Note: I realize that the Yule Ball is only during the Triwizard Tournament, but I decided that Dumbledore is being a nice old man and letting the school have a bit of fun this winter. ^_^

***


Sleep was difficult to come by for Remus Lupin that evening. He had stayed up quite late helping Sirius and James with their homework, while Peter slept soundly in the dorms.

Now Remus lay, staring at the top of his canopy bed, wishing that the sweet unconsciousness would reach him so he could escape his swirling, winding thoughts.


::Help me find the perfect girl.:: He thought, a sardonic smirk on his lips. ::How about helping me find the perfect boy, Sirius?:: He sighed, and turned over, pulling his blankets up to his chin.

::Need to sleep, Moony. Test tomorrow in Potions. Sirius will be counting on you to do good, since he'll be copying. James probably will be also.:: Remus smiled at that. He knew that it was morally wrong to let his two best friends copy off of him so much, but it was nice to feel needed.

::Don't be stupid, Remus. They need you for more than just good marks. Stop feeling sorry for yourself.:: He berated, rubbing his face. ::You think too much, now sleep.::


***


Moony, get up, hurry!

Remus jumped up and tore back the curtains, thinking that something must be wrong. Sirius had sounded so upset.

He didn't expect what he saw.


Sirius was standing in front of the window, looking out at the grounds. He wore just a pair of shorts, and the light flooding in from outside bounced off of his bare chest. Remus gulped.

What is it, Padfoot? He asked, walking to stand next to Sirius.

Was all he said.


Outside, tons of students ran about in warm robes, playing Wizard's Snow War. Enchanted snow balls the size of most people's head were whizzing around the air, hitting students, who were knocked back with the force.

I can't believe Prongs and Wormtail left without us! Come on, lets get out there before McGonagall hears about this and puts a stop to it! Sirius said, pulling on his robes. Remus continued to look out the window, lost in thought.




Remus' head snapped up. Oh, sorry. Let's go.


***


James and Peter were already outside when Sirius and Remus arrived. They had built a great dug out in the snow, against the side of the castle. This way, they were protected on all four sides. Inside the walls was a huge pile of different sized snowballs, some glowing most interesting colors.

Remus and Sirius dove inside before they could be struck, and grinned, rosy-faced, at their friends.

What have we missed? Sirius asked, looking eager for a full report.

Well, we hit Snivellus a few times with a hexed ball that made his hair become more greasy. After a while the balls just slid off, though. James reported, grinning from ear to ear. Peter laughed, and Sirius looked highly offended that he had missed such a show.

Where is he now? He asked, craning his neck to try to see over the walls, looking for the subject of their conversation.

Oh, he went inside soon after. He was pretty upset after slugger here nailed him with a ball that made his eyes bulge out. James said, smirking and patting Peter on the back.

Remus and Sirius both laughed at that, and congratulated Peter, before bending to pick up a few balls of their own.


Wingardium leviosa! Sirius exclaimed, pointing to a watermelon-shaped snowball, glee in his eyes. The ball began to float up, and Sirius directed it toward a Hufflepuff girl's fort a little ways away. It crashed through the front, leaving her open to a barrage of different sized balls from various other teams.

Remus laughed, and levitated his own, slightly smaller ball to a Slytherin fort, and let it fall on Lucius Malfoy's head, laughing at the shock on the boy's face.

Great shot, Moony! Sirius exclaimed, clapping him on the back. Remus shivered from the contact, and looked into Sirius' eyes. They met each other's gaze, and held each other's eyes for almost an entire minute, before James' excited voice made Sirius look away.


::No...another chance gone.:: Came Remus' anguished thoughts.


James exclaimed as he pointed to a Ravenclaw girl, who was quite difficult to miss. Someone's hexed snowball had caused her to float up into the sky. She was screaming and trying with questionable results to swim to the ground through the air. The spectators had mixed expressions, some people looking on in horror, others in shock. The Marauders, however, were laughing so hard that Sirius sunk to the ground with tears in his eyes, and Remus went into a coughing fit.




***


Dinner that night in the Great Hall consisted of a long-winded lecture from Professor McGonagall about using hexed snowballs during Wizard Snow Wars, and a certain Headmaster with twinkling eyes and a wink toward the Marauders, telling students that putting an indestructible spell on your snow fort is sort of cheating.


Remus and Sirius sat next to each other, per usual. James was next to Lily, their hands held on top of the table for all the world to see. Sirius poked fun at the couple throughout the meal, and Remus mostly kept to himself, eating his food slowly while reading over his Transfiguration essay for any errors.

This is one assignment you're not copying, Padfoot. Remus said, sounding distracted, his amber eyes still trained on the stiff parchment before him.

Sirius looked at him in mock-shock, mirth in his eyes. And why ever not, dearest Moony?

Remus glanced up to shoot Sirius a withering look, before studying his paper again. When he spoke, his voice was low.

Because you're an animagi. You should know plenty about Transfiguration by now, Sirius.

Sirius feigned horror. But whatever shall I do? He cried out in a surprisingly good falsetto. You must save me Mister Lupin! Or I shall never get my paper finished!

Remus laughed despite himself, and gave Sirius a light slap on the arm. Fine fine, just stop screeching like that, will you? You're going to make the whole table go deaf.



***


Back in the Common Room for the night, the Marauders were seated in overstuffed red armchairs and sofa's. Sirius had taken a whole sofa for himself, and was stretched out across it, his legs crossed at the ankle. He had his head propped up on his arm, and he was...reading?


Remus was curled up on a small chair, in animated conversation with Peter about the days Care of Magical Creatures class. I'm telling you, Wormtail, a unicorn would never let you on it's back, no matter how much trouble you were in!

Oh, but come off it Moony! If I was being chased by a pack of extremely brassed off centaurs or something and the unicorn was there, and I ran to it and said help me!' you don't think it'd let me ride on it's back out of the forest?

No, I don't. They're too majestic and proud. They consider themselves to be far above humans. They'd never do it. He said, giving Peter a look that clearly said his word was final.

If I were a unicorn and someone ran up to me, I'd help them. Peter stated indignantly. Remus snickered.

I don't want to picture you as a unicorn, mate. Don't put such images in my head, or I'll never drop off to sleep tonight.

Peter glared at Remus, and stood up. Speaking of sleep, I'm heading up. You three coming? He asked, giving a small yawn.

James looked up from the note from Lily that he'd been reading to nod. In a minute, Wormtail. He stated, looking down at the parchment again.

Remus and Sirius looked at each other, then at Peter.

Yeah, we're coming. Let's go, Moony.

Remus stood and followed Sirius.

Okay, Padfoot. I'm right behind you.

::I'll always be behind you, Sirius. Always.::


***


More soon, everyone! And thank you all SOOO much for reviewing! It was a very pleasant surprise to wake up this morning to an inbox filled with reviews! Please keep it up! My usually small, carefully swept up pile of self-confidence was greatly added to today! *happy dances*