the_debt_of_time

Mia knew that Orion Black wrote back once a month, requesting reports of Sirius's
classwork and asking if he was in need of anything; the parchments looked more like a
supply order form rather than a letter from a parent to a child. Regulus wrote back once,
telling Sirius to stop writing to him, and calling him a blood-traitor. The words had clearly
been fed to him by Walburga, who probably threatened Regulus with the same treatment
as his older brother if he did not cut ties with his only sibling, but the effect had been the
same regardless of the intent. Sirius had lashed out at the breakfast table, retreated into
himself for several days, and then acted out in class, ending the week with detention.
It was not a surprise that Sirius was not wanted home for Christmas.
"Is your family going somewhere for the holidays?" Remus asked as he came down
the stairs with his belongings in hand.
Sirius shrugged bitterly. "If they are, they haven't clued me in on their plans."
"Ridiculous. They shouldn't be angry with you over something you couldn't
control," Mia said, though she knew that Sirius had desperately wanted to be in Gryffindor
and had likely requested it of the Sorting Hat.
"Who cares?" He crossed his arms over his chest, reminding Mia of his older self
being forced to stay trapped inside Grimmauld Place while the rest of the Order was free
to come and go as they pleased.
Mia frowned and sat beside him on the sofa. "You do."
"Like hell!" Sirius snapped.
Despite his bitter mood, he reacted to her sitting next to him as he always did. He
tilted to the side, landing his head in her lap and silently reached his hands up to grab at
her fingers and place them on his head.
Mia smiled and began petting him affectionately.
"I'm better off on my own," he said with a sigh.
"Come home with us," Mia suggested as she stopped petting his head.
Grey eyes opened in wonder as he stared up into her face. "Really?"
She grinned, excited. "Absolutely! You'll spend Christmas at the manor. You need
a proper Christmas, Sirius. I won't stand for you just sitting in the common room on your
own. Remus, you're still coming too, right?" she asked, suddenly feeling guilty for not
inviting Sirius sooner.