Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. The wonderful JK Rowling does! I wish I did, then I'd be rich! Just kidding! Please don't sue me for writing a fan fic that I really hope you enjoy!
Some Christmas gift ideas were from Snaps4Hollywood and Rachel!
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Sirius and Marissa walked hand in hand outside, talking about what the past four days have been like without each other. When their friends saw them chatting and holding hands, they knew they were back together.
Sirius and Marissa went over to a weeping willow, moved the branches out of the way and sat down, leaning on the back of the trunk.
James and Remus came over to Lily and Kiah, who were watching Sirius and Marissa with relief on their faces. "That didn't take too long, did it?" Remus asked, sitting next to Kiah and wrapping his arm around her waist.
"Not at all. Seeing how their over-dramatic, I thought it would take them much longer to realize they are both idiots," James replied, copying Remus' movements.
"Mm-hm. You want to actually help me with the wedding plans, since it is our wedding?" Lily asked sarcastically.
"Well every time I try you say I'm doing things wrong and you tell me to leave!" James argued.
"You always do things wrong, but try to do things right for once. Now, what do you think our colors for the wedding should be?" Lily said.
James picked up a leaflet that showed good wedding colors. He found the exact same colors of his and Lily's eyes. "These two, we could also have this off white," James said. "They match our eye colors perfectly."
Lily held the blue up to his eye, and compared the two. Smiling, she said, "You actually did something right! I'll make a note of the colors."
Lily pulled out three large notebooks and started flipping through them. Two of the notebooks were completely full of Lily's Marissa's, and Kiah's handwriting. "You've been working hard, are you almost done planning it?" James asked.
Lily and Kiah exchanged eye contact and laughed. "No! We've hardly done anything! We've been so busy budgeting the wedding so that it doesn't cost a lot that we hadn't had enough time to pick out the larger things," Kiah said.
"Well, why don't I do all the budgeting, so you guys have more time for to actually plan it? First semester is almost over, and if you're planning on throwing the wedding in the summer you're going to need a lot more time," Remus said.
Lily grinned and gave Remus a huge hug. "Thank you! But are you good with muggle money? Because some of the wedding stuff is magical and non-magical."
Remus nodded, and took the notebook that had all the mathematical calculations in it, and busied himself with correcting mistakes.
"Okay, this is perfect! Kiah can look at the dresses and suits, since she's best in fashion," Lily said, handing Kiah a three ring binder full of wedding choices and a notebook, "James, you can start coordinating the wedding colors with the chosen choices table clothes, centerpieces, cutlery, and dishes. You can also pick your favorite designs, since there are about ten choices for everything," Lily handed James three magical wedding catalogs with pages folded and circled items (looking very daunted at this new task, he was used to doing nothing), "And I will start making a guest list, registry, thank you cards, invitations, etc." Lily got a notebook and placed it on her lap.
James scooted closer to Lily, and Lily subconsciously laid her head on his shoulder while flipping through catalogs and binders and her mother's old wedding plans.
James kissed her on the top of the head and watched as she made notes and saved pages. He loved her so much, more than anything in the whole world. He would never even think of loving someone else as much as her.
"Guys, you won't believe this!" Kiah said, looking across the lake.
"What is it . . . " Remus trailed off, looking to where Kiah was looking.
James and Lily saw it too. Peter was talking to a Hufflepuff girl named Petula Morven. She was a seeker on the house team and she was in 6th year. She had short, thick, wavy pepper hair, dull brown eyes, and rosy cheeks. She had a mouse-like appearance, which was probably why Peter was attracted to her. She wasn't fat, but then again she wasn't skinny either.
They continued watching, and when they were about to separate, Petula kissed Peter on the cheek. You could see Peter blushing from that far away.
Peter came skipping back to where they were all sitting. All of them were waiting for an explanation. Peter just grinned and picked up a bridal magazine and calmly started flipping through it.
James got out his wand. "I'm dying to know what that was about, do you mind explaining?"
Peter sighed. "If you must know, I asked Petula to go to Hogsmeade with me and she said yes!"
"That's great! Now we will all be couples!" Kiah said excitedly.
Peter's smile grew even bigger. "Sirius and Marissa got back together?"
"See, I told you Remus! Peter isn't completely worthless!" James said, thumping a disgruntled looking Peter on the back.
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During the week, Marissa and Sirius were inseparable. They acted as if those four days were four years and they were making up for lost time. The only time they weren't together was at Quidditch practice.
James showed no mercy for his team. He was even worse than their last captain before himself. He booked the Quidditch pitch five days of the week, starting at seven o'clock and ending at eleven.
"I want my year as captain to be memorable, glorious, and I want to win every single game we play. Saturday is against Slytherin, and we all know how they are. I have made copies of my playbook, so I want you all to study not only your parts, but also everyone else's. We have to become one, a blink of an eye could mean a whole different play. I know 5th years and 7th years aren't going to have a lot of time to study this with all the homework, but do the best you can. Everyone is dismissed for tonight," James finished, handing out a very large packet of paper to each person on the team.
The Gryffindors groaned, but knowing they wouldn't get a break, flipped to the first play and studied it as they were walking back to the common room. The 5th and 7th years had learned to study while they eat, walk, use the bathroom, and even when they sleep. OWLS and NEWTS were coming up, and there was no time to waste.
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Saturday came, and booming cheers from their house greeted the Gryffindor Quidditch players as they entered the Great Hall. James and Sirius soaked up all the attention, by waving and winking, making various girls melt.
They sat at the table, pulled out their playbooks and started practicing various play changing gestures. For instance, James held up two fingers, then his pinky, and finished with thumbs up sign. All the Gryffindor players turned to another play and held it up so James could see. "Very good, but Woodly, you have to know the difference between the gestures. You keep getting the same three mixed up," James said. They went through a couple more play changes until James was satisfied, then they began eating.
Five minutes before breakfast ended, James told his team that they needed to go to the locker room to change and work on strategies. James and Sirius kissed their girlfriends goodbye, and headed down to the locker room.
Lily watched James go and sighed heavily. Marissa looked up from her cereal. "What's the matter?"
Lily rubbed her eyes. "Mara, do you ever get the feeling that Sirius focuses more on Quidditch than you?"
Mara thought for a second, and then shook her head. "No, I mean, he spends a ton of time practicing, but that's not his control. He always puts me before his schoolwork. Why do you ask?"
"Because it seems that lately, James putting Quidditch before everything. I mean, I know I'm his second priority, then schoolwork, then wedding plans. I always put him first," Lily said.
Marissa choked on her pumpkin juice. "You put him first? When? For you it's schoolwork, wedding plans, then him."
"No its not! I only do those because he's too busy figuring out strategies with Quidditch."
"Lily don't lie to yourself, it's always been like that. Last year, when he wanted to be with you, you said 'after I'm done with this essay' or 'just a minute, let me finish this chapter'. That's how the whole fight started this year."
Lily was about to open her mouth to retaliate, but then closed, thinking back on all those times. Lily shook the guilt away, she saw everyone getting up to go out to the Quidditch pitch.
"Come on, the seats at the very top are the best!" Kiah said, running up to Lily and Marissa. They made their way up the top, the whole way Lily was attempting to sort out her priorities.
"Welcome Ladies and Gentleman to today's Quidditch match! Today it's Slytherin versus Gryffindor! Today's weather is perfect for a Quidditch match! No wind, blue skies, the sun shining down!" Remus announced through the magical microphone.
"Here comes the Slytherin team! Captain and Keeper Omar Hyde, Chasers McClure, Travis, and Rubin, Beaters Yaschik and Usalavage, and Seeker Wolfe! The dirty rotten Slytherins come out on the field, ready to cheat their way to the Cup-"
"Lupin! Don't make me give you detention!" McGonagall yelled.
"But I already have it with you, Professor!" Remus protested.
"Well then I'll take away your Hogsmeade trip."
"Fine! The mighty Gryffindors come out onto the field! Captain and Seeker, James Potter! Our superb Chasers Gargallo, Foltz, and Caro! Beaters Ridgeway and Black! Last, but not least, our Keeper Talamas!
"The captains shake hands, malice in their eyes, each planning on beating the other. Teams mount their brooms as Madame Hooch comes onto the field."
Madame Hooch was carrying a crate with the four balls in it. She opened the crate and let the Snitch and the Bludgers go. She had the Quaffle in her hand. "Now I want a nice clean game, from all of you," Madame Hooch said. She threw the Quaffle in the air and the teams took off, each one taking their own position.
James scratched his nose while passing Sirius, and Sirius passed it on to everyone else on the team. James took his position over the field and started searching for the Snitch. Sirius sent a Bludger towards Travis and knocked him off his broom. Foltz caught the ball and passed it back and forth to Caro, moving up the field by soaring up then plummeting down. Both Chasers did a circle on their broom, so the Slytherins didn't know who had the ball. Then Gargallo came out of nowhere and scored.
"Amazing play! Gryffindor scores ten points! It seemed as if Caro and Foltz had the Quaffle, but out of nowhere, Gargallo came up and scored! Brilliant!" Remus yelled through the speaker.
Turns out Slytherin had quite a few moves themselves and they scored just as much as Gryffindor. The Quaffle went back and forth. After an hour, the score was tied at 90 points each.
"This game is neck and neck! McClure has the Quaffle and drops it! Wait, Rubin was below him and he caught it! Rubin takes a far off shot, and Talamas blocks it! Both Keepers are keeping this game tied!"
James was getting bored, sitting there and searching for the Snitch. There hasn't been any sign of it. He decided he was going to attempt the Wronski Feint. James caught Ridgeway's eye and clicked his ankles together. Ridgeway nodded and passed the play to the other players.
James had tried to master the Wronski Feint on his own time, but he had been having trouble. He got it last night at practice, but that was the only time he achieved it. James dove deep acting as if he saw the Snitch.
Remus knew what he was doing; James talked about it all the time after practice. "I believe our Seeker, James Potter, has seen the Snitch. He's diving down deep, his hand reaching out. Wolfe sees this and dives down also. They are getting dangerously close to the ground. Wolfe looses his footing and crashes, skidding across the ground. Potter starts to pull up, but his broom is wobbling. Come on James!" Remus said nervously.
James' broom flipped upside down, and his head was skidding across the ground. Lily was up on her feet, he heart beating wildly. If he hits the ground, he'll break his neck, Lily thought desperately. James glasses fell off and crashed. He started to pull up, and was halfway to flipping himself over when Yaschik sent a Bludger speeding his way. It hit James in the stomach, knocking him off his broom.
Lily screamed and fainted, flipping over the back off the stands and free falling down to the ground. Dumbledore saw this and concentrated his energy on slowing Lily down. She did, but still hit the ground hard.
Marissa and Kiah saw her fall, and were now screaming and leaning over the edge. James rolled a little on the ground, but since he tucked his arms in and protected his head, he was fine, and he had the Snitch in his hand.
"Gryffindor wins!" Remus said, then looked over to where Kiah was sitting. He saw Kiah and Mara leaning over the edge of the stands, and he saw Lily falling. "James! Get over here now!" Remus yelled in the microphone.
James sensed the panic in his voice and was about to Summon his broom, when he found it in his hand instead. Puzzled, he ignored the phenomenon and jumped on his broom and sped towards Remus. Remus pointed over the stands, and James saw Lily about to hit the ground.
James nose-dived to her, but it was too late and Lily hit the ground. James pulled the broom level and jumped off, running towards where Lily was laying.
"Lily! Lily!" James said, taking her head. She was breathing, and her heart rate was fast, but it was returning to normal. "Wake up, please wake up," James said. He had her gathered in his arms.
James felt a hand on his shoulder, and looked up to see Dumbledore. "She's fine, James. She thought you broke your neck out on the field. She might have some broken bones, but otherwise she's fine."
James nodded. "I'll take her to the hospital wing." He conjured a stretcher and gently laid her on top of it. "Thanks for slowing her down Professor," James said gratefully.
Dumbledore smiled and nodded, and watched as James guided Lily up to the castle. He sighed heavily, and said, "Their love will save us all."
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It took Lily a very short time to recover; she just had to stay overnight in the hospital. The next day she shakily walked out of the infirmary with James giving her support.
The whole day Lily wobbled around the grounds. Her walking was unstable because of the fall she encountered.
Lily was walking arm in arm with James around the lake when her knees gave out. James caught her from falling. "Are you okay?" James asked.
Lily nodded. "Madame Pomfrey said this might happen because of the fall. Let's just go to the common room and work on the wedding together."
James grinned. Working on the wedding had become one of their favorite pastimes. When they didn't agree on something, they'd joke about when they were old and wrinkled and they'd be fighting over who got the remote for the TV. Then they'd start thinking of their futures together and how many kids they would have and what they would look like.
When it was three in the morning and they were about to fall asleep, they decided to go to bed. But since Lily was having trouble going upstairs and James couldn't help her up the girl's staircase, Lily said she would sleep with James in his bed.
"Nothing is going to happen until our honeymoon, so get it out of your head." Lily said as he picked her up. James' grin quickly faded.
When they stepped inside the room, James put Lily down and she walked over to the bed and lay down. James lay down next to her, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her close. "I love you so much," James said.
"I love you more than you'll ever know," Lily said. They lay there for the longest time, just enjoying each other's presence.
Then something very strange happened. Sirius got out of bed and started walking around in circles. He was also naked. "Oh! I didn't need to see that!" Lily said.
James got up and slapped Sirius so he woke up. Sirius slowly blinked his eyes. "Whatsa matta?"
"Oh nothing, but you are sleep walking naked," James said.
Sirius looked down and yelped, jumping back into bed and wrapping blankets around himself. Lily and James burst out laughing, as Sirius' face grew steadily redder.
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Lily regained her balance by Hogsmeade weekend. The couples handed their slips to McGonagall and headed down the road to Hogsmeade. Peter was very nervous, and it looked as if Petula was also.
James squeezed Lily's hand. "Remember when we were like that last year?" he whispered in her ear.
"Very much so. I was trying to work up the nerve to say I liked you," Lily said, moving closer to James.
"I guess we had nothing to be scared of," James said. After a moment of silence, James asked hesitantly, "Do you ever regret it?"
Lily looked at him strangely, then said, "Why would you even ask that? Of course I don't regret any of it." She stopped him, and kissed him tenderly. "Do you think I regret it?"
James shook his head. "Stupid question, I just never want to lose you."
"It's okay. What are you getting me for Christmas?" Lily asked nonchalantly.
"Pre-ordered it weeks ago, what did you get me?" James asked.
"Made it, but you can't have it until Christmas. Since we both got our presents, want to shop together?"
"Sure. What are you getting for everyone?"
James and Lily shared ideas about gifts until they reached the small village. The couples split up and said they were going to meet for lunch.
After shopping was over, most of the couples found each other at Three Broomsticks. "Where are Peter and Petula?" Marissa asked.
"I'm not sure, but things must be going smoothly if he completely blows us off," Sirius said, grumpily drinking his butterbeer.
Lily raised her eyebrow, then leaned over to Marissa and whispered, "What's up with him?"
"He had the perfect Christmas gift for James on hold and when he went to pick it up, they were all out," Marissa said.
After lunch they all went shopping some more, and Remus saw something he really didn't want to see. Peter and Petula were snogging behind one of the shops. "Ah! Ew! Guys stay back!" Remus said. His friends ignored his warning and rushed over instead, face to face with something not so pretty.
"Ew! Don't make eye contact!" Sirius said.
"Just back away slowly and forget we ever saw that." James said.
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The night of Christmas Eve, the Marauders, Lily, Marissa, Kiah, and Petula were all sitting the common room, sharing Christmas stories. Petula and Kiah had Deafing Spells put on them temporarily so they wouldn't hear the password. They were munching on Christmas tree cookies and drinking milk.
"Alright, I've got a good one from when I was 5." Petula said after Remus told a story. "I was putting cookies and milk out for 'Father Christmas' when I heard sleigh bells and a man saying 'Ho, ho, ho! Happy Christmas!' I thought it was Father Christmas, so I ran to my room and acted like I was asleep. The next morning I had a ton more presents then I usually had and the doll I was begging my mom for. I believed in him until I was 12, then my mom finally told me that it was my dad who did all that."
Everyone smiled at that story. So far, the couples thought that Petula wasn't too bad. She was boring at times, very quiet, and always afraid people were talking behind her back. She's never had any friends, so the Gryffindors were happy to welcome her into their circle. She would never be as close as the rest of them, but she was still part of their happy family.
After Petula fell asleep on the couch for the third time, Peter just went with Petula back to her common room and didn't come back.
"I have an idea of something we could do tonight." Lily said, running her fingers through James' hair. "We could all go down to the Marauder Headquarters and spend the night there. We could conjure comfy double sleeping bags next to the fireplace and go to the kitchens and get hot chocolate and other Christmas snacks."
"That sounds like fun!" Marissa said. They all planned how to get there undetected, since they couldn't all fit under the Invisibility Cloak. Remus first took Marissa, Kiah, and Lily down there under the Invisibility Cloak. Then he came back up and got James and Sirius.
The three boys stopped by the kitchens, and saw the House Elves already preparing the Christmas Day feast. A little elf saw them and came up to them. "Good evening sirs! How may Pockie be helping you?" said the elf.
"Hello, would it be alright if we could have six cups of instant refilling hot chocolate, and two trays of éclairs, cookies, and scones?" Remus said in a calm manner.
"Why yes, sir! We is happy to be helping you, sir!" Pockie said delightedly and twelve house elves came carrying three trays off food and drinks.
"Thank you, have a good night!" Sirius said jovially and carefully threw the small cloak over the three of them while balancing a tray of snacks.
They slowly made their way down the stairs, through corridors, and towards the dungeons. Remus opened the entry way and the carefully walked into the room. The girls didn't notice they were there because they were still under the Invisibility Cloak.
"Could you take this off of us please?" James asked, trying to keep the snacks balanced.
The girls jumped and yelped. "Warn us before you do that!" Marissa said, staring at the doorway.
"We kind of can't, we have three trays of food that are slipping and can't get the Invisibility Cloak off. We are standing by the long table next to the doorway," Remus said.
The girls played a game of hot and cold for a while, until Kiah finally found them and gently took the cloak off of them.
"Took you long enough to find us," Sirius complained. Marissa glared at him and put the trays on the end tables by the couch.
"Since you three are best at conjuring, we'll leave it up to you to make our nice sleeping bags." Kiah said to the boys. The three girls flopped on the couch and grabbed some hot chocolate, the men grumbling all the while about how they had to do everything.
After the boys conjured sleeping bags, each couple grabbed their own couch and sat around, talking, eating, and telling sharing favorite moments throughout school.
"Can you guys actually believe it's our last year at Hogwarts?" Lily asked.
"Not really, I mean, I feel like Hogwarts is my home, how are we going to make it without these safe walls protecting us?" Kiah said.
"Voldemort getting stronger, it's going to be hard to try to keep living normally." James said thickly.
"I have no idea what I want to do when I get out of here, but I know for sure that I want to help fight against Voldemort." Lily said.
"Me too," Marissa said.
"I think we all do," Sirius said.
There was a small silence, then Marissa said, "I don't know why, but I have this weird feeling that I won't be alive for a very long time. I've had it for a while now, and at first it kind of scared me, but now I'm used to the idea."
Sirius hugged her closer. "Rissa, please don't talk like that."
"I have a feeling that no one will be alive long." James said sullenly, holding is coffee mug tighter.
"Please, let's change the subject," Lily said. "It's Christmas, let's talk about more happy things." Lily tightened James arms around her and snuggled up closer to him.
So until six in the morning, they talked about anything and everything. When Sirius fell asleep, spilling his hot chocolate all over Marissa, they decided to go bed. But one couple lay together, whispering softly, for another hour until they fell asleep, dreaming about what future they will have together.
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Around noon, Sirius started pouncing on everyone, yelling, "Wake up! It's Christmas! It's Christmas!" After everyone pushed him away, he started singing Jingle Bells and Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman.
"ALRIGHT! WE'RE UP! I SWEAR I'M GOING TO BLOODY KILL YOU ONE OF THESE CHRISTMAS MORNINGS!" Remus yelled when Sirius started hitting him with a pillow.
Remus took the Marauder's Map and went to go find Peter, who was reading a book in the common room. Remus also Summoned all the presents.
While Remus was retrieving everything, Sirius, James, Lily, Kiah, and Marissa started to conjure a Christmas tree and lights and ornaments to decorate. They also had Christmas songs playing magically from inside the walls.
When Remus got back, he put the presents under the tree and started playing Santa. Peter admitted that he was having so much fun with Petula that he forgot to buy presents.
"It's okay Peter!" Sirius said. "I just won't buy you a birthday present."
"Same here!" James said. There was a chorus of agreements.
Once everyone got their presents, they decided to have everyone open their presents in alphabetical order. So James was first.
"Okay, here is a card from Sirius," James said, opening up the envelope. "'Sorry mate, the present I wanted to get you was out of stock. You'll have to wait until you birthday to get it. But in the meantime, here is something I'll think you'll treasure.'" James read aloud, then looked questionably at Sirius. A few seconds later a dirty sock appeared in James' hand. "Gee, thanks Sirius! I always wanted a sock!" he finished sarcastically, throwing the sock in his face.
Sirius grinned and shrugged. "There's a joke gift also. Here." Sirius said, still grinning, dropping something in his hand. James looked at it and his ears started turning red.
"Thanks, but no thanks, I don't need a condom." James said, chuckling and performing a Vanishing spell on it. Lily blushed red and the rest of the group laughed.
"Open mine next!" Remus said, pushing a present towards James.
James picked it up and ripped off the wrapping. "Wow! That's cool Remus!" James was holding a memory book, full of pictures with Lily and himself.
"It's actually for you and Lily, I made it a combo present," Remus said.
"Thanks Remus!" Lily said, giving Remus a hug and then started flipping through it.
"This one is from Kiah," James says, picking up a basket. "Whoa! It's full of candy!"
"It's every Wizarding candy ever made." Kiah said.
"Awesome!" James said, and then picked up a heavy present. "This one is from Marissa and Lily, and it's to The Marauders."
The three boys crowded around James as he ripped it open. It was a photo album, but there was a description next to each picture.
"It's an album of all of the pranks you have ever performed, even the small ones," Marissa said.
"Cool!" All four boys said at one time and started flipping through it, laughing at various pages.
"We're not done yet, we'll add more pranks as the year draws to a close," Lily said. "Kiah, you're next for presents."
Kiah grinned and grabbed her presents. She got candy from Sirius and James. Marissa gave her a magical mood ring that showed the mood of whoever you touched with that hand. Lily gave her a framed picture of her and Remus walking hand and hand down a road in Hogsmeade, talking to each other and stopping to kiss.
"Here's my present," Remus said as he slid a rectangular flat box to her. It had a French name engraved on the box.
Kiah took it and opened it. There was a small silver locket inside. She opened the locket and a soft, musical voice came out of it.
"It's a calling locket, they're very rare. If you need me or are in trouble, just open the locket and I'll hear it and know exactly where you are," Remus said.
Kiah had tears in her eyes. "Thank you so much!"
Remus kissed her, then hesitantly said, "I love you Kiah."
Kiah looked up at him and whispered. " I love you too." Remus grinned and Kiah kissed him deeply.
"Enough, enough, it's Lily's turn!" Sirius said.
Remus and Kiah broke apart, but sat not an inch away from each other.
Lily got candy from Sirius (and birth control, which she said she didn't need and threw away immediately). Marissa gave her a book entitled, "All Spells to Fix Your Hair", since Lily had been having trouble with wedding hairstyles. Kiah gave her a charm bracelet with wedding related things on it.
"Open mine!" James said, giving her a small wrapped package.
Lily ripped off the paper and found a mahogany box. "A jewelry box?" she asked James.
James shook his head. "Open it!"
Lily did so, and when she did the room got dark. Then small white glittering dots shot out and went to specific places on the ceiling. Then bigger colored balls shot out and placed themselves around the room.
"When you open the box, the whole universe comes out of it. Then you could say a star, constellation, galaxy, planet, or whatever, and it will come right to you and you could make it bigger or smaller or ask for facts about it." James said.
"Wow, I want to try it!" Lily said. She thought for a second, then announced, "Sirius."
"What?" asked Sirius.
A small white glittering ball came to Lily's hand. Lily lifted it up to her face. "It feels hot in my hand," she said. Then she closed the lid and the lighting returned to normal. "Thank you, it's the most beautiful present ever."
"Even more beautiful than the engagement ring?" James asked. Lily just laughed and kissed him, holding the box close to her the rest of the day.
"Rissa next!" Lily said.
Marissa grinned and started ripping open presents. She got candy from James. A framed picture of Sirius and Mara playing in the pool at Lily's house from Lily. Kiah gave her earrings with little wands that shot real sparks.
Marissa was opening a card from Sirius that just said 'I love you' on it. "What . . . " Mara asked confused.
Sirius grinned and Summoned a small velvet box from under the tree. He gave it to Marissa. She popped it open and gasped.
"Is it a promise ring?" Marissa asked breathlessly.
"Yes, and I have a promise band. It kind of works the way Remus' locket works, if you press on the three diamonds for five seconds, then I will know where you are and I will come running to you," Sirius said.
Marissa kissed him softly. "I love you Sirius."
"I love you too Marissa," Sirius said.
"Aw, too much mushy stuff. My turn for presents!" Peter said.
Peter got two books from Sirius; one entitled "How not to be a Weenie" and "How to Talk to Girls" (Sirius received a glare from this present). He got a magical camera from James. Remus gave Peter his favorite cake that refilled itself when you ran out of it and it never went stale. Kiah gave Peter the same basket of candy that she gave James.
"Fanks guys!" Peter said through a mouthful of cake.
"My turn!" Remus said, grabbing and ripping open presents. He got a book called, "How to Know When You're too Smart" and a recording of all the Quidditch games he announced. James gave him a writing set, including an eagle feather quill and an engraved stationary set. Kiah gave him a magical watch that told time in different countries, what the weather was going to be, and where any person in the world was, unless the person put an Unplottable spell on themselves.
"Finally! It's my turn!" Sirius said excitedly.
Sirius received a six-pack of boxer shorts and huge prank set by Zonkos from James. Kiah gave him the basket of candy she had given to the other two boys. He also received a present from Remus that was for himself and Mara, a photo album with pictures full of themselves.
"I'd say that was a perfect Christmas." Lily said, opening her universe box and watching the planets orbit around the sun.
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Author Notes: This chapter is rushed and choppy in places…but it's close to 2am and I'm dead tired. I don't think I ever described what Kiah looked like, and I couldn't work it into this chapter, so I'm just going to describe it right here. She's African-American, she has warm chocolate eyes, smooth skin, straight black hair a little past her shoulders that fans outward on the ends. She's shy, truthful, trusting, not the best at school but she gets passing grades, a procrastinator, and creative. Also, here's the meaning to all the names I made up, the meanings may play a part in the story...
Sorry the later chapters are taking so long…I just don't have the drive to write. It's a shorter chapter because I eliminated a lot of the cute Harry stuff because there's been too much of it, but after this one there's only two chapters left and the last one is already a third written.
Marissa - (Latin) of the sea
Kiah - (African) season's beginning
Petula - (Latin) seeker
Calypso - (Greek) concealer Mythological: the sea nymph who kept Odysseus captive