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James always woke up early on Christmas and this year was no exception.
"Jingle Bells! Jingle Bells! JINGLE ALL THE WAY!" he bellowed at the top of his voice. At the sound of his voice Sirius covered his head with a pillow and Peter curled up into a ball under his blanket. Remus didn't even budge but Frank grabbed the first thing he could lay his hands on and chucked it at James. James dodged out of the way skilfully and carried on singing.
"You sound like a dying cat," came Sirius' muffled voice from under his pillow.
"It's Christmas! Get out of bed you lazy arses!" he yelled at the half-asleep boys. Grudgingly they all sat up in their beds, glaring at the grinning James.
Suddenly Wormtail cried, "Presents!" Until then James had been too busy sceaming to notice the mound of presents at the foot of his bed. He attacked it at once, tearing open parcel after parcel.
His parents had sent him a large box of home-made goodies, in fact each of the Marauders along with Frank had received a parcel from James' parents. His father had also sent him a beautiful pure gold watch which was extremely precious, priceless in fact, since it was a family heirloom. James couldn't believe his eyes, it was his fathers most prized possession. He felt his eyes stinging with tears that threatened to fall but blinked them back, not wanting anyone seeing him crying. James always pretend nothing was wrong when he was in a crisis which was one of the major reasons why he was so well liked.
Moony being Moony had got him a book but a rather interesting one on Quidditch which included several techniques and tactics. Padfoot had given him a black muggle leather jacket similar to one he owned himself. Wormtail had given him Zonko's products which James planned on using very soon. Frank had got him some sweets from Honeydukes including James' favourite Sugar Quills.
Frank wasn't the only one who had given him sweets and chocolates. James' had received uncountable boxes of chocolates and Cauldron Cakes from majority of the female population at hogwarts, most of them he didn't even know.
James looked over to Sirius and saw that he had received an even larger pile of chocolates than James had from his fan-girls.
"Does anyone know who Judy Lace is?" Remus asked from his bed.
"No, but don't eat anything from any of those crazy women. Remember what happened in third year?" he asked the others darkly.
"Who could forget that?" asked Moony smiling. "Wormy became obssessed with Maria Sheldon from Hufflepuff."
It was true. Every Christmas and Valentines Day the Marauders (even Peter) would get chocolates or Pumkin Pasties drugged with strong Love Potions. In their third year, a box of sweets from Sirius' pile of presents on Christmas and after consuming them he fell in love with Maria. The other Marauders let him stalk her for a couple of hours, to amuse themselves as well as horrifying Maria before taking poor Peter to the Hospital Wing.
The Marauders weren't only loved because of their looks. People loved them because they made the monotonous school life exciting, they made others laugh (Slytherins not included). It was like breathing to them. They could be mean once in a while and they would even get their fare share of detentions for that (provided they got caught, they were extremely professional). What mattered was that when things got heavy or when people were low they'd come up with ways to ease everyone out.
James looked at his friends and smiled. He loved each of them even when Moony was nagging, Sirius was annoying and Peter was slow, both physically and mentally. He loved them more than everything on earth, come what may.
"What's wrong, Prongsie?" Sirius asked, waving his hand in front of James' face, snapping him out of his trance.
James smiled at his best mate cockily and replied,"You." With an outraged look Sirius tackled James to the floor. Peter and Frank watched excitedly while Remus just wore a slighty amused expression on his face.
After rolling on the floor for a good five minutes, both the black haired boys lay there panting. Once they had regained their breath, they got dressed and went down to breakfast. James wore they leather jacket Sirius had given and he could tell he was pleased that James had liked his presnt so much.
James loved Christmas, and he would try and make this one memorable.