This is…not my best fic.

When Petunia entered her home after running a few errands, she expected an erect Christmas tree. Instead, what she found was not quite that.

Her husband sat in the middle of the sitting room, surrounded by three parts of a Christmas tree, a plethora of ornaments, and entangled in some tinsel and ribbon.

"Pet!" he cried — it was almost comical if it weren't for the mess — and Petunia strode to him, raising an eyebrow.

"You do realize you're not supposed to roll around in the tinsel, right?"

Sirius scowled, frustration plain on his face. "You do realize you're supposed to help me out of this, right?" he shot back cheekily.

Petunia rolled her eyes and began to unravel the tinsel and ribbon from his body.

"Can I ask you something?" Sirius sipped from his wine glass, watching her. A heap of silver tinsel sat beside him.

"You just did," said Petunia dryly, hanging a dog-shaped ornament on the newly assembled tree. It had been an anniversary gift from Sirius, and despite the terrible jokes he made afterward, she secretly cherished it.

"Why is decorating a Christmas tree so complicated?" he pressed anyway. "I thought Muggle traditions were supposed to be less complicated."

"It's really not that complicated," replied Petunia. Reaching for another ornament, a star-shaped one, she added, "Lily and I used to do it every year, and even though she preferred magical traditions, this was the one Muggle tradition she couldn't let go of. She does it with James now."

Sirius hummed noncommittally.

"There!" Petunia stepped back, satisfied. Occupied with admiring her work, she didn't hear Sirius stand up.

"Very…meticulous," said Sirius, his eyes darting over the neatly arranged ornaments, tinsel, and ribbon draped around the tree. "You really have an eye for this."

Petunia blushed. "When you do it year after year, you pick up a few tricks here and there."

"Well, you're in charge of this every year," he murmured, looping an arm around her waist. Petunia rested her head on his shoulder, and together they gazed at the tree, enraptured by its magic.

349 words

12 Days of Shipmas - Your ship is finding/buying/decorating a Christmas tree.

1000 - "Can I ask you something?"/"You just did."