The Golden Age: The Marauders

Chapter 4: Christmas

Disclaimer: Not mine (characters, places, many main events, etc.)

James, Sirius, and Peter saw Remus off onto the train, and he was still smiling when he reached King's Cross. He refused to let his doubt's eat away at him, he needed friends. When he met his parents and they had loaded all of his things into the car, he boldly said "I've got friends who know what I am." Thankfully his father hadn't started driving, as both he and whipped around to stare at him. Softly, she said "Remmy…are you sure that's wise?" He nodded confidently. "They're good friends, and didn't even freak out when I told them. They…came into the Hospital Wing. Saw me all bandaged up. I told them and they said it was cool! It's not, but it's fine with me if they think so. James called it my 'furry little problem'. " His mother looked at his father, who started the car. Reluctantly, she smiled. "Alright then, if you're sure. We trust your judgment, Remus. I really do hope this works out, your father and I want you to have a school experience, and you know if you get kicked out we'll home-school you."

"I know, Mum."

Remus returned to Hogwars with a few days left of vacation. His first morning back, he was ready to tell stories of his vacation…if his friends were still his friends and cared to listen. He wasn't prepared at all to be woken up with cheers.

"Happy Christmas!"

Blinking his eyes, Remus looked up at James, Sirus, and Peter peering down at him. They all had a gift in their hands. "What….? It's early…and not Christmas. " Remus muttered. James laughed. "All the better to surprise you!" Sirius grinned. "Yeah. You weren't here Christmas! So…these are your presents from us!" Remus looked at the badly wrapped gifts on his bed. "B-but…I didn't…."

Sirius shrugged. "We're from rich families. We really don't NEED gifts…I mean, they're nice…but…" Remus laughed now, and scrambled out of bed. He chucked three small presents at each of them. "I meant I didn't expect gifts. Of course I got your guys stuff. I have to keep your faith in me somehow…I mean…what I am…" James threw an arm around his shoulders. "Don't worry mate."

"Is this chocolate?" Sirius was smelling the little wrapped package, excited.

Remus rolled his eyes. "Just open it. "

The three promptly did, and barely did the wrapping fall before James, then Sirius, then Peter, had broken off a chuck and shoved it in their mouth. Grinning, Remus looked at his own bed. He unwrapped Peter's gift first. It was a guide to interesting spells, as appealing to Remus as James's gift of a bag of chocolate and other sweets was. Sirius's gift was a nice jacket. When Remus looked at him, curious, he shrugged. "I told my mum I had a pure-blood Slytherin friend who needed a new jacket and she was all too happy to send it. You did, you know. She'll do anything for a fellow pure-blood, might as well take advantage of my psycho family. Was pleased as punch in my taste in friends as well."

Remus looked appalled, but Sirius reassured him that they really were wretched.

Slowly, he tried the jacket on. It was big on him, but very nice and quite warm. Looking at the book and bag of candy on his bed, then at the jacket he wore, he tackled his three new friends in hugs.

"Thank you guys! I've never had gifts like these, especially not from anyone who wasn't related to me, and never from friends! Never had real friends!"

"Ack, Remus, buddy, I can't breathe."

"I agree with Sirius…ack.. I mean you're welcome but..breathing.."

"Remus! Sirius and James…ahhh that's better. "

Grinning, Remus released them. Sirius looked at him, rubbing his neck.

"Blimey, mate, you're stronger than you look!"

" I get a good monthly workout…that's the prize from the price of scars. "

The others fell silent for a bit, then James said "Well, this is new motivation for us to exercise. I mean, it'd be nice if scrawny little Lupin wasn't the strongest of us."

Sirius and Peter laughed, and Remus joined in as soon as he was sure it was a good-natured joke.

In the library, others met who hadn't seen each other over the break. Lily Evans was just removing her jacket and scarf to hang on the back of her chair when Severus Snape sat across the table from her, smiling.

"Hi Lily."

"Hey Sev!"

"Happy Christmas."

She looked up to see him handing her a small wrapped package, and with a smile she pulled another small package out of her jacket pocket and handed it to him as she took the present.

"Thanks Sev, Happy Christmas to you too!"

"You…thanks…I mean…you didn't have to…"

"I wanted to, you know that. You're my best friend. "

Smiling, he began unwrapping the gift. He worked slowly, as if he was afraid he'd just find paper. Instead he found a little framed picture of both of them, from a day when Lily had borrowed her father's camera.

Lily opened hers to find a necklace chain, which two charms attached. One was a griffin, the other a snake.

"Oh, Sev, I love it. " Both were smiling, and Lily put the necklace on before giving Sev a hug. "Thank you. "

"Thank you too Lily…It's nice to have a picture of you."

She smiled, and turned to look out the window at the falling snow.