Chapter Eleven
"SNOW!"
Sirius yelled out as something landed on him.
He opened his eyes and realized that that something was James.
"WAKE UP!" James excitedly yelled, "IT'S SNOWING! IT'S SNOWING!"
Sirius raced over to the window.
Sure enough, a white blanket of snow covered the garden and pasture.
It was beautiful!
Regulus joined him and gasped.
"COME ON!" James exclaimed, "LET'S GO!"
"Just a minute, just a minute!" Mrs. Potter laughed, entering the room, "You're not going out there unless you're properly dressed!"
She made the boys put on two pairs of sweatpants, a sweatshirt, their Muggle coats, and their hats, gloves, and scarves. At long last, she deemed that they were fit to go.
Sirius and Regulus had the time of their lives.
It had snowed in London, of course.
And yet, they had never really been able to play in it.
Mostly because they had never really been able to play.
As such, they were more than happy to tumble around with James. He taught them how to make snow angels and how to eat a handful of the flakes.
Mr. and Mrs. Potter happily watched from the porch.
They turned as Moody Apparated next to them.
"Hello, Alastor," Mrs. Potter cried, "How are you doing?"
"Physically?" Moody grunted, "Fine. Mentally? Not so much."
Mr. Potter laughed and asked, "What is it now?"
"The Auror Office is having their annual ball," Moody miserably declared, "Didn't we just have that?"
"Yes," Mr. Potter replied, "A year ago. That tends to be the definition of 'annual'."
"Oh, shut up!"
"What's the problem?" Mrs. Potter asked.
"I have to give a bloody speech!"
"You're great at giving speeches," Mr. Potter bracingly said.
"War speeches," Moody cried, "I know what to say to send a bunch of guys out onto the bloody battlefield. What the hell am I supposed to say to a bunch of old goats in dress robes?"
"Speaking of battlefield," Mrs. Potter wryly spoke up.
The boys had begun throwing snowballs at one another.
"Sirius," James gasped, "You're on my team!"
"Alright!"
The two began good-naturedly throwing snowballs at Regulus.
"H…hey!" Regulus exclaimed, "Wait! No fair! It's two against one!"
"Sorry, Reg," Sirius chuckled, "James called dibs!"
"Sirius," Mr. Potter amusedly said.
"But, Mister Potter!" Sirius cried, "James called dibs!"
"Yeah," James agreed, "And if he's on Regulus' side then it's still two-against-one."
"Quite right!" Moody boomed, "Then, I'll be on Regulus' side."
The children's eyes lit up as he leapt into the snowy garden.
"Uh…boys…" Mr. Potter slowly said.
"That may not be the best idea," Mrs. Potter pointed out.
They were too excited to hear the adults' warnings.
Sirius and James grabbed handfuls of snow and threw them at their adversaries.
Moody pulled Regulus behind a mound of snow.
"Alright, Regulus," Moody growled, "I want you to listen to me and I want you to listen carefully. There's a good chance that we won't survive this battle."
Regulus whimpered.
"But we'll fight to the end," Moody cried, "You can believe that!"
Regulus perked up.
"Out here!" Moody boomed, "Boys become men! And men becomes gods!"
"What do the gods become?"
"Boys!"
Regulus confusedly blinked.
"So," Moody quietly said, "Will you fight by my side?"
Regulus nodded and cheerfully said, "Uh-huh!"
"Excellent!"
The boy made a snowball, leapt up, and threw it. It missed Sirius by a good three feet.
"Missed me," Sirius taunted, "Missed me—AHHHHH!"
At least a dozen snowballs hit him.
James suffered from the same fate.
Moody smirked as he lowered his wand.
Mr. Potter chuckled and Mrs. Potter amusedly shook her head.
"Prepare for the second wave," Moody growled, "Are you ready, Cadet?"
He turned to Regulus who eagerly cried, "Yes, sir!"
He even saluted.
Moody roared with laughter before flicking his wand.
More snowballs flew towards the boys, knocking them off of their feet.
"Alright, alright!" James gasped, "We give u—"
"No, no!" Mr. Potter interjected, "Never give up!"
He raced over and helped James and Sirius up.
He then waved his wand and a translucent shield appeared in front of them.
He then sent a series of snowballs back towards Moody.
"Hey, wait!" Regulus wailed, "Now it's three-against-two!"
"You're right," Moody agreed, "We need another soldier!"
At that moment, Kingsley appeared next to the front door.
He knocked and called, "Lieutenant, we received an invitation for the…what the…?"
He took in the scene and his jaw dropped.
"Good afternoon, Kingsley," Mrs. Potter politely said.
"Good afternoon, ma'am."
"PRIVATE!" Moody roared, "GET OVER HERE! NOW!"
"I…I can't throw snowballs at my superior office!" Kingsley cried.
"YOU CAN AND YOU WILL!"
Kingsley glanced at Mr. Potter who laughed and nodded.
The young Auror shrugged and raced over to join Moody and Regulus.
The two sides fought until their bodies ached from laughing.
"Alright, alright," Mr. Potter chuckled, "Let's call it a draw."
The snowballs stopped and they all gasped for breath.
"Who's ready for hot chocolate?" Mrs. Potter called.
She had ducked into the kitchen several minutes ago and had prepared seven mugs.
The others eagerly raced over.
Mr. Potter quickly performed a spell that dried everyone off and they happily drank.
When they were finished, the Aurors helped the children build a colossal snowman.
Moody waved his wand and it began to tap-dance.
He and Kingsley stayed for dinner and were amused to find that the boys were practically using their plates as pillows.
It had been a long day.
And a wonderful day at that.
Author's Note: Because not everything has to be sad and dramatic! (Even if it's fun to write!)