Beautiful Mistake Chapter Fourteen:
Old Smiles
The weeks passed quickly, the success of the Quidditch game passing with it, and winter came to Hogwarts. Chloe found herself in her usual spot in the Library, close to the floating blue flame that Lily had created. The following day she and the rest of her friends would be boarding the Hogwarts express and returning home for the Christmas holidays.
"Are you excited to see Ryan?" Remus asked. He had been forgiven since the meeting with Sirius, and he had promised to drop all arguments that had to do with Ryan and Sirius at Chloe's request. So far, he had managed to keep that promise.
"Excited? I'm far more then just excited!" Chloe laughed. She had been in a good mood ever since that morning. "I just hope that my mother hasn't gone too over board with the decorations and gifts this year." Chloe grinned.
"Ryan and you should visit over the break." Lily suggested from her seat that she was curled in.
"As long as there are no surprise visits from James and Sirius, then yes I would love to." Chloe joked.
"You can be sure that won't happen." Remus said. "They've decided to stay at Hogwarts."
"How come?" Chloe asked, trying to sound impartial.
"James feels it would be better for Sirius. He thinks being around his own family would just cause Sirius to be more upset at loosing his own." Remus explained, seeing through Chloe's passive concern.
Nodding, Chloe turned away from Remus and looked to Lily who was pretending to be impartial to the conversation just as Chloe had been. Flipping through the pages of a school book she busied herself. Chloe watched her for a moment, wondering if she should try and start up a new conversation with her but saw on Lily's face how hard she was trying to concentrate on the book versus the thoughts of James that Chloe knew were going through her mind.
"What is your family doing this year?" Chloe asked turning to Remus again.
"We're probably going to Wales to visit my cousins. My dad is just really happy that I can come home this year, because last year was, well, you know; too close to the full moon." Remus said, sounding a little uncomfortable.
"That's good," Chloe said, and pushed herself into the corner of her seat. She watched as some First years ran past the compartment window and looked to Remus. "How old is your cousin Reilly again?"
"He just turned ten last month. In a year he'll be at Hogwarts." Remus mused.
"I've always wished I could go to school with a relative," Lily commented. Chloe could tell that Lily was worried about something – that wasn't James – and she moved from her spot and closer to Lily.
"What's bothering you Lily?" Chloe asked attentively.
Lily looked at Chloe and gave a small smile. "It's nothing you need to worry about."
"You know that's only going to make us worry more." Chloe retorted, smiling at her friend.
Lily gave a short laugh and shrugged. "It's just this letter I got from Petunia yesterday. It scared me at first – she never writes, and the last time she did it was to tell me that our dad died. But I read it and she was just telling me that she had gotten engaged to Vernon Dursley – that man I told you about." Lily said, looking to Remus for a moment.
"Isn't that good?" Chloe asked, bewildered. "She's talking to you again – she told you good news!"
"But it isn't," Lily answered sighing. "He is this awful man, Chloe. Petunia has always been agile to me since I started at Hogwarts, but he turned her completely against me when she told him I was a witch. She wouldn't talk to me unless it was to put me down or make fun of me. In the summer I had invited James over to meet my mother, and Vernon had been there. He was so horrible to me, and to James. James didn't mind it much, but he got really angry when he saw how upset I was. Oh, Chloe, I just don't know if I'm going to be able to stand it for the whole break." Lily said, tears in her eyes.
Chloe's hear went out to her friend. Pulling Lily into a hug she told her, "Don't think about that. You can write me every day, and when you come visit you can stay for a few days. And maybe, if you agree, I could come stay with you for a while."
"No, I couldn't ask you to do that, Chloe. You can stay with your family, with Ryan." Lily told Chloe, and pulled away. She wiped the few tears that had fallen and smiled. "I'm just freaking out for no reason, don't worry. I'll be fine." Lily assured her.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door and when they all looked they saw Peter Pettigrew's curious face. Remus beckoned the mousy boy in, and clumsily he opened the door and stepped inside.
"Take a seat," Remus told his friend. "What took you so long?" Remus asked. Peter was supposed to meet us earlier, but when he hadn't showed we chose to go on without him.
"Thanks," Peter said, taking the seat next to Remus. He looked a little awkward, but comfortable sitting next to Remus. "I-er-I couldn't find you guys." Peter said looking around the compartment uncomfortable.
Chloe found this odd, but put it aside as just Peter being embarrassed by his lack of memory. Remus laughed, but not at Peter, and slapped him on the shoulder.
"I told you, you should have come with me." Remus said, and then went on to ask Peter what he was doing for the holidays.
The rest of the train ride passed with ease, even with Peter's presence Chloe couldn't let the happy feeling of seeing her son again escape her. She would be getting far from Hogwarts, and somehow manage to live the life she had loved the year before. It was nearing the evening when the train finally pulled into King's Cross Station, the sun casting yellow and red hues across the sky.
Chloe stood, turning to grab her purse and homework for the break and followed Lily, Remus, and Peter out of the compartment and into the throng of people making their way out of the train. Her heart thumped loudly in her chest as she thought of how close she was to seeing her mother, and soon her son.
"Chloe!" Danielle had joined Chloe walking out of the train. Her cheeks her bright red with happiness, and she gently pushed her sister faster out of the train door.
Once on the platform, Chloe ignored her sister for a moment to hug Lily and Remus. "You two better write," Chloe muttered to them.
"You better write!" Lily retorted, grinning, and clinging to Chloe one last time.
"Say hello to Ryan for us," Remus said as he hugged Chloe.
"I will, I will," Chloe said overwhelmed. Looking back on how she figured this day or any day at Hogwarts would be like she hadn't seen herself missing Remus and Lily as much as she was beginning to. They were the only thing that kept her mind on the right track when it came to Sirius – besides Ryan – and what let her relax at the end of the day, and let her unwind as they knew everything. "Love you guys," Chloe told them as she began to walk away with her sister.
"Love you too!" Lily chimed, just as her mother came over to her. Chloe watched as Lily greeted her mother, hugging her tightly and telling her all about her year so far. Not too far off from this Remus was surrounded by his parents now talking to them and hugging them. His father looked especially glad to see him while his mother fussed over a fresh scar on his face.
"Chloe," Danielle called, motioning her sister along. "Mom is looking pretty peaky over there." Danielle nodded over to where there mother stood, still trying to find them in the crowd.
Chloe nodded, turning away from her friends and there families, and rushed over with Danielle to meet their mother.
"Chloe, Danielle!" she cheered, hugging both her daughters, glad to see them both. "Are you all right?" she asked looking at both. "You stopped writing back after awhile." She said looking at Chloe.
"Yeah, I'm fine. School just seemed to take over that's all." Chloe told her mother. She knew her mother could see right through her, but thankfully she let it slide and they began to walk over to the barrier.
"Well I can tell you Ryan is very excited to see his mother and his favourite Aunt!" Mrs. Roberts exclaimed as they waited for barrier operator to tell them when it was safe to leave.
Walking through the barrier they entered the world of Muggles, and Chloe was glad she had put on her Muggle clothes when she left Hogwarts as her sister was receiving many stares by her bright purple robes. They got to the car and drove home in Oxford. When they pulled into the drive and Chloe stared up at her childhood home and a smile crossed her face.
She slammed open the car door, and jumped out of her seat, only pausing to grab her bag, and half walked half ran up the drive and up the front steps to the front door. She turned the knob, and stepped into the front entrance. She heard voices in the living room, and she dropped her bag on the ground and went there. She entered the room, and paused.
"Chloe!" her Aunt greeted. She looked much like her mother, but frizzy blond hair, and much more flamboyant clothing.
"Hello Aunty," Chloe hugged her Aunt, but was much more excited to see Ryan, sitting on the floor holding a big book in his hands. He turned his head to her, and a smile fell on his face. His curly black hair had grown, and he needed a haircut.
Letting go of her Aunt, she walked over to Ryan, and got down on her knees. She went to pick him up but to her surprise he stood, wobbling a little before he stretched out his hands and said more clearly then before, "Muma."
Chloe let out a surprised cry, and pulled Ryan into her arms. He giggled with delight, as she stood with him in her arms and spun around. "I missed you, my little boy." She told him, and sat down on the couch. Sitting him on her lap, they stared at each other for a moment, allowing Chloe to breathe. Danielle and Mrs. Roberts entered the living room.
"There is my favourite nephew!" Danielle cheered, as she took a spot on the couch next to Chloe. Danielle took Ryan from her sister's hands, and played with him for a moment while Chloe looked on, unable to tear the smile from her face.
She couldn't help it. Seeing Ryan again, her son, half of her made her feel so much better. The slow suffering of being parted with him had taken its toll and seeing him there, grown and healthy made her feel better. Her worries were gone with him near, and under her care.
"Is anyone up for pizza?" Chloe's Aunt declared, grabbing their Muggle telephone from the coffee table.
It was quiet in the house, and Chloe could hear Ryan's soft breathing easily. She sat in the rocking chair, in her son's room, the moonlight her only source to see. On her lap she had her potions textbook and parchment on top of this. She was writing, or at least trying to write a letter to Lily. It was her second night home, and Lily had already sent her a letter telling Chloe all about how horrid Petunia's fiancé was, and how her mother seemed completely blind to it. So far she had written:
Lily,
I wish I could be with you right now. Or that you could be here. I would at least have someone who has been with me for the last few months and I would not have to explain myself, and you wouldn't feel so along in dealing with your sister and her horrid fiancé.
Ryan has been such an angel. When I first came home he stood, and hugged me saying my name. I wanted to cry. As I write this I am watching him sleep soundly in his crib. He looks so much like his father, it nearly breaks my heart.
It was all she could think to write. She couldn't express her feeling's of Sirius because she hadn't told Lily about the meeting's she had had been having. She couldn't ask for Lily's advice on what she should do; stay friends with Sirius or go back to ignoring him? Friendship seemed to be leading her down the path she had been trying so desperately to avoid, and she knew it would be hard to hide Ryan for much longer.
A soft sigh escaped Ryan's sleep as he twitched in his sleep, and Chloe imagined what the pleasant dream he was having. The wondered what an infant would dream of. Her heart skipped a beat when her thoughts drifted toward him dreaming of a perfect family including a mother and a father.
Shaking her head of her thoughts, she leaned forward in the chair, collected her things and stood up. Kissing Ryan on his forehead, she left her son's room and went into her own next door. Sprawling on her bed, she ignored her sister's soft breathing in the next bed. Her letter and textbook lay next to her, and she rolled on to her stomach, pulled the blankets above her head and fished her wand out of her robe pocket.
"Lumos," she whispered and a bright light filled her enclosure under the covers. Staring at the letter, Chloe took her quill and dipped it into her ink, careful not to spill it on her white linen covers.
The only that seems to be on everyone's mind here is that it's my birthday tomorrow. I can't believe I'm turning seventeen. Though I bet you most people can't believe I'm turning seventeen and already a mother.
I cannot wait to see you again; I swear I have talked about you so much around Ryan even he misses you. I know that was rather silly. But I do miss you. Tell me when we can see each other next! Perhaps get together for my birthday!
Love your best friend
Chloe
She signed it, and then capped her quill and ink. She folded the paper, and after muttering iNox/i she took the covers off from over her head, sat up to place her wand and the letter on her side table, and stripped off her overcoat. The cool winter air sent a chill up her spine, and she quickly got under the covers, and got settled. Lying on her back she could see past the curtains and saw up in the sky the bright stars. She stared at them, trying to remember their names, but couldn't.
Sirius…
Her mind had brought him back to him, and looking away from the stars she tried to forget the name, the face, the entire person so she could get some sleep that night. It wasn't the first time his name had popped up in her head. After becoming friends with Sirius again it had made Ryan's cute little face all the more reminiscent for Chloe.
In her heart Chloe knew that she still loved Sirius, and held the dream of her and Ryan living the perfect life with him. But in her mind she knew the likely hood of that ever happening were next to none. Love would never be enough for it to work. Closing her eyes, Chloe let the realm of dreams take over, and slept straight to the next morning.
White, crisp snow covered everything. Chloe couldn't see the path leading to the gate out front her house. She couldn't see the grave drive, nor could she see the road. The houses looked like the houses you would see on postcards, and Chloe couldn't help but grinning at the sight; the Christmas spirit had finally come.
After breakfast, with Danielle's help they buddle Ryan up and took him into the backyard to play in the snow, and together they made a snowman while Ryan sat in the snow giggling at his mother and aunt as they fussed over the snowman's face.
"Can you not wait for tomorrow?" Danielle asked, out of breath from making the snowman, and she fell back on to the snow.
"What's going on tomorrow?" Chloe asked, picking Ryan up.
Danielle sat up, her eyes wide with surprise. "Chloe, it Christmas eve tonight!"
Chloe's jaw dropped, and her mind raced. She hadn't gotten any presents for any of her friends nor for her family or Ryan. Danielle blinked at her older sister, waiting for some kind of recognition, before standing up and walking over to Chloe. "I think we should Aunty if she'll watch Ryan while we go shopping – I can't believe you forgot!" Danielle exclaimed, pushing her sister towards the house.
"I didn't forget," Chloe quickly tried to cover up her fumble, feeling stupid, "I just didn't really realize how close it was. So many things have been going on." Chloe told Danielle as they entered the house.
"Yeah, yeah, what ever, you have no excuse!" Danielle laughed, taking Ryan from Chloe's arms. "I'll take of him; you go get your things so we can get to Diagon Alley. It's going to be so busy!"
Chloe took her boots and gloves, and then ran up the stairs to her room where she got her things. She couldn't help but smiling at Danielle's actions, how she liked to control of everything, especially over Chloe. She couldn't complain however, Danielle was the one thing that kept Chloe sane through the rest of her pregnancy and through the first few months after. She had stabilized Chloe for the most part.
"Are you ready?" Danielle stood in the door frame.
Rolling her eyes at her sister, Chloe nodded and followed her sister out of her room and back to the front entrance where she put her boots back on and switched her winter coat for her long purple one.
"Where are we going first?" Chloe asked.
"Let's skip the mall," Danielle decided.
"So we're going to Diagon Alley then?" Chloe assumed.
"Yeah, let's get going." Danielle said quickly, as she turned from the entrance to the kitchen where they would take the Floo Network. Chloe just followed her sister, letting her decided what they were doing. Chloe only cared that she would find some presents for her friends and family, and hoped that they hadn't put too much thought into the things she would be receiving.
"You go in first," Danielle said as she pushed Chloe towards the green flames that now flickered in the fireplace.
"Don't boss your sister around too much dear," their Aunt said walking into the kitchen, a rosy cheeked Ryan in her arms. "Say bye to your mum," she cooed.
Chloe looked at her son with a smile and watched as Ryan lifted his little hand and waved it at her. "By love," she said to Ryan before stepping into the flames and calling clearly, "The Leaky Cauldron!"
She seemed to be soaring past the many fireplaces, and Chloe held her elbows close to her until she was fully transported to her favourite restaurant and inn. She stepped quickly out of the way of the fireplace as Danielle fell in behind her, coughing roughly.
"I forgot to hold my breath," she finally said after Chloe got a glass of gillywater for her, and they took a seat at one of the tables.
"Are you up to shopping?" Chloe asked, smirking a little.
"Shut up," grumbled Danielle as she stood up, and moved to collect her bag.
"Well let's get going – I have a lot of shopping to do!" Chloe exclaimed dramatically at her sister's expense.
Danielle whined loudly, and pushed Chloe towards the back. "And you wonder why I hate being seen with you in public."
They entered the back alley after saying thank you to the young bartender, Tom, and Chloe promptly tapped on the old bricks and stepped back to let them open. She paid little attention to it, her mind drifting to the thought of what she would buy her little son.
He might like a toy wand or perhaps something more wild like a toy broomstick. She knew Sirius would love that; see his little son grow up to be a famous Quidditch player and it all start with a Christmas present he got from his mother when he just a toddler.
Diagon Alley was a bustling place, and Chloe could hardly keep up with Danielle as she moved in the crowd with ease, determined on a set destination Chloe knew not. Her mind kept drifting and she had no idea what she was doing or saying as she crashed into a few people as she walked. She was so far away from where she was that she did not notice Danielle stopping in front of a store.
"Hello, anybody in there?" Danielle was ahead of Chloe, staring at her with a bewildered look.
"Oh, sorry, I was just trying to decide what to get Ryan this year." Chloe told her sister, catching up with her.
"Well don't worry about it, I've already decided for you." Danielle grinned, pointing to the store she was standing next to. Chloe looked and saw that it was Quidditch Quality Supplies, the display in the front was of a new broom called the Nimbus 1800, and Chloe smiled at the small children who were trying to get a good look at it chattering wildly.
Chloe took the lead and entered the store first, marveling at all the merchandise. Like in the Alley it was crowded, and people were squeezing past her as she and Danielle came to a stop to get there bearing's.
"I'm pretty sure the toy brooms are this way," Danielle thought aloud, once again pushing through the people and into the back of the store where sure enough the toy brooms could be found.
Chloe was drawn to one made of ash that said it had a cushioning spell cast on it so that if Ryan were ever to fall off he wouldn't hurt himself. She picked it up, and felt the smooth wood under her fingers, and held it sideways to see how high it would hover from the ground. Before she could watch, Danielle spun her around to face a section that was of clothing with the different team logos on it.
"I think you should get him the broom and a little outfit!" she exclaimed.
Chloe laughed, turning back to see the broom hovering only two feet off the ground. Deciding it was best, she grabbed it with her hand, and went over to where Danielle stood looking through the jumpers and other clothing.
"I doubt he'll wear it, Danielle." Chloe commented, her eye catching on a bright orange pajama's with the Chudley Canons players' zooming across. "But he may wear this…" she trailed off going over to it. She thought they were adorable and affordable when she saw that they only cost a few galleons.
"Oh they are adorable! Ryan will love it!" Danielle squealed a little too loudly for Chloe's liking, and she cringed.
"Please never do that again." Chloe laughed, turning around, holding the pajama's in front of her as she did. When she looked up to see where the cash register was, she nearly screamed herself when she saw Sirius and James standing not to far away looking at the new Nimbus 1800.
Her heart thumping, and she turned to Danielle and thinking quickly pushed her around the corner where Sirius and James would not be able to see them.
"What the bloody-" Danielle started, but Chloe quickly silenced her by covering her mouth.
"Don't be so loud." Chloe hissed. Her mind raced. Remus had said they would be staying at Hogwarts this Christmas!
Danielle tried to speak, but her words were distorted and muffled from Chloe's hand. Huffing loudly, she managed to pry Chloe's hand from her mouth and said quieter then before, "I wouldn't if you explained before pushing me," Danielle suggested with a sour tone.
Chloe shook her head, ignoring Danielle's tone, and explained to her that James and Sirius were in the store. "They are just standing over there looking at a broom, and I don't want them to hear us and become aware that I'm here."
"I thought you and Sirius were on decent terms?" Danielle asked, looking confused.
"What does that mean?" Chloe asked getting distracted.
Danielle rolled her eyes, and poked her sister hard in the chest. "Don't ignore the question, why won't you just wish them Merry Christmas and be on your way?"
"Because Sirius will ask who the kid stuff is for." Chloe replied a-matter-of-factly.
"We'll just use the excuse that they are presents for our cousin, Ryan." Danielle emphasized, with big smiling eyes.
Chloe didn't like it, but she let Danielle have her own way. She had been hoping to avoid any chance meetings with the pair as she didn't like lying to Sirius to his face nor did she like having to talk to James when he had such a needing look in his eye; he wanted her to help him win Lily back.
Danielle took the pajamas from Chloe's hand and went around the corner and walked over to the cash register, passing Sirius and James as she went. They didn't notice her, and Chloe was hoping they would do the same when she passed. She made a great deal of becoming busy with her purse as she 'searched' for her wallet, and when she reached Danielle's side she looked up smiling that she had made it. Or so she thought.
James' voice drifted over to her and she heard him say, "Isn't that Chloe over there with her sister?"
"Yeah," came Sirius' reply.
"We should go say hi – and ask Danielle why on earth she is holding that Chudley Canon's outfit." James suggested with disgruntled tone.
Chloe barely had time to duck away again when they were on them. James showed up on her side, holding a broom in his hand and a smile on his face.
"Hey Chloe, Danielle," he greeted them both.
Turning to face him and Sirius, she forced a smile on her face, and slipped the toy broom behind her a little so that it wasn't noticeable. "Hi James," she turned to Sirius who was looking at her with a pleasant expression, "Hey Sirius."
"Merry Christmas!" Danielle chimed in, seeming to handle it all a whole lot better then Chloe was.
"What is that in your hand?" James asked harshly, pointing to the pajamas.
"It's a present for my cousin." Danielle sniffed, looking at it. "Why?" she said pretending to be hurt by his tone.
"It has the Canon's on it – can't you pick a better team?" James guffawed.
"Ryan likes the Canon's!" Danielle argued.
"Oh, and I'm assuming that's your cousin – the little boy I met at the beginning of the year." James questioned.
"Yeah that's him, and he likes the Chudley Canons. You're not suggesting I tell the little guy he should start liking some other team do you?" Danielle chided.
The entire time Danielle and James did their usual banter, Sirius and Chloe had stayed completely silent. The other two didn't seem to notice this, having far too much fun arguing with each other. Chloe had tried to avoid Sirius' gaze, focusing on the argument with mild delight, but when nobody was looking she felt Sirius' soft stroke on her right hand, and she couldn't help but tear her eyes away and to look at Sirius.
He had a curious look on her face, and not about the broom she was holding. He had probably come to the conclusion Danielle had planned, and Chloe knew it was because he simply curious about her reserve. She could hardly breathe, let alone trust herself in talking in front of Sirius. For some reason she felt nervous around him, and she wondered if it was because she didn't have the protection of Hogwarts School, and the mind set she had there.
"Excuse me, you can come pay if you would like to." The man at the register called, and Chloe looked away from Sirius, stumbling a little as she and Danielle went up to the counter to pay.
Chloe handed the money asked for and waited for her things to be wrapped up. James and Sirius were still with them, and she turned back to them after taking a deep breath.
"So what are you two doing in Diagon Alley? I heard the you were staying at Hogwarts for the Holiday's." she managed to say sounding half normal.
"We are. James wanted to get the new broom, so we snuck out. It's an early Christmas present from me." Sirius answered sounding incredibly like Remus.
"Early?" Danielle muttered joining the group again. Chloe ignored her, and continued to look at Sirius, trying to ignore the mischievous grin he was trying to hide.
"So I'm assuming that I should keep this meeting quiet?" Chloe asked.
Sirius shrugged. "I don't think dear Minerva would care." He joked, laughing.
Chloe nodded, understanding, and looked to James who was speaking. "Have you seen Remus or Lily yet this break?" James asked, trying not to sound too obvious.
"Maybe, she hasn't responded to my letter yet." Chloe said with a knowing face.
James tried to ignore Chloe's specifications, but Sirius didn't. "Are you finished stalking Lily so I can pay?" he asked, grinning, flashing a look towards Chloe while he spoke.
"Nobody is stopping you from paying," James growled, moving ahead to pay, Sirius following.
Chloe chuckled to herself, and noticed how Danielle shifted uneasily next to her. It was a sign for her to take her leave, and she turned to face James and Sirius. "Well, we should get going, we have a lot of shopping to do." Chloe said awkwardly.
Sirius, now standing in front of James couldn't hide a wide smile anymore, and with James' back turned to him he wouldn't have to explain either. James smiled and said, "See you after the holiday's!" he replied.
Chloe nodded, turning to the door while Danielle chimed in with "Happy Christmas!" feeling a little cheeky.
Once they exited the shop and entered the still busy streets of Diagon Alley, Danielle turned on Chloe with bright eyes and a curious smirk. Before she could pester Chloe with questions, she managed to shoo her sister down the alley a bit for fear of being overheard by the two boys they had just left.
"Can you please tell me what all those looks meant?" Danielle huffed.
"Simple, Sirius and I have decided we can be just friends." Chloe verified, knowing all too well it wouldn't be enough to satisfy her sister.
"And…?" Danielle's brow rose high on her forehead, and Chloe only rolled her eyes.
"Can't you ever be happy?" Chloe asked lazily.
"No, now explain this to me," Danielle started, "For three years you and Sirius haven't spoken. You barely looked at him when you went to school with him before, and now you two are sending knowing smiles and kind greetings. What's up? When did all this develop, and how?" Danielle finished her questioning with large batty eyes.
Chloe shook her head, spotting Florence Ice Cream shop; one place that looked nearly empty and pulled her sister inside. "This requires a seat and a nice warm hot chocolate and-"
"A cone of delicious mint chocolate ice cream!" Danielle added, licking her lips.
"Sure," Chloe laughed, "What ever you want." Chloe agreed, and her sister ran off to order their drinks and ice cream. Her sister was always one of a kind - who wants ice cream in the middle of winter?
Once settled at a table in the corner of the shop, Chloe tried to think of a way to explain everything that had happened to her sister without giving too much away, but Danielle didn't have the same plan in mind. As soon as she sat down with their refreshments, she burst right in with her previous questions, acting more batty then before from the excitement.
"Well, I guess it started when Remus and I had that huge fight really." Chloe started, sipping on her hot chocolate. "Or maybe it started when he marched after me on his birthday – either way we were talking. And we just decided it would be best to be friends; we were too close before all of this not to be."
"But what about Ryan?" Danielle asked, sitting on the edge of her seat.
Chloe looked away from her sister, staring at her hands as she held the mug of hot chocolate. "I know it's not good for him, that it's not really good for me." Chloe looked up at her sister and shrugged. "But I don't think I can deal with going to Hogwarts and not being on good terms with him – it would just make us both miserable."
"True," Danielle agreed, "I do remember that 'fight' on Sirius' birthday, and it was not nice. At least with you being on good terms with each other you can avoid messed and drama's like that."
"At least as best as we can," Chloe added, sighing heavily. It seemed not matter where she went a trail of unwanted drama and attention followed her. What was so special about her anyway? She was an average witch who let her emotions get ahead of her. In the bigger scheme of things, she wasn't anything too special, and she glanced at her sister with a frown. "I really don't want to shop anymore."
Danielle frowned. "Sadly you've only got two presents, and still at least ten more to go. It's time we start walking!" Danielle ordered, standing up and pulling Chloe with her. "Come on, hurry up!"
Sighing to herself again, Chloe forced herself to stand and join her sister. Her worries that surrounded Sirius disappeared as the ones of not getting everything before dusk took over. It wasn't until late that they did return home with wrapped presents for everyone, and Chloe was happy to be home.
A/N: So this story took much longer then intended to write, and it went in a total different direction then what I wanted. But I'm happy with it. It kind of shows the simplicity of Christmas time. And I added some more Sirius/Chloe to the mix to keep it interesting. Next chapter it will be the rest of the Christmas Holiday's and back to Hogwarts. I'll try to get it written a little bit faster, if I can manage. Thanks for reading!