Shadows of Love 4

Unexpected gifts

Lily sent an owl with a huge box full of the presents she bought for her family on the 23rd of December. She wrote her parents she would definitely not go home for Christmas, since it was her sixth year at Hogwarts and that means a lot of studying -- especially during school breaks.

She was reading all night the day before Christmas. She was so excited because of the next day, she couldn't sleep. 'It's because it's Christmas tomorrow', she thought but a part of her common sense (a very shameful part of it) suggested it was because of James's return.
She woke up for a loud scream. "MERRY CHRISTMAAAS!" She jumped out of her bed frightened. Her D.A.D.A. textbook fell down from the bed. "Me-Merry Christmas" Lily yawned for Mary and went to the bathroom to wash herself awake.

"Aren't you excited for what you got?", Mary asked.
"I am", Lily mumbled, and then spit the toothpaste she had in her mouth to the sink. "But I don't want to have dental caries."
"You're such a spoilsport."
Lily combed her hair and put on some clothes. "What time's it?", she asked Mary.
"I don't know", the girl shrugged while reading a letter she got with one of her presents. "About seven-thirty, I guess."
Lily didn't want to seem too excited about James's return, so she sat on her bed and started to unwrap her gifts. She got a beautiful green cashmere sweater, some cookies and a silver necklace with a white pearl pendant from her parents, a single giftcard from Petunia (the card had a Christmas tree on its front and in the inside written with Petunia's letters the text: "Merry Christmas. Petunia") which she didn't like very much, a knitted scarf and a pair of knitted gloves from her grandmother and some more candies from the Muggle-world.

She stretched her arm and told Mary she would have breakfast. The common room was all decorated with Christmas ornaments. The place was empty. As Lily reached for the back of the Fat Lady to go to the Great Hall, the painting opened up all at once and four boys stepped into the room. Sirius, Remus, Peter and James were laughing at something. Lily stood there stock-still.

"Hey, Evans!" Sirius greeted her unusually cheerfully.
"I think they have a few things to discuss, guys", Remus looked at Sirius and Peter. "We better leave them alone."
Lily wanted to remark that this sounded like there was something between her and James, but she agreed with Remus. She wanted to talk to James -- alone.
"I don't want to see them snogging anyway", Sirius shrugged.
Lily finally moved and pulled her wand out of the waist of her skirt and turned to Sirius.
"I didn't even want to curse you this morning, but, oh well!", she raised her wand, but Remus stepped behind her and held her arms down.
"There's no need for violence, Lily. Don't let yourself enraged."
"Then get off me, Remus.", she shook herself out of Remus's hands.
Remus gently commanded Sirius and Peter to get lost and they went up to their dormitory.

"Well, here I am", said James smiling. "Safe and sound."
Lily was looking at him furiously. Her wand was casting crackling red sparks.
"E-Evans", James stuttered glancing at the willow wand. "Shouldn't you put down that wa--"
Lily ran across the room and hit James in the chest, shouting: "JAMES POTTER, YOU DAMN FOOL! I THOUGHT YOU WERE DEAD, YOU BLOCKHEAD, AND NOW YOU JUST STEP IN AND TELL ME YOU'RE SAFE AND SOUND?!"
"Woah, wait, Evans, what…?"
"How dare you stand here like this?!", Lily screamed hysterically.
"I…"
"You scared everyone to death, you idiot!"
"WOULD YOU JUST SHUT UP?" James yelled at her. He noticed the murderous flash in her eyes and added: "…Please?"
Lily crossed her arms and pursed up angrily.
"Should I apologize for being bashed on the head with a Bludger or what?" James asked a bit more moderate.
"No, you dumbbell." Lily grumbled. "We just didn't make peace and I didn't know if you were alive and… well, I didn't want you to die without closing our case."
James looked at her perplexed for a moment. A few moments later he raised his eyebrows enlightened.
"Oh, so you're conscience is speaking right now. You had a sense of guilt because we didn't make it up."
"You should have had it too.", hissed Lily.
"I have", James replied. "That's why I prepared this for you."

He stretched his right arm. There was a small gift box in his hand. Lily wanted to say she doesn't want it, but what would it look like? She also bought a present for him. Maybe they can live in peace with each other this way.

Lily reached for the gift. She looked up a waiting James and pulled the ribbon on the top of the wrapping. In the box there was a long bookmark-like thing, made of brown leather. Lily took it out of the box to examine the crooked letters on it. The letters read: I'm sorry. Lily didn't really know what to say.

"Yeah, uh, I made it", said James, ruffling his hair, "I know it's not a big deal and it's kind of… well, it sucks, but…"
"Thanks." Lily smiled at him.
It wasn't a fake smile, but a wholehearted one. She really found the bookmark beautiful (and useful, too), even though it looked like it was made by a ten year old kid.
"You know, I received your present, too", James grinned.
"Uh, it was just…" Lily made a mouth. "It was just a symbolic gift, I wanted to…"
James finished her sentence: "…express that you want to end the war."
"Exactly." Lily nodded.

They stood face to face each other and smiled. Just before any of them could have said something, they heard a large bang and Sirius landed on the floor, right from the top of the staircase which led to the boys' dormitory. He ran his fingers through his medium length, curly hair and asked: "Have you finished? We've got to go to Quidditch practice, Prongs!"

"What?", Lily glanced at him. "He's just got back from the hospital!", she said irritated.
James smiled at her apologetically. "Sorry Lily, but we're already lagging behind."
He kissed Lily on her cheek and followed Sirius through the portrait of the Fat Lady. Lily became fully paralyzed. Remus stepped next to her while Peter tried to catch up with the boys.

Remus shook his head with a soft smile on his face.
"They never learn, do they?"