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Holiday

Christmas isn't a season. It's a feeling.
– Edna Ferber

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Among all the holidays, Christmas held a special place in Diora's heart. From a tender age, she was captivated by the magic of the season, eagerly anticipating the transformation it brought to both communities and individuals. The sight of homes, from those of complete strangers to the nearest neighbors, adorned in festive decorations always filled her with joy. The melodies of carols in the air, the warmth of hot chocolate in her hands, and the playful construction of snowmen — everything about the season was a spectacle to behold.

However, within the walls of the Avery household, the spirit of Christmas was markedly subdued. Despite adhering to the societal norms of celebrating the holiday, their observance lacked the warmth and joy that Diora yearned for. The house rarely echoed with laughter, was scantily decorated, and gatherings, if any, felt more obligatory than celebratory. Feasts, when they occurred, seemed orchestrated for outward appearances rather than genuine festivity.

Yet, despite the lack of traditional celebrations in her family, Diora found solace and joy in the spirit of Christmas that seemed to sweep across towns and cities, making the holiday season a period of universal joy and goodwill that she cherished deeply.

Diora's heart warmed with anticipation when she received the invitation to join the Potters and Sirius for Christmas Eve. Knowing that Damian would be out of the country visiting his fiancée's family in Germany, she believed her parents wouldn't mind her attending. Consequently, without him, it would leave just the three of them at home. This scenario wouldn't be much different from the previous year's observance: a subdued dinner followed by each of them retreating to separate wings of the manor for the remainder of the evening.

What she didn't count on was Sirius showing up inside her bedroom to pick her up.

"Darling, you look beautiful this evening," a familiar, warm voice remarked from behind her.

Diora swiftly pivoted on her vanity chair, facing Sirius, who was lounging casually on the edge of her bed. A smirk graced his features as he gestured to the vacant space beside him. "Care to join me, love?" he inquired, his voice smooth and inviting.

Diora's gaze flickered towards her bedroom door, catching sight of it slightly ajar. With swift action, she leaped from her seat, moving to secure the door shut before leaning against it for support. Seeing Sirius casually seated on her bed, she couldn't help but feel a mixture of love and frustration at his unexpected arrival inside her bedroom. Last thing she needed was another quarrel with her mother.

Despite her deep affection for Hogwarts, she felt unprepared to resume her final year. Even though she was on course to graduate with higher honors than what Damian achieved, the prospect of facing her parents afterward filled her with dread.

As the first week of Christmas break drew to a close, Diora longed for a peaceful and carefree second week. She relished the idea of the remaining days being tranquil and devoid of any conflicts. She looked forward to making the most of the holiday season without any unnecessary disturbances.

"Sirius, my parents are downstairs," she whispered. "I love you deeply, but I can't risk angering them once more."

The jovial sparkle in Sirius' eyes, so characteristic of his carefree demeanor, dimmed into a look of concern as he dropped his gaze to the ground and stood up. Both were elegantly attired for their Christmas dinner, their outfits reflecting the noble names they unavoidably carried.

This was to be their first Christmas together, their first official holiday as a couple and she didn't want to tarnish it.

Diora closed the distance between them, finding solace in Sirius' warm embrace. Sirius, a head taller, made her feel small as she nestled against him. They remained locked in that embrace for a few moments before he gently pulled away, his fingertips softly lifting her chin.

Sirius smiled down at Diora, his voice soft yet playful. "I'll meet you downstairs in a minute," he said, his eyes sparkling with affection. "Make an entrance, love. Be fashionably late."

With a mischievous twinkle in her eye, Diora replied with a smile of her own. "Of course, Mr. Black. I'll be the very epitome of elegance," she replied coyly, relishing in the anticipation of their special evening.