REQUEST: Does anyone here know Moroccan phrases/slang? I may write a chapter to showcase how Salvatore's arm works, and it needs help to sound authentic.
Wednesday December 25th, 1991
"Are you sure it's safe in there?" Melissa stood reluctantly on the porch of 12 Grimmauld Place. Overall, she was surprised and confused by the change of venue, especially given it's literary history. "Didn't Sirius say this place is full of curses and traps?"
"That was months ago, Sweetheart." Her mother assured her. "He's had a cleaning company go through it. Several, actually, now that I think about it..."
The conversation broke away as the door swung open. On the other side came blasts of bright colours and sounds, including an obnoxiously bright red Christmas sweater decorated with happy elves worn by a familiar long-haired wizard. "You're here! Wonderful! Now we can get the party started! You brought the vinyls, right, Jake?"
"As if I wouldn't." Jake grinned, holding up three christmas rock albums in hand.
"Perfect! Come in, come in. Don't be shy!" Sirius waved them all inside. One by one they entered, knocking snow off their boots and taking in the space. The hallway was brimming with bells, garlands, candles, berries, and more. The entire space was brightened in a way Melissa never pictured Grimmauld Place to be. Walking further down the hallway and up the stairs, she found her way into the drawing room. A roaring fire blazed in the fireplace. On the other side of the wall, a tall evergreen stood proud. Its branches were full of red and gold baubles, glass icicles, and enchanted figurines flying around the tree. In the corner closest to the entryway a record player was playing soft, cheery tunes, while the majority of sound in the room came from the various people standing around the tree or lounging on the chaise and comfy armchairs.
Seeing her walk in, her two cousins turned from the enchanted tree and ran over to give her squeezing hugs. "Gah! So good to see you two!"
"It's good to see you, too!" Jeff grinned. "Have you seen the tree yet? It's so cool!"
"I just walked in!" Melissa giggled. Still, she allowed her younger cousins to pull her by the arm and show her around the room. As they did, she made sure to say hello to the other people in the room. The Tonks' were all present and accounted for, as were her aunt and uncle. Over time the room gained three more occupants as her parents and Harry entered. Upon seeing Harry, Melissa burst out laughing. "Oh, god, what are you wearing?"
Harry was sporting an evergreen coloured Christmas sweater with a decorative Rudolph rearing across the centre (including gold tinsel and a fluffy red ball of a nose on top of the fabric). Though what caught Melissa's attention most were the antlers on Harry's head and a luminous red nose brightening his face.
"Just a little something for the holiday." Harry grinned playfully. "We have sweaters for everyone, you know." In his hands he held a soft, wrapped package that was most definitely an aforementioned 'ugly christmas sweater'.
"Oh no you don't!" Melissa laughed. Harry began chasing her around the room, package in hand, trying to force it into her hands. "Jeff! Mags! Help!"
The younger kids took off into the chase, trying to tackle Harry as they all ran about the room and out into the hallway. The older kids weaved about the house, trying desperately to outrun their younger pursuers. On the fourth floor Melissa turned a sharp corner and ran into one of the rooms. Inside, Sirius and another man were talking quietly to each other. The conversation stopped, however, as the four children piled in. Not letting the intrusion phase her, Melissa gleefully jumped onto the bed immediately behind the one adult not wearing a christmas sweater.
"Help me, Sane One Kenobi! He's trying to trap me with a sweater!"
Before any adult could respond, Harry jumped right up on the bed. Melissa yelped as the boy tackled her down. "Ha! I win!" He cried ...only to be immediately pounced upon by Jeff and Maggie. The bed was full of squeals and laughter as the four of them tumbled across the bed.
"Come on, you four, give each other some air." Sirius laughed as he pulled two of them apart.
"Not until she puts it on!" Harry laughed.
"Absolutely not!" She laughed in defiance. "It's a crime against fashion."
"Since when do you care about fashion?" Harry shouted back.
"Since you started lighting the way for Father Christmas!" She flicked his nose for emphasis, causing it to bob slightly from the pressure.
Sirius and the other man laughed at the squabbling. "Alright, alright. Come on, pup. You're a little young to be getting girls out of their clothes."
"Sirius!" The other man's tone warned.
Melissa's smile faltered at that one, while Harry and the others just seemed confused. "First off, eww! Second, EWW!"
Sirius raised his hands in defeat, though still held a grin as he cried. "Only joking!"
Melissa rolled her eyes as she hopped off the bed, shaking her head at the creepy joke. Now standing, she gave the other man a onceover. He was a tall bloke with light brown hair flecked with early greys, though it was mostly obscured by a Santa hat. The most interesting part of the man, however, was the man's face and hands, as they each had noticeable scars. That said, the scars didn't make him seem scary, especially since she already knew who the scarred man was.
"Well at least there's one adult in the room. Melissa Bennett, pleasure to meet you!" She smiled happily, a hand outreached to him.
He met her hand with his own. "Ah, the infamous Melly Bennett. I've heard a lot about you. Remus Lupin, and the pleasure is mine."
"Well, so long as my infamy is only for the best stories." She grinned. "I take it that you didn't have to fight Sirius over a sweater?"
"Oh, he tried." Remus smirked. "I got him to lay off as long as I wear a hat, instead."
"Which you can easily take off without anyone noticing. Clever." The two of them smiled in understanding.
"Hey! No plotting allowed in this house!" Sirius demanded teasingly. "Unless it's Marauder business, that is."
Remus laughed. "Of course, Padfoot."
"Though any plotting done by a Marauder clearly counts as their business." Melissa teased back.
The two adults looked at each other, holding a conversation through gestures. Sirius shrugged, while Remus turned back to Melissa. "It only counts if the non-Marauders involved have been formally accepted into the operation."
"Bah, humbug! You two are no fun." She turned over to the other three kids. "Guess none of us are wanted here. Come on, Prongslet, it's Official Marauders only, in here!"
Looking up, Melissa caught Remus with mouth agape and Sirius looked almost as puzzled. The witch merely winked at the two of them as she led the other children out of the room.
"How does she know about that?" She heard Remus mutter to Sirius.
Sirius shook his head as he answered. "I honestly have no idea with that girl."
With a sudden pop of apparition, Kreacher appeared between Sirius and Remus. "Lowly master, Honourable Master Arcturus has arrived in the drawing room."
"About time." Sirius muttered. He looked at Remus with a mocking smile. "Fashionably late or wanting to spend the least amount of time here?"
"Can't say for sure. Though if he's gone by dessert I guess you'll have your answer."
"Think he'll like the redecorating?" Sirius teased as they walked out the door.
Remus smirked at his friend. "Padfoot, even Father Christmas would think this is overdone."
Heading down from their race, the children found their way back to the drawing room with Sirius and Remus a few paces behind them. When they entered, Sirius strode past them, walking towards the latest arrival. "Grandfather! Happy Christmas to you." He greeted him with open arms. Arcturus Black did not match the opening for a hug. In fact, as he turned to Sirius he stiffened near-completely. His dark eyes scanned over Sirius' form with disdain.
"I suppose it is too much to ask that such gatherings involve formal attire from a pureblooded host." The elderly wizard flicked his eyes to the surrounding guests. "Even your guests have enough manners to dress formally, even if it is in muggle attire."
Said muggles shifted uncomfortably at the barb.
"It's all in good fun, grandfather." Sirius playfully assured. "I felt our family could use a bit of fun for the holidays. It'd be a first."
"I see." Arcturus huffed through his nose. He then turned his judging eyes toward Harry.
Harry, in turn, quickly removed his nose and antlers, and greeted the elder Black with a stiff bow. "Welcome to Grimmauld Place, Grandfather Arcturus. Happy Christmas." He spoke quickly, nearly stumbling over the greeting.
Surprisingly, Arcturus met Harry's greeting with a short bow as well. "Happy Christmas to you as well, Harry."
All but Sirius looked to the exchange with puzzlement. Though, as Arcturus moved upright once again, his eyes narrowed slightly at the sight of Remus. "You are the son of Lyall Lupin, are you not?"
"I am." Remus answered rigidly.
The elder man twitched his lips. He glanced at Sirius, unspoken words said between them. Until they were no longer unspoken. "Surely this is meant to be a family holiday. Mister Lupin ought to be with his own kind."
Sirius looked near murderous at the phrasing. "Careful what you s-"
"With all due respect, Grandfather Arcturus," Harry interrupted -loudly, yet still polite-, "Remus is here on both Black and Potter invitation. He was one of my father's best friends, and family as far as I'm concerned." Everyone had their attention on Harry as he spoke. Catching on to their (mostly admiring) gazes, he blushed as a slight shyness creeped back into his voice. "Also we invited his father to dinner, he's just running a bit late."
Arcturus, himself, had eyes of flint as he heard Harry's explanation. "...I see." The man sniffed. "You will have to give my apologies to Mister Lupin, the elder. I only came to deliver my gifts to each of you, as I will be spending the evening with my daughter."
As to prove it true, Arcturus produced two small gifts from the pockets of his dress robes. He handed one to Harry and another to Sirius, with few words and many hard glances. Everyone else in the room stood awkwardly at the exchange. No one seemed to breathe until the man walked straight out through the floo.
"Damn well wasn't wanted, anyways!" Sirius growled as the flames turned red.
"I can't say I'm surprised." Andromeda stated, arms crossed as she looked to the fireplace with a tinge of loss. "Though I am disappointed. I thought we were making progress with him."
"He's a pureblood supremacist through-and-through. He's a lost cause." Sirius waved away at the fireplace, though his voice still crackled in anger. "I'm sorry about that, Moony."
"It's alright." Remus tried to assure. "It's nothing I haven't heard before."
"Still, you don't deserve that. You're better than him and those stuck up halfwits."
Maggie watched the adults' anger with a good deal of confusion. "Why is he mad at Mister Lupin?"
Sirius and Lupin glanced from Maggie to each other with concern. Melissa, in turn, watched the faces of all the other adults. Her relatives all seemed unsure and wondering, themselves. The Tonks were pensive, but not overly concerned, which had the girl unsure of their level of knowledge. Then she met Harry's eyes. His face grimaced with guilt, well knowing the answer, but did he officially "know" enough to say anything?
"Well, Maggie," Sirius spoke hesitantly, "Remus has a… condition. Something he's sick with."
Maggie scrunched up her face. "That's a dumb reason to be cross with someone."
"I agree." Sirius nodded.
"Unfortunately, most people don't see it that way because it's sometimes contagious." Remus added. "Not always, mind you. Only during special circumstances. I make sure to be safe so that no one gets sick, either, but most people choose to only see the disease and not the person."
"Wait!" Jake exclaimed, looking at Remus with a slightly ashen complexion. "You mean you have AIDS?"
"DAD!" Melissa shouted at once. Fortunately, most people looked to her at that moment and missed Sirius and Remus' muttered confusion.
His father turned to her, somewhat guilty, yet still looking concerned. "It's worth knowing, sweetheart."
"No, it's not!" She argued. "He doesn't owe you an answer and you should be grateful he's answering Maggie's question, as it is."
At that moment, her uncle stepped into the discussion. "We're sorry, Melissa, but this isn't an issue that can be taken lightly. The sorts of people who get AIDS-"
"-is anybody whose bodily fluids get contaminated. Like a child getting blood transfusion . Even then, so what if he got it as an adult? So did Freddie Mercury, and people are still lighting candles for him. Just because someone gets sick doesn't give people the right to be judgmental about it."
"She's right!" Harry coupled onto the argument. "Being sick isn't a crime."
"Harry…" Remus called out gently to him. Melissa was too busy arguing with her family to notice the small tear forming in Remus' eye.
"Alright, that's enough!" Sirius interrupted, literally stepping in between the bickering family. "This is meant to be a happy holiday. Remus is staying here and isn't leaving, so anyone that has a problem with that can leave, now!"
The room went silent at his declaration. The two pairs of muggle couples gauged the room around them and each other. Melissa was more than grateful to see her mother flash her father a warning look. "I'm sorry about this mess, Sirius." Mary broke the silence, stepping forward proudly towards Remus and placing a gentle but firm hand on his shoulder. "And I'm sorry to you too, Remus. We are delighted to join you for dinner."
Remus looked to Mary, both touched and surprised by the offered hand. "Thank you, Mary." He replied slowly. "I don't want to be an inconvenience to everyone…"
"Nonsense." Sirius interrupted. "You're family, Moony, no matter what."
As that exchange took place, John and Sophie stepped forward as well. "I'm sorry as well, Mister Lupin." John said. "I was just caught off guard. It was wholly inappropriate of me."
"It's alright, Mister Bennett. I forgive you." Remus replied.
While this exchange took place, Harry and Melissa met each other's eyes. Baby steps. She shrugged the opinion to the boy. Harry, himself, was rather relieved that the whole thing was patching up better than expected. Then his eyes flicked towards the door. "Maybe we should head to the dining room?" He offered. "Kreacher said dinner is almost ready to be served."
"Sounds good to me." Sirius latched onto the change. "Alright, Rudolph, lead the way!"
"Yes, Godfather Christmas." Harry teased back. Returning his nose and antlers in place, he waved the group out of the room and led them from the awkward atmosphere.
Christmas dinner went on with a smoother pace than the initial meet and greet. Muggles and magicals alike made sure to side-step any conversations that led to Remus' "condition", along with the fact that one of the fifteen chairs was left empty. The arrival of Lyall Lupin helped to adjust the atmosphere. Mundane conversations about life, work, retirement, and such flitted about with the adults in the room. The children, too, kept their conversation light-hearted. Mainly they distracted themselves with talks about school and friendships. The older ones, naturally, omitted the stranger parts of their extracurricular activities, like giant man-eating snakes and hidden chambers. Still, being in a magical school left plenty of conversation to be had.
After dinner, everyone took to moving in smaller groups around the house. Private or entertaining conversations drifted through at least 2 or 3 floors of the large home. While the youngest children went off to see Harry's surprisingly large haul of Christmas presents, Melissa drifted away from the group. Making her way to the stairs, she headed off to the ground floor, listening in the doorway as Kreacher scrubbed at pots in the kitchen.
Melissa gave three warning knocks on the kitchen door and walked in. "Excuse me, Kreacher. I need you for something."
The house elf growled lowly at her. "Kreacher does not serve filthy mudblood girls! Go away!" With that, he turned back to his pots.
The bigotted slur had no effect on the girl. She merely paused for a moment, cultivating what small knowledge she had in her arsenal. "I can destroy the snake locket for you."
CRASH!
Kreacher looked at her, wide-eyed. "What did mudblood girl say to Kreacher?"
"I can destroy the snake locket. The one that was hidden near the poisoned water." She made two careful steps towards him. "You know about that, don't you?" It was more an accusatory statement than a question. Still, it had an effect.
To her surprise, Kreacher fell to his knees. Tears formed and curved down his wrinkled face. "Master Regulus ordered Kreacher to destroy the locket, but Kreacher could not!" The house elf shook, his breath caught within his anguish. "Mudblood girl knows how to break the locket?"
Melissa nodded. "I already destroyed one item with the same curse. I can do it to the locket, too."
Kreacher curled in on himself. "Kreacher is a bad elf. Kreacher could not do what wonderful Master Regulus asked!"
"You can, now." She assured him gently. She refrained from getting closer, else spark some offense from the old, bigotted elf. "Once the locket is in Hogwarts I can use what I had last time to break it. It won't hurt you anymore."
That only made Kreacher cry harder. It took another uncomfortable minute for Kreacher to compose himself. Wiping the snot onto his arm, Kreacher snapped his fingers and vanished. He appeared moments later with a necklace in his hand. "Had to hide it from lowly master Sirius. He took away so many of Mistress' things. He even took Mistress away!" The house elf yelled.
"Well, he doesn't need to know about this. It's not his business. It's Master Regulus', and yours. Right?"
"Yes.. Yes! Master Sirius does not need to know." Kreacher nodded frantically. The house elf walked towards her. Extending an upward palm, Melissa waited patiently as Kreacher dropped the locket into her hand. "Yous be keeping it safe until it is broken!"
"I will. You have my word."
"Word of a mudblood isn't much." The house elf muttered.
Melissa tried to not let the comment get to her. "Tell you what. When this is over, I'll ship what's left of the locket to you. That way you'll know it's destroyed for sure."
That promise had Kreacher's eyes gleaming. "Yous is a good mudblood witch." He said in awe.
"It happens." She commented. "Consider it a service to both you and your master. Regulus, I mean."
"Yes, yes. Of course. Master Regulus was good to Kreacher."
"Then we will do this for him." Melissa straightened herself. Carefully she placed the locket around her neck and tucked it out of view. "Thank you, Kreacher. I'll have this returned to you soon."
"Th-thank you, Miss." Kreacher stuttered. His voice still showed clear shock at this circumstance coming to pass.
"Don't mention it." She smiled. Then it twitched slightly. "But, really, don't mention it to Sirius or Harry. Not until this is over. Even then, leave me out of it. I don't want them to know it was me."
"You have Kreacher's word, Miss. Not a word until Kreacher has the locket back."
"Perfect." She nodded and walked out of the room. Satisfied with the transaction, she headed back up the stairs to where three sweet, innocent children marvelled over their Christmas gifts.
Harry released a deep breath when the last of the guests left for the evening. Overall, the party was fun. It was nice seeing everyone again. He and Jeff also had a laugh by chasing the girls around while hiding under his dad's invisibility cloak. He even got Melly to yelp in fright when he snuck up on her (prompting her to dub the cloak The creepiest piece of magic I've ever seen!) That considered, the events before dinner still weighed on him. Though he won't admit it to Uncle Sirius, Harry had wanted Arcturus to stay for dinner. It would have been nice to have all of his new family together for Christmas. Maybe that way Arcturus would learn to get along with everyone else? Though Harry supposed that that was too much to hope for…
"Are you alright, Harry?" Sirius asked.
The comment broke him out of his thoughts. "I'm alright. Just thinking about how the party went."
His godfather nodded in understanding. A small smile etched on his face. "Our first Christmas. It was nice."
Harry returned the smile. "It was."
Sirius then looked a little to his right, towards Remus. Their overnight houseguest returned the look with a shallow nod, then addressed Harry. "Say, Harry, earlier when Lord Black left …did you mean what you said, about my sickness not being a problem?"
Harry blinked once. "Of course. Why should it?"
Remus seemed to grimace. Though Sirius fixed them with a small smile. "It's alright, Moony."
Remus deliberated for a moment. Then his shoulders seemed to sag. "Harry… That thing they were talking about. I'm not sick because of AIDS."
"No?" Harry feigned naïvety. "What is it, then?"
Remus seemed to struggle for words again. "Maybe we should all sit down. This might take a while."
Harry obliged, walking with them towards the drawing room. It made no difference to Harry, though. Knowing now what he does about Remus, as a person, Harry already has his mind made about the man his father called a friend.
