Chapter 6

Fun, Friends, and Family

To Corrie: Thank you for making me laugh so hard the other day. I needed it.

To Lauren: "Because, I'm Chuck Bass."

Previously: I smirk and recount to her the tale of mine and James' night, even the kiss on the forehead.

We stay up most the night talking, mostly about Quidditch players, and other girl things.

Mostly about James, and Sirius

Arriving at King's Cross Station for break was tough. Normally, I'm excited to go home, but part of me wants to stay with James. But I do miss my family. And James got to meet my parents. They saw us as we emerged from Platform 9 ¾ and hugged. They seem to like him.

Mum, Dad, and (an unhappy) Petunia take me straight home. Not ten minutes after I get home, Corrie, a girl from my old school invites me over for a party. I politely decline, but invite her over to talk tomorrow.

Still, it was Saturday, exactly a week until Christmas. I am bored out of my mind. Or I was. That is until a familiar looking owl comes my way.

The first was from Lauren.

Dearest Lily,

Merlin, we've been gone for like a day and I already miss you! How are you? I hope your sister isn't being too terrible. But she probably is.

How's life with Petty and Vermin?

Leslie and Megan have already started driving us crazy. Sure, they're first years and all, and this is our first break of the year, but come on. They won't leave me alone. I cannot count the times I've silencioed them. I need you.

Where are you spending break? Can I floo you? I just cannot make it with them all break long. I know Mum and Dad need me and everything, but I'll need a break eventually.

Anywho, so do you have any plans with James for break? By the way, speaking of you and James, your relationship has become the talk of all of the first years. You should be honoured.

Speaking of James again, you've heard of Platform 9 and ¾, right? Well, I can think of something else with the exact same measurements. Oh, and do you want to find out how Moaning Myrtle got her name? Just ask James.

Love you,

Laur

I smile. That is so like Lauren to write. I miss her too. I immediately get out a pen and quill and write to her.

Dear Laur,

I miss you too! I'm well. How are you?

Tuney is always terrible. She and Vermin are gross. All they want to do is snog. It's disgusting.

Be nice to Leslie and Megan! I wish I had two younger sisters! They'd be much better than Tuney. I need you too!

My plans for break are starting tomorrow. Mum and dad have reservations at the Fairmont in St. Andrew's, so the whole family (including Vernon) is going. Kill me.

James. Right, my boyfriend. Yeah, I have no clue. He didn't say anything to me before break… Should I have asked him? I don't know. He got to meet my parents the other day! Yeah, he and I had just emerged from the platform, and he hugged me farewell just as they came up to me. So, yeah, it was an official meet-the-girlfriend's-parents sort of thing. Tuney didn't seem to like him too well. Maybe because he's so much more handsome than Vermin will ever be.

Lauren Elise! I cannot believe you thought of that! That is so perverse. You sound just like Sirius. Tone it down ;)

Love you more,

Lily-flower

Two days later, I am at the Fairmont in St. Andrews for the holiday. Joy. As if things can't get any worse. Well, there is a plus. Since Petunia brought Vernon along, they got a room that adjoins to Mum and Dad's. My room is on the floor above them.

I settle in and I can't help but think about James. I miss him. Plus, his Christmas gift had arrived the day before. It's an Ireland National Quidditch shirt with "Potter" on the back. If I don't see him over break, I'll just give it to him once we're back at school.

I was lying down in the hotel bed, about to take a nap, when the phone rings.

"Hullo?"

"Lily, dear? Is that you?"

"Yeah, Mum."

"Honey, will you meet all of us downstairs so we can go to the Tea Room? It's nearly time for a spot of tea."

I roll over to see the clock. 12:55. Damn. I can never catch a break.

"Sure, mum, I'll be down in a few."

I get up and brush through my hair.

Well this ought to be fun.

I reach the bottom of the hotel, where I see my parents and Petunia and Vernon waiting for me.

"Took you long enough, freak."

"Girls," my father warns.

"It takes one to know one Tuney," I say sweetly.

Her grimace was almost too much to handle.

"Petunia, be nice to your sister for once. Lily, don't provoke her," my mom says with a sigh.

I stick my tongue out to Tuney, and not wanting to embarrass herself in front of Vermin, she tries her best to ignore it.

Well, this will be an awkward tea.

As we are getting our seats, I feel someone watching me, or following me. I turn around and see a black dog.

That's the same dog I saw that morning I was with James, I think.

I shake it off. The chances of similar looking dogs were great. But I have seen those eyes before. I shake my head to rid all thoughts of the dog.

We sit down next to a window. Mum and Dad are next to each other and Vermin and Petty are across from them. I'm on the end of the table, looking out the window.

Then, that damn dog comes up to me and puts his head on my lap.

"Lily-flower, do you know this dog, perchance," my father asks.

"Dad, honestly, I've never seen this dog before."

That is partially the truth. I have no clue.

The dog seems to disagree with that statement. He barks and nuzzles my hand.

I look over to him and pet him.

"Well, Lily, it seems to be that he's taken a liking to you."

Tuney rolls her eyes.

"So," Mum pipes up, "where's James?"

"Oh, um, I'm not actually sure."

"You mean to tell me that you have no idea what your freak boyfriend is doing over your break," Tuney taunts.

"Petunia," my father yells.

Vermin takes Tuney's hand and squeezes it for support. She smiles thankfully at him. I try not to barf.

Before I knew it, the dog had whimpered away.

Weird.

About forty minutes later, we decide it would be best to just stay and grab a bite to eat.

The waitress comes by and asks what me what I want. I turn around to tell her and out of the corner of my eye, I see two people. One person has black short-ish hair that is sticking straight up. The other has shaggy hair. They both seem to notice me half-staring at them. I quickly look back at my waitress.

Oh, joy.

I quickly tell the waitress what I want.

Maybe it wasn't them. If it was, they would've come over here by now. Why am I nervous about my boyfriend and his best friend being here?

I turn back to my family and offer a weak smile. As dad was about to say something, Petunia's face drops in shock.

"What is it Tuney? Did you catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror?"

Her mouth moves to form words, but no sound came out.

Then a voice booms behind me and I feel a pair of hands on my shoulders.

"Mr. and Mrs. Evans, I do believe we meet again. I'm James Potter, Lily's boyfriend."

Tuney's jaw drops even more at the word boyfriend.

"Oh, yes, James! How nice to see you again, boy!"

"Same for you Mr. Evans. And Mrs. Evans, wow, I see where Lily gets her beauty."

Mum blushes and allows James to kiss her hand like a perfect gentleman. I roll my eyes. Git.

"And you must be Petunia and Vernon! Lily has told me so many things about you two. It's a pleasure to finally meet you." James extends his hand. Neither Petunia nor Vernon takes it.

"James," my mother begins, "please join us."

"Well, I'm in here today with my friend, and I would hate to leave him."

"Well, bring him over."

I wait for James to leave to bring Sirius over so I can groan. This will be just great. Not.

Lunch was not bad at all. My parents love James and think Sirius is a hoot. Petunia and Vernon tend to disagree.

"Well, Lily, we'll let you, James, and Sirius go. I'm sure you have some catching up to do."

"Oh, well, Mr. Evans, I actually was about to take a cat nap," starts Sirius. "Plus, I'm sure James and Lily would like some time to see each other. They barely had time before break." He gets up and winks at James. I blush.

"Okay, mum and dad, James and I will be on our way now," I spit out, grabbing James' hand in the process and pulling him out of here as fast as I can.

"James Potter, what are you doing here," I hiss.

"Lil"-

"James, are you stalking me?"

"Will you let me explain?"

I sigh. "Go ahead."

"Thank you. My parents have a house up here."

"Where are your parents?"

"Lily, I was just getting to that. Dad is still on an Auror mission. Mum doesn't go on break for another two days. Hopefully Dad will be back by then. Sirius and I came up here early to set up for the Christmas party and keep an eye out for everything."

I feel much better knowing that he isn't stalking me. Plus, coming up here early so his parents would have to do less was totally sweet.

Then, I'm surrounded by James and his familiar scent.

"I've missed you, Lily."

I inhale the wonderful James smell.

"Merlin, I've missed you too."

"Hey," he pulls me away from him, "who's this Merlin guy? Do I have to give him a piece of my mind?" He stops and laughs at his own (lame) joke.

I roll my eyes. "Don't worry James. No other guy can take me away from you."

He smiles triumphantly. I let my eyes roll. He plants a kiss on my temple.

"Good, because no one will ever, EVER, take me from you. And I will never let anyone take you from me."

Oh. My. Merlin. He is serious.

We end up in my hotel room. I let my mind wander back to Lauren's letter, "Speaking of James again, you've heard of Platform 9 and ¾, right? Well, I can think of something else with the exact same measurements."

For a quick second, my mind wanders to the 'thing' that Lauren had referred to in the letter. My face blushes. James chooses to (correctly) assume what I was thinking.

"Do you wanna know why they call it the Shrieking Shack? Moaning Myrtle knows a lot about it," James teases.

My hearts starts beating fast. I can't let him know that I'm freaking out on the inside. I need to cover this up.

I give him a sultry look. "Is that a wand in your pocket, or are you just excited to see me?"

"More like excited to be in a hotel room with you," James almost inaudibly mutters.

He quickly closes the door.

My heart is beating faster and faster.

"Ja-?"

I don't get the chance to finish, because James has tackled me onto the bed.

"Lily," he growls. He has never growled my name before. Hell, no one has ever done that (except Petunia, but I'm pretty sure her feelings for me were quite the opposite of James' current ones). Yet, it is the most amazing sound, so deep and guttural.

I start to playfully struggle from his grasp. He tightens his grasp not by too much and lays me completely down on the bed so that he's fully on top of me.

My mum walks in to my room right as James has me pinned down on the bed.

"Oh," Mum exclaims, turning a bright red, "er, I'll just leave you two be." She looks worried as she scurries out of the room.

I, like my mum, am mortified. I feel my face burning.

"Lily, it's okay. She just walked on us.."

"Looking like we were having an intense snogging session!"

"Lily, just calm down."

"Why?"

"It could have been worse."

"How?"

"We could have actually been snogging. Or shagging."

I laugh. James takes the opportunity to let go of my wrists and collapses next to me.

Two days later I find myself with my parents, Petty and Vermin, Mr. and Mrs. Potter, Sirius, and James, all at the Potter's vacation house.

Petunia and Vernon excuse themselves as soon as the can. I roll my eyes at their indiscreet getaway. Mr. and Mrs. Potter look sort of upset.

"Don't worry, Mr. and Mrs. Potter, you didn't do anything. Tuney and Vernon just aren't, erm, big fans of magical folk. Please don't take it personally."

Mrs. Potter swallows her food and smiles politely at me.

"Lily, darling, please, don't call me 'Mrs. Potter'. Please, call me Dorea."

"Okay, Dorea," I manage.

"And I'm not Mr. Potter. Mr. Potter is my father. Call me Charles, Lilyflower."

My face perks up at this nickname.

"You don't mind if I call you Lilyflower, do you?"

My parents look at me with a smile. Sirius is smirking. James is looking at me expectedly. He reaches for my hand.

I look at Mr. Potter and smile. "Charles, of course you can call me Lilyflower."

After that, Sirius makes a gagging noise and excuses himself to his room.

James sticks his tongue out at Sirius and then excuses us from the table to let our parents talk.

"James, where are we going?"

"Someplace I've always wanted to take you."

"James, enough with the riddle, just tell me where."

"My room."

I feel my heart stop for a brief second. His room? But we could… and he would… There are about a thousand things running through my mind as we go up a second flight of stairs and round a corner. James opens the door, lets me in, and closes his door.

I take this spare second as an opportunity to take a look around his room. Burgundy paint with gold accents, Quidditch posters everywhere, yes, this was definitely picked out by James.

My thoughts get interrupted by a pair of calloused hand grab me and force me on a bed, straddling a certain James Potter.

"Well, isn't this a sight," a voice calls out. "I never thought I'd see the day when Lily Evans was straddling James Potter."

I turn my head. It's Sirius.

I feel my face burning. Merlin, how many times are people going to walk in on us in compromising positions?

"And I never would have thought you'd ever see Lily and I like this, you wanker."

"Jamesie, lighten up."

"Padfoot," he warns.

"Don't worry, Lily, your secret is safe with me."

Christmas Day is finally here! I flooed over to James' first thing in the morning.

"Lily! So good to see you," I hear my boyfriend's voice cry out, but the arms wrapping themselves around me didn't feel like James' at all.

"Wha- Who i- Sirius! Geroffme!"

"Wow, James, your girlfriend is quite the charmer."

"Shut up!"

"Lily Evans! Get over hear and hug your best friend!"

Lauren. Merlin, it's Lauren!

"LAUREN!"

"LILY!"

"Oi," choruses James and Sirius.

"Happy Christmas, all," cried Alice, hand in hand with Frank Longbottom.

"Ello mates," exclaims Peter.

"Woah, look, the entire gang's here," shouts Remus. He adds, "Merlin, Lily, feels like ages since I've seen you."

"Oh come here, you." I lean over and give him a hug.

"Oi, nothing for your boyfriend?"

"Oh come here Jamesie," I tease as I peck him on the cheek.

Sirius nods in approval.

"Well, everyone's here, so how about we exchange gifts?"

Alice and Lauren got me two huge heart shaped boxes of chocolates. The boys got each other pranks. Lauren and Alice loved their knitted scarves I made them. Frank got Alice a necklace. She got him a watch.

All eyes are on us now.

"Well, this is just awkward," I comment.

"Yeah, guys, if you don't mind, can we please have some privacy?"

There are a lot of "yeah, sure's" muttered, but before I know it, James' living room is cleared out.

"Happy Christmas, James," I murmur, giving him his gift.

He opens it and his eyes open wide with glee.

"Merlin, Lily! Thank you! I love this."

I blush.

"It's your turn. It isn't much, but when I saw it, I thought of you."

I open it up slowly. I open the box, and there it is before me. It's a snow globe, with two figurines in it playing in the snow. I look closer and see it's a perfect replica of both James and me. The inscription on the wood base of the globe reads: James and Lily, Christmas '76.

"James, it's perfect."

"Just like you."

Thank you to all who have read/reviewed/recommended this fic! It means a lot to me! Especially after my English teacher hated on one of my Free Response essays. Reading your reviews reminded me that at least I'm good at one kind of writing.

A/N: how do you like this? I hope you love it, honestly. I didn't think I'd finish this in time! Please, once again, Read/Review/Recommend!

Olivia updates:

Not much. My friend, Lauren, has her birthday coming up soon. So does Paris! On the same day! They'll be 17. Wish them a happy one, will you?

Please check out parisFish's Seventeen Reasons and Because of You. Both are fabuloous!

You know you love me,

xoxo,

Olivia.