Waiting for the Player *SEQUEL TO THE PLAYERS* WATTYS 2017

CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

Then, she began to speak, looking at the fireplace now instead.

"I remember the hardest years of my life," she said quietly, "where I dated guys just to distract myself, where I told myself 'now this is the one' every time. Where I used the fact that I was pretty to manipulate and demean all the guys around me by letting them think they had a chance and then dropping them moments later. But I think I've really found the one, Mom," she whispered, the corners of her lips upturning in a sad smile.

Immediately, James, Remus, and Peter turned to look at Sirius, who was nearly in tears. Slowly, carefully, he wiped them away and shook his head, putting on a smile and bounding down the stairs.

"We're awake!" he said in a sing-song voice.

The other three shared a look before plastering on the same big grin and following him down.

"Oh! Hey," Scarlett said, jumping to quickly wipe away her tears before turning around and beaming.

"Are you guys ready to... decorate?"

They turned to look at the undecorated Christmas tree, the only 'decorations' were the lights already built into the tree. There weren't any presents underneath, simply because the five had decided to just give each other the presents they got for everybody. Most of their Gryffindor peers had chosen to go home for Christmas, but few remained that wouldn't be up for another couple of hours at least. 

(idk if this is how this works but it's how we r gonna do it)

The five had been supplied with a box filled to the brim with various ornaments after voicing their request to decorate their own tree. There was no way they were all going to fit on the tree, but they were definitely going to try.

The boys gestured for Scarlett to go ahead, standing back and waiting for her to put the first ornament up.

"Me?"

"Yeah, you. Go ahead!"

Scarlett grinned brighter than Sirius had ever seen her do before. He couldn't help but smile with her, the large smile bringing him more joy than anything else.

She reached in and pulled out a simple red bauble and walked over to the tree, placing it down on a branch carefully. Soon after, all five were positively beaming as they put ornaments on the big tree.

"I need a ladder," Scarlett whined, unable to reach near the top of the tree.

Sirius came over and up under her, picking her up on his shoulders as she shrieked happily.

"Sirius, what are you doing?"

"You said you needed a ladder!"

"You're not a ladder, stupid!"

"Just be steady, oh my Merlin!"

Scarlett giggled while Remus handed her an ornament to put up near the top.

Sirius could see out of the corner of his eye Peter and James whispering to each other and narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

"DECK the halls with boughs of holly, fa la la la la, la la la la," James screeched loudly, completely and totally off-pitch.

Peter followed suit until the two were screaming the lyrics to Christmas carols, swaying back and forth together. Remus joined in, grabbing James' hands and the two began to do what seemed to be ballroom dancing, but... not good.

"You guys need to stop. Honestly," Scarlett groaned, shaking her head.

Sirius began to laugh, but the shaking of his shoulders unsteadied her. She let out a screech and grabbed onto his hair, pulling it in her attempt to hold it tight enough not to fall. Sirius winced.