Rebirth {Marauders Era}

CHAPTER 12: LILY: CHRISTMAS GIFTS

Christmas was one of Lily's favorite holidays. She loved how everyone celebrated together and how family was a strong aspect of it. She loved the way everyone seemed to be full with spirit and joy.

But this Christmas Lily sat alone at the breakfast table, her face hidden as she tried not to cry. It was Christmas Day, and she'd received presents from her parents, and her friends were sure to give her theirs when they found her, she had already left hers in the common room after she had opened the one present she had been waiting for all year.

Even though Tuney was horrible to her, she still loved her, and wished she would come to her senses. She had never received a gift from her sister since she was eleven. So when she saw the gift lying wrapped under the tree in her dorm, she had jumped at the chance to open it. But all she found inside were a few odds and ends she had left at home, and a nasty letter from her sister.

"Freak,
Don't leave your nasty things from that ridiculous school of yours lying about. I don't want Vernon seeing them.
Petunia." Worst of all, it had gotten delivered just to her, like the owl or whatever was used to post it knew she was a freak too.

So she sat there now, all of her excitement drying into thin air as she tried to hold it all in. Suddenly she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Who was it Evans? I'll beat them senseless." James stood behind her, a concerned look on his face.

"I-I'm fine James. It's nothing."

"So my girlfriend comes down at Christmas nearly crying, and I'm supposed to believe it's nothing? Not going to happen Lils. So why don't you tell me what's going on so we can go to the window seat on the fifth corridor and have a cup of chocolate." He handed her a hanky, and she blew her nose on it as her tears suddenly came pouring out.

"There's no one to beat up James. Not unless you take a trip to my house."

"What do you mean?" James asked, confused.

"My sister sent me a gift this year." She handed him the letter, then turned away. "It got delivered directly to me, even though it doesn't have my name on it."

James shushed her and turned the letter over. "It does, love, see? On the back." It seemed in the midst of her breakdown, she hadn't noticed.

"I don't care James! I hate my sister! I didn't think I did, but I do!" She shouted, everyone in the hall looked at her, Remus, Sirius, and Peter peering out from behind James with concern, and Marls walking in just to see everyone turn and look her was as Lily ran by her, followed by James Potter.

"Brings back old times, doesn't it?" She murmured softly, then turned to the rest of the room. "Nothing to see here! Just some teenage drama!"

Lily ran until she found the abandoned fourth corridor, and she lay on the wall, crying her heart out. She expected James to come running right after her, but he took surprisingly longer than expected.

"He thinks I'm hopeless too." She muttered, hurt coursing through her body.

"Evans, you know I don't. I haven't been pining after a hopeless girl for seven years." James said, making her gasp slightly. He appeared next to her, making her jump as she hadn't heard him approach. "I brought cups of chocolate and strawberry pasties from the kitchens. I know you like those."

She started crying harder as he set the steaming cups of chocolate down. "I'm just so tired of Tuney. She hates me so much just because I have magic."

"Yeah?" James smiled comfortingly. "Well I don't hate you, and Sirius, Remus, Peter, Marlene, and your parents don't do they? That's a lot more people who do like you, and that's not even counting the people who don't really know you. You don't make enemies easily. The only people who dislike you don't even know you, just your blood."

She finally dried her tears. "You're right. I should let her go. She's prejudiced, and I don't need any more prejudice against me at the moment."

"So let's enjoy our little brunch together then, eh?" James smirked, like when he had a prank coming.

"What're you-...planning?" She stuttered as James Potter handed her a green box.

"Open it." She shook her head.

"I need my present for you, I left it in the common room." James simply hugged her tighter.

"I found it, and I thought half of it was in poor taste, the other half was fair." He was referring to the plastic reindeer antlers she'd gotten him, and the comfiest jumper he'd ever been in. "I'll have to keep Moony away from the jumper you gave me."

She blushed, then took the box. When she opened it, a small doe pendant hung on a silver chain. It was golden and circled around it was a stag. It was as if they were hugging.

Her eyes would've filled with tears if she hadn't already been emotional. "Thank you James, thank you!"

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Later, her and James rejoined the others, and Lily smiled at them happily. Her Christmas had gone rather well, despite the rough start. Sirius held out the antlers she had gifted James.

"Prongsie, look what you got! It suits you, except I think the real ones would look much more proper." He smirked and then stuck it on James's head.

"Hey!" James tried to pull it off, and when he couldn't he glared at Sirius. "You didn't."

"I did?" Sirius asked, a gleam in his eye.

"Sirius Orion Black! Get back here!" James yelled as Sirius sprinted away.

"No!" He yelped. "I managed to get them on you! I really did!"

"If you don't get them off now, I will kill you!"

"That's not going to happen!"

"Watch me."

And they ran round and round, all while Lily covered her mouth, laughter threatening to spill out of her.

"I think you look dashing, if I may." She shouted.

"You may not Lily!" James shouted back, and she laughed.

"Who are you to tell me what to do James Potter! You come here!" She caught up to him and kissed him. "Though I do think the real ones would look more proper."

"Stop putting ideas in her head Padfoot!" James wriggled free of Lily to glare at Sirius.

"Well, it was only a suggestion."