Author's Notes: Flash forward! How far? We skipped November completely. Why? I felt like it. I've been ITCHING to write about Christmas Holiday. So it's my story, so I'm going to skip to what I'm dying to write about!

I'm getting a lot of comments about my tense bouncing about, so I'll try to focus on that a little better.

And a big THANK YOU to HPFreakLover for the sweet message! I said I'd get this new chapter up today, didn't I? Here it is!

Chapter 28: 'Tis the Season
Friday, December 2, 1977

[DM] - Is class over, yet?

[SB] - Is it me, or is Minnie speaking slower?

[MM] - I don't want to be here...

[PP] - At least we aren't doing practical lessons today.

[EV] - Practical lessons at least make the last twenty minutes of class go by faster on a Friday.

[RL] - I can't believe you all are brave enough to whip out The Notebook in Transfiguration.

[SB] - You just did, too, Moony.

[DM] - I think he's ignoring you now, Black.

[SB] - How much longer?

[EV] - Eighteen minutes.

[SB] - Shoot me. Avada Kadavra me right here. Right now. It's a mercy killing.

[JP] - No one is going to kill you, Pads. Relax.

[DM] - Is it the weekend, yet?

[EV] - Fifteen minutes.

[LE] - Can we not use The Notebook just for the sake of whining, please? I'll revoke Notebook privileges.

[DM] - Since when are we referring to this notebook as "The Notebook," anyway?

[LE] - Since Remus did it three minutes ago. It deserves a proper title.

[SB] - You're mental. How much longer, Em?

[EV] - I will no longer answer that question. Sit and listen to McGonagall. Class will be over when it's over.

When I saw that Sirius was done reading, I grabbed The Notebook (as it will henceforth be called) and sat on it. Sirius's face switched from a look of shock, to annoyance, to determination as he lunged for the notebook.

He ended up with a detention when I casually moved my chair away from him about an inch and he fell on his face.

I have to admit, though. He had a point. The last fifteen minutes was the longest fifteen minutes of my life. When the bell rang Sirius was a blur going out the door. You'd have to be blind to see him freeze outside the door.

"What is it, Padfoot?" Remus asked him as the rest of us approached him, leaving at a normal pace from class.

Sirius was staring down at the floor. We followed his eyeline down to see two little fluffy creatures sitting there, staring at him. One was my little ginger Kneazle, Rouquin. I was used to him meeting me after classes so he'd lead me back to my dorm in standard Kneazle fashion. Next to him was a little speckled brown one wearing a big, pale blue bow tied around the back of its neck, nuzzling Rouquin neck.

"How'd it get out?" Sirius mumbled, staring at the little critter.

"Sirius, you do know that Kneazles lead their owners home, right?" Emmeline asked him. "I leave her in the dorm, sure, but sometimes the Fat Lady lets her out so she doesn't scratch up the back of her painting."

"But I locked her in your room," he added. "Little fungus likes to trip me."

James snorted. "Little fungus?"

Emmeline sighed and rolled her eyes. "Her name is Truffle, because she's brown, speckled, and fluffy. Sirius is just being a prat."

"I think we're missing the bigger picture here," Dorcas said, looking at the Kneazles.

"I think they like each other," Marlene giggled.

Sure enough, Truffle was licking Rouquin's cheek. I knelt down so I could look at them better, and I definitely heard Rouquin's distinct purr. I couldn't contain my giggles. "He's purring!"

"Yes, yes, yes, it's adorable," Peter stated, waving his hand in order to move the topic away like smoke. "Can we please just go? Look outside! Conditions are perfect and it's a shame we're letting it go to waste!"

We all looked outside through the windows in the Transfiguration hallway. The grounds were covered in a thick blanket of snow. It wasn't snowing currently, but it snowed the entire day before as well as the whole night.

You would have to be completely barmy to not know that the Marauders have been itching to have an all-out snowball fight since the first dusting of snow covered Hogwarts.

"Wormtail, you know better," Sirius said, putting his hand on Peter's shoulder in mock sincerity to match his tone. "The Annual Marauders Snowball War is the first Saturday of the school year, not the first Friday."

"Please?" Peter whined. Sirius rolled his eyes.

"No, Wormtail," James told him calmly. "Tomorrow after lunch. The light is better and we aren't worn out from classes."

"Don't we go though this every year?" Sirius asked Remus, who nodded in response.

I felt something rub against my leg, and it didn't take a lot to realize it was Rouquin. He looked up at me and meowed, his little bell jingling. "Well, I'm going to go put my stuff in the room," I told the group. "If I don't, he won't leave me alone."

I waved to them and started to followed Rouquin, letting him lead. Emmeline decided to do the same, so here we were. A seventeen-year-old and an eighteen-year-old (Emmeline celebrated a birthday in early November) following two Kneazles towards our dorms. The aforementioned Kneazles had their tails linked together.

"So how are things with Sirius?" I asked her as we climbed the stairs, hopping the trick step after the Kneazles (who also hopped it).

"Good!" she exclaimed. "Whether or not we're 'official' is unknown to me, but he's been faithful this whole time."

"Well, that says something!" I told her, grinning up to my eyes.

We laughed and talked about our boys the whole way to the rooms.

My dinner of hot beef stew was interrupted by a high pitch squeal. I jumped and my spoon flew out of my hand and into the air, only to be caught by James. I stared at him in awe.

"Nice save!" Sirius told him as James passed me my spoon. "But what was that?"

We all turned to Dorcas, who had a big, stupid grin on her face.

"They brought out the eggnog already!" she squealed.

It took every ounce of self control for me to not drop my face into my stew. Or to dump it on Dorcas's head.

"My eardrums exploded over eggnog? Seriously, Meadowes?" Sirius barked at her from across the table, rubbing his ear. Dorcas was too busy drinking the eggnog to notice.

"At least there isn't any alcohol in it," Emmeline said, watching Dorcas. "She'd be dead by Christmas."

Our laughter was interrupted by a lone hoot. Looking up, I saw Magnolia flying towards me. I wasn't the only one to notice.

"Odd, owls don't usually come at dinner," Remus mused, watching her. "She's your owl, right, Lily?"

I nodded as 'Nola landed in front of me carrying a small box and a letter. I assumed it was from my parents since I sent them a letter earlier this week, and my assumptions were correct. I gave 'Nola a little piece of beef and she hopped up on James's shoulder, who was unfazed by her behavior. While she was watching James eat, I decided to read the letter.

Dearest Lily,

Thanks for your letter! I (well, we, your father and I) understand
that you are busy this year since it's your last year and you're Head Girl
(not to mention a BOYFRIEND - we're still so happy about that),
so we know that we won't be getting as many letters this year.

In any case, the main thing about this letter is the package attached.
You see, we were getting out our holiday decor the other evening
after work while Petunia was out with that Vernon fellow (you know
how she gets when we bring out all this stuff, all complaining about
the dust... shut up, it's Christmas!), and we found this.

It's tradition, after all, for the Evans family and since this is the last
Christmas that you'll be at Hogwarts we wanted it to be with you.

It's only on loan, remember that! You have to bring it back when you
come for New Year's. When you move out, you'll have to find your own
(although I have a feeling you can just "magic" yourself one).
Can't wait to see you for New Year's, and to meet the boyfriend!

All my (our) love,
Mum (and Dad)

I knew instantly what was in the small box, and I felt myself tearing up a little reading my mother's curly script. I unwrapped the brown paper around the box and removed the lid to find exactly what I felt to be in there.

A little bronze cricket, about two inches long and an inch wide, sat inside.

"Is that a copper cricket?" Dorcas asked skeptically, finally turning away from her eggnog.

"Bronze, actually," I said, still choked up. "Family tradition. We've been putting it on our hearth every year my whole life, just like my mom did growing up."

I got six blank stares, a smirk, and a hoot in response.

"Why?" Sirius asked. "Seems silly."

"It's for luck. From a Dickens Christmas story," Remus said, still smirking.

I turned to Remus, "Is Charles Dickens really not that popular in the Wizarding World?"

He waved his hand in a common "so-so" fashion. "Some stories are, some not. Cricket on the Hearth isn't. But then again, not many Muggles are that familiar with it. A Christmas Carol has a popularity in both worlds that trumps Cricket, easily."

"Oh! I know that one! Three ghosts and all that!" Sirius said, proudly.

"Right," I said to him with a chuckle. "Anyway, I remember watching a special on television when I was seven with my sister, then when got older my mum gave me the novella for Christmas. The story itself can be a little sad, but it has a happy ending. Regardless, it's said to be good luck to have a cricket on your hearth. Like having a guardian angel."

More blank stares.

"Television?" Dorcas asked.

"You failed Muggle Studies, didn't you?" Emmeline deadpanned.

"Lets just leave it at 'family tradition' and you lot can leave me in my nostalgic bliss, all right?" I said, still clutching my bronze cricket.

"Deal," James said, handing me a slice of pumpkin pie with whipped cream and nutmeg.

"I now know why I love you," I told him, taking a big bite.

"You questioned it before?" he asked through a laugh.

"Crosses my mind," I replied with a wink.

"You know what would make me love you more?" he asked.

"What?" I asked, smirking.

Sirius rolled his eyes. "Can we save the mushy shite for when the rest of us aren't trying to enjoy pumpkin pie and eggnog, please?" he groaned.

James ignored him. "I was referring to 'Nola," he said, pointing at her. "Can you please send off your owl?"

I forgot she was still perched on his shoulder. I laughed and held my arm out, which she promptly jumped on. "Go on, 'Nola. I'll need you later to reply to Mum," I told her, as I jerked my arm up so she'd take off. I turned back to James, "Not my fault she's taken a liking to you." he chuckled and continued eating his pie.

"So what about this snowball fight?" Marlene asked.

"Every year on the first Saturday of December-" Sirius started.

"Do you have to make it sound like a campfire story?"

"Shove off, Moony. Anyway, every year on the first Saturday of December we have a snowball fight. War, even. It's usually me and Prongs over there versus Moony and Wormtail, and needless to say we are always victorious."

"Not every time. Don't remember fourth year?" Peter interjected.

"That doesn't count," Sirius retorted.

"Why not?" Remus asked. "It was a win."

"Some first-year shot a tripping jinx that caused me to trip into the fort we built! We were defenseless!" Sirius said, standing a little.

"Still a win," Remus smirked.

"It was pretty classic seeing you fall on your face into the snow, though, Pads," James told him, chuckling at the memory.

"Regardless," Sirius said, his tone obviously trying to distract anyone from the memory, "we do it every year. The snow this year looks beyond perfect."

"Count me in," Marlene said, grinning.

"And I," Emmeline said, matching her grin.

Us, too!" Dorcas added for her and I. The old Lily would have protested.

This new Lily? The one that couldn't go twenty-four hours without snogging her boyfriend, a boy that she always despised?

She was jumping in her seat with anticipation.

"I'm upping the ante," I said. "Battle of the sexes. Losers treat the winners to hot Butterbeers next Hogsmeade trip."

The other seven looked at me, wide-eyed.

"And that, my dear," James said, wrapping his arms around me. "Is why I love you."

"What is? My amazing ideas?"

"No. You put that look on Padfoot's face," he replied, pointing across the table at Sirius. His face was a mix of shock, admiration, and excitement. "And that look always means something amazing is about to happen."

"You're on!" Sirius exclaimed. "You four versus the Marauders. You'll be helpless against us!"

"Don't get cocky, Black," Dorcas said. "Emmeline is an amazing Chaser at Quidditch, and my arm isn't exactly lacking in the throwing department because of how long I've played Keeper and Chaser at home. Marlene is quick, and Lily has two things going for her."

"I do?" I asked, quizzically, holding my forkful of pie frozen in front of my mouth.

"You do," Dorcas said. "You're small like Emmeline, thus high defenses, and Potter here wouldn't have the heart to hit you with a snowball."

"Don't be so sure of yourself, Meadowes," James said, getting that competitive tone to his voice with the use of her surname. "She comes in willingly. This is competition. I don't hold back."

"Thank you," I said to him.

"Besides. She'd kill me if she knew I was holding back," he added.

"Too true!" I agreed with a big grin.

"You look happy about that," Sirius said.

"I'm getting euphoric off pumpkin and nutmeg," I replied, still smirking as I took another bite of pie.

"You're frightening me, Evans," Sirius said flatly.

"You flatter me, Black," I replied with a wink.

"So when will we have it?" Peter asked, getting so excited he was bouncing in his seat.

"Same time as every year, Wormtail," Remus said. "Saturday at two."

"Enough time after lunch so our food doesn't slow us down," Sirius added.

"And don't eat enough to go into a food coma," James reminded him.

"Seriously, Wormtail, you know all this already!" Sirius told him.

"Well, I know what's happening tomorrow at three," I said, grinning.

"So do I," Marlene agreed. Emmeline and Dorcas nodded.

"What's that?" Peter asked in his confusion. The other Marauders all shared his look of confusion.

"You four will be feeling really stupid that you were beaten by four girls at your own game," Emmeline said with a giggle.

"Not going to happen," Sirius said, grinning at her and putting his arm around her shoulders. She placed a chaste kiss on his lips.

"Just you wait," She said, grinning as she shoveled in a bite of pie as Sirius tried to go in for another kiss.

"Ouch, Em. That hurts," he said, a pout on his face.

"Pie trumps kisses," she said.

Sirius put his free hand in front of his heart. "You wound me, Em."

"And you get funny when me and Lily get all mushy in your presence?" James asked him. "That was worse than what we do half the time."

"At least bad enough to get the same death glares from the fellow female members of the student body as we do," I added, looking around at the numerous female students glaring at Emmeline in a "how dare she steal our eye-candy" way. I was used to them by this point, and they mostly died down with they realized that James and I were very serious about our relationship. Sirius never seemed like the one to "settle down," so the glares were lasting longer than usual.

"Are you serious?" Emmeline asked, looking around nervously.

"No, I'm-"

Sirius was cut off by Emmeline putting a decent-sized bite of pumpkin pie in his mouth. She rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, you aren't exactly the favorite around here. You caught and tamed the wild beast," Dorcas told her.

"More like domesticated," James mumbled into his eggnog.

"Lily started the club, and Marlene is also a member," Dorcas added, ignoring James's comment and the snickers from the Marauders and myself.

Marlene smiled proudly. "It's a great club. Very exclusive."

"And our club, with Dorcas, is going to cream these four morons tomorrow afternoon," Marlene said, holding up her goblet of eggnog.

"Here, here!" I said, holding mine as well. Dorcas and Emmeline followed suit.

"What have we done?" James asked the other boys.

"We created monsters," Remus added.

"They seem sure of themselves," Peter said.

"This is going to be the best Annual Marauder Snowball War ever," Sirius said gleefully.

Author's Note Part 2: Yes, Cricket on the Hearth is a real Dickens Christmas story. One of five, actually. The special I'm referring to is the 1967 animated special by Rankin-Bass. It focuses on one part of the story.