A Stark Witch

The last prank

"Merry Christmas." I cheered walking in beside my dad
"Here we go. Daddy's back. Sit down, everybody, sit down. That's it." Molly beckoned us all to sit
"Now, presents." She began to hand out gifts
"And a nice big box for Ron. Big box for you." She gave Ron the box she carried

"And... Fred and George." She mixed up the twins as always, and I smiled softly at them both as they rolled their eyes and swapped
"Come on, open up. I want to see your faces." Molly said
I chuckled with dad and ripped the paper open, and I sighed softly admiring the golden H that sat on the red wool
"Yes. Try it on." She ushered to Ron
I had to hold back snickers at the body warmer he now had
"Thanks, Mum." He replied uncomfortably
"It's perfect. Just what he wanted, actually.
Yeah." Molly nodded before leaving
"Right." Fred whispered to me making me smile
"Thanks, Mum." Ron replied

"Come on, then, everybody. Let's clear this away." Molly said trying to get food sorted
"Oh, Harry, Harry. There you are. Happy Christmas." She gifted Harry too
"Thank you. Lovely to have you with us." She said to him before leaving
"Thank you." Harry said softly sitting beside his friends

"Now, Daddy. Pass that to Daddy. Thank you. Has everybody got? Fred? George? Hermione." Molly worried about everyone as always

"A Christmas toast. To Mr. Harry Potter... without whom I would not be here. Harry." Arthur raised his glass
"Harry." We all cheered

"Can you pass that please?" I asked pointing to a plate of cranberry sauce
Fred passed it over and pecked my cheek
We all spoke cheerfully about the holidays

"I'll be right back" I pecked Fred's cheek and chased after my dad and Harry
I found Harry looking at the tree of Black with dad at the door

"Nasty brat, standing there as bold as brass. Harry Potter, the boy who stopped the Dark Lord. Friend of Mudbloods and blood-traitors alike. If my poor mistress only knew..." Kreacher walked in complaining as always
"Kreacher! That's enough of your bile. Away with you!" I shooed the elf away
"Of course, young mistress. Kreacher lives to serve the noble house of Black." Kreacher said and left
"Sorry about that. He never was very pleasant, even when I was a boy. Not to me, anyway." Dad said as we both walked in
"What, you grew up here?" Harry asked
"This is my parents' house. I offered it to Dumbledore as headquarters for the Order. About the only useful thing I've been able to do." Dad said sadly
I stepped away from looking at my face and taking my dads hand in mine. He didn't say anything, but he smiled gratefully at me to which I nodded

"This is the Black family tree. My deranged cousin. I hated the lot of them. My parents with their pure-blood mania" dad explained
"My mother did that after I ran away. Charming woman. I was 16." He pointed to the blacked out picture of himself, I had tried to use my magic but it hadn't faded
"Where did you go?" Harry asked
"Round your dad's. I was always welcome at the Potters'. I see him so much in you, Harry. You are so very much alike." Dad told him and I watched the duo, so much like father and son.

A bond that has been stolen from Harry too many times. It always saddens my heart to know the life he should have had, the life we all should have had.
Harry.....should have his mum and dad here, should be safe at his own house in Godricks Hollow with potential little siblings. Awaiting the Friday dinners with the Blacks and Moony
But here we stood, hiding for safety.

"I'm not so sure. Sirius, when I was... When I saw Mr. Weasley attacked, I wasn't just watching. I was the snake. And afterwards, in Dumbledore's office... there was a moment when I wanted to... This connection between me and Voldemort. What if the reason for it is that I am becoming more like him? I just feel so angry all the time. And what if, after everything that I've been through... something's gone wrong inside me? What if I'm becoming bad?" Harry explained how he was feeling
"I want you to listen to me very carefully, Harry. You're not a bad person. You're a very good person who bad things have happened to." I said taking his shoulders
"You understand? Besides, the world isn't split into good people and Death Eaters. We've all got both light and dark inside of us. What matters is the part we choose to act on. That's who we really are." Dad stepped forward after me