A/N- That wasn't so long now, was it? Anyway, no new characters to this story in this chapter, next chapter, I PROMISE! Anywho, thanks for the reviews, 'thank you's' at the end. Anyone see the movie yet? I have, it's really good! So if you haven't seen it yet, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? Oliver Wood was looking very nice (::wink wink::) in the movie. Sorry, just had to say that! Hope you enjoy this chapter, I hope it isn't too boring. Emily

Disclaimer- I own everything dull, unimaginative, and odd.

Chapter 7

Giving and Receiving

"Giving presents is a talent; to know what a person wants, to know when and how to get it, to give it lovingly and well. Unless a character possesses this talent there is no moment more annihilating to ease than that in which a present is received and given."

-Pamela Glenconner

When the Evans reached their car, Lily hopped in the back while William put her trunk in the back next to her.

"Petunia's things from her sleep over are still in the trunk." He said when he put it in the back.

(A/N- If anyone knows a car that parents would drive in the late 60's early 70's, could you tell me because I don't know any cars! Thanks Emily)

"That's ok, I don't mind." Lily said.

William and Rose got into the car.

"Lily, what happened to your hair?" Rose asked.

"Well, this boy kind of did a spell wrong and covered my hair in this black goop, so I had to cut it off." Lily said.

"That's too bad, but it does look nice. So, how's Hogwarts?" Rose asked.

"It's so awesome!" Lily said excitedly. "The castle is huge! And there's magic everywhere around it. The staircases move, and there's ghosts-some are nice, so aren't-and the classes are wonderful and really exciting."

"That's wonderful. So tell me, have you made any friends?" Rose asked.

"Yea, there's Rachel McKelly who we met at Diagon Alley, and there's Jennifer Collins, and Sirius Black, and Remus Lupin."

"Any boyfriends?" Rose asked smiling.

"Mom." Lily said. Rose laughed.

"Are you doing well in your classes?" William asked.

"Yes. Charms is my favorite and by far my best class. The rest of the classes are ok, except Potions, I don't really like that class." Lily said. "Oh, and we are going to be learning how to fly on brooms when we get back from vacation."

"Are you glad you went?" William asked.

"Very much." Lily said. Rose and William smiled.

"We're home." Rose said as they pulled into the driveway in front of a cream colored house with slate blue colored shutters. There was about six inches of snow on the ground. Lily smiled, jumped out of the car, and took a deep breath.

"I have forgotten how pretty it was around here in winter." She said.

"Isn't it beautiful?" Rose said walking her daughter into the house. We're going to your Aunt Deanna and Uncle Patrick's house tomorrow, so you had better get backed. I'm going to do laundry tonight, so put all your dirty clothes in the hamper. Looks like Petunia went out with her friends." Rose said picking up a note on the kitchen table and sighing. Just then, William came down the steps.

"Your stuff's upstairs, kiddo." He said.

"Thanks, Dad." Lily said and began up the stairs.

"Oh, Lily!" Rose said. Lily turned round to face her mother. "Your Christmas dress is on your bed. I bought it last week. I hope you like it." Lily nodded and ran up the steps. Rose smiled. When Lily got to her room, she ran to her bed to look at her dress. It was black velvet with gold and silver sparkles on it. Lily picked it up, held it up to her self, and walked over to the mirror. She spun around and started to dance around her room. Rose knocked on the door and Lily stopped dancing.

"So, do you like it?" Rose asked when she opened the door.

"I love it! Thank you, Mom!" Lily said and hugged her mother.

"I thought you would. I was thinking you could wear your black shoes, you know, the buckle over ones that are shinny."

"Yes, that would look perfect." Lily said and went to her closet to hang up her dress and get her shoes. "These ones, right?"

"Yes, those ones." Rose said. "Now, get your dirty clothes together, dinner is in a half hour." Rose left the room. Lily opened her trunk and carried all her dirty clothes to the hamper. Then she got her duffel bag and started putting the stuff she would need for going to her aunts.

"Lily, dinner!" Her mother called a half-hour later. Lily hopped down the stairs. When she got to the kitchen, she saw Petunia sitting down.

"Hi, Petunia, long time no see." Lily said.

"Lily." Petunia said nodding her head once towards her sister to acknowledge that she knew Lily was there. Lily sat down across from her sister just as her mother put steak, mashed potatoes, and peas.

Later that night, Lily got into her pajamas and got into her bed. Her mother came in a few minutes later and kissed her on the forehead.

"Good night, Lily, I'm glad you're home." Rose said tucking Lily in.

"'Night, Mom, I missed you tucking me in at night." Lily said. Rose smiled.

The next morning after Lily ate her breakfast and finished packing, she took out the presents for all her friends. She wrapped a bag of dung bombs and some Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans for Sirius. And attached a note to the front.

Sirius-

I thought you could get good use out of these Dung Bombs, and I know how much you love Surprises, and since Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans mean every flavor, there should be some surprises there. Merry Christmas!

-Lily

The next present was to Remus. It was a Wizard's Chessboard, complete with pieces.

Remus-

I know you love Wizard's Chess, so now you won't have to always borrow pieces and boards because you now are the proud owner of your own set of Wizard's Chess pieces and board. Merry Christmas!

-Lily

Next was Rachel's present. It was a Wizard's Mood Bracelet and Chocolate Frogs.

Rach-

Alas! A mood bracelet that really works! They have those things in the muggle world, but they don't really work, this one does. It turns red when you're angry, blue when you're sad, yellow when you're especially happy, orange when you're pissed off, purple when your content, green when you're sick, and black when you're stressed. So always keep your sleeve rolled up so we can know when we shouldn't approach you. :) Merry Christmas!

-Lily

Next was Jennifer's present. It was a book called, A Jumble of Jokes, Quotes, Poems, and Stories.

Jenn-

I know you're into quotes, and poems and all that jazz, so I thought this book would be perfect for you! Hope you like it! Merry Christmas!
–Lily

Finally was James's present. It was a Cockroach Clusters in an empty box of Reeses Pieces.

James-

No, they're not poison, it's a muggle candy. They're really good, I promise. No curse attached.

-Lily

"Done." Lily said smiling. She tapped all the presents, and they shrunk so that they looked like doll presents. "Crystal, can you get these to my friends? You know who gets what, right?" Crystal nipped Lily's finger to show that she did and flew out the open window.

"Lily, start getting ready for church, we're leaving in an hour!" Rose called up the stairs.

"Yes, Mom!" Lily said and got changed. She brushed her hair and braided some hair from the middle of a side of her part. She put on her shoes, grabbed her stuff, and went downstairs.

"Ready?" Rose asked.

"Yep, where's Petunia?" Lily asked putting on her black pea coat and light purple scarf that said 'Lily' on the side with a white lily behind the name. Petunia had a light blue scarf that said 'Petunia' on the side with a white petunia behind the name.

"She's coming." Rose said. "Petunia! We're ready to go!" Rose called up the stairs. "Lily, I would wear your boots, & then change to you shoes in Church because there's about a foot of snow outside. William, will you put Lily and Petunia's stuff in the car, please?"

"Of course." William said grabbing both Lily and Petunia's stuff.

"I'm ready." Petunia said walking down the stairs like she was the queen of England, but it didn't work because she tripped, and almost fell, on the last step. Lily snorted. Petunia scowled at her. She was wearing her limp hair in what looked like it was supposed to be a bun, but didn't work to well since her hair was so thin, and a horrid blue dress that had lace around the bottom of the skirt, the neck, and the sleeves. The dress looked like it popped out of the 20's, or even 1900. Petunia just had to pick out her own dress, since she was 14 and all.

Petunia put on her coat and scarf and went to the door.

"Petunia, I think you should wear your boots, because there's a lot of snow out there." Rose warned.

"I'll survive, mother." Petunia said and walked out the door. Lily followed her, and Rose after her. Petunia stepped onto the porch, and screamed.

"I told you to wear your boots." Rose said. Lily had to fight not to laugh. Petunia stomped to the car.

They pulled out of the driveway and went to Church. After Church, they went to Lily and Petunia's aunt and uncle's house.

When the Evans returned home the day after Christmas, Lily walked into her room to find five presents on her bed, and that it was really cold in her room. She put on her sweatshirt and slippers and sat down on her bed to open her presents.

The first present was wrapped pretty poorly in red wrapping paper with Christmas trees all over it. The front said: 'To: Lil-Lil, From: Sirius.' She opened it to find a book called, 101 Ways to Curse Your Enemy, and a note.

Lil-Lil-

Hope you liked the book-I know you'll get good use out of it. :) James already has one, so I thought it was only fair if you had one too. Miss you.

-Sirius

"Yes, I will definitely get good use out of this book." Lily said smiling evilly.

The next present was wrapped in navy blue paper and said, 'To Lily, From, Remus.' Lily opened it to find a box of Chocolate Frogs and a note.

Lily-

How was your Christmas? I hope it was good. Did you like the Chocolate Frogs? I know they're your favorite. Have a Merry Christmas and don't let Petunia get you down. See you soon.

-Remus

"Yes! Thanks, Remus! More cards for my collection!" Lily said smiling.

The next present was wrapped in sky blue wrapping paper with snowflakes all over it. It said, 'To Lil, Love, Rach.' Lily opened it to find a picture of Rachel and herself standing in front of a large weeping willow tree in the beginning of the year. Rachel in the picture was currently giving Lily in the picture bunny ears. The Lily finally figured it out and started tickling the Rachel, and they both started laughing. The frame was cherry wood with stickers of stars, moons, smiley faces, and the words, 'Best Friends.' Lily turned the picture frame over and on the back, the words, 'LE & RM BFFE.' And stuck to the back was a piece of parchment, Lily opened it and read,

Lil-

So you like? You better! I spent long, hard hours on that frame! You better have a shrine for it-that's how wonderful it is! So, how's Petunia? I'll have to come to your house over the summer so we can torture her! That will be fun! See you back at Hoggywarts!

Love Always,

Rach

"Thanks, Rach." Lily said, putting the picture on her nightstand, next to the picture of her and her muggle friends at the beach the day before Lily left for Hogwarts. "I wonder how they're doing?" Lily said to herself as she looked at the picture of her muggle friends and her. She sighed and turned back to her presents.

The next present was wrapped in white paper with hand painted pictures on it like 'Hogwarts,' 'Gryffindor,' presents, Christmas trees, stars, and many other things. Lily didn't even have to look at the tag to see who it was from, she knew, Jenn. She opened the rather large present to find a beautiful painting of Hogwarts at sunset. The sun was slowly setting behind the giant castle in the painting. Lily finally tore her eyes away from the picture to look at Jenn's note.

Dear Lily,

Merry Christmas! Hope you liked the picture. I painted it myself. So when you are away from Hogwarts, you can pretend that you're there- that we're all there, and you won't feel so alone. Or when Petunia's getting on your nerves, you can be away from her, or at least your mind will. See you soon!

Love,

Jenn

"Thanks, Jenn, I love it." Lily said. Lily got up and hung the picture directly across from her mirror, so that when she was looking in the mirror, she could see Hogwarts and feel like she was there.

The next and final present was wrapped in orange paper, and was a very strange shape. 'Who could this be from?' Lily thought. She opened it to find: a carrot. Lily rolled her eyes and said, "James." The note was short, but had James's touch.

Carrots-

Like it? A carrot for Carrots! Haha! Hope I don't see you soon! And that your Christmas was bad!

-James

Lily smiled at the thought of James's reaction to her present. Lily cleaned up the wrapping paper and put all the notes, even James's, in a box that on the top said, 'Hogwarts Memories.' Then she put all of her presents on her dresser and flopped onto her bed. "Back to Hogwarts in a week." She said to herself.

Thank You's!

Quack Quack 88- I agree with you, and you weren't rambling, you were making important points and I thank you. I know how Lily's parents are going to die already, but I'm not telling how:) But I will tell you it won't happen for a few years, don't worry, because then it can get all mushy and stuff and you can't do that when they're like 11 or 12. See what I mean? Hope you liked this chapter!

Princess Hermione- Glad you liked the chapter, did you like this one too? Haven't talked to you lately, hope to soon!

Skyiela- You are definitely right; Lily/James fics are da bomb! Don't worry, I am definitely continuing; I'm excited to find out what happens next! Glad you like the story!

AmandaPanda- Glad you liked the story. Was this quick enough? Probably not, but I tried!

Specil- Do you really think that was overboard? I thought it was really funny, so I put it in, but you may be right. Glad you liked the story.

RonsSecretAdmirer- Eww! Someone popped your head! Gross! Was there brains everywhere? LoL. Yea, that part put a little twist in the story. Yes! I'm creative::Jumps up and down and gets a weird look from dog:: That was as quick as I could get this chapter out, and it was just for you:) No, I haven't read any Tamora Pierce books, but I will definitely check them out.

Now, everyone, click that button in the bottom left hand corner of this story that says, 'Click Here to Submit a Review,' and do as it says. ¿Por favor? Emily