Hey everyone,

Tonights upload took longer than I planed. Sorry! :( Anyway big thanks to those of you who reviewed the last chapter... bookwurm1612, Jannice Sace, ebonbon, and willtheranger. EXTRA BIG SHOUT OUT to bookwurm1612 for saying that I am one of their favourite authors on this site! LOVE YAH! :) So this chapter is ever so slightly longer... and I'm going to finish the rest of the Christmas break tonight so you should get another update in an hour or so...

Chapter 43:

Harry took a deep breath. He'd decided to take a break from his parents' world for a few hours. He made his way down to the common room. Hermione was sat at one of the tables working on an essay, "alright?"

"Yeah," she looked up, "you?"

"Yeah," he nodded his head.

"Anything interesting happen?"

"My dad nearly died…" Harry said quietly.

"How?" Hermione looked alarmed.

"Slytherins…"

"Ah… is he ok now?" Hermione asked.

"Well no he's dead but where I am in their pasts; yeah he's fine."

Hermione laughed slightly, "at least you know them better now."

"Yeah I do. I really do."

The fog began to spiral around Harry as he sat on his bed in his dorm room. Before he knew it, he was sat in a house that he didn't recognise. Harry looked around himself and realised that Snape was in the room. He was cowering in the corner. Harry listened as he heard a banging coming from somewhere downstairs, "you stupid witch!"

There was a crashing noise as something was thrown across the room, "I want you out of this house!" a man shouted.

"Where would I go?" a woman replied, weeping loudly.

"I don't care but make sure you take that bloody freak of a boy with you!"

"Tobias! He's your son!"

"Eileen, he's nothing like me!"

"Yes he is! He has your hair, your eyes, your smile, he's yours…" she softened her voice.

"He may be mine but I don't want him. He's a freak. He's abnormal. He's like you!" Tobias shouted.

The scene before Harry changed as the fog covered it all in white. Soon Harry found himself in Remus' living room. Remus was sat talking to his mother about all the exciting things he had done at Hogwarts since the beginning of the year. He managed to avoid the details about all the duels with Slytherin as he didn't want her to worry. He told her that his friends knew that he was a werewolf.

"And how did they react?" Mary asked, sitting up slightly straighter.

Remus frowned, "absolutely fine. They told me that we're brothers and that the marauders stick together… I don't get it. I'm a werewolf mum! Why would they want to be my friend?"

"Because Rem, you are a werewolf one night a month. The rest of the time you are my perfect, loving, generous, kind, intelligent, thoughtful, fun son. The rest of the time you're just Remus – and I know that I love Remus and I think your friends might too."

Remus smiled, "you really think they won't change their minds?"

"If they haven't run away by now; I think they'll stick it out but you hold onto them, Rem. They sound like real good friends."

There was a banging at the door, "alright, calm your nerves!" Mr Evans called as he made his way to the front door. He opened the door to find a small, twelve year old boy on his doorstep, "Severus, whatever is the matter?"

The boy was crying, "Can I see Lily please sir?"

"Of course, Severus. Come in."

Mrs Evans leant passed her husband to see the small boy, "Severus dear, are you alright?"

"N-no… M-Mrs E-ev-evans…" The boy cried as Mrs Evans enveloped him in a big hug.

"Mark, go and fetch Lily would you dear?" Mrs Evans said to her husband. "Tell me what happened, Severus."

"My dad…"

"Ah," Mrs Evans frowned; she knew all about Severus' father's bad moods. He could be a very friendly man but circumstances had made him bitter and recently he had seemed angry at everyone. Eileen was constantly covered in bruises. Mrs Evans had ran into her at the supermarket on a number of occasions in the last few months and every time the woman had a new bruise. "Would you like to stay here tonight?"

"Yes please, Mrs Evans."

"Oh Severus, call me Janice. I hate that whole Mrs Evans thing. It reminds me of Mark's mother," Mrs Evans laughed gently.

Sirius ran into James' room and jumped on his bed, "Oi James wake up! There's presents."

Two small girls ran in following Sirius, "yeah come on James!" Cynthia said as she climbed on top of him. "Wakey wakey."

James groaned, trying to turn over.

"Come on James – stop being lazy," Doreen poked him.

Dorian and Nancy came into the room, "what are you two up to?"

"Getting James out of bed!" Doreen replied.

"We want to open presents but Dori says we have to wait for James," Cynthia explained.

"Thia waking him up isn't waiting," Nancy laughed, "come on, get down the stairs."

Doreen and Cynthia followed their siblings out of the room and down the stairs. Sirius poked James, "come on! Stop being such a lazy git and get out of bed! It's Christmas for fucks sake."

"Alright, stop being such a whiny little bitch," James grumbled, sitting up.

"James Charlus Potter! Don't use such foul language!" Mrs Potter said from the doorway, "get yourselves downstairs boys."

James grabbed his dressing gown and wrapped it around himself and shoved his feet into his slippers and followed Sirius down the stairs.

Remus woke up late on Christmas morning to the sound of a tapping at his window. He looked up to see James' owl. He quickly jumped out of bed and opened the window, allowing the owl in. He grabbed the note that was tied to its ankle and began to read;

You are coming for Christmas dinner today, right? You and your mum? Mum's cooked/ got the house-elves to cook so much food… Anyway, really looking forward to seeing you. Should we say half one-ish?

James.

Remus smiled before replying; See you then, Remus.

Remus looked at his watch after the owl had flown off with his response. It was eleven o'clock. He made his way down the stairs to where his mother was sitting quietly, "hello Remus."

"Hello mother," Remus smiled.

"Here's your presents," Mrs Lupin smiled.

"Thank you mum," Remus smiled at the sight of the small pile. He took the first present from the top of the pile and opened it. It was a beautiful book; it looked old and well-read – just the way Remus liked his books.

"It's a used book – I couldn't afford… things have been tight since your dad…"

"I love it mum," Remus said, looking through the pages of the flying squad by Kokain Nastet.

"It was your father's favourite…" Mary sighed, "It's just a shame I couldn't find his copy. He would have loved you to have it."

Remus placed the book to one side and grabbed the next present. It was another book. Remus read the note attatched; thought you might need this, Sirius. Remus looked at the book – it was so unlike Sirius to buy him a book; Sirius hated reading; You and Your Owl. "I don't get it… I don't have an owl…"

Remus frowned, placing the book aside, shaking his head slightly. The next present was rather large. The note read; To a very dear friend and fellow marauder, thought you might need this, Pete.

Remus opened the present and sighed, "what the heck are the guys up to. I don't need a cage for an owl. I don't have a ruddy owl!"

There was a gentle squawk at the window and an even lighter tap. Remus turned around to see the most beautiful brown owl he had ever seen. He opened the window and took the note attatched to its foot; Hi Rem, so I got you an owl for Christmas. Strange gift I know but you didn't have one and everyone needs an owl! James.

Remus laughed, "James got me an owl."

"He's a good friend," Mrs Lupin smiled.

Remus smiled back at her. He continued to open his presents. He had a box of chocolate wands from Frank, a bag of mice pops from Alice, some sugar straws from Kate, a box of pepper imps from Mary and another book from Lily; Great Wizards of the Twentieth Century. There was one present left. Remus frowned. He had received presents from all his friends; who's it from?

"Who's it from dear?" Mary asked her son.

"I-I'm not sure…" Remus opened it. It was a book; Hairy Snout, Human Heart. There was a note on the inside of the cover;

You will always be Remus to me. I don't care about your furry little problem. Marauders for life! James Potter.

A tear escaped as Remus read James' note, "You were right mum. My friends will stick by me." He passed the book to his mother to read.

"Well, that goes to show…" Mary nodded, her own face wet with tears.

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Next Chapter...

Snape spends Christmas day with Lily and her family...

James and Sirius open presents...

Christmas dinner at the Potters...