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“You want to get Evans a cauldron for Christmas?” Sirius set down his beer and frowned. “You sure she wouldn’t rather jewelry or, I dunno, some sexy lingerie?”
James rolled his eyes. “You’re not picking out lingerie for my wife, Padfoot.”
“Why not? I wouldn’t picture her in it – I promise. Evans is like a sister to me – it’d be too fucking weird. And if you like, I can bring the mirror to the shop and show you some options, and you can pick out whatever you like best.”
“I know she’d rather a new cauldron,” James said. “The one she has now is all worn out. Besides, she’s not much of a lingerie person.”
Sirius raised his eyebrows. “Likes to just take everything off, does she? Cut to the chase – save you some time?”
“Making suggestive comments won’t make me forget you said she was like a sister, Pads,” James said, grinning and clapping Sirius on the shoulder. “That was really sweet.”
“Oh, sod off with that sentimental bollocks. Alright, I’ll buy her a fucking cauldron, but if she’s disappointed there’s no lacy bra inside, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
James loved everything about Christmas, and Christmas shopping was no exception. He loved the festive atmosphere in the shops and the moment of triumph when he found the perfect gift. Being in hiding meant he couldn’t do the shopping on his own, but he gave Sirius a sack of Galleons and a detailed list, and he consoled himself by taking extra care with the wrapping.
“Ten different patterns of wrapping paper, Prongs?” Sirius demanded when James handed him the list. “Are you mad? How many people are you buying gifts for?”
“A few,” James said, rolling his eyes. “But you can’t expect me to use the same paper for every gift, can you?”
Sirius pocketed the list and heaved an exasperated sigh. “Prongs, I don’t even know how to wrap a fucking gift, so I don’t suppose my opinion matters much, but all I’m saying is, I would’t bat an eye if every single Christmas gift I received was wrapped in the same paper, even if that paper was printed with you wearing nothing but a Christmas garland and your best smile.”
James smirked. “If they have any paper like that, get two rolls. Oh, and get yourself a roll or two – I’ll wrap your damn gifts for you, otherwise I know you’ll rope Moony into doing it. Actually, can I have that list back? I want to add something else.”
“Are you joking? It’s already going to take me ages to get all of this.”
“I never joke about Christmas.” James ran his hand through his hair, frowning. “You know what, let’s do your mirror idea after all.”
Sirius raised his eyebrows. “To pick out lingerie, you mean?”
“No, for the entire shopping trip. That way you don’t have to keep track of the list – I can tell you what to buy, and I won’t have to miss Christmas shopping after all.” James drained the rest of his beer and Summoned two more from the refrigerator. “It’ll be fun.”
Sirius scowled. “Right. Fun.” He cracked open the beer and took a sip. “Fine, but you owe me.”
“Alright, how about I let you drink all the beers in my refrigerator and don’t call you a grumpy arsehole when you look at me like that?” James raised his can in the air and grinned. “And since I’m a real gem, I’ll even pay for your wrapping paper.”
“How kind of you.” Sirius tipped back in his chair and took another sip of beer. “I’ll go tomorrow. Maybe it won’t be busy and nobody will see me carrying a mirror around the shops like a complete prat.”
“Lovely. Wear your most festive outfit–”
“Fuck off.”
“–and I’ll be ready for our ‘trip’ bright and early.”
Sirius shook his head. “You’re the fucking worst, you know that?”
“I pride myself on it. Now, are you going to stay for dinner? Evs is making pasta.”
After breakfast the next morning, James propped the two-way mirror against his empty mug, dressed in a jumper covered in Christmas trees and flashing colored lights. He called it festive; Sirius called it obnoxious; Lily compromised and called it ‘festoxious,’ which Remus insisted wasn’t a word; Peter was too diplomatic to weigh in either way.
“What are you wearing that for?” Lily asked as she rocked Harry in her arms.
“I don’t appreciate the tone, Evs – you make it sound like I need a specific reason to wear my excellent Christmas jumper.”
Harry’s cries abated as he caught sight of the twinkling lights on James’s jumper.
“See? Harry likes it,” James continued, grinning. “Anyway, I put it on for my shopping trip with Padfoot.”
“Right. You know he’s going to take the piss about that jumper the entire time.”
James shrugged. “That’s one of my favorite parts about Christmas. Want me to take Harry?”
Lily shook her head. “That’s alright – enjoy your shopping trip. Make sure you get me something nice.” She kissed the top of his head and wandered into the living room, murmuring to Harry as she went.
James waited two minutes past the agreed-upon time before he spoke Sirius’s name. He repeated it twice more before Sirius’s face filled the mirror.
“Good morning, sunshine,” James said, chuckling as Sirius scowled and rubbed his eyes. “That doesn’t look like your most festive outfit. That doesn’t look like an outfit at all.”
Sirius glanced down at his bare chest and gestured at James’s jumper. “It’s a better outfit than what you’re wearing. Can you turn off the twinkling at least?”
“The twinkling is the best part!”
Sirius sighed and slid sideways, returning a moment later wearing a pair of sunglasses. “You’re giving me a headache,” he said, jamming a cigarette into his mouth.
“I think that has more to do with the firewhisky you drank last night, but what do I know?”
Sirius’s only response was to exhale a long stream of smoke against the mirror.
“Would saying hello to Harry make you feel better?”
Sirius considered James through a haze of smoke. “It would make me feel better if you took off the fucking jumper, but since that’s out of the question, I suppose I can say hello to Harry.”
James turned to call over his shoulder. “Evs! Can you bring Harry to say hello to Padfoot?”
Sirius winced. “Don’t fucking yell.”
“Don’t get drunk on a fucking Tuesday.”
Lily stood beside James, holding Harry up to the mirror, and James watched the tense lines around Sirius’s mouth ease.
“Hi, Harry.” Sirius waved, his cigarette dangling precariously between his fingers. “Your dad’s mad, did you know that?”
“What, I don’t get a hello?” Lily demanded.
“Sorry, Evans, I couldn’t see you. I was too blinded by your husband’s jumper.” He wrinkled his nose and stuck out his tongue, eliciting a giggle from Harry.
“I’d tell him to take it off, but then you’d make some suggestive comment about me trying to get him naked.” She touched James’s shoulder, tracing one of the twinkly lights. “Besides, Harry likes the bright colors.”
“Yes, well, he’s still too young to know better.” Sirius waved and flashed Harry another smile. “Uncle Padfoot is going to buy you a Chudley Cannons jersey for Christmas.”
“You’d be better off flushing your Galleons down the toilet, seeing as Harry will not be wearing that,” James said.
“You’re both ridiculous.” Lily shook her head in exasperation. “Let me know when you’re done, James, so I can have Padfoot get something for you.”
“What, I have to do your shopping, too?”
Shifting Harry to one hip, she gave Sirius a two finger salute. “I made you dinner last night and sent you home with all the leftovers. I think you can handle buying a few things for me.” She waved Harry’s hand up and down. “Bye, Uncle Padfoot. Try to be less of a grumpy arsehole.”
“It’s who I am, Evans,” Sirius said, returning the rude gesture. “Bye bye, Harry.” After Lily and Harry disappeared into the living room, Sirius rolled his eyes. “I’ve changed my mind. She doesn’t deserve lingerie.”
James chuckled. “That’s good, seeing as I wasn’t going to buy her any to begin with. Now hurry up and get dressed. You can even use some of my money to buy yourself a coffee. Maybe it’ll make you less of a grumpy arsehole.”
Thirty minutes later, James was gazing at a slightly shaky view of Diagon Alley. A light snow was falling, dusting the streets and the shoppers with a blanket of white and clouding the mirror as snowflakes collected on the glass. James moved closer until his face was inches from the mirror, straining to hear the chatter and laughter and snatches of Christmas music.
“Where to first, Prongs?”
James ran through his mental shopping list. “Stop into Flourish and Blotts first, please. I want to get a few more picture books for Harry, and there’s some new book on Dark Creatures Moony wants.”
A bell jingled as Sirius pulled open the door and stepped into the bookshop. “Moony already has enough books on Dark Creatures to last him a lifetime.”
“Yes, well, the heart wants what it wants.” Books rushed past in a whirl of shapes and colors; James drew back, laughing. “Slow down a bit, will you? You’re making me dizzy.”
As they approached the children’s section, the mirror filled with a thick gingham coat, and James heard an indignant gasp.
“Excuse me,” he said, grinning as he caught a glimpse of a puzzled woman before she marched out of view.
“Don’t talk to other people, Prongs, they’ll think I’m mad,” Sirius hissed.
“Well, don’t bump into people, and I won’t have to. Ooh, get that one – the big book with the fluffy black dog on the front. Harry will love that.”
As Sirius drifted into the Defense Against the Dark Arts section, he lifted the mirror until his face came into view. “What should I get Moony?”
“Pads, when are you going to start picking out your own Christmas gifts?” James asked, laughing.
“Sod off. I never know what to get.”
“You could always get him a jumper.” James glanced down meaningfully. “I can give you some suggestions for good ones.”
“Ugh, no, I’m not encouraging his horrible taste in jumpers or yours.” He turned the mirror to face the books and shifted it slowly so James could see the titles. “Is there another book he’d like?”
James ran his finger along the mirror, imagining the smooth glide of book spines. “I dunno, maybe try that used book store that has the Muggle novels. Have Evs go with you, though – she’ll have a better idea of what he’d like. Oh, there it is – that one on display on the top shelf with the banshee on the cover.”
The snow had picked up when Sirius stepped out of the bookshop. James could see only vague shapes surrounded by swirling white, and he longed to feel the bracing winter air on his face and the crunch of snow under his feet as he ambled along beside Sirius.
“What are you getting Pete?” Sirius asked, raising his voice to drown out the music spilling out of a cafe.
“He said something about needing new cake pans. I was going to have you nip into the–” His attention was drawn by an enormous Christmas tree beside the entrance to Gringotts. “Hang on, can you stop by the big tree so I can see it properly?”
“God, you’re needy,” Sirius said, but the Christmas tree was already drawing closer as Sirius crossed the street. “There. You happy?”
Snow nestled on its branches, softening the glimmer of fairy lights and baubles and the star twinkling at the top. James smiled, drinking in the sight of it. Even through his limited view of the street, he could see the impact of the war. Diagon Alley was less populated than in years past, and the shoppers wore harried, nervous expressions. Yet the Gringotts Christmas tree stood, as cheerful and bright as ever, a steadfast reminder of all the happiness and beauty that still remained in the world.
“Will you break off a little piece of the tree?” James asked, bracing for Sirius’s laughter. “Crush a few pine needles and smell it?”
Sirius brought the mirror up to his face, eyebrows raised. “You’re mad. You realize you won’t be able to smell it through me, right?”
“I know, I just…” He shrugged, unable to express the vague longing instilled by that snow-covered Christmas tree.
“Do you want to pick out the piece I break off for you, weirdo?”
James grinned. “Don’t patronize me, Padfoot.”
The mirror shook as Sirius broke off a few needles and rubbed them between his fingers. He brought the needles to his face and inhaled; James watched a reluctant smile spread across his face.
“Does it smell like Christmas?”
Sirius’s hand fell away from his face as he nodded. “Yeah. It smells like my room that time I woke up and caught Mum and Dad setting up a tree beside my bed the first Christmas I spent with you.” There was a rare hint of vulnerability in his voice.
Emotion thickened in James’s chest. His mind filled with images of the Potter manor at Christmas: garlands draping every mantle and wrapped around the banisters of the grand staircase, baubles hanging from the chandelier he and Sirius had nearly destroyed with an ill-placed Bludger, Christmas trees displayed in every room. Euphemia and Fleamont had enjoyed Christmas just as much as James did, and they had relished the opportunity to share this love with Sirius, even when he grumbled about their enthusiasm. It pained James to celebrate Christmas without them, and judging by the tight set of Sirius’s jaw, he felt the same way.
“You know, Mum and Dad would’ve loved this jumper,” James said, his voice soft.
Sirius sighed and raised another sprig of pine needles to his nose, his eyes closing for a moment as he inhaled. “Yeah. They would have. Where do you think you got your awful taste from?” There was a current of emotion in his voice. He scowled and let the pine needles flutter from his hand. “God fucking damnit, Prongs, what’d you have to go and get all sentimental for?”
James smiled. He heard Harry’s laughter and the rise and fall of Lily’s voice drifting in from the living room, and it helped dispel the sharp ache in his chest. “It’s me. What did you expect?”
Sirius lit a cigarette, and smoke hovered in front of the mirror. More snow fell, collecting in his hair. James wished he could give him a hug, although Sirius would scowl and wriggle out of his grasp, muttering about sentimental sod behavior.
“You want one last look at the tree?” Without waiting for a response, Sirius turned the mirror to allow James a view of the Christmas tree. James savored the sight, then swallowed back the rest of his sadness.
“Thanks, Padfoot. Want to go to the cooking store next?”
Sirius cleared his throat and slid the mirror into his pocket. “Yeah, alright. I don’t know a fucking thing about cake pans, though, so I hope you know what we’re looking for.”
“You could always ask someone in the shop for help.”
Sirius gave an incredulous snort, and James could imagine the exact expression on his face although his current view included only the slippery sidewalk and shoppers’ feet.
“Yeah, I’ll go ahead and do that, right after I buy myself a light-up jumper like yours.”
After Sirius managed to locate the cake pans without asking for help, James directed him toward the cauldron shop. Sirius tucked the mirror into the collar of his jacket; it meant James had a strange, blurry view of his hair and the snowy sky, but it was easier to hear each other.
“I can’t believe you found a cake pan shaped like a rat,” Sirius said, chuckling.
“I think technically it’s a mouse, but close enough. I still think you should have gotten him the matching cupcake tins.”
“Nah, I’m getting him a new copy of Abbey Road to replace the one I lost.”
James grimaced. Sirius had snapped the record in half in a fit of drunken rage a few weeks after Mary’s death, but if he didn’t remember or didn’t want to acknowledge the truth, James wasn’t going to call him out on it.
“He’ll like that,” James said.
“But maybe I should’ve got the cupcake tins so he would bake me something. Ah well, you can slip a note into your gift instead.”
James laughed. “‘Merry Christmas, Pete. Please use this to bake Padfoot a cake.’”
“A chocolate cake. None of that lemon rubbish.”
James saw a confusion of shapes before Sirius straightened out the mirror and he looked around at the interior of the cauldron shop.
“Hang on.” James turned to call into the living room. “Don’t come in here, Evs, we’re buying your gift.” He cast a Muffliato for good measure, then turned back to Sirius. “Alright. Let’s see what they have, then.”
“Want me to ask for their sexiest cauldron?” Sirius muttered, and James could hear the smirk in his voice.
“No, they’ll think you’re mad, or some sort of pervert with a cauldron fetish,” James said, snorting with laughter. “But you can ask them for their sturdiest silver cauldron.”
“Sod off – I’m not actually asking for help, I can find it myself.” Rows of cauldrons passed as Sirius wandered through the store. “How about a gold one? Gold is a bit classier than silver, isn’t it?” He drew to a stop in front of a gleaming gold cauldron and lowered the mirror toward it.
“No, Evs doesn’t like gold cauldrons. She says they make brewing times too unpredictable. She and Dad used to have debates about it – don’t you remember?”
Sirius laughed. “Prongs, when anyone starts discussing the merits of different types of cauldrons, that’s my cue to tune the fuck out of the conversation. Okay, here you go.”
He stopped in front of several glossy silver cauldrons, and James peered closer, frowning.
“Can you tilt the mirror a bit so I can see that one on the left? I want to see the inside.”
James’s view shifted until he was staring at the inside of the cauldron. He studied the rim and ran his hand through his hair.
“Can you ask them if they could engrave it?”
Sirius sighed. “Just engrave it yourself. I don’t want to repeat your sentimental bollocks to the salesman.”
“I can’t just engrave it myself – you need a special sealing potion, otherwise the engraving will get eroded.”
Sirius turned the mirror to show James his unimpressed expression. “Fucking hell. What do you want the engraving to say?”
“Hmmm…” James pictured the way Lily’s tongue poked out the side of her mouth when she counted stirs and the delicate precision when she gripped a knife to chop or crush ingredients. “‘Evs, your potions are works of art. Love, James.’”
Sirius made a gagging sound. “This man is going to laugh me right out of the shop.”
“No he’s not – he wants your money.”
Sirius reluctantly relayed James’s request to the bearded man at the front of the shop, then waited while he engraved the message along the inner rim of the cauldron. When it was finished, he placed it in a huge box. Sirius jammed the mirror into his pocket and hefted the box over his shoulder, turning sideways to sidle out of the shop.
“You’d better store that at your flat until Christmas,” James said. “Otherwise Evs will see it and peek.”
“Fucking hell.” There was an indistinguishable sound, and then Sirius’s face swam into view. “I almost dropped the damn thing. Did you say I have to keep this at my flat? What, I expect I have to wrap it for you, too?”
James bit his lip; he suspected Mary used to do all of Sirius’s wrapping. “Maybe Moony will do it for you if you ask nicely.”
“God, I hope so. Imagine how much wrapping paper this fucking thing is going to take to cover.”
Sirius Apparated to his flat to drop off the cauldron before continuing the shopping trip. James was hoping to catch a glimpse of the flat to assess the level of grime and accumulated takeaway boxes and empty Ogden’s bottles, but Apparating with the mirror seemed to end the connection, because when Sirius’s face reappeared in the mirror, he was outside of a clothing shop.
“Sure you don’t want me to go in there?” Sirius asked, nodding at a bra and pants set on display in the window.
James pictured Lily in the lacy bra and pants, and a smirk lifted his lips. “Fuck it. Go in.”
Sirius slipped into the shop and wandered slowly down the aisle, angling the mirror so James could admire the various colors and materials. His hand shot out to stroke a pair of silk pants until James burst into laughter and begged him to stop.
“What? It’s silky. It’s the same as when you had me smell the Christmas tree – I’m enjoying the texture for you.”
“Well, don’t,” James said, shaking his head. “You’re making me feel weird – oh, that one.” He pointed to a matching lace set in emerald green. “Evs looks good in green.”
“Good choice.” Sirius sorted through until he found the correct size, then snatched them up and strode up to the counter.
“You grumble about a romantic engraving,” James mused as Sirius left the store with the bag tucked under his arm. “But buying a lace bra and pants for my wife is just a normal day for you.”
“I am who I am, Prongs,” Sirius said, unabashed. “I hope you want that tossed at the bottom of the cauldron, because if you’re expecting me to wrap it separately, you’re going to be disappointed.”
When the shopping trip was complete, James ended the mirror connection and wandered into the living room to await Sirius’s arrival with the presents.
“Harry’s just gone down for a nap,” Lily said, looking up from her book. “He’s been fussy since breakfast.”
Guilt twisted James’s stomach. “I’m sorry. You should have told me – I would’ve taken a turn with him.”
Lily patted the sofa beside her, and James sat down and put his arm around her.
“It’s okay,” she said, resting her head against his shoulder. “You were shopping with Padfoot. I know how much you love Christmas shopping.”
A grin spread across James’s face, and he was struck with a sudden urge to present her with the cauldron now, sod waiting for Christmas.
“I love you, Evs,” he murmured, planting a kiss on the top of her head.
“I love you too.” She lifted her head and looked at him, her eyes shining with affection. “How can I resist you when you’re wearing that?”
She inclined toward him, pressing her lips against his, but a knock at the door interrupted.
“Were you two snogging?” Sirius asked as he followed James into the kitchen, laden with shopping bags.
James grinned. “How’d you know?”
Sirius dropped the bags unceremoniously on the kitchen table. “You get this kind of dopy, glazed look.” He imitated it, his mouth hanging open and his eyes unfocused until James nudged him.
“Rubbish. I look sexy 24/7, and I won’t listen to anything to the contrary.” He went to the fridge to get three beers, then ushered Sirius into the living room.
“You’re going to love your Christmas present,” Sirius said by way of a greeting, plopping down into the armchair across from Lily. “You’re welcome.”
Lily smiled and took the beer James handed her. “I can’t wait. Is it out in the kitchen?”
James stole a glance at her as she opened her beer and took a sip. He loved the way her hands curled around the can, although he wouldn’t admit that out loud – Sirius would never stop taking the piss.
“No, Evans, it’s at Padfoot’s flat. I know you’d peek the second I wasn’t looking.” James rested his hand on her leg. “And now Padfoot has to wrap it for you.”
Sirius rolled his eyes. “Not a fucking chance. I’m recruiting Moony. I don’t wrap.” His eyes scanned the room. “Is Harry napping? Damn, I wanted to show him his new Cannons jersey.”
Sirius stayed for dinner again, then read Harry a book and tucked him into bed. When he waved goodbye and left for the night, James and Lily curled up on the sofa beneath a soft wool blanket Peter had knitted for them.
“What’d you get me for Christmas?” Lily nestled closer to James, pulling the blanket around herself.
“Wouldn’t you like to know.”
Lily giggled, tilting her head up to kiss him before lapsing into silence. James pulled her closer, enjoying the heat of her body and the crackle of the fire. Neither of them spoke for several minutes.
“Do you think Padfoot is doing alright?” Lily asked eventually, reaching over to adjust James’s glasses.
James considered the question. Sirius had seemed like himself, laughing and joking and complaining about James’s Christmas cheer, but there had been a current of sadness lurking underneath, apparent in the tightness of his jaw and the brittle quality to his smile.
“He’ll be okay. He might be going home to take a bottle of Ogden’s to bed with him, but I think he had fun today.”
Lily sighed and laced her fingers through James’s. “I wish he would have stayed over.”
“Me too. But he’ll be back in a couple of days. And like I said, today was good for him.” He heaved a sigh and leaned his head back against the sofa.
“Are you alright?” She squeezed his hand, conveying so much comfort in one small gesture that for a moment, James was overcome with gratitude.
“I’m fine, Evs.”
Her other hand drifted up to cup his face. “It’s okay to be sad, James. I miss my parents at Christmas, too.”
He heaved a sigh, then leaned over to kiss her. “I’m fine,” he repeated. “I have you. It’s Padfoot I’m worried about – he’s all alone.”
“No he’s not.” She shook her head and squeezed his hand again. “He’s got us.”
A few days after Christmas, Sirius came over when he finished his Order duty. The enormous box Lily’s cauldron had been wrapped in still sat in the entryway, and Sirius dragged it in when he strode through the door.
“What’s your plan for that?” Lily asked, frowning at the box.
“Prongs and I are going to make it into a castle for Harry,” Sirius announced, glancing sideways at James and rolling his eyes. “What the fuck else would we do with a box like this?”
“My mistake,” Lily said, heaving an exasperated sigh. “Would you like beers to aid in the castle-making process?”
“Of course we want beers.” Sirius set down the box and took a step back, surveying it. “What, are we expected to make a box castle sober?”
Lily shifted Harry to her hip and Summoned two beers.
“Thanks, Evs,” James said, kissing the top of Harry’s head before moving to Lily’s lips. “You can try out the castle first when it’s finished.”
“I appreciate that.” She drifted into the kitchen to warm a bottle for Harry.
Sirius and James hacked at the box until it had a drawbridge, windows, and crenelations. By the time Lily finished spooning pureed peas into Harry’s mouth and carried him into the living room, James and Sirius were stepping back to admire their finished work.
“There you go, Evs,” James said, gesturing at the castle. “I promised you could try it out first.”
Sirius held out his arms, and she handed Harry over before crawling into the castle. James grinned as she sat cross-legged on the floor, pulling up the drawbridge and closing herself up in the box.
“It’s quite peaceful in her,” she said, peering through the cut-out window. “It reminds me of the Astronomy Tower.”
Sirius nudged James and smirked. “Does that mean she wants to snog you in it?”
Lily poked her head through the window to glare at him. “Shut up. Hand me Harry, will you? Let’s see how he likes it in here.”
Harry sat happily in Lily’s lap, gazing around at the castle and jabbing the cardboard with his stubby fingers. James and Sirius took turns peering through the cut-out windows, popping up at Harry until he shrieked with laughter. Even the cat wandered in and rubbed against Harry until he startled her by grabbing hunks of her fur.
After James carried Harry up to bed, he returned to the living room and began shuffling a pack of cards. Lily poured three generous measures of firewhisky and carried hers into the cardboard castle.
“Come on in, if you can fit.”
Sirius raised his eyebrows. “Is that a fat joke, Evans?” He squeezed in beside her and clinked his glass against hers. “You like the castle, don’t you?”
She grinned. “It’s almost as good as the cauldron that came in this box.”
Sirius rolled his eyes. “You really liked that sentimental fucking engraving?”
She shoved him so hard he slopped some of his firewhisky onto the castle floor. “Shut up. It was so bloody sweet.”
“Of course you’d say that – you’re just as sentimental as he is.”
“I can hear you,” James said, tossing a throw pillow so it landed inside the castle, spilling more of Lily’s firewhisky.
“This cardboard is going to smell like the Leaky Cauldron after tonight,” Lily observed, giggling. “Maybe we should sit on the sofa to play Exploding Snap.”
“Nah, we can just be careful.” James slid onto the floor, settling on the cardboard drawbridge and dealing out three piles of cards. “Try not to set the castle on fire.”
Hours later, Sirius was sprawled in the castle, snoring softly. Cards were scattered around his feet, and the cat was curled beside his head, purring. Lily leaned against James’s shoulder, and he snaked his arm around her waist. The fire had burned down to embers, casting a cozy glow over the room, and he was warm and sleepy from the firewhisky. He knelt to remove Sirius’s boots, then grabbed the blanket tossed over the back of the sofa and covered Sirius with it.
“Think we should slide a pillow under his head?” Lily murmured.
James pointed at the cat. “Nah. It’ll disturb Minnie. I should take a picture and send it to McGonagall, captioned ‘Sirius asleep with Mini Minnie.’ I dunno where the camera is, though.”
“It’s probably for the best. I don’t think she’s forgiven us yet for naming the cat Minnie,” Lily said, laughing softly.
“You say that like we had any say – that was all Padfoot.” He fell silent for a moment, watching Sirius shift in his sleep. “You think he’s alright?”
Lily’s fingers laced through his. “Well, he’s passed out drunk in a cardboard castle, but that’s better than being passed out drunk alone in his flat. And we got him through Christmas.”
“We got him through Christmas,” James agreed.
“You’re a good friend.” Lily’s voice was soft, but the emotion underneath her words rang clear. “And a good brother.”
He grinned and kissed the top of her head. “I’m good at everything, Evs. You should know this by now.”
“Except being modest.”
“Yes, well, everyone has their flaws.” A log popped in the fire, but Sirius and the cat slept on, undisturbed. “You take good care of him too, you know.”
She sighed. “I love him. He can be a shit, and he’s even more obnoxious than you, but I love him, and my heart breaks for him. I miss Mary so much, but I still have you. I can’t imagine…”
Her words settled on James’s shoulders and blanketed the room with a vague heaviness. James squeezed her hand, clinging to the solid warmth of her fingers. She squeezed back, and then she tilted her face to kiss him. Her lips were warm and carried a hint of firewhisky. He wrapped his arms around her, and she pressed her face against his chest. They stayed that way for a minute, listening to Sirius’s soft breathing. Eventually, Lily’s voice broke the silence.
“Do you want to go to bed?” Her lips brushed his ear, and her breath tickled his neck. “I can try out the lingerie you got me for Christmas.”
For once, James didn’t answer. A smile lit his face as he led her toward the stairs, leaving Sirius to snore softly inside the cardboard castle with the cat purring beside him.