Title: Yuletide Cheer

Author: veritaserumMaster / PageNotFound404

Rating: T (Rating might go up in the future.)

Pairings: JPSS

Warnings: AU, Language.

Summary: Marauder Era. 7th year. Severus's life was a routine: wake up, eat, study, get bullied, study, eat, study, get bullied, study, eat, and sleep. Getting asked out by his Tormentor (with a capital letter T) though, was not on his itinerary.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Please don't sue me.

A/N: This story is slash, so if you don't like that, then why are you reading this in the first place?

PLEASE READ THE AUTHOR'S NOTES AT THE BEGINNING AND END OF THE FOLLOWING CHAPTERS. THANK YOU. ;)

Shit's about to hit the fan in this chapter.

JP*SS

The locker was thrumming with energy and chatter and happiness. Everyone was proud of their win, especially the seventh-year students. This was their last game and they wanted to end their time here with a bang.

"There's a party back at the tower for everyone, guys! Let's go!" Molly shouted over the noise. Everyone cheered and left in groups except for 4 students in the corner, one of them was still in a towel, grinning foolishly as he put on his clothes, one was already showered and changed, while the other two didn't even bother washing the grime off their bodies.

"Aren't you guys coming?" Molly asked.

"We'll catch up," Remus answered.

They waited until the coast was already cleared.

"So, how does it feel not only to bag the snitch, but a new boyfriend, too?" Sirius asked and grabbed the Slytherin scarf from the bench while Peter snickered. Remus just looked on in amusement, freshly showered and having already changed into normal clothes.

Potter put on muggle jeans (Courtesy of Arthur Weasley) and grabbed the scarf fron Sirius's hands, making a face at him.

"Oh, clever, really," Sirius shot back.

"I'm guessing you're not coming back with us to the party then?" Remus asked.

"I hope not. I don't want to see his pining face tonight because his little snake didn't follow up on the bold move of wearing your scarf and went in here," Sirius got a kick on the leg for his troubles.

"We could find him for you if you want," Peter offered.

"No thanks, Peter. If he doesn't come here, I'll find him myself," James said pulling an old-looking parchment from his robes strewn around the place with his free hand.

"We'll leave you to it then. Good luck," Remus said, reaching for Peter and putting his arms around his shoulders.

"You'll need it," Sirius added and stood on the other side of Peter.

"Up yours, Sirius!" James shouted without any bite in his tone. He chuckled softly, listening to their fading voices. He faced his locker but he didn't move for a while. He stood there looking at Severus's scarf. He brought it up to his nose and inhaled deeply, which, really, not creepy at all. He wanted to see Severus and he wanted to see him now.

The joy he felt when their eyes met was indescribable. He couldn't stop smiling even before he saw the snitch.

He didn't know what it was about Severus but there was something. There was something that made James notice Severus even when they were first years, there was something about him that made James want to wrap his arms around him and never let, something about him that told James he would get bitten if he touched but James always loved a challenge. Severus was one of a kind. And James wanted him in more ways than one.

Before, he thought this was just some childish crush and would go away some time down the road, but clearly the world hated him so much. He went about showing his affection the wrong way. It just seemed that Severus didn't pay any attention to him, so he did what he did best, he pranked and annoyed and generally made a nuisance of himself around Severus. It was the only way he knew how to get what he wanted. Of course, wooing (Does anyone use that word anymore?) also came to his mind. He just didn't think that that would work on Severus.

He's watched him all his life, he knows every little thing about him, again, it's creepy but it's what he did. He couldn't get close to Severus and he wanted to know him so he watched. He knew that Severus wanted someone who could challenge him in different ways, wanted someone to touch and wanted to be touched in the most simple of ways, he needed someone to make him laugh, to protect him.

So lost was he in his own thoughts that he didn't notice someone standing in the doorway until the person moved. James's head snapped towards the movement, hoping that it was Severus there. His heart sank and he quickly shoved the map inside his locker when he saw that it was only a random girl. Claire or Clary or something that starts with a C. He knew she was from the Ravenclaw team, a seeker he thinks. He doesn't really care.

"You really shouldn't be here," he told her.

"Why? This is everyone's locker room," she pointed out. She was wearing a layered pink skirt with a sleeveless blouse that showed more than she should be showing, how old is she? 15?

James kept his eyes on her, suspicion rising in the back of his throat. He tried to reach for his wand and he remembered that he left it in his pant pocket which, he discovered, is now on the floor. He thinks it would be offensive for a guy to reach for his wand in front of a girl, so he didn't move.

She moved slowly towards him with come-hither looks in her eyes. Uh-oh.

"Really, you need to leave right now. I'm waiting for someone," James said. He was actually so close to begging her to just leave. She just nodded and bit her lip in what she probably thought to be a sexy move, but not really. She was now standing in front of James trying to push her breasts into his face. James internally rolled his eyes. Up close, he could see the thick layer of make-up on her face. It made him want to gag.

"You're really a pretty girl but I'm not interested. I'm waiting for someone," James reasoned.

She just let out this sarcastic laugh that sounded like Sirius with a clogged nose. "Who? That snake you claim you're interested in? Please, I know you're just playing with him. You don't really like him, don't you? I mean, who could like that slimy Slytherin?" she said, disgust evident in her face.

James saw red but he kept his cool, he was taught never to hit a girl. His fist clenched around the scarf he was holding and he tried counting down to from 10 to 1. He didn't even reach 6 when he blew.

"Listen," he started, glancing towards the entrance for someone, anyone, to save this poor soul from facing his wrath. "I don't know-" he never finished whatever he had to say because he was slammed back into the lockers. For someone so small, she was surprisingly strong.

He let go of the scarf to push her away but before he knew it, she was already planting her lips into his. There was a strong taste of strawberry on her lips that made him want to puke. He hated strawberry.

He put his hands on his shoulders and pushed her roughly away. Not even bothering to check on her when she stumbled and fell to the floor.

He already caught sight of someone running from the locker rooms and he couldn't tell if that was Severus or not. Fuck.

He ran to follow him but stopped in the doorway when he saw a familiar scarf on the floor. He picked it up and turned it in his hands and sure enough on the edge of the scarf was hi initials, embroidered neatly in gold strings. Double fuck.

He went back to his locker to shrug on a clean shirt, ignoring the whining from the floor. He took his wand, map and the scarves and headed for the door.

"James, wait-" the girl called.

James roughly turned around and the anger in his eyes made the girl stop in her tracks.

"If you value your life, you will never, ever get anywhere near me again," he wanted to say more but he had more pressing matters to attend to. "Just stay away from me," he said and walked away.

He had gotten back into the tower when he opened the parchment and whispered, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."

He quickly scanned the pages for Severus and found him in the astronomy tower. He was fast, James can give him that.

He rushed to the nearest secret passage and soon enough he found himself on the bottom of the staircase headed for the astronomy tower.

He found Severus sitting on the edge of the tower, feet dangling on the edge. Even with the situation, James found himself admiring the wide expanse of pale neck exposed as Severus looked up at the moon cut in half.

James took a couple of steps towards him, shoes clacking on the stone-cold floor.

"You win," Severus said quietly. Almost too quiet that James wouldn't have heard it.

"Sev-"

"Don't bother starting, Potter." Severus stood up on the edge and now James could see that he was barefoot. James took a couple of steps forward, worry etched in his face.

"Severus, please-"

Severus laughed. It was rough and mocking. "You think I'd jump off the astronomy tower just because of you, Potter? Well, you're more conceited than I thought," Severus jumped inside and grabbed his shoes.

"I actually thought it, you were different this time. But it's just the same old story, isn't it? You got bored and you needed the ego-boost so you decided to humiliate me again. Congratulations, Potter, you succeeded. Nothing you can do now will make this year more horrible. You actually managed to make me think that you could be trusted, that whatever this is, is real."

All the while James was standing speechless.

"Severus, I know you're angry. But please, listen. I-"

Severus laughed bitterly this time. Slowly, he made his way towards James and stopped in front of him.

"Angry? Me? Ridiculous."

He moved towards the exit and James reached out for him.

"Don't touch me, Potter. I feel disgusted by you right now."

James sighed and stayed where he stood. He knew that Severus wouldn't listen right now so he let him go.

He listened as Severus footsteps faded as he walked away and when the sound was completely gone, James sat down on the floor and hugged the forgotten scarves close to his chest, breathing in their combined scents.

James wanted to find the girl and use some very unsavory spells on him but he knew it wouldn't make him feel better about the situation. He hated that girl and he was angry. He was angry and Severus was angry, he wouldn't listen to reason or explanation right now. So he had to wait, he had to wait for Severus to clear his mind well enough to listen. He had to ask for forgiveness and he had to explain what happened. He had to gain Severus's trust back.

Triple fuck.

A/N :

I'm actually disappointed with this chapter. I'm not satisfied with the dialogue. Again, I'm begging you, please send a beta my way. Please?

Please don't kill me for the cliffie! I'll update ASAP.

On another note, I was actually thinking of writing a smex scene for this one and I was wondering what you guys wanted? Soft and fluffy? Rough and insistent? Passionate and Harlequin-ish (like with the "throbbing flesh" and shit like that?)? or hurried with the lip-biting and hair pulling? Angry sex? Sweet sex? Sunday afternoon sex? Lazy sex? Send me a message or review.

I can't write stuff like that even if it's the only thing that would save the world. I have the dirtiest mouth in existence but writing obscene things make me blush. Something's seriously wrong with my brain. I really want to try.