Christmas 1980

Sirius had, of course, spent Christmas Eve over at the Potters' house once again. He had embraced the Muggle traditions (which James had found hilarious, reminding him what his parents would say if they saw him like this) of putting a stocking out on Christmas Eve, and had made James, Lily and Remus kiss Lyra goodnight before carrying her upstairs early (to which both James and Lily rolled their eyes). He remained upstairs for a good hour, and just as Lily was about to come and find him, he finally returned.

After a good deal of prodding to find out what took so long, he had explained that he and Lyra were dancing together, while he explained about Christmas. He had then changed her into her pyjamas and just sat watching her sleep, until he realised the time and came back downstairs.

He had made them wait for him to fill her stocking together, as he wanted to help. However, instead of just using the few presents Lily had wrapped ("she's only a few months old, Sirius, she doesn't know what Christmas is all about!") he brought several little wrapped presents into the room and proceeded to fill her stocking so it was brimming with little gifts.

So, now it was Christmas Day, he woke up and bounded upstairs to see his darling god daughter. Looking down on her sleeping, his eyes became warm with love at the sight of her sweet face, and remembered the time his heart exploded with joy at being asked to be her godfather. The year since had gone by so quickly has he practically moved in with his best friend. Remus, Peter and himself had all been gentle around their Petal, which everyone had noticed. However, while Peter liked the baby, and Remus adored Lyra, they all agreed that apart from James and Lily, nobody loved her as much as Sirius. Sirius had taken to kissing Lily's stomach hello and goodbye every day, had helped James when Lily was suffering from morning sickness and James had had to work. He and Prongs (and Remus as well a little) had rotated their days off so someone would always be with Lily. He had a photo of himself with Lily and James for every month of the remainder of Lily's pregnancy, and a photo of himself holding his darling Lyra for every month after she was born. Each of the Marauders had a photo of themselves with Lyra, but while Peter had put it aside, and Remus had framed his and put it by his bed, Sirius had made several copies, one for each room, and one of her newly born for a locket that he kept with him all the time.

So this Christmas, he was having a special photo taken of Ly and himself to sit in the locket opposite her newborn photo. And as a surprise for Prongs and Petal, he had transfigured a little Father Christmas dress which he put on her. Then, kissing the tip of her nose, he escorted her downstairs where he was met by everyone else. As he walked into the kitchen, everyone eyed her little red dress, before Lily hurried over for a cuddle. Everyone got a kiss with Lyra, before having breakfast and then moving through to the living room where the tree and presents were.

Everyone had presents for her. Peter had given her a soft toy rat, Remus and made her a photo frame with pictures of her with each of them in, Sirius had bought Lyra several clothes, a toy snitch, and a matching locket to his own. James and Lily had bought her several toys, as well as a cuddly stag and a little seat for her to sit in downstairs. There were also presents from Mcgonagall and Dumbledore: a little red and gold wooly hat and a cuddly Phoenix respectively.

When they had finally managed to pry Lyra away from Sirius, they had each had a cuddle. Remus was holding her in one arm, kissing her forehead and playing with the Phoenix with her when Sirius returned, holding his camera. He passed the camera to Peter and sent Remus a pleading look, who sighed, kissed Lyra one more time and handed her over. Lyra settled back into Sirius' arms, her little Father Christmas dress on full view in front of the tree as Peter took the photo.

That moment was how Remus remembered Christmas for the next twelve years, his own a sad contrast.


A/N I'm sorry to end on a sad note :( the next chapter is going to be even worse - there will be a few Azkaban years and the Christmas of third year as well. So before Sirius and Ly are reunited.

Also, I'm not a mother, so the bit about the pregnancy and the presents the James and Lily gave to Ly I struggled with.

I am, however, a godmother, and the feeling Sirius got when asked to be godfather in the last chapter, and his memory of it in this chapter, I am basing it off how I felt when I was asked. I don't get to see my little one very often (unlike Sirius) and I had a rough year last year - which Sirius will have in the Azkaban years, so we both treasure every memory, and every photo.