Potions class was unusually awkward for Lily today because there were only three students present, herself, Nicolas Mulby from Ravenclaw, and Snape. James and Sirius were both missing from class today, and Lily had no clue why. That's why when James walked calmly into the classroom halfway through the period Lily couldn't help but look away from her potion.
"Ah, Mr. Potter!" Professor Slughorn praised, "What brings you to class so late?"
"Er… sorry Professor," James walked up to the desk, winking at Lily as he past her, "It's just that the Heads have some special, er, business that Professor Dumbledore wanted us to do. He said it was urgent."
"Urgent, eh?" Slughorn put his thumb and forefinger to his chin, "Well, if Dumbledore says so," he waved his hand impatiently. "Go on… you may leave Miss Evans."
Lily looked at James who smiled as she packed her bag. She copied down the homework on a slip of parchment and shoved it into her bag before following James out the door. Once the door was closed, he grabbed hold of her hand and pulled her into the nearest broom closet.
"James, what's all this about?" she laughed.
James pulled her closer to him and kissed her. "I wanted to give you this," he held a small parcel in between them, "Happy Birthday!" Lily opened the box and her eyes grew wide. James smiled. "Like it?"
She held it up, "Like it? It's breathtaking!" Even though the only source of light in the broom closet came from James's wand, the necklace Lily held up seemed to sparkle with such intensity that Lily couldn't take her eyes off of it. The green and red garnet stones seemed to dance in the little light it was provided with.
"It's goblin made," James took it from her as she turned and lifted her hair up for him to put it on. "It belonged to my mum. Dad gave it to her when they were first going out," he clasped the chain and Lily turned around to model it for him her fingers barely brushing the jewels, "He said I should pass it onto you."
Lily's whole face shined with love, "What did I ever do to deserve you?"
"Ah…" James put his forehead to Lily's, "The real question is, what did I ever do to deserve you?"
"I supposed that's me outsmarted?" Lily leaned in.
"Yeah, yeah it is," James whispered with a smile on his face, as they kissed.
"So what are these Head duties we're supposed to be filling for Dumbledore?" Lily asked after they broke away.
James smiled, "Follow me," and pulled her out into the corridor and took off for the Heads common room.
"Can't we slow down a little?" Lily laughed as they ran for the common room. "What's the hurry?"
James spun her around and kissed her, then took off again exclaiming, "You'll see!"
They finally reached the portrait of the lion when James said the password, "Ink pellets," and pulled Lily through.
"Why is it so dark?" Lily questioned as she walked in.
"SURPRISE!" The lights flicked on and the room was filled instantly with the sounds of crackers going off and confetti flying in every direction.
Lily screamed and spun in circles on the spot until her wits returned to her. "Bloody hell, next time, just give me a heart attack please!" she laughed as Remus and Peter wheeled out a giant cake that had, written on it, 'Happy Birthday Lily!' with eighteen giant candles, as tall as Lily's forearm.
Lily laughed as everyone started singing 'Happy Birthday' to her, but when the time came for her to blow out the candles; she found it to be extremely difficult because they were so large. In the end, however, with a little help from everyone, all of the candles were blown out and everyone had been served a rather large piece of cake.
"Present time!" Sirius shouted, placing a badly wrapped parcel in front of Lily.
"Aw, Padfoot, you shouldn't have!" Lily smiled as she opened the present, then upon seeing its contents, she seriously reiterated her statement once more, "You really shouldn't have." She held up what she could only suppose was a lacy red brassiere.
Sirius smiled proudly hooking his arm around James's neck, "It's for both you and Prongs! For when you finally get together!" Everyone, including James shook their heads and laughed. Catherine picked up the bottom and flung it at Sirius's head.
Remus laughed as he picked up the garter which had fallen on the floor and chuckled as he handed it to James. "Sirius, you're one in a million," he joked, as Sirius tried to fit the bra on top of Lily's clothes. Lily was putting up a very strong defense.
James took the garter and stuck it over his head, wearing it around his neck like a chocker. "Whaddya think?" he asked.
"Super sexy," Lily laughed packing away the present. "Thank you Padfoot," Lily kissed him on the cheek.
"Me next!" Peter chimed handing her a small, rather squishy parcel. "I hope you like it!"
Lily opened it, Peter had given her a rather fluffy pair of socks, "Thanks Wormy," she smiled.
"They change every time you flip them inside out!" he told her shining with excitement, "Try it!"
Lily did so, and when she flipped them around, instead of the socks remaining pink and fluffy they turned purple with orange spots.
"They're wonderful," she gave Peter a hug and he flushed.
"It's not as intimate as Sirius's," Catherine smiled as she handed Lily her gift, "but it's still pretty wild."
Lily thought the worst, "It's not edible panties, because you all know I'm still single, right?" she laughed. Lily and James still never got around to breaking the news to everyone about their relationship. But seeing as how Catherine and Sirius were still sneaking around, they thought themselves in the clear.
Catherine laughed, "No, no… just open it!"
Lily did so, and was greeted by a sight of a small paper-backed book titled, 101 Ways to Have Fun with Life. She opened it up to a random page and read aloud, "Number 37: Dance naked with the radio blasting your favorite tunes."
Sirius put his two cents in, nudging James, "I'd love to see that." Catherine shot him a look, and Sirius's smile vanished instantly.
"Thanks Rini," she laughed, "This is wonderful!"
Frank had two cone party hats on his head and a noise maker in his mouth. He blew into the noise maker which expanded and hit Lily in the face, then handed her his present. Lily laughed as she tore it open. Inside was a little bath set of perfumed soaps and lotions. "Aw, Frank, this is lovely," she hugged him.
She looked around the room, and then realized that someone still hadn't given her a present. "Remmy?" Lily cooed. Remus looked up from playing with Lyra, who had grown a lot in the short month that Lily had had her.
"Oh, is it my turn?" Remus smiled, he put Lyra down on the floor and handed Lily the smallest present yet, "I hope you like it."
"I'm sure I will," Lily smiled and opened it, inside was a hand woven friendship bracelet with a sun and moon charm on it. "Oh, Remus, this is lovely!" she gave him a hug. "Thank you."
"I'm glad you like it. It was a pain to make, I kept knotting it all wrong at first, but I figured it out in the end," he laughed. Lily tied the bracelet around her wrist.
Everyone was standing up ready to let the party commence when Catherine shouted, "Wait! What about James, where's his present?"
Lily gave James a quick look as if to say, 'Think fast,' but James stood there smiling deviously.
"Why? Isn't it obvious, I am her present!" James took a bow that had been sitting on one of the discarded wrapping papers and placed it on top of his messy hair.
"Classic Potter," Lily sighed. "Never gives up, does he?"
"Not a chance," James smiled throwing his arm around her.
"Party time!" Peter jumped up to turn up the radio.
"Aye—Aye—Aye—Aye! Arriba!" Sirius screeched jumping around the room lifting Peter into his arms.
"Want to do some of that naked dancing for us Lily?" Remus joked; Lyra was sitting on his head happily enjoying the view.
so ... i had meat pies today...
anyone who has read Titus Andronicus, by Shakespeare, would appreciate that comment...
and that's all i'll say on that comment.
good-day!
P.S. Garders go around the leg, not the neck of the girl wearing the underwear. James is just being silly.