(A/N): Hey Guys! Two in one night, YEAH! I just have to alert you, I do currently have the flu, so I may or may not get another chapter out tonight. Anyway, I hope you like it.

Disclaimer: I own nothing you recognise.

Leo

After Elaine's declaration, we all- including Brooke- headed down to the Great Hall for lunch. There were only ten others in the Hall, other than the professors- one Slytherin, a few Ravenclaws, and a handful of Hufflepuffs. We were some of the only Gryffindors left in the castle, and the only ones currently attending lunch. Instead of there being five tables- the four house plus the high table for the professors- there was only one, placed directly in the middle of the hall.

"Good afternoon, students," Minnie began, standing at the head of the table beside Dumbledore.

"Welcome to our Christmas feast," He took over, raising one of his silver-white brows. "I see we have an unusual amount of Gryffindors in attendance." He shot us a subtle wink. "Always keen to take care of a friend." Those not clued in on Remus's condition didn't even have time to look confused, as Dumbledore quickly pressed on. "Hufflepuffs, prepared to complete any task put before them, in the most honest way possible." He smiled fondly in the direction of the Hufflepuffs at the other end of the table. "Ravenclaws, always seeing the smallest of details, and knowing exactly what it means." He tapped his temple, and one of the Ravenclaws raised their goblet to him. "And Slytherin," Dumbledore paused for a second, his eyes falling on the only Slytherin at the table- probably a first year, judging by his small stature. "The mighty snake. Capable of almost anything... and the ambition to get just that." The Slytherin boy looked pleased, but as I watched, he dipped the cuffs of his sleeves in his food. "Dig in," Dumbledore announced, taking his seat, and we all snatched our cutlery from the table.

After lunch, we did indeed go up to the astronomy tower, and even though he tried to hide it, I saw Remus wince every now and then. When we reached the top, Lily and I cast heating spells on the room so the winter chill didn't bother us, while James and Sirius spread out a blanket on the floor along with a few pillows that we'd snagged from the room of requirement on our way up.

We lolled around on the floor, our coats and sweaters discarded now that we no longer having a need for them, and I purposefully sat with my back against the wall. Brooke and Elaine soon joined me, one on either side, and when I met Lily's eyes, they were filled with teasing amusement. "Shut up," I mouthed to her, and she smothered her giggles with her hand. A few minutes later, I felt first Elaine's head hit my shoulder- closely followed by Brooke's. Oh, God...

"Why don't we play truth or dare?" Remus suggested, watching me with mischievous eyes, and I jumped up- out of both girls' reach- to kneel by his side.

"Yes! Let's do that!"

Even knowing how desperate I was, the others looked surprised. "Okay, then..." James muttered. "Brooke." She switched her gaze to him, rather than needling the back of my head. "Truth or dare?" She considered it for a second– or, well, pretended to.

"Truth." James nodded slowly, glancing at the others briefly before back to her.

"How much do you know about Leo?"

She folded her arms over her chest, smirking at him. "More than you."

Lily huffed, rolling her eyes. "Oh, now she knows?" I did my best to smile at her, while Brooke shrugged.

"Hey, she has known me longer than any of you." Lily glared at me.

"And I've known you the second longest, why won't you tell me?"

Elaine glanced at me- likely measuring my emotional state- before choosing to pipe up with, "Lily, we're trying to make this the best Christmas any of us have ever had- Let's not fight." Lily stared at her for a minute, lips pursed, before she let her chin drop and unfolded her arms.

"Besides, I didn't tell Brooke."

There was silence for a moment before Remus and Elaine both cried out, "Oh!" Collectively, the rest of us turned to stare at them.

"What?" I asked, the confused one for once, and Elaine shot me a particularly painful glare.

"Nothing," She murmured, before Remus finished for her with, "Just realising you lied to us." They both stood, and before I knew it, they were out the door.

"Again," Sirius chimed in helpfully, but the only thing it earned him was a smack him on the shoulder courtesy of James.

"I'll be back," I said, jumping to my feet. Then I remembered that this was Remus and Elaine, who were both extremely formidable, and quite capable of hurting me- emotionally, if not physically. "...maybe."

(A/N): So, what did you think?

'Let's not fight.' *Fights*

Please review and/or check out my other stories.

This chapter has had minor edits made to it on 30/12/22 - Missed the 'e' in Brooke, along with some other grammatical errors

This chapter has had edits made to it on 11/3/24 - formatting, and reconfiguring sentences so they make more sense.