It's not mine; it's J.K. Rowling's.

Chapter 15: In Which Lily Has a Slight, Minor, Completely Life Changing Setback

Or

In Which Lily Gives Presents

After the hair tie incident, Lily and James got situated back into their arm chair. As they were doing this, James' aunts and uncles opened a few more presents.

In a lull between presents, Lily turned to James and said, "You have to open my present now."

James jumped to his feet and hurried over to the tree, pulling her excellently wrapped present out from beneath the tree; he started to rip the wrappings to shreds before he even got back to the chair.

"You haven't even read the card!" Lily reprimanded, all the while smiling at his enthusiasm.

James looked sheepish and pulled the card off of the mutilated front of the box. He read it and looked up at her, puzzled.

"You can open it now," she told him.

He pulled off the paper and tried to get the lid off of the Welks box (Belks, but not (I love Belks, did all of my Christmas shopping there)). Lily giggled as he realized she'd taped it closed. He deftly ran his fingers under the tape, breaking it in half. He looked up at her gleefully and then pulled the lid off to find 2 neatly folded t-shirts. He looked at her surprised.

"You devil, you can't honestly expect me to wash them and give them back to you."

"But they don't smell good anymore," Lily whined, trying not to smile, "Please!" She put on her puppy dog eyes.

In all of 5 seconds, James had agreed to wash them and was offering up the rest of his shirts for her use as well.

Tristan coughed and said, "I have a strange feeling there's a story behind this."

All of James' relatives nodded in agreement.

"Lily wants me to wash these shirts for her," James said as if that alone explained everything.

Lily, blushing, finished explaining, "I rather stole them actually, so I'm kind of giving them back to him. There's just a high probability I'll steal them back in the future, so now really we're just re-using shirts."

"I thought you said Sirius stole your shirts," Krista said.

"I thought it was him, but I caught the real culprit," James said, pulling Lily to him and kissing her nose, "And she may have as many shirts as she would like."

"It's not my fault they're more comfortable than mine," Lily informed him.

"Of course not," he agreed, sneaking a kiss.

Lily fended him off as he came back for another kiss, "You haven't opened it all yet," she told him.

"I haven't?" He said, examining the mutilated wrappings he had left on the floor.

Lily laughed at him and bent down, fishing through the wrappings, and pulled out a small jewelers' box. "You didn't think I would just get you shirts for Christmas, did you?" Lily teased.

James took the box out of her hand. It looked dwarfed in his large hands and he seemed to be worried about breaking it.

"Just to warn you," Lily added quickly, "I got this before we started going out, so it's not quite as ... thoughtful as your gift."

He delicately flipped the top open and his eyes lit up. She couldn't help but wonder what it was that made him so happy about her small present. He'd gotten much better ones today, like that new broom, but he seemed happier getting the new Head Boy badge from her than when he opened that broom.

Now, you may ask why he needed a new Head Boy badge and really, you don't want to know. But that's never stopped a determined young lady from telling anyone. You see, the badge James received from the school with the note telling him of his placement of Head Boy only made it to the 2nd day of school. In a prank gone horribly wrong, (that Lily only found out about because she was snitching pain cream from the hospital wing when Sirius and James came in) Sirius had some how ended up eating James' badge (Which says a lot about the seriousness with which James went about his head duties). After the nurse magically removed the badge, James didn't particularly want it back, not to mention it was bent past the point of being even vaguely recognizable, so he'd left it with the nurse. Lily had asked him about it later and he'd informed her that he was just going to make do without a badge. He obviously didn't know that it would be quite simple to obtain a replacement, so Lily had done it for him. She had just planned on sending it to him anonymously for Christmas.

"Look!" James said, beaming as he showed the new badge to his dad, "She got me a new Head Boy badge."

"Why did you need a new one?" Krista asked suspiciously. She wasn't mad at him was she? Uh-oh, Lily hadn't meant to get James into any trouble with her present.

James shrugged, "I suppose you could say it's rather lost."

Krista tossed her hands into the air, "Well, you better not lose this one."

"I won't." And it was obvious he wouldn't, since this one had come from Lily.

James pulled Lily on to his lap while they watched more presents being opened and Lily had some fun playing with his hair. She was putting it into spiky little clumps, held together with her hair ties. He looked really funny, but he didn't seem to mind much and kept whispering to her about how beautiful she looked.

Soon there was only one present left under the tree, which was from Lily to Tristan. She really hoped he liked it because she'd put a lot of effort (comparatively speaking) into it. She'd had to dredge up memories she really would have preferred to have left forgotten.

She watched eagerly as he opened it, waiting to see his reaction. She was surprised when Tristan burst out laughing.

Were her drawings that bad?

When Tristan finally stopped laughing, he told her, eyes twinkling, "I'm going to hang this in my office, it's absolutely brilliant." He turned her drawing out so the rest of the family could see it, "A joke map of the Voldemort's fortress; the guys at work are going to love this."

He looked at it again, chuckling, "I can't wait to hear the story behind this one."

Story? Oh right ... story. Ummm ... uh-oh. This wasn't a good thing, since Tristan didn't quite understand what her gift was. And by that very fact, the story was going to be a little bit ... awkward. She should have given him caramel popcorn and told him that a copy machine spat it out at her while she was walking around muggle London. Knowing Purebloods, he'd probably have believed her.

"Well, this summer when I was in Baramore, my cell mate was the lady whose husband built the place. So, of course, she knew the layout because she'd done the decorating. Gods," Lily laughed sharply, "She spent so much time bitching about how the Death Eaters had messed up her artistic vision. Anyway, she made me memorize the layout because she figured it would increase my chances of escaping successfully. And since you're the Head of Auror Defense and all, I figured that a floor plan of Baramore might be kind of ... useful ..." Lily trailed off, painfully aware of everyone in the family looking at her with their mouths hanging wide open.

"So I just sketched out what I remembered," Lily said, deciding to just keep on plowing, "Then I spiffed it up and bit and well ... there you are. I'm sorry the land around it's a bit vague, but it was dark when I got out, so I couldn't see much."

"You ... you escaped Baramore?" Tristan said, his voice filled with disbelief. "This is an actual map?"

"Yeah, it's kind of a long story, but check out the Dark Lord's bedroom," Tristan looked down, his mouth forming an 'O', "You see that passage that leads outside?"

He nodded.

"That's actually a secret passage on the inside of his closet. He doesn't know it's there. Up until about a minute ago, I was the only living person who knew about it, but now I have a little bit of a secret passage club going, don't you think?"

Lily laughed sourly, "It pissed our dearest lordling off to no end when I escaped. He hates being outwitted by anyone, especially a muggle born. Of course, now that I've told you, he'll undoubtedly be even madder. But what's the point of keeping it to myself when it could help people?"

All the while she'd been talking, James' grip on her had been tightening.

"Miss Evans, I don't know how I can ever thank you for this gift," Tristan said, looking truly touched, "This is the most valuable present I've ever been given. Saving that one birthday," he said, grinning fondly at his wife, who smiled at James.

"You were such a good birthday present, James. You just had to get out into the world early to celebrate your father's birthday."

Strangely enough, James blanched at this comment instead of smiling like everyone else. He laughed nervously and tugged at his shirt collar. He was sure acting strangely.

Then Tristan started laughing. "You'll get over it, boy," he said to James.

Since all the presents had been opened, everyone started getting up and going their separate ways. Most of the men were going to look at the map and most of the women were going to the kitchen to work on the big meal for that night; Andrew and Reese had disappeared and no one seemed inclined to comment on that, and Mary and Joe were loudly announcing they were headed back to bed and would kill the next person they saw with a bucket of water.

Soon James and Lily were the only ones left.

"Lily," James whispered, his eyes filled with worry.

"What's wrong?" Lily asked.

"I ... you ... Baramore, Lily. Why didn't you tell me?"

"James, I didn't want you to worry." Lily made a gesture trying to get across the feeling of the whole event being in the past. "I didn't see any reason to bother you about something done and over with."

"Lily, you being trapped in a cell is something I want you to bother me about. Ok?"

Lily sighed, "Alright, next time I get thrown in a cell, I'm make sure you're the first to know."

He looked at her and seemed to decide he wasn't going to get a better offer, so he nodded. "Fine, flower."

Lily felt an inner tremor of fear, "James?"

"Mmmhmm ..." He mummured. He seemed to be pretty occupied with kissing his way down her neck.

"Please don't call me that."

James looked up, raising an eyebrow, "Why not?"

"I just don't like it," Lily snapped. She stood up, getting away from him and paced to the other side of the room.

"Alright fine, I won't call you that anymore. So what do you want to do?" James asked.

Lily looked at him playfully, feeling much better, "Want to slide down the banisters?"

James laughed and dragged her out of the room to the main staircase with its amazing polished banister.

That night at dinner, James spent nearly the whole time sending her puppy love stares that were driving her crazy with the urge to kiss him. Matt, however, declared he didn't think he could stomach sitting beside Lily any longer unless James stopped. So James pouted and stopped. Lily was very disappointed until his foot started rubbing hers under the table. He was sure getting the hang of playing footsy.

James walked her back to her room that night after a playing a game of War against his Uncle Andrew that had lasted for hours. She'd been about to die after the second hour of watching them flip the cards out, and each seem to end up with the exact same number as they'd started with. She didn't think it was physically possible to win that game. In fact, the only reason it had stopped was because Lily had 'accidentally' knocked over the entire table, causing them to lose their decks.

They stopped in front of her door and Lily felt a tugging feeling in her gut.

"James?"

"Yes, love?" He whispered, hugging her.

"You know I love you, right?" She didn't know why, but she felt like she had to make sure he knew.

"Of course I know. I love you too, more than anything."

Lily held on to him tightly. Strangely morbid thoughts running through her head. What if she never saw him again? What if he fell in love with another girl? What if ...

"Are you alright, Lils?"

"Yes, yes, I am," Lily said, and knew she was. All those 'what ifs', they weren't going to happen, not to her and James. This was meant to be.

"Sleep tight," she whispered.

"Don't let the bed bugs bite," James finished for her. He pulled her close, kissing her lightly.

As he turned to go to his room, she pulled him back kissing him long and hard, unable to get enough. She didn't want to let him go.

"Lily," he breathed, sounding like a drowning man.

She reluctantly let go of him and watched as he backed across the hall never breaking eye contact with her and then disappeared into his room.

"I love you," she said to the empty hallway.

Walking to her night stand, Lily took off the gorgeous necklace James had given her. She gently ran her fingers over it admiring the way it seemed to radiate good feeling. She was about to change into her PJs, when she was suddenly struck with the intense and insane longing to go make a snow angel. She remembered how much she loved them and the brilliant feeling of lying in the snow recapturing your childhood. Besides, James had promised her snow angels and she sure hadn't seen any yet.

Throwing on James' cloak, which he had given her to wear, she carefully made her way to the kitchen. When she reached it without getting lost, not even once, she did a little happy dance in the dim glow of the night-light on the wall. She took the door on her left that led outside and made sure that the door didn't lock behind her. She didn't want a repeat of the incident two nights ago.

The snow was so beautiful and pristine. She walked about 50 steps from the door and threw herself on the ground, moving her arms and legs to make her angel. She laughed, enjoying the cool pricks of snow on her unprotected hands. She lay there a bit looking at the clear sky. It was so peaceful. She felt a sense of safety pervading her senses, the lasting uneasiness from her gut feeling in the hallway dissipated.

What had she been worrying about anyway? It was a laugh that James would ever fall in love with anyone else, well, except maybe their kids; she expected him to love them as well as her. Kids, with James. Merlin, she couldn't wait! She could see them now with their beautiful little faces. Some would have his hair, some hers, some his eyes and bad eyesight, and some her green eyes. She could keep going forever. She just hoped they had at least one girl. She didn't think she could keep her sanity if she was trying to raise a whole house of Potter boys. She'd definitely need Tristan's handbook to Potter men then. She sighed happily; the future had never been so bright or inviting.

She sat up carefully. She jumped as far as she could as she got up, trying to keep her footprints from marring her angel.

She turned and looked at it happily. Her snow angel urge had been appeased. She giggled, looking at it. One day she would be making snow angels with her kids. She could see James out here with them, laughing as he looked at his wife on the ground with their children. Her heart was so full.

Brimming with happiness, she turned to go inside and ran into someone.

"Sorry," she said automatically.

"No need to apologize, my flower," the man replied, "No need at all."

Lily tried to say something, but her mouth wasn't forming words.

"Speechless?"

That got her going. She was never speechless.

"Hardly, I was just pondering how you came by the nerve to be anywhere near the Potter's house."

"Yes, it was a pity I had to order those unspeakables' deaths, but they were getting to close to my plans."

"But, pray tell, my dear," he whispered, moving closer, his sick breath flowing over her, "What would the Potter's be able to do to me?"

"I don't know, but it probably wouldn't be pretty."

"I agree, just the opposite of your beauty." He moved to run a hand down her cheek and she backed away, accidentally trampling footprints on her angel.

"Enough talk, flower. It's time to leave." He held a hand out to her.

"I'm not going anywhere with you, Tom."

He flinched at her use of his name, then snapped out an arm, grabbing her and pulling her to him.

She didn't struggle. What good would it do? He'd just hurt her more. She did, however, keep her body stiff and eye him like he was a lower life form.

"Strong as always, but not strong enough," he said, his lips disgustingly close to her own.

He pulled out his wand and her world filled with pain, but she didn't scream. He'd have a silencing charm up anyway. What good would it do?

She shouldn't have come outside. She should have kept on the lily necklace. She'd promised James she would. She'd broken her promise. At that thought, her heart filled with more pain than any curse could cause her.

The Dark Lord stopped the curse.

"Why don't you scream, flower?"

"I won't give you that satisfaction," she ground out.

He grunted, "I do so love your fire."

"What do you know of my fire?" Lily said bitterly, struggling to push herself to her knees.

"I know that I want it," he said, roughly grabbing her chin and tilting her head up, so she was looking at him.

She was being forced to supplicate to him.

Her heart filled with anger and she whispered her eyes flashing with her fire, "My fire is mine to give to whom I will and I would never give it to someone as vile as you."

He tightened his grip on her chin and she knew she'd have bruises there come morning, but she kept going.

"I can't stop you from having my body," she said, triumph coloring her words, for she knew that she had won this argument, "But you will be sadly disappointed, for what you desire cannot be taken, it must be given."

"We will see what you are willing to give," he said, his eyes slits of desire and hate.

Then her head was hit viscously from behind and everything went black.

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Thanks for reading and EXTRA thanks for reviewing.

By the way, bonus points if you saw that I completely stole that line about Lily being to be able to give her fire to who she would from the LotR's because I love those movies so much.

heh heh heh ... on the subject of future updates, the magic 8 ball says that the outlook is bleak; sorry. Turns out that some genius in the school system decided that the senior exit project should be done in junior year, so that's what I'll be doing for the next month or so. There's only a few more chapters left, so I'm trying to get as much typed up as I can, but I'm not making any promises.

Daystar - My birthday - 2 days - we'll shoot rotten fruit - want to come? - better yet - let's celebrate early - tomorrow - I'll supply the shooter - and the rotten oranges - the green will never be the same again.

Bagpiper - I know who you are ... and I know your phone number ... so that means I can find out where you live if I want too ... I'm sure your mom would tell me ... Thanks for the review.

Hannah/Prongs312 - I'm so so so sorry. I have no clue how I managed to leave you out. I hope that this response will kind of make up for it. And about the reviews, I have no clue. I don't even review stories I read. I'm so useless. SORRY!

Ennui-EAF - I'm not technically doing personal reviews, but I had to respond to yours about the wand thing. I was, at one point a long time ago, going to do something with Lily being able to use James' wand, but it kind of fell through the cracks. Basically, I just wanted to tell you good spotting, because when I first wrote that it was going to be a big thing (even if it's not now) and you should feel extra special.