Merry Christmas

It didn't take long for the guests to arrive. Mr. and Mrs. Potter couldn't part from the Evans, who suffocated them with questions about the Wizarding world. Harry could see the groups spreading around the house, chatting and laughing out loud.

He roamed among them until he found his friends, who were at the living room to chat and listen to music, and saw Ron holding Hermione's hand confidently, a big smile in his face.

"The winner is who can talk with everyone in this party." He said when he arrived, making everybody laugh.

"I'll give a prize to the one who makes Mad-Eye Moody laugh!" James completed, imitating the weird looking auror. Harry felt a clutch in his heart of the thought of Moody, but he disguised it with a smile as he sat on the couch.

"Lily's parents are asking so many questions to Mr. and Mrs. Potter that's funny." Said Peter as he brought a lettuce appetizer to the room. Harry noticed his trousers were loose as if he stopped eating in the past days, and wondered if it was all for Emmeline.

"Oh, gosh!" Lily sprung to her feet, dragging James with her. "Let's save your parents from mine, Jim, please."

As they ran away, the rest laughed. Surprisingly excited, Remus called Dorcas to dance, and Harry asked Sirius:

"What have you put in his 'water'?"

"Firewhisky." Sirius grinned. "But be quiet. Remus is weak for drinks. It's going to be real fun when he starts kissing Dorcas, just wait and see."

Harry laughed and followed him as everybody rose to dance, feeling a little jealous when Regulus called Ginny to the floor. He was almost offering her to change the partner when the Manor's door opened, revealing the Mckinnons.

Mr. Mckinnon wore a dress-coat, bearing a very pretty Mrs. Mckinnon, who wore a long navy blue night dress. Along with them was Marlene's brother, who wore a suit, and a girl they didn't know. Marlene, who was dancing with Emmeline among her friends, stopped immediately to welcome her parents, and soon came back with the girl beside her.

"Hey!" she called beaming. The girl looked much like Marlene except for the tanned skin and the curly hair, and smiled shyly as every gaze turned to her. Curious, Remus asked:

"Who is it?"

"She's my cousing Amelie, who came from France to spend some days with us. She speaks english quite well, don't worry."

She was greeted by everyone, but Harry saw that Regulus wouldn't stop looking at her, and wasn't surprised when he walked seductevily to her and kissed the back of her hand.

"Bonsoir, Madam."

Amelie smiled, and said with a slight french accent:

"Your french is pretty good…"

"Regulus. Regulus Black. Would you like?" Regulus pointed to the dance floor, which now rocked by a strong cello music. She accepted the invitation.

Sirius raised an eyebrow when he saw his brother enlacing the girl's thin waist and commented with Marlene:

"Did you do it on purpose?"

"Sort of." She said slick. "I missed Amelie, anyway, but called her because I felt bad for leaving Regulus alone. I thought they'd get along, and I wasn't mistaken. It's cold this time of the year."

"Do you want some firewhisky?" Sirius asked quickly, rolling his eyes. "I'll get it. Harry, come with me?"

Harry nodded and acompanied him to the kitchen. When they passed through the group formed by the Evans and the Mckinnons Mr. Mckinnon threw a furious gaze at Sirius, as if the marauder was his worst enemy. Sirius and Harry exchanged confused looks, and when they arrived at the kitchen, Sirius said:

"I'm going to talk with Mr. Mckinnon."

"Why? You know he hates you."

"That's why! I did nothing to him, except dating Lene, of course. But this is no reason for him to hate me! I'll get him an extra whisky, let's see if he talks."

Harry reckoned the idea of little value, but said nothing as they parted and Sirius walked towards Mr. Mckinnon, who was surprisingly alone.

"What do you want, Black?" he asked dryly. Sirius noticed he had already a cup of whisky in his hand.

"I'd like to speak with you."

Quite unwilingly the man followed him outiside, and they sat on some chairs Mrs. Potter had put there. Seeing he had two cups of whisky, Mr. Mckinnon turned the rest of the old whisky in his mouth and put the cup on the floor, ready for another drink.

"What do you want, boy?"

"What do you have against me, Mr. Mckinnon?"

Surprised, he made an ungracious move with his hand.

"You may call me Mark, boy. I've got nothing against you. It's just that you remind me of a person I would like to forget, that's all.

"Who?"

"Oreon Black."

Sirius' eyes widened.

"My father? Do you know my father?"

Mark Mckinnon's eyes narrowed, and his voice went out bitterly when he said:

"Oh, yes… We studied together. He was in Slytherin and I was in Ravenclaw, you know. Everyone tried to warn me he was a lady-killer… But I didn't care. We met in the fourth year."

"My father was engaged to my mum when he was in the sixth year."

"He despised your mum. She was the most annoyng girl in all Slytherin, Walburga. I still fancied Lorraine, and the graduates ball was coming closer. Your father was going with your mother, but I barely knew he was seeing other girl.'

Sirius saw him spit on the floor, and Mrs. Mckinnon appeared on a window, her eyes widened.

"Mark, what are you doing?" she ran outside and asked, pale. The man looked at her and smiled sarcastically.

"Telling the Black lad of your little 'affair' with his father, Lorraine. Or would I say, how did he call you? Lola?"

The woman got even paler, and for a moment Sirius though she would faint.

"He… He liked me, Mark. You don't know what happened."

"I don't… All I know is that Walburga came running to me to see you both kissing in a hall, Lorraine."

"Oreon loved me, Mark. He was a friend, and blamed himself for what happened. But you're stubborn, wouldn't listen."

Sirius paralised, shocked. He looked to Mrs. Mckinnon, who gazed frightened from Mark to him.

"Mrs. Mckinnon, I have nothing to do with-"

"Mind you, Sirius." She commented, furious. "I don't care if you date my daughter. I trusted your father, and wasn't dissapointed. I trust you and my girl loves you."

"He's just like his father." Mark snorled. "I've heard about your stories, boy. Girls love you, don't they?"

"Girls loved Oreon too, Mark, and he loved one single person." Lorraine talked back coldly.

"YOU!" Mark yelled desperetaly. "HE LOVED YOU, I-"

"YES!" The woman said back, her eyes filling with tears. She was almost crying when Regulus arrived.

"Sirius, you won't guess who's here."

"Who?"

"Mum and Dad."

"WHO?" Sirius repeated, incredulous. "Have they come for us?"

"I dunno. They're there, chatting with some blokes from the ministry."

Sirius looked at the Mckinnons, but Lorraine was right again, and Mark seemed sleepy, for he had threw himself at the chair.

"You'll be fine?"

Lorraine glanced at Mark, who snored, and then smiled.

"Yes. Mark is asleep and won't wake until tomorrow. Let's go?"

The three entered, and Sirius had his wrist held my Marlene's mother, who stared seriusly.

"Marlene doesn't know about that…"

"Relax, Mrs. Mckinnon. She'll never know."

The woman smiled and kissed his cheek.

"Thank you."

Sirius went to the front door, and saw his friends stare at Regulus and him frighetened when the Blacks looked at them.

"Night."

"Mum, Dad." They said together.

"We came to pick you up, Regulus." Said Walburga arrogantly.

"Sorry, mother, but I'm not going."

Lorraine and the Potters aproached, and Oreon said coldly:

"I told you it wasn't worth it. Let's go."

Sirius, who tought his father would drag them home, looked surprised when he rolled his eyes and turned his back to go home, but Walburga stopped him.

"He's the only boy left, Oreon. Will you let our Regulus follow his brother's footsteps?"

"Your Regulus, you mean." He talked in a low, lethal tone. "If the boy wants to stay, he stays. Let us go."

The woman stared at the husband furiously and then looked around, noticing the Potters and Mrs. Mckinnon looking at them. When she saw Lorraine, her eyes widened and she turned sarcastic:

"Look who's here, Oreon! Your Hogwarts sweetheart!"

Oreon raised his head, and when he looked at Lorraine Sirius saw a smile appear in his face.

"Shut it, Walburga. If you want a scandal, yell at Kretcher."

Sirius turned to his mother, who turned blotchy red and walked quickly to her husband, slapping his face.

"Then stay if you want to." Walburga said in a lethal voice to Oreon, dissaparating after. The man rolled his eyes again and touched the place where she slapped. Sirius and Regulus gazed at each other, fearsomely, but the fear turned to shock when their father did something they never thought he would. He told a joke.

"Well, apparently someone will sleep with the elves tonight." He laughed lowerly.

"Father…" Regulus started, but was interrupted.

"Relax. I didn't want to go back, anyway. Honestly, boy, you chose a terrible time to run. Your mum is horrible without anyone else to annoy."

"Do you want to sleep at uncle Alphard's apartment? I've got the keys…"

"You can stay here, too." Offered James' mother.

Oreon smiled to her, surprising everyone again.

"No, thanks. But I'll have the keys, Sirius."

Sirius smiled uncomfortably to his father, pulling the keys from his pocket.

"Here. You'll stay tonight."

Oreon stared at his son thoughtfully.

"I'd like to stay longer…"

Regulus beamed gleefully, dragging his father to the living room. Suddenly the group that peeked ran to the couch as the Blacks entered, along with a very confused Sirius.

"Why don't you leave mother?" Regulus asked. "She kicked you from home, right? Stay with us! Sirius and I will love, won't us, Sirius?"

Sirius felt all the eyes turn to him, and wondered how would it be to live with his father. They never talked! But facing Regulus hopes, he had no other choise but agree, and his younger brother's yells echoed for almost five minutes. When Regulus ran to tell Mrs. Potter that their father was going to live with them, Lorraine entered.

"Am I interrupting something?" she asked, shy. Oreon turned suddenly to the woman, his face slowly turning warmer.

"Not at all. Where's Mark and his wand? I can't have a two minute talk with you without him threatening me for twenty years!"

"He's asleep, had too much drink."

"He was always weak. I remember when he got drunk in the fifth year and laughed at Professor Binns…"

"Yes! I guess he even died sonner for this!" Lorraine laughed.

Sirius and Regulus sat with the rest, and Marlene asked:

"Is it true what your mum said, Sirius?"

Sirius looked at his father and Lorraine and had no other answer:

"Yes. They do well."

Behind them, Oreon smiled to Lorraine.

"I'm leaving Walburga…"

"Oreon, I can't. We can't, your son is dating Marlene."

The man glanced at Sirius.

"You're right. We have to let them, right? May I do one last thing?" Oreon lowered his voice, getting slowly closer to her.

"What?"

And sighing he took her lips in his, feeling seventeen again.