Winter Wonderland

"It was exactly two weeks before Christmas and Rae was absolutely ecstatic. She just couldn't wait to finally have a break, even a small one, from all this class work. With N.E.W.T.S. coming up they had to work them extra hard, at least that's what all her professors thought.
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Christmas break started today, and I was one of the only Hufflepuffs staying behind. The Maruaders, James, Peter, Sirius and Remus, and Lily, Frank and Alice were staying behind from Gryffindor. Severus Snape, Regulus Black and a couple other Slytherin goons stayed as well. And from Ravenclaw only a couple of first years chose to stay.
That meant I was getting to spend the next three weeks cuddled up with my boyfriend Remus. Well actually we're probably going to be in the library half of the time, and the other half being stalked by James and Sirius, oh and Peter. There's something seriously off about that boy. He's always real skiddish ad jumpy.
Currently I am sitting underneath my favorite tree with Lily and Alice watching Frank and the Marauders duel.
"So you and Remus are getting kind of serious, huh?" Lily asks. "Oh, um, I, uh, yeah I guess we are. This summer will be two years since he asked me out. I'm hoping he will propose. Since You-Know-Who is gathering followers we probably don't have long until we go to war..." I say trailing off at the end. "I hope he does, it'll give us something to look forward to." Alice says.
"Yeah, but what about you and James, Lil, a year ago you couldn't stand to be in the same room as him and now you guys are snogging every ten minutes." I say grinning. She blushes and says, "well things change, you know." We spend the rest of the day laughing and playing in the snow.
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A week before Christmas professor McGonagall escorts Lily, Alice and I to Hogsmeade to pick up last minute gifts. I already have gifts for Lily and the Marauders, I just need to get stuff for Alice, my muggle best friend Meg, and my parents.
We start in Zonkos joke shop wear I get some dungbombs and sugar quills for Meg. Then we go to Honeydukes sweet shop where I get chocolate frogs and some nougat for alice, who has a major sweet tooth. Then we go to the three broomsticks where I buy a bottle of elf-made wine for my mum and a bottle of Odgens Old Firewiskey for my father. Which I have Madam Rosmerta owl it to them for me.
We drink butterbeer and then head back to the castle.
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Christmas Eve is probably my favorite day of the year. Especially at Hogwarts. This year I spend the day with Remus, enjoying the crackle of the fire in the common room, surrounded by friends who are pretty much family. "Hey you guys want to go see what's for dinner?" James asks. "Sure," we all say simultaneously. We laugh and then head down to the Great Hall.
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Christmas morning I wake to Lily yelling, "it's Christmas wake up!!" I push her off of me and notice all the presents at the end of my bed. I grin and start opening them. From my parents I get some clothes and my great grandmother's emerald necklace. From Lily I received a muggle band tee and from Alice I got a fancy quill and a package of chocolate frogs. James and Sirius' package contained an assortment of prank supplies and from Peter I received nougat and a quill spelled to not need ink.
Remus and I had agreed to give each other our presents later on in the day in person.
I give Lily and Alice a hug in thanks, and we decide to head down to the common room to meet up with the boys.
Sirius and Marietta are busy making out in a corner somewhere but the rest of them are sitting in their usual area. A table to the right of the common room. I sit down next to Remus and give him a kiss. "Happy Christmas everyone!" I say smiling.
Right before lunch Remus asks me if I want to go on a walk with him. I agree and we walk out of the common room holding hands. "So babe," I say while grabbing a box out of my back pocket. "Happy Christmas." I finish while handing the package to him. "I hope you like it, I know your family doesn't have a lot of money and you didn't get it on your birthday so I saved up for it." I say nervously. He opens it up revealing a beautiful watch with R.J.L. engraved on the back. "Thank you my love." He says and gives me a kiss. We walk down to the Great Lake where a house elf is waiting with a picnic basket. "Here you go Mister Lupin," the elf squeaks. "Thank you Misty." Remus says as the elf disappears.
Remus lays out a blanket and we both sit down. He hands me a Cuban sandwich and a bag of muggle cool ranch Doritos. "These are my absolute favorite. How did you get them?" I ask shocked. "Sirius and I snuck into that muggle town a few miles north of here and they had them." he answers grinning. We eat in silence until Remus burps really loud. We both start laughing and then he's kneeling in front of me.
"Rae, I have loved since our very first day here, and I will continue to love you until the day that I die, will you please do me the honor of becoming my wife?" he asks looking nervous. "Yes!" I yell, jumping into his arms.
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At dinner professor Dumbledore stood up with a twinkle in his eyes and says, "I'm proud to say that two of our students have an announcement to make." Remus and I both stand up and say simultaneously, "we're engaged." "congratulations!" the whole table roared. Lily and Alice jumped up and hugged me while james, Sirius, Frank and Peter group hugged Remus. We all sit back down and enjoy the rest of the Christmas feast. I smile and grab Remus' hand, thinking that this is the best Christmas ever.
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"Five minutes!!" Lily yells. I take a deep breath and look into the floor length mirror in front of me. I'm wearing a light yellow wedding dress with longs sleeves that is slightly flowy. My best friends, Lily, Meg and Alice, and my mom are surrounding me. I finish my hair and walk out into the hallway where my dad is waiting.
Lily and James began their walk down the aisle followed by Meg and Sirius, Alice and Frank and my cousin Renee and Peter. "You ready dear? My father asks. "Yes." I reply. I put my arm through his and we start walking. Time slows down as soon as my eyes land on Remus, standing next to our best friends in a tux and bow tie. We reach the alter and my dad puts my hand into Remus' I smile and look into his eyes. Honestly the whole thing is a blur one second we're saying our vows and the next were kissing and the crowd is going crazy.
During the reception I dance with literally everyone, including Peter who spent the whole dance repeatedly stepping on my feet. After dancing for a while I go and sit down next to Remus who was smiling like a fool.
Sirius and James both stand up to make a toast. "Eight years ago I met three kids on the Hogwarts express. There names are James, Remus and Peter. We instantly became best friends. Then we met Lily and Rae. Where James and Remus both fell in love. Who knew that years later we would be standing here watching two of them get married, and hopefully James and Lily are next." Sirius says grinning.
"Well I'm not sure what to say now that Sirius has dropped that bomb. Haha. Remus has, and will always be one of my closest friends. And I just want to wish you two a happy life together and say congratulations!" Everyone claps and the boys sit down. Lily and Meg say their speeches and we eat dinner, which consists of grilled chicken breasts, asparagus, mashed potatoes and Cole slaw.
Later that night as I'm laying in his arms I can't help but think about how perfect today was.
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I look at the calender and mark off today's date, December 25, 1979. The war is advancing and we have all joined a group, founded by Dumbledore called the Order of the Phoenix. Today Remus and I are opening presents with Lily and James, who got married earlier this year, Peter and his date Martha, and Sirius and the girl he is currently seeing, I think her name might be Maeve.
We sit around the tree and James starts handing out presents. He hands a small rectangular box to Lily. She opens the box with a smirk on her face and pulls out a white plastic stick. "Oh my Merlin, congratulations you two!!!" I yell and hug them both. "What's going on?" Sirius asks confused. "I'm pregnant." Lily says smiling. "That's amazing!" Remus and Sirius say at the same time. Lily and I laugh and then walk into the kitchen to make tea.
"I cant believe you're pregnant, how far along are you?" I ask and began the tea making process. "About two months, I'm due the end of July." She answers smiling. "I'm so happy for you guys." I say and hug Lily. We put the cups on a tray and walk back into the living room, celebrating the thought of a new life.
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Exactly one year later and here we are once again sitting in Godrics Hollow with Lily and James. Only this year is very different than the last. See now Lily, James and baby Harry are in hiding. Which means it's only remus, Sirius, Peter and I here.
We spent the morning opening gifts and eating an amazing breakfast that Lily and I cooked. Now we are all sitting around the fire deep in thought. Remus' arms tighten around me and I look up into his eyes.
"I love you, my hufflepuff." he whispers. "I love you too, my Gryffindor." I reply smiling, loving the fact that even in all this mess I still get butterflies when he whispers in my ears.
Harry starts to cry so I get up and change his diaper, to give Lily and James a break. After he's changed he starts smiling and it melts my heart. I sit back down next to Remus, still holding Harry, thinking voldemort must really be a monster if he wants to harm this innocent little boy.
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It took almost two months to convince Dumbledore to allow Remus and I to adopt Harry. Two months that he had to stay with his abusive aunt and uncle. Two months with Lily and James dead. Two months with Peter gone and Sirius in Azkaban. Now here we sit holding a one year old Harry, alone on Christmas, without our best friends.
Thank Merlin, that Lily and I became blood sister's at Hogwarts or he would still be sitting there in that dirty broom cupboard all alone.
We sit around the fire drinking hot cocoa like usual. But this was the most unusual Christmas I have ever had. I watch Harry play with his new toys and think that at least voldemort is gone and the war is over.
~~~~~~~
Ma'am we're going to have to do an emergency c section." the muggle doctor says. "The umbilical cord is wrapped around both babies necks and they can not breathe and your heart rate is low. If we don't get them out now you all might die." "please save them. Do Whatever you need to save them." I say. "I will." he promises. "But we have to act now." They rush me into ICU and knock me out. I come out of unconsciousness when I hear babies screaming. I look up and see two healthy baby girls and then close my eyes and am no more.

~~~~~ Remus P.O.V.
Yesterday, December 25th, 1982 my beautiful Hufflepuff gave birth to two beatiful girls named, Lily Alice Lupin and Hope Rae Lupin. And now, sitting in this winter wonderland with my daughters and Harry and without my wife and best friends, the real challenge begins - raising three kids, alone.
FIN.