Class of 78’

Break went faster than any of them wished, James and his family were already frantically cleaning their rather large home, along with their elves, to prepare for Christmas Eve. James’ home was known to be a hotspot, the home heavily decorated for Christmas, with a large tree covered in lights and tinsel with a large amount of gifts underneath. The wrapping paper all followed a theme that matched the rest of this year's decor of red and gold. Downstairs the entryway was filled with greetings and warmth. Remus and Peter came together, saying hello to James’ parents before heading upstairs to James’ room. The boys collectively sat in his room chatting and catching up while waiting for the girls to show up. The Potter home was always warm and cozy, fire burning adding a red hue to drawing room. One of the elves made sure to draw the curtain back before the children sat down, allowing for a warm sunset ray to peer into the room.
The elf smiled at James, “Anything you need sir?” they asked politely. James gave a small smile, looking at his friends.
“Not right now, but once the girls get here just show them here okay?” The elf nodded and closed the door, James almost immediately jumped onto the couch, laying out and covering the entire loveseat. Peter rolled his eyes, picking his legs up to sit down before placing them back onto his own legs. Remus claimed his seat next to the fire, he always had his own seat, this one being the larger chair with swirled details on it and a matching footrest. Soon enough they heard an elf speaking to someone, their voices growing closer.
“Hi James!” Lily beamed, as the door opened, Mary and Marlene behind her. No sign of Clem or Sirius. Lily sat on the arm of James’ loveseat closest to the fire, rubbing her arms as if she was cold. Remus dug around his bag for his book, opening to the folded-over page.

“Where’s Clem? I thought she’d be here before us?” Lily asked, looking around the room. The boys shrugged.
“No clue, haven’t heard from her.” James replied, looking up at Lily. Lily gave a concerned expression, her eyes darting to Remus. He shifted his eyes to hers, his eyes frantically looking around.
“What are you looking at me for?” He asked, a slight sass in his voice.
“I thought maybe you had heard something..” She trailed off, her worry becoming more prominent. Remus was worried as well, he knew her to be someone who was timely, never late, sometimes even early. It felt out of character, and he worried that she was in trouble.
“Lils your anxiousness is overtaking the room.” Mary deadpanned, not looking up from the newspaper.
“She’s right” Peter squeaked, “Even I can feel it, and I’m duller than a box of rocks.”
James chuckled, looking to Lily placing a gentle hand on her knee.
“Lils, I’m sure she will be here soon.” Lily shook her head and got up quickly.
“No, I’m going to go find her, and Sirius. Haven’t seen him either.” Quickly grabbing her coat from the stand near the door, an elf opening the door as if they were waiting for someone. Remus sighed, slowly getting up, his body still slightly sore from the past moon.
“Lils.” He paused, and sighed. “Wait for me” He replied, grabbing his coat hastily as well. James groaned.
“Oh great Merlin, let’s all just go if you're so worried Lils.” James sighed, throwing coats to the others. The group bundled up, sticking their wands in their pockets even though most couldn’t use them.
James being that last one out called out to his parents, “Mum, Dad we will be back! Need to get Clem!” Euphemia stuck her head out from the kitchen along with Fleamont above her.
“Be safe!” She smiled.

Lily quickly walked outside leaving everyone behind her, trying to think of where she could be. James jogged to catch up to her, the wind howling.
“Lils, where are you going?” He asked, slightly out of breath.
“I don’t know,” She said frantically, throwing her arms up in frustration.
“Lils, we need to have a plan before running around London.” He said gently, placing a hand on her shoulder and fixing her scarf.
“Potter for the love of Merlin, stop touching me!” She shouted, her eyes welling in tears. Remus stepped in almost immediately.
“Lils, take a deep breath. What’s going on.” His voice smooth as honey. She shrugged, sniffling.
“Just worried about Clem.” She replied, holding herself.
“She’s around somewhere, she wouldn’t just disappear.” Marlene adds quietly, trying to calm Lily down. All of them looking at each other worriedly as Lily sat down on a near park bench. Soon after a howling came from a near corner, the familiar sound of someone apperating. The group immediately perked up, heading towards the sound. Two sets of footsteps growing closer. As they all turned the corner they were met with familiar faces, Clem who was out of breath and scared, carrying an injured Sirius on her side. James gasped, immediately taking Sirius. Remus and Lily jumping the Clem’s side.

“What happened?” James asked worryingly, examining his friends who were both sitting at the kitchen island. Sirius kept his head down saying nothing. Clem winced as she adjusted in her seat.
“I was on my way here and Sirius appeared out of nowhere looking like that.”She motioned towards the beat up and scratched boy. “But we weren’t close enough to walk so I tried to apparated and I got splinched, just a little…” She trailed off on the last part, trying not to alarm her friends. Remus and Lily immediately examining her for further wounds.
“Where.” Lily said strictly. Remus placed a careful hand on Clem’s side earning a loud wince from her.
“Found it.” He muttered, going towards the sink and wetting a towel. Lily sighed, shooting a look to her.
“Don’t look at me like that! Sirius was hurt and in danger!”
“So were you!” Lily argued, raising her voice slightly. Remus handed Clem the towel, who raised her shirt slightly to slip the towel on the gash. Remus’ face slightly going pink. James looked over at Sirius who hadn’t moved or said anything since he got there.
“Sirius, what did they do to you?” James asked softly
“Nothing. I don’t want to talk about it.” Sirius spat, getting up holding his arm before hobbling upstairs. Mary and Marlene looked at each other with concern, none of the girls had seen Sirius act this way before. The boys however were less phased, as if this was normal.
“It’s his parents isnt it?” Lily asked quietly, shifting her eyes to James who only nodded. Clem looked over to Remus who was more worried about her than his best friend. He walked over slowly, holding his hand out for the rag. She handed it over slowly, every inch of her in pain. The rag was soaked in blood, almost dripping. He tried to not act surprised over how bloody the thing was, as he walked over to the large sink.
“Pete and I are going to go check on him, sorry for tonight not being what we planned guys.” James sighed, insinuating everyone to just go home. Lily scoffed.
“Don’t shoo us out. We care about him too, we are staying until tomorrow.” She said sternly, grabbing Mary and Marlene. The three of them gave soft hugs to Clem, Lily kissing her head. Lily looked to Remus with a smile, almost a plotting smile. As if she was intentionally leaving them alone. Earning chuckles from the other girls, who blew kisses at them, closing the door to the kitchen behind them.

Clem rolled her eyes, getting up toward the sink slowly.
“Sorry about them, they get weird sometimes.” She mumbled, her voice horace and ridden with pain.
Remus smiled to himself, his head down slightly.
“It’s okay, I’m used to the teasing.” He replied softly.
It had gotten late, the sun already set and the view out the window was nothing more than darkness. A small clock read ‘10:30’ which was nothing usual to the students, they stay up for class work anyways, but this wasn’t an enjoyable reason to be up. Clem leaned on the counter as she rinsed her rag, her own eyes growing large at how much blood was lost.
“I’m sure we can get someone to heal that wound for you…”Remus said softly, both in a way of caution to other who were asleep and his own safety. She swatted her hand slowly, as if she didn’t need help.
“You can go to bed Remus, I’m sure you’re tired.” Closing her eyes before applying the rag to her side again. A soft wince following.
“If you pass out from blood loss no one will be here to help.” He answered, a slight sass in his tone. She chuckled before turning to face him, her back pressed on the counter to hold herself up.
“Can you tell me how bad it really is?” She asked, fear painting her voice.
She knew it was bad but she was worried it would call for an adult coming to heal rather than her being able to let it heal on it’s own. Remus’ face went flush, avoiding eye contact before he nodded slowly. She slowly lifted the side of her now bloody sweatshirt, closing her eyes as she felt every muscle stretching. He tried his best to have a pokerface but he knew it wasn’t a good one. He carefully moved closer, bending down slightly to look at the wound. The gash went from her hipbone up to the middle of her sternum, some spots being deeper than others, the muscle being visible. He could see the texture of the muscle, swore he could even seen some of her bone. He trailed his hand above the gash, making sure to not actually have any contact with it. He cleared his throat slightly before replying to her question, his eyes not daring to meet hers.
“It’s not.. Terrible.” His voice cracking slightly
She chuckled cautiously, not wanting to be in more pain.
“You’re such a bad lair Remus.”
He shrugged before placing the rag back on her wound.
“I’m no Sirius, that’s for sure.”
She smiled at that comment, and for the first time, looking at her gash. Her eyes widden and felt herself get light headed. Remus noticed her dimenor change and held his hand to her eyes.

“Looking at it makes it worse.” He replied quickly.
“I’m okay.” She paused, “Seen worse.” Her eyes meeting his.
Their hands on one anothers. He lowered his hand to her knee, her hand still resting on his. Looking at one another in silence.
“Your hand is freezing.” He said softly, his eyes not wavering.
Her lips curling into a slight smile.
“They were covered in blood earlier.”
Remus’ face grimacing for a second, reflecting on the terrible sight of his two close friends injured and in pain. He would never forget the feeling of his heart dropping to his stomach on the street. Sirius passed out almost, leaning on Clem. While Clem was the most pale he had ever seen her, the blood dripping down the street behind them, her shirt soaked in a darker color than other parts of it.

Neither had noticed how close they were to one another, their faces nearly centimeters away, feeling each others breath quicken.
“Remus?” She asked barely above a whisper, her eyes fixed on his lips.
He hummed in response, his eyes locked on her lips, they had a slight pinkish tint to them, looked like a lipstick of some kind.
“Pretty,” he thought to himself. His body leaning towards hers more, as if there was a magnet drawing him in. Clem tilting her head to the side slowly, allowing their faces to grow closer, their noses almost brushing.
Rustling startled them, coming from the hallway. Pushing both of them away from one another, allowing them to breath their own air again. Remus didn’t dare to move his hand, and neither did she.
“Oh!” James yawned, his hair tossled. “You’re still up?”
Remus rolled his eyes, looking at Clem softly.
“Remus was just making sure I wasn’t going to die of blood loss,” Clem joked, earning chuckles from both the boys.
“Glad to hear that,” James said, not fully awake.
He rummaged through the cabinets and popped a snack in his mouth before turning away, leaving without a word. Remus cleared his throat, trying not to recall moments before.
“We should go to bed.” He said quietly, slipping his hand off her knee.
She nodded, a yawn following quickly behind.
She placed an arm on his shoulder to steady herself as she stood up slowly, wincing. Remus watched her carefully, his face sympathetic to her pain. He held his arm out to interlock with hers, leading her upstairs slowly. Analyizing every step to make sure she was okay, and lead her to the bedroom Lily was in. He chuckled softly at the sight of Lily sprawled in her bed, sheets and pillows everywhere. Her ginger hair in a sprawled, chaotic aray on a pillow.
He helped Clem sit on the bed, slipping off her shoes. She said nothing, watching the kind gesture.
“Thank you,” She whispered
Remus looked up at her and smiled kindly.
“Don’t worry about it, it’s what friends are for.” He replied
He winced at the word ‘friends’. He knew they were friends, but the way they looked at each other in the kitchen wasn’t something friends did. He tried to ignore it. Beginning to get up, making his way to the door.
“Good night Clem…Sleep well.” He said softly, peeking his head into the room. No reply, but he heard the soft breathing. She has already fallen asleep. He smiled softly, his back pressed against the door, holding his face in his hands to hide the warm rush of color on his cheek before heading to his own room across the hall.

The sun poked through the burgundy blinds in Lily and Clem’s bedroom. Quiet whispers from outside the room, multiple voices conversating but Clem couldn’t fully reconginse them. Clem rolls onto her side, pain immediately coursing through her. She yelped, sitting up quickly, holding her wound. Lily bursted into the room, her face worried.
“Are you okay?” She asked, examining her face.
Everyone behind her, Remus and Sirius standing in the doorway with concern. Peter and Marlene in her direct view snacking from the same bowl, it looked to be Christmas themed popcorn. Patricia and James standing on either side of Lily. Clem looked at her friends, her eyes squinting because of the strong sunlight on the comforter. She held her side and nodded.
“I’m fine.” Her voice raspy.
Remus scoffed quietly, knowing it was a lie. Sirius’ face growing into a small smirk, he cleared his throat in order to not be caught. Sirius knew it was a lie as well, he was still in pain, he couldn’t imagine how she felt.
“I have mum coming up to help you, she helped Sirius earlier.” James said softly, she swiped her hand, furrowing her eyebrows.
“I’m fine, just hungry.”
Her reply earning chuckles from most of them, not Remus, but most of them. Lily held her hand out to help her out of bed, Clem slowly stood up, feeling her knees pop.
“Let’s get you changed..” Lily said softly, Clem looked down to see what she was wearing. Seeing she was only wearing her fathers large sweatshirt, her eyes darting to Remus whose face was a slight pink. James and Peter covering each others eyes, Sirius confidently looking at her, with a flirtatious smirk. She shot him an annoyed look.
“In your dreams, Black.” She teased.
Remus shoved Sirius, chuckling as Remus and the rest of the group walked out of the rather large bedroom.
Lily lead Clem to the bathroom next door to their room, having her sit on the ledge of the tub.
“Can I see the gash?” She asked softly, a bin with gauze and other bandages near to her. Clem took a breath before straightening her spine to lift her hoodie. Lily’s eyes widened.
“Merlin, Clem this is bad. You sure you don’t want James’ mum to look at it?” She asked, applying medicine to the wound. She shook her head, closing her eyes to try to ignore the sting coming from the medicine. Lily took a deep sigh as she carefully placed the large gauze pad to the wound.
“You’re call I suppose.” She replied, using her hands to push herself off her knees.
“I just want to celebrate the holiday with my friends Lils, nothing else,” Clem answered, her voice with a slight embarassment tone.
Clem slipped on some sweatpants loaned from Lily before slowly making her way downstairs, following the sound of chatter from her friends to the large living room.

The fire was going, the sound of wood crackles and the smell of firewood filling her sense.
“Merry Christmas sweetheart.” Euphemia smiled, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.
Clem gave her a small smile, heading to the couch sitting next to Remus, their knees touching slightly. Sirius sitting on the other side of him, grabs his knee giving it a tight squeeze.
“Ol’ Moony here was telling me we have a wonderful dinner planned?” Sirius smiled, looking at James’ parents. They both shot a mischevious smile and shurgged as if it was a secret.
“Dunno, maybe.” Fleamont smiled.
Clem watches the exchange with a small smile. James’ family had a way of making everyone feel like family no matter your blood. In a way it felt refreshing, so many wizards care about family and where you come from, having the Potters was a nice change.
James chuckles at his parents trying to be mischievous as he comes from the kitchen with a cookie in his mouth, plopping on the couch and turning on the television. Which turned to be a bad idea, the news was swamped with the war. The happy mood and warmth quickly changed to an uncomfortable cold. The Potters smiles switching to serious faces.
“James, turn it off.” Fleamont replied, his voice ridden with warning.
Sirius quickly got off and switch it off before James could.
“Sorry Dad..” James said softly.
Peter cleared his throat, burying himself deeper in his seat. It felt as if the room had shrunken in size, everyone was awkwardly shifting in their seats. Euphemia clears her throat and places her hand on Fleamonts shoulder.
“Let’s let them chat dear, I’m sure they’d like to talk without adults hovering over them.” She smiled, looking to the teens who all looked nervous. Fleamont closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, and nodded. They both quietly left, as the large door closed they all felt as if they could breathe again.
James shot an apologetic look to his friends, fiddling with his hands.
“Sorry guys, I didn’t mean to make things awkward…”
“It’s okay James, don’t worry too much.” Lily smiled softly.
She placed her hand on his knee gently, in attempts to help him relax. The girls noticed this gesture and attempted to hide the smiles creeping on their faces.
“It’s all becoming to real.” Mary said softly
“I agree.” Marlene added, leaning her head on Mary’s shoulder.
“You guys aren’t the ones who hear about the meetings.” Sirius deadpanned.
James and Remus exchanging careful looks.
“Let’s not talk about the war on Christmas…” Lily said softly.
They all nodded and shifted back into comfortable positions on the couch.
Peter dug something out from behind the couch and threw it lightly at Clem, his face growing slightly red.
“Merry Christmas.” He said, trying to play it cool, but ultimately failing.
Clem raised her eyebrows and reached for one of the wrapped gifts under the tree, handing it to Sirius, and another one to Remus. James dramatically threw his arms in the air.
“I got you something too James, don’t have a tantrum.” Clem smirked, handing him a small bag.
As the group slowly handed one another gifts, everyone got something from eachother. Slowly bringing back the warm cheerful atmosphere from before.
James had gotten some sweets along with a few joke boxes from the Marauders, Lily had gotten him a new quidditch jacket, Clem got him a new poster for his room with a quidditch player on it, the rest of the girls pitched in all on one thing which happened to be the last chocolate frog card he was missing.
“Oh my god!!!” James squealed, throwing the bag on the ground. Holding the carefully protected card in the air. He jumped around with it for a moment before jumping back in his seat.
“Thank you, guys.” He smiled, with a genuine soft smile.
They all hummed or nodded in response, looking over at Sirius. Anxiously waiting for him to open his gifts.
“Why are you all staring at me?!” He asked
“Open your gifts Pads.” James smirked
Sirius took an exaggerated sigh, reaching for Clem’s first.
“Do mine last.” Clem said quickly, her leg bouncing slightly.
Remus looked at her softly, giving a smile. He slowly placed his hand on her knee to stop the bouncing, his face unchanging as if it was no big deal. Clem felt her face getting hot, but tried to ignore it as she watched Sirius open his gifts.
Most being sweets or joke boxes, some being muggle things which he loved. Remus had gotten him a necklace, it had a moon charm along with a paw print.
Sirius’ face got red quickly, along with Remus’ when they locked eyes.
“Merry Christmas Pads.” Remus smiled, trying to maintain himself.
Lily smirked slightly before pointing to the bag with Sirius’ name on it.
“Open Clem’s” She said excitedly.
Sirius snapped out of his trance and reached for the object hidden under the tissue paper. His jaw hanging open as he carefully examining it.
“You got me a Bowie vinyl?” Sirius squeaked, darting to look at Clem.
She smiled and nodded, craining herself to look over at him more.
“Open it.”
She smiled, the entire group smiled, knowing what was in store. In truth they all pitched in to get this for him, but Clem deserved most of the credit. He carefully removed the vinyl and it’s sleeve from the album jacket. He looked at his friends confused, James gestured towards Sirius.
“Flip it over.”
Sirius jaw fell lower to the ground, the white parchment with a dark scribbled signature on it.

To Sirius,
Much love!
Bowie

“You got the David Bowie to sign this!?” Sirius asked, a large smile on his face as he examined the sheet further. Clem gave a non-chalente shrug.
“Maybe.” Her smile creeping up, Remus watched as her smile grew wider. He felt as if it was contagious.

Remus and Clem were the last ones to open their gifts. As Remus went through his, majority were books, maybe some additional tea bags. Lily got him a large teabag assortment, which Remus was very happy about. He reached towards Clem’s gift and she quickly pushed his hand down.
“Not now, do it when I’m not here.” She almost sounded embarrassed, grins and ‘oo’s’ from her friends. Remus gave an understanding nod.
“Of course.” He said softly.
Lily was practically jumping out her seat.
“Open mine!” She smiled, her infectious smile.
“Okay okay!” Clem surrenders, opening her gifts.
She usually hated be the center of attention, but for some reason her anxious worries were never present when she was with her friends. Her and Remus’ gifts were fairly similar, books and teabags. Lily had gotten her a new perfume that smelled of patchouli and other earthy smells. Clem took a deep inhale of her wrist that had the perfume, her eyes dramatically rolling to the back of her head.
“This smells amazing Lils, thank you.” She smiled
She had saved Remus’ gift for last but he shot her a cautious look, almost nervous.
“Don’t open it in front of me” He said softly, covering his eyes with his hands.
She chuckled and nodded.
“Of course,”