Disclaimer: I don't own the Marauders, but I sure wouldn't mind if I did. ;P They belong to J.K. Rowling. I do, however, own Leah Matthews and the other OCs. Don't steal, please!
Girl of His Dreams
Chapter Thirteen: T'was the Night before Christmas
"I have no idea what to get her," Sirius said, frustrated. He stared around the Love Shoppe's shelves, eye nearly twitching from the stress of holiday shopping. Remus, standing beside him with his arm full of bags, frowned at the bright pinks and reds.
"She's not into all this lovey-dovey stuff," he said. "Look for something she'll find useful."
"You already got her a new broom," Sirius pointed out. "How you could afford that Nimbus, I'll never know."
"I borrowed some money from James," he admitted. He shifted his bags. "Leah will love anything you get her; you don't have to be picky."
"I want it to be perfect," he whined. He looked around and saw a bouquet of ever-lasting roses, lying daintily beside an enchanted snow globe. He sighed again, and Remus pointed out the window.
"Maybe we should look somewhere else?"
"Alright, alright." Sirius followed Remus' lead out of the shop and into the snowy streets of Hogsmeade.
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"I want it to be perfect!" Leah looked around at the immature but hilarious joke products that lined the shelves of Zonko's Joke Shop. "These are stupid; he could do them on his own anyway…"
"He'll like anything you give him," Lily said, exasperated. "We've been looking at the same thing for three hours, Leah!"
"I know, I know!" She shifted her bag further up onto her shoulder and growled. "Alright, I'll get him…" She thought for a moment. What could Sirius want?
"How about… a book on Gryffindor? Sirius loves Gryffindor."
"But he doesn't like books," Leah argued. "I want something… useful and fun."
"Well it's getting late. Maybe we'll come back tomorrow."
"Alright…" Lily led Leah out of Zonko's and into the gentle snowfall. When they arrived back at the castle with the rest of the students, Lily stuffed her scarf into her bag, muttering bitterly under her breath as they climbed the stairs to the common room.
"Holly cane." The portrait of the Fat Lady, dressed in elegant garlands and bows, swung open to allow them inside. Leah sighed in relief as the warmth of the common room washed over her.
"You girls look cold."
"Yes, good thing we have some nice warm cocoa waiting for you, ladies." James snuck up behind Lily and snatched her scarf, maneuvering it quickly about her eyes in a makeshift blindfold. It was the last thing Leah saw before her own eyes were covered. Somebody's arms, strong and warm, wrapped around her as lips pressed to her temple.
"Hey, babe. Miss me?" The voice was soft and teasing in her ear.
"Mm, hey Sirius." Leah smiled. "I think I like where this blindfold idea is going…"
Sirius growled playfully. "Not quite, darling, but I can certainly arrange for it."
"Alright," James said. "Remus and Peter are waiting in the dorms, so we should get up there, don't you think?"
"Potter, what is the meaning of this?"
"Aw, I'm only Potter now?"
"Oh, alright, James, what in Merlin's name is going on?" Leah stumbled slightly as they felt their way up the stairs to the boys' dorms, but Sirius' hands were tight on hers and kept her stable. Soon the lighting changed and Sirius slipped her blindfold off.
"Oh!" Lily's exclamation was exactly was Leah was thinking; the room, usually golden and maroon due to the boys' deep loyalty to Gryffindor, was green and red, and strung up beautifully with golden and silver garland. Strips of holly dangled from the bedposts, along with the occasional mistletoe plant or poinsettia, giving the room a very, very festive look.
"Hey guys." Peter waved from his bed, and Remus stepped forward to hug both Lily and Leah, who were still relatively speechless.
"Do you like it?"
"Oh, I love it," Lily breathed, hand on her chest. Remus chuckled.
"James did a lot of the decorations," he told them. "Sirius was more intent on hiding mistletoe."
Leah laughed and embraced Sirius. His lips found hers, and she pulled away teasingly. "Hm, should we see if I can find them all?"
"We're still here," Lily said. She turned to James in wonder. "You did this for us?"
"I did it for you," he clarified. "I'm sure Sirius wants the mistletoe all to himse-mff!" James was cut off mid-word as Lily threw her arms around his neck and crushed her lips to his. James stumbled back and hit the floor, but it didn't stop him from wrapping his arms around her and deepening the kiss as much as humanly – or wizardly – possible. Leah let out a low whistle, and Sirius wiped an imaginary tear from his eye.
"My boy's all grown up," he said, voice full of mock emotion. "Blimey, I told myself I wouldn't cry…"
Remus laughed, grabbing bottles of butterbeer from a box on his bed. He handed one to Leah and Sirius, and then to Peter, who was sitting casually on his bed.
"When do you think they'll be finished snogging?" Peter asked jokingly. Sirius laughed.
"If I know James, which I do, I'd say not for another hour at least."
"But if I know Lily," Leah argued, "which I do, I'd say they'll be done in about two seconds."
At that moment, Lily leaned back slightly to part for air, smiling shyly as she looked down at James. Sirius rolled his eyes.
"Bloody women and their mind-reading."
"Oh," Lily said, embarrassed. She stood up hastily, stifling a giggle as a dazed James climbed to his feet after, suddenly unable to keep his hands off of her. He wrapped his arms about her waist, grinning into her hair.
"Merry Christmas, Lily."
"Merry Christmas, James." They kissed once more, short and sweet, and Leah cleared her throat.
"As heart-warming as that display of affection is, it's also kind of nauseating," she teased. "Let's party!"
"I love you," Sirius said, sighing dramatically. "You're smart, beautiful, and you love to party."
"I love you, too, babe." Leah gave him a peck on the cheek and wandered over to Remus' bed, looking into the box. "What is all this, Rem?"
"All sorts of things," he answered. "Cocoa, butterbeer, marshmallows and chocolate…"
"Really? Nice." Leah began rummaging through it while James transfigured a fireplace into the wall. Lily immediately started a fire, laughing as James and Sirius started a random wrestling match over the best seat in front of the fire. Lily reached to pick up a box of decorations, and James moved away from the fireplace for a moment to help her. Sirius plopped down in front of the fire victoriously, causing James to whine.
"Aw, Padfoot took my spot!"
"Move your feet, lose your seat, Prongsie."
Leah stood over him, smiling as she bent over to kiss Sirius' forehead. "Come on, Sirius. Don't forget the Christmas spirit!"
"Yeah, I'll get drunk later." He grinned cheekily.
Remus shook his head, chuckling. "I'm pretty sure that's not what she was talking about, Padfoot." Peter laughed and joined Remus by the fire, his butterbeer already half empty as he chugged it eagerly. James and Lily curled beside each other beside Sirius, and Leah stood between Remus and Sirius.
"Come here," Sirius murmured, pulling Leah down into his lap. Leah snuggled back into his chest, folding her legs beneath her as his arms circled around her lovingly. His lips brushed her temple. "Merry Christmas, love."
"Merry Christmas, Sirius."
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A/N: Here it is! And Chapter 14 will be up soon. Anyway, thanks for the patience! School's just started, so that's my excuse… PLEASE REVIEW!!