Chapter 99

Kitty Cat

Sirius was much calmer about the train ride to the Potter's this year. They passed the time by teaching Sirius muggle Christmas carols and stories. James, for once, was more informed on the muggle custom than Remus due to the latter's isolated background.

James was telling them about the one time he'd gone Christmas caroling when Alice and Frank joined them.

"I heard singing." Alice said her eyes bright. "And it sounded glorious."

Sirius chuckled giving James a bragging look and causing the other to pout.

"Why am I not surprised that Black can sing?" Frank sighed rolling his eyes with a small smile.

"The real surprise is that James is entirely tone deaf." Sirius moved closer to Remus so the two had a pace to sit.

"Yeah, but the story wouldn't have been as funny otherwise." James attempted to defend himself still pouting.

"Oh no, that doesn't sound pleasant." Alice giggled sitting down beside Sirius. She was the only girl allowed to sit beside Sirius and she abused that power profusely. Sometimes even leaning on the other. She was one of about two girls (in the entire school mind you, including) who was immune to his physical charms. The other was Professor McGonagall.

Alice had a front seat to watch Sirius get in a fight with his little brother in a potions ingredient shop when he was seven, which had involved every single ingredient ingredient in the shop that could be called gross or any synonym thereof.

When a girl sees you covered in frog spawn, flobberworm mucus, a very sticky substance even the owner of the shop can't recognize, and three types of drool… she'll never think of you the same way again.

That was nothing, though, compared to Regulus' collection of filthiness.

"My family and I went Christmas caroling with a group from the church in my town a few years back, year before I came to Hogwarts I think. It was fun until we actually started singing. Mum dragged Dad and I home before it was over because we were so bad. The pastor spent more time laughing than singing." James told them, chuckling at the memory. "Mum wasn't amused, but we all thought it was funny."

"Those poor muggles." She laughed, it was a pretty laugh that made others want to smile right along with her. Peter blushed at the sound of it. If it wasn't so obvious she and Frank were made for each other James would have suggested Sirius go out with her. They both had that contagious laugh and both were very caring and the two most loving people James knew.

Alas, Alice and Frank were, in fact, made for each other and Sirius was perfectly content to live his entire life as that rebellious bachelor that every young girl wanted and their fathers wanted to strangle.

James didn't know about the legendary potion ingredient fight, and Sirius planned on keeping it that way.

"We had a group of carolers stop by our house when I was little. I always came and watched when Dad opened the door." Frank said, smiling at the memory.

Alice giggled again. "Until the year you're uncle opened the door in his skivvies." She said, outright laughing now, "and skivvies is being generous."

Frank sighed, he was still standing in the open doorway. "Dad almost knocked him out for that. The duffer wasn't even drunk."

"One woman fainted." Alice was in tears now and leaning heavily on Sirius' shoulder.

"I've seen his uncle, honestly, I can't blame her," Sirius said causing Alice to fall out of her seat laughing so hard. Her face was all red and she was having trouble breathing.

The boys watched her more amused with her reaction than the actual story.

"Are you okay?" Remus asked, bending to look at her face but not leaving his seat.

"Can't... Breath..." She heaved.

"Ah, just ignore her. She's a hyena." Frank said with a light chuckle, though he wasn't following his own advice as he watched her on the floor.

"We're coming up to King's Cross." Peter warned looking at the station from the window and they all prepared to disembark. Frank and Alice left to their own compartment to grab their own bags. It was very convenient that the Potters and the Lupins knew each other so well, it was much easier to find four adults than two groups of two adults.

Hope greeted Remus with a hug while Lyall examined a new scar on Remus' cheek sounding impressed. Sirius laughed and teased Remus about his sexy scars.

"Thank you for having me over, Mr and Mrs Potter." Sirius said rubbing his arm from Remus' retaliation.

"Of course, of course." Mrs Potter said a smile on her face and rubbing his head an action that greatly irritated him but he didn't say anything. James laughed at him as he fixed his hair.

"Oh shut up." Sirius pouted.

James gave an innocent smile and threw his arm around his best friend an mussed Sirius' hair. "Let's go home, pup."

"Call me that again and you die, Potter." Sirius pulled himself from under James' arm.

"Duly noted, kitty cat."

James promptly ran as fast as his feet could carry him.

"Come back here so I can kill you, Potter!"

A/N) This one is really short, but I didn't see it going anywhere, so I left it short. The next chapter is already halfway done, so I'll make it up to you. For once I get to do Christmas time in real life Christmas time! I'm so excited. Expect lots of Christmas related chapters. I've always kinda skimmed over their Christmas break before, but not this time! ^_^