He opened the door almost immediately, surprising Lily more than a little. "You're quick."
"I've been waiting on you to tell me it's time to come down since six."
"Do you not sleep?"
"Only minimally. Happy Christmas, Lily." James held her hand and kissed her cheek as if he were offering her a gift, which in a way, he was.
"Happy Christmas, James. You'll love it, I promise. Come on, everyone ought to be downstairs in just a minute."
James willingly followed her back into the living room with the Christmas tree, then pointed out the obvious. "They'll have to get dressed, that'll take a little while."
"James, nobody gets dressed for Christmas morning! Silly!" Lily indicated to her own candy cane pajamas, then looked at him. "You're dressed."
"Nobody let me in on the memorandum that stated it was come as you are."
"I assumed you knew that. Oh well, it's better to overdressed than underdressed, I suppose."
"Thanks for the encouragement." James collapsed on the floor and began eyeing the tree curiously. "So, do we just start ripping, or do we wait on everyone else?"
"Wait…obviously."
James raised his eyebrows, obviously not seeing things as clearly as she was.
"James, dear, Christmas is all about family, and you have to do most everything with family. Since you're with us, my family is your family, which means you're stuck with them until we go back to Hogwarts. Dad is the pokiest person in the universe; it takes him twenty minutes to decide to eat, even on Christmas. Petunia is the pickiest person in the world, Vernon plays favorites, and Mum is pushy. They're loaded with quirks, but they're still my family."
"What about you, what's your quirk?"
"I walk backwards, have a strange tendency to forgive, and take home grumpy people."
"Gee, you're really a poster child for trouble, aren't you?"
"Actually, I'd say you are," Petunia said silkily, pushing her hair from her face as she stretched out on the couch.
"I've been called worse. And I think there's a no fighting rule on Christmas, Petunia. Lily says so."
"I imagine she does," she said, glancing at Lily in amusement. Vernon soon straggled in, looking slightly more awake, then came Annette.
"Rob will be down in a minute. I hope, anyway. I moved the blankets into the bathroom, so he probably can't hold out for much longer. James, I guess Lily didn't tell you that this is an informal affair, not requiring day clothing."
"She mentioned it after I was dressed."
"Convenient, huh?" Lily asked, slowly inching closer to the tree.
"Go for it, Lily," Robert said, laughing at the eager look on his daughter's face when he walked in the room.
Faster than James could blink, Lily leaped at the tree, reaching under the branches to pull out a package in Santa Claus paper, which she handed to her mother. "Mum, this is for you, I picked it out on my own, open it first. I really hope you like it."
"I bet I will. Are you going to get everyone else's presents out so we don't have to all crawl under the tree?"
"Of course," Lily answered, this being a tradition. She formed piles of packages at everyone's feet, and it soon became apparent to James that Lily had the majority. People soon started tearing and shredding the paper to reveal the gifts inside, occasionally a hug or a squeal of delight being the response.
James's parents had sent him some gifts: the usual renewal of credit at all the shops he frequented and some he didn't; a rather large amount of pocket money; and in an apparent effort to seem like good parents, they had bought him some books. They were great books and all, so great he already had them. His friends had all given him something, but he was surprised to find an expertly wrapped package with a white To James from Lily scrawled on the front. He spotted the card, so he opened it first, wanting the sense of immense enjoyment to be prolonged; it was incredibly seldom for a girl to actually get him something, it was usually the other way around. The card was magically done, with a snowman raised on the front. Upon closer inspection, it was really the snowman he had made. Inside, snow was falling on the imprint of a snow angel and metallic green letters. Now would be the time to make your Christmas wish, make it good since you only get one. Mine's for you, I wish you a Happy Christmas, may your first be among the best. Love Lily
James smiled, knowing there was no literal meaning behind love Lily, but it was special because no one had ever signed anything to him love. She had obviously put time into the card, and even more into his gift. It was one of the few personal ones he had received. There were several books, ranging from old, battered copies to brand-new, never used editions. The Legend of the Phoenix, The Folly That is Quidditch, What You Never Knew About Your Phoenix's Psyche, Christmas Around the World, and The Surgeons of Merlin were all titles, The Folly That Is Quidditch being a rare book to find, it having been booed off the shelves. "Thank you," James murmured, running his hands over the leather binding.
"You're welcome. You're very hard to buy for, everything seemed impersonal."
"It's perfect."
"I'm glad," Lily said. She was surrounded in sheets of ripped wrapping paper, a bow clinging to her hair, apparently on purpose. She smiled at him before returning to the tearing. Eventually, she reached the bottom of her own stack, and found a small box with a simple from James scribbled on it as the only marking. Inside was a wizarding watch, the sort that could be programmed to give the location of friends or family members. It also had the personality similar to a mirror; one that took on the responsibility of scolding its wearer regularly.
It also had a light when a button was pushed.
"This is brilliant, I love it, James! Thank you."
"It was nothing."
"It's very special, you couldn't have done better."
"I probably could have, but like you, I had problems finding something that suited you. They were fresh out of musical sweaters."
"Aww, were they really? I need to get one." Lily smiled, which was a regular event for this season, and looked over all her gifts again. Everything was so perfect.
*~*~*
"Are we ready?" Lily asked, sliding smoothly into her chair at the dinner table, eyeing all the food heaped on it with delight.
"Yes." Annette took her own chair, setting a plate of deviled eggs down as she did so. Everyone except James bowed their heads for prayer, Robert leading it.
"This looks really great, I've never seen, oh crap, you're praying!" James said in distress, immediately tucking his chin to his chest and clenching his eyes closed, his hands clasped above the table. When Mr. Evans said Amen, James echoed it, just a tad bit loudly. He winced, looking around to see what everyone's reaction was. Vernon was watching him from across the table in awe, Petunia stared as if he had six eyes, Annette had her eyebrows raised in a frown, and Robert looked vaguely amused. James looked worriedly to his left at Lily, and saw her leaning under the table, her shoulders shaking suspiciously, perhaps in laughter.
"Lily, sit up," Annette said, trying to sound stern.
"Pass me the rolls," she said, leaning her head in her hands, still trying not to laugh.
"I'm glad you think this is funny," James hissed, handing her the rolls with a little more force than necessary, making one fall on her plate.
"Aww, thanks for putting that there for me. How sweet." She lowered her voice slightly, "Don't worry about it, I've done the same thing before, minus the four-letter word not table-appropriate, but it's happened to all of us."
"Here, take some green beans," Mrs. Evans said helpfully, piling some on James's plate for him before Lily stopped her.
"He probably doesn't want them, Mum."
"A growing boy needs vegetables."
"You don't have to shovel them down his throat," Lily said sweetly.
"I'm not, I'm just serving him."
"Maybe he doesn't like green beans."
"I like green beans," he supplied.
"See?"
"He's trying to be nice."
"Since when is he nice?"
"Occasionally he gets it right. Mum, stop. He's got an entire plateful of green beans."
"I think she's right." James took the bowl from their hands, and handed it to Petunia.
"Well, now that we're all done trying to feed Lily's boyfriend, can we all eat?"
The rest of Christmas was spent in that dreamlike state of euphoria where nothing seems entirely real, and most of the time it isn't. The moment only lasts for a fraction of a life, but it is embellished past its true quality to be something even better than it really is, and that's the way December 25th went.
*~*~*
January 1973
Lily fidgeted nervously as she waited for her mother to reach the crux of the matter. It was the evening before she had to go back to Hogwarts, and Annette had requested to 'talk to her', and Lily was fairly sure she just didn't want to discuss Easter plans.
"I don't like James."
She closed her eyes, inwardly knowing what was coming. "I sort of caught that."
"Your father doesn't either; Petunia and Vernon agree. We all think you two need to reach the end of your relationship immediately."
"What?"
"He is not someone you can have a life with, Lily. I know you see him as some sort of hurt puppy that can be helped, but he's past that. He is an adult, and beyond impression."
"Mum, you guys don't understand. He acts different around me! He would do anything for his friends, and he's incredibly smart, and he's very funny once you understand his humor, and he's nice, and-"
"Nice isn't what I would use to describe him. I'm sure he's a perfectly good person, but he's not perfect for you. He has a mean streak a kilometer wide."
Lily stamped her foot in frustration. "Not for me, he doesn't! This entire time he was here, did you ever hear him say anything cruel to me? When Petunia was harassing me about inviting him, he made her leave me alone. He always watches out for me. He would never hurt me, I know it."
"You don't know him well enough to know that. Men like that are the type that leave their wives with an eight year-old, providing he actually marries her. He will be your ruination."
"No, he won't. You just don't understand, just because he isn't just like Dad! I didn't like him at first either, but I got to know him, if you'd just give him a chance."
"He had a chance. We don't want you around him, end of story," Annette said sternly.
"But, Mum," she protested, tears in her eyes.
"Lily. Petunia knows about our decision, why don't you talk with her. She's had her share of rejected boyfriends."
Lily bit her lip and turned soundlessly to walk upstairs. She squeezed her eyes shut as she passed James's door, then backtracked and raised her hand to knock, but James opened it before she could.
"Just go to bed, Lily. You aren't going to ruin my first Christmas, you can break up with me tomorrow, but not during vacation, I won't let you."
"Oh my gosh, you heard her?" Lily asked, putting her hand over her mouth.
"The whole block heard her. Good night." James shut the door succinctly.
*~*~*
The only sound in Petunia's Volvo on the way to King's Cross was James occasionally turning a page of The Daily Prophet. Lily sat in a sulky silence, not at all happy with her sister who sided with her mother, and equally unhappy with James who refused to talk to her until vacation was officially over.
"Interesting article?" she asked.
"The Dementors are resigning from Azkaban."
"One, what exactly are they, and two, why?"
"They're the guards there. They have an astonishing ability to make you feel entirely miserable, and they can suck out souls. Presumably, they're leaving to join Voldemort's ranks."
"He's the wizard causing the stir lately, am I correct?"
"As always. Anyway, it's a bad sign, they're definitely not the sort we want gallivanting around town."
"You mean you don't live with one?" Petunia asked sweetly.
"No more than you do. We did have a doxie infestation a few years ago, and my little sister was dumb enough to get a pet thestral, but we've never had anything worse than that."
"Sister?" Lily asked in interest, but didn't pursuit it when he shot her an angry glare.
Once they reached the station, Petunia refused to cross the barrier with them, decidedly giving Lily the cold shoulder to make a point. She still hugged her sister tightly, and whispered in her ear, "Love you, have a good term. Remember what Mum said, Lily."
Lily shot her a last angry glare and marched onto Platform 9 ¾, dragging James along after her. Once she found a compartment, she was pretty sure James was just going to keep walking and not sit with her. "James, James, stop. Where are you going?"
"Why would I sit with you? I thought we were over by direct orders."
"No, no, no, we're not."
"Whatever happened to me being a bad kid?"
"She said it, not me. I-I don't want to break up with you, she just didn't see your good side. I know you're better than you were acting. So can we please just forget it?"
James smiled, "Yeah, I guess we can."
*~*~*
February 1973
Millie watched Lily grab a few last minute books and stuff them in her book bag. "You aren't actually taking them out there, are you?"
"You don't really expect me to watch this game, do you? I hope not. Anyway, nobody will care. James will be flying around doing whatever it is that he does, and everyone else will be watching the game. I can be trying to figure out this blasted Transfiguration homework."
"You are so unaware," Millie said indulgently, taking the book bag from her friend and shoving her out the door. For one of the few times in her life, Lily walked to the Quidditch pitch of her own free will, and for the second time in her life, she took her place in the Gryffindor stands. Upon Amos's suggestion, they had taken their places early; the Ravenclaw and Gryffindor game was expected to be the most competitive of the year. As expected, the spectator stands were packed fifteen minutes before the game. Even the one designated for the staff and guests were becoming crowded.
"James's parents are here," Millie whispered in Lily's ear. She immediately scanned the towers until she located them, an elegant, man sitting next, but not to close, to a magnificently coiffed woman with shining blonde hair.
"Why?" Lily whispered back, as if they could hear.
"Probably to keep up appearances…then to goad James into playing professionally," Sirius put in, leaning to speak to Lily over Remus's head.
"Most likely," she agreed.
Lily observed the rest of the crowd, and she could see a few people glancing nervously toward the guest area. About ten minutes before the game was to begin, she saw James walk about of the Gryffindor locker rooms, leading the rest of the team. Instead of beginning the warm-up flight like the rest of the team, he continued over to the red and gold student section to meet Lily. He held out a book with a tense smile, "Here, it's a book of the basic rules of Quidditch, you might want to consult it occasionally. I'm the Seeker, remember. And, uh, Mother and Senior are here, so…just make a hasty exit after the game. I don't want either of them to say anything to you, okay?"
"Sure. Good luck."
James grinned brightly, "Thanks, Lily."
"No problem."
Lily smiled after his retreating form which was quickly airborne.
"Now wasn't that cutesy moment worth coming?" Millie asked, nudging Lily in the side.
"Not quite, but it's up there on the list."
*~*~*
"He can't do that, can he?" Lily asked, referring to the rulebook.
"You can do whatever you want as long as the official doesn't see it," Remus said dully, ready to tear the rulebook apart. Lily had been successfully spotting every foul committed by every player out there.
"I really don't think that-LOOK!" Lily jumped up and pointed at James who was tearing across the pitch like a bat out of hell. "Where's it at?"
"Just watch!" Sirius yelled, trying to see over the crowd. Everybody seemed to stop breathing as James streaked across the field and Otto Bagman catching on. The Snitch ran its way crazily through the Chaser fray and made a few gut-wrenching dips before James caught it in a forceful lunge. The Gryffindor portion of the stands became one deafening yell, the rest of the audience letting out a sigh of disgust; Gryffindor had won yet again, putting them well on their way to their 72nd consecutive undefeated season.
"I've got to go," Lily said, hurriedly picking up her book bag and threading her way through the crowd, Sirius helping her push through in an attempt to avoid the Potters. It really should have worked, but apparently, Emmaline had her sights set on Lily. With what appeared to be little effort, the woman caught up with her, but Lily kept walking resolutely until Mrs. Potter called her name.
"Are you Lily Evans?" she asked, coming to stand directly in front of Lily.
"Yes, I am."
"I'm Emmaline Potter…James's mother. I believe you're the one I'm looking for."
Lily watched her warily, slightly scared of the person James had an endless amount of terrible stories about.
"Don't look at me like I'm going to eat you. I'm just interested to meet the only girl that has been able to hold my son's attention for so long."
"Four months really isn't very long."
"It is for one of his relationships…young women have the tendency to bolt at the mention of us."
"I've gathered that."
"Why haven't you run yet? Are you really that money-hungry or are you pregnant?"
Lily stood there in shock, not able to comprehend that someone would ask her that. "I, uh, no."
"Mother!" James shouted, running at what appeared to be full-speed from the pitch, stopping to squeeze himself between his parent and Lily. "How lovely to see you again. What the hell are you doing here?"
"I just came to watch your game and have a chat with Miss Evans here."
"She's busy. She doesn't have time."
"What are you going to do?" Emmaline asked politely, stepping around James, who moved to block again.
"I…"
"She has Prefect patrol to make sure the students don't kill each other in the corridors."
"I'm sure she can be excused. Your father wants to talk to you, by the way, James. The headmaster is giving you use of his office."
James fairly snarled at her, "Fine. I'll be watching you, Mother. Be kind, would you?"
"I always am, dear!"
He looked from her to Lily again. "You don't have to go, you really don't."
"It's okay, I'll live, I'm sure."
"Well…okay." James obviously didn't like the idea, but left after kissing Lily swiftly, shooting a final glare at his mother.
"Pleasant boy, isn't he?"
Lily raised her eyebrows.
"Why don't we walk over to the gardens? I really have tried my best with him, but he hasn't forgiven me for my mistakes."
"I really don't think you have tried your best. He already has the books you sent him for Christmas; I would think you could at least know what he has and what he doesn't."
"Anything else you want to say to me?"
"Well, when we get right down to it, I don't think the fact that Mr. Potter isn't his father is why he completely loathes you. I don't know what you've done to him, but it must have been really terrible. And I think whatever you've done was on purpose." Lily felt the anger boil inside of her for this woman, or more accurately, for the things she had done to make James hate the world so much.
"Aren't you the little loyalist?" Oddly enough, Emmaline didn't look mad, merely surprised.
"I'm his friend, and that's what friends are for."
"It's what James demands, isn't it? Now that I can see you're clearly on his side and have a unusual fondness for him, why don't you tell me about yourself?"
"Excuse me?"
"I would like to know what sort of company my son keeps."
"So why don't you run a background check."
"I already have, I just want to know what you have to say about yourself."
"What? You can't just randomly dig into someone's past, can you?"
"Of course I can. You're a sixth year Gryffindor and Prefect, the top of your year. Your best class is Charms and worst is Transfiguration. You have a surprising knack for Potions but can't fly to save your life. This is the second Quidditch game you've ever watched in your life. You are a Muggle-born, daughter of Robert and Annette Evans, and your sister Petunia Dursley is adopted and married to Vernon Dursley. You received Outstanding on all of your OWLS, and are a shoe-in for Head Girl next year. You want to be in the Defense Department, and you're realistically considering being a Hit-Witch. You'd prefer to be an Auror, but they don't let women in right now. Your friends are Millicent Barstow and Amos Diggory. You met James through Remus Lupin, and you're helping him find out who his father is, good luck on that one. And, as far as I can tell, you haven't cheated on James, which means I like you."
Lily swiftly inhaled, feeling terribly violated.
Emmaline smiled, "Dumbledore thinks highly of you, so all in all, you're disgustingly perfect. So, tell me, why James?"
"Do you honestly care?"
"Yes, I do. Contrary to public opinion, I love my son. I haven't always, but I do now. I admire him for the man he has become entirely on his own, without parental guidance. Apparently, you've always seen what I haven't."
"Not really…he just fascinates me. That's really all there is to it."
"Do you love him?"
"Is it really any of your business?"
"I think it is."
"I don't. If you can't be his mother all the time, I don't believe you can interrogate his girlfriends, no matter who you are. That particular question is entirely too personal, and when I decide the answer, James will be the one to know, not you," Lily said coolly, rather incensed that this woman thought she had the right to ask her questions just because James happened to come from her. "Nice meeting you."
Lily walked away, unexplainably angry.
*~*~*
James was talking to Fawkes the phoenix when Mr. Potter came in. He nodded shortly, the only greeting he gave.
"Excellent game, James. You're a born Seeker."
"Thanks, I guess."
"Have you considered what you're doing after Hogwarts? You only have five months left."
"My plans haven't changed…I'm still going to be a Healer. I'm taking medical training classes now."
"You'd be successful in Quidditch. Just think, you could make your fortune, away from the Potter money, which you have repeatedly shown your disgust for."
"I don't want to."
"Things aren't always about wanting, son, sometimes it's about doing the right thing."
James spun around abruptly, anger flashing in his eyes. "Don't you dare call me son. It's always been known to me you're no relation of mine. I wish you had just bloody well kicked Mother and I out, God knows my life would have been better. You know, I never realized how crappy my life actually was until this Christmas. I grew up without love; Sirius's parents hate each other too; Remus's parents treat him like he'll attack at any time. I thought it was normal. But I saw how it's supposed to be. Lily's parents love each other, they actually sleep in the same room! They treat her sister the same as her, even though Petunia's adopted. They had a tree, and Christmas dinner, and they loved each other! And I hate you two for not giving me that same experience."
"You never let us love you, you weren't an easy child."
"No…by the time you were ready to love me, I had grown up without it, and I knew I could continue without you two. I don't need you guys. I have what I need."
"No, James, you do need us. Family is there for you whenever you need it."
"Since when? I've certainly never had that experience."
"You could if you'd give us a chance. We're the ones you'll have after Sirius finally gets sent to prison for some manic crime; we'll be the ones left after Remus is finally put down; and we'll still be here after Lily finally gives up on you."
"Don't you talk about my friends like that. They're the ones who have supported me and helped me through Hogwarts, not you. You might have bought me a first class cauldron and designer robes, but Sirius is with me during detention. Remus is always there to give me advice. Since I met her, Lily's been there to show me life is worth hanging in there for another day. If I hadn't had Remus and Sirius and Peter, I probably would have killed myself before now, and if I didn't have Lily now, I would probably be a lot meaner than you could even imagine. And after you're gone, they will be the ones I have. Sirius won't go to prison, Remus won't be put down, and Lily won't give up on me because I won't give her reason to."
"You're obviously serious about her….that's interesting."
"I meant it when I told you to leave her alone."
"All threats aside, I have a proposition for you. I'm not getting any younger, and the way things are going, people will probably start dropping dead any day now. Your mother and I would like to have a relationship with you, or at least try for one."
*~*~*
I was stained, with a
role, in a day not my own
But as you walked into my life you showed what needed to be shown
And I always knew, what was right I just didn't know that I might
Peel away and choose to see with such a different sight
And I will never see the sky the same way and
I will learn to say good-bye to yesterday and
I will never cease to fly if held down and
I will always reach too high cause I've seen, cause I've seen, twilight
Never cared never wanted
Never sought to see what flaunted
So on purpose so in my face Couldn't see beyond my own place
And it was so easy not to behold what I could hold
But you taught me I could change Whatever came within these shallow days
And I will never see the sky the same way and
I will learn to say good-bye to yesterday and
I will never cease to fly if held down and
I will always reach too high cause I've seen, cause I've seen
As the sun shines through it pushes away and pushes ahead
It fills the warmth of blue and leaves a chill instead and
I didn't know that I could be so blind to all that is so real
But as illusion dies I see there is so much to be revealed
And I will never see the sky the same way and
I will learn to say good-bye to yesterday and
I will never cease to fly if held down and
I will always reach too high cause I've seen, cause I've seen, twilight
I was stained, by a role, in a day not my own
But as you walked into my life you showed what needed to be shown
And I always knew, what was right
I just didn't know that I might
Peel away and choose to see with such a different sight
And I will never see the sky the same way and
I will learn to say good-bye to yesterday and
I will never cease to fly if held down and
I will always reach too high cause I've seen, cause I've seen, twilight...
Vanessa Carlton
*~*~*
And here's another chapter. This is really my favorite fanfic at the moment, I think I'll probably slow down on The Ruse updates to work on this one, but I don't know for sure. Just so no one thinks I'm copying Harry's blow-up scene, James's was inevitable. It had to happen before their summer or else the plot could be completely screwed up. Geez, I love OotP.
I'm leaving July 4th for the national FCCLA meeting in Philadelphia, and I think I'll be back on the 11th. Is anyone else going to it? I'll probably write something on the plane, I'm only taking one book and I don't do well sitting still with nothing to do. I might have time for a update before I leave, but I don't know.
I wasn't going to put in a song for this chapter, but James's fight with his dad reminded me of this song, so I just wedged it in. I like it, and I think it reflects Lily and James's relationship so far.
Happy Independence Day!