It was past three am on the final night of term and the Marauders remained awake in the common room. This was a tradition at the end of the term, they wanted to spend every moment together. James and Remus were currently engrossed in a game of wizards chess whilst Peter and Sirius sat on either side of the table with a bowl of sweets.

"Moony you have to give in and admit I am better than you at chess."

"James I never said you weren't." Remus sighed into his arm, they had been playing for hours. James was the King of chess in their group but he also loved to make the games excruciatingly long and torturous for the opponent. Hence why Remus was currently sat with his elbow propped on the table and his hand holding his head up to prevent him from falling asleep.

"You did. You said it in your head." James wiggled his finger about in front of Remus.

"James you're not a legilimens." Remus rolled his eyes jokingly, Peter nudged him from beside.

"Move your knight to get James' pawn." Peter whispered, causing James to lift an eyebrow, intrigued in the conversation. Remus nodded at Peter and commanded the knight forward.

"Oh nooooo, my pawn. Whatever will I do without my noble slave." James gasped, putting the back of his hand to his forehead. "Oh I know, checkmate."

"What!" Remus looked confused, until he noticed the smirk on Sirius' face, a smirk directed towards Peter. "Peter Pettigrew! I thought I could trust you!"

"Thanks Pete." James handed a large bag filled with Bertie Botts over to Peter.

"Pete your cunningness never fails to amaze me." Sirius chuckled.

"I, I'm not cunning!" Peter answered rather nervously, taking this to be a negative personality only.

"You can still be a good person even if you're cunning Pete." A new voice filled the room causing all four boys to turn to the source. Stood on the bottom strip of the girls staircase was Ophelia. "Deception, if used for the greater good, can be acceptable. I'd say you're resourceful though, cunning just has too many negative connotations unfortunately."

The boys took in Ophelia's words followed by her appearance; she looked utterly shattered. She was wearing something plain, a baggy jumper and joggers, rather than her usual stylish look. No makeup was on her face, allowing the boys to see the darkness under her eyes. None of the boys had seen Ophelia like this, well none other than Peter.

"Fi!" Peter seemed excited to see the girl and jumped up off the floor and headed over to her then whispered. "I'm sorry, I tried to get them to stay upstairs so you could have your space but they wanted to come down."

"It's ok Pete, thank you though." Ophelia turned to look at the rest of the boys. "What are you guys doing up?"

"It's the last night of term, and we won't see each other for a while so we have to enjoy every moment." James explained.

"What are you doing up?" Remus questioned, he had noticed a slight redness lining the bottom of her usually bright blue eyes.

"Bad dream." Ophelia muttered, but her voice cracked slightly causing the boys to look concerned. "I don't want to talk about it, can I sit with you all for a bit."

"Come to bestie James." James put his arms out, flexing his hands open and closed to mimic grabbing.

"Thanks." Ophelia chuckled at James' antics but still walked over to where he had just sat on a sofa. James grabbed her and pulled her into a hug. "So what are you all doing Christmas."

"I'm going to stay at James' over Christmas, meaning I get to enjoy Mia's incredible Christmas cake." Sirius rubbed his belly excitedly.

"I'm just going home to the family, we might see my Aunt but that's about it." Remus shrugged, sadly the full moon fell the day before Christmas Eve and he knew that was going to put a dampener on the rest of the holiday.

"I'm going home as well." Peter explained.

"What about you FiFi." James questioned, whilst still having her head rested against his shoulder.

"Well JamJam" Ophelia emphasised the childish nickname in retaliation. "I'm staying here with Minnie. I'm quite excited actually."

The boys continued some mindless conversation between them, discussing past pranks with Ophelia or laughing at James' antics with Lily. Peter had passed out on the floor not long after, slight snores leaving his mouth. Sirius and Remus were now arguing over how white chocolate wasn't a real chocolate; James took this moment to speak to Ophelia who still lay awake against him.

"Do you not sleep well normally Fi?" James asked quietly.

"No, not really. I just get silly nightmares that's all." Ophelia smiled to him. "Thank you though."

"Thank you for what?"

"For caring. It means a lot." Ophelia smiled.

"James come on tell Moony that white chocolate is still chocolate."

"I'm not getting involved in an argument about chocolate with Moony." James held his spare hand up in surrender.

"See James understands." Remus cried out. Ophelia hadn't seen this fun, dramatic side to Remus and she was loving it. The drama carried on until Sirius declared defeat and decided his bed was calling for him.

"Fi, we're heading up." James spoke to Ophelia but gained no response. "Fi?"

"She's asleep." Remus looked at the girl, she looked so at peace in that moment.

"I can't wake her, that would be mean." James knew the real reason he didn't want to wake her was because of her small confession just moments earlier.

"Well we can't take her back to her dorm, the slide." Sirius explained, he was currently tickling Peter with a feather to wake him.

"I'll take her to our dorm, she can sleep in my bed, I'll bunk with you Sirius." James didn't give anyone chance to respond, he manoeuvred himself away from Ophelia slowly before picking her up delicately. Without looking back James set off up the stairs.

"What was that about?" Remus looked at where the two were just sat, a weird fire inside him burning.

"James sees her as a sister." Another new voice in the room. Lily was stood leaning against the wall at the bottom of the girls staircase. "He told me, don't worry he doesn't fancy her."

"I wasn't worried." Remus stood.

"You were Moony." Sirius shouted back whilst he lugged Peter upright.

"Shut it Sirius. Why are you here Lily?"

"Well it's gone five am, I woke up earlier than normal and saw Ophelia out of bed so came looking. But I see she's found somewhere else to sleep, so I'll head back up. You should too, get some sleep boys." Lily smiled and turned around to head back upstairs.

"Come on Moony, I need help with Pete." Sirius spoke, sounding slightly out of breath.

"Coming."

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Ophelia woke feeling like she had slept for hours, she was sure she hadn't slept for long but knew something had to have been different to be able to feel ok in the morning. Just as her brain began to wake up properly, she felt the bed dip. Then it sprung up before quickly dipping once more. With tired eyes Ophelia forced them open just in time to spot Sirius landing bottom first on the end of the bed.

"Sirius, what the hell are you doing?" Ophelia rubbed her eyes.

"PETER SHE ISN'T DEAD." Sirius yelled rather loudly, causing Ophelia to groan.

"Why are you so loud?" Ophelia pushed herself up. "Wait why am I in your dorm?"

"You feel asleep in the common room so James brought you upstairs." Sirius explained before suddenly remembering what he was doing prior. With a large grin on his face, that Ophelia recognised as trouble brewing, Sirius jumped back in the air before flopping onto his side beside Ophelia.

"Feeling better now Sirius?" Ophelia groaned, moving her now dead arm from beneath where Sirius landed.

"Much."

"Hey Fi." Peter joined them at the bottom of the bed.

"Morning Pete." Ophelia smiled, there was an innocence around Peter that Ophelia just loved. "Look Sirius, that's how you greet someone in the early morning."

"Not entirely sure you can class this as early morning Fi."

"Huh?"

"It's 10am." Peter shuffled around the bed, sitting himself on the edge.

"WHAT!" Ophelia bolted upright. "It can't be."

"Relax Fi, it's not a crime to have a lie in." Sirius rested his head on one elbow, facing towards Ophelia.

"Shut it Sirius, I was just shocked that's all."

"Clearly."

"I guess a thank you is required though." Ophelia smiled, more to herself realising how safe she felt in the Marauders presence.

"It was James really." Peter commented from the bottom of the bed.

"Did I hear someone use my beautiful name?" The door to the door swung open to reveal James grinning, with Remus stood behind. "FiFi you're awake!"

"You have Sirius to thank for that." Ophelia took the opportunity to elbow Sirius in the stomach.

"Owww, Moony look she hurt me." Sirius pouted like a child.

"I'm sure you deserved it." Remus rolled his eyes at Sirius, then turned his attention to Ophelia. "I brought you this up, I think it's the one you normally have." He placed a glass on the bedside table. Behind him James gave a look to Sirius and Peter.

"I need to finish packing." Sirius jumped up suddenly from beside Ophelia.

"What? You already packed Sirius?" Peter mumbled still sat at the end of the bed.

"I forgot to pack my boxers, now come on Peter you can help." Sirius squeezed his eyes at Peter in hope this would help him realise.

"Ohhhhhh, yeh I'll help." Peter squeaked excitedly and followed Sirius to the other side of the room.

"What was that about?" Ophelia asked Remus.

"No idea." Remus did have an idea, a very strong one, but he wasn't going to let it play on his mind.

"Thank you, this is the right one." Ophelia smiled and grabbed the smoothie from the bedside table.

"Did you sleep ok?" Remus was still stood beside the bed, standing rather awkwardly.

"Yes actually, you can sit down you know. You look like a penguin stood like that."

"A penguin?" Remus perched himself on the edge of the bed.

"Maybe not a penguin, you're too much of a giant for that. I'll have to think on what you look like." Ophelia chuckled, earning a smile from Remus.

"I heard you muttering a bit in your sleep last night." Remus scratched the nape of his neck whilst he spoke, he wasn't sure whether to bring this up but decided to last minute.

"Oh." Ophelia sat the smoothie down on the table once more, a heavy feeling growing on her chest. "What was I saying?"

"It was hard to tell, I think you were just apologising a lot." Remus had heard a few other things but didn't want to press.

"Right, I probably just had a strange dream."

"Yeh probably."

"MOOOONNNYYYY." James sang to Remus from the other side of the room.

"Yes?" Remus was slightly gutted by the interruption, he was hoping he could get through to Fi if he had a few more moments.

"We've got to go, train leaves at 11." James called over.

"Oh shit, right ok." Remus quickly got off the bed and headed over to his side of the dorm.

"James?" Ophelia called over to James who was just closing his bag.

"Yeh?" James stopped and look over to Ophelia, who had stood out of bed and began to walk over to him.

"Thank you." Ophelia wrapped her arms around him, which he soon retaliated. James was about to ask why, but then remembered their conversation the night before.

"You're welcome."

"Oh wait before you guys go." Ophelia quickly pulled out of her hug. "Just, just stay here don't go anywhere." Without noticing the confused looks on the Marauders faces, she ran out the room.

"What on earth is going on?" Sirius looked to James then to Remus, then to Peter. "Pete what on Earth are you doing?" Peter was currently stood with an arm in mid action of packing some trousers, his face glued on the door.

"Fi said not to move." Peter responded, causing Sirius and James to both enter a fit of hysterics. Remus however put the boy out of his misery.

"You don't have to freeze, just don't leave the room Pete."

"Ohhh." Peter relaxed and continued to pack his bags, blissfully unaware of the laughter he had just caused.

The door swung up once more to reveal Ophelia and four floating bags. With some gentle movement from her wand, the bags all landed in front of the intended recipient.

"These are your Christmas presents." Ophelia noticed a look of grateful yet shocked faces. "Before you say anything you didn't need to get me a gift, I wanted to get you these."

Sirius visibly relaxed, James shuffled slightly but Remus continued to look disappointed in himself. Peter however was still going through his bag, before shouting at an 'ahah'. The boy turned around and walked towards Ophelia with his arms behind his back.

"Close your eyes." Peter looked so excited and Ophelia couldn't even imagine refusing. "Now hands out." Ophelia obliged and then felt something fall into her hands. "Open them." Resting in her hands was a messily wrapped present, a small red bow stuck on top skew-wife as an attempt to beautify it. But to Ophelia it was perfect.

"Thank you Pete." She engulfed the boy in a hug, hugs were something Ophelia was becoming much more accustomed to and was definitely beginning to enjoy them. "Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas Fi." The boy smiled into the hug, feeling accepted by someone other than the Marauders for once.

"Right I've got to go, I've got to give the girls their gifts. I hope you all have a lovely holiday! See you in four weeks!" Ophelia left the room but called out as she began to go down the stairs. "Don't try and open them before the 25th, I've charmed them to squirt you with stink juice."

"Oh that's evil." Sirius huffed.

"That's genius." James smiled.

"That's Fi." Peter smiled too.

"She's amazing." Remus whispered.

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