The First Year

Christmas day

"Get up Lily! Honestly you wouldn't think she ever sleeps normally but now? All for sleepytime, and on christmas day too, for shame," the excited brunette burst out, waking the brown- eyed red head that had been peacefully sleeping.

"Alice Longbottom!" She shrieked scaring the poor girl right out of her wits. She jumped up and ran out of the room, and right into the Lily's older brother.

"Alice," he said, watching her rub her nose gently. "What's your problem James?" She replied testily. James just shrugged his head and left for the kitchen. Alice cautiously followed him, trying to avoid her friend's wrath.

They entered the kitchen to see Ginny making a new batch of pancakes.

"Lily is not anywhere near is she?" Alice asked her, confusing the woman greatly as the normally headstrong girl looked upon the verge of terror. Her youngest child was actually the least scariest and most peaceful, in her opinion.

"Wanna bet on that Mrs. Potter?" Ginny heard Alice say, realising that she thought aloud.

"Yes..... unless you are the one who woke her up today, then, all I have to say is probably..... run.... and hide," she said, and then she laughed at the girl's troubled face, "don't worry about it, and what did I tell you about calling me 'Mrs. Potter'? It's Ginny, or Ginevra if you are paticularly mad at me." 

Alice had to laugh at that statement. She had only known Lily's mother for a while but she seemed more like an older teenager than an adult.

They stopped talking abruptly as Lily entered the kitchen. She looked around, confused at the sudden silence.

"Why do I have the feeling that you've been talking about me?" she asked after just studying her mother and friend for a few minutes. They shrugged, which only made her even more confused and slightly suspicious.

"Don't sweat it dear," Ginny said and added, "we've got to be at mum's in an hour and you are not evn remotely ready."

This got Lily's full attention, and all worries lay forgotten as she remembered the date.

"It's Christmas!" She cheered, just as her second brother entered the room, giving him a nasty shock.

"Did you seriously only find out now?" He asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"No, I actually thought today was Easter, because we have eggs hidden everywhere," Lily retaliated, causing all the onlookers to laugh.

"Ooh Lils, what is this new- found sass," James asked his younger sister, clearly pleased. Just before Lily replied, her mom reminded everyone that they were to be leaving for their grandmother's in ten minutes and herded everyone upstairs to get ready.

"Grandma!" Lily cried happily, hugging her grandmother while Alice stayed behind her. Nervous, was clearly and understatement as she felt uncomfortable.

"Ooh I almost forgot, grandma, this is Alice, Alice, this is my grandma," Lily said, and she began introducing her family members, many who she already knew from Hogwarts, like Roxanne, Fred II and Hugo. Lily, Alice and Hugo soon went to a quieter corner to open presents.

About an hour, and about ten presents each later, the whole family was called outside for dinner. Since the family was so large and The Burrow dining room so tiny, the whole feast was laid under the already darkening sky, lit by colourful lanterns, provided by George and Angelina Weasley.

As the Potters got ready to leave,  Alice felt rather happy, or at least happier than she had been for a while, she liked her friend's family a lot, especially their welcoming nature. 

"Alice, are you okay?" she heard Ginny's voice from the other side of the hall, realizing that she had completely zoned out. 

"We're going now, are you coming?" Alice nodded and they travelled back to the Potter House in Godric's Hollow and went straight to their bedrooms.

"Did you have fun?"  Lily asked.

"Lots," Alice answered before falling asleep.

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Guess who got a super long update! You guys!!!

Sorry for the wait, my cousins are coming in 3 days and I'm dying of excitement..... buuuuut...... we have exams!!!! :'( so my face might be MIA for a while. (and if you don'y know what that means..... Shame on you! Look it up! NOW!!)

Anyway I'll update, even short updates. Vote if you loved the chapter!

Bai :D

PS. Keep being awesome