#saintpure

         They had gone out to a party, one she was throughly bored with. It had been a warm day when they had left so she hadn’t brought a coat. She should have known better, she always got cold, even when everyone else wasn’t. Why did she think this time was any different? She edged close to her sister, her head resting against her shoulder as Petunia’s arms wrapped around her. “Can we go home soon?” she asked softly. “I don’t know how much longer I can stand this.” The cold, boring people she could stand. 

           Lily was not the kind of person to let someone see her cry, not even her sister. So she hid the fact those words nearly did make her cry. Though that didn’t stop her from moving to her sister and throwing her arms around her. She didn’t need to question her sister’s words, she knew they were true. She held her sister tightly for a long moment before she slowly pulled away. “I know,” she said with a nod, green hues glimmering with pride and love, admiration even. All she ever wanted was her sister’s love and approval. “It’s still nice to hear you say it.”

It’d been a bit since he’d seen his aunt- more than a bit, between, well. 

Between the war, and everything that came after. He’d barely had time to rest, much less consider taking time off to do anything more than fire off a note of “sorry I haven’t spoken to you in more than a bit, but I’m not dead!”

All things considered, though, it was probably more than time he paid Petunia a visit. 

He was sure the pop when he Apparated worked just as well as a knock, but he did all the same, clearing his throat before he called out. 

“Er- it’s me! Harry? You probably- knew that bit, but-” Merlin, he was exhausted. 

           “Petunia.” She reached over and took her sister’s hand, gripping it tightly. “You’re my sister, Petunia.” Sisters, family. She would do anything for family. She knew one choose their family, it was not always about blood, but Lily would always choose her sister. It was one of her biggest weaknesses, and she knew it. “Of course I forgive you.” There was a lot of anger still between them, but her sister asked for forgiveness, of course she would give it. 

The voice startled him so much, Regulus let out an audible gasp as his head whipped around to spot the girl hovering behind the bench he was sitting. He hadn’t even noticed the cold until she spoke and instinctively Regulus tugged his coat tighter around himself. 

“Um...no. No, not every Christmas.” Only the first since he came to Hogwarts and...and a few since Sirius left the family to join those pig-headed lions. The damned fool. He missed him though that was something Regulus wouldn’t be caught dead admitting. “I’m sorry -- why are you here?” More like, how did she find him? Snow had long since fallen and Regulus had found himself just walking, away from the big family dinner and the congratulations and the you’re the only son left so don’t screw this up. He’s tired. And so he walked. 

       in his opinion, she was overreacting. she always did when it came to scorpius’ safety and well-being. he would never voice this, of course. he knew that it was just one of the many ways his mother showed her love. even if she came off a little overbearing at times, he knew she always meant well. perhaps it was something that stemmed from everything both of his parents had witnessed during the war. it was something they never really talked about, and scorpius knew better than to ask. still, it always worried him how much both of his parents seemed to hold onto the paranoia that was born from their past.

       “   i’m going to be fine, mum.   ”   he reassured her, pressing a gentle kiss to her cheek.   “   i won’t be gone forever, ya’know? i always come back, don’t i?   ”

“You’re scared for me?” Theodore echoed softly, only the barest traces of surprise in his voice as he processed this. He wasn’t used to people being scared for him or even anything -- another face they passed by without much thought and that was on purpose. He was fine being in the sidelines, you heard so much more...got by so much easier that way. “What is it? What’re you scared of?” Still, he was curious. One could only remain quiet for so long until something else got the hold of him.