Twas the week before Christmas when in Lily's room, brother and sister were making a bet.
Lily had set up a game for James to play called Shell Game.
"So," explained Lily to James, "You are going to play a game called Shell Game. Look around my room and you will see the game set up."
James looked around and saw that four brown shells had been set out on a table and that four red chips were set off to the side on the table. Another table with four small items accompanied by touchscreens that said Shell Game was also present.
"So, " said Lily matter of factly, "James, you are going to play a game called Shell Game. The object of the game is to pick which shell has a ball under it. You can win up to four chips and each time you win a chip, you place that chip by shell. At the end of the game, if you've put a chip by the shell with the ball under it you win. If not, you lose. I'd like to offer you a bet on the outcome. If you win, I'll get you an extra Christmas present, but if you lose, you own me an extra Christmas present."
"I accept, " said James calmly. Lily offered James her right hand and James shook it with her left hand.
"So, " the way you win chips is this: I'm going to show you four small items one at a time each with a fake price on them. Your job is to guess whether the actual retail price is higher or lower. But here's your challenge: The prices are in muggle dollars and not wizarding galleon, " revealed.
"Ah, a challenge," smiled James.
"So, " explained Lily, "The first you will be pricing is a coffee brewer. The coffee maker can make to five cups of coffee with four different brew settings.
Lily walked up to the touchscreen just below the coffee brewer, which was positioned in the upper left quadrant on the small prize table and pressed a finger to it. A false price of $100 appeared.
"So?" Lily asked James, "Is the actual retail price of the coffee brewer more or less than $100?"
"More," guessed James, "Coffee Brewers are expensive. "
Lily pressed her finger to the touchscreen now showing the fake price of $100 to reveal a screen that said higher $119.
"Correct, James, " smiled Lily, "Do you want the first, second, third or fourth shell.
"Fourth, " said James cheerfully.
Lily walked over to the table with the chips and shells and placed one of the red chips by the fourth brown shell.
"One down, three to go," said James confidently.
"So, " continued Lily, pointing to the lower left quadrant of the small prize table, "We have a multipocketed gardening tote with three stainless steel tools included. "
Lily touched the touchscreen below the gardening tote and a false price of $35 was revealed.
"HIGHER!" yelled James confidently, "With those tools included, it's gotta be higher!"
Lily touched the screen displaying the false price to reveal a display that read higher $55.
"YES!" said James, "I've earned another chip!"
"Indeed, you have, " said Lily happily, "From the left, do you want the first, second, or third shell."
"Third, " said James instantly.
Lily placed a red chip by the third brown shell.
"Halfway home," said James brightly.
Ponting at the upper right quadrant of the prize table. Lily stated, "Our next item is a portable speaker that is both Bluetooth and FM compatible.
Harry nudged the touchscreen below the portable speaker and a wrong price of $55 was shown.
"Lower, " said James crisply, "Sometimes you gotta with your gut."
Lily gave the touchscreen with the wrong price a nudge and the answer of lower $36 was shown.
"First, second, or fourth?" Lily inquired of James, glowing at him.
"First, " chose James and Lily placed a red chip by first brown shell from the left.
"Nearly there, " said James eagerly.
"The last small prize in the lower right quadrant is a one-step hair dryer with an oval brush design to smooth your hair and round edges to create volume, " said Lily crisply.
Lily put a finger to the final touchscreen and a made up price of $49 was displayed.
"Lower, " guessed James.
But when Lily revealed the actual retail price, it turned out to a higher $60.
"Well," said Lily in a businesslike voice, "We've got some drama. James, as long as the ball isn't under the second shell you win. But we'll go right to left."
Lily quickly lifted shells four and three to reveal no ball.
"So, James, " offered Lily, "I can reveal either shell one or shell two."
"Shell one," said James firmly, "If I've won, I want to know by seeing the ball."
Lily nodded and slowly lifted shell one. It had a white ball underneath it.
"YES!" yelled James.
"James," asked Lily, "Would you rather I just get you an extra Christmas present in advance or on Christmas day with the rest?"
"My preference, " admitted James, "Would be receive my extra present last thing on Christmas, before bed."
"Then that's what'll happen, " promised Lily.
Late on Christmas night, James Sirius Potter was sitting in his bedroom.
He'd be going to bed shortly, but he was expecting a visit from Lily. After all, Lily had promised to pay off their bet and give James an extra Christmas present just before bed on Christmas night.
Sure enough, James heard a knock on his door and went to let Lily in.
Lily was carrying a wrapped Christmas present wrapped in scarlet wrapping paper with golden lions and a golden bow.
"Congratulations James and Merry Christmas," said Lily simply as she handed James the extra Christmas present, she owned him.
Ripping off the wrapping paper like an eager child, James felt his heart skip a beat when he realized what lay underneath the wrapping paper.
"Oh, wow!" said James breathlessly as he took in what Lily had gotten him.
It was a perfect model of the Hogwarts Express in all its scarlet and golden trimmed glory, even having the correct number 5972.
"I LOVE model trains, " said James excitedly, "Up until now, my favorite model train in my model train collection has always been the choo choo with square wheels on its caboose that you got me for Christmas when I was ten and you were six. This Hogwarts Express has given it its first ever competition to my favorite of my model trains."
"I'm glad you like it James," said Lily in one of the most satisfied and content voices anyone had ever heard use.
"May I ask where you got it?" inquired James curiously.
"I ordered it from a shop called Susan's Sorcery Souvenirs." explained Lily, puffing out her chest, "It's a shop that sells toys and trinkets related to the Wizarding World. It's owned by Hogwarts graduate Susan Bones. Hogwarts Express models are rare, but I managed to order this one for you."
"You clearly put some thought into this, Lily," said James appreciatively, "You gave real thought to what I might like and how receiving such a gift would brighten up my Christmas. "
"Seeing the way your face just suddenly and totally glowed when you opened that present gave my heart so much warmth and joy," said Lily sincerely.
James felt his eyes well up a bit. It had clearly given Lily as much joy to give him this gift as it had given him to receive it. That was Lily for you.
"I wanted getting you the extra Christmas present to be genuine, " explained Lily, "I wanted to make something you cherish receiving and not just some random item."
"When did you settle on the Hogwarts Express model as my second Christmas present? James asked Lily curiously.
"About an hour after you won our bet, " answered Lily simply, "I just thought, what would James really like to get for Christmas and the answer became obvious."
"You know me well, Lily, " piped up James, "We really are as much friends as siblings."
Lily beamed.
"Lily?" asked James as he set the Hogwarts Express model down on his desk right beside the model train with square wheels on its caboose, "Would you be willing to do me one more favor?"
"Name it, James Sirius Potter!" replied Lily with a smile.
"I'm getting ready to go to bed," said James simply, "Would you sing me to sleep by singing me a quiet Christmas song?"
"But, of course," answered Lily cheerfully.
James got into bed and tucked himself under his sheets.
As he did, Lily sang:
Have yourself a merry little Christmas.
Let your heart be light.
From now on, our troubles will be out of sight.
Have yourself a merry little Christmas.
Make the Yule-tide gay,
From now on, our troubles will be miles away.
Here we are as in olden days,
Happy golden days of yore.
Faithful friends who are dear to us.
Gather near to us once more.
Through the years we all will be together.
If the Fates allow.
Hang a shining star upon the highest bough.
And have yourself a merry little Christmas now.
As Lily's song drew to a close, she saw James doze off, having clearly fallen asleep just as her song had ended.
It was pure, peaceful, and beautiful moment.
What better and more fitting end could Christmas get than sister singing brother to sleep with such a classic and beautiful song.
As this will be the last update to James, Lily, and Brother0Sister Fluff before Christmas, I'd like to take this moment to wish you all a very Merry Christmas.
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY! Love you all -Michael :)