(James)

   I was standing. I don't know where.  It  was cold, and it felt evil. Katrina was there. She was angry, her eyes were puffy and her makeup was smudged. What's going on?

   "I know where my loyalties lie..."

   Why is she crying? Did I say that?

   "James!" Yes, Katrina?
  
   "James!!" Yes?

   "James!" My eyes snapped open. I was dreaming? Sirius was yelling at me from in the direction of his bed. "Wake up, you git! It's Saturday! We have to get to the train!"

   "Shit!" I sprung out of bed, throwing the sheets off my body and snatching my glasses from the nightstand. "Are you packed?" I asked Sirius as I dove towards my trunk to begin packing.

  "Duh. I'm a very timely person." He told me smugly while messing with his long black hair. Really just rubbing my nose in how late I slept in, huh?

  "Well, then why didn't you wake me, you ass?"  I grabbed some new clothes and shoved myself into them. My mom is going to kill me if we're late.

  "Eh, you looked very content. And, you were murmuring a certain witch's name in your sleep, so I let you be. To, y'know, sort out your feelings." He was telling me this so calmly, not even looking at me while he basically confessed to knowing that Katrina had been on my mind since I yelled at her.

   I glared at his back for a second, hoping he could feel my anger radiating towards him. Keeping his nose out of my business was not a Sirius Black strong point. Ever since we were kids, I couldn't keep a secret from him no matter how hard I tried. He was like a snake, just slithering into my mind and making me divulge my darkest truths to him. That's how he knew about my thing for American Muggle women, and that I wet the bed until I was 7. And now he knew about my issues with Rose. Great.

   I got back to packing, and as I grabbed my pyjamas and threw them into the trunk, I was ready. A quick spell sent the trunk levitating behind me, ready to get to the train. Though my packing wasn't orderly, it did take me about five minutes. I'd say that's a job well done. Yaga, who had been asleep on my bed, yawned and hopped down to follow me. I grinned at him and looked to Sirius, who was still facing away from me, styling his hair. "You coming, Black?" I asked.

   He turned back to me, hair flopped awkwardly, in awe. I could tell he was trying to look smug, too. What an ass. "You know it, Potter. Let's go."

✧

   Sirius and I made it onto the train platform just as the Hogwarts Express pulled in. Yaga had decided to ride on my shoulder to survey the scene. I scratched his ear every once in a while to keep him docile.

"C'mon, let's go get good seats." I announced, trying to get onto the train before I could see Katrina. If she got on before it left, great. If not, I'll just tell my parents that she got eaten by the Giant Squid. It all works out, right?

   "Nope. If you so badly wanted Rose to come stay with you, we are looking for her first. Then, all three of us can find seats." Sirius said, grabbing my arm and hauling me back to his side.

   "Where do you get off being the reasonable one?" I asked him, reluctantly following as he waded through the throngs of students looking to get home for Christmas.

   "Anything to keep you happy, James. You know me." He called back, using his height to his advantage. "Oh! I see her!" He began waving frantically. "Rose! Katrina! Over here!"

   I could see her then. She looked miserable. Not like she'd been crying, but just generally sad. Her hair was grey, and so was her skin. It had taken on a weird ashen color, but that probably had something to do with her powers. She didn't look holly or jolly in the slightest.

   Her eyes met Sirius' and she managed a small smile. Nothing like I'd seen her smile before. It looked tortured and VERY forced. It didn't have her usually spark, her usual zest that made the following conversation so fun. But, then again, she deserved to feel like shit for almost killing one of my best friends. What goes around comes around, I guess.

   She began to walk towards us, eventually following Sirius with me as he led us to some seats. I looked over at her, maybe accidentally. She didn't look at me. She kept her eyes trained forward, not letting her face betray a single emotion. Am I the asshole? She risked Remus' life,  for what? Lily Evans' love life?  Yeah, I'm a major asshole.

   Soon enough, Sirius chose a booth for us to sit in. It was adorned with some garland and lights to reflect the season. There was even a little wreath hung in the window. I almost wished Katrina and I weren't angry at each other just so we could bask in the warm feelings. Sirius helped Rose put her trunk on the rack and left me to struggle with mine. Like a true friend.

   I knew as soon as we began down the tracks, it was bound to be an awkward ride. Yaga had jumped onto of the luggage rack to sleep, so I couldn't distract myself with him. To add to that, Sirius was stretched out on one bench, leaving Katrina and I to share the other. She sat as close to the opposite wall as possible, and I honestly thought the wall might just swallow her. I felt bad, for some reason.

  Sirius began speaking from his spot on the bench. "Alrighty, you two. I am going to take a nap. So, if there's anything anyone wants to discuss," He looked pointedly at me, "then I won't be listening. Also, please order me one of the holiday Butterbeers." And with that, he flipped over and began snoring immediately.

   And now we wait...

   "James?"

   Never mind.

   "Yes?" I looked at Katrina, expecting to see her facing away from me still. Instead, she was looking me dead in the eye. I finally noticed her eye color. It was a subtle difference from her usually slate blue eyes, but now, they were completely silver. They were strangely beautiful with her hair and skin.

   "I just wanted to... apologize..." She started, looking focused, like she was choosing her words carefully. "I know I shouldn't have put Remus' life in danger like that. I was being selfish and didn't think of the consequences. Or how much I was betraying yours and his trust." She sat back as she finished, looking rather relieved.

"Thank you, Kat." I murmured, completely dumbfounded. The Katrina Rose I knew never felt this bad about anything. I had known her for four years, and this was the first time she had messed up and been launched into this state. And now she was apologizing? People can change...

   She was staring at me. Her eyes were fixed on my face, looking like she was patiently waiting for something. Or maybe I just looked weird?

  "Do I have something on my face?" I asked as I felt for anything off. Why are you looking at me like that?

  "No, just waiting for you."

   "To do what?"

   "Apologize to me."

   Hold on. "What?!" I was mad. "I have nothing to apologize for! Did you forget you were the one who risked Remus' life and decided to be so rude in Transfiguration? What do I have to say sorry for?" And then, Katrina started to laugh.

  Her cheeks flushed in anger, her high pitched laugh oddly mirthless. "Are you serious? Grabbing my arm, practically dragging me out of the Great Hall, screaming at me where anyone could hear? Any of these ring a bell?" She bristled, sliding across the bench towards me as she jabbed a finger at her chest. "I was mortified! Why can't you admit that you owe me an apology as well, regardless of how much of a git I was being?"

   "You have some nerve, Katrina Rose. But, I know you. I know you are a narcissist. You thrive on doing things only for yourself, only because they benefit you!" I laughed then, adjusting my glasses as they slipped down my face. "Were you to tell Lily about Remus, you'd become a hot gossip for the whole school. I'm sure you'd love the attention!" While I knew this was mostly untrue, I did know that she didn't deserve an apology from me.

  "Me? A narcissist? Please! If anything, the great James Potter is the only smug self-loving asshole worth a damn." The sarcasm dripped from her venomous lips. "While I was trying to become a "gossip", as you put it, you were flirting with girls who you had no real interest in. Just to get them to fall for you before you turn them down. Or, preforming some godforsaken Chelmondiston Charge just to impress a crowd, and losing the entire game for us in the distraction you created-,"

   I cut her off, choosing to ignore her comment about my romances. Because I knew that it was true. "I did not lose that damn game! The Slytherin Seeker found the snitch, and there was nothing that was going to change that!"

   "Regardless!" She snapped back at me, "You could've seriously injured yourself! And you expect me to forgive you for that? You scared me, James Potter! And I don't know why I cared so much, if only I'd had known you'd be a selfish bastard when the time came for apologies!" Her eyes were wild, her chest practically pressed up against mine as her breathing slowed to a normal pace. Once she caught her breath, she turned away from me and asked quietly. "Does that sound like the thoughts of a gossipy narcissist to you?"

   Knock, Knock!

  Two quick taps at the door pulled us out of our squabble. The door to the cabin opened and a kind face peeked in.

  "Hello dears, I hope I'm not interrupting anything. Would either of you like anything from the cart?" She asked, giving us a sweet, yet slightly concerned smile. No doubt she heard our argument.

  "I'm fine, thank you." Katrina told her softly, shrinking back into her corner of the seat.

  "Could I please have three holiday Butterbeers?" I asked once the lady looked to me. She nodded and quickly turned to grab the drinks. Once she had them prepared, she turned back to me.

  "That'll be 3 galleons." She told me. I handed her the money and she passed the drinks over before closing the door.

  I took a sip from one and set the other on Sirius' side of the small table against the window. I turned to Katrina with the third one.

   "Here you go." I said, motioning for her to take it. When she didn't, I took a deep breath. "I'm sorry for saying you're a narcissist. And I'm also sorry for grabbing you and yelling at you in public. While you deserved it, I should've found a more private place to talk to you." I told her all of this quietly, afraid her ego may inflate too much were I to say it any louder.

  She looked surprised, but then eventually began to smile. She looked me in the eyes, the color already returning to her face. "Thank you, James." She took the drink from me and began to sip on it tentatively. She looked at me in astonishment, but this time it wasn't at my words. "This is the best thing I've ever tasted. It's like Christmas in a cup!"

  I laughed at her, but this time it was out of joy and not disdain. She looked like a kid who just experienced candy for the first time. The warm drink had brought a rosy hue to her cheeks, which only added to the adorable spectacle. "I'm glad you like it."

   "Hey, James?"

   "Yeah?"

   "Merry Christmas."

   "Merry Christmas."

✧

Okay okay okay, getting some serious feels here. There's really something romantic about writing about Christmas in August. I'm really feeling it right now.

Anyway, my life has been hectic for the last month. If y'all don't know, I got a puppy and my drivers permit in the last month. That's why updates have been 0/3. Sorry about that, life is crazy and I needed a break.

Regarding the story, don't you think that the drama is over between Ms. Rose and Mr. Potter, oh no, no, no! It's all coming back full force. You better be prepared.

Love you all xxx