A/N: first update of my 12 days of AU! Hope you enjoy this chapter...


Lily's third class of the day is somewhat less enthusiastic than expected given that the class is what she'd call "soft." Although attendance was still mandatory, they'd already taken exams, so none of the information would really become vital until the new year. In deference to what are likely overtired, taxed young brains.

She can still teach and today is all about Muggle-style holidays. Monday, she'd asked each student to interview one of the muggleborn students she'd invited to participate for extra credit and her everlasting gratitude.

Plus, in Lily's own experience, it would have been nice to have the opportunity to see her pureblooded peers as confused as she'd felt her first day at Beauxbatons.

Early on, it had been a little bit of a petty feeling. Now, it's more about changing their perspective, helping them understand just how wide the world is. And maybe slightly petty.

Now, her fifth years are here and they half-assed the assignment, except for a handful including unsurprisingly Berry - perhaps the most Hufflepuff Hufflepuff to ever Hufflepuff. Smirking at the silliness of her thought and the very heavy influence of one James Potter on that thought process, Lily concludes her circuit of the classroom where productive discussion is allegedly taking place and returns to her place at the chalkboard.

Lily clears her throat and a few pause long enough to glance her way, but nowhere near her expectations so she grabs volume twenty-three of the Encyclopaedia Britannica from her desk and lets it fall to the floor with a loud smack .

It pains her a bit to abuse any book in such a way but 'Energy Forces and their Effects' through 'History of Western Literature' sacrifice a bit of dignity to salvage her class.

"Anyone have an answer?"

There's a moment of hesitation and then finally little Kendall in the back sticks up his hand and looks like he might piss himself.

Lily does her best to smile encouragingly as she gestures to Kendall. "Yes?"

"Who is Rudolph?"

Jorgins snorts. "Jeopardy was last week you numpty."

Berry shoves Jorgins so hard he nearly topples to the stone floor. "Don't be an arsewipe."

" Anyway ," Lily says, loud and clear over the rising din, "You are correct, Kendall. And I'm glad to see you're recalling past lessons. Two points to Hufflepuff."

Kendall grins and holiday trivia continues with slightly more excitement for the remainder of the hour.


After trivia day, Lily offers extra credit for students who volunteer to assist with preparations for Christmas at the school - without using their wands. Ornaments are carefully lifted from their wrappings and draped over bows sagging with garland and popcorn strings. Tiny cakes are baked without assistance from the house elves - who seem to fall on the spectrum between amused and gutted at the thought of not helping. And for those assisting less for credit and more for "please don't send me to Filch" purposes, the entry hall does seem quite damp with melting snow and muggles do sweep without magic and live to tell the tale.

Overall, it's festive and does make Lily a bit homesick, especially when the students have mostly cleared out and she's left alone in the kitchens with one final Jiffy Pop package to munch by herself.

Or at least she assumes until a tall, dark, and bespectacled someone saunters into the kitchens and stops dead. "Why are you here?"

"I work here."

"Kitchens?"

LIly rolls her eyes. "I figured my current activity," she jiggles the little pan and gets a few satisfying snaps, "Would be fairly self explanatory."

"No - it's winter hols," James says, blinking at her with a slight flush rising on his cheeks.

"Family - well it's complicated and I figured I'd just stay here with the students who're around. Keep Dumbledore in line while I'm at it."

James laughs. "Once he's dipped into the mulled wine and opened his crackers it's open season."

Lily lifts the popcorn from the hob and wanders over to one of the scrubbed clean tables, not looking back to confirm James following in her wake.

Nonetheless, he settles across from her at the table and waits while she carefully pulls at the bubbled out foil wrapping. "So are posh British wizards as afraid of the casual at home popcorn consumption as the posh muggles ?"

"Wouldn't know - I'm not posh," James says with a wink, tossing a piece sky high and catching it with what really shouldn't be a surprising level of expertise. She can just imagine James, Sirius, Remus - even odd little Peter - lying about in their dorm room, tossing tiny food projectiles and catching them in their teeth. "D'you know how much better these are with chocolate?"

"Not posh? I'd like a moment for rebuttal Mr. 'I Need My Mail Order Tea Leaves not the drivel of the masses.'

"I never said that."

"You didn't need to - that sneer spoke a thousand words," Lily grabs a few popcorn for herself and crunches down, tossing a stray piece at James. Which of course, he catches. "So, what're you doing for the holiday?"

"Heading home to mum and dad. We basically just eat for the entire week - pre holiday, Christmas Eve , and Christmas Day . Plus we've got leftovers of it all ." His smile is soft, eyes crinkled and distant as if he's already picturing it.

"Sounds lovely," Lily laughs, "And very - filling."

"They spoil me a bit too," James adds, "Though Sirius being around helps a bit."

"Oh I can see that. Spoiled little James surrounded by piles of gifts and stuffing his little chubby face."

"Chubby? I was and am a carefully honed athletic specimen."

"Nothing wrong with it - bodies are for using not to fit some societally promoted stereotype - "

His hand finds hers - the one that's not flailing wildly - and he pulls it down to the table. "Evans, I was teasing. No need to talk me out of a bad self-image," his thumb brushes the back of her hand and Lily's really trying to stay focused, "In fact I could probably use a couple of blows to my confidence."

"Nah, you're alright," Lily teases, "Though I couldn't imagine what you were like as an adolescent, taking your first little steps into the world of adulthood and romance on your shaky fawn legs."

James blinks at her for a moment, then grabs one last handful of popcorn and rises. "If you get bored, write me, yeah? Me and the boys'll come by or you could - "

"Thanks, James," Lily says as he flounders, "See you after the new year."

He ruffles his hair and waves a little awkwardly. "See you, Evans."


When the Hogwarts Express leaves Hogsmeade Station, Lily watches it, watches the trail of smoke disappear into the Scottish countryside. The air is chill and icy . Like nothing she ever felt at Beauxbatons, but it feels like Christmas .

Hogsmeade is fully decked out with garland, sparking fairy lights that twinkle without electricity, and as Lily wanders into the Three Broomsticks, Lily notes Rosmerta's cheeky streak has come out in full force as charmed bundles of mistletoe float about the barroom.

The barroom which is full to brimming, just like the frothy butterbeer Lily grasps in her hand. Warmth runs through her as she takes a tentative sip and licks away the foam that lingers on her lip.

Rosie winks at her from her place across the bar, swiping away streaks and stains while orders fly in - both literally and figuratively. Every time someone uses the loo, cheerful little bobbing Saint Nicks burst into song, clashing with the carols already being sung with lyrics Lily's fairly certain weren't traditionally quite so bawdy.

It's warm, comforting, to be surrounded by the holiday and lose herself in it. Though it's mainly in the capacity of a casual viewer, Lily finds herself more in the spirit of the season by the time she's travelled back to the castle and tramped up to her room.

The whole classroom decoration assignment they'd completed on the last day of classes had been a bit of a self service, if Lily's honest. Sure, setting up as an average, Christmas celebrating muggle family would is a valid exercise to empathize and understand their culture. But it also gave Lily a little taste of the family holiday she's craving more than she'd realized. Last Christmas, everything was still so fresh, she hadn't even had time to properly mourn her parents, let alone realize how lonely it was to celebrate by herself. Not celebrating at all will do that.

Petunia'd offered a half-hearted invitation back in October, 'if you really have nowhere to go' and 'feel the need to come up to occupy yourself' - which might have been a cry for help. But at some point, Lily has to draw a line and she had. If Petunia wants her around, needs the family connection or friendship of a sister she used to love. Well she's got to come out and say it rather than putting it all on Lily.

Which is the long, tragic backstory that led to Lily sipping eggnog - with a little something else - in oversized long johns, and a crooked fuzzy cap. When viewed from the outside, she's sure doing so before ten in the morning seems like a bad life choice but she's celebrating . Besides it can't be that bad if she's half dressed like St. Nick, right?

Her musings and casual perusal of old family albums she'd brought out in a mix of nostalgia and glumness are interrupted by a few sharp raps at her window. Raps she's fairly certain, after enough years in the wizarding world, result from the beak of a determined feathered friend.

Carefully, she makes eye contact with the horned black owl, the bird's own yellowy orbs widening as she opens her beak in what almost looks like a smile. The owl shuffles aside, claws clacking on the windowsill, and allows Lily to open half the glass before flitting inside.

"Well hello there, aren't you gorgeous?" Lily purrs, giving the bird a gentle scratch between the 'horns.'

She ruffles her feathers and shrinks her head back a little, as if embarrassed by the compliment.

Once Lily accepts the missive, she wanders toward her office to find owl treats and a letter opener, her new companion bouncing from place to place with a little clack as she follows.

The treats seem to satisfy Lily's guest who cuddles up next to Circe comfortably, eyes drifting shut one, then the other.

Then Lily slides the sharp edge of the letter opener through the thick parchment envelope addressed to:

Professor Lily Evans

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Muggle Studies Classroom

And then the address gets quite messy, blotted, and water stained so it really is quite a testament to the delivery service that her temporary roommate found the correct location. Her correspondent is still a mystery, and it would seem the only way to solve it is full perusal of the letter, which Lily slips from the envelope and begins to read.

Lo Evans,

Hope all's not too boring without the usual diverting company of me and the lads bouncing around the halls. Not to worry, we'll be back soon enough to entertain the population. Sirius says we go home to spread our glorious gifts to more of the world. Mum smacked him and said he sounded like a prat. I personally need a few days without McGonagall's ever-watchful eyes following me through the halls like she expects me to make something explode at any moment.

The owl's mine by the way - Edwina. I say it's because I'm a traditionalist who loves to recall times past and enjoy historical daydreams. Remus says it's because I was and still am and odder bird than good ol' Edwina. Regardless, she's a good little thing and if you spoil her with treats she'll love you forever.

I guess by now you've either tossed out this rambling thing or used your detective skills to at least narrow the possible authors to either Peter or myself. Which if you hadn't guessed, I assume now you have, being clever as you are.

Anyway, just wanted to wish you a proper Happy Christmas. D'you know I think you were made for this season, Evans? That red hair with those green eyes, it's like talking to a poinsettia named Lily. Great stuff.

Now Sirius has begun reading aloud over my shoulder and I need to turn him inside out from the belly button so I'll say ta-ta -

Then, things get quite messy and scribbled except a slash of his signature at the bottom, a sharp, looping James .


The note makes her realize two things - first she has neglected to purchase gifts for the boys and second that she really is a bit lonely. So she dresses, downs a strong cup of tea, and heads for Hogsmeade.

Once she got it in her head to pick something up, it's easy enough to decide. Honeydukes beckons from the far end of the high street and James was such a little - something about his oh so original chocolate popcorn combination. And since it seems the boys are all together, buying one overlarge family sampler should cover it.

Fresh snow begins falling on her walk back, soft flakes landing on her lashes and tickling her nose. Halfway there, with the castle looming dark and cheery with golden light spilling through the windows, Lily pauses and lets her head tip back. Her knit cap nearly slips off into the slush, as she opens her mouth and lets the flakes melt on her tongue. Christmas .

By the time she's back in the castle, her cheeks are rosy with cold and laughter after racing Hagrid and Fang from the front gates. It's only when she's back in her rooms that Lily considers her impromptu run might have jostled her cargo.

Tentative, she jiggles the box and it sounds as though all's well, so she sets about wrapping it with leftover paper from her classes and then there's the card.

With looping letters, she writes James' name and then a short note,

So the popcorn suits your posh refined tastes. Enjoy, boys!

Lily

P.S. if the chocolates are a bit shaken up, know it was in pursuit of ultimate victory over a certain half giant and his four-legged friend

After, the wait 'til Christmas passes quickly and before Lily knows it, Boxing Day has come and gone and a new year is waiting in the wings.

McGonagall of all people invites her to join some of the faculty heading into Hogsmeade for New Years Eve celebrations and Lily accepts readily. They take the carriages down and though it's still quite early yet, the village residents have already begun releasing fireworks into the inky night sky.

The evening has a buoyant feeling before she accepts a few celebratory 'congrats on your first semester' rounds and then she finds herself dancing with each professor in turn, from Flitwick to McGonagall to - James?

She's just spun out of McGonagall's arms - possibly the best dance partner she's ever been lead by - and directly into the arms of James Potter.

He catches her easily enough as the music blares on around them. She feels someone give her a pointed shove and then they're dancing, his arm on her waist, her hand in his, and the other itching to toy with his wild curls. Hells she's had too much to drink.

Which is a lot to be thinking about while he's grinning at her and apparently attempting to communicate.

Lily leans in close and shouts, "When did you get here?"

His hand at her waist tightens and his lips brush her ear as he answers, "The boys and I - who knew Hogsmeade got this wild?"

James swirls Lily away from him and she spins back into his chest, even closer than before and she really is in no condition to be this near to him. Apparently a bit of deprivation and an upped blood-alcohol level severely diminishes Lily's James-related thoughts filter.

And he's still grinning at her. It's just too much.

Which is why the beginning of the countdown to midnight is either ill-timed or a godsend. 10...9... Though when James doesn't really release her, just loosens their dance form to a more comfortable, cozy snuggling Lily comes down firmly in the ill-timed camp. 8...7… Because if it hits midnight and he's this close and she's this uninhibited. 6...5…

God those eyes and his warm arms and that stupid laugh. 4...3…

His hands are in hers and he's leaned close, and preemptive noisemakers area already adding to the din. 2...1