"Christmas eve"
"James, what the hell is she doing here?" Sirius asked when James walked into the room with Jenny. "This is a guy's only thing."
"What about Holly? What's she doing here?" Jenny asked with a false sweetness to her voice.
"Holly? She's one of us." Sirius said rubbing her head affectionately.
"Thanks Siri." Holly said pushing him off.
"Seriously James, you just can't bring girls to this." Peter said rather boldly.
"Might I remind everyone that I am still a girl?" Holly said annoyed.
"We know you are. But you're different. You're not afraid to rough house. So technically it cancels out?" Remus tried explaining.
"Well, anyone could mistake you for a guy with the way your dressed." Jenny offered up, referring to Holly's tattered blue jeans, gray tee shirt and the Quidditch jacket she stole from Sirius earlier in the year.
"Oh, so I'd rather be dressed like you? At least I don't have to worry about my…assets hanging out for the world to see." Holly shot back; Lily wasn't around so there was no need to keep the gloves on. Jenny was dressed in a rather short skirt and a very low sleeveless shirt.
"Well at least I'm not a…"
"I'm not a what? Come on. Say it. It'll just give me one more reason to…."
"Ladies, ladies, ladies. Let's not fight." Sirius said breaking them up moving Holly in between him self and Remus, who was next to James who had Jenny next to him, the Peter who was next to Sirius, at the low round table placed in the middle of the room. "Remus, my good friend if you will please take care of the door."
Remus walked over to the door and preformed a simple charm that locked it and made it appear that the room wasn't there at all. The four boys had discovered the room back in their fourth year, and had been meeting there three times a year, Christmas Eve, Easter (no teachers around), and Sirius' birthday, with Holly to play a few games that the professors would defiantly not approve of. They were overly cautious, at least Remus was, when it came to precautions. "Now, let's get this party started." Sirius pulled out a deck of cards.
"What exactly are we doing?" Jenny asked watching Sirius' hands shuffle the cards.
"Poker." Peter exclaimed. "Who's dealing first?"
"I believe that honor goes to Remus James Lupin." Holly stated looking at Remus. He made eye contact; Holly looked away fearing she'd blush if she kept looking at him.
"Why don't we let our guest go first?" Remus said "always the gentleman." Holly thought.
"Unless you're afraid you can't handle it." Holly said nastily. The boys gave her a funny look. They had never heard her go out of her way to insult anyone. She ignored them. The boys hated Snape, so why couldn't she hate Jenny?
"Oh, I can handle it. I've probably played this game more than you."
"That would explain a few things." Holly said under her breath, so that only Sirius heard her.
"Well then. Here you go, Jenny is it?" Remus said.
"It is." she said coyly. Holly wanted to choke her.
Jenny was about to deal out the cards when a though hit her.
"What are we using for poker chips?" Sirius and James had to suppress a laugh.
"This isn't regular poker." James began. "You see, we….that is…uh."
"Strip poker." Holly informed. "You lose the hand; you remove an article of clothing."
"Just fine with me."
"I bet it is. After all you're practically naked now." Peter's ears went red, and Remus looked at her like she was a book that was written in Greek.
"Ok, well….oh! James how could you let me forget!" Sirius explained.
"For get what? Oh!" James and Sirius quickly undid Remus' charms and left quickly.
"I think we should just start pinning notes to their clothing so they'll remember." Peter joked.
"Good one Pete." Holly laughed. Peter's face lit up. "We should."
"Where did they go?"
"You'll see." Remus said. Soon enough James and Sirius came back, redid the charms and sat back down, their arms filled with bags.
"Butterbeer m'lady?" Sirius said handing Holly one.
"Thanks Siri."
"Remy want one?"
"Why not?" Remus shrugged. He knew that it was better not to argue with Sirius and James about this. If he refused, they'd keep bugging him, until he had one.
"This doesn't taste like butterbeer." Jenny said.
"It's the more grown up version." James informed taking a swig from his.
"Let's get this game going." Peter said impatiently.
"Don't worry Pete, you'll lose your pants soon enough." Sirius informed and Jenny dealt the cards.
"Where did James and Jenny go?" Remus said taking another drink, and pulling back on his sweater.
"Like I care." Holly said gruffly, pulling back on her tee shirt and Sirius' jacket. By now everyone had put back on their clothing.
"They're over in the corner sucking each other's face off." Peter said helpfully, the only one who heard him was Remus.
"What is your deal with her? I like her." Sirius said putting his head in her lap.
"You just like her boobs." she began to play with his hair. It was so soft and smooth.
"True. But if it makes James happy then why not?"
"Oh he's only doing this because Lily dumped him again."
"Possibly. Don't stop, keep going." Sirius said grabbing her hand as she stopped playing with his hair. "Is that my jacket?"
"Yes. I stole it from you."
"It looks nice on you."
"Thanks."
"I've never seen you act so mean."
"You four hate Snape so why can't I hate Jenny?"
"Fair enough. A little to the left. Ohhh, that's it."
"Siri, this is getting a little sexual."
"Don't worry; I'm not going to…"
"Please don't go there."
"Ok." They stayed in silence for a while.
"Siri…."
"Yeah…"
"I think today is my favorite day."
"You say that every time we do this."
"No really. Today is my favorite day ever. Hi James, have fun sucking face?" James came back, only to find that Jenny was off sucking Peter's face.
"She got mad at me because I accidentally called her Lily." Sirius and Holly burst out into laughter.
"Sorry mate, these two are obviously gone for the night." Remus said watching his two friends laughing like idiots.
"We are not!" Sirius said into Holly's lap, she began to laugh harder. Jenny and Peter came over. Peter put his head on the table and before he could say anything he passed out in an even deep sleep. Jenny gave Holly a look of "I'm so much better than you." Then looked over to Sirius. Holly knew that look, she wanted him next.
Sirius sat up, and moved behind Holly. He started rubbing her shoulders. She just leaned into him and moved her finger in circles on his leg absentmindedly. Holly looked over at Jenny and smiled a bit.
"Fine." Jenny mouthed to Holly. Jenny moved over to Remus and sat on his lap. She began to kiss him hard. Somehow Jenny found out about her crush on Remus. She could feel her heart break when Remus started to kiss her back. Holly couldn't look at this. But she couldn't let Jenny win like that. Holly looked around the room. Peter and James were passed out, and that left Sirius who she was leaning against.
"I think this is the time in the night for my traditional breath of fresh air." Holly said to no one in particular and got up and walked over to the back door. There were two doors to this room. The one that lead out of the room and back into the school was locked, and the other one was up a small flight of stairs and lead to a small balcony.
Holly stood outside, pulling Sirius' jacket closer to her, leaned against the railing and looked out onto the Hogwarts' grounds, contemplating jumping off.
"You ok lovely?" Sirius said from behind her.
"Yeah." This was the time of night, early morning when everyone started sobering up. "It looks like James, Peter and Remus got their Christmas presents early we should do an STD charm on them to make sure their clean. I don't know where she's been. Wait. What about you, shouldn't you be waiting for yours?"
"No."
"Sirius Black actually turns down a make out session. I must say this is a first."
"Funny. You know I'm not all that loose." She gave him a look. "Well, not this year. Come on, how many girls you have seen me with this year."
"I don't know, wasn't really paying attention."
"I can honesty say there is one that I was with, but then lost her just as quickly as I had her." She finally looked at him. He moved closer to her and took her hands.
"I'm sorry I'm being such a bitch tonight."
"It's fine. It's actually kind of a turn on." Holly laughed.
"Well, I just found out all your turn on's in one night. With playing with your hair and a bitchy attitude…"
"In general, bitches aren't my thing. But it was just kind of out of character for you. And that, is really, sexy." He moved closer and put his arms around her waist. "What's this in your pocket? Or should I say my pocket."
"Oh, it's um…well. Your Christmas present. I was going to give it to you earlier, but Jenny distracted me." She pulled out a small box from the pocket of her jacket and handed it to him.
She watched his eyes open really wide as he opened the box to see what laid inside.
"Lovely, this is so pretty." He took out a silver lighter with "SB" carved on the side.
"I though you might like it."
"Thank you."
"Christmas is my favorite holiday. I love seeing people happy."
"Well, I love seeing you happy. But I think you'll have to wait for your present. It's back in my room."
"I don't need one. I'm just happy now." She wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head against his chest. "Your heart beat is soothing."
After a few minutes Sirius raised her chin with hand and looked deep into her eyes. "Do you think we're both ok, to go back to our tower? I'm cold out here." Holly laughed and playfully punched him in the arm.