Chapter Eleven
Last Day of Term

"Merry early Christmas, guys," yawned Remus, dropping into a chair at the Great Hall. "You're leaving this evening, Peter?"

Peter swallowed a mouthful of eggs as Remus helped himself to jam, which he methodically applied to his bread. "Yeah," he said happily. "I can't wait. I really miss Mum and Dad."

"Of course you do," said Sirius under his breath, but only James heard him. He frowned at Sirius. Sirius lowered his eyes.

"Well," said James, breaking the temporary silence. "Last day of term." Sirius sighed in contentment.

"Finally, past few months have been taking forever.."

There was a great swooping sound as hundreds of owls rained down upon the Great Hall. Each of the Marauders got a letter.

"What does yours say?" asked Sirius after he read his. He slammed it back on to the table with unnecessary force.

Remus and James shared a look before mutely deciding honesty would be best. "Christmas wishes," said Remus quietly.

"Yeah," agreed James, "same here."

"Mum wanted to remind me that I was coming home," said Peter in a small voice.

"Great for you three, then," said Sirius sourly, turning back to his eggs.

"Sirius?" said James after a moment.

"What?"

"Forgive me for asking, but what does your letter say?" James ventured. He rather felt that Sirius was waiting for them to ask him, so he could – quite righteously – complain to someone.

Sirius set down his orange juice so hard it splashed onto the table. "The opposite of what Peter's does," he said angrily, but his anger was quite obviously not directed at his friends.

A few minutes passed in silence, before Sirius sighed and said "C'mon, we'd best get to Potions." He picked up his bag and strode off. His friends quickly caught up with him, but they walked to the dungeons in silence.

It was only a few minutes into the lesson when Slughorn began his usual act.

"Going home for Christmas, then, m'boy?" he said to Sirius. Sirius carefully avoided his eye, crushing his boomslang in with unnecessary force.

"Depends on what you mean by "home,"" said Sirius carefully, finishing his boomslang and tipping it into a bowl. James saw his hands were shaking slightly.

Slughorn looked a bit taken aback. "Er – home, m'boy! Your home!"

"Hogwarts is my home," said Sirius coldly. "I live at 12 Grimmauld Place, but that is not my home anymore and it never will be. And yes, I plan to stay here, I'm staying home."

Slughorn looked extremely confused, but apparently decided to let it go. "What a shame," he said heartily. "I'd've liked you to say hello to dear old Bellatrix for me – she dropped Potions this year, it's amazing, I'm her head of house but I barely see the girl! Such a shame, such a shame..yes, I do wish you were going home.."

"Gah!" Sirius had accidentally cut his hand with the knife and blood was slowly trickling out. This may or not have been the result of his very shaking hands.

"Oh, there – '' Slughorn raised his wand to close the cut, but Remus had already muttered a spell and the it had healed itself.

"Professor Slughorn, I think Snape needs some help over there," said Remus quietly, pointing across the room to not much of anything. Slughorn bought it, though, and walked off.

"Thanks," said Sirius quietly. "I really could not take another second of him carrying on like that. It was making me crazy."

"Same here," said Remus bitterly. "I can't stand him..I don't even feel bad about graffiting his room anymore, you know."

The four of them smiled. Above them was one bit of magic that not even McGonagall had been able to erase..the words LOVE, THE MARAUDERS.

Only a short bit later, Slughorn was back.

"Shoot," said Sirius under his breath. "The slug's back.."

"I told you a few days ago, Sirius," the slug was saying. "I'm having a little party tonight, nothing big, just get together, you know? I'd very much like you to come."

"No thank you," said Sirius, trying to stay polite.

"I insist!" cried Slughorn. "Why, you can even bring guests! One, at least..within..er..reason.." His eyes flickered to Remus's patched, shabby robes, then his secondhand cauldron. Remus cringed.

"What do you mean by within reason?" said Sirius suspiciously.

"Well.." Slughorn hesitated, then lowered his voice slightly. "Appropriate guests, you know. Think of who your wonderful old mother would like you to invite, eh?" He patted Sirius on the head and walked off before he could retaliate

After Slughorn was out of earshot, Sirius burst. "Someone my mother would like? He has got to be kidding me! That leaves..hm, let's think.. no one!"

Remus was stirring his potion more vigorously than absolutely necessary. "God, I hate him," he said quietly.

"He's horrible," said James quietly. "But cheer up, guys..it's nearly Christmas!"

Sirius's scowl deepened, and Remus didn't answer. James sighed.

Stupid Slughorn.

In the back furrows of his evil mind, Christmas pranks began to weave together..

A/N: So, sadness and drama. But! But but but! As you may be able to see...pranks are coming up. Yay!