A/N- Here we go everyone. The last two chapters of the story. Will the Marauders stop being so stubborn and apologize, or will they all spend Christmas alone? There's only one way to find out. This chapter is really short, but the last one is nice and long. I couldn't think of anything to put in this one. Pretty much everything happens on Christmas day.
On the Eleventh day of Christmas, my best friends gave to me
eleven bludgers bludging
ten wands a-waving,
nine dragons diving,
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.
"Lily, wake up." Tamika said softly.
"Huh?" she asked, sitting up. She realized she was still in the Owlery. She must have fallen asleep. "What are you doing up here Tam?"
"I could ask you the same thing, but I think I have a pretty good idea. James and Sirius said you had a fight last night."
"If you count them being pig headed gits as a fight."
"Close enough." Tamika sighed, sitting down next to Lily. "Did you spend the night up here?"
"I guess so." she replied.
"What happened?"
"All I did was suggest a truce with Severus, just for Christmas. Its not like I was suggesting we make him an Honorary Gryffindor and be friends. Just a temporary stop to the pranks." Lily sighed. "That's not asking so much, is it?"
"Well, look who you're talking to. They practically run the whole crusade against Snape and the Slytherins. Besides, he's called you a Mudblood how many times?"
"I know, I know. But...he's all alone Tam. No one, not even him, deserves to be alone on Christmas. That's a time for being with people."
"What makes you think Snape would want a truce either. He's not exactly the nicest human being on the planet." Of course, Lily thought, she doesn't know he was willing to. She wasn't there when we fought.
"I know Tam. It was just wishful thinking."
"Why don't you go apologize then? You don't want to be fighting with them on Christmas, do you?"
"I won't apologize to them." Lily said firmly. "They weren't even listening to me. And I'm still mad at them. They can end the fight any time they want to, once they admit they were wrong."
"Well, I have no idea what's going on, and I doubt its any of my business anyway. But Lily, just don't do something you're going to regret. I'd hate to see such a good friendship ruined because of a little fight."
"All right Tam, I promise. I'll think about it."
"I suppose that's all I'm going to get out of you. You coming to breakfast?"
"Nah, I'm going to stay here a while longer. I'll see you at lunch though."
"Okay." Tamika said, hugging her friend. "Merry Christmas by the way."
"Merry Christmas Tamika." Lily said, forcing herself to smile as Tamika left.
"What a stupid thing to do Lily." She told herself. "Here it is Christmas Eve, and your friends are all mad at you. Well that's just fine because I'm mad at them too."
"They didn't even listen. Its a truce for God's sake! Its not as if I said we should all be friends. Truce does not necessarily imply friendship. More like a cease fire. But the way they acted, you'd have thought I'd just said I wished I had been sorted a Slytherin." She sighed and sat back against the wall. "And now look what's happened. You try and bring everyone together for Christmas and you end up being alone yourself. So much for the perfect Christmas."
**********
So much for a truce, Snape thought, staring across the hall at the Gryffindor table. The Marauders sat on one end, and at the opposite end sat Lily. From the looks of it, she had suggested they call a truce, and it hadn't gone over too well. At least they hadn't tried anything on him yet. It was bad enough he was he only Slytherin left in the school. He didn't want to spend the remainder of vacation looking over his shoulder, fearing he would be pranked.
I knew it was too good to be true, he thought bitterly, stabbing at his steak as though it were its fault he was miserable. Don't you know by now never to trust a Gryffindor? You should have known better than to trust her. He glanced up and saw her looking at him. She clearly mouthed something to him. Sorry. He looked back down at his food and didn't look up for the rest of the meal. The holidays are almost over at least. At least then the other Slytherins will be back, and you can go back to hating the Marauders in peace. You should have known better than to get your hopes up.
