The months passed more quickly until before anyone quite knew it Christmas was upon them. The Lupin cottage was alive with chaos in the form of one, Sirius Orion Black. Later they would be joining the Weasleys at the burrow but for now their own festivities were underway. Nuntis stumbled into the room gesturing rudely at Sirius for waking her. Remus sat drowsily on the sofa, hardly noticing when a mug of warm cocoa was pressed into his hand. Caelen for her part was just as excited as Sirius and the duo rushed around delivering gifts to their intended recipients and throwing bits of tinsel and Christmas baubles at one another.
Fetching the tree had been an ordeal in and of itself. Sirius, insisting it would be his first Christmas as a free man in an inordinate amount of time, wanted the largest tree he could find. Remus's points that the cottage was not in fact big enough to accommodate the tree Sirius wanted hadn't deterred him in the least. The resulting compromise was, in Remus's opinion, nothing short of garish. The tree in question stood just barely six feet tall and was positively drooping under the weight of too many decorations. Nearly daily since its arrival in the cottage Sirius and Caelen could be found in the kitchen popping popcorn to string, baking gingerbread men for hanging, or glueing and painting random things until every branch had at least three separate decorations hanging from their ends. One cold morning the week before Christmas had seen Sirius struggling to tie a gnome, adorned with tiny Santa hat and makeshift cotton ball beard, to the top of the tree. The previous adornment, a silver metal star, lay where it had been flung on the sofa.
It had become a bit of a game since then Caelen would climb onto whatever piece of furniture she could push over and feed the little creature bits of Christmas goodies. While Nuntis, insistent that Santa's hat should be green, spent her days changing the color. Sirius on the other hand refused to celebrate with a, "slytherin Santa!", and would change it back as often as he noticed.
Remus was startled from where he'd been dozing when Caelen pounced excitedly into his lap. Sirius turned away to hide his laughter as Remus grunted in surprise. "Hello cub," The man murmured as he brushed his daughter's hair back gently, "happy Christmas."
"Happy Christmas daddy," Caelen greeted in return, a small contented smile gracing her lips. "We've passed all the presents out," she indicated a small pile next to Remus's feet.
"So you have, shall we-"
"-Caelen first!" Sirius interrupted scooping the girl into his arms and spinning her around the room to where he'd piled her gifts. "Here puppy try this one."
Caelen tore the paper away excitedly. She wasn't certain what she'd been gifted but anything she didn't know about resulted in quality time with the ones she loved and that was always a welcome present. She squealed happily earning fond smiles and laughter from the adults in the room.
"It's a Walkman," Sirius informed tugging his goddaughter into his lap, "see these go on like this," he explained placing the headphones over the girl's ears gently. He fiddled with the buttons until music began playing quietly through the machine. "You won't be able to take it to Hogwarts when you go, magic interferes with muggle things, but I wanted you to have it."
Caelen smiled tucking herself deeper into her Uncle's embrace as she listened happily to the cassette.
"And now that you've effectively captured her full attention away from the rest of us," Remus began with a soft chuckle, "we'd best finish opening these hadn't we?"
Caelen passed her new music player to Sirius for safe keeping before running over to her father and pulling a present from his pile. "Open this one daddy, uncle Sirius bought the frame but I made it. It's our pack! You're the big wolf there, uncle Sirius is the doggy obviously, I'm the smallest wolf between you and uncle Sirius and aunt Nuntis is the wolf next to you!" She pointed them out individually.
Remus smiled at the painting, the little wolf ran and pounced on the larger animals as if to show what she was capable of, "I love it Cub thank you."
"Nutty next!" Caelen squealed rushing over to find her gift to her aunt.
The woman opened a small box revealing a braided black cord, its clasp a snake head biting its tail. She smiled placing a gentle kiss to the girl's forehead in thanks.
"I carved the snake head and tail and braided the cord, uncle Sirius turned them to silver for me with magic. It matches you ring." Caelen explained.
Nuntis nodded, "thank you tesero. I love it." Remus translated for his daughter.
Caelen gifted Sirius a photo of the pair of them that Nuntis had snapped. Sirius's face was open and happy as he swung his goddaughter around in a circle, ending with Caelen kissing his head from atop his shoulders. "Thank you puppy," Sirius whispered placing the photo reverently on the table next to him.
Remus received a book about auras and a second about how to train your high maintenance pooch from Nuntis, which he promised to read first chance he got, and a new thick winter cloak from Sirius. "Can't have you catching ill," the black haired man had mumbled.
Nuntis smirked as Sirius opened a container of breath freshening dog biscuits. Her actual gift, a snapshot of the two men when they'd fallen asleep watching a muggle cartoon with Caelen on the couch, would come later. Remus's present for the man was more practical, "thought you might wanna fix another motorbike," he murmured as Sirius fawned over the toolset.
"Merlin Moony," Sirius looked up excitedly, "thanks mate!"
Caelen recieved a silver ring from Nuntis made of interlocking stars, more cassettes for her Walkman from Sirius, and the complete works of Charles Dickens from her father. "I noticed how much you enjoyed my copy of a Christmas carol." Remus stated with a pleased smile.
Nuntis recieved a Gryffindor blanket from Sirius, which must've been spelled to not change with basic transfiguring charms as her first attempts to turn it green failed. Remus's gift was two parts, notebooks for Caelen and Nuntis who's words written in either one magically appeared in the other, and a knitted hat, mittens, and scarf set in black and green.
By lunchtime Sirius and Caelen had fallen asleep on the couch. Remus coaxed them both to the floo and they were off to the burrow.
"Oh Remus you've made it good, happy Christmas! Caelen's already outside with the twins." Molly greeted as Remus appeared through the fireplace.
"Happy Christmas Molly," Remus glanced around Sirius was in the living room talking quietly with Harry. "We all here then?"
"Just waiting on Tonks," Mr Weasley responded as he entered the kitchen.
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"Hey Cae," Harry whispered as he joined his godsister in the Weasley's garden.
Caelen glanced up hesitantly, "hi."
Harry sighed sadly, "go for a walk with me?"
"I 'spose," Caelen mumbled.
Harry tugged gently on the girl's scarf as they wondered along the path in front of the burrow. "I'm sorry, I was cruel to you and I shouldn't have been."
"Why were you?" The girl whispered.
Harry knelt in front of her, "I was stupid. I thought Sirius was all I had left and I was jealous that you got to spend so much time with him and I was still stuck at the Dursleys. It wasn't fair of me, I'm sorry. Besides, he's not all I have is he?"
"No," Caelen agreed quietly, "you've got me, and daddy, the Weasleys and Hermione."
Harry laughed, "you're right, I'm lucky in that. Forgive me?"
Caelen nodded launching herself at Harry for a hug. She threw her little fist into his shoulder when they released, "don't do it again."
"I won't, I've learned my lesson," Harry promised holding his hands up in surrender.
A woman approached over the hill. Harry pushed Caelen behind him protectively before noticing who it was. "Whatcher Harry, Caelen." Tonks greeted. The woman's smile looked strained, "believe I'm late for a celebration."
Harry moved aside, the duo stared after the usually vibrant woman as she walked to the house. "What's wrong with Tonks?" Caelen questioned quietly.
"Dunno Cae, don't worry though I'm sure she's fine. Now I got you a present," Harry pulled what looked like a wad of wrapping paper out of his cloak. "Had Mrs Weasley knit it for me."
Caelen opened the paper, grinning at its contents, a black stocking cap with little pointed ears on top. She happily pulled it onto her head, "thanks Harry I love it. I wasn't sure if you liked me anymore...I made you a picture but I left it at home."
Harry grimaced, "I'm sorry Cae, I'll always like you, promise. Hopefully I can visit again in summer, you can show me the picture then yeah?"
Caelen nodded.
_____
"Ah Sirius there you are," Molly called pulling the black haired man from the window where he'd been watching his godchildren. "Now I wanted to talk to you. Harry's nearly seventeen now, won't need you as far as parenting goes shortly. Still, could always use a woman's touch. Bill knows some lovely girl's down diagon ally, what are some things you look for in a date?"
Nuntis doubled over in silent laughter. Sirius stared dumbstruck at the woman. "Things? Things I l-look for?" He began in a strangled tone. Molly nodded cheerfully. "Molly I appreciate the gesture, but there's really no need. I'm quite happy helping Remus look after Caelen, looking out for Harry.."
"Oh nonsense, you've been alone long enough Sirius Black now spill. What would it take to get a confirmed bachelor such as yourself off the market?"
Sirius looked panicked, like a cornered animal. He glanced from Molly to Nuntis with increasingly desperate, pleading looks. "Molly you see...well the thing is really. Well I couldn't possibly because uh," he glanced to the living room where Mr Weasley, Remus, and Tonks sat talking then back to Molly until his gaze finally landed on Nuntis. The woman's eyes narrowed as she noticed his expression and she began signing rapidly at him.
"Sirius Orion Black! If you say what I think you're about to say I will gut you like a trout!"
Sirius offered what he hoped was a remorseful smile, "see Molly you needn't trouble yourself, I'm already hung up on Nuntis here." He moved to wrap an arm around the woman's shoulders. Nuts snapped her teeth at him before forcing a grin when Molly turned their way.
"Oh I'm so sorry Nuntis dear, here I am blathering on I had no idea." Molly apologized.
Nuts glared up at Sirius, pressing the heal of her shoes down on his toe. "I'm going to strangle you in your sleep!"
"Nuts says it's alright Molly she knows you didn't mean any harm," Sirius falsely translated for her.
"Tell the truth now or I'm telling Remus the truth!"
Sirius cringed, "the truth is Molly," Sirius began. He glanced pleadingly at Nuntis. "Truth is its all one sided, Nuts here has me firmly friend zoned haven't you love?"
The woman rolled her eyes but didn't attempt to argue.
"Anyway," Sirius moved away from Nuntis, who looked like she might go rabid at any moment. "Even though it's only one sided I couldn't possibly string some poor girl on when my heart belongs to another."
Molly cooed giving the pair a mothering look. She pulled Sirius into a firm hug, "I understand dear. Don't give up, she may come around yet," she whispered the last bit.
Sirius's face took on a hopeful expression, "oh I do hope you're right."
Nuntis stormed over once Molly had gone and stomped on Sirius's foot, pulling his hair harshly as she did so. "You pull another stunt like that Black and you won't need to come out of the closet. I'll throw you out myself. If she starts trying to match up the pair of us I swear to Merlin I'll make you remember why I'm a slytherin."
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Oh my word guys!! Two updates in one month!!!! And I was still in italics lol oooops. Anywho....so you can all thank All_Our_Sins for making a nuisance of herself most of the day yesterday to get me to quit procrastinating and write. Thank you Hotrod 😘 Also for the inspiration behind the first few paragraphs. Loved the gnome idea! I had a lot of fun with this chapter as I'm sure you can tell lol hope you enjoyed it and I will see you again hopefully soon, laters 😊😊😊😊