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Jigsaw Puzzle Challenge: Piece 98

Yuletide

James tugged at the cuff of his robe as he stood before the long mirror that his mother had insisted he have in his room. He hated the formal robes his mother made him wear every Yuletide and his mother knew that James hated them but that had never stopped her before nor was it likely to stop her now. They were stuff and stiff, making him feel like his bones had suddenly hardened to the point where he could hardly bend them for fear of the dreaded snap that would break them.

It was stupid really. It was not absolutely necessary but his mother had been raised as a Black and always adhered to the pureblood customs. His father was much more relaxed about it but preferred to allow his wife to do what she wished because James' mother's temper was legendary within their household. No one outside needed to know that his father was terrified of his mother.

James' eyes drifted to the window that was beside the mirror. The garden was coated in a snowy white layer that looked so soft that he thought he could probably jump out the window and land safely on that fluff. Yesterday he had been playing outside with Sirius, throwing snowballs at each other and laughing loudly as the other howled at the cold when one of their warming charms had faded. Remus was supposed to have visited already but Remus' mother had caught a severe cold and Remus had been forced to care for her while his father went to work. Peter, on the other hand, had been banned from visiting any friends during the holidays because Peter had somehow managed to prank his father, something that had infuriated Peter's mother.

At that moment he even wished that he could be in the muggle world, wrapped tightly in the warmest clothing they could find. They would watch as the large moving machines removed the snow from the tar so people could pass in their cars but thinking of the muggle world made him think of Lily's bright hair that would have spots of white.

Lily had wanted to spend the holidays with her family much to his disappointment. The piece of parchment that held his latest letter with the dark ink still drying lay on his table. They had kept exchanging letters through the holidays. James' mother had found out soon enough and had teased him about it relentlessly ever since.

James' mother knocked gently on the door, "James it's time you came out of your room, almost all the guests are already here."

James sighed and tugged at his collar in an effort to loosen the tight material slightly. There really was not much he could do to soften any of it. James could only hope that the night was short even if he already knew that it was not going to be.

James sent the letter one last glance, hoping it was dry so that he would have an excuse to stay in his room a little longer but the black ink still glistened slightly from where it lay, almost as if it were mocking him.

James stalked out his room, unhappy.