A/N: Ok, I am so sorry it took so long to update, my computer managed to lose everything I'd written so I basically had to start from scratch. Mega sorry! Ok, so this chapter's just some fun Christmas fluff, started drifting more towards the Marauders more than the Potters but next chapter will be Christmas day full on Hazza P madness. Enjoy!
The remainder of December found Lily, James and Harry become suddenly very popular. Lily couldn't remember the last time they had a day all to themselves without one of their friends dropping by with presents for the youngest member of the Potter family. Sirius's visits were becoming a daily expectation, coming home with James once they had finished work and returning to his own home reluctantly when Lily's subtle yawns were becoming un-ignorable. Remus, too had been coming around regularly, the Christmas period had been difficult for him the past few years since leaving Hogwarts, his turbulent relationship with his parents along with the difficulty he had securing a job meant Remus felt particularly resentful for his condition as the year drew to a close. Christmas Eve morning, Lily and James woke once again to the giggles of their son who had been entertaining himself in his crib with his stuffed dragon, a Common Welsh Green, Charlie Weasley had told them when the Weasleys had visited the day before.
'Relax a little, Lils. I'll get up with him, have a lie in.' James said as Lily started to make her way out of the warmth of their bed. James, placing a warming charm on his slippers and dressing gown walked into Harry's room and picked up the giggling child.
'Harry, do you know what today is?' Harry looked blankly up at his father whilst James looked disheartened. 'It's Christmas Eve, champ! You'll do well to remember that, all the good presents come tomorrow so we have to be all excited!' James started bouncing the toddler in his arms and Harry squealed with excitement. Lily, hearing from the bedroom Harry's giggles wouldn't deny herself another opportunity to see him happy, having come so close to losing everything nearly two months ago. She stepped out into the hall, leaning on the door frame of Harry's bedroom watching her two favourite men play together.
'Don't you think it's time for breakfast, boys?' Lily asked, the rumbling in her stomach giving away her secret watching place. Harry, now learning some new words, knew that breakfast meant food, and having taken after his father looked extremely happy about the prospect of being fed.
The fireplace shone brightly as a rather dishevelled looking Sirius stumbled out with arms laden with gifts, ninety percent of which were for Harry. Taking one step into the living room and managing to trip, Sirius sent the pile of gifts in his arms cascading to the floor. Barely having time to pick up even one before Remus stepped out of the fireplace, a small carrier bag in hand, looking as dignified as he ever did.
'I told you to shrink them, Sirius.' Remus said, walking through the living room and into the kitchen where he knew his friends would be.
'Moony! Where's Padfoot, I thought he was coming through first?' James asked.
'Yes, well, you know Sirius, refuses to take some simple advice. He's busy picking up all the presents he threw everywhere when he dropped them.'
'Couldn't have used the Shrinking Charm?' James asked again, peering through the kitchen door to see his friend placing all the gifts under the Potter family tree.
'Obviously not! Anyway, where's Harry?' Before James could answer, Lily walked down the stairs and into the kitchen with Harry, fresh from his nap in her arms. James ran through to the living room, quickly vanishing the gifts Sirius had brought to the bedroom.
'Padfoot, you can't leave the presents here! He'll devour them!' James said when Sirius gave him a quizzical look. Lily, Remus and Harry joined the two other men in the living room, Lily putting Harry down on his play mat with a collection of building blocks.
'So, Remus, how's the book coming along?' Lily asked, always interested in the intellectual conversation that Remus supplied.
'Well I have all the facts, you know, statistics and all, but no one wants to do an interview. Turns out not many werewolves are that keen on being accepted into society.' Lily offered all the encouraging words of advice she could think of, knowing that she was boring her husband and her child's God-father, James and Sirius struck up a conversation of their own.
'I think it's getting pretty serious between me and Marlene you know.' Sirius said, his face concerned.
'Woah, Padfoot, you don't mean to say you're ready to settle down are you?' James said, shocked, and bringing the attention of the two other adults to their conversation.
'I think I'm going to ask her to marry me, Prongs.' Sirius confessed.
'Hold up, hold up. You want to marry the girl you're living with despite the fact you have barely been living with her the past month. Sirius, you've been here constantly! You only go home to sleep!' Lily said, confused and protective of her old friend and fellow Order member.
'But every time I'm around her it's just strange, okay? I don't know what to do! It's freaking me out.'
'What do you mean, mate?' James asked.
'Well, you know... I've seen the way you look at Lils, mate, I've been seeing it for years. And you can see how much you love her, and you would jump in front of the Knight Bus for her, or take on Moldy-warts himself – wandless! For her! And well, it's scary stuff isn't it? Loving someone that much.' Sirius, calmed down, having worked himself up into quite a state. 'I was just a bit freaked out. But I've decided now, I'm going to ask her to marry me.'
'Well,' Lily said standing up. 'I think this deserves a toast, you've made the right decision Sirius, and I'm really happy for you.' Lily walked into the kitchen and collected a bottle of sparkling Elf-made wine.
'Providing she says yes, of course mate. This could all be for nothing!' James said, laughing. Sirius, however did not find this particular joke funny and looked up at his friend with a look of sudden realisation on his face.
'Oh, Merlin. What if she says no?' Sirius said, looking between James, Remus and Lily for support.
'She won't say no, Sirius. She loves you, I know it.' Lily said handing out a glass to each of the adults and pouring in the fizzy wine.
'Cheers, Lils. You're a lot better to talk to in a situation like this than your idiot husband.' Sirius said, accepting the glass of wine in one hand and hitting James with the other.
'Anyone could have told you that, mate!' Remus said laughing at the hurt face James was pulling.
The four friends sat up talking well after Harry had been taken to bed, all excited for the toddler's first real Christmas. Having been only five months old last year he wasn't as much fun as James had hoped for. Being in hiding had also put a damper on the Christmas spirit. Lily was the first to surrender to her tiredness and head up to bed, kissing her husband on the cheek and warning the three Marauders not to drink too much and ruin the day for Harry tomorrow. Surprising even themselves, neither Sirius, Remus or James drank to an excess that night and were all looking forward to waking up, feeling fresh for what they were sure was going to be the best Christmas ever.
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