A/N: Sorry I didn't update last week, it was my birthday on Monday, so I spent the weekend having fun.

Chapter 8: Christmas

Remus's POV

Too soon for my liking, the Christmas holidays were here. James was going home to see his family, Peter was going to France, and Sirius was, as he put it, 'being dragged home because his family hated him'.

The list for people staying at school over the holidays had come around, and I wanted nothing more than to sign it, but there was a full moon on Christmas Eve. So instead, I had to go home and see my dad.

"We need to stay in touch, write loads ok? We need plans for the next big prank," James grinned, throwing a random sock into his case that I was quite sure belonged to Sirius.

People had only just stopped talking about our last rather musical prank. Though we did occasional still hear people humming the songs under their breath or thanking us for getting them out of class that day.

Even Karen and Tyler, the Head Girl and Boy, had laughed and said they loved it.

"Of course, now where's my shoe?" Sirius agreed, casting a look around the room.

"Defiantly, the last prank was brilliant!" Peter gushed.

"Sure, why not?" I sighed, still feeling a bit depressed.

I continued packing, listening to James and Sirius think of ideas for the next prank. They didn't have much time left to pack since they were going that day, but I was mostly packed. Sweeping back the curtains on my bed, I yelped in surprise when something fell from the top of my bed and landed on my head.

"Sirius! Is this your shoe?" I demanded, picking up the shoe and chucking it at him.

"Yeah it is! Thanks Remus!" Sirius grinned, ducking and then putting it on.

"How did it get up there?" Peter asked.

"I don't think I want to know," James shook his head.

"Agreed," I laughed.

With one last look around the room, heaved my trunk up and walked down to the train with the rest of the Marauders.

"Cheer up mates, it's only for three weeks," James said once we were sat in a compartment.

"You don't have to spend it with my family," Sirius sighed glumly.

"Ditto," I muttered.

"Ok, I get why Sirius is upset, after all, his family aren't the nicest bunch," Sirius snorted at the description. "But what's your problem? You go home to see your mum nearly every month, what's three weeks going to matter?" James continued.

"I just prefer it at Hogwarts," I said.

"Lies, come on Remus, you can tell us, there are no secrets between the Marauders!" Sirius smiled.

I felt a pang of guilt about the fact I was lying to them every month and that I was keeping probably the biggest secret ever from them.

"My dad blames me for the fact my mum's sick," I admitted, it was partly true, my dad did blame me, but it was for my mums death; and he was right.

"What? Why?" James gaped.

"He just does," I said shortly.

They got the hint and instead began questioning Peter about what he would be doing in France.

"Good luck," I murmured to Sirius as the train stopped and we began to get up.

"It's only three weeks right? I'm sure I can handle it. We both can," he added, sending me a smile.

I nodded silently. He was right, three weeks was nothing, I was a Gryffindor, and I could handle a little hate.

As I waited on the station for my dad, I watched people greet their parents.

James was hugged by a red headed woman and a man with the same messy black hair as James, he too wore glasses. Peter was rushed into a hug by a slightly plump woman with the same mousy coloured hair as him. Sirius walked sullenly up to a strict woman that made Professor McGonagall seem like a cuddly puppy, they didn't speak, and from what I could tell, the woman didn't even look at her son, just walking off and letting him follow her silently. Lily Evans was greeted by not only her parents but another girl as well. The girl had blonde hair and a horse looking face, she was wearing an expression of dislike that seemed to be directed at Lily. Even Snape was mat by someone, though the woman didn't look at all pleased to see him.

Soon everyone was gone and I was left alone on the station. Was I meant to walk home? I sighed and sat down next to my trunk; maybe I'd get lucky and be sent back to Hogwarts.

"Let's go," a gruff voice said an hour later.

I looked up to see my dad standing over me, he turned and began to walk towards the car, offering no explanation about why he was so late, but I hadn't expected one.

The atmosphere at home was tense, I spent most of my time in my room, only coming out for food, and even then I had to get it when my dad wasn't in the kitchen. If he was there I had to leave quickly.

The one time I'd sat down at the table with him he'd pointed out he didn't eat with animals and then told me I was grounded for pretending to be human.

Luckily, I was receiving letters from my friends, other wise I might have gone insane.

Dear Remus,

Hope you're having a good holiday so far. Can you believe it's almost Christmas? Don't let your dad get you down too much, and tell your mum I hope she gets better soon.

From James

I wrote back a quick reply saying everything was fine, and thanking him, but I wished he hadn't added the bit about my mum, it just made me feel guiltier. Also I wish he'd skipped the bit about Christmas since I'd probably spend it wrapped in bandages.

Hey Remus,

How's it going? I can tell you right now I wish I was back in Hogwarts, my parents are being impossible about their house honour and are furious about me being in Gryffindor, and my stupid little brother's lapping it all up! If I don't get out of here soon I'll lose what sanity I have left.

Hope you're having a better holiday than me.

From Sirius

Flinching, I wrote a reply, longer then I wrote to James. Poor Sirius, he was probably having a worse time than me!

Bonjour Remus,

France is great! It's really sunny here, I've already been burnt! Have you heard from James and Sirius? Can't wait to see everyone again, just two weeks left now.

From Peter

Trust Peter to get burnt in December. I sent off my replies and then went to the kitchen for some food. This was going to be a long three weeks.

Unfortunately, the full moon really did come around too quickly; it was defiantly the worst Christmas Eve ever. It only got worse though when my dad didn't show up until the afternoon to patch me up, by which time I was already beginning to pass out from blood loss and was pretty sure I'd broken at least two rips.

"I'd have been here sooner, but I figured since you were a Gryffindor you wouldn't mind waiting, be brave an all," he shot a nasty grin at me.

Unlike other Christmas's, I woke up to see four presents at the bottom of my bed. I knew the first three would be from the Marauders, I'd already sent them their gifts, but I was clueless about who the other one would be from.

I'd gotten some Chocolate Frogs from Peter, Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Bean from Sirius, and some Liquorice Wands from James. Carefully, I opened the last present.

As soon as it was unwrapped, I yelped in pain; it was a plain silver bracelet. My breathing sped up as I thought about who could possibly know about my secret. Cradling my burnt fingers, I picked up and read the card.

Monster,

A little reward for getting into Hogwarts.

I didn't know whether to sigh in relief or cry when I recognized my dads writing.

Luckily, the holidays didn't go too slow, the New Year came and went without any celebrations, and not soon enough came the day to return to Hogwarts.

I took one last look around my room, promising myself that even if there was a full moon over the holidays, I was to stay at Hogwarts. It just wasn't worth coming home.

With my trunk packed, the only thing left in my room was the silver bracelet. Carefully, making sure not to touch it with my bare skin, I placed it into my trunk, not really knowing why.

"Hey Remus!" James's voice called down the train.

I looked up and saw James pocking his head out of a train compartment, I headed down to the compartment, noticing it was the same one we'd all met in, and the one we used at the beginning of the Christmas holidays. Everyone was already there.

"This is becoming the Marauders official compartment," I commented, sitting down next to Peter.

"So it is, let's keep it that way," Sirius grinned.

"So, how were your holidays?" Peter asked.

"Mine was good, thanks for the gifts," James said.

"Surprisingly, mine wasn't too bad," Sirius smiled.

"Really? By the sound of your letters I thought you were going to die," James laughed.

"Well, my mum wasn't pleased about me getting into Gryffindor, so for the last two weeks of the holidays I stayed with my cousin Andromeda, she's my only nice cousin, and actually dating a muggle-born Ted Tonks," Sirius grinned at our stunned looks.

It was the most I'd ever heard Sirius talk about his family, and by the looks on Peter and James's face, it was the same for them.

"What were your parents' reactions to your cousin dating a muggle-born?" James asked curiously.

"She's been disowned. She moved in with Ted before September," Sirius said casually.

"How can you say that so normally?" I asked.

"She's not the first, and won't be the last. In a few years I'll most likely be disowned, it's the way of life in my household. If In a few years I'll most likely be disowned, it's the way of life in my household. If you're not a dark witch or wizard, you're blown off the family tree. To me, it would be a great honour to be disowned, at least then I wouldn't have to see them again," Sirius laughed bitterly.

"So…how about you Peter?" I asked after an awkward pause.

"Oh, yeah it was fun, France was really warm," Peter smiled nervously.

"We can tell," James laughed, waving a hand towards Peter's burnt arms and face.

"How was your holiday Remus?" Sirius asked, snapping out of the bitterness talking about his family always put him in.

"It, it was…it wasn't too bad," I struggled to find words to describe the disaster that was my holiday.

James opened his mouth to ask something else but Sirius caught his eye and he stopped. It looked like Sirius understood I didn't want to talk about it, just like he always hated talking about his family.

A/N: Fanfiction won't let me sign in, so I don't know when this chapter will be out, for all those who are interested, the next chapter will be called Enemies. Please review! :)