"So, um, which of you are coming with me?" Rose asked slowly. They all stared at her.
"Didn't we have this conversation just last night?" James asked.
"Well, yeah, but I… um… I wasn't really paying that much attention," Rose said guiltily.
"Merlin help us!" James said rolling his eyes. "We are all packed and ready to go and you don't have any idea how many of us are coming with you?"
"Um… no?"
Lily laughed. "She was probably thinking about Charles…" she giggled.
Rose turned away and faced the wall. "This is not happening… no it's not…" she hummed to herself tunelessly.
"Who in the world is Charles?" James asked.
"Oh, just a tall, dark, handsome Muggle," Lily replied without missing a beat.
James looked at Lily, his eyes narrowed. He turned toward Rose, who was still facing the wall and looked over Melody, who was on the verge of losing complete control, trying desperately not to laugh.
"Are we missing something here?" Remus asked. "Who's Charles?"
"Rose's knight in shining armor," Melody replied and doubled over in peals of laughter.
Rose burst out laughing, still facing the wall. "You guys are disgustingly disturbing."
James glanced at Remus. They stared at Melody, Lily, and Rose, silently, at a loss for words. "You like a Muggle named Charles?" James asked.
Lily laughed. "Don't worry, James, if you want, we'll introduce you two."
"What's so funny?" Peter asked. "I don't get it."
"For once, mate," James replied seriously. "You are not the only one." James laughed at the surprised look on Peter's face, but paused when he saw the look on Sirius's face.
Sirius stood in the opposite side of the room. It was obvious that he could hear everything they were saying, but he was determinedly studying his bag. His leg had been mended and he stood alone. James wondered where Rowena was. He looked over at Rose. She had come back to the common room after he had returned. After the incident near the edge of the forest, they had all decided that it was probably best if Remus spent the night in the Shrieking Shack. When he and Peter had gotten back, Rose was sitting on the couch, sobbing. She had begged him to forget what had happened and promised that she wouldn't say a word to anyone about their secret... about what they became once a month.
"Lily, shut up!" Rose said good-naturedly. "Seriously guys…"
"Okay… once again," James said. "For the first night, we're all going to stop by the house and drop our stuff off. Then, we're all going to go out for dinner. Lily is going to go with me to stop by my parents' house for a little visit… for maybe a day. Remus and Melody, and Peter will be doing the same. Then after the said day, we will all be coming back to spend all of break with you. Is that right?" he asked Lily.
"Yeah."
Rose blinked. "So complicated. Okay… so basically all of you are coming to spend break with me?"
"Yeah, basically."
"Okay then." Rose yawned. "When's the train coming?"
"I dunno," Lily replied. "So… about Charles…"
James turned away toward Sirius. He was talking to Rowena.
"…I'm sorry Sirius. I know we had this all planned out and everything, but I have to go back. I can't spend break with you. I'm really sorry," she said tearfully.
"It's fine, Rowena. You should go. They're your family," he said softly.
"But… but you'll be all alone!"
"No, he won't," James said.
Rowena whipped around. Sirius looked at him, his eyes dark.
"Sirius will spend break with us," James said. He smiled at Rowena and at his best friend. Rose and Lily had stopped chatting. James knew that this plan was unfair for Rose, but he didn't have the heart to let his friend spend Christmas all alone. He didn't even have a home to go to.
"Oh, thank you, James!" Rowena exclaimed and hugged him. She turned back to Sirius and gave him a kiss. "I'll see you when we get back!" She picked up her stuff and left.
"Where's she going?" James asked.
"Dumbledore had to arrange for special transportation… her family are in Russia. They can't exactly pick her up here," Sirius replied. He looked at James. "You don't have to take me in, James."
"I know," James replied. "Besides, I'm not taking you in. I'm asking you to spend Christmas with us… your friends." James grinned at him. Sirius looked over James's shoulder at Rose.
James turned around to face her. Rose was smiling slightly. "What do you guys take me for? I'm a nice person!" she said as everyone looked at her. "Besides, it's a big house." James grinned at her, feeling relief wash through him.
"Let's go then," he said picking up his bag. He walked beside Lily as they left the castle and toward what was turning out to be a truly wonderful winter break.
xoxox
"Ha. Ha. No thanks," Rose replied holding up her hand.
"Oh come on! It took me fifteen minutes to make!" James said. "It was a complicated process!"
"James, I saw you make the thing. I know exactly what you put in it. I'm not eating it," Rose replied bluntly.
James pouted. "Fine." He turned toward Remus.
"Sorry, mate, but… uh… I'm stuffed," Remus said.
"You guys are such babies!" James stated loudly.
"Oh yeah?" Lily cut in. "Then why don't you take a bite of your own little concoction?"
James looked at her for a second. "If I eat it, you have to try it too." He smirked. He held the spoon out to her. Lily looked at the spoonful of orange colored mixture and at James's evil grin.
"Okay." She shrugged nonchalantly.
James looked shocked for a second, but recovered quickly. "So, if I take a bite, you will too?" he asked, tilting his head. He studied her closely.
"Deal."
James stared at the orange mixture, at a loss for words. He cleared his throat and brought the spoon up close to his face. He sniffed it delicately and glanced at Lily.
"Well?" she said expectantly. Everyone else watched him silently, trying to hold in their snickers. Sirius snorted and turned it into a cough at the last possible second.
James glared at him and looked down determinedly at the spoon. He gulped and brought the concoction up to his lips. He closed one eye and shoved the orange stuff into his mouth. He swallowed without chewing and tried to maintain a normal expression. Sirius burst out laughing as James reached out and grabbed a glass of water and gulped it down.
Remus shook his head with amusement. James gasped for air and glanced up at Lily. "Your turn."
Lily took a spoonful of the orange blob and swallowed it. She grimaced. "Ugh!" Lily downed a whole glass of water before coming up for air.
Everyone laughed at the disgusted look on her face.
"What did you put in that?" Lily asked. "It's disgusting!"
"Hot sauce, pepper, salt, sugar, lemon juice, vinegar, a few drops of butterbeer, pudding, and orange icing," James replied proudly.
Remus chuckled.
"And… uh, what was it originally?" Lily asked.
"I'm not quite sure…" James answered. "Rose?"
"I think it was… orange sorbet," she replied.
"Oh, yeah! That's right!"
Lily shuddered. "I am never eating anything, ANYTHING that you offer me, ever again!"
James laughed. "Oh, come on, Lily, it wasn't that bad," he said playfully. Lily shook her head in reply.
Rose looked up at the clock on the wall. It was eleven thirty. "Wow, it's really late. You guys should all go, before your families get worried," she said. Everyone glanced at the clock and started pulling out their money. "Don't worry about this one. It's my treat." She smiled.
"Rose, we can't let you do that!" Melody exclaimed.
"It's okay, Mel," Rose replied. "You just worry about getting home safely. Besides, if it makes you feel all that bad, you can just get me an awesome Christmas present." Rose looked at Remus and James. "Take care of my sisters, okay? I expect them back in one piece."
James stood up straight and gave her a mock salute. "Yes, sir… uh I mean, ma'am?"
Rose laughed. "I'll see you all in two days!" She hugged Lily, Melody, and Remus, saluted back at James and gave Peter a small wave. Sirius stood silently behind her.
Tom, the bartender of the Leaky Cauldron came over. Rose gave him fifty galleons and bade him goodnight. Sirius followed her slowly out of the Leaky Cauldron. He hadn't said more than three words the whole evening. Rose took a deep breath, preparing herself for what she knew might very well turn into another fight.
