you'll try and get back early?" James asked Diana with a pout.

Diana smiles, her cheeks a rosy hue. Though it is uncertain if it's from the cold. "I promise. I'll be back on the 30th."

They stood on the train platform. In one hand, Diana holds a book for the train ride ahead. The other held James Potter's hand as they wait for her to board the train. The rest of the marauders had come along with them. Despite the freezing winter, there were several Hogwarts students on that platform as well, hoping to say goodbye to their friends before the holiday break.

"You know, you could just stay here. Not too late to stay at the castle and spend the holidays there with us." Arabella suggests, huddling close to Sirius for any bit of warmth she can get.

"Yeah! Is there anything we can say that could persuade you to stay?" Remus asked, agreeing with Arabella.

"Hmmm," Diana mused, "I don't think so."

"Ah," Remus smiled, his eyes crinkling as he shrugged his shoulders, "it was worth a shot."

"Last call for those leaving! The train will be departing soon!" The conductor called out in a booming voice, startling the five.

"I guess I should go, huh?" Diana said, letting go of James' hand. She looks at the train, at the students rushing their goodbyes to board it, then back at her friends.

Arabella steps forward, engulfing her in a hug. "I'll see you again soon."

"Okay." Diana said, just loud enough for Arabella to hear. "And thank you again for the other day."

Arabella pulls back, her hands still placed on Diana's shoulders, knowing she was referring to their previous conversation. "It was no problem, Diana. Please just keep in mind what I said." Arabella reminded, tilting her head towards where James was standing.

Diana nods, "I will."

She made her way down the line, giving quick hugs to Remus, Sirius, and Peter, before reaching James.

"I'm gonna miss you, you know?" Diana admits, looking up at James with a somewhat bashful smile. One that James notices, letting out a little laugh.

"Does saying that sadden you?" James teased, an eyebrow raised.

Diana shakes her head and attempts to slightly push James' shoulder, but he does not budge from his place. James doesn't miss the smile on her face and the glint in her eyes.

"See, you push me away but that look in your eyes tells a different story."

"What look?"

"A look that says I'm the best thing that's ever happened to you."

"You wish, Potter."

"You love me, don't you? What happened to it not being an issue?"

"Shut up, James. In case you forgot, you're the one who kissed me first."

"How could I forget? You only remind me everyday."

"I hate to break this up, and really I do, you both are adorable," Remus said, gesturing to the two of them, "but Diana's going to miss the train."

Diana moves to give James a kiss on the cheek, but he steps back, pointing a finger to his lips. Diana rolls her eyes but nevertheless gives him a quick peck on the lips, earning a joking groan from Sirius. "Gross."

"Please, I've had to witness worse in the years you two have been dating." James replied in response, pointing his finger at Sirius and Arabella. "Let me have this."

Remus held back his laughter as Peter practically choked on air at James' response. Sirius held his hands up in mock surrender, as if to say, 'fair enough'. With one last smile at her friends, Diana turns to leave, and as carefully as she can in her snow boots, immediately runs toward the train.

"Don't worry, Diana. We'll keep him in check for you." Sirius called out, his tone teasing and winking at Diana in the process, earning him a playful shove from James.

"You better!" With a laugh, and a final wave goodbye, Diana finally boards the waiting train.

As James watched Diana's train leave, a sinking feeling started making its way to the pit of his stomach. Though he was unsure as to what it is exactly, guilt? sadness? Maybe some confusing mixture of both. Regardless, he stared forward as the train disappeared from the platform, his hands balled up in fists. There was no longer anything to look at but the pure white snow that fell from the heavens, covering most of the landscape. He hadn't even fully registered when Remus slung an arm around his shoulder, "She'll be back soon, Prongs."

"Yeah, besides you have us to keep you company!" Peter chimed in, his tone excited, hoping his optimism will soon rub off on his friend.

"Huh? Oh, yes of course." James replied, as if he snapped out of some form of trance.

"Let's go back to the castle, yeah?" Arabella asked, rubbing her hands together.

James nodded and followed his friends back to the Hogwarts grounds. But his heart felt heavier at each footstep, his eyes trained on the ground beneath him. The conversation his friends were having beside him turned into unintelligible murmurs, no longer able to distinguish one voice from the other. It had been days since Lily confessed to him, and he'd be lying if he said he didn't feel some form elation. He had loved the girl for years, it was understandable to feel this way, right? He would ask himself, trying to justify his emotions as best he can. But the minute he did, bile begins to rise up in his throat as he thought about Diana.

"James, you okay there, pal?" Arabella asked, stretching her arm out in front of him. She steadies James as she bumps into her arm, before placing a hand on his shoulder. Her expression held one of concern, her eyes soft and her touch gentle.

The impact of her arm against his chest caused him to snap out of his thoughts, looking at her confused, "Why wouldn't I be?"

"Well, you almost bumped into a tree there, mate." Sirius spoke from beside Arabella, holding in his laughter at the prospect of James bumping into a tree.

James turned his face away from Arabella to find himself standing in front of a tree about a couple of feet away. He rubs the back of his neck with his right hand, "Sorry, I just have a lot on my mind."

Arabella shakes her head, wanting to ask more, but something in her knew James wouldn't be able to answer anyway. Regardless, with an arm around his shoulders, she leads him away from the tree and back to the castle.

"What is wrong with him?" Remus asked; him, Sirius, and Peter now walking behind Arabella and James.

"I wish I knew, Moony. He's been acting weird these past few days." Sirius replied, stuffing his hands in his coat pockets, "He's fine when he's with Diana, but the minute she leaves he turns quiet."

"One time, I caught him in the common room just staring ahead. At nothing in particular." Peter chimed in, though it came out quite muffled on account of the fact that his mouth was partially covered by his giant wool scarf, "I didn't have it in me to interrupt his train of thought."

Remus let out a low whistle, "Hmmm, maybe it will pass. At least I hope it does."

What they didn't expect was James keeping up that attitude for days to come. It was weird for the marauders, seeing him so quiet, keeping to himself most of the time. It alarmed them when he denied himself their usual snowball fights and conversations over cups of hot chocolates only to lock himself up in their dorm room.

"Mate, what's wrong?" Sirius asked, cornering James in their room, hands on his hips.

"It's nothing, don't worry about it." James replied, attempting to move away from Sirius, narrowly avoiding his gaze. Sirius stopped him before he could go any further, grabbing onto his arm.

The tightness in his grip suggested anger and frustration, but the warmth in his eyes conveyed nothing but genuine concern, "You know, we're here for you. Right?"

James nods, "I do."

Without another word, Sirius loosens his grip on James' arm and tentatively lets him go.

Hours quickly turned into days that particular winter break, and soon enough it was already Christmas Eve. The students who stayed behind for the holidays were treated with mountains of food of various kinds during the feast, roast turkeys, potatoes, and almost any kind of dessert one could dream of.

"Slow down, Peter. Leave some for everyone else." Remus scolded, getting a napkin and handing it to Peter. He was watching Peter stuff his face with treacle tarts, his face twisting into one of disgust.

"Oh, let him be, Moony." Sirius said, though his attention was elsewhere, busy pulling the other end of a Wizard cracker. A resounding bang as loud as a canon went off, startling Arabella as she held onto the cracker's other end.

"What's in it?" Peter asked, taking a brief pause from eating.

"Aw, a wizard's chess set." Arabella said, pouting, "I don't even play chess that often. Do you want it James?"

There was no reply, for he just stared down at his food, picking at his plate. The rest of the marauders looked at each other, before a collective sigh left their lips, not even noticing the presence of another person.

"James."

He immediately looked up, recognizing the voice. It was one that he couldn't get out of his head in years, and the previous days, "Lily."

Arabella's eyes widened whilst the other marauders just looked at the pair in disbelief. So this is what it takes to get him out of his little trance, Sirius thought bitterly, And since when was she Lily? She's always been Evans.

"Can I talk to you?"

"Lily." Arabella warned, standing from her seat, guessing where this was headed.

"It's alright. I want to talk to her anyways." James said, holding his hand up at Arabella to signal that it was fine. She hesitantly sits back down, but those around her could feel the frustration that radiated from her body. James stands up, wiping the corners of his lips with a napkin, and leaving his barely touched plate of food. He moves to follow Lily out the doors of the Great Hall.

"Save me some of those desserts, yeah?" James asked, looking at Peter with a small playful smile. Peter nods in response and without another word leaves the hall with Lily in tow.

"I have a bad feeling about this." Peter muttered, now pushing his plate away.

"What do those two have to talk about that it has to be done in private?" Remus asked, clearly frustrated as he pinches the bridge of his nose with his thumb and pointer finger.

The halls were quiet on their way to the prefect meeting room, the excited chatter from the Great Hall became noting but a distant sound that was slowly replaced with their feet making contact with the floor and the uncomfortable silence that enveloped the two of them. Neither made any move to speak, the howling wind that came from the outside reminded them of how harsh the December weather could be.

James and Lily reach the meeting room, the door closes with a gentle click. It's dark, the room only illuminated by the moonlight and a couple of torches that lined the walls.

"What did you want to talk about?" James asked, sitting on the table, hands in his pockets.

"I wanted to apologize."

"Oh, you don't—"

"Let me finish," Lily replied, standing in front of James with a steely eyed resolve, "I'm apologizing for how I suddenly told you my feelings. That wasn't fair to you or Diana. But I'm not going to apologize for the way I feel. It's not something I can help, I really like you."

James didn't know what to say. This was something he had been waiting for years to hear. It was the reason he had even began talking to Diana in the first place. He should be happy, and some part of him is. Then, why were things so different? Difficult even? He loved her, he was so sure of it too. It was because of Diana, he knew that much. But then why did his heart skip a beat when those words left her lips?

Lily noticed James staring, unable to blink, an unreadable expression on his face. She lets out a small laugh, "James, I meant it whan I said I don't expect anything from you. You can relax now."

James let out the breath he didn't know he was holding. He looked at her, taking in her every feature. How the moonlight complimented her fair skin, the delicate curve of her nose, her green knitted jumper. The way she held herself with confidence and security, the result of an attitude that made him fall for her all those years ago. Nothing had changed, not with her at least.

"It's only me. It's only us in here. Why do you look so scared and nervous?" Lily teased, eyebrow raised.

"Because I'm afraid of what might happen." James whispered, so quietly that Lily couldn't catch it.

"Would you look at that." Lily said, looking above James' head. She points her finger at it, the faint blush on her cheeks deepening as she takes small steps toward him. "Mistletoe."

His line of sight follows to wear her finger was pointing. James gulps, noticing the close proximity between him and Lily. His heart beating a million miles an hour, but he made no effort to move away, if anything he was more drawn to her now than ever.

But Lily steps back with a smile, holding her hands up in surrender, "Don't worry, I know when I've lost. I'm not going to—"

He cuts her off before she could get too far away. James grabs her face with his hands, and without so much as a warning, he kisses Lily Evans. And she tentatively kisses him back.

They pull away, their breaths caught in their throats. Lily looks up at him, eyes glowing, hair aflame, blush on her cheeks, "Merry Christmas, James."