Who are we to be emotional?
Who are we to play with hearts and throw away it all?
Christmas Letters and Lies
Sirius stared at her blankly and the anger in his face washed away.
"I-" Riley stuttered. She felt sick. "I have to go, I'm so sorry."
Riley fled the room, through the crowds in the living room and up the stairs into her bedroom. She couldn't believe what she had just done. How could she of been so stupid as to tell him? There was one thing Riley was sure about more than anything right now. Her friendship with Sirius had came to an end. She shut her bedroom door and sat down on her bed. Maybe she was being a bit dramatic. Okay, yes, she had told him she fancied him. She never exactly waited for a response. She could still have a chance. But even Riley laughed at that. There was no possible way she and Sirius Black would ever be an item.
The door of Riley's room opened and Rosa slid through the door and closed it.
"Señorita Riley, El joven que vino la vez pasada desea verla."
"No quiero hablar con él," Riley replied, staring out of the balcony doors. "Por favor, dígale que me deje en paz."
Rosa nodded and left to obey Riley's orders. In the meantime, Riley prepared herself for bed. Once she was done, she sat down at Lily's letter she had wrote the previous night and ripped it up. She took out another piece of parchment and started to write a new, less rushed letter.
Merry Christmas, Lily.
So much has happened here in so little time, it's unbelievable. First of all, Sirius' family is the family that are having Christmas with us. It was a large shock for the both of us. I expected it to be good, eventful, fun. But that all came crashing down last night. Sirius walked into dinner hand in hand with Claudia. But, they aren't back together in a strange way. They are only going to appear to be though, when they are together in front of our families for reasons I don't even understand. On another hand, I went out to get a dress for the Christmas Eve Ball and Regulus Black came along. I know you'll be horrified when I tell you he is a gentleman. He is very funny and not as tuff as everyone thinks. I'm being truthful.
Anyway, now for the big story. I've just had…well, an argument with Sirius who was angry about Regulus and I. He was accusing me of fancying him and I lost it and told Sirius that it was him I liked not Regulus. So now I have locked myself in my room and I refuse to see him. I didn't wait long after telling him. I just ran. HELP ME!
How are things at Hogwarts?
Have a nice Christmas!
Love, Riley
Thankful to get her feelings out somehow, Riley sighed and put the quill down and put the letter in an envelope. She called for Rosa, who took the letter and went out to the back garden and got one of the owls who went flying off into the night, carrying Lily's letter.
X
"Riley, you've got to get up. It's Christmas!"
Riley groaned and rolled over in her bed and groaned into her pillow. She heard the door open and felt someone sit on the edge of her bed. She lifted her head up and looked at her mother.
"Hurry up and get dressed," she said with a smile. "Your presents are waiting to be opened."
Riley watched through tired eyes as her mother left the room, leaving the door open. Rosa entered Riley's room.
"Merry Christmas, Riley!" she exclaimed and threw the curtains open.
"Merry Christmas, Rosa," Riley smiled and pulled her covers off and opened the balcony door.
Rosa skipped out of the room and let Riley dress. They weren't doing anything fancy that day so she settled with a pair of dark jeans and a pink woolen jumper. When she emerged from the bathroom, she saw a owl sitting on the railing of the balcony. She took the gift and letter from it and sat on her bed, opening the letter.
Merry Christmas, Riley!
I really hope you get this soon! I cannot believe what you told me in your letter! Let me start from the beginning:
So, the Black's are staying with you for Christmas-I hope Bellatrix and Claudia don't torment you. Of course, I'm sure they wouldn't dare try it with your parents and Sirius around. Speaking of Sirius, I think that the Claudia cover-up is very strange but we'll do some digging once you come back. Now, Regulus Black…I don't have much to say on that matter, to be honest. As long as you have no romantic feelings towards him, I'm fine if you have a new found friendship!
Now, I advise you to take deep breaths if you start to panic all over again about what happened between Sirius and yourself. First, you should of waited for his reaction…who knows what he would of said! Second, if you need to see him often for the rest of the holidays, just act normal. That's all the help I can think of, sadly.
Things at Hogwarts are fine! Sev and I have been in the library most of the time. James has been annoying as per-usual. I hope your Christmas goes well.
I miss you!
Love, Lily.
Riley folded the letter up and sat it on her desk. She heard laughter downstairs and decided to take Lily's present downstairs with her. When she entered the living room, she saw Claudia, Bellatrix and Narcissa sitting in a circle of chairs, with presents beside them. Sirius and Regulus were sitting with there parents.
Riley pulled the only spare seat left from beside the window and sat it next to her mother who levitated the only pile of leftover presents next to Riley.
"Well everyone, Merry Chrisrmas!"
As Riley's mother finished her sentence, Claudia, Bellatrix and Narcissa were ripping the wrapping paper from the presents.
Riley, still holding Lily's present in her hands, decided to open it first.
She pulled the dark blue ribbon off and pulled the wrapping paper off, revealing a series of books. She flipped them over and looked at the name of them. There were books by muggle sisters, Charlotte, Emily and Anne Bronte. Riley remembered the day Lily was telling her about their books and smiled as she set them down on the floor and moved on to the next lot of presents.
It was just the usual. Clothes and money from her parents and some from Claudia. Once she was done, Riley's father flicked his wand and the wrapping vanished.
"Did you all enjoy your gifts?" her Father asked them.
Everybody nodded.
"Good," he said. "How about you all take them to your rooms?"
"Si, papa," Claudia said and started to gather her gifts.
Soon enough, everyone except the adults followed in suit. Riley, who knew she didn't have much to carry as Claudia and the other girls had no problem leaving and walking up the stairs.
Just as Riley was about to turn the corner to go to her room, she heard someone call on her and quickly, she sped up.
"Riley! Wait!'
She didn't. She got to her room, threw her things on her bed and closed the door. She leaned against the door and closed her eyes as she heard footsteps get closer. There was knock on the door.
"Will you please talk to me? C'mon, Riles," she heard Sirius sigh. "I've got your present with me…"
Riley bit her lip and pushed herself away from the door and turned around to face it. Her hand touched on the handle and she pulled it down slowly and pulled the door open, revealing Sirius.
"Is there an option where I can just take the present without having to see you?"
"No," Sirius said and walked in. "There isn't."
He sat on the bed and lay the present beside him.
"You can open the present first if you want," he said and then shrugged. "I don't mind."
With her arms crossed over her chest, Riley walked over to the bed and picked up the small present that was wrapped neatly in red rapping paper with a gold bow.
"What is it?"
"It's a present, Riley. You need to open it to find out."
Riley caught a glimpse of Sirius smiling as she began to open it.
"Oh my…"
Riley pulled out a silver bracelet with a book charm hanging from it.
"I know you already have a charm bracelet but we were all thinking, the Marauders, Lily and I, that you should have one that well…defines your friendship with us all," Sirius hesitated and then continued. "We all chipped in for the bracelet and the charm is from me. It's a book defining the library where we all agreed our friendship began."
"It's beautiful," Riley said and unclasped it. "Thank you."
Sirius shook his head.
"It's no problem."
"Well, if that's all-"
"It's not and you know it."
"I didn't mean it," Riley said. "I don't like you in that way. I was angry, I was tired and the music was too loud. It was making me frustrated."
"Oh, alright then," Sirius said looking taken aback. "Well then, I guess that's it. I'll see you at dinner then?"
"Yes, of course. See you then."
Sirius left the room without another word.
I'm so so so so SO sorry for the wait! I was away to Belgium and France for five days with my school and then just school work has been keeping me super busy! I'm so sorry!
Translations:
"Señorita Riley, El joven que vino la vez pasada desea verla." - Miss Riley the boy from last night wishes to see you again.
"No quiero hablar con él, por favor, dígale que me deje en paz." - I don't want to talk to him, please ask him to leave me alone.
A big thank you to Luce Elena for doing the translations for me!
Abbey xoxo