The Finder That Couldn't Be Found

Chapter 66: Happy Christmas

"This is bloody impossible!" James declared, falling back onto a bench.

"Come on mate, one more shop!" Sirius encouraged.

"You said that three shops ago!" James complained.

"The right ring is out there, I just know it!" Remus said.

"I dunno." James frowned, looking down at his feet.

"I know you want it to be perfect for Lily, but she'd love anything coming from you." Logan reminded him.

"I just- what if she says no? What if she breaks up with me?"

"She won't break up with you, and even if she says no, it will be alright. You two were made for each other." She said.

"Okay... But what if-"

"James!" Sirius groaned, "Let's go!"

"Okay." James said, getting up and leading the way to the next shop.

Even though he was tired, James still was eager to pick out the perfect ring, his excited energy making the shopkeepers laugh. Logan, Remus and Peter browsed the rows of rings while Sirius followed James around, almost equally as excited.

"Are you two getting married?" One shopkeeper asked the two peppy boys.

"What? Oh, no." Sirius said.

"Nah, not unless we turn thirty five without falling in love." James said, causing Sirius to laugh at the mention of the pact they had made as thirteen year olds.

The shopkeeper looked very confused.

"No sir, they aren't getting married." Remus clarified.

"Oh." The man said, before pulling out another row of rings, "Well these are some simpler designs."

"Ooh, I'll take a look!" James exclaimed.

"What about a lily, James?" Peter asked, pointing to one ring.

"No, that's too cliche, she wouldn't like that."

"Wow, look at that one." Logan mused, looking at one of the rings.

It was elegant, with one diamond and two small roses made of ruby on either side.

Remus watched her hush over the ring with a smile on his face.

"You like that one?" He asked.

"Yeah." She nodded, reluctantly pulling her eyes away from it.

Remus stares at the ring for a few moments longer before tearing his eyes away as well.

"Oh!" James gasped.

The others hurried over to his side. In his hand was a beautiful ring with a diamond surrounded by emeralds.

"James." Logan whispered.

"That's bloody amazing!" Sirius exclaimed.

"I think this is the one." James said.

"That's the one!" Sirius repeated in excitement, "Oh my Merlin, my best mate's getting married!"

"Not yet, I haven't even asked her yet!" James said.

"Well, you better ask her soon." Sirius said, "I think I'm gonna bust with excitement real soon."

Logan laughed. James went up to pay for the ring and put it in his pocket. As they walked back to the castle, he checked his pocket for it every ten steps.

"Come on, Prongs!" Remus urged.

"Coming, coming." He said.

"Hey guys!" A voice called.

They turned to see Lily, Enna and Maya.

"How was your grande Marauder day?" Lily asked.

"Good." Logan said.

"Awesome!" Lily said, moving forward to kiss James.

He took a step back. She looked at hi in confusion.

"Huh?" He asked nervously.

Lily smiled and kissed him, and this time he kissed her back, one hand on the pocket that held his girlfriend's Christmas gift.

"True love." Maya said, wiping away a fake tear.

"Could be yours too." Sirius said, "I happen to know an eligible bachelor. He's a Marauder. Quite handsome too."

"Thanks, but Peter and I are just friends." Maya said, "Right Pete?"

They high-fived and Sirius looked somber.

"Let's head back to the castle." Enna suggested, "It's freezing."

"Yeah." Logan agreed, looping arms with the blonde and skipping forward causing Enna to laugh.

Newt loaned Logan some money for buying her friends gifts and she drew various drawings on the cards she made for them. Well, Newt said she didn't have to repay him, but feeling guilty, she decided to do so anyways.

The weekend before Christmas Day, Logan went shopping for her friends presents, all the while searching for the perfect gift for Newt. In the end, she went to Hagrid and had him help her with drawing detailed diagrams of a few mystical creatures.

For Lily, Enna and Maya she got matching bracelets. For Sirius, she and he other boys pitched money together to buy him a leather jacket. For James, she bought some Quidditch supplies, for Remus a new book series and for Peter a handful of sugar quills and other candies. For the Prewett twins she got some joke products from Zonko's that she thought they hadn't seen before.

On Christmas Eve, the Marauders threw a party. It was loud, but thankfully this time, devoid of alcohol. Well, thankfully for Logan. James and Sirius weren't too happy about it. Sometime before midnight, when most of the people had gone back to their dorms to sleep but Logan's friends remained awake, they decided to huddle around the fireplace in the Room of Requirement. James took Lily off for a stroll around the castle, taking the map with him to ensure they didn't run into anyone.

"Recon he's gonna do it?" Sirius asked.

"He was a nervous wreak before we got here, so yeah, I do." Logan said.

Enna hummed happily. In that moment everything was perfect. They weren't children who were forced to grow up to fast and fight in a war. They were a group of teens, hanging out late together, laughing and sharing stories while it snowed softly outside.

"Hey." Gideon greeted them.

"We're going back to our dorm." Fabian said.

"Sweet party by the way!" Gideon added.

"Thanks mate." Sirius said.

"Night." Logan said, "Happy Christmas."

"Happy Christmas." They replied in unison.

"Creepy." Logan laughed, and they joined her before walking out of the room.

"I think that's the last of them." Maya commented, referring to their party guests.

"Can we just sleep here tonight?" Peter asked.

"Sounds like a plan." Remus agreed, yawning.

"Let's have more night like this." Logan decided.

"Parties?" Sirius asked excitedly.

"No, just nights that you live for. The kind that makes you want to stay in a moment forever."