Title: Christmas at Hogwarts - Chapter 1: An Univited Invitation

Background: This is Christmas, 4th year, from Lily's Point of View. This is not related to some of my other fics. It's more of a 'what if 'rather than the way I actually see it. I guess it's the way I wish it was, but personally do not think happened. Still...I like the idea well enough.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything except Tina Pritchitt, and who cares about her?

Specific to this chapter: This is a rather introductory chapter, not too angsty, though it does get angstier in later chapters...The way Lily uses names is important. I'm not schizo, she does go back and forth in her mindbetween calling James Potter - James and Potter - though always Potter to his face. She calls Remus Lupin, Remus, usually, and Sirius Black, Black almost always. It depends on how she's feeling about each character, as to what she calls them. She always thinks of Peter Pettigrew as Peter Pettigrew...perhaps because she doesn't know him very well, or perhaps because she knows more than one Peter. This is a little detail, I know...but I just wanted to get across that using first names is a bit significant here... that's all, I believe I just overexplained that wink PS. Sirius is always a bit of a explative deleted in my fictions...sorry Sirius lovers...

Chapter 1: An Uninvited Invitation

"Evans…" even as Lily heard the voice behind her she quickened her pace. She didn't bother to glance over her shoulder; she knew who it was.

"Evans…" the voice was closer now, louder, and slightly out of breath.

"Oh no," Lily said under her breath, and with a deep sigh she turned to face him, "Potter."

"Evans…I…I've been trying to catch up to you all day today."

"Oh?" Lily, of course, knew this. She had been avoiding him for two days now, departing quickly from one class, and taking alternate routes to another, slipping into her seat just in the knick of time, allowing no occasion for chatter. She had been behaving this way ever since yesterday when Sirius Black let it slip to one of her friends that James Potter was going to ask her to the Yule Ball.

"You're pretty quick…for a girl," Potter laughed as if this was funny, "If I didn't know you better, I'd think…"

"I've got to go, I'm going to be late for class…"

"This will only take a moment, I promise," Potter flashed a cocky grin.

Lily inwardly groaned. She did not wish to go to the Ball with him, true enough. To complicate things further there was a certain someone she did want to go with, yet he still hadn't asked her. She was starting to lose hope that he would.

Why didn't Potter ask someone else the to Yule Ball? There were loads of girls who would love to go with him. Why that Tina Pritchitt was always hanging on him, and giggling at his dull jokes. There was also that rather pretty Slytherin girl. James was often seen carrying books for her. She fancied him well enough.

Although what James Potter probably needed more than anything was a good dose of humility, she still did not want to hurt his feelings. Furthermore, she had other things to worry about, and did not want to be bothered with this, having to say no…. having to explain why…it was no good.

Potter looked as if he was trying to think up the perfect thing to say, finally, "Guess what?"

Lily said nothing but put on a forced smile.

"I am inviting you to escort me to the Yule Ball."

Lily blinked, "Was that an invitation?"

"Why, yes," Potter said flashing his pearly white teeth again, obviously not taking her meaning, "What time shall we meet to go?"

Lily closed her eyes to think a moment. How arrogant was he? This was horrible. People were milling about past them on their ways to various classes. She hated to do this in the middle of the hallway, but…

"I'm afraid I will have to decline," She said with a nervous smile, "Sorry."

She turned and walked to the staircase. "Evans…. wait?" He followed her.

"What?" She asked wanting to get away, "I said no, but thanks for asking."

"Why not?" he asked sulkily.

"I'm already going with someone else," Lily lied, and feared the lie was written on her face.

"With who?"

"Please…I have to go," she said, desperate to be safely in class where this could all blow over. She hurried up the stairs.

"Wait!" Potter said more forcefully. "I want to know who?" And he grabbed her arm to stop her.

Lily pulled her arm free, but this action caused her to lose her grip on her book bag, which tumbled down the stairs spilling the contents everywhere. Now, many students had stopped to see what the commotion was about, as still others hurried to get out of the way, for they seemed to sense trouble coming.

"Thanks, Potter," Lily grumbled sarcastically, as she surveyed the books, parchments and supplies strewn down the staircase.

"I'll get it," he said, reaching down to straighten up some parchments.

"No, thank you," Lily said coolly, and bent to collect her belongings.

"Potter, you prat! You aren't supposed to throw a ladies things about!" Lily raised her eyes to see that at the bottom of the stairs stood Potter's gang of friends: Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, and Sirius Black. Remus Lupin was already crouched and picking up the items at the bottom of the stairs. Peter Pettigrew swayed nervously with a creepy glee in his eyes. Sirius Black stood haughtily in front of Peter Pettigrew, smiling broadly. It was the latter that had spoke.

Lily did not like the implications of Potter's friends showing up at this particular moment. She acknowledged Black by nodding at him curtly.

"Evans," He said inclining his head gentlemanly. "How are you this fine afternoon? Lovely weather. I hear that you are going with Potter here to The Yule Ball."

Lily shot an angry glance down at Potter, who kept his eyes on the floor, very focused on sorting out the parchments. She could not believe the nerve of him.

"You've been misinformed," Lily retorted.

Peter Pettigrew cackled, then covered his mouth.

Remus Lupin, quiet as always, looked up at her and smiled faintly. She was glad that she had at least one ally here. She had talked with Remus only a handful of times, usually during class, but he has always been kind. He was very smart, and kept to himself and studied quite a bit. He was the kind she could see being friends with if he would ever stop living in the wake of Potter and Black.

Lily looked back toward Black who was raising an eyebrow, but was now looking at Potter. "Oh. I see," Black said quietly.

James looked up sheepishly, for the first time, "Yeah, apparently she has already been asked by someone else," he said quietly, trying to assuage his pride.

Black pondered this for a moment, "Oh, really," He looked thoughtful for a moment, "That's odd, because I didn't hear anything about that. I mean, surely I know every Gryffindor who's going – and who they are going with."

Lily didn't say anything but shoved a couple of books and some quills back in her bag.

"A Hufflepuff perhaps?" Black mused.

"It's none of our business," Lily said furiously.

"Here you go, Lily," a timid voice came from the foot of the stair. It was Remus, and he was holding out a stack of parchments, toward her.

As Lily was taking them, something caught Black's eye on top of the stack that Lupin was handing her.

"What is this?" he asked snatching up a plain white envelope, on the face of which a name was printed with flourish.

Lily froze. She was seized with a bit of panic momentarily. How dare Black look through her things. She glanced around, and saw that more people had gathered around, along with some 6th and 7th years. This was mortifying, and she could feel her cheeks blooming with roses of embarrassment. How could the day be going so poorly?

Black turned the letter over in his hands.

Peter Pettigrew chortled some more; there was some interested chatter from the students who'd joined as audience.

Lily just hoped he would get bored and leave, but he was already opening up the envelope, which wasn't sealed. She looked down at James, who glanced up at her with a hurt look on his face. He tossed some of her stuff in her bag and joined his friends at the bottom of the stairs.

He stood behind Black and read the card over his shoulder. "Ahhhh…very interesting…very interesting…" Black said as he scanned the card. Lily tried to remember every word that was written, but was drawing a horrified blank. Maybe it hadn't been that bad, maybe they couldn't misconstrue anything…

"Give that back!" Lily warned. Her eyes were burning from humiliating and despair, but she would not let them see her cry.

"I will, Evans, keep hold of yourself," Black mocked.

"You're a bully, Black. You're all bullies." She walked down the steps to retrieve her card, leaving her book bag halfway up the staircase.

Black pulled the card out of her reach just as she grabbed for it. "Patience Evans. Why are you so upset anyway? This is sweet really. A Christmas card, I gather, but I've never seen one like this…" He held it up showing a picture of a glittering winter snow scene, snow falling, but frozen in its place.

"A muggle Christmas card!" someone Lily recognized as the Slytherin Quidditch Captain said derisively.

"Black!" Lily said, having trouble checking her anger and shame, "Please…"

-End Chapter 1-