A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed last time: past Decembers, Light Under My Skin, Miss F Cullen, dancingonstars, TriniNotIndian, twilightstargazer, Maximilien Robespierre, DarlingILoveYou, Nobody, killerbunny117, RidingonRumbleroar'sback, BalloonsInTheSky, GinnyEvans4, Jayfeather03, 97 Diagon Alley, SiriusBlackIsAwesome, nightshoes, m3ggi3, TonksReincarnation, I Hate Being A Muggle, Jess the Enthusiast, jamespotterthefirst, Elless
As promised: Christmas, part two. Although it doesn't, technically, take place on the 25th. But you get the idea.
Oh, and many apologies—I realized while reading another fic the other day that I've been spelling Dorcas's last name wrong. It's Meadowes. Not Meadows. Consider it corrected from this point on.
December 26, 1976, 9:45am
JP: Happy Boxing Day, Evans.
LE: Hello, Potter.
JP: What, no similarly happy wishes for me?
LE: What? Oh, sorry. Yes, happy Boxing Day to you as well. Sorry. I'm sort of doing two things at once here.
JP: Ah, yes, the perils of multitasking can be great indeed. You might forget to be mate-ly towards your mates, for instance.
LE: You might. And despite that…not to be rude, but is there something you need? It's just I have to run out to the store to buy a dress, because the one I was going to wear ripped as I was trying it on this morning to see how I wanted to do my hair, and since I can't use magic to mend it—even though in just over a month I could—I have to go out shopping. As I said.
JP: Or you could just say 'sod it' to the rules and use magic to mend it anyway.
LE: Except that the rules in this case happen to be the law.
JP: Same thing.
LE: To you, maybe. Besides, it'd be easy for you to hide underage magic—on the other hand, I'm the only one would could have done it in my house.
JP: Well, do you want me to come over to cover for you?
LE: No, that's all right. I don't think Mum could handle much more of you this week, anyway.
JP: I thought your mother loved me.
LE: She did. That's the problem.
JP: Why is that a problem?
LE: Because then she'll spend the next several hours after you leave asking why I never told her how handsome you are. And insinuating…other things.
JP: So it's a problem for you, you mean. And are you implying that I'm not handsome?
LE: Look, I really have to go, Potter.
JP: That dress thing is just an excuse, isn't it?
LE: For what?
JP: To avoid answering my question.
LE: I told you about it before you asked the question, Potter, so how could it be an excuse?
JP: Fine, then what do you need the dress for?
LE: A wedding.
JP: I'm hurt that I wasn't invited, Evans.
LE: Not my wedding, Potter. My mate Benjy Fenwick's sister is getting married, and I'm his date.
JP: Oh. Well, I have to say I'm jealous Evans. Of you, I mean. That Fenwick, he's a real looker. Hilarious, too. Beloved by all women. And me, of course.
LE: Overlooking the part where you implied you're a girl, do you even know Benjy?
JP: Well, no. But I'd like to, if you catch my drift.
LE: I'll let him know. I'm sure he'll be thrilled.
JP: Who wouldn't be? I'm a very desirable person, Evans.
LE: Mmm, so you've said before. Many, many times. Okay, I really do have to leave now—enjoy your Boxing Day.
JP: Did you know there's a Muggle sport called boxing? Apparently you just knock each other about while people bet on who's going to win. Sounds quite brill.
LE: Potter. Stop stalling me.
JP: Well stop answering, then.
LE: Haven't we had this conversation before? Anyway, I'll talk to you later.
JP: Have fun at the wedding.
(11:07am)
LE: It's okay—crisis averted.
BF: Er, there was a crisis?
LE: Yes. Only I decided to tell you after I fixed things so you wouldn't panic.
BF: Kind of you, Lil.
LE: Anyway, you're still coming over at three?
BF: I'll be there. Looking exceptionally dashing in a black tuxedo, I might add.
LE: Good thing Potter won't be here, then.
BF: Sorry…what?
LE: He may or may not fancy you.
BF: Sorry…what?
LE: It's unclear at this point—I can never figure out what he means most of the time.
BF: For my sake, try to work it out if you could, yeah?
LE: You'll be the first to know of any further developments.
(1:56pm)
JP: She's GOING TO A WEDDING with him!
RL: As usual, you're not making any sense, Prongs.
JP: Lily! Is going to a wedding! With…library bloke! What's his name?
RL: Fenwick? He has a girlfriend, you know.
JP: He does? Well, then, why the BLOODY HELL isn't he taking her?
RL: Merlin, James, calm down, will you? What exactly is so upsetting about this, anyway?
JP: So you're not going to be any help, either? Rubbish mates I've got. Padfoot practically sprinted from the room the moment I said Lily's name. Apparently I 'go on about her too much.'
JP: To be fair, I might have blathered about her for slightly longer than was necessary last night after I got back from her house.
RL: You were at Lily's house?
JP: Focus, Moony.
RL: On what?
JP: On the wedding problem. Merlin, did Meadowes snog all the sense out of you? How'd that go, by the way? Or have you gone yet?
RL: I thought you already discounted any advice I might have as useless? And it went well—we might even be able to brave going out with you lot around, next time.
JP: So there's going to be a next time? Well done, Lupin—I'd shake your hand if I was within hand distance of you.
RL: I'm not sure if I should be offended by that. Why do I need congratulations?
JP: Moony, every man deserves a trophy, at least, for successfully wooing a woman.
RL: Well, I expect mine to be up in the trophy room by next week, then.
(9:37pm)
DM: Lils, I know you're probably still at the wedding, but I just wanted to let you know my date with Remus was a success. A very great one, actually. He was unexpectedly hilarious company. I mean, not that I didn't think he had a sense of humor, just…well, it's always Black and Potter cracking the jokes, isn't it? But Remus can be quite sarcastic when he wants to be. And, Merlin, can the boy eat chocolate. It's fascinating to watch. Anyway, the point is, I now feel justified in pathetically fancying him from afar for so long.
I want to hear all about the wedding when you're home!
(11:48pm)
LE: That's great, Dorcas, I'm so glad you had a fun time! Is there a second date in the future?
My feet are killing me—I'll have to tell you the details of my night tomorrow. Nothing too exciting, except that Ben's mother got very drunk; however, it was more embarrassing than entertaining. Although I'm sure Potter would have found it funny.
Night, Dorky!
December 28, 1976, 2:37pm
MM: Lily.
LE: Marlene.
MM: I'm desperate, and you're the only one I can turn to—please, please, tell me about Dorcas and Remus's date! She's being annoyingly tight-lipped about it.
LE: It's not really my news to share, Marls.
MM: ARGH! Why are you always so…so…you?
LE: You mean, why do I respect promises I make to my friends?
MM: No, why do—wait. Did she specifically ask you not to tell me anything?
LE: She might have.
MM: Damn it, Dork-ass.
LE: She's not here, Marls.
MM: I know. Still. This is all because of what I asked her before we left Hogwarts. I told her that, if they shagged, I wanted a report on…you know…his situation. Or endowment, if you will.
LE: You what? Marlene!
MM: It is a perfectly legitimate question, Evans.
LE: Why would you possibly need to know that?
MM: Because I've got a bet on with Edith Barbary.
LE: Marlene Grace McKinnon!
MM: Oh, don't act like such a prude, Lily. I know you've thought about Potter's.
LE: I'm ending this conversation now.
January 1, 1977, 1:23am
JP: Drunk again.
JP: Are you asleep? I hope not. I hope you at least toasted the New Year with some champagne. Properly. With champagne.
LE: You said champagne twice, Potter.
JP: Did I? Like I said, drunk.
LE: Yes. And I didn't have champagne tonight—just wine—but I did have some at the wedding. Does that count?
JP: No. It only counts on New Year's. But that's okay. I forgive you.
LE: Well, that's good. I might have lost sleep on it, otherwise.
JP: DON'T GO TO BED! LILY (INESRT YOUR MIDDLE NAME HERE) EVANS, DON'T YOU DARE GO TO BED!
LE: Merlin. I never said I was. (It's Celeste.)
JP: You talked about sleeping. (Pretty)
LE: But I didn't mean—well, no point trying to explain with your processing capacity so limited, is there? Look, I promise I won't go to sleep until you grant me permission. (Thank you)
JP: Good.
(2:05am)
LE: Did you pass out, Potter?
JP: No. I was just thinking.
LE: Which currently takes up the resources you might otherwise have been able to devote to writing, got it.
JP: You're mocking me, Evans. Don't think I can't tell just because I'm drunk.
LE: Just testing you, Potter.
(2:21am)
LE: So, what are you thinking about?
JP: Death.
LE: Goodness. That's morbid.
JP: By the very definition of the word, yes, it is. Perceptive, Evans.
LE: Now you're mocking me.
JP: Also perceptive. Merlin, you're good at this.
LE: Sod off, Potter.
JP: I'm already off. Or sodded? I dunno. Anyway, I'm not there. With you.
LE: I'm aware of that, yes. But I think the expression can apply even when you are not physically present.
JP: Coming from you, I've no doubt it can. But death.
LE: Back to that again, are you? Should I be worried?
JP: No, I'm not about to off myself, if that's what you mean. More…d'you ever think about what you want to do before you die?
LE: You're asking if I ever think about the future? You used to tease me for laying out my books for the next class before the current one had even ended. So I think you know the answer.
JP: Well, all right, you cheeky…er…hmm. 'Git', is what you usually say, isn't it? But that seems rude. Not that it's rude when you say it to me. I meant it would be rude for me to call you a git. Since you are not, in fact, very git-ish. Whereas I…am.
I don't know what I'm saying anymore.
LE: Me neither. But you're rambling and making up words, so perhaps you should go to bed.
JP: I thought I was the one who had the say in when we went to bed.
LE: Oh, all right, fine.
JP: Let's go to bed.
LE: Cheeky git.
JP: Yes, sounds much better coming from you. Sleep well, Evans.
LE: Good night, Potter. Drink lots of water.
A/N: The double meaning at the end there may have been intentional ;) I mean, they didn't notice it, of course. But I did. And I'm sure you did as well, or at least you have now that I've mentioned it. Anyway. Sorry the marauders have been a bit absent, but seeing as Sirius is at James's house…they'll be back in full force in the next chapter, though.
Until next time, lovelies!