Disclaimer: Once again, I note that I do not own Harry Potter or any characters.

The Best Part about Christmas

"I can't wait until Christmas!" grinned Sirius excitedly, ticking off another day on his calendar. It was a crisp Saturday morning, only a week away from that magical event. The Marauders were all still wearing their pajamas, sprawling in front of the fire to keep warm as they watched snowflakes drift to the ground.

"I can," muttered Remus, his nose buried in a book. "I don't like Christmas." A painful silence filled the nearly-empty common room. The other Marauders gawked at the prefect in shock. He pointedly ignored their stares and continued reading.

"Don't like Christmas?" echoed James. "What the hell are you talking about, Moony? Christmas is the best holiday of the year! Free loot, lots of chocolate, no school, time with friends... what's not to like?" Peter bobbed his mousy head in agreement. Remus was silent, absorbed in his reading. Sirius snorted in annoyance and grabbed the book from his friend. The smaller boy shot him an irritated look.

"Get your nose out of the books for a sec and explain yourself. Sure Christmas isn't as great as when we were kids, but it's still the best holiday. What gives, Moony? Why don't you like it?"

"Mistletoe," he answered. A long pause; Sirius and James looked puzzled.

"What about it?" wondered Sirius.

"That stupid rule that you have to kiss someone if you meet under the mistletoe. I really hate that." Sirius and James exchanged baffled looks.

"I hate mistletoe too," said Peter suddenly. "All the girls run away every time I walk under it."

"That's 'cause no girl in their right mind would want to kiss a rat," jeered Sirius, nudging Peter playfully. "But I don't see why you don't like it, Remus. There are plenty of girls at school that would like to kiss you. I bet they all wait by the mistletoe for you to come by." Remus turned slightly red.

"But that's the whole problem. If you meet someone under the mistletoe, you have to kiss them; you have no choice in the matter. I don't want to kiss a girl because I have to. My first kiss should be something I want to happen, you know? And what if the girl under the mistletoe is someone I don't even know? I would feel really weird kissing some strange girl."

"You haven't had your first kiss yet?" asked James, looking surprised. "Moony, do you even realize how many girls are after you? The only guy they chase more is Padfoot." Sirius flashed a grin and ran his fingers through his dark hair, looking smug. "And anyway, just 'cause you kiss a girl, it doesn't mean you're stuck with them for life."

"The greatest excuse for a kiss is mistletoe," added Sirius. "So what if you don't know the girl? I would think that's the best part of the whole thing."

"Say what you like; I'm still avoiding the stuff."

"It's not gonna kill you to go under the mistletoe, Remus," noted Sirius, rolling his eyes. "Come on. I'll make it a dare if you insist on being stubborn. I dare you to purposefully walk under every sprig of mistletoe you see until you get kissed." Remus glared at him.

"Is that so? And what if I refuse?"

"I'll attach it to your head with a spell," grinned the taller boy mischievously.

"All right, all right, I get the point. But if I end up being forced to kiss a Slytherin, you're never going to hear the end of it." He stood up and climbed up the stairs to their dormitory. Sirius chuckled, his eyes glittering in mischief. James eyed him suspiciously.

"What's so funny?"

"Nothing. Nothing at all." But the glint in his eyes suggested otherwise.

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Remus hated himself for being so weak. He had given into Sirius far too easily, and was now forced to carry out the dare. What was worse, every time he saw a sprig of mistletoe, he got terribly nervous. He approached it as if expecting a Dungbomb to fall on his head the moment he stepped under it. He nearly fainted in relief when he passed under it without encountering anyone. I can't believe I let Sirius talk me into this. What was I thinking? I'll get him back for this some day... He was grateful there weren't many people that stayed around during Christmas break; it made his little task easier to endure.

Miraculously, he went through the whole day without being caught under the mistletoe with anyone. He had had a few close shaves when some girls his age saw him pass under it but he made sure that he was well away before they could get him. There was nothing in Sirius's dare that said he had to stand under the mistletoe; he just had to walk under it. There was quite a difference. He spoke the password and walked into the common room. He almost crashed into Sirius.

"Hey, there, Moony!"

"Oh, hello, Sirius," he greeted casually, moving aside so he could get inside. Sirius held onto his arm.

"Where're you going?"

"I'm going to the common room, Sirius. What's it look like?"

"Aren't you forgetting something?" Sirius pointed up, where a sprig of mistletoe was hanging over their heads.

"I'll have you know I walked under every last sprig of mistletoe I saw, just like you said to. Lucky for me, there aren't as many students around." He flashed a triumphant smile. Sirius continued to hold onto him. "Um... Sirius, if you don't mind, I would like to go inside now."

"Sure, Remus. Just one little thing." And suddenly Remus was being pulled towards his dark-haired friend. Sirius's face drew close to his, and he felt warm lips touch his own. A jolt of shock went through his whole body. He managed to push away, though Sirius was still holding his arm.

"Sirius! What was that for?"

"Mistletoe, dummy. What else?"

"You kissed me because of that?!?"

"That's the best part about Christmas," grinned Sirius. "You never know."

fin