On the eighth day of Christmas, my best friends gave to me
eight rememberalls,
seven Quidditch pitches
six snitches swooping,
five chocolate frogs
four butterbeers,
three broomsticks
two phoenixes
and a box of Bertie Bott's Beans.
The next morning, almost everyone in Gryffindor in the Fourth year and above was suffering from a serious hangover. The only ones spared were a few that hadn't drunk more than two Butterbeers, the Marauders, and Lily. The five of them were only spared because Lily knew an Anti-Hangover Charm. Sirius was mad at first that she hadn't used it when he, James, and Peter had gotten drunk, but he forgave her once she performed the Charm on him. The only reason she hadn't used it then was because it was more fun to watch them suffer. Plus there was the fact that she had only learned the charm an hour before the party started, knowing they'd probably all have hangovers afterwards. She and Sirius were currently debating with each other across the table.
Lils, please don't take this the wrong way, but you're insane. Sirius told her.
Why am I insane? Just because I prefer cats to dogs.
Exactly. Anyone can see that dogs are superior to cats. Right Remus?
Not dogs specifically. But wolves, yes. Remus grinned.
Canines then. Canines are far superior to felines. Sirius amended.
And you say I'm insane? Cats are way better than dogs, just admit it Sirius. Lily said, moving aside so Peter could join them.
I will not admit to a lie. Sirius replied. James knows they're better too, right James?
I'm not even getting into this. James replied.
And before you ask, leave me out of it too. Peter added, grabbing the chicken from James. Whatever it is you're arguing about.
Well I don't need you two. Sirius said with mock haughtiness. I can convince her just fine by myself.
Dream on Sirius. Lily said, rolling her eyes.
Convince her of what? Peter asked.
That domesticated dogs are better than domesticated cats. Sirius replied.
Actually, cats have yet to be domesticated. Lily told him.
Kind of like Sirius. James grinned.
Look at those five, Snape thought from across the room. They're laughing, joking, and talking about something completely pointless. And yet, they look as though they couldn't be happier. How long has it been since you laughed Severus? A month? Two? Three? I don't think you've laughed at all since you left home. Not that you ever laughed all that much. Sure, you've snickered at Lucius' jokes, and Crabbe and Goyle's stupidity. But you've never laughed like they are, so hard you can barely breathe. Of course, you don't have a friendship like they have either.
Sure, he could talk with Lucius, Crabbe, and Goyle. Talk about school, how much they hated the Gryffindors, stuff like that. But he couldn't talk with them about his life at home. Nothing that had anything to do with emotions. They were unfeeling, like living statues. And Severus was expected to be just like them. But they were the closest things he had to friends. He hated to admit it, but he was jealous of the Marauders. They had the most wonderful kind of friendship. They knew they would die for one another. They could talk about anything with each other. They were so close that something as simple as a debate about cats and dogs could seem absolutely fascinating and hilarious.
He hated feeling jealous. But he was much more jealous of the fact that they had each other. The friendship itself wasn't so much the issue. What he was really jealous of was the fact that they had each other, that they wouldn't be alone on Christmas. He could see them already, bounding down the stairs from their dorms, laughing like idiots, happy just to see each other. Presents didn't matter, nothing mattered as long as they had each other. What he wouldn't give to feel that way. To be loved for who you are, not who you pretended to be. Wouldn't that be the perfect Christmas, if he could feel like that. But then, wasn't that what Evans had offered him? A truce? A chance to feel that way, if only temporarily. And he had snapped at her, and stormed out of the room. Nice going, he berated himself. He tore his eyes from the picture of friendship and focused on his lunch.
Name one thing dogs do better than cats then. Lily challenged.
They're loyal.
Loyalty is over-rated. Lily teased. Besides, haven't you ever heard of lion's? They're loyal to the others in their pride.
Dogs are smarter too. They can learn tricks, unlike cats.
Dog's are smarter? Ha! Cats are infinitely smarter than dogs.
There you go with the insanity again. There is no way cats are smarter.
Of course cats are smarter than dogs. You'd never see eight cats pulling a sled across the Yukon.
Okay, that wasn't even fair.
Better keep trying Padfoot. She's beating you. James smiled.
Dog's don't lick themselves clean like cats. Sirius pointed out. That's just unsanitary.
What about dogs? They lick their- Lily began.
Moving on. Remus interrupted.
Fine Miss Kitty. Sirius said. You name something then. Name something cats are better at.
Agility. They're much more agile than dogs.
That's a lie.
Can dogs climb trees?
Why would we want to? Cats can't even get down by themselves. And at least dogs can be trained. He said, reverting to the one thing he hoped to win on.
You don't train cats, they train you. Lily pointed out.
She has a point Padfoot. Remus pointed out.
Whose side are you on Moony? You're going against canine-kind.
"I'm only a canine once a month. I hardly consider them my kind."
"You're all against me." Sirius whined.
"Just give up Sirius, you won't beat me." Lily smiled, taking a sip of Pumpkin juice.
"Size. Dogs are bigger than cats." he was getting desperate now.
"Dogs may be bigger than cats, but not between the ears." Lily replied quickly.
"Damn it. James, help me out here." Sirius begged.
"Oh no. No way am I going into a debate with her. I learned my lesson the first time."
********
Why are you doing this to yourself Lily, she asked as she sat by the fire with James that night. James was already fast asleep against her. Peter had fallen asleep much earlier, and Remus and Sirius had decided to carry him up to the dorm to give Lily and James "make out time" as Sirius dubbed it. Right before he got a pillow in the face. Lily was still awake however, and she couldn't seem to tear her mind away from thinking about Snape. She kept wondering why she had suggested the truce in the first place. What bothered her most was that she couldn't answer herself. It was a spur of the moment thing really. But now that she thought about it, it seemed like a good idea.
Wasn't that what Christmas was all about anyway? Peace on Earth, good will towards men? Forgetting about petty differences and stupid grudges. It was the season of hope and love. Not the season for hating each other because of what house you're in or some silly pranks. True, they really did hate each other. And they probably would never get along. But calling a truce didn't obligate them to be friends. It simply meant stopping the pranks for a short period of time. Christmas wasn't about pranks and hating one another. It was about giving and getting along. She wasn't asking Snape to be her friend. That was the last thing she wanted. She just didn't want to see her Christmas ruined because her best friends were involved in a prank war with the only Slytherin in the school.
Oh well. Who cared if Snape had a miserable holiday. Especially after the way he had snapped at her for simply suggesting a truce. Let Snape push away anyone who tried to be nice to him, Lily thought as she snuggled against James. If Snape was miserable, he brought it on himself. Still, she thought as sleep overtook her, she wished she could do something. Not even Snape deserved to be alone and miserable on Christmas. Oh well, she'd tried at least.
