The Collision Theory | Remus Lupin

29. Tis The Season To Be Jolly

"TIS THE SEASON TO BE JOLLY!" The off-key voice of James Potter echoes just outside the Great Hall, letting the entirety of the school now that he's coming to dinner, "TRALALALALA LALALA. LAAAAA."

The teachers don't even look up from their plates, they've suffered this season far too long. Remus fills everyone's cups with hot chocolate, "December the seventeenth, our last day in school for 1976."

"Huh, it's been a..." Lily sighs, her gaze shifting momentarily to the Slytherin table, "Well, let's just say that the year's been eventful."

"Who's ready for Christmas?!" Potter plops onto the bench, making us jump, "I know I am."

"Really? Couldn't tell." I roll my eyes, nibbling on a chicken drumstick. I stifle a yawn, having not been able to sleep properly again. Lily thought I was doing the last piece of my homework, but the recurring dream with Snape woke me again.

"You guys should come around our house." James indicates to Sirius. I smile a little that despite his obnoxious nature, James goes out of his way to make people feel good.

Remus shrugs, "Mum and Dad are coming around, I think."

"Mum spoke to Euphemia and we're staying most of Christmas." Peter adds.

"Any excuse to get away from Petunia." Lily mutters when Sirius looks at her expectantly.

James smirks, "That leaves you, Novak. You wanna come round?"

"I'll think about it." I feign indifference, but let a small smirk form on the corner of my mouth.

*

"All aboard!" Hagrid bellows, a trail of first years following him like little ducklings. Snow from the night before has lessened considerably, but is still falling lightly over us, coating the scenery like icing sugar. Students file into the station quickly, and though I had the intentions of sitting with the girls, I lose them in the crowd within minutes.

The train ride home for the holidays feels like a merciful Angel ready to take me to sweet paradise, or at least that's what James called it.

"You are incredibly tiny Aylin Novak. No wonder you lost your friends on the way." A familiar voice sounds behind me, and my luggage is taken from my hands.

"Five foot four mate, is not that bad," I roll my eyes, letting him take the heavy suitcase, "and you are abnormally tall Sirius Black. Mind you don't hit your head in the carriages."

He chuckles, "Funny, now hold on to my cloak, I need to get you on-board without being trampled on. Your sister will probably kill me if I don't..." He carries on babbling as he walks through the crowd and boarding the train, though his words are muffled by the chatter of the crowd, "He's so tall, like, taller than me. How is a Munchkin like you related to a mountain like him?"

"Wait, who?" I frown, most likely missing out an entire chunk of what Sirius was going on about.

"Your dad."

I swat the back of his head, "Did you never have science class? Dominant and recessive genes, and bloody Hell, I'm not a muchkin."

"Well you are one." Sirius waves exaggeratedly suddenly, "Moony!"

"Sirius you're going to kill someone! Stop waving!" I stick my head out from behind Sirius to see the gangly boy waving back and beckoning us over from the window of a free carriage.