She Said What?

Chapter 29: I Face Christmas Day

A/N: I am excited about this chapter, because it features two things I've wanted very much to write – a meal at the Evans household with Vernon, and Lily's Christmas present. I think you shall find the development I've got here to be more than satisfactory.

I'm trying really hard to write properly, but my attention is so fragile. It wanders so easily. Sorry if this feels distracted...I've been on and off focus-wise and there's absolutely nothing I can do about it...

Cheers!

December 25

2:00 PM
Status: Excited

Merry, merry Christmas to all, and to all a lovely day!

Despite my rather troubled night yesterday, I got up early this morning – Christmas morning – and thus far I've had an absolutely wonderful time. I'm always quite a child on Christmas. I woke up my parents at seven in the morning, shouting at them to get downstairs, and dragged Tuney along with me.

United, for once, we two sisters arrived at the tree, where there were already presents waiting for us (Mum and Dad always get up at three AM and put them there for us, intercepting any mail that's come in for us from the previous night – Tuney and I went on an expedition to find this out when we were seven).

Mum and Dad have always been great about getting excited with us no matter how early we wake them, so we four collapsed on the ground, ripping open presents and screaming delightedly at the contents we found.

The presents I received this morning were as follows...

From Mum: A lovely charm bracelet
From Dad: Charms for my bracelet
From Petunia: Twenty pounds
From Livvy: A new alarm clock (haha...but I do actually need one of these)
From Alice: My favorite Beatles record
From Frank: A box of yummy candy canes
From Aunt Bertha and Uncle Max: Sweets
From Aunt Janine and Uncle Charlie: A gold watch

I was thoroughly pleased with my gifts, but there was one in particular I was looking for. I opened everything and admired it properly, swearing to Mum I would write thank you cards tonight, but I knew something was missing. I almost hated to admit it to myself, but I really was offended.

James Potter had not sent me a Christmas gift.

Now, I mean, I'm not trying to mooch off presents from him or anything – our relationship is still extremely strange – but at the same time, I sent him those socks I bought for him at Hogsmeade. I'd spent so much time worrying and stressing and picking out exactly the right gift, but he hadn't given me anything.

It was hard not to be a little disappointed that he had not thought to get me anything. I knew it was a bad idea to buy him a present. I just knew it. We weren't close enough, not friendly enough, to exchange Christmas presents. Why had I been so stupid? What would he think of me, now that I'd sent him my timid little gift with George?

Would he find me silly? Would he feel guilty, because I'd put him in the awkward spot I was afraid he might put me in? Would he send me a last-second present that he didn't want to give me, just because he didn't want to hurt my feelings?

My worries flew through my head at top speed, making it difficult for me to breathe properly. My Christmas spirit was slightly bruised and tender at the idea of my disposableness, but otherwise, I was in quite a good mood. I listened to my family continue squealing and writing down what everyone gave (we are big on writing thank you cards in this family) and quietly packed up my new gifts, taking them up to my room. I would worry about them later.

Eventually, Mum put aside her Christmas spirit as well and adopted her field marshal persona, ordering us to go upstairs and get dressed. We were going to have lunch together as a family – Mum had made food earlier – and Vernon would be over in a little while. We had to be ready. I dug out my prettiest black skirt and a red shit – and, with a smile, I wore my little red nose that James had allowed me to keep. I knew my family would get a kick out of it.