"Lily, ready to go?"

Lily nodded and smiled as James took hold of her hand and the two of them pushed their scarves over their faces; so that only their eyes were visible through the blizzard like storm that had hit the castle since the start of December. She could feel James holding onto her tightly as the harsh winds sped through them, trying to knock over the crowd of students that were determined to get to the village.

They couldn't have a conversation with one another until they went straight for Honeydukes, and once inside the sweet shop they instantly held onto each other as they began to browse the shop. They picked up various sweets as they made their way through the crowd, from fizzing whizzbees to acid pops to chocolate frogs and Bertie Bott's every flavour beans.

She couldn't help but go bright red at James's insistence that he pay for her items when they reached the till, she tried arguing but before she could hand over the money; James had already placed his money in the sales assistant's hand. They hurried out of the shop and headed up the high street, going into Zonko's Joke Shop and Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop so that Lily could buy a new quill. Deciding that the weather was too much to handle when they were trying to do some shopping, Lily and James decided to head to The Three Broomsticks.

Once inside the warmth of the crowded pub, Lily went up to the bar to get two butterbeers whilst James went to find a seat for the two of them. He managed to get a seat not too far from the bar. He smiled as Lily returned to the table holding the drinks, he took one and thanked her before taking a large gulp; feeling himself beginning to warm up as the drink travelled down his throat.

"So what are your plans for Christmas?" asked James.

Lily put her bottle down on the table after taking a mouthful of her own butterbeer.

"I'm staying at the castle this year. Petunia's bringing home the boyfriend and she requested that if I come home for the holidays that I act 'normal' so I'm avoiding her at all costs." replied Lily.

"Your sister's harsh isn't she?"

Lily shrugged, "I've accepted that my relationship with Petunia won't be a typical sisterly bond with sharing clothes and secrets. Petunia despises me because of what I am and there was a time when she wanted to be one too. You could say that her hatred of me is due to jealousy." said Lily.

They sat in silence for a few minutes as they finished the rest of their butterbeers. James couldn't believe that anyone could be that way with Lily, but he knew that she wouldn't exaggerate about something like that. Once James had finished his drink, he moved his chair closer to Lily's; hoping that she wouldn't mind him doing so. She didn't say anything, just finished her drink and smiled at him.

"I wish there was something I could do to change it." said James.

Lily patted his arm gratefully.

"Thank you, but there isn't. My parents have tried and failed so it is what it is." she sighed.

"Then I'll consider myself lucky that I don't have any blood siblings." James joked.

"None at all?"

James shook his head, "I consider Sirius, Remus and Peter as the brothers I never had." he replied.

Lily nodded in agreement, "I think the same of the girls just not as brothers." she chuckled.

She could feel her head moving closer to James's, leaning in to kiss him but before she could they were interrupted by the door opening and the winter cold swept through the pub; making everyone pull their jackets tighter around them. The two watched as Marlene and Sirius entered the pub, with Marlene looking very annoyed and Sirius sporting a huge grin on his face.

"Come on it was only a joke!" Sirius chortled.

Marlene turned around, eyes narrowed in a murderous glare.

"He was only asking me how I was, you don't get to dictate who I can and cannot talk to." Marlene snapped.

"I did no such thing. He couldn't stop staring at your chest!" Sirius defended.

"Well if you hadn't have drenched my coat in water bombs then I wouldn't have had to take it off. Besides it's a compliment to have a boy other than you take an interest in me." Marlene yelled.

"Come on Marley, I only cast a toe nail growth charm on him to teach him a lesson for staring." Sirius groaned.

"His toe nails grew to the size of a broomstick before the shop keeper stepped in. His shoes were completely ruined. And what is it to you if he stares? I'm not your girlfriend." Marlene shouted.

Sirius ordered the two of them drinks, lucky that their argument could only be heard by the few that were sitting by the bar that included Lily and James. Both of them smiled in curiosity at what had happened on Marlene and Sirius's second date.

"Black you seriously need to grow up!"

Sirius rolled his eyes as he handed a butterbeer to Marlene and placed a tiny kiss on Marlene's lips that seemed to make her stop thinking let alone talking. Lily chuckled quietly as they watched their two friends walk off into the crowd to find a seat. James turned back to Lily, catching her off guard as he captured her lips with his own. Lily cupped James's face in her hands as she melted into the kiss, drowning out the sound of chattering in the pub as she moved her lips in sync with James's.

After a few minutes, she pulled away to catch her breath; still not having gotten used to James leaving her completely breathless after sharing a kiss with the raven haired boy.

"Lily?"

She turned to face him, smiling warmly as she held his hand in hers.

"Yes James?" she asked.

"Be my girlfriend?" he whispered.

Lily nodded as she smiled wider than she ever had before and flung her arms around his neck, feeling happy that he had finally asked her that question that she had been waiting for the whole day.