A/N: I know it's a bit late for Christmas, but bear with me. I wanted to post it anyway! Enjoy.

Of Severed Feet and a Lovestruck Marauder

"So we're all staying here for Christmas, right?" Sirius said, upside-down on the softest chair in the Gryffindor common room. Remus nodded, looking up from the chess game he was playing with Peter for a moment.

"Mum and Dad are both working; they figure I'll be happier here with friends than home alone for the holidays. Wormtail?" Peter groaned as one of Remus' knights destroyed his queen before answering. "I'm staying too; Gran's visiting again." The other Marauders winced. They all knew Peter's psychotic grandmother all too well from summers past. "Prongs, are you staying?"

James, who had been hunched over a piece of parchment, concentrating deeply, started.

"Huh? Oh. Right. Yeah, I'm staying too. My parents are going to Greece." He immediately picked up his quill and resumed writing.

The others stared at him for a moment and then shrugged. James was James. Whatever he was doing, they'd find out sooner or later.

"So you're not going home either, Padfoot?" Peter asked.

"Nah. The "Noble and Most Ancient House of Black" isn't exactly known for holiday spirit," Sirius replied.

"But don't you have some sort of Christmas ball?"

"Every year without fail. Uncle Cygnus and Aunt Druella seize the opportunity to show off their daughters—" Sirius made a face at the thought of Bellatrix, the recently married (and rabid) pureblood fanatic, and Narcissa, a seventh year who could silence half the school with just one icy glare. Their sister Andromeda, however, wasn't prejudiced or conceited at all, a rarity in his twisted family.

"—while everyone talks about their money, connections, family tree, and why they're so much better than everyone else." He finished, scowling in distaste. "Yeah, we're real cheery folk, us Blacks. It's a good thing Mum's got Regulus to corrupt; otherwise she might care that I'm not showing."

Peter tried to lighten the mood with talk of gifts. "But you have to get presents from you family!" he said hopefully. Remus winced, knowing what Sirius would say to that. Peter didn't get the hint. "I think Mum's finally giving in and getting me a new Gobstones set this year. You'll at least get good presents, right?"

"Yes, because a severed foot is the perfect stocking stuffer!" Sirius said with plenty of sarcasm. Peter didn't reply.

James apparently had paid no attention to this entire exchange.

"Guys!" he said exuberantly. "I've done it! I've written the best Christmas letter ever. Lily's gonna love it!" Remus was skeptical.

"You didn't confess your undying love for her again, did you?"

"No," James huffed. "You men have no faith in me!" With that, he ran from the common room with his letter carefully folded in his pocket. Before the Fat Lady could swing the entrance closed, the boys could hear their friend calling down the corridor: "Lily! Lily, darling! You have to forgive me now!"

"He's lost it," Sirius snickered.

"Yes, Padfoot. Yes he has…"

A/N: Sorry it was so short! What do you call fics halfway between a drabble and a one-shot, anyway?

Thanks for reading.