Hello, yes I am still alive. Been kinda busy playing my Return of the King game… two more levels, kinda exciting. Um so with hockey games, my computer games and that damned thing called school I have been ignoring this fanfiction. Well I do have a few chapters written it is just typing them! However, this next week I do not have school so look for an update by I would say… Monday. Please R/R! I do not own Harry Potter or any character in the books… J.K. Rowling does!

Thank you for all the cool and kind reviews!!!

**

"There you are," James exclaimed as Sirius came down the stairs. Sirius looked around; he was a little shaken from his talk with Uncle Alphard. He glanced at James who stared back.

"We were wondering where you were," James said again, "we want to have a snowball fight, are you in?"

"Yeah… sure," Sirius nodded still a little lost.

"Why don't you and Andromeda open my presents to you first," Uncle Alphard came down the stairs now and Andromeda. He settled himself in a large chair next to Dumbledore and handed two boxes to Sirius and Andromeda. "It is not much, but I thought you would both like them."

Sirius and Andromeda took the boxes and opened them. Sirius opened his small box and took out a pocket watch. It looked old, but still in good condition. He opened it up to find a picture of the four Gryffindors.

"Andromeda helped me fix it for you. It is a family heirloom. If you open it up and say someone's name it will tell you the status of them, so you can always know if your friends are well."

"Thank you," Sirius nodded to him.

Andromeda opened her present now. She gasped and held up a necklace.

"It belonged to my wife," Uncle Alphard smiled. "You remind me of her all the time."

"Thank you Uncle," Andromeda whispered and got up to find a mirror to put it on.

"Snowball fight time?" James asked eagerly.

"One more present," Sirius got up and ran to his dorm. He came back with a wrapped present. "I almost forgot." He handed it to Andromeda who had rejoined the group with the necklace now around her neck.

She smiled and took the present. She opened it up and laughed. "Thank you Sirius," she smiled and then hugged him.

"I thought you might need it with N.E.W.Ts coming up," Sirius shrugged. He had given her, N.E.W.Ts in five easy steps.

"For you," she now gave him his present. He smiled and her and opened the box up. The box had a piece of parchment in it and chocolate frogs. He picked up the parchment, it said, "Happy Christmas."

He smiled at Andromeda in thanks.

He looked back down at the box though and noticed the parchment now had new words on it.

"I cannot reveal my true self until only the Marauders are present. Happy Christmas."

Sirius smiled more broadly up at Andromeda.

"What did you receive Sirius?" Uncle Alphard asked him.

"Chocolate Frogs," He held one up, "chocolate anyone?"

"Chocolate later, snowball fight now," James grinned.

"Let's go!" Sirius put the box down. "Join us Andromeda?"

"Of course," Andromeda laughed. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."

Andromeda spent the rest of the day with the young Gryffindors. They had a big snowball fight, two on two. James and Sirius were against Remus and Andromeda. Andromeda, who had a good arm was able to get James and Sirius both in the face with large snowballs. When the two boys charged she dragged Sirius to the ground and planted a snowball on his neck that went down his shirt.

That evening they had large mugs of hot chocolate and sat in front of the Gryffindor common room drinking and talking. Stories of Christmas' in the past were shared, though here the two Blacks stayed quiet and let James tell the stories. The Potter's parties were a lot like the Blacks, though the people were more interesting and less evil.

**

The next day the young Gryffindors slept in late. James and Sirius woke to find Remus gone. There was no note and his trunk was still there. His bed was neatly made as always.

"He's off again," Sirius muttered to himself.

"Why does he go off?" James asked.

"I don't know," Sirius looked again, "he seems to go off every month."

The two Gryffindors spent the day lounging around. It was mid afternoon and they sat in the common room by the fire when Sirius realized he had forgotten to look at Andromeda's present. He ran up to the dorm, grabbed it and brought it back to the chairs. He opened it eagerly again.

Sirius held up the piece of parchment again. New words were formed on it.

"What is it?" James asked eagerly.

"It's a gift certificate to Zonko's!" Sirius grinned and showed it to James.

"Wicked!"

"Look, there's a note," Sirius put his hand back into the box and pulled out a piece of parchment he had not seen before.

Sirius

I usually don't like tricks but I thought you would like this. As you are not a third year, there is a statue on the third floor of an one-eyed witch. The password is Dissendium. Have fun, don't get caught. Teachers go to Hogsmeade on weekends and Fridays. Be careful; use the tricks well against the Slytherins.

Happy Christmas,

Andromeda

"This is great," Sirius started breathing again.

"We have to go once term starts!" James said excitingly.

"Of course!"

**

After dinner, they went to see Hagrid, who they spent a few good hours with talking about families, and the adventures they had been on so far. They both talked excitingly about Quidditch; they both were going to try-out for the team the next year.

They were walking back from Hagrid's as the moon came out, and they could barely see the castle. They had been walking in silence when a loud howl stopped them in their tracks.

"It's the evil ghost!" James gasped.

Sirius looked around; "It's also a full moon. Werewolves!"

"There aren't werewolves around here though," James shook his head. "It's the ghost."

"That ghost is making a lot of noise," Sirius turned in the direction from which it was coming. "You never hear it except the full moon…" He started to walk in the direction of the noise.

"Where are you going?" asked James.

"Don't you think it odd… once a month. Always on the full moon. Remus is never here to hear it. Remus goes away… once a month. Always on the full moon. Doesn't this strange to you?" He turned back to face James. "Werewolves come out tonight."

He started to walk again towards the new tree, the Whomping Willow. "A tree that hits back, a violent tree. Nothing is put on the grounds without a reason. Why now? Trees just don't get added to the grounds. They are hiding something."

He turned back to James, "Don't you see it?"

"See what?"

"Remus comes back every month tired, worn out, last month with a scratch on his face. Isn't that a bit odd? He got a scratch from visiting his sick mother? Does he have a cat or something? Or it is something else… a secret that he doesn't want to tell us?"

"He does look uncomfortable when he comes back…" James pointed out.

"That noise… it sounds like an animal to me. What if it is an animal?" Sirius asked James who finally understood. His jaw dropped and he stared back at Sirius.

Neither had anything else to say.

They stayed up late that night, neither tired. They didn't speak of their last conversation for a few hours. The thought confused both of them and there was too many unanswered questions.

It was about 2am when Sirius looked up at James who was staring into the fireplace, "Does it matter? Does it change anything?"

James continued looking in the fireplace for a few seconds. He then turned and looked at Sirius, "No." He shook his head.

"Then why are we sitting here?"

James let a small smirk form on his face. "Too many unanswered questions."

"It doesn't change our friendship, does it?"

"No," James responded. "Does it?"

"No," Sirius agreed. "He's still Remus."

"How did it happen though?" James sighed. "When? Why?"

"So many questions," Sirius sighed.

"We have to ask him," James thought out loud.

Sirius smirked, "That will be a cheerful conversation. Hello Remus, tell us do you have a secret you would like to tell us? Something hairy perhaps?"

"It doesn't matter though does it?"

"No," Sirius shook his head again. He spoke firmly, "It will never matter."

Author's Note Two: Er, so I am not sure if in HP there are such things called gift certificates and if not, well in this ff there is. I just needed to get them into Hogsmeade and thought a nice trip in Zonko's was a good reason. Bash me all you want for it…