To The Writer:
I really screwed up, in chapter 4, so go back and read it. I left the entire thing about the Quidditch thing behind! I'm so sorry! I have memory problems I swear! Ha ha!
Also I think I'm going to rate this as a high PG- 13, cause I decided not to make it how it originally was going to be. But I might change my mind.
Anyway, on with it!
On Christmas Eve, Lily, Liv, Maria, and another friend of Lily's were going to have a sleepover in the room of requirement. They would pack their things in a bad, shrink the bad so it would fit into their pockets, and then meet in the entrance to great hall after dinner.
After a day of snowball fights, sneaking off to Hogsmead, and hot cocoa, Maria had everything she needed for the next day. She had gotten a beautiful crystal necklace.
For Lily, she got a beautiful silver picture frame that looked Celtic, with a picture of her and James in a very passionate, and sweat make- out session.
For Severus, she got him the broomstick he wanted, thinking that he needed an especially big Christmas present.
For Sirius, she got him a card to zonko's that gave him 25 off everything he buys and a set of free dung bombs with every purchase.
For Angelina, she got a huge Chinese spell book that had many of China's best spells, and descriptions of how they were used. For Ritchie and Natalie, she got them 2 things. A full set of kitchen appliances (they had just gotten an apartment together), and a series of the greatest loves of the age, everything from Romeo and Juliet, to wizard couples like the rumored love affair between Godric Gryffindor, and Rowena Ravenclaw.
For Wood she got a board that you could magically conjure plays with the players you specifically wanted, against the team you specifically needed. All you needed was a bit of hair from the people you wanted on the board. And as their skills grew so would the ones on the board. Also you could play play's and see the worst outcome of each play, and the board also pointed out the little details that needed work for the players.
For Amos she got a new beaters club, the best of the line. For Marci she got a moving globe of the universe, that when you tapped a certain part of the universe it would go to that galaxy, and so on. Lastly, for Andrew she got a gift certificate for 100 galleons worth of Honeyducks' candy.
For James she got him a lifetime membership to Which Broom, and a bottle of broomstick handle polish that never ran out.
For Lucius, she sent him a book of the most deadly Wizards to date that she had seen him eyeing and a book of curses called The Cursed Wizard Zimbledon's Book Of Curses, another book he had been eyeing.
She even bought Narcissa a box of the non- fat chocolate frogs that she loved.
And lastly, for Remus she bought him two things one that he would receive on Christmas morning and one she would give to him herself. She bought him a brand new set of wizard chess.
On this board, the white pieces were representing good, and the black evil. When you ordered the set, you could choose what the faces of the people look like, then the chess- makers made them look like how the ancient wizards dressed. She made him his favorite place, the bishop. She was of her favorite, the horse, Liv was the queen, and Sirius was the King, because of his huge ego. Lily was the tower, because she was the tower that held everyone together, and James was the Pawns, because that was the only thing left for him to be. When Maria had told him he was the pawns he wasn't so happy until he found out he was all the pawns. The opposite pieces were like the evil side of the group.
The other present was a reach to give. She had decided that on Christmas night, she would tell him she knew his secret.
At Dinner
Since there were so few people in Hogwarts for vacation, everyone fit onto one table, including the teachers. For dinner the teachers sat on their side and the students sat on the other. The Ravenclaws sat on the far end then the Slytherins than the Gryffindors and then the Hufflepuffs, with only a few mixed in between. Maria sat in between Liv and Sev. Then Liv was flirting it away the entire dinner with Sirius. So for the entire dinner Maria talked with Severus about everything. Spells, books, people, they talked about anything and everything.
In the middle of the dinner, Maria met a girl from the Hufflepuff team that sat next to her. She was a very pretty girl but didn't seem to have much underneath the mop of bleach blonde. Maria was in the middle of feasting on her mashed potatoes when all of a sudden her and the Ravenclaw sitting next to her were pushed apart.
'So, your that new girl aren't you.' she said. Maria didn't like the tone of voice she used when saying new.
'Umm... yes, why do you care?' she asked.
'You're the one that decided to warm up to Remmy aren't you?' she said totally disregarding Maria's question.
'Excuse me, no offense or anything, but it is none of your business and him and I are jut friends.' Maria wasn't taking a liking to this girl.
'Well, lets just hope it stays that way.' With that the girl sauntered off like she was the Queen of England.
'Who was that?' she asked the Ravenclaw next to her. He looked back and said,
'That, was Angelina Crumpguard. She thinks herself to be Hogwarts royalty because her father is third to the minister of magic. She has set her eyes on that chap in the Marauders Remus Lupin.' He said. 'And she is damn fine to boot.'
'Yes, well, sadly there isn't much underneath that, and I quote, "damn fineness".' He just shrugged and turned back to his friends. Maria sat there thinking to herself, "Where dose she get off thinking that she can just waltz up here and tell me to stay away from Remus, he's my friend. Maybe I'll talk to Remus about that."
After dinner Maria, and Liv met Lily at the Entrance to the Great Hall. Lily was accompanied by a short, and not fat but well-rounded girl with blonde hair and bright blue eyes.
'Ladies, this is Alice, we shall be kidnapping her for this crazy night.' Laughed Lily.
'Hey, don't even think for a second that I'm not as crazy as this child next to me.' Said Alice. 'This girl would have died of boredom if it wasn't for me. Anyway, no need to introduce me; I've wanted to meet you both for a while, I've heard so much about you.'
'We deny everything.' Said Liv.
'Oh, trust me, the things I have heard Sirius say are nothing for you to be denying' Alice winked at Liv who blushed unmercifully.
Then, Lily started to lead them to where they would be sleeping. When they got to a room that they didn't notice lily stood with her hand on the doorknob.
'Welcome,' she said. 'To the Room of Requirement.' When she opened the door, the pleasing sight of a roaring fireplace met them. There were 4 queen sized squishy beds with black sheets and blankets, and black royal pillows. In the middle of the room was a huge Christmas tree. There was also a window that seemed to overlook the entire grounds of Hogwarts. On the floor in front of the fireplace were cushions surrounding a slab of white marble that had hot cocoa, all sorts of sweats, and surprisingly a roast chicken, and very buttery looking mashed potatoes.
The girls were all astounded, except for Lily.
'This is amazing.' Said Liv.
'Ya. Hey, what's with the roast chicken and mashed potatoes?' asked Alice.
'I really want some more roast chicken, and mashed potatoes, sue me.' Said Lily.
And so the night began. For the next few hours, they talked about everything, ate so much that they thought they were going to puke, and played all sorts of games. After their 50 millionth cup of cocoa, they were all extremely hyper and wanted some way to burn off all their energy.
'Hey, we should invite over the guy's for a while. We can play truth or dare, or spin the bottle or something. Cause you have to admit, those games are no where as fun as if you have boys.' Said Lily.
'Especially spin the bottle.' Joked Liv. With that settled that sent an owl to James and the others. After a while the door opened and closed and they were met with the sight of 4 boys, but the 4th wasn't Peter.
'Hey, where's Peter?' asked Maria.
'He didn't want to come.' Said Sirius. 'Or rather we couldn't wake him up. James and I were about to get the blow horn, and a bucket of cold water, but our voice of reason here told us that might not be a good idea.' Remus just shrugged and smiled. After brief introduction, the 4th boy was introduced as Frank Longbottom. He was a tall round- faced boy but was such wonderful company that he seemed very attractive.
First they did more hanging around and eating, then Sirius thought it would be funny to stick some of Milford's Magic Malt Balls up his nose, and it took about 45 minutes to get them out. After that they decided that it might be safer for them to play a game. So naturally that just had to play truth or dare.
'Okay, Lily, truth or dare?' asked Alice.
'Umm... dare.' Said Lily.
'Okay, hmm, open the window and scream as loud as you can, GOLDFISH CRACKERS LIVE!'
'You are one strange person.' Said Lily. But in any case she did, and they laughed hysterically until the caretaker ran outside to see whom he could give a detention to.
'Alrighty then, my turn!' squealed Lily. 'Sirius... truth or dare.'
'Dare! Wait, no I know that look your going to try and get me back for the time that I locked you and the fat kid in a closet and I put a love charm on him!' yelled Sirius accusingly.
'Hey, would you blame me?' asked Lily. 'Fine, since you must take the fun and enjoyment out of everything, if given the chance, who would you shag in an instant, o ya and don't forget the truth charm.' After making sure the charm worked Lily asked the question again.
'Liv.' Came his answer. There were a lot of catcalls and blushing on Liv's part. After the charm was lifted, Sirius couldn't hold Liv's gaze and covered by saying, 'What can I say, my dear, your hot!' everyone laughed at this including Liv.
'Okay, next victim, ahh, Maria.' Now to all of the people there it was common knowledge that if you didn't want to do anything drastic, than don't take a dare from Sirius, Maria, however, wasn't one of those people.
'Truth or-' he was cut off by Maria saying, 'Dare.'
Everyone looked at each other thinking that she was out of her mind. Sirius on the other hand was absolutely gleeful; he wasn't given the option of a dare often.
'But, it's on one condition.' Said Maria, she knew how much he wanted to do a dare; he wouldn't have a problem with her conditions. 'No nudity.' Sirius pretended to look pt out, but just laughed. He looked around the room thinking and thinking when his gaze landed on Remus. Remus new that look and shook his head, but before he could verbally protest, Sirius had already made his dare.
'Maria, you have to French Remus for exactly 3 minutes.' Maria could feel the blush rush to her cheeks. She started to protest, but Sirius wouldn't have it and he started calling her a coward. If there was one thing Maria couldn't stand it was being called a coward. After being called a coward for about the 50th time, she grabbed Remus (who was right next to her) and started to kiss him. It wasn't as bad or as awkward as she had thought it would be. And it was likewise for him. It was as if it were something natural and like it was something that they had been yearning for, for a long time.
The three minute's passed quicker than they both expected, but when Sirius said time, they either didn't hear him or wasn't paying attention, Sirius was about to yell in their ears with his voice magically amplified, but Lily shook her head and they just stared at them until Remus and Maria realized it had to be over 3 minutes and pulled away.
'What?' asked Maria when she saw them all staring.
'Nothing, nothing at all.' Smiled James with a bit of mischief.
The rest of the night went by without much more interesting stunts, unless you call James jumping off the bed and on top of Sirius to stop him from telling some of James' secrets. At about 2:30 the guy's left and the girls started yet again, talking about the night's events.
'So Maria, getting physical, are we?' said Liv nudging Maria in the shoulder.
'It was just a dare.' Maria lied.
'I think it was a bit more than a dare.' Said Alice. 'I swear I saw fireworks going off outside,'
'All we're saying is it was a bit more of a kiss than just a dare.' Said Lily. Maria didn't say anything and just blushed. The rest of the night was all laughs, teasing, and good eating. At about 4 am they were all finally asleep.
The next morning Maria woke up first to see the tree was loaded with presents. She stood up and screamed 'OY! GET UP! PRESENTS!' the rest of the girls just grumbled and stood up. Maria gave all of them a wake up potion she had thought might come in handy, and in a matter of seconds they were wide awake and ready to open presents,
Lily was the first to jump into the pile of presents and find the one from James. She was surprised when it was just a letter telling her to go to the Astronomy tower after dinner. Maria first opened the present from Sirius, which was a list of all of the hexes he made up since his first year of Hogwarts.
Severus gave her a set of candles and a book of the old ways magic was practiced with incantations. She didn't know how he had found it but she knew that this would take up a lot of her time.
From Lucius, she got a book of complex (and mostly dangerous) potions. Liv got her a mirror that when you spoke how you wanted to look it would magically do it for you.
Hermione got her a 'Quidditch don'ts for beaters' book with a note, "I've read this book before, and if I see you use any of these play's I swear. Love- Hermione."
From Lily and James, she got an entire set of real Quidditch balls. She was so amazed and excited that she tackled Lily scream in words of thanks into her ear.
Angelina, she got a Chinese dragon, that when you dipped the bottom in ink, and pressed on paper, her name came out. From Ritchie and Natalie, she got a globe of a never-ending Quidditch match that appeared to have all of the Hogwarts players on one team. From Marci, she got a book called, Liars, the deceptions they give, and how to notice them. She even got a bunch of Zonko's stuff from Andrew.
From Amos, she got a book of all the powerful witches, good and evil. Also, he gave her different colored magical candles that never went out unless tapped by a wand twice.
Lastly from Remus she got a beautiful crystal rose, that permanently had the smell of a real rose. She was astounded and looked at the card. 'Maria, I was looking for the perfect present for you, and this was what caught my eye. Remus.'
When Maria was magically disappearing all the trash, a school owl flew into the room and dropped a parcel onto her lap. The rest of the girls, having noticed this, urged her to open it. She carefully unwrapped the gold tissue paper to reveal a square velvet box. She opened it to reveal the most beautiful necklace ever. The chain was made of the best silver, and hanging from the chain were little rubies connecting to a flawless black pearl. The girls all gasped and asked excitedly whom it was from. Maria reached for the note that came with it.
'Maria, looking through all the shops, I found something that may possibly be a quarter of your beauty.
Forever Yours, Your Secret Admirer.'
'OOOO Maria, you have a secret admirer!' squealed Alice. 'Who do you think it is?'
'I don't know.' Said Maria honestly. "Who could it be?" she thought, she knew who she wanted it to be. Remus. Wait, where did that come from? She shook the thought out of her head.
'Well whoever it is, they must have spent a fortune on it.' Gasped Liv.
'Wow.' That was all Lily could say. They stared at it, and then Maria decided to try it on.
She put it on and let her hair fall around her shoulders.
'Maria, you look like a Queen or something. Very regal.' Said Lily. After taking it off they made their way down to breakfast, not bothering to change out of pajamas.
As they entered the Great Hall, both Severus, and the Marauders waving them over. Luckily they were sitting across each other so that wasn't hard to work out. Maria sat next to Severus and across from Remus. She gave Remus a smile and then turned away, blushing. Then she turned to Severus.
'Oh my god, Sev, how did you get that book?' she asked. She hadn't forgot the book that he had given her. It was one of her favorite presents.
He just smiled and said, 'I asked my mother to send it to me, it was something I remember seeing in out library, and no one ever reads it, so I decided it would make you happy. Oh and by the way, I really cant except your present. Its way to much.'
'Sev, your one of my best friends, don't even think about not excepting it. You need something to keep you mind off of, the issues of the present.' He just smiled. Maria pulled him into a friendly one-armed hug and then turned to her pancakes. After eating she looked up at Remus who was still eating.
'Hey, Remus? I really love my present. The rose is so beautiful.' She said.
'Are you kidding? It's nothing compared to yours. Oh and Sirius was very happy when he saw who his queen is.' She laughed and they all turned to Sirius and Liv who were flirting up a storm.
'Think nothing of it. Hey can you meet me out the front doors a half an hour after breakfast? I have something to tell you, and something to give you.' She said. Her heart beat hard, she was so nervous, what if he hated her for finding out?
'Sure, but really don't bother giving me anything else, I really don't deserve it.'
'Remus, I didn't pay anything for it, so there is nothing for you to worry about, and even if I did, you are totally worth it.' She smiled. Then after saying goodbye to everyone at the table went up to the dorms to change. Upon getting there, she made a mad dash over to her closet and started going through everything she owned. She wanted to look really great. Why, she didn't really know. Deep down she really liked Remus, but on the surface, she didn't want to admit it.
Finally, after about 15 minutes of searching and trying on, she picked long loose black pants, and a deep red tank top, and she pulled her black trench coat over it. After she did her hair in two braids, pulled on warm leather gloves, and grabbed Remus' present, she made her way out of the common room and out the front door where Remus was sitting on the steps.
'Sorry, am I late?' she asked.
'No, I'm just always early.' He laughed. 'So, what did you want to tell me?'
'Umm... okay. This is hard. Remus, we've been friends all year right?'
'Yeah.'
'Okay, and I couldn't help but notice that you disappear every month.' He was about to speak when she hushed him.
'No, no talking, hear me out. Remus, I noticed and I was worried and so I did a bit of snooping and research, and I found out. I know about you.' There was just silence. Remus stood there looking at his feet.
'And I want you to know, if you ever need anything or help, or you just want to talk that I'm here. Lastly, that no matter what, your secret's safe with me.' She smiled at his astonished look. Looking into his eyes, you could tell he was about to cry, but was holding tears back.
'You mean you don't hate me, or never want to see me again?' she nodded.
'Remus, I never would do that.' He pulled her into a hug, which she returned. They stayed like that for a few minutes, enjoying the warmth of each other. When they parted, Maria said, "And, I have your other present.'
'No really you don't have to.'
'Remus, stop arguing with me, you of all people know my stubbornness.' She smiled and handed him a book. 'It doesn't have a name. There was only 10 copy's made, and my family owns them both. It's supposedly a true story. It's about a werewolf that falls in love with a girl, and the hardships they face. Its really quite good, its one of my favorite books.'
He took it from her and was shocked. He had never heard of this book, and then again it didn't have a name, so that was conceivable. 'Thank you, Maria. Really, thank you so much.' Said Remus. She smiled. They walked back into the school, both very cold, yet very happy.
A/N:
Another chapter finished! YAY! So incredibly happy about that.
Thanks forever and always to:
Keran- thanks love! I'm glad I have someone on my side with the looks thing!
SumeR's Girl- omg thank you soo much for the long review it makes me feel loved!
Gymgirl- thanks for the honesty! And don't worry I don't find you mean at all cause you r so sweat about it!
GemJewel- I hope you're happy with the outcome!
An Anti-Sheep Cheese Muffin- I know, Lucius is banging! I love your name, it ROCKS!
Meepie- thanx for the review!
Demonlover- I read the books at least 4 times every moth. All of the books. I know he is really battered. I know more about this story than you do trust me. I just happened to imagine them attractive, because they were the most popular in Hogwarts. Maria has problems and so keep reading. She isn't perfect.
REVIEW!!