I'm so happy..I can't believe the response I'm getting with this story..Well, I want to comment on all your reviews, but I'd be up till midnight if I did..THANK-YOU..you guys have no idea how special your reviews have made me feel.

Well, I wanted to comment on one particular review..I personally don't remember the part in OotP when Harry and Ron slide down the trick steps going to the girls dorm, but I did read the book rather quickly, I probably over looked it. Well, I guess my story is in accurate over that particular detail, or maybe not. I mean James was one of the cleverest students to ever walk the halls of Hogwarts...(wink)

Remember nothing is my own. Please continue to read and review.

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Chapter eight: Happy Holidays

After that night, Lily and James were inseparable. There was only three days left until the Christmas holiday was set to begin. Lily was so happy, she had almost forgotten about her terrible sister Petunia.

Petunia was three years older than Lily. She wasn't always a terrible prat. Petunia was actually the first witch in the family. Lily still remembered when Petunia's letter had arrived telling her she was a witch. Petunia would come home on holidays and tell Lily about all the wonders of the magical world. She couldn't show Lily any spells, but she was always bragging about how much stuff she knew.

Lily had hoped and wished for a letter with her name on it. When it finally came the summer after she turned 11, she was ecstatic. Until she became a Hogwarts student herself, her and Petunia got along great.

Petunia was a Hufflepuff, and not the brightest student in school. She was usually messing up spells, and required to get a tutor for certain subjects. Lily was sorted into Gyrffindor her first year. She never struggled with anything. She was top students in her year. Everyone was always telling Lily how talented and pretty she was

Petunia loath her, at first she was quite cordial to Lily, but when Professor Agnith (the potions professor) had recommended Lily tutor Petunia over potions basics at the end of Lily's first year. That was the straw that broke the camel's back. Petunia also did not have Lily's natural beauty. She was a sharp looking girl, and not in a good way. Her nose was too pointy, and her face was too long. She also didn't have Lily's amazing eyes. Her eyes were plain and gray.

She told Lily she didn't need help in Potions. The two sisters barely spoke until the summer after Petunia's fifth year. Petunia had only received two O.W.L.S. That was only the beginnings of Lily's issues with Petunia. Petunia had begged her parents to let her drop out of Hogwarts and attend a regular muggle school. Although her parents didn't think that was the best for their daughter, they agreed. Petunia started attending a "normal school," as Petunia called it. She also wanted Lily to drop out and join her in a new found reality. Lily refused. From that moment on Petunia had tried to make Lily's life a living hell.

She'd taunt her with foul words, and call her terrible names. Their parents were never big on punishing their daughters, so Petunia got away with. When Lily received nine O.W.L.S after her fifth year. Petunia's taunts and teases got worse. Lily actually hated her sister. She was the one person in her family she'd actually disown if she could.

Lily and James sat in the common room doing their homework. Occasionally Sirius or December would shout a comment in their direction, but for the most part it was a pretty quite evening. James slid his arm around Lily, and she gave him a smile.

"I've got something I wanted to ask you?" James said shyly.

Lily urged him to ask his questions with an accepting look.

"I was wondering if you'd like to come visit me during Christmas, or vise versa?" James asked.

"Oh, I don't know if my parents will let me,?" Lily explained.

He dropped his head in disappointment.

"I can ask them when I get home, and I'll owl you an answer," she offered.

He smiled, "promise?"

She nudged him in the stomach, "oh course."

He pulled her into a tight squeeze, "I'm going to miss you so much," he confessed.

Lily felt her face go red, they had only started this thing between them a few days ago, but they were the happiest few days she could remember.

"Will you write me everyday?" she asked him.

"I might be tempted to just floo my way right over to your house everyday," James joked.

Lily laughed.

"James, we gotta go," Sirius reminded him.

James stood up and winked at Lily, "you'll love this."

She gave him a troubled look, she knew the Marauders always did a major prank on the Slytherins right before the Christmas break.

"Will you guys every grow up?" she asked.

"Probably not," Sirius confessed.

She saw James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter sneak out the portrait hall.

Although she didn't support their rule breaking, she didn't feel like trying to stopping them.

It wasn't like she could if she wanted to.

The next morning, Dreamy, Lily and Beth all drug their bags down into the common room. December was staying at Hogwarts over the holiday. The girls left them in a pile for the house elves to get to the train.

"Aren't you going to be lonely over the holiday?" Beth asked December.

"Nah, Sirius is staying too," December said coolly.

"December, your so bad," Beth teased with a giggle.

"I didn't say I was doing anything with him," December said sarcastically.

Beth gave December a longing look. She envied her for being able to flirt with Sirius without turning red. Most girls couldn't handle Sirius aggressive flirting style, but December never seemed to get rattled, no matter how blunt some of his comment were.

Like he was given a cue, "hello ladies," Sirius smirked.

"This common room is going to be a lot less exciting without you red," Sirius joked towards Lily,

Lily shot Sirius a cold look, since her and James had started hanging out, she had been the topic of his jokes. James and Lily would sometimes laugh, but most of the time James would tackle Sirius and tell him to shut-up.

"So are you planning on staying out of trouble?" Lily accused.

Sirius gave her an evil grin, "I'm sure December will keep me out of trouble."

Lily let out a sigh, at least she wouldn't have to witness their disregard for the rules.

Sirius saw Remus, Peter and James come down the boys dormitory. "Well, I need to get going," Sirius said suddenly.

James came up behind Lily and slipped his arms around her waist, "it probably not a good idea to show up with me for breakfast,' he warned.

Lily gave him a desperate look, "what did you guys do?"

James gave her a Sirius looking grin, "you'll see."

He kissed her cheek and joined his fellow Marauders. Before Lily could lecture him, they had disappeared through the portraits.

"Lily, are you feeling okay?" December asked.

"Why?" Lily responded.

"You normally throw a fit when the Marauder's play a prank," December informed her.

"Well, their seventh years, it wouldn't be right for them not to continue their pranking tradition," Lily joked.

December grabbed her chest in mock shock. "What has James done to you?" she said sarcastically.

"Maybe it wasn't James, maybe it was you," Lily said fiercely.

"Me?" December asked.

"Yea, aren't you the one always telling me to live a little?" Lily responded.

The four girls laughed and headed down towards the Great Hall.

They were all wondering what the Marauder's were planning. Their fourth year they had slipped sleeping potion into all the Slytherin's pumpkin juice. They all passed out right into their plates. Their sixth year, they put a sticky charm on a bunch of jingle bells, and then charmed them to stick to the Slytherin's faces. This was the final year, the final prank.

The girls didn't have to wait long to see what the Marauders had done. The entire Great Hall had erupted into laughter. The entire Slytherin table was preforming the song, "Run Run Rudolf." Severus Snape had been transfigured into a greasy looking Santa Clause figure. And, against his apparent will, was dancing on his house table. Bellatrix Black nose was glowing bright red, and she was shaking her hips next to Severus.

In fact it was an impressive amount of potions, charms and transfiguration magic to pull this stunt off. When the Slytherins finished their song, they all bowed forcefully. Then Sirius younger brother Regulus Black suddenly appeared in the middle of the singing Slytherins and began to sing Elvis Prestley's "Blue Christmas." Almost every student in the hall were rolling in laughter. The teachers looked like they were in a state of total shock. They had never witnesses such a sight.

Professor McGonagall suddenly looked over towards the Gryffindor table. She was staring straight at the Marauders. And a smile suddenly appeared on her face. She looked away. This was one time, she was proud of her students, but she would never admit that.

The Slytherin's house head, Professor Agnith, muttered a few counter curses, and after a few minuets of struggling, the Slytherin's finally stopped dancing.

"It's the Marauders, they did this," Bellatrix screamed. She was furious, and Professor Agnith was still trying to repair her read nose. Professor McGonagall approached the Marauders and was about to drag them out of the Great Hall to be punished, when Lily spoke up.

"Professor, they didn't do. They were in the common room all night, and I saw them leave this morning."

"Miss Evans, are you willing to be an alibi for these young men?" Professor McGonagall asked.

"Yes," Lily said confidently.

Normally a single student wouldn't be enough to convince McGonagall the Marauders were innocent. But Lily Evans alibi was better than a normal student. She had the reputation for not tolerating foolishness. She was also Head Girl, and a rule follower. She was responsible for stopping several Marauder's pranks in the past.

"Very well, I guess you gentlemen are off the hook," Professor McGonagall said skeptically.

The Marauders were in shock. Sirius was staring at Lily, his jaw almost hitting the floor.

Remus was staring in disbelief, he knew Lily, this wasn't something he'd ever imagine her doing.

Peter had a smug smile on his face, the one thing he loved more than a Marauder prank, was getting away with a Marauder prank without getting punished. James smiled at Lily and gave her a flirty wink. After McGonagall walked away from the table he leaned over and whispered into her ear, "I think I'm a bad influence on you."

You would have thought Christmas had come early. Although they had gotten away with their pranks, everybody in school knew it was a Marauder behind it. December was so proud of Lily, she was smiling so wildly that Lily though her jaw was going to be stuck in a smile.

"I take back all those times I called you an old maid," December cried, "that was awesome!"

Lily knew what had made her do it, she was just starting to like James as Head Boy. She knew he would be in great jeopardy of losing his badge if he was caught doing a prank of this magnitude.

"So Evans, was this good girl thing just an act all these years?" Sirius joked.

"I can still turn you in if you like," she barked back.

He scooped her up into a huge hug, and twirled her around in a circle. She started laughing so hard her sides were beginning to hurt.

"That's how I say thank-you," Sirius said arrogantly.

Lily smirked back at him, "your welcome."

James was probably the happiest of the Marauders that day. He couldn't believe Lily had save him and his friends from a month of detention, which was most likely going to the be punishment.

He snuck up behind her and asked her, "why did you do it?"

She gave a small giggle, turned around, put her arms around his waist, "because I owed you one."

He was smiling so broadly, his brown eyes glowing from behind his glasses. Lily reached up and ruffled his messy hair.

"Don't you own a brush?" she teased.

He gritted his teeth and seized her sides in a tickle attack. She fell to the floor, and James wrestled her into a fit of laughter.

The ride home was an eventful one. The Slytherins were so mad the Marauders had gotten away with their prank, they were hexing every Gyrffindor they saw. Because of this problem, all the prefects plus Lily and James had to patrol the train's hallways to keep the peace.

When they arrived at King's Cross James reminded Lily to ask her parents if she could visit.

He gave her a quick hug and kiss. She disappeared with her mother into the crowd.

"Who was that boy?" Lily's mother asked worriedly.

"Just a friend from school," Lily confessed.

Her mother gave her a weary look. "Goodness, I hope you don't kiss all your male friends goodbye."

Lily blushed and loaded her things into the trunk of her mother's car.

"Petunia will be coming home for Christmas tonight, you two haven't seen each other for so long," her mother said casually.

"Yea, can't wait," Lily lied.

Lily's childhood home looked just like it always did. She smiled as she sat on her old bed.

It amazed Lily how much she missed sleeping in her own bed when she was a school. No sooner had she sat on her bed, when a beautiful tawny owl pecked on her window.

She walked over to her window to let the bird in, "who are you?" The owl hooted playfully and Lily untied the letter from his leg.

Lily,

This is my owl Bludger, don't worry, he's usually pretty behaved. He has strict orders not to return until you reply to my letter. Of course, if you scratch him behind his head, he'll probably never return. (That was a joke) Have you asked your parents about visiting yet? Let me know soon. My parents are fine with it. They said it was too quite without Sirius around here anyway.

I can't wait to hear from you.

James

Lily smiled as she read the letter. She knew her parents weren't going to be happy when she asked if she could visit a friend from school over the holidays, especially a male friend.

She knew it was better to ask now, before Petunia got there.

Lily went down stairs and into the kitchen.

"Mum, you know that boy from King's Cross?" Lily started.

Lily mothers eyes suddenly became enlarged, "Oh my God Lily, please tell me your not getting married." Lily shook her head in a confused no.

Lily's mum let out a sigh and fell into a nearby chair. "Thank goodness.What about him dear?"

"He invited me to come visit him at his parents for a few days over the holidays," Lily said quickly.

"Oh, do you want to go?" Lily mum asked nervously.

Lily lowered her head, "I guess."

Lily's mum stood back up and dusted off her apron, "I don't think your father will like the idea of you spending the night at some strange boy's house."

Lily knew her mother wouldn't like the idea, "he's not a strange boy," Lily argued.

"We don't know him or his parents, that makes him a stranger as far as I'm concerned," her mother said sternly.

Lily knew it was useless arguing with her. "What if I invite him to come visit us here?" Lily asked.

"Is he well behaved?" her mother asked.

"Of course mum," Lily said irritated.

"I guess that will be okay, but you'll have to clear it past your father," her mother said quickly.

Lily gave her mum a swift kiss on the cheek, "thanks mum."

She knew getting her father's permission would be a breeze. He had never been able to tell her no. She dashed back upstairs and wrote James a letter.

James,

My mum said I can't come visit, but your welcome to come visit me if you still want to. I'll warn you my sisters a pain. Let me know if you can, and when you want to come.

Lily

"Here Bludger, you know where to take this letter to," she tied the letter to the owl's foot and scratched him behind the head. He gave a soft hoot, and dashed out the open window. Lily crawled up on her bed and found herself dozing off. She decided to take a quick nap, she'd need the extra strength to deal with her sister that evening.

Lily woke up around eight that evening when someone came through the front door loudly. "Where is that wonderful sister of mine?" Petunia said sarcastically.

Lily rolled her eyes, she knew if she didn't go down stairs and greet her sister, her mother would lecture her later.

"Hello Petunia," she spat.

Her mother joined them in the living room with a warm batch of cookies.

"Did mum tell you the good news," Petunia bragged?

"No," Lily replied flatly.

"I'm getting married," Petunia said happily, she had shoved her small ring under Lily's nose.

"It's a real diamond," Petunia said proudly.

Lily wanted to laugh, she wanted to ask Petunia who in the world would marry her.

"I am so happy for you," Lily sneered.

It did make sense why Lily's mother was on pin and needles all afternoon. Her mother hated watching her girls grow up. And now Lily finishing her last year of schooling and Petunia getting married, her mother was obviously suffering from an empty nest complex.

"Who's the lucky man?" Lily asked sarcastically.

"Vernon Dursley," Petunia said like Lily should envy her. "He's coming over for Christmas dinner tomorrow, you can be jealous of me then," Petunia said snobbishly.

Lily rolled her eyes in annoyance. The family chatted around the warm fire, until finally Lily couldn't take Petunia's irritating voice any longer. She was about to excuse herself for the evening when her mother said something that caught her attention.

"Lily wanted one of her male friends to come visit her over the holidays," her mother said casually.

"Really," her father inquired.

Lily glared at her father, she shot him to sweet little girl eyes and dropped her lip slightly.

"I don't see why that would be a problem," he said with a smile.

Her mother frowned, but didn't offer any objections.

Lily excused herself and went up to her bedroom to get some sleep. She knew Petunia wouldn't be near as civil tomorrow when her parents weren't around.

When she reached her bedroom she saw James' owl Bludger sitting happily on Lily's bed.

"Back so soon," she teased at him.

She slipped the letter off his leg.

Lily,

I'll see you the day after tomorrow.

James

"That's fast," Lily thought.

She was going to write James back, but she felt sorry for Bludger. She knew James would send him out again as soon as he got home.

"You can stay here and rest tonight," she said to the owl.

He hooted loudly in response and flew up to a comfortable position on Lily's Chester draws.

Lily curled up in bed, and tried to think about James as she fell asleep.

The next day went as usual. That morning the girls woke up and opened their presents. Petunia would whisper words like freak and loser under her breath as she passed Lily's gifts from her Hogwart friends. Mrs. Evans never left the kitchen. She looked like she was cooking a meal for one hundred people. Mr Evans said in front of the TV, reading his magazines. Lily was bored most of the day, she wrote James and December a letter. She knew Bludger wouldn't mind a detour. She also did some charms homework, and tried her best to avoid her annoying sister Petunia. She couldn't avoid her all day.

"So, do you have a freak boyfriend now?" Petunia asked her coldly.

"What is to you," Lily shot back.

"I bet he's a strange and abnormal as you," Petunia taunted.

"Atleast he's not a dropout like somebody else I know, how many O.W.L.S. did you get again," Lily responded.

"Like I even care what freaks like you think," Petunia spat.

Lily hoped Petunia soon to be husband wasn't as horrible as Petunia, she was disappointed. Vernon Dursley was an overweight ball of annoyance.

Even Lily's father who normally liked everybody, seemed to have little patients with the boy.

Vernon was definitely a kiss ass. "This was the most wonderful meal I've ever had. Mr. Evans I think your losing weight, have you been working out?"

Lily was looking forward to seeing him leave. "The guest room is quite comfortablet?" Lily's mother said to Vernon politely.

"He's staying the night," Lily shouted before she could catch herself.

Petunia rolled her eyes and Lily's mum flashed her a dangerous look.

Lily was sure this terrible night was never going to end.

The next morning Lily was awaken by a terrified scream from downstairs. Lily dashed out of bed to see an apologizing James Potter dusting himself off. Petunia was staring angrily at James, and from the look on her face, was about to say something hateful.

"You must be the freak boyfriend," Petunia spat.

"I see Lily's been talking highly of me, " James joked.

Petunia rolled her eyes and walked up to Lily, "you better stay out of my way," she warned.

"Boy, she's a friendly one," James laughed.

"I wasn't expecting you so early," Lily confessed.

"Well, I missed you," he said sweetly. "WOW, that place is amazing."

James had never been in a muggle house before. He was staring around the room in total awe. "What in the world," he said staring at the television.

"It's a TV," Lily laughed.

He looked at her puzzled, "what does it do?"

Lily turned the knob, James almost jumped out of skin at the sight he saw.

"Amazing, muggle entertainment."

She showed him the rest of the house, and he normally muttered words like amazing, or wow. When she showed him the room he'd be staying in, he smiled as asked, " you mean I can't stay in your room?"

She loved his charming sense of humor. When James finally met Lily's parents he swept them of their feet. He had all the right answers, and didn't come off as being fake, like Vernon did. Lily was even under the impression that her mother liked James, and that was something.

But trust Petunia to ruin anything good for Lily.

Perhaps it was the fact Lily's dad had invited James to chop wood with him and not Vernon, or maybe it was the fact that Lily's mum had excitedly explained muggle cooking to James when she was cooking dinner. Whatever it was, Petunia had enough.

As they all sat down for dinner, Petunia unleashed her fury, "so, don't you hang out with that roughly crowd at Hogwarts?" Petunia gave a cat like grin, "always, causing trouble if I remember correctly."

James smiled, and handled the situation coolly, "actually, I do hang out with a couple of pranksters, but I myself was named Head Boy this year," he informed her.

"Are you still sending those rival house members to the hospital wing?" Petunia continued.

James look over at Lily, he was starting to lose his cool. Lily saw anxiety building on her mothers face.

"Only during Quidditch season," James confessed.

Vernon Dursley looked clueless, he apparently had no idea what Hogwarts was or what Quidditch was for that matter.

"You know, it is so hard to trust the intentions of those Quidditch boys, always trying to do improper things with the girls," Petunia said casually.

Lily saw her mother choke on her glass of wine a bit.

"I assure you, my intentions are where they should be," he smiled politely.

"Petunia, I think that's enough," Lily warned.

She looked confused, "I'm just looking out for the best interest of my only sister."

"I appreciate your concern," Lily said flatly.

"So, have you got her into bed yet?" Petunia asked James.

"PETUNIA!" Mr. Evans spat.

"Father, I know what these boys at Hogwarts are like. In fact I'm seriously questioning Lily's judge of character," Petunia defended.

James was fuming, he tried to keep his cool. Lily grabbed his hand under the table and gave it an understanding squeeze.

"I'm so sorry," she mouthed at him.

He smiled back at her, just looking into her eyes made his anger fade away.

He quickly recovered and the confident James Potter finally resurfaced, "Petunia, if I remember correctly didn't you date a Quidditch player?"

"That was different," she snapped.

"Yea, sure it was, so Mr. Evans....follow Quidditch any?" James asked trying to change the subject.

"What's Quidditch?" Vernon whispered over towards Petunia.

"Just some stupid American sport losers play," Petunia lied to him.