I woke up early Thursday morning, after having a spot of breakfast with the family, my mom and I began to clean through the house, with Tuney fussed over having to help, of course.
"I don't understand why it's so important. He's just one of them." She bit out.
"You stop that right now Petunia. He is a guest in our home and a friend of your sister's." Our mother chastised. "If you can't behave you can spend the day in your room and I'll bring you a plate when Mr. Potter leaves."
I sighed in relief as I looked at the clock, it was already noon. I began to set out ingredients for our dessert when there was a knock at the door. I wiped my hands on the towel in my apron before turning the handle to the door knob.
In front of me stood James Potter dressed in jeans and a crimson button up with a black V-neck shirt underneath.
"You look quite muggle Potter. How did you get here?" I asked as he followed me inside.
"The rail and a bus, how else?" He smiled as he followed me into the kitchen.
"Oh, I don't know Potter. Magic maybe? You are a fair bit early." I said as I began to make puff pastry.
"Yes well, you know I don't do anything in halves Evans." He smirked as I pointed at the kitchen stool for him to sit.
"I'm sure Sirius is distraught because he wasn't invited." I mused as I kneaded the dough.
"Eh. He said he'd polyjuice as me next time." He smiled.
"First, who said there'd be a next time. Second, I know for a fact that he would blow up your home if he had to make polyjuice potion." I counted off on my doughy fingers.
"True true. So, you can't do magic when you're at home?" James asked, taking a handful of dried fruits from the bowl as I chilled the dough for the first time.
"Nope, I go back to being a muggle when we're not in school." I said softly.
I finished the dough and wrapped it to set for an hour or so.
"Would you like a tour of the house?" I asked.
He nodded and followed me around as I told him about the house, showing him different rooms as we began to make our way up the stairs. I opened the door to my room and ushered him inside.
"Is it ever tiring? To have to go back to doing things the muggle way when you know spells to do it faster?" James asked as he looked at the shelf of books on my shelves.
"Sometimes. But I like being muggle too, food taste different when it's magicked up. I'd rather make it myself." I explained.
"So, you've come to play, what does your kind call us, muggle?" Petunia asked, standing in my doorway.
"Actually, I've come to have dinner with one of my school-mates, if that's okay with you." James answered politely.
"It's not. Your kind should stay to yourselves." Petunia snapped.
"Tuney, please. He's our guest." I pleaded.
"Young lady, what did I tell you this morning?" Our mother said from behind my sister.
"I know mum. I'll- I'll try." She said before leaving the doorway mumbling a sheepish apology. "Sorry."
I looked over to the small alarm clock and saw that it was about 2:45.
"Would you like to see the back garden?" I asked, deciding I should probably get him out of my bedroom.
He nodded and followed me out the door and back down the stairs.
"I'm going to show James the garden mum." I said as we passed by the kitchen.
"Alright sweetie. Would you two like tea before I let lose in the kitchen?" she asked.
"That sounds great Mrs. Evans." James replied before I could turn to look at him. "Come on Evans, didn't you promise me a garden viewing?"
We walked out the glass doors into the back garden covered in flowers.
"How's it being home?" I asked as I nervously shuffled my feet.
"Same as being at school really. I'm glad to see my parents and Tinks." He answered as we sat at the table under the large tree.
"Are you excited for Christmas?" I asked as my mum came outside with a tea tray.
We both thanked her and turned back to our conversation as we fixed our tea.
"I guess so." He said with a shrug.
"Can I ask you something?" I asked quietly as I sipped my tea.
"You just did." He said as he poked me in the ribs. "Sure."
"How did you get over me?" I asked timidly.
"Honestly?" He said softly, sobering up at the question. "I haven't."
"What?" I asked.
"I haven't. I still think you're beautiful and brilliant and everything." He answered.
"But…" I started.
"But I stopped screaming it in the Great Hall? Stopped asking for you to date me?" He asked. I nodded my head in confirmation. "After all this time, I got the hint. We've finally stopped bickering and I'd like to think that we're friends now…why would I go back to embarrassing both of us and making you yell at me?"
I didn't know what to say. I nodded my head slowly and picked up our cups and returned them to the tray.
"It's starting to get chilly. We should go in." I mumbled quietly.
"I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable." He said as his hands brushed over mine, removing the tray from my hands.
"You gave me an honest answer, I appreciate that James." I said as we walked back to the house. "I think my dad should be home by now."
I opened the door for him and watched as he sat the tray back in the kitchen.
"Lily Ann, you made our guest carry that back in?" Mom shouted playfully from the kitchen.
"He took it from me." I glared at him. She looked over to him for confirmation.
"I figured I'd try to get into her good graces before term started again." James chuckled.
"You just want me to do your revisions." I accused playfully.
"If you would just tell me my mistakes I'd fix them on my own. You just pull my assignments from my hands and get to marking." He feigned a whine.
I just shrugged as I began to finish my pastries for dessert. James resumed his seat on the stool and began to happily answer all my mum's questions about magic. As my mum pulled the roast from the oven I changed the temperature for the tarts.
My mum picked up a stack of plates and walked out of the kitchen. James walked up to me with a stack of napkins and silverware.
"I'm having a great time Evans. I'll be back in a bit." He said as he walked out of the kitchen.
I finished filling them and slid them into the oven, sitting myself on the stool to wait. James walked back into the kitchen, a soft smile when he noticed me on the stool.
"Do you always bake when you are home?" He asked as he reached for glasses for all of us.
"Yes actually." I said as I thought back to how I spent my holidays.
He walked out with the cups on a tray as my dad walked in through the kitchen door.
"Is he here already?" My father asked as he kissed my head.
"Almost all day actually. He's helping mum set the table." I said as I pulled the tarts out of the oven.
"Wonderful. I'll go see if Tuney is going to join us." He said as he walked out of the kitchen.
I listened to the introductions my mother gave and smiled as I put the roast and potatoes on serving dishes. I noticed my sister walk into the kitchen.
"Your boyfriend is charming the pants off our parents." She said as she picked up the pitcher of lemonade and basket of rolls.
"He is not my boyfriend." I grumbled following her to the table with the roast.
I took a seat next to James, knowing Petunia wouldn't willingly sit next to one of us. We chattered through dinner, James complimenting my mum's cooking twice, and explained Quidditch to my parents. Petunia didn't say much during dinner other than 'can you pass the rolls' sadly, but it was to be expected. At least she didn't scowl at him through the entire meal.
"I think it's time for after's dear." My father said as he looked to our empty plates.
"And could you put the kettle on?" My mum asked as I rose from y chair.
I nodded to both of them and slipped back into the kitchen. I leaned against the counter after I put the full kettle on the stove, letting out a shaky breath I put the tarts onto a long serving dish.
"Would you like some help?" James asked as he set cups and saucers onto the tea tray.
"You'd just do it anyway." I smiled as he nudged me slightly.
"At least you know it." He grinned as he picked up the tray and walked in front of me to the sitting room.
"You must really want those revisions James." My mum said as she noticed him holding the tray again.
"To be fair, she is brilliant Mrs. Evans." James smiled at my mother. "I'd be a fool not to seek her help."
"You do have Remus you know. It's not like he'd tell you no." I teased as we all sat and had tea and apple tarts.
"I suppose so. I can ask him for help instead if you'd prefer." He smiled as he picked up his own tart.
"Git." I mumbled I poked him in the ribs. "I never said I minded."
"Tuney, would you play us a song sweetie?" My father asked as our tea was gone.
Petunia didn't say a word as she sat at the piano and began to play a soft melody. I watched as my father held his hand out to my mother the same way James had done for me a few days ago. My parents began to slow dance in the living room, never looking away from each other.
I felt a soft poke in my ribs to see James extend his hand to me, asking me to dance again. I couldn't help myself as I placed my hand in his, being lifted to sway back and forth in his arms.
"Do you play an instrument too?" James asked softly.
Petunia snorted out a laugh and tried to cover it with a cough as she continued.
"No, not at all." I answered.
"Not at all like the way you play wizard's chess or really not at all?" he teased.
"Really not at all." I confirmed.
I looked over to my sister at the piano, a small smile on her lips as she played. I laid my head onto James' chest and smiled to myself.
A few minutes later Tuney closed the piano and decided to go to her room, saying she was tired. My parents thanked James for coming and retreated to the kitchen to wash the dishes. I walked out the front door with James, pulling my jacket on.
"Today was great Lily, thank you for inviting me." He said softly, handing me a folded up laqured box.
"What's this?" I asked.
"Portable wizard's chess set. Figured you and your father might enjoy trying it out." He shrugged.
"Thank you. I'll be sure to return it when I get my book back." I smiled.
"No way. That's yours now." He insisted.
"Can you wait here for a minute?" I asked as I ran back inside tucking all the remaining pastries into a small box and rushed back out to him.
"Here. Share with everybody." I said handing him the box.
"You've gone round the bend if you think I'm giving any of these to Padfoot." He laughed before giving me a hug.
"I'm glad you had fun." I said as he let me go, returning to the warmth of the house.
I climbed the stairs and laid down on top of my bed.
"He seems okay, for someone like you." Petunia said standing in my doorway before closing my door.
"I guess he is, huh?" I smiled at my sister, and for the first time in a long time she smiled back at me before closing my door.