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The cooking thing—even though Regulus and his not-a-girlfriend-but-a-wife-now were there for a few days now with their little one was still strange, for Sirius never imagined his younger brother to be into cooking. Yet, it quickly became apparent that Regulus had definite plans regarding what he would cook for Christmas dinner. Olivia was also okay with leaving him to it, outside of reminding Regulus they didn ’t know how well the appliances in Sirius’ flat functioned.
Sirius frowned. “Are you going to leave him to do it alone?”
“Don’t worry. He’ll ask me if he wants help in his own way,” Olivia said. “Or I should say the company. He might ask you to help.”
“Why?”
Olivia laughed. “Because he wants to spend time with you. “
And that was that, with Sirius helping Regulus with the shopping, which was a rather long list of items. While they were gone, Olivia put Hermione down for a nap, and Regulus went to check on her, leaving the bags of groceries on the counter with Sirius unsure of what to do with any of the objects as he ’d already been lectured by Regulus through Olivia that there was a proper way to deal with food. “Yet another reason I don’t like her.”
“Who?”
Sirius nearly jumped out of his skin at the sound of someone apparating, although it might have been who he heard. He turned, eyes wide, as he looked at the person. “What, pray do tell, are you doing here? And how did you get in?”
The person in question stood there, setting a rather large dish on the counter. “What do you mean? How did I get in? The magic you used to guard your home against intruders was all of my own design, Sirius.”
Sirius pointed his finger at the person. “You didn’t answer my first question.”
“Lucretia told me,” they said, pausing. “She told me Regulus is here, alive, spending the holidays with you.”
Sirius sighed, turning his head to look away, irritated. “Of course. Regulus.” He turned back. “You, sir, are an uninvited guest.”
This was when Hermione decided to cry from the other room, causing Orion to turn and look at the room Regulus shared with Olivia and their daughter. “Wait. You have a little one.”
“A little one?” Sirius blinked.
“Can I see them?” the man asked.
“Are you kidding me?” Sirius said, feeling the color drain from his face at the assumption.
“I don’t care if he—or she is illegitimate. Or what’s happened between you and me in the past? I want to be a part of their life, my grandchild’s life.”
“Excuse me?” Sirius stared, feeling as if he had a mental heart attack that the man in front of him would extend that kind of courtesy as well as how off the old man was.
“I know, I know,” Orion said, looking at the dish. “It’s a Christmas goose with all the trimmings. Kreacher made it.”
“Hold on,” Sirius hoped the sigh conveyed his frustration, particularly knowing Regulus already had plans for the Christmas dinner. At that same time, Regulus stepped out, holding onto Hermione and calming her down, glancing quickly back into the room and shaking his head—likely at Olivia, indicating he wanted to find out what was happening. “A Christmas goose?”
“Well, yes. We always have a Christmas goose for Christmas dinner,” Orion said. “Remember?”
Sirius blinked. “Oh, I remember. That’s not the issue.”
“Then what is?” Orion said.
“You just show up, out of the blue, not thinking there were already plans….” Sirius started to say, watching Regulus come closer with his daughter, somewhat nervous about what was going on; Sirius couldn’t blame him.
“Can you cook?” Orion said, which resulted in Sirius spluttering. “I think not. Even if you don’t want me to say you and Regulus should have a home-cooked meal, but you’ve also got a child.”
“About that,” Sirius said, taking a deep breath, noticing Regulus had caught on to Orion’s choice of words.
“Oh. Don’t worry. I won’t mention anything to her, and she’s not coming. I told her she couldn’t.”
“She must have thrown a right fit,” Sirius said.
“She did. She insisted I bring Regulus home, and I told her she doesn’t need to be around either one of you if she doesn’t behave. Goodness knows I’d thought I’d lost….” Orion took a deep breath. “Anyways, that doesn’t matter. And if you want me to go….”
This was when Regulus decided to reach out and tug Orion ’s sleeve, but the look on his face was the look Sirius learned to recognize as Regulus wanting to say something. His mouth opened.
“Oh. Is this your little one, Sirius?”
Regulus frowned, his eyes darkening, sending a shiver down Sirius ’ spine as he remembered how their mother’s eyes would darken like that.
Orion tilted his head slightly, frowning. “Regulus, I don’t have anything against Sirius’ little one, regardless of who the mother is.”
Sirius saw the look of hurt on Regulus ’ face, almost as if saying, “ And what about me? ”
“Dad?” Sirius said.
Orion turned his head. “You just called me—“
“She’s not mine,” Sirius said, frowning.
He watched the man startle, then turn towards his youngest. “She’s your’s Regulus?”
Regulus nodded his head, swallowing. Sirius saw that Olivia had moved towards the doorway of their room as things were taking too long.
“Well, that is certainly unexpected,” Orion said, frowning.
Regulus looked as if he were ready to cry while Sirius mentally kicked himself. “ I was guilty of the same thing, of being upset because I didn ’t expect Regulus to do something I would be expected to do. ”
“She’s beautiful, though,” Orion said. “And so’s your….” Orion frowned. And he waited before, “Regulus? What is your exact relationship with the girl over there? I am correct in assuming she’s the girl’s mother?”
Regulus nodded his head, still nervous. Olivia straightened up as if she were going to come to Regulus ’ rescue when Sirius held up his hand, shaking his head.
Unfortunately, Orion caught on and turned to look at Sirius. “Is there a reason you don’t want me to meet Regulus’ friend over there?”
“Friend?” Sirius’ tone of voice changed. “She’s not a friend.” And then he said, “And you would call her that, wouldn’t you? Given she’s a Muggle.”
Which was when Orion gave Sirius a look that said he was being an idiot before turning back to Regulus. “Ignore your brother. Your mother might care, but I do not. And while I’d prefer that the two of you be married,” he cleared his throat, “I’ll accept a girlfriend kind of friendship instead. If that’s what you want.”
Regulus frowned, his head tilting. His mouth opened a few times before saying, “Want?”
“Want?” Orion said. “What I want is to be a part of your life still. And hers. Both of them, if you’re okay with that.”
Regulus stared, the look on his face screaming frustration, yet he nodded his head.
And yet, Sirius knew what Regulus wanted to say. “He—dad, he meant do you want to hold her? Your grandchild?” Orion turned to look at Sirius, frowning, obviously irritated. “Regulus. He can’t—no, that’s not quite right. Speaking—he’s having problems speaking.”
“Sirius, I already knew that,” Orion said. “But why are you acting like this is something new?”
“What?” Sirius blinked. “What do you mean it’s not new?”
Orion stared, then after a bit. “Please don’t take this the wrong way. While I did appreciate you coming to your brother’s defense, please let him communicate with me at his own pace. I know you’re not used to this, given you never really dealt with this growing up, but I have. It’s going to be okay. Really, it is.”
“Yes, but,” Sirius frowned. “He was upset.” He watched his father turn towards Regulus. “And,” Sirus closed his eyes. “I don’t know what he was thinking beyond that. But I’ve been trying.”
“What was he thinking?” Orion said, turning his head. He stared for a bit.
“Papa,” Regulus said.
“It’s okay,” Orion said. “Really, it is. If I don’t get what you were trying to say, let me know, and I’ll try again. Just like I always did when you’re younger.” Orion looked at the infant held in Regulus’ arms. “And yes. I want to hold me, granddaughter.”
To which Regulus handed over his daughter, not adjusting Orion ’s arms as he had with Sirius.
“I remember holding both of you when you were little like this, but each time it was a wonderful feeling,” Orion said. “You felt it when you first held her, didn’t you?”
Regulus nodded his head while Sirius looked at the dish with Christmas dinner and the groceries meant to be Christmas dinner, sighing as he did so. “Christmas goose.”
“What is her name?” Orion said. When Sirius opened his mouth, Orion shook his head. “Give Regulus a chance.”
“Baby Girl,” Regulus said.
Sirius groaned. “Not her name.”
Orion looked at Sirius, laughter in his eyes, reminding Sirius how Aunt Lucretia had told him his eyes reminded her of her younger brother when he was younger. Yet, he ’d never seen that look on the old man’s face.
“Her…” Regulus started, then slowly, painstakingly, said one syllable at a time before saying it out loud a little faster.
“A beautiful name.”
“Stay?” Regulus asked, putting on that puppy dog look of his.
“Sirius? Will you have me?” Orion said.
“Well,” Sirius said, looking at the dish with the goose. “What will we do with all those groceries now?”
“Isn’t there something Regulus can still make?” Olivia asked.
Sirius was startled as Orion looked at her in surprise. “Uh.”
“I mean, it looks like it is a goose and the stuffing. Maybe some vegetables.”
“Oh,” Orion’s eyes went wide. “You don’t know.”
“Know what, sir?”
“It’s a full-course Christmas dinner that Kreacher prepared,” Orion said, and then he frowned. “Actually, I think it’s a bit more than a full-course Christmas dinner, as we can use magic to fit the whole thing in there. I think he might have tossed in a few non-traditional dishes.”
“What kind of non-traditional dishes?” Sirius said.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he added in some of Regulus’ favorites.”
“That damn House, Elf,” Sirius sighed.
“Hey,” Regulus said, shaking his head.
Orion let an eyebrow go up. “And you know better, as in you know how fond of that House Elf your brother is. So should it be any surprise that Kreacher would go to that extent?”
“Ah,” Sirius said. “But….”
“She said something about Regulus cooking?”
“Yeah. I know it’s a surprise. I certainly was. And he doesn’t use magic either,” Sirius said. “It’s all by hand. And he had everything planned out. No Christmas goose. A Christmas ham instead.”
“Oh.”
Regulus looked over at Olivia, holding up a finger, to which she nodded, and he rolled his fingers over each other fast. She shook her head. “Ah. You’ll cook tomorrow?” She tilted her head to look at the dish. “But won’t that be cold by the time everyone else gets here?”
“Oh,” Sirius grimaced.
“James Potter and company?” Orion said. “You do know the reason the real reason we didn’t like your friend group is because you four were always getting into trouble at school and making the professors jobs all the much harder?”
“She said…”
“She’s all bark and no bite,” Orion said. “At least when it comes to her children. And she likes to save face.” He rolled his eyes. “Goodness knows that’s why her brother is off the tapestry.”
Regulus flinched.
“Wait,” Sirius said.
“For leaving you everything?” Orion said. “Tried telling her he and I had discussed it. Arcturus as well, but no. She thought—well, it doesn’t matter what she thought.” He turned to Olivia. “The dish also keeps the food warm for a certain period of time. And cool for the foods that need to keep cool. I think I know what I need to get you for Christmas, albeit I expect Regulus will be the one using it, and it will be a bit late. I really thought it would have just been the boys, although I did have something for Sirius’ friends.”
“Seriously,” Sirius said, closing his eyes. “You’re…”
Regulus pointed at him.
“Uh…?”
“Ha, ha, name,” Regulus said
“I believe he’s referencing the fact you just said seriously, Sirius, something you always joked about,” Orion said. “And maybe I am trying too hard. I should have tried harder sooner.”
“He can stay?” Olivia asked. “Right?
Sirius stared at her, then pointed at his father. “You do understand what my family believes, right?”
“And supposedly, they taught Regulus to believe the same way,” Olivia said. “And yet he’s not prejudiced against Muggles despite being a Purebloodist.”
“What?” Sirius said. “You’ve brought that up before, and it doesn’t make sense.”
“It’s something we can talk about later,” Olivia said. “After your friends are gone?”
Sirius let out a sigh. “Fine. He can stay. If he helps Regulus put these groceries away because I do it wrong.”
“I’m fine with that,” Orion said.
Sirius sighed, muttering under his breath. “Seriously, presents for—wait. Did you say four?”
“You and your three friends,” Orion said. “Why?”
Sirius sucked in his breath. “Wormtail.”
“What about him?”
Regulus started flapping his arms as Orion continued holding onto Hermione, only to nod his head to Olivia to take her so that he could help with the groceries.
Sirius frowned. “What?”
“Um,” and then Regulus pointed to his arm, tapping it.
Orion watched, paling slightly.
Sirius stared, then said. “Yeah. That. Traitorous rat. It was a shock. But, James is bringing Lily. Although, Fabian and Gideon are coming as well.”
“Ah. Bringing Lucretia and Ignatius, I believe.”
“What?” Sirius frowned. “Are they skipping on the Black family Christmas?”
“I can’t blame them for not wanting to deal with your mother right now,” Orion said. “And no, she doesn’t know where your flat is, so she can’t come and cause a scene like she so wants to do.”
“Oh, bloody Merlin,” Sirius sighed. “This is one crazy Christmas.”
“I think it’s a wonderful Christmas,” Orion said. “Because I have my family for Christmas.”
“And your wife?”
“Oh, she and I have other Christmas traditions.”
Sirius frowned and then cringed. “Ew.”
“Not that,” Orion said, laughing. “Really, Sirius. Your mind is always in the gutter. But, you’re you.”
Sirius let out another sigh. “Merry Christmas.”