'So … you and Potter then Lily' Louise asked her friend when Lily got back up to her dormitory. Lily rolled her eyes at her friend. She and James were planning payback on their so called friends for locking them in a room, even though the plan managed to work, they didn't let it ruin their fun.
'Me and James are just friends … more than I can say for you lot, locking me in that room' Lily said jumping onto her bed with a charms book in hand.
'Hey we did it for your own good, it worked anyway so stop whining. That reminds me, we're going into Hogsmeade later on to do our Christmas shopping, are you coming along?' Amy said and Lily nodded her head.
'Yeah, I haven't even thought about Christmas, and we finish Hogwarts for the term in a week's time, I completely forgot. Oh dear what am I going to get for everyone? I may get my parents and sister something from a muggle shop when I get home' Lily said and her friends nodded.
'Yeah there's no point bringing something magical home for your sister, she'd probably stomp on it or something' Michelle said laughing and Lily shrugged her shoulders.
'Well I wouldn't be surprised' Lily asked and Amy laughed.
'Well come on then, let's get ready before the place gets packed' Alice said jumping off her bed and running into the bathroom before any of the girls got a chance. Lily laughed and looked around the room, and noticed a significantly big black mark on the right hand wall' it looked like a burn mark.
'Erm girls, why is there a giant burn mark in our wall?' Lily asked and Michelle glared at Louise.
'Well someone decided it would be a good idea…' She started but Louise interrupted.
'Hey I can tell the story, and stop glaring at me, it was an accident! Last night I decided that I'd practice some charms, you know so I can get the hang of them. It didn't work very well and I ended up blowing a whole in the wall, we managed to fix it but we can't get the burn mark out' Louise explained and Lily nodded slowly.
'Seems like I missed a great party then' Lily smiled and Michelle scoffed.
'I was just about to say that you'd know about it if you hadn't have been sleeping in a certain someone's bed' She said smiling slyly at Lily, who rolled her eyes.
'How many times do I have to tell you? Nothing happened' Lily argued.
'Yet' Amy added in slyly making Lily roll her eyes again.
'Never' Lily finished and it was the girls' turn to roll their eyes.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Meanwhile the Marauders had already made their way into Hogsmeade village.
'Hey Prongs, it's only a few weeks till Christmas, what are you going to buy me? Sirius subtly said to his best friend while they were wondering around Zonko's joke shop. James turned around to his friend and threw a 'magic mirror' at him.
'There you go mate, knock yourself out' James said and the mirror hit Sirius' head and then he caught it in his head.
'You almost did that for me yourself, come on Prongs what are you going to get me?' Sirius asked again and James sighed.
'Padfoot you ask me this every year, and have I ever told you what I'm going to buy you?' James said and Sirius pouted, frowned and shook his head.
'Never do that again' James laughed and Sirius' facial expression changed dramatically into a smirk.
'So that's a no on telling me what you're getting me?' Sirius said and James shot Sirius a dirty look.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
'So, what do you think about this for Michelle?' Lily asked Amy and Louise while they were in a shop in Hogsmeade. She had already picked out presents for Amy, Louise, Alice, Remus, Peter and Sirius. She just had Michelle and James to go. She was in two minds about buying James something, bearing in mind that they had only been on real speaking terms for less than twenty four hours. She had picked up a photo album for Michelle, and was intending to put pictures in there of all of their times together at Hogwarts. It felt more personal than just a box of regular chocolates. She walked up to the cashier and paid for the photo album and hid it in her bag before Michelle and Alice met them outside the shop.
'Where do you all want to now?' Lily said pushing her hair out of her eyes.
'The Three Broomsticks I suppose, has everyone finished their shopping?' Michelle said and everyone nodded.
'I've only got to get something for James now … but I don't know whether or not I want to get him something' Lily said as the group made their way over to the pub.
'Lily you have to, without a doubt he will get you something, and then you'll feel awful that you didn't bother' Louise said and opened the door to the pub and they had to raise their voices due to the noise in the pub.
'Yeah I suppose so, I might look when I get home and send it to him' Lily said and the girls nodded. Michelle went up to order the drinks and the rest of the girls walked around the pub to find a suitable table. When they found one their shopping bags hit the floor, coats went over the chairs and heads went on the table. Michelle returned with the drinks and as soon as she sat down they heard their names being called behind them. Lily turned her head to see the Marauders walking towards her. She smiled at them as they pulled chairs up around the table.
'Mind if we sit here?' Sirius said after he had already sat himself down next to Louise.
'No, not at all Black, do whatever you want' Louise said giving Sirius a filthy look and Sirius looked taken aback.
'Oh someone's got their knickers in a twist, calm down love what have I done wrong this time?' Sirius said and Louise shrugged her shoulders.
'Don't take it personally Sirius, she's suffering from the love bug' Amy giggled and Louise aimed a filthy look in her direction, but Amy chose to ignore it.
'It is contagious?' Peter asked quietly and the group laughed at him.
'Yes Pete it is, I'd stay away if I were you, it's not a great thing to have' James said winking at Lily, who suddenly felt her cheeks heat up, her voice screamed at what was going on, but as soon as it happened, it went away. Suddenly feeling embarrassed she looked down at the table and sipped her butterbeer.
An hour later they were finishing up their drinks and all decided to make their way back up to the castle together. Remus and Amy were in deep conversation and the N.E.W.T's exams that were coming up, Sirius and Louise were arguing, Michelle, Alice and Peter were all listening to Sirius and Louise argue and Lily and James walked behind all of their friends, deep in conversation.
'They're turning into the new you and me I reckon' James said pointing his head over to Sirius and Louise. Lily laughed and nodded.
'It seems that way doesn't it… they do look funny though' Lily said laughing at her friends.
'Yeah but to the outside we probably did as well' James suggested and Lily shrugged her shoulders.
'Yeah I suppose so…' She replied and suddenly the pair went quiet.
'So … what are you doing for the Christmas holidays?' Lily asked to stop the silence from continuing and James smiled.
'I'm going back home, going to spend the holidays just lazing around the house, might redecorate Sirius' room without him knowing, that might entertain me for an hour or two. I can't wait to see my family though …' James said and Lily nodded in agreement.
'Yeah I get what you mean, I always miss them so much, before I came to Hogwarts I'd never really gone anywhere without them' she explained.
'That's the same with me, I mean I went to stay with relatives maybe for a week in the summer, but that's about it… I actually wanted to ask you about the holidays' James said and Lily tilted her head.
'Why's that?'
'Well, a couple of days before new years eve Remus and Peter normally come over and we all spend new years together, just doing random stuff, I was wondering if you wanted to come along, with the rest of the girls as well obviously if they wanted to. If you can't make it don't worry about it, I just thought I'd invite you anyway' James said suddenly trailing off and looking at his feet as they walked back up to the castle.
'I'd love to' Lily said smiling and James lifted his head, beaming at her.
'Fantastic' he replied and they walked back to the common room, laughing at Louise constantly telling Sirius to 'get a life'.