GOOD TALK
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"HAPPY CHRISTMAS, SEPHY!"
Sera groaned in pain when she felt someone jab an elbow into her ribs while simultaneously crushing her. She didn't even need to open her eyes to know that it was James who had decided to wake her in a not so gentle manner.
"Happy Christmas, Jamikins," Sera patted his back, her voice slightly strained from having had the air knocked out of her, "Now could you get off me before I die of suffocation?"
"Where is your Christmas spirit Sephy?" James asked her and she finally opened her eyes to find him grinning down at her, his hair even messier than usual.
"I think it was broken along with my ribs," Sera tried to push him off her. She noticed Sirius standing in the doorway, smiling at the scene of her being crushed underneath James. "Wipe that smile off your face."
"Come on, Sephy!" Sirius grinned, "Don't be a downer at Christmas."
James finally rolled off her, "It's time for presents!" he shouted before running out of her room, past Sirius, almost knocking him over before the grey-eyed boy ran after him.
Sera laughed at his excitement and rolled out of bed. She then calmly walked down the stairs and into the living room where a beautifully decorated Christmas tree stood. Underneath it laid more presents than she'd ever seen under one tree.
They were all neatly wrapped in glossy Christmas wrappings, mostly in red and green, with golden ribbons around them. It looked almost like one of those Christmas cards muggles sent to each other that her brother had brought home from work.
The only thing that ruined the perfect image was the two idiots who sat by the tree, searching for the gifts with their names on them. Sera laughed at their childishness, walking over to sit down on the couch close to the tree.
"How old are you two?" Sera snorted when she saw them rip the paper like wolves devouring their preys. "My nephews take more time opening their presents."
"Don't be such a downer, Sephy," James said, inspecting the broomstick servicing kit he had just opened. He then picked up a present that wasn't as neatly wrapped as the others and threw it to her. "Join us and experience what's Christmas is really about: gifts." Then in afterthought he added, "and you know, being with all the people you love too."
Sera rolled her eyes at him and snorted loudly when James crawled under the tree in search of more gifts. Her attention then turned to the soft present in her hands.
Happy Christmas Seraphina
Best wishes from Arthur & Molly with family
Sera unwrapped it and wasn't surprised when she found a dark red, knitted Christmas jumper inside with a large golden 'S' on it. Ever since Molly had married Arthur she had knitted Sera a jumper for every Christmas, always red and gold.
Gryffindor colours.
Sera scolded herself for thinking that way. She should be grateful that Molly had taken the time to knit a jumper for her. It was a more thoughtful gift than just buying her some candy like her father used to do. Which was also a nice gift, but not very personal.
"Whoever gave you that clearly doesn't know you," Sirius snorted, looking at her jumper sceptically.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Sera asked defensively.
"It's red," Sirius deadpanned, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "And not even a nice shade of red. Which shows that the person who gave that to you doesn't know you because you only ever wear red once every year, during Christmas, and it's always crimson red like your hair or sometimes burgundy."
"Weeeeell," Sera dragged it out while pulling the jumper over her head, causing her already messy morning hair to become static, "now I'm wearing this. And stop taking notes of what clothes I wear. Jamikins, your friend is being creepy."
James reached over and smacked the back of Sirius' head. "Don't look at what she wears," James ordered. "And stop talking you two. There are plenty more presents for both of you to open."
"I got more presents?" Sera asked in disbelief.
"Of course, sweetheart," Euphemia exclaimed as she and Fleamont entered, carrying five glasses of butterbeer and the Christmas cookies they had baked after cleaning the kitchen the previous day. "You are family."
Sera smiled brightly at that and stood up to walk into Euphemia's open arms, allowing the older woman to hug her. It was a weird feeling for her - and she wondered if this was what motherly affection felt like. Something she had never experienced from her own mother who had died shortly after Sera had been born.
At least that was what her father had told her. The truth was that Seraphina didn't know much about her mother. She had never actually seen a picture of her, so she had no idea what she looked like, so all she knew was her name. Her father never spoke about her and Arthur had never met the woman their father had been involved with after Cedrella Weasley, née Black, had died.
But the way Euphemia Potter managed to make her feel loved with just one hug must be what other people felt when their mother hugged them. "Thank you, Mia," Sera said, "For everything."
. • ⚯͛ • .
Despite that Seraphina had been reluctant to spend Christmas with the Potters when James invited her, it turned out to be one of her favourite Christmases ever. The day was filled with laughter, pranks and food - so much food. The Potter's house elf, Polly, had managed to cook a delicious feast and afterwards they ate all the different sweets Mrs Potter had prepared.
As she laid in bed that night Sera was so full that she feared she wouldn't be able to eat in days. But despite that she was perfectly content as she laid in her bed, staring up the ceiling. She definitely understood why Sirius loved it here. There were so much warmth and love in the Potter household that she knew the Black family lacked from Sirius stories, even though he preferred to not speak about his life at home.
Sera shifted to her other side, not hoping sleep would come to her sooner rather than later. For some reason, despite being more relaxed than she had been in forever, she couldn't fall asleep. An hour had passed since they decided to call it a night and she suspected everyone else was asleep by now.
Eventually she decided that a glass of water would help her find sleep. She threw the covers off her and tiptoed out of her room and down the stairs, hearing James snores through the closed door.
Once downstairs she made her way towards the kitchen. But before she could reach it she stopped dead in her tracks when she heard a sound in another room.
Sera froze like a statue. When she didn't hear anything other than the wind outside she thought she had imagined it. Then she heard footsteps, that was getting louder and louder.
"Polly?" she whispered, not wanting to wake anyone else if it was just the house elf that was cleaning up after their little party.
"Boo."
Sera shrieked, hand flying up to her mouth to cover it as she turned around to see Sirius standing there, a cocky smirk on his face that only widened when anger flashed in her eyes.
"You bloody git," Sera smacked his chest, only then realising that he wasn't wearing a shirt and she didn't know why she was so surprised to find out that Sirius was ripped. Sure, he wasn't big and muscular like some guys at school, but he was lean and muscular, probably courtesy of being a Beater.
Realising that she had been staring for too long Sera looked up at his face instead. "Why aren't you asleep?"
"I could ask you the same thing," Sirius shot back, not even a little flustered about standing there half-naked in the middle of the night.
"I was getting a glass of water," Sera said, "Your turn."
"I had a sugar-craving," Sirius shrugged.
"In the middle of the night?" Sera asked.
"Eh, yes," Sirius said like it was an idiotic question. He then held up a half-eaten Christmas cookie, "Do you want a bite?"
"No, I'm good," Sera told him, shifting a little on her feet when a silence fell over them. Then she noticed how Sirius eyes flicked up, fixing on something above them. An almost sheepish expression took over his aristocratic features. "What?" Sera frowned.
"Mistletoe," Sirius murmured, pointing above them.
"Are you serious right-"
"I'm always Sirius," Sirius smirked.
Sera took a deep breath, knowing that showing how much she hated that joke would only give him more satisfaction. "Are you really expecting to get a kiss after sneaking up on me?"
"I would never do that," Sirius mockingly placed a hand on his heart to show his sincerity. "I was merely pointing out the obvious. You don't have to kiss me. I mean, I can't understand how anyone wouldn't want to try this," he motioned to himself, "but if you are too scared-"
"Scared?" Sera scoffed. "Why would I be scared to kiss you?"
"I don't know," Sirius shrugged innocently - but he was far from innocent. "Maybe you are afraid that once you've gotten a taste of this you won't be able to get enough."
"Trust me. That's the least of my worries," Sera crossed her arms over her chest.
"Sure," Sirius teased, giving her that infuriating smirk that made her want to punch him in the face. "It's nothing to be embarrassed about. Not everyone can handle all of this."
"That's not what this is about!"
"Suuure-"
"Don't say it like that."
"Like what?"
"Like that."
"I have no idea what you are talking about."
"You know exactly what you are doing."
"I really don't-"
Seraphina didn't know what got into her because instead of just walking away or punching him in the face, she placed a hand at the back of his neck and pulled his face down slightly so she could kiss him.
At first she had planned for it to be a quick kiss but once her lips connected with Sirius' it was like her brain turned off. Sirius seemed to have a similar problem because at first he was frozen but then he went into action.
Sirius arms wrapped around her waist to pull her closer as he eagerly responded to the kiss. Sera's arms wrapped around his neck as the kiss grew more heated.
But then Sirius tried to deepened the kiss even more and her brain turned on again. Sera was suddenly very aware of what they were doing and she quickly pulled away.
Sirius eyes slowly opened and he looked - dazed? She didn't think much about it. Instead she patted his shoulder and said the only thing that came to mind before she ran up the stairs, "Good talk."