A/N: Hello! Sorry, this might get sporadic again - I've been trying for once a week or so the past few chapters, but I've taken up Vive Ut Libra and have to deal with another plot that sort of appeared. It's a Golden Trio era AU that starts with Sirius being the Secret Keeper. This is a shorter update not because of lack of time or effort but because there just wasn't as much to put into this. I think plotwise, you'll agree it's rather substantial, though. Actually, this is the shortest update yet. Went from 7k chapters to 2.5k. Whatevs.

Also, I found something that I do even more poorly than writing drunken people and that's writing kissing people. So yes, [Spoilers] there will be a kiss in this chapter. And I sucked at writing it.

I've Just Seen A Face

James, Sirius, and Remus had created a rather large snowman and outfitted him in robes transfigured to look like the distinctive plum of Albus Dumbledore's. Situated directly outside the entrance to Hogwarts, the snow simulacrum would glower thunderously at anyone attempting to leave the castle, and declare, "You shall not pass! ...Until you sing a Christmas Carol!" Several students had actually teamed up to make their way through a couple shaky verses of "Good King Wenceslas" before Professor Flitwick showed up. His efforts to vanish, melt, banish, or otherwise get rid of the snowy headmaster were in vain, though, and the next couple of days were filled with the dulcet sounds of forced caroling.

The snowy guardian was dispensed with when the real Albus Dumbledore showed up, eyes twinkling merrily. He sang a few bars of "Jingle Bell Rock" before waving his wand, causing the snowman to burst into frenzied dance before collapsing into a pile of powdery snow and old robes.

Otherwise, though, the morning of December 31st arrived uneventfully.

James, in the Gryffindor boy's dormitory, was throwing a small rubber ball against the wall and wondering just how he'd made it six days without asking Lily if they were going on a date or not. Remus lay in Peter's bed and briefly but seriously considered strangling James while yelling, "Just sodding ask her you arse; at least you have that option open." Of course, Remus being Remus, what he actually did was roll over and pull Peter's pillow over his head in a futile attempt to drown out the sound of the ball bouncing. Sirius had made his excuses a while ago, muttering something about 'party details' and fled James' anxiety and tension.

Lily, meanwhile, was writing another letter to Narcissa. She no longer expected replies, not really, but until she heard otherwise, she would continue to write to her friend whether or not she got anything in return.

Pigeon,

How're you? How're things? I'd ask what's happened in your life since you wrote me last, but I think that's enough for a novel (unless your life has been horribly uninteresting for the last few months.)

Joking aside, I miss you. I just wish that I knew why you aren't writing back. I know you're not in Mungo's or dead because let's face it, the Blacks (and the Malfoys) are pretty prominent and that'd be sizable news.

If it's something I did, I'm sorry. If it isn't, I'm just going to go ahead assuming that you have a good reason for not writing back and retract my apologies.

Anyway, that aside, I've news! I have a date! Or, well, I think that I have a date. I mean, he didn't specify, but it's James Potter, and he asked me to a party, so I can assume, right? Merlin knows he's asked me out enough times before to set a precedent.

If you'd told me last year that I'd be going on a date with James Potter, I'd probably have laughed in your face, Pigeon. But then, a lot's changed since last year, hasn't it?

I'm more worried about this date than I think I should be, Pigeon, more than I feel comfortable admitting. It's weird – I used to tell you everything, but now that you've stopped writing me back, it's easier to be open. Whatever. I'll figure it out.

I'll let you know how it goes. Miss you.

Love,

Snake-Soul

She mailed the letter with instructions to the owl to not wait for a response.

The sky was dark by the time James returned to the Head's apartment. He glanced at the clock - he still had about fifteen minutes before he was due to meet Lily, so he went straight to the bathroom to shower. The hot water helped relieve some of the tension in his muscles, and he took a few precious minutes to compose himself, to try to still some of the nervous energy that was darting around his mind. The result was a thoroughly refreshed James who had significantly less time to get dressed than he would have liked. He threw on a clean t-shirt and hastily tugged on a pair of jeans. He laced up a pair of trainers and rushed out the door, making it to the common room only seconds before Lily.

Lily was wearing a black skirt with a white tank top and jean jacket. James chuckled when he saw the only jewelry she was wearing - a pair of golden snitch earrings. "Ready to go?" she asked.

"I suppose," James said, trying to sound casual, leaning (coolly, he thought) against the sofa behind him.

Lily let out a snort of laughter but held out her arm for James. His eyes widened, but he didn't miss a beat as he looped his arm into hers.

When they arrived, Sirius raised an eyebrow at the connection, but didn't say anything. Remus was dressed much the same as James, but Sirius had forgone the t-shirt in favor of a light blue oxford, and his jeans were noticeably tighter. Lily noticed Remus' eyes darting towards Sirius and then pointedly away from Sirius every so often and couldn't help but snicker.

"So, we all ready?" Remus asked, a little too loudly than necessary.

The others nodded and Sirius stepped forward, tracing out a spiral on the large mirror in front of them with his wand, muttering "Dissendium."

The mirror's surface shimmered for a second and stopped reflecting. Sirius quickly stepped through the glass and it rippled behind him like a pool of mercury. He was quickly followed by Remus and by James and Lily who walked through arm in arm. They emerged in a room about the size of a Hogwarts classroom with a long, dark corridor on the right wall.

The group of Gryffindors made their way through the tunnel holding illuminated wands aloft. It was twenty minutes or so before they reached their destination: a small wooden door set into the stone wall.

They stepped through the door into a dark alley. Once Remus had made his way through and closed the door behind him, it shimmered and transformed back into the service entrance to the Hog's Head. "Excellent," Sirius said happily, "We're all here and accounted for? Off we go, then."

They walked briskly to the Three Broomsticks. The streets were illuminated by the glow of the nearly full moon and Lily could tell that it made Remus nervous. She couldn't believe that it'd taken her six years to realize – he got so twitchy in the moonlight.

The bar was pleasantly filled when they arrived. It was warmer, too, a welcome change from the cold December air and smelled of butterbeer and hot chocolate. The kind of music that the housewives in Lily's neighborhood hated filtered in through old speakers, muted by the chatter of the crowd.

Sirius made a beeline for the bar, leaving Remus with James and Lily. Remus looked at the pair, at their still entwined arms, and sighed. "I'll just leave the two of you to it, then," he mumbled, heading off in the direction of someone that he vaguely recognized as a Hufflepuff in the year below.

Suddenly, closeness felt awkward and the pair hastily disentangled themselves. "I'll, er- I'll go get us some drinks, then," James said, gesturing towards where Sirius had gone, "Anything you like in particular?"

Lily shook her head. "Just get me what you're having," she said, "I'll be over there, I think I saw Gideon Prewett – I should say hello."

The night improved from there. Other than having to constantly reassure people that yes, they were here together and no, Lily hadn't recently received any serious brain trauma, it was actually quite pleasant.

James, Lily learned, was an excellent dancer once you got enough alcohol in him.

Lily, James' sore toes learned, was decidedly not as excellent of a dancer, but she tried, and that's what counts.

It was after a particularly upbeat Queen number that James could take no more. He stumbled into a booth, holding onto an unsteady Lily for support. "Who taught you to dance?" he said, chuckling as he massaged his sore feet, "Hagrid?"

Lily stuck her tongue out. "'m a great dancer. You just got in the way."

James sighed. "I think you're drunk."

"I'm not drunk, I'm Lily."

He groaned. "You're definitely drunk if you're making that joke."

She waved her hand dismissively. "Whatever. What time's it?"

As James glanced around for a clock the music lowered and the crowd hushed. "Nearly there, folks!" Madam Rosmerta said, her voice magically enhanced to fill the room. Bright yellow sparks appeared in the air above everyone's heads and arranged themselves into neat numbers over the bar. "Ten! Nine! Eight!"

He grinned. "There's your answer, then."

"Seven! Six! Five!"

"Handy. You can do that on request?"

"Four! Three! Two!"

"… Happy New Year, Lily."

"One!"

"Happy New Year, James."

"Welcome to 1978!"

Remus spotted Sirius against the far wall of the bar leaning on the grey stone walls talking to a girl he didn't recognize. The wolf inside him growled its disapproval at her proximity - she was standing very close to Sirius with one hand on his shoulder while she whispered in his ear. He watched as Sirius tipped his head back and laughed in response to something she said.

Without meaning to, Remus found himself maneuvering through the crowded party and to Sirius' side. He stopped about two meters off, though, suddenly aware that he hadn't anything to say - "Hi, I just wanted to drop by and vicariously live through this girl who is clearly flirting with you" didn't seem quite right.

He started to turn, intending to head back to the bar for another shot when Sirius spotted him. The other boy's eyes lit up as he motioned for Remus to join him. "Moons!" he said happily once Remus had arrived, "This is Ariana. Ariana, this is m'friend Remus." Remus shook Ariana's hand, suddenly and irrationally angry at how attractive she was. "Charmed," he said. "Nausea Charm, maybe," he thought.

She smiled. "Well, aren't you a cutie?" She turned back towards Sirius and gave him a wink. "I'll catch you later. Come find me. Good luck!"

"So you'll catch her later, huh?" Remus asked sourly.

Sirius just laughed. "Ariana's a good girl. She's helping me out with a little problem I have," he said, waggling his eyebrows at the girl's retreating back.

The implications of that statement filled Remus with an unpleasant heat that began in the pit of his stomach and inched upwards until he was sure his ears were as red as the cherry in Sirius' mixed drink. He burned silently until, intoxicated on a mixture of firewhiskey, the impending full moon, anger, and the scent of Sirius, Remus leaned forward, and with a growl, did what he'd been dreaming of for years.

Sirius' lips were rough and dry and there was a part of Remus' brain that was grumbling about the need for chapstick, but that part was small and overpowered by the noise that the rest of his brain was making.

He kissed with a desperation fueled by the certainty that this would be his only, his last. It was a silver eternity before he broke for air and stepped back, panting, preparing to apologize and flee. He looked at Sirius, expecting revulsion, anger, but instead-

Sirius was smiling, a dopey, victorious grin plastered across his face. "Took you long enough," he said, before leaning forward and kissing Remus back, pushing him flat against the cool stone wall behind him, and running his fingers through sandy blonde hair.

Explanations could wait for later, Remus decided, because right now, Sirius Black was kissing him, and nothing else in the world could be that important.

Lily and James had looked around for Remus and Sirius, but the pair had disappeared. Eventually, they decided that it was too late and the remaining party goers too drunk and had agreed to return without the other boys.

They made their way back to the Hog's Head and opened the tunnel. They began walking through the passage about a foot apart until Lily rolled her eyes and closed the gap, lacing her fingers into James'. He looked at her in surprise, and she grinned in response, squeezing his hand in hers.

They walked in contented silence together,

"I'm going to sleep in Peter's bed tonight," James said, "I should wait up for Remus and Sirius, make sure they get back okay."

"'Kay," Lily said.

"G'night," James said, turning to give the Fat Lady the password.

Lily tapped him on the shoulder before he could speak though. He turned, and she kissed him briefly on the lips. "Thanks for inviting me," she said, "Good night."

And with that, she turned and headed back to the Head's apartment.

James watched her go, exhilarating in the tingling of his and the swimming of his thoughts, unable to move for fear of breaking the moment.

It was a minute or so before the Fat Lady broke his reverie. "Yes, yes, I know you've been chasing her for years, but are you coming in or not?"

"Wow," Frank said, lying back in bed with a thump. "That was incredible."

Alice giggled. "And you didn't even get injured! That's a first."

"Don't jinx it," Frank said with a pained look on his face, "Tonight was going so well."

Alice turned onto her side and kissed Frank, shrieking with delighted surprise against his lips when he pulled her in closer. The kisses went from fierce to delicate until they weren't kissing at all anymore, but enjoying the feeling of the other's breath on their face. Alice put her hands on Frank's chest and laid her head into it, snuggling in as close as she could.

The pair laid like that in comfortable silence, Frank's arms around Alice's bare back, until Alice, half asleep, whispered, "I'm glad you were my first, Frank."

Frank smiled and pressed his lips to Alice's forehead. "I love you, Al."

"Mmm," she mumbled, "You're okay."

Drowsy from the hour, the exertion, and happiness, Frank could only chuckle, the movement shaking the girl lying on his chest. "Happy New Year," he whispered, before drifting off to sleep.

But sometimes the sea is calmest just before the storm.

A/N: I have enough ships for a goddamn armada. Sorry for the shoddy romance. Things start to blow up soon. The next chapter will be called, "While My Guitar Gently Weeps."

~Conjar