Disclaimer: I didn't invent the Harry Potter universe, I just live in it's
fandom. So don't sue me. Please?
A/N: It snowed quite a lot the other day and it gave my inspiration to write a Christmasfic. I'm expecting not more than ten chapters and each chapter wil be pretty short - about the length of this one. The chances of it being done by Christmas are slim to none, but I figured I'd write it anyway.
Warning: High fluff tolerance is not a suggestion for reading this story. It is a requirement. If you only enjoy angst, rape, and murder please turn away now. The author is not responsible for any side effects of excess happiness, giggling, or a random and uncontrollable "aww" being said by the reader. Be sure to keep your arms and legs inside your chair at all times. Thank you and please enjoy the following fic.
~~~~~
~ No One Wants To Be Alone At Christmas-time
~ By Blackberry Ink
~~~~~
"Rain," Lily said as she stared out the common room window. "Why does it have to be rain?"
"What was that?" Alice said, Sugar Quill in her mouth and parchment on her lap.
"I'm just sick of rain," Lily said. "Wish it would snow."
"You sound like a five year old, Lil," Alice said.
Lily turned away from the window. "Yeah, well, you know how I get in December."
"Don't I," Alice said, sitting back in her chair.
"Well, who can blame me for being festive?" Lily asked. "Which reminds me - you staying for Christmas this year?"
"I don't think I can," Alice said. "My parents are having a huge Christmas dinner and they're inviting all the high society that's against Voldemort but isn't really doing anything about it. A big bunch of hypocrites, if you ask me. Anyway, my mum and dad are making me go. I tried to get them to invite you and your family too, but, well, you know."
"I'm Muggleborn," Lily said with only the slightest trace of bitterness. "And they don't want a bunch of Muggle's running around and tainting your manor."
"I'm sorry, Lil," Alice said. "But you know my parents. They may say they're against Voldemort, but blood means everything to them."
"It's okay," Lily said. "I'm staying here anyway. It'll be nice to have the common room to myself. And Hogwarts at Christmas is really beautiful."
"I'm going to miss it," Alice said, a bit mournfully. "After the holidays we've only got a few more months left here. I don't think I'm going to be able to stand leaving this place. Wish I could stay for Christmas."
"Don't think like that," Lily said. "A few months is a long time."
"But with you and Frank it'll go by in a second," Alice said. "And I don't know what I'm going to do with my life and I don't-"
Lily put a finger to her mouth to tell Alice to quiet. "It's December, Ali. Don't worry about your future."
Alice smiled. "You're right, of course. I don't know why I get so worked up sometimes."
"We all do," Lily said, comforting her friend. "By the way - don't you have to meet Frank somewhere today?"
"Oh, no," Alice said. "I just told him to sit with us at dinner. I'm tired of going to the Ravenclaw table for dinner. I'm not smart enough to sit over there. They always talk about Arithmacy and it's bloody boring."
"Arithmacy is actually really-"
"Don't start with me, Lil," Alice said. "I've been in enough conversations about Arithmacy to last a lifetime."
"Right," Lily said. "It's almost five. Want to head down for dinner?"
"Sure," Alice said, putting away her Sugar Quill and parchment and walking out of the portrait hole with Lily.
~~~~~
"Hey James," Sirius said, poking his friend in the arm. "Lily sighting at three o'clock."
James leaned back from his spot on the bench. About ten people down was a girl with fiery red hair cascading down her back and black robes that clung in all the right places. James grinned.
"Don't go down there yet," Sirius said when James made to get up from the table. "She's with her friend and her boyfriend."
"Her boyfriend?" James asked, slightly alarmed.
"Her friend's boyfriend," Remus clarified from across the table. "Frank Longbottom. Ravenclaw. Seventh year. We filled his bag with Ever- Growing Slugs in second year. Since then we've made a truce with him because he turned Peter pink the next day."
"Right," said Sirius, grinning at the memory. "Anyway it's not Lily's boyfriend. Wait until Lily gets bored of watching her friend and Frank saying sweet nothings to each other, and then make your move. Lily will be happy for distraction."
James nodded. "How long will that be?"
"I'd give it five minutes," Sirius said as he took a swig of Pumpkin Juice. "Maybe ten."
"Go with five," James said. "I don't want to wait that long."
"You're hopeless, you know that?" Remus said.
"Yeah, I guess I do," James admitted. "But, come on, look at the girl. She's gorgeous. I'm a sucker for redheads. And she's smart, too. Only person head of Sirius and me. She's funny - look at her friend laughing now. Wait, that was just because Bilius Weasley made the snot explode inside his nose again. Damn. Anyway, she's-"
"We get the picture," Sirius said. "We've heard this a million times."
James looked at his watch. "Has it been five minutes yet?"
"Barely two."
"Damn."
~~~~~
"If I could have your attention, please," McGonagall said, tapping her glass with her wand and creating a loud ring. "For just a moment."
The hall quieted, but not as quickly as it would have been if Dumbledore had spoken. But Dumbledore was out doing something with the war and McGonagall had taken over for the time being.
"I have an announcement to make that will affect many of you," she said. The hall was now completely silent. "This year, for the first time since any of you have been here, there will be a Winter Ball at Hogwarts."
There was a quick rise of chatter.
"This ball," McGonagall said loudly to quiet everyone again. "Will be for all students of years five and up." A groan among the younger students. "Fourth years, however, may attend if they are the date," (She said the word as though it were foreign to her. It probably was.) "Of an older student.
"The ball will be held on Christmas Eve. All students who wish to go to the ball must stay for the entire winter holidays. Special arrangements may be made with your head of house." She paused for a moment. "Formal attire is required. That is all."
The moment she sat the hall burst into talk.
"Ooh," Alice said. "A ball. How fairy tale-sounding."
"You'll go with me, right?" Frank asked quickly, his hand on Alice's arm.
"Of course I will," Alice said as if this was the most incredulous thing in the world. "You're my boyfriend, aren't you?"
"Well I was just making sure," Frank said, shrugging. "Wouldn't want some other bloke to take you."
He grinned and so did she. Frank may not have been the most handsome guy in the world, but when he smiled Lily could almost see Alice's heart leap. Mostly it made her feel happy for Alice, but it gave Lily a little pang of jealousy.
"We'll have to find you a date, Lil," Alice said. "There are plenty of guys who would want to go with you."
"I guess," Lily said. "But James scares them all off."
"Talking about me?" James said, coming over and sitting next to Lily.
"Speak of the devil," Lily muttered, glancing at Alice.
"So how are you, Lily?" James asked, slinging his arm around her shoulder.
Lily shrugged it off. "What did I tell you about physical contact, James?"
"'No touching me. Period. If you touch me again I will take away your manhood,'" James said, imitating Lily's voice.
"Right," Lily said. "At least you heard me."
"Did you hear about that Winter Ball, then?" James asked.
"I'm not daft, James. McGonagall just made the announcement."
"Hey, don't blame me for trying to make conversation," James said, putting his hands up defensively. "Are you planning on going?"
"I suppose so," she said. "Don't the Head Boy and Girl have to go?"
James grinned his trademark grin that made nearly every girl who was singly melt at his feet. It made Lily roll her eyes.
"I think you're right," James said. "That means we both have to go."
"That doesn't mean me have to go together," Lily said quickly.
"Thinking about going with me already?" James asked. "I always knew you loved me."
"I not thinking about going with you," Lily said. "I'm thinking about not going with you. Which is what I'll be doing."
"But it'll make things so much easier if we just went together wouldn't it?" James said seriously. "I mean, Head Boy and Girl are meant to be together, are they not? Especially when they're the first two Gryffindors to get it in three decades."
Lily rolled her eyes again. "I still think you're a wanker and I don't want to go to any ball with you."
"I'm hurt, lass, I am," James said, faking Scottish brogue and putting his hands over his heart.
"Why don't you go wallow in your misery somewhere else?" Lily said. "Preferably somewhere far away from here."
"Your wish is my command," James said, getting up. Before she could do anything, he grabbed her hand and kissed it. He leaned closer to her and whispered, "But don't think I'll give up this easy."
"Oh, piss off," Lily said, pulling her hand back as if it had been bitten. She turned to Alice. "Now I'm going to have to go sterilize this thing."
"Well, it couldn't have been that bad," Alice said. "I mean, James is the most eligible bachelor in Hogwarts. You need a date to the Winter Ball. He's been after you since beginning of sixth year. What, exactly, makes him seem so horrible to you?"
Lily's eyes widened. "What makes him seem so horrible to me? Everything! The way he's so arrogant and self-centered and thinks he's the best at everything and the way he thinks he's so handsome and funny and smart and good at Quidditch. I could go on forever, but I'm sure you'd Avada Kedavra me so I'll hold myself back."
"I just don't see what's so wrong about him. Besides all those things you said," she amended quickly.
"He's just all wrong," Lily said. "I can't stand him. I mean, can you seriously picture us together?"
Alice cleared her throat.
"The last two heads dated," Frank put in.
"Oh, don't say you're against me too, Frank," Lily said. "Besides - just because we're Head Boy and Girl together doesn't mean we have to be, you know, together."
"But it does mean that you're spending a lot of time together," Alice said. "Plenty of time to get to know each other better. He could grow on you."
"Ali - we've been prefects together for two years and Heads for a half. He hasn't grown on me. I doubt it'll happen in just another couple months."
"Just before you were telling me how long another couple of months is," Alice said. "You never know."
Lily shook her head. "I wash my hands of you. And you too, Frank. You took her side."
"Well, what do you expect me to do?" he said.
Lily stood up from her seat. "I'm finished eating. I'm going to go to the Library."
"Lil, I'm sorry, I was just saying that-"
"It's not because of that," Lily said. "I just need to read for a little while. There's a new edition of Hogwarts, A History out. Maybe I'll read that."
"But Lily, you hate that book," Alice said.
Lily shrugged. "Maybe it'll grow on me."
~~~~~
James looked up to see Lily leaving the Great Hall alone. She closed the door gently behind her so as not to cause someone to notice, but James, of course, did.
"She looks upset," Remus said, following James' eyes. "Maybe you should follow her."
James shook his head. "If she's upset, I'm the last person she'll want to see."
"Oh, come on James. You're not that bad," Sirius put in.
"But she hates me," James said.
"Lily doesn't-"
"Highly dislikes me, then," James said. "The girl flinches every time I touch her. She yells at me every time I try to talk to her." He brightened slightly. "But that's okay. I'll win her over by Christmas."
"Christmas?" Sirius said.
"Why, you think I can't do it?"
"Nah," Sirius said. "You're James Potter. Guy every girl is after when they're not after yours truly. Of course you can do it."
"Thanks, Padfoot," James said, watching the door where Lily had gone out.
"Just go," Remus said. "She already doesn't like you, you can't make it worse."
"Yeah, that's the spirit, Moony," Sirius said jovially as Peter nodded as he always did.
"Thanks for the vote of confidence," James said. He stood up again and prepared to make a fool of himself. "Well, I'm off. Wish me luck."
~~~~~
A/N: Gah. What have I gotten myself into? This is so very fluffy. Let's hope I can stand it. New chapter coming out soon.
Leave a review if you're feeling friendly. Can I get five reviews?
A/N: It snowed quite a lot the other day and it gave my inspiration to write a Christmasfic. I'm expecting not more than ten chapters and each chapter wil be pretty short - about the length of this one. The chances of it being done by Christmas are slim to none, but I figured I'd write it anyway.
Warning: High fluff tolerance is not a suggestion for reading this story. It is a requirement. If you only enjoy angst, rape, and murder please turn away now. The author is not responsible for any side effects of excess happiness, giggling, or a random and uncontrollable "aww" being said by the reader. Be sure to keep your arms and legs inside your chair at all times. Thank you and please enjoy the following fic.
~~~~~
~ No One Wants To Be Alone At Christmas-time
~ By Blackberry Ink
~~~~~
"Rain," Lily said as she stared out the common room window. "Why does it have to be rain?"
"What was that?" Alice said, Sugar Quill in her mouth and parchment on her lap.
"I'm just sick of rain," Lily said. "Wish it would snow."
"You sound like a five year old, Lil," Alice said.
Lily turned away from the window. "Yeah, well, you know how I get in December."
"Don't I," Alice said, sitting back in her chair.
"Well, who can blame me for being festive?" Lily asked. "Which reminds me - you staying for Christmas this year?"
"I don't think I can," Alice said. "My parents are having a huge Christmas dinner and they're inviting all the high society that's against Voldemort but isn't really doing anything about it. A big bunch of hypocrites, if you ask me. Anyway, my mum and dad are making me go. I tried to get them to invite you and your family too, but, well, you know."
"I'm Muggleborn," Lily said with only the slightest trace of bitterness. "And they don't want a bunch of Muggle's running around and tainting your manor."
"I'm sorry, Lil," Alice said. "But you know my parents. They may say they're against Voldemort, but blood means everything to them."
"It's okay," Lily said. "I'm staying here anyway. It'll be nice to have the common room to myself. And Hogwarts at Christmas is really beautiful."
"I'm going to miss it," Alice said, a bit mournfully. "After the holidays we've only got a few more months left here. I don't think I'm going to be able to stand leaving this place. Wish I could stay for Christmas."
"Don't think like that," Lily said. "A few months is a long time."
"But with you and Frank it'll go by in a second," Alice said. "And I don't know what I'm going to do with my life and I don't-"
Lily put a finger to her mouth to tell Alice to quiet. "It's December, Ali. Don't worry about your future."
Alice smiled. "You're right, of course. I don't know why I get so worked up sometimes."
"We all do," Lily said, comforting her friend. "By the way - don't you have to meet Frank somewhere today?"
"Oh, no," Alice said. "I just told him to sit with us at dinner. I'm tired of going to the Ravenclaw table for dinner. I'm not smart enough to sit over there. They always talk about Arithmacy and it's bloody boring."
"Arithmacy is actually really-"
"Don't start with me, Lil," Alice said. "I've been in enough conversations about Arithmacy to last a lifetime."
"Right," Lily said. "It's almost five. Want to head down for dinner?"
"Sure," Alice said, putting away her Sugar Quill and parchment and walking out of the portrait hole with Lily.
~~~~~
"Hey James," Sirius said, poking his friend in the arm. "Lily sighting at three o'clock."
James leaned back from his spot on the bench. About ten people down was a girl with fiery red hair cascading down her back and black robes that clung in all the right places. James grinned.
"Don't go down there yet," Sirius said when James made to get up from the table. "She's with her friend and her boyfriend."
"Her boyfriend?" James asked, slightly alarmed.
"Her friend's boyfriend," Remus clarified from across the table. "Frank Longbottom. Ravenclaw. Seventh year. We filled his bag with Ever- Growing Slugs in second year. Since then we've made a truce with him because he turned Peter pink the next day."
"Right," said Sirius, grinning at the memory. "Anyway it's not Lily's boyfriend. Wait until Lily gets bored of watching her friend and Frank saying sweet nothings to each other, and then make your move. Lily will be happy for distraction."
James nodded. "How long will that be?"
"I'd give it five minutes," Sirius said as he took a swig of Pumpkin Juice. "Maybe ten."
"Go with five," James said. "I don't want to wait that long."
"You're hopeless, you know that?" Remus said.
"Yeah, I guess I do," James admitted. "But, come on, look at the girl. She's gorgeous. I'm a sucker for redheads. And she's smart, too. Only person head of Sirius and me. She's funny - look at her friend laughing now. Wait, that was just because Bilius Weasley made the snot explode inside his nose again. Damn. Anyway, she's-"
"We get the picture," Sirius said. "We've heard this a million times."
James looked at his watch. "Has it been five minutes yet?"
"Barely two."
"Damn."
~~~~~
"If I could have your attention, please," McGonagall said, tapping her glass with her wand and creating a loud ring. "For just a moment."
The hall quieted, but not as quickly as it would have been if Dumbledore had spoken. But Dumbledore was out doing something with the war and McGonagall had taken over for the time being.
"I have an announcement to make that will affect many of you," she said. The hall was now completely silent. "This year, for the first time since any of you have been here, there will be a Winter Ball at Hogwarts."
There was a quick rise of chatter.
"This ball," McGonagall said loudly to quiet everyone again. "Will be for all students of years five and up." A groan among the younger students. "Fourth years, however, may attend if they are the date," (She said the word as though it were foreign to her. It probably was.) "Of an older student.
"The ball will be held on Christmas Eve. All students who wish to go to the ball must stay for the entire winter holidays. Special arrangements may be made with your head of house." She paused for a moment. "Formal attire is required. That is all."
The moment she sat the hall burst into talk.
"Ooh," Alice said. "A ball. How fairy tale-sounding."
"You'll go with me, right?" Frank asked quickly, his hand on Alice's arm.
"Of course I will," Alice said as if this was the most incredulous thing in the world. "You're my boyfriend, aren't you?"
"Well I was just making sure," Frank said, shrugging. "Wouldn't want some other bloke to take you."
He grinned and so did she. Frank may not have been the most handsome guy in the world, but when he smiled Lily could almost see Alice's heart leap. Mostly it made her feel happy for Alice, but it gave Lily a little pang of jealousy.
"We'll have to find you a date, Lil," Alice said. "There are plenty of guys who would want to go with you."
"I guess," Lily said. "But James scares them all off."
"Talking about me?" James said, coming over and sitting next to Lily.
"Speak of the devil," Lily muttered, glancing at Alice.
"So how are you, Lily?" James asked, slinging his arm around her shoulder.
Lily shrugged it off. "What did I tell you about physical contact, James?"
"'No touching me. Period. If you touch me again I will take away your manhood,'" James said, imitating Lily's voice.
"Right," Lily said. "At least you heard me."
"Did you hear about that Winter Ball, then?" James asked.
"I'm not daft, James. McGonagall just made the announcement."
"Hey, don't blame me for trying to make conversation," James said, putting his hands up defensively. "Are you planning on going?"
"I suppose so," she said. "Don't the Head Boy and Girl have to go?"
James grinned his trademark grin that made nearly every girl who was singly melt at his feet. It made Lily roll her eyes.
"I think you're right," James said. "That means we both have to go."
"That doesn't mean me have to go together," Lily said quickly.
"Thinking about going with me already?" James asked. "I always knew you loved me."
"I not thinking about going with you," Lily said. "I'm thinking about not going with you. Which is what I'll be doing."
"But it'll make things so much easier if we just went together wouldn't it?" James said seriously. "I mean, Head Boy and Girl are meant to be together, are they not? Especially when they're the first two Gryffindors to get it in three decades."
Lily rolled her eyes again. "I still think you're a wanker and I don't want to go to any ball with you."
"I'm hurt, lass, I am," James said, faking Scottish brogue and putting his hands over his heart.
"Why don't you go wallow in your misery somewhere else?" Lily said. "Preferably somewhere far away from here."
"Your wish is my command," James said, getting up. Before she could do anything, he grabbed her hand and kissed it. He leaned closer to her and whispered, "But don't think I'll give up this easy."
"Oh, piss off," Lily said, pulling her hand back as if it had been bitten. She turned to Alice. "Now I'm going to have to go sterilize this thing."
"Well, it couldn't have been that bad," Alice said. "I mean, James is the most eligible bachelor in Hogwarts. You need a date to the Winter Ball. He's been after you since beginning of sixth year. What, exactly, makes him seem so horrible to you?"
Lily's eyes widened. "What makes him seem so horrible to me? Everything! The way he's so arrogant and self-centered and thinks he's the best at everything and the way he thinks he's so handsome and funny and smart and good at Quidditch. I could go on forever, but I'm sure you'd Avada Kedavra me so I'll hold myself back."
"I just don't see what's so wrong about him. Besides all those things you said," she amended quickly.
"He's just all wrong," Lily said. "I can't stand him. I mean, can you seriously picture us together?"
Alice cleared her throat.
"The last two heads dated," Frank put in.
"Oh, don't say you're against me too, Frank," Lily said. "Besides - just because we're Head Boy and Girl together doesn't mean we have to be, you know, together."
"But it does mean that you're spending a lot of time together," Alice said. "Plenty of time to get to know each other better. He could grow on you."
"Ali - we've been prefects together for two years and Heads for a half. He hasn't grown on me. I doubt it'll happen in just another couple months."
"Just before you were telling me how long another couple of months is," Alice said. "You never know."
Lily shook her head. "I wash my hands of you. And you too, Frank. You took her side."
"Well, what do you expect me to do?" he said.
Lily stood up from her seat. "I'm finished eating. I'm going to go to the Library."
"Lil, I'm sorry, I was just saying that-"
"It's not because of that," Lily said. "I just need to read for a little while. There's a new edition of Hogwarts, A History out. Maybe I'll read that."
"But Lily, you hate that book," Alice said.
Lily shrugged. "Maybe it'll grow on me."
~~~~~
James looked up to see Lily leaving the Great Hall alone. She closed the door gently behind her so as not to cause someone to notice, but James, of course, did.
"She looks upset," Remus said, following James' eyes. "Maybe you should follow her."
James shook his head. "If she's upset, I'm the last person she'll want to see."
"Oh, come on James. You're not that bad," Sirius put in.
"But she hates me," James said.
"Lily doesn't-"
"Highly dislikes me, then," James said. "The girl flinches every time I touch her. She yells at me every time I try to talk to her." He brightened slightly. "But that's okay. I'll win her over by Christmas."
"Christmas?" Sirius said.
"Why, you think I can't do it?"
"Nah," Sirius said. "You're James Potter. Guy every girl is after when they're not after yours truly. Of course you can do it."
"Thanks, Padfoot," James said, watching the door where Lily had gone out.
"Just go," Remus said. "She already doesn't like you, you can't make it worse."
"Yeah, that's the spirit, Moony," Sirius said jovially as Peter nodded as he always did.
"Thanks for the vote of confidence," James said. He stood up again and prepared to make a fool of himself. "Well, I'm off. Wish me luck."
~~~~~
A/N: Gah. What have I gotten myself into? This is so very fluffy. Let's hope I can stand it. New chapter coming out soon.
Leave a review if you're feeling friendly. Can I get five reviews?