Disclaimer: Harry Potter 'tis not mine!
Hem Hem This, Hem Hem That
Chapter Sixteen ll Christmas Extravaganza
----------
"You better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout, I'm telling you why, Santa Claus is coming to to-o-o-own."
Several people turned to look and see who were the people singing so... loudly.
"He's making a list, he's checking it twice, he's gonna find out whose naughty or nice, Santa Claus is coming to to-o-o-own."
Those several aforementioned people lost interest and went back to what they had been originally doing when they saw Lily Evans and Emily Walkerdon. They had their arms linked and were skipping around while belting out the words to "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town." They had Santa Claus (Father Christmas, St. Nicholas, Kris Kringle, big-fat-jolly-guy-who-falls-down-chimneys) hats upon their shiny heads, and silver and gold tinsel glimmering around their necks.
Penny and Meddy, who were returning back from a library trip, hid behind their hands and slowly side-walked towards their friends.
"No. No," Meddy said half-firmly, half-devastated, "You cannot go carolling again. For Merlin's sake, you're seventeen! You should've grown out of this stage by now!"
Emily Looked at her, rolled her eyes and began to imitate Meddy, " 'You're eleven, for Merlin's sake! You're twelve-years-old, you shouldn't grown out of this by now! You're thirteen! You're fourteen, it's a little childish for you!'--"
Lily continued, " 'You're fifteen, now! You're sixteen, grow up a little!' "
Meddy just smiled at them, "And every year, you never listen."
"Exactly!" Emily said loftily, "I'm gonna go carolling every year 'till the day I die!"
Meddy and Penny groaned.
"Anyway, why not?" Lily said heartily, fiddling with her sparkly tinsel, "It's fun as."
Emily nodded in agreement, "Here, Pen--hold this first..."
Penny looked mollified as her twin pushed two candles into her arms.
"Ahh, I'm not going to be set on fire, am I?"
"Honestly, Pen," Emily rolled her eyes again.
It was Christmas Eve, and about time too. It had been two days since Sirius and James' outburst of flying around the Great Hall, and they were still finishing off their week's worth of detentions.
"Can we... puh-lease go to the feast?" Meddy begged. The beautiful smell of turkey, roast potatoes and other delicious foods wafting out of the Great Hall was making her dizzy.
"Yeah!" Lily said cheerfully, "Just wait--" She finally managed to put on her exquisite Christmas earrings (little golden bells with glittery tiny holly) and turned to Emily, "Then afterwards, we can go carolling!"
Meddy and Penny sighed while their two friends high-fived and squealed. They seemed to have some sort of obsession with Christmas carols.
They walked in the Great Hall, which was a sight to behold. It was decorated with holly, mistletoe, tinsel, about fifty Christmas trees, and the usual floating candles had holly hung around them; some very thin string, almost like spider silk, held up bells and Christmas ornaments.
"Wow, it's so pretty," Lily breathed, her emerald eyes alight.
Emily was speechless as she looked around in awe.
The other two could've cared less if the Great Hall was under attack by goblins, as long as they were able to eat the delicious Christmas Feast.
Penny and Meddy raced to the far left end of the Gryffindor table, where they usually sat, and occupied the bench. Then they began piling their plates sky high with food.
Lily joined them with a disgusted look on her face.
"You two are like Potter and Sirius at times," she remarked distastefully as she sat down.
Meddy chose to ignore this remark.
"Lil, how are you going to eat with that on?" Meddy asked sweetly. She was talking about the thick band of tinsel hung around Lily's neck.
"I'll have no problem with that as I am not in any sort of eating competition..."
Penny looked up and grinned, "It's such good food."
"So I've heard..."
Emily then joined them, with some extra decorations in her hair, and they ate in harmony.
"Happy Christmas!"
Someone put their hands over Lily's eyes.
Cold, clammy hands.
"AH!" Lily jumped and knocked over a jug of pumpkin juice, "Uh..."
Meddy quickly jumped up to right the jug and Penny began to mop up the spilt juice.
The person uncovered Lily's eyes, and the redhead turned to see Amos Diggory, her... boyfriend.
Man, that sounded weird.
"Hi!" he said brightly. Then he looked around and a dark look crossed his face, "Where's Potter?"
"Err, I dunno," Lily said, a little confused. Since when did Amos care about James? It was all a little... odd. She was pretty sure she wasn't supposed to hear the next part of Amos' little rant, but she heard it anyway.
"...ooh, away with Black, hey... choose him but not me, what's so bad about me...? I have the looks, the brains, the skill... what has Black got that I don't? Not enough Golden Snitches, huh... ooh, my poor mistress, if she could see who poor Amos is up against..." he muttered under his breath.
Lily decided he was terminally insane, but said nothing. She was about to ask him how he was but he started muttering again.
"...not only does he not choose me, he tries to take my girlfriend... no, no, no, my poor mistress, if only she could help Amos... Amos is in need of her help..."
Lily always thought people who spoke of themselves in the third person were a little touched in the head, but this was really, really retarded.
"So, um, Amos," she said awkwardly, "How... are you?"
Amos smiled with a sudden startledness, "I'm good, what about you?"
Before Lily could answer, the double doors flew open and horrible singing could be heard all around.
"Hark the herald angels sing, glory to the newborn king!"
Upon recognising the voices, Lily proceeded to hide her face. Amos suddenly scowled and stalked back to the Hufflepuff table angrily. Well, someone's in a bad temper!
"Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners, reconciled..."
"Potter, Black," spat Severus Snape from the Slytherin table, "I thought that your little karaoke two days ago would have brought you to your senses: You can't SING."
"Shut up Snape, or I'll wash your hair," Sirius sang.
"Joyful all ye nations rise--"
"--join the triumph of the skies--"
The two best friends looked at each other and, with gigantic grins, took a deep breath to bellow out the next line.
"WITH ANGELIC HOSTS..."
James and Sirius continued to mouth words, but nothing could be heard.
"I am so glad we got taught the Silencing Charm in fifth year," Lily muttered, pocketing her wand.
Meddy and the twins laughed.
After a bit more singing and realising that no sound was coming out, Sirius and James headed over to where the girls were.
"Hello!" Emily said brightly, the bells in her hair jingling slightly.
Sirius frowned at her and pointed at his mouth.
Penny giggled, "Speechless, eh?"
James tugged on Lily's sleeve gently and looked at her with innocent hazel eyes.
"What's wrong?" Lily asked teasingly. James aimed a finger at his mouth.
"You've got to promise no more singing."
James shook his head vigorously.
"Okay," Lily said loftily, and she turned away from him, "Then you had better start learning sign language."
Remus came up to them, looking flustered.
"There you guys are!" he said indignantly, glaring at James and Sirius. He mopped his sweaty eyebrow with a handkerchief, "Pete and I were looking everywhere for you. And to find you here, enjoying the Christmas Feast!"
Sirius gestured at Remus and pointed at his mouth.
"What, too much food in your mouth to talk?" Remus asked irritably. He looked quite annoyed. He slumped into a seat next to Lily.
"Actually, they burst into the Great Hall singing 'Hark The Herald Angels Sing', and Lily decided that their vocal chords could use a little more training. So she saved them from further embarrassment by casting the Silencing Charm," explained Meddy casually.
"Oh."
Remus stared at his two friends.
"Right."
James and Sirius were now glaring at Lily, obviously thinking or trying to say, "So you did it?!"
"What's with you two and singing, anyway?" Remus asked, while helping himself to a chicken leg.
Sirius shrugged just as Peter came running up to them, panting and obviously pleased that he had something to complain about.
"Where were you two?" he asked in a shrilly voice, glaring up at Sirius and James, "Remus and I were looking everywhere--"
"We know, Peter," everyone chorused at once, not bothering to look at him.
Peter looked rather taken-aback, and sat down in a huff. Then he saw all the food, which put him out of his temper.
"You know," Penny said, returning back to the conversation, "Maybe you two can join Em and Lily in carolling. They're going after dinner. You could take me and Med's places. We don't enjoy carolling very much."
Sirius and James' eyes lit up.
"What?!" exclaimed Lily, glaring at Penny, who smiled back at her calmly. She knew this was her payback for dragging her and Meddy carolling for the past six years.
"You can't do that!" Lily said indignantly, "They don't even have good voices!"
James nudged her angrily and Sirius crossed his arms, pretending to be offended.
She ignored them.
"It's not about how good they are," Meddy said, with a grin on her face, "It's to have fun and show Christmas spirit. It's to spread the happy Christmas feeling all around!"
Lily glared at them. That was her line. She had used it on Meddy and Penny in first-year when they both tried to escape form carolling by claiming they had terrible singing voices.
"Anyway, we have our essays to finish. And you know how much you hate it when we don't get our homework done on time."
"But it's Christmas! You're not supposed to burden yourselves with essays," Lily retaliated.
"Well, we are now," Meddy answered with a shrug.
"Can you please give them back their voices?" Remus asked the huffy Lily, "I don't think they're going to survive any longer without them."
"Fine," Lily complied reluctantly with a sigh. She took out her wand and murmured a spell while looking at James and Sirius.
"Finally!" James exclaimed, sitting down, "Hark the herald angels sing..."
"...glory to the newborn king..." Sirius joined in.
Lily directed her wand at them again.
"Save it for later."
---
"You get prettier after every summer. Did you know that, Evans?"
FLASH.
"I deserve a kiss now!"
FLASH.
"Did you enjoy our first date?"
FLASH.
"How would you know what's right or not? Love could standing right in front of you and you're just ignoring it!"
FLASH.
"You know, even though someone doesn't love you the way you want them to, doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have."
FLASH.
"I'm sorry."
FLASH.
"I want to hug you."
FLASH.
"You're really... beautiful."
FLASH.
"I love you, Lily. Why did Amos have to get you first...?"
FLASH.
"I love you, Lily..."
"I love you, Lily..."
"I love you, Lily..."
FLASH.
Lily awoke with a start. She sat bolt right up and tried to steady her breathing. She had beads of sweat on her forehead.
She tried to recall her dream... it had been really weird... Someone's voice kept echoing in her head.
She checked her alarm clock.
6:37AM. Too early for anybody else to be up.
Lily sighed and ruffled her messy red hair. She then yawned as the big pile of presents at the end of her bed caught her eye. She smiled. She could just open them quietly and get a head start, but it was never fun to open presents by yourself. She decided to wait for the others to wake up at 7:00AM (their usual present-opening time) before opening them.
Deciding she couldn't sleep, Lily got up and pulled on her dressing gown. She picked up her favourite book and headed down to the common-room to grab her favourite armchair.
The snow was falling lightly outside and she paused at the stairs to look out the window. She went down the last few steps and stopped short.
What she saw made her blood run cold.
James was on the sofa, heartily snogging another girl. At (Lily checked the mantelpiece clock) 6:41 in the morning!
What a jerk.
She turned away, slightly disappointed and feeling a little... hurt. If James liked her as much as he claimed, then why did he go ahead and snog some random early Christmas morning?
Lily trudged back upstairs and collapsed onto her four-poster bed. She closed her eyes.
The girl... Lily knew her vaguely. She had waist-length brown hair that had the most beautiful and natural-looking golden streaks running through it. They glimmered in the sunlight like gems.
What was her name? It started with a K... that was all Lily knew. And she was also a seventh-year Ravenclaw.
I wonder what she was doing in the Gryffindor common-room. James let her in, no doubt.
Lily didn't understand why she felt this way. She now understood and felt a little more sympathetic towards those always-heart aching girls in her trashy romance novels that were confused at their feelings ALL THE TIME.
She now knew how they felt.
Confused, yes.
Extremely confused.
WHY DID SHE FEEL SO HURT OVER JAMES SNOGGING A GIRL?
It's not like she liked him, or anything...
Coughcough.
I have a boyfriend, for Merlin's sake! Don't think about James. He doesn't deserve someone like me. Man, I sound so uptight and snobbish. Who cares?
So she looked into her mirror and put on a fake smile, just as her friends began to wake up.
"Merry Christmas!" Lily said in an abnormally cheerful voice.
Fortunately, the others were too happy at the prospect of Christmas morning to realise how fake her voice was.
"Happy Christmas, Lily!"
"Let's open our pressies!"
The twins and Meddy began tearing open their presents. Lily picked up a parcel from her parents and began peeling the reindeer-patterned wrapping paper off slowly.
"Say, do any of you know that seventh-year girl in Ravenclaw? She has really long brown hair, and blonde streaks," Lily said casually, while admiring the beautiful antique glass animals her parents had sent her.
"Uhh, be more specific," Meddy said, holding up a knitted sweater distastefully, "Honestly, every year... Grams should get the idea..."
"Her name's like, Kala or something," Lily continued, and cocked her head to one side as she surveyed a present, "Okay, Petunia gave me a plastic bracelet... It must've been hers' at one point."
"Seventh-year Ravenclaw?" Meddy repeated vaguely, while thanking Penny for the huge box of fudge, "Oh, you must mean Kiara Livingstone! I was paired with her once in some random class. She's really nice and sweet. Pretty, too."
Lily's heart sunk at every word.
"Why do you wanna know?" Meddy asked, surveying her friend.
"Oh," Lily said, thinking fast, "I thought I saw her yesterday when we went carolling and she looked a little familiar."
"Okay..."
The girls giggled and chattered away, comparing and thanking each other for their presents.
Suddenly, their dormitory door flew open, and a little girl with red hair appeared at the doorway.
"Lily!" the little girl cried, and flew up to the bewildered Head ?"
---
James continued to snog Kiara Livingstone heartily, until he heard a present "Ahem."
He immediately broke off and saw that the portrait hole was open. There were two people standing right in front of him. Oh, make that three. A little girl with red hair was hiding behind an unfamiliar woman with blonde hair.
"Good morning, professor," James said in what he hoped was a cheery and innocent voice.
Professor McGonagall just narrowed her eyes
"Potter, Miss Livingstone," the teacher frowned at Kiara, who squirmed beside James.
He knew he was dead. He was going to receive another detention, for allowing Kiara in the Gryffindor common-room. And he still had to finish his week's worth of ones with Sirius for flying around the Great Hall.
"This is the Gryffindor common-room," Professor McGonagall said warmly to the visitors; the lady and what James assumed to be her daughter.
"It's very nice," the blonde woman replied with a nice smile.
"Mr. Potter is in Gryffindor, Miss Livingstone in Ravenclaw."
Kiara took the hint and quickly ran out of the Gryffindor common-room, shooting back an apologetic glance at James.
He inwardly sighed and surveyed the visitors as Professor McGonagall began to drone off. He looked at the little girl who was barely visible because she was hiding behind her mother.
Then he froze. The girl looked very familiar.
She had bright red hair that fell past her shoulders. She was very short and looked to be about five-years-old. James surveyed her clothes. Muggle clothes, very nice Muggle clothes.
But what triggered James was not her clothes, but her eyes. They were emerald green... exactly like... like...
Lily's.
It hit James. This little girl looked exactly like Lily. A younger version, perhaps.
James then switched his glance at the lady, while McGonagall continued to talk to her. She also had the same emerald green eyes, but her hair wasn't red. Her body frame was petite like Lily's, and some of her facial features matched hers as well.
Could this be... Lily's family?
"...your daughter is upstairs in the girls dormitory," Professor McGonagall was telling the lady.
"Oh, okay," the woman smiled. The smile resembled Lily's.
"Mr. Potter, can you take Cosima up to Miss Evan's dormitory?" McGonagall asked kindly, "I daresay you know where it is." The merest flicker of a smile crossed her face.
James gulped; she knew. Oh well, at least Kiara hadn't been there to hear it.
"Professor," James said meekly, "Boys aren't allowed up to the girls' dormitories. You know, for... private reasons."
Professor McGonagall flicked her wand and murmured something, "Go up and come back down in five minutes. If you don't, well I'm afraid you'll slide back down. Again."
"Cossie, I'll see you very soon," the lady said to her daughter, bending down to hug the small figure.
"Mummy," she whimpered, clutching tightly onto the skirt of her mother's dress.
Her mother kissed her gently on the forehead and pried her daughter's fingers off her, "You'll be with Lily, sweetie."
"Thank you," she smiled warmly at James, as he came forward awkwardly.
"No problem," he said, hitching a charming smile.
The little girl looked up at James with wide green eyes. He was reminded uncomfortably of Lily's hot temper.
"Five minutes, Potter," reminded McGonagall. Then she left the common-room with the little girl's mother.
"Soo..." James said slowly, as they both began walking towards the stairs, "What's your name?"
"Cosima," the owner of the name said pointedly. She didn't seem so shy anymore.
"Oh, well I'm James Potter," he said in a friendly voice.
Cosima smiled up at him, "I think I know you," she said in her cute and undeveloped voice.
"You do?" James said, puzzled.
"Yup," Cosima nodded as they continued to climb up the stairs, "My sister came home one day complainin' 'bout you."
"And who's your sister?" James said, arching an eyebrow.
"Lily Evans," Cosima said proudly, "She's Head Girl."
Wow this kid is smart. Just like her sister, I suppose.
"I'm Head Boy," James said decisively.
"Really?" Cosima seemed puzzled, "Is that like how Mummy is Mummy and Daddy is Daddy?"
"Perhaps. I'm going to marry your sister one day," James said with a proud smile, "Just don't tell her I said that."
Cosima grinned secretively, "Okay! Will she wanna marry you?"
James feigned shock, "Who wouldn't want to marry me?"
Cosima giggled, "I dunno... Lily can be awfully silly sometimes."
"I reckon."
"But you don't wanna marry her, right?"
James was taken-aback, "What makes you think that?" He had spent a few years chasing after that redhead, why wouldn't he want to marry her? He smiled at the thought and swore he heard marriage bells above his head.
Man, now he was hearing things.
"You were kissing that other girl," Cosima explained innocently, looking up at him with wide green eyes.
Slightly embarrassed, James said, "Well, I made a mistake, okay?" Truth was, he had made a HUGE mistake. He had just felt like a good snog. Nothing wrong with that, right?
...Wrong.
Cosima stared at him for a moment, then said, "You're a nice person. I dunno why Lily doesn't like you."
James smiled at her, "Neither do I. Okay, well, we're here."
Cosima stared at the shut dormitory door. They heard some giggling and squealing coming from inside.
"I think they're opening their presents," James said shiftily.
"Are you coming in with me?" she asked abruptly.
"Ahh... umm... okay then," James said uncomfortably, nervously glancing at the door.
"My bag is flying!" Cosima suddenly shrieked happily, pointing up.
His eyes widening, James turned around and almost tripped over his own feet when he saw a medium-sized pink suitcase floating inches behind his head.
"Your... bag? Oh, right. Here, I'll get it--" he reached up and grabbed the suitcase, forcing it down. The levitating spell immediately broke and James put it down on the floor.
"Thanks!" Cosima grinned. Then she pushed the dorm door open and bounded in, screeching, while James followed in reluctantly with her suitcase that weighed a tonne.
---
A dazed Lily looked down at the mass of red hair in her arms, trying to register what was happening. Then she glanced over at the other person standing sheepishly at the door. It was James. He gave her a half-smile when she caught his eye.
Lily quickly looked back down at the small figure still in her arms.
"COSIMA!" Penny yelled enthusiastically, leaping up and causing wrapping paper to fly everywhere, "So lovely to see you again, my little dear!"
Finally, Lily understood that her younger sister was hugging her and squealed whilst hugging her back, "Cosima! What are you doing here?"
"Mummy told me to give this to you!" Cosima said simply, after running over to James, rummaging through her suitcase and taking out an envelope, "And Daddy and Mummy send hugs an' kisses too..."
Whilst Lily's friends took it in turns to hug Cosima, Lily read the letter.
Dearest Lily,
Hi sweetheart. Happy Christmas! I know this may be a bit confusing for you, but everything can be explained. Your father and I have been offered two first class tickets to Paris, and this is for his job, so we couldn't refuse it. Anyhow, we wouldn't refuse it even if it wasn't for his job!
We're sorry dear, I know we had planned to all spend Christmas at home together, but this came up. So I sent a letter to you a week ago, telling you that we couldn't have you home. We thought we had your sisters all worked out. Petunia was going to spend Christmas at her friends' house, and Cosima would be going to the Johasson's.
But the Johasson's grandma had a heart attack, and everyone is at the hospital, staying overnight. The hospital is no place for small children. Their daughter, Selena, has been sent across town to her aunt's house. Mrs. Johasson said that her sister wouldn't mind if Cosima also came, but I decided to refuse the offer. I've heard that they're having family problems and I didn't want to interfere.
I racked my brains to see what I could do with Cos, but nothing worked out. Finally, I owled Mr. (Professor?) Dumbledore, explaining my situation, and he said he would be delighted if Cosima came to spend Christmas with you at Hogwarts. I asked Cos first, who was perfectly happy with this idea, and took up on Mr. Dumbledore's offer.
So here is Cosima; please take care of her. I know you think all that magic stuff is fun, but it can also be dangerous. Keep her away from spells, please do not perform magic in front of her, and under no circumstances are you to let her out of your sight.
We will come back in a fortnight to take Cosima home, and this will also give Daddy and me a chance to see you again before Easter!
Happy Christmas!
Love, Mum.
(Rosemary Evans)
Lily narrowed her eyes at her mother's list of "do not"s. Honestly, just a tad bit of magic wouldn't kill her baby sister. Anyway, Cosima was a strong girl.
Cosima suddenly yawned.
"I'm so--so tired," she announced, her eyes droopy.
"C'mon, you wanna go to bed?" Lily asked gently, stroking Cosima's red hair, so like her own.
"Y--yeah," Cosima stifled another yawn. Lily led her to the fifth four-poster bed that was unoccupied. Their dormitory only ever had four girls in it, for some odd reason or other.
" 'Night Lily, Meddy... Penny 'an Emmy--" Emily giggled, "--an' you too, James..." Cosima's eyes closed and she started breathing deeply.
"It's Christmas morning, but good night," Meddy replied cheerily.
James was still standing at the doorway, staring at Lily and Cosima. With a sigh, Lily approached him.
"Thanks for... bringing her up here," she said awkwardly. She might've been warmer towards him, but seeing him snog that Kiara girl was still preying on her mind.
"It's okay. She's... she's a cute kid," James said lamely.
Lily smiled.
"Yeah... I've missed her. I'm so glad she's here."
"She looks just like you," James said sincerely.
Lily narrowed her eyes at him.
"You're wrong. She's much more developed in the looks department," she said simply, turning her back to him and walking back to her bed.
James frowned after her, wondering what in the name of Merlin she meant.
---
Cosima skipped ahead, her ankles deep in the snow. She grinned and chased after a couple of bluebirds that were singing merrily in the frost.
"Hey Cos! Wait up!" Lily yelled.
A special Hogsmeade trip had been arranged especially for Christmas Day, and Cosima had been allowed to attend, since she wasn't an actual student at Hogwarts, and therefore didn't have to wait until she was a third-year to be allowed to visit the beautiful village.
Anyway, Cosima wasn't a witch. Dumbledore had told Lily so himself when she went to ask him whether or not anyone else in her family might actually have magical blood in them.
"Neat snow," Penny said conversationally, jumping up and flinging a branch.
"AHHHHHHHHH!" Emily screamed as the snow from the flinging branch fell on her.
"Oops."
Sirius was still in shock as he kept switching his gaze from Lily to Cosima, "Oh my God, they could be, like, twins!"
"Except for the fact that one's seventeen and the other's like five," Remus said, rolling his eyes.
Lily raced up ahead and caught her sister in her arms, making her squeal and giggle.
"I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts," Lily and Cosima were now singing together, "There they are a-standing in a row!"
"Big ones, small ones, some as big as your head," Penny, Em and Meddy joined in.
"SNOWBALL FIGHT!" Sirius suddenly yelled.
Lily felt something frosty smash on the back of her head.
"Urgh!" she exclaimed. She bent down, rolled up some snow and chucked it back at Sirius. Of course, he ducked, so it hit Penny instead. That's always how food fights/snow wars start.
Penny grabbed a fistful of snow and pelted it back at Lily. Lily squealed and pushed Remus in front of her, so he received a glopful of snow in his face. James, who was skilled at making snowballs, threw three at Emily.
Everyone was screaming, laughing and yelling. It was pure pandemonium.
Cosima squealed as Meddy sprinkled snow over her head.
"HEY!" James yelled, bending down, "NO ONE HIT ME... I'M GETTING REINFORCEMENTS..."
"Everyone hit him!" Sirius bellowed, and they all directed their aim at James.
SMASH.
James bellowed and yelled, trying to defend himself. He ended up falling over, causing everyone to laugh.
"That was so not fair!" James scoffed, getting to his feet, "Just for that, you're all gonna pay!"
Everyone shrieked and screamed, running away and diving for cover. James managed to hit all of them at least twice with his powerful snowballs.
Then they continued their snow war.
Emily and Lily both had their arms raised, snowballs in their hands. They stared at each other.
"You throw that at me, I throw this at you," Lily said dangerously, with a grin on her face.
"Correction, you throw that at me, I throw this at you."
"Nuh, actually, you throw that--"
"Ahh, cut the talk, just throw!" James said joyfully, smashing snow on Lily's head.
Lily shivered before she smashed her snowball on James' face.
"Potter, not on my head," she said through clenched teeth.
"Not on my face," James said, imitating her.
He got even more snow for that.
"Evans, you shall pay for that," James said in a playfully dangerous voice.
Lily ducked as a snow-cannon-ball whipped over her head.
"Emily!" she shrieked, "He-e-e-elp!"
The redhead dived behind a log as James threw another one of his special snow-cannon-balls at her.
"No worries," Emily said cheerfully. She began shoving and pushing the snow on the ground, "We'll build a wall of protection!"
Lily rolled her eyes, shrieked, and pulled Emily in front of her as more snow came flying towards her direction.
Emily squeezed her eyes shut as the snow slid off her face, and she turned to Lily, "Lily, I no longer shall be your shield," and she scattered off.
James had rolled up a huge snowball and he was now advancing towards Lily, looking quite evil.
"COSIMA!" Lily screamed at her little sister desperately.
Cosima looked around and spotted James.
"HEY!" she yelled. She ran up to him and pounced on him. Caught unawares, James fell back onto the snow-covered ground. Cosima, grinning triumphantly, got off him and trotted towards Lily who had walked over.
"Good one, Cos!" she said brightly, high-fiving her younger sister.
Cosima grinned even more.
Remus was laughing as he helped James up.
"Like sister, like sister."
"That sounded weird," Penny giggled.
"I reckon," Meddy said, shivering. She looked drenched; obviously some of the snow had melted on her.
"Let's get a Butterbeer or two," suggested Remus sensibly, "Before the Three Broomsticks gets too crowded..."
Everyone agreed to this immediately, and started to wipe off the snow on their clothes. Cosima sneezed several times. Groaning, Lily went over to her and wrapped the purple scarf around her tighter.
"Are you all right? Ooh, mum's going to kill me if you're sick," Lily muttered. She took off her own beanie and yanked it on Cosima's head. It slid over her eyes.
"Don't be stupid, you'll get a cold," James said firmly. He picked up the beanie and tossed it back to Lily, before taking off his scarf and wrapping it turban-style around Cosima's head. The girl giggled.
"Potter--" Lily sighed.
"I'll be fine, and more importantly, you two'll be fine," with that James scooped Cosima up and gave her a piggy-back ride. Cosima giggled gleefully and yelled, "Faster, faster!" James ran ahead.
Lily watched them and sighed.
"Don't worry, Cosima will be safe," Sirius said, looking ahead with an amused smile on his face.
"I hope so," Lily muttered.
They trudged along and entered the cheery pub that was crowded. The pub was decorated with holly and tinsel, and a huge Christmas tree stood near the entrance.
"Happy Christmas!" Madam Nalina said cheerily to them as they settled in their table, "And what will it be today, m'dears?"
"Well," Sirius said with the most charming smile he could hitch, "We would like... the usual. Three of your special hot chocolates and five Butterbeers. Oh, wait. Cosima, what would you like?"
"Hot chocolate!" she piped up, but she seemed quite tired.
"So four hot chocolates?" Madam Nalina inquired.
"Yup. Cough up, everyone," Sirius said as the group distributed Galleons and Sickles and Knuts. He gathered them up and handed them to Madam Nalina, who promptly thanked him and walked off to get the drinks.
Cosima looked a bit feverish and her eyes began to droop.
"Cosima, are you feeling all right?" Lily asked, concerned, "Do you feel sick?"
The small girl shook her head, but she closed her eyes and her breathing became heavier. Lily felt her forehead. It was burning up.
"Mum will murder me," the redhead muttered, taking off her jacket and covering Cosima with it.
"These hot chocolates will work wonder on her," James reassured, as Madam Nalina came over with a tray of Butterbeers, hot chocolates and a special dish of her famous chocolate eclairs, "They're pure magic."
Cosima opened her eyes. Her face was flushed badly.
"I want some hot chocolate..." she whispered.
Before Lily could reach over and pick up the delicate china glass, James had already snatched it and was passing it to Cosima. She took it a long drink, then rested her head against Lily's shoulder and breathed heavily.
In a few moments, she was asleep.
"She'll be fine," James murmured, passing another hot chocolate to Lily.
"Yeah," Meddy reassured, "So, dudes, what did you get for Christmas?" This, of course, caused an uproar as Sirius began to laugh--no, giggle--at Meddy addressing them as "dudes", and Remus (for some odd reason) began to sing, "O Ye Merry Hippogriff", and Penny started having a competition with Emily on who could shove their entire fist in their mouth.
Half an hour later, the group decided to leave the Three Broomsticks. Lily gently woke Cosima up and James offered to give her a piggy-back ride. They covered the small redhead with a coat, while the others watched afar and cooed how they looked like parents fussing over their child.
'Twas quite funny, actually.
Sirius, who was at the front, grasped onto the door handle and jerked it open.
A rumble of snow caved in. The entrance was completely caked with snow.
Sirius spat out a few snow bits from his mouth and wiped the whiteness off himself.
"Well this is bright," he said cheerily, "We're snowed in."
Several people screamed.
"It's no screaming matter, cherie," Sirius said fondly at the screaming customers, "You won't die. Unless, like, this place burns down. Wow, wouldn't that be cool. 'Cause like, the fire would melt the snow, and then there'd be a tidal wave, and then... we'd drown! And burn! Man, isn't that such a cool death? When I grow up, I wanna die that way."
"You're an idiot."
"I know."
"Can't we just magick our way out of here?" Meddy asked exasperatedly, while James slipped Cosima back onto the puffy chair.
"I wouldn't think so," Remus said sensibly, "The snow's too thick. Our only hope is for the Ministry to find out soon, which won't take too long. They keep a certain eye on things that happen in wizarding areas."
The girls sighed.
"So," Penny said dully, "What can we do?"
"Let's play WA--"
"If you say 'WAR' again, I will strangle you," Penny said calmly to Sirius.
Sirius pouted, then his face brightened up.
"I KNOW, I KNOW! Truth or dare!" he said wildly, looking around devilishly.
They all glanced at each other and shrugged, and some of the other people in the Three Broomsticks watched them in interest.
"As long as you don't wake Cos up," Lily warned, and they nodded.
"I'm going first!" Sirius said enthusiastically, and turned to Lily, who, unfortunately for her, was sitting beside him.
"Lillers! Truth or dare?!"
"Dare," Lily said promptly, although she knew Sirius' dares were often lethal.
"I dare you to sit in Jamsie's lap for the rest of the game," Sirius said innocently.
Lily stared at him, got up haughtily and propped herself in James' lap.
"Why, hello pumpkin," James said pleasantly, wrapping his arms around her waist. Lily turned her head and glared at him, but made no movement to resist his grip.
After a few more dares, which resulted with Penny wearing a pink tutu and ballet shoes, Remus with a carrot for a nose, and Emily's legs tap dancing endlessly, it was time for James' fate.
"Truth or dare," Emily said breathlessly, as she was still dancing merrily away, "Damn these things, how come I couldn't have you when I tried out ballet, huh...?"
"Dare."
"I dare you to... kiss Lily!"
Lily glared at her before she shifted uncomfortably in James' lap.
"Su-u-u-ure," James said sweetly, "Ready?"
"As ready as I'm ever gonna be," Lily sighed, though she was secretly admiring James' hazel eyes.
James leant in and kissed her as gently and sweetly as ever, as though he was afraid he might hurt her.
Why do I have to be so weak against his kisses...?
He broke off and tightened his grip on Lily's waist, making her shiver slightly. She looked over to check that was Cosima was still asleep.
"Truth or dare?" James asked Meddy, as if nothing had happened.
As Meddy began the dare James had given her, he pulled Lily closer to him and whispered into her ear, "I bet you liked that kiss."
"You wish," she murmured back, while her heart began pounding faster.
"Yeah, I do," James murmured with a smile on his face. He pulled her even closer in and kissed her cheek.
"I hate you," Lily muttered serenely.
"Sure you do," James chuckled, as the others continued on with the game, "But I know deep down you love me, pumpkin. You hurt the ones you love, after all."
"Yeah, right," Lily scoffed.
I think you're right...
---
"I feel so refreshed," Emily announced, dropping into an armchair in the common-room.
"Yeah, being snowed in the Three Broomsticks for an hour wasn't as fun as expected," Sirius said with a small sigh. He had an arm around Penny and was staring up at the ceiling.
They were all sprawled out in the common-room. Cosima had had a visit to the Hospital Wing, and Lily was told to put her in bed immediately after dinner. It was almost midnight and they had the common-room all to themselves.
"Christmas is over," Meddy said in a sad voice.
"Boxing Day is tomorrow," Lily said in a fake cheerful voice. She hated the end of Christmas. She needed to wait another three-hundred-and-sixty-five days for it to come again.
"Still..."
They all sighed.
"I'm... so... tired..." Lily said sleepily, her head drooping. She closed her eyes and laid her head on James' shoulder, falling into a sound sleep.
James was surprised, but smiled sheepishly and put an arm around the redheaded girl's head.
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A/N: There... you... go! That was so hard to write. Lol. Anyway, please accept that as my Christmas present to you guys. A heart-warming, fluffy, LONG Christmas chappie!! I hope you all enjoyed it! I'm sorry it took me forever to update, it's because, as mentioned before, it was really hard to write this and of course I've been busy, being Christmas and all. Au revoir, m'cherie! :) Read Chocolat, 'tis a cool book. Thanks Julz for letting me borrow it! --MSQ.