A/n: Chapter 10, wherein everyone is getting into the christmas mood, there is singing, Lily is nosey, Remus is sad, the confiscation of books is threatened, and there is a cliff-hanger.

Disclaimer: no, still don't own, but am working on it.

Chapter 10 – Christmas Pudding

Simone had been right. The teachers could not reverse the potion on Snape, so to prevent further embarrassment, he remained in the Hospital Wing for two weeks, until the bleating stopped, but every now and then, he would still occasionally let out a cry that strangely resembled a strangled goat.

By the time Snape was released, it was a week before Christmas, and this meant that almost everyone, who was still at school and not happily at home, was busy rushing around trying to purchase last minute gifts for family and friends using owl-order, or practicing a general handwriting style to write secret love notes to their crushes, in a way that the writer could not be identified.

Although the First Years were not allowed to visit Hogsmeade, it didn't stop the boys from restocking their supplies. James had spoken to his cousin, Iggy, and he had agreed to buy any items they needed, as long as they gave him the money. Iggy was nice, but not that nice.

The bad thing was that the whole school now had to put up with even more dungbombs, trick doorknobs and illusion smoke that many of the teachers were ready to pull their hair out. Luckily, the holiday season brought in a joyful mood so no anger ever stayed long and was often quickly replaced with the urge to belt out their favourite Christmas carol. But not always sung well. One exception was Simone, who could often be found humming along to 'Deck the halls' in a lovely high-pitched soprano. Lily also tried her hand at singing a little 'Silent Night' while she wrote in her diary. And Sirius would often belt out a few verses of 'Jingle Bell Rock' whenever he felt like it, and then suffer the assault of pillows, books and/or bits of food that were thrown by anyone else in the room.

But singing and pranks were not the only things on Simone's mind. She sat quietly one day, on a couch in the Gryffindor Common room, writing suspiciously in a secret looking notebook. Lily, being curious in nature, could not help but notice this. Using all her stealth, Lily quietly crept up behind Simone and peered over her shoulder. Simone slammed her notebook shut.

"What do you think you're doing?" she asked

"Er, I was… um… looking at you hair… yes, that's it. I think you have split ends." Lily recovered.

"For you information, I do not have split ends, and you were trying to sneak a look at my book." She accused.

"No I wasn't!" said Lily. Simone glared at her disbelievingly. "Okay, I was trying to look at your notebook." She confessed.

"Why?"

"I was just curious about what you're writing. What are you writing?"

"Oh, well, mainly planning things. It's really easy to write lists and plan things in detail so I don't get all disorganised and that. You'd be surprised by how busy my life is, but I'm not going to go into all the details."

"What are you planning right now?"

"Can't say, but if you leave right now and go somewhere else, I might still get you a Christmas present."

"Oh, okay." And Lily walked off, not wanting to miss out on a present.

Simone sighed and went back to her notebook.

Remus looked at the moon. It's shimmering glow mocking him. 'Damn sphere, why must it haunt me every month!' he thought angrily.

"Hey Remus," said James, sitting down next to him. Remus looked up from his textbook, and noticed that the library had gotten fuller since he had opened his book.

"What you readin'?" Asked Sirius, from his other side.

"Just a textbook. For Defence Against the Dark Arts. I'm trying to work out that thing the Professor said about Pixies."

"Oh, Defence, well, me and Sirius will be able to help you there." Said James.

"Mate, you're on the wrong page." Said Sirius, taking his book and flicking through to the Pixies page. "What were you doing looking at Werewolves? We don't learn about them until Third Year."

"Probably trying to get ahead." Said James.

"It's the holidays Remus, you shouldn't be studying." Said Sirius in mock insult. "I'll overlook it this time, but if you do it again, I'm afraid we'll have to confiscate your book. It's for your own good."

"Right." Answered Remus, sceptically.

"Now, what did you want to know about Pixies?"

The Great Hall was three quarters empty, but its halls were still filled with joyous singing and laughing. Even though it was the holidays, the House Elves, all busy in the kitchen, still provided divine feasts every night. And tonight was no exception. Sirius and James sat, with one hand holding a goblet of pumpkin juice, and the other arm around the shoulders of the other. They were swaying from side to side, singing medleys of Christmas carols, like drunken pirates. Peter sat next to them and watched in amazement, as Snape's face got redder by the second at the altered lyrics, particularly one song that told the tale of 'Brave knight Sir Sirius, and his battle with the Giant Nose of Snivellus'.

Lily sat and talked with Penelope and some of the other girls about things like shopping and they swapped stories on families, people in their classes and other things eleven-year-old girls liked to talk about. Lily was so busy talking, that her usually attentive self failed to notice the absence of two people; Remus and Simone.

Remus walked the cold, empty corridors. His sneakers only made quiet thumping on the stone floor. It was the time of the month he dreaded. As he passed a window, he saw that the sun had almost completely set, and soon he would have to walk to the house in the blissful darkness that resigned in between the setting of the sun and the rising of the full moon.

At his destination, he knocked hesitantly on the vast door of the Hospital wing.

"Sorry dear, I'm about to go out," said Madame Pomfrey's voice from inside the room. She opened the door and saw who is was. "Oh, it's you. Well, are you ready?" she asked with more enthusiasm than was necessary for a werewolf on full moon. All Remus could do was nod his head meekly.

The snow squelched at every step. Remus could feel the cold starting to seep in through his shoes.

"Here we are dearie, I'll be back in the morning to come and get you." Said Madame Pomfrey, turning around and walking back to the castle.

Remus looked up at the tree. For some reason, he felt calm, and not dreading the night ahead. 'Life is strange,' he sighed. Remus walked over to the near-by bushes and pulled out a long stick. 'Right where I left it.'

Going over to the tree, Remus reached out and prodded the knot in the tree's roots. The Whomping Willow, which had been peacefully swaying in the wind, suddenly froze. Remus took the opportunity and quickly crawled into the hidden tunnel at the tree's roots.

Crawling in the tunnel was hardly a pleasant experience. After about five minutes, he could feel his hands and knees growing sore from the repeated beating on the hard ground. Finally he came to the section of the tunnel that was high enough to stand. Getting up, he dusted off his hands and knees and slowly walked the rest of the way.

About ten minutes later, he reached the end. Climbing the wooden stairs, he felt for the door above his head. Remus pushed it up and climbed into the house. He looked at the room around him. The walls and floors had scratches and gouges. What little furniture that was there was badly damaged, although still intact. 'It looks as if there was a horde of frightened animals in here,' Remus chuckled to himself, 'but it was only one big dangerous monster.'

He strolled into the next room, which looked like it might have once been a living room, and gazed at the state of the place. The tables were badly scratched and the couch had lost almost all its stuffing. It was the most damaged room as it was the place where Remus spent most of his time during his transformations. Something dark caught his eye. Remus turned his head to see a dark figure standing by the window. The silhouette looked human.

'Oh God!'

Oh! cliffhanger! my first one i've ever written. may i shoudl write them mroe often.

To me, i think it was a little short. only 3 pages, but i guess it's enough. thanks to all those who reviewed last chapter; Flutterby Princess and discombobulated.shoe. Thanks guys! you are the best! reviwing for just about every chapter, you two are wonderful.

to everyone else, please review. if i get enough, i may post the next chapter before monday. and i can tell you know, it is a Remus-lovers heaven. well, kind of, but my editor is Remus obsessed and she loved the chapter.

so, read, review and enjoy!