Author's Note:
Reviews and Comments: To ellyann13: I think that is accurate. The Potter home is definitely the better place to be at Christmas. Thank you. To Sets: Yes, the comparison between Sirius and Harry was intentional. Thank you for noticing! Thank you! To A Huge Fan: Exactly. The unconditional love that the Potter family shared with Sirius did make it possible for Sirius to love Harry in ASC, thank you! Thank you for enjoying my character development and "the emotions the characters display." Thank you! To EnigmaticEmperor: James is an amazing best friend! He wanted to make sure that Sirius' bedroom was truly his. Fee and Monty are definitely awesome. Thank you! To Slaidback: Thank you! To alix33: Thank you! To ascfan: Aww, don't die of cuteness lol. But Thank you! I agree, James' parents did deserve that bit of attention and showing them welcoming Sirius is lovely. Thank you! To Susanne_BK: I love the "throws kudos around" lol. That made me laugh. Thank you! I'm sorry that I made you cry over the chapter though. To CorbanD17: Yes, the Potters are amazing people. Thank you! To Bellmel: Aww, sorry to make you tear up, but I'm glad there were smiles too. Monty and Fee are definitely the best people ever. I loved having Fleamont just bouncing on the balls of his feet while he waits because he was exciting to present Sirius with his room. Sirius deserves all of it and then some. Thank you!
My posting schedule: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
Thanks to Dusk for her amazing editing skills.
As always, thank you very much for reading and please, please review!
Your reviews give me life! They give me inspiration! And they make me want to keep writing for more than just myself! Thank you for all of your continued support!
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX:
The One Where Sirius Gives Lily A Prongs
30th January 1977…
Sirius caught up with Lily in the hall after breakfast, her gift in his hand. He wanted to give her the present away from the prying eyes of the student body so he'd tucked it into his robes until she left the Great Hall. After all, he didn't want other witches to think he was giving out gifts now. It might cause pandemonium.
He wasn't boyfriend material and he didn't give out gifts. It was just that Lily Evans was different and he had the perfect gift for her. She paused when he called her name, turning and lifting an eyebrow at him when he waved her down.
"What can I do for you, Black?"
"Happy seventeenth birthday, Lily!" Sirius exclaimed.
Lily's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh, thank you." She smiled warmly at him, tucking a loose hair behind her ears. "It's nice to finally be seventeen. I can do magic whenever I want now!"
Sirius grinned at her. "Welcome to the club. Just have to wait on those other slowpokes to catch up with us." He pulled the gift bag from behind his back. "I got you a little something."
Lily beamed at him. "Oh, Sirius, you didn't have to do that!"
Sirius shrugged but grinned. "I wanted to get you something. You've always been a great friend to me and a girl deserves something on her seventeenth birthday. Just don't let it get around that I'm giving out gifts."
Lily rolled her eyes. "Of course not, wouldn't want people to think Sirius Black has a heart."
She moved to sit on the bench in the hall as she accepted the gift bag. She carefully parted the tissue paper as she tugged out the fluffy white stag plushie.
"Oh, it's so cute!" Lily exclaimed in surprise.
Sirius grinned mischievously. "Stags are rather magnificent creatures, aren't they?"
Lily looked at him quizzically. "I suppose. They are beautiful and strong not to mention a great protector for all. Why did you choose a stag, Sirius?"
Sirius' grin widened. "For those reasons obviously. By the way, his name is Prongs."
Lily's eyebrow rose. "Prongs?"
Sirius just grinned. "Keep him close, eh? Maybe sleep with him at night. He's really soft."
"Sure, Sirius, thank you."
Sirius nodded. "There's one more thing in there."
Lily reached back into the bag and pulled out a small box. When she opened it up, there was a small silver stag charm there. "Oh, it's beautiful!"
"I know how much you love that bracelet that your parents got you for Christmas a few years ago so, I thought that maybe you'd like to add another charm to it," he explained, shoving his hands into his pockets.
"I love it, Sirius! It's perfect! Again with the stag, I suppose his name is Prongs as well?"
"Obviously," Sirius said with a grin. "It's a protection sign and I thought the stag was a good symbol of that."
Lily unhooked her bracelet from her wrist and carefully clipped the stag charm into place. "It's perfect, thank you." She kissed his cheek just as James came around the corner.
Lily picked up Prongs and tucked the stuffed animal under her arm. "Potter."
James' eyes had widened as he stared at the stuffed animal in her arms. "Stags, Lily?"
"Prongs," Lily said with a smile as James' eyes widened even more. "He was a birthday gift from Sirius." She smiled at her friend. "Thanks again, Sirius."
"Of course, happy birthday, Lily."
Lily smiled as she said goodbye before she grabbed her things and hurried off around the corner.
James turned to glare at Sirius. "You gave her a stuffed animal of a stag and told her it was named Prongs!"
Sirius simply smirked at her. "I figured it was the closest you would ever get to her bed."
"I hate you, Padfoot."
Sirius grinned at him. "Love you too, Prongs." He draped his arm over his friend's shoulders. "So, how are things coming with Operation Get Evans To Fall In Love With Your Dumb Arse?"
James made a rude hand gesture in response.
Sirius laughed as James marched off before he hurried to catch up with his friend. "Year's almost half over and you don't look any closer than you did last year."
"That's not true," James insisted.
"Time will tell," Sirius said. "And I might be a whole lot richer pretty soon."
James rolled his eyes. "Keep telling yourself that. But we both know that if I get a date with her, I'll be the one who's a whole lot richer."
Sirius gagged. "Ew. That was too lovey-dovey. Kill me now if you're going to go off on a soliloquy of how gorgeous Evans' hair is and how emerald her green eyes are. I'd rather be dead than listen to another one of those."
When James only marched off in annoyance, he followed his friend laughing. No, James was growing on her, and Sirius knew he wasn't the only person who had noticed Lily taking a second and third look at James when he walked by.
No, he wasn't the only person at all.
He had a feeling that he was definitely going to be paying James in a few months and it was a bet that Sirius was okay losing.
