Lanette- Of course you can have Chris!  And I hope you will be satisfied with this chapter!

Soul Stealer Immortal- Cool name.  I'm glad you like my story.  Keep reading!

BlackLupin- Yup yup, Lily is thawing.  And in this chapter, I'm sure you'll be even more satisfied.  Isn't it strange that when James' is awake, talking, living and breathing (not that he's not breathing now, but you get my drift) Lily 'hates' him, but when he's asleep, she… well, doesn't?  Hehe…

MPPSexxySiriusJamesRemus- Thanks for being so faithful!  You're awesome!  Keep reviewing and I'll keep writing!

potts-You're great!  Thanks for being so awesome!  Keep giving me feedback!

A/N: A message to all you artists out there: if you have any favorite scene/character you'd like to sketch, please e-mail it to me!    I've never been the artist myself, so I'd LOVE to see what you'd have to draw.  Thanks!

A/N: Important!  Everyone—you MUST reread Chapter 27, or at least the part I recently added.  It contains some Caitlin/Sirius (right before the part about James' parents) and you MUST read it in order to understand a great deal of this chapter.  I cannot stress how important it is that you read this.  READ!

Chapter 29: Merry Christmas

As soon as James was magically lifted onto a stretcher and carried to the Hospital Wing, Lily ran to her dormitory and slipped something into her pocket.  She reached under Amanda's bed, pulled out her Invisibility cloak and slipped it on

Pretty soon the crowd had cleared, and there were only Nikki and Sirius left in the Hospital Wing.  Both sat in silence.  Remus Lupin came running in.

            "Padfoot, we need to split.  Peter jut accidentally set off a Dungbomb and Filch knows it's him, and naturally he'll suspect us as well…"

Sirius cursed under his breath.  He grabbed his broomstick and ran.

So it was only Nikki, sitting in the silence, and Lily watching from around the corner.  Nikki sat there for a while, then took his hand in hers, squeezed it, and kissed him lightly.

Lily felt her blood boil.

Nikki stood up and left the Hospital Wing, not seeing Lily.  Lily walked into the Wing and sat by James' side.  After a while, she awkwardly took his hand.  She felt it was her duty to repay him; that's what she told herself.  But though her brain did not know it yet, her heart held a different story.

Hours passed.  Darkness fell.  Hogwarts went to bed, and so did Lily.  The only difference was that she was still sitting by James' side.  She woke up while it was still dark.  She took the inkwell out of her pocket, slipped it into James' hand, and closed his fingers around it.

            "Merry Christmas," Lily whispered.

-

The next day, people were leaving for the postponed Christmas holidays.  Friends and couples were saying goodbye.  Caitlin and Sirius had both decided to stay at Hogwarts.

            "I'll never have to go back to the bloody cursed house again," Sirius was saying fiercely.

            "Sirius… if you don't mind my asking," Caitlin said timidly, "why do you hate your home and your family so much?  You don't have to tell me," she said quickly at the look on Sirius' face, "but I was just wondering."

Sirius cooled.  "Well… it's a lot, really, this and that, but it's because I don't believe what they do, that Muggleborns are 'dirty' and not as good as purebloods and that kind of wishy-washy biased crap."

            "You know, Sirius, I'm a Muggleborn," said Caitlin quietly.

            "I know," he said, just as softly.

            "And… it doesn't bother you?" Caitlin looked up into his dark eyes hopefully.

            "Nope.  I love you just the way you are," Sirius said.

Caitlin gasped, her eyes wide.  "Wh-what did you say, Sirius?"

Sirius' mind darted frantically to cover up for his blunder.  "I…uh…"

            "Sirius," Caitlin took his face in her hands, "did you just say you loved me?"

            "Did I?  I don't remember…" Sirius half-kidded weakly, still worried.

            "Sirius, I… oh, look at me."  Sirius dragged his gaze from the ground to Caitlin's face.  She continued.  "If what you just said was true, then… I want you to know that I love you, too."

            "You know what?" Sirius asked Caitlin softly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

            "What?"

            "You really are the most beautiful girl I've ever seen…"

This time, however, the room wasn't dark, and Sirius saw every bit of Caitlin's flush.

-

Lily and Caitlin were the only ones from their circle of friends that had stayed over the break, so in result they spent most of their free time together.  December 26, the day after Christmas, was unbearably cold, so the two seventh-years spent their time in the Great Hall, in front of the fire.

            "So how'd it go?" Lily asked.

            "Hmm?" Caitlin responded, still lost in her daydream.

            "How.  Did.  It.  Go.  With.  Sirius?" Lily stated slowly and clearly, as if she were speaking to a child.

            "Oh," Caitlin grinned mischievously, "quite well."

            "Tell me everything!"  Lily squealed.  So Caitlin did.  At the end of her narration, Lily asked, "So did you give him his present yet?"

Caitlin shook her head.  "Not yet.  I know I should have yesterday, but Sirius is taking me out tonight, so I decided to save it.  How're things going with Chris?"

Lily smiled.  "Really good, in fact.  He's at home over the holidays, though, so I won't be able to talk to him until he returns.  And it's great, Caitlin, we have so much in common.  He's really clever, too.  I think we could really take this relationship somewhere.  And he's not afraid of commitment or anything.  Unlike some people," she added under her breath.

            "Don't say that!  Sirius is ready for commitment!" Caitlin cried out indignantly.  "He told me so!  He-"

            "No, no, I wasn't talking about Sirius," Lily reassured her.  "I meant… other people.  His best mate, for instance."

            "Ah well, some things can't be changed," Caitlin said wisely.  "Lily Birkham… I like it…"

The two girls laughed as Lily slapped her playfully on the arm.

-

            Dear Chris,

Things are okay here, but I miss you.  How was your Christmas? 

Lily paused, touching the end of her quill to her lip thoughtfully.  Other than what she had just written, she didn't know what else to say to Chris.

            Two weeks seems like an awfully long time.  I can't wait until you return so I can see you again.  Write me back quickly and let me know how you are doing!

Love,

Lily

Lily looked upon the letter and frowned.  They had so much in common, but she couldn't think of anything to put in a letter?  She sighed, folded the letter, tied it to the owl's leg, and watched it soar into the sky.

Then Lily snuggled under her covers and turned out the light.

-

Caitlin stood in the Gryffindor Common Room alone.  She tapped her foot impatiently and looked at her watch: 9:15.  Sirius was fifteen minutes late, and he was never late when it came to Caitlin.  She sighed.

            "Ow!" she exclaimed.  Something had hit the back of her head.  She fingered the nonexistent bruise, searched the floor, and picked up a small pebble.  The green stone was too small to hurt, but large enough to be felt.

            "Ow!" she repeated as another pebble hit her right shoulder.  This one was bright pink.  She looked around the room again, but still no one was there.

9:19.  She swore if Sirius didn't come by 9:30, she would march upstairs and turn in.  She knew she would never keep the vow.

An orange pebble hit her left leg, and one hit her in the back.

            "Who's in here?" Caitlin cried.  "Show yourself!"

There was a ripple in the air in the corner, and Sirius emerged from under the Invisibility Cloak, pulling it off of him.

            "Sirius!" Caitlin exclaimed.  "How long have you been here?"

            "Since just before nine," Sirius replied with a smirk.  "I thought I'd give you a scare."

            "Well, you did!"  She kissed him.  "Merry Christmas."

            "Merry Christmas to you, too.  Your presents are coming up soon," he whispered.

They made their way down to Hogsmeade.

            "Your first present," said Sirius once they had entered the magical village, "is that tonight we go wherever you want to go, and do whatever you want to do."

            "Oh, Sirius!"  Caitlin threw her arms around him.  "Do you really mean it?" she asked, smiling eagerly.

            "Of course," he said, returning the smile.

Over the past two days, ever since the Yule Ball and Caitlin's sentimental speech, he had done a lot of excessive thinking, and he finally knew what he felt for Caitlin.  He was, however, a little scared of the prospects that lay ahead.

Caitlin's first choice was the Robe and Dress Shop, where she found from the young witch (assisting the wheezy old wizard, who was her grandfather) that the shop also contained a Muggle clothing section.

Sirius sat in the chair by the fitting room, smiling to himself but knowing how long this night would be.

-

After Caitlin had purchased an outfit or four, they made their way to the Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Emporium branch in Hogsmeade.  Caitlin ordered a chocolate sundae and Sirius ordered a banana split.  After they received their ice cream, the couple sat at the table by the window.

            "Caitlin, I've been thinking," Sirius started.

            "Always a bad idea for you, Black," Caitlin teased.  Sirius laughed, but nervously.  He continued.

            "Ever since the Yule Ball, I've been thinking a lot about what you said, and-"

            "Sirius, I didn't mean-" Caitlin interrupted, but Sirius held up his hand for silence. 

            "I've been thinking, and you were right.  I mean, we've been going out for a long time and I've… well, I've just been cruising through it.  I never really thought about what I really felt, because… because I was so in love with you."

Caitlin gasped.  Sirius took a deep breath and continued.

            "I've spent the last two days analyzing my feelings, and I've come to the conclusion that…

"I love you, Caitlin.  I really do.  And I promise you, I will forever and always," he whispered.  "I just… want to make sure that you still feel the same way."

Caitlin sat there, speechless.  Her eyes were wide.

            "Well, say something, please," Sirius pleaded softly.

            "I- I…" she stammered.  "I… didn't expect this, but… I love you, too."

The couple kissed, and the waitress reminicised about a time when she was young and in love.

-

            "Oh, I almost forgot," Caitlin said as they broke apart.  "This is for you."  Sirius had a puzzled look on his face.  Caitlin whistled softly, and a kitten came running up.

            "I… it's mother used to be my cat, but… my parents didn't let me bring it, so… they sent a kitten, and I'm giving it to you," she explained softly.

"Merry Christmas," she said.

Sirius was allergic to cat fur, but he didn't say anything.  He sneezed.

            "It's… really adorable.  Thanks, Caitlin."  Caitlin didn't say anything, just blushed.

            "Come here," Sirius took her hand and stood up, leaving a few coins for the waitress.  He hugged her (Caitlin, not the waitress).  He started walking toward the door.

            "Close your eyes.  There's something I want you to see," he said.

            "Where are we going?" Caitlin inquired curiously.

            "You'll see," Sirius said mischievously.

-

Sirius withdrew his hands from over Caitlin's eyes.  They were at the top of a hill.  Sirius conjured up a blanket and laid it on the ground.  They both sat down.

            "I don't understand, Sirius… why are we here?" Caitlin asked.

There was an explosion in the sky, and the night sky was bathed in a red glow.

            "Oh!" Caitlin said softly.

            "I…er… arranged a fireworks display… for you," Sirius did not know how to tell Caitlin it was his gift to her without sounding arrogant.  Caitlin didn't seem to notice.

Caitlin leaned into Sirius and rested her head on his shoulder.  "This is great, Sirius… truly magnificent…"

            "Wait until you see the finale," Sirius whispered nervously.  Caitlin didn't take note of his nervousness. 

            "Um, Caitlin?" Sirius asked.  "You… can you promise me something?"

            "Sure, what?"

            "You… you really do love me, right?"

            "Of course, Sirius.  You know that."

.           "Okay." Sirius was still fidgeting and acting nervous, but Caitlin still took no note of it.

Ten minutes later, the fireworks spelled out a message in the sky for all of Hogsmeade to see:

Caitlin Taylor, will you marry me?

-

Lily made her way again to the Hospital Wing that night, because Caitlin was out with Sirius and she had nothing better to do. 

She sat in a chair by his side for a moment, looking at his pale, fitful face… and had an idea.

            "Accio parchment!  Accio quill!"  she whispered. 

She wrote:

James,

It's me.  Lily, I mean.  I know we've been through a lot these days, and I'm writing this note to say I'm sorry.  I do have a boyfriend, though—don't let that slip your mind, but I'm willing to make a truce, and… maybe try to be friends again.

Lily

She set the note in his hand, and placed a Permanent Sticking Charm to it, just in case.  She squeezed his hand quickly and left.

Oh, what have I done? She thought afterwards, but her body made no effort to undo what she had done.

-

            "Oh look," Caitlin said foolishly, feeling lightheaded and not knowing what to make of the situation, "some guy is proposing to some girl named… Caitlin… Taylor… oh, God."

            Sirius looked deep into her eyes.  "Well?"

            "I… I…" Caitlin hesitated with her words.

Sirius started to panic.  You fool, he berated himself, you know you shouldn't have thrown away your heart like this to one girl… you never did before…

            "B-but you said… you said you loved me," Sirius whispered, whining and desperately pleading like a small child.

            "Oh, Sirius, it's… it's a lot more complicated that that."

            "But… but you do love me?"

            "Of course I do.  I'm just not sure if I'm ready to marry you.  I… I…"

Say yes, Sirius pleaded silently and desperately.  Please say yes… please… oh, I'm such a fool… say yes…

            "I'll have to think about it, Sirius."

The following moments were spent awkwardly, so Sirius decided to walk Caitlin back up to Gryffindor Tower before he made a further fool of himself.

-

A/N: I know you all must be mad at me after that.   But don't worry; there's a lot more yet to come.  Lily's starting to warm up to James, isn't she?  Heh heh… I don't have much to say… oh wait!  I'm starting another fic (don't worry; this one will be quite short and different from all the rest, I promise you) called "Letters To No One."  I had the basics of the first chapter written out, but I believe I accidentally threw it away, so I'll have to start over.  It doesn't really matter, though, because I was planning on lengthening it before I uploaded it anyway.  Once I start the new story, I'll let you all know.

Review!

OutofAzkaban