AN: So I've decided to try something crazy and try updating every other day. We'll see how well it works. A bunch of people have guessed by now that it's based on Pride and Prejudice; they're right!

December 19, 1976

Lily picked her way through the snow, silently thanking her new boots for keeping her feet dry in the unexpected snow. It was her first trip to the lake district, having been dragged there by her family, much against her wishes. Despite her initial prejudice she couldn't help but admire the beauty of the hills around her caked in snow, and the lakes edged with ice that didn't look nearly thick enough, but people were already started to venture out into the middle of the water.

"Aren't you glad we came?" Lily's mother appeared behind her to enjoy the view.

"Yes, I suppose you were right. And thankfully nature isn't really Petunia's thing."

"Lily." Rose hated the rift that had grown between her two daughters. "You two just have different ideas of what a holiday should be." Petunia had opted out of the walk and was in the hotel with her new boyfriend. Their father was on an urgent business trip in America, much to everyone's disappointment except Petunia, who took the opportunity to bring her boyfriend in his place.

Their party had divided into two groups: Lily, her mother and her mother's sister, Amelia, and Petunia and her boyfriend. Petunia and her boyfriend rarely ventured very far from the hotel; they occasionally went shopping, but refused to spend time with the other three, mainly because Petunia couldn't stand Lily's presence, and had told her boyfriend that she was crazy, so he preferred not to hang around Lily either.

As Lily returned from her thoughts she realized they had reached an unfamiliar area of forest; she could see no sign of path whatsoever.

"Mum? Do you know where we are?"

"No. Amelia?"

"No idea. Did we forget the maps?"

"Shit." Lily knew she had been leading them without paying attention. "I think there's a clearing over there." She pointed up ahead. It did look as though the trees up ahead were further apart and better spaced. As they approached Lily could see a huge wrought iron gate looming over them. It wasn't just swirls and flowers, but images of lions and, wait, was that a hippogriff?

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! No! That's definitely cheating!" A figure covered in snow rushed past, with snowballs that seemed to be pelting him completely of their own accord. Another figure rushed past, laughing madly, and then stopped to catch his breath. He turned and saw Lily, her mum and her aunt outside the gate.

"Bloody hell! James! Look who's here!" James came rushing back, the snowballs still hitting him.

"Let them off you bloody idiot!" Sirius waved his wand. "Who did you say was here?"

"Take a look." Sirius nodded at the gate. Lily stood there, the bewilderment on her face only matched by that on her aunt's, who had no knowledge that Lily was a witch, and had gone pale at seeing the animated snowballs.

"Lily? Is that the James you're always complaining about? The one from school?"

"Yes mum. Do you live here?" The house behind them was immense. It looked hundreds of years old and as if it had at least thirty rooms, maybe more.

"Oh, err…" James turned around as if to check that the house behind him was his, "Yes." Sirius elbowed James in the ribs, hard. "Do you want to come in? Mrs Evans and, err…"

"Call me Rose. And this is my sister, Amelia."

"Why don't you all come in? It's… uh… nearly tea-time." James's ears were turning bright red, and Lily suspected it wasn't because of the cold. Other than her outburst upon seeing the size of his house, Lily had not spoken to James since he handed her his letter on that misty morning by the lake. She tried to hint to her mother that anything would be better than going into James Potter's (admittedly beautiful) house and meeting his parents, but James was already opening the gates and talking to her mother. He was being uncharacteristically charming, offering to hold her things and making small talk.

Sirius joined Lily, who was standing, bewildered, watching James win over her mother and aunt at once.

"You have no idea how confused I am. I knew he was rich, but this? This is more than the Malfoys!"

"I know. The Potters are a relatively new name, so they're not really what you think of when you think of big pure-blood family. What exactly are you doing here anyway?"

"We're on holiday, but we got lost in the woods." Lily couldn't believe the grounds around her. Streams edged in ice fed into ponds frozen inches thick. Pristine snow frosted the scene, down to each twig on each tree, freezing the moment eternal. Had she accepted James she might have spent her whole holiday here, perhaps even the rest of her life if things had worked out. She would have had full reign of the place, as Young Master Potter's lady. There must be a ballroom in there, there could be a christmas ball, a glittering, extravagant affair, full of rich families, sparkling gowns and sumptuous feasts. She would be the guest of honor, of course, entering light as air on James's arm, all eyes on her. Wait, on James's arm? Lily reminded herself that she would rather live in a one room apartment alone than live in such pompous grandeur with James Potter.

"… So? Are you staying in town?" Sirius had clearly asked more than once

"Oh, yes" Lily blushed at the thought of her daydream. "At the Red Lion."

"I'll bet it's not as nice as this"

"Not even close." Their rooms were dark and smoky and downright unpleasant. Lily could not understand how her sister spent so much time there.

"Lily!" Rose, Amelia and James had stopped and turned around. "Your lovely friend James has asked us if we would like to stay here instead of in town. He says they have plenty of guest rooms."

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