A/N: YAY! I am updating sooner! Ok, when I wrote this out on paper, it was 5 pages. I type it and it's two. It figures. I thought this would be really long. Sorry.

Chapter 23: Winter Wonderland

Lily's POV!

James and I ran outside, hands held together, the binding charm leaving us together for at LEAST forty-eight hours. We were in the courtyard, magically bundled up by my spell, "Coverio!" (Spells performed on one worked on both because we were bound together.)

James's POV! (it's gonna be until the end of the chappie!)

"Thanks, Lils." I smiled, remembering how good she was at charms, she had once even gotten a 150 on a Charms exam in 4th year. That year she threw herself into her studies more than usual, wanting desperately to get the prefect badge in 5th. I remembered Moony telling me to forget asking her out that year, telling me she was stressing way too much and didn't need me to be on her case too. Moony used to be pals with Lils, like I mean real pals until 5th year. They kept the peace between Lils's friends and us Marauders, up until the horrific, almost killing Snape accident that caused the rift. Lils knew about Moony way before then, but just stopped being so close with him tarring him with the same brush as the rest of us. I was really deep in thought before I acknowledged the snow.

"Aw, man! Moony and Padfoot would love this, it's perfect for a snowball fight!" I said, amazedly, the snow was coming down in sheets. I didn't know what was coming next.

"Yeah. Remus and Sirius would. So would Dia and Gwyn. It's spectacular!" she just said, using my tone.

"Wait! How did you know about our nicknames?" I knew she was sharp as Minnie, but I didn't expect this. It was practically a guarded secret of the Marauders.

"Prongsie, I know EVERYTHING!" she said playfully, laughing and getting snow in her auburn hair.

"What!" I was completely baffled at her beauty, the fact she was laughing and the fact she knew.

"Remus, I mean, 'Moony' told me practically the entire story. I forgot what he told me in fourth year until you brought up the names again today. Yeah, back then he figured I should know the good in you, him and Sirius and that other guy before I went around publicly hating you lot. I suppose he was right, I mean it was and is incredibly brave and loyal of you two to become animagi to accompany Rem. It made those torturous trips more fun for him." She smirked as she finished, taking a leaf out of my book. I had to remind myself to hit Moony and to thank him.

"What else 'you know?" I questioned, I wanted to make sure she didn't know about that stupid prophecy. Wait, phophecy… Aw, man! I had to owl my parents! Rochelle and Derek Potter were my parents, highly acclaimed kick-ass Aurors. First-class. Have put dozens of Dark wizards in Azkaban, and are extremely close to going in hiding. Voldemort wanted 'em dead, thought they were gonna bring his downfall, how wrong he was. Anyway, they knew about my obsession, about Lily. They told me to owl once I got her (for Potters are born lady-killers, Dad had said) and tell them if anything big happens with me or Sirius. Man, I can think fast.

"Well, I know about the nicknames, animagi, Rem, and that your parents are Aurors and the fact that your parents are a big threat to Voldemort. Why?" she asked innocently as I let out a breath of relief.

"Oh, no reason. Just checking." I said quickly.

"James Derek Potter! Is there something you need to tell me?" she asked, sweetly. I felt busted, but I knew I had to tell her sooner or later.

"Yeah. Lily this is something I just need to tell you, but I need to tell you later. After Christmas, I don't wanna wreck our time together. You'll understand once you know." And before she could react, Padfoot called from down the hill near Hagrid's hut. Dia, Gwyn and Moony were with him.

" Prongsie! Get your butt down here this instant! We're having a snow war without you!" Padfoot knew he didn't need to say anything else. I loved snow. My birthday was New Year's Eve and wherever I was on New Year's, it snowed. Padfoot and I played in it together ever since we were little, like brothers.

"Lils, wanna go down and fight in a massive, puffy, cold, snowy, white war?" I asked like a gentleman, 'cause we were bound together.

"Yes James, I mean Prongsie-muffin!" she said playfully.

And in a second we conjured two sleds and flew down the hill, Lils and I screaming like five year olds all the way. The magic of the outdoor is beyond life, I thought to myself deeply as it was Marauders against Flowas. I launched a snowball and hit Dia in the shoulder from the back. I ran around and laughed as she saw Rem.

"Rem!" she laughed exasperated

"What!" Moony exclaimed, I laughed harder, when Lils hit me.

" PRongsie, look thataway! It's Snape!" she said, seriously

I never lost an opportunity to hex Snape and I looked, she pelted three snowballs into my head.

"Hey! Watch it!" I said softly, we were all laughing so hard, half covered in snow. It was an amazing Christmas, and it wasn't even time for presents yet.