𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐲 / James Potter x Reader

Ch22 ★ Christmas Day

chapter song
Christmas Kids - Roar

The living room of the Potter mansion was aglow with the soft light of Christmas morning. The Marauders stirred from their makeshift beds, blinking sleep from their eyes as they took in the magical scene before them. The room was filled with the warm scent of pine and cinnamon, and under the twinkling tree, countless presents awaited.

Y/n was the first to become fully awake, her eyes widening with delight as she took in the sight. She had never felt a warm Christmas in her life. She nudged James gently. "Wake up, sleepyhead. It's Christmas!"

James groaned playfully, stretching his arms. "Merry Christmas, y/n."

The others soon followed, sitting up and rubbing their eyes as they marveled at the sheer number of gifts. Euphemia and Fleamont had certainly outdone themselves.

Effie and Monty appeared, beaming at the children. "Merry Christmas, everyone," Euphemia greeted warmly. "Why don't we start with y/n's gifts?"

Y/n blushed slightly but nodded. She handed out the carefully wrapped presents, each with a personal touch.

Remus unwrapped his gift to find a beautiful, leather-bound journal and a set of enchanted quills. "This is perfect, y/n. Thank you," he said, eyes shining with gratitude.

Peter opened his gift next, revealing a collection of rare chocolate frog cards and a small enchanted book that provided tips and tricks for catching elusive cards. "Wow, y/n, this is amazing!" he exclaimed, beaming.

Sirius's turn came, and he unwrapped his gift to find a gleaming leather jacket and a stack of muggle motorcycle magazines.

She had also given him a mint green music box that played an old lullaby. His eyes lit up with recognition and gratitude. This was the one Walburga ruined in one of her many fits of rage. Sirius had loved the music box, and Walburga thought the boy was being too girlish.

"Y/n, you remembered," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "This is... incredible. Thank you. And the jacket too, I love it!"

James watched with a smile as Sirius put on the jacket. "Looks like it's made for you, Padfoot."

Finally, James took his gift from y/n, unwrapping it carefully. Inside, he found a beautifully framed photograph of the two of them during a particularly happy moment at Hogwarts by the lake, along with a detailed drawing of their spot in the Room of Requirement.

The last gift he opened from her was a pocket watch engraved with a gorgeous pattern and an engraved note inside that said, 'always my Prongs, always your Bandit' His eyes softened as he looked at y/n. "This is perfect, y/n. I love it more than anything."

As the morning progressed, the boys presented y/n with their gifts. Remus gave her a beautifully annotated copy of a book she had been dying to read, filled with his own notes and thoughts.

Peter gifted her a small jewelry box that came with two gorgeous pairs of earrings.

Sirius handed her a sleek, enchanted quill set that never ran out of ink and changed colors with her mood. "So you'll always know what you're feeling, even if you can't put it into words," he said with a grin.

James's gifts were last. He handed her a box, and inside was a gorgeous, dainty silver bracelet with an emerald that matched the necklace she already had, and a ruby to represent the Gryffindor in her life. "This is just a little something," he said softly, his eyes meeting hers.

She smiled, touched by the gesture. "It's beautiful, James. Thank you." She ran her finger over the bracelet, in awe of the thought he put into it.

"And one more," James added, handing her a small, intricately carved wooden box. Inside, she found a collection of notes they had exchanged over the past few months in their classes, meticulously preserved. "I remembered that you once said you wish you could preserve the little things like letters and notes," he said, his voice filled with emotion.

Y/n's eyes welled up with tears. "James, this is... it's perfect. Thank you."

The rest of the day was filled with Christmas activities—singing carols, exchanging stories, and enjoying the delicious feast Euphemia and Fleamont had prepared, with the help of Peter.

As the afternoon wore on, a sudden knock at the door interrupted their festivities. Euphemia rose to answer, with James following closely behind. She opened the door to reveal a stern-looking woman standing on the doorstep—Celine Gray.

"Mrs. Gray," Euphemia greeted cautiously. "Merry Christmas."

Celine's expression remained icy. "I'm here to take my child home for the holidays," she announced coldly. "She should have already come home."

James felt a surge of protectiveness as he stepped closer to his mother. "Mrs. Gray, y/n is spending Christmas with us."

Y/n had opened up to James about the type of person her mother was in the quiet nights they spent in the astronomy tour and the Room of Requirement, and he already knew plenty from the stories Sirius had told him.

Y/n appeared at James's side, her face pale but determined the moment she spotted her mother. Sirius, Remus, and Peter soon followed, with Fleamont standing firmly beside Euphemia.

Disgust was painted on Sirius' face. Suddenly he felt like they were children again, standing infront of y/n, protecting her from the backhand of a furious Celine Gray or Walburga Black.

Celine's eyes narrowed as she looked around the cozy, decorated house with disdain. "I'm furious that you have missed the gathering that all of the most elite families attended on Christmas Eve
y/n, you know how important that is," she hissed, her gaining a tightening grip on y/n's arm. "She needed to make an appearance alongside Regulus."

Y/n winced in pain but didn't back down. "I'm staying here," she said firmly. "This is where I want to be."

Fleamont stepped forward, his voice calm but authoritative. "Let's try to settle this calmly, Mrs. Gray. Why don't you come inside?"

Celine's eyes flashed with anger and disgust. "I have no intention of entering this house of blood traitors," she spat, casting a lingering, contemptuous look at Sirius.

Sirius's eyes darkened, and James's fists clenched at his sides. "Y/n shouldn't be forced to leave," James argued, his voice rising with anger. "She deserves to be happy."

Euphemia tried to reason with Celine, her tone gentle but firm. "Mrs. Gray, please understand that y/n is safe and loved here. Forcing her to leave will only cause more harm."

But Celine was unmoved. "She's coming home with me," she insisted, her grip on y/n unyielding.

Y/n protested again, but Celine's mind was made up. With a final look of contempt, she tightened her hold on y/n and, with a crack, apparated away, leaving a stunned and heartbroken group in her wake.

The room fell silent, the joy of the day shattered by Celine's intrusion. James stood frozen, his heart aching at the loss of y/n. Sirius's face was a mask of fury and pain, while Remus and Peter looked on in helpless shock.

Fleamont put a comforting arm around Euphemia, who wiped away a tear. "We'll get her back," he said quietly, determination in his voice. "We'll find a way."