End of an Era

Oh what a joy Sirius' singing is!

•youth is wasted on the young•

James
"Ooohhhhh Christmas treeeeeeee!!"
I awoke with a start at 4:30 am, to Sirius singing. What a lovely sound. Note the sarcasm.

"Bloody hell, Black!" Alice screamed from down the hall. "Sod off!"

"Grandmaaaaa got run over by a reindeeeeeeerrrrrr!"

I heard Alice growl and then an 'oomph' from Sirius' room, the music stopping momentarily.
I ran out of my room to see the encounter.

"Next time, Black." Alice started. "Don't walk us all up at 4 o'clock in the morning! I don't care if it is your birthday or Christmas, for the matter!"
"Well" Croaked Sirius from under a humongous pillow that Alice must have thrown at him.
"I actually woke you up at 4:30. I was trying to be nice." Sirius finished with a smirk in his words.
I cleared my throat.

"Well, what an eventful morning this has been so far. Merry Christmas to you all." I said, speaking to all my friends seeing as they all came out during Sirius and Alice's, what do you call, 'nice meeting?'
Oh what a joy, Sirius' singing is!

As everyone made their way downstairs, I pulled Lily into a hug from behind and kissed the top of her head.

She laughed and said, "Sirius, I know that's you!"

"Lilllsss!" I whined, dragging out her name "you hurt my feelings" I pretended to fake cry as she laughed again and turned around, still in my arms. She gave me a kiss and whispered "Merry Christmas James." In my ear.
She slipped away and headed downstairs where everyone was waiting.
"Merry Christmas to you too, Lily." I called after her.

I hurried down the stairs when I heard Sirius ask, "Can we open presents now?" With a little kid attitude.
"Go ahead!" My dad chuckled as I reached the landing.
---------TIME LAPSE TO LILY'S TURN--------------------
"Lilykins!" Sirius's voice echoed through the hall, "It's your special time to open presents!! Ooooo!! Ooo!!" Sirius continued giddily. "Open mine first!"
She obliged an grabbed two packages covered in day old Daily Prophets.

She opened them carefully and gasped when she saw what was inside. "Sirius!" She exclaimed excitedly "This is awesome!! Look James look!" She said turning to me, "Nirvana signed this CD for me!!" She gave Sirius a gigantic hug and said 'thank you' a billion times. Nirvana is Lils' all time favorite band.
Sirius just laughed and told her to open his other one.

Inside the second newspaper wrapped present was tons of candy from Honeydukes. Multiple boxes of Every Flavor Beans, bags of Chocolate Frogs, tons of Sugar Quills, and many other candy mounds.

Lily gave Sirius another hug and moved on to her next present.

Overall she got new books and Sugar Quills from Remus, a very pretty gold bracelet and a dress that matched her green eyes perfectly from Marlene, chocolate and nail stuff from Alice, a very long, elegant white dress from my parents (they said she could wear it on graduation or any other important day.) Finally Lily received a painting done by the famous wizard painter, Estal Bunergo from Johnny. Lily thanked everyone for her gifts as I asked to see her in private for a moment.

"Hey Lils." I started "here are your presents from me." I said nonchalantly, as I was freaking out on the inside that she would not like the gifts. Her eyes widened as she opened the first long package. "It's beautiful"

Lily exclaimed looking at the diamond encrusted stag and doe necklace I got especially made for her.
"Put it on me please." Lily asked softly. "Of course, sweetheart." I replied

After I got it around her neck, she opened the last box. Inside was the last snitch I caught from a game in fourth year, before I moved to chaser. " Touch the middle of it"
I whispered to my gorgeous Lilyflower. She tapped it gently and it sprung to life floating around her head, every now and then it would take small short dives. Lily laughed and leaned in to kiss me.

As soon as things started to heat up, who walks in but Johnny... again! "Oh great! Now you ruined the kitchen too!" He complained as he grabbed a water bottle. He left as soon as he came so I gave Lily another kiss before she went of to find Mum, Marlene, and Alice to start the Christmas 'liner'.

I sighed and headed outside for our annual Christmas Potter quidditch match. It's always Sirius and I versus Dad and Johnny. Maybe we will win for the second time out of all the five games played. How the 'Potter Pals' as Dad calls his team managed to win three times, is a mystery... I don't think I will ever know.