James sat in the living room twirling a white candle between his fingers as he mulled over the conversation he had just had with Madam Malkin. So Lily was coming, he knew that much and that alone made his heart race with excitement; he had been certain that the only way Lily would ever come to his house was if she was cursed or dragged kicking and screaming.

"James, would you please wake up?" James' mother complained but her voice was just a distant murmur from James' train of thought.

"Hmmm wha?" He said and the candle fell from his grip, rolling across the table.

"What's wrong with you today?" James' mother huffed, "You're not normally this distant."
"Sorry," James mumbled, picking the candle up off of the floor and heading over to one of the many Christmas trees littered around the house.

"Is it because Sirius isn't here?"

"What? No, I'm just-"

"I suppose it will be a little boring for you, sweetie, but I think it's rather adorable that Sirius and his girlfriend are spending-"

Suddenly his mother gasped and a large grin spread across her face.

"Is it because a girl's coming?" She asked.

"What?" James said innocently, "Plenty of girls have come before."
"None your age," His mother beamed, "That's it isn't it? My little Jamesey's all loved up!"

"Mum!" James groaned, "Please don't be embarrassing and go spreading that around!"

"So it's true then!" She giggled, "Now let's see, who can it be...?

"I didn't say it was true," James said casually, "I'm just asking you not to be so embarrassing."

"Kiki Figgle!" James' mother yelled as though she'd just had a revelation, "No she's in her twenties...although to be honest that's not much of an age gap..."

"Kiki Figgle?" James laughed, "Mum the girl's half troll; she's twice the size of me!"

"James, don't talk about her as if being half troll is a crime...although she did break Sirius' rib when she took a fancy to him two years back. Now let's see who else...Sue...no she's not coming...Tilly...oh she's married now isn't she? Oh while we're on this subject, your cousin broke up with his girlfriend two months ago so try and be nice-"

"Mum there's no point in you even trying to...wait, what?" James said, eyes wide, "Eli's coming?"

"Rose Marshall!" James' mother squealed, "It's Rose Marshall isn't it? I can tell by the way you're day dreaming and making sure that your costume is extra nice this year-"
"Why is he coming?" James demanded, "He never comes, why now?"

"Don't try and change the subject Jamesey. That's why you're away with the fairies, she's always missed it hasn't she? And now she's finally coming and you're getting all excited! It's about time you gave into that girl; she's been chasing you for years."

"Mum will you forget about Rose Marshall?" James said, now extremely annoyed, "You know Eli and I don't get along."

"No James that's just you," She said rolling her eyes, "Eli adores you; I don't know what your problem is."

"He has to beat me at everything!" James yelled, "Everything I do he's either done it first or done it better."

"Jealousy is not a pretty shade of green James; I think you best wear another colour,"

"I'm not jealous! He's the competitive one; I'm happy with what I do, I just hate that spiteful tone he uses when he tells me what he's done, or the fact that he thinks I care."

"Well I always found him to be quite a modest young man," James' mother shrugged, "Your aunt tells me everything; he's never breathed a word and blushes like mad whenever she does."

"Anyone can blush on demand mum; just hold your breath," James spat levitating the candle onto the Christmas tree.

"James honey don't worry," His mother said sympathetically, "Rose has been after you for years; I don't think Eli's her type, he won't steal her from you."

"Mum, I'm not interested in Rose Marshall! I don't care if he-"Suddenly James stopped; he hadn't thought of that. Eli was the competitive type; if he found out how James felt about Lily he would most definitely compete to see who could win her over first.

"Ok it's true," James said, thinking fast, "I've always liked Rose but I was in denial. After she decided to go to Beauxbatons and went somewhere else every holiday I missed her and I wish that I hadn't been so stubborn. Now she's coming and I just want everything to be perfect, ok?"

"OH JAMESEY!" His mother cried and threw her arms around him, "This is so adorable! I knew your half hearted letters and incredibly short phone calls were proof that you're far too shy for your own good. I always told her that you fancied her really, that all she had to do was get it out of you."
"You said what!?" James gasped.

"Oh don't pretend that I haven't done you a favour James," She said, finally letting go of him, "Now, let's get everything sorted, your cousin will be here soon."
James watched in disbelief as she hurried out of the room. No wonder Rose had been chasing him for years; his own mother was the culprit!

"Unbelievable!" James muttered as he levitated a shimmering star on top of the tree. A small porcelain fairy danced towards the end of one of the branches and James' hand flew out just in time to catch her before she smashed on the ground below.

"Are you deliberately trying to cause trouble?" he asked her and gently placed her back on the branch, watching as she giggled and danced happily away.

"Women,"

With a wave of his wand, James lit the Christmas tree and stood back to admire his work.

"Twenty-fifth one down," James groaned and turned just as the door chimed, "Great." James pondered on escaping to his room but he knew his mother would scorn him for it, so, reluctantly; he went to greet his cousin at the door. Eli Potter stood in the doorway with snow in his tousled dark brown hair, his eyes a brilliant blue; another thing he beat James at...the boy looked like a supermodel. There were no 'dorky' glasses for Eli Potter; in fact, he had perfect eyesight.

"Hi!" Eli beamed; an act for his aunt no doubt who swooped him into a bear hug.

"How's your mother?" She enquired, "I haven't seen my sister in months!"

"Yeah she and dad are good. They're still visiting my dad's relatives but they'll be here tomorrow for the party."

"Oh good. How's school been?" She asked and Eli's grin spread.

"It's different, being in another country but not everyone gets accepted so I'm grateful," He smirked, his eyes focusing on James.

Here we go...

"I couldn't do it personally," James retaliated, "Being miles and miles away from your family; I like coming home."

"Is that why you never applied?" Eli asked innocently; another jab insinuating that James simply wasn't good enough.

"Yep," James said casually, "I'm a family man."

"Just like his father," James' mother beamed, clearly oblivious to the tension, "Speaking of which, I'm going to go help him decorate the dining room; James will help you out with your stuff Eli."

"Thanks Aunt Mary," Eli said politely as she departed before turning to James and James almost retched, "James." It was a polite greeting but not one typical of a relative.

"Eli," James nodded.

"Still Gryffindor seeker?" Eli asked.

"Yes," James said curtly.

"We should play," He suggested, "Although it would clearly be an unfair match, after all the Westgate Winged Horses have players for the England team in the world cup."

"I suppose you're aiming for that next," James said, ignoring another jab. Eli nodded.

"Say, didn't you want to play for England one day?" He asked.

"I thought about it once," James replied coolly, "But then I decided that being an auror was a much nobler job than a seeker."

"Did you know I've been recommended for the undergraduate auror programme?" Eli asked innocently.

"I do now," James replied coldly, "Eli, why don't you let me take your stuff upstairs? It's better than the both of us trudging up there." Eli flashed James a false smile and handed him his suitcase.

"Good idea," He smirked and left James in the hallway.

Great...he's even got me volunteering to be his slave.

Authors' note: OK so this was the last chapter before the party starts and the fun begins which is why I can hopefully get away with it being a little short XD Thanks for reading and please review as always. I'll post as soon as I can :P