Disclaimer – anything you recognise from the Harry Potter series is not mine.
Here's the final chapter of Christmas With The Marauders
New Year's Eve arrived for the group of friends without incident, they decided to stay in the common room and celebrate the new year together.
James, Sirius and Remus headed down to the kitchens to get food from the house elves for them while Lily used the wizard wireless to find some music. Once she'd found the music Lily and the rest of the girls went up to their dormitory to get dressed and Alice grabbed her camera so they could take some photos.
Once the boys were back with the food, they all gathered together in front of the fire swapping stories about previous new years parties and the Marauders shared some of their pranking stories with the girls. Leaving them all in stitches. Alice took some photos of everyone before Sirius took the camera from her declaring "I am now the official New Year's Eve Photographer!"
They laughed as Sirius started to take silly photos of the group while lying on the floor before he moved to stand on the table. "Sirius get down before you hurt yourself," Lily laughed "or ruin the food." Sirius pouted but followed Lily's instruction, "shall we start eating then?" Sirius asked eyeing the table of food in front of him.
"Go ahead Sirius" Marlene told him with a smile, soon the teens all had a plate full of food and the conversation lulled as they ate occasionally suggesting something to the others. "Well…" said Remus leaning back on the sofa "the house elves have really out done themselves that was fantastic!"
"Maybe we should go and thank them before it gets too late" Lily suggested to the others.
"I thought I'd never see the day where Lily suggests we visit somewhere out of bounds" Dorcas remarked raising an eyebrow in Lily's direction.
"Well, it's not like it would be the first time I've visited this holiday." Lily acknowledged glancing in James' direction.
"I think it's a great idea who wants to come with me and Lily?" asked James, the others shared glances silently communicating.
"we'll stay here you two go then there's less chance to be caught by a teacher." Remus spoke for the group remaining behind. Shrugging James and Lily headed out of the common room.
Once they left the group put their heads together to come up with final points of the Midnight Kiss Plan as Sirius had named it. "So," Marlene leaned back as she confirmed the plan "Alice isn't going to kiss anyone because of Frank and there's an odd number, Remus you're going to kiss Dorcas, and Sirius you're going to kiss me that leaves James and Lily to kiss."
"But how will you get Lily to agree?" Remus asked wondering if their meddling would ruin everything.
"Easy!" Dorcas responded, "we'll tell her we want to kiss at midnight, and that I've called dibs on you."
"Then ask who she'd rather kiss James or Sirius? For Lily the choice will be easy" Marlene finished with a knowing grin.
It wasn't long till James and Lily got back talking quietly and smiling at each other, Marlene shot Remus and Sirius a look to say, 'told you so'.
Sirius sneaked a photo before the soon to be couple noticed, "What did the House Elves say?" he asked loudly breaking the bubble James and Lily ad been in.
"They were grateful that their work was appreciate and told us we're welcome in the kitchen any time." Lily told the group with a smile.
"Lil's, can I talk to you a second, upstairs?" Dorcas requested pulling Lily along with her to the stairs, Lily laughed and followed her friend up the stairs. Sirius turned to James as soon as they were out of sight.
"Right New years Kisses are going to happen, Remus is going to Kiss Dorcas and I'm going to kiss Marlene, then you can kiss Lily." Sirius ordered his best mate in a hushed whisper pretending that the girls didn't know about the plan already. James nodded mutely silently hoping this didn't end badly ruining his friendship with Lily.
Upstairs Dorcas was telling Lily a similar thing only she made it sound like it was all planned by the girls and the boys didn't know what was going on.
Finally, the teens were all back together on the sofas in front of the fire listening to the wizarding wireless when the count down was announced, the teens jumped to their feet and joined in with the countdown…
10…
9…
8…
James glanced at Lily hoping this went okay…
7…
6…
5…
Lily crossed her fingers out of sight that James wouldn't hate her after this…
4…
3…
2…
1…
HAPPY NEW YEAR! The group of teens shouted before the agreed couples kissed, Alice scooped up the camera managing to catch all three kisses. Sirius had dipped Marlene for a quick kiss which left Marlene giggling at her friend. Remus and Dorcas shared a sweet shy kiss. All five teens turned to see what had happened with their best friends only to see them still kissing, James had his hands on Lily's waist while her arms were looped round his neck, fingers in his hair. Sirius snatched the camera from Alice's hands and snapped a picture of them.
A cough from behind all the teens had the kissing couple breaking apart and the others turning to see Professor McGonagall standing in the portrait hole watching the scene in front of her, "I understand that it is New Years, and you are the only members of your house here, however I would appreciate it if you kept the noise down and limit the displays of public affection." McGonagall ordered the stern order was belied by the small smile on her lips.
James and Lily blushed at having been caught by their head of house kissing
"It was just a New Years, kiss Minnie," Sirius beamed "Would you like one too? I'm more than happy to even if it is a bit late." The others fell about laughing, while Professor McGonagall pursed her lips "I suggest you all go to bed now before Mister Black earns himself another detention with me when the holidays are over." With that she turned and left the common room smiling at the thought of her two favorite students getting together. She had watched James mature and grow up this past year, she was proud of the way he and his friends and stood by and supported Lily even when they didn't fully know what had happened. "Yes" She thought to herself "They'll make a wonderful couple; I hope it works out for them."
"Wait you already have a detention for when school starts?" Dorcas turned to Sirius "how did you manage that?"
"Easy I sent Minnie cat nip and string for Christmas," Sirius responded, "although James dared me to so I can't take all the credit." The girls fell about laughing at this revelation not noticing James pulling Lily through the portrait hole.
Once they reached an empty classroom James leaned against a desk looking at Lily, "sorry if you didn't want to kiss me Sirius and Remus had this whole plan worked out…" he trailed off rubbing the back of his neck, Lily smiled "Funny Dorcas and Marlene had the same plan worked out too. Which means our friends totally set us up."
James looed up shocked "I can see Sirius and even Remus doing that for a laugh, but why would Marlene and Dorcas do that to you?"
Lily looked down at her fingers twisting them nervously, "Well I did tell them how well we were getting on and that we we're friends…" this time Lily trailed off.
"But weren't they worried that this could ruin that friendship?" James questions his confusion written over his face "unless, there's more you told them?"
"I might have told them that I like you as more than friends" Lily mumbled barely loud enough for James to hear. Fortunately for him he did hear since he didn't think Lily would repeat that sentence right now, His face broke into a wide grin, "So you wouldn't mind if I kissed you again?" he asked with a cheeky grin.
"No, I wouldn't" Lily whispered looking up at James, after they kissed James rested his forehead against Lily's "Will you be my girlfriend, Lily?" James gulped wondering if it was too soon to ask. Before he could start to panic Lily's voce broke through his thoughts "Yes James, I will be your girlfriend."
They made their way back to the common room finding the others had gone to the dormitories they followed their friends stopping to kiss at the bottom of the stairs.
When she reached her room she found Alice, Marlene and Dorcas all sat up waiting, she laughed "I assume James is facing the same thing?"
"Yep!" Alice said, "So spill what happened?"
Lily told them everything.
"Well, I can't wait for the new term to start now can you imagine everyone's faces when they find out the two of you are finally together!" Marlene laughed her comment set the other girls of giggling too.
Lying in bed Lily smiled to herself "I thought I wouldn't be able to carry on without out you mom and dad, but I'm so glad I was wrong my friends are amazing and with them by my side I know I can face anything. I bet you really want to say, 'I told you so' right now dad you always told me I'd fall for James one day and it turns out you were right" Lily sent the silent words out while holding on to the necklace they had got her their last gift to her.
The End
Thank you to everyone who has read this story I am so sorry for the massive gaps between uploads but its all finished now, and I hope you've enjoyed my story.