Thanks to all the reviewers! Sorry I didn't reply sooner. If you want me to reply please tell me.
Fille-chica143 No offence taken. I know what a prude is and, yes, I think you would probably call me one. It depends... LOL.
Dani Necho Yes!
Bubbles What do we do? We swim, swim...
Kim Kotchanski You'll see. (Gollum voice) You will see...
Beyonce-85 No, never watched that.
Kiwiknight Not yet. Maybe later.
Lily screamed as the covers were thrown off the bed to reveal a young man with messy black hair.
"What is it, Lily?" he asked her sleepily. He yawned and then he brightened, his mischievous hazel eyes twinkling; "I remember now; Merry Christmas!"
He got up and threw his well-muscled arms around her. He was wearing only his boxers...
"Get off me!" Lily shrieked indignantly, pushing his strong arms away.
He reached out and touched he cheek, "Are you all right, Angel?" his voice was soft and he sounded concerned. Lily didn't care.
"I know who you are!" she gasped, partly in fear and partly in relief that she was not facing a total stranger, as she recognized him, "Potter," she hissed through clenched teeth, her emerald eyes narrowed and her body tense.
"You needn't sound so surprised, you know me better than anyone else, remember?" The concern was back on James' face as he asked, "What is it, Angel?"
"My name isn't Angel, Potter. It's Lily, Lily Evans," she spat angrily, scowling at him.
"Evans? You haven't been Evans for about a year and a half," he looked partly surprised and partly amused at her outburst.
The colour drained from Lily's already pale face and this time she didn't pull away when he lifted her limp left hand and kissed it gently.
She saw a huge diamond circled by a few tiny emeralds glittering on her ring finger.
"No Angel," he grinned and looked up into her face, "you're Lily Potter."
Lily's sinking heart reached the bottom of her stomach. She blinked back a flood of tears. She had known deep inside her heart as soon as she had seen James what the truth was about her future but she had been denying it; telling herself it just couldn't be true.
"No," she whispered, pulling her small hand from his warmer and larger one and sobbing she ran from the room.
She stumbled twice, nearly blinded by her own hot tears. They ran down her cheeks steadily as she moved along. She went into the next room. It was a guest bedroom that was just as beautiful as the main bedroom. She dived into the queen-sized bed and pulled the lime green sheets over her body. She curled into a tight little ball and cried freely.
"Lily," a soft voice called, "please tell me what happened and come to the lounge, it wouldn't be Christmas without you."
She stiffened as a hand moved down her back, soothing her and a voice said tenderly, "You can tell me anything and I'll still love you. Please Lily."
She slowly sat up and turned to face him, her eyes red and slightly puffy and her nose running badly. She sniffed loudly.
James grinned, "That wasn't so hard, was it? So will you please tell me what's wrong now?"
He passed her a tissue he had just conjured and he smiled at her encouragingly.
"Why should I tell you?" she asked him once more narrowing her eyes but this time in suspicion.
He looked put out and confused for a second before he replied; "Why not me? I know you well and I might be able to help you."
Lily leaned back considering. James reached out to take her hand.
She was too quick for him and pulled her hand away before he could touch it,"Hands off, Potter."
James drew back from her and leaned against the bead's headboard and he looked at her expectantly; "Tell me." This time it wasn't a question but a gentle yet firm command.
Reluctantly she explained her problem, although as she went on it became easier to talk. Nonetheless she finished feeling rather stupid.
He nodded thoughtfully when she stopped.
"And you made this wish on Christmas Eve?"
"Yes, a wish about my family," she felt strangely comfortable telling James what had happened. It made her feel almost... safe.
"Flitwick mentioned that to us in seventh year after Easter, some sort of wishing charm activated I think."
Professor Flitwick was the Charms teacher at Lily and James' old school, Hogwarts.
"He mentioned it just before the NEWTS and it wasn't taught in depth too much although he told us how it happened and how to reverse it. He also informed us that it was very rare and only if the person wishing it to happen was totally sincere would it work."
Lily was still oblivious as to what the wishing charm was all about, "Can you try to explain the whole charm better?"
"Well; if a person wishes on a star it would normally have no effect on them, but, if you are entirely sincere and if getting that wish would benefit you or teach you something important, it will sometimes work. As I said before though; it's very rare." James ran a hand through his messy hair.
"How do I get back then?" Lily asked impatiently.
He looked thoughtful, "It's not that simple, Lily. It's difficult to reverse it."
"How?" she persisted.
James sighed, almost wistfully; "You have to fully appreciate that the wish has been granted. And you won't be able to get back until whatever brought you here feels that you understand why you had to come," he smiled hesitantly, "Judging by your reaction when you first saw me that might take some time to happen."
She eyed him curiously, all her original doubts flooding back to her. 'How could I have married James?' she wondered, 'Did he force me into it?'
Lily cleared her throat. "I married you willingly, right?" she asked a little awkwardly.
"Of course," he grinned almost smugly.
It was enough. Lily could see that James Potter had not changed one bit. He still was trying to win her over with his arrogant charms.
'Well it won't work,' she told herself stubbornly.
She sighed gloomily,"You're right; I'll definitely be here for a while."
They both got dressed, Lily in the spare bedroom and James' in the main one. They silently walked into the lounge; an airy room with magical snow and real, unmelted icicles. In pride of place a huge fir tree stood; covered in tinsel and baubles. A fire was already crackling in the grate and a large pot of Floo powder stood next to the fireplace. It was just as Lily had always pictured Christmas with her family to be; perfect. James handed her a large and neatly wrapped parcel from under the Christmas tree.
"Merry Christmas, Lily," he grinned at her.
"Thanks, Potter," her own reply was far less cordial.
He turned away and lifted up a parcel addressed
to him.
It was a very strange scene and if any of the couple's
friends were to have looked in on the occasion they would have
thought Lily utterly insane.
Lily was slowly unwrapping things like muggle clothes (beautiful dresses and skirts) or wizarding books on charms or other subjects that interested her. She also got a silver necklace with a blue pendant and matching earrings. She silently watched James who was tearing through his pile as joyously as any five year old would. His pile had many things to do with Quidditch and also a few things like Transfiguration books. There were even a few practical joke items and of course some chocolate. He was enthusiastically thanking Lily after he opened any present from her though it was plain that she had no idea why she had bought the presents.
She actually looked as though she hadn't bought them. (This was of course true although to an onlooker it would seem very strange.) Last Christmas both had been talking, teasing and laughing with each other, they also thanked and hugged one another. Although James was still rather chirpy it was obvious that he wasn't enjoying this Christmas nearly as much as he had enjoyed the last one.
As they finished unwrapping the last of the presents James vanished all the wrapping paper and smiled once more at Lily.
"Thanks for that Quidditch book, Lil; I'm going to really enjoy it."
"Thanks for all of this, Potter," her own tone was rather cold yet polite. She had loved her presents of course but she didn't know how James had managed to get things that so well fitted her personality.
'He's your husband, remember? That's how he knows,' the small voice in her head pointed out.
She still didn't like the idea of marrying Potter, even if he did seem to know her well.
"We'd better get the turkey in the oven," James called to her, "and then I can help you with preparing the rest of the food."
She looked at him inquisitively, "It's just us, right?" She was rather nervous and would prefer it if only James knew what had happened to her since yesterday.
James turned to look at her, again grinning almost mischievously "No; Sirius and Remus are coming." He seemed to be trying to be nonchalant in the hope that Lily wouldn't mind having two of his friends over too much.
Lily groaned and sank back onto the leather couch. James got up from the floor and sat down opposite her.
I know that it is still short for a chapter but at least it's longer than the last one. OK, I know I didn't include Wormtail but I really don't like him (who does?) so I'm just going to say that he's on holiday in... Albania (I really hope that there are lots of cats there)
