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whatstruthgottodowithit · 24 days ago

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Messy Christmas, Everyone

Fandom: Harry Potter,Marauders

Pairing: James Potter x Original Female Character, James Potter x Regulus Black, Sirius Black x Original Female Character

Characters: James Potter, Original Female Character, Sirius Black, Regulus Black, Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, Euphemia Potter, Fleamont Potter,

Rating: Mature

Word Count: 15370

Summary: Euphemia Potter always ensures Christmas is the most magical time of year for everyone but will a house full of heartbroken teenagers change that?

Tags/Warnings: Cheating, Unrequited Love, Betrayal, Established Relationship, Implied Homophobia, Black Family Dynamics, Angst, Fluff

Notes: yes its a month since christmas but ive been BUSY okay

Marauders Masterlist // Tag List

Anyone who was anyone in the wizarding world knew that Euphemia Potter’s Christmases were something to behold. Of course that could be said about anyone with money, and yet they were still no patch on Effie. From her lavish Christmas Eve soirees, inviting practically everyone they knew to enjoy the spirit of the season, to her Boxing Day brunches, designed to help those who’d overdone the sherry become semi-human again, she was a hit. And that was without mentioning the weeks she’d spend visiting the elderly, procuring gifts for the less fortunate, and ensuring her son and his friends had the best holiday season imaginable. It didn’t even factor in Christmas Day, which, though small in numbers, remained just as demure and special. In fact, one would think of Euphemia’s Christmases as the height of decorum and grace. Or at least they were.

✵✵✵

James could barely contain his excitement. It never failed to amaze him how excited he got around Christmas despite having firmly left his childhood long ago, if only by numbers a couple of years since. But come December first he was always caught up in the spirit, and it never failed to grow the moment he touched down at his parent’s house for Christmas. Granted he’d fared better than his friends, who hadn’t managed to escape the clutches of work until a couple of days before the big day, which was why he was standing in his bedroom, glancing outside at the expanse of snow-covered lawns outside and listening for the telltale crack of apparition that would signal his friend's arrivals. With each growing minute it failed to come, he grew more antsy, but he knew heading downstairs would only leave him open to being collared by his mother to help with some errand or chore. So, he sat listening, and the moment he heard a knock on the front door, he bolted down the stairs, ready to greet whichever of his friends had arrived first.

It was Peter, bundled in his thick coat and scarf with his suitcase dangling from his gloved hand. He could’ve only been there two minutes, but his nose and ears were tinged pink from the cold so that their familial embrace was shortened as James pulled him in from the snowy front step.

‘Have you come straight from work?’ James asked as he watched Peter strip his layers off, hanging them and his bag by the coat stand, where they’d no doubt be tidied away by the house-elves, revealing his suit and tie.

‘Had to. I thought I’d get some of the work out of the way before the holiday; that way I’ve nothing to worry about,’ Peter said.

‘Gave up on the ol’ leave-it-to-the-last-minute method from school?’ James teased.

‘Well, the number of detentions we got ourselves using that method kind of put me off,’ Peter said as he shrugged off his suit jacket and tossed it over his suitcase, loosening his tie as he did so.

‘Yeah, that’s true,’ James said, as the pair moseyed through to the drawing room. The fire was roaring, crackling gold flames that glinted off the ornate tile that surrounded it, throwing light and heat into the finely decorated room. Cakes, biscuits, and sandwiches adorned trays on the coffee table and were accompanied by a teapot and several cups. Even running errands Mrs. Potter would never be known not to cater to a guest.

‘Oh thank Merlin,’ Peter said as he sank onto a plush sofa, taking a sandwich from the tray as he went, ‘I’m bloody starving.’

‘You’re always starving,’ James smirked as he took a seat opposite him, pilfering a cake from the tray himself as a lazy flick of his wand started the teapot pouring a cup for him.

'Have been since I moved out of Mum and Dad's,' Peter said, sandwich rolling around his mouth as he spoke, 'then again they're not a patch on Hogwarts. Or here for that matter.'

'Well, I'm glad to hear it,' Euphemia said as she appeared at the door, a lanky nineteen-year-old Remus Lupin, standing by her shoulder. Both James and Peter sat up further at the appearance of their friend, and though his enthusiasm didn't quite meet theirs, most likely due to the deep purple bags under his eyes, he replied to their 'hello mates' with a weak, 'hiya.'

'Look who I found on the doorstep,' Euphemia said as she ushered him into the room, fussing over him as he slipped into a chair, 'looked barely awake enough to knock, poor thing.'

'I'm fine Euphemia, promise,' Remus protested weakly.

'That may be, but it's nothing a fresh pot of tea won't fix. And I'll get the elves to fix up your room right away so you can rest if you want,' Euphemia said.

'Thank you,' Remus said, patting the hand that was resting on his shoulder before she slipped out of the room. Once she was gone, he sank back into his chair, his eyes closing for a moment as the others watched him, waiting for him to settle, which he did, his smile tired but happy as he looked at them.

'Rough one?' James asked.

'S'alright,' Remus said with a yawn.

'Sorry I couldn't make it,' James said, 'Mum needed me to—’

'Don't worry about it,' Remus said, waving him off.

'You missed a good 'un though,' Peter said, 'I don't even remember making it through work the day after I was so tired.'

'Yeah, probably why I’m still aching,' Remus said, ‘Pads enjoyed himself though.'

'Speaking of, where is he?' James asked, curious to find his best friend and Remus’s roommate not in tow as normal. The truth was James was kind of glum he didn’t live with them. He and Sirius had always been thick as thieves, and it would've made sense for them to live together once inducted into the real world. But one failed relationship had steered him to a lonely apartment that felt all the lonelier recently with Remus and Sirius becoming closer than ever, at least that's how James felt every time that his other friend blew him off.

'Coming later,' Remus said with another yawn, 'said he had something to sort out.'

'What?' James said, trying to fight the feeling of rejection that he had been left out of yet something else.

‘Dunno,’ Remus shrugged before he leaned forward to make himself a cup of tea, touching the lukewarm pot to see if it was worth the effort. James was about to try and question him further, though he knew it wasn’t the man’s fault, but fortunately Peter distracted him by asking, ‘So, you all set for the big day?’

‘Not quite,’ Remus said first, settling back when he found the teapot not worth his trouble, ‘I’ve bought everything mind. Just been too tired to wrap it all.’

‘Ask Mum,’ James said, his frustration melting to sympathy in an instant, as it often did where Remus was involved.

‘No,’ Remus said, stubborn as he usually was when it came to accepting any form of help.

‘She’ll not care,’ James protested.

‘I do,’ Remus replied, an annoyance tinging his voice that everyone recognised was at himself rather than James.

‘Oh come on,’ James pleaded, ‘you don’t want to waste time sitting wrapping everything, and she’ll want the paper to match the rest for the look of it all anyway.’

‘He’s right. You know how Effie likes things to look proper,’ Peter agreed, ‘and once she sees the state of mine, she’ll probably rewrap them too, so you might as well—’

‘Might as well what,’ a low, velvet-like voice said, capturing their attention and forcing it to the doorway where Sirius was standing. He was sans a coat, but his outfit was a mix of layers offset by the glint of silver jewellery and his shoulder-length locks, which appeared to shine, no doubt due to the snow that had quickly melted once inside.

‘How did you get in?’ James asked, watching as he swanned into the room. rolling over the side of the high-backed armchair until he was sprawled across it.

‘Well, I’m not going to loiter on the doorstep, am I?’ Sirius asked, grinning at his friend as though that was the obvious answer, ‘Besides, Euphemia would never allow it.’

‘Can’t have her favourite child catching a chill, eh James?’ Peter chuckled, nudging James, who forced a weak chuckle at their banter, though his annoyance had mounted slightly upon seeing Sirius.

And if his annoyance at being ignored over the past few weeks wasn’t already biting at him, the surprise of hearing the sound of another visitor calling Sirius’ name was enough to make him seethe.

‘Oh, don’t just stand there,’ Sirius said, gesturing for Regulus, his brother, to come into the room instead of remaining in the doorway looking unsure and out of place. He stayed put, surveying the room until his eyes locked on James’ before dropping to the floor.

‘What’s he doing here?’ James said, his jaw tight and his words even stiffer.

‘Staying for the holiday,’ Sirius said nonchalantly, far too busy counting the cigarettes in the pack he’d produced from his top pocket to notice how he was being stared at. It was why his expression became curious as he looked up and found James watching him, seemingly annoyed, which was a rather rare occurrence for his normally happy-go-lucky friend. Sirius sat up in his chair and said, ‘I did run it past your Mum…she said it was fine.’

‘I can go if you want,’ Regulus said, his arms folding in indignation. James watched him, and then, acutely aware that all the boys were watching him with curiosity, he forced a smile and gestured for him to come into the room as he said, ‘It’s fine. More the merrier and all that.’

It was a rocky start from there. Regulus accepted the invitation, taking a seat in the chair next to his brother, but he didn’t speak, opting to shrink back and remain out of the conversation as if he weren’t even there at all. And since it had been a while since they’d all hung out together, he wasn’t really missed. The four had gone from spending every day together at school to seeing each other when time permitted, which recently hadn’t been much. And as they spoke and chatted over another round of tea, toddled in by Bonnie the house-elf, James realised his annoyance wasn’t at being left out but rather missing his friend. And as he thought about it, he realised it wasn’t Sirius’ fault solely. Sure, he had been busy but so had James. He had a new woman in his life, and given the disaster his last one had turned out to be, this one he had been taking extra time to tend.

Hence why the topic of conversation steered that way as Remus asked, ‘So the new girl is coming today, right?’

‘Yeah,’ James said, ‘she’ll be here later.’

‘Isobel’s coming?’ Sirius asked.

‘Yeah,’ James said, ‘have to let her meet the parents sometime.’

‘Yeah, I guess,’ he replied quietly, ‘I just didn’t realise things were that serious I guess.’

‘I thought you were serious,’ Peter mused, earning a roll of the eyes from Sirius, though it seemed lacklustre. James didn’t even have time to ponder it because a small voice spoke from Sirius’ side, dark questioning eyes watching him as he asked, ‘Is Isobel your girlfriend?’

‘Yeah,’ James said.

‘I thought you and Lily—’

‘We broke up,’ James said curtly, trying to ignore the uneasy feeling he got whenever someone spoke the redhead's name. Regulus nodded.

‘Yeah, a year ago,’ Peter said, ‘besides, you and Isobel have been going out for some time now, right?’

‘Few months,’ James said.

‘Longer if you count all the time she spent hanging around your department,’ Peter mused.

‘About as much time as you spend hanging about our department, eh, Wormy,’ Sirius said tightly, making the other man’s smile dim quickly. Remus cleared his throat and grabbed another biscuit, turning all eyes on him as he asked, ‘So what’s the plan?’

‘All the usual stuff,’ James shrugged.

‘I expect Effie’s got everything planned to a T,’ Remus mused.

‘Think we could get in a game of Quidditch?’ Sirius asked.

‘Ooh, we could probably get a good three-on-three going,’ Peter said excitedly, ‘if Isobel and Regulus will play.’

‘Shouldn’t be a problem, right Reg?’ Sirius asked. Regulus looked at him and then at the others before he nodded tightly.

‘Great,’ Remus sighed.

‘Oh, don’t be so glum, Moony. It is Christmas after all,’ Sirius said. But as the pair of them got into talking about the excitement of the season, James watched as Regulus put his cup down on the end table beside him and then rose from his seat. Eyes flicked his way before going back to the conversation, accepting his mumbled, ‘toilet,’ as an acceptable excuse as he slipped from the room. He had barely been out of the room a minute before James stood too, garnering more attention than the previous departure, which he dismissed by saying, ‘I just realised I should probably show him where it is.’

He slipped out of the room, closing the door behind him, and headed down the corridor, yet he didn’t find Regulus anywhere. He could hear the elves in the kitchen and the sounds of movement in the drawing room, but down this end of the house it was quiet. He had even started to wonder if not being familiar with the house had meant that Regulus had gone upstairs in search of a lavatory, but his wondering was cut short as a downstairs bathroom door opened just ahead of him and Regulus slipped out.

He looked startled to find James lurking outside but recovered quickly, keeping his head high as he attempted to walk past him. James, however, caught him by the arm.

‘What are you doing?’ he asked harshly.

‘Using your loo. Or is that a crime now?’ Regulus asked with disdain.

‘You know what I mean,’ James said tightly, his eyes flicking up the hallway, not that his voice was loud enough to carry down the corridor.

‘Don’t ask me,’ Regulus said.

‘Well I am,’ James replied.

‘I’m here to enjoy Christmas,’ Regulus said sarcastically, finally realising his arm was still in James’ iron grip, which he promptly wrenched himself from, moving himself further away once he realised just how close they had been. James seemed to notice it too, the rush of cold air on his face now that Regulus was no longer close feeling sharper than he had expected, and painful enough he couldn’t help but breathe, ‘Reg—’

‘I’ve been staying with Sirius,’ Regulus said quietly.

‘Why?’ James asked, his brows knitting together worriedly.

‘What do you care?’ Regulus scoffed, rolling his eyes, but James just continued to watch him worriedly, whatever animosity he’d been feeling towards the boy melting just enough for Regulus to say, ‘I left. For good, if you must know.’

‘Better late than never I suppose,’ James quipped, ‘You should’ve said.’

‘Would it make a difference?’ Regulus asked, watching James as he pondered it and glanced guiltily at his shoes, ‘thought not.’

Using the silence, Regulus moved away from him, headed back up to the others, where the encounter was sure to be ignored, not talked about like every other moment they’d ever shared before now. Though as he heard James speak, he faltered.

‘You chose that remember,’ James said quietly, watching as the boy turned, his eyes dark and stormy. He didn’t say anything, but James watched him take a steadying breath before he turned around and headed away. James didn’t say anything; he didn’t know what to say. Instead, he slipped into the bathroom himself and willed himself not to fall apart.

✵✵✵

Isobel Rookwood had never had a Christmas away from home. If truth be told, she hadn’t really planned to spend this holiday season anywhere but her family home, but when her parents had informed her that they were going to be spending two weeks on the other side of the globe visiting her brother, she hadn’t had anywhere else to go. And so just like that she became another waif and stray to be collected by the Potters. And it wasn’t that she didn’t want to spend time with her boyfriend; their first holiday together was one she wanted to spend apart; no, it was nothing like that. It was just that it all felt too soon, too rushed. They’d only been together a few months, and now she was going to spend the next four days being paraded around the who’s who of the wizarding world as James Potter’s new beau.

And love him as she did, she couldn't shake this uncertain feeling inside her whenever she thought of the fixedness of it all. It was a feeling that grew as there was a knock on the door. James wouldn’t wait for her to answer, which filled her with nerves as she called, ‘Come in,’ to whoever it was lurking on the other side of the door. Fortunately, it was a familiar face, if one that made that feeling of uncertainty turn into butterflies.

‘Hi, James sent me up to see how you were getting on,’ Sirius said as he poked his head around the door before coming in and shutting it behind him, ‘Are you ready?’

‘Yeah, nearly done,’ Isobel said, making sure to pull a jumper from the pile in her suitcase upon seeing Sirius’ full Quidditch attire. She wasn’t a big fan of the game, but the boys had begged her to play the moment she had arrived, and so she had used unpacking as leverage to avoid it for as long as possible. Now her time was up, evidenced by the fact Sirius lingered by the door.

‘You don’t have to wait for me you know,’ she said quietly.

‘I know,’ he said, watching as she continued to unpack, his eyes like fire as they danced across her skin. Isobel tried to ignore him and the butterflies running rampant inside her.

‘I thought you were going home for Christmas,’ he said, a statement cloaked in a hint of accusation. It was true that was supposed to be the plan; it was the thing he’d clung to when he’d heard her mention it. Spending every day in an office with James rabbiting on about her had been torture enough, let alone spending four days in the same house.

‘I was,’ she said, swallowing thickly, ‘my parents have gone to Australia to visit my brother for a couple of weeks, and I couldn’t get the time off work, so I couldn’t go.’

‘So you’re not…’ Sirius said, his words fading as she looked up at him.

‘Not what?’ she asked.

‘I thought this might be…’ he said, going quiet again, which made her raise her brows in expectation, ‘getting serious… with James.’

‘Is that a surprise?’ she asked, ‘it’s been a few months after all.’

‘So he’s the one?’ Sirius asked, his gaze dropping to his feet as she looked at him, that feeling of uncertainty rife inside her.

‘I don’t believe in ones,’ she said, snapping his gaze up towards her. His eyes were dark and stormy, but full of hope, which made her heart squeeze heavily in her chest. Still, she stayed firm, the point they had danced around for months remaining the axis on which she was going to continue to move around, ‘I believe in telling people how you feel about them and not just sitting by…bowing out.’

‘I didn’t bow out,’ Sirius said, whatever upset he’d been feeling overcome by indignation. He leaned up from the wall he’d been resting against, coming towards her so that they were just a foot apart, but all she did was look at him, her green eyes begging him to go further as they always had. When he didn’t elaborate, she sighed, ‘Well, you didn’t exactly fight either.’

‘So using James was the answer?’ he rebutted, making her mouth fall into a scowl.

‘I am not using him,’ she snapped, ‘He asked me out, and I accepted. He’s a nice guy, and I like him a lot, and well-’

‘Well what?’ he asked, though he’d been through it a thousand times in his mind to know what she was going to say.

‘I asked you before we got in any deeper, and you-’

‘I didn’t say anything,’ he said.

‘Exactly,’ she sighed, her hand reaching out to touch his chest, stopping him from coming any closer, ‘you didn’t say anything to stop it. So don’t do this.’

‘I'm not,’ Sirius started, though he knew what he had been doing. He shouldn’t be up here. He’d tried his damndest to stay away from her, as hard as it had been, as it meant staying away from James too. He’d chosen to let her get away when he hadn’t needed to, and now he couldn’t help himself but want it, want her.

‘Don’t make trouble,’ Isobel warned, ‘not here, not to them. Not at Christmas.’

Sirius looked down at her and then at the hand keeping him at arm's length. He wanted to grab it and yank her towards him. He wanted to kiss her; James, Christmas, and Euphemia’s plans be damned. But she was right. He’d had his chance and he blew it; now he just needed to stay away from her, and so he nodded, ‘No trouble from me.’

✵✵✵

There was an uneasy tension when Isobel got down to the Quidditch pitch, a field adjoining the vast gardens of the Potter’s luxurious manor house, and it deepened as James pulled her into him the second she got close enough, kissing her temple. She didn’t dare look at Sirius but kept her gaze straight only to find his brother glaring at her. Isobel threw him a weak smile and looked away, her mind whirring at the possibility that Sirius had confided in the boy.

‘So,’ James said, as he bent down to undo the latch on the box of Quidditch balls, ‘I figured three on three. First team to say ten goals?’

‘Ten?’ Remus groaned as James handed him the uncharmed quaffle before pulling the rapidly twitching snitch from its snare and slipping it in his pocket before kicking the box shut, the two vibrating bludgers protesting as they fell out of view.

‘Yeah, some of us are actually good players Moony, so it won't take that long,’ James grinned.

‘Speaking of, how are we dividing the teams?’ Sirius asked.

‘Hadn’t thought,’ James shrugged, ‘what do you reckon?’

‘Well, I’m not very good,’ Isobel said meekly.

‘That makes two of us,’ Remus replied sympathetically.

‘In that case, how about me, Pete, and Moony vs. you, Reg, and Iz?’ Sirius said, her vow about not making trouble ringing in his ears. After all, it was easier not to make trouble when she was a pitch away.

‘No, I mean Reg,’ he said quickly, tripping over the nickname as he protested, ‘Regulus is a seeker, isn’t he? Isobel isn’t great at passing, so he wouldn’t be able to seek if we’re all on one team. How about me, you, and Isobel seeking? Regulus, Moony, and Pete?’

‘No offence, but I’ve seen Pettigrew play,’ Regulus sniped, earning himself a scowl from Peter, ‘if I’m going to have the self-confessed poor player, I want someone with skill too.’

‘It’s just a three-on-three,’ Remus said, rolling his eyes.

‘Fine, I’ll swap,’ Sirius said, feigning heartbreak at being placed opposite James. James watched him go, volunteering all too easily, which made those suspicions and upsets from yesterday creep into his mind once more. But there was no point arguing as Sirius stood staunchly beside his brother, the pair of them both so calm and collected that protesting the lineup of a measly Quidditch match would surely make him look insane.

‘Fine,’ James said as he kicked open the ball box, ‘but since the stakes are fair we might as well play properly.’

And with a flick of his wand, two bludgers flew into the air, and he strode off to pick his broom up from the rack nearby.

Regulus loved Quidditch. He always had, from the moment he had been taught how to, mainly because it meant he didn’t have to be inside that house. His gloomy, depressing house that smothered every inch of him. He could be free. Not only that, but it had also been one of the only times he and Sirius could play together, truly together, without their laughter or happiness being heard from a few rooms away and snuffed out. His parents wanted their children to learn so as not to show them up when they landed at school, but they had no interest in doing the schooling. It was probably for the best and probably the reason the Black brothers were incredible players, even when playing a small three-on-three match. They were three goals ahead and homing in on a fourth. In Regulus’ opinion, Remus was an okay player, but James’ reluctance to release the snitch until they’d managed to have some gameplay was a good idea, as it allowed Regulus to act as a chaser alongside his brother rather than a seeker full time.

Isobel, however, was not a good player. She could fly, he supposed, but she was textbook in her movements, her hands barely leaving the broom handle even if she did control it right. He was watching her, the pause he’d taken to look for the snitch James had just released leading him to watch her looking for it too. Then he found himself staring too long, wondering what it was James saw in her. He’d half expected her to be a redhead, fiery and determined like Lily had been, though looking at her now, her caramel hair half hid by a hat and scarf, he had to commend James. He certainly didn’t have a type. So what was it that lured him in? He’d learnt from Remus this morning at breakfast that they’d met at work. She had a job in the magical law office, which worked with their department quite a bit, and upon meeting him she’d then kept appearing, lingering like a bad smell he suspected.

Maybe she was nice, funny even. Maybe James’ heart had healed enough that the first person taking an interest, or at least the person in the nearest proximity, had appealed to him. Maybe they had a raft of things in common, Quidditch clearly not being one of them. Or maybe, he reasoned to himself, maybe when the time came, she actually chose him. Maybe she hadn't been too scared to put herself on the line. After all, what good had it done anyway? He’d left his family behind when it had come down to it, and now it was too late to go back. James had moved on. To this pretty blonde thing, a pretty blonde thing moving down the pitch at speed. Regulus looked ahead of her, seeing a glint of gold down by the goal posts. The others were down the other end of the pitch, and if he didn’t move she’d surely catch it, and so he zoomed down towards her. She startled as he arrived by her side, moving ahead of her as they both zigged and zagged after the ball taunting them. As it flew ahead he pushed on, but so did she, back towards the others who’d noticed their race for the snitch. As they got down to the halfway point of the pitch, she braved taking her hand off the broom, reaching it out as she pushed ahead. Her fingertips brushed against it gently before it moved out of reach. She tried again, grabbing her broom once more as it weaved left. It was on her side of the pitch; to reach he'd have to lean over her, which was getting harder to do as she pushed ahead of him. Regulus watched himself lag behind, her fingers inches from gold, and before he knew what he was doing, his own hand had reached out, yanking the bunch of stiff bristles with his left hand. The broom fell down, slipping from her grasp as she’d only had the one hand holding on.

And then everything went into slow motion. Regulus was still moving, watching as she fell towards the ground, desperately trying to hold on and regain control as he moved further away, unable to make his brain switch on to help. She was nearing the ground, the broom and her head surely going to splinter into pieces as they hit the frozen earth, but then she wasn’t falling; she was dangling from his brother’s hand as he flew low, decanting her onto the floor in a heap.

Isobel lay on the ground, the hand that had been reaching out for the snitch now twisted underneath her torso in a painful direction. She didn’t know how she’d gotten there; all she had felt was a hand on her back, holding her as she descended roughly onto the ground to make her contact with the floor come somewhat slower than before. In instinct she’d put her hands out as if she could push the ground away and stop the impact. For a moment it was quiet; the sounds of the boys hadn’t hit her yet, which meant she could lay there and assess the damage before chaos descended.

And descend it did. It started gently. Sirius was the first to land and fuss over here.

‘Are you okay?’ he asked as he knelt beside her, concern in his grey eyes as his hands hovered, unsure of where to look first.

‘Fine,’ she said weakly, ‘my wrist hurts.’

‘Lemme see,’ he said, taking her wrist gently in his hands as he looked at it. She hissed making him frown, but the pain was starting to kick in, as was the swelling, ‘anything else?’

‘No, just hit everything a bit rough, but that bent under me,’ she said.

‘I tried to drop you as gracefully as I could,’ he admitted, sorrow on his face, though it was far from his fault, and in fact, quite impressive he’d managed to get to her at all given the distance he was away. Though he must have been closer than James, who was only just touching down, the other boys were close behind him.

‘Are you okay?’ he asked, dropping to his knees beside her, his hand on her cheek.

‘Fine,’ she nodded, ignoring the twinge in her wrist as Sirius dropped it, causing it to fall into her lap.

‘You could’ve been killed!’ he protested.

‘It’s fine,’ she lied, the severity of the situation dawning on her and making her feel queasy, ‘it was just an accident.’

‘What even happened?’ Sirius asked, ‘First you were up, then you were plummeting to the ground.’

‘We saw the snitch. Both tried to get it, but he got my broom instead. It just fell from under me,’ she said. She hadn’t seen what had happened, but she had felt the yank, the tugging of the broom sliding out from between her legs where she couldn’t catch it.

‘What?’ James said quietly, looking towards Regulus. He stood there watching further away from everyone and more ashen faced than she’d ever seen him, the Black family's pale complexion now looking gaunt instead of ethereal.

‘You did this?’ he asked, rising to his feet.

‘It was an accident,’ Regulus said weakly.

‘An accident!?’ he asked, striding towards him and grabbing him by the jumper, ‘you could've bloody killed her!’

‘James!’ Isobel squealed.

‘All for what? A bloody match? Couldn’t bear the thought of someone winning—'

‘Prongs, mate, come on, he didn’t mean it,’ Remus said, moving towards them, trying to get in between the pair, though their eyes never left each other. Isobel glanced at Sirius, half wondering why he wasn’t intervening, but his normal protectiveness over his younger sibling seemed all but gone. In fact, the way he was looking at James hinted at an agreement.

‘I got lost in the game,’ Regulus said, ‘you’re telling me you’ve never gotten caught up in the moment.’

James was about to respond, but Regulus’ eyes were watching him, boring into his face with a knowing look that sent flashes of all the moments he’d ever gotten caught in a moment back to him. The truth was James had often lost himself in a moment, lost himself in Regulus himself. With that he loosened his grip, shoving him away from him as he turned his attention back on Isobel. The group was rather silent as James helped her up, Sirius moving dutifully out of the way as the pair walked back towards the house.

‘Well, we better sort the stuff out,’ Remus said, but Sirius waved him off, his eyes on Regulus, who was picking up his broom, checking it hadn’t become too damaged when he’d thrown it down in haste, but he stopped when he felt his brother’s eyes on him.

‘We’ll sort it,’ Sirius said firmly. Regulus glared at him and watched as Remus and Peter nodded, sensing this was a family matter, and headed the way the others had gone.

Regulus didn’t give him time to speak, busying himself with levitating the remaining brooms into an orderly line that he started to walk back towards the garage. Sirius kicked the ball box open and flicked his wand to corral the outstanding equipment into their places. Once they were firmly locked away, he slammed it shut and levitated it behind him, storming after his brother.

‘What was that?’ Sirius said the moment they were in the safety of the garage.

‘Could ask you the same,’ Regulus scoffed, arranging the brooms in their holders.

‘Don’t look away and throw out pithy little remarks hoping I'm not going to follow you up,’ Sirius snapped, throwing the ball box down onto the shelf.

‘It was an accident,’ Regulus lied, finally turning to face him.

‘You yanked her broom from under her,’ Sirius whispered harshly, ‘I watched you do it.’

‘I was going for the snitch,’ Regulus grunted.

‘Yeah?’ Sirius challenged, ‘because I’ve seen you play, that snitch was miles ahead of you there was no way you'd reach it from there. The only thing that would've helped was being Iz out the way.’

‘It was an accident,’ Regulus reiterated coolly.

‘Like when Narcissa fell down the stairs?’ Sirius challenged.

‘She tripped on the—’

‘Carpet? Yeah, I know,’ Sirius said, ‘but it was your magic that moved it.’

‘I was eight!’ Regulus scoffed.

‘And jealous and petty. Like you’re being now the only reason I don’t know why,’ Sirius said.

‘Because there isn’t a reason. I don’t even know her,’ Regulus said, rolling his eyes, ‘question is, why do you care about her so much?’

‘She’s James’ girlfriend. He’s family,’ Sirius lied.

‘Is that it?’ Regulus said, his eyebrow raising in a way that made Sirius’ fist clench by his side, old sibling rivalries bubbling inside him.

‘If you’ve got something to say. Say it,’ Sirius spat.

‘Oh, I’ve got nothing to say,’ Regulus smirked, moving towards him so that they were face to face, ‘but maybe stop flinging accusations about. Could get messy, and like you said, they’re family.’

Sirius clenched his jaw but said nothing, allowing Regulus to move past him and out through the garage door. Some Christmas this was turning out to be.

✵✵✵

‘James,’ Isobel sighed, watching as he shirked off his jumper huffily and threw it across the room at the washing basket. He’d been ranting the whole way back to the house, even dismissing his mother as she had called after them after catching a glance of them walking by the kitchen. He’d stomped off upstairs as if he couldn’t hear her leaving Isobel to shrug apologetically at her from the bottom of the stairs before she followed him.

‘Don’t tell me it’s fine,’ James huffed, pushing his rain-drizzled hair back out of his face, which made it stick up more than usual.

‘But it is fine,’ Isobel said. In all honesty, she didn’t know why he was so het up about the thing. Yes, it could’ve gone horribly wrong, but it hadn’t. And it had been an accident; she didn’t even know Regulus well enough to think of why it wouldn’t be. She just needed James to focus on the positives.

‘Look,’ she said, ignoring the twinge in her wrist as she ensnared her arms around his neck and forced him to look at her, ‘it could've been bad; I get that, but Regulus didn’t mean it, and Sirius caught me in time.’

‘I should’ve caught you,’ James said guilty.

‘Is that why you're so upset?’ she asked. When James didn’t answer, she sighed, ‘it happened so fast. Sirius was closer. If you could have helped, you would have. I know that.’

‘I could though. I wasn’t much further than Sirius; he just moved like lightning,’ James said. Suddenly the idea of Sirius soaring to her rescue and the memory of him holding her injured hand flooded her brain, and she started to feel as guilty as James looked.

‘We never know how we’re gonna react in those situations,’ she said, swallowing the lump in her throat, ‘you probably panicked because it was me. It doesn’t mean anything.’

‘Yeah,’ he said quietly, and she wasn’t sure if she had convinced him or herself of it.

‘Look, why don’t you go get me some ice? My wrist is still twinging,’ she said.

‘Okay,’ James nodded.

‘And then maybe you could run me a bath?’ she said, ‘get rid of the cold and wet and maybe put us in a better mood.’

‘Us?’ James said, a curl of a smile appearing on his lips.

‘Well, it's no fun bathing alone; besides, it's not like we can hide away. We’ve got dinner to attend,’ she smiled, pecking him on the lips before pushing him away. James beamed and headed to the door, closing it behind him and leaving her alone with her thoughts.

As she peeled her damp jumper off she thought about the look in Sirius’ eyes, the worry. And as much as she’d told him that she had no inclination of causing trouble and that if she wanted action, it was months ago when this had all begun, she couldn't help but like it.

✵✵✵

Dinner was a fairly excruciating affair. Euphemia was nothing if not a good host, and so the idea of tensions running rampant under her roof made her go into overdrive to make everyone feel good. Fortunately, her years of graciousness towards the boys had left them dutiful and respectful enough to let tensions peter out as they chatted around the dinner table, even if they all quickly headed to bed once they could safely escape. But Isobel’s tension didn’t disappear, keeping her awake all night as she thought about everything. It had been foolish to come here she supposed. To put temptation in her own path when Sirius had been so determined to keep her at arm’s length. But if truth be told, she did miss him.

She'd been his friend first. Their flats close enough that their journey to the ministry overlapped frequently enough for it to become noticeable. A smile turning to a hi. Two journeys becoming one. Her new role meant she was now in and out of his office. Their work together somehow turning to lunch. And then James. He just fit in somehow, on the periphery at first, but then she felt the shift. Sirius must’ve too, but he didn’t say anything. And then one lunch she’d invited him to go and see a new band play at a muggle pub in the east of London. Only he’d brought James, and Peter and Remus. He didn’t even say anything when he walked her to her front door. The next day James had asked her out, and rather pettily she’d said yes because she did like James. And when she’d asked, dancing around the subject like they were prone to do, Sirius had said nothing.

James had healed her broken heart unbeknownst to him. Sirius had pulled away, leaving her empty, but James helped fill that void, and she loved him; she did. But with Sirius there, around her, caring about her like he had today, it felt like a different thing altogether. Around three am she’d finally succumbed to sleep, and when she awoke, she was alone. Her eyes were tired; she’d definitely need some pepper-up potion to get through a party tonight, but her wrist was no longer hurting, which she supposed was a bonus. Though it was harder to focus alone. James’ aura filled a room, made her thoughts disappear just for a while, and he was missing. She got out of bed and got changed before going downstairs to investigate.

She didn’t dare go into the vast amount of rooms of the Potter's mansion. After all, she had only met them a day ago, and now without James around she felt rather awkward; she was just hoping to bump into Peter or Remus first. After yesterday she didn’t think seeing Sirius or Regulus for that matter would go down well.

When she wandered into the kitchen she was met by Euphemia, who was poring over a list on the counter, her reading glasses perched on the end of her nose that she looked over as Isobel came into the room, ‘Hi darling. Sleep okay?’

‘Great,’ Isobel lied, scoping the room and finding it was just them, ‘where’s James?’

‘He’s headed into town,’ she said, her attention dropping back to her list.

‘Oh, he, uh, he didn’t say,’ Isobel said.

‘My guess is he’s got a bit of last-minute shopping to do,’ Euphemia sighed.

‘For me you mean?’ she asked. Euphemia looked up worriedly, ‘oh please don’t mark it as a reflection on him sweetheart! Merlin knows he’s got a heart of gold but not much skill on the organisational front.’

‘That’s men in general,’ Isobel ribbed, ignoring the way the ‘heart of gold’ comment made her own squeeze in her chest.

‘Don’t worry! He took Sirius with him so I’m sure they can muster the brainpower between them,’ Euphemia said.

‘Just Sirius?’ Isobel said uneasily.

‘Yes, but don’t worry; the others are around somewhere,’ she said, packing up her notepad under her arm and pushing her glasses onto her head as she watched the girl, lost in her own thoughts, ‘unless you want to come with me?’

‘Where?’ Isobel asked.

‘The shelter down in town. It’s sorting donations, food, and the like for tomorrow,’ Euphemia said, her own charitable nature dropping into conversation without a second thought, proving that heart of gold was surely generational.

‘Yeah, go on then,’ Isobel said, hoping that doing at least one good deed today would help her stop feeling so uneasy.

✵✵✵

The shelter did help Isobel to clear her head, as did the manic nature of the house when she got back and found everyone rallying around to get the finishing touches ready for the Christmas Eve party. Caterers, decorators, and unfamiliar faces appeared at every avenue. Euphemia immediately took charge, descending into the chaos unfazed whilst Isobel slipped upstairs to James's room. She moved into the adjoining bathroom, slipping her jumper off as she flicked her wand to fill the bathtub. The water was thunderous against the porcelain, making it hard to hear anything, which was why she squealed as she felt a pair of arms encircle her waist.

‘Hi,’ James whispered, pressing a kiss to her cheek as she straightened up, allowing him to rest his chin on her shoulder.

‘Hi,’ she said, placing her hands on the arms wrapped around her.

‘You’re back late,’ he said, ‘spending time with my mother too much fun, eh?’

‘I was abandoned,’ she mused, ‘I missed you. Your mother’s bounding enthusiasm made it feel as though you were never away.’

‘I had to be. Sirius needed me,’ James said.

‘Why?’ Isobel said, any tension she'd relieved bubbling back up inside her.

‘Christmas shopping,’ James replied.

‘Not yours then,’ she asked, moving herself out of his arms so that she was facing him. James grinned, ‘maybe, but you’ll have to wait until tomorrow before you find out. C'mon, let's get ready. If we don’t make it downstairs soon my mother will make sure we won't make it till tomorrow.’

✵✵✵

By the time Isobel and James appeared from their room, the chaos of downstairs seemed to have melted away. As they stood on the landing, they could hear low music and demure chatter waft up towards them rather than the clunking of furniture being arranged and the buzz of staff speaking to one another. They descended the stairs to the foyer where a couple of staff were loitering, awaiting the door to go or the fire to illuminate as someone floo’d in. Inside the living room, as arranged, Remus and Peter were sat waiting and chatting amicably by the roaring fire. James sank into an armchair and pulled Isobel to sit on his lap.

‘Where’s Padfoot?’ James asked, glancing at the door as if he expected the boy to walk straight in, the pair of them usually as late as one another.

‘Probably styling his hair within an inch of its life to get it to fall in a naturally chic way,’ Remus said.

‘Or debating how many buttons to unbutton to get just the right amount of allure for those middle-aged witches who have a thing for him,’ Peter added. James smirked. Isobel, however, felt a heat in her cheeks, not caused by the fire crackling beside her, and so slid from James’ lap, finding his hand capturing hers as she stood, ‘bathroom. Two ticks.’

James let her go and resumed conversation with the boys as she flitted towards the exit, though as she got outside the door she bumped into someone. Sirius. As predicted, he was dressed in a dark black dress shirt, buttoned so low that a glint of jewellery could be seen amongst pale flesh. Atop that he had a dark velvet blazer, which his hair danced along the collar of, tickling along his jawline.

‘Sorry,’ she breathed.

‘It’s okay,’ he smiled, bending down to grab the clutch bag she’d dropped upon collision, ‘here.’

‘Thanks,’ she said as he handed it back, their fingers brushing along one another’s for a brief moment, ‘everyone's in there.’

‘Right,’ Sirius nodded, far too happy where he was currently standing to bother heading to his friends. In the twelve hours since he’d seen her, he’d missed her more than in the months he’d been pushing her away, especially given all James had put him through trudging around the shops this morning.

‘I’m going to the toilet,’ she said firmly, though her feet didn’t move.

‘Okay,’ Sirius said. Isobel nodded, as if convincing herself, and then forced her feet to walk ahead, her heels clacking against the polished wood until he said, ‘Iz?’

Isobel turned to look at him despite herself.

‘You look really nice,’ he said, his smile sadder than it had been.

‘You too,’ Isobel said, her own matching his before she toddled off in search of a toilet. Sirius took a deep breath, but before he could walk into the living room, he heard someone clear their throat and turned to find Regulus watching him with a bemused expression on his face. Sirius scowled, ‘you’re late. They’re waiting for us.’

‘They’re waiting for you,’ Regulus corrected as he joined his brother, ‘none of them want me here.’

‘I wonder why. You’re such a delight,’ Sirius muttered, and before his brother could retaliate, he headed into the living room.

‘Finally,’ Remus sighed as the pair came in, loitering by the seating area instead of sitting down.

‘I know I’m starving,’ Peter said, rising from his seat quickly, as did the others.

‘Hang on, Isobel’s not here yet,’ James said.

‘We passed her as we came in. She’s just in the loo, right Sirius?’ Regulus said, watching his brother, who threw him a dirty look but recovered quickly to say, ‘yeah we can probably wait outside for her. Don’t suppose she’ll be long.’

‘Not too long I hope; otherwise most of the canapés will be gone at this rate,’ Peter said.

‘I hope they’ve got those little shrimp things they had last year,’ Remus said as the group meandered to the doorway. Isobel was just outside when they got there.

‘Oh, you’re all ready,’ she said.

‘Yeah, come on,’ James said, taking her hand and pulling her to him. Since yesterday he’d found himself doing that more often. Whether the incident of almost losing her had scared him or because every time he did it he felt Regulus’ eyes on him, he didn’t know. And if it was the latter, he didn’t know why he enjoyed that so much. Still he couldn’t help but lace his words scathingly as he added, ‘we’re already late. My mother will be having a stroke.’

At that, Regulus’ eyes turned steadily away, and he took rank with Remus and Peter, who were oblivious to all the goings-on and much more party or rather food orientated. Spying his chance, Sirius slipped in between the happy couple and the others, Regulus confirmation that he had heard everything between him and Isobel making him nervous. So much for a party atmosphere.

✵✵✵

If James had found his friend's behaviour over the past few months odd, he didn’t show it, not even when he was hit in the face with a complete one eighty of actions. Sirius stayed by his side all night. Of course they never really strayed from the group, the majority of people at the party being his parents friends rather than people their age, but even when they did spot someone they knew from school or work or had the opportunity to network, Sirius stayed by his side. He'd even gone to the loo at one point, and when he'd emerged from the bathroom, he found Sirius waiting outside patiently for him. Actually, it was quite like having Padfoot around, trailing behind him dutifully like man's best friend does. And because of it, Regulus seemed determined to keep his distance, which was fortunate. He was still angry with him. For the Quidditch thing. For coming here uninvited, by him at least. For stirring up all the feelings he’d long since stuffed inside of him.

It always struck him as odd that he was definitely the most emotionally healthy one of all his friends and yet he'd never managed to deal with this situation. It hurt too much. Coming to terms with himself only to be told it wasn't worth it had done a number on him, so had hurting Lily, who had been blindsided and yet the epitome of a good friend. She'd never exposed him; she’d never betrayed his confidence, even in all her hurt. Most of their friends understood it to be an amicable split when it was far from it. And now he was back in his life. He couldn't do that again. Not to someone else, so keeping his distance—that was the best plan all around.

However, keeping his distance and also sticking to Sirius like glue had meant one issue. He’d lost Isobel. He couldn’t spot her amongst the throng of people, and more importantly, he couldn’t spot Regulus. His mind started whirring.

‘Where’s Isobel?’ James said, scanning the crowd once more. Sirius looked around too.

‘I don’t know,’ he said, ‘toilet maybe?’

‘When did we last see her?’ James probed.

‘About five minutes ago?’ Sirius said, looking to his friend with concern, ‘why what's up?’

‘Nothing, just I’m gonna go look for her. Save her getting caught by some bore from transport or something,’ James said, causing an "Oi!’ to come from Peter, who was sat in a window nook beside them, chomping down his tenth canape, who happened to work in that department.

‘Sorry mate,’ James said without thought before he took off, snaking through the various gathered groups of partygoers.

He made it halfway across the vast ballroom, throwing out ‘excuse mes’ and ‘pardons’ every five seconds to get by, but before he could get to the door, he was stopped by his mother, who peeled herself away from the group of people she had been chatting to as she said, ‘There you are.’

‘Mum, I’ve not really got time—’ James protested, assuming he was about to be dragged into conversation, but his mother ignored him, moving her hand to his hair to flatten it, though he was half a foot taller than her at least. He pressed on, ‘I’m looking for Isobel.’

‘I’m sure I’ve just seen her head out to the hall,’ Euphemia said, ‘but that’s not why I want you.’

‘Why what is it?’ James asked knowing refusing anything his mother wanted him to do was no use.

‘Why don’t you take your friend with you?’ she said.

‘The boys are fine here,’ James said, glancing at the three of them huddled away in the corner, not engaging granted, but not causing trouble, which in their case was always a bonus.

‘I don’t mean them,’ Euphemia said, glancing to another corner where Regulus was sitting in another window nook, watching the world go by with the most passive of expressions as if he wasn’t even in the room.

‘He’s not hurting anyone,’ James said.

‘Oh I know, but this is a party darling,’ Euphemia said, still managing to fuss over his appearance as she dusted non-existent lint off his shoulder, ‘he doesn’t have to stay down here if he doesn’t want to. Just go and tell him that.’

‘He’s a grown-up,’ James said, his jaw tightening. ‘he can leave if he wants to.’

‘I doubt he knows he's allowed to. I expect he’s had manners drilled into him since he was able to listen,’ Euphemia said, looking on him with the same concerned sympathies she did Sirius,’ go on, just tell him. For me, and then you can find Isobel. Maybe he can help you.’

Fine,’ James grumbled.

With that, he peeled himself away from his mother and moved counterintuitively on his mission for Isobel towards where Regulus was sitting. He didn’t look up at him at first; his gaze burnt into a spot on the rug, but as his feet came into view, he looked up, looking somewhat surprised to see James being the one standing there. Regulus didn’t say anything. Given there were still people around, James didn’t dare start off in anything other than a neutral tone, though his words were a tad sarcastic as he asked, ‘have you never been to a party before?’

‘What?’ Regulus asked tightly.

‘I mean most people mingle or at least stand with their friends instead of moping in the corner. I mean, what about the Christmas spirit?’ James said.

‘What can I say? I’m not like most people,’ Regulus said, ‘besides I haven’t got any friends here. And I don’t feel very Christmassy.’

‘Pretend then,’ James said firmly.

‘Like how you pretend I’m not here,’ Regulus retorted.

‘Reg,’ James warned.

‘You know what? How about I help you with that?’ Regulus asked before he stood up and stormed past James, weaving expertly through the couple of people standing near them before he was out the door and into the foyer. James followed him immediately.

‘Reg,’ James whispered harshly as they moved through the foyer. From what he could tell there was no one around, but he couldn’t be sure, and so he moved fast, following him down the corridor as Regulus ignored him. Again he said, ‘just hang on.’

‘Don’t bother,’ Regulus sneered over his shoulder. A moment later he felt James’ hand on it, spinning him around. Regulus stepped back, boxing himself in against the wall as James sighed and said, ‘Look, I'm sorry, okay. Sorry, I've been a bit harsh whilst you’ve been here.’

‘Yeah right,’ Regulus said, rolling his eyes.

‘Can you blame me?’ James baulked. Regulus shifted, folding his arms across himself as if that would protect him from any harsh words that James might fling his way. They stood in silence for a moment, the buzz of the party just audible, the corridor cold and draughty even despite the proximity at which they were standing. James shifted, swallowing thickly but continuing on despite that. He’d been shoving everything down too long. He’d never gotten the chance to say what he wanted to, and given the way things were, it didn’t look as though that was going to be an option again, and so he bravely said, ‘I know I'm angry, but what did you expect? You chose this.’

‘Chose? You think I chose this?’ Regulus scoffed, ‘I had no choice.’

‘You chose to go back to them. You let the shame and disgust get to you. I left Lily for you, broke her heart, and then it was 'sorry I'm going back to my nutty mother so she’s not embarrassed of me',’ James said.

‘It’s more…’

‘Complicated?’ James finished, guilty grey eyes looking up at him, ‘it’s simple to me. I was ready to give you everything. A home, a life. I was going to blow up my life, hurt Lily, and risk losing Sirius, and that wasn’t enough. And they kicked you out anyway.’

‘They didn’t,’ Regulus admitted, ‘I left because you were right.’

‘Well, I'm glad you finally saw sense,’ James said, ‘but I'm with Isobel now. I’ve moved on. Isobel loves me.’

‘Does she?’ Regulus probed, the flashes of Sirius’ adoring gaze flashing in his mind.

‘Of course she does,’ James snapped, ‘and I love her.’

‘And you don’t love me?’ Regulus asked, moving forward and taking James's hand in his. James looked at it, his throat thick with tears.

‘I can’t,’ he whispered.

‘James, please,’ Regulus pleaded.

‘You hurt me too much Reggie,’ James whispered, ‘it’s too late… let’s just get through Christmas, yeah? Then we can just—'

‘Forget we exist? Until next Christmas? Or I bump into you and Sirius,’ Regulus said thickly, ‘or I get the invite for your wedding.’

‘At least I’m her first choice,’ James sighed, pulling his hand from Regulus’ and moving away. Regulus watched him walk up the corridor, tears gathering in his eyes. James brushed his away quickly, a sniffle relieving the lump formed in his throat by the time he got back to the foyer.

As he got there Sirius was just emerging from the ballroom looking harried, ‘where have you been? I thought you were looking for Iz?’

‘I was,’ James said, clearing his throat when his words came out uneven and thick.

‘I saw you leave with Reg,’ Sirius said, his curiosity evident even if he didn’t ask an outright question.

‘Yeah, Mum asked me to get him out from the moping corner,’ James said.

‘Where is he?’ Sirius asked.

‘Dunno,’ James lied.

‘You two didn’t talk about anything?’ he probed.

‘No, look mate, I don’t really give a fuck where your brother’s gone to suck the Christmas cheer from. I just wanna find Isobel and enjoy the party, yeah?’ James said, realising how harsh his words sounded when Sirius’ eyes widened. He recovered quickly, his suspicion about Regulus throwing him under the bus running wild, though it eased as he said, ‘I’ll help you,’ and James said nothing but nodded. Whatever had gone on between the pair of them hadn't involved Regulus’ suspicions, but it wouldn’t take long before he opened his mouth. And in that case, Sirius would have to find Isobel first.

✵✵✵

A party at the Potters' was perfectly lovely. Fine dining, nice music, and lovely company, not to mention the who's who of the wizarding world, which would always come in handy for those attempting to get ahead in pretty much any field they wanted. But for Isobel it was too overwhelming. And that wasn’t even the fault of the party itself. From Regulus glaring at her, James being all over her for no reason, and Sirius sticking to them like glue, the whole thing was just too much to bear, and so she’d slipped away, spending a long time in the upstairs bathroom, and when she had bothered to venture downstairs, she still hadn't gone back to the party, finding the kitchen packed with food and booze far more alluring.

She was sitting at the long counter, a plate of canapés and a glass of champagne beside her, watching the house-elves flit about continuously to make sure the party continued as planned. Too busy with the task at hand, they pretty much ignored her, which she was thankful for, as her head was spinning. So much so that she didn’t hear the opening of the kitchen door until there were a set of black boots in front of her, obscuring her eyeline from the stone floor. Sirius.

‘Hey,’ he said, as she looked up at him wide-eyed.

‘Hi,’ she breathed. Sirius looked around, quickly scouting that his brother was nowhere around but using that pretence to stay anyway, ‘have you seen Reg?’

‘No,’ she said quietly. Sirius nodded, and then he took a seat at the counter beside her, taking a sip of her glass of champagne. They watched one another quietly before Sirius said, ‘what are you doing in here?’

‘Hiding,’ Isobel said quietly.

‘From?’ he asked, picking at the pastry on a tartlet on the plate beside him until it crumbled onto the white ceramic.

‘I don’t know,’ she admitted, looking at him steadfastly. Her green eyes were uncertain and somewhat sad. It made him swallow thickly.

‘What about you?’ she asked.

‘Not important,’ he said, his brother a million miles away from his thoughts at the moment. After all, nothing had happened between them. If Regulus did decide to tell James anything, there’d be nothing to tell. She’d already told him she’d chosen James. All these feelings stirred up inside him were just his. Even if he wanted her to share them, which was probably why he said, ‘I missed you today.’

‘Sirius,’ she said quietly. He ignored her, words falling out of his mouth without thought.

‘Listening to James bang on about you. Reminded me why I’d been avoiding him. I knew he’d noticed, but it was hard listening to him talk about you at the office. Watching you come in and eventually end up at his desk,’ he admitted.

‘Sirius,’ she said again.

‘I know I had a chance and I let it go,’ he said, looking up at her instead of his now destroyed food. She was watching him sadly, though it didn’t look like pity, and that’s why he didn’t feel foolish asking, ‘if I said it now. If I tried again, would you give me a second chance?’

‘Sirius, I can’t hurt him,’ she said quietly, her hand on the back of his crumb-laden fingers.

‘You think I can?’ he asked. As a house-elf bustled past, claiming the empty champagne glass from between them, she seemed to come to her senses, brushing her hand across her face as she stood up and said, ‘I should go.’

‘Iz please,’ Sirius said, standing up too.

‘Sirius stop,’ she protested, but he didn’t, grabbing her by the arm and pulling her into the alcove.

They weren’t really concealed here, but it was out of the hustle and bustle of the main kitchen, with countertops housing appliances and gigantic fridges and freezers lining the wall. There he held her to him, his hand on her face. Isobel placed a hand on his chest to stop him, though she didn’t push him away like she could have, should have.

‘Sirius,’ she said thickly.

‘I don’t want to hurt him. But I can't watch you love him anymore; I should’ve said something, but I didn’t. But I'm saying it now. ‘Please let that be enough,’ he pleaded.

‘We can't,’ she whispered.

‘Then kiss me,’ he said, hastening to beg when her eyes went wide, ‘if I have to watch you and him, just give me one little thing. Just something. I mean, I can even conjure some mistletoe if you want-'

He was rambling, and then all of a sudden he wasn’t, his lips stalled by hers, his whole body pulled against hers, and she ensnared her arms around him. And given this was likely to be the only one he got; Sirius didn’t waste a moment of it. He would kiss her until he was blue in the face. Till he was starved of oxygen, because even collapsed, his brain was surely only to think of her. She consumed him, the way she had for months. He was making the most of it, which was why when the door opened, there was no denying what was going on. If he was on trial, his lawyer probably would’ve told him to plead guilty.

‘You have got to be fucking kidding me,’ Remus sighed, making them instantly pull apart. Isobel looked at him panicked, but he’d already held his hands up in defence, which made sense given Remus was angrier than she’d ever seen him.

‘Moony,’ Sirius said calmly.

‘What are you doing? Are you actually stupid?’ he continued.

‘Mate,’ Sirius retorted.

‘Don’t mate me! What about James, you know, your mate?’ Remus said.

‘It’s not—’ Isobel said, but Remus glared at her, rolling his eyes as he said, ‘Spare me the cliché. Actually, don’t even bother telling me what's going on because James is looking for you, so why don’t you save your sob story and go and find him before he comes in here and asks us why we’re all standing around?’

Isobel looked shocked at the firmness of the man, but Sirius knew this Remus; he’d only ever seen this Remus once, and that had been the last time he’d severely fucked up. But this didn’t feel like a fuck-up. She’d kissed him.

When the door clicked closed they looked at each other, daring the other to speak until Remus sighed and said, ‘Well?’

‘Mate don’t,’ Sirius sighed.

‘Don’t what? Call you out on this bollocks?’ Remus scoffed.

‘I know I’m stupid okay,’ Sirius said petulantly.

‘Do you?’ Remus baulked.

‘Yes!’ Sirius snapped, ‘I know I’m stupid to kiss her. I know I shouldn’t even like her, but I do. I have from the first moment we saw each other walking to work. From the moment she swanned into my office of all offices. And you know what? She liked me. She kept coming back for me. Begging for my attention! And that terrified me because I liked her. So I fucked it up like I always do. When James showed interest, I practically pushed her at him. No regard for what she wanted or me; I just tossed her like a grenade and blew up my life.

‘Pads,’ Remus said sympathetically. He almost looked as though he was going to put a reassuring hand on the boy's shoulder, but he pulled away, his eyes stinging and glossy.

‘And you know what?’ Sirius said, finally looking at Remus’ sympathetic face, ‘it worked. He loves her and I’m miserable. Have been since their first date, watching every bit of it. Even went with him this morning and found him looking at fucking rings…all ‘cause I was too chicken to just be honest.’

‘So now you’re blowing up his life too?’ Remus frowned.

‘No,’ Sirius sniffled, shaking his head, ‘course not.’

‘You kissed her,’ Remus reminded him.

‘I had to just once before,’ Sirius said thickly, the ring James had pointed out flashing in his mind. He’d nodded and made some agreeable comment before making his excuse to leave the room, the idea of an engagement making his stomach churn. Remus placed a hand on his shoulder.

‘You have to tell him,’ he said quietly.

‘No.’

‘Pads,’ Remus sighed.

‘He’ll hate me,’ Sirius said. Losing Isobel had been bad enough; he couldn’t lose James as well.

‘And when he finds out? Tomorrow or ten years from now, do you think he’s going to be more forgiving knowing you lied?’ Remus asked, ‘mate I know it's hard, but this is James we’re talking about. Even if he’s angry…he's understanding. You have to tell him.’

‘And if I don’t?’ Sirius mumbled.

‘It won't come to that,’ Remus affirmed, ‘you love him too much.’

Sirius sighed and then nodded, allowing the taller boy to put an arm around him, holding him together as they headed out of the kitchen and back to the party. And then, once they were out of sight, Regulus emerged from where he’d been listening. He hadn't anticipated anyone coming in this nook, the side of the refrigerator too cold and dusty for anyone to bother even if it was the perfect concealment spot. Now his head was spinning. For James to pick someone else was one thing. For him to pick someone who didn’t even love him was another. And if Sirius wasn’t going to tell him, he was.

✵✵✵

The start to Christmas Day in the Potter household was a subdued one. Sirius and Isobel barely looked at one another, though he did share guilty looks with Remus. Regulus stayed quiet, the most he offered being a thank you to the Potters, who had bought him several gifts so that he wasn’t left as the only one with nothing to open. And if none of them knew any better, it felt as though James was trying to make them all crack under the strain. Even for an outrageously affectionate and caring man he was over the top, lavishing Isobel with gifts and never allowing her to stray from his touch for more than a few seconds. It made Regulus’ stomach churn with jealousy.

‘Well, that looks as though we’re about done,’ Fleamont said, surveying under the tree once more and finding it finally empty.

‘I swear there’s more every year,’ Euphemia said.

‘There is more every year. I should know; I sign the bank withdrawal slips,’ Fleamont teased as he took a seat beside her, his large hand encroaching on her smaller one as he did. Euphemia rolled her eyes as he said, ‘but I’d have it no other way.’

‘I should hope not,’ she said, kissing his cheek quickly.

‘Actually, there’s one more present,’ James said, diverting attention from the couple to him. He was sitting in an armchair, Isobel perched on his lap from where he’d pulled her to sit with him.

All eyes watched him shuffle, jiggling her as he reached a hand into his pyjama pants pocket to reach something out. Then he produced a small, square box-shaped present and offered it up to Isobel. Her eyes went wide, and for the first time all morning, she found her gaze flicking to Sirius. He looked away, his eyes staring at his sock-covered feet and then the pattern of the carpet below it. He could feel others’ eyes flick to him, but then they went right back to the couple. James was watching her, encouraging her to open it.

Isobel tore the paper off, revealing the velvet box to her. Her stomach was churning as her fingers felt for the seam and clicked it open.

‘Oh James, they're beautiful,’ she said, staring at the pair of diamond earrings that twinkled in the lamplight.

‘Do you like them?’ James smiled.

‘Course I do,’ she said, her nerves subsiding the moment she saw them, though the guilt didn’t ebb. The guilt of having him spend so much on her. The guilt of not deserving them, or the way that he cared about her. The guilt because of the surge of relief she had felt when it wasn’t a ring.

‘Come on then, show us,’ Fleamont said, gesturing for Isobel to show them. She turned the box outward, flashing the earrings to a sea of lukewarm faces. All apart from Euphemia, who said, ‘Oh, aren’t they lovely!’

‘Should be for all the dawdling I did picking them out. I think we looked at every piece of jewellery in the place,’ James smiled.

‘As any man should. It’s the thought that counts after all,’ Fleamont said before he stood up and said, ‘right. Now that we’re officially done, how about we get some breakfast?’

‘Sounds good to me,’ Peter said, clambering up from where he’d been sitting on the floor by the fire. James nudged Isobel to stand up and then followed behind his father towards the dining room. Euphemia, Remus, and Peter walked through too, chatting about their gifts. Sirius trailed behind, Regulus a step behind him, though as the others turned into the dining room, he yanked on his brother's sleeve, stopping him in his tracks. Sirius looked at him in confusion.

‘What happened to the ring?’ he asked, his voice urgent but low.

‘I don’t know. Wait, how do you know about the ring?’ Sirius asked, trying to rack his brain about when Regulus could’ve possibly heard about that. He’d only mentioned it to Remus, ‘you spied on me!?’

‘I was staying out of the way; it wasn’t my fault you decided to have your lovers—’

‘Will you shut up?!’ Sirius whispered furiously, checking the door to the dining room was still out of earshot. Regulus folded his arms across his chest, looking indignant at being chastised like a child.

‘You need to tell him,’ Regulus said simply.

‘This has nothing to do with you,’ Sirius said.

‘It’s not fair to him,’ Regulus said, ignoring the accusation. On the contrary, he saw this to be his business. Even if James didn’t want him, he couldn’t let them do this to him. Worse, he couldn’t watch him marry someone who didn’t truly love him.

‘Why do you even care?’ Sirius scoffed, ‘a few months ago you didn’t care for him or even me for that matter. Only since mother dearest kicked you out have you bothered about my life—

‘Maybe that’s because you were always too busy with him, your real brother, to notice me,’ Regulus said, ‘then again, if this is how you treat the people you supposedly care about, maybe I was better off. Tell him, or I will.

‘If you tell him I’ll never forgive you,’ Sirius said.

‘I don’t care,’ Regulus said firmly, and then he strutted past his brother into the dining room.

✵✵✵

Dinner was a tense affair. Sirius was seated next to his brother and yet barely spoke to him other than when absolutely necessary. Isobel kept glancing their way, her own contributions just as minimal even though the Potters took an interest in her, their opportunity to grill their son’s new beau not having arisen till now. And James kept looking at Regulus. He couldn’t help it. Every so often he’d look his way, unable to allow himself to be happy just being with Isobel on Christmas despite what he’d told him.

‘You go,’ Isobel said, still rifling through the makeup bag looking for something. They were only going for drinks downstairs, but there were guests, and so Euphemia insisted they dress up for the occasion. He adjusted his tie, glancing in the mirror in the hall on his way down before he headed down to the drawing room. The fire was crackling away to itself, illuminating the entire room in a warm, golden glow. And there by the drinks trolley was Regulus. He turned as James entered, the creak of the door meaning that he couldn’t escape back to the hall.

‘Evening,’ James said, clearing his throat and moving towards the drinks cabinet himself. Regulus watched him, eyes boring into his face as he fixed himself a scotch and then downed it in one before pouring another. James glanced his way before he took another sip.

‘You know a picture would last longer,’ he grit.

‘Don’t marry her,’ Regulus said, the words slipping out of his mouth before he could stop it. James looked at him wide-eyed before he said, ‘what are—’

‘I know about the ring, and I don’t know when, but please don’t marry her,’ Regulus pleaded.

‘How do you even know?’ James said before it dawned on him, ‘Sirius had no right to tell you about—’

‘If you’re marrying her because you’re angry at me, you don’t have to,’ Regulus implored.

‘I’m not doing anything for you. I’ve moved on Regulus. I’m happy, and if I want to marry Isobel, I will,’ James said indignantly, moving to sit on the couch just as the door opened, his parents filtering in. James didn’t look over at him, allowing him to blend into the background as his friends came down and his parents, family, and friends started to arrive.

But the thought never left his mind. He’d been in a tailspin since Regulus had arrived, and he’d barely been thinking when he’d picked the ring out at the jewellery shop. Because he did love Isobel. In the short amount of time they'd been together she had made him happy, or at least she had been the first thing to make him happy in a long time. And watching her chatting with Remus by the fire made him happy. It also made the ring box that was sitting in his pocket start to burn, and before he knew it, he was standing up.

‘You alright, mate?’ Sirius asked as he left their conversation, but James ignored him, moving towards her. Isobel and Remus looked towards him as he got near, expecting him to join the conversation, though he took her hand and pulled her towards him.

‘Fine, just something I wanted to ask Isobel,’ he said, pulling her to him.

‘James, what are you doing?’ she asked as he pulled her to the middle of the room. Almost everyone was looking at them now.

‘I wanted to say something. I was going to hang on, but watching you just now, I have to do it,’ James said, ‘Isobel I love you.’

‘James,’ she whispered as he pulled a small box from his pocket.

‘I know it’s not been very long, but you’ve made me so happy. Happier than I’ve been in a long time,’ he said.

‘Oh my,’ Euphemia said, clutching at her husband's arm as she watched the pair of them.

‘James, please,’ Isobel whispered, her eyes flicking to Sirius behind him, who was watching ashen faced.

‘Mate, maybe you should listen to her,’ Remus whispered, but James ignored him.

‘And I just wanted to ask you if you would—’

‘James stop!’ she said, clamping her hand around the box as he opened it. He looked at her confused, and she had to swallow to make her voice come out even though it was unsteady anyway, ‘I can't. I can't marry you.’

‘What?’ he asked.

‘I can’t,’ she whispered.

‘Why not? I know it's soon, but we're happy, right? You love me, and I love you, and—'

‘I kissed Sirius,’ she whispered. His words stopped, his hazel eyes watching her in disbelief for a second before his brain seemed to kick in as he whispered, ‘what?’

‘I k-kissed Sirius,’ she said.

‘No, I heard,’ James scoffed, ‘I just don’t understand.’

‘I can explain,’ Isobel started, but he’d already rounded on Sirius, who’d stood from his seat the moment he’d been outed.

‘You kissed her?’ James shouted.

‘Maybe we should leave,’ Euphemia said, though no eyes left the group, far too interested in the drama of it all.

‘It’s not that simple. I can explain, please,’ Sirius started.

‘Well, you either kissed her or you didn’t,’ James spat, ‘when?’

‘What?’ Sirius asked.

‘When did this happen?’ James asked, looking between them both expectantly. Isobel dropped her eyes to the floor, her sudden confidence at speaking up now absent, especially as James continued, ‘When?’

‘Last night,’ Sirius said.

‘Last night so,’ James said, his thoughts were coming too fast for him to say anything coherent, though his attention was caught by someone watching from behind Sirius, ‘Is this your doing?’

‘What?’ Regulus said as all eyes turned to land on him.

‘Is this something to do with you?’ James pressed, moving away from Isobel altogether, seething as he asked, ‘did you put him up to this?’

‘Of course not!’ Regulus snapped.

‘No, all that don’t marry her bollocks before!’ James shouted, ignoring his mother and father as they hurriedly tried to get their friends out the other door, an audible gasp escaping Euphemia's lips as he swore.

‘You told him not to marry her?’ Sirius asked, looking at Regulus.

‘I was right, wasn’t I?’ Regulus snapped.

‘So you knew?’ James baulked, ‘why didn’t you say so? You know what? Forget it.’

‘James, please,’ Isobel said, attempting to grab his hand as he started to storm past them, but he yanked it out of her hand.

‘Mate,’ Sirius said.

‘I’m not your mate,’ James snapped as he stormed from the room, shoving Regulus hard with his shoulder as he got in his way.

✵✵✵

The knocking had been incessant for a while, mostly Isobel, who had been begging him to open the door without any success. He hadn't been looking where he was going when he stormed out of the room; he just wanted to get out, to get away from them all. Isobel and her guilt. Sirius and his betrayal. Regulus and his concern despite being shouted at. He just needed to think, away from them all, and so he’d landed in his father’s study, somewhere, thankfully, with a lock.

Eventually, after mumbled discussions that were hard to make out through the door, though he was sure he could hear Remus acting as the voice of reason, outside went quiet. If only his brain would. He didn't know how long he’d been in here, thinking, but he was startled when he heard another knock at the door. He ignored it, but it came again.

‘Go away,’ James snapped when the knocker tried once more.

‘Darling, it’s me,’ his mother’s worried voice rang out from the other side of the wood, ‘open the door, sweetheart.’

‘I don’t want to see anyone,’ James replied, his voice becoming thick as he spoke, though he tried to keep it cordial for her. It wasn’t her fault after all.

‘Oh darling, at least let me put my eyes on you. Just so I know you’re alright. Everyone’s gone… it’s just me,’ Euphemia promised. James thought about it, and knowing his mother’s nature, both determined and caring, he knew there wasn’t much point in refusing her, and so he stood from where he’d been sitting on the floor, knees hugged to his chest and moved to open it.

‘There you are,’ she said with a sad smile. He dropped his gaze to the floor, knowing his eyes were red and blotchy. Euphemia pretended not to notice as she said, ‘are you okay sweetheart?’

‘Not really,’ James admitted, earning himself a sad sigh.

‘Maybe you should come out of there. Have something to eat or head to bed,’ Euphemia reasoned.

‘If it’s all the same to you, I think I want to be alone and… Isobel’s in my room,’ he mumbled.

‘Right,’ Euphemia said, cursing herself for not having realised, ‘do you want some tea or something? A bite to eat?’

‘No mum,’ James said, trying to fake a convincing tone and smile, ‘I’m fine. I promise.’

‘Me and your father are just a stone’s throw away if you need us,’ she promised, placing her hand on his cheek and patting it before she sighed and moved away, leaving him to shut the door behind her. He rested his head against it as he turned the lock, steadying his breathing into something that didn’t have a chance of devolving into another round of crying.

Eventually he pulled back and turned around, where he found Sirius now sat on the window bench, closing the window behind him as though he’d just climbed through. James folded his arms across his chest and glared, ‘I don’t want to talk to you.’

‘I know,’ Sirius said, pulling a cigarette from behind his ear and then his wand from his pocket to light it. James scoffed.

‘Guess I shouldn’t be surprised. You just seem to do whatever you want these days anyway,’ James said.

‘That’s me,’ Sirius said, taking a long drag of his cigarette and looking at it between his fingers as he exhaled and added, ‘no thoughts, just actions.’

‘Am I supposed to disagree with you?’ James challenged.

‘No, but I'm hoping it’ll let me explain,’ Sirius said earnestly, looking at his best friend with pleading eyes. James had half a mind to tell him to stuff his explanation and throw him out on his ear, but this was Sirius. That was never going to happen. With a sigh he took a seat on the window bench beside him, staring across the room at the vast bookshelves full of old tomes and trinkets. They were quiet for a moment. Finally, James sighed.

‘Go on then. Go ahead and tell me how none of this is your fault,’ James said.

‘Oh, it’s one hundred percent my fault,’ Sirius said, glancing at the boy next to him who watched him silently, ‘because I watched it. I watched it all, and I did nothing to stop it.

‘What are you talking about?’ James muttered. Sirius looked at him pained.

‘I love her. Have done for a while. I didn’t mean it; we were just friends at first, but then it started being more than that, and I got scared. Remember the night we went to that pub?’ Sirius asked, placing his sagging cigarette into an ashtray on the table beside him.

‘Yeah,’ James frowned, his mind automatically running over the whole night trying to remember every inch of it.

‘It was supposed to be a date…just us two,’ Sirius said meekly.

‘But you said—’

‘You presumed it was a mates thing, and I didn’t say no. I saw an out,’ Sirius admitted, ‘because it was easy when it was just us…then it became real. Labels and that and-’

‘You pushed her away,’ James said, the dots connecting faster than ever. After all, hadn't that happened to him? He had been ready to give up everything for Regulus, who’d run at the first moment things got real.

‘Yeah,’ Sirius sighed.

‘What did she say?’ James asked.

‘We didn’t really talk about it. She told me you’d asked her out, putting the feelers out, but I lied and said I was happy for the pair of you,’ Sirus admitted.

‘That’s why you’ve been AWOL.’ James said, rolling his eyes.

‘It was hard… to see you with her,’ Sirius said.

‘Why?’ James scoffed, ‘sounds like she didn’t even like me anyway.’

‘That’s not true,’ Sirius said firmly. James looked at him sceptically.

‘I mean she agreed to go out with you. She can't have disliked you that much,’ Sirius reasoned.

‘She liked pissing you off probably,’ James muttered.

‘Okay, maybe initially, but she does love you,’ Sirius said, James scoffed, ‘it’s true!’

‘How do you figure?’ he asked.

‘Because… because she didn’t kiss me. I asked her to,’ Sirius said, dropping his gaze and taking another drag of his cigarette as a reason not to look his way. James said nothing, watching him closely when he finally met his eyes. Sirius sighed, ‘I didn’t realise how much I loved her till she showed up the other day. Pushing her away, I don’t know, it didn’t lessen it, but it took the sting out of it a bit. Then she was here, in my face, and it was unbearable. Then you... you bought the ring, and it was like my world stopped. I couldn’t say anything; I didn’t want to hurt you, but the thought of you two together forever… Having to see it, pretend forever... I just didn’t think—'

‘You could live knowing that was it?’ James asked. Sirius nodded.

Again silence fell. The pair of them stared out into the room, unspeaking, until finally James took the cigarette from Sirius’ fingers and took a long drag of it, smirking before he handed it back. Sirius took another toke himself.

‘So what now?’ James sighed.

‘Fuck knows,’ Sirius said.

‘I mean... do you want to be with her? Does she want to be with you?’ James said, taking a deep breath as he stumbled over the words. Sirius paused guiltily.

‘I know I do,’ he said, ‘selfish as it is…I don’t know about her.’

‘I suppose I better go and talk to her,’ James sighed, standing up. Sirius dabbed his cigarette out in the ashtray and stood too, watching as James trudged to the door.

‘Prongs,’ Sirius said, making the other boy turn, eyebrows raised expectantly, ‘after that you might want to speak to Regulus.'

‘Why?’ James asked, heart hammering in his chest.

‘Because pushing people away is kind of a family trait,’ Sirius said, his eyes watching James knowingly, ‘but that doesn’t stop us from caring…loving people.’

‘Sirius-’

‘You’re a good bloke. More forgiving than most, even when it’s not deserved…but you deserve to be happy too,’ Sirius said. James swallowed and then nodded before he slipped from the room.

✵✵✵

‘Well, that looks as though we’re about done,’ Fleamont said, surveying under the tree once more and finding it finally empty.

‘Actually, there’s one more,’ James said, pulling a small bag out from the crevice between his back and the couch cushions before leaning over the gap between the armchair and the couch to hand it over to Isobel. She took it from him with a smile.

‘Ooh,’ she said, unsticking the cellotape from where it had glued the top of the bag shut.

‘Yeah it’s just a little something,’ James said as she pulled a long flat box from inside, gliding her fingers along the crease until it opened up revealing a long golden chain with a small red pendant attached to it.

‘Oh James, it’s beautiful,’ she said, trailing her fingers along it as she looked at it with awe.

‘Let me see,’ Euphemia said as she got up to look. Isobel tilted the box so that she could see, as could the others who’d been straining to look.

‘Should I be concerned about you buying my wife jewellery?’ Sirius joked, looking at his mate with a smile. James rolled his eyes.

‘Well, people usually buy stuff for the baby instead of mum, so we thought it would be a nice gesture,’ James said.

‘And it’s a garnet,’ Regulus said from beside him, ‘the baby’s birthstone. Well, when she gets here.’

‘He,’ Sirius said, scowling at his brother.

‘I don’t know,’ Regulus mused, ‘I like to think you’ll have a girl just to picture the look on dear old father’s face when he realises the Black heir is a woman.’

‘Yeah well, he won't know about it from me,’ Sirius muttered, dropping to Harry, who had been sitting quietly on his lap before he’d started fussing, ‘I like to think his first grandchild having two dads would have already finished the old coot off.’

‘Sirius,’ Euphemia chastised, though there was a glint in her eye when she said it. Sirius smirked.

‘Well, whatever they think, it doesn’t matter,’ Isobel said firmly, ‘because we don’t them. This is our family.’

‘Yeah,’ James agreed, his hand slipping into Regulus’s. Sirius leaned his head against Isobel's knee, allowing her to stroke his hair gently as Harry stood up, smashing his tiny fists into his godfather’s face for attention. Sirius pulled his nephew towards him, littering kisses along plump cheeks. James’ heart swelled. It might not have been the easiest path to go down, but he wouldn’t have changed it for the world.

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