Chapter 9: Christmas

The days passed and Christmas had arrived as did the owls. From James she received a book called A Guide to Medieval Sorcery, Sirius sent sweets as did Peter. Remus had sent her a pensieve and a book for Petunia about dementors. They had also enclosed a note.

Dear Lil,

Here are your presents. Thanks for the broom servicing kit. Remus says thanks for the copy of CommonMagical Ailments and Afflictions, Peter says thanks for the sweets and Sirius the Dr. Filibuster fireworks and book.

Hope you have a good holiday

Love

James

Dear Lily,

The book about dementors is for Petunia, she was quite interested in them.

Have a good holiday

Love

Remus

Severus hadn't sent her a present but sent a note instead saying:

Dearest Lily,

Can I come over I want to give you your present in person. I was going to send it but it would be more romantic if gave you it plus it was too heavy for the owls.

Love

Severus

She ran downstairs at top speed to ask her parents. "Mum can Severus come over, as he wants to give me my Christmas present", she asked tentatively. "Sure, as long as there is no magic as Vernon is coming over", she replied.

Sev,

You're allowed. I'll see you about 12noon ok.

Lily

She took Petunia her present from herself and the one from Remus as she didn't think it wise to give her them in front of Vernon. Petunia seemed pleased and gave her a hug as well as a beautiful black dress. "I knew you liked it so I went back to get it", she smiled. "Thanks", Lily replied, going to change into the dress.

Severus arrived ten minutes early but it meant he could give Lily her present without Vernon being there. It was a small tree with SS loves LE engraved on the bark and a liquid-like material, which turned out to be a morphing cloak. It could be clothing of any colour, make you invisible and keep you warm.

She gave him a kiss to say thank you then gave him his present a book of ancient potions, a set of dress robes and an invisibility cloak. They then headed downstairs where everyone was now greeting Vernon. "You look great by the way", Severus whispered in her ear. "You don't look so bad yourself. Petunia bought me it for Christmas", she replied.

Christmas dinner went without a hitch, everyone enjoyed themselves and even Petunia laughed at Lily's jokes. The fact that she was able to spend time with her family and Severus at the same time without people (Petunia) flinching was great. After dinner everyone retired to the lounge for drinks.

Petunia requested that Vernon be allowed to stay in the guest room as it was quite late and she didn't want him to drive home after having been drinking. "Of course, you must stay too Severus. You can have Lily's bed and she can sleep on the couch", their father suggested. "No Sir, if anyone should sleep on the couch it should be me. I couldn't ask any of you to give up your bed for me", Severus replied. "Very well, don't be up too late you four", he said as they got up to leave. "Lily the linen is in the cupboard under the stairs", their mother added as she followed her husband out of the room.

Hours later the group separated to go to bed. Lily had to get Severus the bedding so he could go to sleep, so was downstairs longer. She found a spade in the cupboard under the stairs and decided what she'd do. Creeping silently upstairs she got her tree and hurried back downstairs beckoning Severus after her out into the back garden.

She dug a hole large enough for the trees roots then planted the tree in the ground. Severus just looked at her like she'd gone mad. Planting the tree in her parent's back garden. She then took Severus' wand and cast a few spells over the tree to protect it and make it last forever, like their love would.

They stayed out in the garden for hours. The sat under their tree which was now growing and talked about their education and their futures. Lily had had cameras attached to her hand all day she wanted to take a lot of pictures to take back to Hogwarts with her. She had taken pictures of Sev and herself, of Petunia and Vernon and of her parents. Her favourites were of her and Sev under their tree.

Lily had then spent a few days at Severus' house. His parents were arguing a lot so they stayed outside most of the time talking, kissing and mucking about on their brooms. Lily who had been sitting under a large oak tree watching Severus on his broomstick began laughing at him. He was bemused, not knowing why she was laughing he dismounted his broom, gave her a kiss and lay in the grass with her.

The days went passed and she was leaving to go back to Hogwarts. Petunia was freezing her out again, the fact that Lily had powers she'd never have or that Lily had all those boys running after her and she had Vernon made her jealous.

Lily had packed all her things in her trunk she'd bought a new bag in which she put a book for the journey, not that she'd read it. She also packed the some of her sweets, the rest she gave to Petunia. She was wearing her morphing cloak as a long denim jacket as there was no room in her bag or trunk to accommodate it.