Thanks for the reviews, here's the next Christmas chapter! Sorry it took so long, I kind of got side tracked and watched all of the Vampire Diaries lol. I hope you guys Enjoy :)

The days leading up to Christmas were some of the best of Sirius's life outside of Hogwarts. He had the run of the neighborhood and no homework to keep him inside. He and James passed the hours playing board games inside or else out having snowball fights.

The fights had gotten a little out of hand when they'd found a couple of old brooms in the shed and taken the fight to the air.

By the end of each day they'd worn themselves out properly, earning the laughter of Mr and Mrs. Potter. It was a new experience for Sirius to have his antics appreciated.

As the days grew closer to Christmas Mrs. Potter kept hinting that she would like to get him a gift. Sirius tried repeatedly to tell her that she didn't have to but she insisted and the morning of Christmas he found that his efforts had indeed been in vain.

Christmas morning Sirius and James raced down the stairs to open presents. When they reached the living room Mr and Mrs. Potter were already waiting for them, smiling. With their cue the two to them dropped to their knees and began sorting through gifts, occasionally tossing up someones .

Sirius was surprised with the number of gifts he received. Remus had sent him pocket sneakescope that currently was sitting quite still and Peter had sent a large box of Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans. There was a nicely wrapped pocket watch from his uncle as well that told the time anywhere in the world when you asked politely. His efforts to assure Mrs. Potter that he did not need another present had been quelled as well when he unwrapped a home made Gryffindore afghan. Even Andromeda had sent a box of sugar quills. There were however no presents from his parents.

He noticed this as he unwrapped his uncle's gift and read the card:

"Dear Sirius, wishing you a Merry Christmas and of course a Happy New year. I must say that it was fairly easy to guess where to send your presents. I think I might add that with the ease I figured it out, I have no doubts that your parents will just as easily. I think next time you plan an escapade such as this it might be prudent to have a cover story. Perhaps you should try asking me? Your mother even asked if you were staying with me. I told her no. If I were you I would right her an apology. It will not make her less angry (and believe me, she is very angry) but I think in the long run it might help you both. Wishing you the best, your uncle Alphard."

Sirius set the letter aside with a lump in his throat. He had been pushing the thought of his parents' anger to the back of his mind all week but his uncle's letter brought it right back up. He glanced at the Potters who were laughing warmly and forced his thoughts back to Christmas. He wasn't going to think about his parents until he absolutely had to.

He turned his attention to James's gift and unwrapped a large box of Filibuster Fire Works. He grinned at the possibilities.

"Like those do you?" James asked. "I picked them up in Hogsmeade and thought of you."

Sirius blew him a kiss. "Aw, you're sweet."

They finished sharing their presents in good spirits and then cleaned up the room. Mrs. Potter sent them out to amuse themselves and they spent the time flying over the snow covered pastures and fields. Sirius was not a fan of the biting cold air, nor was he a fan of the sharp wind that blew. James however looked as though he was enjoying himself immensely. If anything he looked more alive than ever. They drifted lazily through the air, talking conversationally and laughing loudly. They were careful to avoid the village and any farm houses, Mr. Potter had warned them repeatedly not to be seen.

Sirius stopped in a warm ray of sun and James wheeled around to face him. He looked wild with his hair blown all over the place and his cheeks flushed from the cold. His eyes glittered for a moment and Sirius was struck by just how glad he was to have a friend like James. James was always up for something, he was always thinking and funny and mischievous. This time James pulled up along side him and stopped.

"I've been doing some thinking." James said.

"About?" Sirius asked, teeth chattering a little.

"Well. . . about Remus's little problem. You know, he's only dangerous to humans and I thought. . . what if we weren't human? What if we could find a way to be with him when he turns?"

Sirius paused. "Like Professor McGonagall?"

"Exactly, I've been doing some reading on animegus and if we could turn into animals, there's a chance we could help him."

Sirius hung in mid air. "But we wouldn't be real animals, what if he knows? Like what if the werewolf him knows we're not animals? If there's any danger Remus won't go for it."

James frowned. "Well we have to try. He claws himself up every night he's alone and Madam Pomfrey has to patch him up. What if we could be there to help him? We have to do something, he's our friend."

Sirius shared James's passion. He was right, if they could help their friend they had an obligation to do so. "What have you read so far?"

"Well. . . it's complicated magic. It might take us a while but I'm sure we could do it. We're almost top in our year. . . well at least in Griffindor. Well. . . if we did better in potions we would be."

Sirius nodded, mind filling with ideas. "McGonagall can turn into a cat without her wand, do you think that would be really hard?"

"Well, I think once we get the first part done with and we could actually turn into animals, that would be the next step. I mean, think of how useful that would be!"

"Hey, what animal do you think I'd be?" Sirius asked excitedly.

"You? You'd be a flobber worm." James teased.

Sirius swerved so that he collided into James's shoulder. "Whatever, you'd be a dung beetle."

They headed back to the Potter's cottage laughing and then headed up to James's room with hot chocolate to warm up.

They talked about the coming semester and their plans for more nocturnal activities under the cloak. James had big plans for a game of night quidditch which Sirius thought could be great fun. Talk eventually turned to the map and how far they had come along with it. James had left the map with Remus and Peter over the break. Remus had said he was trying to find a way to enchant it so that only they would be able to look at it. So far he had been unsuccessful.

Christmas dinner was another wonderful meal. Mrs. Potter had outdone herself and Sirius was delighted to find several of his favorites on the table. He suspected that she must have asked James about them. They whiled away the meal laughing and talking cheerfully. Mr. and Mrs. Potter had brought crackers and James and Sirius exploded them with gusto, earning laughs and applause.

It was such a different environment from his home and Sirius couldn't help but be happy. Part of him knew he would pay for his happiness when the summer holidays came but another part of him just didn't care.

That evening when he went to bed he was in a particularly in a good mood. It had been one of the best Christmases of his life. He ha gotten more presents than he had anticipated and the day had been filled with cheer and merriment. The way a holiday should. He lay back and watched the light from the moon filter through his window peacefully. His cards were sitting on the desk, all except fro his uncle's which he had stuffed in his bag. His presents were at the foot of his bed and as he closed his eyes, he couldn't help thinking that it had been a perfect day.

Thanks for reading, I'll try and be quick with the next chapter!