Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize. All characters belong to a woman with a great imagination and determination, capable of creating this world that is the center of so many stories.
Sins of Angels: Thanks to all reviewers! My parental controls are currently suspended (thank god), so I will try really hard to answer any questions you have when you review with a reply. If I don't, I'm really sorry, but something probably came up or I didn't have time, but I will try really hard to do so. Anyway, here is the last of the four chapters with basically the same name because I'm weird like that. Enjoy.
Chapter 31 – The Lupin Family Values
Remus Lupin sighed. His mother was just getting done hanging up the decorations on the wall. His father was smiling happily as he listened to the Christmas songs on the radio. Remus sighed again. This much holiday spirit should be outlawed. It was downright depressing.
"More hot chocolate, dear?" his mother asked enthusiastically and poured more in the cup without pausing for an answer. Remus smiled at her and looked back out the window.
He was the first to notice the Knight Bus stopping in front of his house. He bounded for the door and opened it just as James and Lily were coming up to it. James gave him a very apologetic grin.
"Hello, mate," he said sadly, dragging his trunk behind him. "Fancy a chat?"
Surprised, Remus looked at them. Then he smiled and let them in. They probably weren't as Christmas happy as his parents.
Actually, no one was as Christmas happy as his parents.
His mother brightened up. "Hello, James, dear," she said happily and then spotted Lily. "And who is this charming young lady?"
"This is Lily Evans, Mum," Remus said. "She was Prefect with me, remember?"
"Ah, yes, of course," his mother said and smiled at her visitors. Remus's dad glanced at them and smiled as well.
"Hello there, James!" he said. James smiled and greeted him. "So happy to see you've stopped by. Something wrong with your dad?"
"Well," James said, shifting slightly. "We had a little fight, that's all."
"Little? I see you've brought your trunks."
"Well, maybe not that little, no."
"I'll go make some more hot chocolate!" Mrs. Lupin said and got up. "Make yourselves at home, dears. Stay as long as you want."
"You're always welcome here, James. And that goes for you too, Ms. Evans."
"Thank you, sir," they both responded as Remus jumped with joy. Some normalcy, finally. He took Lily's trunk and carried it up to the guest rooms. James put his trunk in his room.
"Must be a big change, coming from the Potter Estate to this," Mrs. Lupin said quietly to Lily. Their house was small, much smaller than the one James lived in.
"No, no, my house used to be this size too," Lily reassured her, taking the hot chocolate.
"Used to be?" she said, oblivious to her son's frantic shaking of his head.
"Well, my parents, they passed away."
"Oh, I'm so sorry."
"It's okay. This is great hot chocolate, by the way."
"Thank you," Mrs. Lupin said warmly. "You're welcome to stay here until school starts again, you know," she blurted out.
"Actually, we were thinking of going to the Leaky Cauldron, and keeping Sirius company there," James said, and then instantly regretted it.
"He's there? On Christmas? This simply will not do!" Mrs. Lupin said sharply. "You're all staying here. Jim, go fetch him. Don't take no for an answer!"
"On my way, dear," Mr. Lupin said, already walking to the fireplace.
"No, we were okay and all, we had money and everything," James said and then stopped at the look that Mrs. Lupin gave him.
"Nonsense! Christmas is not a time to be alone, or at some inn. You'll stay with us."
"But what about food?" James said, a tad bit uncomfortably.
"James Potter, Christmas is the one holiday I love to celebrate. Don't ruin it for me!" she said simply, and James shut up. "We just got done with the tree, so we were going to put our presents under there. Would you like to join us?"
"Mum, do they really have a choice?" Remus asked, leaning back on the couch. His mother smiled.
"No," she said with a smile.
"Okay then, we'll be right back," Remus said and he and the other two went up the stairs. Lily grabbed her gifts, nicely wrapped, and hastily sat down and wrapped one of the gifts she had bought in the off chance that she would meet one of her family's friends. She was rather glad she had brought them with her. She walked through the open door to the boy's room.
"Look, Lily, don't bring up the subject of money with Remus's parents," James warned as he took out more gifts. Lily frowned.
"What?" she asked, confused.
"My parents had quite a bit of money before," Remus said, digging through his dresser. "But it all went towards, well, me. A cure for me. They save up and go all out every Christmas."
"And they won't take help from me or Sirius. Peter isn't all that well off either. But they both refuse to take anything."
"They want to get back to where they were," Remus said, sadly looking at Lily. "But pay for all the stupid potions and Healers too. It won't work, I know it. But they hope. And they have a lot of it."
Lily nodded slightly. The two boys stood up, each carrying a lot of gifts.
"Just enjoy it. They like making people happy."
Lily smiled as they descended. Rather like her own parents, really. Lily got half of their money and possessions, as Petunia informed her. It wasn't much, but it was a good enough start. She placed her gifts under the tree and sat back down, sipping her hot chocolate happily.
The fire roared green and Mr. Lupin came through, dragging a trunk. Sirius stumbled out of the flames after him.
"Sirius Black!" Mrs. Lupin said with a big smile. "Did I not tell you to visit when you left on the train? Spending Christmas in some inn…honestly!"
Sirius mumbled "Hello," and turned a faint shade of pink. The woman smiled and poured him hot chocolate as well, which he took readily and sat down next to Remus, grinning.
"Sirius, old chap, long time no see," Remus said, a grin getting wider with every word. The two boys with grins that threatened to take their heads off turned to James, who grinned as well.
"Why, yes, my friends, how wonderful it is to see all of you again!" James said, looking at the both of them.
"So we have a week or so, eh?" Sirius asked enthusiastically. The other two nodded. " A lot can happen in a week. An awful, awful lot."
All three nodded in agreement, and began to laugh. Mr. Lupin chuckled and Mrs. Lupin was adding to the grocery list furiously. Lily looked at the boys until they stopped laughing.
"What?" all three asked together and started laughing again. Lily smiled in a puzzled way, thoroughly confused about the whole situation. This only made the boys grin even wider, and a mischievous look captured their eyes.