Word of Lily and James spread like wildfire. Within weeks they were dubbed the 'Golden Gryffindor Couple' without having even been spotted together for more than a few minutes at meals or in the halls. It was three days before they left for Winter Holiday when James marched into the Great Hall waving around a piece of parchment.

"Evans!" he said. "Are you mental?"

"Hello, James," she said and reached for a pitcher. "Pumpkin juice?"

"My mum is falling apart because of you! Sirius and I got about five letters apiece along with one from my father."

"Crap," she muttered, dropping the piece of toast she took a bite of. "I told her I didn't want to come home for Christmas."

"Exactly, thanks a lot," James replied collapsing on the bench beside her. "You've got to come home."
"Home?" Lily looked down at her plate. "I wish-"

He turned around on the bench, moving closer. They both paid no attention to her roommates trying hard not stare at them. Meanwhile, the Marauders were rolling their eyes and snickering. "I know it's the same, but it would mean the world to my mum." He slipped his hand threw the veil of her hair and pushed it behind her shoulder as he leaned in.

"James," she said, cheeks blushing. "Not here." She grabbed his hand and interlaced

"Why?" he asked, it was then a bit of bread hit him in the head. "Hey!"

"No PDA," Marlene said with a laugh, taking a bit of her eggs.

"Longbottom, give her detention for throwing food," James said.

"Didn't see it, sorry James." Frank shrugged and wrapped an arm around Alice.

Lily laughed as pushed her plate away from her and took in James. His glasses were finally fixed, scratch free and frames unbent. His hair, though, was a typical mess and his robes looked purposefully rumpled. "I'll write your mum," she said and moved a bit closer to him.

"Really?" he questioned hand wandering up to her hair again, Lily grabbed it once more and brought it down to the table. "My parents don't care what we do as long as sleep in separate rooms."

"James!" she shouted as her Athena snickered from across the table. "I'll go home as long as you keep your hands to yourself in places like this."

"Common room's usually empty during my free period."
"I have History of Magic," she said and leaned forward to kiss his cheek. "I have to go to the Owlery before Charms."

When Lily emerged from the stairs with her satchel threw over her shoulder and a small tote dangling from her arms. "Merlin, I thought you were going to miss the train, we have to get to the carriages," James said.

"I'm so sorry, I was looking for-"

"The carriages are leaving," James told her.

"I can't find my coat or my scarf-"

"Is that what's this is about?" he asked. "I have an extra jacket, mum makes me bring it for Quidditch practices." He dug through the bag he was bringing before handing her the canvas jacket, then withdrew a scarf. "I wear it during games, it's my lucky scarf," he said and fixed it around her neck. "We have to make the train or we'll be stuck here and mum will have a panic attack." He took her extra bag from her, trying to carry all of them with an arm slipped around her shoulder.

"Thanks-"

"I like you in my clothes, come on," he said.

"My mum sent me the scarf last year when I lost my favorite one," Lily said.

"It's probably in the hospital wing. We don't have time now, but we can owl Madame Warren and ask her if it's there."

"Fine, I don't want your mum to worry," she reluctantly answered and pulled James closer as they hurried towards the portrait hole.

The train ride was long. Since it was a seasonal trip no prefects were needed to monitor, Lily spent the trip curled against James' side. Their compartment was one of the fullest with all of the Marauders, her roommates and Frank.

"I wish you were coming home with me," Marlene said to Lily with a pout. "My sister's engaged and my grandparents are going to reenact the Spanish Inquisition." She rolled her eyes. "At least you'll be with me at the ball."

"What ball?" Lily asked and turned to James. "You're mum did mention something in the letter…"

"The Potter's Christmas Eve Ball," Sirius elaborated. "I've gone every year since I came to Hogwarts, now you get to go too. Agatha will have fun wrangling you into a fancy ball gown."

"Ugh," Lily said. "Whatever happened to having a quiet Christmas?"

"You know the Potter household." James began to rub her shoulder. "And don't worry, you can borrow a pair of my dress robes. The robes will be a little big, but they will have to do." He smirked and Lily rolled her eyes.

"That'll make Agatha happy."

"I'll wear my Quidditch robes and you'll look amazing next to me."

"Alice can I come home with you?" Lily asked.

"Ask Frank," Alice replied.

"She's coming home with me. Spending the whole holiday, except for Christmas day." Frank smiled at Alice, resting a hand on her knee. "Sorry, Lily, I think mum would wonder why I was bringing two girls home."

"Well, I'm bring Lily, Sirius, Remus and Peter home with me," James said. "But my mum always says more the merrier."

"I didn't know…" Lily started, but stopped herself when she saw the look on Remus' face. He looked especially haggard, like he always did before the full moon. "Agatha is probably over the moon." She looked at Remus as he said the words and he nodded in response. James was a great friend, but she hoped that he didn't get himself hurt.

Lily wrangled her bag from James as they disembarked from the train. She hugged her friends goodbye before following James in the direction of his father. "As much as I like you, you have to go with mum. She needs to pick up dress robes for us." He nodded his head in the direction of he Marauders. "And you need a dress." James kissed the top of her head before pulling away.

Lily pulled him closer with his scarf, planting a kiss on his lips.

"I thought PDA with crowds wasn't your thing."

"You're a bad influence on me," she replied, a smirk on her lips. She looked over his shoulder. "But I think your dad is proud of you."

"Like father like son," Agatha said. "James, is there a reason Lily is dressed for a Quidditch game in the snow?"

"I lost my coat and didn't want to wear my Winter cloak," she explained.

"Well, you still look lovely, but we have an appointment at Twilfit and Tattings,"

"I usually go to Gladrags, they have the best-"

"Charles' family will throw a fit if you arrive in something like that, in fact his sister cancelled the the appointment at Madame Malkin's for this. Now, we really should be going."

James and Lily broke apart before Agatha enveloped him tightly, brushing the hair out of his eyes and attempting to flatten it. "Mum…" he complained.

"Sorry, tell the boys I will be back in three hours." She touched his cheek. "I've missed you and Sirius so much. I'll be home soon."

"We're not kids, mum. Have fun," James said, saving a special smirk for Lily. "As much as I love you in my clothes, you will look even better in...what do muggles call them? A ball gown? You'll look like...what do they call that muggle fairy tale? Cinderella?"

"Yes, James." Lily smiled at him before turning to go to Agatha. The pair walked towards the apparation point. "Why aren't we in your car?"

"Charles is actually driving, I hope it's alright,"

"Driving?"

"He got a permit for it to become a flying vehicle." Agatha rolled her eyes. "Men can be like children, honestly he's just like that new hire at the ministry in the muggle department. Sweet boy, he's married to Molly Prewitt and can't even tell you how many kids they have already." Agatha laughed. "I'm a bit jealous, I have to admit." Agatha latched on to Lily's arm.

"Well, you'll have a full house over the holiday."

"I know, but we better hurry to the store."

Twilfit and Tattings was an upscale shop in Diagon Alley. The window display was an elaborate set up of artificial snow and luxurious dress robes on eerily realistic mannequins. "I'm going to talk to the front desk. They're supposed to be delivering James and Sirius robes, but now Remus and Peter are going. They each have a set, they're parents delivered them, but since Sirius got disowned Charles has been under a lot of scrutiny…"

"I understand," Lily said. "I will browse by myself until you're down."

"Nonsense, I can assist your lovely companion while you speak with Edgar at the desk." She looked over Lily, trying to hold back a grimace when she spotted the mens jacket and maroon scarf. "My name is Eleanor, and follow me miss." With a sweeping gesture she set off towards a display of ladies dress robes. Her own were silver and flowing, sparkling because of the lights as she moved. "Now, what are you interested in?"

"Something simple, not too extravagant." Lily looked at the robes, pulling out a modest black dress. "Black isn't the right color for a Christmas dress, but perhaps something similar."

"I don't think that style suits the occasion at all." Eleanor tore the plain dress away from Lily and rested a feather light hand on her shoulder. "If you don't mind me asking what's your relation to Mrs. Potter?"

"We're not related…"

Eleanor looked at Lily's left hand, then at her coat and a smile pulled at the edge of of her lips. "So, you're her potential daughter-in-law?"

"Excuse me?"

"That aristocratic nose, high cheekbones, vibrant hair, stunning eyes...I can only imagine the value of the blood pumping through your veins. Now, please take off your jacket and scarf, so I can get a better sense of your shape." Lily shrugged them both off then, with a flick of Eleanor's wand they went to the coat rack. "I love your outfit, very...unique."

Lily bit her lip as she looked down at her favorite jeans and comfortable sweater, both had been purchased at a muggle store. "I am dating James Potter," she said.

"Really? What a catch, now that I know that I have the perfect dress for you." Eleanor plucked a dress off the rack. "It will match his robes." She handed it to her with a smile on her face. It was gorgeous she had to admit, a beaded red lace bodice that flowed into a pale gold skirt made of some sort of airy fabric that appeared to be tulle.

"I usually stay away from red…" It was a lie, as a member of Gryffindor she was forced to wear it, even though it looked terrible on her.

"Whomever told you it clashes with your hair, they lied." Eleanor flicked her wand and brought over a mirror. "It compliments your hair and brings out the warm undertones in your skin."

"It's a little over the top," Lily said.

"The dress robes the Potter boy is wearing will match."

"Isn't there something more understated?"

"Try it on, I promise," she urged.

With a sigh Lily nodded her head and followed Eleanor to the dressing room. Getting into the dress was a challenge with all the extra fabric and heavily beaded bodice. However, once she got it on she was surprised how light it was. She looked in the mirror and shook out her hair.

"Lily, Eleanor said that you were trying on a dress."
"Yeah, it's a little big…" Lily opened the door, picking up the gown. "I think-"

"It looks perfect, if you like it."

"Yes, thank you."

"No problem, we have a lot of extra time. We can head over to the Leaky Cauldron before we go home, I'm a bit hungry and it's the last meal for two weeks I can eat without having to watch James and Sirius shovel food into their mouths."

Lily laughed, knowing that with families like theirs James and Sirius had impeccable table manners. Etiquette had been ingrained in them since they were small children. After the dressing room door shut she sat down, bracing her hands on her knees. The words from Eleanor rang in her mind. How could she do this? Date James and pretend to be a pretty pureblood? Taking a deep breath she unzipped the back of her dress and let it fall to the ground. Once her jeans were back on she felt more herself.

Agatha curled her hands around the cup as she watched Lily pour cream into her tea. "Is there anything you want to talk about?"

"No," she answered.

"Why did you tell me you weren't coming for Christmas?"

"I got into a fight with James," she admitted. "We do that, a lot, actually." She stirred her tea and then blew on it. "Then the incident at Hogsmeade happened...You know about that, right?"

"Yes, the Ministry is trying to figure out how to prevent something like that from happening again."

"A Death Eater stunned James, seeing him like that terrified me...Then when I woke up in the Hospital Wing he was waiting at my bedside." Lily pushed her cup away and tucked back a lock of loose hair. "We're a lot alike, James and I. The both of us are stubborn, sure of ourselves, love the last word and don't like admit what's actually on our minds."

"Well, I for one am glad. Everything we said in those letters were true." Agatha smiled.

"James asked why I wasn't coming home for Christmas...It was the same day I sent you that letter telling you I had changed me mind...I called your house a home Agatha." Lily squeezed her eyes shut as she clenched her hands into fists.

"You should consider it your home."

"But it's not where you live, it's the people and I feel like I'm betraying my parents."

"Charles and I are not replacing your parents. Loving someone else doesn't diminish the love you have for them. Let me ask you this, you think of your roommates at Hogwarts like sisters, am I right?"

"Yeah," she said.

"Even though you're fighting with Petunia, loving...Is it Alice and Marlene?"

Lily nodded.

"Loving them like a sister doesn't discount Petunia. Just like having thinking of Charles and I's house as a home, doesn't make you love your parents any less."

"Thank you," Lily said, wiping away tears with the back of her hand. She knew at the moment in time she may have lost her parents, but she gained a new family that was willing to let her in with open arms.