Disclaimer: None of this is mine…

With Christmas only days away, the seventh years were allowed to visit Hogsmeade on their days off, in order to buy presents and cards for their family and friends. On Saturday morning Lily and James headed into the village to do all their Christmas shopping.

Snow had fallen thick over the castle grounds, and when the pair reached Hogsmeade they found it iced pristinely with the cold white ice. Hand in hand, they made their way to the Three Broomsticks.

The inside of the pub was a loud and crowded as the streets outside were white. A small band played in the corner, and a wide assortment of witches and wizards drank merrily at its many tables. Over at the bar, Rosmerta was sharing a loud story with two young travellers and off in the far corner were a group of strangers conversing in stand offish whispers.

"Come on." James whispered to Lily, grabbing her hand and leading her over to the bar.

"Two butterbeers thanks Rosie!" he said jollily to Rosmerta, who looked disconcerted at having her story interrupted, and threw him two bottles of butterbeers grumpily, before turning back to the smitten men.

"Don't be stupid, these are on me," James said, pushing back Lily's money and scouting out an empty table amongst all of the chatter.

"Thanks." She said, and took the seat that he pulled out for her, smiling. What this first date? She thought to herself. Neither f them had mentioned anything, but as Lily looked around now, it sure seemed as though it was…The others weren't there, they were away from the castle, sitting together, hand in hand, drinking butterbeers.

Lily let out a small giggle at the thought, and James looked confused.

"What is it?" he asked, leaning in. Lily laughed again.

"Nothing, just thinking, that's all…" she said, laughing again.

"Well that is hilarious!" James exclaimed. "You, thinking!" Lily snorted into her butter beer.

"So, what about Dani and Sirius eh?" asked James, smiling at Lily. Lily's eyes grew wide.

"What about them?" she asked in astonishment.

"Is it possible? Do I really know the gossip before Lily Evans?" James teased, leaning back in his chair in mock amazement.

"Come on James! You've got to tell me now! That's torture! You know how much I-"

"They kissed." He blurted out.

"What?" Lily exclaimed, upending her butterbeer so that it was sent skidding over the top of the table. "Why that little…I cant believe she hasn't told me…"

"Well does she know about us?" James said, smirking. Lily deflated, and then let out a laugh herself.

"I guess I can't talk…" she said. "But that's great! Bet Sirius was excited."

James nodded, grinning. "I went and visited him at the hospital wing IO swear he almost floated off the bed!"

"Well it's about time, I'll say that much." Lily commented gleefully.

"I'll bet you say more." James said. Lily rolled her eyes at him.

"Shut up."

"So, what was it that you were thinking about that had you laughing?" James asked, leaning back in so that Lily could hear him.

"I was thinking that this is practically our first date, when you think about it." She replied, boldly going slightly red, but smiling all the same. James jerked straight up, his mouth open.

"Bloody hell you're right!" he exclaimed. "I'm sorry Lily, I should have taken more notice, I-"

"Calm down, I'm not upset bout it, I'm happy! I cant believe it, that's all…" she said. James pulled out his wand, and conjured a red rose.

"Here." He said, giving it to her along with a gorgeous grin. "You're beautiful."

"God you're gorgeous." Lily said, melting, and taking the flower.
They left the pub an hour later, talking contentedly and headed straight for dervish and bangs, where they planned to purchase Sirius' Christmas presents.

"So why doesn't Sirius like his family?" Lily asked, as they walked along the road, snow falling gently on their hair.

"Its probably best not to let Sirius know that I told you, but they like the dark arts a little more than he does." James said awkwardly.

"What do you mean? They're not-"

"His little brother is. Regulus." James said, and Lily gasped.

"No wonder he gets so worked up about the whole thing." She said, as they kept on walking, pulling their scarves tighter around their necks.

"Yeah, and he left home start of last year, camped out the back of my place last summer. Mum and Dad wanted him to have his own room you know? They love him, but he's too proud for that. He likes it where he is, and it's not as though living out the back is uncomfortable." James grinned. "My Uncle Perkins has the most amazing tent, it looks old and shabby, then you step inside and it's like a house! And a damn better one that what Sirius' used to, I'll tell you. A lot smaller than the Black Manor, but at least it doesn't have snakes in every nook and cranny! And his house elf is blinking mad!"

"Wow. Poor Sirius." Lily said, as they reached the joke shop and stepped into the warm interior, a clatter of noise and colour.

"Ah well, like you said, we're family now." James said, and he led her over to a stand covered in a wide assortment of magical objects and gadgets, which would fill Sirius' happiest daydream, although admittedly Dani was not for sale. James did, however, purchase him a small knife that was magically designed to open any lock, and Lily bought their friend a small book called 'how to handle women and Quidditch; the wizards guide to all things important' as a joke, before the couple set off to Honeydukes laughing.

"Remus next! That was fun!" James said; as they passed a group of carol singing elves that stood by the side of the road.

"Really? I think that James has caught the shopping bug!" Lily said, grinning. James looked abashed.

"I don't think that I'm nearly as bad as you miss 'lets just buy both'!" James laughed.

"Ok then, Remus next, now what shall we buy him?"

"I get the poor bloke book and stuff every year! Lets be exciting!" James whined.

"Don't panic, I'll find us something good." Lily soothed, and grabbed him by the hand, leading him to a small toyshop, where she was on a mission to find Lupin something 'fun'.

"Here!" she proclaimed, holding a stuffed wolf in her clenched fist, laughing.

"How the hell did you manage to find something so perfect?" James asked.

"I don't know, I guess I must be perfect." She said, smiling sassily. James looked around for any sign of the store owner, then, when the coast was clear, threw Lily into the heap of toys and jumped in next to her.

"James!" she squealed, falling backwards so that her head was squashing a magical stuffed cat, which was pawing at her head softly. The wolf in her hand gave out a small howl, and James pressed his lips against hers, making lily plainly forget that she was in what seemed to be a pit of stuffed animals.

"We still need to find something for me to give him." She whispered to James.

"I thought a book is always a very nice gift…" he said, cocking an eyebrow.

"Oh shut up." Lily said, and pulled James out of the toys, straightening up. "I'm not going to have a boring present after you give him this!" Lily argued plainly, and they set about the store, looking for something that he would find amusing. In the end she settled for a pocket sneakascope, which alerted one of danger by whistling annoyingly.

Next was the girls, and for this, Lily dragged a reluctant James to Pricilla's magical makeover and accessories store, which was vivid pink in colour and adorned with fluffy poufs and flashing lights.

"Have any sunnies Lil?" James asked sardonically, rolling his eyes.

"Oh shut up, I need to look for something for the girls, and so do you. This is the best place for it, you can't argue that."

"Can't I just get them chocolates or something?" he asked. "I think that I might be the only guy ever to set foot in this store!"

"Stop the whining Potter, now, what do you think of this bracelet?"

"I think that it's pink."

"Really? You don't say? No, really, what do you think that Dani would think if this bracelet?"

"I don't know! Can't we buy her clothes! I'm much more tolerant when it comes to clothes…"

"Ok then, come over her…"

They left the shop with multiple bags, in shockingly bright colours that James refused to carry. In them were two pink tops and bracelets, from James and Lily. But there was something that Lily didn't know. Concealed in James pocket was one little pink bag that she hadn't seen, and he smiled at the thought of her opening it when they woke up on Christmas morning, at his house, together.

After a short stop at Honeydukes to grab some chocolates for Peter, they were ready to head back to the castle.