The months pass crazily fast and soon, Lily and I are packing up our things to go for winter break. I'm nervous. James said his parents were cool with me coming, but he's also the kind of person who just shows up and decides its fine. We had our third Quidditch game yesterday, beating Hufflepuff out of contention for the cup, but somehow my aching limbs still have room for nervous energy. Still haven't played Slytherin though. That'll come after the break.

"It'll be fun." Lily insists as we roll our suitcases down the hall. "I'll write to you while you're there and you'll write to me and it'll be fun." She says it like an affirmation, but it makes me feel better anyway.

"And I'll have your ring on all the time. And we can both actually use a phone." I joke and she chuckles.

"Right." She agrees and we both take a deep breath, then take each other's hands. There's the train ride where I stay with the boys and she stays with Severus, but blimey my nerves are eating me alive. James is taking up one side of the car with his legs splayed out and his scarf over his face while he snores softly. Sirius reaches over and takes one of my hands to save the napkin I'd been ripping apart. I glance at him and find a knowing smile on his face.

"The Potters are the kindest people I've ever met. Other than Lily." His smile grows a bit at the mention of the sweet girl. "They'll love you." I take a deep breath.

"I've never been to a friend's house," I admit and his brows furrow a bit. He's wearing a band t-shirt, dark jeans, dark sneakers, and a worn leather jacket. Him looking so good also isn't helping with my nerves. "All my scars would have caught too much attention and my parents couldn't risk having their caretaker snatched away. This is all new to me." He nods slowly and holds his arm out.

"Come here." He beckons and I slide over, sighing with comfort at having him close. "That just means we've got to make up for lost time, but the real question is; do you trust me?" I nod. "And do you trust Prongs?"

"Not with my homework, but..." I tease and he chuckles slightly. "Yes, I trust both of you."

"Alright then, trust that we'll stay close. And if you need anything just ask us. Sound good?" He asks and I take another breath as my eyes shut.

"Yeah, that sounds good."

The next thing I know, Sirius is shaking me softly. "We're at the platform." He tells me and I bolt upright. I hurry to fix my hair and wipe the sleep from my eyes.

"Mane, if my parents cared about how you looked, they'd have kicked Sirius out long ago." James teases and wraps his arm around my shoulders.

"Is that because I'm too attractive?"

"Aye mate, mouthwatering."

Their banter helps put me at ease as we exit the train, but I'm grateful James keeps that arm around me. Their touch helps. We walk out of the path of steam so we can see the line of adults and I spy Lily running up to her parents to give them a hug. The sight squeezes my heart. "Oi, Prongs, just there." Sirius points to an older couple scouring the crowd. We head that way and I swear I might be sweating despite the cold air.

"Mum! Dad!" James waves and their eyes land on us, instantly bringing a smile to their faces.

"Mum! Dad!" Sirius mocks in a higher-pitched voice, but he has the widest grin I've ever seen on his face.

"Ah, the great return of our sons for winter break. BATTEN DOWN THE HATCHES, LONDON!" His father yells and gains over a dozen looks from the people around us. James' mother slaps his chest while trying to hold in a laugh.

"Dad," James emphasizes before giving him a quick hug where his dad musses his hair.

"Be thankful I talked him out of a megaphone. He found one from a street vendor." His mother says before hugging James and Sirius as well. My hands are clasped so tight in front of me my knuckles are white. "And I see you still haven't cut your hair, Sirius, why would you hide such a handsome face?" He gets an extra kiss to his cheek before both boys retreat back to my side.

"I can wear it in a ponytail if you really feel strongly about it." He shrugs as both parents' eyes turn to me. I can definitely see James in both of them. The face shape of his father, his whole body really, excepting Mr. Potter's burgeoning belly. But James has his hair color, the long nose too and mischevious smile. His eye color he got from his mom who is adorably plump and also has fading red hair.

"And this must be Arell Ackley, or Mane, finally a nickname I get." Mr. Potter chuckles and slicks back his shockingly smooth hair which is a stark difference to James' constantly messy head. "Glad you finally brought us a girl, you boys need someone to kick you in the pants every once and a while." Mr. Potter teases and gets a slap to the rump for it from Mrs. Potter.

"Are you asking for one?" She asks him while James blushes.

"Guys-"

"It's good to finally have a daughter! Not that I don't love those four boys, but variety is nice." Mr. Potter exclaims before leaning forward and gathering me into his arms. I'm shocked still for a good minute before I remember how to move. I return the hug and smile before he lets go and Mrs. Potter gets her turn.

"I heard you like chocolate, so I tried out a few new cookie recipes I'm hoping you can help me try out." She tells me and presses a kiss to my cheek before pulling away. I swallow and back up towards the boys again.

"It's really nice to meet you," I tell them and my voice is a bit scratchy from unshed tears.

"And a joy to have you! Now, let's get going before those cookies cool." Mr. Potter takes my case with a smile before we all move forward. I stare at them a bit incredulously, only looking away when Sirius chuckles.

"Told you." He says with sparkling grey eyes. There's a nearby floo network that brings us right into the Potter's house and once again I'm slightly in awe.

It's big, to say the least. We exit the fireplace to a massive room with vaulted ceilings, to the left and above the fireplace is a banister that blocks the second-floor ledge that clearly leads to bedrooms, to the right nearly floor to ceiling windows, behind the fireplace is a library and office, then straight ahead is the living room with the kitchen just beyond it. To the left of the living room is the foyer that leads to two other rooms that I just can't even fathom what they could be. The fireplace is made of light stone and all the walls are a breathtaking white. Red couches reminiscent of the ones in the Gryffindor common room decorate the living room with a cream carpet under them stark against the dark hardwood floors. The kitchen and living room are separated by a huge island made from grey and white marble with stools all along it, then there's a breakfast nook to the left of it.

"Everyone freeze!" Mrs. Potter calls and we three still as she waves her wand over us, banishing all the soot. "Alright, you're good." I release a breath I didn't know I was holding as she does the same for her husband and he for her. He waves our cases up to the open second floor while waving his other hand to the kitchen.

"Save me some!" He pleads as we head into the spotless space. Sirius and James instantly hop onto stools, then tug me onto the one between them.

"What's the score, Mrs. P?" Sirius asks as she sets out three different cookies in front of us on paper towels.

"Tried five, only three were good enough for further experimentation." She reports and Sirius grins. "So, we've got pumpkin with white chocolate chips," she points to the first that's sort of orangey with white dots, "then mint chocolate chip," this one is near black with dark chocolate chips, white chocolate, and little green ones that I assume are mint, "and finally, we've got brown sugar cinnamon." We all pick up the pumpkin one first and I briefly feel like I should be taking notes as if this is potions class. They're all still warm and warm me up easily. Once the cookies are gone and Mr. Potter has joined his wife across the island staring at us intently, we give our answers.

"My favorite is the pumpkin, definitely. Reminds me of butterbeer." James chooses, then eyes go to me.

"I like the brown sugar cinnamon. It's sweet and homely, but comforting." They nod and move to Sirius.

"Mint chocolate chip, no contest." He replies and Mrs. Potter groans.

"A three-way tie. Sirius?" She asks hopefully while my brows furrow.

"Serve Mane's. Since it tastes comforting people will associate familiarity and warmth with your product. People like the familiar." He says as I stare over at him, then he glances at me sheepishly. "Mrs. Potter serves cookies when Mr. Potter is trying to gain another supplier for hair product."

"And Sirius has one of the best minds for business I've ever met. Brilliant. And that means we can eat the rest." Mr. Potter teases and musses James' hair while winking at me.

"Mane is good at potions too, dad. Made it into the Slug club first day of potions." James brags and I blush, but Mr. Potter's eyes grow interested.

"Really? Well then, maybe she can help me with a problem." He waves me after him as he walks into the foyer and opens one of the doors. Nervously, I follow after him. We head down some stairs and into a large basement with small windows letting in little light all the way around it. Potions gear is everywhere. Tables of beakers, bookshelves of potions with tags, ingredients, and I believe one corner is rather scorched. "I've been trying to make a potion that curls hair, but can't quite get it down." He grabs a bottle from the shelf, pours it in a cauldron and turns on the heat, then passes me a slip of parchment. "These are the ingredients." My eyes scan them before looking back at him.

"Well, it seems like you just need the product." I reach up and pluck a single hair from my head, then drop it in when the purple liquid boils. He spoons out a vial and swirls it around until it cools, then pours the whole thing on his head. We stare at each other for a solid minute before his hair suddenly bursts into kinky curls just like mine. Laughter splutters out of my mouth at just how comical he looks and he hurriedly grabs his mirror.

"You did it! Euphemia!" He shouts and grabs my hand, taking us both quickly back up to the first floor where James and Sirius seem to be having a cookie eating contest with Mrs. Potter timing it. "Euphemia!" He shouts again and the three look over to us. Her eyes widen before Sirius and James lose all the cookies in their mouths due to laughter. "Arell had the perfect solution. I needed a part of what I wanted to happen! Brilliant work." He says as we walk over and I see her trying terribly hard to be proud rather than to laugh.

"That's...that's very lovely, dear." She says with a wide grin, before waving a wand at the mess the chuckling boys made. Mr. Potter happily turns to me with shining eyes.

"I might have to write you next time I have a problem I can't get by, Arell."

"Oh, don't bother the poor girl." Mrs. Potter scolds, but my head shakes.

"Oh no, it's not a bother. I'd love to help when I can." Mr. Potter plants a happy kiss to my forehead before rushing back down to his workshop, hopefully, to fix his hair.

"Alright, thanks for the cookies mum. We're headed to my room." James waves to her and I do too before we head up the stairs. We head into the room farthest from the stairs and I'm pretty surprised at how clean it is. A big bed sits in the corner diagonal to the door with a dark blue bedspread and a few dark pillows. His walls are white with snitches interspersed throughout and his carpet is dark cream. He's got a dark dresser, bedside table, and tv stand with a small flatscreen on top. Other than a few t-shirts strewn about, it's clean. "And this is my precious abode." He introduces while Sirius just goes in and collapses on the bed. There are two bean bags and I'm about to settle onto one when Sirius leans forward and tugs me onto the bed with him, then James jumps on afterward.

I'm squished between them with Sirius at my back with his arms draped around me and resting on James' shoulders while James rests his head on my right thigh. It feels nice. "I suggest we three behave like slugs all day including movies, popcorn, and the like, then behave like fools tonight. What do we say?" He cranes his neck back a bit to look at us.

"Sounds appropriate." Sirius agrees, leaving it up to me.

"Naturally, I'm in." I agree. This is going to be a brilliant winter break.

A/N

Is it though, Arell? ;)