Prompt: Folklore 05/10/2024 @wolfstarmicrofic

Wordcount: 498

There was a knock on the door, Sirius still jumped every time the door went. It had been years since he'd left that blasted house and yet still a rap on the door left him in fight or flight. Remus was in the kitchen making dinner, something nice for Christmas. It was a few days early for Christmas dinner but Remus loved cooking and wanted to do something special before they left for the Potter's for the holidays. So Christmas dinner on the 21st it was, not that Sirius was going to complain.

Sirius got up and opened the door. He immediately did a double take. "Moony?" Sirius called down the hallway, not even sure how to react. He was a little scared and, in his pocket, wrapped his fingers around his wand. At the door was someone hidden under a sheet holding a horses skull. The thing had shiny plastic balls in its eye sockets, and Holly leaves and coloured streamers for a mane. There were two men on either side of the skull bearer who smiled broadly.

"May we come in" one of the two sang, why the fuck was he singing?

"Absolutely not" Sirius sang back in confusion, he glanced over his shoulder into the hallway again "Remus come here please" Sirius shouted, so confused and terrified.

"Oh but the cold cuts deep and your home is warm" the second man sang, creeping forewards a bit. Remus popped out from the kitchen and began to laugh.

"Shwmae Rhys, Mason," Remus said, leaning against the wall and clearly enjoying Sirius' confusion. "Ignore my husband. He doesn't know much Welsh Folklore. He's french, " Remus explained, gently budging Sirius out the way despite him trying to stand his ground.

"Mari canny come in," Remus said in a singsong voice, much to Sirius' further confusion. Why was Remus willingly talking to these creeps with a bedazzled taxidermy hobby horse.

"Just for a drink?" The person under the sheet sang in an unnaturally high voice, like someone trying to imitate a woman badly.

Remus just laughed and rolled his eyes. "Fine, is whiskey alright?" He offered, stepping aside and letting the trio into the house. Remus let the dead horse people into their home. Sirius may or may not have been reconsidering this marriage.

Remus dutifully gave all three people a tumbler of whiskey and a mince pie. They ate and drank in silence before singing in Welsh as they danced their way out the house again.

Once the door was firmly shut and locked Sirius spun on his heel to face Remus "What the actual fuck was that?" Sirius asked in exasperation, Remus just looked bemused. He shrugged "Mari lwyd" he answered, not even explaining before he returned to the kitchen to keep cooking. "Mary who?" Sirius asked, following Remus like a lost puppy.

"It's a Christmas thing here," Remus answered simply, tending to something on the stove. Sirius was never going to get used to living in Wales.