Started: Dec 22, 2004

Finished: Jan 2nd 2005 .;

Disclaimer: I do not own most of the characters nor Harry Potter

Sidebar: okay, its taking me a long time because when I first started this chapter, it got really confusing for me and I hated the way it went. Now that its finished, I still don't like it . Sorry for the long wait and here it is:

Chapter 2: Christmas Eve

It was now the night before Christmas and down in the common room, Lily was busy at work. The tower was silent for people were away. Charlotte in the showers, James and Sirius in the kitchen and Remus in the library. The snow outside kept on falling and wouldn't stop at all but Lily always loved it when it snowed like this. She let out a sigh as she glanced at the window and watched the snow fall. She tried to come up with a way to get Remus and Charlotte alone in a room without any interruptions or a reason for either of them to leave.

Hmm… this is a toughie. Lily thought as she sat and pondered. Getting Charlotte and Remus alone in a room together so they could have a chance to do what Sirius and his girl of the week.. no day would do. She kept on thinking and trying to come up with an idea when the common room filled with laughter. She turned her attention to James, Sirius and Remus walking in and laughing about something. Seeing it was they, she quickly looked down and began her work again and tried to ignore them.

Sirius and Remus took their seats by the fireplace but James made his way over to the table where Lily sat and pulled out a chair adjacent to hers. Turning the chair around, he sat down with his arms folded on the top of the chair and his head resting on his head as he watched Lily. She continued to scratch her quill across the parchment as James watches her intently. He smirked at seeing her biting on her bottom lip as she paused and read over her work. For a long time now, he has yearned to kiss those lips of Lily's. Its been a goal of his, silly but still a goal.

Glancing over, Lily caught James and their eyes locked. Her cheeks turned a bit red when he smiled at her and she quickly glanced back down at her work. "What do you want Potter?" She said rather coolly without stumbling her words.

"Nothin" James replied with a shrug before smirking again.

Lily continued her work but felt a bit frustrated knowing James was still watching her. "Do you ever have fun Evans?" James asked, breaking the silence between the two.

"Only when you're not around, Potter, only when you're not around…" Lily replied, keeping her eyes down and her quill moving.

"What about the first time we met on the train? You had fun then." James was right. She did have fun on the train with him and that was the only time.

"That was before you started to show your true colors and Black reminded me you were that little boy that poured sand in my hair and put a frog down my dress." Lily replied with a slight hiss at the end. She was referring to the time back when they were about 6 and had met at a playground. Lily was playing in the sandbox when James had tripped and dumped a pale of sand on Lily's head before the frog he had just found jumped out of his pocket and into Lily's dress. Little did she know, it was all an accident and he didn't mean for that to happen. The little James had just wanted to be friends with her and thought he would help her out.

"Oh yeah… heh..." James sat there and rubbed the back of his neck.

"So where were you… and Black today?" Lily asked when she saw he was more embarrassed then she was that day.

"ahh.. the Miss Evans missed me."

Lily laughed. "Of course not. It was extremely quiet up here in the common room and I later realized you two were missing all-day and return with a few large packages."

"Can't a bloke go out and pamper himself?" James asked teasingly.

"How can you pamper yourself if you're not allowed to leave the grounds?" Lily asked, ignoring his tone and looked up. "How?"

"Dumbledore was holding them for me." James replied coolly. He wanted to tell her about his invisible cloak but couldn't… Now wasn't the right time.

With a brow cocked, Lily continued her work. She knew he was lying and didn't care. She glanced at the time and packed her things.

"Aww where are ya goin?" James asked, saddened to see her go.

"Bed. I'm tired and need sleep. Good night." Lily said as she waved them good-bye.

James stood up and pushed the chair back under the table. He walked over to the couch and sat down beside Sirius who was grinning. "How was your chat with Evans?" He asked.

"I just wanted to shag her there on the spot." James replied with a sigh as he sunk deep into the cushions of the couch.

"We would've left you two alone." Remus smirked from his spot.

"Yeah yeah…"

Upon hearing the portrait, their heads turned and found Charlotte walking in with her hair still wet. "Enjoy your shower Donny?' Sirius taunted with a grin.

"Oh go eat a toe-rag.." She replied, walking past them and trying to avoid eye contact with Remus.

Seeing an opportunity, James hopped over the couch and lands in front of Charlotte, blocking her way. "Outta my way" She demanded.

"Nope." He replied.

"Move Potter."

"I'll move if you do me a favor.."

"No" Charlotte took a step to the side and James followed.

"Charlotte Please," James said, catching her the way he caught Lily.

"Take a seat" He said, leading her to the couch and she reluctantly sat.

"Make it quick." She demanded as James stood in front of her.

"You see… I am sure you are well aware of my feelings for Lily." James started.

"Yeah."

"This year, this vacation is my last attempt to finally win her over." He lied about his last attempt. Pfff… James'll never give up.

Charlotte nodded along.

"And, Charlotte, I am completely serious about wanting to be with Lily." He stared into her eyes, making sure her eyes don't wander.

"Yeah…..?"

"And I know that Lily has a journal in her trunk…"

"Nuh-uh! I'm not going to do that!" Charlotte stood up. "No way am I going to take Lily's journal!" "SHHH!!!" James hissed.

"I am sorry but there is no way I am going to betray-" Charlotte continued but with a hushed voice. "Just think about it." James interrupted her with a sincere expression.

Charlotte sat there for a minute or two before saying "Fine. But that'll be my final decision!" and stood up.