Two chapters in three days? Crazy, right? I have to give it all to my lovely beta, honorary-marauder-1. She's keeping me writing. You guys owe her a thank you. Unless you hate this fic, and just followed it out of spite. In which case, props to you, my infrequent updates probably made it difficult to remember which fic this was. So you had to open it! Ha!
Do you guys even read these authors' notes? If so, please review! If not, also please review, but I doubt this note will get you to.
Enjoy. Thanks for sticking with me. Hopefully, my updates will be more frequent now.
"How much longer until we get there?" Lily whined, putting her feet on the dashboard on the plane and shielding her eyes from the setting sun.
"Jeez, Evans, you're like a little kid. You weren't like this while we were driving. What gives?"
She squirmed uncomfortably in her seat. "The sun is going down soon, and I want to be home for dinner at 7, and then we do something else which I am not going to tell you about because it is a surprise. Also, we open presents on Christmas Eve." She shifted in her seat slightly, kicking her sneakers off on the dashboard. "Also, this plane smells like whatever the bloody hell Mad Alastor keeps in that flask of his."
James wrinkled his nose in distaste. "You know, I thought that too. What even is that?"
Lily wiggled her eyebrows mysteriously. "Nobody knows. Maybe he's drinking some abhorrent-smelling form of alcohol. Maybe he's drinking something that keeps him from falling apart. Maybe," she said, leaning closer to him, "he's drinking something that makes him look like Mad Alastor, but he's actually someone else pretending to be Mad Alastor."
"Why would someone pretend to be that crazy old coot? What could he possibly know that someone would want?"
"Who knows. Maybe Mad Alastor has some crazy backstory from World War II about how he got all his scars. Maybe he knows things. Sensitive information about Jolly Old England."
"Torture would explain how he has that weird chunk out of his nose."
"Yeah, it would." Lily sighed. "In actuality, he's just a paranoid old man that doesn't drink anything he hasn't prepared."
"Why not?'
"Who knows."
"Well, his ridiculous paranoia does back up the World War II secret agent theory."
She looked at him and smiled. "Yes, I suppose it would."
"So, what do you do on Christmas Day? Also, don't think I missed that poorly disguised hint, tell me what the surprise is!"
"We go to church out of force of habit, because my mum used to love going. And we don't do anything else, Christmas Day is the one day of the year my father truly hates."
"Really? I can't imagine your father hating any day."
"You remember my aunt who died, setting me off into a deep depression?"
"Yeah."
"That was my dad's sister. She was intelligent, and funny, and just the most wonderful human ever. Imagine my dad, but beautiful."
"Harsh."
"Yeah, well, she died on her way over to our place for Christmas dinner."
"Oh my God, Lily, I am so sorry-"
"It's fine. It was a long time ago. But anyways, that's why we don't do Christmas Day."
"That's understandable."
"Since you aren't doing anything tomorrow, would you want to truck along with Sirius and I? He wants to go home tomorrow. Remus is getting back from Australia, and I told him he could bunk at my place. Sirius wants to go get the house ready."
"Yeah, that would be great. My dad's going to have a hard time letting go of him, though, he's become quite attached."
They fell silent. James looked over at her and was struck again by how beautiful Lily really was. With his jacket on, her sunglasses glinting in the sunlight, her red hair given streaks of gold by the setting sun, and the half-smile that had curled her lips slightly upwards, James thought he had never seen a more stunning woman.
"So, how much longer until we get there?"
-x-x-x-
Once they had arrived in the city of Exeter, Lily turned to James.
"Right, mate, I'm going to have to ask you to leave."
"Oh, I see how it is. You're using me for my transportation.
She laughed. "No, of course not! It's just, I can't shop for your Christmas present if you're lurking in the shadows, using every opportunity to try to ferret out what your gift is."
"Who's to say I won't follow you around and figure it out anyways?"
She shoved him. "James Potter! Don't you dare!"
He wiggled his eyebrows. "Ah, the joys of Christmas…"
"Pinkie promise me you won't follow me."
He sighed. "I suppose. But if I see you in a store, I am absolutely not turning around just because I might see my Christmas present."
"I will avoid you like the plague."
"Don't you always?"
"Ha-bloody-ha-ha. Meet you here at six?"
"Yeah. It won't take long to get back, will it?"
"Cokeworth is really close. Shouldn't take more than ten minutes with the tailwind."
"See ya, Flyboy."
"Later, loser."
-x-x-x-
James was really having fun shopping for his housemates. He had already found a marshmallow cannon for Sirius, a pair of wheelchair flags for Mr. Evans, and a set of neon green hair curlers for Petunia that sang songs while they set, as well as a magazine entitled, "How To Get A Sense Of Humor" and a kit that went along with it.
His only problem was Lily.
She was wonderful. She deserved everything in life- her hopes, her dreams, the best of everything.
That included a boyfriend who was worthy of her.
A boyfriend who was everything he was not.
He sighed, then caught a glimpse of the store that held the answers to all of his problems. Well, not all, he thought, but this one, at least.
It's perfect.
-x-x-x-
"So, was your shopping excursion successful?" James inquired when he caught sight of Lily in the town center.
She smiled and sat down next to him on the bench. "Yes, I believe so. I have something for you."
"I thought you weren't going to divulge the nature of my Christmas gift until the appropriate gift-presenting time?"
"I am not. I got you this."
He grinned as he caught sight of a strawberry milkshake.
"You're a dream," he said, sipping his shake excitedly.
"I know," she said, tossing her head back and laughing.
He tore his gaze away. She deserves better. Stop. You can act like her boyfriend around her family, but you can't tempt yourself outside of that environment. It's not meant to be.
I have to stop chasing her.
"You know, people probably think we're crazy," Lily said, a hint of laughter still in her voice.
James looked over at her. "How so?"
"We are two teenagers sitting outside in the dead of winter- on Christmas Eve, no less- drinking milkshakes."
"So?"
"It's ice cream! And we should be drinking something aesthetically pleasing! Like coffee! Or tea! Or hot cocoa!"
He smiled at her. "Well, I've never been much of one for social conventions. Besides, they're probably enjoying us."
"How so?"
"They're getting a good laugh out of your milkshake mustache, for one."
Lily wiped it away and gave him an indignant punch to the shoulder.
"You jerk! How long was it there before you told me?"
"Long enough for me to get a picture."
"You- agh!" She lunged at James in an attempt to get the phone. He dangled it just out of reach, so she climbed on top of him to retrieve it. From behind them, an old man gave them a disapproving look. His wife, however, winked at the couple sandwiched together on the bench in front of the Exeter Cathedral, as if happy that there was some love in the world.
"You know, you'd probably have to be that cheerful if you were married to someone like that," Lily said.
"Um, yeah," James said, trying not to focus on the feel of her breath on his neck and her hands on his shoulders and her elusive strawberry scent. "Well, we should probably get going if we want to make Christmas dinner."
"Yeah, you're probably right."
He stood up and helped her to her feet. "What are you talking about? Of course I'm right."
-x-x-x-
James had a serious problem.
It was after Christmas dinner. Everything had gone smoothly. They had arrived on time, helped with preparation, and made fun of Vernon while he consumed a veritable bushel of potatoes and an entire flock of turkeys.
The real trouble came after dinner.
Everyone retired to their rooms to wrap presents.
This would have been okay, had James known how to wrap presents.
Now, James considered himself a Christmas connoisseur. The holiday guru. The undoubted, unquestionable, unopposed king of the season.
But the one thing he had never gotten a hang of was gift wrapping.
Generally, he would just stick the present in question- generally for his parents, or one of the lads- in a piece of newspaper, then cover it with tape and hope it stayed together.
But, as much as his mind tried to convince him that he was nothing to Lily, and that he was not right for her, she was special to him.
And her present needed to reflect how beautiful she was.
Fortunately, he had foreseen this problem while shopping. So he kicked Sirius out of the garret and set to work.
-x-x-x-
James walked downstairs to find the entire family- and Sirius- gathered in the entrance. All were bundled up, with Lily standing off to the side, eyes sparkling with laughter at something Mr. Evans had said. Sirius, too, was doubled over, his chuckles filling the hallway.
In stark contrast to this scene of holiday merriment, Petunia and Vernon were huddled to the side of the foyer, giving the trio at the other end dirty looks.
James slid down the banister, landing in a neat pile at the bottom. "Why do I feel like I'm the only one who doesn't know what we're doing?" he said from the floor.
Lily's face appeared over him, her eyes sparkling. She was wearing a grey peacoat and a scarlet beret, as well as his scarf. Winter clothes? What the heck?
"Probably because you are," she said cheerfully, extending her hand to help him up, then keeping her hand intertwined with his.
"Well, would you care to explain? Aren't we opening presents?" His head snapped toward hers, making eye contact. "Do we open the presents outside? Do you know how cool that would be-"
Mr. Evans laughed. "No, m'boy. Didn't Lily tell you? Every Christmas Eve we go caroling."
James looked at her and said nothing. A worry line creased her brow.
"Er, surprise? We don't have to go if you don't want to-"
James couldn't keep his act up any longer. He jumped up and cheered, then picked Lily up and swung her around. "Are you kidding? I love Christmas carols! I love singing! I love music! And most, most, most of all-"
He broke off and looked expectantly at Sirius, who nodded at him and joined in.
"We love Christmas!"
He started to chant. "IT'S CHRISTMAS BLOODY EVE!"
Sirius and Lily caught on to the chant, and they began to slowly and ritualistically circle Vernon and Petunia. Only by choking off laughter could Mr. Evans ward off the Christmas vultures.
"Come along, my dear children," Mr. Evans said, cheerily waving the unwaveringly chanting students through the door. "James, get a coat, it's started to snow."
"Really?" James said interestedly. "It looked clear when we were flying earlier."
Sirius handed him his aviator jacket from the hall closet. James put it on, then nabbed the beanie from on top of Sirius's head.
"Hey!" Sirius protested, clapping his hand to his chest.. "After all I've done for you?"
James smiled charmingly at Sirius. "Honestly, Sirius, you should have gone into drama, not architecture. Anyways," he said, adjusting the beanie snugly around his ears, "you have hair. Your ears will be warm. Mine will not."
James did not miss Sirius sticking his tongue out at him, followed quickly by a rather rude hand gesture.
He stepped towards the door and Lily. She turned at him, beaming. "I love this part of Christmas. I know no matter how much Vernon complains, or Petunia sulks, or whatever changes happen, this always stays the same." She handed him a booklet. He waved it away.
"I don't need that. I'm Christmas Jesus, remember?"
"I think Jesus is Christmas Jesus."
"Whatever. The point is, I know all those songs. I don't need a book to tell me what's in my heart all year long."
"I thought there was only room for Van Halen in your heart."
"Christmas Eruption. Duh."
"How could I be so silly. Anyways, are you sure you know, um," she flipped to the back of the chorus book, "the, er, third verse of "Bring A Torch, Jeanette Isabella"?
"What I don't know, I am confident enough to make up."
She smiled and shook her head at him. "You can share with me, Potter."
"I can invent."
"I will not have you making up lyrics that are probably wildly inappropriate around the entire town."
"Ah, but it will scandalize Petunia to no end."
She bit her lip. "Damn, you're right. Go for it."
Sirius came up behind the two and clapped their shoulders, startling them both enough to jump. "Ah, did I surprise you two? Scare the two lovebirds out of the nest?"
"It's just an act, you know that, Sirius," James said. Sirius lifted his eyebrows at James. We'll talk later, he mouthed from behind Lily. "So, what I came over here to talk about was how much Vernon hates caroling. You two know what that means!"
Lily linked arms with the two boys who had come to mean more to her than she could have imagined. She joined their cheer. "Do it as exuberantly as possible!"
Sirius began to skip down the street, singing "Deck the Halls" very loudly and off-key. Lily, whose arms were still linked with Sirius's, was dragged off laughing into the night.