Indigo's head was spinning. He hadn't really thought about it before, but now that he was actually packing for the trip to the Potters, it felt like the worst decision of his life. He stood at his trunk, staring at the clothes laid out in front of him, unsure of what to bring, what to pack, what to do. He couldn't breathe.

What the hell was he doing?

It had seemed like a simple thing— but now that he was actually preparing to go, everything felt wrong. He wasn't sure if he was making a mistake or if this was just another stupid thing he was doing for no reason.

He couldn't stop pacing the room.

Lily, who had noticed his unease from the beginning, stood by the door with her arms crossed. "Indy, you need to get it together," she said, voice firm and cutting through his panic. "This isn't a big deal. You're going to the Potters' house for Christmas. They've invited you because they want you there. So stop acting like you're going to some weird, uncomfortable family reunion. You don't need to overthink this."

"But—" Indigo started, but Lily didn't let him finish.

"No," she interrupted. "Stop. Just pack your things, and stop making this harder than it is. It's going to be fine. Trust me."

She gave him a pointed look, daring him to argue. But Indigo's heart was still racing in his chest, and he wasn't sure he could calm it down. It felt too big, too intimidating.

Remus, who had been quietly sitting on the bed, watching the interaction with a soft smile, gave Indigo a reassuring look. "Lily's right," he said gently, standing up and walking toward him. "You're overthinking it. You've already agreed to go. The worst part is already over. Everything else will just fall into place. You'll see."

Indigo looked over at Remus, grateful for his calm, steady presence. "What if I mess up?" he asked quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. "What if they don't like me?"

"They will love you Teddy," Remus said with a smile. "Don't worry about it." He winked.
Silas, who had been leaning against the wall, suddenly perked up, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Ohhh, don't tell me you're packing sweaters for the Potters' house," he teased. "What about your sexy clothes? You know, James is going to be all over you by the end of the holiday, so you should probably pack accordingly."

Indigo's face immediately flushed crimson. "What? No, I'm not—" he stammered, but Silas only raised an eyebrow in response, clearly amused by his reaction.

"I'm just saying," Silas continued with a smirk, "James Potter has a way of making people fall for him. You should be prepared."

Indigo shot him a look of disbelief, but Silas only laughed.

Lily rolled her eyes. "You're impossible," she muttered, though the smile on her face was hard to hide.

Indigo let out a heavy sigh, his panic still building, but with his friends there, he felt like it might be a little easier to face. He had to do this. He needed to do this, even if he was terrified.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

Sirius paced back and forth in the kitchen of the Potter home, trying to distract himself from the anxiety brewing in his chest. He had spent weeks working behind the scenes to get Indigo to agree to come to the Potter's for Christmas, and now, he had to tell James. The thought made his stomach flip.

He looked over at James, who was casually flipping pancakes, completely unaware of what was about to happen. Sirius had a feeling that James wouldn't react well to the surprise. The two hadn't been exactly on the best terms lately, and the idea of Indigo suddenly appearing for Christmas was bound to be a shock.

What if James freaks out? Sirius thought, pacing once again. What if he kicks him out? What if he's mad at me for arranging this behind his back? Sirius be honest, he probably will be...
He paused for a moment, glancing at James again. His best friend seemed so oblivious, humming lightly to himself as he worked, completely unaware that the one thing James had been dreading was about to happen. Sirius took a deep breath and walked over to the counter, trying to summon the courage to break the news.

"Prongs," he said, his voice coming out much quieter than he'd intended.

James glanced up, brow furrowing slightly. "What's up, Pads?"

Sirius tried to sound casual, but the hand rubbing his neck gave away his nerves. "I need to talk to you about something."

James raised an eyebrow. "Is this another one of your schemes? Because I swear, I can feel something brewing."

Sirius chuckled nervously, trying to hide the flutter of nerves in his chest. "Well, it's not a scheme per se... more like a surprise." He stopped pacing and faced James directly. "You remember Indigo, right? From school?"

James nodded, still unaware of what Sirius was about to say. "Yeah, of course. Why would I need to remember him in this situation?"

Sirius hesitated, his words hanging in the air like a heavy weight. "Well, mate... there's something you need to know. Indigo... he's coming for Christmas. He's staying with us."

James froze. The spatula in his hand came to an abrupt halt, and he slowly turned to face Sirius, his expression shifting from casual to confused. "What? What do you mean, he's coming?" His voice was laced with disbelief.

Sirius took a deep breath, trying to mask the tension in his voice. "I mean, he's coming here. He's agreed to spend Christmas with us."

James blinked, his brow furrowing further. "Wait, wait, what? How long have you known about this?" His voice was rising now, a mix of surprise and frustration creeping in. "Sirius, you can't just spring this on me!"

Sirius quickly held his hands up in a defensive gesture, stepping forward. "I'm sorry, okay? I should've told you sooner. I just... I didn't know how to bring it up. I thought it would be better as a surprise."

James shook his head, clearly overwhelmed. "A surprise? Are you serious? You've been secretly coordinating with him, and you didn't think to tell me? You knew he was coming, and you didn't even give me a heads-up?" He let out an incredulous laugh, running his hands through his hair. "Bloody hell, Sirius."

Sirius winced at the tone in James's voice, his nerves doubling in intensity. "I'm sorry, mate. I just thought... I thought it would be good for him to come. He's been through a lot, and I think he needs this. A break from his house, that is. We've been... well, we've been trying to make things right."

James's face softened a little at the mention of Indigo's struggles, but the tension still remained in his posture. "I don't even know how I'm supposed to act around him, Sirius. It's not like we've been talking much lately, and now you're telling me he's coming here, to stay, for Christmas?"

Sirius stepped forward again, this time more gently. "Look, I know it's a lot. And I know it's unexpected. But I'm sure it's going to be fine. It's just Christmas, mate. You don't have to do anything drastic. Just let him be here and see how it goes."

James sighed, his expression torn. "I just... I didn't expect this." He let out a frustrated breath, shaking his head. "I need time to process this, Pads."

Sirius's stomach dropped. He hated seeing James so unsure, so unsettled. But there was nothing more he could do now. "I get it. Just... when he gets here, try to keep it cool. It's just a couple of weeks. Christmas with all of us, yeah?"

James didn't immediately respond, his mind clearly racing. He turned away for a moment, looking down at the pancakes, and let out a heavy sigh. "I just don't know what to expect anymore, Pads."

Sirius placed a hand on James's shoulder, his voice soft. "Neither do I, mate. But it'll be okay. I promise."

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

The biting cold of late December swept through Diagon Alley as Indigo tightened his scarf and trudged through the bustling cobblestone streets. The festive decorations lining the shops—a blend of enchanted snowflakes hovering in midair and twinkling fairy lights—did little to brighten his mood. The tension with James still lingered in the back of his mind, gnawing at him like a persistent itch he couldn't reach. Yet here he was, trudging through the chill to find gifts for the very people occupying his thoughts most.

It was only a few days until Christmas, and Indigo was determined to make the gifts count.
Indigo pushed open the heavy wooden door of Flourish and Blotts, the warm air inside hitting him like a comforting blanket. Shelves of books stretched to the ceiling, the faint scent of parchment and ink making his shoulders relax. He wandered the aisles aimlessly at first, his thoughts scattered as he considered what Sirius might like. Something meaningful, something practical, something... ✨Sirius✨.

After a while, his eyes fell on a journal tucked on a display shelf. It was bound in deep black leather, the cover adorned with constellations that shimmered faintly in the light. Indigo picked it up and turned it over in his hands, noting the small inscription on the inside cover that read: For the keeper of secrets.

It was perfect.

"Good choice," said the shopkeeper, an elderly witch with bright blue eyes and a gentle smile. "That one's quite popular this time of year. The locking charm is particularly clever, personalized to the owner's magic."

Indigo smiled faintly, his fingers tracing the embossed constellations. "It's for a friend. He likes stars."

The witch nodded approvingly. "You've got a good eye. Anything else I can help you find?"
Indigo hesitated, then shook his head contently, "This is perfect."

He paid the Witch for the book and quickly thanked her as he moved on to James' gift.
Indy left the bookstore and made his way to Quality Quidditch Supplies. This stop was for James. Despite their current silence—or rather, their barely-there conversations that often teetered on the edge of arguments—Indigo still wanted to get him something special.

The shop was lively, filled with chatter and the gleam of enchanted Quidditch gear. Indigo ignored the chatter, his eyes scanning the displays until he found the perfect gift: personalized Quidditch gloves. Each pair was custom-fitted to the wearer and could be enchanted with initials or symbols.

The thought of James's worn gloves from the last match flickered in his mind. Indigo had noticed how the seams had started to fray and how the leather was scuffed from years of use. James might not have mentioned it, but Indigo knew the gloves wouldn't last much longer.

"They are top-notch," a clerk said, appearing beside him. The wiry wizard had a windswept look about him, as though he'd just stepped off the pitch. "Lightweight but strong. Perfect for Seekers. Is he any good?"

Indigo nodded. "Yeah. He's... good. Annoyingly good."

The clerk chuckled. "Sounds like you have a professional on your hands. Want to personalize them?"

"J.P.," Indigo replied, his voice quiet.

The clerk jotted it down and nodded. "They'll be ready shortly."

As Indigo waited for the gloves to be prepared, he glanced around the shop, his thoughts drifting. He wasn't sure if James would even appreciate the gift, considering how little they'd been talking lately. But Indigo wanted to remind him—however subtly—that he still cared, even if things between them were tense.

When the clerk returned with the finished gloves, Indigo smiled faintly as he took them. The initials J.P. gleamed softly against the dark leather, understated yet unmistakably personal.

"Hope he likes them," the clerk said as Indigo handed over the payment.

Indigo tucked the gloves carefully into his bag and murmured, "I hope so too."

a/n: AHHHHHHHH i am so so so so excited for these next couple of chapters! this one is particularly special to me for a lot of reasons, so i hope you enjoyed it! buckle up, it's about to get good!!!