𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐬 | 𝐠𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐨 𝐞𝐫𝐚

Chapter 71. Sixth Year Christmas, Part II ☾

"And how is that self-involved?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Whatever." She glanced behind her. "I should hardly have to say this, but dinner is a bust. Sirius decided to make cranberry sauce casserole, and we are now out of corn, sweet potatoes, marshmallows, and peas."

Severus sneered. "He expected us to eat that?"

"No," Harry shook his head, "he expected Remus to."

"He's mad."

"Not as mad as Moony was when he figured out what it was." The brunette shook his head. "Never tell Remus something's pudding when it's not."

"It was supposed to be," Sirius said, bursting into the living room.

"Then why did you add the corn and peas?"

"Well, excuse me, master chef Potter. I was just trying to be creative."

Harry crossed his arms. "I'm sorry. I thought you wanted this to be a nice dinner. If I had made that for the Dursleys, you would have had to dig me up from the backyard and piece me back together with superglue."

"Enough," Hermione said, pushing her way in-between the two. "Obviously, never expect a spoiled wizard to cook a full Christmas eve dinner."

"But what am I going to do when I have a daughter to care for?" Sirius asked, flopping into a chair.

"You have a house-elf," Remus said, throwing his hands in the air.

"But what of when he dies? Kreacher's old…"

"Then you'll have the Potter elves."

"But…"

"No, Sirius Orion Black," Severus said, jumping from his spot on the couch. "You will always have someone caring for you. You are a pureblood, firstborn, heir of a noble house. You will be fine."

"However," Neville said softly, "this little experiment in appetizing cuisine has left us without Christmas dinner."

Remus growled. "You're a student. Go join the rest of the school in the dining hall if you're so picky."

Neville's eyes widened. "What did I do?"

"Don't mind him," Severus said, sighing. "He's just hungry. I remember back from my own time at Hogwarts: never stand between Moony and a good meal." He smirked. "Never fear, we had a back-up plan."

"We?" Hermione asked, arms still crossed.

Draco rubbed the back of his head, eyes staring at the ceiling. "Uncle Sev and I thought it might be a good idea to have a Plan B."

"A Plan B?"

"Yeah…"

"Because you expected Plan A to go so terribly…"

"Now dear…"

Hermione threw her hands in the air. "You were so sure my cooking was going to be awful…"

"No," Draco said, hands held up defensively, "I was so sure Sirius' cooking was going to be awful, and Uncle Sev didn't want Aunt Andy and Uncle Ted to go hungry before he asked Dora to mar…"

Hands clapped over the blond's mouth. "What is your excuse this time, Mr. Black?" Severus asked, glaring. "It's not before seven nor is it after eleven."

"Uhm, I didn't have coffee yet?"

The potion professor rolled his eyes. "Nice try, but I'm putting you into a time-out." The blond pouted. "Just to put away your snake."