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Thanks to willtheranger, bookwurm1612, and Canterwoodgames for the reviews. You have no idea how much they make me smile... and make my head grow a fraction too. Thanks Canterwoodgames for calling me amazing! YAY! So this chapter is just Christmas PRESENTS!

Chapter 44:

Snape sat awkwardly in the Evans family living room. There was a Christmas tree in the corner with presents underneath. Lily and Petunia sat by the tree and pulled the presents out, passing them to the people they were for. When everyone had a small pile in front of them they began opening the presents. Snape was surprised to find his pile was not much smaller than the others'. First he opened a present from Mr and Mrs Evans. They clearly weren't sure what to get the poor boy and so had bought him a potions book; "we didn't know what to get but we remembered Lils telling us that potions was your best subject."

Lily had given him a copy of Olde and Fogotten Bewitchments and Charmes. He had also received books from his other friends although he hid them from Lily – not wanting her to see the titles; Avery had gotten him The Muggle Conspiracy, Macnair had given him When Muggles Attack by Barrett Fay, Burke had gotten him a copy of Mudbloods and How to Spot Them, Mulciber had given him Magick Moste Evile by Godelot. He had even received a gift from Malfoy; Secrets of the Darkest Art. He couldn't wait to return to Hogwarts so that he could try out some of the spells in that book. Snape's last gift was from his parents. There was a note;

Dear Severus,

I wish you were with us today. Both your father and I miss you deeply. I hope you'll come home before you return to school. Merry Christmas. I love you.

Mum. Xxx

Severus opened the gift. It was an assortment of his favourite sweets. Severus smiled. There was everything from cauldron cakes to fizzing whizbees.

The Potter household was slightly manic. Christmas morning was a very special occasion in the Potter family's home. It was the one morning where the house-elves joined them for the festivities. Nancy and her siblings sat together on one of the large white sofas whilst Charlus and Dorea sat opposite them on another identical sofa. Missy and Milly and their baby Mippy sat happily with their legs dangling off their seat. Sirius sat lazily on the floor. James stood next to the tree; "are you ready?"

"Of course James! We've been waiting all morning for you to wake up. Now hurry up." Mr Potter laughed.

James picked up the first present from under the tree; "this is for Nancy from Charlus and Dorea."

Nancy grabbed the present and began opening it. It was a beautiful set of purple dress robes. "Oh thank you so much, Mr Potter, Mrs Potter, I really love them."

"Good. I'm glad. Perhaps you could wear them for lunch," Dorea smiled.

James picked up a second present; "Sirius from… well it's from me."

Sirius began to rip the wrappings off the present; The Hairy Heart: A Guide to Wizards Who Won't Commit. "Are you trying to imply something Potter?"

"No, not at all…" James laughed. The room at laugh laughed with the two boys. "Right – this is for baby Mippy from me again."

"Oh Master James – you is being too good sir," Milly smiled, accepting the gift for his son. It was a lovely little rattle for him to play with. The baby elf quickly grabbed it and began making noise with it. His eyes lit up at the sound.

"Ok so now we have one for Cynthia from Charlus and Dorea." Cynthia opened her gift and found a toy broomstick.

Charlus smiled, "we thought you better learn soon if you're going to become a star Quidditch player." Cynthia rushed over to the two adults and hugged them tightly.

"Thank you," Cynthia said quietly.

James continued, "next is a beautiful gift from Sirius to Mr and Mrs Potter." Sirius' gift was quite heavy. Charlus and Dorea smiled as they unwrapped it cautiously. It was a giant grandfather clock except it didn't appear to tell the time.

"It tells you where your family are; except unlike most of these types of clocks, it doesn't base everything on legalities and blood but rather emotions. So anyone who you feel belongs to your family will be on the clock. See there's me, and Nancy, Dorian, Doreen and Thia, even Milly, Missy and Mippy are on it because they aren't just servants…"

"They're family," Dorea nodded, "Thank you very much Sirius. This is a very thoughtful gift."

"Oh love look, we're all at home…" Charlus smiled, "but there are so many options; work, school, travelling, lost, hospital…"

"Oh I hope we don't have anyone in hospital any time soon," her eyes lingered on James and Sirius.

"Prison, mortal peril..."

"Oh Merlin," Dorea frowned.

"Quidditch, Garden… Oh it's all very exciting. Hold this dear; I'm going to go stand in the garden so it will change…"

"But love you won't see it change because you'll be in the garden," Dorea laughed.

"Oh yes," Charlus' face fell, "Oh well, you'll still see it."

When everyone had finished playing with the clock they continued opening their presents. Mr and Mrs Potter had given both James and Sirius a broomstick servicing kit each for their new brooms. Sirius had received a large box of Acid Pops from Remus, a broom compass from Peter, Marlene had given him a grow your own warts kit, Frank had given him a copy of The Beaters' Bible, Madcap Magic for Wacky Warlocks from Alice, a box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans from Mary and some liquorice wands from Kate. He had also received some jelly slugs from his brother Regulus, a box of cockroach clusters from his cousin Andromeda and a set of expensive quills with the Black family crest on them from his parents.

James had given his mother some beautiful perfume. Mr Potter had also given her a new necklace; goblin made with beautiful emeralds. James had received several gifts; Sirius had given him a copy of Twelve Fail-Safe Ways to Charm Witches, Saucy Tricks for Tricky Sorts from Remus, a new set of Quidditch gloves from Peter, Missy and Milly had gotten him a ton of Dr Filibuster's Fabulous Wet-Start, No-Hear Fireworks, a box of pumpkin pastries from Alice, Beating the Bludgers – A Study of Defensive Strategies in Quidditch from Frank, Drooble's Best Blowing Gum from Kate and some Chocolate Frogs from Mary. No present from Evans, James thought to himself.

Most of Lily's presents had been chocolate or books. Her friends knew her so well. She was surprised to find that all four of the marauders had given her a gift. She had only gotten one for Remus. She liked him more than the others. In fact, she didn't really understand why he was friends with them. Peter and Sirius had both gotten her sweets whilst Remus had given her a book on charms. It was only James' present that she didn't like. He'd given her a potion from Madam Primpernelle's Beautifying Potions. It was a shop that sold witch beauty products. This particular potion was to get rid of warts. Arrogant pig! I don't have warts! He probably thinks it's funny… she thought to herself.

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The Potter's Christmas Dinner...