Okay a nice short opening to a sweet Christmas fic. This is being written for a Christmas challenge on Fictionnet forum.
Criteria: 1. The fic must be three chapters long or more,
2. The fic cannot be a tragedy or angsty - romance, humour, maybe slight action and adventure, but no more. Make it a nice, easy Christmas fic. (For those of you who want to do a tragic one, a challenge catering to you is in the works.)
3. Include the giving of at least one Christmas present - metaphorical or literal, up to you.
However the deadline is Christmas day, and since this is aiming to be about 12 chapters long I don't think I'm going to make it. Hopefully I'll have done at least the first three chapters though. Anyway, enjoy and have a very merry Christmas!
Disclaimer: All characters belong to JK Rowling. Blah blah don't sue me.
12 days of Christmas
"On the First Day of Christmas my true love gave to me: A partridge in a pear tree."
"A what in a pear tree?" It was the 24th of December and James, Sirius and Remus were sitting comfortably in the Gryffindor common room. James had announced, only the day before, that he didn't know what to buy his obsession: also known as Lily, for Christmas. The boys had suggested many...creative presents. None of which, however, James felt would be suitable to win over the heart of said young lady. Currently he was detailing the finer points of his idea to the two of his best friends.
"A Partridge."
"Isn't that one of those big fat birds? Don't you think that might send out the wrong message?" Sirius scratched his head, trying to get round the idea of sending a girl a fat bird in a tree. "Besides, how would you get a tree up here? Where would you put it?"
"Well it doesn't exactly have to be up here does it, it could be outside. Anyway, it wouldn't send the wrong message, it's from a muggle Christmas song." James pulled out an old book from his bag and tossed it to Sirius. "I borrowed this from the library," Sirius mocked surprise. "12 Days of Christmas."
"Ah yes, I know the one; 'On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me, a partridge in a pear tree." Remus sang the first line of the song in perfect tune. Sirius still looked baffled.
"'True love'? You got it bad mate." Sirius joked. James blushed while Remus smiled to himself.
"Anyway, Christmas Day is the first day of Christmas so…"
"Wait, there is more than one day of Christmas? Score!"
"Oh shut up a minute, so I'm going to give her the present tomorrow morning, that way I have all day to find the two turtle doves."
"So you already have the Partridge and pear tree?" James nodded and Sirius looked amazed.
"Looks like our little Jamesey is all grown up and organized, I'm so proud." Remus feigned crying while James punched him playfully.
"So where is it then?" Sirius looked around as if expecting some pear tree to appear before him. James bent over and opened his bag for a second time. This time he pulled out a 6" pear tree, complete with tiny partridge.
"I found it in a muggle Christmas store but I enchanted it so that the partridge could sing." He proudly placed it on the table in front of them while the other two watched in awe as the partridge sang the tune to the 12 days of Christmas.
Early on Christmas morning, James managed to sneak into the girls' dorm and left his gift for Lily on her bedside table. With it he had left a note:
"To Lily,
Hope you have a very merry Christmas.
Love James x"
He had wanted to write something more romantic, but words were not exactly his strong point. After leaving the present he headed back to bed knowing full well that he wouldn't be able to sleep.
Lying snuggly in his bed, James read through the rest of the song. Had he realized that there were so many presents involved he might have rethought the whole idea, but he was not about to give up now, not only when he'd just begun.