That night, Lily found it next to impossible to fall asleep. She had left her dear Nutcracker downstairs in the Common Room, underneath the Christmas tree and for some reason she was worried about him. She knew it was kind of juvenile, but she found herself actually believing James's crazy story… even if she didn't believe it, she didn't want anything else happening to her Nutcracker. So, she quietly crept downstairs into the Common Room, over to the tree and picked up her injured toy soldier, holding him close.

"My poor wounded soldier," she whispered, kissing his cheek. She then walked over to the small chase lounge on the far side of the fireplace, and laid down on it. "Love is the best cure for a broken heart," she told her wooden friend, thinking about how cruel Cilla March had been to the pre-Nutcracker James Potter. "Maybe… maybe I can cure yours." Moments later, she fell fast asleep, the Nutcracker secure in her tight embrace.

"Where in blazes is it?!" James whispered angrily as he searched under the Christmas tree. "It's a wooden doll, it couldn't just walk away!" With the help of his invisibility cloak, James had snuck out to Hogsmeed, borrowed a Muggle tool set from a collector he'd met at Zonko's and snuck back into Hogwarts unnoticed. Well, mostly unnoticed- he really hated Filch's cat. And now he was trying to find the Nutcracker so he could fix it before morning so Lily would be happy… if he'd known the doll would make her so happy, he'd given her one long ago. He loved seeing her smile…

James was about to retreat to his bed, tail tucked firmly between his legs when he heard a soft sigh come from behind him. He turned around and saw Lily sleeping on the chase lounge, fast asleep. He smiled a bit, until he noticed she was shivering. He quickly ran up to his room, grabbed the quilt his mom had made for him last Christmas off his bed and took it down to Lily, covering her up. He then lifted her arm gently and took the Nutcracker from her. He hesitated when she stirred a little, but she didn't wake up.

James let out a sigh, relieved, before sitting on the floor in front of the chase lounge and began to fix the Nutcracker, being careful not to break anything else on accident. As far as he could tell, the wooden dowel pins that held the jaw in place and allowed it to move properly had snapped when Lucius "dropped" the doll on the floor. Getting a pair of pliers out of the tool kit, James reached into the Nutcracker's mouth and pulled out the broken pins. He then removed the other half of each pin from the Nutcracker's jaw, grinning slightly.

"They aren't part of the Nutcracker anymore," he said softly, pulling out his wand. "Meaning Malfoy's spell no longer applies. Reparo." He tapped the dowel pins lightly and they fused back together, like nothing had ever happened. James then replaced pins and gently hammered the jaw back into place. "If it wasn't for this wizard thing, I could make a killing as a handyman."

James got to his feet, the Nutcracker in his grasp and went over to his sleeping angel. He gently lifted her arm, placed the Nutcracker on the chase lounge and rested Lily's arm around him. He wanted to kiss her… just a peck on the cheek, she'd never know that he'd done it. For that reason…

"Good night, Evans." With that, he went back to his bed and went to sleep.

Lily woke up a short time later, a bit confused. Why was she downstairs? Then she saw her Nutcracker and remembered exactly what was going on… wait… her Nutcracker, he was fixed?!

"How the devil…?" Lily sat up on the chase lounge and looked at her doll, moving his jaw up and down carefully, as if at any moment he would break once again. But he didn't- his jaw remained strong. "Oh, Nutcracker," she whispered, hugging him tight. "How did you…" That's when she noticed the quilt. She picked it up and hugged it close. "Oh Potter… thank you…" She got to her feet, leaving her Nutcracker on the chase lounge and headed towards the stairs leading to the boy's beds, planning on returning James's quilt… but she paused in front of the tree. Was she dreaming… or was the tree getting bigger..? No… the tree wasn't getting bigger. She was getting smaller!

Moments later, Lily found herself pawing her way out from under James's quilt. Considering the fact that Lily was a witch, this shouldn't seem the least bit strange to her. This should be somewhat normal to her… but she was totally freaking out.

"WhatthehellisgoingonPotterifthisisyourideaofajokeIsweartoGodIamgoingtoKILLYOU!" she screamed at the top of her lungs… which to the rest of Gryffindor was barely a whisper. "Argh," she angrily, looking around. "What do I do now…?" She sighed, helplessly. Her wand was upstairs, in her robes. Even if she somehow got to her wand, it was at least twice her size. The only things that were her size were the toys under the tree and her Nutcracker on the chase lounge… oh and the mice scurrying around her.

Wait.

Mice?

Scurrying?

Lily's eyes widened as she noticed that there was a large group of mice, at least ten or fifteen running around the Common Room floor… they had her surrounded. The mice circled around her, a few daring to get close and tug at her nightgown. She pulled away from them, squealing a bit as they got close. Finally, she managed to get out of their circle and hide behind a large teddy bear. When she peaked out to see if they were following her… they were all gone.

"What's going on here?" she whispered, a bit timidly, her fearful eyes searching in front of her for the mice. But, as she was looking in front of her, she didn't notice the mouse sneaking up behind her. She didn't notice the mouse sneaking up behind her with the sword in his hand. She didn't notice the mouse sneaking up behind her with the sword in his hand… and seven crowns. One upon each of his seven heads. And his sword looked ready to rest in the middle of Lily's back.