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The swooping and diving of owls every morning in the great hall was a sight to see. From the large windows above the long house tables, the owls made their entrance and circled the student body below until they found their designated delivery. Hoots from the owls along with rustles of feathers and pieces of silverware clanged against goblets echoed throughout the hall as the birds made their landings and dropped off envelopes and parcels.
Lily had written to her mum a couple of days ago so she wasn’t surprised that an owl landed in front of her plate and held out a letter for her to take. Being a muggle-born meant that her family didn’t have access to Owl Post unless Lily wrote to them first and the owl had to be patient enough to wait for her mother to pen out a reply. Luckily, Iris, Sirius’ grey spotted owl, had taken a liking to Mildred Evans and always waited for her to finish writing a letter before taking off and flying back to Hogwarts, even if it took a couple of days. Sirius joked that Lily’s mum bust be spoiling his little owl rotten as it seemed she was spending more time in Cokeworth than in the Owlry. When Lily took the envelope and thanked the owl, Iris shuffled along the table to nab a piece of bacon from Sirius's plate while he read the Daily Prophet, absentmindedly stroking her feathers as he turned a page. “I see you finally returned my owl, Lily” Sirius lazily observed, giving Iris a scratch below her beak.”
“I am sorry, Sirius, I try to tell Mum to be quicker with writing her letters. I feel like I’ve stolen your owl.” Lily began twisting her hair between her fingers as she spoke. She honestly did feel guilty about monopolizing Iris’ time so much and she tried to borrow other owls.
James wrote to his parents constantly and thus Bladr was rarely available. Poor Hector, who belonged to Peter, got so lost trying to find Lily’s muggle house that he went missing for a month and now flew away from Lily every time she entered the owlery. Remus was always accommodating with his owl Geri but Geri was not patient enough to wait for Mildred to write the lengthy replies that always took her a couple of days to write and thus Geri often flew down to Wales to pick up a package from Remus’ mum without waiting for Mildred’s reply. Thus, Iris had become Lily’s go-to owl for correspondence between herself and her mum.
“Nah, it's all good, anyone I’d want to send a letter to is sitting right here. It's good for her to stretch her wings.” Sirius looked up from his paper to glance at the guilt that must have still been plastered on Lily’s face as he gave James a swift kick under the table, “Tell your girlfriend not to feel guilty about using owls to send letters.”
James, who was sitting next to Lily replied without looking up from his copy of the newspaper, “Owls are meant to deliver mail. You're doing Iris and Sirius both a favor by being so prolific in your letter wiring blah blah blah, I feel like we have this conversation at least once a month.”
Lily gave her boyfriend a gentle shove on the shoulder and opened her mother’s letter. Her face must have pulled a look because she soon heard James’ voice once again, only this time the concern wasn’t mocking fun as it was before but real concern. “What’d your mum write? Something going on?”
Lily stuffed the letter in her bag and looked at James, whose messy unwieldy hair was always its most unwilding in the morning. “Oh nothing, just Mum writing about the plans for the holidays. Come on, we have potions.” and grabbed James’ hand to head off to the dungeons together.
~
One of the best things about being Head Girl was that James was the Head Boy which meant when they did their patrol rounds they got to walk around the castle arm-in-arm whispering to each other and laughing. Lily loved their friends but they were such a tight unit it was nice when there were moments that were just the two of them. Even if they were supposed to be on the lookout for any rule violations are helping any students in need. They always had a fun time together. But that was just James. He made every moment fun.
It was December and James declared that it was their duty as Head Boy and Girl to get everyone into the holiday spirit. As they strolled through the corridors together James charmed jingle bells to follow groups of students until they sang the first verse of a Christmas carol and made mistletoe appear over the heads of anyone they ran into in the middle of an argument.
“So, are you going to tell me what your mum wrote in the letter this morning?” James asked unprompted when they found themselves in a particular deserted hallway of the castle.
“I told you, it was about holiday plans.”
“And they upset you because she suggested taking a trip to the Caribbean this year and let’s just skip Christmas?”
Lily sighed and sat down on the window ledge, James took both her hands in his and waited for her to speak.
“It’s nothing, its silly.”
“I love silly things. Let me hear it.”
“It's Petunia… My mum made it quite clear to her that she did not want me spending Christmas alone again this year just to make Vernon more comfortable. And we should be spending the holiday as a family. Petunia told Mum that she was right, Christmas is a time for family which is why she has decided to spend the holiday in Kent with Vernon’s family whom she adores and treats her quite well. Like we don’t treat Tuney well? All we do is try to please her and make her feel supported and all she does is pretend that I’m a vile person that wants to ruin her life. So Christmas will just be me and Mum this year which sounds awfully lonely. More lonely than last year when I locked myself away in Gryffindor Tower because at least then I could pretend Dad was still craving up the roast at home. But now, I’ll actually have to face Christmas without Dad and my sister is actively avoiding me and my mum is crying because she doesn’t understand why we can’t get along like we did when we were little. I don’t know why we can’t get along either to be honest.”
James nodded along with her ranting, rubbing small circles in the back of her hand. James carried warmth that wrapped around Lily like a well-worn childhood blanket. To be in James’ embrace was to experience a familiar and reassuring comfort. Lily counted herself extraordinarily lucky to be loved by a boy like James Potter.
“Come over to my house, you and your mum for Christmas,” James said.
“What?! No, we couldn’t possibly! James, that’s absurd.”
“No, it’s not. You and your mum are both feeling sad about how small your Christmas will be so come and celebrate with us. Our Christmas isn’t a big thing either it will just be me, Mum and Dad, Sirius of course, and Old Batty.”
“Old Batty?”
“Yeah, Batty, My godmother. You’ll love her. She always bakes the best puddings and she has amazing stories about pagan magic from around the world. After we do Christmas dinner we always go down to the church and watch the choir sing and drink mulled cider. You’ll have fun.”
“James, we are seventeen years old, isn’t it a bit much for our families to celebrate holidays together?”
James shrugged in that purely James way. “My mum really won’t mind.”
Lily sighed as she got up from the window and linked arms with James once again “I'll think about it.”
“Great, we can make our way up the owlery and you can write to your mum saying the two of you will be having Christmas at the Potters.”
“I said I’ll think about it, James.”
“You can think as we walk to the owlery.”
~
A couple of weeks later, Lily was in the grocers in Cokeworth with her mum, trying to find a suitable gift for the Potters. Unfortunately, neither Lily nor her mum knew anything about wine. Lily didn’t realize how intimidating selecting a bottle of wine could be.
“Red or white, Lily?”
“Red, right? It will be a roast. You have red with roast?”
“Oh, I don't know I always drink white if I have to drink wine. You know I did ask your father if we could toast with beer at our wedding reception. Your grandmother didn’t find that funny.”
Lily snorted as she looked at the meager wine selections in the tiny corner shop. “No, she wouldn’t have. Tuney got all her fussy rule-following from Nana, didn’t she?”
“Yes, well there is nothing wrong doing things the proper way. But then again there is nothing wrong with having a bit of fun either.” Mum turned her head and gave Lily a wink. Lily was grateful that James had invited her and Mum over to his family’s Christmas. It seemed like getting out of the house and meeting new people was exactly what Mum needed to lift her spirits.
“Why not just buy the second most expensive bottle of wine and let’s be done with it.”
“Yes, but the Cabrent or the Pinot Noir?”
“What’s the difference?”
“I have no fucking idea.” The exclamation from her mother caused Lily to laugh uncontrollably. She was so happy to have her mum ina good mood again. She had missed her funny rule-breaking mother.
As they exited the shop they were greeted with the cold winds and tightened their scarves around their faces. While a chilly winter, Lily knew it wouldn’t snow. It never snowed in Coeworth. When Lily was young she thought the towering factory that loomed over Cokeworth was a dragon. It spouted out deep grey smoke that obscured daylight and created a constant gloom over the town. The heat from the factory meant the ground was too warm for snow to stick, instead, Cokeworth Christmases were icy sludge that caused damage to roads and children’s knees.
This Christmas would be Lily’s first time meeting James’ parents and looking at the row of wine it suddenly hit how different they were. Not just because she was muggle-born and he was pure blood. But she grew up working class in a dying factory town and he had family money and grew up in an idyllic country village. Surely the Potters would be able to pick out the finest wine in an instant and not spend twenty minutes stressing over it. Lily felt her stomach churn. She really did not want to embarrass her or her mum in front of James’ parents. She could hear Sirius barking a laugh in the back of her mind and shook it away as she followed her mum home.
~
“Ready?”
“Are you sure you know what you are doing, Lily?”
“Yes, I told you I got my license and everything, Just hold onto me tight and I’ll apparate us right to Godric’s Hollow. It will only last a second.”
“And it won’t hurt?”
“Not one bit.” Lily closed her eyes and pictured the field she had met James in last summer, outside Godric’s Hollow, spun around and with ‘pop!’ transported her and her mum across England from the midlands to the West Country. Magic really was fantastic.
Lily opened her eyes and saw her mum had gone a bit grey and shaky. “Don’t worry Mum, it takes a bit getting used to but we're here, look!”
Mildred, still grasping Lily’s arm tightly took a look around her surroundings and her jaw dropped as she realized that they were no longer in Cokeworth. “My word, Lily, I just… You truly are amazing my dear!”
Lily laughed and assured her mother that all witches and wizards of age could apperate and it wasn’t that special. As she and her mum started on the path into the village, both carrying presents in their arms, a familiar shape came into view. Actually, it was two familiar shapes. Leaning on the old stone wall at the border of town were James and Sirius wearing wool muggle coats and Gryffindor knit hats.
“Right on schedule! Happy Christmas, Lily!” Sirius was first to greet them and leave his place on the wall he bounded up to Evans family and gave Lily a big hug and whispered in her ear “Just so you, Prongs has been in a right state all morning. He may act like it’s not a big deal to invite you and your mum but I saw him rearrange the flowers on the table three times before we left.”
Lily swatted Sirius away and looked at James who had joined them. He looked his usually confident and self but Lily could tell that his messy hair was more rumpled than usual, like he had been running his hand through his hair all day. Lily took his hand with it a small squeeze and she saw a tiny smile form in the corners of his mouth. “Mum, I’d like you to meet James Potter and Sirius Black.”
James let go of Lily’s hand to greet her mum with his signature beaming smile. “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Evans. I’m glad you accepted my family’s invitation for Christmas dinner.”
“Oh dear, please call me Mildred. It is so lovely to finally meet you both. Lily mentions you two all the time in her letters.”
“Oh, then I hope she has lied and has told you how well-behaved we are and how all the teachers adore us.” Sirius quipped.
“Oh no, Lily is very truthful in her letters, I’m afraid. I find her letters to be very entertaining. I imagine they’d be quite dull without your anecdotes.” Sirius let out a bark of laughter and linked arms with Lily’s mum as he led her into town.
“You didn’t really tell her everything did you?” Whispered James in a panic.
“Everything but Remus’ illness and the fact that you are an illegal animagus.” Lily took James’ hand again it gave it another squeeze. “Don’t worry, I’m finding this whole dinner more intimidating than I thought it would be too.”
The four of them walked through Godric’s Hollow, Lily admired all the Christmas decorations and the tree in the town square. It all reminded her of a Dickensian Christmas Card.
James’ home, Lily discovered when they finally arrived, was far more normal than she thought it would be. It was a small little cottage with a wooden gate out front. Lily could recognize many herbs and plants used in medicinal potions growing in the front garden. As they stepped inside Lily was greeted with the warm smell of roast mingled with the scent of the fir tree in the corner. On the walls were photos of James growing up and his parents, proudly smiling down at their only child. On the fireplace mantle was a box of floor powder, a few more photos, and an award for Britian’s Best Dueler. A fat orange cat lay on the rug in front of the fire and the piano in the corner was playing Christmas music all by itself. On the couch was an elderly man with a thick blanket on his knees and an even older woman sitting next to him. It was a wonderfully cozy house and instantly made Lily feel warm.
A grey-haired woman with an apron around her waist and a wand in her hand came in through the door on the other end of the room. “Oh boys you are back! Get up, Monty the Boys, and our guests have arrived!” She moved over to help the man from the couch up.
“Hello!” The woman greeted, “Happy Christmas! We are so pleased to have you for dinner! I’m Mia and this is my husband Monty.”
James’ mother was bubbly, kind, and energetic. Lily could instantly recognize James’ loud, fast-talking confidence. Monty got up, extended his hand to Lily’s mother, and gave it a small kiss, “Nice to meet you. We always enjoy it when you boy brings home new people to the family. And what a wonderful time to meet each other! Please sit down while Mia finishes the dinner. James tells me you are a muggle nurse and I have many questions for you. My family has a history of brewing medicinal potions, you know.” James’ father had a deep gravel voice that came with old age. But his smile was identical to his son’s, and so was the wink he gave Lily when she sat down on the couch.
“And you, my dear must be Lily. Our boy has done nothing but talk of your beauty since he was fourteen years old. I am sorry to say you were greatly misrepresented as you are a vision. Mr. Potter squeezed Lilly’s hand.
“Dad, please,” James hissed as he sat next to Lily on the couch and Sirius chuckled as he sat in the armchair.
Mr. Potter just waved his son’s embarrassment away and turned ot the other woman sitting on the couch. “Oh, and yes of course, let me introduce our family friend and neighbor, Bathilda Bagshot.”
Lily gasped and turned to James “Bathilda Bagshot? James!” Lily whispered
“What?” James leaned in towards Lily
“She is your godmother? The woman who wrote the textbook on the history of magic?”
“Yeah, she’s our neighbor.”
Lily rolled her eyes. “You are so unaware sometimes.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Hey,” Sirius loudly interrupted “Its Christmas, no secret side conversations!” Lily felt heat rise to her cheeks as realized James and her had been having quite the whisper spat in front of her mum and his dad.
“Sirius, be a good lad and take the bottle of wine from Mrs. Evans and put it on the table.” Monty instructed. With a lazy bow, Sirius did what he was told and then returned to the front room to let everyone know dinner was served.
Mrs. Potter had made quite the spread for dinner. And it was all delicious. As the dinner progressed Lily marveled at how natural it all felt, to be having Christmas dinner at the Potters with her mum. Lily was pleased to see how well her mum and Mrs. Potter were getting along. Talking about gardening and cooking. Mr. Potter took a keen interest in her potions grades and offered to make some introduction for her for some apprenticeships which made James smile wider than she had ever seen him smile. It was one of the best Christmases she could remember in a long time.
After the pudding was served, and James was right Professor Bagshot did make an incredible pudding, James took Lily aside in whispered in her ear, “Meet me upstairs, I want to give you your present in private.” Lily picked up her present for James from where she placed it on the coffee table and went up the stairs. James poked his head out from the first door, grabbed her wrist and pulled her in.
It was a small room with a dark wooden desk underneath a window and a matching bed and dresser. The walls were covered in quidditch posters and on the dresser were photos of James and his three friends and to Lily’s surprise there was even a photo of herself.
“This is your bedroom.” She said, feeling kind of stupid because it was so obvious.
“Yes, I just wanted some privacy. I’ve never had a girlfriend over before you know. Felt weird giving you your present in front of everyone.”
Lily arched her eyebrow, “But inviting me and my mum over for dinner wasn’t weird at all?”
“Well, it became alright didn’t it? I think Batty and your mum might become best friends.”
Lily moved closer to James and he pulled her closer. She wrapped her arms instinctively around his neck. “You know, we shouldn’t be gone too long. They’ll think we're doing something naughty.”
“I really did bring you up here to give you a present James whispered but he got closer and Lily could feel his breath on her face. It smelled of the cinnamon pudding they had just eaten. And soon his soft lips were around hers. After four months of dating, kissing James held the familiarity of home, like a cozy fireplace in a country cottage on a winter's night, inviting and comforting. Lily ran one of her hands through his dark hair and James held her pack and attempted to pull her even impossibly closer. “Happy Christmas,” Lily mumbled into his ear as they took a breath of air.
When they regained their breathing James sat Lily in his desk chair and instructed him to open her present while he sat on his bed and Lily handed him her own wrapped parcel.
Lily watched as James opened his present and thanked her cheerfully for the scarf. She had knitted the scarf herself in the colors of his favorite quidditch team, the Falmouth Falcons.
Lily carefully opened her present which was wrapped in a tiny box. When she opened the lid she gasped. It was a ring with a tiny emerald in the center. “James! This is too much!”
“No, it isn’t!” James insisted. “I found it in a muggle market in Camden when I visited Sirius over the summer. I saw it after we started dating and it reminded me of you. It’s not an engagement ring - I may be completely besotted as Remus says but I haven’t lost my mind. I just wanted to give you something special.”
“You bought a ring after dating for a couple of days and held on to it until Christmas to give it to me?” Lily couldn't help but laugh “What if we had broken up?”
“We wouldn’t have.”
“How do you know?”
“Because we love each other. And we waited too long to get together to ruin it. I promise Lily. That’s my gift to you. The ring and a promise. I will always love you. I know the world is scary right now and things are changing every day but I know we will take care of each other. I love you.”
“You’re wrong you know, you have lost your mind.” Lily smiled as she put on the ring and walked up from the chair to sit on James' lap. She garbed the side of his face in her hands “But that’s OK because I think I’ve lost my mind a bit too.” And she gave him a small peck on the lip and whispered “Thank you for the promise. Let’s get back downstairs before Sirius busts in and yells something obscene.”
~
As the evening went on and more festive activities were had Lily and her mum found themselves back in the clearing outside of Godric’s Hollow. Lily looked back at the retreating back of James Potter, illuminated by the glowing light of the quaint village. A smile appeared on her face, she really couldn’t imagine celebrating Christmas anywhere else ever again.