This chapter is dedicated to AshleyM15, likepurpleteal, and Yani!
I recovered as quickly as I could and forced myself not to blush. I sat down next to Lily. She raised an eyebrow at me as I put some eggy bread on my plate.
"Can you pass the bacon?" I questioned, holding out my hand. She handed it to me and continued to stare. "It's rude to stare Lillian." I scolded and reached for the pitcher of pumpkin juice. When I had finished pouring myself a cup, I grasped my fork tightly and stabbed at my food.
"Could she get any more red?" Albus laughed as he elbowed his brother.
"Shut up Al." James snapped. Was I the only one who had felt the spark? From the way James was snapping, I didn't think so. Then again, maybe it was just my imagination. It had to be. James was my best friend. There is no way he would think of me that way. He had just said it this morning.
"I think that you should all be quiet and let the two of them eat in peace." said Harry as he sat down at the head of the table.
"Thanks." I mumbled and continued to stab at my food.
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Ginny, Harry, James, Lily, Albus, Scorpious, and I all sat in the Potter's living room in front of the Christmas tree. Harry sat in a comfy looking arm chair with Ginny sitting on his lap. I sat on the couch with Lily next to me and Scorpious next to her. James sat at me feet with his head on my knee and Albus sat right next to the tree, pulling out his presents for everyone. He tossed a present to me and I smiled.
I tore open the paper and squealed. Inside was a muggle invention called an iPod. It was from a new store in Diagon Alley that sold electronics from the muggle world charmed to run on magic. I had gotten one two years ago but it was pretty battered from me always dropping it.
"Oh Albus it's fabulous! Thank you!" I cheered and got up to hug him. I had learned a long time ago not to complain about the cost of gifts I was given in the Potter household. Harry insisted they had enough money from after the war to last him for many centuries. I sat back down on the couch and James instantly placed his head back on me knee.
After everyone had opened presents from Albus, Lily shot up and started handing her gifts out. I tore in to hers much the same way I had with Albus' gift. Inside the colorful paper was "A journey of a thousand faces, places, and time zones by Matilda Brown". I hugged Lily tightly. I had wanted this book for a while but just never got around to buying it.
Next came Scorpious' gifts. I was surprised to see that he got me something but I took it happily either way. I was a huge box of Sugar quills. I grinned widely. I said my thanks and thought how many of the thirty quill supply I would go through in the first week back to Hogwarts. James and I jumped up at the same time to hand out gifts and I threw him down in to my spot on he couch.
"Sit!" I commanded and he rolled his eyes.
"Can someone say whipped?" Lily giggled and I high fives her. James stuck his tongue out. "Very mature James." she continued to giggle. I gave Ginny her present (a certificate to a wizard spa. You would be surprised how much better magic spas are!) and Harry his (A broom maintenance kit. He liked to fly on his days off). Lily screamed when she opened the boots that I gave her. Albus flung himself at me in a huge hug when he saw his very own broom maintenance kit. Scorpious nodded his thanks to the box of Weasley Wizard Wheezes supplies. I heard him quietly tell Albus they could do a lot of pranking with that.
I turned to James expectantly with my hands on my hips. He pulled the wrapping paper off slowly. He knew it was torture to wait for his reaction. When the paper was finally off his mouth fell open in shock. A smug smiled came to my face. Inside the black box was a set of gold cuff links. The had rubies with the Gryffindor crest etched in.
"Well, do you like it?" I asked expectantly. His eyes flicked between me and the present. He stood up and grasped me in a bone-crushing hug that rivaled his mother's. I laughed and ruffled his hair. "Good. I'm glad. You have no idea how hard it was to keep my mouth shut! I've been saving up for those for two years!" I stated proudly.
"Mum! Dad! Look at these!" James exclaimed and ran over to his parents. Ginny's eyes widened and her hand flew to her mouth.
"They're gorgeous!" She smiled and examined them closely. I grinned again. I was feeling like the Cheshire cat. I sat down on the couch as James ran to the tree and handed out his gifts. I watched each person open their gifts until he finally looked at me.
"Mine isn't nearly as good as yours." he stated with a look I couldn't quite place. I knew I should have taken time to open the paper like he had but I was far too impatient! I ripped the paper to shreds and saw that it unveiled a black velvet box. The type that usually held a necklace.
I flipped it open excitedly. To my utter amazement it was a silver necklace with a charm that looked like a muffin. What looked like the chips in a chocolate chip muffin were my birthstones.
"I know it's really corny but I thought that if you had a necklace with a muffin, I would be there even when I'm not." he mumbled pathetically. I felt happy tears sting my eyes and blinked furiously, trying to get rid of them.
"Oh muffin!" I squeaked and jumped up off the couch, hugging him as tightly as he had hugged me. "I love it! It's wonderful! Thank you so much!" I sniffled.
"NATIE! Release! Release! He can't breathe!" Lily yelled. I immediately let go of him and saw that he was indeed gasping for breath. I felt heat come to my cheeks and laughed.
"Sorry." I said, looking down at my feet. Everyone in the room laughed.
"I'm glad you like it Nat. When I saw it I just thought it was perfect." James stated and I smiled.
"It IS perfect muffin. Thank you." I replied and got up on my tiptoes to kiss his cheek.
"Why don't you get me cute jewelry?" Ginny questioned as she smacked Harry's arm.
"See that solid gold ring on your finger? See the huge diamond? That's all the jewelry you need." Harry said easily, which earned him another smack. This time to the back of the head.
"Go get ready for the day kids. We have to go to the Burrow. Grandma wants us there by eleven. Hurry up!" Ginny shooed began to shoo us out of the room.
"We're going. Relax." Lily grumbled and ran out of the room. Just as Scorpious was going through the same doorway Lily came back, crashing in to him. Ginny squealed a slightly familiar squeal and I looked at the top of the doorframe. More freaking mistletoe!
"Did you put that in every doorway?" Albus groaned. I laughed merrily.
"Karma sucks, huh Lily?" I inquired, tilting my head to the side. Her face was red. She was angry.
"Well at least you don't have a crush on James!" Lily yelled back and then covered her mouth. My eyes widened along with hers.
"You...you have a crush on me?" Scorpious asked. Lily's eyes welled up with tears.
"I...I..." she never finished her sentence. She bolted away in the direction of her room.
"Lily! Wait!" Scorpious shouted and then turned to Albus. "I didn't mean to make her cry." he said, his voice riddled with guilt.
"Oh Scor, it's not your fault." Ginny's voice was sympathetic.
"I'll, um, be right back." I said and ran in the same direction as Lily.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXx
"Open the door Lily!" I called for the fifteenth time. I could hear her sobbing and desperately wanted to make it stop. After being so close with Lily for three months, the girl was even more like a sister to me than before. I gave up on civility and preformed the alohamora charm. "Lily, talk to me." I said sadly as I sat down next to her on her bed.
"He must think I'm," sob, "so stupid." sob, "I can't believe," sob, "I said that," sob, "I have a," sob, "crush on him," sob, "to his face!" She continued to cry in to her pillow. My heart went out to the girl.
"Lily. If I tell you something, will you promise not to laugh at me?" I asked, desperate to distract her. She quieted her cries and sniffled, nodding. I sighed and pulled her in to my side for a tight hug. "Well, you know how you said 'at least you don't have a crush on James'?" She looked up at me, her mouth in a little 'o'.
"You DO?" She nearly shouted. I shushed her but nodded. "Oh my god! When did this happen?" she lowered her voice down to a whisper.
"Since he kissed me." I replied honestly. She nodded her understanding. I stood up and dragged her to her feet with me. "Come on. It's nearly eleven. We have to get ready." I stated. She nodded again and I left to get ready myself.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but my oc's.
A/N: thank you to AshleyM15 who reviewed my last chapter! Anyone who reviews will get a chapter dedicated to them just like this one. A huge thanks to .Black (Yani) for being so super supportive of this! Make sure you check out her Sirius and OC fic!