Chapter Text
"You wouldn't say it's Christmas, with the lot of homework they are giving us," James Potter sighed. He readjusted his glasses which had been dangerously close to falling off, and loosened his red and golden tie. Remus Lupin, who left Professor McGonagall's classroom right after him, looked at the loosened tie with raised eyebrows.
"Technically it's not even Christmas, James. There's three weeks left until the holidays, and we have important exams to pass!"
"It's officially December first, Moony," Sirius Black protested loudly. "And are you two coming or what? Peter and I are waiting for you! Better hurry up, Prongs, or else Professor McGonagall will know how scared you are of her..." He laughed at James' deadly regard.
"December first doesn't mean Christmas," Remus murmured, but nobody was listening to him anymore. James was too busy fleeing from Professor McGonagall, who had to be leaving her classroom soon, and Sirius was too busy laughing at him, and Peter was Peter, staring dully at the two that lead their group with ease. Peter didn't count; ever since the beginning of the school year he had been acting off, and not only in his normal slightly stupid dullness. He had been a little slow before, rather chubby (you could say fat, also, but first point, Remus was a good person, and second point, in some way they were friends, after all) and his hair of a nasty, greasy blond, but there was now a new sharp edge to the boy. So Remus just quickly caught up with the others and forgot about it. The castle and Hogwarts staff (probably mainly Albus Dumbledore, recently headmaster, genius but a bit strange) seemed to agree with James and Sirius. There were Christmas decorations absolutely everywhere. All the hallways were practically covered in candles and glittery stuff.
"I'm starving, man," James complained dramatically, rubbing his stomach.
"You're literally heading to dinner, drama queen Potter," Lily Evans, coming from behind, scoffed. "I doubt that you will die of hunger in five minutes."
James turned around abruptly. "You'll never know, Evans. I'm a growing man."
"You've got a long way to go with that growing," Lily replied, snorting. She adjusted her heavy school bag on her shoulder and turned to Remus. "Have you finished your essay for Potions already, Remus? I'm not sure about-"
"Sorry, Evans, no school talk after six pm," Sirius interrupted her and slung his arms around Remus shoulders, pulling him along. Remus shot Lily an apologizing look at Sirius' place, but he didn't have the willpower to deny Sirius what he wanted. With his werewolf muscles, he surely would have been strong enough to resist to Sirius' pulling, even though the other preferred Quidditch to studying and that showed, but something about Sirius' arm around his shoulders always made him go weak. "You really behave like a kid sometimes." Sirius grinned at him, but didn't loosen his grip, and Remus didn't really feel like complaining. The taller boy smelled like fir trees and freedom and carelessness, and Remus forgot all reason. They entered the Great Hall and found their place at the Gryffindor table, which was, naturally, also decorated with Christmas stuff, especially in red and golden colours, while the Slytherin table sported a lot more green and silver ornaments. Remus sat down next to Sirius, and Lily sat down next to him, which was quite a surprise as she was now almost facing James. The act could've been initiated by Marlene McKinnon though, who was sitting next to James and thus able to talk Quidditch with him and Sirius. Marlene was Lily's best friend and the reason for that Lily had started tolerating the Marauders at the beginning of their seventh year, finally. Marlene also had this massive crush on Sirius that literally everyone knew about, including Sirius himself, but Remus knew that Sirius wasn't at all attracted to her. In fact, she knew it just as well, but she didn't give up nevertheless.
James had stopped asking Lily on dates at the beginning of their seventh year. A lot had changed generally. A war had started, and they were growing up. Sirius had no family, and neither did Remus; their family was Hogwarts, and sometimes, there was just something missing. How do you bear with parents who can't bear with you?
"Moony, stop thinking!" James pushed his shoulder and grinned, all while stuffing his face with sausages and potato mash. Remus flinched a bit, but he managed to pull himself out of his thoughts. When he looked up, he realized that Sirius and Peter were both staring at him, Sirius with half a smile and Peter with an unreadable expression. What the heck was up with that boy?
"Eat something," Sirius murmured. Remus looked down at his plate and realized that it was empty. He also realized how hungry he was. Smiling gratefully at his friend, he loaded his plate with food and started to eat. The Great Hall was filled with delighted chatter and laughing, and Remus started to feel how the tension left him and he was able to relax.
"Look, there's snow!" a first year exclaimed suddenly, pointing to the enchanted ceiling.
"We can do a snowball fight!" James shouted happily and stood up, still holding some gingerbread in his left hand. The entire Great Hall (except maybe the Slytherins - Severus Snape especially was making a rather sour face) broke into laughter, but Dumbledore calmed them down quickly, just by clearing his throat, before anyone else could prepare themselves to run outside.
"I guess, Mr. Potter, that it is already a little late for a snowball fight outside, don't you think so?"
"But, Professor... It's Christmas!"
Remus saw Sirius rolling his eyes and smiled, tapping the other one's foot slightly with his own. Sirius smiled back and winked. Remus all but blushed - and anyway, he was like PMS-ing with the full moon in five days, and had absolutely no control about his emotions!
"I do fully agree, Mr. Potter, as you can see," Dumbledore responded, pointing to his head where, instead of his normal plain black had, he had put a Christmas bonnet. "Nevertheless, I'm am responsable of my students safety and can't afford losing some of you in the dark - can you imagine all the Howlers I would get? The snowball fight shall take place tomorrow at nine o'clock sharp. Morning classes are exceptionally cancelled - in case that there will be enough snow, naturally."
James cheered loudly, and all of the other student's with him. Even Remus couldn't help being a little happy (though he was worried about exams) and he could see Lily rolling her eyes at James, who had now finally sat down, but not really meaning it anymore.
Maybe Remus was feeling a bit Christmas-y after all, and surely when after dinner, while they were all sitting around the fireplace in the common room, Sirius slung his arm around Remus shoulder once again and murmured, just for him to hear:
"Don't worry, Moony, the full moon will be over soon, and we're with you."
Remus smiled and breathed in the other's scent, happily, while Sirius continued to discuss with their friends and not-so-openly-friends (aka Lily) until one after the other went up into the dormitory to go to sleep. The castle was calm and peaceful when Remus finally fell asleep.