The Black Pawn (R.L.)

31 - Frozen Solid

"I don't understand what's so difficult about this." I shook my head, carefully folding the edges of the wrapping paper before using a piece of tape to place it where I wanted.

"Mine always turn out wonky looking." Thomas complained, watching with interest as I carefully tied a ribbon around the small box containing his mother's present. "So I thought to myself; Who looks like they'd know a thing or two about nice presents? My dear friend, Opaline." He teased with a grin. When I simply scowled in response Thomas continued. "You aren't still mad about Reg are you? Even you have to admit he's catching on quick as a wick."

I tightened the bow before sliding the present across the low table between us. "Yeah, well, I would've liked to been told ahead of time. Or given the teeniest, tiniest bit of warning."

"You can't still be mad at him." He chuckled, leaning back against the couch and stretching his arms over his head.

"I'm not." I answered, more truth to that than even I realized. Like Sirius said, I never really need long to forgive my brothers—it's hard for me to turn away from any of my family. I was more hurt by Regulus' words than anything else.

"After the last practice before the holiday you sure seemed peeved when Emma asked you to run drills with him. You know you're both welcome to come by the manor and get Reg some more practice." He offered. I didn't have to look up to know he was watching me for my reaction.

"You're worried I'm not going to teach him anything the next few weeks." I noted, a smile involuntarily peeking through. The thought had passed my mind. "Well, you don't have to. There's nothing else to do in that house anyways." I shrugged.

Thomas only nodded at that, the last two Christmases he has heard similar complaints from me. Our conversation was interrupted by the loud laughter of our friends, their cheeks and noses red from the cold. The blue light reflecting from the now deeply frozen Black Lake danced off Roselin's face as she sat down beside me, her boyfriend settling in close to her. As the months went on the two have spent more and more time together—from how much Roselin talks about him I'd say she's had her first love.

Vicenza trailed behind Jane, the two flanking the opposite side of the low table. "Opal, that tall Gryffindor boy is waiting for you outside." She muttered as she reached across to snatch a piece of Drooble's from Stebbins. He grumbled a complaint but didn't make any move to take it back.

"Oh, alright." I hesitated for a moment before moving to stand from the floor. I hoped that this time Remus wasn't here to inform me of something Sirius got in trouble for. Surely our mother would punish him in her own way when we got off the train tomorrow evening. She was already annoyed to be informed about the whole pink Slytherin dormitory incident.

"I thought we were going to play cards?" Thomas' brows furrowed as he watched me stretch out my now cramped limbs. It was a tradition among our friends to hang out in the common room before we left for Christmas holiday, usually paired with as much sweets as we could gather and a few not-so-friendly games of Exploding Snap or maybe Wizard's Chess.

"I can't imagine this will take me long. You guys play a few rounds and I'll play the winner." I shrugged, briefly looking across all of their faces before turning on my heel. Thankfully Jane was the only one who seemed to be paying much attention, her brow quirked in amusement as she watched the exchange.

Remus was leant against the wall in the hallway, his hands shoved deep in the pockets of an old, thick utility coat. At the sound of the bricks rolling away from the entrance to the Slytherin common room he looked up, a smile spreading across his face. "Hey."

"What'd ya want, Lupin." I grinned as I stepped towards him.

"To give you this." He pulled a familiar book from inside his coat, waving it slightly before handing it to me.