Disclaimer: Nothing you see here is mine.
Summary: James and Lily have had many encounters over the years, some pleasant and some…not so pleasant but the most memorable ones happened during their birthdays. Join them as they go through one birthday after another throughout their years at Hogwarts.
A/N: To answer some questions, Peter wasn't present during James' birthday because I believe that he was pretty close to his family (things I understood from reading the books). So Peter will be present basically on Lily's birthdays and not James' (usually) since he will be gone visiting his family. Similarly, Lily and Carina's other best friend, Tracy, will be there for the rest of the story since she only became good friends with them end of first year or so.
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Dedicated to Saphra. Happy Birthday!
Lily POV—Second Year
April 12—The Birthday
I sprang out of bed at 6:00 once the sunlight poured into the room. Feeling slightly giddy, I looked over at my calendar and crossed off yesterday's date.
Finally, it's my birthday.
I thought that it would never come. Yesterday seemed to move so slowly that I swore my watch stopped. Actually, scratch that. It was probably moving backwards.
Getting up out of bed (and doing a little jig while I was at it) I quickly took a shower and ran to the Owlery, ignoring Carina's mumbling.
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It was about 6:45 and I was waiting for my parent's letter, all the while reading the Daily Prophet. I was just turning to the page when my owl, Hermes, came swooping in with the letter. I jumped up excitedly and snatched the letter out of its claws and sat down to read it, all the while stroking Hermes' feathers.
Our Lily,
Happy birthday, sweetie! You are finally 13 years old and now we have another teenager to deal with in the house (although I suspect you might be easier to handle than Petunia). You don't know how much we miss you but we'll see you soon I expect, what with Easter coming up so quickly, so keep your fingers crossed!
Home is the same as always. Or at least, as normal as it can get with your father, Petty, Oliver, and I all together in one house. Your father is up to his old antics again and is trying to fix the blasted dishwasher which he broke in the first place. I swear, sometimes I believe I have four children and not three children. Petty is fine and she does miss you (don't roll your eyes dear, it isn't becoming). She is in a bit of a bind with your Dad as she didn't exactly bring the best marks home but you know your father, he can't stay upset for too long. Oliver misses you a lot and he is grown very tall now! Recently, he brought home a stray duck from kindergarten and begged us to let him keep it. I couldn't bear to see it leave and eventually we wore your father down as well. When you come home for the holidays, you will see a new member of the Evans family named Quack Evans.
Lily darling, do well in school and say hello to Carina and Tracy for me. Do make sure you bring them over again, they're sweet girls. We miss you very much and just can't wait to see you again!
With lots of love,
Mum, Dad, Petunia, Oliver, and Quack
P.S. Oliver wanted me to remind you that his birthday is in two months and he expects a magical gift that a future 6 year old is worthy of.
I set the letter down and closed my eyes, which were currently filled with tears. I shook my head and tried to get rid of my tears. It's my second year away from home at Hogwarts and I should be used to this by now.
But still, I would have liked to spend my thirteenth birthday with my family.
Grabbing the package that came with the letter, I carefully opened it and put the wrapping paper aside. Inside the box, I found a gorgeous gold necklace with a hand-crafted golden L hanging from the chain. I gasped in shock at the gift and silently thanked my family for giving me such a beautiful present. I hooked the necklace around my neck and tucking the letter and wrapping paper into my cloak, I headed down to the Great Hall for breakfast.
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As it was still pretty early (Carina always said that 7:30 was too early to get up on the weekends), I didn't expect anyone to be downstairs eating breakfast.
But to my surprise, there was James Potter casually eating his scrambled eggs and holding his broomstick in his left hand.
"Potter?"
Potter turned his head, confused as to who would be calling his name so early in the morning, and saw me standing right next to him.
"Oh…hi Evans."
Grabbing the seat across from him, I filled my plate with some eggs and a slice of toast. We ate in silence for a few seconds before I finally broke the silence (never in a million years did I think I would be the first to break the ice in any conversation).
"So, Potter, you're awake at 7:30 on a Saturday morning. I never would have thought."
He shrugged. "Well, I never would have believed it either but I started getting up early after last year. You wouldn't believe how amazing it is to fly on your broomstick first thing in the morning."
I raised my eyebrows in surprise. "You're right. I wouldn't considering I don't even know how to ride a broomstick."
Potter widened his eyes. "What? I'll have to—no I'm going to—teach you sometime."
"Okay, I'll hold you to it."
"Anyways, what are you doing up so early?"
"Well, I have been getting up early for as long as I can remember. It was something that I learned from my father. When I was little, we used to wake up very early, way before everyone else, and always water the garden in our backyard. My parents take great pride in our garden. My father always let me water the daffodils first, since they were my favorite."
Potter nodded. "So…Lily doesn't like lilies?" he asked, a grin on his face.
I rolled my eyes. "That is so cliché. I mean, lilies are pretty and all, but I don't think that they are anything special. Daffodils are just as pretty as lilies. Sometimes, I say that I hate lilies just so people don't keep asking me that."
Potter just kept grinning. I must admit that he has a very nice smile. His white teeth weren't perfectly straight but the slight crookedness worked extremely well on him. He nodded at my letter and asked.
"What's that?"
"Oh, birthday letter from my parents."
Potter widened his eyes again and dropped his fork on his plate with a loud clatter.
"BLOODY hell! (Potter, don't swear!) I forgot, I can't believe I forgot, I never forget people's birthdays!" he said, while putting his head in his hands.
I looked at him in surprise. I didn't think he would even get me a present (I mean, are we even that great of friends?) let alone worry over the fact that he got me one.
"Look, Potter, it's fine that you didn't get me a present. In all honesty, I didn't really expect you—"
Potter looked up from the table and grinned.
"I'm just joking. Fooled you, didn't I? Of course I got you something. You gave me presents for my last two birthdays and I gave you one last year so obviously I would get you one this year." He said, with a look of mischief in his eyes.
I closed my mouth quickly, a blush creeping up onto my cheeks.
He lent down into his bag and pulled out a poorly wrapped gift for me.
"Um, thanks?"
"Maybe you should open it first." He said, a slight smile on his face.
I blushed again (darn cheeks!) and inwardly cursed myself. God, oh god, why am I making such a big fool of myself, and in front of James Potter nonetheless?
Shaking my head, I opened the gift slowly and found a book that I had been wanting for a long time.
"The Real History of the History of Charms! I have wanted this book forever…how did you know?"
"I asked Carina and she told me. So happy birthday Lily."
"Thanks, Po—James."
He looked at me with a confused look. "James?" he asked. Since his birthday in first year, we have this unspoken agreement to call each other by our first names on our birthday but by our surnames for the rest of the year.
"Yeah…
…I call all my friends by their first name."
He smiled that amazing smile of his and continued to eat his eggs with his fork.
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Wow.
I never thought that I would have a good time with James Potter. We sat around for almost three hours just talking, playing chess, doing our homework, or just sitting around.
Soon, at around ten or eleven, everyone else decided to grace us with their presence. Carina walked next to me, yawned loudly and plopped herself down on the sofa, Sirius right next to her. Peter sat in the armchair slowly and Remus rubbed his eyes and sat on the floor with Tracy.
Now, Tracy Foster is one of my new best friends. Throughout most of first year, it was just me and Carina but one or two food fights later, we met Tracy. She is a muggleborn, like me, and is one of the sweetest people I have ever known. I can't think of anyone who hates her (except the Slytherins of course…besides, I think she has this thing where she needs to be accepted by everyone). She's smart and loves reading (you don't how nice it is to talk to someone about books and not have them roll their eyes at you) and has this incredible passion for cooking and baking. Over the summer, Carina and Tracy came to my house and she made us crème brûlée and I almost died after eating it. Since then, she doesn't hesitate to ask us to test her food or any ingredients in it.
They all were sitting a little weirdly like something was sticking out of their clothes. I looked at this curiously before my eyes lit up with happiness.
"All right, you guys. Can I have my presents now?"
"God, Lily. You shouldn't be so selfish. I mean, just because it is your birthday doesn't mean that we all got you presents." Sirius replied.
I nodded my head solemnly. "Of course, Sirius. You are right. But, since you did make me pick out my own gift, I know for a fact you at least got me a present so hand them over!"
They smiled sheepishly and before I knew it, there was a pretty big stack of gifts staring up at me.
Much to Sirius' dismay, I opened each gift slowly (so I could save the wrapping paper) and was extremely happy with what I got.
A set of muggle classics (Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, and A Tale of Two Cities) from Remus, some new mint-flavored chocolate from Tracy that she made, a new quill from Sirius as well as a gift certificate to a day of annoying Sirius for free, the new Superman video from Carina, that Charms book from James, and a new History of Magic book from Peter.
Now, I don't really know Peter all the well since he usually leaves for home during all holidays but he is nice, but shy. Of course, I don't particularly care for History of Magic but it's the thought that counts. Besides, I could use it to study for exams and not have to listen to Binns anymore.
"History of Magic! Peter, what kind of gift was that? I mean, nobody likes History of Magic!" James asked, wrinkling his nose.
"Shut up, James (he looked offended at this). Peter, I really do like it. Don't listen to him." I said kindly.
Peter smiled at me in thanks.
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Soon, the day was gone and the seven of us spent our time just hanging around or playing Monopoly (I must admit that for a muggle game, James is extremely good at it). Eventually it was dinner and the rest of the students started heading down to the Great Hall. Carina, Tracy, and I were going to follow them when Remus stopped us.
"Where are you guys going?"
We looked at each other in confusion.
"Um, Remus. Are you in another time zone or do you just not realize that it is dinner time? That is why people are heading over to the Great Hall, you know, for FOOD?" Carina said.
"Of course we realize it is dinner time Rina, but since it is our dear Lily's birthday, we decided we would take you to the kitchens for a lovely birthday treat." Sirius replied, while making a grand sweeping gesture with his arms.
"The kitchens? But isn't it a violation of school rules to go there?"
"Yeah, so?" The four of them said in unison.
"So, we could get a detention for this! Carina, Tracy what do you think about this?"
"To heck with detention. I'll go," Carina said, with a twinkle in her eyes. "I have never been there before."
Tracy bit her lip for a second before saying yes as well.
I stared at them. My own friends deserted me and now it seemed like I was the only one who didn't want to go.
"Come on, Lily. Live a little." James said with a slight cock to his head.
I could get a detention for this. I shouldn't go…I mean, is it worth it to get a detention for something as trivial as food?
No. I just won't go. I'll just say no and I won't give in to peer pressure!
But I don't want to be alone on my birthday—
Oh heck. Forget it, I'm going.
"Why not?"
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The kitchens, although I hate to admit, were absolutely amazing. I didn't even know what house-elves were and I was a little shocked to say the least…but Carina assured me that house-elves were a common thing in the Wizarding World so there is nothing to be scared about.
After that amazing dinner, we all started to head back to the common room and somehow managed to squish ourselves back under James' invisibility cloak (which was hard considering there were seven of us and three of us were 5'7"). Amazingly, we got back to the common rooms without getting caught. Carina, Tracy, Sirius, Remus, and Peter all said good night and wished me a happy birthday once again before going up to the dorms. James started to go up as well but I grabbed his arm, blushing slightly at my actions. He turned around with an inquisitive look on his face.
"Thanks James for a wonderful birthday…and I really mean it."
He shook his head good-naturedly and grinned at me.
"Look, Lily. We're friends, right?"
"Right." I said, unsure about where he was going with this.
"Friends don't thank each other."
I smiled back at him and we stared at each other for a few seconds. Then, he turned his head and looked outside.
"Nice night, huh?"
I looked outside and sure enough, it was gorgeous.
James stared outside, turned his head back to me, and turned around so abruptly that my hand (which, for some strange reason, was still latched onto his) fell and I tripped.
"Wait right here." He said, while zooming up to the boys' dorms.
I had barely comprehended the fact that he left when he came zooming right back down, a broomstick in his left hand.
I looked at the broom, looked back outside, and a look of comprehension came onto my face.
My eyes started to widen and I shook my head.
"Come on, Lily. You promised you would let me take you flying one day." He said, referring back to our conversation in the morning.
I cringed, remembering my stupid mistake.
"Well—I mean—I didn't mean—You can't be serious."
"I am quite serious. Besides, I think you owe it to me because I managed not to say the horrible Sirius/serious pun. That was a struggle."
"I don't owe you, if anything you saved yourself from dying a horrible death."
"Point taken. Come on, Lily. It is one broomstick ride with the best broomstick rider on the planet! Nothing could go wrong!"
"You are, by no means, the best broomstick rider on the planet. That's not even a word. How can I trust someone who makes us their own words? Besides, no means no. So no, non, no way, and no chance am I going to get on that broomstick of yours."
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I am going to kill James Tristan Potter.
I am on the back of a broomstick with the abovementioned person. I feel sort of bad for him because my arms are latched so tight around his waist that I might just be cutting off his circulation. But he seems alright, or at least as alright as anyone can be by just looking at the back of their head.
"Enjoying it, Lily?"
"James, you will regret this when we get back on the ground."
"Lily, you are at least 6 inches shorter than me. I think it is fair to say that I would probably win."
"James, I make up for size in intelligence. Sadly, I can't say that for you but I would be glad to teach you some…hexes or so."
"Right then. We'll go down but at least look at the grounds from here."
I opened one eye and slowly moved my head from its position on his back.
I hate to admit it but it is absolutely gorgeous.
My mouth opened in awe and I stared at the Quidditch Pitch, completely transfixed.
"It's so beautiful." I said, shock keeping me from saying anything else.
"That it is."
I turned my head and stared at James, who was staring the grounds in amazement.
"A year and a half of doing this and it never gets old."
Wow.
I have never seen James Potter like this.
"You know, James, most thirteen year old boys don't like to admit this to others, especially girls."
He blushed.
"Well, let's just keep it between you and me then."
I grinned.
"That's a promise."
We managed to get back to the dorms without anybody catching us again (honestly, were all teachers in France or something?). James took off the invisibility cloak. We stared at our shoes for a minute before my watch beeped.
It was midnight.
"I gotta go to sleep, Lily, but I will see you in the morning. Happy birthday."
"Thanks, but it's midnight. My birthday's over."
"Yeah, but in the Wizarding World, birthdays only end at 12:01."
I smiled. "Well then, thank you very much."
We both headed up to the second year dorms and I ran to my bed, flopping down onto it.
Birthdays until 12:01. What a brilliant concept.
So another chapter finished. Much faster update this time. I am very proud of myself and I give myself an A for updating. So, if anyone feels (and don't worry, I do too) as though Lily and James acted pretty mature for second years, they kind of did. They are friends and they are thirteen years old. I tried writing this from a thirteen year old's perspective and hopefully it worked.
All you out there, review please, and keep leaving your birthday if you haven't already.
On a more fun side note, has anyone here seen the LION KING Musical? My god, it was the most brilliant show that I have ever seen! I didn't want to leave the theater after it was over and my parents practically had to drag me out of there. I listen to the soundtrack and I love it! Seriously, if you guys get the chance, go see it!
The Big Dance