that I love you." She teased.

He smiled while James' mother lightly spread a thick potion over the wound. A few seconds later, when it began to work, he winced and squeezed Noelle's hand. James came back into the room carrying a heavy blanket which he tossed over his friend.

"What happened, Padfoot?"

Sirius shook his head slowly again. "I'll tell you later."

Once they had Sirius comfortably situated in James' room, Noelle sat on the edge of his bed while he told James the events of the night. James paced the room, and when Sirius quietly told them how his father had chucked a tankard across the table, James' head came up sharply. The fury in his eyes was terrifying. Sirius was clutching Noelle's hand so tightly that she felt her fingers going slightly numb.

"Prongs, it could have been worse. It only glanced off. I'm fine."

Noelle looked down at him incredulously. "Sirius, he could have killed you."

Sirius smiled wryly. "Nah, I'm tough."

Noelle snorted. "Oh yes, very tough. You are not the only one with horrible parents, you know. It is alright to admit that you were scared."

The three friends discussed the subject until Noelle noticed Sirius' eyelids starting to droop.

"I think we should go to bed. It is late, and I know I need sleep."

James nodded and ran his hands through his unruly black hair.

"I'll see you in the morning, okay Noelle?"

She nodded and James went into the bathroom to wash up before he went to bed. Noelle gracefully rose from the bed, and then leaned down to kiss Sirius good night. When their lips touched, all of the old feelings came rushing back, washing over her in waves. It was torture pulling away from him. He gazed at her seductively.

"Sure you don't want to stay with me tonight?" Noelle laughed. "It would be a very romantic night, non? With James across the room?"

Sirius winked at her and she laughed again. "As much as the offer tempts me, I must respectfully decline. I shall see you in the morning, alright?"

Sirius pouted and Noelle pinched his leg gently.

"Okay, okay. I'll see you in the morning."

At the door, Noelle turned to look at him one last time. She could feel the desire emanating from his pale grey eyes, and she had to fight not to rush back to his bed. She smiled once more.

"Good night, Sirius. Je t'adore."

With happiness in her heart and lightness back in her step, she hurried back to her room.