Hello to anyone reading this. I started this for a Christmas competition and then abandoned it due to having so much work to complete. I do plan to continue, but it might take a while so please bare with me. For now though, please enjoy the beginning of this story.
Christmas Eve, 1980: Godric's Hollow
The village of Godric's Hollow was nestled within a blanket of snow and bathed in the glow of the soft yellow street lamps that dotted its small winding road. A few of the cottages were covered in twinkling fairy lights that encircled doors and windows. Others made much grander gestures towards the festive period with great garlands of lights strewn over roofs and trees. Music and laughter could be heard on the soft breeze that streamed like ice past the local tavern, the Galloping Gargoyle. It was there inside the thick walls that the residents of Godric's Hollow nestled themselves. They sat around the bar and in front of the large fire lifting their glasses as they sang songs of Christmas cheer and the coming of a new year.
Inside the Potter's small cottage the light from the fireplace glinted off golden baubles that hung from the fresh pine in the corner of the room. A soft amber glow emanated from the magical candles that wound their way down the branches, bouncing gently as they floated around the tree. Arranged around the base were an assortment of gifts wrapped in brightly coloured paper with little golden snitches zooming around.
Lily Potter sat in a red wing back chair by the fire softly cooing into Harry's hair. She laughed lightly as she heard James banging around the kitchen as he attempted to cook without magic. He had lost a bet to Sirius, something to do with quidditch, she hadn't asked for details. "Daddy is silly, Harry. And your uncle Sirius is sillier." Harry giggled and reached up to run his fingers through her hair, pulling at the strands. He squealed in excitement when the doorbell rang. "Time to let the riff raff in." Lily said fondly.
James cursed as he surveyed the mess he had created in the kitchen. He had scoffed when Sirius had laid down the terms of their bet. He'd thought he would win without any difficulty, and if he did lose… how hard could it be to cook a roast dinner without magic. The only problem being he had conveniently forgotten that he couldn't cook with magic. He ducked quickly knocking over a jar of goose fat as a roast potato flew towards his head - barely missing being hit he turned towards the intruder in his kitchen and was instead hit with another potato that flew out from under the uncooked turkey. He glared at the figure standing in the doorway whose baritone laugh filled the kitchen. There was Sirius his wand pointed towards the potatoes his eyes filled with glee.