Uncertainty Principle

Chapter 5: Christmas

xXx

December 23rd, 1975

Carmichael Ramsey had been at every Christmas party for as long as James could remember and he had certainly been at everyone since he started school. It's a fact that he shares with his friends.

"So." Peter replies, studying the few pieces he had left on the chess board. Remus sits across from him looking mildly bored.

"So where's Hermione?" Remus asks. Peter looks up abruptly.

"Oh yeah." he says. "He came without her."

James nods. "Yeah, he did." he sounds pensive.

"Do you think she was avoiding us?" Peter asks, finally making a move.

"Probably." Remus replies, answering his move without hesitation and taking yet another piece. Peter scowls, going back to his contemplation of the board. Remus rolls his eyes and looks to James where he's sitting next to Sirius on the sofa. "She was trying to keep her distance from everyone, she probably avoided coming."

James nods in agreement, but doesn't look happy about it. "Do you think she's coming this year?" Remus shrugs, turning his attention to Sirius who's doing a hell of a job pretending to read from the little pocket copy of Midsummer Night's Dream. It had been one of those things he had been surprised to learn about Sirius. Sirius wasn't the type to talk about his love of Shakespeare or really anything else that he hasn't deemed normal for a fifteen year old boy to like, but he didn't go out of his way to hide what he was reading and while most people thought it was a joke, they knew better.

"What do you think, Sirius?" Remus asks. He puts on a good show of pretending he hasn't heard every word they said.

"Think about what?" he asks. Peter makes his move and Remus responds by taking his king. Peter slouches in his chair in frustration as Remus stands, making his way over and plopping down on Sirius' other side.

"Do you think Hermione will come to the party this year?"

Sirius shrugs, trying to come off unaffected by the question, but Remus knows his friend well enough to see he's been thinking about what it will mean if she does show up this year. "I hope she does." he tells them and that's about as close to a confession of anticipation as they're likely to get. "I understand if she doesn't want to though. She doesn't really come off as the type to enjoy parties, even now that she's opening up more." he continues.

He's right of course. Over the last two months, Hermione had been folded into their little group and Lily's. Even Marlene had been nicer to her. Whatever had happened that one Saturday morning in September, Remus and James both suspected it had gone a long way in convincing Hermione not to isolate herself anymore. She was still quiet and a little reserved though they had on more than one occasion seen the spark in her. Sirius had waxed poetic no less than twice now about the way the ends of her wild curly hair sparked with magic when she was angry. Remus found it intriguing as well, but definitely not for the same reasons Sirius did. Remus was more of the mind that it was a sign that beneath the walls and cold exterior lay deep passions and emotions that she struggled to keep underwraps. Sirius believed it was a sign that she was feisty, a hellcat hidden under the fluff and fur of a timid kitten.

"I bet she'll come." James says with a certainty that sends a spark of hope through Sirius' grey eyes.

"What makes you think that?" Remus asks.

"Just a hunch." James shrugs, getting up and taking Remus' seat on the other side of the board. Peter perks up as he resets it.

Remus, for the most part, had come to trust James' hunches. There were a few exceptions of course, but for the most part, James was usually right. So he can't help but feel the disappointment they all share as they spot Carmichael Ramsey enter the ballroom of Potter Manor unaccompanied.

"I guess your hunch was wrong." Sirius says, sitting back in his chair dejectedly.

Remus scowls. "You don't know that yet." he says, standing abruptly and making his way over to the older man. Talking to James' mother and father, his eyes cut across the room to him as he approaches and Carmichael smiles large and bright at him under his thick handlebar mustache. Not a strand of hair on the old man's head anymore, but his mustache was still a thing of pride.

"Remus my boy. How are you?" he greets him with a fierce hug, patting him on the shoulder a bit roughly as Remus pulls away. The Potters watch on, smiling.

"I'm well sir, and yourself?"

"I can't complain," he tells him. "Euphemia was just telling me how you boys helped with all of this, this year." he gestures to the ballroom at large. At the center an enormous tree equal to that of the one at Hogwarts sits decorated in golds and deep reds. Near the ceiling, large enchanted ornaments and candles floated about. The walls held garland and wreaths to match the trees and the dance floor around the tree was freshly polished, reflecting the lights from the tree and everlasting candles.

"Yes sir, it was actually more fun than we thought it would be." he replies.

Euphemia laughs, reaching over and smoothing down the back of Remus' hair affectionately. "You're such a good liar Remus, it's a wonder how you boys ever get caught."

"To be fair, Mrs. Potter, they've only gotten caught when I'm not involved." the three adults laugh and when it tapers off, Remus asks; "I'm surprised Hermione hasn't come too. Is she alright?"

Carmichael beams. "She did come tonight, actually. We ran into Lily Evans in the hall. Apparently she had a bit of trouble with her dress coming out of the floo and Hermione went along to help fix it."

As if drawn in by the mention of her name, Hermione appears just behind them, walking arm in arm with Lily. Remus has to stop himself from reacting, lest he make Carmichael think his curiosity at Hermione's attendance was romantic interest. It's hard though. In all the time he's known her he's only ever seen her in either her school uniform or casual clothing. Now, dressed in a floor length, off the shoulder white evening dress, a slit up the side well passed her knee and her unruly hair twisted up in an elegant knot, it was like looking at a completely different person.

xXx

Sirius stares slack jawed across the room, certain he's hallucinating. Even from a distance he can see how beautiful Hermione looks, the long white gown accentuating her curves, her wild, riotous curls tame. He finds himself rooted to his seat, heart pounding as he watches Remus lead Hermione and Lily over. James is on his feet greeting Lily, but all Sirius can do is stare at Hermione.

"Sirius?" Hermione's voice calls out to him softly. The sound pulls him from his thoughts and he comes to realize she's looking back at him. "Are you alright? You seem distracted."

It takes a moment for his brain to catch up and he stands abruptly, startling Hermione. "Oh yeah, I'm fine, I think I'm just a little hungry, haven't eaten much today, you know, helping Lady P set up."

Hermione smiles. "You guys helped do all of this?" she asks. Sirius nods, stepping closer and pointing to the large ornaments and candles in the air.

"I did those." Remus swats at his shoulder. "Remus helped." Remus rolls his eyes as Hermione turns a knowing smile on him before turning her attention to Sirius again.

"It's beautiful, you did a wonderful job. All of you." she tells him. Sirius beams. He gestures for her to take the seat beside him, the one vacated by Remus, but Remus doesn't say anything, smirking in amusement as Sirius acts the perfect gentleman, pulling her chair out for her. Hermione seems amused by it as well, chuckling whenever he goes out of his way to do something for her.

Sirius is oblivious to the look Remus shares with James and Lily who are also watching the exchange and just like that Remus knows he has partners in his plan.

xXx

Sirius resists the urge to growl. A fact Remus finds immensely amusing. The group had spent dinner laughing and talking, but as soon as it was finished and the music began to play, they're little group was broken up.

Bertrum Aubrey didn't particularly like Sirius and James, not that Remus could blame him. They had hexed him in second year for getting too close to Lily, an act that earned them both detention and Lily's hatred. He knew that they had apologized to him at one point, though he didn't know when, but Bertrum still didn't seem to like them. Probably more due to the fact that they had very little in common including their differing houses.

Bertrum was attractive for his age. Neatly combed and kept blond hair, deep blue eyes and the aristocratic features that came with his pureblood line. He had no trouble garnering attention from the girls in school, but it would seem he didn't want any of them. At least that's the impression Remus got when he appeared at their table as guests began to dance. He leaned down next to Hermione, completely blocking Sirius' line of sight and asked her to dance. She hesitated a moment before shyly agreeing, letting him lead her from the table and out on the dance floor.

They had been there for several songs now, Bertrum expertly twirling her away from any of the other boys who had made to approach with the intention to ask to cut in. Remus diverts his attention back and forth between the dance floor and Sirius watching as his friend scowls everytime Hermione smiles at something Bertrum has said. He's so caught up in his annoyance that Sirius doesn't seem to notice that Hermione's smiles are polite and nothing more. She isn't uncomfortable, but she's also not necessarily enjoying herself either and everytime a song ends, Remus notices her trying to step away, only for Bertrum to hold on.

Hermione says something that seems to distract Bertram, because he misses the latest young man to approach them, startled slightly when he says something. Hermione smiles at the new boy, Victor Stebbins, one of the rare Slytherin's who doesn't seem to put stock in blood purity, and nods in reply to whatever he's said. Stebbins smiles, ignoring the scowl on Berturm's face and leading Hermione away from the Ravenclaw boy.

Sirius' demeanor only gets worse after that, his eyes tracking Hermione across the floor as she dances a few songs with Stebbins and then accepts another offer to cut in by one of the Prewitt twins. Another boy after that asks and she accepts and it's not until they've had a dance or two that she turns anyone else down and returns to the table, looking all too relieved to be back.

"Have fun?" James asks, eyes cutting to Sirius who was sitting stiffly in his seat.

"Not really." she replies, cringing. "I thought Pureblood were supposed to be gentlemen." She doesn't elaborate, but Remus looks to Sirius, watching the rage boil under the surface. She sighs, deflating as she leans back in her seat.

James asks Lily to dance, and surprisingly she agrees. When they're gone, Peter ducks away to grab dessert, asking if they want him to bring them anything from the buffet back. Both Hermione and Remus ask for a piece of chocolate cake, but Sirius merely shakes his head no, a fact that is not lost on Hermione. Sirius had waxed poetic at dinner about the chocolate cake the house elves made for the party every year and the fact that he didn't want any drew Hermione's attention to his stiff demeanor.

"Are you alright?" she asks, leaning into him.

Remus watches in absolute fascination as her sudden proximity seems to calm the rage Sirius has been holding back since Bertrum appeared at their table.

"Yeah," he replies softly. "Just tired all of a sudden," he explains.

She pouts a bit, an action that is ridiculously cute in Remus' opinion and clearly has an effect on Sirius. "Oh no, you can't fall asleep on us, Siri, you'll miss all the fun." she loops her arms with his and stands, pulling him to his feet. "Come on, let's go help Peter with the plates, it'll help you wake up to walk around."

Remus represses a guffaw as Sirius merely nods dumbly in agreement, letting her pull him away from the table.

"What are you laughing at?" James asks as he and Lily return to the table. Lily sets a piece of cake in front of Remus and he grins at the prospect of now having two pieces of the decadent fudgy cake. He shoves a massive piece in his mouth, chews and swallows before answering.

"You see how mad Pads was?"

James nods, but Lily rolls her eyes. "If he wanted to dance with her he should have gone out there and asked instead of getting bent out of shape about it.

"You know that and I know that and Remus knows that, but Sirius is emotionally constipated, we're lucky he can speak some days."

Lily looks as though she's about to argue, but Remus interrupts. "Anyway, Hermione took him by surprise so well that he let it all go in an instant and let her lead him off like a dog."

James snorts, chocolate cake crumbs shooting every which way. Lily gags, slapping him on the shoulder as he tries to clean up the chocolate on his face. "He's got it bad." James finally replies.

Remus nods, but doesn't get the chance to respond as Hermione, Sirius and Peter return.

"Oh, you already have a piece." Hermione says, looking down at the extra one in her hand.

Remus grabs his cloth napkin, tossing it over the piece Lily brought him. "No I don't." he looks up at her wide eyed.

Hermione huffs, shaking her head. "Are you lot always so dramatic?"

"Yes." Lily replies before anyone else can and the girls laugh. Hermione sets the second piece in front of Remus and he happily moves both pieces onto one plate and digs in.

"Don't mind him, love he's a slave to his baser instincts." Sirius teases, earning a laugh as Remus flips him a rude gesture.

xXx

Christmas morning rolls around in the same way it does nearly every year. With Remus being awoken by the excited whoops and shouts of one Sirius Black and James Potter. He growls as they burst into his room, jumping up on the bed and bouncing him around the mattress.

"Aren't you two a little too old for this?" he exclaims, peeking out from under the covers with a scowl. He spots Euphemia walking by the open door, a smile on her face as she laughs at their antics. "Don't encourage them!" he calls out. She laughs, the sounds getting farther away as she makes her way downstairs.

"Come on, mate, it's time for presents." Sirius grabs his shoulder, shaking him excitedly. Remus growls. "We gotta get to it before you have to go home." realizing he's not getting back to sleep, Remus huffs, getting up to cheers of victory.

As the three boys enter the parlor they find Euphemia setting more wrapped packages under the tree with the others. "Last minute shopping mum?" James teases. Fleamont chuckles as he enters behind them, taking his seat by the fire.

"Gifts Hermione and Carmichael left last night for you boys. They left some for Peter as well, we'll make sure he gets them when he arrives tomorrow." Euphemia explains as she takes her seat on the other side of the fire. She sets the boys loose, letting them sort the packages before they settle in to open them.

Thoroughly fascinated by the idea that Hermione and her father left them gifts, they open those first. For Remus, Carmichael got a new set of books on charms and a handwritten note that makes him smile. He got Sirius a jersey from his favorite Quidditch team, the Black name emblazoned on the back. He also received a handwritten note that raised quite a few questions but had him smiling no less. Finally for James, also a jersey from his favorite team with his name on the back as well as another note.

"Carmichael spoke to us at the party last night about you boys." Fleamont says before they open anything else. "He was quite grateful for what you've done for Hermione." he explains, mirroring what Carmichael wrote in the notes slipped into their gifts.

More sedately, the boys turn back to their gifts, opening Hermione's next. For Remus what can only be described as a small fortune worth of chocolate and a set of self inking quills he had been eyeing at Flourish and Blotts. James received a new leather journal specifically designed to draw Quidditch plays in and his favorite hard candy. Both boys grin, turning to look at Sirius to see what he got, only to find him staring down at a large leather bound book on his knee. He was carefully running his finger along the cover, tracing the embossed letters and gold edged pages.

"What is it, Pads?" James asks, peering over his shoulder.

"The complete works of William Shakespeare in one volume." he tells them.

Remus smiles, looking over Sirius' head at James. "Looks like she's one of the few people who doesn't think you reading those is a joke or a cover." he replies.

Sirius nods absently, mesmerized by the book. They watch as he flips open the cover discovering a handwritten inscription on the inside.

Siri,

My dear friend! Wishing you magnificent moments of reading! The stories in this book are amazing, but I think you already know that. I wish for you to make your own bright and beautiful story that is superior to anything ever described in this book.

Love,

H.R.

Remus smiles as he watches his friend spend the rest of the morning flipping through the book, something he's still doing even as he leaves for the evening.