AN:
Yes I'm back. No, I don't really have a good excuse. I suppose saying it's Christmas won't do any good.
In all honesty, I have been crazy busy with a challenge for another fandom over on AO3.
This chapter required a lot of tweaking, which nearly dounled it's sixe, so this is a technical two-parter.
Part 2 will be posted on Christmas eve, NZ time. I promise.
One more small note, I did my best with the scene before Christmas morning, but I'm ace so I hope it turned out alright.
That said, please enjoy!
Lights were turned way down low, hot chocolate steamed from mugs on the coffee table, the fire was gently crackling, and presents sat perfectly wrapped under the Christmas tree. Jim sat on his armchair, feet up, cup of tea in his hand, comfortable and relaxed in casual attire. Violet occupied the other armchair, half-heartedly working on some knitting while her emerald gaze drifted more often than not to the television. Lily, Remus and Peter occupied the couch, all dressed in their pyjamas and dressing gowns, the light from the fire and the television dancing unusual patterns across their rapt faces. James shifted on the floor, sighed to himself, then got up and transfigured a knut into a squashy, overstuffed armchair, relaxing into it with a smile. Sirius rolled his eyes at his best mate, hair falling forward into his eyes. He did the effortless shake that had it falling perfectly back into position in the way Rose had always envied. She finished pulling her hair together in a plait, Sirius' arm wrapping warmly and securely around her waist. It encouraged her to settle more firmly against his side, where she felt more comfortable anyway. On the telly, Des O'Connor was reciting some of the greatest hits of Morecambe and Wise's more creative insults about him, while James and Sirius shared looks that said they were getting ideas. But, then again, they usually did get ideas whenever they watched Morecambe and Wise. Perfect for mischief material that show was. Remus leaned forward and shamelessly pilfered some Quality Streets chocolates, grinning unrepentantly at James's raised eyebrow. Lily nicked one of his sweeties, laughing along with Des O'Connor - who Rose was fairly certain her twin sister had a crush on; she certainly never missed an episode of his show whenever she was home. But, then again, Rose was going out with Sirius Black, self-proclaimed most eligible bachelor at Hogwarts, so what right did she have to judge? "Unscrupulous" Peter chortled, eyes twinkling as Eric Morecambe spelled out berk incorrectly in face slaps to Ernie Wise.
The volume of laughter in the living room called to mind the aftermath of many spectacular Marauder pranks at Hogwarts. On screen, John Thaw was again covered in mud, Dennis Waterman spotless next to him. James was laughing so hard he'd fallen off his chair, tears streaming down his cheeks while the others looked on in mild concern. They were afraid that he might have done himself a mischief. He waved them off quickly, heaving himself back up onto his chair with a sigh, still shaking with laughter. Sirius used the timely distraction James had caused to crook his finger under Rose's chin, kissing her with the lazy ease of a man who knew exactly what he was doing. Rose bit back the urge to move onto him to give Sirius easier access, a tiny part of her cursing Marlene McKinnon and the other hapless flings for having more of him than she had been able to. Rose wasn't stupid, she knew exactly what Sirius' arrangement with Marlene had consisted of. "Patience, Rosebud" Sirius purred in her ear. Of course the smug bastard had known what she was thinking. "Watch the programme." He kissed her once more, gently and almost apologetically, and leaned back as he had been before. She really hated him sometimes; smug, infuriating, gorgeous bastard.
"Why doesn't he just beat some blokes head in?" Peter wondered, glaring at John Thaw in the telly. "He's the bloke from The Sweeney! Knock his head in!"
"I don't really think that's appropriate for Christmas Eve, do you Peter?" Jim asked curiously, Peter grumbling but not disagreeing.
"Poor Pete" Rose murmured, shaking her head sympathetically. He didn't mean to be such a pushover, but she supposed that the Marauders really only had themselves to blame for that. But, Peter was Peter and they wouldn't change him for the world.
James hummed Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word (the song Elton John had performed on the show that night) as they climbed the stairs to bed, Violet and Jim bidding them goodnight as they slipped into the master bedroom. Peter had turned in awhile before, Remus yawning and muttering something that vaguely sounded like an approximation of a goodnight wish as he followed suit. James, still far too cheerful for anyone's good, waved and gallantly escorted a half-asleep Lily to her door, kissing her hand before fleeing back downstairs to the den that Jim graciously let him sleep in. Rose rolled her eyes at his antics, hand pausing on the door handle to her own bedroom. Warm pressure on her waist gently towed her back into strong arms and a familiar chest. Sirius' nose brushed against her own as his lips captured hers in a lovingly ardent kiss. She felt the moist warmth of his tongue trace over the seam of her lips, her mouth falling instantly open. Her hands fluttered against his sides and ran up and down the smooth planes of his chest. Rose was rewarded with a hitch in his motions and a low growl from deep in his chest, Sirius walking her backwards into her room without even breaking the kiss. She breathed when he allowed them to, her hands slipping under his shirt to trail up the bare skin of his torso. His heart beat erratically under her palm, teeth nipping gently into her bottom lip. Rose moaned into his mouth, needing to get closer, closer to him; this wasn't enough. A fiery sweep of his thumb on the sensitive skin of her waist was the only warning she got before they tumbled onto her bed. Sirius pulled away, black pupils ringed only thinly with grey, breath coming heavily as he rested his weight on his arms. Rose couldn't stop looking at him, he was perfect, gorgeous. A masterpiece. His body heat surrounded her while his taste lingered on her tongue. It wasn't even nearly enough, but there was something in his eyes; a restraint that spoke of his control returning to him. He kissed her again, this time gentler and more loving - gone was the raw passion and desire, tempered like a banked fire in his eyes. His kisses were soothing the fire he'd stoked in her body, trying to calm the need whilst keeping the intimacy. Rose couldn't think straight still, her hands fluttering over his skin under his horribly creased shirt. His touch, his kiss, his proximity was like a drug she couldn't get enough of. She hummed against his lips, feeling Sirius regain control over himself. He kissed her one final time, with all the regret and sorrow he felt, then he pushed himself to his feet and walked somewhat unsteadily to the door. "Goodnight, my darling Rosebud" Sirius breathed, his voice as uneven as her own would be. "Merry Christmas." Rose fixed her eyes with his as he slipped out of her room, knowing that they would say everything she couldn't. He smiled sadly, closing the door with a gentle snick. Rose let her head fall back onto her pillow, groaning low in her throat at the unfairness of it all. She wanted more, even though she knew they weren't quite ready for it. The knowledge didn't make the burn any less, nor did it make her Marauder nature feel any more reasonable about it. It wasn't fair. She turned and buried her head in her pillow, groaning at the Godric awful timing of it all. Still, Rose fell asleep with the taste of Sirius on her tongue and the feel of his hands on her body, so it wasn't really all that bad.
Her bed dipped wildly around her, jostled by repetitive bouncing. Ears were assaulted with cheerful, loud screaming. Like any Marauder, Rose muttered an obscenity and pulled her pillow over her head, hoping that the irritant would go the Salazar away. Her pillow was savagely ripped from her arms, Lily beaming down at her. "Up! Uppity, uppity up! It's Christmas!"
"Sod off" Rose grumbled, eyes shutting again. "S'too early." Lily bounced up and down again eagerly.
"It's never too early, Rosie. It's Christmas!" Rose opened bleary eyes, glaring up at her unconscionably cheerful twin sister. Her dressing gown hit her in the face, Lily grinning unrepentantly at her. Having a morning person for a twin really wasn't as much fun as it might get cracked up to be.
"Good morning, Lily" Rose smiled sweetly, Lily bouncing up and down again. It was a pity that the Marauders never pranked on Christmas day, because her sister was looking like a prime target from where Rose was sitting. Slade's Merry Christmas Everybody blasted suddenly through the silence, laughter bubbling out of Rose's mouth.
"PADFOOT!"
"Lighten up, Prongs, it's Christmas!"
"Merlin's beard" Remus groaned, standing in the doorway with his dressing gown on over his pyjamas. "Happy Christmas, Rosie, Lily."
"Merry Christmas, Remus" Lily beamed, eyes twinkling like gems. Rose smothered a yawn and pulled her own dressing gown on.
"Merry Christmas , Remmy" Rose smiled, kissing him on the cheek. "Let's go see if the others have left us any presents to open."
"Oi!" James growled, standing at the top of the stairs with his untamable hair even messier than usual. "I resent that slanderous and unfestive implication."
"Means it's true, mate" Sirius' voice smirked, coming from his guest room. He emerged in black pyjama pants and a fading Queen tee, smirk morphing into a smile at the sight of Rose. "Good morning, Rosebud. Merry Christmas." The words, delivered in the same tone as last night, brought heat into Rose's cheeks, and she resisted the urge to duck her head from sight.
"Is it? And Merry Christmas, Siri." Lily made a noise of disgust in her throat, neither of them paying attention as Sirius kissed her much more chastely than last night. Rose ran her hands down his chest as they pulled away, Peter levelling them with an impatient look.
"Christmas, reindeer, presents?" Peter prompted, tapping his foot. "Any of them ring a silver bell?"
"Ooh, seasonal" Remus approved, muffling a yawn with his hand.
"C'mon, stop lollygagging" James clapped his hands. "I can hear presents calling to me."
"You're a Marauder, you haven't been good this year at all" Lily smirked, James fixing her with a mock wounded pout.
"Well, I'm a Marauder, and I've been very good" Sirius grinned, ignoring the way Remus' jaw dropped open. "Shut up, Moony."
"Marauders prerogative" the werewolf winked, acting the little shit so very few people knew him to be.
"Oh, it's Christmas" Rose sighed joyously, shuffling backwards towards her room. Lily wrapped her arm around Rose's, tugging her downstairs like they were five years old again. Remus detoured into the kitchen, returning almost instantly with mugs of tea and hot chocolate. "You're a genius, Rem."
"Modesty forbids" Remus replied teasingly, James almost lunging for his mug of tea. "You're welcome, Prongs."
"Yeah, yeah. Ta, Moons."
Colourfully wrapped packages rested under the brightly lit Christmas tree, fire crackling warmly in the fireplace. The male Marauders bickered happily, Lily huffing at them. Oh yes, it was Christmas morning for certain. Rose allowed herself to be pulled to the floor with her sister and fellow Marauders, feet curling underneath her as she did so. Lily reached under the tree and pulled out the closest present to her. "Wormtail" she read out, Peter leaning forward eagerly. "You haven't been utterly useless this year, so Merry Christmas. From Padfoot." Peter tore open the wrapping, face splitting in an ear to ear grin. It was a Chudley Cannons amulet that looked to have been fortified with protection charms.
"Thank you, Padfoot" Peter said sincerely, hanging it around his neck.
"Your turn now, Pete" Rose pointed out, savouring the warmth of her tea. The rat animagus bounced in place, reaching a hand under the tree like Lily had. He pulled out a rectangular parcel with green and gold wrapping.
"To Remus J. 'Moony' Lupin" Peter intoned dramatically. "Facing the Wandfight at the Hogsmeade Corral by your side was a pleasure, one I'd rather not repeat. But for sheer dedication to the ancient art of pranking, and putting up with me (and the others) all year, I hope this is a safer pastime than the ones we usually engage in. Merry Christmas, Rem - Rosie." Peter handed the present over to Remus. The werewolf examined every inch of it, smiling at the impatient huffs from his compatriots. He gently freed the paper from the spellotape, eyes lighting up as he beheld the Complete Works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, one of his literary heroes.
"If Padfoot wouldn't curse my entrails away, I'd kiss you, Rose" Remus announced, shuffling slightly away from the glare Sirius shot him. "I said 'if', Black." Rose laughed at the pair of them, ignoring the puppy eyes they sent her. Remus grabbed a small box wrapped in purple with snowflakes. "Merry Christmas, Astra. Our pure heart and North Star - Prongs." Rose took the package gently, smiling curiously at James who looked uncertain. She ran her nail under the flap of the paper, tearing it with a loud rip. A carved maple box with a golden hinge revealed itself, roses and stars set into the wood. As she opened the lid, an instramental version of David Bowie's Life On Mars? began playing, a rat, stag, wolf, dog and unicorn projecting out of the box and dancing to the music. It took her breath away, it was beautiful.
"Oh, Jamie, it's perfect."
"Pads helped me choose it" James coughed uncomfortably, running his hands through his hair to give it that 'just off a broom' look. Sirius tossed a Quality Street at him, smirking and waving sarcastically.
"Regardless, I love it" Rose reiterated, tearing her eyes from Sirius' intent gaze. She reached out and chose a random present, pulling the large Gryffindor coloured box towards her. Her eyes sparkled as she read the tag. "Padfoot, how you put up with us all is beyond us (unless of course you mean Rose, when we know exactly why)-" Rose broke off and glared at James. "Oi!"
"It's true, Sweetheart" Sirius offered, not even looking annoyed. She made a face at him, but he only laughed.
"Read the tag, Rosie" James prompted, rolling his eyes.
"Fine" Rose huffed, Lily's foot bumping into her leg. "How you put up with us, blah, blah; maybe you'll finally shut up about it now. Merry Christmas you lucky bastard (part the first), from James, Remus, Peter, Lily, Jim and Violet Evans, and Rosebud." The wrapping paper was there one moment and gone the next, Sirius whooping at the pile of motorcycle paraphernalia that the box contained. James let out an oof as Sirius pulled him into a bear hug, both laughing at nothing at all.
"Save snogging my sister for later, Black" Lily ordered, pointing a finger dangerously at the pile of presents under the tree.
"Lily!" Rose stared at her twin, open mouthed. Lily waved her hand dismissively.
"We only get one Christmas morning a year, Rose" Lily sniffed primly. "Snogging can happen at any time."
"Way to ruin the moment, Lils" Rose muttered, watching the amusement dance in Sirius' eyes.
"Oi, Prongs!" Sirius called, tossing a floppy package at his best mate. "Merry Christmas, it's from me, don't get soppy on me, and you're still a berk." James ripped open the paper like it was tissue.
"Puddlemere United's new kit! How did you get it? They wouldn't even sell it to me!"
"Shameless name-dropping, mate" Sirius smirked, not looking in the least bit remorseful. "Even disowned, the name Black still opens doors."
"Well, however you did it, ta very much" James doffed an invisible hat. Sirius inclined his head in return, James burrowing under the tree for the next present. He smiled across at Lily, picking idly at the tag.
"Don't draw it out, Prongs, or I'll stick Moony on you" Peter muttered, toying with his new amulet.
"I echo his sentiments" Rose hummed, tracing a rose on the lid of her music box.
"And while I certainly don't approve of being the threat behind the statement, I also echo the sentiments" Remus agreed, nodding at James. The stag gasped dramatically in horror, clutching at his chest. Such a drama queen.
"Get a bloody move on, Prongs" Sirius drawled lazily. "Christmas morning is waning and I'd like to be able to snog my Rosebud sometime today, before I grow old and die of boredom induced insanity." Rose's jaw dropped for the second time that morning. She could not believe her ears.
"Sirius!"
"Never apologise for the truth, my darling" Sirius winked, Rose voicing the verbal equivalent of throwing her hands up in exasperation.
"The TAG, Prongs" Remus all but yelled, sheer irritation in his professorial voice.
"Merlin, Moony, don't get your wand in a knot" James smirked, quickly picking the tag back up. Nobody wanted to get on the bad side of a testy werewolf. "To my saint of a sister, Merry Christmas Lil - Rose." Lily had always shared Rose's fascination with things that came from the sky. For Rose, it was the stars that she adored (and yes she was very much aware of the irony of loving a man named after the brightest star in Canis Major), but Lily was (according to James) the sun itself. Rose had found a pair of golden sun earrings in Diagon Alley and bought them for her sister immediately.
"Oh Rosie" Lily smiled like the sun. "It's good to know you still have taste in some things." Glancing at the reason for that dig, Rose decided to show her Marauder side.
"More than half of Hogwarts can't be wrong" Rose sang cheerfully, James groaning at her.
"I blame you for this, Black" Lily sighed, pointing a finger at him. Sirius didn't even blink. He just looked sort of proud of himself.
"Oh, shut up and get your presents" Rose laughed, Sirius taking his chance to do as he threatened. Rose wasn't complaining though.
"Okay, okay" Lily's voice interrupted Rose's content bubble. "You've made your point. Can you please go back to opening presents before I lose my appetite for Christmas dinner?"
Rose finished unwrapping her last gift, smiling at the camera from her parents. Jim and Violet were away visiting Petunia for the morning (a decision Jim had not had any input in), leaving the house to themselves. Peter was busily sorting his presents in an order only he understood, while Remus and Lily debated the hidden meanings of ancient runes - naturally talking homework on Christmas morning. James had his head in the fireplace, talking to his mum and dad (as he did every Christmas), his feet shifting idly every now and then. "Tying his shoelaces together again would be immature, wouldn't it?" Sirius wondered, eyes fixed on James's feet.
"Ever so slightly, yes Siri" Rose admitted, stretching her cramped muscles out. "And he probably expects something like that. It'll drive him nuts trying to figure out why you didn't. Or what you're planning instead."
"And that is why I love you, Rosebud" Sirius smirked, eyes dancing. "C'mon, I've got something for you." Rose swirled the dregs of her tea in its cup.
"Being here, safe and Marauder-like is more than enough, Sirius."
"And that's why it's not, my Rosebud." He took her hands and pulled her to her feet, Remus taking the chance to stretch out wider and use the space to demonstrate his points. Rose laughed at the sight, heeding the tugging on her hands to follow Sirius.
He led her upstairs, and into the guest bedroom he usually occupied. Archimedes hooted dolefully from the top of the wardrobe, some sort of rodent caught in his beak. The bed was neatly made, pressed linens tucked perfectly into the thick mattress. On top of the bed was an unread copy of the Daily Prophet, and two thin, square boxes wrapped in red and gold. Sirius paced to the window, looking older than the Marauders ever acted. Rose worried her bottom lip; so much had happened this year, the Marauders had changed even if they wouldn't or couldn't admit it. Sometimes, Rose thought that the events of the year had effected Sirius the most. Still, he turned to her with that smile, that eyes twinkling, face brightening, Godric I love you smile, and Rose felt the momentary trepidation fade away. "It's been one hell of a year, Rosebud " he said, chuckling a little. "1976 has been pretty awful, let's be honest. What with the Defense OWL fiasco, getting disowned, that disaster in Hogsmeade. But" his eyes twinkled brighter than ever. "We made it through, together, and I'm certain that 1977 is going to be our year."
"Of course it is" Rose agreed, Marauder confident. "We've gone through too much this year to foul it up for the next." Sirius smirked at her, half-sitting on his dresser.
"We may be about to fight a war, my love, but I have a feeling that we're in for something good too." Rose smiled at his easy confidence and assuredness, hearing Christmas music coming from downstairs. That could only mean one thing.
"Prongs has finished talking to his parents" she said, Sirius not batting an eye.
"Let him wait" Sirius waved a hand. "We've still got some unfinished business." Rose affected surprise.
"We do?" A bark-like laugh escaped the dog animagus, and he shook his head.
"Yes, we do, Rosebud." Sirius pushed off the dresser and sat beside Rose at the bottom of the bed. She thought, hoped, he might kiss her, but he just smirked that infuriating smirk and started talking. "My uncle, Alphard, was the black sheep of the Black family. But, he was rich, and Walburga was never going to disown him and risk never getting her hands on all that lovely gold. However, as you know, my uncle popped his clogs and left it all to me about a month ago." Unsure what he was getting at, Rose hummed a quiet assent and waited for Sirius to continue. Eventually, he dropped his hands back to his lap and did just that . "What I didn't know, until that delightful chap Twit told me, was that Alphard was in the possession of one or two priceless Black family heirlooms, so to speak. Alphard was always a connoisseur of beauty, as he liked to say. And I was stumped about what on Merlin's Earth to give you for Christmas, when I found that in my vault at Gringotts." An elegant tilt of his dark head had her looking back at the brightly wrapped boxes.
"Sirius-" He cut her off, but Rose already had an inkling of what he had done.
"Dorian Gray, Rosebud." She inwardly cursed his perfect memory and everything else about the bastard. He had her, of course, he was right and she knew it. Bastard. She slowly and deliberately (to make him pay) unwrapped the first box, marvelling at the intricate necklace box. "It's Edwardian" Sirius announced without even looking. "Seed pearl and garnet." It took her breath away. The gold was unblemished, the garnets almost fashioning as flowers while the pearls were inlaid into little golden leaves. She wouldn't dare wear it normally, but that wasn't what it was meant for. It was something more. A symbol, a promise, a sign of what he would give her if he could, how much she meant to him. Sirius came from old wealth and wizardry, where her 'kind' was hated as much as he hated Slytherins; for him to willingly give her Black family jewels, his only inheritance from his family, it meant more than words could say. It was perfect.
"Siri." Her voice came out as a mere breath, but it said everything she needed it to. Sirius smiled and brushed a strand of her hair behind her ear, he'd understood her.
"This other one, that's a little newer, but more special" he explained, sounding almost nervous. "This I'd buy you myself, if I could." Rose couldn't describe it other than perfection. Rose moulded, gem encrusted, diamond dropped perfection. She fingered the large center rose and beamed. She didn't even need to think before she was kissing him, pouring everything she couldn't say into it. He had no trouble translating, judging by the enthusiastic response. Finally, they broke apart, Sirius smiling her smile. "Come on, we've got to get back to the others" Sirius murmured regretfully. "I'm sure your sister is wondering where we've got to."
"And James is doubtlessly worrying about what you've got planned" Rose grinned, knowing all to well the way his mind worked.
"You say that like I've got something planned, Rosebud" Sirius smirked, eyes twinkling. Rose gave him a pointed look and he barked out a laugh. "I love how well you know me." She just laughed and pulled him to his feet, hearing Lily calling up the stairs to her.
"Coming, Lil!"
Thank you for reading. Part 2 up on Christmas Eve.