After finally caging the two doves, and setting the pigeons free, not only did James no longer have any decent socks, but he also had to write Lily a note to go with her second present.
For this he asked Remus, as the most studious of his friends, to help him with the composition. They had already written three drafts when they had decided on:
"To Lily,
'On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me…two turtle doves…'
Hope you enjoy the second day of Christmas.
Love James."
James had originally got embarrassed about having love written twice in such a short note, and had wanted to mention that he was sorry if the birds smelt, since they were made out of socks. Remus, however, didn't feel that it would particularly endear her to his present and so had promptly cut it out of the final draft.
Lily found the birds and note the following morning on her bedside table. She noticed a faint smell coming from them, but put it down to the fact that they were animals.
"Aw they're so cute!" she cooed, she put her finger through the bars and they nipped at it gently.
"I reckon they should be called Lily and James." Giggled one of the girls from the bed across the room from Lily's, as the two birds snuggled up to each other. "Look they are in love!"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Lily huffed, slightly embarrassed.
"He has so got the hots for you." Another girl added.
"Has not, anyway, I wonder if this means he's going to keep going for the whole twelve days."
"Why? Would that be a problem?" Asked a girl with long brunette hair.
"Haven't you even HEARD the song?"
"Have you actually READ the song James?" Sirius asked anxiously. He had been reading the library book again, seeing what they had to get for Lily next, when he had skimmed down to the bottom of the page. "I mean where the hell are you going to get 'Twelve drummers drumming'?"
"Well, doesn't that Davis kid play drums?" He asked absent mind-idly flicking through a catalogue.
"Yes, slight problem with that though."
"What?"
"There's only one of him." Sirius enjoyed stating the obvious, especially to someone as oblivious as James: it made him feel clever.
"You don't say? Well we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. What I'm worried about right now is that this catalogue doesn't sell chickens." He slammed the catalogue shut on his lap. "False advertising, they do not cater for all of my holiday needs thank you very much."
"Wonder why it has to be French hens." Sirius pondered out loud. "I do a wicked French accent, it's good for getting the girls." Sirius smirked to himself. "I remember this one time I used it on that chick from Surrey, remember her? Worked a treat on her. Must remember to pop down Surrey… nice girls there, very friendly…"
"That's it!"
"What? We run away to Surrey? Well I'm all for it mate but what about Lily?"
"No, not surrey. We need to get to a costume shop and fast."
On the way out from the boys' dorm Sirius and James grabbed Remus and headed outside. James had also been hoping to find Peter but he was probably scurrying about looking for food somewhere. He'd need three people for this, so it looked like he was going to have to play dress up too.
"I can't believe I'm doing this." Remus' muffled voice could be heard from beneath the head of a large chicken suit.
"Lighten up Remus." Sirius too was in a chicken suit. "It's quite funny really."
"Lily better appreciate this, it's boiling in here." James moaned.
"James, question."
"Shoot Padfoot."
"We are supposed to be hens, but we're guys. So technically we're cocks."
"Dunno about you two, but I feel a right di-" James was cut off by a cough from Remus. "These Berets don't make us look any better."
"Well at least she'll get it, besides I'll put on my French accent. It'll be fine, you worry to much Jamesey." Sirius' playful smile could be heard in his voice.