A/N: Before anything else, I would like to acknowledge my reviewers for my last one-shot fic (Of Bashing and Banging...I wrote this one ages ago...) and I would like to thank them for their wonderful and encouraging reviews.

Anyway…

Hereis the first one-shot fic I have written for the holiday season. I hope you enjoy it! I know, it's nothing special, but I thought that it would be nice to give you all a little something for the holidays.

Disclaimer: I own nothing (except for Anna, Sam and the plot). Anything you recognize, I do not own. (coughit'sJK'scough)

And now! Without further ado! I present to you!::::

SILENCE IS GOLDEN

"Prongs!" Sirius whispered excitedly as the clock struck eight pm, "It's time, mate!"

James took in a deep breath and let it slowly back out; "Wish me luck, guys."

"You're going to need a lot of it, I assure you," Remus smirked.

"Thanks, Moony," he answered sarcastically.

"No problem," Remus beamed.

"Go already!" Sirius intervened, "We'll meet you down there with our own dates. Make a show about everything, why don't you."

"Right," James replied, now looking thoroughly shaken as Sirius pushed him roughly out of the Common Room.

Sirius slammed the portrait hole close and sighed as Remus said, "He's gonna screw it up. I just know it."

"Where is he?" Lily asked as she heard the clock strike eight.

"Don't worry, Lils," her best friend, Sam, assured her, "I'm sure that he'll show up."

Lily kept on pacing, "I mean, I don't even know why I agreed to come tonight. I don't know why I even listened to him!"

"Lily, just relax," Sam replied, "He'll be here soon."

"You'd better be right," Lily sighed, "And this better not be another one of their bloody pranks."

"I doubt it," Sam grinned, "Anyway, I've got to go. Remus might be wondering where I went off to at Christmas," she winked.

Lily pouted, "Oh, all right. Say hi to the bloke for me. You're lucky you've got a decent date for the evening."

Sam chuckled, "Don't worry, Lily. James will behave himself just for you. Remember that."

Lily rolled her eyes as Sam took off.

"I promise you your date will be decent as well," a voice came from behind her.

Lily shrieked. A hand covered her mouth to keep her from drawing any attention. Fuming, she whirled around to glare at the smirking face of none other than James Potter.

"Potter! Gods, you scared me half to death!"

James looked at her apologetically, "Sorry, Evans."

Lily looked closely at him, "Well, I suppose it's all right. Just don't do that anymore!"

"Sorry," he said again, "well, shall we go now, then?" James said, offering his arm out to her. She nodded and took his arm without question.

"Let's get this over with."

They walked arm in arm down the corridor and towards the grounds. Lily fiddled with the hem of her coat as she warmed up more than normally.

"Did you get your present?" James asked quietly into the silence.

"Erm, yes I did." Lily blushed. Why am I blushing?! "Thanks for…it."

James gave a small smile, "No problem. I figured that the emerald would match your eyes perfectly," he looked at the necklace she was wearing and noticed that it was indeed his present and he grinned wickedly, "I was right."

Lily smiled, looked down and blushed even more in spite of the situation. They continued to walk to the carriages as the snow continued to fall lightly around them.

Sirius, Anna, Remus, and Sam sat in their own carriages and waited patiently for the last couple to arrive.

James helped Lily get in first and took her coat as they got in their carriage.

"Why is it so warm in here?" Lily asked as they started to move to Hogsmeade.

"Compliments of Dumbledore," he replied.

"Oh?" she looked at him as he answered.

"Actually, no. Dumbledore let us borrow the carriages. Remus did the bit of warming them up for all of us."

"Oh."

Silence draped around the two as they moved on their way towards their destination.

"Erm," James said after he couldn't take it anymore, "so, enjoying your holiday so far?"

Lily nodded, "My parents have owled me twice, and Petunia isn't talking to me, so it's been heaven." I don't have to tell him that Mum and Dad have been asking about him lately. Weird, actually.

He cleared his throat when she said 'parents' but asked her, "Your sister's that bad?"

"Like hell," she grinned up at him.

James laughed.

Silence; James agonized every moment until Lily spoke up.

"Listen, James," she said.

"Lily," he countered, and before any of them knew it, they were both rambling on.

"I know we never really got to know each other well-"

"I know that I've been such a jerk over the past few years-"

"-and I'm really sorry about treating you like I did-"

"-and I'm sorry about making you madder than you meant to be-"

"-and I know you never deserved those things I said-"

"-did to you-"

"-and I want to apologize for-"

"-everything I did-"

"-said."

Lily looked away and sighed as James ran his fingers through his hair.

"I'm sorry," they said at the same time. They caught each other's eye and gave an awkward laugh.

"I guess we both have had our own share of faults." Lily said quietly

"Yeah, we have," he answered looking out the window

"I don't know why I'm saying this, but I really think that it's time we should make up for all of our, erm, mistakes," she, in turn, looked out the other window.

"How do you suppose we do that?" he asked her softly. Lily shrugged as she felt her spine shiver (since it was quite warm in the carriage, she was sure it had nothing to do with the weather).

"Actually, I was thinking-"

"-Here we are! Finally!" Sirius' voice rang out as Lily jumped in her seat. "C'mon, you two! Let's get a move on!"

"Right," James muttered. He helped Lily get down before he jumped off.

The six of them ran towards the Three Broomsticks and hurriedly went inside.

"James! Sirius! Remus!" the woman called out from the counter, "A pleasure to see you three here tonight!"

"Madam Rosmerta! Looking wonderful as ever," Sirius answered. Anna nudged him in the ribs, "Oh, right, on a date."

Anna giggled, "Don't get your good looks up on high hopes tonight, Sir."

"Yes, Ma'am."

James rolled his eyes and nodded his head toward a table in the back.

"C'mon, you guys," he said to the party, "Let's have funlike there wasno tomorrow."

Remus laughed, "Not too much fun, though, right, Jamsiepoo-?"

Lily snorted, "Jamsiepoo," she repeated while trying to stifle a laugh.

James scowled, "Well, my dear Lilikins, my mother used to call me that."

Lily started laughing, "At least Lilikins is more decent that Jamsiepoo."

Sirius howled with laughter, "She's got a right point there, mate, come to think of it, actually."

And so, the night progressed on with twenty-four full bottles of Butterbeer and two shots of Firewhiskey (compliments of Madam Rosmerta after she whispered 'shh…' to them).

After two hours of hiccupping and joking around, each couple separated their ways to enjoy their own night alone (in the case of James and Lily, just to spend time to get to know each other better).

James and Lily headed over near the Shrieking Shack and found a bench to sit on. James noticed right when they left the bar that Lily's teeth were chattering and she was constantly shivering. However, it took a while before she noticed it herself, until James took off his own coat and draped it over her shoulders.

"I'm so sorry, Lily," he apologized, "It's my fault you're freezing, if only I wasn't such a forgetful git, I would've remembered to take your coat, too-"

"James, it's all right," she cut in, "I'm worried about you, actually," she took off the coat and handed it back to him, "you're going to be freezing in a moment, I assure you-"

"-no, no take it, it's my fault-"

"-no, please, James, it's your coat, I couldn't just-"

"-Lily, better me than you to freeze to death."

Lily giggled.

"What?" he asked confused.

She silently continued to laugh, "It's just that we argue over the smallest and silliest of things."

James smiled, "Oh, well, we always have, actually."

Lily smiled back and felt her heart skip a beat.

"Here, I have an idea," she spread his coat and draped it over both their shoulders.

"There," she said as she rubbed her hands and blew into them.

James suddenly noticed how close they were, and felt his hands become sweaty, and he gulped nervously.

They sat uncomfortably distant from one another with their only means of a heater.

James tried to wrap his arms casually around her, but thought better of it.

"James, it's okay," she smiled aftereyeing his thirdattempt, "I don't mind."

"Are you sure?" he gulped again and licked his lips instinctively, "I mean-"

"Yes, I'm sure," Lily nodded, not meeting his eyes.

"Erm, okay, then," and with careful movements, he finally got her in his arms.

"Just relax," Lily whispered softly. James nodded.

"Hmm," Lily whispered after a few moments of quiet.

"What is it?"

"Well...It's just...it's so warm on this cold night and-" she stopped rambling and sighed, "Just what were you exactly planning tonight, James?"

James coughed, "Planning?" he squeaked.

"Well, yes," she answered somewhat lamely, "My parents have been asking about you, which I think is just nonsense," she sighed, "I know you're not like other guys-"

James beamed.

"-and you always have your extraordinary ways of charming a girl, like, well, like me. You've always tried drastic measures to get my attention, I know this," she said quickly as James opened his mouth to protest, "And, I guess, I was always, well, caught on your ideas, I guess, is how you can say it."

James looked at her resting against his chest and gulped again. Suddenly, his coat wasn't the only thing keeping him warm.

"So, you're saying that even though I've asked you about 100 times-"

"93, actually."

"-I still…wait…you counted? I was only choosing a random number…"

Lily shrugged in his arms, "I figured I could throw it back at you someday," she grinned.

James chuckled.

"You really are different," he said.

"Different good or different bad?"

"Good. Definitely."

They stayed like that for a few more minutes until James checked his watch to see how much time they had left.

"Oh, shit!" he gasped.

"What is it?" Lily asked him, worried.

"We were supposed to leave here fifteen minutes ago!" he groaned and picked helped Lily up from the bench, "C'mon!" he said and took her hand. He blushed doing so, and could've sworn Lily did, too.

They both ran through the streets dimmed by the late-night stores and toward the carriages.

"What happened to you two?" Sirius asked, "Prongs, we promised Dumbledore: ten o'clock not ten fifteen."

"Sorry, Padfoot, Moony," he said as he tried to catch his breath, "We got held up at the Shrieking Shack-"

"Oh?" Remus asked suspiciously, "And just what were you two doing down there?"

"Nothing!" Lily cried.

"Really, Lils?" Sam asked wriggling her eyebrows.

"Oh, sod off, you guys," James said, "Let's just go back already."

"Ooh," Anna giggled, "James is standing up for Lily now."

Sirius laughed, "He always has, love. He always has."

James and Lily blushed as they went inside their carriage.

"No snogging until the Common Room!" Sirius' voice called out.

"Honestly," James muttered as Lily laughed uneasily.

Silence, yet again.

"James," Lily spoke up after she couldn't take it anymore.

"Yes?" He answered. She chose her words carefully.

"Thank you," she finally breathed out, "For the great time…I really did have fun tonight. And also for the, well, the warmth." She blushed furiously as she said the latter. Way to go, Evans, nice choice of words.

James ruffled his already messy hair and gave her a lop-sided grin.

"Er, no problem…?"

"Right," Lily sighed as she looked out the window again.

Silen- no, scratch that. A loud bang issued from the front of their carriage and Lily let out a yelp.

"James!" she whispered, "what was that?" she turned to look at him for an answer but he was only grinning. Realization dawned on her and she laughed, "You didn't plan this, I suppose?"

James shook his head innocently, "Why, no, Miss Evans, of course I didn't plan this," he bent closer to whisper in her ear, "I just took drastic measures for you."

Lily grinned wildly.

"Just watch," and he pointed out the window

She nodded eagerly and looked out. Instead of the castle coming into view, she noticed that they were flying over the Forbidden Forest. She looked behind them and saw that they were the only ones heading in that direction.

"What about the others?" she asked him, somewhat frightened.

"Each of them took their own detour," he answered, still grinning. He looked at her and said "Don't worry, Evans, I won't try something," after seeing her face.

Lily nodded again.

Their carriage continued to fly over the trees until Lily felt it descending towards what looked like a clearing in the field.

"What is that?" she asked quietly when she saw little decorations spread out.

"That, my dear, is your own getaway for the holidays."

"Huh?"

James coughed, "You'll see."

The carriage finally came to a stop and Lily hesitantly got outside. She looked around at the trees and saw them all decorated with Christmas lights.

"Wow," she whispered, "Did you do all of this, James?"

He shrugged, "I had a little help," he motioned towards the small cottage in the middle that Lily just noticed, "Well, don't you want to see what's inside?"

Lily grinned and hurried over.

She walked in, and to her amazement, she was back in her own room. The room she had as a child. Her (as in, really her) stuffed animals littered the white carpeted floor and a shelf full of crowded dolls were placed in the back. Everything was in its place. The bed was even messy, as if someone had indeed slept on it.

"James! This is wonderful!" she exclaimed as she ran to clutch some of her toys, "They look absolutely real!"

"Well, that's because they are."

"What?" she turned and looked at him.

James shrugged and sat down on the small wooden chair, "I've been asking your parents to bring in some things. I know they would, because I know that they like me," he grinned, "and they brought home everything, I suppose. Don't ask me how…I figured the sent a dozen or so owls just to."

Lily smiled and went back to her inspecting, "So, you're saying, that you did all of this, in a week?"

"Well, yes, I mean, if you're counting eight days as a week-"

"Oh, James! This is the best present anyone's ever given me!"

James gave a silly grin, "Really?"

She laughed, "Yes! Thank you so much!" she took a few steps toward him and gave him a short hug, "You don't know how much I miss this room! The last time I was here was seven years ago…can you imagine? My whole room has changed, since Petunia took over it, and now looking at this," she looked around again, "it just really…wow."

"Makes your insides melt?" he offered.

Lily laughed again, "Yes!"

"Makes your heart glow?"

"Yes!"

"Makes you forget about everything in the world?"

"Yes," she suddenly realized how close they were and gulped.

"Makes you-"

"-yes."

James laughed, "Lily, I didn't even finish."

She blushed, "Well, whatever it was, I'm sure that it's a certified 'yes.'"

He looked at her mischievously, "Even if I was about to say 'Makes you want to kiss me?'"

By now, she was sure steam was coming out of her ears.

"Well," she paused, "We'll just have to see about that one," and she went back to looking around the room.

James slumped back down on the chair in defeat.

They stayed in the room for a few more minutes. Lilystarted to talk about each object of affectionuntil James said, "I think we should head back. The charm will wear off soon, and everything will go back home. And I also suspect that Dumbledore will be very angry with us if we don't make it before midnight."

"Why? What time is it now?"

He checked his watch and said, "Almost midnight," he gave a soft laugh, "We have about ten minutes to make it back on time."

Lily smiled, "Well, what are we waiting for, then?"

He grinned back.

They went back into the carriages and as it took off, Lily stayed closer to James than before.

"So, Dumbledore doesn't know that we went here?" she asked.

James shook his head, "No, and it's better that way, I assure you."

She laughed, "I know you've always been one to bend the rules."

He shrugged, "Dumbledore trusts me-er-us, rather."

"I think I trust you, too."

He quickly looked at her, "What?"

She smiled up at him, her cheeks flushed, "I said that I trust you, too."

They were both smiling on their way back.

The view for the couple was amazing. With the breath-taking Hogwarts Castle in sight, they knew nothing could pull their high spirits down.

Lily found herself actually dreading the end of the night as they walked close to each other to the Common Room. Who knew James Potter could be such a gentleman? But then, Sam's words echoed in her mind, James will behave himself just for you…she decided she would give Sam and extra present for saying it.

"Well, here we are," James said roughly as they stopped at the bottom of the Girl's Dormitories.

Lily nodded numbly, "Yeah" was all she found she could say. She gulped again, willing her voice to come out and say anything.

James looked at her expectantly, but when he realized she would not say anything else, he turned and started to trudge up his own staircase.

"James," she finally said, although it seemed more like a strained squeak than her voice.

He whipped around almost as expected and muttered a quick, "Yes?"

Lily suddenly looked down and said quietly, "Erm, thanks…again…for the time tonight…I mean I truly enjoyed the time we spent. And I was hoping if…well, if-"

"We could do it again?" he offered.

She nodded bluntly, "Yes, if…that is, we…could, well, do it again…sometime…soon," she blushed furiously as James came to a halt in front of her before she finished.

"Lily," he whispered. A shiver ran down her spine, again.

"Yes?" she whispered back.

"You're standing under the mistletoe."

Lily quickly looked up and jumped after she saw that indeed, she was standing underneath the mistletoe.

"Oh, bugger," she cursed under her breath. She heard James chuckle at her attempt of swearing and as she looked up at him, the look on his face immobilized her legs, enabling her from any movement whatsoever. She licked her lips nervously as James came closer and closer in front of her face.

"Happy Christmas, Lily Evans," was the last thing she heard before his lips brushed over hers and an electric shock went through her whole body.

Before she knew it, she was reacting to him and she decided that this kiss was, indeed, probably the best she ever received. I hope to receive more of this again soon, she thought. Much to her dismay, however, as if James heard her think, he pulled away and broke the kiss before she could really respond. She looked at him and felt her hand tug lightly on his hair. He parted from her close embrace, smiled, and winked.

"Good night, Miss Evans."

Lily smiled back, blushing to the roots of her hair, and whispered, "Good night, James."

With one last nod, he quickly ran up the Boy's staircase and Lily heard the door slam close. She heard a faint noise that sounded much like a 'woohoo!', and Lily decided she would need plastic surgery to get the smile off of her face.

Slowly and tiredly, she trudged up her own staircase, with no purpose of sleeping at all.

A/N: Well, there you have it! The first of three one-shot fics for the Christmas holiday! I know, it was a little long, but hey, a fic's a fic...heehee...Hope you liked it! If you did, please review! If you didn't, review anyway!

The second one-shot, I hope, will be posted on Christmas Eve. Then the last and final one will be the day after Christmas. My schedule has been a bit busy, but I have squeezed some time for this bit.

Cookies to all who review! (::) ((yummy…just like Santa's cookies...you can choose from chocolate chip, banana nut, raisin, plain, and radish!...no...wait...radish?! where did this selection come from?!?!))