Our Lovely Home_ Marauders Era Fanfic.

43. Lily present

I knew well that Remus had tried several times, but that unbreakable barrier that Sirius forged against me seemed impossible to break through.

Perhaps, I also had to put in a little more effort on my part, but Sirius wasn't doing much either. We didn't get along so badly, we argued a lot, that was the main problem.

About Sirius, I knew from what Remus told me, that in my friend's lovesick comments, Sirius was perfect, a bit of a jerk, though in general ways someone perfect. This contrasted with my perspective of idiot, insufferable, classist and conceited, however, I didn't deny that he was funny.

The good thing was the bad adjectives were mutual.

"I don't understand why you like Evans so much!" Sirius snarled, walking off the Quidditch pitch, thinking that no one but James could hear him. I was there, because the weather was refreshing, and I wanted to finish a book in the shade of a tree. "She's judgmental, stubborn, melodramatic, and a nerd. When we were in Astronomy, she told me I was as bright as a black hole! Can you believe that?!"

"She wasn't lying."

"James!" "You're stupid!"

I was doing this whole thing for James; I get a laugh out of Sirius' reactions, but I knew James wasn't that amused to see his best friend and his girlfriend arguing every five minutes, at the same time, in a roundabout way, I was also doing it for Remus. He really is perfect (sorry James!).

During the Christmas vacations, I spent an entire day looking for my friends' presents. The problem came when I was only missing Sirius's gift, and I didn't have enough money to buy him the shirt I quoted ahead of time.

I didn't want to ask my parents for money, let alone Petunia, as she would only tease me. I had a ten-pound bill in my jacket pocket, and Mary's gift still glistened in her bag: I underestimated the price of makeup.

I arrived home somewhat disappointed. My owl looked at me ready to leave with the first batch of presents and I did nothing but start to worry. If I gave James a present, knowing that Sirius lived in the same house and I didn't give anything to him, he was going to end up hating me.

I went back downtown, walked around, but nothing was convincing me, and the music stores were closed. It was on my way home, on a road I never took, that I saw the solution to all my problems.

It was a garage sale, and the item being sold for five pounds for being "bad" was a portable radio cassette player. I bought it, as well as a small selection of music, and with that I returned home. All it took was a wave of the wand, and the radio was working again. I wrapped it in shiny wrapping paper and hoped that Sirius would at least appreciate my gift a little.

Christmas arrived, the tree was overflowing with presents, the vast majority for me. Petunia watched me furiously as she saw how I only had about five; from my parents, mine and her boyfriend, Vernon.

I opened them excitedly; James, Peter, Mary, Marlene, Remus, and even Mrs. Weasley. It was the first time I had received so many, and I spent a long time experimenting with those strange magical contraptions they gave me.

The doorbell rang, and I went to open the door, thinking it was the local church choir. Instead, there was a young man from the post office, wearing a strange uniform that I sensed must have been a magician, smiling serenely at me.

"Does Lily Evans live here?" I nodded, looking at the truck parked on the sidewalk. He handed me a piece of paper and continued, "A commission from Sirius Black, please sign here. It's already paid for."

I did so and handed the stapler back to him, waiting for him to hand me the package.

"Guys, this is it!" He exclaimed towards the truck, where a group of ten uniformed boys came out with five gifts each, "Miss, shall we leave it at the entrance?

I nodded incredulously. Petunia was furious and went to lock herself in her room, while I counted the packages; a total of thirty-seven. The young man ended up handing me a letter before saying goodbye.

"Lily:

Thank you so much for the radio! I was planning to send you fifteen presents, but I took advantage and doubled them, because I realized that you deserved the best presents. Sirius.

PDTA: James had a Muggle network put in the house, but no one knows how to use the phone. He asks that you please call him at +0712345677XX." 1

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1) English telephone numbers are 10 numbers.