The holiday had crept along like a cat seeking out a bird to sink its teeth into. All the students seemed to be infected by the Christmas cheer, even the Slytherin's which rumour has it had their drinks spiked by Professor Slughorn with a very potent Cheering spell. Dumbledore had taking the liberty of setting up floating mistletoe in the halls which latched onto each door and set off later to keep the students guessing, so, it came with no surprise that the afternoon potions class had refused to enter.

"Come on" Professor Slughorn insisted, tapping his feet impatiently from the other side of the door. A couple of the girls giggled but shook their heads insistently. Malfoy scowled from the back of the line, "Bloody Git, that Dumbledore" He muttered, running a hand through his hair looking very handsomely so causing Snape to roll his eyes, "Agreed. Though I suppose it is all in the spirit of the season" He shrugged.

"Would they just hurry up? God…" Malfoy muttered, finally seizing a girl by the arm, tugging her through the door and snogging her quickly. Looking flustered, she walked back to the group of girls whispering excitedly and shooting glances back at the Slytherin. As if on cue, the mistletoe fluttered from the door having filled it's quota and latched onto the Charms class across the hall.

"That was disgusting" Snape muttered, taking a seat beside Malfoy, rolling his eyes at the giggles from the table beside them. "Wasn't that bad. Geez Sev, you have to learn to let loose, I'll pick out a girl for you-" "No thank you" Snape dismissed, "But if you try you can-" "Not interested" "But-" "Nuh uh" Snape said, frowning in annoyance, "Just drop it"

"Hm…" Malfoy contemplated and leant close, "You're still after Black aren't you? Come on…forget it. One: He's a git. Two: He's a Gryffindor. Three: He's a git…wait…no, that's one…Well anyway. Three: He's Sirius Black, you know, dude who spent his first five years at school torturing you with the help of his Lapdog Potter" Malfoy said, rolling his eyes.

"Look, I don't like him, okay?" Snape snapped, picking up his things and moving to the table behind. "Aw, come on Sev, don't leave me alone" Malfoy huffed before the seats beside him were quickly filled by a couple of jittery girls, "Mm…never mind" He grinned, leaning over to start flirting with them.

--

"Oi! Hold up, coming through, I'll solve this problem" James said haughtily, a broad grin on his face as he stepped up to the Charms room, "Lily?" He said sweetly. "In your dreams, Potter" Lily answered, turning her back on him while her friends shot longing looks at him. "He's such a pig…" Lily whined, "I think he's dreamy…" One of her friends swooned, "That's gross, you know that Rebecca? Completely gross" She responded, crossing her arms moodily.

"Struck out, Prongs?" Sirius drawled, a grin met his face as he leant lazily on his friends side, "You know, you might have more luck if you just go to the girl and stick your tongue down her throat" He snickered. "You think?" James asked, "I was joking, dumbass" Sirius said, whacking his friend over the head jokingly. "Would you two behave, I can't leave you alone can I?" Remus questioned, carrying a pile of books in his arms.

"Mate…you carrying the library?" Sirius asked, quirking an eyebrow, "What are these anyway, lets see…" He trailed, snatching one up, "Herbology?" He asked in disbelief, "You ace that class, what do you need these for?" He questioned, watching with bemusement as small Professor Filtwick attempted to swat the mistletoe from the door with a walking stick.

"Yes well…" Remus mumbled, with a weak smile, "It's not for me, I'm helping Peter" He answered, pointing to the mousy boy carrying half the load, seeming to disappear behind the mountain of books. "He's helpless…you'll never get through Wormtail's thick skull…" Sirius snorted, "So…you heard about the dance right? Who are you taking?"

--

"But, you have to go. The dance determines where you rank on the social chart. Don't go and you'll be like…the smudge in the corner nobody notices…" Malfoy said in disbelief, leaning over the desk to face his friend, "Not to mention you'll knock my own reputation a tad lower. I might have to pretend not to know you"

"Yes well, pretend away. Dances…they aren't my thing" Snape answered coolly, trying to peer past his friends head to read the instructions on the board. "Three pinches of ground unicorn horn…" He mumbled, "There is more to life than Potions" Malfoy insisted, "I'm taking Nariscca, she's popular, not bad looking and from a good pureblood family. Exactly the boost I need to my rep" He nodded intelligently.

"Yes well…"

--

"I just don't feel up to it" James raised a brow, "You serious, Padfoot?" He asked, watching as Filtwick fell over and a couple of students rushed to his aid. "I'm taking Lily-" "When hell freezes over" Lily snapped back at him as he threw a hopeful look in her direction. "Mooney is taking whats-her-name, that Quiddich captain from Ravenclaw-" "Her name is Melissa" Remus added quickly, "Yeah, her and Wormtail, Wormtail has a date!" James said, throwing his arms around dramatically.

"Yeah well…I'm thinking about…" "Nope, don't say it. He's not good enough for you, Padfoot, get over him already!" James said angrily. "Come on, is he really that bad?" Sirius asked. "He's a git, a slimy git. He hangs out with the scum of the earth, Malfoy. He's one of them" James said firmly. "Look, he's not all that bad. Yeah, he hangs out with Malfoy and yeah he's a Slytherin, so what?" Sirius added under his breath.

"So what?"

--

"So, the Gryffindor's are vile! And yeah, he's a pureblood but he's one of the bad ones. His brother, Regulus, why couldn't you go for him? He's a Slytherin and he's not a complete ass like Black. He, at least, has the right idea-" "If the dimwit has any ideas at all" Snape mumbled. "But really…does it have to be Sirius, how about…Lupin, he's not a bad bloke for a Gryff…"

"Just drop it"

--

"I won't drop it. Sirius. The guy is scum. The lowest of the low. If you go out with him I…I won't stay your friend" James threatened, "None of us will. Right?" He asked, turning between his friends. Peter, who took James word for law nodded vigorously, "I won't" He insisted enthusiastically. Sirius turned hopefully to Remus who looked flushed and looked away, "Well…he is all those things…he's quite horrible…" He mumbled excusively. "You too, huh?" Sirius said bitterly.

Turning away from them, Sirius heaved a sigh and turned back with a smile, "Then I guess…we're no longer friends"