Disclaimer: I own nothing, but my meager belongings--which technically belong to my parents anyway...
A/N I'd like to thank a reviewer, who long ago introduced me to the song by Blink182 'I Won't Be Home for Christmas' or whatever it's called, but it was the inspiration for this story--I wouldn't have wrote it, if I hadn't been listening to that--crazy song. So thank you--whoever you are! If you read this--tell me, so I can say thanks properly! I can't find your name...Grr...I searched, but all I did was have fun laughing at some of Aria's old reviews...
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Mr. Grinch
James Vs. Christmas. Will James Potter Finally Get In the Christmas Spirit?
By
Sierra Sitruc
When the Christmas time
draws near
We think of joys and Christmas cheer
Of Santa with his reindeer and his sleigh
But long ago, we should recall,
The Bethlehem Babe was born for all
To show the world the life, the truth, the way
The spirit of Christmas
Is the spirit of Love
It's something that you cannot buy,
It's something from above
The presents that you give and get
Are nothing but a token
For if they don't come filled with love,
The Christmas spirit's broken
Just singing Christmas carols and
Just ringing Jingle Bells
Means nothing if you do not know
The story that it tells
So, 'midst the din and tinsel as you
Trim the Christmas tree
Let a newborn love enfold you
Embrace you, uphold you;
That's the true idea of Christmas
That's what Christmas means to me
Chapter 5
8 Days Until Christmas
James was sitting in the common room when Lily Evans started screaming and squealing--the entire tower could hear it.
"OH MY GOSH, OH MY GOSH!!" She screeched, and barreled down the stairs clutching something in her hands. She made it down the stairs, just before she passed out cold on the floor.
James, in spite of himself, jumped off his place on the floor where he'd been reading a rather good book, and went to Lily's rescue.
"Lily," James said shaking his head. He took out his wand and squirted water on her face. She opened her eyes and then spoke.
"J-James--bloody hell! Look at these!" She held up her hands and showed him the five golden rings. "I woke up and they were on my fingers!"
"I guess it shocked you quite a bit!" James laughed, giving her a hand up from the floor.
"REAL gold! Real!" Lily was still a little woozy and had to hold onto James's arm.
"Calm down Lily!" James said half seriously. "Whoever put them on you is probably rich."
"I don't know any rich people!" Lily whined, "It could be a Slytherin!" Lily squeaked, suddenly disgusted.
"It could also be a Ravenclaw--stuck up snobs..." James muttered.
"I think I need to lie down," Lily murmured faintly, and James helped her over to the couch by the fire place. "I don't think I'm going to be able to get up anytime soon."
"I'll stay if you want... for... company or something... But only if Christmas isn't mentioned once. You are becoming incessant with that!"
"Sorry... But, I want you to get in the Christmas spirit is all," Lily said apologetically.
"Why? Since when have you cared about me?"
"Well... It's a personal thing more then anything. I know how important Christmas can be to some people..." Lily said quietly.
"Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I haven't been in the Christmas Spirit since I was a 1st year," James said, sitting by her feet as she laid on the couch.
"Really? What happened in 1st year? Something had to happen to make you change you mind," Lily told him knowledgably. "You can't like Christmas one moment, and decide to hate it the next."
"I have a very good reason to hate Christmas."
"Which is...?" Lily prompted expectantly, leaning in her seat.
"Something I'm not telling you," James replied tersely.
"Why not? Is it something bad?" Lily asked, curiosity getting hold of her.
"Maybe," James said, trying not to get her interested.
"It either is or it isn't."
"It...It is," James said unsurely and Lily smiled triumphantly.
"Spill the Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans," She ordered him.
"No," James answered, not looking at her in the face.
"James, come on...it can't be that bad." Lily said, shoving him with her foot--that was sock disguised. James said nothing. "Please? Please? I won't stop singing Christmas Songs if you don't tell me--." James opened his mouth, but shut it. "JAMES!"
"No!" James pouted, and stomped away, and Lily was left--to be exasperated with the 15 year old boy once more.
"I feel sorry for whoever marries that boy," She said grumpily. (A/N Sorry for overused line)
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Later that evening, Lily found herself sitting James by the same fire place and throwing an ice pack at him.
"Oh... cold..." James moaned, holding the ice pack to his eye.
"That's what you get for picking a fight with Severus Snape," Lily quipped, wincing at his black eye. "You could've gone to the Infirmary...But no, you have to be stubborn," She mocked.
"At least I won! Besides, Snape is in the infirmary! I don't want to see his ugly face ever again!" James growled.
"Too bad you have to see him whenever you go to Christmas dinner..." Lily said, smiling. "You're going to be in pain for a while with that eye though."
"Why are you being nice?! Stop being nice!" James commanded, and Lily giggled.
"Because you're funny, and I can be nice to whoever I want."
"I'm funny? Now I'm funny?"
"It must be the Christmas spirit, provoking me to be nice to you...Actually, I've never been mean to you--I'm just going out of my way to be nice to you now."
"True," James agreed. "But--I still don't get it. We've never completely got along before, there was always some argument or something blocking friendship--."
"You can be friends with someone you don't agree with and fight with more then are nice to," Lily pointed out.
"Yes, but..."
"Not buts, we're friends now."
"Well, I'm glad you informed me," James muttered.
"You're welcome," Lily said with a nod, as if bestowing upon him a great gift. "Now...Since we are friends ("This is a one-sided friendship," James griped.) you have to tell me why you hate Christmas."
James once more refused to answer her question. "James! Come on!" Then an idea came to her. "I'll tell you why I love Christmas--and...why I was crying yesterday." Her voice came out weaker then she would have liked it to.
James' eyes were lit with curiosity, and Lily knew, from four and a half years of experience, that he was giving in.
"I'll make cookies too--."
"Deal," James said immediately. "Cookies first, then you tell me all about you--and then I'll tell you why--I despise Christmas so much."
"Deal." Lily said with a nod, and left James with his black eye and went down to the kitchens to get some help from the house elves with ingredients...They were so nice to her down there, so much less exasperating then James, too.
She mixed up the cookies, with very little help of magic--and succeeded in making her special Christmas cookies--capable of most anything it seemed. They were very persuasive. If the recipe got into the wrong hands...
Lily snorted with laughter suddenly, when she got the image of Severus Snape, having all the Gryffindors on their hands and knees, begging for cookies... Better yet--in an apron!
Lily put the cookies on a platter, and crept out of the kitchen; hoping no one ran into her carrying them--too late.
"Ah, Miss Evans." Lily froze where she was, before recognizing the voice as old, sweet Dumbledore's.
"Headmaster," Lily said, acknowledging him with a nod, since her hands were too full.
"You could just put a hovering spell on that plate if you wanted." Dumbledore suggested, and Lily blushed, embarrassed at being so stupid.
"Right, I forgot I had magic for a moment." Lily muttered, casting the charm and freeing up her hands for... well, not much of anything.
"It's quite alright, don't even mention it."
Dumbledore's eyes sparkled. "You know, I've never thanked you for lighting up Gryffindor with your happy spirit around Christmas time. As they say, the surest way to happiness is to lose yourself in a cause greater than yourself, and Christmas certainly is a cause and you certainly are happy. If all the Gryffindors were like you, the lot of you would be as merry as the pixies with a good keg of rum!" Dumbledore chuckled to himself.
Lily knew Dumbledore was referring to James when he said 'all the Gryffindors'. He just darkened up the rooms sometimes, bringing in the heavy atmosphere as he walked in through the door; that's how foul he could get... In fourth year, he and his friends had 'accidentally' dumped everyone's presents in the common room out the window. How they got away with that line, Lily would never know. After that, when he and the Marauders walked in, everyone became uncomfortable. For the rest of fourth year, they'd been known as the kids who ruined Christmas.
Lily had tried to tell everyone, that it wasn't the presents that counted, but the friends and family around you. The happiness and 'good cheer' Christmas came with. She resented James for what he'd done, but still--what can you do with trouble makers?
"Well, I guess it comes from my dad. I think I might finally be getting through to some of them..." Lily said with a small shrug, hoping she didn't say something silly in front of the Headmaster--she rarely talked to him, and she was finding it, highly uncomfortable.
"Your father?" Dumbledore asked, his voice soft.
"Yes...My dad, he died right before I came here--to Hogwarts that is." Lily explained.
"Did he enjoy Christmas?"
"Oh, he adored it! He was a fanatic about it..." Lily said, lighting up for a moment.
"I'm sure your mother and...sister?" Dumbledore said unsurely and Lily nodded. "I'm sure they like having you around. Bringing out the Christmas spirit, if he loved it as much as you say." Did Dumbledore know something? Lily wondered briefly.
"Oh..." Lily paused. "Actually, they don't so much...It's partly why I don't go home for Christmas...Professor, is it okay if we don't talk about this? I just... I never bring it up around Christmas..." Lily asked him unsurely, feeling highly uncomfortable.
"Sure, sure... Whatever you like. I won't upset you. But, sometimes, talking it out, is what heals you."
"I'm already healed Professor." Lily said.
"Oh, really?" Dumbledore said, and then changed the mood suddenly. "I'll be seeing you around, I have to get to my office 'official business' you see. Um...might I have some of those delicious cookies? They are actually what brought me around here...The smell is so strong, it carried to my office and delighted my nose."
"Yes, sure. James wanted some so I came down to the kitchens--I hope you don't mind--to make them."
"Mister Potter? I thought you two...Well, never mind then." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "Happy Christmas and remember, we are only as sick as the secrets we keep."
"Happy Christmas, Professor," Lily said, and turned away. She conjectured momentarily, if Dumbledore always talked in puzzles or if he was just having an off day.
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Walking down the halls... Lily thought about what Dumbledore had said, "Sometimes, talking it out is what heals you." The words hit home too easily. No one knew how she felt about her mother and sister--and why she stayed home. Not even Olivia, the best friend she'd ever had.
Maybe, this idea of hers, could help her...She honestly didn't feel like she'd coped with her father's death. He'd died, and then she'd been pushed into Hogwarts--too busy with a new life, to think about it much. There was always that stab of grief once and a while, but she got used to it... Never think or speak anything about it, and she would be fine.
Lily then, began thinking up just how to tell James about it... Could she just--blurt it out? She doubted it would be that easy. What had she been thinking when she agreed to this? Her curiosity about James, had finally gotten the better of her, it seemed.
Yes, it had always bugged her that James' regularly happy mood--even if he was a bit offensive towards her, changed to the worst around Christmas.
While, normally, he would tease her and hurt her feelings frequently, once Lily put her bells in her hair--the teasing and feelings hurting, increased and he began pulling more and more pranks on her. Trying to destroy her optimistic mood and never succeeding. The hatred he felt for her--increased to such a heated level, sometimes Lily would be afraid of him... Meaning, she ran away when she saw him in the halls, and would throw cookies at him to get him off her case.
Maybe James hated her so much--because it seemed like she represented Christmas.
This revelation struck her so fast, that it felt like a slap in the face. Her cookies almost went off in the wrong direction, because she forgot to charm them to go left with her.
Maybe James didn't hate Lily at all--but just hated Christmas and the fact that Lily loved it so much.
This gave Lily, much needed confidence, and when she arrived in the Gryffindor Common Room, she sat beside James, threw the cookies practically at him, and waited for him to ask her to tell her, before she began her tale.
"So, why do you love Christmas and why were you upset yesterday?" James asked, going for the direct approach.
"For one, they are connected."
"Oh. Interesting." James said, munching on a cookie--she got the feeling he was nervous--because James Potter did not munch, he gobbled.
"Yes...Well...Yesterday, I was rather upset, because--well." Why was this so difficult? Lily wondered, aggravated. "James, why do you think I don't go home for Christmas?"
"Because," James said through a mouthful of cookie. "You like to annoy me with your singing?"
"No...It's because...I'm not wanted at home."
"W-what?!" James spluttered, crumbs of cookie getting all over the place.
"It's true, I...I don't like to spread it around." Lily said, nervously looking around the empty common room--the only thing that actually moved, was the fire place they were sitting beside.
"Why? I mean--there's nothing wrong with you, except that you are obsessed with Christmas--."
"That is exactly why my parents don't want me home," Lily said.
"But...I'd have thought all your family was a bunch of Christmas freaks," James said, more curious then ever.
"Well...No, there was just one--and he passed away before I came to school."
"Who?" James asked.
"My father, he loved Christmas--he acted like I did around Christmas time. We'd sing along to stupid Christmas songs and over decorate our house..." Lily drifted off, and James was quiet, growing serious--obviously catching the hint that what she was about to tell him, was very private and personal. "I looked up to him more then anyone else..."
James nodded in understanding, after all, he'd been orphaned at the young age of ten...
"He... he put bells in my hair, every Christmas--because I liked the sound," Lily said quietly, "That's why I wear these things." Lily said, referring to the bells tied into her hair. "There's other things... The cookies--a recipe of his--he loved cookies."
James crammed the rest of the batch of cookies in his mouth.
"He loved Christmas more then anyone I'd ever known." Lily said, looking down, feeling tears well up in her eyes. Yelling at herself to suck it up. "When he died...My mother and sister couldn't stand the look of me. I was the short, young, female version of him--and everything about me reminded them of him."
"1st year, I wanted to go home so badly--."
James stared--realization coming over him, already knowing what she was about to say.
"But...They didn't want me--the couldn't take the memories I brought with them."
"And I only made it worse by acting like an arse." James muttered.
"Oh no James! I never...I never honestly took you seriously." Lily confessed.
"Why?" James blurted.
"Because, you hate Christmas--and since I represent Christmas, you automatically hate me." Lily said.
"Were you crying yesterday--was it because your mother wouldn't let you come home again?" James asked tentatively.
"That? That was a letter from my Grandma Ruthy...She covers up for them, makes excuses for why I can't come home--this year and last, I think they were finally able to handle me and my Christmas Spirit--but... I just--."
"Couldn't get over the fact, that they rejected you in the first place?" James offered.
"Exactly. Besides, I already feel more at home here at Hogwarts then at home. But... I still really want to go..."
"Why don't you?" James inquired.
"Because... I well--I'm--."
"Do you think your helping them get over the loss of him, by hiding out here? That's what your doing Lily, you know that--don't you?"
"Well...Maybe, just a little. I--I can't face them! What if, I show up and they all start crying!?" Lily burst out.
"Then--Then you'll be there to cry with them." James said soothingly, scooting over to her and putting his arm around her. "Lily...I know you and I haven't been friends in the past," Lily snorted at this, "But...We're getting along now, aren't we?"
Lily nodded reluctantly.
"So, now you will believe me when I say--that you need to deal with this."
"I will James...Eventually." Lily sniffled, forcing herself not to cry.
"As long as eventually is soon." James said, satisfied.
"Now, you owe me an explanation." Lily said, turning on James. James suddenly jumped away and looked highly uncomfortable.
"Well...You know--Christmas--too many presents...all the merchandise--what are they turning Christmas into? A modern gift bag?!" James started rambling, "You know, Christmas used to have so much meaning. Family, friends--annoying brother-in-laws, what happened to that?" James kept bantering on with himself for a while, until Lily's laughter finally reached his ears.
"J-James..." Lily giggled, "Sometimes, you really make me laugh."
"Hey--I saw nothing funny about that!" James snapped.
"Oh come on--you were babbling like a house wife." Lily accused, suddenly getting into battle stance.
"I was not! You just think everything I do is the funniest thing in the world!" James growled.
"I just have a good sense of humor! Unlike some people I know..." Lily said, the calm mood between them over--things were heating up fast.
"Don't be so daft Evans, we all know you couldn't tell the difference between a joke and a plecostamus!"
"What?" Lily whipped. "Honestly Potter! Making up words to get your points across. That's really low." Lily snipped, and left the room in a rush, but not before calling back towards him, "You STILL owe me an explanation!"
"Oh...Eat slugs!" James grumbled to himself.
So, Lily had once again, failed to get it out of James--why did he hate Christmas so?
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A/N *Cries* All you reviewers are so kind...You have NO idea how much your reviews mean to me...*sobs* I'm getting a bit over emotional about this...Honestly, I got a bit choked up about it...
So, Lily and James are fighting again. It's not like they can help it--it's normal routine. They don't HATE each other, but just--have a rather dislike for one another. James doesn't hate Lily, obviously--he's just very private--He's going to regret putting off telling her...I think...I'm not sure, we'll see.
Sorry it took so long to update...Well, it was only a few days, so what the heck am I apologizing for? :-D Anyway...
Chapter 6:
Lily gets in trouble with the geese. Lily and James make a subconscious truce. The Marauders and Lily go caroling with a few ghosts and run into Snape--and Lily and James have a somewhat serious chat.
I don't know how well the song fit this chapter...I tried, that's what counts...:-)
*~Sierra~*