A Christmas Kiss
James ordered bouquets of beautiful flowers to be brought to me by postal order. He gave me a worm, a wolf and a doe to put on my charm bracelet, and wrote me notes which he charmed up the girls staircase and onto my bed for me to read each night. He was going out of his way for me to forgive him. He didn't need to do anything; I had nothing to forgive him for. I was only quiet because I was reflecting. I couldn't believe his bravery- diving into the unknown to rescue someone he hates, jeopardising his own life! And then how he apologised to Severus! I can't believe how compassionate James is.
"You know, James, you are already forgiven. There's no need to keep buying me things."
James blushed, and looked me in the eyes. "You shouldn't forgive me. I did a terrible thing, and I'm sorry."
"I forgive you!" I cried, and reached up to kiss him. For once, he pulled away.
"You really shouldn't, you know."
"Well I do." I said, and kissed him again.
For the first time since he saved Severus, we held hands walking down to breakfast again.
We were still on edge about who Severus would tell, though. I was worried he'd go straight to Professor Dumbledore, but he didn't seem to have done. James and I grew closer again, and all seemed to be well. Whenever James, Sirius, Remus or Peter saw Severus around the castle they just averted their eyes to the floor. I smiled and nodded at him, sometimes trying to speak, but he just ignored me. This angered James, but he thought better of another revenge scheme.
Christmas was approaching fast and with it the colder weather, resulting in snow, which James, Sirius, Remus and Peter found great delight in throwing at each other. I didn't mind, I took the time to study, or look through postal order catalogues, pondering on what to buy James with my limited money.
I decided on buying him the highly acclaimed book, Quidditch through the Ages, a new bright red woolly scarf, and a broomstick servicing kit. I hoped it would be enough. I bought Remus a book on magical creatures, with a spectacularly false chapter on werewolves, which I hoped he would enjoy. I found Sirius a great box of practical jokes from Zonko's, and Peter a box of sweets from Honeydukes. I bought Severus a new potion book. I know he probably wouldn't accept it, but I had to try. The owl delivered them five days before Christmas, so I had enough time to wrap them in our House colours.
The days in the holidays leading up to Christmas were wonderful. James, Sirius, Remus, and I were pretty much the only people remaining in Gryffindor tower, so we could do what we wanted. We had a chess tournament, which Remus won hands down, because Sirius and James kept messing about, trying to bewitch the chess pieces to swear at the opposing ones, and Peter and I were terrible at it anyway.
James and Sirius put on a spectacular display of those wet start fireworks from Zonko's on Christmas Eve, and the remaining Gryffindors all had a spectacularly loud party. James and Sirius were uproariously funny, really getting into their element, until McGonagall came in and ordered us all to bed. James and I stayed in the common room for a little while longer, wanting to stay up until twelve.
Finally, as the clock struck twelve, James pulled me under some strategically placed mistletoe and we shared a wonderful Christmas kiss. I went to bed after, my knees shaking, and my head still reeling from it. Sleep came quickly after, I was in a daze.
