Keyword: Stripes

James was watching Harry's Christmas DA meeting very carefully, grinning to himself like a complete and utter fool as he did so. Lily had been chatting to Marlene a few yards away from him and was watching him suspiciously for a few moments before she went over.

"What're you grinning about? Which ghost are you going to attempt to prank this time? May I remind you of how badly it went last time?" Stripes of red appeared on James's cheeks as he blushed and grinned sheepishly at her, remembering the time he had tried to prank Peeves and it had gone wrong.

"Harry's totally got a thing for this Cho girl," he announced and Lily rolled her eyes as Fabian and Gideon floated over, grinning in the same way James was.

"Yes, James dear, we figured that out about a year ago – remember the entire fiasco when he asked her to the Yule Ball?" Marlene called from the seat she hadn't moved from. There was a general round of laughter as Lily peered over her husband's shoulder to watch the Room of Requirement empty slowly.

"Ooooooh," Gideon and Fabian chorused mockingly, watching Harry move towards Cho. Everyone present in the cosy room put down whatever they were doing and wandered over to watch as Harry and Cho talked quietly. Most of the men laughed at Harry's failed attempt to comfort Cho, whilst the women rolled their eyes and tutted. A hush fell when Cho pointed out the mistletoe.

"Oh my gosh… James, he's growing up so quickly," Lily sighed and then everyone erupted into cheers and coos as Harry and Cho kissed.

"Oh… wow… okay, Harry, keep it PG… Just as well that's not happening in the corridors, if Snivellus saw that it'd probably be worth about two weeks of detention…" Benjy called from the back of the huddle of wizards and there was a ripple of laughter.

"Lily, come on, don't cry," James said, suddenly noticing his wife's watery eyes. "This is something to be happy about…" He put an arm around her, looking at a complete loss as he glanced at the others for help.

"I… am… happy," she hiccupped, trying to hold back her tears. "But… we couldn't… be there to hear about it from him ourselves!" She wailed and starting sobbing on his shoulder as James stroked her hair and made soothing noises. Down on Earth, Harry left the Room of Requirement after Cho, feeling light-hearted.