Christmas Eve was uneventful, I spent the day helping my mother prepare our lunch for the following day and making pastries. Occasionally I would see that my notebook would change color and I would jot out a quick reply to James, telling him about the snacks that I was preparing or talking about nothing at all.
The following morning Tuney shook me awake around seven in the morning.
"Get up. We have to get ready." She said as she pulled the blanket off me.
"Get ready for what? Vernon won't be here to pick you up until after lunch." I grumbled as I rubbed the sleep from my eyes.
"Your friend of course." She sighed.
"It's just James." I said softly. "He wouldn't care if I spent all day like this." I said motioning to my sleep pants and tee-shirt.
"Yes well, I got you a new dress for today and everything, so please." She insisted. "Please Lily, I like spending time being a girl with you."
I sighed as I flung myself out of bed.
"Fine. I'm going to go shower then you can obsess over my hair or whatever." I said as I walked out of my room.
After a quick shower Tuney quickly dried and styled my hair into some elaborate bun. After painting a new face over mine she helped me into a green long-sleeved dress that flared at the waist and went to my knee.
"Look at you." My mother said softly standing in the doorway. "Are you excited?"
"For what?" I asked.
"He's here already, downstairs playing wizard's chess with your father." She smiled.
"Oh God. Why is he always early?" I sighed.
"He probably doesn't know much about our transportation dear." My mum tried to explain.
"I think he wanted to catch Lils in her jammies stuffing her face in the kitchen." Tuney yelled from across the hall as she dressed herself.
"Tuney!" I yelled. "Don't you go giving him ideas."
We all ventured downstairs to see him sitting at the table with my father telling him about quidditch as they played their game, which wasn't a surprise at all. He was dressed in a black dress shirt with slacks and our uniform shoes, smirking at me as I came into the room. Tuney gave him a polite half hug which surprised him more than me, I think. He picked me up in a bear hug and twirled me around.
"Happy Christmas to you too James." I laughed as my mother began setting up a full English breakfast.
We ate until we were ready to burst, all of us retired to the living room to sit and talk. My mother passed out our stockings filled with candies and trinkets, handing them off she surprised me by pulling out one with James written across it. He curiously sorted through all the various candies and tiny toys asking questions about this and that.
"We have presents too." I said as I sat next to the tree making piles of gifts for each of us. I handed my parents theirs first, we watched as my father opened a pen set and a new journal. My mother got a new sewing box and a scrapbook of us that Tuney and I had begun putting together; mostly Tuney, but I helped pick the photos. Tuney got a new jewelry box and a pair of earrings, which she put on as soon as she could. I handed James a small pile of three wrapped boxes.
My parents got him a poker set, which he seemed extremely excited over. He opened a second box that had a tie clip and matching cufflinks from Tuney, which he gave her a tight hug over. After a few moments he looked at the last present in his lap and opened it, I'd gotten him a muggle camera.
"Thank you, all of you. I've never had a muggle Christmas before." James said as he swallowed hard. "I have gifts for all of you as well."
Tuney opened hers first, she held up a new leather purse and let out a loud squeal.
"It'll never get full or heavy, my mum has one and I thought you might like it." He explained as she hugged him again.
My parents each got a bracelet with each other's names written on them.
"They'll get warm when you miss each other." He explained how the pair worked to my parents. "They're goblin made so they'll never break or tarnish."
I looked to the thin box in my hands and opened it slowly. Inside was a gold hair comb that had a lily and a rose sitting atop the comb. Tuney snatched it out of my hands and placed it in my hair almost instantly.
"Thank you, James." We all said as we cleaned up the wrappings and got comfortable in the sitting room.
"Would everyone like tea?" I asked as I noticed the time.
Everyone nodded as I made my way to the kitchen and set water to boil. I touched the clip in my hair and sighed. How is this so easy? So natural?
As I took the water off the stove James entered the kitchen.
"Hey you." He smirked as he leaned against the counter. "Want some help?"
"As if I'd ever turn you down." I smiled.
"You mean the past six years don't count right?" He said as he picked up cups and saucers and put them onto the tea tray.
"James." I whispered as I put my hand on his to stop him from picking up the tea tray. "Before we go back out there, I have another gift for you."
"Oh?" He mumbled quietly taking a step closer to me.
I reached up and pulled him into a soft kiss.
"I think I like muggle Christmas much more than wizard Christmas." He laughed as he pecked me on the lips again before picking up the tray and leaving me in the kitchen.
"Mum before you say it, he won't let me carry the blasted tray." I sighed as I walked into the sitting room.
She chuckled to herself as I picked up my cup and sat on the floor next to James' knees, surprised when Tuney didn't say anything as he sat next to her.
"My parents are having a New Year's Eve party and they wanted me to invite all of you." James said as he sipped his tea. "If you all don't have prior plans."
"Tuney, would you like to go?" I asked as I looked up to her.
"At a magic house?" She asked nervously.
"Well, the manor isn't magic itself but yes, magical people like Lily and I." James said after a minute.
"I'll try. I can't promise that I'll stay but I'll go and make the effort." She said as she looked me dead in the eye.
My mother got up to begin lunch, Tuney and I following as our regular routine unfolded. As soon as we walked into the kitchen, I threw my arms around her.
"Thank you. Thank you so much Tuney." I said as I tried not to cry.
"I might not want to stay though." She said as she began to help with lunch.
"The fact that you're willing to try is more than enough." I said as I went to set the table.
I listened to my father explaining football to James in the other room and smiled to myself as I set the table. After lunch was served and eaten my parents went to get ready to meet my godparents, Tuney was getting herself ready to go to Vernon's, and I sat with James in the sitting room feeling nervous suddenly.
"Are you okay Lils?" He asked as he switched sofas to sit next to me.
"Oh, um…yeah. I think so." I said nervously.
"Talk to me? What's wrong?" He asked. "Did I do something?"
"No, no. I think it's me. I'm nervous suddenly." I said softly.
"It's okay Lils. Don't go overthinking it." He said as we heard the front door slam shut.
I watched Petunia get into an expensive car and drive down the road with her oversized boyfriend. My parents came down not long after telling us to have fun.
"James dear, if you'd like you can stay the night. Just write to your parents so they don't worry." My mother said as she picked up her clutch purse and followed my father out of the house.
"So." He said after my parents drove off. "About that muggle hot chocolate?"
"Fine. Pick a movie and I'll be back soon." I said as I handed him a stack of tapes. "But don't try to work anything."
He nodded at the task I'd given him and started reading the backs of the films. A few minutes later I returned with hot chocolate with marshmallows on top and handed one to him.
"You still gave me marshmallows." He said as he looked at the cup.
I shrugged as I put a film in and got situated on the couch. I looked over to see him watching me from the corner of his eye.
"Do I have chocolate on my face?" I asked wiping at my face.
"No, I was just noticing how nice you look today." He said as he ruffled his hair.
"Tuney kind of insisted." I said as I tugged on one of my sleeves.
"If you'd prefer something more comfortable you can go change." He said as he pulled a box from under the sofa. "In fact, I got you something in case you ever miss me."
I opened the box to find a red quidditch jersey with the word POTTER written across the back.
"It doesn't fit me anymore and I thought maybe you might like it. You don't have to wear it in public or at all for that matter, I just thought…" he began to ramble as I pulled the jersey out of the box.
"I'll be back in a minute." I said as I walked up the stairs into my room.
I changed into a pair of black track shorts and pulled his jersey over my head before pulling all the pins and knots out of my hair. After I was de-girled I walked back down to the sitting room with a large blanket in hand.
"I like this look better." He smiled as I pressed play on the movie.
"Because I'm in your jersey?" I asked.
"Well yes, but you look more comfortable this way." He said as he kicked off his shoes and pulled me to sit between his legs. "I won't bite Lily; I just like to be near you."
"I like to be near you too." I whispered as I covered us with the large blanket and laid my head against his chest.
"Am I allowed to kiss you when we're alone?" He asked after a minute.
"I think so." I said after a minute.
"We don't have to rush or have a label. I'm fine with us doing whatever this is. I like us just being Lily and James." He said as he put his hand on mine.
"I like this. I like this a lot." I said as I laced my fingers into his.
"Can I kiss you again Lils?" He asked after a moment.
"I was hoping you'd ask that." I said as he leaned into a soft kiss.
"Are you going to stay tonight?" I asked as he pulled away.
"Would you like me to?" He asked softly.
I leaned back into his chest and folded his arms over my torso.
"Yes." I whispered as he sat his chin on my head.
"Then I'll stay." He said as he began to watch the movie.
After the movie was over, we made a frozen pizza and sat on the living room floor while I taught him how to play muggle poker. After two games he picked out another movie for us to cuddle up to before setting the fire ablaze. I decided against us laying on the couch again and instead made a makeshift bed out of blankets for us to lay on.
I woke up an hour later to James running his fingers through my hair, the final credits rolling on the telly.
"Did you enjoy your nap?" He asked.
"You're very comfy." I yawned as I stretched out.
"Lils, how is this- what are we gonna do when we go back to school?" James asked softly as he turned to his side to look at me.
"I'm not sure. We could just continue the way we have." I answered.
"People will make up rumors." He stated.
"So what? I don't really care what people have to say about me James. Right now, is a bit complicated but it won't be forever." I explained.
"You're sure?" He asked nervously.
"I'm sure." I confirmed as I laced my fingers in his.
"One more question, can I tell Sirius and the others? About us I mean." He asked.
"I'm a little surprised you hadn't yet." I smiled.
"I thought about it, but I wanted to make sure it was okay." He said as he pulled me close again.
We laid on the floor for a bit longer before folding up the blankets and retreating to our own beds before my parents got home. As I curled up in my bed I sighed softly as I noticed my notebook changed color again.
Goodnight Lils. Sweet dreams. -James
I smiled at the short note. I picked up my pen and jotted my own quick reply.
Goodnight James. I'll see you in the morning. -Lily.
P.S. I'm sleeping in your jersey.
Just my jersey? - James
Maybe. -Lily
I tucked myself into bed and smiled, remembering James' soft touches against my face and the way he ran his hands through my hair. This was the best Christmas.