Chapter 30

December dawned quickly upon the castle. Snow covered the grounds in a thick blanket of icy wonder. Many students could be found outside the castle wrapped in many layers of cloaks and scarves. However, at the moment the Marauders were located inside the common room.

James and Peter were involved in a game of wizarding chess, which James was obviously winning. Lily and Brittney were in the corner of the common room, trying to resolve what gifts they were going to buy for their friends. 'The Lovers', which was what the previous mentioned called them, were snuggling, which was a clear winter tradition. Remus and Alyssa were sitting on the couch, their arms wrapped around each other and whispering to each other. Sirius and Alaina were cuddled up on an armchair, arguing casually about who 'wore the pants in their relationship.'

"I stood in front of the whole school and said that I liked you! Obviously that warrants that I am the one who wears the pants!" Sirius said with a charming smile, Alaina just rolled her eyes.

"Most people already knew you liked me Sirius, so that was not much of a stretch," Alaina whispered with a mischievous grin. Both Alaina and Sirius knew this was not truthful, but neither commented on it.

"I asked you out!" Sirius said with indignation. Alaina laughed and kissed his cheek gently.

"I kissed you first." Alaina said simply, lacing her hand within his. James, who had been listening to their conversation, laughed.

"Lainy, I think kissing Sirius was an understatement. I think we all can agree that it looked as though you wanted to eat his face." James said, and all of their friends laughed at his comment. Without even a blush to her cheeks, Alaina smiled softly.

"Well, he has such a cute face!" Alaina said playfully, grabbing his cheek as though she was his grandmother. He swatted her hand away coltishly and rolled his eyes.

"As much as I love the fact that you and Sirius finally stopped being stubborn and started dating, I would rather appreciate if you did not talk about how cute he is in public, Alaina," Brittney said from her corner, with a smirk.

"But I am cute, Brittney!" Sirius said, with a look of mock horror on his face. "Even you have to admit that I am cute!" Brittney rolled her eyes at Sirius.

"Over my dead body," Brittney said mockingly. She returned back to hers and Lily's conversation that they had been having.

"So what are we going to do tomorrow, Padfoot?" James asked Sirius, but Sirius never got a chance to answer him because James won yet another game against Peter. James started to reset the chess pieces and looked towards Remus and Alyssa. "Will you play against me, Remus?" James said, over-confidently. Remus rolled his eyes and pulled Alyssa closer to him.

"No, I am quite busy at the moment." Remus said with a smirk, and Alyssa laughed. She draped an arm delicately over his waist. "And besides, James, I would wipe the board with your scrawny little playing skills. I need

a challenge." Remus said this completely jokingly, as he was actually terrible at chess. James rolled his eyes and widened his arm, challenging anyone who would dare to play against the 'All Powerful James Potter.'

However, everyone was greatly surprised when Lily strode up and took Peter's vacant seat. "Well, Mr. Potter. I believe that you needed someone to play against?" James smirked and leaned back as Lily took the first move. After several minutes of their playing James repeated his question towards Sirius.

"You never answered me, Sirius. What are we going to do tomorrow?" James asked as his eyes were focused most intently upon the game in front of him, but every once in awhile he would glance up at Lily and a small smile would cover his face.

"Well before you so rudely interrupted me, I was about to ask my girlfriend what she wanted to do!" Sirius said, with a grin. Everyone stopped what they were doing and even Alaina clutched at Sirius as she erupted into giggles. "What? What's so funny?"

"Lets just say that I think we finally decided that it is Alaina who wears the pants," Alyssa said with a smirk, and Sirius finally realized what had happened. He slapped himself on the forehead with his free hand.

"Argh! Of course, the men always make the dates, not the women!" Sirius said, with his hand over his eyes. The four girls in the vicinity rolled their eyes as the Marauders nodded their heads.

Everyone went back to their previous doings. Brittney and Peter were chatting politely on the couch and Remus and Alyssa were left alone to talk softly to one another. Lily and James were looked in a battle of wits, which surprisingly was a tie. This left Sirius and Alaina to talk to one another, undisturbed.

"So, just for my reputation, can we say that I wear the pants? Even though you do, love? I just don't think I would look good in this." Sirius said, fingering the edge of her school skirt. Alaina gave him a mock pleading lip, and pouted her bottom lip.

"Oh Sirius, I want to see you in a skirt though!" Alaina pouted. Sirius smiled and lifted her chin to give her a soft peck on the lips.

"I smell a dare coming on. How about this, I will wear your skirt if we win the House Cup. If not, you have to promise to live with me when we graduate from Hogwarts." Sirius said with a smirk. Alaina nearly choked on her own saliva. Of all the things Sirius could have said, he had said that!

"I, Sirius, I-," Alaina did not have any idea about what she was going to say, but Brittney suddenly walked up to the couple and cut her off.

"Hey, Lainy. I need to talk to you about tomorrow. Its rather important." Alaina stood up from Sirius' tight embrace. She followed Brittney towards the girls' staircase, but at the last second turned around.

"You have a bet, Mr. Black," Alaina said with a smirk. She spun back around and followed Brittney up the stairs. Sirius let a smile cross his face.

For the first time in history, he hoped Gryffindor did not win the House Cup.