Presents and Parties

It was a merry Christmas at Hogwarts even though rumours were being spread around. A wizard, the name is unknown, was terrorising certain muggle villages. He was maiming and murdering the poor innocent people, just for not having powers. Lily was disgusted as to why someone would do that, but was terrified herself. Apparently this wizard was also killing muggle-born witches and wizards.

Nevertheless, the teachers seemed to be trying extra hard to make the Christmas special. Every meal there were sumptuous dishes and Hagrid was already putting up giant Christmas trees. Lily would be staying at school during the holidays, but not because she wasn't wanted.

Lily,

Why are you not staying through the christmas holidays? We want you back with us, we want to hear tales of Hogwarts!

If you're worried about Petunia, then she's staying with a new bloke: Dudley. He's (though don't tell her so!) an elephant, and an awful bully. I don't know what she sees in him.

Please sent your owl back as soon as possible with an answer, Daddy sends his love,

Mummy.

x

Lily had read and re-read this letter a billion times. She wanted to go back- sure. But Petunia...she needed some time away and also Lily still felt a little like an outsider. Due to her brains and will-power, she was occasionally picked on. These holidays were the perfect opportunity to become more popular. Marlene was staying at Hogwarts.

"Duh, all those hot boys are staying!"

And so was Alice.

"Mum's with the babies, and I don't want to hear the crying constantly!"

Lily didn't tell them her reason, she was worried they would disapprove. The holidays had just started and they were sitting in the Great Hall eating lunch. Lily ate very little usually, not because she was dieting, but she found a clear stomach helped her think. And she had a lot to think about. Not only the new blood-thirsty group, Petunia and friendships, she also had to worry about Potter following her around constantly. It was getting embarrassing how often he asked her out, and it wasn't even flattering now.

"It's not as if he likes me!" Lily moaned. "He just wants the attention."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that Lily." Marlene corrected. "He stares at you constantly, he's actually nice to you and he doesn't hex you. That's three things he doesn't do to any other girl."

Alice nodded her head, and patted Lily sympathetically. "I'm sorry, Lily. It seems any boy that makes any advances on you will probably have him in his way-"

"Literally. There'll probably be a fight or something...Oh and that reminds me. Don't let anyone calls you Lil or Lils, it's Lily." Marlene carefully flicked her hair and fluttered her eyes at some boys going past. "No need to shorten your name."

"You can shorten yours to Marl!"

"That's because it sounds good, now scoot up."

Lily opened her eyes slowly, taking in every little shaft of light. She did this with pleasure, until she felt a massive bounce on her bed.

"Lily! Lily, I'm not waiting any longer to open my prezzies! Lily wake up!" With this she felt a solid object hit her leg.

"Alright! I'm up, see?" Lily sat up and glared at Marlene, and smiled at Alice who was looking sheepish.

"Sorry, she's like a little two year old with presents." Alice rolled her eyes at Marlene.

"Ok...so...who goes first?"

By the way Marlene leaned forward to her massive pile, Lily supposed that was a rhetorical question. Marlene ripped the wrapping off a small square-shaped present, and gasped when she saw it. "Tickets to see The Howling Unicorns! There's three of them, one for each of us. Thanks Jack!" Jack was her twenty-five year old brother who had married a very rich witch and had two little children. He always sent his sister the most expensive presents. "I wrote to him and told him all about you, so I suppose he meant these for us...I don't know if Mum and Dad will let us go on our own though..."

"Ok...me now?" Lily asked. She took the smallest one, a little circular present, and gently ran her wand down the sellotape so it wouldn't break. She gently took it off and revealed that it was a box of chocolates. She took one look at the tag and threw them to Marlene. "Potter." She hissed. Marlene grinned at Alice as if to say: I told you so. "Wait! Don't eat one." Lily took out her wand and muttered. "Specilis Revilio." A little pink heart rose out of each of the chocolates and Alice gasped.

"Love potion? He wouldn't!"

Marlene looked grim. "Yes he would."

Lily, however, was outraged. "How dare he! I will not be controlled or...or...or forced into any love. The arrogant, cocky jerk." The two girls let Lily rant it out. The rest of the present opening was a little more subdued, but Lily was overjoyed when she saw what her parents bought her. "A course in the summer holidays to improve charms and transfiguration!" Lily was ecstatic, but her friends shook their heads.

"Nutcase." Marlene muttered.

"Hey ladies, how do you feel about a party later?" Sirius Black leaned casually over their table, looking annoyingly arrogant. "It'll be in the Common Room, at ten. Only first years allowed."

Lily stood up and went bright red with rage. "Have you spiked the drinks with love potion?" She spat at him.

"Aaahh...I'm guessing it didn't work." Sirius grinned at Marlene, who fluttered her eyelashes. "What a pity. James will be disappointed." Lily, by this point, was practically having a fit.

"So you knew too? What would...How could...Who even...argh!" Lily raised her hand up to slap him, but hastily put it down. Instead she brought out her wand.

Sirius regarded it warily. "Now, Evans, don't go getting yourself a detention." He batted it away. "You wouldn't want to make me mess your pretty face off. In fact, if I did that, James would probably mess my face up worse..." He actually had the audacity of stroking his hand across her cheek. Alice shuffled uncomfortably and Marlene looked like she was about to bite his arm.

"Fine, Black. Tell your friends that we would be delighted to come." Lily said with an ugly face on.

"Seriously?"

Lily nodded and brandished her wand in a way that Sirius ran.