Bear with me guys, I know it's long but please read it instead of scrolling past.
A Marauders fanfic, set in seventh year.
Prongs the Red-Nosed Reindeer
"Hey Prongs! Padfoot! Wake up!" Peter yelled early on Christmas Day, chucking a pillow playfully at James's head as he spoke. "Look! Presents!"
Sirius, awaking from a good night's sleep, leapt out of bed and turned to the large pile of presents that had been delivered overnight. A few feet away sat Remus, grinning at him from behind his own equally large pile of gifts.
"Merry Christmas, Padfoot," said Remus, unwrapping the gift he was holding.
"Merry Christmas," responded Sirius, eagerly tearing back the paper on a lumpy present.
Above them, James stretched, letting out a huge yawn. "Morning already? Oh look, presents!"
"What d'you think we've been doing this whole time?" asked Peter, smirking, as James crawled out of his four-poster and rumpled up his already extremely messy hair.
When the four Marauders had finished unwrapping their presents, Sirius turned to James with a smirk on his face and a maniacal glint in his eyes. Remus knew that look. It was the same look he had when he had suggested that they become Animagi for the full moon. It was the same look he had when they had filled the Slytherin common room with fireworks in the middle of the night. It was the same look he had when he and James had charmed all the staircases in Hogwarts to turn into slippery slides the moment you stepped on them.
It was this look that told Remus something interesting was about to happen, whether it was playful, funny or outright dangerous.
"So, Prongs, what say we give this place a bit a festive cheer?" Sirius said.
"'A bit of festive cheer?'" said Peter. "What, haven't we already got the twelve gigantic Christmas trees and the mistletoe and holly everywhere?"
"What're you thinking, Padfoot?" asked Remus warily. Across from him, James leaned forward, grinning.
"I'll put it this way: Ever heard of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer?"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen
Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen
But do you recall
The most famous reindeer of all?
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Had a very shiny nose
And if you ever saw it
You would even say it glows
Sirius and Peter entered the Great Hall for breakfast, singing at the top of their lungs. Remus entered slightly behind them, shaking his head, and James led the way.
But it was not the same James Potter that had sat in the Marauders' dormitory unwrapping his presents earlier that morning. No, this James Potter was a majestic stag, his snout charmed bright red, with several Christmas ornaments hanging from his large antlers.
"Look, it's Rudolph!" a muggle-born Gryffindor first year said to his confused friend. A table away, a group of Hufflepuff first and second years sang along with Sirius and Peter.
All of the other reindeer
Used to laugh and call him names
They never let poor Rudolph
Join in any reindeer games
Then one foggy Christmas Eve
Santa came to say
"Rudolph, with your nose so bright
Won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"
Prongs pranced happily around the Great Hall, occasionally approaching the younger students to make them laugh, while the professors watched with amused expressions. In the middle of the staff table, Dumbledore was merrily conducting the song with his wand. Many of the few Slytherins that had chosen to stay over Christmas break were watching with distasteful looks on their faces.
Then how the reindeer loved him
As they shouted out with glee
"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
You'll go down in history"
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Had a very shiny nose
And if you ever saw it
You would even say it glows
Sirius, Peter and James all bowed to loud applause (the latter sort of bent his knees awkwardly and craned his neck towards the floor). Remus and Lily, who had been eating breakfast while the other Marauders did their thing, watched the whole scene seated at the Gryffindor table.
"They certainly have a flair for performing and making people laugh, don't they?" said Lily, applauding.
"Especially James," Remus agreed, smiling. "You're going to have to marry him, you know."
Lily didn't answer at first, for she was lost in thought… Memories of James, making her laugh, grinning at her, rumpling his messy hair, filled her mind… Dreams of their Patronuses, his stag and her doe…together…always.
Lily fingered the beautiful necklace James had given her that year for Christmas and smiled. "I know."
