A/N: Chapter 2: Secret Santa
On the sixteenth of December Lily managed to avoid James Potter for most of the day. It wasn't until dinner that evening, when they sat eating at the small table the Professors had set up for the students that were staying at Hogwarts, that she saw him. She simply ignored him, chatting with Mary and while he tried to get her attention.
"Excuse me everyone," Dumbledore stood up, causing the garish purple top hat he wore to slip precariously. "I have had a request from some of the students, that we play a gift giving game known as 'Secret Santa'." He conjured up slips of paper and tossed them in the top hat he had taken off his head. "Each student's name is written on a piece of paper. You will each draw one and are required to get a gift for that person by the Twenty-second of December. Hogsmeade will be open for your convenience till that time. The aim is to give the gift to this person without them knowing who gave it." He then handed the top hat to the student nearest him and they passed it around.
When it came to Lily she reached in and pulled a slip out, unfolding it gently to read the name written there. She groaned inwardly when she saw it. Written in Dumbledore's hand with red and green ink was the name 'James Potter'.
The next day her and Mary were walking through Hogsmeade. Mary had gotten the fifth year Grace Johnson. Grace was a sweet girl and Mary had picked out some hair clips with, with butterflies that flapped their wings and flew off when they detected that their wearer was in a particularly good mood. Now they were wandering through Hogsmeade, trying to find something for James Potter, so that they could get back to the castle and enjoy themselves.
"How about something from Zonko's." Mary suggested.
"No, I don't want to indulge his bad habits."
"How about from Honeydukes."
Lily frowned, "I don't feel like being particularly nice to him."
Mary sighed, "Come on Lily, just get him something, then we can go back to the castle."
Then something in one of the shop windows caught her eye, she backtracked and stepped closer. Grinning she beckoned Mary over.
"Well that is hideous." Mary said.
"It's just perfect for Potter