King’s Cross was full of students reuniting with their families to go home for the winter holidays.

 “You’ll be spending Christmas at our house again, won’t you?” Ginny asked.

“Of course,” Andromeda replied.

 Sirius embraced his godson again, and the two men watched, with broad smiles across their faces, as Lily hugged Marigold.

 “I can’t wait to have you over,” Lily said.

 “I’ll look forward to visiting you again,” Marigold said.

 “See you next week, Marigold,” Albus said.

 Marigold smiled at Albus, patting him on the shoulder, before nodding at James, who was staring back at her longingly.

 “See you next week, Sirius,” Harry waved at his godfather, then left with his family.

 As Sirius waved back at them, watching them leave, he couldn’t shake off the strange feeling he felt when he saw Marigold and James acting a bit unusual.

* * *

That night, before Marigold went to bed, Sirius and Andromeda came to her bedroom to kiss her goodnight. Andromeda kissed Marigold and left, leaving Sirius alone with her.

 “Marigold, I wanted to ask you about what happened earlier,” Sirius said.

 “What is it?” she asked.

 “I noticed you and James acting a little strange. You two acted as though you were strangers,” he said. “Did something happen?”

 Marigold just sighed in response.

 “What is it?” Sirius asked, concerned.

 “Dad, can we just stay home for Christmas this year?”

 “Of course, I’m sure they’ll understand,” he replied. “What happened?”

 Marigold sighed and explained everything: her feelings for James, how she asked Albus to ask James if he feels the same way and what he told her.

 “That’s awful,” Sirius said sympathetically. “You must’ve been devastated.”

 Marigold started crying.

 “You poor thing,” he said, hugging her.

 Sirius recalled finding out about Remus’s new relationship with Tonks, Sirius’s own beloved niece. Sirius could still remember the pain and conflicted feelings all too well.

 As Marigold cried in his arms, Sirius also began tearing up. It hurt seeing his daughter feel the same pain he felt years ago.

 When Marigold’s tears subsided, at last, Sirius tucked her into bed; he began singing the lullaby he sang to her when she was little.

 “You'll be in my heart, yes, you'll be in my heart. From this day on, now and forevermore.” he sang softly. “You'll be in my heart, no matter what they say. You'll be here in my heart. Always.”

 Sirius gave Marigold a kiss on her forehead before turning around to leave the room.