37
A Sweet Holiday
It seemed as if the months between Halloween and Christmas disappeared because before any of them knew it, the castle was covered in a blanket of white snow and every corner of the castle held a large white fern. The air outside was so cold that they all spent most of their nights during the break curled up in front of the fire.
On Christmas Eve, Lily and Doe snuck down to the Hogwarts kitchens and managed to convince the elves to give them seven mugs of hot chocolate.
They quietly snuck back up to the common room and brought the warm drinks to the Marauders and Marlene.
" I am impressed you two" James said, " It takes effort to have the elves make hot chocolate"
Lily smiled, " Doe and I are quite persuasive" she said and sat down next to James.
Doe grabbed a hot chocolate and handed it to Remus, sitting down in front of him, letting him pull her against his chest.
" Thank you" Remus said pulling her closer to him.
" Just feeding your chocolate addiction" she assured him.
It was one of the moments in life that Doe cherished most. Sitting in the common room, surrounded by the people she cared about most was how she wanted to spend every night.
" It is our last Christmas here" Marlene said looking around the lavishley decorated common room.
" Don't depress me Marlene" Peter said chugging his hot chocolate.
All over the common room it seemed like every Gryffindor was enjoying themselves.
This was exactly the kind of thing Doe was going to miss most next year. She leaned back against Remus and he tucked her hair behind her ear.
Across from them, Lily leaned up and kissed James happily.
" Alright enough of this couple affection" Sirius said eyeing the four of them reproachfully.
" Sorry Padfoot" James said with a quick laugh.
They spent the rest of the evening sitting around the fire until very late.
At some point during the night, Doe had fallen asleep against Remus. He woke her up gently.
" Doe," he said stroking her arm.
" Mm?" she asked groggily, her eyes still closed, as she pushed herself closer to him. He laughed lightly.
" Doe, it's late. Don't you want to go to sleep in your bed?" Remus asked.
" It looks like she wants to go to yours" James said stifling a laugh.
" Shut up, James" Doe grumbled from her sleep.
Several people around them laughed, and it pulled her out of her sleep.
She opened her eyes, and she stretched, pulling herself off of Remus. Lily was standing next to James, looking as tired as Doe felt.
Doe leaned down and kissed Remus quickly before following her up to to their dormitories.
Doe woke up the next morning with the realization that this was the first Christmas of many that she would be experiencing without her dad. The thought made her almost not want to get out of bed.
But Lily and Marlene were not quite as sad, they jumped on the edge of her bed begging her to get up, before walking back to their own beds and opening their presents.
Doe turned to her own and opened the gifts from Marlene and Mary, who had chipped in and bought her the complete set of 'Monte Poste Potions'.
" Thank you guys!" she said happily, they just nodded opening the rest of their gifts.
They both opened their gifts from her and loved the engraved gold bracelets she had given them.
There were two more presents. The first was wrapped in brown paper and had a return address for the Ministry of Magic. she opened it and found a framed picture of her and her father.
The note underneath it read,
Ms. Meadowes,
This sat on your father's desk everyday, and we thought it time it was returned to you. We hope you have a wonderful holiday.
Yours Most Sincerely,
The Magical Law Enforcement Team
She took the picture frame and laid it gingerly next to the stack of books. The last present also came with a note. It was a thick silver cuff with a large purple stone in the middle, she opened the note and almost dropped it from shock.
DOe,
I am gifting you with this family heirloom in the hopes that it inspires you to rekindle your relationship with your family. Your father ostracized himself from us by committing unspeakable acts and disgracing the name of our family by mixing our pureblood line with muggle blood. However, seeing as he is no longer with us, and you have no control over who your parents, we urge you to contact us.
Sincerely,
Elphibus Meadowes
Doe wanted to shred it. Elphibus Meadowes, that was her grandfather. The family that had disowned her father for marrying her mother. She crumpled the note and took both it and the bracelet and dropped them in the bottom of her trunk. She had no interest in either.
Instead, she just dressed for the day. Putting on a warm sweater, because of the frigid weather that made the whole castle freezing.
Lily and Marlene were both dressed too, and desperate to go downstairs. Marlene was planning on spending the day with Otto Bagman, and Lily wanted to see James no doubt.
They all went downstairs.
Surprisingly, for the first time since first year. The Marauders were all downstairs already. Dressed warmly and seated around the fire.
" James, I have your present" Lily said handing it to him, and sitting in his lap.
Doe laughed at how excited they were. Their new relationship was so strange to watch.
" Happy Christmas" Remus said scooting over on the couch so that she could sit right next to him. He wrapped his arm around her.
" Here's your present" she said handing him the wrapped package. He took it and grabbed a brown paper package and handed it to her.
She watched Remus open it and smiled how he laughed when he saw it.
" You're hilarious" he said rolling his eyes.
" Its practical, you've got to admit" she told him.
She had gotten him a watch that looked just like any other but when you clicked the small button on the side, it allowed you to chart the full moon.
" It's actually brilliant, I love it" He said kissing her cheek.
" Open yours" he said.
She pulled the paper off and out fell a small cylindrical object. It was silver and had a clear top.
" A sneakoscope?" she asked excitedly.
He nodded.
" This is amazing, I have always wanted one!" she told him happily. A sneakoscope lit up and went off whenever you were around someone who wasn't trustworthy.
" I figured that you would be an auror soon, and it might come in handy" Remus told her.
" It's perfect" she said squeezing his hand.
" Oh Sirius, Peter, James here" she said handing them their presents.
She had gotten James a pair of new seeker gloves, Peter a foe glass, and Sirius a penknife with attachments that could open any locked door.
James had gotten her a book on Complex Transfiguration spells, and Peter had gotten her a box of pumpkin pasties.
She opened the present from Sirius. Inside was her Puddlemore United T-shirt he had stolen.
" This is mine, Sirius" she told him.
He laughed, " Hence the returning it to you, your actual present is underneath it"
Doe lifted her t-shirt and found a small pocket mirror. Doe lifted it eyeing it curiously.
" It's a link mirror" Sirius said, " you can use it to talk to me, I have the other one"
" What an extraordinary bit of magic" she said lifting it up, " thank you"
" Your welcome" Sirius said.
They spent the rest of the morning around the common room. Around noon they all started to get really hungry.
" I have an idea" James said happily.
" Why does that scare me?" Lily asked.
" No, it's a good one" James assured her.
He looked to Remus and Sirius.
" The one eyed witch?" James asked.
" Definitely" Remus said happily.
" Yes, let's do it" Sirius said happily.
" Do what?" Doe asked.
" Come on" Remus said getting to his feet and pulling me after to him, " you'll like this".
Marlene had gone off somewhere, so the six of them walked into the castle. Lily and Doe following behind Remus and James.
" So where are we going?" Lily asked.
" You'll see" James said quickly.
" Are we breaking school rules?" Lily asked quietly, she was clutching James hands.
James didn't answer, he just smiled. Lily sighed.
The stopped on the seventh floor and crowded around a large statue of a one-eyed witch. They had all seen it before and passed it often when they took Divination.
Doe watched as James lifted the head, and it swung backward like a hatch, revealing an opening.
" It's a passageway!" she said in disbelief.
James nodded, " It leads out of the castle"
" Where to?" Lily asked.
James shook his head, " You'll see".
Sirius climbed through it and they heard a small thump as he hit the floor. Peter followed after him and so did Remus.
" Come on, Doe" he called from below. His voice echoed.
She took a deep breath and climbed through it. It was only a small drop, but the cave was slippery and wet, so she slipped slightly.
" You alright?" he asked. Doe nodded slightly embarrassed.
James came through next and helped Lily get through before closing the witch's head.
They walked down the path following James. It was cold in here, the cracks in the roof let the frigid weather inside, and the water only made it worse. Luckily, it wasn't a long one. Eventually they reached an end and they watched as James moved a square tile from the roof and climbed through.
They all followed him and Doe discovered where they were.
They were in a store room. She looked at one of the boxes. It read 'Honeydukes'.
" Were in Hogsmeade?" she asked Remus. He smiled.
" I'll be back" James said and darted up a small staircase and disappeared out of sight.
The rest of them sat down on the boxes or on the floor, leaning against the wall.
James reappeared a few minutes later clutching a large paper Honeydukes bag full of treats.
" Brilliant!" Lily cheered happily.
They spent the next few hours in the Honeydukes cellar, enjoying the warmth and sampling all of the delicious treats James had bought.
They only decided to go back so that we didn't miss the feast.
They were cold and exhausted as they made their way to the Great Hall but very happy. The Great Hall was decorated as beautiful as it always was. 12 ornate trees lined the walls and strings of ornaments and garland lines the archways. Someone had also bewitched the small snowflakes from the sky, leaving everyone looking like they had severe dandruff.
Doe sat down and enjoyed the delicious assortment of food, everything from Ham and lamb chops to ripe fruit cake. Even at the high table, the teachers were all in the spirit, looking like they were thoroughly enjoying themselves.
When the feast was over, they all left and headed towards the common room.
Lily was walking with James arm around her and Doe was still holding Remus' hand. As they walked, they passed a group of emerald clothed Slytherins.
" Oh look, " James said to Sirius loud enough for the crowd to hear, " Snivelly"
Severus looked up at James with a look of pure loathing and drew his wand, coming towards him. James moved his arm from around Lily and drew his as well.
They stood inches from each other wands drawn.
" I could seriously hurt you, Potter" Severus snapped.
James laughed, " I'd like to see you try"
Doe let go of Remus' hand and stood in between them, both had their wands raised.
" Stop it both of you" she said grabbing both of their hands.
James lowered his instantly, not wanting to hurt Doe.
Severus began to also.
Lucius let out a strange noise, " You're going to let that Gryffindor girl stop you?"
Severus hesitated for a minute looking from Lucius to Doe, keeping his wand raised.
" Severus" Doe said evenly.
He lowered his wand slightly, but still held it there. Remus grabbed her arm pulling her away from him and out of the line of his wand.
Both Sirius and James' faces were filled with rage.
" Lets just go" she said grabbing both Sirius and James' arms and pulling them away, and towards their common room.
" He's bloody evil!" Sirius shouted when they were out of earshot, " what was he going to do, curse you?' Sirius asked Doe in fury.
" You shouldn't hang out with anymore" Remus agreed.
" He didn't curse me" she told them.
" Doesn't make it okay" James said angrily.
" He'll get his" Sirius said as he entered the common room.
Doe sighed, realizing even the Christmas spirit wasn't going to thaw the icy relationship between the Marauders and Severus.