Still on the theme track. Enjoy!

Audrie Melone

Lily glanced out of the window. Even the speeding train could not conceal the heaviness of the clouds overweighed with snow. Everything had been still since this morning, awaiting the rush of a large snow. She tapped her fingers impatiently against the cold window. She hadn't seen James since she'd gotten on the train an hour ago. She'd looked for him several times but he had proved elusive.

The door slid open and she jerked up. Lily tried not to look too disappointed when she saw that it was only Marlene. "Have you—"

"Seen James?" she finished. Marlene sighed. "No."

"I saw Peter pass about ten minutes ago," Mary put in.

"She's looking for James," Carlotta pointed out, "not Peter."

"Yeah, but Peter's usually with the Marauders," Mary argued.

Lily sighed and went back to looking out the window, blocking her friends out as Aura somehow settled the argument and they began to discuss what they'd gotten their parents for Christmas. Maybe James was still angry at her. They'd argued four days ago over a letter James had found in her bag from Severus. She hadn't known that it was there, but before she could read it, James had tossed it into the fire. The ensuing fight had been one of their most spectacular at Hogwarts, practically clearing out the common room. They had barely spoken since, but Lily had hoped they'd reconcile before they parted for Christmas. While she was still angry at him for destroying the letter, she could understand, in some measure, his actions. After all she had insisted that she wasn't friends with Severus anymore and barely spoke to him, if at all. That had been a whole other argument after Severus had hexed James three days after he found out that Lily had finally agreed to date James.

"Lily, he can't be that mad," Aura said finally, tired of seeing her friend moping.

"Yeah, as loud as you two went at it, you never broke up," Marlene added. "I think we would've heard if you had."

Mary patted Lily's shoulder. "I bet he's just too proud to admit he was a git, but he'll come around."

"If he knows what's good for him, that is." Carlotta tossed her hair over shoulder and glanced at her watch. "I'm supposed to meet Morse, but I'll be back before we get to King's Cross."

She left and the other girls began a game of exploding snap. Lily glanced out the window. The storm was still at bay. She hoped the lull held until she got home; she didn't want her parents driving through the storm to get her from the station.

A little while later, the door to the compartment slid open and Lily looked up. Remus stood there, his hands in his pockets. "Er, hi," he said, as all eyes turned toward him. "Lily, could you come with me for a second please."

Lily climbed over her friends' legs to follow him out. "If James comes, tell him I'm with Remus, okay?" she asked.

They assured her that they would and she hurried after Remus who was waiting at the other end of the car. They had gone through several when Lily finally asked where they were going. "I thought you wanted a word?"

Remus smiled vaguely. "Someone else does." But he wouldn't say anymore until they came to one of the last cars. He stood in front of a compartment door.

"I think James is waiting," he told her.

"You do realize that this is kind of creepy."

Remus laughed. "I said the same thing, but you know James, he can be pretty stubborn." He gave her a small wave. "I'm off. Padfoot and Wormtail are waiting for me."

With that he turned and hurried away, leaving Lily alone in the corridor. She tried to peer into the compartment but found that the window had been blocked. If she was walking into a prank she was going to throttle first James and then Remus.

She sighed and slid the door open. And her jaw dropped.

James was standing there amidst a flurry of snow. The floor and seats were covered in snow as well. Twinkling lights were hung along the rack and on closer inspection she saw that they were glowing berries. He smiled as she slid the door shut behind her.

"Merry early Christmas," James said. The snow seemed so real as it brushed her skin, but when it melted away, it left no wet spot. Lily couldn't think of anything to say and James's hand jerked to his hair. "Look, Lily, I'm really sorry about the letter. You're right; I had no right to burn it, no matter what. I'm really sorry."

His waiting expression was so earnest that Lily couldn't help but smile. There were lights lining the window. He'd remembered what she'd said about Christmas: her favorite parts were the snow and lights. She went to him and wrapped her arms around him. "I was so mad at you, Potter, but it got a little bit lonely not talking to you at all."

James's arms slid around her. "I'm really sorry, Lily." He shifted. "Can we kiss and make up? And just to let you know," he added before she could say anything, "we're under mistletoe, so regardless of whether or not we make up, I think we should kiss."

Lily laughed. "I think we can do both."

James grinned and her eyes drifted shut as his lips met hers. He was warm around her and he tasted of butterbeer. His fingers tangled in her loose hair and hers massaged his neck.

When they broke apart, Lily glanced out of the window. The first flurries of the storm were arriving. She groaned and James turned to follow her gaze.

"It's going to storm," she complained.

"True," he agreed. He turned back to her and placed a hand on her cheek to guide her face back to his. "But this storm's far more interesting." And he kissed her again.

A/N: Urrghh, I hated this theme. There were far too many possibilities that just didn't work out in the end. I hope you enjoyed it, though. Happy Holidays, and to those who celebrate Christmas, Merry Christmas.