AN: Happy holidays, everybody! I hope you have a great holiday season and an awesome start to the new year!

Also - I had some technical difficulties uploading this chapter, sorry for the false alarm update email, lol.

December, 1991

Darcy was bouncing with excitement as the Hogwarts Express drew closer and closer to King's Cross. She couldn't wait to see Sirius and Remus again and tell them everything about her first few months at school.

"My mum said you're coming over during holiday", Ron told his friend.

Darcy nodded. "Yeah, I think Remus told me we'll be there on Christmas Eve."

"You should ask if you can sleep over the day before", Ron suggested. "We can help Mum with the baking."

Darcy nodded again, not willing to tell him that she'd rather be at home as much as possible before going back to school. She missed the sounds, the smells, and the feeling of her guardians' house more than she could put into words.

Darcy glanced at Hermione, who was quietly reading, and felt bad for leaving her out.

"Maybe you could come to my house sometime soon, Hermione", Darcy offered. "I've told Sirius and Remus tons about you."

Hermione gave her a small smile. "I'll have to ask my mum and dad. Will you write to me?"

"Of course!"

The train screeched to a halt and immediately the children began scrambling to get their belongings and get to their families. The three friends stayed in their compartment until the madness died down a bit.

"Do you think she'll be able to see us over here?", Sirius asked as the train pulled into the station.

"Well, we are as close to the platform as we can get without being on the tracks", Remus chuckled. "I think she will."

As the crowd of students thinned out, Darcy, Ron, and Hermione made it onto the platform and got their things. Darcy and Hermione embraced.

"See you in a few weeks", Darcy told her. "Happy Christmas!"

"You too!", Hermione replied.

They pulled away and Ron gave the bushy haired girl a smile before she bid her friends goodbye and hurried off.

"There's Mum", Ron gestured to the far side of the platform. "See you!"

"Bye!"

Ron took off toward his family, leaving Darcy alone as she scanned the crowds of people for her family. Finally she spotted them and took off running toward them.

"Guys!", Darcy exclaimed.

"Darcy!"

She practically jumped into Remus' arms and he held her tightly.

"I missed you guys so much", Darcy said into his chest.

"We missed you more", Sirius smiled. "Now if Moony would stop hogging you…"

"Oh, fine", Remus kissed the top of her head before releasing her.

Sirius nearly suffocated the child in his embrace.

"You've gotten taller", Remus commented fondly.

"My ladybug is so big", Sirius said as he let her go.

"Sirius", Darcy hissed at him, her cheeks reddening.

Both of the men chuckled.

"Alright, let's go home before we embarrass you any more", Remus remarked.

Darcy couldn't stop smiling as she walked into the house. She took a deep breath and revelled in the smell of home.

"Did you put the Christmas tree up yet?", she asked.

"No, we've been waiting for you", Sirius replied.

"Can we do it now?"

"How about you unpack first, then we'll have some lunch", Remus suggested. "Then we'll do the tree."

"Okay! Can you use magic to get my trunk upstairs?"

Sirius snapped his fingers and the trunk disappeared. "There you are, Madame."

"Thanks!"

Darcy took off running to the staircase and hurried up it.

"No running on the stairs!", Remus called after her.

Darcy unpacked her things quickly–if she was honest, she didn't put it all away properly–and was soon clamoring back down the steps.

"Darcy", Remus said sternly.

"What?", she asked, confused.

"You know the rules here, do not run down those stairs."

"Oh", Darcy said sheepishly. "Sorry, I'm just excited to be home!"

"We know, love", Sirius assured her. "But we can't decorate the tree if you break your neck. Did you get everything put away?"

"Uh huh", Darcy nodded.

"Alright, let's eat."

Lunch was eaten quickly, and Darcy was bouncing with excitement as they brought all of the ornaments into the sitting room to decorate the tree.

It took roughly half an hour to fully decorate, and by the end the Christmas tree looked perfect.

"Do you want to put the star on, Darcy?", Remus asked.

"Can I?"

"Of course", Sirius smiled. He handed the star to her before hooking his hands underneath her arms. "Ready? One, two, three."

He lifted her up and Darcy carefully placed the topper onto the tree. Sirius brought her back down to the floor.

"Merlin, that was so much easier when you were little", Sirius groaned. "I can't wait until you're tall enough to do it yourself."

"What if I don't grow that much?", Darcy asked.

"We'll get you a ladder."

Remus wrapped his arms around Darcy from behind and rested his chin on top of her head.

"I'm so happy you're home, cub", he said. "Sirius and I nearly killed each other while you were gone."

"Actually, I believe you nearly killed me", Sirius shook his head.

Darcy giggled at them. "I really missed you guys."

"We missed you more", Remus kissed the top of her head. "Now, what do you say we have some hot chocolate and watch a movie?"

"Yeah!"

Darcy went upstairs to change into her pajamas, and Sirius happened to walk past her bedroom when she opened the door.

"I thought you said you got everything put away?", he asked with raised eyebrows.

Darcy's trunk was sitting on the floor, open, with her toiletries still inside. Her clothes were in a pile on her bed.

Darcy looked sheepish and moved to stand in front of her trunk.

"Mhm. Put everything away properly before you come back down. You may have gotten used to having house elves at school, but here you are responsible for your room."

"I know", Darcy muttered. "Does it have to be done right now?"

"Actually, it needed to be done a couple hours ago, because we told you to", Sirius replied, a stern edge to his voice. "Get everything put away properly and then come downstairs, got it?"

"Can't I-"

"Or you could get ready for bed thirty minutes early to clean up and then go to sleep", Sirius shrugged nonchalantly. "Which would be a real shame, considering that we were going to let you stay up late tonight…"

"Really?", Darcy asked. "How late?"

"You'll never find out if you don't get this done right now."

Darcy immediately began putting her clothes away. Sirius smirked to himself before walking away.

She finally got everything put away and changed into her pajamas and slippers before padding back down the stairs.

"There she is", Sirius smiled. "Ready?"

"Yep!"

Remus handed her a mug. "It's very hot, please be careful."

"Thanks."

"Absolutely. Now, what movie are we watching?"

The three of them got comfy on the couch with their drinks, and Darcy couldn't believe how happy she was to be home. As much as she loved Hogwarts, nothing would ever compare to the feeling of sitting with her guardians watching a film.

Darcy cuddled up to Remus, her eyes beginning to droop. He wrapped an arm around her and rubbed her back.

"Happy Christmas, cub."

Sirius reached over and tickled her side lightly.

"Happy Christmas, you little monster."

Darcy giggled and shifted away from his touch.

"Happy Christmas", she said groggily. "I love you guys."

"We love you more."

"More than you could ever know."