A Very Maraudery Christmas

Christmas at Hogwarts

Dashing through the snow

In a Thestral pulled sleigh

Through the forest we go

Laughing all the way

House elves they all sing

Fairies giving light

We all have to jump and yell

Christmas comes tonight

Oh falling snow

Falling snow

Falling down today

Oh what fun it is to ride

In a Thestral pulled sleigh

Falling snow

Falling snow

Falling down today

Oh what fun it is to ride

In a Thestral pulled sleigh

"Peter . . . Shut up!" James groaned pulling his pillow over his head.

"James relax!" Remus yelled, "It's Christmas!"

"Yeah presents!" Sirius shouted at the top of his lungs. James groaned as something was tossed on to his bed. Sighing he sat up and began to unwrap the box.

Sometime later he was pulling the sweater his mom had sent him over his head, when Sirius burst out laughing.

"What?"

"I have just gotten a brilliant idea!" Sirius grinned. "Let's go caroling."

"Why?"

"Oh come on, Moony, girls like a man who can sing!"

"That's the problem," Remus grumbled, "you're tone deaf!"

"So?"

"Alright, let's go caroling," James agreed.

"Yeah, and you can serenade Lily!"

"Oh no, Peter . . ."

"Why'd you have to go and give him an idea like that!"

James only grinned, "Wormtail, old buddy, your brilliant!" The others groaned. "What you have a better idea?"

"As a matter of fact . . ." Remus started.

"Come on we're late for breakfast, and I've got to get the perfect song!"

***

The morning went by rather fast, and the four boys were standing by the front doors finishing up a lively chorus of Good King Muggle. Well three of them were. James was propped up against the wall, parchment in hand, composing his song to Lily.

"Come on James," Remus said, "your completely butchering Randle the Red Nosed House Elf!"

"Yeah Prongs," Sirius jumped it. "Just let us improv to Deck the Halls. You can stick 'lily go out with me' anywhere you want in that one!"

"We can do it your way if we see her before I'm done," James answered with his tongue between his teeth as he scribbled on the parchment. "But I want to finish this . . ."

Sirius shrugged and launched into God Rest ye Marry Hippogriffs as a group of Professors walked past.

God rest ye merry Hippogriffs

Flying through the storm

May tidings of peace and joy

Be yours this Christmas morn

May ye find a place to rest

That is safe and warm

May ye find a place

That's safe and warm

Safe and warm

May ye find a place

That's safe and warm

Remus joined in willingly, wincing as he tried to ignore Sirius's off key voice, and Peter's shrill piping. Unfortunately Remus was the only one of this group that could actually sing, who was singing. James was still bent over the parchment.

It was then that a group of girls wandered into the entrance hall. Sirius elbowed Remus in the ribs and nodded at a familiar red headed figure among the group. "Rea's not looking two shabby today, is she?" Sirius said appreciatively of the dark hared girl next to Lily. Peter snickered and Remus rolled his eyes.

"What about lily?"

"Remus, buddy, James has . . ."

"Apparently not finished his song?" Sirius got the hint.

"Oh . . ."

"What'd you think I meant?"

"Never mind. Let's get this over with." Sirius tapped Peter on the shoulder and the three of them began to sing.

"Deck the halls with Dragon eggs." James jerked his head up from the parchment and immediately stood to join them.

"Fa la la la laa la la la la."

"Snivilus's ego's to big for his head," Sirius quipped.

"Fa la la la laa la la la la." The Slytherin glared.

"And he never makes his bed."

"Fa la laa la la laa la la la."

"If I were you I wouldn't eat the bread." Remus jumped in taking to opportunity to warn the hall of their latest prank.

"Fa la la la laaa la la la laa."

"Let us hang the Christmas wreath."

"Fa la la la laa la la la la."

"Mistletoe, let's stand beneath," James directed this last comment at Lily who pointedly ignored him.

"Fa la la la laa la la la la."

"Christmas time is so much fun."

"Fa la laa la la laa la la la."

"Regulus, you better run." Sirius quickly threw a Dung Bomb at his younger brother.

"Fa la la la laaa la la la la."

"I like to decorate the Christmas tree."

"Fa la la la laa la la la la."

"Lily will you go out with me!" James knelt down on one knee and gave her the puppy dog look.

"Fa la la la laa la la la la."

"Get lost Potter."

"Fa la laa la la laa la la la."

"And now it is time for lunch." Peter gestured at the Great Hall doors, which were now open.

"Fa la la la laaa la la la la."

***

"We have got to do something!" Remus said watching James stare at his sandwich sadly.

"Yeah if I hear one more 'it's going to work this time,' I swear I'm going to scream!" Sirius glanced over as Peter started trying to get James to talk about Quidditch. "Any ideas, Moony?"

"Only one Padfoot." Remus looked over at the other end of the table where Lily was just leaving. Two of her dorm mates were still there. Rea (The girl Sirius seemed to admire) was a rather short raven hared girl with crystal blue eyes. The other, Sarah, was the exact opposite. Tall and lanky with a frizzy brown ponytail, she had what looked to be chalk all over her nose, and she was sketching on a pad of paper.

"But we're going to need their help." Sirius stood and followed Remus over.

"We're sorry ladies, but something has to be done about Lily and James." The two girls exchanged a look.

"Sit down and tell us what you've got planned," Sarah said motioning at an empty spot across from her. Both boys sat and Remus grinned as he took a sprig of Mistletoe out of his pocket.

"This!"

"The only problem," Sirius added, "is that we're not sure how to get the two of them in the same room, with out Lily taking James's head off."

Rea smirked, "Can you get James to apologize for what he pulled yesterday afternoon, you know, the gloop incident?"

"I think so," Remus answered wincing slightly. The whole gloop idea had in fact, been his.

"Then we can handle Lily . . . we're about as tired of this whole thing as everybody else."

"You just have James in the common room at nine, and get that leaf your holding over their heads," Sarah answered.

"Then we have a deal?" Sirius asked holding out his hand.

"Deal!" Rea shook it.

"And Remus, one more thing!"

"What?"

"Mistletoe!" Sarah said with a grin as she leaned across the table to give him a peck on the cheek.

***

Remus and Sirius crouched on the stairs to the boy's dorms watching James pace the floor in front of the couch in the common room. A moment later there was the sound of angry footsteps as Lily stomped down from her own dorm.

"Potter, Rea and Sarah said you had something to tell me. And this had better not be another ploy to . . ."

"I'm sorry."

"What?"

"I'm sorry. That's what I wanted to tell you . . . I wanted to apologize!"

"Well you should!"

"No really, I know I've been somewhat of a jerk lately . . ."

"Lately?" Lily snapped, but her face had softened somewhat.

"And pranking you was a really bad idea . . . I just wanted you to pay attention to me . . . and well . . .will you forgive me?" Lily only looked at him. "Plllleeeaaaassssse!"

Remus grinned and slowly charmed the Mistletoe to attach it's self to the ceiling above James's head. It was then that Peter chose to walk in through the portrait hole. "James why are you standing there?" He asked pointing at the ceiling. James looked up.

Perhaps it was the look of utter surprise on James's face when he spotted the Mistletoe, or the fact that he had just admitted what a prick he'd been and asked for foreignness, but whatever it was, it made Lily smile. Grinning she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.