Sunday 19th December 1976

Potter Manor, 10:00

Sirius couldn't help but look around him with wonder as all the hustle and bustle went on around him. With the Potters celebrating both Yule and Christmas, there was definitely plenty to do. And they were in the heart of it, not just standing around, giving directions or orders - like his parents would be doing. If they even got themselves involved in the process at all. Honestly, he was convinced his mother got involved just so she got a chance to complain. That was what she was best at, after all. That and shrieking.

Anyway, there was no point thinking of that. Christmas and Yule were not times to be depressed. Especially not in the Potter household! There was just so much to take in.

There were decorations absolutely everywhere, even down to along the frames of portraits. How that sparkly stuff (tinsel?) managed to look tasteful when it was on the top of every frame, Sirius really didn't know. It was kind of weird to him. What even was it? Bits of metal of something?

What he was more familiar with was the greenery he associated with Yule. Pine, mistletoe, holly. All the good stuff. Gave a proper Yule smell to the whole Manor.

And speaking of smells - oh, there were just so many good ones. Sirius didn't know what the Potter House Elves were baking but they were doing an awful lot of it and it also smelled amazing. The air was full of cinnamon and sugar and stewed fruits. His stomach was constantly rumbling and there had to be something wrong with his mouth with the amount of saliva it was producing.

"Where are we going again?" Sirius asked.

James had just declared that there was something they absolutely had to do and Sirius hadn't questioned it. James always thought of something fun to do and he doubted this was going to be the exception.

"To the kitchen," James said cheerfully. "To steal some freshly baked biscuits."

Oh, look, this was the exception. Sirius came to a halt.

"We're what?"

James tapped his foot impatiently and repeated himself, "Were going to snag ourselves some of those biscuits that the House Elves have been baking."

"Why?"

Why would James even do something like that?

"Because there's probably some cooling on a rack in the kitchen."

That didn't make any sense. What did cooling biscuits have to do with taking some to assuredly eat?

"Won't we get in trouble?" He couldn't help but ask anxiously and hated himself for it.

James didn't seem to always think of the consequences of his actions. Or realise that there were consequences at all...

Or maybe he was just being jumpy because all that had happened over the past two days. He still couldn't quite believe it that the Potters had got their way and he was here!

"Why would we?" James asked in honest confusion.

Sirius shrugged, feeling a bit awkward. "Because we're not supposed to eat them now?"

Weren't the biscuits for something? Maybe not for a party or something but Mrs Potter asked for them for a reason, didn't she? A reason that certainly didn't involve a pair of teenage boys going after them, surely?

That got him a chuckle, which he didn't understand. James had heard the Elves just as well as he had. They weren't to have any.

"Of course, we are," James assured them and then he frowned. "Well, not all of them but we can have some."

"We can?"

A mischievous look came into James' eyes.

"Oh, yes. We just have to be sneaky about it."

Evans House, 14:00

Lily buried her nose deeper into her Gryffindor scarf that was wrapped tightly around her face. Oh, it was cold. It was seeping through her clothes. But somehow, it was still nice to be out in it. It wasn't like home was too far away - she'd head back if she was too cold. Anyway, she needed out of the house for a bit. Between all the unpacking she'd just finished (why did she bring so much stuff home when she was only going to be here for two weeks?) and Petunia's bad attitude... well, it was a good thing to get out for a bit.

Anyway, she may as well enjoy the snow while it lasted and wasn't turned into an icy, slushy mess from people and cars going all over it. There was nothing more satisfying about crunching through proper snow. It made such a satisfying noise and her feet just sunk into it. Something that could only be enjoyed when she was wearing her new boots. They were nice boot, brown leather that went halfway up her calves. Perfect for this type of weather.

She was just walking around the park with no real destination in mind. It was so pretty now, everything covered in snow. Only the paths had been disturbed - leaving what covered the grass untouched. She breathed deeply and regretted it as the cold actually hurt the inside of her nose. Ouch.

It was so peaceful here, even with people just walking about. Not like Hogwarts where there was the constant hustle and bustle of hundreds of students. Which was nice but sometimes you need to get away from it, you know? And coming home was perfect for that sort of thing. Lily's neighbourhood was practically silent in comparison.

Stopping at a bench for a break, Lily took in the scenery around her. There were spikes of what must be snowdrops poking through the snow. Those would be out in the next month. She always missed them now - not exactly being home for January. The next flowers she would see would be the tulips and maybe the daffodils, though Lily wasn't too sure when Easter fell so she might be too late for those. Either way, the park was really at its best at Spring and she couldn't wait.

She had missed coming here over the summer but that couldn't be helped. It was in the past now and the future was going to be so much better.

Lily hoped so, anyway.

Monday 20th December 1976

Longbottom Manor, 19:00

It was odd to be in his father's study and not be in trouble or have lessons to do. Actually, he wasn't sure why he was 8n here with both of his parents - he had always thought of the study as very much his father's domain. He had never seen his mother enter it even once. Even when she tried to get his attention, she never crossed the threshold. It was like it was some sort of sacred, male space. Not this time. Right now, his mother was right by his father behind his desk and Frank was in front of it, confused.

What was all this about? It was like his parents were staging somewhat of an intervention on him. For him? Either way, he had been all but dragged into his father's office. And for what reason? This was cutting into his study time!

"We're worried about you, Frank," Augusta began as soon as the door closed.

"I'm fine," Frank automatically replied.

Because he was. Fine, that is. Why would he be anything else?

"You're obviously not," Trevor said bluntly. "You haven't been yourself at all."

"I'm just a bit stressed with school," Frank compromised. "It's nothing really."

"Nothing?" Trevor raised an eyebrow. "Do you think being distracted and short-tempered is nothing?"

Frank could feel his face heat up. Had he really been that bad?

"Not to mention you've been avoiding everyone," Augusta added.

Well, yes, but that was because he didn't want to snap at anyone. Or be distracted. Although he was an adult, his parents had made it quite clear that while he was still at school he could still be punished for any poor behaviour. And he didn't want that. It would be so embarrassing at seventeen years of age.

"I'm... I'm-" he began, not knowing how to put what he was feeling into words.

What made it worse was his parents giving him encouraging looks. He was worrying them and frustrating them and they were still trying to help.

Frank let out a deep sigh and hung his head, missing the concerned looks his parents exchanged.

"I'm stressed out," he finally admitted, looking resolutely at the floor. "And I can't seem to fix it."

There. He had said it. And nothing changed. See? Admitting your problems didn't always come with a magical solution to fix things.

Especially when the things you were stressed about couldn't be fixed. Not by you anyway and not by yourself.

"I just feel like I need to be constantly working to keep on top of things," he admitted.

"Are you behind?" Trevor asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Well, no..."

He was actually ahead in most of his subjects but that didn't stop the overwhelming feeling of panic he was constantly dealing with.

"Then what do you need to be on top of? Surely you can do that without stressing yourself out so much?"

Frank gave his father a doubtful look. He wasn't too sure about that. Stress is what kept him from slacking off. Stress is what made sure that he got things done.

Seeing his look, Trevor continued. "Let's look at it this way. Have you got all of your homework done?"

"Yes. But-"

"Yes or no answers only please."

Frank sat back and tried not to frown too much.

"Yes."

"Have you done revision on each subject?"

He sighed heavily. "Yes."

"Then it looks like you're ahead. Probably more so than some of your classmates."

"So, what's really worrying you, Frank?" Augusta broke in knowingly.

That was the problem! He didn't know! He didn't!

"I don't know," he said helplessly, shaking his head. "I thought it was school but my marks are good and revising more doesn't make me feel any better. Actually, it makes it worse! Like I need to do more and more but it doesn't help."

"Hmm," Trevor rubbed his chin. "It sounds like you're projecting your worry of something else onto your studies."

"But I'm not worried about anything else."

There was nothing else to be worried about! Or worth worrying about - this was his NEWT year! What was more important than that?

"Maybe I just need to be distracted," Frank said, rubbing at his eyes, suddenly feeling very tired. "With something better than more schoolwork."

Anything to stop this horrible, anxious feeling that he didn't know the cause of.

"Well, it's a good thing we've already organised something to distract you," Augusta said with a smile.

"Of course, that wasn't the intention," Trevor asked. "We just thought it would be nice but it will also work as a distraction."

Frank gave her a curious look but she didn't see it. Mainly because she had brought her attention to the clock, obviously waiting for something to happen.

Distract him? He didn't need something to distract him! He just needed to relax a bit. Unwind. Avoid his books. He could do that without being distracted. Couldn't he?

Well, apparently his parents didn't think so.

The floor flashed green briefly and Alice came out of it! Quickly, Frank stood up so he could greet her properly. With blushes and awkward smiles, kisses to cheeks were exchanged. Frank couldn't help but have his cheeks heat up. He was worse than Alice that way!

"Lord and Lady Longbottom," she greeted politely, turning to face them.

"Alice," Trevor returned warmly.

Had Frank ever mentioned how glad he was that his parents actually liked Alice? Sure, they had picked her to be his wife but that was when they were babies - they didn't know her then. But now they did and they not only approved of her but liked her as well! That didn't always happen with betrothal agreements.

"Alice! So glad you could make it," Augusta greeted with a wide smile.

Alice giggled as she looked at him before turning back to his mother.

"You kept it a surprise, then?"

Augusta looked rather pleased with herself. "Oh, he had no idea."

Trevor's hand clapped down on his shoulder. Frank looked up at him in question.

"The ladies are already plotting against you," he warned teasingly. "It's going to be like this from now on."

Thursday 23rd December 1976

Madam Malkin's, 22:15

"My fingers hurt," Sophie complained, flinging herself onto Elsie's bed.

Elsie was unimpressed with this proclamation.

"All our fingers hurt," she told her younger sister unsympathetically.

Of course, they did. There seemed to be more work than ever this year. Sore fingers were literally a giving. Oh, sure, they were all in Hogwarts now so they all had their wands - Elsie couldn't even imagine doing the work they did with their hands - but sewing wasn't the only work that went on in a robe shop. There was sorting and unpicking and sweeping and tidying. And then there was the things you had to do at home as well. Cooking, chopping, more cleaning. It was a lot of work when there were six people all crammed into a flat above a shop. Nothing ever seemed to stay clean.

"You're lucky you all get a break from it!" Faye threw in her complaint. "I'm here all by myself when you're all at Hogwarts!"

"Not for long," Karen reminded her. "This time next year, you'll be coming home from Hogwarts too."

Faye grinned, obviously excited at that fact. It was so odd to think that next year Faye was going to Hogwarts. Elsie couldn't wrap her head around it - in her mind Faye was the baby. Permanently in single digits. But here she was, ten years old and more than ready to go to Hogwarts. Elsie had never thought about it but it must be so lonely and boring when none of them were here. It was just Faye and their grandmother during term time and that couldn't be fun. Grandmother wasn't exactly the best of company. Especially for an energetic ten-year-old like Faye.

"Oh, it would be so good to be with you all again!" Faye said happily.

"Well, you won't necessarily be with all of us," Sophie said slowly. "We're all in different Houses, after all. But you're bound to end up with some of us."

"Unless you end up in Slytherin," Linda teased.

None of them were Slytherins.

To demonstrate what she thought of that suggestion, Faye threw a pillow in Linda's face.

Saturday 25th December 1976

Potter Manor, 07:00

"Come on!" James urged, pulling Sirius behind him.

Sirius was rather bleary eyed but James paid him no mind because it was Christmas! The best day of the year! Even better than anyone's birthday. Christmas was something that was about everyone, not just yourself! You just had to get the day started! Which is what he was doing right now, though for some reason no one seemed to have the same idea as him. Oh well, he could fix that easily.

A quick yank and Sirius was out of bed. Of course, James was now dragging him about because he wasn't moving fast enough. Honestly, James felt like he had given him plenty of time to wake up. He had let him stretch and everything!

"James, let the poor boy wake up first," Fleamont chided him as the two boys ran past him.

Well, James was running, Sirius was sort of staggering and being pulled along. He would have tipped over and fallen down the stairs if it wasn't for some quick wand work by Mr Potter.

"James!"

The unusually firm tone from Mr Potter actually brought his friend to a standstill. Sirius had, much to his embarrassment, flinched at his voice even though it was directed at James, not him. James pretended not to notice to let him save face.

"Yes, dad?" James asked sheepishly.

"Calm down," Fleamont said firmly. "You nearly hurt Sirius there."

"Sorry, Sirius," James said sincerely. "I get stupidly excited at Christmas."

"I know," Sirius said drily. "Or, at least I thought I did."

Was or really a crime to get excited at Christmas? That was surely the whole point! It was Christmas! James pulled a face at his best friend who still somehow looked more put together than he did - despite being the one who had literally been unceremoniously dragged out of bed. His pyjamas were unruffled and his hair was neat. James, on the other hand, could tell that his hair was standing on end (Potter bed hair was really something else) and his pyjamas were somehow twisted around his body. James was pretty sure his top had been the right way round last night but now the label was under his chin. He stood quivering by the tree without actually touching any of the presents.

"Mum? Dad?" he asked hopefully, his wand already out.

With a chuckle, Fleamont nodded at him.

With a beaming smile, James eagerly waved his wand and swished it in the right gesture. All the presents under the tree rose up immediately and made their way over to their intended recipient.

Okay, maybe his spell needed a bit more practice. James ducked as a parcel his mum tried to make go through him instead of around him. But at least they didn't crash into everything and everyone got their presents. Even him! He sat down excitedly in front of his and pushed them so he was next to Sirius.

"What are all these?" Sirius asked in confusion, looking down at the numerous brightly wrapped parcels that had been floated over to him.

"Presents!" James said happily, practically vibrating with excitement. "From us!" he gestured to his parents.

"We got you a few things," his father said cheerfully. "Can't celebrate Christmas without a few gifts!"

Sirius was staring at them in disbelief, even though it was a very easy concept to grasp. Christmas was all about giving, after all. Well, that and family. And here he was participating in both! It was great! Not that Sirius looked like he felt it was great. He just looked at them all in dismay. Christmas was no time for dismay!

"But I only got you one thing," Sirius protested.

"Yes," Euphemia nodded. "A very nice bottle of wine."

"Did you pick this out yourself?" Fleamont asked, looking at the bottle in appreciation.

Sirius nodded hesitantly.

"Very impressive. It's one of our favourites."

Thankfully, that got Sirius to smile again. The first one today.

James leaned over to see the label on the bottle and let out a long whistle. "Swanky."

"Don't use that word, Jimmy."

James sighed good-naturedly. He didn't think he was ever going to grow out of his parents correcting his vocabulary or grammar.

"Well, the wine is a perfect gift," Euphemia said happily at Sirius.

She meant it too. His parents weren't lying when they said it was their favourite wine. Thankfully, Sirius seemed to believe that too and the anxious look left his face.

"That's good," he said quietly, running his finger along one of his gifts.

James took this opportunity to remind people what they were supposed to be doing.

He made on of his dad's presents float up and bump into his cheek.

"It's time to open presents!"

McKinnon Farm 12:00

It was amazing how fast paced the day got once cooking got underway. There were just so much to do and seemingly very little time in which to do it in.

"Where are the onions?"

"Didn't you have them, da?"

"If I did, do you think I'd be asking you for them?"

"Do we really need onions?"

Tierney put his hand on his hips. "Do you want stuffing with your turkey?"

"Yes!" they all said quickly.

Whoever heard of Christmas Dinner without stuffing?

"Then we better find them onions!"

The onions were quickly procured after that. It was amazing what five extra lairs of hands could do. Especially when stuffing came into the equation.

With that problem solved, they all returned to the tasks that had been assigned to each of them. Their dad doing the stuffing, mum sorting the turkey, Teagan was doing the potatoes and welding the masher rather terrifyingly and Patrick was the one getting sent back and forth between the storage shed and the kitchen, apparently being the only one who knew what his mother was talking about when it came to specific potato dimensions. He had just returned with an armful of carrots.

That left Kevin, Marlene and Ciaran to do whatever they were told to do. Which mainly involved washing dishes and arranging the table- something Kevin had quite the eye for.

"You should be showing those skills off to the girls instead of your so-called muscles," Patrick teased as he chopped up some carrots.

Kevin threw a sprog of holly at him. "Shut up."

"Just saying," Patrick singsonged, easily dodging it. "I know these things."

"Just because you're engaged-"

"When's Jackie coming over, by the way?" Marlene interrupted.

It would be good to have another girl around here. A little bit less idiocy. James had been miffed that his cousin was coming over here this Christmas instead of over to his. Too bad, she was going to be a McKinnon soon so the Potters were going to have to share.

"She'll be over soon. She's here for dinner and won't go home until tomorrow."

"You and Teagan will have to share a bed," Mary broke in. "Jackie can have one of yours."

"Mine," Teagan said. "My mattress doesn't smell all musty."

"Only because your bed didn't have half-dried washing put on it!" Marlene retorted.

It wasn't her fault her bed was closest to the door. Or that the washing got taken off the line half-dried! Why did that even happen anyway? It smelled rank.

"Me and Jackie can share my bed, mammy. We are adults."

"You're not married yet, Patrick Ronan," he was scolded.

"Yes, because we're really going to get down to it with Kevin and Ciaran in the room," he said sarcastically.

"You better not," Ciaran said with a shudder. "I can do without that."

"Don't be cheeky," Tierney said sternly to both of them before turning to Patrick. "And don't be ridiculous. What would the Potters think?"

"That we're all adults?"

"You know that's not how things work."

"Do you think it will snow?" Marlene asked, desperately wanting a subject change.

"It never snows at Christmas," Teagan snorted.

"Sometimes it does!"

"When was the last time it did?"

"Um. Well-"

Teagan gave her a triumphant look. "See? Told you."

"I can still hope for it!"

"Did someone want snow?" a new voice asked.

"Granda!" they all cheered and rushed at him for a hug.

None of them were ever going to outgrow that.

"So, what was this about snow?" the old storm caller asked eagerly.

"Marlene wanted snow," Teagan said. "She's been moaning about it all morning."

"I have not!"

"Have too!"

"Have not!"

"You are not going to make it snow," Mary said firmly to her father after she had given him a hug of her own.

"Now, come on Mary. The wee ones want it-"

"Those 'wee ones' are all basically adults now."

"And?"

"And you should know better, Da!" Mary exclaimed, throwing her hands up in the air. "The last time you tried something like that you caused a blizzard!"

"Don't forget the hurricane," Patrick added.

"It were barely a squall," their grandfather objected.

"It took tiles off the roof," Tierney said reproachfully.

Normally he was one to encourage his father-in-law but he had been a bit miffed at that incident. Mainly because he had just finished bragging that a tornado couldn't lift the tiles of the roof. And then a strong wind did just that. His face had been kind of funny.

"That weren't my fault. You should have put 'em on right in the first place."

"You created a tornado."

"No one lets me have any fun anymore."

Tuesday 28th December 1976

Evans Home, 10:00

"Can't you say anything nice to us at all?" Chryssie finally exploded at her older sister.

Petunia, being Petunia, said absolutely nothing to this and just turned her nose up and looked away. Typical. Why had she been expecting anything different? Certainly not something nice. Petunia didn't do nice, after all. She was horrid and mean and awful and whatever other negative adjective you could use. And Chryssie didn't like it! Not one bit!

"Chryssie," Lily said reproachfully, never liking it when any of them fought.

Well, sometimes you needed to fight- didn't you? Or, at least stand up for yourself. She wasn't going to take anything lying down! Especially from Petunia, of all people.

All her eldest sister did was pick, pick, pick at them. Oh, she was clever enough to make them small things, things that could be said quickly or fly under their parents' radar. But they chipped away at you, but by bit until you couldn't stand it anymore and hit your breaking point. Chryssie had very much hit her breaking point.

She had put up with it over Christmas. It was a time for family and all that and she didn't want to ruin it. It had helped that Petunia somewhat held her tongue as well. But apparently that all went out the window once Christmas was over. They couldn't even make it to the new year. Petunia didn't seem to want to talk nicely to them at all. Or even neutrally. It was snark, snark, snark all the live long day. And Chryssie hated it. Did anyone like it? Either way, she had to do something about it. Anything.

And telling Petunia off was the most satisfying option.

"Oh, now you don't have a response?" she continued when Petunia did nothing except shoot her a dark look. "You had plenty to say before."

Rosemary gave her a warning look and Chryssie sulkily quieted down. Why was she the one who got the warning look when it was Petunia who was being awful? It wasn't fair!

"Don't bait your sisters, Petunia," their mother told her, interrupting the smug look she was sending Chryssie.

"But mother-"

"Petunia."

Petunia also huffed and crossed her arms. Lily looked between the two of them awkwardly.

"So, is anyone doing anything today?"

Friday 31st December 1976

Shacklebolt Apartment, 14:00

"Have you given any more thought to what you want to do after school?"

Kingsley sighed heavily. It looked like the brief break he got for the festive period was over.

"No, mum, I haven't."

"Kingsley."

"I'll decide on something," he said defensively.

Because he would. Eventually.

"You're finishing Hogwarts in June," she told him.

"Exactly! That's six whole months away."

That didn't seem to help her at all.

"Look, I'll sort something out," he tried to reassure her."

Which also didn't seem to help. Should he mention that he was considering becoming an Auror? (He hadn't been able to stop thinking about it since Callum mentioned it). No, better not. He'd probably change his mind in a few weeks and he didn't want his mum to get used to the idea. There was no point and he'd never hear the end of it.

"Can't this wait until the new year?" He asked.

His mother put her hands on her hips.

"That's tomorrow, Kingsley."

"Is it?"

He always lost track of the days when he wasn't at school.

"It is."

"Oh."

That meant school was less than three days away. Great. Closer to NEWTs than ever.

"Kingsley," his mother said in exasperation. "Don't you have those exams this summer? Dragons or Frogs or something? They're like A-Levels, aren't they?"

"NEWTs," Kingsley sighed. "Yeah, they're like A-Levels."

As far as he understood A-Levels, anyway. Mind you, he didn't think NEWTs got you into a university or anything. We're there even magical universities? Great, something else to think about.

"Yes, those."

"I do."

"Surely you've put some thought into what you would want to do beyond them then?"

She looked so proud of the idea of him doing something like A-Levels - qualifications she and his dad didn't have.

"I haven't, mum. Is that what you wanted to hear?"

Sunday 2nd January 1977

12 Grimmauld Place, 22:30

It was getting late and he really should be at least trying to sleep right now. Especially since he was trying to get back into a routine for school but sleep was stubbornly refusing to come. It didn't seem to care that he had school tomorrow.

There were too many thoughts there. Too many half-formed ideas and plans and strategies. What would be the best way of doing things? Being the best? The strongest?

He had probably been staring far too long at the ceiling. His ceiling. His room was his only real bit of sanctuary. No one came into his room. Only Kreacher to clean it. It was nice, to have something that was just his.

With a sigh, Regulus rolled over so he was now facing the wall.

What could he do to fix this? Could he do something? He had to do something. It wasn't like Sirius was going to. Even if he did, he almost definitely wouldn't be doing something good. So that left it up to Regulus. But left what up to him? What could he do?

His eye caught the newspaper clippings he had carefully arranged on his wall - he was starting to run out of space.

It was every single article of the Dark Lord and the actions of his followers. Followers who were referred, feared. Who were carrying out proper work. They were pretty amazing, even if the Ministry didn't seem to think so. But the Ministry was going downhill, his father always said so. Didn't give its full attention to what mattered anymore.

Well, now this Dark Lord was. And he was doing it far better.