A/N: Ha ha yeah I snogged loads of guys under the mistletoe...

Disclaimer: Joanne K Rowling owns. Ruby M Wheeler does not.

James and Lily had a tradition. It wasn't a 'you must do this or die' tradition, just a tradition that started due to a single mishap with a floating, singing, sprig of mistletoe that they both came to thank in years to come.

In first year, a mortified James and even worse off Lily found themselves standing together under a stem of the plant, with it screaming at them to kiss. Their first was a short peck, which left them both avoiding each other for the rest of the holiday.

Second, Sirius thought it would be fully hilarious to embarrass his best friend and make him look like he did last year, so he took it upon himself to shove an unsuspecting Lily Evans into his proximity as the devilish mistletoe came zooming past. Again, an awkward kiss was shared, with Lily still teetering on mortification, James decidedly less.

After his failed attempts at making James jealous, Sirius left him to it third year. It was in fact James who went after Lily, and rather relished in her lips on his. He wondered why only with her did he get shivers down his spine and tingling in his toes and a feel of wanting more.

Fourth year, Marlene McKinnon sat with James, scheming and plotting against her own best friend. She was convinced of Lily's secret infatuation with the messy haired boy, and thought it best to use the mistletoe as an excuse for a snog. James had tried to inform her of the many times they had been caught under it, but true to Marlene nature, she ignored him and carried on babbling like he had never even opened his mouth. This year's kiss was slightly longer; much to James's delight, and Lily found herself in the same spot James was last year. Confused, tingling, longing and filled with unexpected wonderment.

Fifth year's kiss was entirely accidental; the two were simply walking on the same corridor when the mistletoe accosted them. It seemed to have taken a liking to the pair. Considering the fact Lily Evans was trying very hard not to fall for the known Gryffindor Heartbreaker, and James Potter was trying very hard to get her to fall, this kiss was possibly the most awkward, even worse than the first year. It left them both disappointed, and very much wanting to tear down after the other and change the worst to the best. Neither did.

Sixth year was the year Lily insinuated. She had got over the fact that yes, she did like James, and planned to do good on it. After barely giving the mistletoe time to screech until their lips met, Lily grabbed his tie, pulled him down, and kissed him with nearly everything she had. After the initial shock of having the object of your fancy force themselves upon you, James returned the kiss with just as much vigor. It was probably the best day of his life, he thought after, when she released her hold on him and watched her walk away.

Sixth year's kiss was something neither of them talked about, neither to the other nor anyone else, but thought about most every waking moment.

They had been working together as Head students for four months, and had grown inexplicably closer every day. Unfortunately, this lead James to believe she only liked him as a friend, and 'would much rather have her that way than not at all', and her to find herself even more head-over-heels for the idiot. Once again, the mistletoe sought them out. They were doing rounds, like any other night, James trying to resist the urge to take hold of her hand and pull her close, Lily trying to get him to 'just bloody take her hand', when the berries came floating overhead, looking down at them expectantly.

"Oh, shit." James cursed, glaring at the plant. Really? He thought. As if it isn't hard enough already?

The mistletoe only started to build up volume as its shriek began.

"Lets just get this over with, yeah?" Lily asked, trying both to sound non-chalant and to control her butterflies that were rampaging through her stomach. After another furtive glance at the berries, James complied.

The kiss was nothing like any of the other times under the mistletoe. It wasn't shy like first year, half lust half denying like fifth, or pure frustration and expectancy like sixth.

It was sweet, and soft and had just the right amount of emotion behind it, letting the other know they wanted to do this without the mistletoe watching over them. It was far longer than any others they had shared, and much more meaningful. After an age, but felt all too soon for the pair, they stopped and just let themselves stare into the other's eyes, green on hazel, a silent exchange.

"Happy Christmas, Lily," James whispered after a silence.

"Happy Christmas, James," Lily whispered back just as softly, a small smile playing on her lips.

Their first proper kiss, without the mistletoe glaring down on them, was just as shy as their first, as sweet as their last, and as perfect as anything.

A/N: If you actually believed that then like wow I told my mum that I did and she started laughing.