Disclaimer: Anything that rings a bell belongs to J.K Rowling
Chapter 16: Unexpected surprise
James paced in front of the towering Christmas Tree; he glanced down at the spattering of gifts huddled around the trunk with slight anticipation. Being an only child, he had become accustomed to two things. Firstly waking up and opening his gifts at whatever time he pleased, as he didn't have anybody to wait on. And secondly, receiving an unnatural amount of gifts from both his parents and their friends.
The latter had not changed in the slightest, if anything there was twice as many gifts under the tree considering the addition of a new family member.
However, the new family member had yet to make her arrival downstairs, leaving James in slight agitation.
Tired of waiting, he plucked up the smallest of the gifts and made his way up the stairs, gazing longingly at the largest gift under the tree, hoping it was the Zephyr 505, the latest and fastest broomstick on the market. His mother had always been good with wrapping presents in ways that prevented him from even guessing what it was. He glanced down at the empty side table that usually housed their mugs of coffee… it just wasn't Christmas without them…
James jumped off the hovering broom and helped Jude off from her seat behind him. She may not have been as excited as he was at their night-time fly, but there was a comforting spark of life in her dark eyes which extinguished all the anxiety of the nightmare from earlier on.
She planted her tiny feet upon the ground, unusually steady considering it had been her absolute first flight. Stranger was the fact that her hands had not clutched him in fear as he flew her about the manor, he had glanced back once just to see her staring at the moon in mild amazement.
"Shhh." He gestured to her as they snuck back into the house, and then smiled at the irony of his request. Nothing cured him of displeasure quite like flying did.
"James!" He stilled on the front steps just as his father exited, haphazardly yet fully dressed at three in the morning, and his mother bustled out from behind him in white shock.
"Oh, thank Merlin!" She pushed passed her husband and hugged him, and then Jude, in a cripplingly tight embrace.
James watched anxiously as his mother plastered the girl to her body, fidgeting with his broom so as to prevent pulling his mother off her as the girl stilled in fright at being touched.
Couldn't she see Jude wasn't comfortable?
"We had such a fright, finding both of you out of your beds!"
"You took her flying." His father frowned, "At three in the morning?" He glanced about, as if expecting somebody to jump out of the nearby flutterby bush.
"She had a nightmare… I thought it might help." James muttered, as his mother finally let go of the girl, who almost magnetically stepped behind James. The movement wasn't missed by his father and his expression softened instantly.
"Come on inside, you're freezing."
James was, but he didn't care. The fly was mesmerising, the night quiet and the sea nearby still and the wind whilst biting was refreshing. He gestured for Jude to go in first and didn't miss the surprised glance his parents exchanged.
Not that James wasn't surprised by his own behaviour, but there was something so helpless about her after she awoke from her nightmare, something of a reminder that she was just this sixteen-year-old girl, with no memories of her past, a future of silence, and presently friendless…
"You must not do that again." His father's tone was definitively a request, keeping James' temper in check, knowing he became sharp tongued when he felt he was being talked down to. "It's dangerous."
"I made sure to keep out of sight of muggle star gazers." James muttered to the floor as he watched Jude wander about the kitchen.
It's as if her ability to communicate opened up a whole different world to her, and suddenly things that were just in her periphery now intrigued her. He watched as she picked up the photo frame of his parents wedding day and stared down at it.
"It's not the muggles I am afraid of. Remember James." Charlus glanced at Jude and James realized what he had meant.
Her safety.
He understood where his father was coming from, it took a lot of convincing to get her out of Ministry protection and into his care. After all they still didn't know how she came about to be alone and without her memories all those years ago, and with no trace of who had sent the distress call that led them to her…
But it's not like anybody even knew who she was.
She had been given a new identity and was placed so far away from France, the chances of someone recognising her were slim.
And nobody knew that she was living with them… and who's to say that anybody is even after her? She might have just got lost, bumped her head, and suffered memory loss or something. They didn't know for sure she had been held captive or been neglected, those were just theories.
Nobody had attacked her in the three years of her being under his father's care. Well except that one instance in the dorm during the pyjama party… which his parents didn't even know about.
A cold shiver ran down James' spine, could that have been more than a hurtful prank? Could that have been whoever was responsible for her memory loss? It was awfully convenient that she was severely allergic to whatever was thrown at her…
A gasp broke James out of his reverie and he looked up to find his parents exchange a look of astonishment.
Jude was holding out their wedding picture, and atop it was a piece of that morning's Daily Prophet with her now familiar writing at the back of it.
Anniversary?
"Oh." James laughed and walked forward, "I forgot to say, she started writing to me."
He was shocked at the hint of pride in his voice as his mother glanced down in wonder at the singular question. Her brown eyes stared at Jude in wonder until she slowly reached for the quill, but Jude held it to her chest protectively and ducked behind him.
"You can't write back; you have to talk back." At his words he recalled a memory from many years ago, when he had visited the Shafiq's and he, Aiza and Aiza's cousin, Lucky, were playing in the backyard. Aiza and he were three years old, and Lucky being a year younger could barely speak but whatever gibberish spouted from her lips Aiza knew what it meant…
Aiza, the closest thing to a sibling Lucky had, had known her best at the time…
Did this mean that he knew Jude best?
James felt something pointy at his back and stilled, relaxing when he recognized it as a quill, Jude was using him as a table. He took in his parents' stupefaction as Jude scribbled away, surely feeling that same fear that he had felt earlier. That if they speak or move, somehow this sudden progress would disappear.
When will you go to Paris?
Charlus spotted the words first, "We are not going. We decided to go next year, perhaps."
James felt the quill press against his back like a warm tickle.
No. You should go.
"Well, we definitely can't now!" His mother seemed to break free of her bafflement and rushed forward, tears of joy brimming in her eyes, "We'll stay with you. We'll call the Healers… they must know of this improvement. This is such beautiful news!"
Jude held out the parchment to the adults in unfounded determination.
I want to stay with James.
His mother's face fell at the words, hurt by Jude's request and James took his mother's small, lined hands in his "I think Jude feels guilty you're not going on your trip. It's meant to be a very well deserved celebration of your marriage. You should go." He turned to his father, holding the bright blue gaze with fortitude, "I will take care of her."
Charlus returned his son's steady stare, feeling the weight of his words, testing it for its honesty.
He nodded, glancing at Jude momentarily and then turning to his wife, "We better get to bed. We have a lot of packing to do come the morning."
That had been a few days ago, and James had to admit that it wasn't as bad as he thought it would be. He and Jude had fell into easy routines of morning flies and dining together, and she was actually good company as she didn't hover about, allowing James space to do what he wanted.
Surprisingly what James wanted was to teach her how to play exploding snap, and the ins and outs of quidditch.
James never had somebody look up to him for guidance the way her dark orbs did….
He halted at the now familiar white door and knocked upon it, keeping his ears peeled not for a welcoming voice but rather the sound of soft footsteps. He fiddled with the cufflinks of his white shirt just as the door softly pulled open.
"Happy Chr…" The word fell away into shocked silence as his hands fell away from his cuffs in amazement… "Jude?"
The girl offered a small smile as she gestured that he come into the room. James did so, gobsmacked as he took in the long, dark brown strands of hair that flowed down her back.
He had seen her just last night and her hair had been its usual short, scruffy self. The brunette locks contrasted with the white of her dress, almost as much as the fitted dress contrasted with her usual attire of baggy track pants.
"How?" He laughed out, surprised at her appearance and the girl hastened to her vanity, her bare feet quiet on the plush red carpet. He spotted shiny, scarlet pumps next to her bed as he heard the familiar scratching of parchment.
That jolted him from his shock, and he hurried forward, pulling the parchment away from her grip and placing the small gift in her hand instead. She stared at the red wrapping blankly, and then looked up at James in confusion.
"Here." He pulled at the gold bow, and it fell away, she looked up at him again and he laughed, "Go on! Tear it up!"
He ripped at the paper and her eyes popped wide in shock, but she tentatively followed his lead until she was holding two glass panes. Within the panes was a sheet of parchment.
James took it from her and turned it upside down, allowing the parchment to float out, finding not one parchment, but two. He gave her the first one, "Go on. Tell me where you got all this from?"
He gestured to the bags and boxes littering the room as her eyebrows scrunched together but nevertheless, she penned her words.
He waited as he glanced about the room, catching the new jewellery on the vanity, price tags still attached, along with what looked like a case for contact lenses.
She held out the sheet for him to read but he jokingly shoved her hand away and instead glanced down at the parchment in his hand and began reading.
"Dorea took me shopping with her last week. The clothes arrived yesterday." She tilted her head in perplexity as he read, glancing at the parchment in her hand with her written words, and then to the one which he read from.
James laughed, "Wicked little charm, isn't it? Whatever you write over there, reflects on this little parchment that I have! And after a few moments… look!" He pointed at the now clear parchment, "All clear! Endless space for endless writing! Is this a wig?" James pondered, tugging lightly at a brown lock.
She scribbled on the sheet; she halted as she felt the other neat feature of the gift. Even though it looked like a normal, thin piece of parchment, it had a harder consistency allowing for easy writing wherever she was, no need for tables, or backs pretending to be tables. She gave the smallest of smiles at the convenient trick and continued.
I woke up this morning and found it like this. I was going to call you but then all these clothes arrived. Do you have scissors?
"Do you want to cut it?" James frowned, looking at the long hair. She still looked pale and undernourished, but at least now she looked a bit more feminine. Maybe subconsciously she wanted it longer. Accidental magic never happens without a reason, even if that reason is not known to the user.
Should I?
Before James could answer a voice floated up from downstairs and he just remembered what today was, other than Christmas Day.
"You have to stay up here, okay? Don't come downstairs until I come and get you. Alright?"
She nodded, glancing at a dresser where a black masquerade mask sat with a hint of hope in her eyes, "I promise, I'll come up to get you once it gets busy. But you have to wait. Okay?"
He backed out of the room just as the footsteps grew louder, "James? I've been shouting for you forever, who were you talking to?" Aiza's face broke out into a fierce smile in sudden realisation, and she bounded up the stairs but James met her at the top, "Is it Remus? Is he here already?"
James grabbed her by the hand and pulled her downstairs, "Nope. Actually, we have to talk. You might want to sit."
"No!" Aiza screeched before James got another word in, "No! No! No! He is not doing this to me!" James tried to look sincerely apologetic at the fact that Remus was not going to show up for the party.
Since both Halloween and Sirius' birthday parties ended early due to Slytherin sabotage, James decided to play host to a fancy dress Christmas Party in Sirius' honour.
As Aiza began her tirade James glanced about the living room. Jude had done a decent job on décor. James had to instruct her on most things, but she was a quick study, especially when it came to enchanting the candles to change colours and float about, and the four skeletons that were currently wandering around the foyer and dining room.
He straightened a pumpkin at the foot of the Christmas tree. It was one of many littered about, not forgetting the enchanted bats hovering at the ceiling, and the dimming charm that was placed on the ground floor, all thanks to Jude's permission to use magic outside school.
"-see the amount of care I took in putting this outfit together!"
James glanced back at the tall girl. He was friends with her long enough to know that she was on a rant that was impossible to stop and rather just let her burn herself out, "A pity, because it seems you've left the rest at home."
She scowled but he couldn't help the comment. Aiza was currently dressed up as a Healer. But not like any Healer he had ever seen. The scarlet robes barely covered the short black skirt she was wearing, and he was sure those black heels wouldn't allow for running around St. Mungo' recitator, the thin metallic rod-like magical contraption which Healers used to check a patients vital signs, sat snuggly in the much too tight and revealing white shirt's top pocket.
"Well, you should have written to tell me that Remus wouldn't be here, or more like HE should have written me himself! I wouldn't have bothered!" James shook his head as he rearranged the floating candles at the fireplace. He knew better than to inform Aiza of such a thing, if he did, she wouldn't have come, and if Aiza didn't come then Evans definitely wouldn't come.
"Oh, and if your plan is to have me here in the hopes that Lils is coming, you're sorely mistaken." She pouted and picked up a gift under the tree with her name on it, his mother always got her something for Christmas. She began unwrapping it as James nervously pushed the gifts with Jude's name behind the sofa.
"What do you mean?"
"She can't make it. Her sister's inviting her boyfriend for dinner, her parents won't let her skip it. Gosh your mother knows me so well." She hugged the grey silk dress against her frame just as he heard someone enter.
"Sorry for barging in… the front door was unlocked." James swallowed as he took in the site that greeted him…
Lily Evans stood in front of him in what appeared to be the sexiest outfit he could ever imagine on a human being… it was a short, white button up dress, with a scarlet bra peeking through, with matching fishnet stockings. Atop her head of flame red was a little white hat and about her pale neck was a silver contraption that James had never seen before.
"I thought you couldn't make it?" Aiza walked forward with a raised brow just as James ducked under the tree and pulled out a gift.
Lily waved a hand in dismissal, "Plans changed. Is that for me?" James' heart stammered as her emerald orbs clamped on him and all he could do was nod and hand the small box to her.
She clicked it open easily, the sparkly object catching on a nearby candle. James scratched his neck, unsure whether she would like it. He had just purchased the most expensive thing on the brochure and judging by Aiza's raised brows the jewel was quite big.
"I thought I'd just get a little something for all the girls in our year." James fibbed easily, ignoring Aiza's glare.
"It's lovely!" Lily smiled in excitement as she pulled out the thick silver chain with the white heart shaped stone hanging from it. Aiza's frown morphed into a look of disbelief at her words. The frown turned to a look of extreme surprise as Lily leaned forward and pecked him on the cheek.
His heart quickened at the action and Lily laughed, "Be careful Mr. Potter, I don't know CPR, I'm just dressed as a nurse. Where's your costume by the way?" She tugged at his bow tie playfully.
James finally managed to snap out of it and rushed to the coat rack and swung on his tuxedo jacket with a smirk. "The names Bond, James Bond." Lily laughed as he posed as the spy as Aiza shrugged.
"Who?" She grumbled.
"Muggle character from a famous muggle film series." They turned to the Scottish voice as Mary MacDonald, Marlene, and Wormtail walked in. "I'm surprised you even know about it?"
"Remus' mum took us to see it when we visited them in our third year." Peter answered quickly and Aiza's look of annoyed confusion turned to annoyed anger at the mention of Remus, but thankfully Marlene distracted her by rushing forward.
"Presents!" Screamed Marlene, peering at Aiza's half unwrapped package in her hand, the grey dress peeking out amidst the red wrapping.
"Yeah, James bought usallsomething." Aiza added with a vindictive smile… Godric she was horrid when she was in this sort of mood.
"Really?" MacDonald added in disbelief as James walked back to the tree, glancing back at Lily as she snuck the chain onto her neck… he was hoping to help with that part…
He tossed a pair of quidditch gloves that one of his mum's friends had got him to Marlene, "I didn't have time to wrap it, sorry. Here you go." And he handed a random gift to Mary.
"It's addressed to your father?" She asked in scepticism.
"I must have labelled it wrong. Don't open it now, don't want to make everyone else jealous." He added with a forced chuckle.
She pocketed the gift into her satchel, shoving her wings out of the way, she seemed to be dressed as a fairy.
James made a mental note to swap the gift for one meant for a girl at some point during the evening so MacDonald need never know the gift wasn't meant for her, and therefore Lily would never know that she was the only person he had got a gift for.
Mary frowned and glanced around the room, "Well, where is the birthday boy?"
"He said he might be a bit late." James answered as Lily fiddled with the white rock at the nape of her neck, he tried to avert his attention from the scarlet bra that peaked out of her top, but he was a Gryffindor and should not be blamed for his natural attraction to the colour.
"Boys!" Dean Logan sauntered in, followed by his best friend Robert Thomas and a bevy of beauties.
"Wow." Peter's brows rose as the nearest girl took in the room, an unimpressed look upon her face but she was gorgeous, nevertheless.
The seventh year Gryffindor winked at James, "Mind if I brought a few friends Jamie. Rob's cousin and her friends from Beauxbatons was paying us a visit and I thought it only polite to invite them all to the party." Dean laughed as the unimpressed girl edged away from Peter's stare, muttering to her friends in rapid French, "They don't speak a stitch of English!"
Rob Thomas shook his head at his dark friend, "I'm sorry mate. I didn't want to leave Marie all alone and the next thing all these girls arrived for a visit. Dean of course invited them." He scowled at his friend who was chatting up one of the French girls already.
"It's okay." James reassured the seventh year Gryffindor, and smiled a little at the jealous looks Lily was throwing at the French girls.
"Here's the banner by the way." Rob handed the poster over to him, "I'm not too sure about the font-"
"Oy James. Where do I put the cake?" Edgar Bones bustled in, with the life size cake of Sirius that his girlfriend, Lan's, mother had baked.
James heard numerous voices approaching from the foyer, so he thanked Rob for the birthday banner and headed for the entrance hall as MacDonald instructed Edgar where to place the cake.
"Where's Cassie?" Marlene asked politely just as Andrew McKinnon made his way over to her, a group of Ravenclaw boys following him in.
Before James could respond Evans grabbed him by the left arm, "I'm thirsty, got anything to wet my mouth?"
James wondered how he didn't faint on the spot at her words.
"Wormy, look after things over here. Watch Aiza, don't let her drink too much, and make sure nobody goes upstairs." He didn't wait for his friend to respond, much too distracted at the redhead at his side as they made their way to the drinks table.
It seemed it would be a very Happy Christmas indeed.
A/N: Feedback, as always, much appreciated. Thank you very much for reading!
Kalina