A/N- Sorry it took me so long, I was very busy for the last few months. I hope you enjoy the chapter.
Chapter 10: Christmas Shopping.
"Calm down. My parents would love you, as long as you're not playing Ice queen. I don't care about Jessica and as for my grandmother, I'm sure we can find a way to make it seem like we are not together." James assured her.
"Okay, fine, what's the plan then?" Lily asked.
"You are going to…"
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"Finally! Freedom!" Sirius ran out of the last class of the day.
"Sirius, it's only Christmas break." Emily reminded him, rolling her eyes. "And you have a three foot long essay in Potions."
"A twelve inches essay in Charms." Alice added.
"And a foot and a half Transfiguration essay." Remus finished, smiling victoriously.
"Evil…" Sirius hissed through gritted teeth.
"I can't believe I have to act as your girlfriend for two weeks. Sirius Black's girlfriend! For two weeks!" Lily exclaimed in a whisper.
"Hey! Just so you know, I'm the most wanted guy in this school. I happened to be very attractive and charming." Sirius huffed.
"You're not charming, as for being attractive, that could be put into a debate, I mean, girls are also into intelligent guys. That's not your strong side." Emily said matter-of-factly.
"I'm at the top of our year!" Sirius defended himself.
"Lily is at the top of our year." Alice put in.
"So I'm second. Still!" Sirius exclaimed. He couldn't deny Lily being better then him.
"I think you're sixth." Donna joined the conversation. "After Remus, Potter, Alice and Emily."
"I don't care what you thin-." Sirius muttered, but was cut off by Emily.
"Thank you Donna, you took the words out of my mouth. Oh, wait, except the part where Sirius is right after me. I think the Ravenclaws are also better." She pointed out.
"I guess…" Donna shrugged and went to talk to some of her friends in her own year group.
"So, Evans, ready to fool my family?" Sirius asked.
"No. You'd have to stop calling me Evans, call me Lily. And they are not your family, they're Potter's." Lily pointed out.
"Sirius is practically part of the family by now." James said.
"Oh… how come?" Lily asked.
"I was disowned." Sirius shrugged.
"Good for you." Lily said cheerfully. Sirius looked at her as if she grew a second head. "What?" She asked, puzzled.
"Well… usually people… are sad… don't think it's… never mind." Sirius shook it off and walked ahead to start another pointless argument with Emily and Alice.
"You know, you shouldn't act like that." James stated.
"Act like what?" Lily asked in confusion.
"Like family is the worst thing that can happen to a person." James sighed.
"Isn't it?" Lily asked in fake innocence.
"No, it isn't!" James exclaimed in frustration.
"Alright, then maybe it can be a good thing." Lily sighed in defeat.
"What's that? Was that Lillian Isabella Evans agreeing? Admitting she's wrong?" James teased.
"Yes, well, why don't you just literally put salt on the opened wounds?" Lily muttered.
"Fine, I'll stop."
"Thank you." Lily said formally and walked ahead and through the Great Hall's big double doors.
The train ride was mainly spent reading, chatting, playing Exploding Snap and sleeping.
When the train finally came to a stop in King's Cross Station, Alice woke everyone in the compartment up.
"Come on guy's! The train would start moving with us on it!" She exclaimed, as none of them were making any effort to get up and leave.
"Fine…" Emily muttered as she got up and collected her trunk. The others slowly followed suit, and finally, the Marauders, Lily, Emily, Alice, Donna, and Jessica were off the train and out back in the muggle world.
"Bye baby." Jessica said, and started sucking James's face before heading off to meet with her parents.
"Um… how are we getting to your house Potter?" Lily required nervously.
"I think my mum sent Joe to pick us up." James said, pushing through the large crowd to reach the parking lot. "Oh there he is!"
Lily followed with her eyes to where he was pointing. "You have a limo?!" Lily asked in pure shock.
"Oh, is that what it's called? Funny name." James shrugged. Lily stared at him as he got in the car.
Alice and Donna rolled their eyes, following James along with Peter and Remus, while Emily was busy arguing with Sirius again to notice.
"Come on Evans, we don't have all day." James called out of the opened window.
"Coming…" The latter muttered, dragging her trunk with her as she walked across the parking lot and into the long, white, expensive car.
"Lilikins… wakey wakey. Come on, my little flower, wake up now."
"Sirius, Shut up! You're going to wake her!"
"But we're arriving!"
"Yes, but do you really think she wants to see your face first thing when she wakes up?"
"Hey! Just so you know, I happened to be very atrac-"
"Oh, shut up! You two make so much noise I woke up already…" Lily mumbled as she sat up straight and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes.
"Oh, sorry Evans." James and Sirius said sheepishly in unison.
"Sirius, you're supposed to call me by my first name." Lily reminded him in a singsong voice. "Anyways, are we there yet?" The red head asked, looking out the window to see the view. The car was just pulling up into a wide, long driveway. On either side of the road was an amazing snow covered forest. As the driver, Joe, slowed down, Lily looked ahead to see a beautiful white manor.
"Nice place." Lily muttered, remembering her stepfather's house, which looked like hell compared to this place. Well, it was hell as it is. "Potter, are we going to stand outside in the cold? Because, I don't mind catching a cold, I just worry I might have to take care of Alice while she's sick, she gets really irritating when she's ill, you know." Alice glared at Lily and then smacked her over the head. "Aw!"
"Serves you right!" Alice huffed.
"Alright, no cat fights now!" James exclaimed.
"Why, Prongs? Let them fight! I'm betting ten Galleons Ev- er… Lily wins." Sirius winked at her.
"Sirius!"
"Shut up, you dolt!" Emily called, hitting him over the head.
"Aw…"
"Okay, let's go inside before Emily kills him." James said, leading the way to the front door.
"Mum? Dad? Are you home?" James's voice echoed in the big hall as the Marauders and the girls followed him in.
"You're back already!" A beautiful woman in her mid forties hurried down the long flight of stairs, her long white dress and dark redish brown hair flowing behind her as she moved. When she finally reached the bottom of the steps, she rushed towards the group of teenagers standing at the other end of the hall. It seemed like she was going to hug James; but instead, she walked right past him and embraced Sirius into a big hug.
"Jeez, thanks mum. Glad to see you too." James muttered in irritation. Mrs. Potter did not even notice he spoke. The girls and the two other marauders tried to stiff their laughter as they watched James go on about how his mum completely forgot he existed. "I mean, her only son! She hasn't seen me for over three months! You'd think she'd at least say hi, but noooo…" he kept on muttering.
"Sirius! Are you hungry? I'll have Mimmy make you all your favourites. Oh, look at that hair! You must get a haircut before you go back to school. And about school, how are classes, are all the teachers nice to you sweetheart? Because one word from you, and I pull some strings. They'll be out of there before you could say Merlin. You know that, don't you, hun?" Mrs. Potter spoke so quickly, Sirius barely understood.
"I'm fine Mrs. P, really." Sirius flashed a charming grin.
"Oh, Sirius, you're such a charmer. And how many times have I told you to call me Mum, stop being a stranger." She said cooingly.
"I'll do my best. These are, Alice Hireson, Emily Allson, Dona Frayés and Lily Evans, my girlfriend." Sirius said, pointing at each one as he said her name.
"Oh, it is great to finally meet you girls. I heard much about you from the boys' letters." Mrs. Potter exclaimed, hugging each one of them, making sure to hold on to Lily the longest. "It is so nice to have some girls in the house, you have no idea what it is like to be the only female with those boys." She said in a low voice, nodding with her head in the direction the boys were standing.
"We're glad to be here, Mrs. Potter." Alice smiled at the kind woman.
"Please, call me Isabelle." James's mother said.
"Alright." Emily smiled politely.
"Well, don't stand next to the door all day, come inside and make yourself at home." Exclaimed Isabelle.
As they passed by James, His mother finally noticed his muttering, since he has been repeating how his mom ignored him over and over. "Oh James, be quiet, for Merlin's sake. Go and clean up your room now, darling."
"But… mom, I just got here, my room can't be messy. Can't you even say 'hi' to your only son?" James pointed out.
"Oh, you have? Oh well, then go arrange rooms for our guests." Isabella ordered her son. "And I have two sons." She added.
James rolled is eyes "Your only biological son. And why can't Mimmy do it? Or any of the other house elves?" James whined childishly.
"Because the house elves are making lunch, now go show each of the girls to her room. They should sleep in the three bedrooms on the second floor. You boys know were your bedrooms are." Mrs. P told her son, and with a swish of her wand, the luggage was gone. "It will be waiting for you upstairs. Oh, and welcome home Jamey sweety." She smiled, and walked to the kitchen, to tell the house elves the menu for lunch and dinner.
"I like your mother." Lily said.
"Thanks, glad you do." James replied.
"I was talking to Sirius." Lily said matter of fact-ly. The others tried to stiff their laughter, and when nobody was looking, Lily grinned at James and her eyes twinkled with mischief.
After the girls were shown to their rooms, and the group was all settled in, the teenagers walked downstairs for lunch. They all enjoyed their meal, though it appeared they would not meet Mr. Potter for a few days, because he was out of the country helping the French Ministry of Magic clean up an attack and won't be back until Christmas Eve.
After lunch they all decided to floo for last minute Christmas shopping at Diagon Alley, eat dinner at the Leaking Cauldron and then head back to the Potter's Manor.
When they reached Diagon Alley, The Marauders went one way and the girls went the other, since it was agreed that boys and girls should not shop with each other, so they set for the two groups to meet at the Leaking Cauldron at half past seven.
"Lets go into Mandy's Designs to pick our gowns for the Christmas Ball!" Donna squealed in excitement.
"Wait! There's a ball? As in, a dance?" Lily required slowly.
"Yeah, didn't James or Sirius mention it to you?" Emily asked.
"I can't remember…" Lily frowned, thinking back.
"Well, it's the annual Potter Christmas Ball. And we have to pick a gown for the New Year's Eve celebration." Emily informed her.
"Two dances?! But I can't dance! Not to mention I can't afford a gown, never mind two!" Lily whined.
"Don't worry, you have enough time to learn dancing, we'll help, and we'd also figure out how to pay for your dresses, now you just relax and enjoy your time shopping." Alice promised, dragging Lily by the arm into the most expensive designer gowns shop in Diagon Alley.
As the four girls walked into the store, a nice looking middle aged woman greeted them and led to a room that looked like the Gryffindor Common room, with the red couches and curtains, the warm fireplace and the golden pillows. "I'm Elizabeth, and I will be your assistant and adviser for your stay here." The middle aged woman introduced herself kindly, with a warm smile spreading across her beautiful face.
"Great, I think Emily should go first." Alice said. "And the Donna, me and Lily should be last."
"Whatever. What color would look best on Emily?" Donna asked, looking at Emily with concentration.
"I think blue is the right color, either very light crystal blue or midnight sky kind of blue." Lily replied. "The other color that would look nice on you is pink, but I bet all the money in Gringotts that Smith is going to wear pink, and the last thing you need is to wear the same kind of clothe as she does."
"I agree, and I really like blue." Emily nodded.
"So blue it is!" Donna squealed.
"Well then, I will bring out the blue gowns that I think would fit you. If you don't like any of them, we would work out a solution later on." Elizabeth addressed Emily with a smile.
"Alright then," Emily said. Elizabeth disappeared, coming back with a huge pile of blue fabric of all shades.
"Those are the first few, I'll go bring more when you're done trying those ones on." Elizabeth explained, handing Emily the first gown.
After Emily tried on almost every blue dress in the store, she decided on a midnight sky blue full length gown with silver patterned shoulder straps tied behind her neck. The dress flowed down to the floor elegantly, hugging her body gently, had a square neckline and no back.
"Now Donna, what color would you wear?" Alice asked.
"I like green." Donna replied.
"Yes, green would look nice on you, and I think I know which dress would suit you the best" Elizabeth told her, rushing out of the door, only to come back inside a moment later with a forest green gown in her hand. She handed the dress to Donna, how quickly grabbed it and went to change. As Donna came out of the changing room she knew that was the dress she wanted. It was an exotic looking gown, with thick shoulder straps creating a V neckline. The dress hugged her body, flowing down to her ankles at the front and reaching the floor at the back. It complimented her very much and made her look older and taller.
"I love it!" Donna exclaimed.
"You look great!" Emily commented.
"Thanks!" the younger girl squealed.
"That was short." Lily joked, looking at Emily.
"Oh, come on, I didn't take that long!" Emily called.
"You sort of did…" Alice pointed out.
"Shut up!" Emily said, taking a golden pillow and throwing it at Alice.
"Hey! Lily started it!" Alice protested.
"Oh, be quiet." Lily said, "It's your turn to pick a dress, and I say you go with purple. Dark purple."
"How did you know I wanted purple?" Alice asked in fake shock.
"'Cause it is you favourite colour." Lily pointed out, rolling her eyes.
After Alice tried on a few dresses, she found the one she liked. It was simple yet elegant, flowing down to the floor with off the shoulder sleeves.
"Now it's Lily's turn." Said Emily.
"But I've told you, I can't afford one." Lily exclaimed.
"Then we'll pay." Her friends uttered in unison.
"I can't accept that." The red-head protested.
"Think of it as a Christmas gift to you." Alice said.
"Alice, you bought me a Christmas gift ten months ago." Replied Lily.
"No I haven't!"
"Yes, you have."
"No I haven't!"
"Yes, you have."
"No I haven't!"
"Yes, you have."
"No I haven't!"
"Yes, you have."
"How do you know?" Alice finally gave up.
"A little bird whispered in my ear." Lily claimed mischievously.
"Mother!" Alice hissed through gritted teeth, as though her mother was really standing in front of her.
"Fine, we get it, we're not paying, just try the dresses on and we'll figure out a way of paying for the one you choose." Emily reassured.
"Fine." Lily sighed. "What colour should I wear?"
"I think red, to match your hair." Donna said, "Or green for your eyes. But you can't wear green, I'm wearing green"
"No, red and green are also Christmas colours, she can't wear that, everyone would wear it." Alice reasoned.
"How about gold than?" Emily suggested.
"Can't have that, she wore gold for the Masquerade." Dona reported.
"Oh, right."
"White!" Alice exclaimed.
"Good." Emily said, going over to tell Elizabeth.
In the meanwhile Lily was watching them from the side, snickering as the three girls argued and discussed such an unimportant matter.
At last Elizabeth entered the room with a pile of white dresses. Alice picked up the one on the top and handed it to Lily, pushing her into the changing room. After trying several dresses, Lily got frustrated.
"I don't want to try on all the gowns in the store. Just pick one out for me." Lily whined.
Emily and Donna rolled their eyes and started digging in the big pile, while Alice mysteriously left the room.
After a few minutes, Emily pulled out a dress from the pile and handed it to Lily, saying "I think this one will be perfect."
It was a snow- white dress with a chiffon knotty hanging at the one shoulder strap, shirred at one side of the waist with hanging ruffled hi-lo hemline and a fishtail hem at the back.
"I love it!" Lily exclaimed. She looked at the price and gasped. "I can't buy that, it's 1000 galleons!"
At that moment Alice re-entered the room. "Go try it on." She ordered, pushing her best friend into the changing room once again.
When Lily stepped out of the small room, Alice smiled, saying "You look stunning! Don't worry about the price, it's payed for. Change back and we'll go look for nice Christmas presents for the Potters and the Marauders."
"Why?" Donna asked.
"Because we're guests, and it's not polite not to do so." Alice answered.
The girls left Mandy's Designs, looking around for a gift shop. They were about to enter one of the bookstores to buy books for Remus when someone grabbed Lily by the arm and dragged her away from her friends. She screamed for help, but nothing came out, she was under the silencing charm. Unfortunately for the person dragging her, Lily was walking hand in hand with Alice, so that when she was pulled forcefully away, Alice turned to see what the cause was, and started screaming for help. The people around turned to see the panicking girl being dragged by a tall man with a firm grip.
Someone came from behind him and pointed a wand at his neck "Let her go." He said harshly.
Lily recognized the voice to be Frank Longbottom. She felt the grip on her hand loosen a little and managed to pull herself free, turning to face the man who attempted to drag her away to Merlin knows where. She gasped, recognizing the face of the man standing there with a wand to his neck.
It was her stepfather.