It was already December, and besides that horrible night in November, nothing happened between Malfoy and Lily again. Christmas holidays were approaching quickly, and Lily and James wouldn't be spending it together. Lily was going back to the muggle world to see her family, while James and Sirius' families were having a joint Christmas. Mid term exams were coming up as well, and Lily had even less time to spend with the freezing quidditch player then ever. Lily promised herself she would get top marks this year, no matter how much it took. She had been locked away in the Gryffindor tower every chance she got just to get some studying in. On top of studying, Lily and James had piles and piles of assignments. It was a stressful time of year, just as holidays began.
"I'll definitely call you Christmas day." Lily promised Felicity. "Do you have a phone?" she asked. Felicity shook her head.
"They're really rare, telephones. Maybe my father will buy me one for Christmas!" she said hopefully in response. Lily smiled.
"If not, I'll send you one as a present by owl. Mother doesn't mind if I use owls, as long as I'm discrete about it."
"Happy Christmas Lily!" James' deep voice rang out across the common room. People that were leaving the following day for their respective homes were all exchanging gifts they had bought previously. James handed her a small parcel wrapped in festive Christmas colours, with a little green bow on top. To Lily, with love, the tag read. Lily smiled in appreciation, and sat down in James' seat. He stood above her, watching hopefully. "I-it's a muggle thing." He stuttered. "I-I don't know if that's what you would like but … I-I got it a-anyway." He said, stumbling over his own words.
"Oh James," Lily said as she opened the small box to reveal a diamond crested heart on a silver chain. "It's beautiful James. How did you afford this?" she stood up and gave him a bear hug and a kiss. "Thank you so much!"
"Here, let me put it on you." He offered. She turned around and lifted her long brown hair as he undid the clasp. He reached over her shoulders and did up the clasp when it was positioned on the back of her neck. He wrapped his arms around her waist and looked over her shoulder. "Beautiful." He whispered. She looked up at him and smiled.
"It is." She agreed.
"I meant you." He said softly. Lily was speechless. She looked back at the others who were sitting round the fire as well, unwrapping and thanking.
"Lily, us three got you something." Peter stood up and handed her a wrapped parcel. There were three signatures on the card that was taped to the front. It read,
May all the magic of this holidayBe yours forever more.
Signed: Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs
"These are all your nicknames?" she asked, surprised.
"I'm Wormtail, Sirius is Padfoot, Remus is Moony and … and well, James is Prongs." Peter explained. "Go on, open it!" he encouraged her with a smile. Lily blushed, embarrassed that she didn't get them anything. She tore off the wrapping and revealed a scrap book. Her eyes became teary and misty, and she smiled. "Open it!" Peter insisted eagerly. Lily did so, and inside was a picture of all four of the boys, pushing each other and smiling up at her. James was waving and winking, while Sirius and Remus pushed each other and laughing, and Peter waved and laughed at the other two. They had all signed it with their nick names. Lily flipped the page to see her own face looking up at her and waving, her arm slung around Felicity's shoulder. Felicity was also smiling a huge grin while waving, and hugging Lily.
"You guys," Lily sniffed back her tears of joy. "Are by far, the best friends I've ever had." She said, letting the tears trickle down her cheeks. "Sorry," she laughed as they all smiled warmly at her. "I didn't get you guys anything." She said.
"Yes you did." James corrected her. Lily looked up at him in curiosity. He nodded and let go of her. "Didn't you tell me that the only thing you were wishing for this Christmas was a hug?" James asked. Lily looked at him in disbelief. "Well, so did these guys!" Lily laughed at the completely corny statement James had just made. She wiped away her last tear and smiled widely. Sirius got up and opened his arms. Lily rolled her eyes and gave him a hug. I said that in confidence, Lily thought to herself, but decided not to be annoyed. James had just been teasing, but she gave all four of them a hug and kiss on the cheek.
"Thank you, all of you." She said, holding her scrap book tightly against her chest. They all nodded and said your welcome, and started talking amongst themselves.
"I can't wait to go home, but I'll miss Hogwarts." Lily said to Felicity as they and the other fourth year girls finished packing the next morning. Lily had her Gryffindor robes on, and her scarf wrapped snuggly around her neck and chin.
"I know what you mean." Felicity said, snapping her suitcase shut. Her tabby cat was under the crutch of her left arm. "Suzy will be happy to be back on the farm." Felicity said, smiling at her little black, white and brown tabby. "Won't you?" she asked in baby voice, a silly looking smile on her face. Lily smirked and picked up her own familiar, a dark, jet black cat named Ebony.
"Petunia will be furious when I come home. You know, when I got my Christmas card from the family, Mother had to sign her name for her." Lily sighed. "I don't know what I did to her." She said earnestly.
"Ah don't worry about it, I've got two younger sisters and an older one. Everyone loves the eldest and the youngest are overshadowed. In our family it's a bit of a jumble what with the twins being so much younger …" Felicity said.
They all made their way down to the Hogwarts Express, and found a compartment to spend the day-long trip to Kings Cross. James, Remus, Sirius and Peter were in one carriage comfortably, and Lily, Felicity and some of their fourth year friends were just down the carriage. There was a lot of wandering while on the train between compartments, and switching sweets and exchanging goodbyes.
By the time they had reached Kings Cross Station, the sky was littered with stars upon a deep blue-black blanket, the moon settling in for a good nights sleep. In its cage, Ebony's meow could be heard all across London.
"Hush Ebony." Lily scolded the cat, who was shivering in its cage. "Well I guess this is goodbye until January." Lily said to her friends. "I'll miss you. Be sure to owl me!" she said to the crowd as they waved goodbye. She gave James a kiss and a tight hug, and went off with her Mother and Father.
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