"Can we please stop yet?" James whined, sounding close to the point of
begging. "I'll pay you."
"I'm not like that, sorry." Lily handed him another string of lights.
"But I'm cold and I want to go in. What's the stupid point of putting up
yet more lights two days before Christmas? I hate this, it isn't fun."
"It wouldn't be if you weren't whining."
"It would be if it wasn't in the negative degrees!" James retorted, his breath
freezing.
"I told you to put on an extra sweater, but who listens to Lily? You
would think I knew about Christmas decorating or something."
The two of them had been assigned decorating detail. Her parents had looked
wary about this, apparently wondering if James would strangle her with a string
of Christmas lights.
"I didn't realize I would subjected to subzero
temperatures for long periods of time."
"I don't see why you're not putting a little effort into this, James.
You're acting like a stubborn little spoiled brat."
"I am not."
"You are too. You're not even giving Christmas a chance, and it's truly
awful of you. Since you got off the Hogwarts Express you've been acting
completely terrible, like a different person. I don't especially like
this person."
"I can't help it if you don't like me."
Lily opened her mouth to say something, then gritted
her teeth.
"Are you counting to ten?"
"Already did it, I'm working on fifty now."
"I see." James stuffed his hands in the pockets of the new pants a House-Elf
had delivered to him, then started wrapping lights
around the fence when Lily glared.
*~*~*
"JUST EAT THE BLOODY SANDWICH!"
James's eyes widened at, what he considered, uncalled for verbal abuse from
Lily's sister.
"Stop picking at it," Petunia drew an audible breath of calming air. "We
are not trying to poison you, contrary to your apparent belief."
Lily shook her head (It was beginning to be an automatic reflex) and got the
aspirin bottle from the cabinet.
"How many is that today?"
"Not enough for this headache. You people are driving me insane. I
can't take it anymore." Lily turned on James, "You have been dragging your feet
the entire day. I asked you to come so you could have an enjoyable Christmas,
not ruin mine like you're doing. And you! Petunia, just leave him
alone! If he doesn't think he can handle a ham sandwich like the rest of
the free world, just let him starve or find something on his own. And Vernon, stop yelling. Everyone please stop yelling." She
buried her face in her cupped hands. "You guys are ruining
Christmas. It's supposed to be peace and goodwill, but my family and my
boyfriend are fighting constantly. I wait ten months for the holidays to
come around again, and here you guys are, arguing on the best holiday in the
entire year. Just stop it."
"Is she crying?" James asked Petunia in blatant horror.
"I'm not crying, you imbecile. I'm just frustrated. When will Mum be back?"
"In about thirty minutes, why?" Petunia asked, after consulting the
clock.
"I'm going to go for a quick walk; I'll be back." Lily stood up and grabbed her
coat from the closet before popping back in the kitchen with her still sitting
family. "James, when she gets back, we're making a gingerbread
house. You have thirty minutes to improve your mood."
"I'll go with you," James offered, trying his very best to sound helpful.
In reality, there was no way he was going to stay alone with Petunia and her
rather fierce-looking husband.
"I really don't care."
"Great!" he exclaimed loudly, snapping out of a chair.
Lily rolled her eyes, "Put on more clothes if you're going with me,
though. I don't want to hear a single syllable about the coldness."
"Okay." James ran upstairs to apparently get something warmer, while Lily
grabbed a juice box from the refrigerator.
"He'll probably abduct you on the walk," Petunia predicted, lacing her fingers
together.
"I can only dream."
*~*~*
"I know I'm not supposed to ask you personal questions, but-" Lily started, but
was interrupted by James.
"I never said you couldn't ask me personal questions."
"I sort of got that impression when you clam up and act grouchier than usual
whenever I ask. However, since I have apparent permission, I'll take
advantage of it. Where do you live that you can't handle this sort of
weather, but go to Hogwarts and have a British accent?"
"Here and there and in between."
"James."
"You asked, I answered. We don't really have a set
residence. Unlike your family, who has an endless supply of pictures and
personal possessions, we have the unique ability to be packed within a
day. When I was younger, my mother and I moved to someplace warmer in the
winter. I always stay in England
now, though. No matter where we lived, I would have gone to
Hogwarts. Potters go to Hogwarts, you know. Yet another hoax that
is my life."
Lily couldn't think of a reply to his statement, so she continued along the
shoveled pathway. Apparently, it had snowed a few days ago, and the snow was
now muddy and trampled in most places.
"I'm sorry."
"Do you want to go build a snowman?"
"Pardon?"
"Snowman. Do you want to build one with me?"
"The snow is just slightly ruined, wouldn't you say?" James indicated to the
piled up clumps alongside the sidewalk.
"It won't be at the park. When we were younger, that's where Petunia and I
would go after we had used all of our own snow."
James looked indecisive, so Lily made the command decision, "You'll love it,
let's go."
"I'm not really the play-in-the-snow type of person." James tried to slow her
down, not for the first time of their short vacation.
"You just haven't had fun playing in the snow before. Come on, James, just try to have a good time." She gave him very
little choice in the matter as she tugged on his hand. In just a few minutes,
they were at a small park that was already hosting a large snowball fight.
"Oh, look, it's occupied. Damn the luck anyway. Let's leave."
"Oh no. Nobody's over there."
"I'm not playing pretend fight with a bunch of twelve year-olds."
"I wouldn't expect you to do anything fun, don't worry."
"I can have fun," he muttered darkly, turning around to watch Lily. "What are
you doing?"
"I'm walking in your footprints so I don't mess up the snow. What are you doing?"
"Watching you. Obviously. You are honestly crazy. So
what do we do now?"
Lily stopped smiling. "Have you never built a snowman before?"
"Not a real one, no. I assume we're making one out of large balls. When I was
little I made some just out of big piles of snow, but that's about it."
Lily thought that was probably one of the saddest things she had ever heard,
but decided it would be wise not to comment. "I'll teach you, don't worry."
*~*~*
"Why doesn't mine look like yours?" James tilted his head to one side as
if he was an artist examining a new work. Lily got up from her snow angle to
have a good impression.
"I think it's because you made the torso bigger than base ball. You also
dropped the top one, right? I'd say that's why it looks like it just had
surgery."
"By a bad doctor."
"I wasn't going to say that, but I was thinking it. It's not bad for your first
one, though. Brush the snow off my back, would you? I'd prefer not to be soaked
by the time I get home." Lily laughed, when she saw one of the kids in the
snowball fight fall down. "Sure you don't want to play? It could be fun. You
liked the snowman, didn't you?"
"You never give up, do you?"
"I avoid it whenever possible. Come on, let's try it. We can wait until
tomorrow for the gingerbread house, we have all kinds of time. The Christmas
tree farm won't be open until six, that's when Roy
gets off from the store."
"Why are we going to a Christmas tree farm?"
"To get a Christmas Tree, obviously."
"No, it's not obvious, just like decorating wasn't
obvious."
"Okay, so I'll explain the natural course of Christmas. It's all about
having fun. We only get it once a year, and that's it, so we make the absolute
best out of it. When you decorate, it's even more fun, because then it become
palpable. You can feel Christmas. And for me, Christmas isn't just a day, it's
the buildup of the preceding months, when I think of every Christmas image I've
ever seen, and imagine that for me. I might never get to see people walking
down the streets, bundled up under a light snow with wrapped packages tucked
under their arms, but I can always think, that'll happen next Christmas, and
who's to say it won't? It could happen, and I won't ever give up on that. The
dream of the perfect Christmas is something I have all year long. The music
sounds special, it makes me feel like everything is okay just for now, and I
don't need to worry. And then, when Christmas comes, I always think this is the
biggest day of the year. There's only one, so great things just have to happen.
I love it."
"That's obvious."
"Are you sure?" Lily asked with a grin.
"Most definitely. So are we going to
decorate this tree too?"
"Of course. You can't just have a random tree sitting in your living
room. So how about that snowball fight?"
"There I draw the line."
"But what about the spirit of Christmas?"
"Well, when you put it like that…no."
"I guess it's too early for a Christmas miracle yet."
*~*~*
"Remember, nobody finalize and pay for a tree without consulting me first. Got
it? Especially you, Mum." Lily gave everyone a stern look, then
tugged her hat further down on her ears, but as a result, it also covered her
eyebrows. Everyone had trampled out to the tree farm after Lily and James had
returned home, the gingerbread house being put on hold. There was also a slight
argument over which vehicle they would be taking and who would be driving.
Apparently Annette had told the family about James's carsickness. "Okay, let's
split up to be the most productive. Remember; shake a branch to check the
durability."
The entire group had small smiles of amusement on their faces.
"This is serious stuff, people! I won't tolerate a shabby tree. Now let's get
to it."
Immediately, the couples took off in opposite directions.
"Well. It looks like I'm stuck with The Christmas Freak."
"Shut up and come along."
James was actually pretty sure this was one of the more boring tasks in life on
its own, but Lily had a rather unique way of spicing it up. She had a process
for selecting the tree. First, she would walk around the tree, examining it
from all angles. Then, she would shake the branches and examine the color.
After both of those tests had been passed, she would smell it. She was looking
for 'A good, woodsy smell'.
"Looks like you've brought along a serious shopper, James."
James nearly jumped at the voice behind him, but didn't since it was
immediately placed. "Wait until she starts smelling one."
"So is this who hauled you from the Cornwall
cliffs?"
"I seldom go to the Cornwall cliffs
nowadays, Harold. Not if I can avoid it. As much as the cliffs suit me, Senior
and Mother don't. I was planning on staying at Hogwarts, but she invited me."
"Does this she have a name, or does she let you call her She?"
"James, I found the one!" Lily was grinning from ear to ear as she waved him
over.
"Come on, and I'll let you meet her. I've already had instructions once I
started lagging behind: She isn't leaving the tree; she doesn't want somebody
to steal it."
Harold Croaker raised his eyebrows. He had known James for several years. He
had been captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team, responsible for selecting
and training James his first year as a chaser. Harold had seen a great deal of
James's personality alteration, and a girl that sniffed Christmas Trees was
either a complete mismatch or just what he needed.
"Lily, this really looks like the first tree that we saw. The one I liked."
"The one you liked had a dead branch. Is this a friend of yours?" Lily smiled, and held out her hand for Harold to shake.
"Actually, yes. He was my first Quidditch captain. You should remember him, but I'm not surprised you have no idea who he is." James made the introductions, and round of smiles being in place.
"You don't follow Quidditch?" Harold asked, looked surprised yet again.
"Not voluntarily.
I'm pretty sure James is planning on making my presence a requirement in
our relationship, but that is the extent of it."
"Sounds…interesting, to stay the least. I haven't ever seen you around before. Are you from around here?" It was apparent Harold wasn't asking to be rude or petty, but because he genuinely didn't know the answer.
"Just down the road, actually. My parents are Muggles."
"Ohhhh. I see now. Interesting. Very interesting."
"Nobody has ever said I was so interesting. I think I might like you."
"Glad to know, you're among the select few. Do you, uh, smell trees often?"
"Only at Christmas.
Would you like some tree selection tips?"
"She's got a load of them, Harold," James added, being delegated to the observer in the situation.
"Enlighten me."
James groaned. He would have to say that. And of course, Lily had to give her fifteen minute long spiel. "The tree is going to be dead soon."
"No it won't. It's a healthy one. I checked, silly."
"Yeah, silly," Harold smirked , turning to watch James.
"Oh shut up."
"So tell me, why does a nice girl like you put up with a thoroughly nasty person like him?"
"It's a mystery yet to be explained. You have to admit, though, his bad temper is just a tiny bit amusing."
"That's an original perspective."
"Would you two quit examining me? Let's get the damn tree and get out of here. I'm cold."
"See what I mean?" Lily grinned at both men, then tugged her hat down firmly again. "I'm going to go locate my family. Don't let anybody take this tree."
"What am I supposed to do, throw an eight-year old in the ditch if they want it?"
"I was thinking you could just scowl at them. You're pretty good at that, you know. I'll be right back."
James and Harold watch Lily kick through the snow and occasionally spin in a circle or two.
"After seeing this display, I have only one question: what the hell are you doing?"
"Probably losing my mind."
Harold looked like he had just been privy to some sort of great joke. "I would have never imagined you with someone like that. I'm dumbfounded. She actually seems nice."
"What are you implying?"
"The exact thing you think I am. I'm saying you're hardened, cynical, and not at all nice. I can't imagine you with someone who smells Christmas trees and wears a hat that says "I WANT TO BE MRS. SANTA CLAUS," no matter if she is cute or not."
"She is, isn't she?"
"Absolutely adorable, but let's get back to the hat. Where did you find her?"
"Hogwarts, of course. Sixth year Gryffindor Prefect, currently leader in the race for next year's Head Girl, what more could you ask for?"
"A seventh year would have been perfect, but such things seldom happen. You're staying at her house, though?"
"Yeah, and may I add, Christmas is kicking my butt."
"Butt? Since when do you say butt? Christ, I can't believe this. I wish you two had gotten together sooner, for my amusement alone. Do you think you could get me an invitation to dinner? I would love to watch the entire drama."
"Probably not, her whole family hates me. She has a sister who has threatened to stuff a sock down my throat while I sleep, and today is the first time I met her. I certainly don't need you or your comments, both will get me in hot water. On another note, how's work at the Ministry going? I still can't believe you quit the Magpies."
"I have no particular love for Quidditch either. You're a captain after my own heart. I'm proud to say you're my prodegee." Harold ruffled James's hair teasingly, getting a sneer of disgust. "I know, I know. But look, here comes the portable field of tall grass, sunshine, and butterflies. We're both saved from our pits of misery."
"Speak for yourself, you are not visiting us. I don't care if I have to tie you to one of these blasted trees."
"Nice to know we're friends."
*~*~*
"Can you scoot over any more?" Petunia snapped at James, not being happy about her sandwiched position between him and Vernon in the backseat. Lily had been elected to sit in the front between her parents, and she turned around to raise her eyebrows at the situation.
"Do you expect him to collapse into himself or something?"
"He has more room than I do!"
"I'm bigger than you are!" James stated the obvious here. "And Vernon is taking up more room than me."
"He's bigger than you are!" Lily grinned.
"Can't the three of you just sit back there and be good?" Mr. Evans asked, turning to look in the backseat. "Don't make me pull this car over and administer spankings, children."
"Spankings?" James asked in disbelief.
"James, just be quiet. Please, be quiet."
As it turned out, the car was pulled over, but it was for Lily to trade Petunia places in the back seat, hopefully to eliminate most of the argument.
Then, the comedy commenced. Once they were home, the tree was installed in its stand, and everyone started decorating. James got tangled in the garland three times, only one of them being a product of Lily's amusement. He also successfully smashed a glass bulb, but since he fell down in the process, there weren't a lot of hard feelings. After James got a string of lights stuck on his arm, they delegated him to handing Lily the ornaments. Everybody else was exhausted and drinking hot chocolate as the two finished up. The hanging of the ornaments was traditionally Lily's task; when she was little, she didn't have the patience to untangle the garland ropes or lights.
When they were finished hanging the silver and gold decorations, Lily smiled happily. "It's time for pictures, I'll get the camera!" When she had returned, her mother, father, sister, and brother-in-law were standing in front of the tree, but James had skulked unobtrusively to the side, out of the picture. "Nuh-uh, James, get in there."
"Don't you want me to take the picture while you get in there?" James's head had snapped up in a hopeful manner that made her feel heartbroken for him.
"You can in a minute, but you need to be in a couple." Lily waved him in and waited for everyone to smile before making the camera flash. Then, she had Vernon take a picture with her in it, then James took a picture of the whole family.
It was James's first Christmas picture since he was three.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
It's coming on Christmas
They're cutting down trees
They're putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace
Oh I wish I had a river I could skate away on
But it don't snow here
It stays pretty green
I'm going to make a lot of money
Then I'm going to quit this crazy scene
Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
Oh I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly
Oh I wish I had a river
I made my baby cry.
She tried hard to help me
She put me at ease
Lord, she loved me so naughty
Made me weak in the knees
I wish I had a river I could skate away
on
I'm so hard to handle
I'm selfish and I'm sad
Now I've gone and lost the best baby
That I ever had
I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
Oh I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly
Oh I wish I had a river
I made my baby say goodbye
It's coming on Christmas
They're cutting down trees
They're putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace
I wish I had a river
I could skate away on.
*~*~*
Robert Downey Jr.
Author's Note: A few chapters back someone commented that they thought my fics were getting a little lighter. I seriously hope they still leave you with a good sense of sadness. This one will get brighter before it hits black again, things are far from over. If you skipped over the lyrics, I encourage you to read them; I think they fit the situation tremendously. Next chapter: Petunia and Lily talk, Lily and James have a late night chat.