AN: I own nothing. All mistakes are mine. Do enjoy.

Chapter 5: Holiday

New Year's Eve, Lily found herself dressed in dark green witches' dress robes in her muggle parents' living room. Her parents were dressed in their fanciest coats and ready to leave for their own party, but Lily's mother had refused to go until she saw her daughter, "all dressed up." Petunia, on the other hand, was already waiting in the car.

"Oh, Lily. You look beautiful." Her mother smiled, clasping her hands together.

"You always look beautiful, honey." Her father added, "But tonight especially. That wizarding garb really suites you. Do you think I could maybe buy some robes next time we go to Diagon Alley?"

Lily laughed, "I don't know, Dad. Petunia might not speak to you if you turn to the dark side."

"Lily, your sister loves you. She'll come round." Her mother waved away.

Lily wanted to say, "I've been waiting for her to come round for six years now," but thought better of it. The fact that her two daughters didn't quite get along upset her mother, and New Year's was not the time for that. So instead she responded with a smile and replied, "I know. Give her a kiss from me when the new year comes round."

"We will," Lily's dad stepped forward and gave her a hug, "You'll be home tomorrow?"

"Yeah, tomorrow afternoon. In the fireplace."

Her father released her, mumbling something under his breath about the marvels of wizarding travel while the young girl moved to her mom, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Have fun kids," Lily called as her parents waved and shut the door behind themselves.

Lily soon found herself in a study in her Hogwarts' roommate and best friend's home, dusting the soot off her clothing from the Floo travel. She could hear the chatter of the ensuing party just outside the door, and could see a lighted white tent through the window.

Running a hand through her wayward hair, and taking a deep breath, Lily grabbed the door handle and dove into the party full of mostly strangers.

She smiled at everyone she passed as she scanned the crowd for Joey. It didn't take her long, and she found her in the living room, talking with her older brother.

Joey lit up and rushed over when she spotted her, "Lily!" she gushed, embracing her and starting to talk very fast. "Merry Christmas! Soon to be, happy New Year. You look striking, as usual." She broke away, "You know my brother, Tyler. Under that facial hair, it's him, I swear."

"Hello, Lily." He smiled. Dark wavy hair, blue eyes, stunning smile, and just a bit of scruff, Tyler Maple was hard to forget.

"Apparently they don't shave in America." Joey went on.

"Hi, Tyler. Trip from the States okay?"

"It left something to be desired. Cross Atlantic wizard travel still needs some work."

Lily laughed, "I don't know, you could be on an airplane."

"Those mechanical birds the muggles use?" Tyler chuckled, "You know what, I would actually love to try one of those things. But I would need an escort. Someday, Lily?"

"Someday," she grinned.

Just then Joey's mother called from the kitchen for her two kids.

Joey moaned, "Oh no, another Ministry Official to meet, I'm sure."

"Well you better get going, Jo. I already have a job." Tyler nodded toward the room in which their mother's voice had admitted.

"No way. You're coming with me!" Joey then turned toward Lily and nodded out the French doors to the big white tent, "Taylor is out there somewhere. Save yourself, I'll be there soon." And she walked toward her mother, dragging Tyler behind her who was taking a large gulp from the smoking goblet in his hand.

Lily walked through the tent opening, surprisingly not cold from the walk outside. The entire walkway had been lined with jars of dancing flames that emitted a healthy amount of heat. The tent too was full of these floating jars, and sparkling decor to go along with the holiday. New Years was always about the sparkle. She took to scanning the crowd again, but instead of finding Taylor, her eyes spotted a familiar mess of dark hair.

She walked over, smile on her face. And had a second to wonder when her usual grimace had turned to a smile when James Potter was in her sights.

His eyes widened and a smile too graced his face when he saw the familiar red head.

"Evans," he greeted.

"Potter, what're you doing here?"

"My Dad used to work in the Ministry. They know the Maples pretty well. What're you doing here?"

"Well, it is Joey's party." She replied sarcastically with a cheeky grin

James chuckled, "Oh, yes. Right. I thought I had seen you two around together."

"Here and there, yes. We're casual acquaintances." Before they could play deeper into their fake conversation, a thought suddenly occurred to Lily, "Oh my goodness!" she exclaimed, startling James. "I should thank you for my Christmas gift. Gobstones! You didn't have to do that."

James quickly recovered and smiled shyly before his usual easy banter returned. "Well, you clearly have a natural ability. I thought we should try and hone those skills. It's a sin to let that talent go to waste."

"Well you made me feel guilty I didn't get you anything." She then started digging in her wristlet she had obviously put an expansion charm on, "So I got you something. I think it's in here…Awh ha! I haven't wrapped it yet, but Merry belated Christmas."

She held out a brown pouch with a draw string, similar to the one which had held James's gobstones. James raised his eyebrows at her and took the pouch. He poured a few shiny orbs into his palm.

"Marbles!" Lily grinned, "The muggle game I mentioned."

James grinned back, "Oh, wow. Thanks! So what'd they do?"

"They roll." Lily laughed. Which had James too laughing, as he echoed her words. "I'll teach you some games." She continued, before they were interrupted by a dark haired woman dressed in blue robes.

"James, have you seen your father? I think he ditched me when I got talk-trapped by Mrs. May. One minute he was by my side, and the next, as May started to go on about how exactly one waves their wand to make the correct gravy consistency, he must have slipped away. And now I've lost him. That little slink." She had approached from behind and put her hand on his lower back in a familiar manner. And though she was an average woman in stature, she still had to look up to meet her son's eyes.

"Last I saw him, he wandered outside with a pint." James shrugged.

She grumbled a moment and looked toward the tent's entrance, "Oh, do I hope old Hopper found him. Let the man talk his ear off for an hour about old wizarding laws still on the books." She then noticed Lily standing there and her expression changed to a friendly smile, "Oh, hello. I'm James's mother. I promise, I'm more friendly than I seem."

Lily laughed as James introduced her, "Mum, this is Lily Evans."

Lily took her extended hand, "Hello, Mrs. Potter. Nice to meet you. I go to school with James."

"Lily… Oh yes, I remember! Sirius talks about you all the time."

Lily raised her eyes brows at that. "Sirius?" Out of all the boys, she was not expecting Sirius. James – well he had his supposed infatuation. She and Remus were Prefects together. She sometimes helped Peter with lessons. But, Sirius? She was slightly concerned.

"He's always telling stories. I believe you're the one who sent James to the Hospital Wing because of a strong Rictusempra last year"

Lily's face fell, and she struggled to come up with anything to say. What do you say to a mother whose son you sent to the Infirmary?

Jane Potter seemed to recognize the look of uncertainty on the young girl's face and quickly went on, "Oh, Lily. No. Don't worry. He needs someone to keep him in line. Sirius had me laughing almost as much as he was telling the story! He could barely get it out. I thought he might have been hit with Rictusempra himself."

"Mom! I couldn't breathe!" James exclaimed in exasperation.

"I'm sure he deserved it," she continued, as if James had said nothing.

A smile crept upon Lily's face. "Well… he did. He was doing that stupid chuckle. You know – like he knows something you don't. And he just wouldn't stop… So I made it so he couldn't stop."

That had both women laughing while James stood by, annoyed.

Jane took notice that she was bothering her son, so she sobered up and excused herself. "It was nice to meet you, Lily. I must go track down that damned man I married now. Happy New Year."

"Happy New Year." Lily called after her as she walked away.

With a smile still on her face, Lily turned back to James, "She's nice."

"Oh, yes, very." James replied only semi-annoyed, "Except when you set fire to her strawberry bushes."

"You did what?"

"Second year summer holiday. Sirius and I were experimenting in her garden. Well, we may have accidently set fire to the strawberries, and then the entire garden went up… I thought I wouldn't live to see another day."

Lily was both shocked and amused, "But what about under age wizardry?"

"Do you really think the mother of twelve-year-old James Potter is so naïve that she would allow me to have my wand over the summer? Oh, no. Our wands were locked in her bedroom. We had gotten into the potions cupboard actually."

"And so you created, James's Inferno?"

"Remember, Sirius was involved too. What kind of friend am I if he wasn't included in the name? We named is Blotter's Hell Fire. And last I checked, it's banned in twelve countries."

The two chuckled and then a slightly uncomfortable silence fell upon them.

Pulling at her sleeve anxiously, Lily looked around the room and asked, "Have you seen Taylor? She's the one I came out here looking for."

James made a vague gesture to the front of the tent where a small dance floor was set up. A good crowd of people were dancing to the small band playing – two wizards along with some instruments enchanted to play on their own accord.

"She's someone in there with Remus."

At that, Lily's eyes lit up mischievously.

James recognized it and shook his head, "Don't be getting too excited there, Cupid. Remus would never follow through with anything, he's too shy. Not to mention, he thinks she's too good for him."

"Remus? But he's the best guy I know." Lily caught her statement and glanced up at James, vaguely apologetic, "Sorry."

James shrugged, "It's fine. He's the best guy I know too... Don't tell Sirius I said that."

Lily grumbled. "Well this is frustrating. They would be so great together. And Taylor is so oblivious, she won't follow through with anything either. She has no idea she's the prettiest girl in school. That every guy is in love with her."

"I'm not in love with her." James replied, giving Lily a significant look.

"Oh stop," Lily scoffed, "I'm too good for you." Once again, she heard her words as she spoke and winced, "Sorry."

James shrugged for a second time, "It's probably true. But now that you've wounded me twice, I think I need a boost to my ego. Dance with me, Evans?"

He extended his hand, and Lily looked at it reluctantly.

"Oh come on, just one dance. Your friends are nowhere in sight. And if not, I'm sure to wallow in self-pity for the rest of the night." He reached down and tugged at her wrist.

Lily rolled her eyes and smiled, following his lead, "Just one. Consider it my apology for my lack of tact."

James got his one dance in with Lily, and then was interrupted by Tyler Maple cutting in as he and Joey joined the party. He too didn't get much dance time with the red head, as Sirius soon showed up and weaseled his way in, to which James knew was a favor to him. Mr. Blue-eyed-older-man had no business dancing with Lily Evans, in James's opinion. He really did have the best friends.

And so the sixth year Gryffindors unexpectedly spent the New Year's holiday together. And though James didn't get a midnight kiss, as Lily and Joey had hugged, over her friend's shoulder Lily had thrown a smile his way. And that was more than he had been expecting. After that, he had been tackled by Sirius, Peter, and Remus, in true Marauders' tradition.