Holiday Bliss

James Sirius Potter kept his face impassive as the onslaught of shrill shouts on his ears fell to a close.

"–heaven and nature sing!"

Thank Merlin! It was over!

Finally able to turn away from the collection of ragtag students he let his features show the anguish he'd been hiding as he shared a look with his sister. Lily's return expression was just as pained. He raised an eyebrow, silently asking if Lily wanted to be the first to speak to the children. In response, Lily shook her head. He sighed. He should have expected as much, he supposed. James had been asked to show up tonight to consult, after all. Returning his gaze to the Frog Choir, he put on his best smile as he said, "That was… something, kids!" Taking a step forward, he clasped his hands in front of him and pushed his smile wider as he said, "But I think it could use a little work still."

Eyes roving over their young, mostly attentive faces, James mentally consoled himself with the fact they all at least looked receptive to what he was saying. "I know Professor Potter probably told you all before, but I think it deserves mentioning once again, projecting your voice and shouting are two different things." Moving toward the students, he gestured for a Hufflepuff firstie in the front row to come to his side.

As the child let their hair fall into their face in a display of shyness, James took them lightly by the shoulders and positioned them in front of him. Pointing at their middle, he began to talk anatomy. "To project, you want to sing with your diaphragm…"

-v-v-v-

The kids long gone, James settled into the chair of an empty desk with a groan.

Taking a seat on the desk in front of him, Lily reached into her robes and pulled out a silver flask. James's startled out of his slouch into something close to ramrod straight. His eyes darted around the room for any sign of a presence that wasn't their own. He didn't know too many professors at Hogwarts (a lot of turn over had happened in the past decade), but he wouldn't be surprised at all if one or two were animagus and liked to slink into rooms to spy on students and fellow teachers alike. "Lily!" he cried. "You're a professor!"

His sister rolled her eyes as she unscrewed the cap. "Please, James," she said. "Get your head out of your arse. There's no one here but us. The last person to walk the halls with an invisibility cloak was Albus." Voice taking on a darker tone, she muttered, "And if the past fifteen years are anything to go by, there's little chance he'll be popping out to shout 'surprise!' ever again."

James hated it, but Lily made a valid point. He motioned for her to hand the flask to him. It passed from her fingers easily enough to his and James took a swing, only to pull a face. "Tequilla? What kind of drink is this to keep in a flask?"

Lily snatched it back and scowled. "The type one who shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth drinks!"

He put ups his hands. "Sorry!"

"Whatever," his sister grunted as she took one more gulp before putting it away. They sat in silence then, both letting the burn of the tequila mellow. "So," Lily began, "how likely do you think it will be that they'll be ready in time for the leaving feast before Holidays?"

James breathed in deeply, holding it in as he thought over Lily's question. Finally, he released it in a low hiss and said, "They won't be a laughing stock if you make sure they all come here to practice every day for at least an hour or two until then."

Lily nodded. Then, shoulders drooping, she said, "I thought this would be an easy club to run. I mean, I used to watch you practice all the time… You made it look so effortless. Professor Flitwick hardly ever had to say a thing to anyone in the choir then about correcting this or that."

James chuckled. "I think you're misremembering, Lily. He corrected us all the time."

Her brow furrowed. "Really? I could have sworn…"

"I guess you never realized, huh?" James reached across the desktop to grab his sister's hand and give it a squeeze. "I only invited you to the practices where we nearly had the song we were learning mastered." He smirked. "I wanted to show off, not get teased."

Lily's mouth fell open. "No!" she gasped. Expression twisting with anger, she punched him in the shoulder. "You prat! You tricked me and now! Look! Look! I'm going to make a fool of not only myself, but those children in front of the entire school!"

James got to his feet and grabbed Lilly by her arms. "It's alright!" he shouted over her. "You're not going to be doing this alone!" He really did feel bad now. He'd never meant to make being a part of the Frog Choir look easy, he just hadn't wanted Lily to rib him when his voice fell flat or he missed his cue.

"What does that mean?" Lily demanded testily.

He sighed and let his eyes fall closed. Oh, Bridget was going to be furious. He had promised weeks ago to accompany her to her family's Christmas party on the twenty-second. He hoped his fiancée didn't kick him out of their bed until New Years like she did last year after he got into a screaming match with Lily over her latest divorce last Christmas Eve.

"I'll help you out," he said. Opening his eyes, James smiled at the astonished look on his sister's face.

"Truly? Every day you'll show up for practice at seven o'clock sharp?"

"Yes."

Lily threw her arms around him. "Oh! James! Thank you! Thank you!"

Hugging his sister, he said, "What are big brothers for?"

Pulling back, she flashed him a cheeky smile. "They're for toting around shopping bags, picking you up from pubs when you've drunk too much, and getting them out of messes they got you into in the first place."

He rolled his eyes. "Of course."

How'd everyone like this holiday-themed chapter about James Sirius and Lily Luna Potter?

Thank you a million for reading and happy holidays! :)