╔═══════════════╗
third year,
christmas date
╚═══════════════╝

There was only a week left before students would be heading home for the Christmas Holidays, Aimee had a lot that she had planned for this year. She intended to visit her grandmother and brothers, she hoped to sneak away from her mother, her grandmother is and always was better company.

Aimee made her way down to the Quidditch grounds, the captain of the Slytherin team wanted to get one last practise in before people went home for Christmas. Once she got there Regulus was already changed into his Quidditch robes.

"Hey, what are you doing for Christmas?" he asked, as she took her Quidditch kit into a changing room

"A lot, I'm going to my Grandmother's and hopefully my brothers, why you'd ask?" she asked, Regulus leaned on the door, frame outside of her changing room.

"My mother is hosting another Christmas ball, do you want to come?" he asked

"I don't know, Sirius would be there,"

"Does that matter? Come as my guest," he told her, she pursed her lips, she did have fun the last time.

"Yeah, it might be fun," she said, walking out of the dressing room, ready to play Quidditch, she bent forward running her fingers through her hair gathering it into a ponytail.

James and Sirius decided to spy on the Slytherin Team, as the Slytherins had taken the last day for training. Now the Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws had to wait until January to train again. James had shown Sirius his Invisibility cloak that he stole from his father, who believe he had missed placed it.

James draped the cloak over him and Sirius, as they walked into the stands having a full view of the Slytherin's down below. Sirius watched his little brother, he was good, better than he thought he would be, then he spotted Aimee she was quick. Flew through the sky almost difficult to get, she was by no doubt the strongest Chaser on their team.

Even James had to admit the Slytherin team were strong this year, after practice was over, they snuck down to the changing rooms to listen in on their plans for the next game. The pair managed to sneak inside the changing rooms, where the captain congratulated Aimee and Evan for their efforts during practice.

"You were great," Aimee told him

"Thanks, I could hardly keep up with you," Evan said, she chuckled

"I'll see you two later, I'm meeting Avery and Mulciber," Regulus said, leaving the changing room.

Evan watched waiting for Regulus to be out of eyesight, he pressed his lips against hers. James cringed, Sirius covered his mouth so they wouldn't know they were there. Aimee pulled him closer to her, James saw this as the time to leave, he shoved Sirius out of the changing room.

The cloak fell off them, James eyed Sirius curiously, they weren't really dating, why did it bother him so much. Aimee dating Evan had become a big issue for him, feeling that he had lost his friend, Remus was right she had stopped caring.

"I don't get it," he mumbled

"Get what?" James asked

"I thought, dating Layla would annoy her, but instead it drove her to him,"

"I don't understand, I thought you weren't actually dating Aimee?"

"I wasn't but being with her, made me so happy, even if it was all fake," he admitted

"Then try and win her back," he suggested

"No, I can't you saw how happy she was, I couldn't ruin that,"

"You really care about her don't you?"

"I didn't realise how much until now, James what am I going to do?"

"I know what we're going to do come on I have an idea,"

James hurried him back to their dorm room, he gathered Remus and Peter from the common room. Up to their bedroom, Sirius had no idea what he had planned, or why he was choosing to help him anyway. James and Aimee hated each other, if he and Aimee were to date, she would surely be around a lot more.

Aimee and Evan made their way back to the common room, where Regulus was studying with Avery and Mulciber. He smirked as her cheeks were blush red, and his hair appeared to have been ruffled. Regulus closed his book, sitting up on the sofa.

"What you been up to?" he asked

"Nothing Reg," Aimee told him, he cocked his brow at her

"Why don't I believe you, Burke," he teased, she rolled her eyes at him, she playful turned his head away from her.

She lounged on the sofa, while Evan wrapped his arms around her waist. Regulus rolled his eyes at them, they spent more time with each other than they did with anyone else these days. They were stuck together like glue. He couldn't wait till Christmas, if she decided to come, then he would be able to spend time with her.

***

Evan lounged on her bed as she packed her trunk, he did offer to help, though she stated that he didn't know her system for packing. She only had a few books left to pack, he packed the night before so he didn't have anything to do the morning they were leaving.

She finally had everything packed, he offered to pull her trunk as well as his own. While Aimee greatly protested she allowed him. Evan planned to spend the majority of the Christmas holiday with her, he was going to ask his father if she could stay over for the night.

Reached the station where for once Aimee arrived one time, though the students weren't given permission to board the Hogwarts Express yet. Evan wrapped his arms around her pulling her closer to him, he pressed his lips against her.

Sirius and his friends were walking towards the station they were all heading home for Christmas. Though this year James had asked him to join him, however, he couldn't as his mother would be simply furious if he missed one of her Christmas balls.

"Do they wait for me to do this?" Sirius asked as he saw them on the platform making out.

"Remember what we said," Peter reminded him,

"Alright, alright," he took a deep breath averting his eyes from Aimee and Rosier's way, Regulus walked past him, and he smiled at him. Regulus creased his brows, Sirius had been distant for so long that he was positive he would just ignore him at school.

Once the students were allowed to access the Hogwarts Express Regulus hurried to find their favourite compartment. Evan and Aimee met him there, while he found their relationship to be sweet, he found certain aspects of their relationship disgusting.

She sat on Evan's lap, her arms wrapped around him, cuddled up together. He kissed her all over her face, Regulus cringed at the pair. The train ride seemed to be a lot longer for Regulus, he thanked Merlin when they pulled into King's Cross station.

Aimee spotted her mother so yet again she couldn't say goodbye to her brothers or any of the girls, though she promised to write to them over the holidays. Just before she reached the door, someone stopped her, holding onto her hand.

"Hi," Sirius said

"Hey, you alright?" she asked, wondering what he had to say to her, Sirius kept on repeating what James, Peter and Remus had told him.

"Yeah, I just had to tell you-" he paused "I need to tell you-"

"Sirius, are you sure you're okay?" she asked, seeing him struggle to find the words

"Yeah, I just wanted to tell you," he paused again "I hope you have a great Christmas," she smiled at him

"You too," she said, leaving the train, he balled up his fist, hitting the door

"You didn't tell her did you,"

"I couldn't Rem, I've been such a jerk to her lately," Sirius admitted

"You'll tell her when you're ready," Remus told him, he nodded, joining Regulus as they left King's Cross with their parents.

Aimee talked to Evan for a lot longer than her mother would have approved, she didn't want to go back to her home, only to be alone most of the Christmas holidays. He held her hand, walking her over to his father, they chatted for a little

"It's been lovely to see you again Aimee," his father said smiling at the pair

"You too, I have to go my mother is waiting for me," she told them

Evan smiled at Aimee, placing a soft kiss on her cheek before he left with his father. She joined her mother, who held out their portkey to take them back home. She leaned on the stair bannister, holding her hand to her chest, taking a deep breath, she couldn't wait to be able to take her apparition lessons, no more portkey sickness for her.

She retreated to her room, planning to stay there until the time came to go to the Black family ball. Aimee had barely been in her room for twenty minutes when she heard footsteps walking closer to her bedroom. She quickly closed her trunk to prevent her books from being found.

"Hey, Starling can I come in?"

"Of course, father," she said, her dad closed the door behind him sitting down on her bed.

"Is everything alright?" Aimee asked

"Yes, my mother tells me you're going to visit her over the holidays," he said

"Well, I was hoping grandmother could help me understand a little more about seers, Dahlia said there's a seer at school,"

"She could definitely help you," he said, smiling at her, "you know when I was about your age, your grandmother told me that I would have five children, and I did, I had you and your brothers, she's a very talented lady, I'm sure she'd be honoured to help you,"

"That's so cool, so she just knew that," Aimee said

"Yes, I wasn't with your mother either, she knew I would have a set of twins,"

She shook her head in disbelief, fascinated by prophecies and how accurate some of them can be. Aimee already loved everything she had learned in Divination. However, learning from her grandmother would be truly incredible to hear how her visions have changed throughout her year.

Her father stood from Aimee's bed, walking towards the door, he stopped just before his hand reached for the door handle. He turned to her, a look in his eyes, she knew he was about to tell her something she didn't want to hear.

"Your mother is taking you to Diagon Alley to get you a dress for the ball," he offered her a sympathetic smile. Aimee tried to seem pleased, a hideous dress. Hopefully, her mother would see her daughter is older and more mature now.

She woke up early to mentally prepare herself for her trip to Diagon Alley with her mother. The odds of Aimee seeing someone she knew were slim. She did have a plan to convince her mother of a different kind of dress for the ball.

Elizabeth Burke always overdressed to show her superiority over her fellow wizards. While Aimee was greatly underdressed, just wearing a plain jumper and jeans though her mother insisted she wore a robe to cover up her clothes as they didn't have time for her to change.

Aimee and her mother reached Diagon Alley, the place was flooded with Wizards and Witches doing last-minute Christmas shopping. She might see someone she knew after all. The first place they went where to was a high-class boutique Elizabeth wanted her daughter to wear the best dress.

"May I help you lovely ladies?" the owner of the boutique helped.

"Yes, my daughter needs a dress for a Christmas Ball," Elizabeth told the lady.

"Any style you had in mind dear?" she asked Aimee, she looked up at her mother before answering

"I want to walk in and have people look and be like wow," she wouldn't look at her mother, she could already feel the disapproving scowl on her mother's face.

"I have just the dress," the lady said, guiding her through to a changing room.

Aimee changed into a beautiful rose-gold ballgown she looked in the mirror, smiling so brightly, she loved it. Just the dress she wanted she just hoped her mother approved. Aimee stepped out of the changing room her mother eyed her up and down, taking a moment to admire the dress.

"Yes, we'll take this one," Elizabeth said, she smiled clapping her hands excitedly

"Aimee, that's not very ladylike,"

"Yes mother," she said, going back to the change into her regular clothes.

Aimee told her mother she was going to get some sweets, for the first time Elizabeth had allowed her to go unaccompanied to a store. While she was there she could have sworn she had seen someone familiar, in the store, she walked over to them.

"Aimee, it's wonderful to see you," the woman embraced her warmingly

"It's great to see you to Andromeda,"

"You must meet my husband, Ted," she called, a tall man walked over with a stroller that had a small baby inside. "This is Aimee, remember I told you about her,"

"Oh yes, Dromeda's mentioned you quite a bit," he said, shaking her hand

"She's so adorable, what's her name?" Aimee asked looking down at the small baby.

"Nymphadora," Andromeda told her, the baby opened her eyes a little, when she saw Aimee looking at her she turned her hair blonde

"How did she do that?" she asked in amazement

"We think she may be a Metamorphmagus," Andromeda told her, "are you going to the Christmas ball this year?"

"Yes, Reg invited me,"

"Could you give this to Sirius, I was going to post it but I fear Walburga will just destroy it," Andromeda said handing her a letter.

"Aimee! What in Merlin's name do you think you're doing?" her mother barked, hurrying over to her, Aimee quickly hide the letter in her pocket

"I wasn't doing anything-

"You dare to speak to this traitor and her filthy mudblood husband,"

"I think you should choose your next words carefully," Ted said, drawing his wand to the witch.

"You don't have any right to own that wand,"

"Mother-

"We're leaving!" Elizabeth said,

She yanked Aimee's arm, not letting go of her. The pair left returning back to Burke Manor, she pulled her arm away. Her mother didn't say anything and just pointed her up to her room, but she refused. Her mother had no right to talk to Andromeda like that.

"Go upstairs now!" Elizabeth shouted

"No! I'm nearly 14, I'm not a child!" she shouted back

"You will go upstairs," Elizabeth held her wand up to her, "Imperio," she cast, Aimee's hardened expression relaxed, she didn't say a word and walked upstairs, she walked along the hallway

"Hi, Starling did you get a dress?" Mr Burke asked,

When Aimee carried on walking ignoring him, he stopped her looking in her eyes, she looked right through him. He hurried downstairs, shouting his wife's name, Elizabeth appeared in the hallway, holding a cup of tea. He hurtled towards her.

"What did you do?"

"Aimee wouldn't listen, so I made her," 

"If I find you ever use a curse like that on her again, I'll use a more extreme one on you," he warned his wife.

The spell wore off after a couple of hours, she was absolutely furious that her mother would use an unforgivable curse on her. Aimee took some paper and a pot of ink and her quill, she wrote a letter to her brothers.

Boys,

I wanted to let you know I'm going to Burke Cottage to see Grandmother, I'd love it if you would go too. I want to talk to you about mother.

Aimee Bear.

***

After being forbidden to go to her grandmother, she twirled around her hallway in her new gown, she waited for Evan to escort her to the ball. She hoped that Regulus wouldn't mind Evan accompanying her to the Black family ball. Once She knew he was near she waited outside for him.

Aimee still hadn't forgiven her mother for what she did to her, she linked her arm in Evan's as they made their way to Grimmauld Place. He knocked on the door Kreacher greeted them at the door inviting them inside.

"Miss Aimee, I'll inform master Regulus of your arrival," Kreacher said,

Kreacher turned around leaving the pair of young wizards in the doorway. Evan glanced around he had never seen Grimmauld Place decorated so much, Mrs Black clearly went out of her way to impress her guest. Regulus approached them, he shook Evans hand, while he lifted Aimee's hand kissing her knuckles.

"You clean up nice Black," Evan said,

"You don't look so bad yourself," Aimee cleared her throat, Regulus turned to her,

"Beautiful as always Miss Burke," Regulus said twirling her around

"Why thank you, Mr Black," she curtsied,

They walked into the ballroom, she glanced around, noticing two familiar faces. She gracefully made her way around the ballroom, she heard someone shuffle around the older wizards. Aimee couldn't see who it was but she continued to the familiar wizards.

"I didn't expect to see you here," she said, "who invited you?"

"Zabini thought we could liven the party up," Jacob said

"You never showed at Grammy's," Theo questioned

"Yeah, mother practically locked me in my room, I couldn't leave,"

"What a bitch," Theo muttered

"Grammy wanted to give you this," Jacob handed Aimee an old leather book "she calls it her 'seers journal' she said you'd like it," she flipped through the pages. "I have some news," he added, she looked up at him

"I'm dating someone and I think she's the one,"

"Oh, Jake I'm so happy for you, what's her name?"

"Laura Wilson,"

"Wilson? I'm not familiar with that name," Aimee said

"You wouldn't be," he looked around "she's a muggle," her face lit up, hugging him

Evan tapped her shoulder, gesturing towards the dance floor, Jacob winked at her. She held his hand as he escorted her to the dance floor, Evan twirled her around, her dress flowed lightlessly around her, drawing many eyes towards them.

She laughed as he dipped her low, Regulus tapped his shoulder gesturing to dance with her. Evan twirled her into Regulus' arms, he waltzed her around the ballroom, as he dipped her low she leaned her head back seeing Mrs Black scolding Sirius sending him upstairs.

She joined Evan at the buffet table, as he sneaked some sweet treats. He tilted his head towards the garden door, he held her hand taking her outside. They walked around the garden, she admired the rose bushes that were planted.

Evan picked a rose for her, placing it behind her ear, she smiled, looking up at him, he pressed his lips against her, spinning her around under neither the stars. Just the two of them, the perfect end to a perfect night.

***

"You should have seen her Prongs, dancing with Rosier, she looked so happy," Sirius spoke into a two-way mirror

"Well you can't mope around and feel sorry for yourself, it was you who pushed her away,"

"I know, I would tell her how I feel, but she wouldn't believe me, not now,"

"You don't know that, I believed you and Burke were really dating-

"But we weren't-

"I know that, but you seemed so great together that it was believable," 

"Everyone will be going home in a bit, so I can't talk after that," Sirius told him,

James nodded, he put the mirror under his mattress to avoid his mother and father finding it. Sirius heard many people leave his home, he watched as the familiar faces of his cousins Narcissa and Bellatrix left with their dates.

Sirius smiled when he saw her leaving, 'She looked beautiful, she didn't need to dress in a fancy gown to look beautiful, Aimee was always beautiful,' he thought as he watched her leave. His smile fell when he saw Evan walk her down the street, linking his arm with hers.

As the last guest left his home, he heard his mother and father, ordering Kreacher to clean up. While they could go to sleep, Sirius remained quiet he turned over in his bed to appear as though he was asleep, just in case his parents checked on him.

"I know you're awake," Regulus said, "and I know you purposely got yourself sent upstairs," he sighed sitting up in his bed.

"What do you want Reg?"

"Something's bothering you, I know it,"

"Just let it go,"

"No, you completely avoided Aimee, like she was cursed, now tell me what's bothering you-

"I love her okay!" he clamped his hand over his mouth, "I didn't say that,"

"You love Aimee, love her not like her,"

"Shh, I didn't say that," Sirius tried to keep Reg's voice down.

"Sirius you have to tell her,"

"No, she's so happy I don't want to be the reason she's unhappy,"

He didn't say anything choosing to leave Sirius to think about things, he knew that Aimee liked him. However, the odds of her loving him back he was unsure of. For the first time in Sirius' life, he thought about someone before himself, her happiness meant more to him than his own.