Author's Note: God! So sorry for not updating sooner! You guys all deserve this chapter!

Disclaimer: I own nothing…

Chapter 9: Preparing for the Holidays

The next few weeks seemed to fly by extremely fast for the boys. After about a week or two, they had finally gotten over Peter's hex on Bellatrix, which Peter was relieved because he was almost getting sick of everyone pointing and whispering about him in the hallways.

The boys (well except for Remus) had managed to get themselves into more trouble and earned a weeks worth of detentions in under twenty minutes by a simple charm. During Potions one day, Sirius insisted that the lesson was too dull and needed more color, and turned James' potion from the dark purple it was supposed to be, to a bright, horrid green. James followed his suit and turned Peter's baby blue and when Professor Woad commented on it he explained to her that those were Peter's true feelings, expressed through colors. Professor Woad gave both Sirius and James detention, much to Peter's disliking of Woad and giving his friends detention, turned Professor Woad's robes from a darkening blue to a vibrant pink. Peter managed to fire her up and she doubled the amount she had assigned Sirius and James and gave Peter, the same amount.

"Honestly," Sirius moaned, "That hag just doesn't know good intentions. I mean . . . I was only trying to brighten up her teaching? I wasn't . . ." Sirius checked his detention slip, "What was it? Oh yea . . . 'Disruptive in Class'! I was helping her out! The slag!"

November was drawing to a close fast. James had caught the Magic Flu and Sirius exclaimed loudly as James sneezed near him, "Go to the Hospital Wing you little germ spreader!" To Sirius' displeasure he had gotten the Flu from James a few days later and was in a moody state.

The days passed more and Sirius had gotten over both the cold and forgiven James for giving it to him. ("That little germ spreader!") A few days later Remus had disappeared again, "My grandmother has come into town, I haven't seen her in ages," he added, "But apparently she's fallen ill and my mother needs my help."

"Is your family cursed?" Peter asked shocked that Remus was leaving.

"No, why?"

"I dunno . . . well maybe because your family seems to be having a series of unfortunate events with this illness and all," Peter had brought up a fair point.

James and Sirius, however, were far too busy with homework to take Remus' disappearance into any great overreaction as they had done last month. With all their detentions (and mishaps with Filch) those two were up to their ears in homework. Peter was close to a nervous break down by now and exams were ages away even, but the detentions were high with Peter too and he had already used the 'Remus Pass', which he was regretting now.

Then finally one Friday, all four boys had gotten a rest from homework, detentions and colds. ("Tricky germs they are!" Sirius proclaimed as James had blown his nose one day.)

"Nice not to be doing anything isn't?" Peter said as they all laid lazily in front of the Gryffindor fireplace on Friday afternoon on a particular cold day.

Sirius nodded in agreement, "Tell me about it. Feels nice to do nothing . . ."

Remus nodded in agreement, "I know it strenuous work Sirius for one to be doing nothing," he chuckled. He had come back a week ago from his departure and had no marks or scratches. Sirius and James had finally disclosed that Remus had been lying to them. Perhaps all those bad things did happen to him last month.

But as those three talked of nothing, James rolled over and looked at the red head he had a serious case of puppy love on, Lily Evans.

She was learning to play Exploding Snap with her friends and was quite excited about it. I could have taught her that, James thought to himself, I bet that would have impressed her . . .

James smiled at her until he felt a poke in his right leg. It was Sirius. Who else?

"I dream of Lily right?" Sirius sniggered at James.

"Oh shut up," James said feeling his cheeks go a bit red.

"Just go talk to her if you like her so much," Peter said pulling out a pack of Exploding Snap himself, "The worse that would happen is she tells you to go away."

"Peter's right," Remus said agreeing, "Are you playing Exploding Snap Peter?" Remus asked.

"Yea why?"

"Well," Remus said, "Invite the girls to come over and play with us."

"Why?" Sirius and Peter moaned and Peter dealt out the cards.

"So James can talk with Lily," Remus pointed out.

James looked thunder struck, "NO! I'm fine . . . I'll talk to her when I'm ready."

"What waiting for the right moment to swoon Los Lovely Lily?" Sirius laughed. Peter grinned with him as he handed James his cards.

James felt a bit of red highlight his cheeks. As a matter of fact he had been thinking that, but he couldn't give Sirius and Peter that satisfaction.

"No," James answered sheepishly, "As a matter a fact I was—"

"Hi James," Lily said walking over where James and the boys were sprawled out near the fireplace, "Care if we join you in a game of Exploding Snap? I just learned how to play and decided to see the Champions as I'm told. I hear Peter's quite the player."

Peter nodded.

Marie Cook popped over too followed by some other girls, "Yea. The more the merrier ya know? And we can challenge the Great Peter."

James saw Peter's ears go a bit red. James was starting to feel tat Peter didn't like too much attention.

Remus smiled and opened up the spot between him and Sirius for Marie to sit down. It was commonly known through out the school (well everyone except Sirius) that Marie Cook had a serious crush on Sirius Black.

James felt as if he had just swallowed his heart. He was about to answer Lily when Sirius opened his mouth, "Sure why not. . . go on and challenge Peter . . . the master . . ." he said moving over leaving an open space between him and James. James' mind was working fast. Perhaps Lily would like to sit next to him..?

And she did! She sat next to him! She wasn't mad! James felt a huge grin make its way on to his face as he looked at Lily sit down.

"You're . . . you're not mad at me?" James asked shyly as the other girls filled in around them, "After well . . . all the stupid mistakes I made?"

Lily shook her head happily, "Why would I be? We all make mistakes. And even if you erm . . . do like me or well um. . ." her cheeks turned red and she giggled. Did she like James too? James hoped so, "I know you were just trying to impress me. It's alright," she laughed a nervous giggle, "Really . . . it's actually a bit flattering that someone likes me."

James smiled back at her. He was going to enjoy this game of Exploding Snap. He just knew it. And the fact that made it more reassuring . . . was Lily was right next to him.

"Guess she doesn't hate you after all Jimbo," Sirius said down at dinner.

James grinned, "I guess not."

Peter looked excited and leaned over, "So what did she say? I saw her giggling at you."

Remus looked up from his mashed potatoes, "Is she crazy over you too?"

James who was still smiling cleared his throat, "She said she wasn't mad about me trying to impress her. She said that we all make mistakes."

"Wait . . . she thinks it's a mistake in you liking her?" Peter asked as Sirius tried to steal a carrot off his Peter's plate. Peter stabbed his fork into Sirius' hand.

"OOOUUUCCCHHH—!"

"Naw . . ." James said answering Peter's question as Sirius cried out in pain, "She was talking about all the mistakes I made in trying to impress her."

Peter nodded. Sirius gave him a murdering look. Peter smirked, "Don't steal from me. Steal from James."

James snorted, "No way! I'm hungry."

"How hungry can you possibly be Mr. Muscular, Lean and Thin?" Sirius smirked.

James furrowed his brow, "Just because I'm not built the same as you doesn't mean—"

Remus rolled his eyes and pushed his half eaten plate towards Sirius, "I'm full."

"I don't want yours."

"What?" Remus smirked, "Afraid I'll give you a cold?" And with that Remus pretended to cough on Sirius' food.

The rest of the week went by smoothly. James and Sirius had spilt water in the hallways and caused mass havoc in the hallways seeing they made the water jinxed so if you stepped in it, it would be as deep as a lake. They each were given detention by a wet Mr. Filch who had almost drowned and cried out, "I can't swim!"

As the two were sent to McGonagall's office Sirius told her, "Well, I was trying to give him swimming lessons. He just wasn't as fast as the other students. No need to punish me for his lack of trying to learning."

McGonagall gave him a scolding look, but James thought he saw her smirk when she turned around to write them detentions.

Soon, December blew in with a thick wave of snow. Classes were cancelled on both Thursday and Friday due to the huge amount of snow that was building up around the castle. Peter was slightly disappointed due to the fact that they had Herbology on Friday.

So instead of their regular bitter lessons with Professor Woad, they spent their days off outside in snowball fights. Peter had beamed Sirius right in the nose and in his fit of laughter, Sirius sought revenge and hit Peter square in the face. Remus taught James how to make the snowballs float magically and hit their target with the flip of your wrist. He turned slightly red when James commented on it, "That's wicked awesome Remus!" Remus politely said back, "Well I can't take all the credit. Professor Flitwick actually taught it to me when I asked him about the homework I missed two weeks ago."

All the same, the boys had a great time. They arrived back in the common room, pink faced with rosy cheeks. Lily was slightly mad at James for making a Snow Angel with their initials in it, seeing as they weren't a couple and everything, but only hit James with a snowball instead of yelling like she did to the Slytherin second year who had a crush on her.

"I'm telling you," James told the boys, "It will be forever in the grounds of Hogwarts that were meant to be."

"Sure it will," Peter laughed, "Because it's only going to last as long as the snow."

James looked shocked at this information.

The Holidays were approaching fast, and the main chatter in the castle now a days was not how Sirius had incased Snape in a snowman and left him to freeze before someone undid the hex, but what people were doing for Christmas.

"I'm going home," Remus said, "I have . . . things to take care of . . ."

Peter nodded and then thought, "I think I'm going home. I dunno my Mum needs to owl me first. James? Sirius? What about you guys?"

"I think I'm going home," James said. He had recently owled his Mum and she requested he come home, but if he needed to stay at school, then feel free to do so, "I dunno Mum says if I want to come home I can but if not I don't have to. Though my Grandfather is coming over. I haven't seen him in a while."

Peter turned his attention back to his dark haired friend, "How about you Sirius? You never answered the question."

Sirius looked up darkly from his Charms book, "Mum wants me home. But I don't want to go home. I'll stay here and talk to my shoes or something."

"Why?" Peter asked, "A chance to get away from Woad giving you detentions. She's still not happy about the bloomer incident you know."

Sirius grinned. James and him had recently flipped Professor Woad upside down for everyone to see her wonderful Christmas bloomers. She wasn't happy. Sirius' smile then faded, "I don't like home."

"Why?" Remus asked, "Home to me is—"

"Home for me is like Hell. My parents don't like the fact that I don't believe in this up coming Dark Lord, Voldemort and his ideas. That Muggles and Half-bloods should be gone," Sirius said darkly, "My Mum is mad that I don't think like the rest of the family. So she tends to favor, my suck-up-of-a-brother, Regulus even though he's only doing it to save himself from her wrath. I'd rather not talk about my family right now," Sirius said bitterly. "And plus… she never sent me a letter about my becoming a Gryffindor. I think if I go home I get that little show. I'd… I'd rather just not go home ever again."

Peter looked like he was curious for more, but in request for his friend, stopped. Remus gave Sirius a look of pity and frowned. James too felt a bit bad for his best friend. Then an idea popped in his head.

"So, you're not going home?" James asked again.

"Suppose to but don't wanna… so nope," Sirius said, "Why?"

"Well you won't just have to talk to your shoes," James said grinning, "Cause I'll be right here with you."

Sirius looked at James strangely, "Really? You'd stay here for me?" he smiled, then added, "And my shoes?"

James smirked, "Yup. You and your shoes."

Sirius grinned broadly, "But what about your holiday? I don't want to ruin it. You said you hadn't seen your Granddad in a while. I don't want to ruin that,"

"You won't," James told Sirius, "I'll just explain to my Mum that you and your shoes need company over Christmas. She'll understand," James said with a broad smile.

The day before everyone departed for holidays there was an early Holiday Feast and was to be one on Christmas for those students staying the Holidays. James had owled his mother telling her about Sirius' predicament. Though Mrs. Potter seemed slightly disappointed that her 'Jamesie Wamseie' wasn't coming home for the Holidays she was very proud for James sticking by his friend. James was great full that this had not turned into a light quarrel.

"I'll send you guys your gifts via owl," Peter smiled happily as him and Remus headed back home.

Remus nodded, "Same. Just make sure not to leave the one gift I give you Sirius too close to the fire. It might melt."

"What?" Sirius said slyly, "Did ya get me a snowman?"

Remus simply smiled as him and Peter marched off happily to the carriages that would take them to the Hogwarts Express that would deliver then home for the Holidays.

Sirius turned to James, offering a game of Wizard's Chess on Peter's new board but James was too busy waving to Lily, to his delight was not going home for the Holidays. Sirius rolled his eyes, "This is gonna be a long holiday . . ."

On December 22nd, James and Sirius rested in front of the Gryffindor Common Room wrapping Peter and Remus' gifts. Sirius had asked an older student he knew through blood relation ("I think he's my second cousin… or maybe third…" Sirius said thinking, "Oh who cares… he's related to me somehow…") to go to Hogsmeade and do his Christmas shopping since he knew his mother would never do it for him. James had owled his Mum what he wanted to get his friends and she had just delivered them yesterday by owl.

"So what did you get 'em?" Sirius asked pulling out shinny green wrapping paper.

James showed Sirius, "I got Remus a couple books."

"Books?"

"Good books. He's starting to like Quidditch now you know, so I got him, Quidditch Through Out The Ages, a book called Defense for Someone Like You! cause he really like Defense Against the Dark Arts," James explained to Sirius, "A Eagle Quill since his old Peacock one got stolen."

"Wow…" Sirius mumbled, "Eagle Quills are expensive now a days."

"I know," James said wrapping Remus' gifts, "But I also know Remus will get good use out of it."

"True."

"And of course I loaded it with all sorts candy too," James said sticking a green bow on his shinny red wrapping paper and using his quill, wrote in his neat writing: To Remus From James, "There. All done."

Sirius smiled, "What about Peter?"

James pulled Peter's gifts out now, "I got Peter the Limited Edition Exploding Snap Collection complete with a book called, Exploding Snap: Legends in the Game, pack thing since it's some fiftieth anniversary or something. There cards are outlined in gold and everything," James told Sirius, "And candy like I did Remus'."

He had finished wrapping Peter's gift and smiled at it proudly after writing: To Peter From James on it. He turned to Sirius, "What you get them?"

Sirius cleared his throat, "Well for Remus here, I got him a new Wizard's Chess Game Pack since me and you kinda… well—"

"Destroyed it?"

"Yea. And I got him a book called: Champion Chess Champion," Sirius said grinning, "I think he'll like it."

James nodded, "And Peter?"

"I bought him a Quidditch book. It's actually Quidditch Through Out The Ages since he's gotten real into Quidditch lately too. And I bought him a Silver Arrow robe with that Beater's signature he really likes. What's his name? Kurt… Keith…"

"You mean Kevin Crockery?"

"Yea that guy! Peter told me he was his favorite player," Sirius explained, "So I know Peter will be thrilled."

James grinned, "What'd ya get me?"

"Not telling you, ya great big git," Sirius laughed as James put wrapping paper on him sealing tightly around his friend with magic and a smile.

Author's Note: A pointless chapter. More later in the week.