Author's Note: Thanks so much for all the support!

Title: Partners in Love

Rating: PG

Spoilers: As always, Prisoner of Azkaban and Goblet of Fire, but just a little bit.

Summary: In Transfiguration class, Lily gets paired with James for the whole year and, well, you can guess what happens…

Disclaimer: Nope! Not me! I don't own anything except for… the non-famous stuff.

Setting: This story is set in Lily and James's days at Hogwarts. It starts out in 5th year.

*** = setting change

*~*= begin flashback

~*~ = end flashback

italics = emphasis

italics = thoughts

~How Did You Know?~

Melanie came down the stairs on Christmas morning to find her mother sitting at the table, drinking coffee.

"Hi, Mum," Melanie said, padding over to the table.

"Merry Christmas," Elizabeth said. "Are you going to open your presents?"

"Later," Melanie replied, sitting down.

Elizabeth took another sip. "Do you want breakfast?" she asked, looking into the swirling dark depths her mug. "I didn't make any for you because I know how late you sleep during the holidays, and I wasn't sure what time you were going to get up."

Melanie shook her head. "No, that's all right. Did I get any letters?"

Elizabeth pointed to the counter. "Two owls came for you. One woke me up, as a matter of fact. Honestly, I can't figure out why you people can't find some other way to send post." Elizabeth was a Muggle. Melanie's magic had come from her father's side.

Melanie examined her letters. One was from Alyssa, and the other was from Lily. She opened Alyssa's first.

Dear Melanie,

Merry Christmas! Hope you like my gift!

Guess what? I think Lawrence is starting to like Vicky. When I sent Silence (you know, our owl) to Victoria's house to deliver her present, my brother came in and asked if he could put his name on the card. He even paid me for half of it!

Anyway, I love your gift. It was very thoughtful of you. I woke up very early this morning to open my presents. You know how much I love Christmas! Lily got me a necklace. Oh, Remus got me that book I've been searching for! Isn't that sweet of him? I haven't opened any of my other presents yet because of our family tradition—you know, opening presents together. I bet Lawrence got me something completely useless again.

Well, I have presents to open and letters to write, so I'll see you back at school, okay?

Alyssa

P.S. Oh, and try to be happy today. You know nobody likes it when you're sad.

Melanie folded the letter back up and smiled softly. Alyssa always tried to make her feel better during Christmas.

Elizabeth stared out the window as Melanie opened Lily's letter.

Dear Melanie,

This is, without a doubt, the strangest Christmas I have ever had. First Potter invites me to his house. Then I meet his parents, who are some of the nicest people I have ever known. Strange, considering whom they have as a son.

This morning, Potter and Black woke me up at six o'clock! Can you believe that? Potter's gift turned out to be a pretty nice present after all. Then Black pointed out that Potter and I were standing under mistletoe, which he probably put there in the first place. So Potter kissed me!

I can't believe he actually did that! Sirius Black is going to pay for this. It's his fault Potter kissed me. Oh, I don't even want to think about that anymore!

Well, I hope you're having a good Christmas. Send an owl back to me.

Lily

Melanie smothered a giggle. Lily and James kissing? Very interesting. She was about to sit back down at the table when she heard a sound at the window.

Elizabeth looked past her daughter. "Oh," she said. "It's another owl."

Melanie opened the window to let the owl in. The owl was carrying a package and two letters. Melanie removed its burden and stroked its head. The owl hooted appreciatively and flew out the window.

"Who is it from?" Elizabeth asked.

Melanie looked at the names on the outside of the envelopes. "James Potter and Sirius Black." She inspected the package. "This is from Sirius," she said.

"Is that the same boy you wrote to me about?"

"Yeah."

Elizabeth smiled and nodded knowingly.

***

Meanwhile, at the Potter mansion, Sirius Black was still opening presents. Everyone else had finished a while ago. Of course, none of them had gotten presents from twenty-seven girls from Hogwarts.

James sat next to his friend, looking bored. "Just how many Zonko's products have you received?"

Sirius looked at the growing pile next to him. "Fifteen."

"And how many of those are from girls?"

"Fifteen."

James ruffled his hair. "Can't they think of anything more original? I thought girls were good at shopping."

Sirius started opening another present. "Maybe I'm just too mysterious. None of these girls seems to know the right thing to give me."

James watched as Sirius pulled out yet another Zonko's product from a box. "I think I'll go write to Moony and Wormtail," he said. "This is getting boring." He went upstairs.

Sirius was now alone in the living room. James's parents had left after he opened his ninth unoriginal present. He opened three more presents. Then he came across a box wrapped in silver gift-wrap. He read the card.

I hope you like this present. I made it myself. Thanks again for helping me with Transfiguration. I really appreciate it.

Melanie Daniels

Sirius ripped the paper off the box. He reached inside and pulled out a square object that resembled a mirror. When he looked into it, however, he saw a night sky. The mirror focused on one particular constellation—Canis Major. He watched as the stars shifted to form the shape of a dog. The dog ran around the sky for a moment, then returned to its original position.

Sirius smiled. Melanie was indeed learning from their Transfiguration tutoring sessions.

***

Melanie placed Sirius's present on the counter and looked at it. As it turns out, the package contained a small white figurine in the shape of an angel. The accompanying note explained that the angel sang Christmas carols on request.

As Melanie stared at the beautiful figurine, she remembered what happened on Christmas Eve eight years before.

*~*

"Daddy, do you have to go?" an eight-year-old Melanie asked, tugging on her father's sleeve as he opened the front door.

Richard Daniels crouched down to her eye level. "I'll be back soon, angel."

"Promise?"

"I promise," Richard said solemnly.

Melanie was not satisfied. "You'll be back for Christmas, right?"

"Yes." Richard smiled. "Now be good. You're my little angel, remember?"

Elizabeth, who had been watching the exchange from the hall, came forward and hugged her husband. "Hurry back."

"I will."

And with that, Richard left. It was the last time Melanie ever saw him alive.

~*~

When Melanie came out of her reverie, she discovered that she was gripping the edge of the counter so hard that her bones were beginning to hurt.

Elizabeth looked on in concern. "Melanie? Are you all right?"

The young witch grabbed her present and fled to the safety of her room.

***

Remus read James's letter in amusement. So Sirius did put the mistletoe up, just like he had said he would. Sirius always had the guts to do things like that. Although Remus did find such antics amusing, he never could manage to be as bold as James and Sirius were.

But maybe that was okay. Boldness wasn't always a good thing.

In any case, Remus didn't think Alyssa would like it too much if he changed his personality to match his friends'. But why would Alyssa's opinion matter? All right, so he liked her. Was that a crime?

"Remus?" Calista Lupin called, poking her head into her son's room.

"Yes, Mum?"

"A letter came for you. It's from Sirius Black." She handed him the piece of parchment, then sat next to him on the edge of the bed. She gave Remus a hug. "You know I love you, right?"

Remus returned the embrace. "Yeah, Mum, I know."

"Merry Christmas," Calista said with a smile. She made her exit.

Remus smiled to himself. He realized that he was still holding the letter. Ah, yes. Sirius's version of events would most certainly be interesting to read.

***

Danielle Phillips did not want to be at home. Her parents had invited relatives over for Christmas. Among these relatives were Danielle's twin cousins, Persephone and Theseus. They had been bothering Danielle for two days now, always asking questions.

"Dani, what's that?"

"Dani, do you have a boyfriend?"

"Dani, what are you doing?"

"Dani, will you play with me?"

Frankly, she was sick of it. At the moment, Danielle was lying on her bed, staring at the ceiling in boredom. She sighed. Kendall had gone with his parents on a trip to America, so Danielle hadn't been in contact with him for days.

Persephone and Theseus ran into the room. "Dani, an owl came for you!" they exclaimed simultaneously.

Persephone held out the parchment.

Danielle sat up and took it from her. She was about to open it when she noticed that her cousins were still in the room, staring at her. "Would you two please leave?"

"Come on, Sephie," Theseus said. "Mummy said she was going to give us cake."

The twins left the room.

Danielle read the letter. It was from Victoria, who wanted to know if Danielle could visit the next day.

Needless to say, Danielle was thrilled. She just had to get away from her relatives. She silently thanked her best friend as she got out a piece of parchment to write a reply on.

***

Lily was in her room, taking a nap. The boys really had woken her up much too early, and she was tired. As she slept, she dreamed.

James was in his room when he heard the scream. He jumped, then ran out into the hall. He heard another scream coming from Lily's room. "Evans!" he said, rushing into her room.

Lily was thrashing about on the bed with her eyes closed, evidently still dreaming.

"Evans, wake up!"

Lily's eyes shot open. She gasped for air. "Voldemort," she said. "My parents—they were being—"

James tried to calm her down. "Evans, it was just a dream."

Lily's eyes were blazing. "I'll destroy him for what he did to my parents," she said fiercely. "I will."

Disconcerted, James simply said, "Dinner should be ready soon."

Lily nodded.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Author's Note: Hmm… A little short, wasn't it? Sorry about that… Review if you want me to be inspired and write the next chapter quickly!