My dear beautiful readers,
You guys are honestly the best! Last chapter I was celebrating 40 reviews and now we are afew away from 50! Thank you so much to, Adiba.s101, Writingfuelsthesoul , Madwamoose, Marie0907, Raven that flies at night, Anya and guest for your kind words!
I was so overwhelmed by your responses to the last chapter and I'm hoping you all enjoy this one, theres quite a few shippy moments and two new faces who I am excited for you to meet! (You know them, trust me)
Its my birthday so please don't forget to leave a review :)
Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.- Lao Tzu
It was now called the Horror of Hogsmeade, it was the day that brought reality into the eyes of the youths, it was the day that they saw death, fought death and narrowly escaped death.
For many last Saturday was the mark of their lost innocence, the day where, for many, what was left of their childhood disappeared into thin air.
One week had passed and many students were sleepless, nightmares plagued them every night. Every night they saw the poisonous green of the killing curse, or the bloody red of the cruciatus. They saw the faces of those that sought to harm them. For some it was darker, some had dreams of the future; How every day they would see death and torture, how every day they would leave their homes and love ones and could come back with a dark mark hanging over their residence.
When the time came for students to go home for the holidays, very few stayed behind. The students wanted nothing more than to feel their parents embrace, to be able to cry and mourn in their own private settings. That day, Platform nine and three quarters was a sombre atmosphere. There was no excitement to be home, only relief. Even those whom weren't in Hogsmeade that day felt relief in being able to escape the stifling tension within the castle. The parents gripped onto their children tightly, solace filled their body to know that their children were home safe, and away from the memory of that disastrous day.
However, the parents were also mourning as they embraced their child. Their young one was so very different to who they were on September the 1st. So much more innocent and lively. The war that their generation had started, was the war that was going to take their children's lives.
For many this would be the last time they stood on Platform nine and three quarters until their children came to Hogwarts. For even Hogwarts wasn't safe anymore. Nowhere was.
One of the students that were returning home for the holidays was Beverley Wilkens.
She couldn't stand to be around her friends, she couldn't stand to be with people whose souls were merely scratched, but not maimed as hers had been. She hated this, she hated feeling so broken and lost. Like she had been plunged into a dark abyss that she couldn't make her way out of. She hoped with everything she had, that her friends would never know how she felt; she would rather lose them all, then have them understand the feeling of taking somebody else's life, and getting away with it.
She had been pardoned by the ministry, but her case being taken to the ministry meant that everyone knew what she had done. Even as she walked down the halls at Hogwarts, she could feel smugness radiating from many of the dark Pureblood heirs that she had been able to produce a dark curse. But that didn't bother her, she could also feel fear radiating off many others as they passed her. She could see it in the way they shrunk away, or flinched when they caught her gaze.
she hated it.
Her nightmares had reached such a degree that she couldn't look at the Hogwarts express, for if she did, all she'd see is the blood that she had on her hands, the blood that coated the corpses that lay on the snow in Hogsmeade. Eventually she gave up sleeping. Her bloodshot eyes were puffy from crying the night before and were surround by dark circles. Her lips were chapped and her skin was pale and leathery.
Her eyes gazed around the platform, keenly looking for a tall, slender blonde. Never in her life had she craved the security of an embrace from a parent. She had never had a close enough relationship with her parents to crave that. But today, seeing the tears and tight hugs all around her, she wanted nothing more than her mother. When she caught the eyes of a familiar brown eyed blonde she let out a trembling breath.
"Beverley" she gasped as she opened her arms to her daughter who clutched at her shirt, trembling. It was uncommon for such a display of affection to be shown between the mother and daughter. It was unbecoming of a pureblood to show affection in public.
"Mum" she gasped out, her heart contracted and her body trembled as she leant into her mothers embrace.
"I'm so glad your safe." Beverley's mother whispered in her daughters ear, "If anything happened to you…" she trailed off, her voice sounded choked up to Beverley's ears.
"Can we go home." Beverley pleaded, her voice choking up as she held in her tears. She couldn't break down in public, she didn't want to show people how affected she was, it was none of their business. "Please."
For various reasons, only a handful of students chose to spend Christmas at Hogwarts. Some had no home to go to, others wanted to stay in the vicinity of a library to study, others wanted to celebrate Christmas at Hogwarts for the last time.
This year, students were dismissed nearly a week early, after the events of that Saturday; the teachers agreed that no work would end up happening and students needed to be with their families.
Whilst all the teachers unanimously agreed to this, one teacher felt disheartened at this development. Horace Slughorn, Potions professor. On Christmas Eve he was set to have his Slug Club Christmas Party, however most his members left for Christmas with family, not all his past members felt safe enough to come, even if Hogwarts was the safest place in Britain. Luckily for him, his some of his star pupils were staying over the holidays including James Potter, Sirius Black, Mary McDonald, Elizabeth Gilmore, Severus Snape, Amelia Bones and his favourite…Lily Evans.
He would make sure that this year's party would be the most extravagant of all, no matter how many students were absent.
"Are you sure you don't want me to stay with you?" Mary fretted as she looked over Remus who was lying on a couch in front of the fire in the Common room, his face pale and tired. "You look exhausted!"
"Mary, I'm fine!" he exclaimed dropping his head back on the couch, seeing her sceptical expression he rolled his eyes, "Really! I'm used to it!"
"Just leave him Mary, honestly Remus is as stubborn as a piece of chewing gum stuck in someone's hair." Lily remarked with a snort, "And you know how stubborn chewing gum stuck in hair is."
"Hey I resent that!" Remus exclaimed.
"Your problem if you can't accept the truth." Elizabeth laughed, her eyes crinkling, it was like diving into a pool full of cold water, like waking up after a long coma. For so long she'd been surrounded by sadness and grief that the feeling of laughter and joy, it was a relief like none other, a craving that couldn't be satisfied. "Are they going to hurry up!"
"Probably not."
"They're probably trying to figure out how to tie a tie." Remus laughed, "After seven years they still can't do it!" causing the girls to snort at the boys stupidity, did they happen to forget they had magic?
"We know how to tie a tie!" a Scottish accented voice exclaimed from behind them, "Besides, I opted for a bow tie." He winked and stepped down the dormitory stairs. "Looking good Evans." And she did, clad in a teal sweetheart dress with layered frills as sleeves. It went to the floor with a slit in the middle where the two pieces of fabric crossed over each other. She wore gold medium heels with her hair up in a low, loose bun.
"You brush up rather well yourself Potter." She whispered back whilst appreciating the sight of him in dress robes.
"Where's Black?" Mary asked interrupting Lily and James mental undressing of one another.
"He's taking compliments from the mirror, I don't think he's ever felt so loved." James joked,
"Should've guessed." Elizabeth laughed causing the others to join in, it was predictable yet so unpredictable. She walked over to the stairs and yelled,
"OI BLACK! MOVE YOUR SORRY ASS FROM INFRONT OF THE BLOODY MIRROR AND GET DOWN HERE!" she stood there tapping her heeled feet on the floor as she waited for a minute in complete silence, everyone else watched from afar in amusment.
"SIRIUS ORION BLACK!"
"COMING!" a voice yelled back before heavy footsteps descended towards her, Elizabeth moved out of the way just in time to miss Sirius racing past her. Her turned back in confusion before standing straight, bringing his hand to his forehead and saluting her. "I'm here to serve you ma'am."
"The only thing I want you to do right now is to move your ass out of this common room and to Slughorns office!"
"Yes ma'am." He said before marching out of the common room as if a soldier, "Au'revouir Remus."
"We better get going then." Mary remarked before leaning down and kissing Remus's cheek, "Get some sleep." She whispered before walking out after everyone. After she left Remus touched his cheek with his hand with a goofy smile on his face, she kissed him. she kissed him, Remus Lupin, the girl of his dream's kissed his cheek.
This was how he fell asleep, into a sleep plagued with dreams of a blue eyed girl who shone brighter than the sun itself.
They wandered into a room that was full of witches and wizards in dress robes and coloured frocks, small pixies flew around the ceiling leaving traces of glitter behind them as they moved, classical music played from the enchanted instruments at the front of the room and waiters and waitresses were carrying around drinks and finger foods. The amount of witches and wizards there astounded Elizabeth as she walked in, it was after all war time, yet all these well-known people risked their lives for a party, granted Hogwarts was safe…but still.
She looked around for familiar faces as she heard Lily get dragged off by Slughorn to meet the head of some department in the ministry, when she caught sight of a short woman dressed in a breathtaking lilac talking to scarred man man she only knew by name, Alastor Moody. The woman looked so familiar, her long blonde locks cascaded down her back and her short structure. A tall, well built, brown haired man walked up behind her. They looked so much like, it couldn't be, but they looked so familiar. I couldn't be anyone else but them.
"Alice!" she yelled out across the room causing many curious eyes to turn towards her, the short woman with the lilac dress turned around, her long blond hair flowing around her as she looked towards the sound of the voice that seemed so familiar calling out her name. She caught sight of a girl with a black long sleeved floor length dress on with bright blue eyes. A smile broke out on her face as she immeadiantly recognised her, who else could it be, Elizabeth!
She walked forwards manoeuvring her way around everyone who was much taller than her, before breaking out into a jog, trying not to trip over the heels that were almost as large as her head, if not larger. However as she got closer she tried to slow down and didn't manage to, it all happened very slowly, a waiter appeared out of nowhere, he was distracted and as she was trying to slow down she tripped over his feet and falling face first into the ground causing him to fall over her and the food to go all over the ground.
Elizabeth stifled a laugh as she saw the scene Alice caused, anyone who knew her well would know two things, she couldn't walk in heels to save her life (let alone run) and she was clumsy…a horrible combination.
She watched as the man got up, mumbling apologies before walking away hastily whilst waving his wand over the wasted food. Elizabeth walked over to Alice to see her still lying on the ground, a rip going through a dress and her shoulders shaking, her feet were at Alice's head when she looked up sheepishly, a brilliant blush covered her cheeks.
"Long time no see stranger."
"Too long." Alice muttered before getting up and looking herself over, she expertly closed up the tear in the back of her dress before looking up at Elizabeth, a brilliant, toothy smile spread over her pixie face, joy sparkled in her eyes. "I missed you so much!" she squealed attempting to do a mini jig on the spot before she wrapped her arms around Elizabeth's waist before lifting her up and spinning her around. A laugh and giggle escaped Elizabeth at the unsurprising actions of one of her closest friends.
"Ally! Ally let me down!" she squealed swinging her legs around, laughing. Alice gently dropped her down, her face flushed and smiling. They looked at one another before properly embracing one another.
"I missed you so much!" they exclaimed at the same time before sheepishly laughing. Before Alice said with a laugh, "How's NEWT year, any hot boys, future husbands, tips on how to make Mrs Longbottom actually like me? I'm getting desperate here!"
"Not too bad ,maybe, no and definitely no." she replied with a laugh,
"Ah well." Alice sighed dramatically, before looking around, "Where are my other favourite people then?"
"I have no clue to be honest."
"No clue about what?" a deep voice that she hadn't heard in so long interrupted them,
"Frank!" Elizabeth squealed before jumping into his arms, her gripped her tightly with a smile on his face. "I've missed you so much, it's been too long!"
"Merlin, I know. Who would've known Auror training was so hard." He sighed, before a grave look passed over his face, "Outside of Hogwarts…its dangerous…Enough of that, How are you?" Before Elizabeth could reply she heard Alice yell out,
"Oi Carrot top!" Lily's head turned so fast her neck probably clicked, she looked around when she spotted Alice, she poked Mary who to turned around, they both smiled and came over, gathering them in hugs, many squeals and giggles were exchanged (mainly from Alice).
"Elizabeth my dear!" a voice boomed across the room, a grimace crossed her face before she plastered a fake smile on her face as she turned around the see Slughorn walking over, "There is someone that you must meet." He wrapped his large arm around her shoulders before waddling her over to a man that had stringy white blonde hair that fell to his chin, he had pale skin, dark circles around his light green eyes that looked glassy and knowing, his large off centre nose had a scar going straight down the middle, he had a goaty and was donned in simple black dress robes. "This is Professor Saul Croaker, he works in the department of mystery's." Slughorn said the last part in a whisper, Elizabeth's eyes widened until they were the size of golf balls.
"The department of mysteries? Really?" she gasped, looking at the man in awe, She had never met an unspeakable before. "I'm honoured to meet you sir."
"The honour is all mine ma'am." He replied smoothly, "I've heard much about you."
"Oh." She said with a surprised tone. Professor Croaker nodded and looked her up and down, she heard him mutter something along the lines of 'be good and after school' whatever that meant. He then, rather rudely might she add, walked away muttering to himself. She turned around to face Slughorn who seemed to already be off talking to someone else, shaking her head in confusion she walked over back to the group where they seemed to be laughing over something James had said.
As the night progressed and the music slowed down and couples went to the floor Sirius looked at her and nodded his head to the dance floor then winked at her, a snort escaped her at his lame attempt to ask her for a dance, she walked over to him shaking her head in amusement.
"Tonight's been better than I expected." Sirius whispered,
"I'm just glad Ally and Frank turned up."
"Mmm, so what did that ponce want?" Elizabeth rolled her eyes at his not so subtle question,
"Not to be subtle or anything." She snorted, " And that Ponce was the head of the Department of Mysteries." she laughed, before sighing, "I'm not actually sure, he just looked at me muttering something about when school ends."
"interesting. Maybe he'll give you a job." Elizabeth rolled her eyes before changing the topic.
"Anything that caught your eye?"
"You." He looked at her with a grin, she purposely stepped on his toe,
"Shove off you prat!" she laughed causing him to snigger,
"You wound me! My heart is bleeding, I'll never be the same again!" he whispered dramatically, clutching his chest whilst twirling her around the dance floor.
Unbeknownst to them, they were being looked at by most in the room, they all saw a well dressed couple whom were laughing and joking whilst leading each other expertly around the dance floor. From afar they didn't know who they were, not their names, not their blood status, only that they were a couple.
The Couple dressed in black.
They were all laughing and having fun, yet one person was not, one was consumed with worry over the man she wanted desperately to grab by his tie, pull him towards her and snog him…publicly…in front of everyone, well she was getting a bit ahead of herself, but something along those lines anyway.
He was wonderful, Remus was unlike any other man he'd met, he was everything, in her eyes, that a man should be, he was like…man goals. Despite his furry little problem and the issues it brought with it, He was handsome, but not arrogant, mischievous but knew his limits, wise and well read, gentle and kind, he was a gentlemen. She, no matter how tomboyish she was…liked gentlemen who treated her like a lady.
She leant against the balcony and took a sip of Butterbeer, she looked up and saw that the sky was only twinkling with the light of the stars, it was a new moon. She decided she didn't like full moons, they caused so much pain and suffering to a man she cared desperately about. She hated that when the full moon came he was transformed into a monster.
They stood in a circle talking when Frank cleared his throat causing them to become quieter and turn to him.
"So, we thought that you guys would all be here, shame about Pete, Remus and Bev but we might be able to see them another time." He took a breath, "Last week I asked Ally to marry me, and she said yes." Frank pulled a bouncing Alice towards him, both their faces with alight with happiness. The Gryffindor's were shocked into silence until Elizabeth let out a squeal and for the second time that evening jumped onto the couple.
"CONGRATULATIONS!" she gave them both kisses on their cheeks whilst laughing, once everyone else gave their congratulations the questions started,
"When's the wedding?"
"Are you pregnant?"
"can I come dress shopping?"
"Do I need to give someone the talk?"
"SSSSHHHH!" Alice spoke effectively shutting everyone up, "We don't want everyone knowing, not in times like these." Everyone nodded in understanding. After a moment of silence Lily spoke, effectively breaking the ice.
"Can we see the ring." Laughs erupted around them; it was good to be around friends again.
Alice and Frank walked around the halls of Hogwarts as many before them had done, reminiscing about the days they spent in Hogwarts not so long ago.
Frank watched as the girl, no woman he loved leaned out of the window, gazing across the Hogwarts grounds wistfully, as if recalling a scene that was deeply ingrained into her mind. She didn't look like much, but to him, she was everything. The way she laughed at the simplest of things, how she saw the best in everyone; heck she'd see goodness even in Voldemort for merlins sake. He loved her because despite everything that she'd dealt with, she stayed herself, kind and optimistic.
He took his robe off and placed it around her shoulders as he saw Goosebumps appear across her arms and back. She turned and looked at him, a wide smile on her face and a loving look in her eyes.
"I don't deserve you." She whispered leaning into his chest, nuzzling herself in his waist coat, inhaling his musky scent,
"No, you deserve much more than me." He whispered back, looking into her hazel eyes, he could look into her eyes all day, and come up with a new way to describe them. Then an expression flashed across her face, something he didn't see often, sorrow.
"I don't want them to leave, I don't want them to see the war. They're so young and innocent..." Frank interjected
"Nobody should see it Ally, it's just the way it is."
"It shouldn't be." She looked up at him and leant up, stretching as far as she could, Frank lent down, bending his neck. He placed a soft peck on her lips as she put her hands on either side of his face. "And one day it won't be." A smile spread across Franks face at that line, that was the Alice he knew and loved, no matter how upset, depressed or fearful…she always saw the best.
He didn't know how she did it, because to him, She was already the best.
The rest of the night passed uneventfully, if you didn't count James and Sirius replacing all jelly slugs with real slugs that were charmed to be coloured, Lily and James having a spat about it, Sirius getting hit by a few stinging jinxes, us dancing again, Mary worrying then leaving early.
Other than that,
Pretty uneventful.
By Elizabeth's standards anyways, after all a mass duel could've occurred, someone could've poisoned the punch or maybe some random was a bad dancer and accidentally caused everyone to topple over like dominos, maybe one of the waiters was actually a Dementors disguised and was feeding everyone spring rolls of despair causing everyone to go through a mass depression and go emo, and then to top it off Voldemort could turn up with his merry gang of death munchers dressed up as oompa loompas and danced to dancing queen. Yeah no.
Bad mental images.
Let's just, not think of that ever again.
As she lay on her bed she imagined a pair of grey eyes laughing in mirth at the sight of Oompa Loompa Voldemort, a small smile spread across her face, she may not like the image of Oompa Loompa Voldemort, but the sheer hilarity in those grey eyes made her feel like memorising every detail of that scene.
The 7th year Gryffindor girls slept peacefully, immersed in their dreams, unbeknownst that the boys had been up and trying to figure out how to wake them up for the last… half an hour. It was Christmas, you cant sleep in on Christmas.
"Prongs, for the last time, you can't get upto the girls dormitory." Remus sighed lying on the ground his eyes shut. He just wanted to sleep.
"I'm James Potter, and I can do anything!" he whispered harshly before drawing himself up and marching towards the steps leading to the girls dorm, he made it afew steps up before turning and poking his tongue out at the boys when suddenly the stairs flipped and changed into a steep slide, causing him to fall backwards straight onto his backside.
"ow"
"I told you so." Remus said smugly with a snicker, opening one eye to look at James.
Mary woke up at the sound of a bang and crack, she groggily sat up grumbling and cursing under her breath. She stood up before walking to the attached ensuit to wash up when she saw the date on the calendar.
25th of December.
It was Christmas, IT WAS CHRISTMAS! Before she turned to jump on the others she hear an even larger bang, with loud cursing that she felt could only be associated with one person.
She looked down the stairs and what she saw had her snickering against the wall, stealthily she snuck back in the dorm. The girls had to see this.
She went over to Elizabeth and shook her awake, "wha…its like 3am, piss off." Before she fell back asleep. So being the nice person she was, she grabbed the ends of her sheets before tugging as hard as she could on them. Elizabeth, with a squeak fell off the other side of the bed, she in her fit of annoyance picked up her fallen pillow and threw it with all her might at mary's head whom expertly dodged it. Mary placed a finger on her lips and nodded to Lily whom was probably able to sleep through a nuclear bomb. They both gripped their wands and stood over lily with grins on their faces. Mary did a mini count down.
3,2,1.
"AQUEMENTI!" They yelled as what seemed like a gallon of water tipped all over Lily, soaking her to the bone. She woke with a strangled gasp, choking on the water so cold that It could have come from the Arctic.
"WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCKING HELL WAS THAT? DO YOU HAVE NO DECENCY LETTING A POOR GIR…" her rant was cut off by Mary's hand covering her mouth and signalling to follow her.
"Take your camera."
And so they did. Oh how thankful they were that they did. There, standing next to James Potter was someone dressed in drag.
That someone was none other than Sirius black.
However, Sirius did not look very well…serious. He had a bleach blonde wig that went to the small of his back, he wore a sequinned red skirt that had tassels at the bottom swinging around his thighs, A black crop top like thing that resembled a bedazzled bandana wrapped around someone's upper body more than anything else. He stumbled over to Peter in large, thin stilettos that Beverley would struggle to walk in and somehow he managed to get…boobs.
Very large ones.
What had he done?
The girls stepped down afew steps to get a closer look at the odd spectacle Sirius was causing. When he started moving over to the staircase.
"Padfoot what have…you…done?" Remus gasped out between laughs, Peter was rolling around on the floor and James was leaning against a wall out of breath.
"I don't know who that is." He said in a squeaky voice, so high that it rivalled the fat ladys singing, they could swear some of the windows shuddered. "My name is Sicilia the sexy." The girls snorted so hard that they needed a moment to cough to get rid of the dry feeling in their throats.
"Padfoot give it up!" James snorted as he looked him down, "if I can't get up then you most definitely cant." However Sirius just stumbled forward, swinging his hips provocatively to the point where you could see his silver silk boxers. As he took one step up the stairs they shuddered slightly before going back to normal, he then took another, and another, and another. Then Sirius turned around with a triumphant smirk on his face.
"Beat that boys!" he pumped his arm up in the air and did a little jump, "I, Sicilia the sexy, did better than the marauders." And then it happened.
The staircase immeadiantly flipped and turned into a slide, causing Sirius to fall onto his backside and slide down the stairs, his blonde wig getting caught onto a tassle of his skirt and pulled off. However what the girls didn't anticipate was that the staircase would also throw them off. Mary, Elizabeth and Lily fell backwards with a scream, toppling over one another as they tumbled into a heap at the bottom which happened to be on top of Sirius.
"You have very soft breasts Sirius." Mary's voice was muffled against Sirius's shirt.
"I do not know who this…Sirius is." He spoke, once again in a high voice. "I am Sicilia."
"Well then Sicilia, you have very soft breasts."
"Yes I take much pride in them."
"Gosh Lily how much do you weigh?" Liz groaned trying to get up.
"Oh shut up!" she snapped whilst picking herself up, she stumbled back only to get herself caught by James Potter. A blush spread across her cheeks as she took attention of where his hands were placed and how he was staring at her.
"Those are cute Pyjamas." He told her, gazing admirably at his Quidditch jersey and underwear that said, "I am a keeper." He couldn't help but shift on the spot as he felt his pants tighten slightly at the sight of her long legs, scantily clad in her tiny red, Quidditch undies. He felt like a pervert but how could he not look when she was so perfect.
"Thanks Potter."
"No Problemo Evans." Before they could continue they heard a muffled gasp, and Mary crouched over clutching her stomach in mirth. James was relieved to have a distraction from Lily's perfect legs.
"How are…they so… big?" Mary gasped out,
"Where'd you get the bra from, I want tips from her." Liz muttered.
"Marina Phillips, 5th year puff." Sirius replied with a faraway look, "She was so generous as to let me keep her bra."
"Padfoot WHAT DID YOU DO TO YOUR FACE?" Remus shouted in shock, before the girls gazes left Sirius's breasts and drifted off to his face where Elizabeth had to step back for a moment, what had he done? He looked more ridiculous up close than from afar.
"Is that mascara on your lips?" Mary sniggered, "It's meant to go on your eyelashes!"
"I don't want to spend the rest of my days blind thank you very much,plus this looks more mysterious." He said running his hands through his hair. Peter walked upto him and ran his hand down Sirius's face, wiping off a gallon of dark foundation. He held up his hand with his eyebrow raised.
"I think you may have gone abit overboard there pads."
"Overboard is where you'd be going if we were on a boat." Sirius snapped his fingers and pouted his mascara coated lips. The group awkwardly stood there in silence before Peter let out a short fart causing them all to turn to him with looks of disgust on their faces.
"What do you guys say to opening presents?" he said cheerfully ignoring the looks on their faces.
It was that time of the year, Christmas. Some places in the world are fortunate enough to be able to walk around in shorts and t-shirts during Christmas, or go to the beach and just spend the day in general outside. As Lucky they were , nothing can beat the beauty and nostalgia of the snow covering the ground like a throw blanket, glistening like powdered diamonds, the crisp cool air, the redness of ones cheeks making them look like a small child no matter how old.
Elizabeth believed that that was irreplaceable. The thought of no snow in winter was…
Unimaginable.
Luckily this year wasn't like last, where everyone was in for a nasty shock when no snow fell. This year the castle was coated inn it, the snow blanketing the towers glistened, the floor was undisturbed and inviting, it was begging for someone to step its foot into its soft surface, the lake had frozen over to the point where if one wanted to they could skate on the surface, decorating the ice with the engravings of their ventures.
Elizabeth sat against the concrete wall with sketching pencils shoved in her hair, watching and drawing the scene of her friends playing in the snow with one another on her piece of paper. She recorded every detail of them, from the Marauders ugly Christmas sweaters that had stags on them that James decided to gift all the girls, to the snow glistening on their heads. She watched as snowballs were throw to one another, hitting each other causing shivers to go through the victims body. She took note of the things others would not, they probably wouldn't even notice, but she did.
Just as all artists did.
Just as she was adding herself into the image, just having thrown a snowball at Sirius's face with a look of pure joy on her face, she felt a whoosh of wind pass her and within moments, she hadn't even blinked, a rush of cold ran through her body, her face stung momentarily as freezing cold liquid slid down her face and dripped down her chin splashing her drawing. A shuddering gasp escaped her at the sensation, more so the fact that her drawing was getting dripped on. Elizabeth looked up with narrowed eyes to see an innocent…too innocent looking Sirius Black looking her way…since when did Sirius look innocent? Her eye twitched as she spotted snow dripping from his dragonhide gloves. She slowly stood up, turning around agonisingly slow, she bent down and placed her artwork on a dry spot on the ground before subtly picking up a mound of snow and rolling it in her hand. Suddenly, with a dramatic spin she turned around and with spectacular aim she hit him, she hit THE Sirius black in the face…with a snowball. She couldn't help but feel abit smug…okay a lot smug.
With an indignant gasp Sirius threw, with not that much force a small snowball, Elizabeth threw herself to the side sliding easily behind a fort.
"Come on! You can do better than that!" She laughed, unknowing to the pain these words would one day bring to many others, Sirius let out a bark of laughter as he ran towards the other fort, Elizabeth threw a large snowball with all her might but it was off aim and hit James.
You can say that chaos ensued…
Snowballs were thrown between them, groans of pain, barks of laughter and playful teasing.
Mary threw a snowball, a rather large one that was well aimed at Remus, it hit him right in the chest, the sheer force of it causing him to stumble backwards. A cheeky smile crossed her face as he looked at her with a scowl before he made a snow ball and started chasing her, however Remus's bad throwing skills were much much worse than Marys reflexes which after years of quidditch were rather defined. The fight ensued as they threw snowballs at one another until Remus finally caught up.
Catching up he reached out and grabbed her around the waist, a squeal escaped her as she was spun around by a man whom she knew to be Remus, what strong arms he had, never realised this. She felt the sudden urge to squish his biceps.
She swung her legs out as she felt his fingers tickling her sides as they swung, the crisp air hitting her face, flakes of snow landing on her clothing. Without due notice Remus's foot slipped on a chunk of visible ice causing them to slide, and landing on the soft snow.
Remus couldn't help but think of how good she felt lying on top of him, their bodies moulded into one another as if they were meant for one another, his eyes ran over her face, he'd never seen her so up close before. They say that everything is uglier up close, but no, she was…even more beautiful, was that possible? Her sapphire eyes glittered, her cheeks rosy and her smile wide, as he saw her lean down closer towards his face he could see specks of snow on her eyelashes, glistened and shining brighter than freshly cut diamonds.
He felt so good, she couldn't help but think as her eyes raked down his body, taking in every detail of his form, the way her body melded into his, how his slightly awkward posture wasn't just when he walked or stood upright, she watched as his eyes that resembled the chocolate he loved so much darkened as he looked into her eyes, she slowly leant forward, closer towards him, her lips were parted and she'd partially shut her eyes as she leant down to capture his lips with her own. Her hands roamed his body and tangled it selves in his soft hair, his hands circled her waist and brought her closer towards him.
Their group of friends stood there watching the awkward scene with much happiness, finally, after so long they finally got over their shyness, finally they could be happy.
And as the couple kissed with fervour, many Large flakes fell from heavens, blanketing them in a layer of glistening snow, making them feel like they were in an enchanted winter wonderland.
A very merry Christmas indeed.
Dinner was a disorderly, and loud, nether the less enjoyable. Drinks and delicious food were passed down the table and practically inhaled by most, the teachers were a bit tipsy and would never hear the end of it, jokes were told and the laughter was loud. It was a change from the last few weeks of darkness and dreariness.
Sirius, James and Hagrid were drunkenly singing 'God rest ye merry Hippogriffs' completely off tune and wrong, muddling up lyrics and the tune. McGonagall and Dumbledore were giggling as if they were school girls, they always thought something was going on between them, Slughorn was drinking merrily and engaging in conversation with professor Bradley, whose first name, as we found out happens to be Johnathan, who've thought?
"So Johnathan." Elizabeth started leaning over the table to get some Butterbeer,
"That's Professor Bradley to you Miss Gilmore." He replied in a mock serious voice with a wink, before turning away to speak to Slughorn again.
Of course, there were afew things that made up a feast a Hogwarts, there was one thing that would be ticked off the moment Dumbledore took a sip from his drink. The moment Dumledores elf wine was swallowed an odd thing happened, his robes and hat turned red, his beard and hair became thicker, whiter, more shiner. The marauders pranked Dumbledore.
The marauders pranked Dumbledore to look like Santa Claus.
The table burst out laughing at the calm look on Dumbledore's face, it was as if he hadn't noticed because he was still sipping his wine. McGonagall cleared her throat causing Dumbledore to look at her oddly.
"Erm…Professor, you might want to look down." Lily informed him whilst nibbling at her bottom lip, trying to hold in her laughs. When Dumbledore looked down his eyes widened a smidge before his face went to a cool, impassive expression with a warm smile, his eyes twinkled madly.
"Well what a wonderful getup. I'm rather partial to this, Perhaps I'll don it at the next welcoming feast."
Remus and Mary were holding hands underneath the table, James and Sirius singing and laughing along with Hagrid, Lily was being her cheeky self and finally coming into her feelings of James, Dumbledore was joking and teachers were having fun, Peter was with family and Beverley would one day recover from her ordeal.
And Elizabeth, well, life was good. She was with friends and happy.
What more could a girl ask for?
YAYAY Mary and Remus! God I love those two!
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, I enjoyed writing it! Now as per usual, a little sneak peek!
"So, what do you all know about the unforgivables?"
This should be interesting hehe! I cant wait to hear what you think of this chapter. Lily and James are getting closer, Mary and Remus are getting closer hehe, and Sirius and Liz...I wonder whats happening there hmmm?
Reviews are birthday presents!
Thechosenbibliophile xo