Chapter Four – Snow
The next day was a Saturday so, after breakfast, the four Marauders followed the example of their peers in heading outside. It had snowed the previous night. Thick, fluffy snow had settled on Hogwarts and its grounds, turning them into a winter wonderland.
Remus, Sirius, James and Peter ventured out clad in warm coats and red and gold Gryffindor scarves. . Students thronged the snow covered spaces, playing at snowball fights, ice-skating or simply strolling the ground enjoying the beauty. And Remus did agree it was beautiful. The snow had softened the edges of Hogwarts, covering its tall towers in a thick layer of fuzzy whiteness. Hagrid's hut, too, had been coated, making it look like a gingerbread cottage. And the Forest looked like something from a story book. The overall effect was breath-taking.
As they walked James spotted a snowball fight.
"Look! Over there!" He laughed pointing to the group of people nearby, "Let's join in."
Sirius nodded eagerly, a mischievous glint in his eye. The two raven-haired boys looked to Peter and Remus.
"Wormtail? Moons?" Sirius nudged them good naturedly. Remus looked at his fellow students, engrossed in their game. He was torn between his duties as a Prefect, to set an example, and the itching in his fingers as he longer to join them. The latter won out and Remus smiled in agreement. Upon seeing that, if he didn't, he would be left alone Peter too conceded.
All four ran to the group of students playing not far away. Immediately they were accepted into the battle taking place. There were students of all ages, from all four houses, partaking in the frivolities. Remus smiled to himself at how a lot of frozen water could unite them all, if only for an hour or so.
He was soon engrossed in play, for two main reasons. Firstly, Remus was thoroughly enjoying himself, and secondly, James and Sirius took no prisoners. Then he saw someone. The very person he had subconsciously wanted to see all morning. Nymphadora Tonks. He did not recognize her for her hair today. For, in keeping with its wintry surroundings, it was a dazzling shade of brightest, purest white. Remus recognized the bright yellow Doc Martin boots that she was never seen without and the way in which she stumbled and slid on the ice. Like Bambi, he thought, fondly remembering the Muggle movies from his childhood.
Remus was jerked from his daydream as a snowball hit in square on the side of his head. He turned to see Sirius laughing, clutching at his side.
"Shit Sirius!" Remus shouted to him over the clamour, "That hurt!" He then picked up a snowball of his own, chucking it at his laughing friend, who was hit straight in the chest. The combined force of Sirius' laughter and the blow to his chest sent him toppling into a large snow bank.
Around forty five minutes later the school began returning inside to dry off and warm up before lunch. Predictably the Marauders were of the last to retire. When finally they tore themselves from the freezing whiteness there were only three other groups of people still outside. One being Tonks and her friends. Remus looked over to see her shake the snow from her brilliant white hair as she entered the castle after her fellow Hufflepuffs. The simple act made Remus' heart skip a beat. He could not help but think of how beautiful she was. The perfection of her large eyes that she preferred to keep a deep indigo. The way her dazzling white hair, far from blending in with the surrounding snow, put it to shame, making the perfect white snow seem dull and grey tinged. Remus cursed himself for falling for someone so much younger, but he looked forward to seeing her the next day, more than anything.
Tonks kicked the snow from her boots and shook it from her hair. Then promptly slipped on the slick stone floor of the Entrance Hall.
"Shit!" She exclaimed, picking herself up and wiping herself down, "Why the hell do I have to be so damn clumsy?"
Tonks stuck out her tongue as Emily laughed, the proceeded to offer a rude gesture to some Ravenclaw boys who were laughing and wolf whistling.
"Come on," smiled Emily, "let's get dry before lunch. Oh, I hope they have Shepherd's Pie." She added, as an after thought, licking her rosebud lips. Tonks made a gagging face, she hated Shepherd's Pie. What she did hope for at lunch was a glimpse of Remus.
She had seen him when she was trying, and failing, to skate on the lake. Tonks was sure, as she fell for the thousandth time, that he had been looking at her. But, by the time she had managed to regain some sort of standing position, he was playing with his friends again. Tonks cursed herself for falling for someone so much older, but she looked forward to seeing him the next day, more than anything.