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Chapter 3: Christmas, crushes, and crying

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU'VE ALREADY SAID YES?"

"WELL YOU WOULD HAVE SAID NO IF I ASKED YOU!"

The Potter household once again had been turned into a war zone, and Lily and James were arguing.

"OF COURSE I WOULD HAVE SAID NO! SHE HATES ME!"

If anyone had entered the house at that particular moment, they would've thought it was slightly odd that Mr and Mrs Potter were stood nose to nose screaming at each other, and that a man by the name of Sirius Black was taking refuge behind the sofa. But this, of course, was Godric's Hollow, and everything was odd.

"LILY, MY MOTHER DOESN'T HATE YOU! YOU JUST WON'T GIVE HER A CHANCE!"

"ME, GIVE HER A CHANCE!" She gave a shrill laugh. "THAT'S RICH COMING FROM YOU!"

"IT'S ONLY A WEEK, FOR MELIN'S SAKE!"

"YES, JUST THINK HOW MANY CHANCES SHE'LL HAVE TO POISON ME!"

"Yeah, but you must admit Mrs. P's cooking is the best," said Sirius, popping his head up from behind the sofa and promptly ducking back down again, as a flower pot launched itself across the room at his head.

"LILY, THAT WAS AN ANTIQUE!"

"WELL GET MUMMY TO BUY YOU ANOTHER ONE. AND YOU, " she turned to Sirius. "GET OUT OF MY HOUSE."

"She doesn't mean it, mate."

"OH, DON'T I?"

The argument continued well into the night and as a result James slept out in the garden.

"God, even Sirius' motorbike gets to sleep indoors."

But no amount of protesting, screaming, kicking, large heavy objects being thrown at people's heads, and chaining oneself to a chair, could excuse the fact the Lily would be leaving the comfort of her house for Christmas for the luxury of the Potter senior's abode.

"James!" shrieked Doreen Potter, pulling her only son into the hug as they crossed the threshold, before pulling away abruptly "You're all skin and bones. What has she been feeding you on?"

"She has a name." Lily stood in the doorway, trying to carry the suitcases full of presents that James had insisted on bringing.

"Sirius!" called Doreen, ignoring Lily altogether. "I've just made another batch of my famous mince pies, care for one?"

"Coming, Mrs P."

"And you," she said, turning to Lily at last, "Take those bags upstairs. They're blocking the hall."

There were a total of 138 steps leading up to the 2nd of 12 floors, but, of course, Lily didn't know that. Yet.

"Take those bags up stairs," Lily mimicked in a high-pitched voice as she levitated the suitcases up the never-ending staircase. "Ha! Stupid old bag. Think she knows best. Oh no! I'm not good enough for James. The Queen of Sheba wouldn't be good enough for her ickle Jamsie-waymsie -" She stopped; something was tugging on the hem of her robes.

"Miss." It was a House elf, wearing what appeared to be a large napkin embossed with the Potter crest (-a lion holding a wand in it's mouth). "Miss," the elf repeated again. She waited uncertainly then suddenly blurted out: "Is Master Sirius with you?"

"What? Yes." The house elf started to giggle.

"Why?"

"No reason, Miss," she chimed quickly, turning (if it were possible for an elf to do so), slightly red and scampering away.

Lily 'tut'-ted and shook her head. "I do believe that elf had a crush on him."

Lily came down to breakfast on the 25th, feeling rather sick. She had, pf course, put a silencing spell on the bathroom before actually being sick; the last thing she needed was Doreen knowing anything about anything.

"Bout time- James insisted on waiting, " greeted Sirius.

"And A Merry Christmas to you too."

"Present time!"

Before Lily could say another word, the room was filled with shredded wrapping paper.

For a moment, one small moment, Lily felt like this was how Christmas should be. No houseguests who are evil spies, no mad mother in-law, no secrets about a child who could ruin the Dark Lord: just Christmas.

"Oh wow, James!" exclaimed Sirius "This must've cost you a fortune-"

"Yeah, well you're worth it, Padfoot."

"Look socks off Moony again! I think he has an obsession with them. Look Prongsie, you've got some too!"

"Hey, get off my presents!" Lily turned away from the pair and noticed a letter addressed for her.

She opened it

Lily,

Merry Christmas. Hope you are well. Alice Longbottom was asking after you. I think you should see her in the New Year. All the best,

Albus Dumbledore

"Um../Lily?" She looked up; both Sirius and James had unwrapped their presents from her at the same time; both were wearing the same look of shock mingled with horror on their faces.

James held up his present as though it might suddenly bite his nose off: it was a pink frilly bra.

"Well you kept stealing mine so I though I'd by you your own."

"And what are trying to suggest? That my son is a cross-dresser?"

Lily had completely forgotten that Doreen and Harry were in the room.

"I …well…"

"Dear, I'm sure she didn't mean it like that. More of a joke. HA HA HA." Lily was feeling more grateful for Mr Potter each second.

"Shut up, Harry."

"Yes dear."

"Well?"

"Here, open this," said Sirius suddenly, thrusting a present into Lily's lap.

She opened it, grateful for the distraction.

It was a book.

"Thank y-"

The title of the book said: How to spice up your sex life - the magical way.

"Has a chapter on different spells, Karma sutra and baby making," informed Sirius knowledgeably.

"Sirius!-"

"James I don't know why you're complaining. You said to me just the other night that you weren't getting an-" At this, James started coughing so loudly that Sirius' words were blocked out.

"AHHHHHH!"

"What was that?" Lily asked Sirius quickly.

"Dunno. Maybe James opened the Howler I get each year from my mum."

A moment later, James entered the Dining room, red faced with his shirt ripped.

"Padfoot why is Poppet in your bedroom?"

"Who?"

"The House elf."

"Cleaning?"

"I don't think she had cleaning on her mind somehow."

"James what happened?" questioned Lily.

"I walked into Sirius bedroom and Poppet jumped on me."

"What?"

"I think she thought I was you, mate. What have you been saying to her?"

"Umm…. Nothing…."

"God, you pervert."

"I didn't, I swear!"

It was dark now and even though it was early, Lily settled herself down to sleep.

She woke sometime later to someone tapping on her door.

"Lily?"

She pulled on her dressing gown and cautiously approached it.

It was James

"Can I come in?"

Doreen had protested that James and Lily both sleep in different bedrooms. She rolled her eyes but stepped aside all the same, letting him in.

He sat on the bed. "I didn't give you your Christmas Present." He held out a box.

"Oh James!" It was a pair of pearl earrings.

"My mum does like you, you know? She's just protective."

"Yeah, I know."

They sat in silence for a while.

"I love you, Lily."

She waited. There was a "but" coming.

"But," - Yes, see, she was right!

"You're not the same as you were. I'm not blaming you. I'm properly the one who made you like this. God Lily, I'm sorry. I've dragged you down. You could do so much with your life if it wasn't for me pestering you at school and you saying you'd go out with me just to keep me quiet. And now look at us. This doesn't feel like a marriage should. I don't know what to do Lily, I really don't."

She could feel the emotion in his words.

"You don't want to end it do you?"

"Merlin no."

"Me either."

"But we can't go on like this."

"No," Lily agreed.

"I just think we need some time apart - clear the air."

Tears sprang into the corner of her eyes instantly.

He stood up and walked towards the door.

"James -" She was going to tell him everything.

But stopped.

"I love you."

He gave one curt nod, then left, leaving Lily alone, and even the darkness, couldn't muffle her strangled sobs

AUTHORS NOTE: Yes this chapter has also been edited. next chapter up soon. Thank you all for you reviews please keep them coming.

Kerrie x-x-x-x