Next chapter! Sorry this took so long, but I'm quite proud of it. I wrote most of it within the past two hours and while there's no real plot, it set up a lot of things for the future. I'm not going to say what, because that would be telling, but trust me when I say a lot of things were just set in motion. Enjoy, le mie bellezze!

CHAPTER 12

Harry looked contentedly at the room. It was decided between the twins that for the first not-sleepover, the Marauders would all sleep together in a room. To do this, their parents vanished the wall separating James and Harry's rooms to make it into one large bedroom large enough for the four first years. It was still a few days until the others arrived, for tomorrow was Yule, but Harry and James decided to spend the holidays with their rooms combined, which was a step up from when one would sleep in the other's room when they were young.

"Harry?" James asked.

"Yes, James?"

"Did you get anything for Siri and Remus yet?" Harry shook his head.

"I wasn't sure what to get for Remus and I haven't had a chance to go looking for Sirius. Besides, we'll be going to Diagon in two days. Why? Have you?" James also shook his head in the negative.

"I've been thinking about gifts for the past few weeks but I can't for the life of my figure out what to get Siri. He has as many books as he could want – not that he wants any at all – and everything else he could buy for himself."

"And he already has an excessive supply of prank materials." Harry chimed in and James agreed. "Well, we could always make special bracelets or something-"

James cut him off. "Friendship bracelets, Ry? Merlin, you're just as bad as mum! Am I really the only one who understands that we aren't bloody girls?!" Harry huffed, annoyed.

"I never said we were, James." Merlin, give me patience. "I'm just saying that maybe Sirius would appreciate something a little more personal than some lame gift." James was still sour but agreed with the fact that something with emotional value would be better.

"Well, we have a few pictures from some of our pranks. We could give him a small packet with them." But Harry refused.

"That's more of a birthday gift. Besides, we don't have nearly enough for even a small packet. We can give him an album of some sort in a few years."

"Alright, so going off of your idea of the bracelets, why don't we get some necklaces? Not golden chains or anything. But, like, maybe some black cords with a charm that means something?" Harry beamed at his twin brother.

"Brilliant idea, James! And the charm could have some protection spells or something weaved in! Should we make that the gift for both Siri and Remy? And then we can get them a gift certificate each, too. Like, a ten galleon one from Quality Quidditch for Sirius and one from Flourish and Blotts for Remus."

James decided that it was a great idea and they went off to do their separate things. Harry wanted to go find Peri. Once his little kitten with her peridot eyes arrived with him at the manor, she was immediately off doing who-knows-what. He was glad she was happy since he got the feeling she wasn't overly fond of the magic castle.

Since pets weren't allowed outside of the common rooms at Hogwarts, Harry had to go through most of his days without Peri. However, when in the room or in the dormitory, everyone came to expect the small black cat to be somewhere on Harry – whether it was on his shoulder or stuck into one of the warm pockets of his robe. The girls thought it was adorable and always tried to pet her, but Harry was strangely protective of the little cat.

Harry found her curled up on a magically-heated windowsill soaking up as much sun as possible. Harry snorted and left her alone, and decided to find something else to do. Of course, there was always homework to be done, but why would he willingly do that?

Christmas was a nice event, and Harry treasured the fact that he was able to experience them to this degree since he was unable to the first time. As always, James was jumping on Harry's bed before the sun even arose and the younger boy did everything he could to gain a few more minutes of sleep. Five o'clock was too bloody early for even Harry to be up.

As it was becoming tradition, once they reached the kitchen James challenged Harry to a food-eating contest. This time it was French toast, which Harry had never had the luxury of trying before he went back in time. James, of course, won, but Harry didn't feel at all upset about it. Though he did fake resentment to put on a show.

Both boys received many gifts from their parents, including many outfits and a new pair of dress robes each. They also got new games that Harry had never heard of and a whole assortment of candy. But Dorea couldn't give them all of the unhealthy food and still feel good, so the boys also both got an orange. James made a face at the offending fruit while Harry just laughed and ate his for an early lunch.

James and Harry didn't exchange gifts on Yule because they decided they would do it when their friends arrived. And they did, when Remus arrived by portkey and Sirius by floo six days later.

Behind Harry was a still-small Regulus Black, and while Sirius and James looked a little put-out by him being there, Harry was expecting it. There was no way Walburga would let her heir spend New Year's with bloodtraitors and a half-blood without having some way to keep an eye on everything.

Everyone exchanged greetings and Remus was introduced to Reg before the gaggle of boys traveled to James and Harry's joint room.

"Are we exchanging presents now?" Sirius asked, excited. The other boys rolled their eyes at his behavior but it was decided that yes, they could do it now.

Since Harry and James weren't certain Regulus would be coming and since Remus didn't know who he was, no one had any gifts for him. Of course, he didn't have any for anyone else either, but that's beside the point. Still, Harry got a few handfuls of candy and gave them to the younger Black with a wink before joining Remus on the floor.

James and Sirius were hanging off of James' bed and Harry and Remus had their backs pressed against Harry's. Regulus sat a few feet away in the chair next to Harry's desk. The four marauders handed their gifts out correctly before moving back and looking at each other.

"Open mine first!" Sirius exclaimed and Harry raised an eyebrow. He would have thought that Sirius would want to open presents first, not watch others. But the man had a tendency to surprise him, and really this was no different.

So the boys opened Sirius's gifts and Harry smiled at the predictability of them. He himself had gotten the newest model of a practice snitch. He had been wondering why he didn't get one from his parents since usually they liked to spoil their boys, but now he understood. Sirius had probably talked to them privately at some point and asked them not to buy what he planned to get for them.

It was very thoughtful and Harry found himself smiling fondly.

James got new chaser gloves of the highest quality and he thanked Sirius profusely before trying them on and refusing to take them off for hours. Remus got a book on the advanced history of quidditch and why it's such a popular game from Sirius with strict orders to "read it and realize what you're missing."

After that, Sirius laid back, satisfied, and James jumped up and down.

"Open the ones from us, next! We worked together so we decided to just say they're from both of us. C'mon, open them!" The werewolf and dog animagus laughed and Sirius opened his gift painstakingly slowing to rile James up. After two whole minutes and the wrapping paper still only being half undone, James finally snapped and jumped on Sirius and brought him to the ground.

"You're taking too long!" He shouted and tore the rest of the paper off of the gift and shoved it in Sirius' face. By now, Sirius was in hysterics and Harry was gaining a stich in his side from his withheld laughter.

The room quieted and Sirius looked down to the gift in his hands. Remus had opened his a few minutes before, but hadn't yet looked at it so he did then. Their faces morphed into suspiciously soft smiles the identical necklaces.

They were both hung on dark brown cord that couldn't be cut by muggle means and had a strange knot at the back that, when pulled properly, would lengthen the cord so that it could be lifted over a head. On the rope dangled a charm a few square centimeters large that was shaped like a shield, or a crest. On the metal charm was an elaborate 'M', which obviously stood for 'Marauders'.

Both boys looked at the twins and without saying anything, they lifted identical necklaces from where they were hiding underneath their shirts. They smiled at each other and Harry wondered if maybe this moment would be the one he would think of when doing the patronus charm from now on. Everything was just kind of perfect at the moment.

But it had to be ruined by a small voice from the chair. Harry had to keep from jumping; he had completely forgotten Regulus was there at all.

"'M'?" He inquired and Sirius turned to glare at his brother.

"It's none of your business, Reg, and nothing mother is in need of knowing about." Regulus flinched back from Sirius and Harry leveled a disapproving look on the older Black, which was steadfastly ignored.

"I'm sure you'll understand next year, Regulus." Harry told him gently with a smile and the youngest boy looked at him with a matching one.

"Ooh, do you really think everyone will have heard of us by next year?" Sirius asked, regaining his cloud of excitement.

"Of course they will've!" James announced somewhat arrogantly. "We'll be the greatest pranksters that school has ever seen!" Remus rolled his eyes and Harry laughed.

"Yeah, yeah, just open your second presents." The boys slipped their necklaces on (after James briefly explained that they have charms that will lessen the blows of most minor hexes and curses) and opened their gift certificates. The twins were thanked and they turned to each other.

"Here," James said, handing Harry a long blue box. The smaller boy looked at the other curiously, before taking it and handing over a large square box of his own. Harry grinned widely when he removed the lid of the box and saw three rare chocolate frog cards he needed for his collection. Also in the box, lined around the edges were some of Harry's favorite candies. He discovered them two years ago when he came here and would eat them continuously if they were easier to find. As it was, they were only available in Africa, so it was rare they were able to get any.

Harry launched a hug as his brother who laughed and let him while he looked down admiringly at the hand-crafted chess set from Japan.

"Your old one is getting a bit touchy, so I decided it was time you updated."

"How'd you manage to get one from Sokiyuki? The man's notorious for being mad hard to find!" Sirius spoke up and James looked at him amusedly.

"Really, Siri, I don't think there's anyone further in the social circles than my mum. With the right people, she could find anyone she wanted within a week or too." Harry nodded in agreement and Remus looked suitably impressed. "I thought you'd figured that out by now." Sirius turned scarlet and ducked his head.

Remus decided to draw the attention off of Sirius and passed out his gifts. Harry thought back to Hermione when he realized they were all book-shaped. He let James and Sirius open their presents first to see what they got.

Sirius opened his to find a medium-sized book on both dark and light creatures that Harry faintly remembered him saying that he wanted in passing a few weeks before. Harry mentally applauded Remus for his memory. Sirius seemed excited (apparently magical creatures was an interest of his and it was a new book that the Black library didn't have yet) and reluctantly put it down. Harry didn't think he'd ever see the day that Sirius would want to read a book instead of doing other things.

In James' package was not one large book, but actually a collection of three smaller ones. He looked at the autobiographies of three of the current best quidditch players with interest.

"They wrote down some of their hints and tricks in them, too. I got two of chasers and one beater because I figured you might want to learn a little more about the other positions so you can beat them."

After more thanks were passed, Harry turned to the last gift – the one in his hands. He peeled the silver wrapping off before rolling it into a ball and throwing it at Sirius' face. The pureblood yelled in outrage and threw the sphere at James, who yelped and fell from his sitting position onto his back.

While the two play-fought, Harry stared at his new book with a wide smile. In front of him was, The Complete Tales and Poems of Edgar Allen Poe. Since the first day on the train, the two boys had talked more about the morbid author and tried to debate on which of his works were the best. Unfortunately, it was so long since he read any of them so his knowledge was lacking.

But now he would be able to read them and have something to talk about with Remus. Harry looked up at the werewolf and tackled him in a hug, too. When Sirius whined how he felt left out because he never got a Harry-hug, he gave him one too.

They talked and played games together for the next a few hours (with Regulus basically just watching until Harry forced him to join in) until it was ten-thirty and Reg had to return home. Walburga didn't want both of her sons staying the night at the Potter's so he went back when it was time for bed.

The Marauders, however, stayed up until midnight when they counted down to bring in the new year. They tried to pull a full-nighter, but fell asleep some time before two o'clock, draped over each other on James and Harry's combined beds in the middle of the large room.