H is for HOLIDAYS
When Christmas rolled around, Lily's name was first on the list of students going home.
"Why would you want to do that?" Sev asked, horrified.
"I want to see my family." She was walking backwards, lugging her trunk with both hands. "Help me down the stairs, will you?"
"I don't see why you're taking so much stuff," he said, taking hold of the handle on the other side and lifting it. "It's only two weeks."
"Well, I don't want to get behind on my studies." She kept looking over her shoulder so she didn't trip. "So I've got to bring all my textbooks. And I'm bringing home souvenirs for my family, too."
"Yeah?" They were at the bottom of the staircase. Sev motioned for her to let him carry the trunk. "What kind of souvenirs?"
"A silver necklace for my mum," she said, ticking them off on her fingers. "It used to be just a string, but I transfigured it. McGonagall worked with me so I could learn how before the holidays."
"Very nice. Your mum will love it."
"Thanks. I hope so."
"What about for your dad?"
"I brewed him a Shrinking Solution." She grinned mischievously. "He can use it on Mum's terrible cooking, so it looks like he's eaten it all."
Sev laughed. They were outside now, and Lily could see her breath hanging in the air like steam. "Look," she cried, exhaling heavily. "I'm the Hogwarts Express!"
Sev laughed again and set her trunk down. "Let me rest for a second," he said, sitting on the trunk and looking out over the lake. "Remember the first time we crossed that lake?"
She nodded. "I just wrote my sister about it a few weeks ago." She sighed, and a new cloud shot out of her mouth. "She didn't reply. I should've known she wouldn't."
"What souvenir are you bringing her?"
"A book."
"What book?"
"A muggle book. You wouldn't have heard of it."
"Nothing magical for Petunia?"
She shook her head. "She wouldn't want something like that."
"Welcome home, Lily!" her mum cried when she stepped off the train, dragging her trunk with both hands again. Her father stood a few yards away with a scowling Petunia. "I want to hear all about it. Every detail!"
Lily smiled as they walked toward the car. "Hi, Tuney?" she said. It came out like a question.
Petunia scowled harder. "Are you talking to me?"
"Yeah."
"Well, that's not my name."
"Petunia, then. Hullo, Petunia."
"Hi."
Lily slid into the backseat and strapped herself in. "How have you been?"
Petunia wouldn't look at her sister. "Fine. And you?"
"Oh, I've been excellent! I was Sorted into Gryffindor House - but you know all about that, I told you in my letter."
Petunia looked straight ahead and raised her eyebrows. "I didn't receive a letter from you."
"No? I sent it with an owl from the school's - "
"Oh, I came into contact with an owl," Petunia interrupted. "But I burned the letter it was holding."
"Tuney," scolded their mother.
"You burned my letter?" Lily asked.
"Yes." Petunia sniffed. "I have no time for freakish beasts from your freakish school."
"Tuney, that's enough."
"I would've sent it by normal post," Lily explained, "only we don't have that at Hogwarts, we only have the owls. But here." She rummaged through her rucksack, where she'd stowed her family's presents for easy access. "I brought you something. Happy early Christmas, Petunia."
Petunia took the package carefully. "Is it something freakish?"
"No. No, it's normal."
She pulled off the paper and stared at the book in her hands. "Pride and Prejudice?"
Lily nodded. "It's about two sisters - well, five sisters, really, but two main ones - just like you and me. And I know you love books. . . ."
"Thank you," Petunia said, and there was a touch of warmth in her voice. "This is a lovely gift." She flipped to the first page, where Lily had scratched a small inscription with her quill, and began to read.
"You're welcome," Lily said softly.
Her hand felt curiously empty without her wand.
[Fiddler on the Roof Character Challenge: Chava - write about a girl who loves books]
[So You Think You Know Your Character Competition: Lily Evans - what sort of relationship do you have with your family?]