Christmas was approaching, fast, and none of us had decided what to do yet. Our parents had decided that they wanted us home, but we wanted to stay together. So the day before we had to decide we were all sat at the Gryffindor table discussing it.
"So Padfoot will come to mine again," James suggested and Sirius nodded.
"I'm going to the Prewitts," Frank told us and Fabian and Gideon nodded.
"Alice, Cassie and Lily can come to ours," I suggested to Remus who nodded.
"I was planning on staying at James' for most of it so it'll just be you girls in the night," he told me making me nod.
"So all that we need to figure out is Pete and Bilius," Gideon finished making us look at the guys.
"Mum wants me home; she didn't see me last year," Peter shrugged, "Sorry guys."
"One less," I sighed, "Bill?"
"It's Charlie's first Christmas," he replied, "But I can come over to yours for new years."
"Sounds good," I smiled at him making him grin. "I got mum and dad to agree to go to Grampa's for the night so we'll have the house to ourselves."
"Wow, I didn't think you'd manage it," Gideon grinned making me grin back.
"She's got them both wrapped around her little finger," Remus laughed simply.
"So, I'll write mum and tell her the girls will come to ours," I grinned before getting up.
"Tell her I'll be at James'," he called after me as I left the Great Hall.
"I will do!" I shouted back as I went through the doors.
Dear Mum & Dad,
You said we should make arrangements for Christmas so you could see us at some point of the holidays. So here's what we've got. Remus will be staying at Potter Manor with James and Sirius. Frank will be with the Prewitts and Lily, Alice and Cassie will come to ours. Bilius and Pete have to go home for the Holidays but Bilius said he'll be at ours for New Years when everyone meets up there.
I hope you're okay with this, but if you're not then we can just sort out another way. I hope you're glad to see that I have girl friends too now Mum, you'll love the three of them. Lily's Muggleborn so she can help us with the Muggle traditions of Christmas!
Love you both, see you soon.
Isabella xoxo
After sending the letter off with Scar, who was actually a lot faster at delivering letters than the Owls, I turned to head back to the Great Hall to meet the guys again but I collided hard with someone, making me land on the floor. "Walk much Bella?" a voice snapped irritably making me glare up at the familiar figure of Barty Crouch Jr, a Ravenclaw boy in my year.
"You were the one stood right behind me Bart," I countered as I stood up and dusted myself off, "What do you want?"
He shrugged slightly as he locked gazes with me Barty was unnerving; he always had been. "You're in my Transfiguration, right?" he asked simply, still staring at me as I started walking, he kept pace next to me.
"Yeah, why?" I asked glancing at him as I carried on walking.
"No reason," he shrugged again, "Benji just mentioned that you turned your bat into a goblet pretty easily."
"What's your point Bart?" I asked as I paused in the Entrance Hall, turning to face him. "You've never bothered to talk to me before, why now?"
"Just curious," he put his hands up in defence before tilting his head to the side and giving me that stare again, the one that made feel like he could read my mind. "You don't like me, do you?" he smirked slightly as he asked this.
"I don't know you," I corrected.
"Because you've never tried to," he countered, as my eyes fell on Lily, Alice and Cassie leaving the Great Hall. The boys weren't far behind them.
"You unnerve me," I replied simply as I looked at him again.
"I unnerve you?" he asked in amusement, "What about me unnerves you Bella?"
"I don't know," I replied honestly, "Something."
"That's not an answer," he challenged, "There has to be a reason for me unnerving you."
"What's up?" Gideon walked up as he noticed us, the others stayed back watching. "What do you want Crouch?"
"We're just talking, right Bella?" he smirked at me as I gave him an apprehensive look. "See you later."
"Yeah," I muttered as I frowned in suspicion, he turned and walked into the Great Hall, taking a seat next to Benji Fenwick and Caradoc Dearborn.
"What was that about?" Gideon asked curiously as he draped his arm around my shoulders and guided me to the others.
"I honestly have no idea," I replied simply as I shook my head in confusion. A small shudder ran down my spine before I ran a hand through my hair. "Forget it."
"You send the letter?" Remus asked as we started up the stairs.
"Yeah," I nodded, another shudder caused me to pause in my steps and turn around. There was nothing there, and I knew there was nothing there... but my body had told me to turn around.
"What's wrong Bella?" Cassie asked cautiously as I scanned the hallway behind us.
"Nothing," I replied distractedly, "Let's go." With that I turned again and carried on up the stairs.
"You've been acting odd for weeks Bella," Lily accused as we curled up in front of the fire on Christmas Eve. My mum and dad were in the library as me and the girls sat by the fire in the drawing room, hot chocolate in hand and munchies in reach on the floor by us. "Ever since you had that run in with Barty."
"Lily's right Bell," Alice nodded, "What's wrong?"
"I don't know," I replied as I brought my knees to my chest, my chin resting on them. "I keep getting that feeling that there's something behind me." As I said it, I felt that shudder again, only this time the girls shuddered too and the fire in the hearth flickered.
"That was creepy," Cassie squeaked as my head snapped around to the door that blew open with a bang.
"Shh," I hissed slightly as I strained my ears. I could hear mum and dad in the library, but I could also hear something else. "Can you...?"
A loud crash sounded from down the hall where the kitchen was, making me jump as the other girls yelped and screamed. "Stay here," I muttered as I got up and went to the door, mum and dad hadn't moved, they obviously hadn't heard through the oak doors of the library.
"You can't use magic," Lily hissed, "Get your dad."
"You go," I nodded for her and the girls to go to the library. "I can use this." I'd seen a Muggle movie on the TV during the summer so it had made me buy Beater bats; I left one by my bedroom door and one by the drawing room in the umbrella stand.
"Be careful," Alice whispered as she and Lily went up stairs, Cassie gripped the back of my pyjama top.
"Cass?" I asked curiously.
"I'm not letting you go on your own," she replied simply making me nod and take her hand in mine before starting forward quietly. CRASH! Sounded again making us both jump again, Cassie's grip tightened on my hand as we reached the kitchen door.
"Stay here," I muttered to her quietly as I let go of her hand, and with that I pushed the door open and tightened my grip on the bat. It was dark in the kitchen, and I could see six figures in the darkness. Swinging the bat, aiming at the legs of one of the intruders I heard a familiar voice let out a gasp of pain before the light was flipped.
Stood in front of me was Remus, James, Fabian, Gideon and Frank, Sirius was on the floor gripping his leg and glaring up at me. "What the hell was that for?" he yelled at me, as four sets of footsteps ran down the stairs. Loosening my grip on the bat I scowled at the boys.
"What the hell are you doing here?" I snapped harshly, making all six of them wince visibly.
"What's going on?" dad appeared at my shoulder, wand at the ready. "What are you boys doing here?"
"Well we came to scare the girls," Frank replied honestly, "Wasn't planning on Bella to be armed with a bat."
"Even if I wasn't armed with a bat I'd have injured one of you with my fists," I scowled, "You guys aren't supposed to be here till tomorrow night."
"Change of plans," James shrugged with a charming and innocent grin as he walked towards me, trying to take the bat from my hands. "Do you want to put the weapon down?"
"I think I'll keep hold of it for now," I replied just as innocently, but I had a bit of menace hidden in my tone.
"So everyone's okay," dad confirmed, "Good. Let's take this into the drawing room shall we? Your mum will make more hot chocolate and snacks."
Shooting one more glare in the boys' direction, I nodded to Lily and Alice before grabbing Cassie's hand and leading the way back to the drawing room. The boys followed behind apprehensively and stood still as we settled by the fire again. "It was only a joke," Gideon pouted down at us as I looked pointedly away from them. The other three glared openly at them before Alice sighed and nodded to them to take a seat.
Almost instinctively we took our usual positions in the semi-circle. Cassie, me, James, Sirius, Alice, Frank, Fabian, Lily, Gideon and Remus. "You're angry at us, aren't you?" James muttered as he tilted his head closer to me. I clenched my jaw and looked away from him only to hear him sigh.
"Okay, to get Bell to talk to us again," Sirius smirked across to me making me glare slightly, "Did we scare you?"
"Yeah actually," I replied stonily, "Only I wasn't scared for me."
"You were scared for the girls?" Fabian asked curiously.
"Mmm," I nodded as I pulled my knees to my chest again.
"So what were you talking about before we interrupted?" Remus asked curiously. I glanced at the girls.
"Nothing important," Cassie replied for me making me send her a small, thankful smile. "We were just about to start truth or dare." Both James and I stiffened in response to the title of the game before we shared an awkward glance.
"Or we could just go full out and play, spin the bottle," Alice suggested, the air between James and I once again got tenser. "Making sure that Remus and Bell don't get each other."
"Sounds good," Lily nodded happily, Cassie nodded too and it was agreed by the others. "What do you two think?"
"Sounds great," I smiled fakely as James nodded next to me, "I'll go get a bottle." Standing up hurriedly I slipped out of the room and let out the breath I was holding.
The kitchen was empty again, so I flicked the light on and headed to the fridge to find a bottle. There were a few butter beer bottles in there so I poured one of them into a glass and collected a few others so everyone could have one. "Are you okay with this?" James asked from the door as I rinsed the empty bottle out. Turning my head, I nodded slightly.
"Yeah," I smiled slightly, "Help me carry these in?"
"Sure," he sighed before moving to the bottles, "I'm sorry, by the way." I looked up at him in confusion, "If we scared you. You still seem tense."
"It's nothing," I shook my head, "You guys just have lousy timing."
He gave me a once over, "You were telling them about the feelings, weren't you?" I nodded. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," I replied quietly before looking up at him, "As cheesy as it sounds, I feel safer now you're here." He sent me a small smirk before grabbing some of the bottles and nodding for me to come back to the drawing room. I grabbed the rest and followed him.
"We ready?" Gideon asked as we came back in, shutting the door behind us and settling back into the semi-circle. We all shifted to make a full circle, Cassie sitting by Remus and the rest of us shifting around. "Who first?"
"I'll go," Alice grinned, "and then whoever it lands on goes next. Kiss has to be a real one, lasting at least 30 seconds."
"What about if it lands on the same gender?" Sirius asked cautiously.
"Same rules apply," I smirked at him, his eyes widened.
"Sounds good," Lily nodded in agreement. Alice took the bottle from my hands, laid it on the floor between us and spun it quickly. We all watched intently as it span around before finally slowing and landing on Remus, a giggle erupted from my throat at his shocked look.
The lads cheered as Alice leaned across and planted her lips on my brother's, we all laughed when it was over. Remus span and it landed on me making me scowl, "Hell no," we stated together making them all chuckle. He spun again and it landed on Cassie who blushed a bright red.
It was entertaining for a little while, Cassie got Sirius, Sirius got me and we both laughed when we pulled away. I got Fabian, Fabian got Lily, Lily got Gideon, and Gideon got Frank which caused much laughter. Frank got Alice, who blushed redder than the Prewitt twin's hair.
When they pulled away Alice span and it landed on me making me grin widely at the cheers from the lads. Getting to our knees we knelt in front of James and Sirius and I planted my lips on her making her giggle slightly... a small groan sounded from next to us and when we pulled away we shared a wink before settling down again, all of the boys, minus Remus had awed looks on their faces. "My turn?" I asked innocently making Cassie giggle loudly.
Reaching the bottle I flicked my wrist and spun it fast, I watched it was it slowed down and caught my bottom lip between my teeth when it finally stopped. It was bound to happen at some point during the game. Sirius wolf whistled and I turned to James whose hand was running through his hair.
He cleared his throat before turning to me and giving me a weak smile. "Kiss, kiss, kiss!" Frank and Sirius suddenly chanted making me jump slightly before I leant in, my lips locked on his simply before his hand came up and tangled in my hair again, he tilted his head slightly so I instinctively tilted mine the opposite way.
"Oh Merlin," I heard Lily giggle as my hand grabbed hold of James' shirt and I parted my lips for his tongue to dance with mine. Another wolf whistle erupted and I heard a high five exchange. "Time!"
I pulled away quickly and my eyes locked with James' again in a wide eyed stare, his hand stayed in my hair though, and mine stayed on his shirt. "Ehem!" Remus cleared his throat and I turned from James my cheeks heating up as I pulled from him fully, he shifted next to me and we looked back at the others, all of whom were grinning like idiots.
"So tell us again why you two aren't together?" Fabian teased making my face heat up even more.
"Drop it," Sirius warned with a laugh as he saw the looks on our faces. "Prongs?"
"I think it's time for a new game," Lily suggested suddenly making us all nod in agreement.
"So...?" James asked after clearing his throat.
"I've never..." Remus said with a grin making me nod enthusiastically.
"What's that?" Cassie asked curiously.
"Explain, I'll be back," I grinned before rushing out of the drawing room and getting the aerosol cans of whipped cream from the fridge. We had loads so I got one for each of us.
"Ready?" James asked as I sat down and handed a can each.
"I still don't get it," Cassie whined slightly.
"Learn by playing," I shrugged at her, "You say 'I've never' and then anything. You could have done it though. Like I've never had detention with Slughorn."
All six boys smirked at me, "If you've done it you squirt a load of cream in your mouth and eat it." I told them all, all of them did that, I copied and to my surprise so did Cassie. She shrugged when our gazes landed on her.
"He hates me," she told us simply, "I happened to call him the jolly green giant."
"Nice," Sirius smirked at her making her blush lightly.
"Okay," James grinned, "I've never fancied a teacher."
Lily, Alice and I swapped a look before eating some of the whipped cream and grinning at each other, once again Cassie copied. "Jacobs?" we asked together and we all giggled. It was no secret that Professor Jacobs was gorgeous. Tyler Jacobs, he was young, mid/late twenties with chocolate brown hair and gorgeous blue eyes. The little bit of stubble on his face gave him the rugged look but his smile made all the girls in the class practically melt. He wasn't like the other professors, he chose not to wear robes, instead he wore black jeans and button up shirts, his tie always loose and his shirt never tucked in.
Sirius groaned slightly and shook his head, "He's got all the female population in love with him this year," he sighed irritably, "At least he'll be gone by next year." I pouted at him and he grinned, "Anyway, I've never kissed one of my best friends." We all ate with a laugh.
"I've never kissed a Ravenclaw," Alice suddenly announced and Sirius was the only one to respond making us all turn to him.
"Amelia Bones," he grinned, his mouth full making me pull a face.
"Uhm I've never..." Frank started as he thought before grinning, "I've never fantasized about Bella."
My face turned bright red as James, Sirius, Fabian and Gideon all responded, Frank winked and followed suit making me put my face in my hands as Cassie giggled next to me. "I've never fantasized about a Marauder... Bella included." Fabian commented. Yet again, the five boys responded but this time they were joined by me, Alice, Cassie and surprisingly Lily.
"Who..?" Gideon grinned at us all making me glare at him. "We all know Bella's was James." I arched an eyebrow. "Right?" A smirk tugged at my lips and he smirked. "I've never fantasized about Sirius Black."
Once again Alice and Cassie responded and I followed suit making Sirius 'Whoop' with laughter. "I've never..." Remus started, "Been hit on by Gilderoy Lockhart." Alice and I swapped a look before we ate making the guys chuckle slightly.
"I've never had a sex dream," Cassie openly stated finally making us all turn to her before we swapped looks. No one was surprised when all of the boys responded, I fought the blush as I followed suit and Alice winked before copying making the boys' jaws drop.
"Following up," I smirked around, "I've never had a sex dream about anyone in this group." I ate straight away and out of the corner of my eye I noticed James doing the same thing, Gideon copying and surprisingly Frank and Alice too.
The clock behind us struck twelve o'clock and I turned to look at it, a smile on my face. "Happy Christmas guys." I commented and they all chimed the reply.
"So, sex dream huh?" Lily smirked as we headed down the stairs after getting dressed the next morning. Everyone was already crowded around the big table eating breakfast, spaces left between James and Sirius and Fabian and Remus for us. Like always I took the seat between my Marauder friends as Lily took the other one, still smirking at me.
"So what did you lot get up to last night?" mum asked as she placed plates in front of us.
"Just some games," I shrugged innocently as she pressed a kiss on top of my head, "Happy Christmas."
"Happy Christmas to you too honey," she smiled at me as we all smiled innocently. Once she and dad left to get dressed we swapped looks and laughed.
"So, anyone want to fess up to another 'dream'?" Alice grinned mischievously making my gaze snap to the table. "Oooh Bella! Tell us, tell us, tell us."
"I'd rather not," I shrugged making her pout.
"At least tell us who it was about," Lily insisted making me shoot her a look. "Marauder or Prewitt?" I glared towards her making her grin widely. "So it was definitely a Marauder or a Prewitt."
"Drop it Lil," I warned her simply.
"Aww c'mon?" Cassie asked hopefully making me shoot her a shocked look.
"Not you too," I groaned, "My innocent little Cassie?"
"You guys are a bad influence," she shrugged making Alice nod in agreement.
"They converted me too," She commented simply.
"We're headed the Burrow for Christmas dinner," Gideon interrupted making me send him a thankful smile. "Molly wanted us all down there for Charlie's first Christmas."
"Awesome," James grinned, "Molly's cooking is the best."
"Mean's Bilius will be there," Lily grinned happily making me grin back.
"Only person missing is Wormtail," James sighed slightly.
"Nope, Molls said that she invited the Pettigrews too," Fabian cut in, "She's having a full blown party at her place."
"Great," I smirked, "Means we've got even numbers."
"What are you planning?" Remus asked curiously.
"I was thinking WizardHunt," I smirked at them all and Remus groaned slightly.
"What's WizardHunt?" Lily asked curiously, with her being Muggleborn it wasn't a surprise that she didn't know.
"It's like manhunt," I replied, "We split into two teams and both have a codeword. Each member of the team has only a letter to remember. If you get caught by a member of the other team they can do whatever they want to you to get your letter. The game ends when the winning team figures out what the other team's codeword was."
"That sounds totally barbaric," Lily complained making me grin widely.
"You'll have fun," I shrugged, "I was thinking Marauders v everyone else."
"That's not even though," Sirius complained, "There's only five of us and like seven of them."
"Then we get one of them," I shrugged, "Two if we get Arthur and Molly involved."
"You really think Molly will play?" Gideon asked curiously.
"If she gives little Charlie to Lucreta then I can convince her to be on my team," I shrugged, James frowned. "Don't pull faces, Molly would kill at the game; and you know it."
"I think to even it up and be real in teams we should do redheads v everyone else," Sirius grinned, "Meaning Bella would be on the redhead's team with her newly dyed hair."
"Newly dyed hair?" I frowned cautiously, "What did you do?" He cracked a grin as the others turned to me in shock making my eyes widen. My hand flew to my hair before I pulled some in front of my hair. Bubble gum pink.
"Nice hair," Sirius grinned at me, "Happy Christmas."
"Black," I growled ferociously as he shifted next to me, "Run."
"It was Prongs," he got up quickly and backed away as I stood slowly and arched an eyebrow. "Honest."
"Jamie," I smiled sweetly, turning to him, he paled which gave me the answer I needed. "Jamie..." I sighed as I shook my head he got up and was out the door to the back garden in a flash. I was on his heel just as quick.
"It looks good though," he shouted back to me as I chased him down the garden in the snow. I collided hard with him as he whipped around to face me and we both landed heavily in the snow. A smirk crossed my face and I started burying him in the snow as he struggled to get away. Finally, he grabbed a hold of my wrists and flipped us over ending up with me lying on my back scowling up at him as he smirked down at me.
The cold snow suddenly felt like it had faded away as he leant down and locked his lips softly with mine, drawing a small sigh from me. This kiss, unlike the others, was slow caring... and as I pulled my wrist from his grip I locked my arms around his neck, pulling him closer as my hands threaded in his hair.
A sharp wolf whistle rang out from the house causing James to pull away quickly as we both turned our heads to see the guys grinning widely at us both. Letting out a small sigh I dropped my head to the ground and looked up at James who smiled slightly down at me. "Parents alert!" Cassie suddenly called and we jumped to our feet, separating quickly as we walked back up to the house.