From the Beginning..

The next few months passed quickly. Sirius and Snape seemed to reach an unspoken agreement. If they couldn't get along, they'd ignore each other. It seemed to be a good arrangement for everyone. That didn't however, stop Snape from trying to find out something on the Marauders. If anything it increased it.

Just before Christmas, all four of the Marauders were talking in James' room while everyone else was sleeping.

"You two should be called Mooney," Remus said nodding to James and Sirius.

"Why is that?" Sirius said.

"Well," Peter said. "It's not so much of a shock about James and Lily, we've known them forever."

Remus nodded. "Right. But you, Sirius!" They all started laughing as Sirius smiled.

"I don't know what it is about her," he shrugged, "it's as though I've known her forever." He sobered. "I actually can't picture being without her."

James nodded. "It's like that with Lily, too." He looked sheepish for a moment. "I plan on proposing right before graduation."

"Bloody hell!" Sirius said grinning. "Congratulations!"

"Good luck," Remus and Peter said.

"What about you, Sirius? What are your plans for you and Ariadne?" James asked.

"Hell," he said, "I've got to get her to agree to stay in England first."

Everyone laughed and decided to disperse for the night. Sirius hung behind. "James," he started, "I have a huge favor to ask."

"Shoot," James said. "Whatever you want, within reason of course! I wouldn't be with Lily now if it wasn't for you."

Sirius walked over to the window. "The next night of the full moon, is Christmas Eve. I need someplace private to meet with Ari." He reached in his pocket and pulled out beautiful gold ring with a single flawless diamond.

James jumped up from the bed. "My god! You're further gone than I thought." He nodded, smiling. "Sure. Good luck."

Sirius nodded. "I'm going to try to sleep now." He left the room, knowing that he wasn't going to get any sleep that night.

James watched him go. 'Ah Sirius,' he thought, 'I hope this all works out for you. You deserve to be happy, too.'

The days seemed to fly past to Christmas Eve. The week before, most of the students had left the school for the holidays. The Marauders, Lily, Ariadne and Snape were some of the only student's left on the grounds.

Christmas Eve morning, Sirius had waited for her in the common room as usual. "Good morning," he said giving her a quick kiss before the others arrived. "Good morning," she smiled.

"I wanted to give you your present tonight, instead of waiting for tomorrow. Can you meet me here in the common room at 11?"

Ariadne looked at him closely. "Why so late?"

He looked nervous. "There's something I need to take care of first."

She stared at him for a moment. 'Please don't let her read my mind' he thought.

"Okay," she said just as the others joined them.

She was still wondering what it was about as they went into breakfast.

Sirius stood outside the Whomping Willow. He had told Remus his plans for the night. He had just come outside the tunnel when Snape walked up to him. "What are you doing out here?" Sirius asked. "I could ask you the same question, Black." He looked at the opening. "What's down here?" he asked. Sirius looked at him for a moment before answering. "Why don't you check it out for yourself, Snape?" he answered before walking away laughing. Snape sneered at Sirius' back before stepping down into the tunnel.

He walked down the secret hall that evening smiling, everything was going according to plan.

Sirius smiled to himself. Peace and quiet at last.