Walking Down Memory Lane

Christmas Break

The Christmas Ball was beautiful. The great hall had been transformed into a winter wonderland. Huge Christmas trees were everywhere, the walls were white instead of their usual stone color, the floor was red carpet on the exception of the place that was hardwood that was to be a dance floor, there was even snow falling from the ceiling that disappeared before it hit the floor.

Lily was the only person to show up with two dates; she was also the most beautifully dressed according to Sirius and Remus and the gasps of the crowd when they walked through the doors. It was one of the most wonderful nights the three of them had spent together.

They just fit together; Lily had grown from the shy little girl into one of the marauders. She was becoming as sneaky as they were and Sirius's language had rubbed off on her long ago. Sirius fell in love with Lily a little more every day and Remus had come out of his shell. James had fell away from the group but it wasn't because of Lily and Sirius. He was very happy for them; James had matured a lot after dating Samantha and didn't care for their wild behavior anymore. He was thinking ahead to his future. He was working hard to pull up his grades to be able to get a good job so he could impress Samantha's parents so they could wed soon after school. In that moment everything was perfect.

Lily was in her room packing to go home for the holidays, she missed her parents but she wanted to stay with Sirius and Remus. She had tried to argue with them but both of them shot her down quickly. They wouldn't allow it because of the full moon Remus must endure, on Christmas Day of all things. There must be a way of making this easier on him, there has to be a potion to ease or even stop his transformation. Lily's heart broke for Remus, his last Christmas at Hogwarts and he has to spend it as a werewolf! This is so unfair she thought, still slinging clothes into her trunk.

"Whats wrong love?" Sirius asked quietly.

Lily yelped and spun around "Nothing!" she lied.

"Tisk, tisk, tisk, Miss Evans. I know your lying!" Sirius smirked at her.

"I am not!" Lily retorted.

Sirius raised his left wrist and shook the bright blue bracelet. "Now, care to tell me the truth?" he asked with raised eyebrows.

"Dammit I forgot about that thing! You promised you wouldn't come unless it burned and its not dark blue!" Lily shot back.

"I was just down stairs love, its not like I traveled hundreds of miles to check on you." Sirius said smirking.

"I'm just upset about having to leave you and Remus. I feel like I should be here!" Lily finally admitting the truth.

"Lily we have talked about this. It is not safe for you. Why do you think we take animagus form to be around him? He's not the Remus you know when he's a werewolf. Besides as soon as the full moon passes we will come to Spinners End. We may miss Christmas but well be with you on New Years." Sirius told her trying to calm her down.

"Fine! I will go home with no more protest if you and Remus promise to teach me how to become an animagus. He is my best friend and I don't think I should have to leave him when he needs me most! Promise me or I swear I'll miss that train!" Lily stated matter of factly.

Sirius shook his head exasperated walked to the banister and yelled for Remus.

Remus made his way up quickly and looked around confused "Whats wrong?" he asked looking from Sirius to Lily.

"Miss Evans here has informed me that if we don't teach her how to become an animagus after Christmas holidays that she isn't going home!" Sirius informed Remus.

Remus shook his head looking at Lily and said "Sweetheart it's not as easy as a spell. Are you seriously going to walk around for a month with a mandrake leaf in your mouth? Not to mention all the other things you must master. It is a long and difficult thing to master. Plus you wont know what your animagus is until you've become one. What if you turn into a chicken? Lastly why are you so adamant about this?"