A/N: Hello everyone. I can't believe how many comments I got about hating Vernon and how awful he was. I didn't think I made him sound too terrible. lol. But he is wretched, so I don't mind. Sorry for the shortness in chapters, this should please you though. The longest chapter I've posted yet! This chapter is dedicated to my alarm clock, the biggest machine asshole ever. You reviewers, feel free to mention your own asshole, and we can get the dedications rolling! Anyways, read and REVIEW! Thanks!

Chapter Twenty Five: Happy Christmas

Christmas Eve couldn't come soon enough for Lily. She had plenty of time to work on James's present—as Vernon and Petunia and even Vernon's family seemed to spend every waking hour at the Evans house. Lily had shunned herself into her room and had only left the house to finish Christmas shopping—despite Ellie's insisting that records were "friend forever" gifts, Lily couldn't help but buy James some of her favorites, and she managed to get out for the Christmas eve service she had just returned from.

She had debated on what to wear, but decided that casual was more the way to go. She pulled on a pair of jeans and green top before pulling on a cloak and setting out for her fenced in yard, the place she decided would be safest to apparate.

With the presents in a bag, Lily said good-bye to her parents—"Be home by twelve" was all they said, and she apparated to number seventeen Chevalier Hill.

James's house was rather impressive. It stood at least three stories tall from what Lily could tell from standing by the street. It could have been more. There was a large iron gate surrounding the area, which was indeed like the address suggested, a large hill, that seemed to go on for many acres. Lily drew a breath and walked up to the gate, which opened at her arrival. Anxious, she took the stony steps that led to the Potter's front door. She found it somewhat of a relief remembering James's parents wouldn't be there. Meeting parents of James's would have to be something she would need to prepare herself for.

She hadn't even finished swinging the large handle to knock when the door swung open.

James was standing in front of her, and it seemed their days a part had added a whole new way of seeing him. He was indeed tall, as usual, lean, but muscular, as before, his hair was messier than ever, his glasses still covered his hazel eyes, and he still had the same thin, handsome face. Once deciding it was the comfort of being in his own home, Lily let him take her cloak, and followed him to where Sirius, Remus, Peter, and Allison were already waiting.

"Hello, Lily." greeted Remus. "Go ahead and put the presents under the tree." he motioned to a giant Christmas tree, which was elaborately decorated with tinsel and colorful lights.

After placing her presents under the tree, she took a seat on the leather couch beside Allison and Sirius, despite the fact that he was smoking.

James just seemed to have noticed that as well and shook his head before telling Sirius to go to the parlor with it, and telling Sirius cigarettes would kill him.

Sirius shrugged, put it out and began to hum impatiently. "Are Ellie and Jacob coming?"

"Yes, Padfoot." replied Remus, who looked just as anxious at their arrival.

"What did you get Ellie for Christmas?" asked Lily.

Remus smiled. "You'll see."

After another ten minutes of waiting, the fireplace erupted and two soot covered siblings climbed out.

Jacob smiled, showing white teeth through piles of ash. "Hold on, Ellie."

He pulled out his wand and cleaned the ash from the room as well as their clothes.

"Sorry we're a little late." he apologized, taking a seat on the floor by Allison's feet. "Ellie decided to take extra long getting ready, and since she's not of age we couldn't apparate."

Ellie rolled her eyes. "I was only taking extra long because I had to help some idiot wrap his girlfriend's Christmas present, and because I am not of age I had to do it by hand."

The group laughed at the sibling argument, before Peter grew impatient and squealed. "Let's open presents!"

After twenty minutes of furious unwrapping, they were down to the last set of gifts. Lily was already quite pleased with everyone's reactions to her gifts, except for James, who had saved hers for last. Sirius had jumped up excitedly and hugged Lily when he unwrapped the fireworks, claiming they were new on the market and he hadn't even tried one yet. Peter had given her a bashful thank-you and looked highly pleased with his new rigged chess set. Ellie and Allison were equally pleased, and Jacob and Remus thanked her thoroughly for the books. Without much hesitation, James passed out everyone's last gift.

Lily's stomach jolted when she realized she would be unwrapping James's present next. What had he gotten her? And then she remembered James would be opening hers as well…she certainly hoped he liked it and got whatever message wasn't going to send him to a monastery.

Before opening his present, James came and sat by Lily's feet. He was equally anxious about the present exchange and wanted to be able to read Lily's reaction right away.

Lily studied the wrapping, it was a rather large box, and the wrapping was delicate.

She unwrapped it slowly, and it appeared that James took this as a queue to do the same.

Lily's mouth dropped. It was a record player. A real record player for her room. That meant James would have to have been listening the months ago when he had stumbled on her record collection.

"There's another part." whispered James. He was smiling broadly, and Lily noticed he had unwrapped the photo album, which had turned out a lot better than Lily had thought it would. The binding was a dark brown, and the writing was in gold. The pages had been done with the Gryffindor colors, gold and maroon.

Lily smiled at him. "This is already good enough—but okay. There's another part to yours as well." James went under the tree and picked up two gifts, one was the records Lily had given him, and the other was a smaller box.

All eyes were on them now, as everyone had ripped open their presents.

She took her gift lightly and opened the paper. She gasped as she saw what it was. A ring box…she was surprised…and James had really outdone himself.

James was smiling up at her again. "I love the records."

She grinned, green eyes sparkling. "I'm glad."

"Well go on, open it." he urged.

Lily opened the top and gasped. It was beautiful, a white gold ring with a heart in the middle.

She looked at James. "Thank you so much James…but really, this is too much."

James shook his head. "I've been waiting years to buy you a present. It's an Irish wedding ring." he explained. "You turn it one way, so the heart's pointing down." he took the ring out of the box and slid it on her left ring finger. "When your heart isn't taken. And then you turn it the other way, so the heart's up, when it's taken."

Lily smiled as she looked at it delicately. "Thank you so much."

"Likewise." he replied. "I can't wait to listen to ABBA." he laughed and Lily joined in. The others began to laugh as well before Sirius interrupted.

"Well thank you everyone, I hope you found your gifts satisfactory, Lily it took me forever to find that book, by the way. But can we eat?"

Lily laughed. Sirius had bought her 101 Ways to Break the Rules in a Large Magical Castle.

James looked at Lily for a moment before standing up and putting his new records in the pile of other gifts he had received that evening, he took the album with him.

"Right, Piper and Riva have prepared us a sort of dinner." stated James. "So I hope you all are hungry."

Allison and Ellie pulled Lily away from the group heading for the dining room.

Allison whispered in Lily's ear. "He got you a ring?"

Lily nodded. "Yes…an Irish wedding ring."

Ellie and Allison exchanged a look, before Ellie smiled. "That's really wonderful, Lily."

"I know…and the record player. He must have spent a fortune!" replied Lily, almost worried. "I didn't spend that much at all…"

Allison shook her head. "That doesn't matter…I mean, he'll love that album…how long did you spend on it?"

Lily smiled. "About three days."

"You must have been bored." replied Ellie before she could even think about it.

Lily laughed. "Well…"

"Ladies, are you coming?" asked James as he prepared to close the giant oak doors to the living room.

The girls giggled and nodded, James just shook his head.

"Come on, then."

They rushed forward, but Lily was again pulled away by James.

She looked him in the eyes, his hazel eyes which always sparkled when he was happy.

"Lily, thank you so much for this book. It's wonderful."

"Your welcome…there's some extra pages in the back…to add the rest of this year." she replied.

James grinned. "I noticed."

They stared at each other for a few moments before a crash in the kitchen reminded them that food was waiting, as were their friends.

The "sort of dinner" James had mentioned, was more like a feast, for fifty. Their were holiday puddings, legs of roasted lamb, a gigantic turkey, mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, twice baked potatoes, scalloped potatoes, boiled potatoes, a variety of green vegetables, smashed yams, a roast, three cakes, and four pies.

James pulled out a chair for Lily and took the seat beside her.

After they were fed and watered, James stood up. "Happy Christmas, everyone."

They all took turns wishing each other happy Christmases, in high spirits. Allison and Jacob shared a kiss, as did Remus and Ellie. Peter ate more pie, Sirius belched loudly, and Lily and James just watched it all.

"Anyone up for some Quidditch?" suggested James.

Sirius grinned madly and nodded, Remus quietly said yes, and Jacob enthusiastically agreed.

"Come on, the ladies are welcome too." tried James. "And Peter. Come on, we'll play four on four."

"I'm not very good at flying." replied Lily, but after receiving a pleading look from James, "I will try…if Ellie and Allison play too!"

After being begged, Ellie and Allison finally agreed, and Sirius threatened Peter, so it all worked out.

As they were leaving the table, the doorbell rang.

James's clueless expression told Lily he hadn't been expecting anyone.

"Remus, Sirius, come with me to the door. Peter you want to show Jacob where the brooms and balls are, you guys can get them. We'll be right back."

Once out of hearing distance from the girls, Sirius muttered. "Not expecting anyone, were you?"

James shook his head. "Just keep your wands out."

Cautiously, James unlatched the door, and no amount of training at Hogwarts training could prepare him for what encountered him at the door.

"JAMIE!" came an ear-splitting shriek of James's seventeen-year-old cousin, Charlotte, she threw herself in James arms and gave him a kiss on each cheek.

"Charlotte!" exclaimed James, returning the kisses and putting her down.

"And Sirius, and Remus!" she greeted, giving them each kisses.

"Charlotte, you're earlier than expected." stated James, just as happily.

Nodding her black head. "I know, Daddy wanted to go see someone in London…" she drifted, tilting her head and smiling.

"Where's your bags, I'll set you up in your room." offered James.

"There just out here." she replied.

James flicked his wand and guided them up the winding, elegant stairs to his cousin's room. Leaving Sirius and Remus with Charlotte.

Sirius and Remus looked at each other for a moment.

"Well, I guess we can go introduce you to everyone." suggested Remus.

She pouted. "Did I interrupt something? Oh Merlin, I'm a party crasher!" she giggled wildly.

"Don't be ridiculous." said Sirius. "It's just a few girls, and Peter and Jacob…anyways, the more the merrier." He smiled handsomely.

"Well alright then." replied Charlotte, as she followed the boys into the dining room.

Ellie, Allison, and Lily stood in the kitchen, examining the bracelet Lily had bought Allison and the necklace Jacob had given her, the gold necklace Remus gave Ellie, and the ring James had given Lily.

The guys just shook their heads.

"Girls, this is Charlotte, James's cousin." introduced Sirius. "She's visiting from France."

"Charlotte, that's Ellie, Remus's girlfriend, that's Allison, Jacob's girlfriend—he's out getting brooms. And that is Lily Evans."

Charlotte cast a double glance at Lily. "So you're Lily."

Lily blushed. "Oh, yes."

Jacob, Peter, and James appeared several moments later, Jacob carrying eight broomsticks, and Peter dragging the case that held the balls and bats.

"Do you have a pitch?" asked Lily, in amazement. She didn't know much about Quidditch, but she knew brooms and a ball set must be expensive.

James nodded. "My dad and I built it one summer…we have hoops at least."

"Do we need to get another broom?" asked Jacob, puzzled by the addition of another guest.

"Oh, I'm Charlotte." James's cousin introduced herself, shaking his hand. "You must be Jacob…Allison's boyfriend."

Jacob smiled politely. "Yes, that's right, should I go get you another broom? We could do girls against guys."

She smiled. "Okay! But I'll get it…I know where they are."

She left the group as they headed out to the pitch.

"You're lucky." stated James to Lily. "That she's on your team, she plays Seeker for her team at Beauxbotons. She's brilliant."

Lily smiled. "So we can kick your arse?"

James playfully gasped, mimicking extreme shock. "Why, Lily Evans, what a mouth!"

Lily grinned mischievously. "I daresay you've rubbed off on me, Potter."

"Daresay?" laughed James. "Alright, Evans."

Two and a half hours later, Lily cautiously guided her broom beside James as they flew over the Pitch, still playing hard, neither Charlotte, nor James, who was playing Seeker for the boys, had caught the Snitch.

"Could we please call a truce?" begged Lily, who was not used to being hundreds of feet in the cold, frozen air, flying fast and recklessly for hours on end. "The girls are ready to call it quits."

James raised his eyebrows at her. "Charlotte?"

Lily shrugged. "Well, no. But Ellie and Allison are ready—and majority rules."

"Ha." laughed James. "We play till we catch the Snitch. I'm not going to let Charlotte beat me."

Lily rolled her eyes. "You're too competitive. She's your cousin."

"All the more reason." explained James, hazel eyes scanning the air energetically.

All of a sudden, James spotted his cousin diving for something quick and gold.

"Blasted Evans! You were distracting me!" mumbled James before zooming after his slightly younger cousin.

Lily giggled as she watched James start off.

Charlotte caught the Snitch, James really had had no chance, for as he said, Charlotte was brilliant, fast, and had the same reflexes that James seemed to possess on the pitch.

Everyone gathering in the center, the girls congratulating one another with hugs and laughter, the boys sulking slightly at being defeated by a bunch of girls.

James towered over Lily. "You did that on purpose." he accused pointing at her.

Giving him a sly, cunning look, Lily raised her eyebrows. "Well no one said it was against the rules. And you have to admit that I'm not much good for anything else."

James smiled. "Yes, we can agree to that."

Lily hit James across his head lightly, laughing. "You're not supposed to agree! You're supposed to say, 'why Lily you aren't that terrible' or 'I could give you lessons sometime, if you're that worried about it.'"

James raised his eyebrows. "You want lessons, from me?"

Lily blushed. "Well if you asked I would definitely consider it."

James smiled staring into her eyes. "Lily, you aren't that terrible at Quidditch. If you want, I could give you lessons sometime, that is, if you're that worried about it."

Lily opened her mouth to respond when she overheard Charlotte talking to Sirius.

"It's only five till twelve, what do you want to do now?" she asked, excited after her spectacular win.

"Oh no!" cried Lily. "I've got to be home by twelve!"

The look of pure fright on Lily's face brought James back down from their flirtatious reality.

"Don't worry, you can apparate in seconds." he reassured her.

"But I need to get back to your house, that's where my things are!" cried Lily, checking her watch desperately as she started frantically walking towards James's massive house, which was quite a walk from the pitch.

James pulled Lily back. "Calm down." he tried. "Just go home. I'll get your things and apparate over in a few minutes, just give me your address."

Lily nodded subconsciously. "Alright, that'll have to do. But don't come right away… come in about an hour. That'll give me time to check in with my parents and to make sure they get to sleep."

"Alright, that works." replied James as Lily gave him her address.

"It was nice to see all of you, write, Charlotte, nice to meet you, great catch, James I'll see you in an hour, make sure you come to the backyard. Don't let the neighbors see or hear you, they're Muggles." she stated this all very fast before apparating home.

Once she was gone, Charlotte came up to James.

"So that was Lily Evans?" she asked, playfully teasing her cousin, who blushed.

"Yes." he replied coolly.

"She's as pretty as you described year after year, but I thought she hated you."

James smiled at his cousin. "She did."

"She must be a pretty great girl." replied Charlotte casually as the others started to walk over to them.

"She is." answered James, smiling broadly.

"Anyone up for fireworks?" asked Sirius. "I got some new ones I'm dying to try out."

Peter squealed. "Yes! Please!"

James laughed. "Sirius, don't use all of them, we could use them at school, and I think Lily might actually want to see what she gave you."

Sirius nodded. "I won't use them all, just the really big ones."

They all laughed as they headed back to James's for the fireworks.

Lily waited impatiently at the back door of her house that led out from the kitchen. She had changed into her nightgown and pulled a warm cloak around her, anticipating any sign of James as she checked her watch. She prayed he wouldn't be loud or careless and catch the attention of her nosy Muggle neighbors. At exactly one o'clock, a loud crack was heard in her back yard. Lily rushed out to her backyard as quietly as possible, thanking God that it was the holidays and that any loud cracking could be mistaken for reckless fireworks.

James was waiting for her, looking around her yard curiously, he had never been in a Muggle village before, well at least this close.

"Thanks for coming, James." greeted Lily as she gripped her robe around her against the cold Christmas weather, the snow wasn't that deep yet, but it was nevertheless chilly and wet.

"It's a pleasure." replied James, smiling. "Want me to carry this in for you?" he motioned to the bag and Lily's cloak.

Lily shook her head. "No, no, I'll take them, I don't want my parents, or worse, my sister, to hear you."

James nodded. "I suppose you're right." he handed over her belongings. "Thanks for coming tonight." he whispered. "Are you going to the New Year's Eve party at Allison's?"

Lily shook her head. "I have my wisdom teeth removed five days from now, or four, technically. I'll be too out of it for my parents to let me out. I get the joys of being at Petunia's New Year's Eve party, here."

James frowned. "Well I'm sorry. I'll write you sometime."

"That would be great." smiled Lily. She chattered. "I better get in. I would hate for Petunia to catch me out here, she'd just love torturing me with that."

James chuckled slightly. "I can take a hint. Good night."

"Good morning." replied Lily, smiling.

She turned to walk back inside, when she heard James again.

"Happy Christmas."

She turned around and smiled at James who was preparing to disapparate. "Happy Christmas."

Thanks for the reviews, CarbonMonoxide, Zippy-Wings, PaintedBlank, taiora-itis, MaraudersGirl4404-HJS, IAMSOAP, chikichiki, Snail-Sama, and WhiteCamilla!