Author's Note: Read [bracketed] words as struck through.
Monday 19 December
Dear Potter,
First of all, before you get all excited that I'm actually writing you over holidays, know I'm only posting this to let you know I made it home unscathed, despite your little display on the platform. Mum only badgered me about you for half the drive before Dad made her shut up. So really, this is a 'take that' kind of letter. Not a friendly one or anything.
I also wanted to let you know I spoke to Petunia and we both made it through that conversation relatively unscathed as well. I think. Sort of. I mean, she did tell me I couldn't be a bridesmaid ("I've already got the dresses! No time to order another one! And Lily missed the bridal shower already anyways!") BUT I did convince her to allow me to come to the wedding. I mean, she could hardly tell me not to come with Mum right there. So, victory?
Furthermore, as you predicted, she's also granted me a plus one. Grudgingly. But I do have one. So I guess the real reason I'm writing is to formally and OFFICIALLY invite you to attend the one and only Evans-Dursley wedding on Friday the 30th of December. I hear it's supposed to be quite the event. Or not. I actually don't know (scorned sister of the bride, remember?). I really couldn't care less at this point how many tiers are on their bloody cake or if Petunia went with roses or peonies or whatever rubbish flowers are available in wintertime. But I'd like it if you were there. With me. As a friend, you know.
[Love,]
[Your friend,]
[Sincerely,]
Lily
/
Tuesday 20 December
Dear Lily,
Don't worry, I would never presume you're writing to me just because you want to. Merlin forbid anyone realize we are actually – gasp – friends! What would people think, after six years of rivalry?
Glad to know your mum was charmed. That was my plan all along. She's on my side now, I can tell... How will you ever gripe about me to her again? Don't try to deny it, I know she's heard plenty about me from you. I could tell by the way she wouldn't stop trying to make eye contact with you after she met me. And the way you wouldn't let her. Dear me, Evans, what have you been saying about me? All good things, I hope.
I'm also home safely, though Sirius did nearly kill me when he charmed his trunk to fly up the stairs to his room just as I was coming down. Let's just say if it weren't for my impeccable Quidditch reflexes, I wouldn't be returning to Hogwarts in January. Although part of the banister on our main staircase might be missing now... and of course Mum blamed me over Sirius. Typical. Got any ideas to get back into a mother's good graces? Sirius can't stay her favorite son forever...
Wow, really selling the wedding invite, aren't you? Can't promise me a grand party or a five-tiered cake. What's the point in coming?
I'm just kidding, of course. Of course I will be there. It wouldn't matter if the wedding was held in a leaky barn and your sister served kippers straight from the tin – I'd be there. For you.
James
/
Wednesday 21 December
Dear Potter,
Tell Sirius to be more careful. I can't have [my date] [wedding partner] you indisposed for the wedding. Who would stop me from making a terribly embarrassing and negative toast?
Sorry. Petunia's just getting on my nerves. I've been running all over the past two days on wedding errands. She seems to be under the impression that if I have to be at the wedding, she might as well use me as her personal slave. I thought these were the kinds of things wedding planners are good for, but I guess not.
I hear mums can be won over by pretending to get along with one's siblings. At least, that's what Petunia's doing. And me, I suppose. Mum thinks I'm running all these errands for Petunia because I want to, bless her. And Petunia gives me all these sticky sweet smiles whenever she comes round the house. We're just putting on a show to make Mum happy. I guess we both agree on one thing: Mum doesn't deserve the extra drama of us arguing. Ever since Aunt Sara passed away a few years ago, she's always stressing how lucky Petunia and I are to have each other, and neither of us have the heart to tell her it's just not like that for us anymore. Anyways, Mum's already going mad enough as it is with all this last-minute wedding prep as well as Christmas right around the corner. I think she's excited to host a full house for Christmas this year with me, Petunia, and Vernon.
So I guess that's what you can try – be Sirius's personal slave for a bit and pretend to love it. Your mum will be very impressed.
Lily
PS – What are your Christmas plans?
/
Thursday 22 December
Dear Lily,
What makes you think I'd stop you from making that toast?
Sirius loved your suggestion. He told me to tell you 'you're an alright bird Evans and I forgive you for last Friday', whatever that means. I, however, will NOT be taking your suggestion. Sirius deserves a lot of things before he deserves a personal slave, including a boxing telescope and a kick in the pants. I'll have to settle for giving Mum the superior Christmas gift.
Christmas is pretty quiet around here, just Mum and Dad and Sirius and me. We'll open presents and have a nice dinner – our house-elf always does a turkey, and Dad makes a stellar Christmas pudding. Sirius and I are actually going to visit Remus that evening, he's at Hogwarts for Christmas. We'll meet up there with Peter, too. That way Remus doesn't have to spend all of Christmas alone. McGonagall arranged it all for us. Wish we were meeting up with you, too.
James
/
Friday 23 December
Dear [James] Potter,
HA! Like McGonagall would ever let me in Hogwarts one more day than she has to! Although it would be nice to see [you. I think I miss you] you all. I certainly miss being at Hogwarts! It's not the same being the only one around who can do magic, though it makes the Christmas wrapping go much faster.
Only the four of you could convince Professor McGonagall to make special arrangements for you. I'll never understand why she likes you lot so much when she despises me. I'm glad though. No one should spend Christmas alone. It's very sweet of you all to give up Christmas night to be with Remus. I hadn't realized he was back at Hogwarts. What happened? He's usually home for holidays, isn't he?
We have Christmas turkey too, but Dad won't stand for Christmas pudding, so we have Christmas cake instead. I'm not much looking forward to Christmas with Petunia and Vernon around, so it's a good thing there will be cake (as long as Vernon doesn't eat it all). Thankfully, I haven't seen much of them the last couple of days. I think they've run out of things to plan. Just one more week (and a day) until the wedding! And I'm only counting down because I'm excited to have this wedding over with [not because I'm excited to see you].
Lily
/
Saturday 24 December
Dear Lily,
Happy early Christmas!
And one week till the wedding! I'm excited for you to have the wedding over with. But I'm also excited to see you again. Who would have thought I'd miss you critiquing me every time I cast a charm? I bet your presents are wrapped MUCH neater than mine. Neither Sirius nor I have quite the same flair you do for Packing Charms.
That being said, I hope you don't think your gift is wrapped too poorly. If you DO think the wrapping job is rubbish, you can blame the owl. Or Marmalade, who could've gotten to it before I sent it to you. Blame anyone but me.
Remus's father works for the ministry and is on a work trip, and his mum went with him, so Remus went back to Hogwarts instead of being home alone for Christmas Day. It will be good to see him again! How much mischief do you think we can get into in a near empty castle?
Anyway, Lily, I hope your Christmas is wonderful. I hope Petunia isn't too much of a pain and that Vernon doesn't eat all the cake and everything is perfect. You deserve it.
I'll see you in a week.
James
/
Sunday 25 December
Dear James,
Happy Christmas! And thank you so much for the Christmas gift! You shouldn't have! I LOVE my box of matches. Thanks to you, I can now transform them into anything that I need, INCLUDING a snake. Time to slip one into Petunia's stocking haha... oh, and the earrings are nice, too. But really, they are beautiful. Thank you. Makes me feel silly that I thought getting you new Quidditch gloveswas a clever idea. If it's not, you can blame Sirius – he said you needed them.
And Christmas went quite well today, much better than expected. It was even kind of nice. Mum and Dad got me the quill I've been admiring from Scrivenshafts, and I was shocked that both Alice and Emmeline still sent gifts. I sent theirs last week, and Marlene's too, but wasn't sure I'd hear back, especially from Em. Maybe there's hope for us to make up when we get back to school after all.
Petunia and Vernon mostly ignored me. Which, to be clear, was a good thing. Maybe this wedding won't be too bad after all.
Speaking of the wedding, last night at dinner Mum asked about the letters we've been writing and one thing led to another and now I'm supposed to invite you to dinner. They – my parents, that is – are dying to actually meet you (like, for real, not all rushed on a train platform), and they seem to think it's important to do so before the wedding.
So, would you meet us for a family dinner this coming Tuesday night? I know that might not sound super appealing, going to dinner with my parents, Petunia, Vernon, and me, but it would mean a lot to my mum and dad if you could be there. And, well, I suppose it would mean a lot to me, too.
Please respond as quickly as possible to let me know if you can make it.
Hope to see you in TWO days.
Lily