Sanctuary

Chapter 24

Friday, 17th December 1971, 6:00 pm

Two hours after James left the note for Dumbledore, Remus and the other Marauders took their seats in the Great Hall. James was still pouting about his pink robes, but the anticipation of the event to come seemed to take the edge off his bad mood. Though, he kept scowling at Sirius, which was entertaining. James refused to believe that Remus had anything to do with it.

The noise level was deafening, the students were in high spirits with the end of term and the excitement of presents to come, but it had been two weeks since the full moon, so his ears weren't as sensitive as they had been at Halloween. He might actually be able to enjoy himself. Hagrid had outdone himself with the decorations. Twelve enormous Christmas trees adorned the Great Hall—thankfully there was still plenty of room for their ice sculptures—and mistletoe and holly were spread throughout the castle. Professor Flitwick had enchanted the suits of armour to sing Christmas carols. James and Sirius had asked him if he could work out how to change the words, but he hadn't tried very hard at that assignment before informing them he couldn't do it. He'd been concerned about what words they might choose instead.

When Dumbledore entered and took his seat, they all watched him closely. He raised an eyebrow when he spotted the note, and they saw him pick it up and open it. A few moments passed as he read before he smiled and glanced out at the students, giving a very tiny nod.

He would do it.

As the Feast wore on his friends became more and more jittery. By the time dessert appeared, they were balls of nervous energy.

'Will you three calm down, you're going to give us away,' Remus whispered, leaning across the table.

'What if we messed something up?' Peter said.

Remus shook his head. 'We didn't. Everything will go according to plan. You know how much we practised. Stop worrying.'

When everyone was finished with dessert and the tables were cleaned of dishes, Dumbledore stood up and cleared his throat. Throughout the hall, heads turned to look at him and silence fell.

'Now that we are all fed and watered, I have a few end-of-term notices. The train will leave Hogsmeade station at eleven o'clock. Everyone who is going home for the holidays, and those that wish to see them off, must be ready in the Entrance Hall at ten. The return train will leave Kings Cross at eleven o'clock on Saturday, the first.' He paused and picked up the Marauders note from the table. 'I have also received a mysterious note. It's from the people who call themselves the Hogwarts Marauders—-'

Dumbledore was interrupted by cheering, foot-stamping and hooting. He calmly waited for the students to settle down before he continued.

'I will read it to you: Dear Professor Dumbledore. We have prepared an evening of revelry as a Christmas gift to the school. We did not wish to interrupt the delicious feast, so lovingly crafted by our beloved house-elves, and so we ask if you would kindly begin the evening's festivities at the appropriate time. Before you say the phrase at the bottom of this note, please ask all the students to gather in the middle of the room. We assure you that we have accounted for every safety precaution.' Professor Dumbledore looked up from the note. 'And then they've signed it, lots of love and a Happy Christmas from The Hogwarts Marauders. Isn't that sweet?'

The hall erupted with laughter.

James looked at him and Sirius, aghast. 'We didn't write "lots of love," did we?'

'No,' Sirius said, laughing. 'He's trying to embarrass us.'

Remus chuckled. 'Sneaky. He'll have to try harder than that to figure out who we are.'