A/N: Hello readers! Sorry for not updating for an entire week. I haven't been in the mood to write this story, but I promise I will finish it. I just needed a little break to come up with some new ideas. I promise I will always finish my stories because it bothers me like crazy when other writers abandon their stories midway. Anyways, enjoy this little chapter!

Chapter 11: Back from the Holidays

Early January, 1972

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

It was a busy day at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, as students returned from Christmas holiday, and were excitedly sharing how each of their holiday's had been.

"I got a new broom for Christmas! Of course, I only got to use it for a few days before I returned to Hogwarts. It's a real shame they will not let first-years bring brooms," Gwenog eagerly chirped.

"I also got quite a few nice things for Christmas!" Alice said. "But my favorite present was that our krup gave birth to some kruppies!"

"Awww," Marlene and Gwenog responded.

"What are krups or kruppies?" Mary asked.

"Oh, they are so cute!" Marlene explained. "They look just like those Jack Russell Terrier dogs that muggles have, except they have two tails!"

Lily had never heard of such a thing. "Do you have any pictures?"

"Well, not yet. But mum says she will owl me some pictures soon! For some reason, the kruppies are quite frightened of her. I suppose it's that vulture hat she wears."

Marlene gagged. "Your mum wears a vulture hat?"

"Well, yes."

"Why?"

"I dunno," Alice said promptly. "Anyways, how was your holiday, Lily?"

"Oh, it was alright, I suppose," Lily sighed.

"You don't seem too happy."

"Oh, I'm just tired," Lily said. She thought about it for a moment. Should she tell her friends how her Christmas really went? No, she didn't want to make it all about herself. In addition, Petunia hadn't been too horrible ‒ Lily had a feeling Petunia had only just started. "In fact, I think I'm going to head off to bed. It was quite a different and tiring holiday."

"Aw, alright, Lils. Hope you feel all refreshed by tomorrow morning," Alice said.

Lily slumped off to Gryffindor tower, where she curled up into her bed and shut her bed hangings. She stared up at the ceiling for a while, as she was actually nowhere near tired. She just wanted a moment to think.

The door creaked open, and footsteps padded into the room, and Marlene's pale face peaked out through Lily's bed hangings. "Hey, Lils! Are you alright?"

"Wha—Marlene! I told you I'm tired!"

"You don't seem too tired," Marlene crawled through the bed hangings and sat at the end of Lily's bed. "Seriously, Lils! Are you alright? Before the holiday you wouldn't shut up about Christmas and now you're all quiet once we're talking about it. Did something happen over holiday? You can tell me!"

Lily glared at Marlene, and after a moment's hesitation, she said "Fine. But you mustn't tell anyone else. It's...it's rather embarrassing."

"Of course!" Marlene leaned forward with interest.

"Well," Lily hesitated, unsure where to start. She sighed deeply and played with her fingers. "You already know I'm from a muggle family right?"

"Yes."

"Well, I have a younger sister...Petunia."

"Yes, you told me a little bit about her."

"Yes, well, we used to be very close. But when I recieved my Hogwarts letter and started showing signs of magic, she kinda freaked out. And all of a sudden," Lily paused. She decided to skip over that Petunia had written to Dumbledore herself. "I became an annoying freak to her. And I wrote to her earlier this year, and she never responded. So over the holiday, I was hoping to talk to her, but she was so mad at me. I just...I don't understand why, really. When she invited her friends over, she told me to sit in my room and to not come out. Of course, when my mum found out, she was furious. Yelled at Petunia, so then Petunia yelled at me when my mum left the house to get something. She resents me oh, so much. I don't know why," Lily was fighting back tears now. "I really don't."

"Oh, Lily...Petunia's just a prat. She's just jealous of you. Forget about her."

"Forget? She's my sister!"

"Well, she isn't treating you like one! And anyways, I meant forget what she said to you. Things will get better, Lily."

Lily sighed. "Thanks, Marly...and please, don't tell anyone. It would look rather embarassing that my own sister hates me," Lily coughed back a sore laugh.

"Of course, and don't be embarrassed. Your sister should be."

"I think she is," Lily grumbled, wiping away a tear.

"C'mon," Marlene said, heaving Lily out of the bed. "Let's go outside, now that you're not actually tired!"

Lily glared at Marlene, and then heaved herself off the bed with a heavy sigh. "Fine."

As the two girls walked downstairs, they passed a group of boys who were eagerly chattering about their holiday. Actually, more like just one boy.

"We had a huge Christmas dinner! It was amazing! And then for New Years' Eve, mum and dad invited other families over for a huge party! There were all kinds of treats and desserts. It was so spectacular!"

"What did your dad end up getting you for that special Christmas present?"

"Oh...that," James said, immediately looking less enthusiastic. "It wasn't anything too special. Anyways, our house elf baked this delicious cake—"

"What did you get?"

"Oh, come on, Peter! Why do you care so much? I told you it's nothing too special."

"Well then why can't you tell us?"

"Fine! It's just this moldy cloak."

"Oh. That's it?"

"Exactly. I really thought dad was going to get me a Nimbus broom, but instead he gave me this moldy cloak. Here, let me go get it."

James stood up and ran upstairs to the boys dormitory, and within a few seconds returned with a silvery cloak in his hands. "Here it is. See, nothing special. It's rather ugly, too, if I'm being honest."

Remus lifted up a corner of the cloak. "Are you sure this is it? I'm sure there must be something magical to it. What did your dad say?"

"That I'll figure it out," James grunted, leaning against the sofa and crossing his arms.

"Have you even tried to wear it?"

"No. Something old like that...I was afraid I'd catch something from putting it on. Anyways, even if it did have some magical power, I'm sure it would've worn off by now. Old, that thing is."

"Can I try it on?"

"Go ahead." James looked extremely uninterested as he popped a Bertie's Every Flavor bean into his mouth and studied a chocolate frog card.

Remus swept it around himself and looked at the boys. "I don't feel anything. I don't feel smarter, more powerful, nothing. Maybe you're right, it probably doesn't have any powers."

"I told you." James spat the bean out of his mouth. "Ack! Booger flavor!"

"Hey!" Remus bounced back as the bean rolled over to his.

And as the two boys' eyes looked downwards and followed the bean, it was then that they realized Remus had no legs. Or feet. Or any entire body.

They both looked up and met each other's eyes, both filled with shock.

A/N: Aaand it's a cliffhanger! Kinda a lame one since you guys probably know what happens next haha but it's still my first cliffhanger in the series! Anyways, stay tuned to read the next chapter! Also, friendly reminder to not be shy about reviews!