Title: Glass Hearts

Rating: PG-13

Summary (of chapter): A peaceful Christmas is interrupted by a giant attack.

It was growing dark on Christmas day, the snow falling over Great Britain. Students were resting in the safety of their homes with families and friends and presents and full stomachs. Sirius and James were trying to charm the motorbike to fly, their parents sitting inside with hot chocolate. They had visited the Mufflet girls earlier. Juniper had gotten along just fine with James, and the four of them had played in the snow.

Across the country, Remus was watching Christmas programs on the telly with his family. His Christmas had been great. Relaxing, but still fun. He was wearing a new jumper from his aunt, and his three-year-old cousin was playing at his feet with a doll Remus had given her.

Peter looked over the wealth of food before him. It was better than the Great Feast at the end of the year. They were sitting down to a Christmas dinner, the turkey looking very lovely in the middle of the table. He had had a great Christmas, opening presents and then helping his mum with the cookery. And his day was about to get much better.

Severus sat in the Slytherin common room, watching the flames in the fireplace. He was the only Slytherin in his year at the castle, but there had been about ten other students at the Christmas meal today. He had received only two presents that morning. Professor Dumbledore had given him a nice variety of toffees, and his mother had sent him a set of quills. They were nice quills, his initials inscribed on the tips. Severus figured she was starting to realize how horrible the last seventeen years of his life had been. He took a toffee from the box next to him.

Well, it was her second Christmas without her brother. Even with all of the gifts around her, Mary would have traded any of it to know her brother wasn't being an idiot anymore.

Regulus sat at the long table at 15 Grimmauld Place for a Christmas dinner, staring at his plate. Small talk was made around him. His family members exchanged meaningless words about people that were less than them. The aroma of dinner rose into his nostrils, but he felt sick. Upstairs on his bed lay a drawing of the Black crest Regulus had made for his brother nearly a decade ago. With it, Sirius had sent a note, Thought you might want this back.

Marlene sat by the window, watching the snow fall. Her family sat around the living room, listening to the WWN. She had had a great Christmas with her brothers and the rest of her family. A small mound of presents was in her room, waiting to be used. Her nephew walked over to her, handing her one of his new Quidditch action figures. Marlene smiled at him, ruffling up his hair.

In Surrey, Lily was watching the same program as Remus's family. She was half as relaxed. Petunia and Vernon sat on the loveseat in the living room, sitting close. Since Vernon had come over, it had been extremely tense in their house. Lily tried to concentrate on the telly, but wanted to go to her room and cry.

The telephone started to ring. Lily stood up, grateful for a chance to get out of the room. "I'll get it," she said. She picked up the phone in the kitchen. "Hello?"

"Lily?" a shaking voice on the other line said. It was their neighbor, Mrs. Peterson.

"Mrs. Peterson, what's wrong?" Lily asked.

"Lily, there's - there's something going on outside," Mrs. Peterson said. "I think - I think they're giants!"

Lily's heart slammed against her chest. She dropped the phone and ran to the door. "Lily?" Mrs. Evans called out after her.

Lily flung the door open and ran out unto her porch. The air was full of screams. Although it was getting dark, she could see them. Probably only a few blocks away, two large creatures - twenty feet tall, hairy - were stomping around the streets. One held a club and was bashing the roofs of houses in.

Her mum came outside, a concerned look on her face. She looked around, and gasped. Her hand flew to her mouth. "Oh, my god!" she exclaimed.

"Mum, get inside," Lily said. "Get inside!"

Her mum stared at her in horror, then looked back at the giants. Lily pushed her mum back in the house. "Don't worry, I'll get wizards here," she said before shutting the door.

Lily pulled out her wand, waving it toward the air. Within moments, two Aurors had Apparated to her. "What's going -" one of them began, but broke off when he saw the giants.

"We're going to need back-up," the witch told the wizard.

"Get Moody here, tell him there are two giants in Surrey," the wizard said. The witch nodded, Disapparating. He turned to Lily. "Where do you live?"

"Here," Lily said, motioning to her house.

"All right," the wizard said. "You've got people in there?"

"Four Muggles," Lily said.

"Keep 'em in there," the wizard said.

"Can't I help?" Lily asked.

The wizard shook his head. "It takes a lot of training and expertise," he said.

The witch and three other Aurors suddenly Apparated unto the scene. Lily had no idea how they had come so quickly. Moody looked up at the giants, and began to lead the way towards the giants. "Come on!" he called to them. "You, too, Evans!"

The first wizard looked shocked for a moment, but Lily followed them. The six of them ran down the streets. "They're on Crystal Avenue," Lily said, taking the lead. "This way!"

The wind was bitterly cold, but Lily tried to ignore it. She wore a jumper and jeans, but her hands were starting to get cold. On Crystal Avenue, they were suddenly in front of the two giants. Lily stared up at the two massive creatures, her jaw dropping. The Aurors stared shooting spells at them. One of the giants yelled angrily, bringing its club down right next to one of the Aurors. "Aim for the heart!" Moody shouted.

"Stunning spell," a wizard yelled at Lily.

Lily nodded, pointing her wand up. "One, two, three!" Moody yelled.

"STUPEFY!" Six voices bellowed. Red light combined in the air, hitting the giant in the heart. He rocked back and forth, looking dazed.

"AGAIN!" Moody yelled.

"STUPEFY!"

The spell hit him again, and he began to fall. The other giant noticed, and she let out a deafening yell. She ran towards the wizards, stomping. She swung her arm at them. She knocked one of the witches into Lily, knocking both of them across the cement. Lily lay on the ground, trying to catch her breath.

The second giant fell with a crash, crushing a house, his body sprawled out over the street. Lily saw other robed witches and wizards around; some flying, others casting spells, others rushing Muggles out of their homes.

The female giant threw an Auror into a Muggle house. The Auror broke through a glass window. Lily jumped to her feet, holding her wand out in front of her. She ran to another Auror's side. This Auror was throwing spells at the giantess, ones Lily neither knew nor had ever heard of.

"Lily!" she heard behind her.

Lily turned. Frank Longbottom was beckoning for her to come over to him. Lily ran to him as more Aurors attacked the giantess. "Come on, we're trying to get Muggles out of their homes," Frank said. "For now, they're getting onto the Knight Bus."

"All right," Lily said, nodding, "where should I go?"

James and Sirius came inside after some experimentation with the motorbike. They found Mr. Potter pulling his jacket on in the living room. "What's going on?" James asked.

"Dad has to go to Surrey," Mrs. Potter said.

James felt his stomach drop. "Surrey?" he repeated. "Why?"

"Giant attack," Mr. Potter said. The wrinkles in his forehead were intensifying; he was getting too old for this job, anyone could see. He had signed up for a Hit Wizard, not Auror.

"What?" James and Sirius said in unison.

"Lily lives in Surrey," James said. "Dad, we're coming."

"No," Mr. Potter said quickly.

"We're adults," Sirius said.

Mrs. Potter looked at them tearfully. "Boys -" she began.

"Just stay here."

"It's Christmas."

There was no convincing them. They pulled their jackets and gloves back on. Mrs. Potter looked from her husband to the boys. Her husband shrugged helplessly. Horrible thoughts flew through James's head - Lily, crushed by giants. Lily, stomped on. Lily, dead. Mr. Potter looked at them, a serious look on his face. "We'll Apparate to Lily's house," James said.

Before waiting for a response, he Disapparated. He was suddenly in a nice house, and Lily's parents stood in the kitchen with a couple, all four of them looking worried. The young girl, maybe a year older than him, started screaming at his appearance. James held up his hands. "Hey, don't worry, I'm not going to hurt you," he said.

She picked up a frying pan. "Get out of my house!" she screamed. "I don't know who you are, but I will hit you over the head with this frying pan if you don't get out right this minute!"

Sirius Apparated in after him. She screamed louder, and her boyfriend's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates.

"Petunia, calm down!" Mrs. Evans yelled.

"I won't calm down, mother!" Petunia screamed. "You've taken too much of Lily's nonsense!"

She swung the frying pan, James and Sirius both ducked in time. Petunia's eyes were wide with frenzy. "I won't -" she swung again. "- have my freak sister -" she was coming towards them. They backed away from her, their hands up in surrender. "- ruin my marriage!" She swung once more.

"Petunia, stop it!" Mr. Evans yelled.

Petunia turned on her dad. "Why do you always side with her, dad?" she shouted.

"Where's Lily?" James yelled.

"She went outside!" Mrs. Evans said. Tears had begun to stream down her cheeks.

James ran for the front door. "Mental," Sirius said as they ran outside. It was dark, but they could see the giant. It blocked the stars, and there were spells being thrown at it. Muggles were screaming and running from the giant, carrying their children. The two of them started running the opposite direction.

They started to see robed wizards. They recognized Frank Longbottom's curly hair, and ran over to him. "Have you seen Lily?" James asked.

"She's here somewhere," Frank said, looking frantic. "She was helping Muggles get unto the Knight Bus."

"Is that the only one?" Sirius asked.

"They took down another one," Frank said. "Well, they Stunned him, and then he woke up, so they killed him."

"What do you need?" Sirius asked.

James left the two of them, looking around for Lily. He jogged down the block, passing Ministry wizards who were helping the Muggles get away from their house in case the giant fell. He saw a girl with red hair. He started running towards her. "Lily!" he yelled.

The girl turned around, and James had never been more relieved to see her. He threw his arms around her. "Oh, my god, you're all right," he said.

"What are you doing here?" Lily asked.

"I came to make sure you were all right," James said.

There was an eruption of screams. They looked up and saw the giant falling. James pulled Lily close as the giant fell on a house, shaking the ground under them. Lily exhaled a breath of relief, wrapping her arms around James. "You're freezing," James said. He took off his coat. "Here."

"Oh, I -" Lily began to protest, but James put the coat on her. He rubbed her arms.

"God, my mind was running wild," James said, shaking his head.

"I'm fine," Lily said. "I'm fine. Just cold."

Ministry employees were running around. "Come on, we've got to get this giant out of here," someone yelled.

Sirius ran over to them. He grinned at Lily, putting his hand on her shoulder. "All right, Red?" he said.

"I'm fine," Lily repeated.

"Your sister nearly killed us," Sirius said.

Lily's face fell. "What?"

"We Apparated to your house," Sirius said, "and she tried to hit us with a frying pan."

Lily sighed, looking down at her feet. "I'm so sorry," she said. "I should go tell them everything's all right."

"I'll go with you," James said.

"I really don't know if -" Lily began.

"I'm coming with you," James said firmly.

"I'm not," Sirius said. "I'll go help. I'll see you guys later."

James and Lily jogged down the streets and came to Lily's house again. Although James was wary about going back in, he followed Lily through the front door. Her parents ran to her, showing relief. "What happened?" Mrs. Evans asked.

"There were giants," Lily said. "Two of them. But they're dead now."

Mr. Evans stared at her, his eyes wide. His wife sat down at the kitchen table, her hand over her heart. "Giants," the Muggle boy muttered behind them. "Giants. People popping in and out."

Petunia glared at Lily. "How dare you," she said. "How dare you!"

Lily stared back at Petunia. "Excuse me?" she said. James knew that voice, and he felt sorry for Petunia.

"How dare you do this to me!" Petunia yelled. "You're ruining my Christmas. You're ruining my chances with Vernon! Your stupid boyfriends are popping up into our home! I can't believe you!"

"You think I'm doing this?" Lily yelled.

"Girls," Mr. Evans said, his voice tight.

"No, dad!" Petunia yelled. "Can't you see - she doesn't want me to be happy!"

"I had nothing to do with this!" Lily shouted. "I can't believe you're so self-centered to think I'd bring giants here and kill innocent people just so you wouldn't last with your fiance! And if you think he'd leave you because of what your sister did, then maybe you should rethink your relationship!"

"Oh, my god!" Petunia said, stamping her foot. "Don't change the subject, Lily. You hate me! You hate me!"

"I hate you?" Lily repeated, her voice shaking with anger. "How can you possibly think that? You've hated me since I left for Hogwarts!"

"You and that stupid Snape boy snuck into my room and looked around at my personal belongings!" Petunia shrieked. "You liked him more than me!"

"No, I didn't!" Lily exclaimed.

"Girls, please," Mrs. Evans pleaded.

She went ignored.

"Every summer, you would spend all your time with him!" Petunia said. "But he got tired of you, didn't he? You haven't talked to him - it's because he realizes how . . . how horrible and ugly and -"

"Petunia, stop it!" Mrs. Evans yelled. "Both of you, stop it. I swear to god, I'll kick you both out of this house if you don't stop fighting right now."

"Mum," Petunia whined.

"You're eighteen, Petunia, you can take care of yourself," Mrs. Evans said firmly.

Petunia fell silent, looking furious. Lily looked at her parents. "I've got to go," she said. "I've got to go help. The Ministry employees will be here. Petunia, they can erase Vernon's memory, if you like."

Petunia glared at her. "Lily, it's Christmas," Mr. Evans said.

"I'm sorry," Lily said. She turned and walked down the hall towards the front door. James went after her. Lily grabbed a coat by the door and handed James' back to him. She slammed the door behind them and burst into tears on the doorstep.

James stared at her for a moment, at a loss for what to do, then hugged her. Lily wrapped her arms around him, crying into his chest. He rubbed her back. "Don't worry," he said softly. "She's just jealous. She just wants to be a witch and have a boyfriend as cool as me."

Lily sobbed, her hands holding unto his coat. "Okay, that was stupid," James said, pulling her closer. "I - Lily, don't cry."

She sobbed harder, her body shaking. James rested his chin on the top of her head. "It's okay," he said.

The night went on. Ministry employees were up all night. The Aurors moved the giant bodies. Memory charms, repairing houses, dealing with the Muggle press.

Lily came home with James and Sirius around one in the morning. Mrs. Potter, having fallen asleep on the couch, woke up and made them hot chocolate. They sat by the fireplace, trying to warm up. Lily sat under a blanket with James, leaning her head on his shoulder. Mrs. Potter made a bed up for her on the couch, and she pretended not to notice when Lily went up to James's room with him.

"I'm sorry about earlier," Lily said, sitting down on his bed. "I just . . ."

"Don't worry about it," James said. "I can get a new shirt."

Lily gave him a small smile. "I've wanted to tell you about the two of us for so long," she said. "It just . . . never felt right. Not that it's like a secret or anything, I just . . . I needed to talk to about it."

"Do you want to right now?" James asked.

Lily half-smiled, shaking her head. She took off her shoes. "Right now, I want to go to bed."

"Well, I do have a bed," James said.

A/N: Aww, aren't they cute? Please review!

Next. . .James' friend respond to a girl in his room, New Year's, and back to school!