Chapter One

A present for Betty Allison, from Ashleigh Falzon. See? I'm not as mean as you.

"Christmas time, mistletoe and wine..." Sirius Black strode into the Gryffindor common room, clutching a sack of presents. His raven hair swished around his face. His mum had nagged him to get it cut before he went back to Hogwarts for his Sixth Year, but he'd refused. I like it longer, he'd said. It's my life, not yours. He'd promptly slammed the door in her face and boarded the Hogwarts train.

"Hey, Remus?"

"What now?" Remus looked up from The Mysterious Case of Betty Button his eyes immediately focusing on the present bag.

"Yeah, yeah. Stop that, these aren't for you." Sirius smirked, his eyes flashing.
"Oh... For Mary?" Remus stared down at his book.

Sirius grinned. "Oh yes. You know why I'll have a great Christmas?" He paused for Remus to respond. When he didn't, Sirius frowned and turned to face the door. "Because presents equal the bouncy bed game." He climbed out of the common room, and slammed the portrait door behind him.

"Watch it!" The voice of the Fat Lady echoed through the door. "I only have one glass of wine!" The Fat Lady was constantly annoying the Gryffindors in the common room, singing loudly at night when everyone was asleep, or leaving her portrait to have a shower in the river in the portrait of Ariana Dumbledore.

Remus stood up, balancing his book on the corner of his chair. Why did Sirius get a girlfriend when he didn't? All Remus wanted was a nice, steady relationship where two people (him and another girl) could be co-dependant on one another. She should have red hair, he thought; a nice figure, a lovely personality.

"You okay?" James was facing Remus, waving a hand in from of his face.

"Me? Oh yeah…" Remus's sarcasm was quiet and neatly aimed at the door frame. "There is nothing I like better than to see one of my best friends being screwed over by some girl who, quite frankly, cares not for him."

Shocked by Remus's tone, James playfully covered his face with his hands. "Alright, calm down. I want to get home without my Mother asking me why I have no nose left."

"Knock it off, James. I'm not in the mood."

"Have you spoken to Peter?"

"Peter? No. Why?" said Remus, raising his eyebrows.

"He's decided to go back home for Christmas." James moved backwards slyly, not allowing Remus to pick up on the slight gesture.

"Back home for Christmas?!" Remus stood, his cheeks flushing. "You mean to say you're leaving me here alone?!"

"Sirius will be here, you won't be on your own…"

"He's with Mary, James. You know he'll spend the whole stupid holiday in the Ravenclaw tower."

"Well, that's not a problem for you, is it?" said James, grinning at Remus. James looked nervously towards the doorway. Would Remus like his present? James was… currently low on funds. He'd had to improvise this month.

"So, are you single Jess?" Jess gasped. "Oh James!" This was the moment she'd been waiting for her whole Hogwarts life, ever since she'd first been sorted into Hufflepuff. "Because Remus is looking, you know." "Oh…" Maybe this was how she would get closer to James? She pondered.

"Why wouldn't it be a problem for me, James?"

"I have a little present for you, Rem-meister." James walked over to the common room door, smirking. "A little present I like to call... Jessica."

"Jessica?! What are you-" At that moment, a pretty brunette girl walked into the room, leaving Remus looking gormless in the firelight. "Jessica?"

"Hallo, Remus. Lovely to meet you!" Jessica smiled, staying shyly in the doorframe. She was of average height, only five foot five, with basic brown eyes. She walked tall and proudly, as if she came from a background of royalty. Remus's eyes swept over her small, rounded shoulders, her perfectly shaped breasts oh those breasts and her immaculate thighs. Remus sighed, suddenly feeling the need to lean forwards, to touch what was meant for him, to devour the beautiful girl's scent reeking from every corner of her body but

"Remus?"

Remus was brought back to real life by James's more than annoying voice. His eyes skimmed the girl once more and Remus decided to step forward and shake her hand. "Nice to meet you, Jessica..."