Chapter TEN

            Christmas never was too big a deal for Sirius. In fact, before Hogwarts, he positively hated the holiday, as it meant family get-togethers for the Blacks, and if ever there was anything Sirius loathed, it was his family.

            The Blacks had prided their purity of blood for more generations than could be counted. Most likely into the Gothic Era itself - or even further back.

            Sirius could not stand his family's pureblood mania…how they insisted that being a Black made one better than everyone else.

            Because of this, Sirius always remained at school for the Christmas and Easter holidays, and was why he was to be found early one morning into the Christmas break at Gryffindor's house table. Alone. Thinking about his God-awful parents…his wretched little brother…his cruel, hateful cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents…none of whom would ever think twice about Sirius. Not that this bothered him at all, of course, he assured himself.

            So lost in his thoughts was he, that he didn't notice the door to the Great Hall opening, closing, nor the light footsteps of Raven, coming up behind him. She laid her hand on his shoulder, making Sirius start and look round over his shoulder at her.

            "Oh," he said, the tone lost from his voice. "Morning, Crow." He reached his arm around her waist and hugged her. Raven swung her leg over the bench and seated herself next to him.

            "Everything alright, Sirius?" she asked, reaching out and rubbing his back.

            "Yeah," he said with more confidence, now that he could take his mind off his meditations. "I just woke up a bit too early this morning, that's all."

            "Ah," came her reply. She helped herself to the food that was appearing on the table before her and added, "D'you know where Remus was yesterday? Was he taken ill again?"

            Sirius bit his tongue. He knew, of course, he couldn't tell Raven where Remus really had been…

            "Yeah he got sick during the night and left for the Hospital Wing. Stayed there all day and…haven't seen him since."

            Raven looked concerned. "Poor dear," she said sympathetically. "And he doesn't really look the sickly type…I hope he gets better soon."

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Sorry for the short chapter…I just couldn't think of anything to add; it felt like a good enough stopping point, though, to end it early. More coming soon!!!