December 18, 1973
In the Great Hall, several students gather for dinner. A surprising number of students have stayed at school over the Christmas holidays; there are nearly fifty sitting down for dinner. At the Gryffindor table, the Marauders are joined by LILY, MARLENE, and MARY.
MARY: What's up, everyone?
JAMES: Nothing.
LILY sits next to REMUS. They smile at each other, but don't say a word to each other. MARLENE and SIRIUS meet each other's gaze and smirk.
MARLENE: So, Lily. What have you been up to?
LILY: Just schoolwork. Getting ready for Christmas vacation.
SIRIUS: Are you staying here over break?
LILY: Yeah, I figured I would. My parents want me to come home, but I told them I wanted to stay.
MARY: I'm gonna be leaving. My parents are taking a trip to Germany and want me to come with them.
MARLENE: That's exciting!
SIRIUS: What about you, Peter?
PETER: Mum wants me to go home, so I think I will- I do want to stay at school over holidays at least once, though-
JAMES: Well, I'm staying. Can't wait for the Christmas party this year. Longbottom says it's gonna be insane.
SIRIUS: Last year was pretty intense, though. Remember the firecrackers?
JAMES: (laughing) And when old McGonagall showed up at like three in the morning?
MARY: God, she was screaming like mad. I nearly went deaf.
JAMES: You're staying, right, Remus?
REMUS: Uh, yeah. I'll be here.
JAMES: Awesome.
LILY: Let's not forget that we have our last exams this week, though- and they're relatively important-
MARY: Oh, don't be such a party-pooper, Evans.
JAMES: Yeah, Evans. Relax.
MARY and JAMES smile at each other, while LILY wears a disdainful look. She grasps REMUS' hand under the table.
MARLENE: How awesome would it be if we were able to go to another House's Christmas party? I always wondered what Slytherin parties were like-
SIRIUS: Or better yet, if all the Houses had like, one huge party somewhere.
JAMES: No way. Can you imagine partying with Ravenclaws? Their definition of fun is making up their own homework assignments-
MARY: I don't know. I hear Ravenclaws throw the most intense parties.
JAMES: Oh, yeah? Where'd you read that, the Quibbler?
The seven friends laugh, and continue to eat and drink together.
YOU ARE READING
The Marauders Rise (II)
FanfictionIn 1973, the Marauders enter their third year at Hogwarts and are immediately thrown back into a world of magic and mayhem. James, Sirius, and Peter, under the guidance of Minerva, devise an unorthodox way to help Remus during his transformations, a...
