Disclaimer: It isn't mine. Obviously.

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Chapter Fourteen: Christmas to Summer

Christmas came quickly. Snow fell almost nightly, keeping the grounds covered in a pure white powder. The lake froze, providing the perfect surface for ice-skating. The trees in the Forest were dusted with snow crystals, shimmering on the days the sky cleared and the sun shone brilliantly, though without warmth. Hogwarts was, in short, a winter wonderland.

One bitterly cold day in mid December found the Marauders- minus Jenna and Remus, who were in the library studying for end of term exams- hiding behind a statue in the gardens, waiting for an unwary victim for their latest plan. Unfortunately, Lily kept elbowing Sirius, who would yelp every time.

"Would you two stop?! You're giving us away!" James snapped irritably as yet another sixth year gave the first years crouching in the snow an odd glance, as there was no evidence of any reason for then to be there.

"Shut up yourself! Here comes Snivelly." Sirius' eyes eagerly followed the scrawny boy as he approached.

"Excellent," Lily breathed. She was still smarting over an incident the day before that had left her with half of her bright red hair missing after a particularly nasty double Transfiguration lesson with the Slytherins. "I think scarlet would be a good color for him."

"No, I have a better idea." Snape was about ten yards from the trio now. James quickly made a snowball and laid a few charms on it so that the snow would dye whatever portion of him that was hit a bright fluorescent pink. They had studied color charms that week and were eager to try them out.

Snape didn't see or hear them, as he had his nose buried in a book, "probably some awful curse book," James said in an undertone to the other two.

"Wingardium Leviosa!" Lily whispered and sent the frozen missile straight into Snape's face. The book flew into the air and landed about five feet from the three hidden behind the statue. Snape swore and spun in a circle, trying to see who had thrown it, but since the snow was effectively covering his eyes, all he could see was a fuchsia blur.

By the time he had wiped his eyes off, James, Sirius and Lily had taken off running for the castle, taking Snape's book with them. Behind them, they could hear Snape yelling and cursing about everything imaginable, from Mudbloods- he had caught a glimpse of Lily's telltale hair- to snow to the color pink.

The three, who were by now quite cold and wet from kneeling in the snow for so long, joined Remus and Jenna in the Great Hall for a late lunch.

"Look at this book!" Lily opened the book. "This isn't stuff that we'd learn for years!"

"I guess Snivellus does have a brain on him." James started filling his plate with whatever food items were closest. "For curses, anyway," he added darkly.

"So, the term's almost over." Jenna quickly brought the others back to reality from imagining Snape's reaction if they were to try some of the curses on him. "Have you guys even studied a little yet?"

"Yeah, of course I have." James looked a little insulted that Jenna would think that he would completely abandon any scholarly application. He in fact had been studying every night for the last week.

"Well, I didn't really mean you." Jenna looked meaningfully at Lily and Sirius, who were deep in a competition to see who could drink their pumpkin juice faster. And more of it. Lily choked at the look from her friend.

Sirius, on the other hand, was blissfully unaware of any untoward happenings. "Hah! I win!" He slammed the goblet back on the table. "What?" He asked at the expression on Jenna's face.

"Have you even opened a book in the last month?"

"No. Why would I?"

"Um, let's see, we have exams next week?" Jenna could be quite sarcastic at times, and this was one of them.

"Pshaw. I've got those handled."

"How, might I ask?" At the sparks flying from Jenna's eyes, the other three glanced at each other, came to an unspoken agreement, scooted down the bench a few feet, leaving Sirius and Jenna alone for yet another round of this argument. It could get nasty, but almost always ended in Sirius looking over his notes for at least fifteen minutes while Jenna stood over him, making sure his attention didn't wander.

"A simple spell that will let me see the truth in all things."

"Unbelievable. You'll learn any spell that will help you cheat, but you refuse to learn any that might actually be beneficial?"

"This is beneficial. Now I don't have to study."

"You do know that they won't let you use it?"

"How will they know?"

Jenna was prevented from answering by a burst of laughter that echoed around the entire hall. Snape had just entered the Great Hall. As if he didn't know the condition his face was in, he sat, unconcernedly at the Slytherin table. The Marauders intently watched every move their victim made.

Snape started eating, but then realized that he has the object of every conversation along the Slytherin table and throughout the entire Hall. He caught another first year Slytherin staring at him. "What?!" He snapped. The other boy pointed at his face. Snape finally caught sight of himself in the reflective surface of his goblet. His face quickly turned red with fury, darkening the bright pink hue of his face to magenta.

He stood up so quickly that he knocked his plate flying and strode angrily to the Gryffindor table.

"Uh-oh," Sirius muttered.

"Quick! Escape!" James led the way through a concealed door on the other side of the Gryffindor table. Lily and Sirius, who were sitting across the table, vaulted over it, nearly knocking down Jenna in the process. They all made it safely through the door, which slammed shut in Snape's face.

"Come on! Through here." Sirius took charge now, leading the Marauders through a door, around a corner, down a flight of stairs, around another corner and skid to a stop before a large picture of a bowl of fruit.

Tickling the pear allowed them to enter the kitchen and safety. The map, and repeated excursions to the kitchens, had given Sirius all the knowledge he needed to get there from any place in the castle.

"Whew! That was close." Lily wiped sweat from her face and collapsed on one of the tables, identical to those upstairs.

"What did you do to him?!?" Jenna was a little irritated, first at Sirius being so obstinate, and then at being pulled away from her lunch and through the castle. She was used to the pranks her three more wild friends played, and even joined in on occasion, but today was not one of those days. A thimble had refused to transfigure into a needle earlier, and she was in a very black mood.

"James did it." Sirius was quick to point a finger at someone else.

"Whatever. It was your idea." Lily accused.

"Ugh!" Jenna exploded. "I have had enough of you three today! Would you just tell me what you did?!"

James quickly explained, and the three got Remus and even Jenna laughing at his re-enactment of the ridiculous reaction Snape had to the snowball in his face. A little dessert from the kind house elves didn't hurt, either.

"When do you figure it'll be safe to come out?" Lily asked.

"Don't know." James pulled the map out of his pocket, and tapped it with his wand. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."

"Moron." Sirius muttered waspishly. Snape was standing outside the door to the kitchen, but didn't know how to open the door. "I guess we're stuck in here until he gets bored and goes away."

They were actually stuck in the kitchen for several hours. "Snape could really hold a grudge," as Lily put it.

"Guys, I don't want to go home for Christmas." Sirius had gotten uncharacteristically solemn during the last round of mint hot chocolate.

"Good heavens, why?" Jenna couldn't imagine not wanting to see family at Christmas. She was looking forward so much to going home, older sister notwithstanding.

"My family isn't exactly full of the holiday spirit if you know what I mean." Sirius glared into his half full mug. "Bunch of slimy gits, they are." He slammed it down on the table, sending droplets of cocoa flying onto the table. "You know, they wanted to disown me. After the Sorting. I still don't know why they didn't. I'm afraid to find out."

"Mate, just come to my place. You know my mum won't mind." James offered.

"Maybe… But my mother would probably send a Howler. 'How could you desert your family?! Not only do you defame your pure blood by associating with those blood traitors and mudbloods, but then you refuse to show any small amount of loyalty you have left!'" Sirius mimicked his mother's voice, a look of pure disgust on his face.

"Stay at Hogwarts, then." Lily reached across Sirius to the plate of treats the house elves had put out.

"Alone, with Snape? I don't think so."

"Anyway, while we're on the subject and Sirius is being rather depressing, what are you doing for holidays, Remus?" James changed the topic, or at least the subject of questioning.

"Well, I have this sneaking suspicion that my vacation will be as bad as Sirius'. Full moon is Boxing Day."

"Are you going home or staying here?" Jenna asked.

"Staying. My parents haven't made 'arrangements' for my 'situation.' So I'm staying here. Same as last month."

"That's tough. I think your vacation wins the prize, Remus. I've just got a rotten sister." Lily grimaced.

"What about you, Jenna? Any reason you don't want to go home?" James took a sip from his cocoa, kept magically warm by the mug.

"Just my sister, same as Lily."

"I don't really care either way. My parents are cool with whatever I want."

"Hey! I know! Let's all stay here!" Sirius perked up for the first time since he began the conversation. "Then I don't have to see my rotten family, Lily and Jenna don't have to deal with their sisters and Remus will have company for Christmas! It's perfect!"

"Um… Actually I want to go home." Jenna said quietly.

"Ew. Why? Your sister's as bad as mine, from what you've said."

"But Lena isn't. And I would like to see my parents."

"You're such a good girl." James said, causing Jenna to turn scarlet.

"I prefer the term brown noser." Lily grinned impishly at her best friend. Jenna threw the remains of a gingerbread man at her.

Which caused Sirius to toss a piece of pudding pie at James. Who retaliated with a handful of marshmallows at Lily. Which led to an all out food fight. Even Jenna was laughing and looking like she was having the time of her life.

Five minutes later, Sirius froze mid throw. "Everybody freeze!! I just got the best idea!!"

A quick huddle ensued, whisperings and giggles escaping from the circle of five friends. James took charge after Sirius explained his brainstorm. "Okay, great! One, two, THREE!"

On three, all five grabbed the nearest platter and hurled themselves toward the door. "Hy-yah!" Sirius screamed, throwing the door open. Four of the five serving dishes were launched at a very shocked Snape. Unsurprisingly, Jenna's lemon meringue pie was the one that didn't immediately find itself covering some portion of Snape's robes. What she did next shocked and amazed all present. Fire sparking from her blue eyes, she shoved the pie right into his face.

"That is for my best friend. Don't you ever, ever, call her that name again." Jenna turned on her heel and ran off after the others.

High fives and exclamations of "Yeah, Grace!" and "You go, girl!" and even a "We'll make a rule breaker of you yet!"- the last from Sirius- ensued when she caught up with the group.

"He insulted one of my friends. Nobody does that. Ever."

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And so Jenna became the one that people knew to stay away from when she had a scowl on her face. For the most part, she was calm and considerate, but she knew how to retaliate and hold a grudge. Lily, by contrast, could be upset by the smallest thing, but everyone knew that, when she was angry, chances were that five minutes later, she'd be laughing and talking as if nothing had happened. Jenna's moods could last for as long as a week.

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End of term exams were passed by everyone. Even Sirius managed, though he was denied the use of his cheating spell.

Christmas vacation didn't go according to Sirius' plan. He was the only one who stayed at Hogwarts with Remus, though the rest returned early for the full moon. They, of course, didn't tell their parents the real reason they went back to school early. Plans to become illegal Animagi and a friend who was a werewolf wouldn't have sat well with the various parents.

An applicable book, "Human Transfiguration: of Self and Others" was found on that second full moon. Ever month thereafter was spent in the boys' dormitory, from which Peter Pettigrew was ejected- by force or dungbombs if necessary- practicing the techniques needed for a full Animagus form. The introduction to "Human Transfiguration" stated that it usually took a full wizard a year, and up to two, for this feat. The amount of concentration required was the hardest part, so these monthly sessions were spent in mental exercises to gain mastery over the mind.

The extra practice put the four firmly in the lead of the Transfiguration class. Remus couldn't understand how all of them were suddenly so good in a subject that formerly only James had excelled in. They wouldn't tell him, of course. Though Remus would probably have been able to help them, this was their way to atone for the part they had played in his lycanthropy.

The rest of the year passed- pranks, occasional study time, forced by Jenna and James, and the full moon spent in practice by the four, and, for Remus, in the Shrieking Shack, as the place Remus went each month was quickly dubbed by the villagers of Hogsmeade and thus by the older students who were allowed to visit the village. An apt description, according to Remus, as his transformation could be rather painful.

The end of the term came. Exams were passed and plans made to gather at the Potter mansion often gave the Marauders hope for what otherwise would have been a miserable summer break.

Despite these plans, goodbyes were still hard, as they always were. The five Marauders parted at Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, with a final round of high fives and a few sneaking tears on the part of Jenna, though these were quickly wiped away.

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Yeah, I skipped quite a bit. But honestly, I was getting tired of first year. It only took me about four tries to get this chapter finished- the stupid computer kept deleting the couple paragraphs. So, anyway, here it is, finally, and please review!!