Christmas Bifurcations
Regulus still remained one other week at the Hospital, and was received with excitement when he came back.
"Better?" Emmeline asked when he sat at the gryffindor table.
"Yeah, where are Sirius and Marlene?"
"What happened with you three?" James took the chance of beggining the suject. Regulus grinned.
"Sirius and Marlene are together?"
Lily nodded.
"They are. Moreoever, I've never seen such comotion! Helen missed classes for a week when Sirius broke up with her!"
"They wouldn't stop arguing, I really don't understand." Remus said, but stopped when he saw the couple coming towards the table.
When Sirius and Marlene sat beside them, Peter cleaned his throat and started:
"One week until the holiday, eh?"
"Yeah..." Sirius smiled, and Harry realized that his godfather smiled much more near Marlene. He wondered if Sirius would have loved her until he died.
"Before Christmas Harry and I will pick you up, ok?" James asked, and everyone grinned back. He, then, turned to Lily.
"Have you told your parents?"
"I did. They're are really excited to know my wizard boyfriend. They get a little over excited with all this wizarding thing, so just ignore."
"I'll love to meet them. Besides, Harry here ios coming with me, and he knows a lot about muggle life, is it not, New Kid?"
Harry nodded, and Regulus rose up.
"Well, see you later. There goes everyone to Transfiguration."
"Do you reckon you'll have more trouble at Slytherin for what happened?" Marlene asked worried. Regulus shrugged his shoulders glancing to the green crowd heading to the classrooms.
"I've heard they're not that happy with me, though. They think if I hadn't fell off my broom they would have had a chance. Which obviously isn't true since Harry had already caught the snitch when I was falling..."
"If they annoy you, just call." Sirius assured as they hugged. Harry and James exchanged glances and grins.
After James and Lily dating, Sirius declaring himself to Marlene became the highest reason for gossip and sobbing at Hogwarts. Marlene spent almost a month running from girls as Sirius had to take a good look in every single thing he drank, for Remus had warned him that he heard some girls planning to give him love potions.
When the last school day finally arrived they were both walking with their heads always turned backwards, fact that James couldn't help but laugh at.
"Really, you're going mad! Isn't this amusing."
"They are really all crazy." Regulus agreeded, turning his brother's shoulders to he right position. "Calm down, Sirius, they haven't put archers behind you yet."
"God!" Marlene stopped running when she reached them, panting. Behind her, Lily was panting and running too.
"Some hufflepuff girls ran after us from the Tower to the first floor! They're mad!"
Sirius and Marlene gazed at each other, and for a moment everyone went silent. Just after, an explosion of laughter relaxed the atmosphere as they kissed.
"At least everything will be just fine tomorrow."
xxx
Harry woke up the next morning with his heart beating very fast, and smiling he went with his friends to the Hogwarts Express, where they all tried to fit in a single compartment.
"Two days from now I'll be at the apartment..." Regulus commented as he gazed thoughtfully through the window. The landscape started changing, and Sirius nodded towards him.
"I'll be waiting, then. I'll try to get another bed, but I'll sleep on the couch for some time…"
"Your mum will go mad." Said Remus and Regulus shrugged his shoulders.
"I would go mad if I don't leave. I'm just sorry for Kretcher, I like him."
Sirius snorted.
"Forget that elf."
"He's not just an elf, Sirius. He's my friend."
"Let's play chess?" asked Dorcas in a loud voice, and the Black brothers stopped arguing. Remus and Peter approached the board as Emmeline and Dorcas played.
When half of the journey had passed the fat lady who sold sweets appeared, and James and Harry bought many of it, sharing with everyone. As Peter ate one chocolate frog after the other, Emmeline commented:
"If you got thinner, Pettigrew, I'd go out with you."
The whole cabin turned to the blonde, who stared at Peter lost in thoughts. The boy dropped the chocolate at once, looking utterly confused.
"If I g-got thinner?"
"Yep, I'd love to transform you… What do you think?"
Harry poked Hermione, who was chatting with Ron on the other side.
"What's wrong with her?"
"We suggested."
"You're no ugly, Peter…" agreed a thoughtful Luna. He gazed at James and Sirius looking for help.
"We'll help." James said.
"You may finish eating that, Peter." Remus smiled and handed the sweet back to him, who hesitated a little but threw it in his mouth after.
The rest of the trip was agitated for Dorcas organized a chess competition, leaving everyone excited. Ron was the surprise; winning game after game, as Harry and James played miserably bad, which quickly became a mocking reason for the Black brothers.
"In need of assistance, James?" said the younger brother whilst the marauder's queen was destroyed by Emmeline's rook. "I can charm the pieces to play by themselves, what do you think?"
"Shut it, Reg."
"It's not a bad idea, Prongs." Sirius agreed, laughing.
James sprung up from his place and jumped over the other, laughing loud. The door opened, revealing the two Prewett siblings.
"Ron, Hermione, Ginny… Let's go, we're going."
The three rose, picking their things up. Before they left, Gideon gazed at everyone and said:
"Sorry for everything… Good holiday."
James grinned.
"It's ok, Gideon. Keep Fabian in shape for the next year."The left under laughs, leaving enough space for the rest to change (after Ron left they gave up chess). Few time later the train stopped and they could jump off it.
"Bye, wish me luck." Regulus whispered, driving away from them.
Harry and the others came close to Sirius to see his parents. Harry could remember well of Mrs. Black, but seeing her in person was shocking.
She was a tall dark – haired woman, and used a dark dress with turtleneck. Her skin was white as snow, and Harry was instantly reminded of the witches that killed princesses in muggle fairly tales.
Oreon Black was no less pale, but looked a lot like Sirius. His expression was arrogant and superior, and his grey eyes showed no feeling when he noticed Sirius looking at them.
"Hey." Sirius said, and the man started walking towards the group. Harry felt the godfather freeze in his place, assuming a different, formal and respectable posture.
"Sirius." He greeted coldly. Sirius bowed slightly.
"Dad."
"Your mother is asking if you have already ceased this time out of the house."
"Not as the law there is Voldemort."
"You should thank us for not letting you get involved with the mob, boy."
"That's why you'll all fall. If we don't breed with muggles our entire race will end!" Sirius said, and Harry noticed how desperate he was.
"Of course not! You know your aunts have already arranged many fiancées for you through Italy and France."
"I want no engagement, Dad. I just want you to see where you're getting yourself into"
"Don't speak to me like this, boy, I'm no friend of yours."
"Sorry." Sirius lowered his head.
"Have you got a girlfriend?"
Sirius nodded, and Harry feared his father would hit him at the station, but he only raised his head with his hand, gazing sarcastically.
"Who?"
"Marlene Mckinnon."
The man's eyes widened and his greedy eyes ran the group until they reached Marlene, who contracted intimidated.
"A Mckinnon… You're mother will be proud. Farewell." and turned his back, walking to Mrs. Black, who held Regulus by the shoulders.
When they apparated Sirius relaxed, and Harry saw he gazed sadly at the place where his family had been.
"Come on…" James said, and Sirius finally moved.
"I hope Regulus can escape. My parents will be furious."
"I saw it."
"I'm sorry, Lene. My father is crazy… for genealogy."
"Marlene!" called a woman voice, and Harry saw a very pretty woman of dark curly hair wave to them.
"Mum, come here!"
She approached them, and after kissing and hugging Marlene she did the same to James, with who she talked.
"Martha told me, darling. You and Lily, isn't it, dear?"
Lily blushed and hugged her. Marlene whispered something to her mother, and right after she raised her head towards Sirius.
"Oh, isn't the famous Sirius."
Sirius looked scared.
"Hello, Mrs. Mckinnon."
"You can call me Lorraine. A Black, right? I've seen this face."
"Right."
"I thought so. Just like your father, Sirius. Mark will hate it."
"Who's-"Harry started, but James interrupted.
"Lene's father. He hates conservative families. You get to know him."
As Marlene's mum interrogated Sirius about his family the rest started to leave. When the two Mckinnons finally left, Sirius sighed and looked at the two.
"I'm screwed. Well, that's my time, I should be going. Send your mum a kiss, James." He said apparating.
"Sirius's-"
"He passed the test in the summer." James sighed. "We'll have to wait."
Both sat on the platform, seeing many students leave with their families. Harry couldn't tell how much time they had waited, but then James rose and yelled:
"Mum! Dad!"
Coming towards them was the woman Harry saw in his first day in 1977 with a man of white hair and round glasses. He wore shorts, and Harry could see his knees were bony like his. He was also looking down, and he remembered of his illness. Still he hugged James excitedly.
"My boy! We're the first lady?"
"She's gone, dad, you'll know her at the Christmas party. Harry, this is my mum, Martha, and my dad, Allan."
Harry hugged his grandparents and rolled his trunk out of the station.