Something was different with Lily and James the next two days leading up to the dance and everyone noticed. They were actually, nice to each other. Well sort of.

Alice had asked Lily about it on more than one occasion but all she got was a shrug. Lily didn't seem so…standoffish when he was around anymore. Although she still sneered once or twice and made fun of him there was playfulness to it.

It was Friday and the class had somehow gotten McGonagall to agree to let them go last minute Christmas shopping.

The girls decided they wanted to go to Honeydukes first. Lily figured she'd get chocolate for her dad, if there was one thing he loved it was Wizards chocolate. She walked among the rows and rows of candy. The shop was already packed full of people and it was hard to maneuver around them. The new glow fish candy seemed to be a big hit as that was where most of the people were.

Lily grabbed her father's favorite chocolate, and then grabbed another package. She felt the need to give one to the potter family for letting her intrude on their hospitality like that. It was Christmas; she needed to get them a gift.

She took the purple package of chocolates up to the front desk nodding when they asked if she would like it wrapped. With a flick of the wand they were wrapped perfectly in emerald green paper. A burgundy and golden ribbon flew neatly on top. "Thank you," Lily said while counting out her money.

"Alice," Lily waved her hands in the air to try to get her attention among the throng of people. "Alice!" Lily called satisfied when she finally looked up. "I'm going to the jewelry store across the street!" Alice gave her thumbs up going back to her shopping with Frank.

Lily hurried as quickly weaving in and out of the throng of people. On several occasions Lily had to raise the chocolate high above her head in order to make it through.

Once outside Lily took a deep breath of air, the wind whipped across her face and turned it a bright cherry of a red in a matter of minutes. She wrapped her scrap around her face trying to block as much wind out as possible.

Lily warmed the moment she entered the jewelry store. There was a nice raging fire to her left in the chimney with several plush burgundy chairs around it. Lily walked towards the rows of jewelry light seemed to glow from within the glass cases.

The store held one or two employees and only a few people, much less than honeydukes. It was easy to navigate her way around the rows and find what she could afford. They seemed to be arranged by value.

Lily leaned down next to a silver necklace, it had a thick chain and a huge heart shaped locket with a small ruby at the end of the tail of an engraved phoenix. Lily knew her mother would love it. She would have to send it along with her letter about going to the potters. "Excuse me madam," Lily called to one of the two employees working. "May I buy this necklace?"

"Oh yes of course, Just wait while I wrap it." Lily watched as the necklace flew out of the case and landed up at the counter delicately.

"I may buy more," Lily said absentmindedly looking at another necklace. It was small and delicate but looked as if weaved by water, with a gold chain. It looked as if small vines of gold were weaved to make the chain. The gold of the small locket seemed as if on fire reflecting the light off its tiny surface.

"It's beautiful isn't it," the employee said handing the locket Lily had gotten for her mother to her. "It was handcrafted by elves over two centuries ago, Over in Ireland, they're almost all but extinct now. Quite a shame they make lockets as good if not better than goblins make swords. That'll be one galleon." Lily handed the gold galleon over, it was one of the original first ones she had exchanged at Gringotts her first day in the wizarding world.

Lily looked over and saw a pocket watch, she leaned in closer to get a better look. It was bronze with a stag carved into the front. Lily immediately thought of James and before she had time to rethink it she said "I would also like this one."

As she paid for it she knew she could always give it to someone else but it seemed only fit for James. She could already envision him holding it up telling the time. As she walked out of the store she smiled and tucked the small package holding the pocket watch into her robes.

Sirius was grouchy in the days leading up to the holiday; James knew it was because he would be traveling home. James hadn't asked why Sirius was going home, and didn't plan to. Sirius would tell him when he was ready.

Though Sirius did have a date, a thrilled Ravenclaw girl named Emma. James still didn't have anyone. When Sirius would pester him about it because he himself was in a bad mood James would point out that peter didn't have a date either.

The trio had been seeing less and less of Peter lately. They didn't ask though god knew what he had experienced with Voldemort. James was wondering more and more now whether they should tell Dumbledore Peter was there. It would be betraying Peter's trust but maybe it would help them all. He didn't know it had been plaguing the back of his mind ever since it happened. He didn't know what to do.

On the Friday before they left James went to Hogsmeade with the rest of his class. He really didn't need to go down there, he had bought all his Christmas presents already. Of course when he was suppose to be sleeping.

Remus and Sirius were off trying to sell something to a first year but James wasn't in the mood.

He wandered past Zonko's thinking he had been in there enough times. Honeydukes was packed as usual and he didn't feel like pushing through the crowds. He walked down the street avoiding the reenactment which was still there and headed up a dirt road, that lead to the shrieking shack.

It felt weird staring at It from the outside, he had been in it so often he had almost forgotten how creepy it looked from so far away. He chuckled thinking about how the town's people suddenly assumed it was haunted. It wasn't really funny, just in that bitter sarcastic way.

James walked towards the forest his hands in his pockets. Not really thinking about it he transformed into a stag. Thoughts were so much simpler that way, it was easier to organize the important things.

He felt his body change into something sleek, and strong. He felt the antlers grow from his head and bow gracefully. His feet and hands turned to hooves his nose lengthened and turned into the muzzle, his chin forming into it too. In a matter of seconds he was completely transformed.

The stag trotted forward, over a knarled branch and deeper into the forbidden forest. He climbed over roots of trees instinctively knowing the way to go. Following his ears.

He soon made his way to the river and took a sip before turning around and seemingly pacing.

James was thinking about his aspirations, his motivations, what he wanted in life. The simplicity of the animals brain made it easier for him to organize his thoughts.

He knew however that he wasn't really the animal, he was a human and couldn't erase all stains of it. He still felt his emotions conflicting each other and worries. He still felt worry.

Making his way back to the dirt road, James transformed back staggering forward before walking back to the castle wondering what to do.

A/N: Sorry it took so long to update. Life got very busy. enjoy :)

Oh and Nicole the answer to your question is soon ;)