The time for the feast arrived and the Marauders were among the first students to reach the Great Hall, not wanting to miss any of the festivities. As they took their seats Dumbledore gave them a calculative glare, a gentle smile and amused shake of his head; clearly he had suspicions that something was going to happen though he made no effort to prevent it.
"Do you think he knows?" Sirius asked worriedly.
"Definitely" Harry answered. "I doubt you'd get him with the same trick twice".
"Why isn't he stopping it?" Peter questioned confusedly.
"Because he's game for a laugh" James surmised. "He knows we wouldn't do anything harmful".
"I bet McGonagall will do her nut this time" Remus interjected.
"Nah, even if she does, Dumbledore will stop her" James responded confidently.
"Then you won't mind taking the blame for this one then" Remus challenged. "No can do Moony, I have plausible deniability, I've been in the hospital wing" James pointed out.
"I think it's your turn to take this one Remus" Peter cut in. "You put the extra piece to it".
"But it was Harry's idea" Remus grumbled.
"I have no idea what you are talking about, the last full moon must have addled your brains" Harry replied in an innocent whisper.
"Traitors" the werewolf mumbled.
When the students and staff were settled Dumbledore took his place at the podium to address the room as he always did on such occasions.
"It seems that the winter holidays are finally upon us" he began. "I truly hope that once we all return to resume our studies that any unpleasantness that has plagued us thus far this year can be forgotten and we can move on, we must stand united through difficult times such as we are now facing after all" he continued seriously. "But now, we once again we have a feast to indulge in so let me be the first to wish you all a very merry…"
At this point he was cut off as a burst of flame could be seen at the door and Fawkes appeared clutching the sorting hat in his talons. Dumbledore simply frowned as the bird flew towards him and dropped the hat, causing the headmaster to instinctively reach out to catch the aged relic.
The moment he did so a thick white smoke began pouring from the opening of the hat and quickly hid the staff table from view. Once the plume had ceased the hat disappeared in another burst of flames as Fawkes returned it back to its resting pace in Dumbledore's office.
When the headmaster managed to banish the remainder of the fog the students were treated to the sight of Father Christmas standing before them with a look of bemusement on his face, surrounded by a staff that were either sporting antlers or now dressed as snowmen.
The students burst into a round of applause and cheering as they realised what had happened and Dumbledore simply shook his head.
"I do believe I am jolly old Saint Nick" he deduced.
"Must we suffer this indignity at every feast?" McGonagall sighed as she caught sight of her red nose. "How on earth did they get the phoenix and hat on board" She added irritably.
"Fawkes is rather fond of Mr. Potter but I believe his involvement was the hats doing" Dumbledore mused aloud, stroking his much less straight beard.
"At least they got the hierarchy right" Burbage cut in. "You are the lead reindeer after all Minerva" she explained with a snicker. "Oh they are going to hang for this" McGonagall vowed.
"We should just be grateful that it is only costumes, I'm sure it could be much more embarrassing if they wanted it to be" Slughorn interjected.
"Why am I the only elf" Flitwick piped up, gesturing to his green outfit and hat complete with white and red socks.
"It rather suits you Filius" Dumbledore praised amusedly.
He then turned his attention back to the students before speaking to the room once more.
"I wish the only thing left to do is wish you all a merry Christmas" he sighed.
The moment he mentioned the word Christmas an orchestra could be heard throughout the room playing 'Santa Claus is coming to town'. Dumbledore simply shook his head and took his seat, not wanting to trigger anything else.
"That was amazing" Sirius declared. "How did you get the phoenix involved?" he asked Harry.
"That was nothing to do with me" Harry denied firmly. "The hat must have done it".
"Damn that hat is cool, maybe we can get him a wash or something" Sirius shrugged.
(BREAK)
It was the next day that found the boys settling into a compartment aboard the Hogwarts Express, ready to make the journey home for a couple of weeks.
"Thank Merlin" James sighed. "No offense, but I'm looking forward to sleeping in my own bed in my own room".
"I'm just grateful that I don't have to rub that ointment into your back anymore" Sirius grumbled. "Hey, you won the coin toss fair and square" James pointed out.
"Lost James, I lost the coin toss" Sirius reminded him heatedly.
"You should feel privileged that you had the opportunity to get such an up close view of a fine specimen" James replied. "You should consider yourself lucky that it wasn't my arse" he added.
Sirius visibly cringed at the very thought.
"So what are you guys doing for the holidays?" Harry asked Peter and Remus.
""My parents and myself are going to Sweden" Peter revealed excitedly.
"Just a quiet one for me and my family this year, just what I need" Remus explained, clearly content with his plans.
"And you will be graced with my presence" Sirius piped up, looking at Harry amusedly. "Great just what we need, a dog pissing up the tree" he returned sarcastically.
"I don't piss on things" Sirius growled.
"We all see you doing it Padfoot" James broke in. "And we can smell it in the forest, you definitely piss on trees" he finished accusingly.
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