Frankincense and Myrrh

Title: Frankincense and Myrrh - Revised and Reposted
Author: Crystal Claire
Archive: Here. If you want it (and I\'d be honored), just ask.
Summary: Merry Christmas Cory! Cory\'s challenge was an NC-17
fic containing a heated encounter between Remus and Sirius beneath
the mistletoe, a Christmas Eve party, caroling in some form, a gag
gift and a snowball fight.
Category: Definitely AU now.
Spoilers: PoA, GoF, but not really. I don\'t think you stumbled on
this by chance. If you\'re reading this, you are probably already
familiar with Sirius, Remus, etc.
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: The HP Universe characters belong only to JKR.
Warnings: m/m sex.
Author\'s note: As for Musical!Remus, due credit must go to Scrib
and her story Golden Years for making me completely enamored with
him. I can still see him shimmying around the kitchen in those
leather pants! And Golden Years will never ever be the same for me
again. ;-)

Reposted because part of the fic was missing....

Frankincense and Myrrh
By Crystal Claire

Sirius Black stood for a moment after Apparating to get his bearings. It was beautiful outside the Weasley\'s new home. The fresh snowfall that blanketed the lawn and clung to otherwise bare tree branches glittered in the moonlight. The manor before him, with its red brick and white columns, was fitting for the new Minister of Magic. Unlike Malfoy Manor or even his own childhood home, it was impressive but not ostentatious. It certainly was not the Burrow.

To say the war had been kind to the Weasleys, would have been sacrilege. The Weasleys, like so many others on either side of the war had seen their share of tragedy. And yet, the Weasleys remained unchanged. They were still the unpretentious, loving people that had always been. They opened their home up to friends and family this
first Christmas Eve following the defeat of Voldemort, and Sirius found himself among their invited guests.

It had taken Harry\'s persistence and a near order from Dumbledore to get him there. He would have been more content at home. He had not yet full recovered from the final battle with Voldemort though his body was mending and the paralysis was all but gone. Only a slight limp remained, but he was assured by St. Mungo\'s finest that
that too would fade. What they hadn\'t been able to cure him of were the periods of despair that settled around his shoulders like the worn threadbare blanket given to him long ago in his Azkaban cell. It was familiar and comfortable. It belonged to him, and it was not fabricated for the benefit of others.

He was startled from his thoughts by lilting laughter. A young woman dressed in a bright red down coat and a red knit cap with a gold pompom on top came racing around the side of the house followed by two boys. It was Hermione Granger, and she was taunting the Weasley twins by shaking her hips and telling them they threw like girls. The statement was punctuated with an indignant shriek as one of the Weasley twins landed one square on her chest, the snow splashing up
into her face. After the shock wore off, laughter bubbled out as she watched Ron and another Weasley who must have been Charlie take up arms on her behalf. With unerring accuracy, Ron and Charlie bombarded the twins. They drove the twins back towards the house. It was then that Fred and George spotted sanctuary.

\"No, no! Not the snowmen!\" Hermione cried. The snowmen, three of them, stood watch over a nativity set like the three wise men. Behind the manger, the twins retaliated against the storm of snowballs. The snowmen, innocent bystanders, were caught in the crossfire.

One of the twins\' shots went wide and landed at Sirius\'s feet drawing their attention to him. His feeling of being an interloper in this merry skirmish deepened as a silence fell over the group.

Hermione broke the silence. \"Sirius!\" she shouted and waved a snow-caked mitten. A split second later, the young woman, with the grace of a doe, flounced through the snow to his side and embraced him in a tight hug. \"I\'m so glad to see you.\"

\"I\'m glad to see you, too,\" he answered, trying to return the hug as good as it was given. After a moment, he broke away from Hermione in order to get a better look at the solidly built Ron. He\'d grown up since the last time Sirius saw him.

\"We were afraid you wouldn\'t come,\" added Ron. Sirius didn\'t reply. There was nothing to say that would ring true. Never
one to be shy, Ron pulled him into a hug, but ended it with a manly slap on the back.

\"Mr. Black,\" Charlie, who like Ron was athletic in build and not gangly like the twins, stepped forward with his hand extended. \"It\'s good to finally meet you.\" His hand was wet and cold from packing snowballs.

\"Call me Sirius, and it\'s good to finally meet you, too. I\'ve heard a lot about you and your dragons over the years.\" Sirius
shook the offered hand firmly. Although it could have been construed as rude, he didn\'t mention Charlie\'s efforts in the war. He hoped to avoid discussion of the war tonight, but one glance at Fred and George who stared at him unabashedly with a look of awe tempered by pity, snuffed out of that wild hope. The others noticed their gawking and while Charlie looked mildly embarrassed for his brothers, Ron looked nearly murderous.

\"Everyone else is up by the house,\" Hermione offered, seeing his discomfort. Sirius nodded and gave her a tight smile, belatedly hoping it didn\'t look too grim. He turned to the manor and noticed, for the first time since his arrival, Harry\'s presence. He was leaning against one of the columns waiting. He excused himself and lumbered toward the manor.

He hobbled up the steps with every intention of pushing past Harry without so much as a word, but Harry stopped him. \"I thought you\'d gotten lost.\"

It was one of several familiar exchanges. \"Now, how could a guiding star possibly get lost?\" he answered in mock indignation. \"I only took the more scenic route.\" Harry cracked a smile and Sirius grudgingly returned it.

\"You\'ll be glad you came,\" Harry promised. Sirius merely nodded. He didn\'t want to argue with him any more. And, he had to admit, Harry had often proved he was wiser than his years. He gathered up his remaining scraps of Gryffindor courage and followed Harry inside.

In the spacious foyer, Sirius narrowly avoided a collision with an hors d\'oeuvres carrying house elf. Another elf quickly made apologies and offered to take his cloak. He slipped out of the cloak and relinquished it to him. Harry went on ahead so Sirius took a moment to look about. Festoons of garland and beads hung from the staircase banner and from the arched doorways leading off the foyer. Mistletoe dangled from the chandelier -- a bundle of it, not just an innocent sprig. It was clear to him that someone was hoping for more than just a kiss.

Sirius heard Remus\'s laughter before he entered the foyer. He nearly tripped over his own feet upon seeing him. In a flash, he was upon him, clapping his back, but holding him closely, very much like Hermione had. After a moment, he pulled back and gripped Sirius\'s shoulders. Sirius rested his hands on Remus\'s his hips like he had so many times before.

\"Merry Christmas, Sirius.\"

\"Merry Christmas, Remus.\"

They were nearly nose to nose, but Sirius saw him moisten his lips. It was all the warning he had before Remus\'s lips descend upon his. They were soft, sweet and sorely missed. And without thinking, Sirius answered his movements, his questioning and his searching until he felt it begin. Panic. It fluttered and flailed in his stomach like a hummingbird with broken wings. He pushed Remus away, none too gently. Remus tried not to look wounded and even managed to paste a on a grin.

\"Would you believe Fred and George charmed the mistletoe?\" he asked sheepishly.

They stood there in silence before Remus shifted uncomfortably and then backed away. \"I was on my way to the loo.\" Sirius watched him disappear down the hall and around the corner.

\"Throw the werewolf a bone, would you,\" muttered a voice Sirius was afraid would always haunt him.

\"Still in the habit of spying on people, I see,\" he replied snidely as he turned to face Severus.

Severus\'s pallor was magnified by the black greasy hair and his black robes. He raised an eyebrow, but replied dryly, \"It can\'t be helped.\"

\"Would you just get the fuck out of my life?\"

Snape sneered at him, but not with the old flare. Sirius thought he might have even caught a flash of amusement in the dark eyes. \"If only I could,\" he said as he circled Sirius. \"However, it seems I am duty bound to point out the error of you ways. Lupin cares for you. Why do you push him away? Do you want to die alone someday?\"

\"Who are you, Jacob Marley?\" Severus only furrowed his eyebrows in confusion at the apparent non sequitur. Apparently, he wasn‘t familiar with Dickens. \"Never mind.\" Sirius left him in his confusion and stalked off to find Remus.

He rapped lightly on the bathroom door. \"One moment,\" answered Remus.

\"Remus, it\'s me. Let me in. Please.\"

The door opened slightly and Sirius wedged himself inside and then firmly shut the door behind him. He locked the door and cast a quick silencing charm before turning his attention to Remus. He met his amber-brown eyes and already felt defeated as he took in the hurt and anger.

\"I\'m sorry,\" he offered though the words seemed painfully inadequate. \"I didn\'t mean to hurt you.\"

\"It was my fault. I was wrong to assume --”

\"I was just a bit … overwhelmed,\" Sirius answered though he was sure that nothing would ever be the same including their
stolen moments throughout the war. Like an anointing of fairy dust, it lifted their spirits and let them fly if only for a short while. No words of love were spoken. No commitments were made.

Sirius moved forward and Remus backed up against the sink. Gently, Sirius cupped the weary face and pulled him closer for a kiss. Their lips met tentatively. Soft, warm, comforting. They continued their exploration with more confidence.

Remus broke the kiss. \"Why didn\'t you let come and see you?\"

\"When?\" Sirius asked even though he knew Remus was referring to the stay at St. Mungo\'s. But Sirius caught the look in his eyes, Moony\'s eyes, that said he wouldn\'t play this game. With a sigh Sirius continued, \"You wouldn\'t have wanted to see me that way.\"

\"How would you know?\"

Sirius pulled the shirt tails from Remus’s trousers. \"Trust me, I know.\"

Poppy, a mediwitch, was in tears the first time she saw him and kept apologizing for her lack of professionalism.

Sirius cut off Remus\'s rebuttal with his lips. His tongue searched his mouth hungrily while his fingers fumbled with the belt.

Remus arched into him and Sirius felt his arousal straining for release. He groaned as Sirius cupped him and Remus thread his fingers in Sirius\'s short hair -- St. Mungo\'s idea of a proper haircut, pulling him impossibly closer as Moony tried to consume his mouth, his tongue, his breath. Sirius unfastened Remus’s trousers, and they dropped to his knees.

He hooked his fingers underneath the waistband of the boxers and slid them down so that Remus\'s erection bobbed free. Gripping his hips, Sirius lowered himself to his knees and without any delay took the needy, weeping cock into his mouth. He sucked and stroked meeting Remus\'s thrusts.

And when Remus found his release, Sirius was grateful he had taken the time for the silencing charm because Moony howled in rapture. He swallowed and licked his lips, reveling in Remus\'s bitter and sweet taste.

Remus pulled Sirius to his feet and kissed him. \"Thank you. That was quite a Christmas gift,\" he smirked as he tugged at Sirius\'s belt.

Sirius caught his hands. \"I think we\'ve monopolized the bathroom long enough.\" He planted a small kiss on the tip of Remus\'s nose. \"Later.\"

Remus acquiesced and cast a few spells to straighten their clothes and hair and to remove the lingering smell of sex from the small bathroom. He lightly squeezed Sirius\'s shoulder and then slipped out of the bathroom.

Sirius rummaged through the pocket of his robes and found a stick of gum. He popped it into his mouth and then stared at his reflection in the mirror. The mirror itself didn\'t seem to be charmed, but Sirius couldn\'t help feel it was a stranger that was looking back at him. Black trousers and a black silk shirt clung to his lean, almost lanky frame. His closely cropped head of hair was damp from exertion, but perfectly in place thanks to Remus\'s spell. His pale eyes were framed by dark circles that spoke of little restful sleep, and his cheeks and chin were shadowed with three-day old stubble. He was mildly surprised that neither Harry nor the others said anything.

They were probably too relieved to see him leave the house. He muttered two quick spells to rid himself of the growth and to conceal the dark circles. Slipping a hand into his trousers, he adjusted his erection to a less painful position, fastened his robes closed to mid-chest and left to join the rest of the party.

Sirius glanced about the parlor to find more guests had arrived. He spotted Dumbledore and Hagrid. Hagrid wiggled his fingers in greeting. Sirius set about delivering the required greetings though they lacked the holiday cheer. When his mission was completed, he drifted off to a corner of the room. He watched as Remus drifted
easily from cluster to cluster, politely engaging in conversation and sharing the spirit of Christmas.

\"Hagrid brought us some of his famous glög,\" Hermione announced as she set out a punch bowl full of the potent beverage on the table. Neville helped Ginny in with the punch glasses and a ladle.

\"Infamous is more accurate, Hermione,\" Remus shouted from across the room.

\"I believe it,\" Ron said, stirring the concoction with a ladle as if it was one of Severus\'s potions.

Harry laughed at the face Ron made, but Hermione took the ladle from him and poured him a glass. Ron was no fool. He sipped tentatively, clearly remembering the results of some of Hagrid\'s cooking adventures. His eyes widened in surprise. \"Hey! This is good.\"

\"Mind you don\' overindulge, Ronald Weasley!\" Hagrid chided. \"Yull be sicker than a dog.\" Hagrid\'s warning went unheeded as Ron took another swig.

Sirius knew the potency of Hagrid\'s glög. He served plenty of it up on the night of James\'s bachelor party. Hagrid almost looked scandalized as Sirius filled a punch glass to the brim and down it. He refilled the glass. \"Sirius, have ya gone mad?\"

\"No, Hagrid. Not yet,\" he answered. He ignored the barely audible \"You should know better,\" mumbled by Hagrid.

Arthur Weasley clapped his hands as if coming to an important decision. \"Bill, get the instruments. It\'s time we sang some Christmas Carols.\"

Bill retrieved a cello and a guitar and set them by the piano. Charlie slipped onto the piano bench and Fred picked up the guitar. He made a show of manually tuning the guitar though everyone knew he could use magic to get it perfectly tuned.

\"Ginny, will you do us the honors of starting us off?\" Bill asked his sister. She let go of Neville\'s hand and then conferred quietly with her brothers. She stood nervously before the crowd, but Mr. Weasley gave her an encouraging look. The music began and with the poise and grace of a young woman, she sweetly sang `Silver Bells.\'

Ginny curtsied and then plopped herself on Neville\'s lap. \"Who\'s next?\"

The gathering suffered through the twin\'s performance of `All I Want for Christmas.\' When they threatened to sing `Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer\', Remus confiscated the guitar from Fred.

Remus took the redhead\'s place on the stool. He gave the guitar a few experimental strums. Sirius glanced about the parlor. The Weasley\'s and their guests were in for a real treat. Little did they know that the intelligent but reserved former professor played guitar like Eric Clapton and sang like Jim Croce.

\"Bill, do you know the bass?\" he asked the older Weasley.

\"Sure.\" Bill grinned and transfigured the cello into a bass.

Remus started strumming the guitar. Sirius immediately recognized the bouncy tune. It was a popular rendition of a Christmas carol by the Muggle artists Sarah McLachlan and the Barenaked Ladies – one of Harry\'s favorites. Bill joined in on the bass. When Remus had everyone\'s attention, he began singing.

\"God rest ye merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay. Remember Christ our Savior was born upon this day to save us all from Satan\'s power when we were gone astray,\" Remus crooned. \"Come on Fred and George!\"

The twins were more than happy to oblige. \"O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy, o tidings of comfort and joy.\" Arthur grabbed Molly\'s hand and swept her into a graceful spin. Molly laughed and blushed, but Sirius noted that they were quite good dancers.

\"From God our heavenly father this blessed angel came and unto certain shepherds brought tidings of the same, how that in Bethlehem was born the Son of God by name.\"

\"O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy, o tidings of comfort and joy!\" Ron and Charlie sang with the twins.

\"Again?\" Remus called out as he crossed the room while still strumming.

Percy surprised the crowd by jumping to his feet and belting out the first verse. \"God rest ye merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay. Remember Christ our Savior was born upon this day to save us all from Satan\'s power when we were gone astray!\" Though he was little off-key, he more than made up for it with his enthusiasm.

The other Weasley boys chimed in again. \"O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy, o tidings of comfort and joy!\"

\"From God our heavenly father this blessed angel came and unto certain shepherds brought tidings of the same, how that in Bethlehem was born the Son of God by name.\"

\"O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy, o tidings of comfort and joy!\"

Remus stopped in front of Sirius and waggled his eyebrows before breaking into song. \"O star of wonder, star of night, star with royal beauty bright. Westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light.\"

He gave Sirius a wink and watched him blush. To Sirius\'s immense relief, he walked away and sidled up to Professor McGonagall. He waited expectantly, strumming away.

\"What?\" She looked warily at him.

\"I\'ve heard you sing before Minerva. Come on, show the kids how it\'s done,\" he cajoled.

She tried to squelch a smirk, but failed. She took a deep breath and then began. \"Born a king on Bethlehem\'s plain. Gold I bring to crown him again. King forever, ceasing never. Over us all to reign.\" Almost mesmerizing, her voice was clear and powerful. Stunned, Bill flubbed a few notes on the bass, but then recovered.

\"O star of wonder, star of night, star with royal beauty bright. Westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light,\" Remus again serenaded Sirius, hamming it up. Sirius rolled his eyes, but a tremor of a smile tugged at his lips.

\"Glorious now, behold him arise. King and God and Sacrifice. Halleluiah! Halleluiah! Worship him God Most High.\"

Catching on to what they believed was a gag, Charlie and the twins knelt in front of Sirius. Remus stood behind them as they all sang the chorus. \"O star of wonder, star of night, star with royal beauty bright. Westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light.\" Unable to help himself, Sirius laughed his first genuine laugh in six months. Remus beamed.

\"God rest ye merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay.\"

\"God rest ye merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay.\"

\"God rest ye merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay.\"

\"God rest ye merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay.\"

\"God rest ye merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay.\"

The song was over and Remus handed the guitar back to Fred. At Oliver\'s insistence his date, Angelina Johnson, sang `Song for a Winter\'s Night\'. When she finished, Sirius excused himself and made his way out of the parlor.

Sitting outside on the front steps, it wasn\'t long before he picked up the scent of Dumbledore\'s pipe. \"Beautiful night, is it not, Sirius?\"

Sirius sighed and scooted over. \"Yes, I suppose it is.\"

Albus folded himself onto the step next to Sirius. \"You needed a bit of fresh air.\"

\"Harry sent you?\"

\"He\'s concerned as am I,\" Albus puffed gently at his pipe and then faced Sirius. \"The end of the war times are difficult for most everyone. We don\'t only grieve for the people we lost.\"

\"Harry thinks I should move in with Remus,\" Sirius stated flatly. \"He doesn\'t want me to be alone.\"

\"And you?\" Albus inquired.

\"Remus hasn\'t even offered.\"

Albus smiled faintly, but his periwinkle eyes showed his depth of understanding. \"Sirius, I know it\'s been difficult, but the simple fact of the matter is that Harry cannot be there for you forever. He needs to go his way, and you need to go your way.\"

\"I –,\" Sirius started to argue, but then stopped as he felt the truth of Albus\'s words sink into his heart. Flushed with shame at his attachment to his godson, Sirius looked away. Harry had been there for him when he was lying in a pile of rubble, back broken and consumed with a dark black rage. He was there for him when he was lying in a bed for nearly six months at St. Mungo\'s, filled with despair, but fighting to live. Why couldn\'t he be here for him now? Just until he got through this.

As if reading his thoughts, his kindly old mentor added, \"You will come through this, Sirius.\"

Numb and wanting to feel more numb, Sirius nodded and went back in for more of Hagrid\'s glög.

Hushed tones from above brought Sirius back. He realized he had been out long enough that someone had made the effort to stretch him out along the length of the couch. Ron and Charlie stood over him.

\"Should we give him a sobering spell?\"

Charlie hesitated but then saw Sirius was awake. \"What do you say, Sirius? Want a sobering spell?\"

The party was over and the house elves were scurrying about picking up empty glasses and abandoned plates. Sirius croaked a negative as he locked eyes with Charlie. He nodded. He knew.

Sirius swung his booted feet to the floor and pushed himself up to a sitting position thinking that it took more effort than it should have. He wondered where Remus might be.

\"Mum\'s had a room made up for you,\" Ron stated.

\"Not staying,\" Sirius muttered. \"I need to get home.\"

Charlie, however, looked thoroughly amused. \"You\'re in no condition to apparate – or fly for that matter.\"

\"My place – home,\" Sirius answered stubbornly.

\"Well, you could Floo back to your home.\" His stomach did a flip at Charlie\'s suggestion.

\"Fine, I\'ll stay.\" Sirius held up his arms for them. \"Just no Mobilicorpus.\"

They grabbed the offered arms and hoisted him off the couch. The room spun and they quickly slipped underneath his arms and supported him. They stumbled into the foyer and started up the staircase making it up four stairs before Sirius\'s legs gave out from underneath him. Charlie and Ron tried to compensate, but the shift in weight was too sudden and they tumbled onto the floor in a tangle of limbs. Molly popped into the foyer after hearing the crash. She took in the sight before her with raised eyebrows, but only asked if everyone was all right.

Ron rubbed the back of his head. \"Yes, Mum. We\'re fine.\"

She gave Sirius a look of exasperation tinged with amusement. \"Okay, just get him up to bed. He needs sleep,\" she ordered Charlie before she left the room.

\"What you need is a sobering spell,\" Ron muttered as he rolled to his feet. \"What are we going to do with you?\"

Unbidden, a nursery rhyme, popped into Sirius\'s mind. Laughter bubbled out like a brook over worn rocks and stones. It felt wonderful and he gave into its swift current.

\"What are you laughing at?\"

Sirius waved him off, but continued to laugh.

\"C\'mon,\" he cajoled. \"It\'s not funny if you\'re the only one laughing.\"

\"Muggle nursery rhyme,\" Sirius choked out.

\"Which one?\" Charlie asked. \"Mum used to read them to us.\"

\"All the king\'s horses and all the king\'s men, couldn\'t put Humpty Dumpty in his place again.\"

His laughter died when Sirius realized he was alone in his mirth. He looked up as felt the shadow of Azkaban standing over him, but it was only Ron. The young man\'s eyes were averted from the spectacle before him. His jaw was clenched shut and unshed tears threatened to spill over onto his cheeks – onto Sirius.

\"Ron, go see if Mum needs some help,\" a stone-faced Charlie gently prodded.

Ron looked like he would protest, but he turned away. \"Good night, Sirius,\" he called out over his shoulder.

\"\'Night,\" Sirius answered as Charlie pulled him from the floor.

Before Sirius knew it, Ron was gone and he\'d been thrown over Charlie\'s shoulder like a rag doll.

Charlie puffed a little as he hauled Sirius up the stairs but ignored Sirius\'s adamant requests to be put down. He trudged down the hall and opened a door and pushed inside.

Charlie flipped him onto the bed and the mattress was still bouncing when Charlie grabbed one of Sirius\'s boots and yanked it off.

\"Did you know Penelope was killed at Hangleton?\"

\"No,\" Sirius answered though he knew about the battle of Hangleton. Charlie and his dragons purged a legion of dark creatures and Death Eaters from the earth. Forty-eight hours later, the Order had attacked Voldemort at Azkaban. Sirius pushed himself up to a sitting position and then immediately regretted it. His hands clenched the comforter and he waited for the room to still.

\"We came straight from Ilfracombe, but we, the riders and I, had some problems breaking through Voldemort\'s wards. We were late. The battle was already raging on. Fletcher sent me back in the air immediately. A group of our wizards and witches were cut off from the rest. I was looking for a way for them to double back around the ridge when I spotted her. She was in trouble.\" Charlie paused and then pulled the other boot off. \"Never saw any one get hit by Avada Kedavra before. I hope to never see it again. Killing someone shouldn\'t be that easy.\"

He knew what Charlie meant. When they broke through Voldemort\'s defenses at Azkaban, when they stormed the prison doors, Sirius hurled the curse over and over again. It was like blowing out the candles on a birthday cake one at a time.

\"I haven\'t told Percy I was there. I don\'t know if I\'m going to.\" Charlie added thoughtfully, \"He\'s more like Bill than me. You\'d think they\'d get along the best, but it\'s just not so. And, Fred and George were always merciless in their teasing and pranks while Ron just thought he was annoying, which he can be. But he\'s always looked up to me, and I\'ve always looked after him.\"

\"What are you afraid of?\" Sirius asked, looking into Charlie\'s solemn eyes. \"He won\'t blame you.\"

Charlie paused and cleared his throat. \"No. I know he wouldn\'t. It\'s just… he would think less of me, I think.\" Charlie chuckled darkly. \"Pretty stupid, right? Here I am worried about myself – how I fit in all of this when his wife is dead.\"

Sirius felt himself sobering with Charlie\'s omission. \"No. It\'s not stupid.\"

Charlie slapped his thigh and stood up. \"Well, I think we\'ve both been more than our fair share of maudlin this Christmas Eve.\"

\"Feel any better?\" he asked Charlie as he headed towards the door.

\"What do you think?\"

\"No,\" Sirius replied flatly.

Charlie paused in the doorway. \"It\'ll just take time, I guess.\" Charlie gave Sirius a small smile. \"Goodnight, Sirius.\"

\"Good night, Charlie.\" The door clicked shut. Sirius waited until his footsteps faded before getting off the bed. The conversation with Charlie left him half sober so he pulled out his wand and finished the job. With a clear head, he began unbuttoning
his shirt.

There was a soft knock on the door.

\"Yes,\" Sirius called out softly since he wasn\'t sure if the neighboring rooms were occupied.

\"It\'s me, Remus.\"

\"Come in.\"

\"Charlie said you might still be awake.\"

\"I found this in my bag when I got here,” Remus said with a bit of wonder lading his voice. He handed Sirius the present. “I honestly don\'t know how it got there, but it doesn\'t appear to be charmed. Minerva checked them as well.\"

Sirius looked thoughtfully at his name on the tag before carefully unwrapping the box. He lifted the lid.

Inside, amid red and green tissues were two small bottles. Sitting snuggly between them, was a small scroll of parchment. He unrolled the parchment and read Severus\'s flowing script.

***The blue bottle contains frankincense. The amber bottle contains
myrrh. If you remember, though I highly doubt you do, Professor
Egbert vowed in our third year Potions class that these oils were the
only known cure for the Black Plague. However, seeing as your
presence continues to haunt me, I cannot vouch for their
effectiveness.

-- Severus***

Sirius laughed. He set the box down and unstoppered the bottles and sampled the aromas. Bitter and sweet. Smiling faintly, Sirius placed them back into their box and closed it. Remus produced another package, but Sirius noted he looked a little apprehensive.

\"Ron gave me this to give to you,\" Remus said as he handed him the cube shaped package. \"He said Harry bought it for you last summer.\"

Sirius pulled at the red ribbon and let the ribbon slide to the oak floor. He removed the gold foil wrapping with care and broke the sealed lid. He pushed tissue paper out of the way and pulled from the box a gold sextant with a small tag tied to it. Sirius blinked a few times and then focused on the tag.

***To my guiding star.
With love,
Harry***

With great reverence, Sirius set the sextant back in the box and the box on the table next to the bed. He shifted on the bed and curled in on himself.

\"Sirius? Look at me,\" Remus said as he sat on the bed next to Sirius.

Sirius opened his eyes and obliged. \"I don\'t know how I\'m going to get through this, Remus.\" He released a shaky sigh and ran a hand tiredly over his face. \"I don\'t know who I am anymore.\"

Remus waited patiently as he lightly stroked Sirius\'s back.

\"Those years in Azkaban --\" Sirius broke off. \"The only thing that kept me going was that I knew Harry needed me. I needed to protect him from Voldemort. I wasn\'t able to save Lily or James, but I had to be there for Harry. It was the only purpose I had.\"

Remus moved behind Sirius and pulled the covers over them both. \"Shh, shh, love. I know. I know,\" Remus murmured into his ear. \"We\'ll get through this together, Sirius. We will. I promise you.\" Remus kissed the crown of his head and then rested his own head on the down pillow next to Sirius\'s and held his trembling body until Sirius finally drifted off into sleep.

// \"Harry Potter, what an unexpected surprise.\" Voldemort\'s red inhuman eyes flickered over the rest of the group. \"Albus, Severus, Black.\"

Voldemort\'s insidious laugh reverberated of the cold damp walls....

Gold light.... The song of the Phoenix thrummed....

A blast and the gold light of the dome broke apart into shimmering sparkles like a universe being birthed....

Sirius woke to pain and darkness. Amid the darkness, he saw the prison had collapsed around them. From the torso down, he was pinned by a slab of concrete. He couldn\'t move, couldn\'t feel anything below his neck.

\"Harry?\" he croaked.

\"Yes, I\'m here.\" Harry made his way across the ruins and perched himself next to Sirius.

\"What happened?\" Sirius asked taking in Harry\'s pale form all worry regarding his own condition slipping away at the sight of his godson.

Harry smiled brightly. \"We did it.\"

\"You defeated Voldemort? He\'s gone?\"

\"No, we defeated Voldemort.\" Harry cut off Sirius\'s denial. \"Shh. Save your strength, Sirius. Help is coming.\"

\"Don\'t leave me, Harry.\"

\"I won\'t.\" //


\"Harry. It\'s time to leave, Harry.\"

Sirius shifted under a warm arm and against an even warmer chest. Content and still sleepy, he decided not to stir.

\"Harry.\" Sirius cracked his eyes open. The sun lit the room to an almost unbearable brightness. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust, but still he couldn\'t see the face of the figure that stood beside the bed.

\"Harry,\" the voice of Dumbledore called from the other side of the room. \"Sirius will be fine.\"

The face came into focus. Green eyes behind wire-rimmed glasses watched him closely. Dread and panic swept over Sirius and he felt the bird flailing its broken wings. He wanted to reach out to Harry and hold onto him.

Severus swept in next to Harry. \"Come on, Potter. It\'s time to go.\" Severus\'s voice no longer dripped with sarcasm and disdain. \"Two of your biggest fans are waiting.\" Harry nodded and they began to slip away.

\"Harry!\" the strangled cry leapt from Sirius\'s throat.

Harry paused and then whispered something to Severus and Dumbledore. Harry remained behind as they faded away. He moved to Sirius\'s side.

\"Where are you going?\"

\"You know.\"

\"I don\'t want you to go.\"

\"I know.\"

Desperation grabbed at Sirius. \"I could go with you.\"

\"No, not when you fought so hard to stay here. And besides, you have a different course charted for you, Sirius.\" Harry paused as his eyes lingered on Remus\'s possessive hand resting on Sirius\'s chest. \"Enjoy the journey.\"

\"Will –,\" Sirius\'s voice wavered. He tried again. \"Will I see you again?\"

Harry chuckled as he knelt beside the bed. \"All of our journeys eventually lead us home.\" He gave Sirius a mischievous smile and wink. \"Just don\'t lose your way.\"

A choked laugh escaped Sirius\'s throat. \"What are you trying to say, Harry?\"

\"You know perfectly well what I\'m trying to say. If there was anyone who could get lost on their way home, it\'s you.\"

\"A guiding star doesn\'t get lost,\" Sirius chided his voice laced with a bravado he didn\'t feel.

\"Right, I know. Just promise me you\'ll take the more scenic route home.\"

\"Yes, Harry. I will.\" With Sirius\'s promise, Harry faded away into the shining light of a new day.

~~ End ~~