Disclaimer: Again, I don't own anything except my own made up charcters, which you know from J.K Rowlings characters.
The week seemed to fly by for Lily and her friends. It snowed everyday, and the snow was nearly knee high as they made their ways down the crowded streets of Hogsmeade, Lily's arm linked in James's.
"I'm going to go off with James to shop, as I've already gotten his present, so I'll see you girls later, at the Three Broomsticks around lets say three?" Lily said.
"Sure, that sounds good. We'll be finished our shopping by then," Alice nodded. "I have something great in mind for Frank."
"Is it sexy?" Sirius questioned, raising his eyebrows a few times and winking. "Frank would think that's great."
"Sirius," Alice laughed, "Anyway, I'll catch up with you all later."
"Come on James, lets go check out Zonko's," Lily said, pulling on James's hand.
"Later guys!" James said. He watched Peter for a moment, his friend had gained a little confidence and was talking with Chloe about something. It looked like Peter had an interest in her, and James was hoping he'd drop Ledaria.
Lily pulled him into a small ally and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"What are you doing?" James questioned, amused.
"It's snowing," Lily shrugged, pulling James closer and kissing him.
"It should snow every day of the year," James joked. Lily smiled secretively.
"It's our last year at Hogwarts, enjoy it, you won't be making out with me in the streets of Hogsmeade often after we're graduated."
"Ha, I'll prove you wrong," James laughed, pulling Lily up to kiss her again. "But we have Christmas shopping to do and I really don't want to go into a store happy if you know what I mean."
"Right, sorry," Lily laughed, taking his hand and leading him back to the crowded streets.
They hit every single store, Lily found something for everyone in her family except for Petunia and she finished her list of shopping for all her friends.
"Now if I could just think of something to get Petunia," Lily said, thoughtfully glancing around. James wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer, he felt this need to have her by his side. Knowing she was there brought some kind of comfort to him, though he didn't know why he suddenly had those feelings.
"There's this new store that sells millions of Muggle things, let's go check it out," James suggested, kissing Lily on the check.
"Aren't you cuddly this afternoon," Lily laughed, following his advice. The store was indeed full of Muggle things. Lily decided on getting Petunia a diary, thinking maybe she would write out her frustrations.
"I'm glad the Yule ball is on the 23rd," Lily said, making small talk as she paid for her purchase. Between the two of them, they're arms were full of shopping bags. James didn't mind carrying a few for Lily, he already had his Christmas shopping done.
"Why?" James questioned, sensing Lily wanted him to ask.
"Cause I can go home on the 24th, and spend Christmas eve with my family. I'm hoping Petunia will have turned over a new leaf…and I'm also hoping that you'll come with me," Lily replied.
"Come with you?" James questioned, somewhat confused.
"You have your Apparate licence don't you?" Lily questioned, if she had it, James had to have it.
"Yeah…"
"Well, you can Apparate to my house from yours, and vice-versa," Lily said. She was nervous, she wanted James to meet her parents but she was afraid that it would upset him.
"You want me to meet your family?" James questioned, still througly confused. He didn't know what Lily was getting at.
"Yeah, but if you don't want to that's alright," Lily replied, her face had fallen slightly at James's tone, thinking he was repulsed at the idea.
"No no, I want to, I just didn't understand what you were getting at. I'm a guy remember, slow thinker. Yeah that'd be great," James replied, giving her a hands free kiss, as his hands were full of bags.
"Great, they'll love you, well my parents will. I can't make any grantees about Petunia as she doesn't like me," Lily said, smiling. They entered the warmth of the Three Broomsticks, and Lily headed straight for the back, chosing a long table away from everything else.
She sat down and placed the bags all in the corner. Rosmerta, the waitress, pranced over. She was a year or two older then them, and had gone to Hogwarts. She knew them well.
"Hey Lily, James, good to see you guys finally got together. Two Butterbeers?" she grinned, her red hair, several shades lighter then Lily's, bouncing as she took their oders.
"Actually we're expecting more people so, can we have eight Butterbeers?" Lily said, smiling sweetly.
"Eight? All right. I'll get you the first round now," Rosmerta said, prancing off to the kitchen.
"Are you sure it won't bother you?" Lily questioned, turning to face James.
"What do you mean?"
"Meeting my parents, it won't bother you will it? I don't want to hurt you or upset you," Lily said.
"No, it won't bother me for that reason. I mean, meeting my girlfriends parents is going to be kinda weird but not for the reason that you think," James told her, wrapping his arm around her and pulling her closer in the chair. He still felt that need to have her by his side.
"I guess so," Lily smiled.
"And if I'm meeting your parents, it's only fair that once over the holidays you meet my grandparents," James added, grinning.
"I'd love too actually," Lily replied, smiling.
"When you smile, it reaches your eyes and they sparkle," James told her, leaning in for a gentle kiss.
"Oh I hope I'm not interrupting anything," Rosmerta cleared her throat, placing a huge tray of eight Butterbeers in front of them. "Just wave if you want another round," she said before prancing off to take another order.
"Where did that come from?" Lily asked, pleased and confused at the same time. James shrugged.
"Hey guys!" Ellie said, breaking Lily and James out of their own little world.
"Hey, we went ahead and ordered. I hope that was ok with you guys," Lily said, smiling at everyone as they all grabbed seats around them, loaded down with bags.
"Ok, Lily is that all yours or did James get stuff too?" Marlene questioned, spotting the corner full of shopping bags.
"Uh, it's all mine," Lily said sheepishly, hanging her head slightly.
"When did you guys get your shopping done?" Alice questioned, noticing that Remus and Sirius were also empty handed.
"We went last night," James shrugged. He had gotten Lily two great presents, one he planned on giving her tonight and the other on Christmas eve.
"How did you…never mind, I don't want to know," Alice laughed.
"Next stop is shopping for our dresses!" Lily exclaimed. "James, you can handle all my bags while I go with the girls right? I don't want you seeing my dress until the Yule ball…"
"Yeah, I can handle them," James nodded, grinning at Lily. She placed her hand on his leg and smiled at him.
"Thanks."
"If you want Marlene, I can take care of you bags too," Remus suggested.
"That's very nice of you," Marlene smiled, kissing Remus on the check.
"Will you watch mine as well Sirius?" Ellie questioned after a moment of silence.
"What? Oh, of course love," Sirius replied, grinning at her and secretly being thankful that she only had two bags. Lily had around ten.
"Are you shopping for a dress too Chloe?" Lily questioned, clearing her throat slightly to get Chloe's attention, as she was busy kissing Peter. It took great skill to hide the glee Lily felt, it looked like Peter and Chloe were getting really cozy.
"Yes actually," Chloe nodded.
"You can come with us," Ellie suggested.
The five girls left after their second round of Butterbeer, leaving all of their shopping bags with the guys who promised to stay in the Three Broomsticks with them. They made their way to a lovely little shop that sold the best dresses in Hogsmeade.
"So, how's it going with Peter?" Lily causally asked, studying Chloe. She was slightly starry-eyed.
"I actually like him a lot now, he's a really great guy. He says he's going to dump Ledaria and get her out of the way so we can be together, he says he hates how he talks to him and how she treats him," Chloe replied.
"Well that's a relief. That girl was unbearable, it would be good to see Peter with someone who knows how to treat people with respect and kindness," Lily said, pushing the doors to the little store open. Her eyes fell upon an emerald green dress, the same shade as her eyes, and she forgot about anything else.
"Oh Merlin Lily!" Marlene exclaimed as Lily held the dress up to herself.
"I'm going to try this on, I'll be right back." Lily told them, darting off to the nearest change room.
When she stepped out, everyone in the store looked at her.
"Oh Merlin! That dress is totally you!" Chloe gushed. Lily spun around, studying herself carefully in the mirror. The dress fitted her perfectly, and the dip in the back was sexy but elegant. The slight sparkle of the dress in the light was enchanting, and Lily loved it.
"You walk into a store and find the perfect dress," Alice laughed, "I wish I was that lucky. It's going to take me hours to find one."
"What about that one?" Lily questioned, pointing to a black dress that would look stunning on Alice's form.
"Oh I don't know about that," Alice said, "It shows off a lot of cleavage."
"Is Frank going to be there?" Ellie questioned, going through a rack of dresses for herself.
"Yeah, of course," Alice said.
"Wear it for him, I'm sure he'll have fun taking it off," Ellie added, laughing slightly at the look on Alice's face.
Lily changed out of the dress and paid for it, watching her friends as the clerk wrapped it gently in a box and set it in a bag.
"It really is an amazing dress on you," the clerk said, smiling at Lily.
"Thanks," Lily replied, heading off to check out the scarlet dress Marlene had tried on.
After another hour, the rest of the girls had decided on dresses and paid for them. Marlene bought the scarlet red dress she had tried on, Alice snatched up the black one Lily had suggested, Ellie chose a soft pink gown that suited her perfectly, and Chloe picked a navy blue gown, simple yet elegant.
Happy with their purchases, the girls made their way back to the Three Broomsticks, pleased to see that the Marauders were still there.
"Hey babe, I think its time for us to head back," Sirius said, kissing Ellie on the check and taking all her bags from her.
"No time for one more Butterbeer?" Marlene sighed, "Shopping makes me so thirsty."
"We'll get them to go," Remus suggested.
"Rosmerta, can we have eight Butterbeers to go please!" James asked, picking up Lily's purchases.
"Yeah sure thing one second guys!" Rosmerta called back. A moment later she brought over another tray of Butterbeers, this time to go. They all grabbed one, paid for it and tipped Rosmerta generously.
"Well, my shopping for Christmas is done and I couldn't be happier with the dress I bought," Lily said outside as they walked back to Hogwarts in a large group of the school. Prefects were making sure everyone got back ok, and Lily was supervising their work.
"Can I see the dress you bought when we get back to the school?" James questioned, knowing what the answer would be.
"Nope, you'll have to wait until the Yule ball," Lily grinned. James laughed.
"I'm sure I'll be able to catch a glance before then," James told her.
"Yes, but its completely different on a hanger then it is on me," Lily pointed out.
"Fair point love, I can wait a few weeks then," James nodded. He wrapped his free arm around Lily's waist, holding her close. That feeling of having her close just wouldn't go away, he worried about her the entire time she had left to go dress shopping. What's wrong with me? James asked himself.