A Christmas to break you down
"Come on!" James grinned excited to go home.
"Not everyone is as excited as you to go home." Elise and Sirius sighed.
"Sorry guys" he smiled apologetically.
"No hard feelings, your parents are awesome," Sirius shrugged, "and at least you get to see Andrew Eli." Sirius hugged her shoulders.
Elise grinned. "I can't wait."
Sirius smiled and looked at Olivia with a sigh; she was deep in a conversation with Lily about her break with her dad.
"Hey Sirius!" a girl stopped him.
"Hey," he nods and she kissed him.
"Have a good break," she giggled.
"You too, Hun," he smirked and she strutted away.
"Who was that?" James chuckled.
"No idea," Sirius shrugged. James shook his head and kept walking to the station.
Remus shook his head at the two and walked slower to walk beside Victorie.
Victorie smiled at him and Remus blushed.
"Uh, I know this might not be the best time to ask but when we get back from break do you want to go on a date or something?" he slowly turned a darker shade of red as he asked.
Victorie giggled and held his hand, "how about until then I call you my boyfriend?"
"I can live with that," Remus grinned.
Victorie kissed his cheek as they kept walking with no one noticing anything happened. 'My first boyfriend, this is great!'
"Oh Lil, da and I are going Ice skating and tubing! He said he might even take me snowboarding!" Olivia gushed excitedly.
Lily laughed, "That sounds great, take plenty of pictures."
"Of course, then you can teach me to scrapbook!" Olivia smiled. "This is going to be the best Christmas."
"I agree" Lily grinned
They linked arms and boarded the train finding their empty compartment.
Remus and Victorie walked in to the compartment last, which caught every ones attention to their hand holding.
"OMM, are you two-?" Olivia exclaimed
"…Dating!" Sirius finished.
Victorie grinned and Remus smiled happily. "We are."
"AH!" the girl's squealed while the boys laughed and cheered "GO MOONY!"
The two rolled their eyes and got comfortable. Victorie curled up to him and Remus held her close.
She sighed, "I can get use to this."
"I can too love." he held her a little more tightly.
Sirius and James grinned, "Finally Moony gets the girl."
"We all will eventually." James looked over at lily. She was squished between Olivia and Elise talking very animatedly.
"Eventually sounds like a long time." Sirius looked over at Olivia.
"Won't it be worth it?" James turned to Sirius.
Sirius nods, "I believe so."
James grinned and went back to Lily watching
"I got to potty" Elise got up.
"Told you to go before we left!" Sirius teased. Elise just stuck her tongue at him and left to the bathroom.
Leaving the bathroom she ran into a hard body. "Oh sorry-"
"We should stop meeting like this." Regulus smiled slightly.
"Regulus. oh. Uh. Yeah we should." she stepped back taking her hands off his chest.
"Look Elise-"
"I thought you liked me?" she cut him off.
"I did-I do. But you're going to be promised."
"I'm not promised yet!" she hit him finally looking at him in the eye.
"But dating you when I can't have you in the end would be torture." he sighed and touched her cheek.
"Then we can be friends Regulus, please don't be scared off by him," she put her hand on his.
"I can't just be friends with you Elise," he kissed her forehead, "I'm sorry." he whispered.
Elise sniffled and hugged him; he wrapped one of his arms around her and his other hand into her hair.
"Please be my friend Reg? Pretend that that's all we need?"
Regulus sighed, "Ok, love ok," he gave in and kissed her head.
"Thank you Regulus." she squeezed him softly.
He couldn't help himself but grin and run his fingers through her hair more.
"Black! I see you found yourself some company." Zabini grinned.
"Yeah, we'd like some privacy if you don't mind." Regulus winked and Zabini opened a door for them which Reg. backed her into without Zabini seeing her face.
"Have fun." Zabini chuckled slamming the door causing Elise to jump.
"Elise, its ok, stop shaking love, relax you're ok" Regulus held her tighter.
"He just scares me reg. I'm scared of what he can do, what he will do." she shook her head and held on to him tighter.
"I'll protect you," he kissed her head softly.
"Thank you Regulus, I-I should go back to my compartment," she blushed softly stepping away from him.
"Wait" he pulled off his sweater and put it on her.
"What? Why?" she snuggled into the sweater with no intention of giving the sweater up.
"So you're not noticed" he pulled the hood over her head.
Elise peaked up at him with a coy look.
"Adorable" he smiled at her affectionately.
She hit him blushing brighter "Thanks Regulus" she kissed his cheek and left with one last glance at him.
Regulus sighed "were only friends you idiot, don't blow it" he tells himself and made his way back to the other Slytherins.
Elise walked back into the compartment to have Sirius's eyes on her in a second.
"That's Regulus' sweater." He points out quickly and everyone else was quick to look at her.
"Uh so?" She went back to her seat and snuggled into the jacket even more.
"How did you get it?"
Elise sighed and filled them in on what happened.
"So, you're friends now?"
"Yeah," she nodded with the sweater to her nose.
"But you wanna be with him?"
"Yeah," she nodded and leaned on Lily.
Olivia switched seats with James so he could help comfort Elise.
Later-
The platform was coming up. Olivia looked over at Sirius. "Are you going to be ok going home?"
"I hope so," he nodded.
"I do too," Olivia hugged him tightly. "Wish you could just come home with me."
Sirius hugged her back. "I don't think your dad would approve of you bringing me home."
"I don't care, least you'll be safe." Olivia held on to him a little tighter.
Sirius kissed her head, "everything will be ok."
Olivia sighed and let him go. "You promise?"
"I promise love," he smiled softly.
"Ok." she smiled back.
King's cross-
"Regulus where is your sweater?" Sirius heard as he walked over to his family.
"A friend borrowed it." Regulus fought a blush but his cheeks still turned a little pink.
"A girlfriend?" Orion asked
"A girl that's a friend," Regulus nodded.
Mrs. Black smiled, "You can tell us all about her when we get home."
"Of course mother" Regulus nods and they start walking not even acknowledging Sirius.
The Noble House of Black
Few Days Later-
"What did you say boy?" Orion grabbed Sirius by the collar screaming in his face.
"N-nothing sir," Sirius shook, scared for what his father might do.
"Don't you lie to me I'm not deaf, you think you know better than me is that it?" He growled shaking Sirius.
Sirius didn't know what to say, so he just stared at him.
Orion threw him into the wall, "Answer me!"
"I-I just meant that if he were to join their ranks it would be a bad idea for-for the family." Sirius tried to save himself.
"So you're caring about the family now Sirius?" Orion started hitting him keeping him against the wall.
"Yes sir, yes!" Sirius gasped out repeatedly.
Orion pulled out his wand.
"Show him Husband, teach him a real lesson," Mrs. Black nodded watching the whole scene.
"Crucio!" Orion grinned as he watched Sirius squirm. He stopped the spell for a few seconds just to do it again and again.
"S-stop!" Regulus finally couldn't control himself and ran at his father tackling him and causing a long enough distraction for Sirius to crawl to the floo.
"How dare you!" Orion punched Regulus breaking his nose, "Go to your room!"
Regulus looked to the fireplace for a second then ran upstairs.
"What are we going to do?" Mrs. Black stood there with Orion.
"He's not my son any more. If he wants to run to the Potters let them take care the ungrateful scum." He grinded out and promptly burned his picture off of the family tree.
-Potter Mansion-
"H-help!" Sirius yelled weakly barely getting out of the fireplace.
"Sirius!" James ran in followed by his parents and Annabeth.
"Don't make me go back." he pleaded looking at them before passing out.
"SIRI!" Annabeth started crying. James and Mr. Potter moved quickly to put him on a stretcher and hurried him to St. Mungos
"Shh darling, he will be ok." Mrs. Potter picked up her daughter and followed them through the floo.
The nurses and healers at St Mungo worked quick and put Sirius in intensive care.
"I got to write everybody." James sighed and left sending everybody letters and waited in the floo room for people to arrive.
"James!" Olivia was the first to show and quickly hugged him tight "what happened?"
"It had to be his father." James held her tight and hid his face in her neck as he started crying. "The healers said he should have been dead from the beating they gave him, he could have died Olive!" he held her tighter.
"Shh he's not dead, it ok, he's ok." she rubbed his back and calmed him just as Remus and Victorie arrived at the same time.
"Hey mate," Remus touched his shoulder.
"Hey, you guys didn't have to come you know," James smiled softly.
"He's our friend too, you're not the only one that considers him family," Victorie smiled back.
"Here let me take you to his room," James nods.
"Uh what's the number? I wanna wait here with Olivia for Lily and Elise," Victorie looked at Olive then back at James.
"Its 1506," James nods and left with Remus up to the room. Sirius was still unconscious in the bed and Annabeth was lying in the bed with him.
"Come here." Victorie held her arms out and Olivia gave her a fierce hug and started crying hard into her shoulder.
"I can't go in there." she sobbed, "I can't see him like that."
"You have to; if you love him you have to go in there."
"b-but I don't love him, n-not like that."
"Don't you lie to me Olivia Hunter, I know you do whether you like it or not!"
Olivia sniffled, "fine." she nodded and cleaned away her tears.
"It's ok he doesn't know," Victorie squeezed her shoulder and they waited for the other two.
-Later-
Olivia was the only one in the room when Sirius finally woke up she was reading him a story so she wouldn't start crying again. He turned his head and watched her as she read. She started sniffling again and stopped reading.
"Don't stop that's my favorite part," Sirius whispered weakly.
"You're –You're awake!" she shouted jumping up letting the book fall to the floor forgotten. "Oh god, how do you feel?" she touched his cheek. "I should get the healers!" she went to leave but he grabbed her arm.
"First relax Olive," he smiled softly, "and stop yelling." he laughed slightly.
"Right, I'm sorry." she sighed and moved back over to him.
"You're eyes are red," he touched her cheek.
"I'm furious that they did this to you." She sniffled and a few red tears fell.
"Calm down before you do something you're going to regret." he pulled her close not caring about his own pain as he hugged her. Olivia relaxed against him and cried once more.
The healer and everyone walked in after getting alerted that he was awake to find them laying there whispering to each other.
"Ahem" the healer coughed "you really shouldn't be lying like that, Mr. Black"
"Sorry ma'am" They both blushed slightly and Olivia got up and the healer kicked everyone out to give Sirius a check-up.
The healer then pulled Mr. and Mrs. Potter to the side. "He's going to have to stay at least a week; his injuries were very extensive not to mention damage that has happen before on top of the recent trauma that we would like to heal as well." The healer tells Mr. and Mrs. Potter.
"Of course, do whatever you need to do, he's like a son to us, and we'll take care of any expenses." Mr. Potter assured.
"Yes sir," she nodded and left them alone.
"Have the house elves set up rooms love, they can all stay in the house after he leaves." Mr. Potter tells Mrs. Potter who was taking Annabeth home to bed.
"Of course Love, I'll see you in the morning," she kissed him and left.
Olivia refused to leave the hospital for the two weeks Sirius was there. She read to him, they talked; she took him for walks instead of the nurses doing it. Everyone knew there was more to it than her care for Sirius but no one had the courage to ask, except Sirius.
"Olivia?"
"Hm?"
"Why haven't you gone home? Isn't your dad going to worry?"
Olivia sighed and looked at her lap, "I doubt he's noticed I'm gone actually."
"Why do you say that? Your da loves you."
"I know he does, but uh he started drinking again… that's probably why he wasn't answering my letters the last couple weeks" Olivia shrugged with a forced little laugh.
Sirius sat up, "he hasn't touched you has he?"
"No, I just hide up in my room while he was home," she shook her head. "I can deal with him, he's not an angry drunk and if he yells at me it's usually my fault," she shrugged once more.
Sirius didn't know what to say so he just got up and hugged her.
"It will be fine when I go home I promise he's a good dad unlike yours." she snuggled against his belly.
Sirius smiled softly "I know, I know," he kissed her head, "I just worry that while he's drunk he may cross the line."
"I know, I tell you if he ever does." she nodded and they let each other go.
Sirius was finally released and taken to the Potters still on various potions but healthier then he's been in a while. Olivia had dinner with the potters then went home finally that night. She picked up bottles that scattered the floor with a sigh.
"Dad?" she walked further into the house to get the bottles knocked out of her hand causing them to shatter on the floor and Olivia to squeal.
"Shush!" he waved a half filled bottle at her hitting her in the face and knocking her over as he passed her.
Olivia hurried to hide out in her room leaving a trail of blood from her arm. She fixed what she could then made herself go to sleep.
-Next Morning
Mr. Hunter woke with a terrible hang over and went to get a drink to remedy it when he saw the blood. "What happened…oh god Olivia!" he stumbled following the trail to her room and knocked "Olivia sweetie, are you ok?"
Olivia almost started crying hearing how her father should sound and opened the door quickly to hug him.
"Did I hurt you? I'm so sorry sweetie, I'm so so sorry" he held her tight while leaning against the frame.
"It was all a domino effect accident it's not completely your fault," she shook her head and explained what happened.
"That was my entire fault darling," he sighed he hadn't realized it had been getting that bad again. "You can't stay here I don't want you getting hurt anymore because of me."
"b-but daddy." Olivia frowned at him.
"No sweet heart, I don't want to hurt you again, the potters won't mind taking care of you. It'll just be for a little while, I'm going to clean up my act for good this time, I swear." he promised her.
"Ok daddy." Olivia sniffled.
"Pack I'll go talk to John," he kissed her head and let her go.
"Ok Daddy," She nodded and started packing. Not too long after the front door slammed closed did James and Sirius come over to help her with her things.
"He's doing well for the both of you love," they comforted.
"I know, this break was supposed to be the best ever now look at it," she sighed and left with them.
Mr. Hunter stood there on the porch and Olivia Hugged him once again. "I love you Daddy."
"I love you too Olivia, so much, be careful and write as often as you can." he kissed her head.
"Of course Daddy," she nodded and squeezed before letting him go.
"Take care of her boys."
"Of course sir."
"With our lives." they nodded and left back to the Potter Mansion.
"What a lovely Christmas eve," Olivia sniffled and leaned on James.
Later that night Olive snuck out of her room to James's room.
"Jam?"
"Hm?"
"Can I sleep in here with you?"
"Sure," he lifted the covers and let her settle in before cuddling her. "Feel safe now?"
"Mmhmm." she nodded and fell asleep, James shook his head and went back to sleep himself.
Christmas the next day was filled with Sirius and James making Olivia and Annabeth laugh and making sure they have a good time. When it came time at night for the annual Potter Christmas Party to start Sirius, James and Olivia opted to hide out in James's room and have a little party of their own.
"Thanks guys for today. It was a good day, no tears for once!" Olivia smiled lying in James lap.
"Of course dear, you deserve to smile after these past couple weeks." James smiled running his finger through her hair.
"But I have to ask when you became such a girl with all this crying!" Sirius laughed and Olivia hit him with a pillow.
"So what do you guys do for New Years?" Olivia changed the subject.
"Normally I go with my parents to Elise's family New Year's party, but I think we can stay here if you guys don't want to go." James shrugged.
"You guys always say that the party is so much fun, I'd love to go!" Olivia sat up.
They chuckled. "alright we'll go, so then I guess we have to go shopping in the next couple days." James smiled while Sirius and Olivia groaned.
"It's so much darker when a light goes out than it would have been if it had never shone."
― John Steinbeck, The Winter of Our Discontent
