The students at Hogwarts were released the next day for Holiday Break. The common rooms were filled with laughter and sounds of children wishing each other Happy Christmas. Gifts were also exchanged to friends that they would not see until after the holiday.
For instance Harry and Ron chipped in to buy Hermione the entire A-Z Encyclopedia set. She was absolutely ecstatic when she received it. The boys still saved enough money to get the others presents. It wasn't much though because Encyclopedia sets cost a lot of money. Hermione, trying to cram some amount of knowledge in the boys' head bought them two Potions books. They tried to hide their disgust when they opened the parcels.
Siera gave Maria a maroon sweater that had black flowers on the back of it. The red complimented her dark skin perfectly. It was a sweater only Maria could pull off. In return Maria gave Siera a beige handbag that suited her well. Beige was apparently her color. It might be boring but by god it was her color.
Sirius' present to Remus was exactly what he wanted, a book. This was not just any book though. It was titled 101 Smooth Lines For The Handsome Wizard. Once Remus saw the book cover, he was instantly embarrassed. What really got him was the fact that this was Sirius' book to begin with. Sirius enjoyed immensely the pink tint that was added to his best friend's face.
By the time most of the presents had been given out, the students were all packed and set to go home or they were at the castle enjoying their new presents. Remus waved good-bye as Sirius, Maria, and the kids got into the carriages. When they were finally out of seeing range, tiny white pieces of snow fell to the ground. Siera had not come outside. She barely left her classroom now.
When Harry and the group arrived at the Order head quarters or the Black residence, there was a blood-curdling scream that could only be from one person.
"Vermin! Filthy mud blood!!!!" yelled Mrs. Black, Sirius' mother. Her portrait was still as feisty as the last time Harry saw it.
Maria shut her eyes slowly then opened them even slower. "I see your mother hasn't changed her feelings about me. She has always hated me."
"Darling, she hates me and I'm her son," he said humorously with a quick kiss.
"Blood traitors!" Mrs. Black yelled once more.
"Shut it mother! Or I'll have you put in Buckbeak's room. ON THE FLOOR!" Sirius matched his volume to that of his mother's. The portrait suddenly got quiet.
The silence stopped for only a brief moment before another loud screech was heard.
"Ron! Harry!" yelled Mrs. Weasley. "Boys!" The short red haired woman engulfed the two boys in a hug that could kill a small animal.
"Mum, crush--- rib-owe----," was all Ron could get out.
She let go of the two and smiled gently at them. "Well there are cookies in the kitchen. Help your selves," by the time the sentence was finished Ron and Harry were nowhere to be seen.
Sirius stepped up to the plump woman and gave her a hug as well. "Nice to see you Molly."
"I'm so glad you're in one piece Sirius. And who is this lovely woman?" she asked finally seeing Maria.
Sirius led Molly over to Maria and began to introduce the two. "Molly Weasley this is Maria La Dai. She is Ron and Harry's Ancient Study of Magic professor."
The two grown women shook hands and smiled at one another. "Your son is a very good student, Mrs. Weasley."
"Thank you dear but call me Molly. Sirius has finally found a nice woman."
Maria blushed slightly but Molly's attention was now on the two fumbling objects coming down the stairs. When the two reached the bottom landing, Maria assumed they were more Weasley children because of their red hair.
"Sirius!" they boys yelled. They ran toward the laughing man with great speed.
"Maria this is Fred and George Weasley. They have made the most inventive joke items you have ever seen," laughed Sirius.
Maria thought about all the possible ways Sirius could torment her this Christmas but she didn't seem to mind. Sirius and the twins started to whisper, probably about the items.
"Fred and George Weasley! There will be no pranks this Christmas!" Molly yelled. A vain could be seen throbbing on the side of her head.
Sirius smiled charmingly at her," Trust me Molly. We aren't talking about pulling any pranks this year."
"Uh hmmm," Molly's hands were now on her hips and the sound of her shoe tapping the ground could be heard a mile away.
HogwartsThings had been quiet lately at the castle. With fewer children the halls did not have the same sound about them.
Remus sat in the Great Hall waiting for Siera to come down. He knew she wasn't all right and he wanted more than anything to comfort her. Dinner was over before he knew it and there was no Siera in sight.
"Your little witch not here?" asked Snape coldly. He had noticed Remus watching the doors all through lunch.
"If you're referring to Siera, no she isn't here," Remus said with a sigh.
Remus excused himself from the table then walked up to Siera's classroom. He thought about what he was going to say before he knocked quietly on the door.
"Come in," rang a tired voice inside the room.
Remus opened the door to see Siera slouched over her desk, with a quill in her hand. Strands of her wavy brown hair covered her face. She had the side of a pair of black-framed glasses in her mouth. Remus had never seen her with glasses before. She looked up from the papers and smiled then looked at the glasses.
"I guess you've found out my secret. You know I will have to kill you now?" she asked teasingly.
Remus laughed softly," You weren't at dinner tonight. Aren't you hungry?"
"Now that you mention it, I am. I just forgot to go down there."
"What has you so preoccupied, Siera?" he walked over to her desk and glanced over at her papers. It read Lessons For February. Remus looked up at Siera.
He was now genuinely scared for her. She was forgetting to eat and Siera never went outside anymore. He remembered the first time they had met. She had stayed outside longer than the others. She loved it outside and then there was that lovely hitting the head with the door meeting. The only place she would go was her classroom, bedroom, and the Medical Wing. This wasn't good. Remus had to tell her.
"Siera may I say something to you?" Remus asked with caution.
"Of course Remus."
"I think you're depressed. You won't eat," he said, scared that she would soon attack.
"I told you I just forgot," she claimed. Her mouth began to form a frown. Siera's hands were instantly on her hips and her foot started tapping the ground.
"But this isn't the first time. You do nothing all day but work or visit Arina," he felt so guilty for making her upset. "Those of us who care for you are concerned."
Did he say care? He did say care. Care is an affectionate word. Care is good.
Remus shifted his weight about then made his way to Siera. "I'm concerned for you because I care for you."
I can't believe I just said that. Fool!
Siera's eyes widen slightly but noticeable. She backed away carefully. "I'm…I'm going to check on Arina," she stuttered. Siera quickly scurried out of the room, leaving Remus alone.
"Stupid," he sighed mentally slapping himself.
Black ResidenceMolly had spent all day in the kitchen preparing a welcome home dinner. Maria and Ginny helped her as well. To Molly's surprise, Maria could cook. Not too many of Sirius' girls could do anything besides giggle.
The men basically kept to the living room. Arthur on occasion would travel to the kitchen but was quickly ushered out by Ginny. He also would have to check on Fred and George up in their room to make sure nothing dangerous was going on. Harry and Ron occupied themselves by playing Wizard's Chess. Sirius being without some one to play with started to commentate on the game. "Wow that wasn't a good move for Ron. He will surely be checked!" was the one comment that made Ron finally tell Sirius to shut it.
A bit later, Molly announced dinner was ready. The men offered to set the table and the women gladly accepted. The aroma of the food over powered Molly and Maria's perfume but no one seemed to mind.
The seating went as follows: Molly at the head, Arthur opposite of her, Maria to the left of the red haired woman, Sirius was next to Maria of course, Ginny was to Arthur's right, Harry in between Ginny and Ron. Everyone knew Ginny had a thing for Harry. The twins said they would take their dinner in their rooms. Apparently they were close to getting the exact amount of fish juice in a Chocolate Frog. The rest of the group was less than ecstatic about it.
"This looks delicious Molly," complimented her husband.
"Well," she blushed," I did have help from Maria and Ginny." She pointed to the two smiling witches.
Sirius looked completely surprised then laughed as Maria caught his look and elbowed him in the ribs. "Surely you're joking Molly. Maria can't cook." Ginny was now giggling profusely. Sirius leaned toward her. "You can tell me Ginny. How many fires did you have to put out?"
Maria as well was laughing but managed to spill a couple of words out. "Sirius Black I can cook better than you!"
"My dear I can make a mean butter toast!" he claimed.
"Mean does describe your cooking, Sirius," he had been beat at his own game of words which was one of the things he loved about her. Most girls he had been with never could do that. They would always give up or it would go over their heads entirely.
After dinner the whole Weasley family went out shopping for some last minute Christmas items. Maria told Molly she would clean the dishes while they were gone. Sirius and Harry spent time talking in the living room.
"Harry are you happy?" was Sirius' question that came completely out of the blue.
"Of course Sirius. Why?" Harry could hear the sadness in Sirius' voice when he explained.
"I know when Lily and James died, Remus and I wanted you to be safe and happy. Neither of us could do a thing about it though because I was in Azkaban and no one would let him take care of you because he is a werewolf," Sirius would not make eye contact with Harry.
"Sirius you lost two of your best friends just like I lost my mum and dad. In a weird way it makes me happy knowing that someone knows exactly how I feel. So don't worry about me," Harry explained.
Sirius smiled at the boy who had black hair like his father, green eyes like his mother, and the smarts of both combined. "It amazes me how much you act like them."
"I wouldn't know how they acted if it weren't for you and Remus telling me all those stories about them."
As soon as the two finished talking the Weasleys returned home and were quickly shooed off to bed by Mrs. Weasley. Arthur and Molly were soon heading to their room as well. That left Maria and Sirius sitting by the fire. Maria just kept her head on Sirius' shoulders.
It was silent until she whispered," I heard you talking to Harry earlier." Sirius nodded his head gently trying not to make Maria's head bobble. "You handled it very well."
"I hope so," he sighed. He lifted her head off his shoulders then looked into her eyes. "I love you."
She smiled sweetly, "I love you too Sirius." They sat down there for a couple more minutes until they retired to their room.
A/N: Hey everyone! Ok with each review tell me one if you would like to see Sirius get engaged to Maria or Remus confess his love for Siera then tell me which is your favorite original character and something special will happen to them!