Christmas Lenore had barely been out of the infirmary a week before Christmas holidays started. It had taken five days to heal from the powder burns. Lenore packed her things to head home. She was practically giddy about seeing her older brother.

As Lenore and Maia headed to leave the last day, the Marauders and Lily meet them in the entry hall.

"Thought you could sneak away without saying good-bye?" Remus teased. The two girls smiled.

"No!" They chimed innocently. The Maia added "We planned to say farewell, but we couldn't remember your password."

"Oh! Is that so?" Sirius teased, he moved closer to Lenore. Len looked into his eyes.

"Absolutely." Len tried to sound serious, but failed miserably. "So, you're all staying here for the holidays?"

"Yeap!" They chimed. "Great fun to have the run of a nearly empty school." James added.

"If you say so, it's still a school." Len shook her head. "We'd best go or we'll miss the carriages." Maia nodded in agreement. Sirius grabbed Len's hand and stopped her. She looked at him puzzled. "What?"

He pointed up above her head. "Mistletoe!" He told her. He swooped down to kiss her lightly. "Happy Christmas. Hurry back."

Maia giggled slightly. Until Remus snuck in and kissed her cheek. She turned to him surprised. He also pointed up, to a garland of mistletoe hanging above her head. "Mistletoe. Have a good holiday. We'll think of you, missing out on all our fun."

Lily pulled the two Ravenclaw girls away from them. "Now if I didn't know, I'd swear that they planned that." She smiled. Really telling the other two that was exactly what had happened. "You'd best go, or you will miss the others. Safe trip and hurry back. I'll miss you and besides I've kind of got used to having other girls around. It helps me . . . offset this lot."

To that James wrapped her into a hug and started to kiss her neck from behind her. "Bye. No rush, have a good time."

They laughed and waved at their friends. They caught one of the final carriages to leave. The train was fairly full, and confused students wandered up and down the corridors. Len and Maia as usual took the front car. "I think that they're more confused when there are fewer of them."

"It's likely the lack of the Marauders to establish the social order of the cars." Len teased. "You know the pranked car is the Slytherin, the one they sit in is the popular car mainly Gryffindor." They started to laugh. "So this time you did notice that Lupin shifted you to steal a kiss?"

"Yeah, but it was on my cheek." Maia argued. "It was nothing."

"Yeah right! I didn't see him kissing any other girls." Lenore insisted. "So what did you get him for Christmas?"

"You'll think it's stupid." Maia complained. Lenore gave her a sideways scowl. "Alright, but don't laugh." Lenore gave her a *hurry up* look. "I got him a watch. It's really nice with the lunar calendar on it. Its gold plated. Do you think he'll like it?"

"Wow! If he doesn't he's crazy." Lenore replied. A watch meant that *I want to spend time with you*. "Lunar calendar?"

"I figured that he might like one." Maia replied. "He always seems to get sick around a full moon."

"So you noticed." Lenore smiled at her friend.

"You knew??? Did Sirius tell you?" Maia asked indignantly.

"No, I noticed that his illnesses always fell about the same time a while ago. I just didn't want to say anything." Lenore replied.

"So do you think he's," Maia looked around, she mouthed the words -werewolf- .

"Maybe. I don't know." Len told her honestly. "I think that he should tell us. And that we shouldn't jump to conclusion."

"Agreed." Maia replied. "If he liked me, you'd think that he'd tell me that minor detail."

"Maia, he wants to date you. Not marry you." Len stated flatly. "If he told every girl he dated that, the whole school would know by now."

"You're right." Maia agreed. She looked out the window for a few moments. "Well what are you getting them?" Maia smiled at Len's slight blush.

"You know me. The first year I always give paper." Len looked down shyly. "It's tradition."

They talked for the rest of the trip. Len and Maia where searching for their luggage and didn't notice a tall (6'2") sandy-blond, handsome man creep up behind them. "Squirt, what's taking you so long?" He said playfully. This caused both Maia and Len to jump. They spun around in surprise. Len threw her arms around him.

"Bas! I didn't think you were coming to meet me." Len squealed. "You 'member Maia?"

"I haven't been away that long." Her brother told her. He smiled at the other girl who blushed furiously. Sebastian Nightshade was gorgeous! His fit body (from years of Quidditch) was even more toned from his training as an Auror. "I heard that you'd gotten yourself hurt. You alright? Do I need to beat up a bully for you?"

Len blushed at that, she playfully hit his arm. "No, I can take care of myself. Most of the time." She huffed. Then suddenly smiled, "Can I keep you on speed dial for the next time, Prof. Drake starts to yell at me?"

"That depends on whether or not you deserve to be yelled at." He told her mock scolding. "So how many cauldrons have you blown up this term?"

"Hey!!!" Lenore sounded offended.

"Not quite a dozen yet." Maia chirped. Lenore cast her an evil look.

"Does that include the one you sent threw the roof?" Bas teased. Len's jaw dropped.

"How'd you hear about that?" She demanded.

"And the one, that went boom and destroyed all the windows?" He continued.

"Only on the first two floors! Who told you???" Len demanded, pulling on his arm.

"You don't think that I'd leave my baby sister, without having someone there to keep an eye on her do you?" He told her sweeping her into a hug. "If I told you, then you would try to avoid that person, then I'd never hear about these things." He smiled and kissed the top of her head. "So when are you two going to tell me about your new friends???"

!*!*!*!*!*!*!*! Yeah , yeah yah. The Marauders prank the remaining students, with special attention to the remaining Slytherins (happens to include Snape). Although they have found no proof, they believe that the powder was from one of them. Beautiful Christmas banquet. Fun and frivolity , whatever. Cut to the good stuff, Christmas Morning and the presents!!!

The Marauders each awoke to find a huge pile of presents at the foot of their bed. Most were loaded with sweets, some from admirers, others from family and friends. When Remus opened the watch given to him from Maia, he blushed and received a fair number of *told you she liked you*, *you should just ask her out*, type comments from the others. Lupin did take note of the lunar calendar feature, -Could Maia know?- He held off asking, while he opened the rest of his presents. Although the watch was by far his favourite.

With the exception to Remus, Maia had given each of them cloths. Lily received a lovely, peasant skirt and matching top, Gryffindor colours, her card read: *Although, I think blues are nicer, I thought that you might appreciate these ones more*. James received a nice sweater, fitted to show off how well he was built, and a nice pair of slacks, dark conservative colours. His card read: *Hope you like, you're the stylish one. This is so that you can come and visit Lily, Len and me in Muggle London, besides these should make you look hot.* James nearly choked, Maia definitely fit the old saying about Ravenclaw Girls. Both Sirius and Peter received Jeans and T-shirts. Sirius although looking baggy and kind of sloppy, looked hot in his. Peter looked alright. Sirius' card read; *To the -Shaggy- of the Marauders (Scooby-doo reference- ask Lily), knowing you, you'll somehow manage to make it look hot.* Peter's card read: *Hope you like. I think that it'll work for you.*

Lenore had given each of them a book. At first they were slightly confused. They sat in the common room discussing their gifts. Laughing at Len's reasoning and while waiting for Lily to come down, before heading to breakfast.

Lupin received a monster's compendium, which included an encyclopaedia/reference guide, how to care for and dispose of each creature. There was an inscription that read *To Remus; the future monster slayer and white knight of the Marauders.*

Potter received a book of poetry, inside the book were tickets to the Quidditch league cup (seasons passes). The inscription read *To James; for the next time you need to be inspired to bail one of your boneheaded friends (or yourself, -wink-) out of trouble. Hope you enjoy!*

Pettigrew received a Muggle self-help book on self esteem. Inside the book he found tickets to his favourite band. *To Peter; don't be afraid to be yourself. If others don't like it, you don't need them.* He refused to read the inscription to the others so they stole his book to find out. "Awe, isn't that sweet. Just remember, don't touch her!" Sirius warned.

Black received a children's pop-up book. He quickly hid what he found in the middle and refused to tell what it was. James had to snatch the book to read the inscription because Sirius wouldn't tell. It read *To Sirius; I thought that you might enjoy this considering you like to act like a toddler. I hope you like the pictures!!! -Smirk-. Maybe it'll keep your hands busy so they don't grab at me.* They looked to Sirius who smiled broadly back at them and held up the adult magazine that had been in the children's book. "How, the hell, she get that?" Peter asked.

"Don't really care." Sirius smiled. Lily happened to walk into the room at that particular moment. "Isn't it great. Isn't she thoughtful?!"

"Sirius, you'd best put that away, before McGonagall finds it." Lily said. The boys who'd been crowding around Sirius to get a better look, turned to look at her. They all went red. Lily just shook her head. "Boys!!??"

"So Lily, what did you get?" James asked, moving to give her a hug.

"Len gave me a book on Child Care and Discipline." Lily smiled. "Wrote something about, me might needing it to deal with you lot, until they get back."

As if on cue, James started. "Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!" Remus joined seconds later with, "Mum! Mum! Mum!" Sirius not one to miss out on a joke, moved to sit at her feet and started to tug on her robe, calling "Feed me, mommy. I'm hun-gy!" Peter joined in, and Lily started to laugh so hard she thought she was going to pass out.

"Will - you - lot stop. Please!" Lily finally managed to get out. "Let's go get some food."

"Yeah!" They all cheered in childish voices. Lily shook her head.

"How, long until they get back?" Lily asked. James held up nine fingers. "I'm never going to make it. At least not with my sanity."

"Ah, sanity is highly over rated." Sirius assured her.

"Here I thought that you would have lost that ages ago." Lupin commented, looking as if he were deep in thought.

James kissed her cheek. "I'll still love you." He assured her. "Besides, you might enjoy yourself a little more if you lost your sanity. What good has it done you lately anyway?"

"Let's see. I allowed me to talk us out of detention just last week." Lily replied teasingly after little thought.

"Pssh, that was last week. Ancient history." Sirius scoffed. They entered the Great Hall, most of the students were already here. Lily couldn't help but notice that even the usually dower face Snape looked, not happy, but at least pleasant this morning.

Severus was pleased that even he received presents and was remembered at Christmas. Although most came from ulterior motives he knew, he was able to push that thought aside for a few hours at least. This year, he was most surprised to have found that Lenore had sent him a gift. Now the sceptical part of his nature rationalized it as being a token so that he would continue to tutor her. The softer side, the one he buried told his scepticism to shut-up.

He wanted to believe that it was just a gift with out any motive. That just for a few hours that he had some friends, real friends. Not like Malfoy, a convenient ally. That part of him always lost the battle after a few hours, until then he thought that he could enjoy himself. He had read most of the book Lenore had sent him.

It was a leather-bound book on brewing techniques and advanced potions that Snape knew wound only be found in the restricted section of the library. He had read the inscription, *To Eri; You're the smartest person I know. Just don't forget to have some fun along the way to realizing your genius.*

At seeing the Marauders enter, Snape decided to leave. They had been rather nasty of late toward him, and he guessed that they didn't believe taking holidays off. It wasn't that he didn't deserve the tricks this time, but he wanted to keep this *high* for just a little longer. He walked back to his dorm, a black cloud that seemed a little less stormy.