A/N: Here is the Christmas chapter involving our favourite Marauders-era couple. No warnings for this chapter, apart from it may be a bit sickly! Sorry for the delay in updating, my youngest was ill. I have put in a fair amount of 1970's British-specific stuff. If any of it appears to be complete gibberish, send me a message and I will be only too happy to enlighten. Without further ado, on with Christmas...

Christmas Eve 1971

Lily was collecting together all the Christmas presents that she had bought, both from magical and Muggle shops. She had been storing them in her trunk. Petunia was in her room listening to her T-Rex records. They were her new favourite band and she had posters on her walls and she had been to see them the month before in Leicester. Lily began wrapping her father's bottle of firewhiskey, which she had asked Mary McDonald's older brother to get for her, and her mother's magical makeup. She had bought Petunia the single "Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West)" by Benny Hill, the comedian all the family liked. For Severus, she had chosen a small hamper full of sweets, as he didn't have pocket money or sweets very often. She filled it with Black Jacks, Curly Wurlys, Flying Saucers, Fry's Chocolate Creams, Gobstoppers, Liquorice Torpedoes, Love Hearts and Sweet Tobacco. Lily had chosen a large glass bottle of Oil of Ulay beauty fluid for Eileen and she had bought a large tin of Muggle biscuits for Severus' grandparents. She wouldn't be able to give Severus' family their presents as they were at Prince Manor. She would take them with her when she went at the weekend.

With all her presents wrapped, Severus' family's presents were stored in her trunk and she trotted downstairs to put Petunia's, her mother's and father's presents under the tree.

"Oh, Lily dear, you shouldn't have spent your money on us."

"Mum, it's Christmas. Ooh, are they your mince pies, Mum?"

"Yes, dear, they're still warm from the oven," replied Mrs Evans as she placed one on a plate in front of her youngest daughter. "That owl of yours has got fantastic timing, Lily."

Iris swooped in with a note from Severus tied to her leg. They had been swapping letters every day since they got off the Hogwarts Express.

Lily cooed over Iris as she untied the parchment and offered her some of her pastry from her mince pie.

Dear Lily,

Are you all prepared for Christmas? Jade, one of Grandma's house elves is almost beside herself with excitement at your arrival. She has spent the last three days getting your room just right – she is incredibly young and excitable!

Isn't it nice to be away from the Marauders, not having to check over our shoulders all the time – bliss!

I think Artemis and Iris are missing each other – they've taken to sharing the mice they catch in the fields every night.

My grandmother wishes you a happy Christmas and wants me to remind you that you need to bring a dress with you.

Best wishes, as always

Severus

XXX

Lily tore off the bottom of the parchment and wrote out her reply to Severus:

Severus,

I hope I am all prepared for Christmas – there is nothing more I can do at this point, anyway. I have wrapped all my presents and I shall bring yours when I see you in a couple of days. I am eating one of my mother's mince pies. I shall bring a batch at the weekend.

Your grandmother's house elves are adorable!

I am so glad to be away from the Marauders – Peter's sly looks and Potter's smug face. We still have another week and a half without them, let's focus on that!

Artemis and Iris make such a lovely team and I'm so pleased they're friends.

I have a dress to wear for my wizarding etiquette lessons, hopefully it is okay…

Love

Lily

Xxx

Artemis flew back to Prince Manor and delivered her mistress' missive. Severus' heart leaped at seeing that little word "love". He rolled his eyes at himself. Soppy sod.

Christmas Day 1971

Now that the girls were older, there was no waking up at the crack of dawn to open presents. The Evans house woke up slowly at 9am and realised it was Christmas. Mrs Evans knocked on her daughters' bedroom doors with a large mug of hot chocolate to sip while they worked their way through their stockings. Petunia was the typical petulant teenager all morning while opening all of her presents. The only one she was happy with was the Biba make up set from Mum and Dad. When she opened Lily's she scoffed and turned to her.

"A novelty record?! That's what you buy your sister? Benny Hill is not cool, Lily."

As tears filled Lily's eyes, her parents turned to Petunia, "How dare you be so rude? Your sister has bought you a Christmas present. You have bought her nothing. You should be ashamed and contrite and grateful. This is not how we brought you up, young lady. You apologise to your sister now."

"Sorry," muttered Petunia, under duress.

Over at Prince Manor, Severus opened his main present to see a brand new broom fitted with a training saddle. He looked at his grandparents quizzically with a raised eyebrow.

"It's so you can help Lily fly. She will feel safer on a broom with you especially in a training saddle as well."

Severus blushed furiously at the thought of having Lily held so closely to the front of his body. He quickly pushed that thought away before his newly-traitorous body gave away his thoughts to his family.

The Princes gifted Eileen with a bracelet that would try to repel Tobias as Eileen had come to the conclusion that she no longer wanted a life with him any longer. It was the best news they had heard in a long, long time.

Both Lily and Severus had a fantastic meal with their families although their thoughts did keep wandering and they couldn't help thinking of their best friend.

The Prince household finished off their Christmas playing board games – wizard chess and Muggle Monopoly that Eileen had saved from when she was young.

The Evans household turned on the television to watch Christmas Night with the Stars and Morecambe and Wise firm favourites with everyone.

A/N: so, there we go. Any thoughts, drop me a message. Thanks for sticking with me.