Dec 24th

Gabriel poked his head from between two little shrubs laced with miniature twinkling stars and looked around the front path. All clear. A loud hum of conversation was coming from inside of the house he was now hiding out front of.

Cat was on his shoulder, digging his claws into his coat in effort to get a grip from falling off. Yes, he'd agreed to come, but now that he was here, the convenient fact that he hated crowds resurfaced. "There'll only be a few people. Friends of the family, a little get together," James had said so carelessly that Gabriel was foolish enough to believe him. There were certainly more than a few voices coming from inside that house! He was never good with vast amounts of people. It reminded him of all those times he was forced into starched dress clothes, trailing blindly behind his parents who introduced Daniel to guests but conveniently forgot he was there or a human being with feelings capable of being hurt for that matter. His feet would ache and even though he was not needed, he was also not allowed to sit or leave their portrait of a perfect family.

He could still return home, there was nothing that said he needed to keep up his end of the deal. Admittedly, months prior he would have agreed to it, just to back out at the last moment to cause James distress all so he could laugh about it later. Presently, that notion was somewhat unthinkable, especially when he thought of the fact that James didn't want to come because he thought none of his friends were and that he would be alone. This was one thing Gabriel could relate to so he felt an obligation to help if he could. Also the day had been pleasurable in a way that he would not have thought possible for them in each others company.

"Monte?" He looked up to see James peering down at him from the front window. Gabriel, standing and brushing the dirt from his pants, met James who'd moved from the window and opened the front door.

"What the hell are you doing in the bushes?"

James looked pleasant with that slightly stunned look, his cheeks glowing from probably more than one alcoholic drink, but Gabriel would refrain from commenting on the garish red and green Christmas sweater he was sporting. He instead admired his courage for wearing it. "I was…preparing myself. But that is not a small gathering in there!"

"Yeah, sorry, it turned out more people came than I thought would bother to," he mumbled unhelpfully, scratching his head. Wait is that a … kitten on your shoulder?" James asked after squinting at like fiercely. Just how many drinks had he consumed?

"Yes. I couldn't leave him alone." Gabriel scratched Cat's ears.

"Is that the cat I almost gave to Lily?" he laughed, maybe at the memory of that idiotic, failed idea.

"Yes."

"He's gotten big. What's his name?"

"His name is Cat."

"Sounds about right for someone like you. Can't believe you actually kept it though," James replied wistfully, staring at Gabriel in what he would say was a dazed way, then shaking it away. "C'mon I promise no one'll bother you."

"Oh, here." Gabriel gave him a platter and a bottle of rum that he'd brought.

"Cake?" James asked curiously, examining it from all sides and smiling. "You bake it?"

"Yes, it's a traditional rum black cake. People eat it at Christmas on the island but go easy on it, it's pretty strong so – "

He'd lost him at rum. James' face lit up and he was no longer listening, if he ever was.

"It won't go to waste, I promise. Follow me; I see a corner with your name on it." James then did the unthinkable, he held Gabriel's hand, lacing their fingers together and led him between the throngs of chatting people.

A large Christmas tree stood in the middle of the room, decorated and shining with all multicolored balls that swirled like miniature galaxies with numerous brightly wrapped presents creating its base. Tinsel was everywhere, wrapped around the stair case, trimmed around doors and over the fireplace mantle, basically anything that could hold it. Candle lights made the room glow warmly. Everyone was talking, laughing, hugging. It almost overwhelmed Gabriel. So this was what Christmas looked like to normal people.

He noticed many pictures on the wall as they passed, a small James holding his first broom and his parents beaming, a nervous looking James at the train station, his hat completely obscuring his tiny eleven year old head and again, his parents smiling like they couldn't have been happier. All of the pictures followed this pattern; a big, happy, smiling family, compared to his staged photographs with his parents and brother where none of them smiled, or laughed, or touched, or even bothered pretending to look happy for the sake of creating and preserving a false memory. If nothing else, at least they were honest.

James was pulling him with sudden urgency. He had no idea why but followed obediently, losing himself in all the memories being here brought back from his childhood.

"James!"

James cursed. He tugged Gabriel to the left but a chubby wizard chose that precise moment to walk across their path and stop to engage a woman in conversation therefore blocking them from escaping.

"James, sweetie!"

It was a thin woman in a fitted red dress with shoulder length brown hair and a kind looking middle aged man with a head of such untamable hair that Gabriel knew who they were at once without asking. There were the Potters. They were a little older than in the photos, fortunate enough to have their bliss etched around their eyes and mouth.

Judging from the look on James face, this was the reason that they were sneaking around.

"Who is this charming young man? I don't think we've met him before." If he could have, Gabriel had the impression that James would have disowned him at once, there was just the small fact that he was still holding his hand and had not yet let go.

"He's uh… he's um…he's…he's…"

James was struggling, his face drained of its colour. With furtive glances, his eyes pleaded, 'please help me!' but Gabriel was feeling naughty. Hey, he was allowed to give trouble once in a while; he couldn't lose his edge just yet. So as Mr. and Mrs. Potter watched James expectantly Gabriel did too, making sure to look as polite and interested in James' answer as they were, instead of coming to his aid.

Why was it so hard to label him? Them. Maybe James didn't think of him as a friend yet, which was understandable but still...

"He's…from Hogwarts. He's in my year." His parents exchanged glances at the vague explanation.

"A friend of yours then?" his father asked. James looked like he would throw up if he opened his mouth. Gabriel however smiled at them and held out his hand for them to take. He would introduce himself like he'd been taught.

"Gabriel Montè. It's a pleasure to meet you. A lovely celebration you have here if I may say."

"Why thank you," James' mother gushed, shocked to see a teenager with such good manners.

"Don't be so formal. Any friend of James is welcome anytime!" James' father unashamedly gripped him in a bear hugged, while his mother laughed, taking a sip of wine from her glass.

"Dad!"

"That reminds me, I haven't seen your friends or the girl you – "

James immediately dragged Gabriel away, before his father could finish.

"It was nice meeting you! Have fun Gabriel," James' mother shouted after them, waving.

They ended up in the only empty room, the kitchen. James was preparing a bowl of milk for Cat, mumbling under his breath. His face was still red.

"Your parents are very nice people, James."

James grunted irritably. "It wouldn't have killed you to help me." He sloshed milk all over the counter, his hand trembling. "Goddammit." He leaned over, digging his palms roughly into his eyes, noticeably aggravated.

"Are you that frustrated your friends aren't here?" Gabriel folded his arms, resting his back on the counter and staring at James who took a deep breath and resumed pouring the milk like nothing had happened.

"I'm not frustrated."

"Do your parents know you drink?"

"My mum thinks it's the sign of a healthy man of age to have a drink every now and then."

"And your dad?"

"Thinks I can't handle anything stronger than pumpkin juice."

"I agreed to come with you in place of them didn't I?" Why did he say that? Now that it was out of his mouth it sounded whiny, and now James was looking at him oddly again. They both knew the unsaid sentence that followed. Shouldn't it be enough that I'm here?

Something chimed, tinkling like sleigh bells.

"What's that?" Gabriel asked to break the building tension.

"The door." But James was still looking at him, ignoring it.

"You should get that. It's probably your Christmas present."

"What? What present – when did you – ?"

James, eyes wide, maneuvered through the living room rather quickly, Gabriel behind him but at a safe distance so ensuring he had a clear view and was in earshot. Excitement and anxiety made James fumble with the door for a good ten seconds.

Gabriel didn't know what James had expected but whatever it was it was evident that it wasn't what he found.

Standing outside looking cold but pleased, were Remus, Sirius, Peter and surprising of all, Lily.

"Merry Christmas!" they said in unison, barging past him into the warmth as he was too stunned to let them in immediately. It had begun to snow. James was engulfed in hugs from all around.

"Wha – Wha…"

"Come on Pongs, you've got to be more articulate than that," Sirius joked.

"What thought we wouldn't come?"

Even Lily hugged him, giving him a quick peck on the cheek.

"N-No…" James stammered

"How could we not seeing that mushy letter you sent us," the small one Gabriel knew as Peter said.

"Letter?" James asked, clearly confused.

"Come off it! Wouldn't have pegged you for the sentimental type though," Sirius said.

"You should've just told us it meant that much to you from the beginning." Remus pulled him into a one-armed hug.

Gabriel couldn't help the smile, James seemed so confused, and dazed and happy, like a child in the presence of a staggering mound of gifts at Christmas, a look that did him well.

They shook him. "Say something!"

"I'm just so happy to see you – " And you could tell that he genuinely was.

Anymore of this sickening scene and Gabriel would lose his sanity. He remembered a door in the kitchen that led to the yard and decided to get some air. When he looked back, he saw James submerged in a group hug but he was looking directly at him.

The Potters had also decorated their yard it seemed. Lanterns were placed at strategic intervals, each emitting a different color flame that made the area ethereal.

Beneath a large tree there was a wooden bench, so Gabriel sat down, his hand slung freely over the back, sipping a short glass of brown rum which he held of the other, watching the snow fall slowly.

What was he doing? Had he not pride, writing degrading sappy letters to James' moronic friends?

Weren't they supposed to be his enemies? The lot of them bullied his one true friend because they were bored. Rightly so that he should despise them.

But not James.

Not anymore.

How ironic that he would become this close to him after his initial reason for approaching him, was to steal Lily from under his nose and present her to Severus.

That had of course backfired horribly. Lily had instead formed an attachment to him, and he one to James. The boy now knew more about him than even Severus did. It was easier to talk to James. He could admit that. James' whole air made him approachable. But whose fault was it that Severus was not? Theirs! They had scarred him, made him into what he was, and unknowingly making him into what he was becoming. Gabriel was afraid that he would be powerless to prevent it and too late to stop him.

He frowned up at the clouds.

The back door opened and someone stumbled out. Gabriel prepared to get up and head back inside, or head home for that matter. He'd left Artemis all alone and it was weighing on his mind. He realized that it was James, holding a larger than was advisable glass of rum.

"Potter, that's not like firewhiskey. That could knock you off your feet if you're not careful."

James crashed down next to him. "Call me James." The alcohol content on his breath could put down a small child.

"James, you're drinking too much," Gabriel reproached, covering the mouth of James' glass with his palm and pushing it away from the boy's mouth.

"Why?"

Gabriel knew what he was asking. At this point he could play dumb but decided not to beat around the bush. "I knew it was something you really wanted."

James turned towards him. "How could you know that, Monte? You don't know me."

He decided not to be offended as he hadn't said it in a bad way. He took a sip from his glass.

"Oh but you're allowed to drink?" James said playfully.

"Yes. I have control."

Gabriel let the moment swell, knowing full well that James was awaiting his answer. He turned to look at him. "It's not hard to look at you and know that your friends mean the world to you, James. You're fiercely loyal; you'd do anything for them. Despite doing and saying idiotic things sometimes, it's not hard to see the real you, and figuring out what would please you."

James looked away, taking a deep breath. "I'm an only child. My parents always spoiled me but it was always just me, and even though they were always there and gave me everything I wanted…. It was still always just me. When I met Sirius and Remus and Pete… I felt like…" The glass trembled in his hand, his brows drew together and he smiled, as if lost in a sweet memory, his lips quivered. "I felt like I finally wasn't alone anymore. They mean so much to me." He held the bottom of the glass to his forehead. Gabriel had never seen him so emotionally vulnerable. He was glad that he had indeed persuaded them to come.

He was unsure of what to say or do for him so he allowed him a moment to compose himself before changing the subject.

"Just before the holidays when you first told me about the rift between you, I'd always planned to give you this though." He dug into his pocket, and enlarged the small thing he had hidden there.

"A book?" James flipped through it. "Its empty. A diary?" he asked in revulsion.

"I prefer the word journal, but it's not like a normal one. It's charmed to ensure that you'll not feel lonely when you write in it. I guarantee it."

James' eyes were closing, but he turned to Gabriel in his inebriated state, his nose and cheek red. "Thank you. For this and for bringing my friends," he slurred, his head resting on Gabriel's shoulder, their knees bumping. Gabriel took James' drink from him and transferred it to his cup. Something this precious shouldn't be wasted.

"You're welcome, James." He was a good person, Gabriel decided; perhaps it would not be so bad to see how the romance and Lily played out? She would be in good hands. Maybe, hopefully, Severus could persuade his heart to forget her. But why had James come outside, when his friends were finally at his side?

"Look up," James breathed on his neck.

Puzzled, and thinking James was just mumbling incoherently, Gabriel obeyed hesitantly. Perched above them on a branch was a sprig of mistletoe. When did that appear there! That was not there when he came out but the Potters were a crafty bunch.

"Won't –make a mistake this time," James was mumbling into Gabriel's coat. His head was now resting on his shoulder. Without warning, James pressed his hand into Gabriel's chest and shot up, pressing their lips softly together. His eyes wide, Gabriel froze, too petrified to reciprocate or think or breathe.

James pulled away, looked at him through heavy hazel eyes and passed out on his lap.

Two seconds ago, Gabriel was contemplating giving James and Lily his blessing.

He pressed trembling fingers to his lips and stared down and a mess of hair on his lap.

Things just got very, very complicated.