The next month flew by the way November so often does— dragging its dreadfully heavy feet in the glum of the winter air. It was the month of nothing but putting one heads down and holding onto the edge. The month of willing time to tick faster, of feeling
your chest break every time you woke up and it was still winter.
November was relentless, November was cold, November is the month that so gladly would push you down into the frozen slush of snow and ice.
November was the type of month to make you want to disappear. To blink and for it to be a month where the sky was blue, and your toes didn't freeze every time you went outside. It was heavy, the sort of heavy that made your soul feel like it was made of bricks.
At the beginning of the month, the only thing even a little bit joyful is that it had been Sirius Black's 17th birthday.
In the wizarding world, a wizards 17th birthday is the one they think the most of when they are little. It is the birthday their parents hold over their head like a prize— the when you're 17 you'll be able to do this.
One of Sirius's only positive memories with his father was one of such.
Little Sirius Black, with his perfectly combed hair and perfectly tied bow tie, leaning with his head pressed against the glass case of fancy watches his father had in his study. When the door opened, Sirius flinched—Thinking it was Walburga and he would certainly get in trouble.
Though it was his father, who for once in his life chuckled at his sons antics. Instead of the usual lesson to be taught, Orion Black simply scooped his son in his arms, holding him up so he could see the case better.
"When your 17 my son, you will get a watch like every noble man in our family. Which one is your favourite?"
Orion watched as his son pointed, little stubby fingers stretched out, to a classic silver one, smaller then the others.
"Of course you have my excellent taste," Orion sighed, setting his son down.
Sirius watched as his father reached his hand into the glass case, removing the watch. He walked over to his desk, setting it in the top drawer.
"You'll see it again when you turn 17," he winked.
_
It was memories like this, that as the November skies started to turn, made Sirius feel like for once in his entire life, he truly was a November baby. A cold, cold November baby, grown in a house of ice and raised amongst snowstorms.
Though when Sirius woke up on his 17th birthday— not wanting to wake up at all— a watch did sit in the stack of presents on his bedside left by his friends.
It was a pretty silver, and he turned it around in his hands multiple times before he dared take out of the note sitting in the box.
Sirius,
We are so proud of you for the young man you have become. You are a star Sirius, our shining shining star.
We are always here for you, and we love you with our whole hearts.
All our Love,
Fleamont and Mia
Sirius Black never cried so hard in his entire life. The cold frozen November tears melting into rain as he strapped the watch on his wrist .
That couldn't have fit the tone of the dreadful month more, for as each time a break seemed to come, something worse took of place. As if November spent its down time thwarting how to kill the hearts of everyone before christmas.
For Aveline Rosier, this meant the usual tug of November as of a million pound brick bag was strapped to her. Between Quidditch, homework, prefect duties, and the ridiculous glum mood around the castle, the only time she slept was falling asleep in the occasional desk in history of magic
And perhaps it was this dreadful glum, or the coldness of the month thay chilled you to to the bone, but it didn't go unnoticed by anyone in the castle, how suddenly Aveline Rosier and Remus Lupin couldn't keep their hands off eachother.
If she had any free time it was spent in the library, trying to figure out how she could help her mother out of her current situation.
It was during one of these times, which she was putting her books away just as curfew broke, when the library door pushed open, and in strolled the youngest of the Black brothers.
Regulus and Aveline had once been friends, in the same era in which Aveline first met Sirius. Similar to Sirius, Aveline always found Regulus particular fun when she was little, the two of them often teamed up to annoy Sirius when they were children.
And even with this, she was certainly shocked when he strolled right up to her table, dropping a small wrapped package
"Give this to Sirius please," the boy said, his voice deadpan and not at all full of life.
"Hello Regulus!" She said cheerfully nonetheless. "How are you?"
Aveline Rosier had perhaps the most annoying trait in the world to seem genuine. Even as she asked a question that's as said million times a day in zero sincerity, she had a way of meaning it— as if in that moment she truly cared how Regulus was.
He gave her a look as if to say how do you think, and judging by his eye bags and pissed of expression it clearly was not good.
She eyed the package, it was a small box in birthday wrapping paper.
"Isn't it a little late for a birthday present?" she asked Regulus, as it was now nearly the end of the month, and Sirius's birthday was in the beginning.
Regulus shrugged, looking like the pampered prince version of Sirius as he did.
"Can't have him thinking I care too much now can we?"
There was bite in his words, though an underlying friendly tone. That was the Regulus Aveline knew and adored, the girl sending him a smile as she stood up.
"I hope your doing well," she told him sincerely. "You know if you want I can get Sirius and you can give the present to him yourself-"
Regulus scoffed as if that was the most ridiculous idea in the whole world. Sometimes she couldn't handle the Black brothers and their dramatics.
"Goodnight Aveline."
Her turned to walk away, and Aveline' tried her best not to say anything else. Though conversations of Sirius telling her he was worried about Regulus started playing threw her head. And she started to think about how the once happy little Regulus Black was now hanging around the biggest goons in school.
"Regulus you know we will always be here to help. Sirius and I. Even the rest of our friends, if you ever need anything, we got you without question."
The boy paused, his back turned to her.
"There's other options," she whispered softly.
It lingered between them, so much so she could practically see the words crawl out her mouth and into his mind. Ever so slowly he turned around, giving her the most shattered look she could ever imagine. As if he was a broken china plate, put back together with cheap muggle glue.
"Not all of us have a back up family Aveline."
With that Regulus left, not as much as giving her another glance. It was Aveline's turn to stand in silence, milling the words over in her mind.
And never in her life, had Aveline been more grateful— grateful from her very soul— that she had actual friends. Not the type of friends who were forced to be with her because of her last name, but friends she knew would take a bullet for her without a question.
Aveline never did directly find out what was in Regulus's box. All she knew is that when she handed it to Sirius his hand slightly shook, and he immediately stashed it away in his bag.
After that day though— the day she gave it to him— she noticed he started wearing a chain he hadn't before. It was expensive looking, no doubt real silver, and on it was a small charm of a lion.
Everytime Aveline looked at it she smiled softly, for even though it wasn't much, it was actions like that, that told her maybe everything would be alright.
For in his own difficult way, that was Regulus Black's way of telling his older brother he loved him. That no matter the house color's he adorned, he had him no matter what. It was silent, and perhaps insignificant for many, but for a family like the Black's it was an act of rebellion for Regulus.
And for the first time in a long time, Aveline felt hope.
That maybe, this whole war wouldn't end as badly as she first thought.