Chapter 4: Snowfalls

"Now?"

"No." Lily was sitting on the farthest couch from the window, her arms folded, and a permanent scowl glued to her face.

"Yeah, I wouldn't see anything either if I was looking at the floor." Mary replied sassily.

"No Mary," Dorcas replied quickly looking at Lily worrying she would snap any minute now "It's now snowing yet Mary."

Lily rolled her eyes and looked glumly around the common room now transformed winter wonderland. It had been festively decorated for the season from the couches that were draped with warm throws to the ceiling where snowflakes and mistletoe hung in clumps. The fifteen feet large Christmas tree that stood proudly in the corner of the common room was filled with pompous decorations of red and gold to represent Gryffindor. Someone had even taken the time to put up snake ornaments that were being chewed up by lions. How festive, Lily thought thinking of Severus. He would have gotten a kick out of them before making something worse, perhaps something that involved a lion's head being cut. Presents of all kinds littered the space underneath the tree and Lily wondered how in the world everyone was going to be able to find their gifts in the mess the next morning. Even the bronze suits of armor around the common room had been covered in some sort of Christmas decor like they too were celebrating. And Lily hated it. What was there to celebrate? Tuney hated her...there was no reason to celebrate Christmas anymore.

"How about now?" Mary asked again, more insistently.

"No." Lily said flatly.

"Now?"

"No." Lily grumbled.

"Mary, maybe it's not going to snow after all." Dorcas said gently. "We should all just get some sleep. We have to open Christmas gifts in the morning after all."

"But-" Mary protested.

"IT'S NOT GOING TO SNOW OKAY MARY!" Lily yelled standing up and turning to the surprised crowd in the common room. "DID YOU ALL HEAR ME? IT'S. NOT. GOING. TO SNOW. SO, ALL OF YOU- OFF TO YOUR BEDS!"

Mary looked up at her, surprised. The common room too had stopped all activity and it was absolutely silent as eyes were dead on Lily.

"Ow git- move more to your right." The voices were coming from the portrait hole. Lily cocked her head, whoever it was had the worst timing.

"I can't- don't look at me like that I'm carrying more than you!"

"Whose idea was this is in the first place Fabian?"

"Not mine you git."

"You bastard."

"Git."

"Bastard."

"No matter how many times you say it Gideon, git sounds better."

Two identical red head boys finally emerged from the portrait hole carrying large boxes and everyone turned to look at them, curiously. They grinned up at the common room, but Lily simply folded her arms defensively.

"I thought you said we were having a party, Gideon." One spoke looking at the quiet common room.

"That's what I thought I said too." His twin muttered sporting a confused look as he glanced around the common room.

Lily stomped her foot and fled up the stairs to her dorm. She could hear laughter and talking resume as she headed up. Christmas was stupid. There was nothing fun about it. She threw the box on her bed across her bed and flung it so hard it hit the wall.

"Not again."

Lily turned to Marlene McKinnon who sat up and pulled off her sleeping mask. She looked at Lily and rolled her dark gray eyes. "Are you ever quiet?

"Sorry I ruined your beauty sleep Princess." Lily said sarcastically. "I'll go fetch the guards."

"And a glass of cold water while you're at it." Marlene added.

Lily rolled her eyes and pulled the covers over her head.

"I meant for you; you know." She could hear Marlene say. "There are flames in your eyes, Lily Evans."

"You go in first. I don't want her yelling at me."

Lily could hear the door creak open and someone whisper. "She's sleeping. Marlene looks fine too."

"Oh yeah I was just praying that Lily didn't end up murdering her in her sleep."

"Mary-"

"Just go, I'm going back down."

Lily could hear Mary's footsteps retreating down the stairs as Dorcas stepped in.

"Lily?" She whispered quietly. "Are you awake?"

Lily didn't answer and pretended to snore loudly. Dorcas climbed into her own bed, next to Marlene's and minutes later she too was asleep. Lily lit up a small candle to make sure. Dorcas's blond hair was the only thing visible under the red covers.

Making sure she was very quiet Lily slipped out of bed and tiptoed to the door. It made a creak as she opened it slightly. She looked back alarmed, but Dorcas was still fast asleep. Lily shut the door behind her, and tip toed down the stairs. The common room was empty save for three people by the window. Lily recognized Mary's tiny form as one of them. Her nose was pressed against the window while the boy on her right passed her a steaming cup of something.

"It has to snow!" Mary insisted taking the cup. "It just has too."

The boy's twin walked right past Lily who jumped back quickly. Thankfully he hadn't noticed her.

"It will." He said joining his twin and Mary.

"Has it ever snowed on Christmas here, Gideon?" Mary asked.

"Don't ask me," Gideon turned to his twin. "I'm only 16."

"Gideon, I'm only 59 seconds older than you. Just 59 seconds." Fabian stressed. "It's not even a minute."

"Don't listen to him, he's the wiser one." Gideon shrugged then added. "It's always snowed before Christmas-but maybe this year's special little one."

"Yeah maybe." Mary whispered looking away from the window.

"Don't be sad." Fabian said, "Here have some more hot chocolate."

Mary thanked him and took the cup-then dropped it.

Gideon yelped in pain as the hot drink dropped all over him.

"Oh my god," Mary was looking around wildly for something and used her robes to repair the damage. "I'm so sorry! Are you ok?"

"He'll be fine-he's also the strong one." Gideon joked waving his wand around. He took Mary by the shoulder and slowly turned her to the window. "But you- you need to see this."

Mary gasped. Lily peered outside the window to see what was so shocking-only to see small white flakes falling and stick to the window.

"You know if you make a wish when it snows it always comes true." Fabian added sharing a look with his twin who nodded. "Yeah. Let's all wish for something. Quickly though, who knows when it'll be over."

Mary nodded and clasped her hands together. Lily pondered over this for a minute before doing the same. "Please make Tuney not hate me. And-" she looked at her friend sitting by the window. "Please don't be mad at me on Christmas, Mary."

"I give it ten seconds before she's here."

"I can't believe she was right."

Lily looked out the window where the world had turned white overnight. She smiled quietly; she had seen it herself too.

"Morning." Lily said surprising both Marlene and Dorcas who were throwing on sweaters and scarves.

"Good morning Lily." Dorcas smiled before Marlene pulled her away and they left for the common room.

Lily pulled on a green sweater that her mother had given to her, because it brought out the green in her eyes- when she noticed the gifts at the foot of her bed. Gifts- not gift.

"Mary!" Dorcas and Marlene protested as they were being pushed back into the common room by Mary who was grinning. "You haven't even looked at your presents!"

"Presents?" Marlene repeated dumbly. "Aren't they by the tree downstairs?"

"No, someone delivered them to the rooms last night." Mary shrugged. "I can't believe I didn't see them."

Lily couldn't believe it either. She was sitting right on the stairs. Curious she turned to the gifts at the foot of her bed. Her pile wasn't as big as the other girl's, but she had actually gotten gifts!

The first one was wrapped perfectly in green paper- her favorite color. She tore it open to find a copy of Potioneers Guide to Potions. Only Severus would have known that she wanted a book for Christmas. She grinned and turned to the other box. This was one wrapped in traditional Christmas paper. She opened it carefully, making sure she didn't destroy the wrapper, just like her mother taught her.

"What are you doing?" Mary demanded. "That's not how you open a Christmas gift."

Lily blinked. Mary was talking to her.

"My mom taught me to do it this way." She said finally/

Mary nodded and then went back to tearing away at her gifts. It was a small gesture but Lily was smiling knowing that everything was right between the two of them.

The next gift was a stationary set from her parents. She loved it.

She turned to the last two gifts she had. One was wrapped in pink, the other in a red and gold wrapping.

She turned to the red and gold first, but her eyes caught Mary's handwriting on the pink. She looked towards Mary who was ankle deep in gift wrap. She was hugging a teddy bear that Dorcas had given her. Mary caught Lily's eye.

"Thank you." She whispered. Mary grinned and tackled her. "Oh Lily! Thank god! I didn't know how much longer I could pretend to be mad! I'm sorry I was being so annoying-"

"No." Lily grinned. "I'm sorry. You were right! I saw it snow last night!"

Mary's eyes lit up. "You saw?"

"Yes, you were right." Marlene begrudgingly admitted. "On the bright side the lip-gloss I got you was winter red, so I guess it's alright."

"Yes." Mary giggled. "I was just thinking about wearing that when we play in the snow!"

"Oh no!" Dorcas grinned but she and Marlene were already grabbing their coats.

"You too Lily!" Mary said stopping at the door after a moment contemplating whether to go or wait.

"Coming, you go on." Mary smiled and nodded. Lily looked down and smiled as she opened the last gift to reveal a pair of green socks.