December 1977

Invisibility cloaks are beautiful things.

Mistletoe is a beautiful thing.

Invisibility cloaks and mistletoe together is a very beautiful thing.

Christmas is a week away and there is mistletoe all over the castle. Most of the time it's ignored unless the people under it want to kiss, or someone loudly points out that two people are under it and a crowd gathers before they can escape. It's made for quite a few hilarious moments.

Just today Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall were walking to lunch together. Dumbledore dropped something and McGonagall stopped while he picked it up. It was Frank Longbottom who noticed the mistletoe above them. "Hey everybody!" he yelled loudly, "Dumbledore and McGonagall are under the mistletoe!"

The two professors and several students looked up in surprise to see if he was right. Sure enough, he was. The teachers look aghast. Students from every house came running to see; you could almost feel the stampede.

The professors just stood there, McGonagall with a socked look on her face, and Dumbledore with his eyes twinkling more than usual. "Are you going to make us wait all day?" someone shouted.

"I will have no such nonsense!" McGonagall said in a flustered voice.

"Oh, come on!" yelled a familiar voice. I looked up to see Sirius with his hands cupped around his mouth. James was standing next to him, wearing a huge grin. "Come on!" Sirius repeated, "Show us some love!"

Everyone laughed.

"Minerva," Dumbledore said, "where is you're Christmas spirit?"

A few people began clapping. Then, much to everyone's surprise and delight, Dumbledore slipped and arm around McGonagall's waist, bent her back into a deep dip, and kissed her right on the lips. McGonagall came up blushing, and Dumbledore laughing as the students burst into applause, laughter, and cheers.

Yes, mistletoe is a beautiful thing.

But what about invisibility cloaks?

I was sitting in a chair by the fire in the common room, physically wrapped in a blanket, and mentally wrapped in A Wind in the Door, a beautiful American Muggle book by Madeline L'Engle. James walked in and sat on a couch next to the chair I was in. "Hello," I said, smiling at him.

"Come here," he replied, "I have something to show you."

I put my book down and moved to the couch where he was. He pulled something out of the bag he had with him. It looked like some sort of cloak, but not like any cloak I had ever seen before. "What is it?" I asked.

He stood up, put it on, and immediately disappeared. I gasped. "An invisibility cloak," he answered as he took it off and reappeared.

"Oh wow," I breathed, "how did you get it?"

"It's been in the family for generations. My parents gave it to me before I left for Hogwarts."

"Wow," I said again.

"Have you ever seen Hogwarts by night?" he asked.

I shook my head.

"Come with me then."

He took my hand and pulled me off the couch. He threw the cloak over us, slipped his arm around my waist, and together we walked out of Gryffindor Tower. We walked through several halls and up several flights of stairs. I wondered where he was taking me. The castle was so quiet and peaceful, and it felt so mysterious with the only light coming from the tip of his wand. Without the rush of numerous students trying to get to classes on time, dropping things, and yelling at each other across the halls, I was able to take in the full beauty and majesty of Hogwarts for the first time since I came here when I was eleven. We didn't talk, it seemed like it would have been wrong to break the silence of the castle. The castle needs sleep just as much as the people living in it do.

He led me to a tower I had never been to before. There were two windows on opposite sides of the tower. Looking out from the one I first saw, you could see almost all of Hogwarts bathing under the light of the moon and stars. James removed the cloak and took his arm from around my waist. I turned around and walked to the window on the other side of the room. I place my elbows on the windowsill and held my chin in my hand. James came and stood next to me.

Out of this window I could see the grounds, all the way to the Forbidden Forest. The light of the moon illuminated everything in a blue iridescent glow. "What do you think?" James asked.

I turned to look at him. "It's wonderful!" I said, "I love it!"

James smiled, "I thought you would."

"When did you find this tower?" I asked.

"Second year, back when Sirius, Remus, Peter, and I could all fit under the cloak. We would explore the castle by night quite often."

I laughed at the thought of all four of them under the cloak together. I looked up to see the stars and noticed something hanging from the window. "Look up," I said, smiling at James.

When he did, a look that could have been shock, confusion, joy, or all three together was on his face. "Mistletoe? Who would have put mistletoe up here?"

"I don't know," I answered, "but I'm glad they did."

He looked down at me. The surprise on his face was evident; nonetheless, he moved in to kiss me.

Our lips met for a few seconds, beautiful seconds.

As the kiss ended three words escaped my mouth. I didn't even realize I had said them until after they were out. "I love you."

And right then, I realized I did.

He smiled and kissed my forehead before repeating the words back to me. H wrapped his arms around me and pulled me to him. I rested my head on his shoulder, my forehead against his neck. We stayed that way for a while, and occasionally he would kiss my face, before going back to Gryffindor Tower. We kissed again as we went to our separate dormitories. The other girls were asleep when I got there. I guess I'll be answering all their "where were you last night?" questions tomorrow as they pack to leave for Christmas break.

I think I've loved James for a while, I just haven't realized it. It's a relief to know it.

I really needed this night. Maybe there is still hope in life after all.