Just thought of 14 year old Sirius and Regulus going to a DADA class and studying about unforgivable curses and suddenly there is a waterfall in my eyes.
Lyall Lupin loves his son. He loves that he has his chin and his mother's hair. He loves that he is compassionate and smart. He loves Remus. He just can't look in his eyes; the golden-green of his eyes made Lyall angry. He looked at his son and saw the monster looking back, and he supposed that was Greyback's intention. Lyall Lupin loved his son but he hated what he had become.
No. That wasn't true. It was..it was fine. But as Regulus exited the thestral-drawn carriage and approached the castle, it hit him over and over that James wasn't there.
"It's one year, baby," James had reassured him before he left, both of them clinging to each other. "I'll be waiting for you the entire time. Kick arse on your NEWTs and come back to me, yeah?"
But as confident as Regulus tried to be in his and James's relationship, every corner of the castle seemed to remind him of his boyfriend- seemed to evoke a feeling of unease and longing. He missed James. And how was he supposed to go so long without him?
The feast passed sluggishly, but he waited until he got to his dorm- now labelled Seventh Years before he opened the present he promised James he would wait to unwrap. He wasn't sure what would make him feel better, but he did it anyways, eager for even a small token of love.
So he was a bit let down and shocked to see a mirror in the wrapping. "What the-?" he stared to ask, before he realized it wasn't his reflection in the glass, but James's. "Jamie?" he asked, emotion flooding through him at once.
"You didn't think I'd wait a whole four months to see your beautiful face, love?" James grinned back at him through the mirror, his entire face alight. "I begged Sirius to let you borrow this for the year. He agreed as long as we didn't use it for anything unsavory."
Choking with laughter on unshed tears, Regulus murmured, "What Sirius doesn't know won't hurt him."
Marlene didn't know if she still had time to confess,to tell her she cares
Marlene has always been told she's rather dense, slow on the uptake if you will. But now she feels really stupid because it's been staring at her for ages now
Marlene needed to see her so badly
She saw a flash of gold beaded hair turning the corner, and she latched on to that like a dog who just got a fresh bone.
She ran towards the corner only to run into a wall , wait scratch that a person, who by the smell of it was pretty damn smelly.
James Potter
"Marlene! I didn't see you at practice today? Where were you?" James asked, puzzled that Marlene would miss something that's so important to her.
"Looking for someone, and I'm still looking" Marlene replied, her eyes darting to every flash of green she saw.
"Who ya looking for?"
"Dorcas"
"Hmm... Think I saw her with Reg when-"
Marlene didn't give James time to finish because she was already gone by the time he said Reg, calling out a quick "Thanks!"
She knew where she was at, she was always there when she was with the youngest Black.
She entered the courtyard, panting and face red. But her eyes went to scan the area zeroing in on her.
She fixed her messy blonde locks, a bit frizzy from all the sweat.
She slowly walked up to her, because even though she was trying to find her all day, she was nervous.
The youngest Black's eyes immediately latched on to her. His eyes were confused at first, then curious, and then finally realization finally dawned on him.
"Excuse me Cas, it's come to my attention that a certain buffoon and I have made plans. Goodbye" The youngest Black, said before getting up and leaving.
"You know you don't have to call your boyfriend that-" Dorcas grinned before her eyes fell on Marlene
Her grin faded into a frown, "Marlene? What're you doing here?"
"I.. wanted to tell you something"
"What is it?"
"I understand now, the letters, the trips to Hogsmeade, and the whole shabang"
"You didn't before?"
"No, I didn't" Marlene paused, to take a breath before continuing "I understand that you thought for almost an entire half an year we were dating"
"Oh.." Dorcas' voice sounded so heartbroken it was hurting Marlene just hearing it.
"I understand... Sorry that I assumed"
"No! Wait listen, please.."
"Okay"
"For the longest time I've always known I liked girls, and it wasn't a secret I tried to hide" Marlene didn't know where to start so she began where she knew best.
" I always viewed you as a friend who I cared a lot for,"
"Cared? As in past-tense?"
"No- wait yes... I mean kinda"
"Just spit it out then" Dorcas' voice rang across the empty courtyard.
"I love you, and I know it took me a while but I do. Do you love me still?" Marlene said as she held her breath scared of the answer.
It was quiet for some time and Marlene began to feel heartbroken
"I do, I do, I do" Dorcas whispered, so quietly it was hard for Marlene to make sure she heard her right.
Marlene was so happy she leaned to kiss Dorcas on the lips, just a small peck of course, they just confessed their love she could wait for something deeper.
"I hope you say that another time for me" Marlene grinned, eyes crinkling at how wide the smile was.
Love was always something joyful to express, for Marlene, she always had joyful experiences with the word love.
And now, with the girl she loves tucked into her there's nowhere she'd rather be.
"En esta casa no existen fantasmas, son puros recuerdos."
Hi loves! I bring you a special for Día de muertos, I hope you like it and I hope you had a beautiful Día de muertos with your loved ones.
(I'm sorry if something here is "wrong" I did it based on my own beliefs and how this is celebrated in my city)
Sirius was not someone attached to traditions, in fact, he was quite the opposite, but this could easily change by his best friend, James.
“What's this?” Sirius asked with a frown as he entered the room, the desk where James usually placed his Quidditch books was now decorated with a strange colored paper and food was spread out on it.
“It's called Altar de muertos, it's a Mexican tradition" James explained calmly, arranging a few things on the altar, Sirius said nothing, silently watching James' every move.
Sirius had to admit that he was a little curious, he had never seen anything like this, if his poor Spanish didn't fail him, “Muertos” meant dead, which increased his curiosity.
Sirius didn't have to say anything, because James seemed to notice his confusion and curiosity.
“It's an altar where we leave ofrendas for those people who are no longer here, it's done every november to remember our loved ones who passed away” James explained in a soft voice, the brunet tried to summarize it in the simplest way for Sirius, it was a very old tradition and he knew that maybe Sirius wouldn't understand it at all, he even thought that maybe he would find it weird or scary, like many others.
But sirius didn't look scared or confused, his face was calm and even interested in the altar, his gaze roamed over every part of it, from the shredded paper to the food and candles.
“It's…interesting” Sirius said quietly, but there was nothing malicious in his voice, he seemed genuinely interested. “What's the food and water for?” Sirius asked, looking at the different dishes James had set out.
James hesitated for a moment to answer, he would love to talk for hours about what each thing meant, he had no one else at hogwarts to tell, but he didn't want to bother sirius, so he tried not to ramble too much.
“It's for the one who passed away, it's believed that they come to visit us every second of November, so we put food and water out for them to eat after the journey.” James explained without looking at Sirius, definitely to someone outside of Mexican culture it would sound weird or even confusing.
Sirius nodded slightly, processing the information.
“And the candles? What are they for?” Sirius asked, his curiosity only seemed to grow.
James couldn't help but feel a warmth in his chest, it had been a long time since he had spoken to anyone about his culture.
“They are to guide the path of the deceased, it helps them find their way here.” James explained, lighting one of the candles and placing it on the altar.
Sirius felt his chest tighten as he saw James take the picture next to his bedside table and place it on the altar, it was James' parents, Fleamont and Euphemia, the ones who had welcomed him into their home and who had passed away just a year ago.
Sirius didn't understand how James had the strength to do this alone, to place the picture of his parents and still keep standing.
“Can I help you?” asked Sirius quietly, his voice sounding so sweet. “I don't fully understand but I want to help you, this is…lovely.”
James could have sworn tears flooded his eyes, he had been waiting for Sirius to ask him, never in a million years did he think he would have to have his parents placed at the altar, so having Sirius to help him was really something meaningful.
James was quick to nod, giving Sirius a small smile and trying to hold back his tears.
They both spent the rest of the afternoon making the altar, not leaving the room for a moment, James took care of explaining every detail to Sirius, explaining the meaning of everything, the flowers, the calaveritas, the fruit, everything.
Sirius listened attentively to everything, helping James to cut out the papel picado and placing it on the altar, he also helped to prepare James' parents' favorite food, Sirius felt it was the least he could do after they welcomed him into their home.
When they were finished they both remained silent for a few moments, sitting in front of the altar and looking at it, the picture of Fleamont and Euphemia in the center of the altar.
Sirius couldn't help but notice the tears forming in James' eyes as he looked at the picture of his parents, Sirius didn't say anything, just put his arm around James' shoulders and pulled him close, letting him cry on his shoulder.
Sirius also let out a few tears, thinking of that couple who took him in during his darkest moments, the ones who gave him a home.
The altar was beautiful, Sirius had never seen anything like it, it was colorful and full of meaning, a way to remember and keep present those people who were gone.
Sirius promised himself to remember that day, he memorized every detail, promising James that he would help him do it every year, he promised him that he would never have to do it alone, that he would be there for him, to keep the tradition alive.
But Sirius never thought he would have to be the one to make that altar alone, Sirius never thought he would have to put his best friend's picture on that altar, nor Lily's picture,
Sirius never thought that one day he would be setting up his own altar, having to remember every detail that James had told him, preparing Lily and James' favorite food, placing flowers and candles as James had taught him.
It was the second of November, there was an altar in the house, full of food, flowers and candles, full of color and life, and in the center was a picture of James Potter and Lily Evans, Sirius was standing in front of the altar, wishing he had done it right, hoping that James could find his way home and could visit him one last time.
I hope you liked this special, I'm sorry for the grammar mistakes!! It hurt me to write it but I loved it, I hope you do too, xoxo.
