Chapter 12

Everything was going horribly wrong. Both Sirius and Harry knew it, but neither tried to do anything to fix it. Not one of them spoke to each other at any time—not even in classes. In DADA, which used to be his favourite subject, Harry barely paid attention anymore.

The Christmas holidays were approaching, quicker it seemed, than usual. Harry didn't know how he'd get through those. This year, Harry was supposed to stay at Hogwarts for the holidays because every year since Harry started Hogwarts, both Remus and Sirius shared Harry. One year for Christmas, Harry might stay with Sirius; but then the next year, Harry'd go home to Remus to spend them with him.

Thankful that it was finally the (it seemed ages) weekend, Sirius sat on the edge of the bed holding a letter that he had just gotten from Allyson. He hadn't read what it said yet, and he didn't know why he was waiting. While trying to think of a reason (and coming up with nothing), he started to unfold the paper to see Allyson's neat, precise writing.

Sirius,

I'm so sorry that Harry reacted to the news this … unexpectedly. I realize that he doesn't like me very much, so this is what I'm offering to do: During the Christmas holidays, maybe you could send Harry over here, to my place to spend it with me? Harry and I would be the only ones there, which would be good, so I could spend a bit of time with him, so we could sort of get to know each other. Maybe after the holidays Harry might come to … let's say … enjoy my company. After all, after we get married, we'll all be living together, won't we?

The decision to accept this offer is completely up to you, Siri. I'll understand if you want to spend the Christmas holidays with him yourself, but if he spends Christmas with me, perhaps when he comes back things'll be better between the two of you? And, as I said before, it'll be good for Harry and I. We'll get to spend some time with each other.

Think it through, don't rush to respond. I love you.

Love,
Allyson

Sirius stared at Allyson's small, tidy signature. Spending the Christmas holidays with Allyson might actually be good for Harry, like Allyson had said herself. If Harry just spent quality time with her, then maybe … maybe Harry would come to like her, then things would work itself out like they used to be.

He slowly folded the letter up, his mind thinking through things once more. Yeah … maybe Harry and Allyson spending the holidays together was a good idea. In fact, maybe even a brilliant one.

Then, he set the folded piece of parchment beside him and stood up, looking for another piece of parchment, a quill and ink, so he could write back to his fiancée with the answer.

-

"Where are you going, Harry?" Hermione asked, looking up from the book she was reading in the common room as she noticed Harry walking towards the portrait hole.

"I just need to send Remus a letter," Harry replied, turning around to face Hermione. "About the holidays."

"Oh, right." Hermione nodded, putting her index finger on the page she was reading and then closing it. "Isn't it Sirius's turn this year, though?"

"Yeah," Harry said slowly. "But I don't think I'm up to it. Spending the Christmas holidays with him, that is."

"OK." Hermione flipped the book back open and continued reading, while Harry resumed walking out the portrait hole and into the Owlery.

Harry played with the edge of the parchment as he made his way to the Owlery, wondering if he should send the letter or not. What if he did stay with Sirius for the holidays and they were able to reconcile? But what if he didn't, and he missed the chance for the reconciliation? But … what if he did stay, and they ended up avoiding each other for the whole time?

Harry stopped in the middle of the corridor, wanting to make up his mind before we went any further. He let the questions run through his mind, and only one answer was available for each of them: He'd just have to pick one and hope that he chose the best.

Letting out a breath, Harry started towards the Owlery again, only to turn around once he heard someone calling his name. He saw Sirius running through the corridor towards him, and once he was near enough to Harry, Harry noticed that his godfather seemed partly excited, partly nervous.

Harry sighed, deciding to use as much of a nice voice as he could muster. "What is it, Professor?"

Well, it wasn't exactly 'nice'—it was more cold and curt, but Harry did the best he could.

"You know, we're not in class," Sirius pointed out. He looked as if he wanted to say something more, but then decided against it and kept quiet.

"I know," Harry replied.

"So … er … I went to the common room, and Hermione told me you were sending a letter to Remus."

Harry nodded. "Yeah. So?"

"Well … er … speaking of letters, I got one from Allyson today."

Harry slowly nodded, not exactly sure where Sirius was going by telling him this rather useless news. "… So?"

"Well, she had this idea. It was actually a pretty good idea—I think you'll enjoy it … eventually," Sirius replied uncomfortably. "Well, you see, I already wrote her back saying that it would be perfectly OK and now I came to tell you what it was about."

"OK," Harry said, waiting for Sirius to tell him about the letter, but when he didn't, Harry decided to step in again. "So, are you going to tell me what the letter was about?"

"Right. Well … she suggested … that instead of spending the holidays with me this Christmas, that why not you spend them with her? I really think that this'll be a good chance for you two to get to know each other a bit more, and, possibly even like her a bit more."

"And you said yes to this?" Harry yelled, shocked. He couldn't believe that Sirius didn't even bother asking him in the first place if he wanted to go. He just went right along and said yes.

"Well … yes," Sirius said, nodding his head. After a while, he nodded his head again, this time a bit more confidently. "Yes I did. And you know why I did this without even asking you? Because, this time, you're not going to have a choice. You're going to go to Allyson's this Christmas, be nice to her and try to have a nice time."

"What?" Harry's eyes widened. "What do you mean by 'this time you're not going to have a choice?' Lately, everything you do that involves me, you don't give me a choice with. So what's with this 'this time'?"

"I'm not arguing with you," Sirius said firmly. "I'm sorry. I've been way too kind to you. I should've at least punished you for getting drunk, or even yelled at you. But, somehow—I don't see how now—I let it slide. It'll never happen again."

"Good!" Harry yelled, scowling. "Because I don't plan on getting drunk again!"

"Well …" Clearly Sirius was at a loss for words. "That's … that's good! You better not!"

"I won't," Harry said. "But I'm just going to let you know that I'm just as mad at you as you are with me. Maybe even a little madder. You do everything without asking me, where it at least involves me. First you propose to Allyson without even telling me first, and then … this." Harry sighed. "There's probably a lot more things you did, but I'm too mad to remember them."

"Well, when you do, be sure to come down to my chambers and inform me," Sirius said sarcastically. "Now you're going to Allyson's for Christmas. Do you understand me?"

"Absolutely," Harry muttered, pushing past Sirius as he went back to the common room, having no need to send the letter to Remus since Harry was going to be spending the Holidays with Satan him (or rather her) self.

"And don't expect me to write you any letters when I get there!" Harry called over his shoulder.

"I'm not holding my breath," Sirius called after him.

-

"Wow, look at Potty going off in such a huff." Jedediah's voice broke into Harry's thoughts as he slowly made his way to the Gryffindor common room. Since he was looking down at the ground as he walked, he didn't notice the boy approach him.

"Go 'way," Harry muttered, not bothering to look up as he pushed past the Slytherin.

"Aw, in a bad mood, are we?" Jedediah called in a know-it-all voice. "Poor Potty. Still having troubles with your godfather?"

"Shut it," Harry yelled, spinning around to glare at Jedediah. "What's going on in my life is none of your business, Jedediah!"

Jedediah held his hands out in front of his face, taking a step backwards with the smirk still in place. "Going to hit me on the head with a couple of spoons?"

Harry's eyes narrowed. "How do you remember that?"

"Oh, come off it," Jedediah said, lowering his hands. "I heard Dumbledore and Black talking the day after … well, everything." he grinned. "Black mentioned how both of us got drunk, and what we did."

"What we did?" Harry repeated. "What did we do?"

"Well," Jedediah started, "obviously you did what you did—banging spoons on your head—and I was saying some ridiculous things. Nobody said what."

Harry turned around, walking away. He didn't feel like talking to Jedediah; he hadn't spoken to the boy during any of the times they had detention (for getting drunk) together, and he wasn't going to plan on talking to the Slytherin now.

Harry was extremely mad when he went back to the common room, and he wasn't exactly in a talkative mood when he found Hermione still in the same chair reading the same book, but Hermione was sure able to question him.

"Did you send the letter?" She asked, looking up from her book.

Harry avoided her gaze. "No."

"Why not?"

"I got held up," Harry replied curtly, and without another word started up to his dorm.

"What's wrong?" Hermione asked before Harry could go any further up the steps. His shoulders sagging, Harry turned around to face his friend, and he realized he didn't have to take his anger out on her. She was just wondering what happened.

He sighed before explaining. "Sirius is what's wrong."

"Oh," Hermione frowned apologetically. "I'm sorry, he must've told you that I told him where you were. I thought that he was going to find you so you two could work things out … I—"

"It doesn't matter," Harry said, shaking his head as he descended a few steps. "He came to tell me what Allyson wrote to him asking if I could spend the holidays with her. Without asking me first, we went along and wrote back to her saying that I would."

"I'm sorry," Hermione said. "I know how much you don't like her. Maybe this'll be good, though?"

Harry shrugged. "Sirius said that maybe it would, too. I don't think so, though. It's going to be a horrible time with her. You know, I'd rather spend the holidays with Sirius instead of Allyson." Harry sighed unnecessarily. "I'd choose Sirius any day."

"I know you would," responded Hermione. "But things'll work out. I have a good feeling they will."

Harry nodded. "Yeah, thanks."

-

Sirius knew he should've asked Harry first. It was wrong to just immediately say yes without his permission first, since it had everything to do with his godson, but he was just too mad. Everything between him and Harry seemed to be going horribly wrong.

He took his time going back to his chambers, making sure to go slow through the corridors. He used this time to think about everything that had been going on.

Was it the right thing to do by saying yes? What if things went all wrong between Allyson and Harry? What if … The next thought made Sirius cringe, but he couldn't take it out of his mind. What if while at Allyson's, Harry ran away?

If he did, he most likely would go to Remus's, or even Isabella's, so Sirius tried not to worry that much about it. Still, what if Harry did something he'd later regret?

Pushing every single thought out of his mind, Sirius continued to slowly make his way to his chambers. The Christmas holidays were in the near, near future … so time would eventually tell.

-

A/N: Thanks for the reviews, everybody! Sorry for the long wait for this chapter, but for some reason it wouldn't let me upload this. It's working now, though, so again: thanks!