Warning: My Mary Sue can kick your Mary Sue's ass. She's that BAD.

Disclaimer: JKR. Not mine. Got it?

Chapter Ten: Merry Cavemas

I was relieved when the term was over. I never told Harry or the others about my little "quality time" with Snape--I thought that was something I wanted to keep to myself for a while. The Saturday after classes were done for term, I found myself slipping into a sort of funk. Uncle Jack was stuck in Boston for the holidays and I didn't have any family living in Brittan. Everyone in Gryffindor tower was packing up and getting ready to catch rides back to their families--even Harry, who was spending Christmas with Ron's family. I was happy for Harry, I really was--I knew he came from a pretty harsh family, but it still didn't help the sinking feeling I had about spending Christmas alone in a drafty tower all by myself.

Those were my thoughts as I sat in the common room that Saturday. I was working on a letter to Aunt Sarah who had finally found it fit to send me holiday greetings. I was giving her a quill-full about abandoning the only blood family she had left in the world when Harry came up behind me.

"So, what are we up to?" Harry said as he flopped down into the chair next to me.

"Well," I half growled, "I am writing a letter to my ingrate auntie who finally decided to give me the time of day after nearly a year of traipsing around Mexico." I threw my quill and sat back. Harry was giving me that I-know-how-you-feel-look, "It's no biggie," I shrugged, "It's just weird thinking about having this whole tower to myself for the break. I enjoy my quiet time alone, don't get me wrong, but…"

"You won't be alone, Reg," Harry smiled.

"Huh?"

"I said you won't be alone," replied Harry, "I told Ron that I decided to stay for the holiday. His mum won't be too happy, but no one should have to spend Christmas alone. Besides, there's loads we can do to keep busy."

"Harry! I don't want to skipping out on Christmas because of me," I cried, "Ron's mom is expecting you! And--and you've been looking forward to it all term!"

Harry shrugged and grinned, "No one should spend Christmas alone--especially you. Merlin knows what kind of trouble you'll get into in a lonely castle. At least this way we can spread the detention around. And no sense arguing either-Americans aren't the only stubborn ones, ya know!"

My jaw fell open and closed again. I wanted to protest--I really did, but the thought of getting to spend Christmas with one of my new best friends exploring a huge, practically empty castle was too much.

"Besides," Harry whispered, leaning towards me, "I got a letter from Sirius. He said he'd be outside of Hogsmeade on Christmas Day. I wanted you to meet him."

I nodded. I knew Sirius was Harry's godfather--I also knew that he was an escaped convict from the most wicked wizards' prison in the entire world. Wrongly convicted, but escaped nonetheless. I amused myself for a moment thinking of some gaunt jailbird in prison orange and a Santa hat.

"Oh! I'd better get Ron and Hermione's gifts before they go!" I jumped from my chair and ran upstairs. Hermione was just putting the last of her clothes in her trunk as I got there.

"Hi, Reggie. Harry said he's going to be staying here with you for Christmas," Hermione said as the last of her things floated into her trunk.

"Yeah, it totally shocked the hell out of me," I said, rummaging around in my trunk for presents, "Actually, I came up here to get your—ack! Where are they?"

Hermione flopped down on her bed and watched me shuffle through my trunk, "You and Harry seem to be hitting things off quite nicely."

"Well, Harry and I just get along really—"I looked up at her. I could tell there was a smirk on her face when she had said that before I even looked at her, "Oh no! Don't even start with that stuff!"

"Come on, Reggie! You and Harry are around each other all the time—"

"Yeah, with you guys! And what about you and Ron, huh? He seems to be spending an awful lot of time in the library these days." I retorted, but grinned.

Hermione blushed. Bullseye, I thought. It was true that Ron and Hermione had been spending a lot of time with each other lately—so, naturally, Harry and I were left to our own devices. By devices, I mean ways one can break the rules without being caught—and Harry was just a friend. Besides, I thought it made Harry feel better because at least this way he wasn't the third wheel or anything.

"Look, I like Harry, but I don't like Harry," I said, "He, like you and Ron, are just really good, super cool friends that I like to hang around. Ah!" I exclaimed as I found what I was looking for, "And speaking of super cool, here's your present." I tossed a shiny silver package in her direction.

Hermione caught it and tore off the wrapper, "Oooh! This looks fascinating, Reg!" She opened the book and began skimming through the pages. I knew that Hermione would want something bookish so I thought of the most boring textbook I had ever come across back at the Academy. Integrating Magic and non-Magic communities: A Guide to Useful Magic and Technology fit the bill. Hermione snapped the book shut and threw me a package that had been on her bed, "This is yours, but don't open it until Christmas!"

I grinned, "Sure. Hey, I have to get my gift to Ron. Have a good break, Hermione!" And I headed back down to the common room with Ron's gift—a miniature set of American Quidditch figurines.

The rest of the day passed quickly. Harry and I kept busy with several games of Exploding Snap, walking around the castle and grounds, and just talking in the common room. It had been awhile since we'd been able to just sit and talk—talk about school, family life (or lack thereof), plans after Hogwarts, and general stupid chit-chat that takes place among all teenagers. That evening over dinner, we decided how to spend the next morning.

"Okay, so I told Sirius we would meet him around lunch time at the edge of Hogmeade," Harry said, heaving more potatoes onto his plate, "We should probably bring him some food, too. He doesn't get out of his cave much."

"Cave?" I asked as I raised an eyebrow. Gee, what a festive place to spend Christmas Day.

"He stays in a cave outside of town when he comes near here. It's safe, but it's not a very pleasant place to live." Harry explained.

"Sounds like some of the slums back home," I commented, "But I want to stop in Hogsmeade anyways to pick something up for Sirius. Nothing fancy, but a little something." To be honest, I didn't know why I felt compelled to buy Harry's godfather a Christmas present when I hadn't even met the guy. Maybe the holiday weirdness from Snape was wearing off. Ewww…Snape rubbing off on me!

"He'd like that," Harry smiled, "And maybe we could stop off at the Three Broomsticks for some butterbeer, too."

I couldn't help grinning. Christmas at Hogwarts was starting to beat Christmas in New York.

The next morning, Harry and I opened our presents down in the common room. From Hermione, I'd gotten a book (surprise, surprise) about advanced Transfiguration (since my rats to shoes still squeaked). Ron had gotten me Gryffindor hat, scarf, and pin (presumably to wear to Quidditch games) and even Ron's mom had sent me a sweater—blue with a big white star in the middle. Harry laughed hysterically when I put it on saying I looked like a part of the American flag. Uncle Jack sent some Galleons and 10 tubes of black cherry chap stick. Harry's was the last gift I got to.

"Hope you like it," Harry said, pulling his Weasley sweater over his head. This year he'd gotten a green sweater with a giant white H across the chest. I tore off the wrapping paper and there was a thin, black leather bound book lying in my lap. I looked up at Harry quizzically and he just kept grinning. I opened it up and my jaw dropped. There on the first page was a very young picture of my mom and dad.

"Surprised?" Harry said, "I had Hagrid help me with it. He did the same for me when I left after my first year. You said you didn't have any pictures of your parents when they were young so I had Hagrid get a hold of your mum and dad's old classmates to put this book together."

My mouth continued to hang open as I flipped through the pages. Both of them—mom and dad—were waving and laughing in every frame. I never realized how much I looked like my mom and it looked like the uniforms hadn't changed in a long time. There were pictures taken in the common room, pictures of my dad in his Quidditch uniform, pictures of the castle and grounds—all of it was too much for words. I looked back at Harry who was watching me with a sort of half grin.

"So, you like it, ri—"

I jumped across the pile of ripped wrappings and plowed over Harry with a hug, "Are you freaking kidding me! This is the best present ever!"

Harry laughed as he tried to untangle my arms from around his neck, "I take it you approve, then?"

I pulled Harry back up and sat back, clutching the book to my chest, "It's the best present I've ever been given. Hands down. Thank you soooo much!" I started flipping through it again. I suddenly thought about my present to Harry, "Oh! You didn't open mine yet!" I reached over near the tree and tossed him his package, "Merry Christmas!"

Harry ripped off the paper and exclaimed at what I now thought of as a boring present, "Wow, Reg!" He started flipping through the pages, "I can really use this! Angelina's plays have been sagging a bit lately. This could really help the team." I had gotten him a copy of Great Quidditch Plays Through The Ages—a book about different plays and drills. It paled in comparison to Harry's gift to me, though, and I don't like to be out-gifted.

"It's boring," I said, wrenching the book out of his hand.

Harry grabbed it back, "It's thoughtful and I love it, thank you very much." He wadded up a pile of paper and threw it at me.

After a few minutes of paper fighting, we got dressed, grabbed a quick bite in the Great Hall then started down to Hogsmeade. We stopped into a shop so I could buy Sirius a charmed blanket that didn't loose warmth.

"According to Modern Cave, throw blankets are very in this season," I told Harry sarcastically as we emerged from the shop. We stopped by the Three Broomsticks to grab several bottles of butterbeer to go as well as some extra sandwiches (besides the piles we'd taken from breakfast that morning). We waded our way through the snow-laden streets until we reached the edge of town. There was a long wooden fence that ran along the path—and right at the end was an enormous black dog.

"Uh…Harry…" I said, stopping suddenly.

"Oh, that's just Snuffles," Harry said. As if the dog had heard him, it came charging up the path straight for us. I screamed and dropped my bag, flinging my arms up to protect my face. Scenes from Cujo flashed in my head. The next thing I heard was Harry laughing. I lowered my arms and saw that the dog had toppled Harry over and was licking his face.

"What the hell—"

"Reggie meet my godfather," Harry laughed, getting to his feet. The dog took up a place at Harry's side, stared at me, and barked. If I didn't know any better I'd think the dog was grinning at me, I thought. "Come on, why don't we head over? Reg and I brought you some stuff…" Harry started talking to the dog as they began walking down the path. And the school thinks I'm nuts, I mused to myself.

It was a long climb down the rocky path, but we eventually made our way to this tiny opening in the rocks. The dog climbed in first, followed by Harry, and finally myself. Of course, I nearly fell out of the opening again when I had straightened up and found the dog gone and a man in its place.

"ACK!"

"Pipe down, Reggie," Harry said, "Sirius, this is Reggie. Reggie, Sirius."

Sirius looked nothing like the convict I had expected. His face was fuller than I thought it would be and his hair—while still a little long (not hippie long, but just below his ears)—was clean. He was tall, too, and wore a disheveled black robe. He grinned broadly at me as I caught my breath.

"So this is the infamous Reggie," he laughed. It sounded more like a bark to me, "Very pleased to meet you at last!" He held out a hand.

"And you," I smirked, "It's not every holiday I get to spend squished in a cave with an escaped felon. It's a magic time of year."

Sirius laughed again, "I see what you mean by her sense of humor, Harry." I glanced over at Harry who had started getting the food out. He only winked at me and I glared (jokingly, of course) and stuck out my tongue, "So, what's been happening with you."

For nearly three hours, Harry, Sirius, and I talked about everything that had gone on at Hogwarts that term. Harry insisted on giving Sirius a blow-by-blow replay of the one Quidditch match I was allowed to play and I reciprocated by telling about our detention in the dungeon when we had to gut every slimy beast Snape could drag up for nearly two hours. I knew that Sirius had gone to school with Harry's dad, but I had no idea how much trouble they'd gotten into as well. I made several mental notes to myself and even tried to compare some of my stunts from my old school to those of the four Marauders. I failed miserably—the Marauders had me outstripped when it came to pure, unyielding chaos. After several bottles of butterbeer and dozens of sandwiches, Harry decided to go out for a stretch.

"You can say you're going to the bathroom," I yelled after him, "it's okay! It's a part of nature!"

"Shut up, Reg!" Harry yelled back.

Sirius just chuckled and shook his head, "I can see why the two of you get along so well. James and I had the same kind of relationship—very sarcastic with one another."

"I think cynicism is good for a person," I said, draining my third bottle of butterbeer, "Keeps you from taking yourself and the world too seriously. But yeah, Harry and I get along just fine."

Sirius raised an eyebrow, "Just fine?"

I snorted, "What is it with everyone thinking that a guy and a gal can't be just friends without it resorting to romance! No one thinks like that when it comes to Hermione!" Well, except when it came to Ron, but he doesn't need to know that.

"Ah, but Hermione has known Harry since their first year…and from what I hear from Harry, she and Ron have been spending quite a bit of time together," Sirius said, sipping his bottle, "Harry tells me quite a bit as you can see."

"Obviously," I rolled my eyes, "Is nothing sacred?"

Sirius laughed again, "If you say there's nothing between you and my godson I'll take your word for it. But you are teenagers—"

"—and therefore can't control ourselves?" I interjected, "Not all 15-year-olds are hormone raging lunatics, ya know."

"Not all, but most," Sirius winked.

I rolled my eyes yet again, "Cheers," I said as I toasted to my fourth round of butterbeer.

"So what did I miss?" Harry said as he came back.

"Reggie and I were just discussing your blossoming relationship," Sirius grinned. I spit out the butterbeer I had in my mouth and started choking. Sirius only laughed at the dumfounded expression on Harry's face.

After another hour, Harry and I reluctantly decided we should head back to Hogwarts. We picked up the trash and put it in our bags and Sirius gave both of us hug before changing back into a dog so he could walk us back towards town. Sirius kept running around in circles chasing his tail—making us laugh so we mostly stumbled over the rocks trying to get back to the path. When we finally made it back to the fence where we had met the sun was already setting.

"We'd better haul before it gets dark," I said to Harry.

Harry nodded and bent down to give Sirius one last hug, "I'll write soon. Make sure no one sees you!"

Sirius barked and I crouched down so I could pat his head, "I bet you hear this a lot, but you make a better dog than a human." Sirius barked very loudly at this, "I'm just kidding! Sheesh!" He looked like he was doing that grin again and I grinned back, "It was nice meeting you. Interesting, but nice." He barked again as Harry and I waved then turned to make our way back to the castle.

Definitely one of the weirdest holidays on record for me.