A/N: Okay so here it is- Chapter 18! In this chapter- the H6 goes over to Sirius's place for Christmas- so of course you know that it's not going to be normal in any least sense. So this enjoy this dsyfunctional H6 Christmas!
Chapter Eighteen: Clayton and Christmas
Lily woke up the next morning, groggy and still in her school robes. She sat up for a few seconds- mind hazy, wondering why in the world she hadn't changed before going to sleep the night before. She then remembered all the events that had happened last night and immediately got up, brushed through her curly, wild hair a few times, and rushed downstairs.
James was already in the common room when Lily got down. Sirius was still on the couch, in a deep sleep. Lily went up to the boy and felt his forehead. It was still hot, but not as burning as it was before.
"He was sick I guess" James said, yawning. He had just arrived two hours ago from his night duty and had been waiting for Lily to get up before he went off to sleep.
"He has strep throat" Lily answered.
"You mean that thing you had last week?" James asked, eyes starting to close…he needed to sleep.
"Yeah. Why are you still up?" Lily asked the boy as she fixed the blanket around Sirius and straightened up the pile of books that were on the table near her.
"I wanted to stay up until you woke up. Just to say good morning to you before I went up to sleep" James answered. Lily smiled brightly at him.
"How sweet of you" she said, kissing him on the top of his head. That was why she loved James so much, he might be immature, but he was always so thoughtful of her.
"I know that we haven't been able to spend a lot of time together, so I thought we could go out to Hogsmede tonight, just the two of us" James said.
"I would love to, James. But I have night duty tonight" Lily answered.
"I already asked Peter if he would cover for you tonight- he said he would" James said. Lily looked at the boy, and nodded her head.
"Hogsmede sounds lovely" Lily said, smiling at the boy, knowing that a date with James was exactly what she needed to clear up her mind and her confusion. It would do them both good to go out by themselves that night.
James was about to say something else to Lily when Sirius roused from his sleep, sitting up, his messy hair sticking up in all directions and a confused look on his face.
"Good morning sleeping beauty!" James said brightly to the boy. Sirius was too disoriented to feel offended by the comment.
"How are you feeling Sirius?" Lily asked.
"Like utter crap" Sirius answered, clutching his head with one hand. Lily smiled sympathetically at him. He looked like a little five year old kid.
"You'll be feeling like that for a few more days at the least. I'll give you the rest of my medicine to take with you" Lily said, getting the medicine from the table and looking around for something to put it in.
Suddenly the portrait hole opened and Sora crawled into the room.
"Hey Lily and James! Have you guys seen…oh, there you are, Sirius!" Sora said, walking up to the sofa where Sirius had been sleeping the night before.
"What…what happened to you?" she asked noting his dazed expression, darkened eyes, and unusual paleness.
"I've got scarlet fever" Sirius moaned.
"Scarlet fever?" Sora asked, eyes widening.
"Oh stop being so dramatic, Sirius. You've only got strep throat" Lily said, smacking the boy lightly on the head. Sirius frowned up at her.
"Here I am lying on my death bed and you go around hitting me. I should just make an announcement to the whole school that Lily Evans beats up dying people" Sirius sad, scowling.
"I'm glad to see that your illness has done nothing to decrease your wonderful personality" Lily said sarcastically, though she was grinning.
"He'll need to stay in bed this whole weekend" Lily said to Sora, handing the girl the bag with the medicine in it.
"He always stays in bed the whole weekend. I have never seen such a lazy kid in my life!" Sora said, looking down at the boy on the couch.
"Take pity on the poor boy- he's sick" James said, trying to sound like a concerned mother and failing miserably.
"Yeah, take pity on me" Sirius said pouting, looking incredibly like a little child who was about to throw a temper tantrum. Sora half expected him to fall on the ground and start kicking his legs any second now.
"Come, on, Mister Deathbed. We better get you back to our room" Sora said, walking over to Sirius.
"Do you need help walking?" she asked. Sirius just frowned.
"This whole conversation has ruined my pride pretty horrible already. The last thing I need if for the whole school to see me being helped to walk" he answered. Sora just shook her head. Boys and their pride.
"Oh, and he can't play quidditch this coming week either" Lily said. Sirius stopped in his tracks.
"What.do.you.mean?" he asked, his voice suddenly choked.
"I said that you can't play quidditch next week- you won't be physically up for it" Lily said.
"But the big game is next week!" James cried
"What big game?" Lily asked.
"Only the huge winter death match, throw down between Slytherin and Gryffindor!" Sirius moaned. Lily rolled her eyes.
"I'm almost positive that anything with the words 'death match' and 'throw down' won't be good for you to participate in when you're this sick" Lily said evenly.
"But I have to play- we'll be down a beater- Sora will be all alone!" Sirius said miserably.
"There has to be a replacement player for you" Lily said.
"Yeah, but the replacement player is Clayton Jordan!" Sirius said, as though it was the most horrible thing in the world. Sora and James gasped, as though it was the first time that thought had come to them- which it was.
"Then Clayton Jordan will play in your place" Lily said, not getting what the big deal was.
"Lily, have you ever seen Clayton Jordan?" Sora asked, voice strained. Lily sighed.
"Okay, so the boy is a little uncoordinated…" she said.
"A little! Don't you remember last week when he tipped over his cauldron in potions and burned Frank's feet so badly he had to spend a week in the infirmary. Or the week before that when he transfigured Rheton Lee into a tree by accident. Or the week before that when he…"
"Okay I get it!" Lily cried "but we have no other choice! Sirius cannot play in the condition that he is in"
"I'm feeling better already. I'm at the top of my game" Sirius said, trying to hold himself straighter and not look so shaky.
"Yeah- he's right, he looks so much better!" James agreed, smiling.
"Absolutely smashing" Sora said brightly, causing Lily to open her mouth wide in shock.
"Sora Kaito Black! Your husband is near fainting from exhaustion and is suffering from a horrible case of strep throat and you are willing to sacrifice his health for a quidditch game!" she cried.
"It's not any quidditch game, it's THE quidditch game" James said, trying to talk some sense into Lily.
"And you too James Potter! How could you let your best friend go out on the field in the condition that he is. Both of you should be ashamed of yourselves!" she said rather loudly.
"But Lily…" Sirius started to say before the girl cut him off.
"There will be no more talk on this subject! Sirius cannot play quidditch- he will collapse and get much worse- possibly even catch scarlet fever. Clayton Jordan will play in Sirius's place- that's final. Now, Sora, you march Sirius to your room and make sure he rests up" Lily said sternly, pushing the two teens out of the room.
"But Lily, have you really seen Clayton Jordan?" Sora cried, in a last ditch attempt to change her friends mind.
"OUT!" Lily cried, as the two scrambled out the portrait hole. Lily took a few deep breaths, calming herself and then looked back at James, who looked stunned.
"Surprised at my outburst?" Lily asked. James shook his head. He knew that Lily had those moments when she turned into a complete hellion. It was one of the things that he liked about her, her fire.
"Then what is it?" Lily asked. James just stared at her.
"Have you seen Clayton Jordan?" he asked weakly. Lily just groaned and walked back up to her bedroom, shaking her head.
"You quidditch players! All of you are insane!" she cried before going into her room and slamming the door behind her.
In the end, Sirius ended up taking Lily's advice (only because of the fact that Lily told him that if he played in the game she would rip out every one of his hairs. Sirius had no doubt she would do it. Lily was one of the sweetest girls- but when she got mad- nobody wanted to mess with her).
So Clayton Jordan played in place of Sirius, which meant that he was flying above a large crowd, sixty feet up in the air, with a heavy bat in his hand. Not a good combination. Sora had to spend more of her time beating Clayton away so that he wouldn't crash into people than she did beating away bludgers. If Clayton was uncoordinated on the ground, he was a hundred times more so in the air. So finally, after the boy had run head on into the keeper for the sixth time, Sora took out her wand and muttered a spell that made Clayton completely incapable of moving.
"Sorry mate, but we have way too much at stake here" Sora said to the boy before sweeping away.
Gryffindor barley won the game, thanks to a spectacular last minute catch by James, Sora hitting the bludger so hard at Bellatrix Black that it knocked her clear off her broom, and an amazing play that Frank did five seconds before the game ended.
Sirius watched from the sidelines, miserable, wishing more than anything that he could be up there with the rest of the team. From beside him, Remus grinned.
"You look like somebody died, Sirius" he said. Peter turned over.
"Not died- caught scarlet fever" he said, correcting Remus, a huge smile on his face.
"Shut up both of you!" Sirius mumbled.
After the game everybody rushed back to their rooms to get ready for the Christmas ball that was that night. Sora and her fellow Committee members had been working tirelessly for the past week on getting the great hall ready for the ball- and now it looked absolutely amazing. There were icicles hanging from the ceilings, snow was falling down gently around everybody, and there was a huge, mouthwatering spread of food everywhere.
Sora stuck around at the party long enough to greet everybody and see for herself how wonderfully the ball had turned out. James and Lily were off in the corner, giggling about something, looking very happy indeed. Peter and his girlfriend, Jenny were waltzing around the dance floor, large smiles on both of their faces. Remus and his date, a fellow Gryffindor named Suzy, were by the punchbowl- engaged in some sort of conversation, both of them smiling and looking very pleased. Even Clayton Jordan looked like he was having a good time- trying to dance his way across the room. Sora smiled at her friends, glad they were all looking so happy that night.
She, on the other hand, felt quite lonely. All of her friends were there, but Sirius wasn't. He was still in their room, sick and sullen- with a high fever and a throbbing throat. And suddenly, Sora didn't really feel like staying at the party anymore. She bade farewell to all of her friends (which took quite a while) and then stole away from the Great Hall, making her way back to her room.
After Dumbledore had learnt about Sora and Sirius's marriage- he gave the couple a separate room just a minute away from the Gryffindor common room. It was about the sane size as Lily and James's room and Sora found it to be quite comfortable and tastefully decorated.
She reached her room, gave her password, and crawled in. There was a small common room, with a sofa, two chairs, a large fireplace, and a generously sized bookshelf that was packed with volumes. On the right side of the common room was a staircase that led to Sora and Sirius's room. Sora walked up the staircase and opened the door to the room.
Sirius was in bed, a large book in his lap, looking rather depressed. He looked pale and drawn and even thinner than usual (the sickness was ruining his appetite and he hadn't eaten properly in days) - but for some reason, all of this just made him look even better. Sirius looked up as Sora came in and smiled.
"What are you doing here?" he asked "aren't you supposed to be at the party?"
"I decided to leave" Sora said, walking over to the bed, kicking off her shoes and sitting down on her side.
"Was it too boring for you?" Sirius asked, closing his book.
"Too interesting. It put me off balance" she said, grinning wickedly. That had been the exact line that Sirius had used on her back in third year after the eventful Halloween party. Ah- third year…it seemed like forever ago- it was forever ago. Back when she hated Sirius's guts and the marauders were the enemies. Good times.
"It's sort of creepy how you remember that" Sirius said to the girl.
"Well you still remember it" Sora retorted.
"Yeah- that's because I said it" Sirius answered her back, raising his eyebrows. Sora sighed.
"It's impossible to win against you" she said, leaning back against the headboard.
"I know" Sirius answered, grinning broadly.
"We need to work on that cocky attitude of yours" Sora said to the boy next to her.
"What's wrong with it?" Sirius asked.
"Oh, you mean despite the fact that it makes you look like an arrogant dolt?" Sora said.
"Watch it, Kaito" Sirius warned. Sora turned to him and smiled.
"My last name is actually Black now" she said, as though she was informing him of this for the first time. Sirius smiled back at her
"Ah, yes it is, isn't it" he said wistfully.
"Wouldn't have it any other way" Sora answered.
"Neither would I" Sirius said
The next day everybody was in a hurry, trying to pack their things before the train left from Hogwarts. It was officially the first day of winter break. Sora packed all of her things, grinning. This break she would be going with Sirius to his flat- which was, at this time, her new home. Sora had never been there before, so she was quite excited to see what it looked liked. She was also excited because her neighbor would be Andromeda Tonks- Sirius's bubbling, energetic cousin who had been moral support for the H6 ever since they got together. The H6 had been with her through all the major events of her life. They went to her wedding and they also went to the hospital to visit her after she gave birth to her daughter- Nymphadora- who was three now. Sora loved the woman, her husband, and their cute little girl. They were such a fun family to be around.
That year, the rest of the H6 would also be spending their winter in Sirius's flat. James had come up to Sirius a week ago and asked if he could spend the break with him- seeing on how his mum seemed to be going on a warpath and James would like to stay out of her way. Sirius and Sora agreed at once and also invited Lily, Remus, and Peter over (they had been planning on staying in Hogwarts over break). All of them happily agreed- and Peter was even bringing along Jenny. The flat was a rather large one, so it had room to it everybody. Plus, Sora and Sirius quite liked the idea of having all of their friends over for Christmas.
"Sora, come on- we're going to be late for the train!" Sirius cried. Sora threw everything into her bag and rushed down the steps, meeting up with the boy.
"Got everything?" he asked.
"Hopefully" Sora answered, opening the portrait hole and scampering out.
The two rushed over to the train, where they found the rest of the H6, who had saved a compartment.
"This is going to be an amazing Christmas" Lily gushes as all of them finally took their seats and the train started to move.
"I know- the first one that we've had all together" Peter said.
"Will Sirius's flat be able to fit us all in?" Jenny asked. Sora looked at her and grinned.
"Well, no. Some people will have to sleep in the bathtub. I've heard it's pretty cozy though" she said. Jenny laughed and threw the book she was holding in her hands at her.
"You're so cruel!" the girl said, smiling. Jenny had become very close friends with the H6 ever since she started going out with Peter two years ago. Sora rubbed her arm where Jenny's book had hit her.
"Very strong arm" Sora commented "you've picked a real jem, Peter" she said, grinning at the boy.
The group continued on in their playful banter until they reached the platform. Quickly, all of the H6 (and Jenny) got their bags and pushed their way outside. They crossed to the barrier and made their way outside of the station. Sirius hailed down a magical cab (you could tell the magical ones because they were always painted in neon colors) and gave him the address to his flat. The cab ride was short, and the teens were dropped off in front of a very nice, ultra modern looking flat complex. The doorman nodded at Sirius and let the group in.
They took the lift up to the thirteenth floor, and then proceeded to room three. Sirius waved his wand at the door and it opened, reveling a beautiful space. Sirius's flat was gorgeous, and huge. Of course it was a magical flat- so it was basically the size of a very large muggle house- with nine bedrooms, ten bathrooms, two living spaces, a large kitchen, a fancy dining room, and a very nice balcony.
"Sirius, this place is lovely!" Sora said, smiling. Of course, the size of the flat was nothing compared to the Kaito manner- but Sora found this place to feel much more like a home that her house in Japan did.
"Glad you approve of it, love" Sirius said.
"But it needs to be decorated for Christmas" Remus said, looking around.
"Yeah- it needs some garlands and holly" Peter said.
"And mistletoe!" James added in.
"So immature!" Lily said, though she was grinning.
"Okay, we'll decorate later. Right now- everybody needs to unpack. There are enough rooms so that each one of you can have you own." Sirius said. James looked a little disappointed.
"Yes, James, this does mean that your romantic rendezvous with Lily will have to wait" Sora said to the boy, causing both him and Lily to blush to the roots.
Everybody went to their prospective rooms and unpacked their things- and it took a good two hours for them to finish. The rest of the night they played exploding snap, talked, joked around, and just had a good time. It was nice being together, away from school and stress.
For the next few days everybody helped decorate the flat. They went out to Diagon Ally and bout all of the Christmas items they had, from wreaths, to little crystal snowmen, to singing mistletoe and then hung everything up with the help of Andromeda, who came over to help. Soon, the whole flat was perfectly decorated for Christmas- it was quite the cheery sight.
On Christmas Eve, everybody crammed into the kitchen, each person preparing something for Christmas dinner the next day.
Sora, Lily, and Jenny were all at the stove, mixing a huge pot of stew when Lily suddenly looked up.
"Does something smell odd?" she asked. Sora and Jenny sniffed the air. Sora nodded her head.
"It actually kind of smells like…"
"FIRE!!!" James cried, causing all three girls to turn around quickly, only to see James holding a rather burnt turkey. Apparently he had somehow managed to set the thing on fire and there were now a few, weak flames, dancing along its surface.
James, though, seemed to think that it was going to burn the whole place down. He quickly opened the kitchen window and tossed the turkey out of it.
"James- you moron- what did you do?" Remus cried, rushing to the window. The turkey had kit an old man who was walking by with his wife. The man was now looking at the turkey as though it was some type of fantastic thing.
"You nearly killed that man!" Lily whispered to James, furiously.
"I couldn't let it set the flat on fire" James said defensively.
"It wouldn't have set the flat on fire- it was barley burning" Jenny said to the boy.
"Look- Ethel- This fell on my head!" the old man said to his wife, excitedly. All seven teens looked out the window, trying not to be seen.
"Where did it come from?" Ethel asked.
"It came out of the sky!" the old man answered.
"Out of the sky? Are you sure?" she asked.
"Of course I'm sure!"
"Well why would a turkey come out of the sky?" Ethel asked.
"Maybe God sent it down for us" the old man said, his voice shaking in awe (or maybe it was just shaking because he was so old)
James snickered and Lily elbowed him in the ribs.
"Why would God send us a burned turkey?" Ethel asked.
"Don't talk about the turkey in that way- it's a holy turkey" the old man said. This time even Lily couldn't help but giggle a bit.
"A Holy Turkey!" Ethel cried.
"Yes- we should take it home and put it on our table during Christmas dinner" the old man said.
"Well what if someone tries to eat it?" Ethel asked.
"Who would eat this turkey? It is obvious to see how holy it is" the old man said- pointing at the turkey, which looked more like a large black lump than anything else.
"What about your cousin, Marvin- he's nearly blind" Ethel said.
"Well, we'll just have to keep Marvin away from the turkey" the man said.
"And what about your great-nephew- Clayton Jordan. He's a daft boy- he'll probably eat it" Ethel said.
Sora gasped and turned to the rest of the group. Clayton Jordan?
"Well we'll keep him away from it too. Now help me carry this back home!" the old man said. Ethel helped her husband carry the turkey and as soon as they were far enough away where the teens couldn't see them anymore, they all started breaking out into laughter.
"Well good going James" Peter said through his laughter.
"Yes- you brought a miracle to Clayton Jordan's family" Sora said, wiping the tears from her face.
"Holy Turkey!" Jenny cried, laughing all over again. It took the group a good fifteen minutes to stop laughing and get up from the floor.
"I guess we should call Andromeda and ask her to bring a turkey" Sirius said. Everybody nodded, the word turkey, causing them to laugh all over again.
The rest of Christmas Eve went by pretty uneventfully-and everybody went to bed early- eager for the next day.
Sirius was the first one to wake up on Christmas morning. It was just starting to get light outside and the whole house was calm for the first time. He looked beside him and Sora, who was sleeping peacefully next to him. Sirius smiled at the girl- amazed at how calm and beautiful she looked when she was sleeping, bathed in the early morning light.
Slowly Sirius shook the girl awake. Sora opened her eyes and looked around her.
"Merry Christmas, love" Sirius whispered to her. Sora smiled lazily.
"Our first Christmas together" she said. Sirius nodded his head.
"It's going to be wonderful" he whispered to her.
"GOD DAMN BLOODY TABLE! WHO PUT THAT THERE ANYWAYS?" James cried from outside their door, moaning in pain. Apparently he had just run into a table on his way to the bathroom and had stubbed his toe.
"It's going to be absolutely wonderful" Sora said, smiling widely.
James's cries of pain woke everybody in the flat up and soon, they were all congregated around the large Christmas tree in the main room, still dressed in their nightgowns. There were piles of presents under the tree, so many in fact, that they spilled out onto the fireplace and even on some chairs.
"Good haul this year" Remus stated.
"Definitely" Peter answered.
"Should we open them up now?" James asked, his stubbed toe forgotten.
"We're waiting on two more guests" Sirius said just as there was a knock on the door. Sora went over and opened it.
Suddenly a flash of blue and gold streaked into the flat. Sirius caught the squirming, giggling creature as it ran towards him.
"Nymphie!" he cried, looking at the small three year old girl in his arms. Nymphadora, Andromeda's daughter, was a beautiful little girl, with huge, glowing blue eyes and a wide, bright smile.
Andromeda stood in the doorway, laughing, a huge turkey in her arms. Sora quickly took the turkey from the woman, put it in the kitchen, and returned to the main room. She walked over to Sirius and Nymph.
"Ah- Nymph, you decided to go blond today" Sora said, fingering the girl's golden tresses "it looks good on you"
"I don't know- I kind of liked the hot pink better. It grew on me" Remus said. Nymph closed her big blue eyes and scrunched her little forehead in concentration. Seconds later her hair was a bubblegum pink.
"Betta' Remus?" the little girl asked. Sirius grinned widely.
"Looks like someone has a little crush on you, Moony" he said, sitting down next to the boy on the couch.
"I'm definitely not worthy" Remus said, smiling. Andromeda shook her head and took a seat in a chair by the tree. Sora went over and sat next to Sirius.
"Where's Ted?" Sora asked.
"He's working- on Christmas at that!" Andromeda said, shaking her head "his job gives him no time off".
Sora nodded her head. She wished that Ted Tonks could have come- he was always so lively and fun to have around.
"Look at all of you guys- already so grown up- you'll be graduating this year" Andromeda said. All the teens nodded. Andromeda turned her large, green eyes to Remus.
"So, Remus, when are you going to bring a girl over to show me?" the lady asked, smiling. Remus grinned at her.
"What are you talking about, Andromeda- I'm already promised to Nymph. I would never cheat on her!" Remus joked.
"Well, at least I know my daughter is in good hands" Andromeda retorted. Nymph looked at her mum in confusion.
"Don't you worry, Nymphie, Remus is just a slightly creepy kid. We'll find you someone much better" Sirius said to the little girl, scooping her up and putting her on his lap.
"I should feel offended, you know" Remus said, pouting a bit.
"Ah, lighten up Moony, it's Christmas!" James said, throwing a present at him.
Soon there was wrapping paper flying everywhere as gifts were opened.
"Ah, a broom service kit- thanks Jenny!"
"Oh- I've wanted this book for quite a long while"
"A box of chocolate cauldrons- sweet!"
"Wow- some random sixth year got me a set of crystal scales. These must have cost a fortune!"
"Oh wow Lily, thanks for the…thing…"
"It's a daily planner, Sirius!"
"I knew that!"
After a while, the room was full of wrapping paper and everybody had a small mountain of presents next to them. Lily, however was not looking at her presents, but at a letter in her hands.
"Who's that from, Lils?" Sora asked. Lily looked up at her, beaming.
"It's a letter from my parents. My dad got promoted to head chef at his restaurant and my mum's sewing business has suddenly picked up a lot. They are sending my sister to the private prep school that she's always wanted to go to- and everybody is really happy!" Lily cried, smiling widely.
"Well, that's a cause for a celebration!" Peter said happily.
"Should we go get the food out?" Remus asked. Everybody nodded and started to walk to the kitchen. The put all the food down at the table and sat down.
"Well, before we eat does anybody have anything to say?" Sirius asked.
"I do" Peter said. Sirius nodded at him.
"I wonder if Clayton Jordan has eaten any of the Holy Turkey yet" Peter said, his face completely serious and dead set. Everybody collapsed into laughter (except for Andromeda and Nymph- who of course, hadn't been there for that whole incident).
And so the day passed, and everybody went to sleep that night with smiles on their faces and Christmas memories that would last for quite a long while.
A/N: Ah yes, so the Christmas chapter is done. It was quite fun to write. So next chapter Marissa will fufill her plan of ruining Lily's family. How will the H6 react to all of this? Well knowing them- it's going to be something dramatic. See you next chapter!