Last chapter...
"Gryffindor in possession of the quaffle; Kennedy with the quaffle, passes to Jones, who shoots and scores. Gryffindor have 50 points. 50 to 10, to Gryffindor! What's Alixate doing? Has he seen the snitch? He's diving, Bloute is following him. Has he seen it? No, he's pulling out. Bloute hasn't pulled out of his dive, he's gonna get hurt. Alixate is heading to the opposite side of the pitch. He's seen it. Bloute is back on his broom and is chasing after Alixate. I don't think he's going to catch up though. Almost there, come on Alixate!" James was leaning towards the pitch, "He's got it," James whispered.
"Alixate has the snitch! Gryffindor win!" Screamed the commentator.
"What am I going to get Kate for Christmas?" James asked the other marauders.
"I don't know," Sirius answered, "that's why I don't do relationships. Flirt and make out I can do, buy Christmas presents, not so much."
Remus laughed, "what about McKinnon?"
"What about her?" Sirius asked.
"Ah, come one. We all know you like her!" James punched his friend gently.
"Nah, we're just friends." Sirius replied.
"What am I going to get her?" James asked.
"I don't know, some chocolate?" Remus asked.
"You and your addiction to chocolate." James said making the other boys laugh.
"Ok, well, what does she like?" Remus asked.
"I don't know. We don't really talk to be honest." James said beginning to feel embarrassed.
"What, do you mean you're too busy making out?" Sirius laughed.
The last week of term was approaching fast. The prefects had decorated the castle with the help of the house elves. Everything looked incredibly festive. The marauders had spent hours out in the grounds having snowball fights. Sirius and James had hid behind a tree when they saw Snape and Lily walking out in the grounds. "Shh. Sirius get under the cloak."
Once they were under the cloak, they began to follow after Snape and Evans. "Sev, what are you doing for Christmas?"
"Erm, Avery asked me to go to his."
"Sev, why are you friends with him? He's horrible." Lily asked. James thought the way she said it felt like she'd asked this same question a million times.
"Do we have to argue about this again. I know you don't like my friends. I don't particularly like yours either."
"What do you mean? What's wrong with my friends?" Lily asked, suddenly annoyed.
"What's right with Potter and Black?"
"I'm not friends with them! I'm getting fed up of telling you this. I'm not friends with those arrogant pigs." Lily said.
"Let's not discuss this again. Anyway, what are you going to do with your holiday?"
"Probs just go home. See my mum and dad. It will be nice to see Petunia too."
"Whatever. Like she'll be interested…"
"What do you mean by that?" Lily turned on him.
"Only that she's jealous. You know she is. She's just a muggle."
"Enough. She might be a muggle but she's my sister!" Lily hissed before storming off. Once Lily was a few steps away, James and Sirius picked up snowballs and began to pumble them into Snapes back. It was so cool being invisible. James and Sirius ran back to the castle laughing hysterically.
They were sat at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall eating their breakfast when the post owls came in. James looked up, expecting a letter from his mum – instead his owl dropped a letter in his lap from his father.
Hi James,
How has the last term gone? Your mother wanted to write and ask if you were coming home for Christmas. She understands that you might want to stay at Hogwarts but I want to ask you to come home. I have some things I really need to discuss with you and I can't do it in a letter. Both me and your mother can't wait to see you. Be careful.
Dad.
James frowned, wondering what his father could possibly need to say to him. Sirius besides him was reading his own letter. "Everything already, Sirius?"
"Yeah. Mum just doesn't want me to come home. Look…"
Sirius,
You better not be planning on coming home for the holiday. I don't want a blood-traitor in my house. Stay at Hogwarts for Christmas and Easter and we'll re-discuss this towards the end of the year. If I hear of you duelling against one of your cousins again, you will not be welcomed back into this house.
Your mother.
"Is she serious? Well you'll just have to come home with me then." James replied, after reading the letter. "Let me just let my parents know."
"Are you sure James? I don't want to get in the way!"
"Ah come on. You're my best friend." James smiled.
James quickly began to write a reply to his father's letter,
Hi dad,
Yeah I was planning on coming home. Can Sirius come with me? His mum won't let him go home.
James.
The boys quickly packed their things the night before the Hogwarts Express returned them to King's Cross station. By the time James had packed, said goodbye to Kate and gotten into bed it was the early hours of the morning. He lay in bed wondering what his father could possibly need to speak to him about. He wondered if his dad was going to tell him more about Voldemort.
"James, get up!" James rolled over, covering his head with his pillow.
"Go away…" James said as someone pulled his duvet off him.
"Since when have you been the one to not get out of bed? Come on James. The train leaves in an hour!" Sirius said.
The train was coming into King's Cross station, "see you in a week Remus, Peter." James hugged two of his best friends.
"Yeah, have a good Christmas, James." Peter replied. Remus merely nodded. The train pulled to a stop and James and Sirius jumped off. James looked around for his parents. His eyes fell on his mother and he ran towards her.
"I've missed you mum," James said as he hugged her tightly.
"Let's get you guys home." Charlus Potter said.
James and Sirius walked into the house, "wow man, you live here?"
The Potters laughed gently at Sirius' surprise, "yeah, I'm guessing you like it enough to stay for the holidays?"
"Yeah, definitely." Sirius replied excitedly.
"Do you want a tour?" asked Mrs Potter.
"Yes please, Mrs Potter."
"Well, this is the entrance hall, and just through here is the living room." They walked into a large white room with flowing curtains and a beautiful painting above the large fireplace. "Through there is the kitchen, dining room and a bunch of other rooms. Come on, let's take your stuff upstairs." They walked out of the living room and started up the stairs. "To the left side of the house are all the spare bedrooms, and to the right along this corridor are all the family rooms." Dorea led the way down the family hallway, she pointed to the first door they came to, "this is James' room," before pointing at a door just across the corridor, "and this is your room, Sirius, me and Charlus are at the far end of the corridor. Make yourself at home, son." Dorea nodded at Sirius.
Really hope you enjoyed this chapter...
So next chapter...
We'll get a chance to see what Lily and James did with the Christmas'
James and Sirius might have a surprise visitor...
and we'll find out what Mr Potter wanted to talk to James about...
Their return to Hogwarts...