#*winter holidays

[remoonusarchive]

Where: Potter mansion When: 29th December

If there was anything more stressful about Aurors showing up on the Potters’ doorstep, it was being banished from the room and being left to stand outside under the Invisibility Cloak with James as they talked to Peter. Their ears strained to listen, Remus finding it difficult to quiet the anxiety that screamed in his mind to hear the words being said but he knew his hearing was better than James’ so he had to try. “They’re arresting him,” he whispered when the words stopped being nonsensical sounds and turned into equally nonsensical phrases with a meaning, even if not one that Remus understood. “What the fuck? They mentioned the Dark Mark, what--” He held his breath as there was movement within the room and he gripped James’ wrist as the door opened and the Aurors led Peter out.

Only when they were alone again did he find it safe to turn to James and, still unable to talk in anything above a whisper, he urged, “We need to do something. Padfoot. Where’s Padfoot?” It hadn’t felt like it mattered that morning. Remus had woken in such a good mood, feeling perfectly well-rested after the early night he managed to get while the others went to Mary’s birthday party and fully recovered from the Full Moon and delightfully happy about how good the holidays were. Now, he was terrified and they needed to be together to work this out.

@pctterprongs​

[remoonusarchive]

When: 20th December, early-ish morning Where: 7th year Gryffindor boys’ dormitory Who: Remus && @pctterprongs​

When he rolled over in his bed, slowly coming out of sleep, he became very aware of the smell of cigarette smoke and sex and Walden Macnair clinging to his bed sheets. His pyjama top had never made it onto his body and the charms from the night before had faded, showing his scars in all their glory, as well as fresh scratch marks. He fought a smirk as he replayed the moments in his mind and mentally berated himself for not feeling more guilty for letting the suspected Death Eater into his dorm.

The sounds of his dormmates already moving around reminded him today was the day they would all be returning home for the holidays, Peter going with James and Sirius to Potter mansion. Remus was staying at Hogwarts, just as had been arranged with his parents. He would have to leave the dorm for a while later, maybe go for a walk around the grounds while he gave the house-elves time to go in and change the beds but he was quite happy with the idea of spending the rest of the holidays in the comfort of his bed with his personal library of books. Ignoring Christmas Day, of course. Which reminded him that he should sort his friends’ presents out before they finished their holiday packing and went down for a final breakfast before the train.

He pulled his curtains open and looked at James. “You look rough!” he said said, deliberately pitching his voice a little louder and cheerier than usual. “Take my presents for you three with you, will you?” he crawled to the end of the bed so that he could open his trunk and fish out the gifts.

[remoonusarchive]

When: 24th December Where: Potter Residence Who: Remus && @morallyblack​

There was a difference between him knowing Sirius going to the Yule Ball with Bertha had really been the fault of James and Marlene, and finding it within himself to act maturely about the matter to Sirius himself. A few days had passed since the ball, now, the first mostly taken with hangovers Remus was blessed to not have to deal with and the journey from Scotland to Burton-on-Trent. The following days had been them enjoying time as a group, something that had felt harder to come by in recent months with all the distractions of Hogwarts.

Preparations for the party that evening were in full flow and Remus was happy to try and avoid being dragged into helping. He retreated to a smaller sitting room (what ridiculous sort of house had multiple sitting rooms anyway) and let out a breath of relief to find it empty of decorating and all people other than Sirius. The thought of another party was enough to drive away his bitterness over the last one. He slumped into the seat next to him and pulled a face. “How is it we’re already having to go through another party? Who even has parties this close to Christmas Day?” Rich people was the answer and he already knew it but he still pulled a face at Sirius to show the irritable mood a soon approaching Full Moon would always cause.

[cheesyfrazer]

Where: Diagon Alley When: 31st December midday Who: Brianne && @berthjorkins​

She had been helping out at the Menagerie for the morning but Brianne had been let free for lunchtime and she wandered down Diagon Alley, looking in windows and trying to decide what she felt like eating. So little was she paying attention that she almost didn’t recognise the figure walking towards her in the street until they were almost passing. “Bertha? Hi!” She greeted the Hufflepuff with a wide grin. “How are your holidays going? Not that there’s long left now!” Brie wasn’t one to pay attention to the news and this time around she had adamantly ignored it because she didn’t want to hear about any tragedies. Vaguely, she had registered her mum saying something about the new term not starting until a bit later than Brie had thought it was but she hadn’t thought much on it, having much more interesting distractions in the form of Xanthus whisking her away on a little adventure.

[remoonusarchive]

Christmas Presents

@pctterprongs​:

@morallyblack​:

@rattypeter​:

And for the four of them to all share, a bottle of Odgen’s Firewhiskey.

Remus gave @bloomingevans​ an out-of-print book on Advanced Charms that he found in a second-hand bookshop and a pair of fake glasses so she can always feel comfortable, elegant, pragmatic and like she’s ready to win a Quidditch match.

He didn’t buy anything for anyone else but if they’re friends they get a hug and a happy Christmas and some chocolate when he sees them.

[remoonusarchive]

When: 29th December 1977 Where: Outside Flourish and Blotts, Diagon Alley Who: Remus && @edgarnbones​

Remus would have been happy to stay in the security and comfort of the Potters’ right up to the moment they had to go back to Hogwarts but Dumbledore had other plans. Just a simple reconnaissance mission, the letter said. A suspicion about one of the new hires at Flourish and Blotts for over the peak shopping period and concerns over a new selection of books containing information about darker magic than was usually sold there. He knew he was to keep an eye out for a familiar face who would be helping him, but he hadn’t been told who, no doubt some security measure but when he apparated into Diagon Alley and walked down the cobbled street to see Edgar Bones outside the bookshop he put two and two together and hoped for the best.

“Edgar!” he called to get his fellow Order member’s attention. His years as a Marauder had taught him a lot about being sneaky -- two Hogwarts students greeting each other as they meet up over the school holidays would be a lot less conspicuous than two people trying to communicate whilst pretending they don’t know each other. They weren’t friends. Remus barely knew him, just as he barely knew most people who should have some part in his life but the easiest way to make sure they were on the same page quickly was to not rely on non-verbal cues Edgar had little chance of understanding, not being James, Sirius or Peter, but rather to pull him into a friendly hug like they really were friends who would greet each other in such a way all the time and mutter in his ear, “Dumbledore sent you?”