A soft couch, a warm, bright fire. The Gryffindors were gathered around, enjoying its comfort. Tomorrow was the last day before the holidays, when most of them would be going home for Christmas. Snow drifted lazily past the window in the thick and mystic silence. They were high in a tower, glowing golden, while outside the world was silver in the moonlight. The moon would be full in another night, and the world glowed with it.

Companionable quiet had fallen over the room. By the fire a few of the fourth-years were sitting together. Grace and Lily on one couch, Eunice, Gwen and Remus on another. Peter had taken an armchair, and James and Sirius were nearby—Eunice glancing over at Sirius every few minutes, as usual. James was staring at Lily's profile, but she noticed him about as much as Sirius noticed Eunice. Everyone was full with the delicious dinner they had had that evening.

Very, very quietly, Lily began to hum "Silent Night". Eunice glanced over at her with a smile, then started to sing the words.

"Silent night… holy night…"

Grace fitted in a harmony in her sweet brogue, and the others joined as well, until almost the entire group by the fire was singing along. Still singing, Gwen leaned sleepily against Remus. His chest vibrated with his voice. She smiled, and knew that he was smiling as well.

When the song was over, James chuckled. "That was great. I must be going soft."

Sirius laughed too, and proclaimed his intentions to go to bed. The rest of them began to get up, stretch, and chat a little more. Peter pulled Remus into a discussion about some of their homework.

As people drifted up the stairs, Gwen sat on the window seat, looking at the white landscape.

"Remus, come see this," she said softly when she saw that Peter had finished asking his questions. Remus came to stand behind her at the window, and she pulled the curtain around them so that the fire wouldn't reflect on the panes.

The night, dark and clear, was full of light cast up by the reflecting snow. Remus couldn't repress a shudder at the sight of the nearly full moon. In a few more nights, the change would be upon him.

He saw Gwen glance up at him in concern. She was still adjusting to the fact of what he was, and probably hadn't thought about the fact that the sight of the moon would bother him. She had only wanted him to be able to share in the pleasure she took in the beauty of the landscape. He should try to appreciate it, for her sake. But Remus didn't want to be looking at the moon. Fear clawed at his throat like a wild animal. A wild animal…

Suddenly, insensibly, he felt the fear begin to lift. It diminished to the merest whisper in his brain. And for the first time, he actually looked at the moonlit landscape in all its crystalline beauty, its crisp shadows and white grounds. A strange joy filled his heart at the sight. He glanced down to see a satisfied smile on Gwen's face. Without turning from the window, her hand found its way into his own.

"Happy Christmas," she said quietly, and glanced up at him again. Remus smiled tenderly into her face…

The curtains were suddenly jerked backward.

"Ooh, what are we doing behind the curtains?" Sirius asked playfully, grinning mischievously into their red faces.

Remus was embarrassed, but grateful that Sirius had waited to tease them until most of the people had left the room, and had done so in a relatively quiet voice. Gwen came to his rescue, laughing at Sirius's jibe.

"Why do you want to know? Are you jealous?"

Sirius spluttered in surprise at this uncharacteristic come-back, and Remus hid a smile.

That's my Jenny.

TBC