Okay, so I'm sure by now you all hate me! And I'm sorry x1000 about the really long wait! I went back to school after Christmas break and the workload was insane. I barely got sleep! And the two weeks leading up to finals were hell! But never fear the next chapter is here! Okay, that was corny. But I am now on vacation and able to write freely for the next two and a half weeks!
So, I would like to thank you all for reviewing! I appreciate every single one! It really brightens my day when I see review alerts in my e-mail box. This chapter is lengthy and has a little bit of everything! A few scenes you might recognize, as the ideas are from a few Dawson's Creek episodes, but they've got my own flare and ideas added in! After last chapter, I thought you all could use some laughs so that's exactly what you got. But there's also fluff, some foreshadowing, and some uncertainties as well.
Warning: There is also one scene of some R-rated content. So, if you are underage or don't like reading about such please skip over it!
So, read, enjoy, and review! Remember you'll make my day!
I give full credit to the writers and producers of Dawson's Creek for the couple of ideas that I borrowed and changed.
Challenge
Chapter 15: Candy Canes and Mistletoe
The first snow of the season had melted. The grounds were left so muddy that many students lost their shoes in the mud on their way to the greenhouses. The sudden melting had put Mr. Filch in a very grumpy mood; for students tracked mud all over the floors any time they came inside. But despite the melting and Mr. Filch's mood, Christmas cheer and decorations slowly began to take over the castle.
Professor Flitwick was seen decorating the usual twelve, very large, fir trees in the Great Hall with everything from tiny everlasting icicles to golden bubbles. Professor McGonagall was seen directing garland to wrap around the banisters of all one hundred and forty-two staircases. Large, festive wreathes bedecked each door, sprigs of holly and mistletoe spruced up the walls and doorways, and a big red bow had been tied about the neck of the gargoyle that sat in front of the hidden door to Dumbledore's office. Additional mistletoe had been bewitched to roam the castle looking for unsuspecting students to hover over. The catch: the mistletoe was stubborn, and wouldn't leave until it was satisfied with a substantial kiss.
On top of the mountains of assignments, projects, and tests assigned in the weeks leading up to the Christmas holidays, the fifth task was bearing down on them as well. The fifth and final task before the New Year had been scheduled for the second week of December. Those competing in Challenge began to wonder how they would ever get all of their work done, while those not competing saw the task as something exciting to look forward to. But the real light at the end of the tunnel for all was the impending Christmas holidays. Three glorious weeks of no more homework, no more books, and no more of McGonagall's dirty looks.
"You know, I've got to say that this project has been absolutely fascinating," said Sirius, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he and Rachel made their way across the grounds to the greenhouses.
"I'm sorry that my presence hasn't topped your fun and exciting meter," Rachel shot back, drawing her cloak tighter around her to ward off the wintry wind.
"Not what I meant," said Sirius. "You have been the only ray of sunshine throughout this entire project as we were given the most boring set of snails ever."
Rachel rolled her eyes, "This project wasn't supposed to be fascinating. It's supposed to be educational." She was speaking of the project they'd been assigned in Herbology; to observe the reproductive process of Palemono Snails.
"Okay," said Sirius slowly, "But let me just throw this out there. Observing which environment these snails find most conducive to reproduce in sounds to me to be more of an activity fit for Care of Magical Creatures. Does it not?"
"Yes," said Rachel, "But the Care of Magical Creatures classes have their hands full with the hatching, you know that. And Professor Sprout needs these snails to take care of the bacteria currently eating away at her precious plants. They're not common in the winter so our class was commissioned to help move along the reproductive process."
Sirius looked slightly put out that Rachel's response was adequate before he continued, "Okay, fine. But our snails just don't seem to like sex. Which is a downright shame if you ask me."
Rachel rolled her eyes in a half amused, half annoyed gesture as they reached greenhouse six. "Professor Sprout said that they reproduce more when they're happy and to be happy they have to be in the right environment. So, we'll just have to change their environment again. No big deal."
Sirius sighed as he followed Rachel inside, "You know it's not too late to give my idea a go."
"And what idea was that?" she asked putting her bag down on one of the benches.
"The one I had when we were first assigned this project," he replied sitting down on a stool, "We buy 'em a couple drinks, dim the lights, and come back in a couple days to find that tank roaming with bacteria eating snails."
Rachel laughed as she approached their tank on one of the back tables. Her laughter slowly ebbed away and then died completely when she saw that their tank was completely empty. She took a deep breath before calmly saying his name.
"Yes, sunshine?"
"Where are our snails?" Rachel asked in the same calm voice.
"What do you mean where are our snails?" said Sirius. "They're in the tank. Doing absolutely nothing like they've been doing for the past week and a half."
"Sirius. Our snails are not in this tank," said Rachel turning to look at him.
Sirius looked up, "What?" He got to his feet and walked over to her and frowned as he looked into the tank, "Oh."
Rachel punched him in the arm, "It was your responsibility to check on them last night! And now look! The tank is completely empty!"
"I can see that," said Sirius. Rachel punched him again, "Ow! Stop hitting me! I did come in here last night!" He paused and Rachel raised her eyebrows in anticipation, "The whole point of this was to find out what environment was best for them to reproduce in, right?" Rachel gave him a look. "Well, I sat here and observed them, but nothing was happening. So, I added a little food and a little water. Still nothing. So, I got to thinking. I thought that maybe it wasn't the environment that was the problem. Maybe the real problem was that our snails just didn't like each other."
Rachel rolled her eyes, "Sirius, these snails are single-sexed. They don't need another organism to reproduce."
Sirius frowned, "Okay. I would have remembered that if I'd actually cracked the binding on a book…"
"Yeah, no kidding," Rachel muttered under her breath.
"But I thought that maybe these snails were just like guys…"
"What? Brainless?" said Rachel.
"No," said Sirius reproachfully, "I thought that maybe their ultimate fantasy was to be with two female snails at the same time. You know get the juices flowing."
Rachel crossed her arms over her chest and leaned her hip against the table, "So, let me get this straight: You tried to create some sort of snail ménage-a-trois?"
For a moment Sirius looked ready to delightfully respond in the affirmative but then stopped himself. "Well, it—sounds stupid when you say it out loud."
"It should have sounded stupid in your head," said Rachel.
"Okay, look, I just, I saw this really pretty snail in that tank over there," he pointed to another table, "And I don't know…it seemed like a brilliant idea last night."
Rachel looked over at the tank he was referring to and rubbed her temples gingerly, "Okay, Sirius. You know that pretty snail over there?" Sirius nodded. "That is a Carnivore Snail." Sirius' face fell just slightly. "Any idea what Carnivore Snails eat?"
Sirius closed his eyes, "Other snails," he said dejectedly.
"That's right. Other snails." Rachel groaned and buried her face in her hands.
Sirius curled his hand into a fist and lightly pounded it against the table. "Rach," he said softly touching her shoulder, "I'm sorry. I thought I was doing a good thing—I thought I was helping them—and you." He closed his eyes feeling absolutely horrible. "I know you've been under a lot of stress and I thought that if I could make them reproduce it would be one less thing you'd have to worry about…I just didn't know it would mean the end for them." He said looking at the empty tank. "I really am sorry, Rach," he said looking back at her.
Rachel sighed, "I know. It's okay, really. You're heart was in the right place." Sirius managed a small smile. "We'll just tell Professor Sprout that due to some misguided, but going in the right direction efforts, we lost our snails," she said giving him a smile. "She'll probably make us write an essay or something instead."
"I'll write it, Rach, a really good one. You won't have to do a thing," Sirius promised.
"You don't have to do that…"
"I want to," he said looking into her eyes, "I got us into this and I'll get us out of it."
Rachel smiled, "Okay."
"Okay."
"Just promise me one thing," Rachel said reaching for her bag.
"Anything," said Sirius reaching for his own bag.
"When you write the essay crack the binding on a book—and if you really want to surprise me you'll crack two or maybe even three," Rachel teased.
Sirius laughed, "Done."
"Come on. We're gonna be late," she said grabbing his arm and pulling him toward the door. "I can't believe you tried to get three snails to sleep together."
Sirius made a face, "Brat," he said mussing her hair affectionately.
"Hey! Where have you guys been?" Andy asked when Sirius and Rachel met up with the others in the Entrance Hall.
"Checking on our Herbology project," Sirius replied.
"What's left of it," Rachel added dryly. Sirius shot her a look and Rachel grinned back in return. "Where are the love birds?" she asked noticing they were the only two not present.
"Well, I don't know about Lily, but Jamsie-boy probably forgot to set his alarm again," said Sirius leaning against the stair railing.
"I did not forget to set my alarm, Padfoot," a voice said from behind Sirius on the stairs, "And stop calling me Jamsie-boy."
"Sorry, guys," Lily said sounding slightly winded, "We had to do some Heads' stuff and it took a little longer than expected," she said, casting a look at James out of the corner of her eye.
Sirius arched an eyebrow after seeing this exchange and said, "Really?"
Rachel glanced at him as Lily replied, "Yes."
"Prongs, you've got some lipstick on your lip. Just there," he said pointing to his own.
James' hand shot up to his face and he rubbed at the spot Sirius had indicated. He looked at his hand and then realized what Sirius had done. "You suck."
Sirius grinned, "I know," he said proudly as the others chuckled.
James shot Sirius a dirty look, "Wasn't it you that once said, 'a good snog in the morning keeps you happy, healthy, and horny?'"
The others laughed. Lily squeaked and flushed in embarrassment. Sirius grinned and replied, "Yes, I did." They turned and started down the stairs for the dungeons.
"Wait a minute. You take romantic advice from a guy who just last night tried to get three snails to sleep together?" Rachel asked as Sirius' look turned very sour.
Everyone burst out laughing. "He did what?" Remus wheezed.
"Yep," said Rachel nodding.
James gave his friend a quizzical yet highly amused look. "Don't ask," Sirius said sternly.
James chuckled, "Wasn't gonna, Padfoot. Wasn't gonna."
The hardly used and very large dungeon being used for the fifth task was full of life and excitement when the group walked in. In the middle of the room was a pool, seventy-five feet long, thirty feet wide, and eighteen feet deep. Students were piling into the bleachers that lined two of the walls, while teachers gathered in a third set of bleachers away from the other two walls.
"Hey! Hey, everybody! Take your seats the fifth task is about to begin!" Luke McBride's magically magnified voice echoed off the walls.
"Come on," said James, gently tugging on Lily's hand, "We better find somewhere to sit."
"Today's task…" McGonagall began.
"Will be hot, wet, and deliciously satisfying," Luke said grinning mischievously. He turned his head and noticed McGonagall's livid look and paled. "Sorry, Professor. Carry on."
McGonagall cleared her throat, "This pool has three levels that are separated by clear, plastic separators. Each level is six feet deep and has two candy canes. Each separator has a large hole cut into it. These holes are the only means of getting you to the next level. They will also rotate after each person has left the pool. Where they land is completely random. There is no pattern.
"Now, your task: Each team member will need to successfully bring all six candy canes to the surface without the use of a wand. If you spend more than five minutes in the pool we will pull you out. Not only will that lengthy time hurt your team's final time and score, but your team will drop one ranking lower because of our interference. Each team's final time will be determined by adding the four times together. This time will determine where you fall in the rankings. Are there any questions?"
No questions were posed, "Alright then. We will begin momentarily." McGonagall turned to Luke and began lecturing him on his earlier comment and that if he felt he couldn't handle the position he would be replaced.
-
Meanwhile, conversations broke out amongst the competing groups:
"What are we going to do? He can't swim!" one Hufflepuff girl exclaimed fretfully.
"I can so!" her teammate said defensively, "Just not very well!"
James and Sirius looked at each other and then at the girls, "You can swim can't you?"
"Of course we can swim," Rachel replied for the both of them.
Sirius and James nodded. "Wait, better question: Can you swim well?" Sirius asked. Rachel gave him an exasperated look. "Stupid question, right?" She nodded and was about to open her mouth and speak when Sirius interrupted her, "If the next sentence out of your mouth has something to do with snails I will personally throw you in that pool." Rachel closed her mouth and giggled.
Lily laughed and James shook his head in amusement. He and Lily sat in quiet compatible silence for the next few moments; their joined hands resting on his knee, until James finally spoke. "Are you okay?" he asked in a quiet voice.
Lily turned her head to look at him, "A little embarrassed," she admitted sheepishly.
"I guess it was a little embarrassing, huh? Especially for you—given how much you protested," he teased, placing a small kiss on the corner of her mouth.
The corners of Lily's mouth lifted, "I did not protest."
"You did too," James countered. Lily shook her head and looked away from him. James wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close, "So, if you weren't protesting then what do you call me chasing you around our common room for ten minutes?" He set his chin on her shoulder.
Lily giggled, "It was me trying to make sure we wouldn't be late. If we had missed this…"
"What waiting?" James asked.
Lily playfully shoved his shoulder, "You know what I mean." James chuckled and nuzzled her cheek with his nose. Lily smiled and settled back into his embrace.
"Okay, it's time to get wet and wild people!" Luke McBride announced with a wicked grin.
"MCBRIDE! I WARNED YOU!"
Luke jumped up and hurried to a seat a few rows away from the seething Deputy Headmistress, "Up first we have a fifth year group of Slytherins."
-
The fifth year Slytherin team finished with 13 minutes and 37 seconds as their final time. Several teams followed, but not one of them managed a better time than the Slytherins. Nearly an hour later, a group of seventh year Hufflepuffs, finally knocked the Slytherins out of first place and into second with a final time of 12 minutes and 25 seconds.
Another half hour passed before Luke called, "Group Fourteen, Gryffindor. Up next!" into his megaphone.
"That's us," said Sirius getting to his feet. Lily and James immediately followed suit, but Rachel sat staring off into space. Sirius put a friendly hand to her shoulder bringing her out of her thoughts, "Hey. You coming?"
Rachel blinked and looked up at him, "Yeah," she said standing up, "Yeah, sorry."
"You're not still thinking about the Herbology project are you?" Sirius asked. "I said I would take care of it."
"No, I wasn't thinking about that." She paused and looked away from him, "I was just thinking about how cruel irony is."
Sirius looked at her and gave her a supportive smile. He found it rather ironic himself really. Last week, everyone was looking at copies of her in the nude, and this week she'd be standing before the whole school in a bathing suit. "Come on," he said, letting her walk ahead of him.
-
"Nice of you to join us, slowpokes," James said when Rachel and Sirius finally joined them.
"Back at you healthy, happy, horny boy," Sirius retorted. James laughed. "Okay, we need some kind of game plan."
"Ravenclaw Group Thirteen receives a time that will land them just shy of the top ten. Gryffindor Group Fourteen seems to be having a little powwow down there," Luke's voice echoed in the background.
"We need a good start and a strong finish if we want to make it into the top ten," Sirius continued, "That's how the Hufflepuffs knocked the Slytherins out of first. Gallagher started them off and White finished them."
"You should go last, Lil," said Rachel nudging her friend, "You swim like a fish."
"Really?" James asked.
Lily nodded, "Swimming lessons. Dad's orders."
James chuckled, "Okay then. Do you mind going last?"
Lily shook her head. "I'll go second if that's okay," Rachel spoke up.
Sirius and James nodded. "It's between me and you now, Prongs. You can go first though. It takes the pressure off me," Sirius teased.
"Thanks, Padfoot," said James dryly.
"Then let's get this over with," Rachel said taking a deep breath and shedding her t-shirt. Sirius' mouth fell open and he felt all brain activity momentarily cease. Rachel was either ignoring his stare or just didn't see him as she moved past him to take the goggles Professor Sprout was offering her.
After several seconds of trying to get his attention, Professor Sprout threw another pair of goggles at Sirius. They hit his shoulder snapping him out of his thoughts and he caught them before they fell. He shook his head in an attempt to clear the image of Rachel Rabb in a bikini from his mind, but it was too late. It was burned there forever.
"So, what do you think?" James asked adjusting his pair of goggles over his glasses. "Goofy or handsome?" he asked.
"Well, it's not a look I'd suggest every day for you, James," Rachel quipped.
Lily giggled, "Yeah, I like you better without them," she agreed.
"Kick a man when he's down why don't you," James said looking wounded, "It's not enough I have to wear these ridiculous things—I don't even know what they're called."
"Goggles, James," Lily told him smiling. She leaned up and placed a soft, quick kiss on his lips.
James grinned, "Wish me luck."
"I just did," Lily said smiling. Rachel made a retching noise and pretended to stick her finger down her throat making Sirius laugh loudly.
-
"There's the buzzer and Potter is off! He secures the first two candy canes and finds the first hole without difficulty! Atta boy, James, atta boy!" Luke cheered James on from the stands.
James zipped around and gathered the second set of candy canes before heading off in search of the second hole. Finally finding it, he swam through it to the third and final level of the pool. He grabbed the first stick of peppermint without difficulty, but he missed the second one three times before finally managing to wrap his fist around it. He spun around and sped off through the holes and broke the surface, nearly colliding with the ladder as he did so.
Luke let out a low whistle, "That was fast! James Potter returns to the deck as Rachel Rabb enters the pool—looking quite divine in a navy bikini!" Luke commentated as Rachel dove into the water, "Quite divine indeed!"
"MCBRIDE!" McGonagall snarled. Sirius glared darkly at the boy with the megaphone before looking back at the pool. He had to admit that Luke had a point though. Rachel did look absolutely divine.
Rachel collected the first and second set of candy canes quickly and then searched the separator for the second hole. Several seconds passed and Rachel began to panic. She turned to the left and then to the right and back again. Finally, she spotted it and swam toward it, knocking her abdomen on the edge as she swam through it. The jolt startled her and she wound up inhaling a severe mouthful of water. Resisting the urge to cough, Rachel grabbed the final two candy canes and dashed to the surface.
"Looks like she swallowed a little bit of water entering that third level! Who knows mouth-to-mouth?" Luke asked as Rachel broke the surface coughing and spluttering.
"OH FOR HEAVENS SAKE LUKE!"
"Teammates, Potter and Evans, help her out of the pool. Black has entered the pool and is really moving! Sorry ladies, I won't commentate on how he looks in swim trunks!"
Sirius didn't have any trouble collecting the first two sets of candy canes or finding the first hole, but finding the second hole proved to be rather difficult. He spun around several times looking for the hole, but couldn't spot it. He looked up and spotted the blurry figures of his teammates. Rachel, wrapped in a towel, stared down at him for a moment before tilting her head to the right. He turned his head in the direction she indicated and finally saw the hole. He swam toward it, collected the candy canes, and swam back to the surface.
"Nice time for Sirius Black right there! Lily Evans is now in the pool and—whoa! She's already on the second level! I don't know how I missed that!"
Rachel tossed Sirius a towel. "Thanks," he said catching it and patting his face dry. He looked at her and she knew he wasn't really expressing gratitude for the towel. She winked in response.
In the pool, Lily swam toward the first stick of peppermint on the second level. As her hand reached out for it, the other two candy canes slipped threw her fingers. She scooped up all three and swam to the other end of the pool to collect the fourth candy cane. She dashed to the third level; collected the final set of canes, and dashed to the surface.
Her head broke the surface and a second, loud buzzer sounded. She swam toward the ladder where James and Sirius were waiting to help her out.
"You didn't grow gills or anything and forget to tell us, did you?" Sirius asked reaching for another towel.
Lily laughed, "Not that I know of."
James wrapped the towel around Lily and kissed her lips, "That was brilliant," he said, "Absolutely brilliant."
"That was brutal," Sirius announced stretching as they left McGonagall's classroom. Rachel and Alyssa nodded in agreement both trying to stifle large yawns.
"My hand cramped on the last question so instead of writing the spell for changing eye color I wrote—well, I really couldn't tell what I wrote. I didn't have enough time to decipher it," Remus said shaking his head.
"That's what that question said?" Andy asked. "All the words blurred together at the end for me."
"I think I failed," Lily said mournfully.
"You think you failed? I think I failed. In fact, I know that I failed," Peter said despondently. "My mum's gonna kill me." Remus frowned and patted the smaller boy awkwardly on the back.
James placed his hands on Lily's shoulders and squeezed, "I'm sure you did fine, Lil. You're top witch, remember?"
"Not in Transfiguration!" Lily exclaimed running her fingers through her hair, "I mean I know I answered that question on bone reconstruction charms wrong. And I completely blanked on the one about what happens to the pupil during eye color changes!"
James sighed, "Lily, stop fretting. You're worrying yourself over nothing."
Lily turned to him, "Could you stop telling me to stop fretting? I'll stop fretting when I'm good and ready! And don't tell me I'm worrying myself over nothing because that wasn't nothing! That was a huge test! The last test before Christmas hols! I'm not expecting sympathy here—it just, would be nice if you could just listen to me!"
Sirius leaned into Rachel, "Does she do this after every test?"
"Only the big ones," Rachel replied dully. Sirius looked at her and frowned inwardly.
"Is it really that much to ask? To listen and show a minimal amount of support right now?" Lily asked James. "You know how serious I take my studies!"
"Okay. I'm sorry," James soothed and placed a gentle kiss on her lips, "I'm listening. Rant away."
But instead of continuing her rant Lily leaned in and kissed him a second time. She pulled away a few seconds later and said dazedly, "What was I going on about again?"
"I have no idea," James replied smiling.
-
Upon entering Binns' classroom, Sirius studied Rachel carefully. She wasn't her normal perky yet sarcastic self. She hadn't made one quip all morning, which was highly unusual for her. She was rather pale and her eyes looked tired and bloodshot. She looked slightly disheveled with her hair pulled back in a sloppy ponytail and he was pretty sure she'd missed a button when buttoning her blouse that morning.
He took his usual seat beside James and diagonally behind Rachel and pulled out parchment and quill to at least make it look like he was paying attention. An entire minute passed after everyone had taken their seats before Binns looked at his notes and continued his discussion on the Warlock Massacre of 1820. All the students seemed to nod off as one only seconds after Binns had opened his mouth.
Sirius' attention shifted to the brunette again. Rachel was sitting slumped in her seat staring off into space. He saw her fingers clench around her quill and knew, without having to look at her face, that whatever she was thinking about was not pleasant.
-
A bell rang signaling the end of lessons an hour later and the sounds of students exiting classrooms and roaming the halls echoed around the castle. The sleepy mood matched the sluggish movement in Binns' classroom as the seventh years gathered their belongings and made for the door.
Sirius did not, however, follow after Rachel and begin annoying her as per usual; he instead called out Lily's name. "What's up?" she asked when he caught up with her outside the classroom.
"I wanted to ask you something about…"
"Stubble! I did not just see you hex that girl!" Lily interrupted loudly. Sirius frowned and looked over his shoulder.
James, who had just exited the classroom, looked too and rolled his eyes. "I'll get him."
Lily turned back to Sirius, "Sorry. You were going to ask me something?"
"Yeah. I—er—wanted to know if you knew what was up with, Rachel. She doesn't quite seem…"
"Herself?" Lily offered helpfully, "I know."
"OK, I get it, you're a smart arse!" James said passing them. "But I am the king of smart arse! You cannot beat me at my own game!" Lily and Sirius stared after him with their eyebrows raised.
Sirius looked back at Lily, "Is she still worrying about the project? I handed the essay in on time and Sprout was pleased with it, I think. And the only other thing that I can think of that might be bothering her besides homework, and let's face it that bothers us all, is the pictures."
Lily could see the desperation and concern in Sirius' stormy gray eyes, "I think it's safe to say that she's exhausted the snail ménage-a-trois joke and quip line," Lily teased, "And I think she figuratively burned the memory of those photos in her brain."
"So, then what's bothering her?" Sirius asked.
"Do NOT run away from me!" James yelled hurrying past them again, "You've got to be kidding!"
Lily giggled and Sirius smirked after James' retreating figure. "Sirius, you have to understand," Lily began looking up at the taller boy, "Rachel has a past, parts of which she's not too proud of."
"Everyone has some kind of skeleton in their closet."
Lily nodded, "Yeah, but Rachel makes them haunt her." Sirius drew his eyebrows together quizzically as James came up behind Lily. "Did you catch him?" she asked.
James grinned, "Little bugger ran into McGonagall and that is a hell of a lot scarier than having to deal with me."
"I don't know about that, Prongsie," Sirius said, filing away Lily's words for the moment, "You scare people in the morning. I mean have you met the Morning Breath Monster?" he asked directing his question at Lily.
James shot Sirius a very dirty look as Lily chuckled and looked up at James, "I haven't had the pleasure."
"It is anything but pleasurable. Believe me," Sirius assured her and then grinned. "I'll catch up with you kids later."
Lily and James watched him go for a moment before Lily reached for James' hand, "Come on king smart arse, I'll let you walk me to Ancient Runes." James grinned and pressed his lips to her temple briefly as they started down the hall.
"Jingle Bells," James said his teeth chattering. "Snivellus smells. Lucius laid an egg," he hummed under his breath as the hidden panel slid open to admit him.
The common room was somewhat dark as not all the lights were lit, but the roaring fire in the grate made the sometimes drafty room warm and homelike. At first glance, he thought he was alone and that Lily had already gone up to bed, but a second look proved otherwise.
Lily was perched on one of the two window seats wrapped in a large quilt with her forehead against the window staring out into the night. James shed his cloak and then approached her from behind, sliding his arms around her when he reached her.
"You're freezing," Lily smiled softly as he pressed a series of small kisses to her cheek and jaw. "How was practice?" she asked moving over so he could sit too.
"Stiff. It's so cold we couldn't get warm enough to move like we normally do," James told her. "It's cold enough to snow, but it just won't."
Lily looked out the window sadly, "I know."
"Why so glum?" he asked holding her closer and resting his chin on her shoulder.
Lily shrugged, "It's stupid really."
"I beg to differ and I don't even know what it is yet," James told her.
Lily smiled. "Do you think we'll have snow by Christmas?"
"Well, I can't say for certain—the weather isn't really my area of expertise," Lily giggled softly, "But it normally does," James replied.
"It's just that every year for as long as I can remember there's always been snow on the ground for Christmas Eve and Day. And this year it melted and we were left with mud," she said wrinkling her nose.
James smiled, "Well, we've still got a week and a half to go. I'm sure we'll have a white Christmas by then."
"Promise?" Lily asked tilting her head back so she could see his face. It was silly to make him promise something that he had absolutely no control over, but she'd feel better in any case.
James pressed his lips to hers for a moment, "I promise," he said stroking her cheek with his thumb.
Sirius stepped under the hot spray and allowed the water to soothe the tension in his neck, back, and shoulders. The week had been long and hard, but he'd managed to get all of his work done and handed in on time. A new record for him. But he still had a lot on his mind.
Rachel was on his mind like always, invading his thoughts and dreams. Her broken and sad face when he'd found her in the bathroom, the way her head had fit perfectly in the crook of his neck when he'd carried her, the way her eyes blazed angrily after finding their snail tank empty, and the image of her bikini-clad body floated about his brain.
Lily's words were there too: "Rachel has a past, parts of which she's not too proud of." And then his words: "Everyone has some kind of skeleton in their closet." And then Lily's words again: "But Rachel makes them haunt her."
But why would she be beating herself up over something that had already happened? She couldn't go back and change it. Why did she have to remind herself of it? What was there to gain?
Sirius shook his head. He had all of these questions, but no answers. Choosing to forget about it for the moment he reached for the soap and worked it into a lather.
He zoned himself out completely until a husky, feminine voice calling his name brought him back to reality sharply. The water still beat down hot around him as he raised his eyes and stared straight at the tile in front of him.
"Sirius?" the voice said again.
Sirius' body tensed, all of the blood in his body rushed south, and the soap slipped from his grasp and bounced painfully off his foot. He didn't notice. He turned his head and locked eyes with a pair of familiar sapphire blue ones. "What?" he asked stupidly.
She laughed softly. "Are you getting out soon or am I going to have to join you?"
Sirius swallowed hard past the very large lump that had formed in his throat. "Er—sure?"
She laughed softly again at his response for it didn't really answer her question. She looked at him and he stared back. He felt lightheaded. He wasn't sure if it was because of the steam or the fact that the girl of his dreams was stepping into the shower with him completely naked.
He blinked and swallowed again. He painfully kept his eyes on her face even though he desperately wanted to look elsewhere. "What are you doing?" he hissed, trying to remain in control.
She conveniently avoided answering his question as she picked up the bar of soap. She moved closer to her him and his hands itched to touch her, but he kept them firmly at his sides. She glanced up at him as she reached around him to put the soap back in its holder.
Sirius' resolve crumbled as her breasts grazed his arm. In the next second, his arms were wrapped around her and her back was against the tile wall, his lips on hers. He groaned at the feel of her wet, slippery skin beneath his hands and the sweet taste of her lips. Her hands were on the back of his head, her slender fingers combing through his wet hair. Her body was pressed between his body and the wall and he nearly lost it right then.
He pulled his lips from hers and pressed his lips to her cheek, jaw, and then to her neck. Her breath came in short gasps as she held his head to her neck. He placed hot open-mouthed kisses down her neck to her shoulder as his hands roamed her back and sides freely. She turned her face into his neck and captured his earlobe between her teeth. He moaned his approval as her lips slid down to his neck.
His hands came up and he cupped her face. "Rachel," he half murmured half grunted as she arched into him. He lowered his mouth and kissed her deeply. He slid one hand behind her head to tangle in her hair as the other slipped lower to fondle her breast. She gasped sharply into his mouth. His other hand found hers and he lifted their joined hands and entwined fingers to rest against the wall above her shoulder.
The door to the shower banged open, "He's in here guys! Shagging Rachel!"
Sirius abruptly pulled his mouth away from Rachel's. "James! What the fuck are you doing?"
"You're the one doing the fucking, Sirius," Andy grinned.
"You know that right, Sirius? Or do you need the sex talk again?" Remus asked.
"I highly doubt it, Moony," Peter laughed. "He's handling himself just fine."
"What?" Sirius yelled enraged. "You," he pointed at Peter, "Don't know the first thing about sex. And you," he rounded on Andy, "Why are you not nailing me to a fucking tree?" The other three Marauders and Andy began to laugh hysterically. "No! This was not…" He looked at Rachel and she stared back at him.
-
Sirius awoke with a start. Covered in a thin sheen of sweat and panting heavily he stared up at the deep red hangings of his four-poster bed. He looked over at the clock and saw that it was quarter after four. "It was just a dream," he said out loud. "Only a dream," he repeated to try and convince himself of such. "It was a bloody nightmare!" He picked up a pillow and put it over his face, "Oh, thank God."
James stood overlooking the snow covered Hogwarts grounds. He smiled to himself, Lily would be happy. The wintry wind whipped through him and James shrank deeper into his winter cloak. Movement to his left caught his eye and he stared at a group of people milling around something. He shook his head and muttered, "Sirius, what are you doing now?"
He started toward the group and smiled expecting to see faces that he saw daily, but as he grew closer he noticed something rather odd. Some were faces he recognized, but they were older and more mature and very subdued. There were other people there too, but he didn't recognize them.
A man came toward him and James was about to ask him who he was and what he was doing there when the man did something unexpected. He put his hand on James' shoulder in a friendly, comforting sort of way and smiled a sad, supportive smile. James frowned confusedly at the man. Several people gave him the same sad, supportive smile as they passed him
Utterly blown away and beginning to feel uneasy James moved forward again. He pushed past a group of people and finally saw what they were all obviously there for. Three rows of large, shiny headstones each with a mound of freshly dug earth before it were mere feet away from James.
James swallowed hard as he took a tentative step forward. He looked down at the headstone closest to him. It read: REMUS JOHN LUPIN March 10, 1960—December 13, 1977.
James' mouth fell open in horror. Remus was dead? He'd died today? But when—how? Where had he been?
He turned to look at the second headstone. It read: SIRIUS CHARLES BLACK November 3, 1960—December 13, 1977.
James felt his throat constrict. Sirius was dead too? He died on the same day Remus had? Today? But why—how? He didn't understand. He'd just seen Sirius on his way back from practice. He'd been smiling and they'd joked about something. He couldn't be dead. He just couldn't be.
James got up and walked along the row. Names of people he loved and cared about him glared back from every stone. Izzy, Andy, Rachel, Alyssa, Peter, his mother, his father, Dumbledore, everyone, was gone. Except for him. He was alive.
He got to the final headstone and the tears that had already been falling from his eyes began to fall faster. He hit his knees as a harsh, anguished scream ripped through his throat. Lillian Marie Evans May 7, 1961—December 13, 1977.
-
James awoke on a sharp intake of breath. He sat up and looked around the room wildly, breathing heavily. "Shit," he panted.
Nothing was out of place. James' broom was in the same place he'd left it the previous night, propped against his desk, his glasses were next to his alarm clock on the nightstand, and it was still dark outside. Everything was as it should have been. His breathing began to slow and he ran a hand over his sweaty face. Untangling his legs from his twisted sheets James got out of bed and padded over to the bathroom.
He headed for the sink and twisted one of the knobs. He let the water run cold before splashing his face with it. He did this three times before he raised his head and looked at his reflection in the mirror. "It was only a dream," he said out loud as though hoping his reflection could convince him so. He leaned down and splashed another handful of water on his face.
The door that connected to Lily's room creaked softly on its hinges, but the running water drowned it out. "James?" Lily called tentatively, rubbing her bare arm briskly to warm it. When he didn't respond she moved closer and placed a gentle hand on his back, "James?"
James straightened at her touch and then without a word he faced her and gathered her in his arms. He let out a shaky breath as he hugged her tightly to him burying his still wet face in her neck.
Lily ran her fingers through his hair soothingly as the other held him to her. "You're soaked," she whispered, her hand on his back, "And shaking. Are you sick?" she pulled back from him, but not away from him and pressed a cool hand to his forehead.
He shook his head, "No. I'm not sick," he said hoarsely, "I just had a nightmare that's all." He looked at her for another moment before pulling her back into his arms.
"That must have been some nightmare," she teased gently.
"It was horrible," he mumbled against her neck.
Lily had never seen or heard him sound as scared and vulnerable as he did now. He was always a big, bad, and manly seventeen year old who wasn't scared of anything and who never backed down from a fight. But in that moment he was as scared, vulnerable, and lonely as a five-year-old little boy in a thunderstorm.
"Come on," she said softly taking his hand. She led him through the door that connected to her room and sat him on her bed. "I'm going to go grab you a different shirt, okay? You soaked this one through." He nodded silently and she left.
She returned a few moments later with a fresh shirt. He'd already shed the sweaty one by the time she returned and he pulled the one she'd brought him on over his head. "There," she said moving to stand between his legs. "Better?"
He nodded. She smiled softly and ran her fingers through his hair as she pressed her lips to his forehead. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"Everyone was dead," he said bluntly, "My parents, Remus, Sirius, Rachel, Alyssa, Dumbledore—they were all dead. So were you."
Lily pressed her lips to his forehead again, "I'm right here, James."
James leaned his forehead against hers and sighed, "I know. It just freaked me out a little bit." He wrapped his arms around her waist and hugged her again. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and leaned her cheek against the top of his head.
They stayed that way for several minutes before Lily made to move away. James tightened his hold on her and she laughed softly. "I'm not going far. I just thought we could make ourselves more comfortable." She moved around him and crawled back onto her bed. James turned and looked down at her. She crooked her finger at him making them both laugh.
He removed his glasses and set them on the nightstand before crawling under the covers and settling in beside her. She moved closer to him so that her head lay pillowed on his chest and his arm rested comfortably around her. They lay in compatible silence for a few moments until James spoke, "Lily?"
"Hmm?" she murmured, her eyes closed.
"How did you react when you got your Hogwarts letter?" he asked.
Lily opened her eyes, "I think it was a cross between excitement and shock, but more excited than anything else."
"Why not more shocked?"
Lily shrugged, "I was different. I had red hair, green eyes, and freckles. Everyone else in my class had blonde or brown hair and blue or brown eyes and no freckles. I knew that I looked different, but I also knew that it went deeper than just my looks. My parents saw it too. They knew there was something about me that was different than the other kids—different from my sister.
"The year I got my Hogwarts letter I set some kids hair on fire without a match. I think it was then that I knew that whatever made my life different was about to change it forever."
"You set some kids hair on fire?" James repeated laughing.
Lily nodded and laughed softly, "Yeah. I distinctly remember him calling me carrot top and making fun of my freckles. And I got mad and the next thing I knew the teacher had poured a glass of water on his head."
James laughed loudly. "Wow." His fingers swept through her glossy, red locks. "What moron would make fun of your hair?" He ran his knuckles over her back in slow circles, "Carrot top. It's not even orange!"
Lily chuckled. "I got my letter a few months later. My sister disowned me and that September I caught the Hogwarts Express."
James frowned, "Your sister disowned you?"
Lily shifted beside him, "Yeah," she said nodding, "She called me a freak and backed away from me like I was diseased. We'd done everything together up until that day. She ignored me from then on out most of the time and when she wasn't doing that she was picking on me and insulting me."
"I'm sorry, Lil," James whispered pressing his lips to her forehead. Lily shrugged. "What about your parents? What did they say?"
"They couldn't have been happier or more proud. They tell me so in every letter," Lily replied softly.
James exhaled slowly, "Your sister sounds like a real…" he paused unsure of what word to use that would accurately describe Lily's sister.
"Pill? Hag? Bitch?" Lily offered and then laughed bitterly, "Yeah, she is." James pulled her close and pressed his lips to her temple again. "She's getting married this summer…to Vernon Dursley. I doubt I'll receive an invitation—not like I want to go anyway."
"Her fiancé sounds like a great, fat prune," said James.
Lily snorted, "That fits his description well."
"Does he know about you being a witch?" James asked.
Lily nodded, "Mum convinced Petunia to tell him. Needless to say he shares Petunia's opinion." They fell quiet again. "It must be so different growing up in a wizarding household compared to a muggle one."
"I imagine so," said James.
"I mean you grew up with magic surrounding you. It was part of your every day life. And you listened to the Gold Brothers and the Dragons. I grew up with refrigerators and telephones and the Beatles."
"The who?" James asked.
"The Beatles," Lily repeated. "They're a muggle group. Singing sensation."
"Oh." Lily giggled softly. "We grew up differently. So what?" said James. "All of this pureblood, half-blood, muggle born stuff is ridiculous. Complete and utter nonsense. Blood flows through veins, but it doesn't make a person. Look at Sirius. His parents are obsessed with blood and he spits on their beliefs."
Lily tilted her head to look up at James. He tilted his chin down and pressed his lips to hers and kissed her deeply. Lily smiled when they broke apart sometime later. "James, would you stay here with me? Just to sleep. I kind of like lying next to you."
James smiled, "I thought you'd never ask."
James pushed open the door to his old dormitory the following morning whistling happily. "What's got you in such a good mood, Perky?" Sirius asked crossly.
Remus glared at him, "Don't mind him, Prongs. He's been a grouch all morning."
James looked at Remus for a moment and then back at Sirius, "You look like shit, mate."
Before Sirius could respond Peter spoke up, "Way to point out the obvious, Prongs," he chuckled.
"Shut it," Sirius snapped.
"What happened, mate?" James asked clapping Sirius on the back, "Dreams not turn out right?"
Sirius closed his eyes and swallowed, "You could say that," he said sourly.
"So, is everything set for tonight?" Remus asked James.
James nodded, "Yep. Lily went to check on the sleighs a little while ago and Hagrid is looking after the reindeer. But I wanted to talk to you guys about something."
"Shoot," Andy told him.
"You know how we all get together at my house for a few days over break each year?" The four boys nodded. "Well, I thought maybe you all could come to my house right off the train and stay until we have to come back here," he paused, "And I also thought of inviting Lily, Rachel, Izzy, and Alyssa along. I mean Sirius will already be at my house and you guys can go home to see your families whenever you want. It's not like you'll be imprisoned in my house or anything."
"Seriously?" James nodded. "Sounds fun. I'll have to owl my parents, but I'm sure it'll be fine," said Remus.
Andy nodded in agreement, "I can owl my mum and Alyssa's mum and find out if it's okay. Maybe surprise the girls with it."
James grinned, "Alright. What about you two?"
"I'm in," Peter replied.
James looked at Sirius. "The more the merrier," he said grinning. The idea of being able to spend all of Christmas holidays with his friends and Rachel had obviously put him in a better mood.
James clapped him on the back, "Good. Because I already owled my mum with the idea," he said and the other boys laughed.
"On behalf of the teachers and staff Lily and I would like to wish you all a safe and happy holiday season!" James spoke to the sea of Hogwarts students and teachers standing before him and Lily in the Entrance Hall. "Have fun, be safe, and get some rest people!" he added jokingly.
"And Mr. Filch would like us to remind all of you that the list of forbidden items posted outside his office will remain the same in the coming new year," Lily added.
"That too," said James. "And now we would like to present to you a little something special to kick off Christmas break!" He wrapped his arm around Lily's waist and looked over his shoulder, "Hagrid, if you please."
Hagrid chuckled merrily as he gave the oak front doors a giant push. The doors flew open and students of all ages hurried forward to look.
Hundreds of dazzling silver sleighs bedecked with silver jingle bells and loaded with soft blankets and furs hovered about a hundred feet from the front stone steps. Each sleigh had a single reindeer harnessed to it, also decked out in silver jingle bells.
"Wow!" and "Look at that!" were a few of the responses Lily and James overheard as everyone rushed to get into a sleigh.
"I do believe the sleighs are a hit," Lily said laughing.
James grinned, "I believe you're right." He pulled her close and kissed her deeply, "I'm sorry there's no snow," he said touching her cheek when they pulled apart
Lily smiled, "I've got you. I can wait for the snow."
James smiled and kissed her again as they reached an empty sleigh, "After you," he said taking her gloved hand and helping her into the sleigh. She slid beneath the blankets and held her hand out for him. "Oh, wait. I almost forgot," he said pulling his wand from his jacket pocket. He pointed it at the still open doors and a dozen sprigs of the bewitched mistletoe shot out into the cold.
"James!" Lily exclaimed laughingly as he climbed into the sleigh beside her.
"What?" he asked innocently. "What's Christmas without a little annoying mistletoe?"
-
Rachel stood with Sirius and Peter as an empty sleigh glided forward. Sirius nudged Rachel with his elbow, "How about it?"
Sirius caught the briefest hint of a smile before she ran toward the sleigh and hopped into it. He laughed at her childish, yet adorable antic. "You coming or what?" she called back to him.
He grinned and then turned to Peter, "You don't mind do you?" he asked. He was going to join Rachel whether Peter was okay with it or not, but he wanted to be polite.
"No," said Peter, "You go on ahead."
Sirius grinned, "See you later," he called over his shoulder as he jogged to join Rachel in the sleigh.
"No, I don't mind," said Peter bitterly once he was alone. He shivered in the cold as the last few sleighs pulled away from the front of the castle. He was the last one there. Everyone else had gone ahead and left him behind. He knew that his friends were happy and that should have made him happy, but it didn't. He was alone and that made him jealous and afraid. He was jealous because his friends seemed to be leaving him in the dust for girls. And he was afraid of being alone. For bad things happen when people become lonely.
-
Rachel shuddered and pulled one of the blankets up to her neck and burrowed beneath it. Sirius laughed, "Cold?"
"No," she replied nonchalantly and then grinned.
"It'd be a nice night if it wasn't so damn cold," Sirius said blowing into his gloved fist. "It's pretty clear though. You can see the stars."
Rachel looked up, "Yeah." She brought her arm out from under the blankets and pointed, "Look, the Big Dipper."
Sirius smiled. He lifted his hand and without hesitation placed his larger one over her smaller one, "And right there," he said moving their hands, "Is Canis Major."
Rachel turned her head and looked at him. "Your star." He nodded. She smiled and looked up at the stars again. "And there," she moved their hands again, "Is Gemini. The Twins."
"That's yours and your brother's stars," he said gazing up at them.
Rachel nodded, "My dad is convinced we're Gemini's. Even though we were born in December."
Sirius smiled and was about to speak again when something collided with the top of his head. "Ouch."
"What?"
"Something hit my head," said Sirius batting something away from his face.
Rachel squinted at it, "Uh-oh."
"What?"
"We're being attacked by mistletoe," she said biting her lower lip. They both slowly tilted their heads and looked up at the sprig bouncing madly about their heads.
"Think we could bribe this little bugger into going away? Or maybe use a banishing charm?" Sirius suggested.
Rachel laughed, "I doubt it." Sirius made a noise in the back of his throat. Rachel tried batting it again, but it simply skirted her hand and blew a raspberry at her. Rachel made a face at it and then looked back at Sirius. "Well, I can't think of anyone else that I'd rather kiss under the mistletoe," she said. "But—uh I don't know if we should. I mean we've come a long way this year and we're friends now—I wouldn't want to do something that…"
"Don't you ever get tired of talking?" he asked her.
Looking slightly taken aback by his question she replied, "Uh—no. I—what are you—"
But his hands had cupped her face and he'd lowered his lips to hers. Rachel's eyebrows rose in surprise, but her eyelids closed of their own accord. Her hand came up and pressed against his as hundreds of tiny lights burst behind her eyelids like tiny shooting stars.
Sirius felt as though a fire had started in the pit of his stomach. A mix of nerves, anticipation, anxiety, love, lust, and desire all rolled into one flame. And as her lips began to move, kissing him back, icy, hot waves of passion rippled through him. He didn't know how long they stayed in that position, their lips fused together, but it wasn't until the sleigh bumped to a stop that they pulled apart.
Sirius opened his eyes and found a pair of sapphire blue ones staring back at him. She gasped and without a word stood up and left the sleigh leaving Sirius to sit there alone, cold, and utterly bewildered.
Her hands stuffed into her jacket pockets she hurried up to the school. "Rach!" She stopped and turned and saw Lily waving her over. She walked over to the small group and arrived at the same time Sirius did. She avoided his gaze and looked directly at Lily. "Did Sirius tell you?"
Rachel coughed, "Tell me what?"
"James invited all of us to spend Christmas hols at his house, Rach," Andy told her, "Isn't that awesome?"
Rachel forced a happy smile, "Wow! Yeah, that's great. What did mum say?"
"I already owled her and she said that as long as we come home for Christmas Day dinner she was fine with it," said Andy.
Rachel turned to James, "Looks like you're going to have quite the full house."
James grinned, "I know. But my mum will love it. She loves a full house around the holidays."
"I say we celebrate with hot chocolate!" Izzy said. "Inside," she added with a smile.
The others agreed and with Sirius leading the way and Rachel picking up the rear the group trooped back inside the warm and brightly lit castle. Everyone's minds, except for two, were on the impending Christmas holidays at James'.
There you have it! I've already got a large chunk of chapter 16 done and I hope to finish it this weekend! Hopefully, nothing will pop up and keep me from doing so. Cross your fingers!
I hope you enjoyed that and remember to click that lovely blue button at the bottom of the window! Next update will be very soon I promise!
AlexaRose