Christmas Eve

Disclaimer: I don't own the Harry Potter characters...J.K. Rowling does.

Sophia wandered the halls down to dinner on December 24th. She smiled at the caroling ghosts and it only grew when she walked into the Hall. The enormous Christmas tree was shining brightly and when Sophia looked up at the Professor's Table, Dumbledore nodded and winked to her. She in turn waved before looking at the students that remained at the castle. Sirius, Giselle, Lily, and James sat in the middle of the Gryffindor table. Sophia's lips formed a half smile as she thought about Lily and James. It had taken nearly seven years, but finally those two were where they belonged...with each other. Sophia was happy for them, but ever since the beginning when they had hooked up, she had felt like the fifth wheel. It was constantly Sirius and Giselle and Lily and James...no room for Sophia. Parker looked up at her from across the room and ducked to say something to the girl beside him...Patrice perhaps? He was still sore with her from the beginning of the year. Sophia only rolled her eyes at his childish behavior. When she looked over at the Slytherin table, her heart stilled. Malfoy and Snape had returned early, and not only that, but they had apparently inducted Regulus into their secret circle. Malfoy looked up at her, then Snape. They smirked and waved, Regulus turned around to face her, and he winked. Sophia gave an involuntary shudder at the sadistic meaning behind their actions. Something was up. Sophia then walked over to the Gryffindor table and sat beside Lily. Lily looked up.

"Hey Sophia, where have you been?"

Sophia shrugged, "Just wandering."

"Find anything of worth?" James asked.

"No."

"Pity."

"Quite." She then picked up her fork and began to eat. The meal was over all too soon and Sophia quickly stood up and headed for the doors.

"Hey! Where are you going?" Lily called out.

"Bed."

"Why?"

"Lils," Sophia stated exasperatedly. "It's Christmas Eve, if I don't go to bed early, Santa won't come."

"What do you want Santa to bring you?" Lily asked in a humored nature.

Sophia thought for a moment, "A star."

"Just one?"

"Just one."

Lily winked at her friend's simple request, "I hope he gives you your star."

Sophia yawned, "Me too. G'night." She then left the Hall. Lily looked at James who seemed to understand her feelings.

"Do you know what's wrong?" James whispered.

Lily looked at the closed doors of the exit, "No, I guess she's just feeling lonely."

"She's got us."

"Christmas was a big thing for her and her parents, it's her first Christmas without them, and I don't think I've been there for her as much as I should have, I don't even know what she wanted for Christmas." Lily replied.

"You couldn't give her what she wanted."

"I know."

"Besides, I'm sure Santa will bring her something you never could." James stated. Lily's head shot up.

"What do you know?" James feigned innocence.

"I can't tell you, but you'll find out soon enough."

"It better be awesome if you won't even tell me."

"She'll love it and I leave it at that." James ended. He then kissed Lily before returning his attention to Sirius.

Sophia sat at the vanity brushing her hair. She looked out the window at the falling snow. She sighed as she put her brush on the wooden top and stood up to walk to the window. She sat in the seat and placed her head against the frozen glass, she began to softly sing her mother's favorite Christmas carol that they had learned on a Christmas trip in America.

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire,

Jack Frost nipping at your nose,

Yule tide carols being sung by choir,

And folks dressed up like Eskimos.

Everybody knows that turkey and mistletoe

Can help to make the season bright,

Tiny tots, with their eyes all aglow, will find it hard to sleep tonight.

They know that Santa's on his way,

He's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh,

And every mother's child is going to pry,

To see if reindeer really know how to fly.

And so I'm offering this simple phrase,

To kids from one to ninety-two,

Although it's been said,

Many times, many ways,

Merry Christmas,

Merry Christmas,

Merry Christmas...to...you.

Sophia broke off as tears fell from her chin. She continued to watch the falling snow until a voice broke her from her reverie. "Merry Christmas Sophia." Sophia's head spun to look over at the shadowed figure. She gasped as he walked over to her.

"Remus? How? Why? What-" She fumbled as she stood up. Remus continued to walk over to her until he stood in front of her. He placed his thumb over her lips to shush her stutter. He smiled sweetly at her and then kissed her. Sophia giggled into the kiss and her arms went immediately to his neck as his went to her waist. He pulled her in tighter until they were touching. Finally they broke apart slightly and Sophia looked up at him questioningly. Remus moved his hands to push hair behind her ear.

"You look beautiful." He whispered, Sophia looked down and blushed at her intimate apparel, a long, silk, emerald night dress. It was not revealing, but Sophia's blush deepened nonetheless.

"Why are you here?"

"It's Christmas Eve." He stated, then, "...and I wanted to surprise you." He said simply.

"You did a wonderful job of it."

"I try. Follow me."

"Where are we going?" Sophia asked.

"Can't tell, but you might want to grab a coat, the halls are quite chilly." He replied. Sophia gazed at him curiously, then walked over to the chair beside her bed and pulled on her long black wool coat. She had finished tying the belt on her coat when Remus put a blind fold on her.

"What's this about?"

"You'll see." Remus replied, he then reached for her hand and led her out of the girl's dormitory. Guiding her down the steps, they reached the bottom when Sophia spoke up once more.

"You going to give me any hint as to where we are going?" She asked hoping he wouldn't.

"Nope."

"Right." Remus then led her out of the passage and through the halls. After five minutes, they stopped walking, and Remus's hand left hers for a moment. A minute later, he took her hand again and led her through a room. He stepped behind her and removed the blindfold. Sophia gasped.

The two stood in the entrance of a very large room. A large fir tree, much like the one in the Great Hall stood in the room. It twinkled with white lights, tinsel, and ornaments of angels, nutcrackers, old fashioned replicas of Santa Clause and snowmen. The air was filled with Frank Sinatra's voice singing Christmas Carols. A warm fire glowed from the other side of the room, and a table of Egg nog and Christmas sweets stood in the middle. Remus pointed to the area beneath the tree where a few presents sat. Sophia gazed at it all for quite a time before turning to face Remus. "It's...." she faded. Remus smiled softly.

"Come on," he said putting his arm around her waist, "try the cookies, they're a gift from my mum." The two walked to the table and Sophia picked up a warm gooey chocolate chip cookie. She bit into it and grinned.

"Heavenly." She moaned, labeling the cookie's taste. She reached for another when Remus laid his hand on hers. She returned her eyes to his, and he leaned down to kiss her once more.

"You taste like chocolate." He stated after the kiss ended.

"I wonder why." Sophia stated, rolling her eyes good-naturedly. Remus laughed at her and then lightly pushed her over to the tree. "You mean those are actual presents?"

"Yes."

"For me?"

"I think so."

"You shouldn't have."

"I wanted to."

"It's wonderful but..."

"Would you please protest after you open them?" Sophia smirked at his exasperated comment.

"Yes sir." She replied. She sat down on her knees and Remus sat down beside her. He drew his knees up slightly and circled his legs with his arms. Sophia reached for the biggest box first.

"Go for the big stuff first eh?" He declared. Sophia nodded her head vigorously. She delicately pulled back the silver paper and opened the box, inside was a large white teddy bear with a blue bow.

"He's adorable!" She declared. She pulled the teddy bear out of the box and squeezed it tightly. She then looked into the teddy bear's face. "I shall name you...Peter."

"Why Peter?"

She shrugged, "Dunno, I just like the name." Remus smiled at her.

"It's a fine name."

"I think so too." She held onto the bear and reached for a medium sized box. She pulled back the red paper, a little rougher this time, and found a large clothing box. She arched her eyebrow and looked over at Remus who only moved his hands, urging her to open it. She pulled off the lid and gasped. Inside was a beautiful brown silk gown. She stood up and pulled the gown out of the box. "It's gorgeous!" She said breathlessly.

"It'll look even better on you."

"But how?"

"James."

"How did he-"

"Sirius."

"How did Sirius?"

"Giselle."

"You've had this planned for a while haven't you?"

"Since November."

"You're sly."

"I'd like to think so."

Sophia walked over one of the chairs at the table and placed the dress over the back of it before returning to Remus at the tree. She sat back on her knees and reached for the last box. It was smaller than the rest, but still fairly large. She opened it and found her two favorite perfumes, which were quite expensive, a few candles, and lastly, a photograph of her and Remus. She ran her fingers over the frame and smiled. She looked over to Remus who was now standing. She stood up as well and he walked over to her. "You're amazing. Do you know that?" She told him.

He cocked his head to the side then scrunched up his face, "Yeah, I know." Sophia giggled.

"This was too much."

"Nothing is too much for you."

Sophia looked about her helplessly, "Yeah...this was a lot."

"Sophia." Remus softly commanded. Her head snapped up. "Will you dance with me?"

"How can I say no to that?" She whispered. Remus reached for her and pulled her close. Sophia placed her head against Remus's chest and closed her eyes. Remus inhaled her scent and buried his face in her hair. Everything around them stilled, and for a small moment, the world was theirs and theirs alone.

"I have one more thing for you." Remus's muffled voice said.

"There's more?"

"Just this." The couple stopped and Remus pulled out a box, in it was a necklace. "When I was walking through London, I saw this, and I knew it had to be yours." The necklace was of a shining silver chain and on the chain was a Sapphire in between two diamonds. Sophia stared at the necklace, her eyes widened in surprise. "If you don't like it, I can take it back....you don't like it do you?"

Sophia shook her head and then locked her eyes with his, "No, it's not that, it's just...this. This on top of everything you've done for me tonight. I never expected it, none of it. I was expecting this Christmas to be empty and lonely, and then you show up. That was enough for me, but then you go to all these lengths. This room, the decoration, the food, the gifts, and all for me. I don't deserve it, none of it, but I love every piece of it, and not because it's every girls romantic fantasy come true, but because it came from you." She paused. "You're in every piece of this. And I-" She paused again as tears filled her eyes. "I just want you to understand how much this means to me, and that I'll never ever forget this. I love you." She looked down.

"Hey...don't cry. Love, please don't cry." Remus whispered.

"Sorry."

"Sophia?"

"Hm?"

"I love you too." Sophia smiled up at him, and he kissed her once more. He then led her over to the fire before his lips claimed hers once more. Slowly the two fell to their knees, their lips never breaking. Sophia reached for Remus, and the two spent Christmas Eve in each other's arms.

A/N: Okay I figured you guys deserved two chapters tonight. Was my scene with Remus and Sophia enjoyable? I realize I used a few terms quite a bit, but honestly I didn't know how to rephrase it. Anyway, there are a few more chapters left...please review, I cant seem to shake a stomach problem...:sad face: