The next week or so passed in a flash, and Lily found herself smiling at James, hollyberries in her hair, as they walked down to dinner on Christmas Eve. There were only two tables in the Great Hall, and Lily, James, Sirius, Glenda Chittock, and Dirk Cresswell were the only Gryffindors remaining at Hogwarts. All of their other friends had gone home. Mafalda Hopkirk and Benjy Fenwick, Emmeline and Caradoc, Marlene and Remus, Dorcas, and Peter celebrated this Christmas with their families.

Lily now had no doubt that Marlene and Remus would continue to be an item. After a frazzled day of last-minute shopping around Hogsmeade (where had all that time gone, wondered Lily), the two friends had met up with the Marauders at Madam Puddifoot's. Marlene went off for delicious butterbeer with Remus while Lily teased James that no, in fact, she had not been buying a gift for him, and had instead been shopping for Sirius. Sirius himself was nowhere to be seen, off on a date with Hufflepuff Greta Catchlove, or he would no doubt have had something to say. Peter hung around for a while with Lily and James, but eventually went off on his own to check out something at the Shrieking Shack. Now the studies and the shopping were over and done, and there was only one more sleep till Christmas.

"Mmm, goodnight," murmured James, relinquishing Lily after having magicked a small sprig of mistletoe overhead. He had been doing that a lot lately, but Lily was certainly not complaining.

It was a little before midnight in the common room even though the fire still blazed heartily, perhaps the house elves were merrier around Christmas as well. Lily and James had spent the day idly mucking around with Sirius, either bundled up outside (and shoving him into snow drifts) or exploring the school (and shoving him into the twelve magnificent Christmas trees). Lily was the only one really exploring however, James and Sirius tread their way so easily that Lily thought they could do it blindfolded and still better than she.

"Happy Christmas Eve, James," smiled Lily cheerfully. She turned to leave but James took her arm.

"Lily." He looked a little uncomfortable, which in turn reminded Lily of a morose puppy, with scruffy hair and crooked glasses. "I er…just wanted to say…"

"What is it?" she inquired curiously, mentally still going over the checklist of gifts she had mailed out by owl. Lily and James hadn't been uncomfortable around each other for months.

He rumpled his hair.

"Being as tomorrow is Christmas and all, I was wondering if you would want to spend the morning just the two of us…you know. Sirius is going off with Greta anyway, so—"

"No James, I would never want to do that," said Lily sarcastically, unable to hide a grin. She raised her eyebrows when James actually seemed put out for a moment or so.

"That's a yes, then? I—"

Lily placed on slim finger over his mouth.

"James, shut up, or I'll think you're going spare if you take everything so seriously. By the way, since when did you take anything seriously? I shall have to investigate tomorrow."

"Ah," he smiled. "Good." James closed his hand around her finger and gently pushed it from his face. "Lily, you don't have to do that. I need my lips for other things."

"So I've heard."

Lily stumbled into her bed ten minutes later.

…

Dazzlingly white light flooded the room as Lily drew back her bed curtains on Christmas morning. She ran to the window immediately, cinching the belt of her red robe on the way; there was a thick level of fresh snow on the ground, disturbed only where the Whomping Willow was contentedly whacking away at some errant squirrels. A bubble of happiness rose in Lily's stomach and brought a great smile to her face because today was Christmas. A pile of colorful packages winked tantalizingly from the foot of her bed. Lily smiled and tore into them with exuberance.

Dorcas had sent her five new inkwells of ink in blazing colors that would glow on parchment. Emmeline had given her a small bottle of perfume that fizzed pleasantly and felt like mist on her skin. Marlene had sent her two huge bags of sherbet lemons. Lily grinned and unwrapped one as she worked, squelching the citrus juice in her mouth.

Lily had expected her parents to send her favorite candies as well, but the gift from home was a shallow box of cardboard, teal with a large white bow. Curious, Lily opened it and puffy waves of pale turquoise spilled into her hands. A small white note fell out and she flipped it open with interest.

Lily, it read.

You're in the wedding party. Don't rush to congratulate us all at once. We spotted you the dress. And there are some lemon candies in the box.

Merry Christmas,

Mum and Dad

Lily held up the dress, if that was what it was. It looked like a neon disaster, with bows and ribbons up the puffy elbow sleeves and a garish fake rose pinned on the high waistline. Lily sighed, and hoped her other presents would prove more satisfactory.

…

They did. And Lily bounded down to the common room in high spirits, hugging James on sight. He was standing by the fireplace, looking casual in his thickly-knit blazer. The common room was empty save for them.

"Good morning," said James with a smile. "I'm glad you're here. Hold on a sec, let me just tell Padfoot…" He reached on top of the mantle and pulled off a small, square mirror that had been lying flat. It appeared secondhand and well-worn, and Lily studied it. She had seen them before; one for James and one for at least Sirius. James held it up to his face and muttered "Sirius Black."

Lily quickly peeked over James' shoulder but was too slow: the mirror was already sharpening into the image of Sirius's snoozing face on his pillow. His nose was oddly smooshed in the picture.

"Padfoot," said James sharply, and Sirius' eyes burst open and then the image dipped and slid and became totally black. No, that was the carpet, aha! A hand—or at least a few fingers—materialized and the image righted itself with Sirius yawning widely. It would seem that he had been asleep, woken up, and startled, and then he had dropped the mirror.

"A two-way mirror. Impressive, James," commended Lily. Naturally such mischief-makers would need a support system…

"Hell's going on…?" mumbled Sirius, squinting, "Prongs, why—"

"Padfoot, you fell asleep? I left you about fifteen seconds ago—"

"I was tired!"

"So you put the mirror face-down on your conk?"

"Yes. It woke me up, didn't it?" James rolled his eyes. Lily laughed. Sirius rubbed his eyes and smiled, the picture shuddering as he sat up in his bed.

"Hello Lily. Happy Christmas."

"Same to you, Sirius."

"Had a lovely rest, did you?"

"Close it," said James impatiently. Sirius actually winked at Lily before James continued, "I've done what you ask. You're supposed to meet Greta in an hour, by the way."

"I know, I know…" James snorted.

"Have a nice rest. You'll have to get yourself up though." Sirius waved dismissively.

"You only have an hour and you're going back to sleep?" asked Lily, amused.

"Don't encourage him," said James complacently. "Later Padfoot."

"Same here," said Sirius brusquely, as the mirror went blank. Lily eyed the dingy mirror with interest.

"How does it work, James?"

"You say the name of the bloke with the other mirror and it starts operating," replied James easily. "Dead useful sometimes, got us both through History of Magic." He replaced the mirror on the mantle.

"No one disturbs it there," he explained.

"Ah. I see."

"I'm sure you do," smirked James, sliding her into his arms. "You're just so clever, aren't you?"

"When I want to be," smiled Lily. "And what is on the plan today, Mister Potter? Wrestling dragons? Riding hippogriffs? Domesticating grindylows?"

"Hardly," sniffed James. "Who would want a grindylow as a pet?"

"What if I said that I did?"

"Then you'd find one on your doorstep when your birthday rolls around."

"I'd hope so," said Lily smugly, kissing him lightly. "But really now James, what are we doing?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing?"

"Positively nothing. We are spending the entire day lazing about in this room, engaging in useless things and profitless pursuits I'm going to teach you how to relax, Marauder-style."

"I know how to relax," said Lily indignantly as James laughed.

"No, you don't. But you will, Lily, you will. By the end of today, you will be able to slack with the best of them."

"Are you saying I'm a swot?" Lily asked suspiciously.

"I'm saying you're stressed. Now go get your bathrobe and find some slippers. You'll need to be comfortable."

Arrgh, short again I know. I think so, anyway. But this next chapter will be mostly fluff, I think, and I am getting back into the story writing so things will pick up. Btw, if anyone wants to hear me tooting my own horn about the last chapter, look below. I am going on a trip this weekend (Boston for three days) so there may be a delay in updates. Though I'm slacking so much already that there is hardly a difference :) Much love.

Peter is consorting with Slytherins. Not like "plotting against Marauders" consorting, but he at least does not have anything against the Slytherins, and they can bully him around. Although in the previous chapter (sneaky sneaky me here) when he is scared, he is not scared of the Slytherins. He looked frightened because he thought that Marauders & Co had seen him "consorting" w/ the Slytherins. Being good folk like they are, they (through Lily's eyes because she thinks the same way) assumed he was scared of being bullied. Yeah…if you found that confusing rather than subtle, well, er…sorry. I was just pleased at the plot nuance thing.

(Anne)

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO READ THIS AND REVIEWED