Wow guys, the reviews I've been getting are so awesome! It makes writing this all the better :). I apologize for the long long long long break between updates. No excuse here other than life was getting in the way.
Now for the next installment. I see the end of the story in sight, which is exciting but also sad.
Friendly reminder that I own rights to nothing, etc. You've heard it all before.
Enjoy the next chapter! Very fluffy!
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Lily woke up on James's bed, heavy coat still on from the night before. Her pants were off though, so she had the mind about her to start changing into pajamas and must've fallen asleep in the middle. The blankets and sheets were all off of his bed, and she'd been using one of James's Quidditch robes as a pillow. She tried to giggle, still a bit drunk from the night before, but pain crashed through her head like someone filled it with Nifflers that were digging into her brain.
Where was James? The room was still spinning a bit as Lily took in her surroundings. She was at the Potter House, and had been for the past couple nights. Her dad thought she was out at Marlene's, but what he didn't know wouldn't kill him. They'd spent all of yesterday morning preparing the house for Christmas. It would've been easy to do it by magic, but Lily wanted to show James how fun it was Muggle-style. James griped, but Euphemia enjoyed helping the two. She was probably awake now, baking cookies. Downstairs Celestina Warbeck's Christmas album was humming smoothly on the record player.
"Nice knickers, Evans. I always pictured you as a lace kind of girl." Sirius's sleepy laugh emanated from behind her. Letting out a tiny shriek, Lily threw James's robes over her butt. She whipped her head around, which caused the headache pain to quadruple. Sirius was grinning roguishly, only in his tie and slacks from the night before.
"Where the hell were you?" Lily asked. Sirius shrugged and pointed to James's bathroom.
"Slept in the tub. Haven't the foggiest idea why." He chuckled. A piece of the fuzzy puzzle from last night clicked in Lily's head.
"Oh yeah, we thought you were gonna puke." Sirius looked indignant.
"Definitely not! Sirius Black is no puker." Lily laughed loudly now, because Sirius was never able to handle his liquor. She'd spent countless nights holding his hair as he gagged into the toilet after only having a few drinks.
"Black, deny all you want, but that is hogwash." Sirius scowled.
Suddenly there was a moan from the floor. Lily peered over the bed. It was James, who was on the floor in a cocoon of blankets. His body was full of obscene drawings that Lily, Sirius, and Laura had done the night before. Lily vaguely remembered tracing his sleeping body with a marker. It was the rule, whoever fell asleep first was subject to any form of pranking those still awake deemed fit. Drawing on him wasn't the most creative of jokes, but seeing the ridiculous mustache on his face still made her laugh.
"What happened last night?" James croaked up from the floor.
"We decorated you for the holidays." Sirius grinned. James's eyes widened, and he picked himself up off the floor, hurrying to his bedroom.
"Fuck" He said from the bathroom, Lily and Sirius chuckling. Laura, who'd managed to get to the guest room, wandered in, rubbing her makeup-smeared eyes.
"Mornin' Lads." She said, grinning. "How's everyone feeling?" She was answered by a chorus of groans.
"What happened last night?" Lily asked, as Laura had been the most coherent of the group. "All I remember is getting to the Leaky Cauldron and Sirius buying us all those flaming Rum shots."
Laura smiled, and began to fill the three of them in once James got back from the bathroom. Most of his body art had been washed nearly off, but the mustache had persisted despite his efforts. Laura explained that once they left the bar, they'd taken the Night Bus and subsequently got kicked off the Night Bus for disorderly conduct. Sirius and James were jumping on the beds together, Lily dancing around the poles like a mad woman. They got kicked out right by Mary's house, which was a blessed coincidence because Mary was babysitting her little brothers, and had all of her mental states in tact. Mary gave them a ride home in her dad's car (as a Muggle-born, her parents had made her learn how to drive.) Once they reached James's house, Lily and him tried to sneak off together, but both ended up tripping over the grandfather clock in James's living room and were caught. Laura made them all go up to James's room as to not wake his mom. Then they had deep drunk chats about their futures and families, all of which none of them could remember currently. Lily thanked Laura for watching out for the three of them, as it sounded like they were a handful.
"No problem, makes up for how I was on Halloween." Laura winked.
Suddenly, James's bedroom door burst open. All four of them jumped in surprise at the presence of Euphemia, who was clad in an apron and Santa hat.
"Merry Christmas Eve kids!" She called in a sing-song voice. "I have cookies that need taste testing, a dining room that needs cleaning, and spirits that must be made jolly! So get up sleepyheads!" She was so excited, but Lily felt so horrible. Sirius was trying to giver her a smile, but it looked more like a grimace. James was a little green. Lily suspected that Euphemia knew how hungover they were, and was getting a lot of satisfaction in this.
"Alright, let's have you all get dressed and then you can eat some breakfast! I went all out, there's meat pies, sausages, beans, smoked salmon, potatoes..." Her voice trailed as she walked down the hall, presumably to prepare more of the Christmas celebrations. Lily looked at James, with bloodshot eyes.
"Ready to get into the Christmas cheer?" She asked him.
"I'm just focusing on not throwing up in my mouth, honestly." He said.
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"Dad, can you pass the ham?" Lily asked stiffly. The dish was sitting right next to Petunia, but Lily really didn't feel like acknowledging her existence at the moment. Her dad looked at her with a warning in his eyes, but passed her the dish anyway. Lily tried not to roll her eyes as Vernon went on and on about his new position at a drill company. She looked out the window. It was misty and droll outside, not at all like a Christmas Eve should look. But it matched Lily's mood, so she didn't mind.
She felt a reassuring squeeze of her hand from James, who was sitting next to her. His untidy black hair was swept back handsomely, and he wore a nice shirt and tie. He was going to wear dress robes, but Lily explained that they were a bit unusual-looking to Muggles. Seeming amused by the differences in the Muggle world versus the Wizarding world, James made Lily come with him to pick out proper attire. The two had spent all day in London, window shopping. James was fascinated by things such as the store that sold TVs and record players, and Lily had fun showing him how the Underground worked. It had been such a nice day really, which made the contrast in today's events even sharper in Lily's mind.
"So, James, what do you think you're going to do once you graduate in May?" Her father asked, breaking the tension. He'd always been the designated peacekeeper between the two girls, as Lily's mom had left when she was only two. She barely remembered her, other than she had the same bright red hair as Lily. Her dad had raised the girls without any help, aside from a few girlfriends here and there. She loved her dad, but she could tell the constant strain he was under once she was home, because of her constant clashes with her sister. It made her secretly feel like he'd be better off if Lily just didn't ever come home.
James cleared his throat. "Well sir, my parents really want me to do something in the Ministry. But paper-pushing is dead boring work, so I'm figuring the Auror department is the best route for me."
"Auror?" Her dad frowned. "I've never heard of that department."
"It's the Ministry of Magic." Lily explained to him softly. "Aurors are like Police, basically."
"I see." He chuckled bemusedly, as he always does when Lily talks about the Wizarding world. He always takes whatever she tells him in stride, a fact she appreciated. She squeezed his hand affectionately, while Petunia scoffed under her breath.
"Daddy, we've just found a very nice house for sale in Surry." Petunia said loudly, obviously wanting to divert attention from Lily and her abnormalities.
"That's lovely, Pumpkin." Her dad said fondly. "Although, I'll miss breakfast with you every Thursday."
"Oh, we can find another tradition." Petunia said with a hand wave. "At least I'm around more than once or twice a year." Lily rolled her eyes.
"Would you rather me be around all the time?" She asked her sister sweetly.
"I'm just saying, poor Daddy here is all alone now-"
"Because you're married. We get it."
They lapsed into silence. Lily was very annoyed now.
"Let me guess." She whispered snidely. "Your lovely home looks exactly like every single other house in your subdivision?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Just that you must certainly need a house that fits your personality, is all."
"At least it'll be normal." Petunia hissed. Lily rolled her eyes. Like she'd never heard that before.
"You'll never get it, you brat. I have a good life and a good husband, and I don't run off to some school full of crack pots all year and only come back when i like. It's disgraceful." Petunia sniffed.
"At least I'm not the one who's petty enough to put their wedding on the ONE day their sister couldn't go." Lily snapped. Unbeknownst to her, James and Vernon were beginning to argue as well.
"Can't you keep your girlfriend in line Potter?" He asked, clearly annoyed.
"Yes, usually I give her the belt for talking out of turn but I forgot it at home, you see." James retorted sarcastically.
"It's not Petunia's fault that people like your kind are part of her family."
"My kind?"
"Has anyone tried this gravy?" Mr. Evans asked weakly, obviously knowing it was too late to divert the conflict.
"You should be lucky I even bother with you anymore!" Petunia shrieked. "You and your freakish little boyfriend are nothing but trouble to us!"
"WE'RE ENGAGED!" Lily screamed. The house went silent. Lily was nearly snarling in anger. James blushed, Vernon and Petunia gaped.
"That's right, Tuney. My 'freaky' boyfriend is going to become my 'freaky' husband. I love him more than anything, but you wouldn't notice that, would you? You're too caught up in your perfect and boring life with this monstrosity!" She directed a hand at Vernon, who looked furious. She shouted so loudly she was sure her voice would give out. "And unlike you, I'll be kind enough to actually invite you to my wedding!" She cried and forcefully got up. Petunia looked like she was about to as well, but instead kept her seat.
"I knew you'd find a way to make Christmas all about yourself." She hissed.
And with that Lily stormed out of the house, ignoring her dad's protests. She got out and just stood on the porch, panting. There were twinkling lights in most of the houses, but it just looked eerie and strange in this mist. Suddenly, her eyes wandered over to Spinner's End, and the darkened house. She swore she saw the curtains ruffle back once her head turned. She thought of the first time she found out she was a witch. Her and Tuney were best friends back then. Tears, hot and fat, began to slide down her cheeks. It wasn't as if she didn't love her sister. But it cut like a knife every time she was home, how Petunia would treat her like dirt. And now her happy news about her and James was ruined by this fight and her stupid temper. She sat on her porch, not minding the dampness of the mist seeping through her dress. Lifting her wand, she made snowflakes flutter around her head. There she sat, crying and creating snow, feeling like the loneliest person in the world. Until her front door squeaked behind her, and she was joined on the porch by someone else.
James rested his hand on her shoulder. A small, silver-wrapped box slipped into her hand.
"You know, I was going to save this for later, but I feel like it might make you feel better." James said gently. Lily ceased making it snow, and gingerly unwrapped the small box. She gasped. It was a diamond ring, encrusted in a small flower pattern of black opals.
"It's, it's..." Lily trailed, gratitude and love making words impossible.
"I hope the word you're looking for is 'perfect'." James chuckled. "I figured since we've been engaged for bit now, you deserved a proper ring. Happy Christmas Lily."
Lily gave him a watery smile. "James Potter. Even on such a dreadful day, you make me feel like the luckiest girl in the world." She said softly. He flashed her a crooked and cocky grin, the one she knew so well.
"I always knew I'd get the famous Lily Evans to fall for me one day." He joked. She laughed, and tackled him into a big bear hug.
"Hey!' He protested. "Those are my thing!" But as she began to kiss him frantically, his protesting was silenced.
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Sirius Black was drunk. Drunk as a house-elf on holiday. So drunk, he'd started talking in mumbles rather than words. So drunk, he didn't even remember the name of the bird he was snogging.
"Wazzyour name again?" He asked blearily, after a long and sloppy kiss. And then he was so drunk that he barely even felt the loud and caustic slap on his cheek from said bird as she huffed away offendedly.
Remus cackled from the couch.
"Padfoot, I've came up with the perfect New Year's Resolution for you." He said, grinning. Sirius scowled, but sat down hard next to him.
"And I s'pose you're gonna tell me whether er not I ask?" He said, mustering all coherency to snark at Remus.
He nodded solemnly. "Of course. Anyways, your resolution. Find someone like that." He pointed to the other side of the room. Sirius followed his finger, squinting at the person in question. It was Lily, dancing and laughing next to James. She was currently trying to feed him a bit of treacle tart from the snack table, and he was play-biting at her fingers. Remus and Sirius let out delighted laughs as she gave up and shoved it all over his face.
"So you're saying I should find Lily? James would be pretty pissed if I stole his girl."
Remus snorted. "Like she'd ever leave him for anyone. And you know what I'm saying. Find someone that makes you that happy. Not just some random at a party to flirt with and then use."
"You make me happy Moony, are you saying I sho' go for you?" Sirius asked, waggling his eyebrows.
"I doubt werewolves are your type." He replied drily. Sirius chuckled and planted a wet kiss on his buddy's cheek.
"Ugh! No wonder your Animagus is a dog." Remus complained, wiping saliva from his cheek. But then Peter was there suddenly, pulling him away for a game. Sirius stood up to follow the two, and somehow fell back down onto the couch. Seems he was too drunk to stand.
He didn't mind, as the whole place was in such a festive mood. They were at a Sixth Year's house, Katie Belby. She was a friendly Hufflepuff and, it turned out, an excellent party planner. She'd enchanted a waterfall of butterbeer to cascade down from the second story of the house, flowing from the balcony down into a small punch bowl on the table. The alcohol was flowing, the music was fantastic, and the food was top notch. Sirius closed his eyes, taking it all in. Remus's words kept coming back to him, though. He glanced around the room at all the happy couples. Laura and her new girlfriend, Tammy, whispering and holding hands shyly. Mary and Reg Cattermole, slow dancing together, looking at each other with deep admiration. Frank and Alice of course, dancing like maniacs next to them. Even Peter was talking to a girl, blushing and smiling with nerves. And finally, James and Lily.
They were walking over to him now, well it was more like James was dragging a laughing Lily by the hand.
"Pads! Have you feasted you eyes on this yet?" James asked boisterously, thrusting Lily's left hand into Sirius's face.
His eyes took a bit to focus, but it was a ring.
"James, you've shown it to almost every student of Hogwarts at this point." Lily complained, but Sirius saw a happy smile on her face behind her fiance.
"I can't help it. I just did such a good job." James said, cocky. Lily shoved him, and he fell onto Sirius's lap. Both of them had flushed cheeks and firewhiskeys in hand.
"You two will be the death 'v me." Sirius griped, ruffling James's hair.
"Oh you're just jealous I stole your boyfriend away." Lily teased.
"Watch it Evans, you never know. We could run off into the sunset if only James will just say yes!" Sirius cried. James played along, wrapping his arms around Sirius's head protectively. Lily snorted.
"Padfoot, I heard about your incident with Marissa Gardner earlier." James said, amused.
"Who?" Sirius asked. James and Lily burst out laughing.
"The mysterious girl who's name you forgot, you git." James chuckled.
"Oh, right." Sirius said theatrically. "Wasn' my type, anyway." The three laughed together. James whispered something in Lily's ear, and she blushed. The two's fingers were laced together, and they kept sharing these gooey lovey looks. It made Sirius want to yak (well, that could be more from the alcohol). He was reminded of what Remus said earlier.
"How do you guys do it?" He asked. James and Lily looked at him in interest. "Love, I mean. How are you two so damn good at it?" he continued. James turned thoughtful.
"I guess, it's something that takes a lot of work." James said. "You can't just quit the moment things turn tough. Otherwise I'd have stopped in fourth year when Lily said she'd rather date a Blast-Ended Skrewt." They all laughed at the memory.
"It's more than that too." Lily said seriously. "It's going through the day normally, except everything that happens reminds you of them. And when they're actually around, it's the best feeling in the world just to sit next to them, or run your fingers through their hair..." She trailed off, smiling.
"And all those years that I thought you hated my hair." James teased. Lily tickled his stomach, making his face red with laughter. Him and Sirius squirmed towards Lily, tickling her until she fell off the couch. Then James pulled Lily in for a long kiss. The two looked as if everything slipped away except for each other. Sirius had to admit, it touched something rather deep in his drunk heart.
"You two are ridiculous." He said, grinning. "I can't wait to go to your wedding."
"Well you better be." James said, pulling apart. "I need my Best Man to be on hand at all times."
A huge grin split down Sirius's face.
"You mean it?" He asked joyfully.
"Who else could we possibly want?" Lily asked kindly. Her expression of care and happiness made tears prick at Sirius's eyes. Suddenly (and he blamed this on the drink) he was full out sobbing.
"I'm jus' so happy for you two." He said in between sniffles, feeling their arms around him as the two pulled him into a tight embrace.
"You're more pissed than I thought Padfoot." James chuckled. "You know I'm never going to let you live this down, right." Sirius felt Lily shove him.
"I love you Sirius." She said fiercely into his ear. And the two were suddenly standing. Sirius looked up, wiping the last tear.
"I'll bring you some water." Lily said kindly, and she grabbed James's hand. James shot him one last you'll-never-hear-the-end-of-this smirk before he turned to follow.
The two walked away, giggling. Sirius watched them go, looking stricken.
"What's wrong Pads?" Remus asked, coming up behind him. Sirius sighed sadly.
"They're bloody perfect Moony. You want me to find a love like that? I'm already doomed."