#12daysofjilychristmas

It is strange, not spending the day and night with each other. Usually the only time they’re apart these days is on missions. No one gives them any time to think about it though. James’ house is full and it’s enough of a task to keep them at either end of it, James confined to the East Wing and Lily to the West.

Euphemia flits between the two ends, keeping everything in order and occasionally forcing tasters down people’s throats, catching them unawares.

“You do know it’s an intimate gathering don’t you mum?” James calls after her as she scurries away after attacking him with a spoonful of mousse. Judging from the amount of food he’s tried, she’s cooking for no less than a hundred.

The boys are spread across the library, Sirius browsing through the books on Latin poetry whilst Peter attempts to throw confetti into Remus’ tea. They’re meant to be working out the best way to set up the marquee but it’s simple magic and it’s much more interesting to just be together. If James closes his eyes, he can imagine that they’re third years again, sat in their dorm room after a long day of trying to annoy Filch.

“Are we going to le-“ Remus starts, only to be interrupted by James and Sirius at the same time.

“Anyone fancy a trip to the village?”

Marlene sees them leave, they’re sneaking not so great when the Potter household has about a hundred windows looking over every bit of surrounding land. “They’re off.” She announces to the room, spinning around with her hand stretched out. “Money please.”

“No way –“ Mary leaps up to look out the window but, sure enough, the four of them are running across the front lawn towards the protective perimeter. “Bloody Merlin.” She reaches into her pocket and hands Marlene two galleons.

“I can’t believe you thought they’d last longer than an hour MacDonald,” Marlene tuts.

“Amateur.” Lily laughs from her seat in front of the fireplace, not even looking up.

“If they’ve left, does that mean we can start drinking?” They’re meant to be making sure Lily’s dress fits, but it does and it’s a lot easier to just be together.

“I don’t see why not.” Mary flicks her wrist and the bottle of champagne on the table pops open and pours itself into three glasses. “To Lily and James.”

-

The day plays itself away and before long it’s the next morning and they’re disapparating, everyone crossing the perimeter in groups of no less than three.

Ideally, they would have married in the garden, or at Hogwarts if James’ drunken ramblings were anything to go off, but it was too dangerous. The whole Order was invited and it was too risky for everyone to be at a known location. So Wales it was.

Lily and Remus had found a perfect spot. Isolated and beautiful, there was a small cottage, abandoned or at least empty for the summer, on the edge of a meadow filled with dainty wild flowers. That’s where the girls wait whilst the boys set up the marquee in the meadow and Euphemia and Fleamont transport all the food and drink over with the help of their house elf.

Peter pulls chairs from thin air and orders them into rows, enough to fit the Order and a handful more, whilst Sirius and James magic an arch to stand in as an altar and Remus goes over the perimeter one more time.

“You sure about this?” Sirius asks as he and James lower their wands to admire their finished work.

James looks at him, sharp. “What does that mean.”

Sirius’ shrugs. “Everyone else is. Isn’t it the best man’s job to make sure the groom doesn’t get cold feet?”

“How are your feet feeling?”

“Like they regret asking the question,” Sirius runs a hand through his hair and the gesture is so borrowed that James loses focus for a second. “You know what I think about Evans. You know what I think about you two together.” And, even though Sirius has never said, not outright, James does know. “Then you don’t need to ask how my feet are feeling.”

-

People begin to arrive as the sun sets, apparating outside the perimeter and answering Remus and Peter’s security questions as they pass through. Lily watches from the window as they take their seats, eyes flicking from person to person, looking for anything suspicious.

Nothing was going to go wrong. She knew this. But she couldn’t stop herself from worrying. All of them, together, in one place, it was dangerous. Dumbledore had almost told them they couldn’t invite everyone and then McGonagall had pulled him aside for a word. Lily spots the Transfiguration professor now, being wrapped up in a hug by James. Although she’s too far away to see McGonagall’s face, Lily knows she’s holding back a smile.

“Ready?” Remus’ voice makes her turn and she smiles at him, shrugging.

“I think I’ve been ready for a while. What do you think?” She grabs at her dress and holds out the skirt, twirling for him.

“I think you look beautiful.”

She laughs, “thank you.”

He holds out her hand for her and she takes it, grateful that it’s him walking down her the aisle. As a girl, she’d always thought it would be her dad next to her on her wedding day but his death last year had taken that away from her.

Remus had been shocked when she asked, of course. But he’d said yes.

“You look good too. Very handsome,” she tells him as they walk down the stairs to join Marlene and Mary.

“I’ve heard the rumours about weddings, thought I’d put some effort in,” he pretends to puff out his chest and she rolls her eyes.

“Who knew the marauders could scrub up so well?” They’re wearing matching dress robes, the only difference the tiny animal footprints embroidered on their collars. You’d have to lean in closely to see them and Lily hadn’t been surprised to find out they were Sirius’ idea.

“Everyone.” Marlene says, impatient. “Now hurry up, you can’t be late to your own wedding.”

“They’re literally right outside Marls, it’s fine.” Lily reassures her bridesmaid.

“Well let’s get outside then.”

Mary shoves Marlene’s boquet into her hand and pushes her through the door, “Follow us in 20 seconds, okay? Good luck.” She gives Lily a bright smile and then follows Marlene who, unable to react now everyone seated has turned around to watch the cottage, is walking slowly towards the aisle.

“20 seconds to run.” Remus whispers.

“You scared you’re going to lose Potter to me?”

“You know when you say ‘I do’ that you’re saying it to all four of us, Evans, don’t be daft.”

“I do.” She looks up at him with a grin and he nudges her shoulder.

“Time to go.”

The walk up the aisle felt like forever. It was only a few metres long but, it was too many metres away from him. She’s wearing snitch earrings and is pretty sure this is why James is crying when she reaches him at the altar.

“Look after her,” Remus says as he kisses Lily on the cheek then goes to stand behind Sirius. James manages a strangled ‘shut up’ before he snatches up Lily’s hand and pulls her in for a quick kiss.

Their guests titter, and Euphemia tells James to behave, but Lily doesn’t mind that he’s not meant to kiss her until later.

The minister clears his throat and James steps back, sheepish. “It’s been a while.”

“24 hours.” Sirius mutters behind him.

The minister clears his throat again and starts to talk, but Lily isn’t listening to any of it. She’s too busy staring at James, her fiancé, her James, her soon to be husband. She knows he isn’t listening to a word either because he’s too busy grinning and Lily has never loved a smile more.

“ –the rings.” Peter steps forward and they tear their eyes away from each other to accept the rings, simple gold bands with each other’s name inscribed on the inside.

It’s a haze as they slip the rings onto each other’s fingers and the minister gets them to repeat their vows, simple, muggle ones, and then suddenly they’re saying ‘I do’ and Lily realises she’s crying and laughing as James dips and kisses her, softly and furiously all at once.

She can hear clapping in the background but, as he pulls away, James whispers “I love you Mrs Potter,” into her ear and she hears that as loud as a crescendo, in her ear, in her veins, in her heart.

“Stop hogging the bride,” then Sirius is pulling them apart and scooping her up and spinning her around and it’s the first time she’s seen him smile in months and it’s brighter than all of the lanterns hovering above them.

Lily turns around, along with the fifty or so other people who are in the line too. She can’t see very well, she’s been avoiding making her Specsavers appointment until she gets paid, and squints at the figure that starts to move slowly forward.

He’s wearing a bobble hat with a matching scarf that covers almost the entirety of his face apart from sweet hazel eyes underneath some wonky glasses. He must feel the burning stares of everyone around them (one lady remarks, rather loudly, to her partner, “It’s like an episode of Corrie!” as he passes) because he thrusts his hands into the pockets of his big red coat and stumbles slightly as he reaches the kiosk.

Grumpy Mr Scrooge still shows no sign of emotion and presses something on his keyboard. There’s a DING! of a bell as two freshly printed tickets fall gracefully out of the machine.

“You are couple number thirty-eight, when your time is up your number shall be shown on the board and you will have to leave immediately. Thank you for skating in Santa’s Lapland. NEXT!”

The couple behind her shove their way forward and Lily and her sudden partner are forced to follow the line of people going towards the skating shoes.

“Thank you,” Lily says as they each grab a pair of skates, “for - err - doing that.”

“Not at all,” the boy shrugs. “That guy was a right old fart though. What’s so wrong about single skating? It’s not the end of the world if someone isn’t in a couple.”

His skates slam down on the bench, and he plops down next to them and attends to his dirty white nikes. Lily follows numbly after him, not mentioning how the icy cold of the bench is shockingly numbing her buttocks.

“I’m James by the way,” he’s taken off his hat now and tufts of soft looking black curls cascade past his temples. It’s an absolute mess, but it fits his physique immensely and makes him look an absolute dream.

“Lily!” is her immediate reply, thrusting out her arm for him to shake.

It feels like she’s in a sauna, sweat dripping down her back as he takes her hand and gives it a firm shake. Her feet are tingling and she forces her eyes back to her skates. They spend the next few minutes in silence, putting away their shoes and fidgeting with their coats.

He stands. “Shall we?”

Santa Baby starts playing as they waddle towards the rink like penguins and Lily can’t help but wonder if this is a fix set up by Mary - that her friend is actually hidden behind a one way mirror and not in bed with a stuffy nose surrounded by wet, snotty tissues.

The idea becomes less likely when James steps out onto the rink and, four seconds later, is already sprawled out with his bottom in the air. A bubble of laughter escapes her throat as she helps him up and he tightens his grip on her sweaty hand.

Three minutes later it’s apparent that they’re both terrible skaters.

They hold onto each other, arms connected and hips touching, as they grasp at the walls. Couples skate by and do twirls and jumps around them, but Lily and James shuffle and wobble in their own happy, little world.

“Why did you want to go skating when you’re so bad at it?” Lily asks when they both tumble for the tenth time. It’s her fault this time - she loses her balance and skids, hitting the wall with her shoulders and James crashes straight into her chest.

Bobble hat straightened, scarf tied a little tighter around his neck so his red cheeks are slightly hidden, James lets out a laugh. “Believe it or not, I actually took skating classes when I was younger.”

“You didn’t,” Lily grins.

“Okay,” James halts and rests his arms against the wall. Lily struggles to balance and he leans forwards to pull her with him. She mutters out a hushed ‘thank you’ and tries to calm her pounding heart. “So I went to three in total, but that still totally counts. Right?”

“Totally.”

“And I thought, for old times sake, why not go ice skating in Santa’s Lapland Skating Rink on the opening day of the Christmas markets?”

“Falling on your arse in front of hundreds of strangers, what better way to spend your Thursday evening. Right?”

He smiles, eyes twinkling under the colourful lights of the christmas trees that surround them.

“Exactly. And I would never have had the pleasure of meeting you. There’s no one else I would rather fall on my arse with,”

The board, decorated with snowmen lights and stars, flashes out the number THIRTY EIGHT and Lily stares at it in disdain.

Thirty minutes isn’t enough time at all, when all she wants to do is just talk to this enigmatic and dazzling guy until the stars fade and fall from the sky.

She blinks and his smile seems to fade as he notices the board too.

“Guess our time is up,” he says with a sad kind of clarity. They turn back around, still holding onto each other and the wall as they slowly make their way back to the exit.

Lily takes out her phone quickly, suddenly remembering why she even started this whole nightmare to begin with.

“Is that snapchat?” he laughs, his breath tickling her neck so softly that she jumps and almost drops her phone. He’s right behind her, staring goofily into the camera of her phone.

“I kinda promised my friend I’d take a picture at the rink. She wanted to come too but her nose was running like a tap and she had a fever.”

James nods. “Want me to take it for you?”

“Or we could - I don’t know - take one together?” she chokes out, eyes racing towards the exit where a security guard watches them with beady eyes.

“You don’t have to though,” she continues, laughing a little awkwardly as she moves her phone towards her pocket.

“I’d love to!”

His smile seems like it could lighten up a completely darkened alley-way and she grins as he moves closer towards her and pulls a funny face.

Three saved photos later (all filtered with santa hats, dog ears and time stamps) and a hurried selfie saved to her story, they make their way back to the exit, apologising hurriedly to the security guard who taps his watch with urgency.

It’s like a military operation; they hurry to take off their skates, dash to collect their shoes and bags and are chased out of the rink like they’ve committed a crime.

Mr Scrooge still looks grumpy, stomping away at his keyboard as he tends to the endless line of customers.

“Think you’ll come again with your friend?” he asks as they walk together to one of the drink stalls. It’s freezing, and they decide that a hot drink would be perfect to thaw their icy bodies.

“Never again,” she replies in an instant. “It was a complete rip off! Thirty minutes and we paid a tenner each?”

“You should tell your mate it was amazing, absolutely the best moment of your life and film her reaction when she calls your bluff. What do you want?” he points to the menu and waits expectantly for her answer.

When she says ‘Cherry Amaretto Hot Chocolate’ and he asks for two of said drink, slamming down a twenty pound note at the till, she slowly begins to process what’s happening.

“I can pay for my drink, it’s okay.” she mumbles, reaching for her purse that’s buried somewhere in her bag. His hand grasps onto hers, there’s an electrifying jolt that flurries around in her body. It feels like stars are burning, the earth shaking and tumbling underneath them. She’s lost in his eyes.

“I want to, please.”

They find a table near the rear-end of the hut where the lights are dimmed and the echo of the ongoing Christmas music is a little quieter.

Mary instantly spams Lily with a number of texts, asking who is the divinely handsome bloke on her snapchat (she even includes a winky face, which Lily decisively ignores).

He sips at his drink, blowing it delicately because it’s still too hot to drink. He says he’s going to give it a whirl, asks her to wish him luck, and takes a small sip at it.

His eyes widen and pulls away fast, fanning his mouth. “That’s piping hot! By heck! I think I’ve scalded my lips.”

He’s got a milk moustache, and his eyes seem to be tearing up from the temperature of the drink.

A thought races through her brain and she takes a second to ponder at it. She’s laughing at him, pointing to his lips and he’s smirking as he wipes his sleeve against his mouth.

Is it just her or are they slowly moving closer towards each other?

They’re like magnets, desperate to connect and embrace.

Under the dim lights, where his hair still sticks up like a wild animal and his cheeks seem to glow, they share an apprehensive look.

It’s mutual.

She places a soft kiss on his lips, feeling light-headed and energised at the same time. Her toes are curling with happiness and her body feels weightless when he kisses back. His eyes flutter closed and it feels so intimate to share such a thing, but not see it take place.

It doesn’t matter though. She shuts her eyes tight, holding onto his hand like they were made to fit into hers.

Meanwhile, Lily Evans was scolding her husband - “I can’t believe you kept this stupid Santa suit from 7th year.”

“I did make a vow at our wedding to always keep you on your toes- besides, I figured Harry’s presents should be delivered properly,” James was laughing.

“Take that stupid beard off so I can kiss you properly, Potter,” Lily smirked

“As you wish, Potter,” and James removed the beard. Lily didn’t complain when he took off the Santa suit shortly thereafter.

Mr. and Mrs. Potter didn’t sleep a wink on Christmas Eve either.

Which is why no member of the Potter family complained about starting the Christmas Day festivities at 6am when Remus and Sirius Lupin pounded on their front door.

Harry was quick to answer the door and hugged both of his uncles with a “Happy Christmas”

Lily quickly prepared the coffee, tea, cinnamon rolls and (most important of all) bacon for all as Remus and Sirius helped Harry organize the presents. As their breakfast baked, the family happily opened the presents underneath the tree. Harry was excited to receive a new broomstick and a set of quidditch balls. He was busy polishing his new broom with Uncle Sirius while his mummy, daddy and Uncle Remus went to make something called “Bloody Mary’s.”.

Sirius was halfway through telling Harry about a post quidditch party when his mummy first kissed his daddy when he stopped talking and asked Harry, “You aAlright there, little Prongs? You’ve been awfully quiet for Christmas.”

Harry flushed red and responded, “Can you keep a secret?”

“Of course mate, that’s what Uncle/Godfathers are for,” Sirius told him as he ruffled his hair.

“Alright,” Harry started, “I got really thirsty last night and went to the kitchen for some water. I knew I wasn’t supposed to, but I needed some water.”

Uncle Sirius simply nodded, as if this was natural (and as if he was a little proud that Harry had broken a rule).

“But when I looked into the lounge,” Harry continued solemnly, “I saw mummy kissing Santa Claus. And she wasn’t even under the mistletoe!”

Uncle Sirius first made a sound that sounded almost like his laugh, then he started coughing, then he looked a little sick and finally finally spoke in his serious (as his mummy called it) lawyer voice and said, “Yeah mate. Well obviously we have to tell your dad.”

Naturally, this was when the rest of the adults returned and handed Sirius the nasty looking red drink. Sirius thanked his daddy and said, “Oi, Evans- be a dear and bring in the extra bacon.”

Harry watched his mummy roll her eyes and exit to the kitchen.

His daddy started “Sirius- what the f…”

“Listen Prongs- little Prongs has something to tell you-“ Sirius nodded to his godson and Harry spilled it all or again- “I got really thirsty last night and went to the kitchen for some water. I knew I wasn’t supposed to but I needed some water. when I looked into the lounge, I saw mummy kissing Santa Claus. And she wasn’t even under the mistletoe.”

There was a moment of silence. And then his daddy starting coughing and stated, “Right well, guess I better go talk with your mum.”

Harry watched his daddy leave, and started to play exploding snap with his uncles. When he asked “Why?” Uncle Sirius told him, “This’ll probably take a while, mate.”

James Potter entered the kitchen where his wife was plating more bacon and mixing another Bloody Mary with a stern expression on his face. “Lil, we need to talk,” he started.

Lily sighed, “Look, I know you only wanted to give Harry 6 presents but I really really thought he would love the Puddlemere jersey and would want to wear it to the next match and we’ve done all sorts of projects to help others so I know he’ll know the meaning of-“

James stopped Lily’s tirade the only way he knew how- by pressing his lips against hers.

“That isn’t the problem, love,” James started again, “Our problem is that our son saw you kissing Santa Claus last night and you weren’t event under the mistletoe”

All of the blood drained from Lily’s face.

“What the fuck was he doing out of bed?!?” she groaned

“Poor lad was thirsty- seems his mum forgot his water,” James chastised her.

“FUCK. fuck. What are we going to do?” she whispered

“I suppose with just have to tell him the truth,” James started.

“NO! No! Petunia ruined Santa for me when I was eight. And I won’t let it happen to Harry.” And Lily began pacing.

James knew the best thing to do was allow her to pace and work out the problem. After about three minutes she slowed to a stop.

“Alright. I’ve got it.” Lily grimaced, “We have to get divorced. My law firm can do it in a day. Old lady Levins is very quick with divorces and then Harry will have two Christmases and you won’t have to be married to a harlot. Then in 5 years we can reconcile and get married again.”

James blinked at Lily, “Lil- that’s-“

“Brilliant I know! Obviously we can just apparate back and forth to still stay the night with each other but only when Harry is asleep. He will never know and Santa will still be sacred,” Lily stopped pacing and actually fucking grinned at him.

“Lily. No. We’re not staging some Sirius Black level subterfuge to just convince our son that Santa is real,” James stated, totally exasperated

“Keep your voice down!” Lily whisper yelled at him, “Santa is real! He lives in all of us!”

At this moment, Remus came into the kitchen and asked “Everything ok in here?”

“Thank God it’s you Remus and not your daft husband,” James exclaimed- relief evident in his posture. “Please tell Lily staging a fake divorce is the worst way to handle this situation!!”

“How about the truth?” Remus asked in his teacher voice

“NO!” Lily exclaimed

“Lily, Harry is plenty old enough. You’re going to continue to make Christmas magical with or without Santa,” Remus encouraged her.

Lily, tears in her eyes, exhaled, “I just thought we’d have more time.”

With this, Remus and James pulled her into a group hug. After a few tears and bemoaning “where does time go?” Lily finally gave in and said, “the truth. Right, let’s go”

The trio entered into the lounge. As they entered, Sirius and Harry quit their game of Exploding Snap. Lily walked over to Harry and grabbed his hands and started, “Harry, I know you saw me kissing Santa Claus last night. And I just wanted to tell you the truth,” here she took a shaky breath and continued, “the truth is that Santa-“

Suddenly James’ voice broke through, “The truth is Santa is an old friend!!! He forgot the best time to deliver the present to the great squid at Hogwarts was at dawn. And Godric’s Hollow was his last stop so he flooed me and asked me to fill in! Mummy was so happy I helped him she gave me a kiss” he finished lamely.

Four pairs of eyes looked to him disbelievingly.

“Yes, Harry,” Lily said with a little too much amusement in her voice, “We didn’t want you to be upset that Santa had to call in reinforcements.”

Harry was quiet for several moments, “I guess that makes sense”

All the adults present let out a breath they didn’t even know they were holding and then- Harry started again, “But why would Santa choose you daddy? Uncle Sirius’ hair is more like Santa’s- ad he already has a beard”

Silence fell again.

Then laugher.

Lily slung her bag over her shoulder and settled herself on the edge of the statue. She flashed a smile at James and then slid down. It was a tight fit. James was thin, but he was still quite a bit broader than her. He’d really have to contort himself to get through.

“What do you think?” James asked, hovering over the opening.

“Try head first. I’ll pull you down,” she said, reaching her hands toward him. James handed his school bag down to her and after she’d set it down, he grabbed her hands and tried to curl his shoulders inward enough to fit.

“I’m going to get stuck with my arse in the air, aren’t I?” he said just a touch miserably.

“In that case, maybe you should have been the one to go first. I hate that I’m missing that view,” Lily grunted as she tried to pull him. She took a step back and leaned against the wall for leverage.

“I knew you only agreed to date me for my arse. Well, that’s what Sirius said, actually, but I knew it, too.”

Lily snorted. She grabbed him around the upper arms and yanked. James made a high pitched yelping sound as his shoulders slipped through the passage, followed closely by the rest of him and he landed half on top of Lily in a tangle of limbs.

As soon as she caught her breath, Lily burst into a fit of laughter. Less than twenty minutes into their first date and it was was already more memorable than any other she’d ever had. James was laughing, too, as he straightened his glasses and pulled himself to his feet. And when he reached out his hand to help her up, he was smiling like he’d just been granted his greatest wish.

Above them, the statue’s hump moved back into place. The tunnel was in complete darkness. James cast a silent lumos and held his wand in front of them.

“Better get going. It’ll take us a while to get there,” he said and started walking.

Lily decided not to ask anymore where there was. She was already having fun and she didn’t want to spoil whatever James had planned for them. Instead, she sprinted to catch up with James’s brisk pace.

“So,” Lily started when she was shoulder to shoulder with him. “Sirius talks about your arse a lot, does he?”

“You’d be surprised how often the topic comes up.”

***

Almost an hour later, Lily regretted ever thinking she was having fun. Fuck James. And fuck his plans.

It was late. Probably almost 10. And her feet were tired and the tunnel was dark and cramped and sometimes she had to crouch and duck down to continue. When James showed her the secret passage, she thought it led to somewhere else in the castle or maybe somewhere on the grounds. But for as long as they’d been walking, the tunnel must lead out of Hogwarts entirely.

Finally, finally, James came to a stop in front of her. He turned around, his face glowing a golden brown in the wandlight, and the corner of his lips turned up into a sheepish smile.

“Yes, sorry it took so long,” he said, rubbing a hand through the back of his hair. “I know this wasn’t so great of a start, but I swear it’s worth it. We’ll try a different way when we go back.”

Lily decided not to respond to that. She wasn’t sure she could keep herself from making a smart reply if she opened her mouth. She did trust James. If he’d taken her this far away from the castle, then it was worth it, just as he’d said. She swallowed her irritation and returned his smile.

That was all the encouragement he needed. He ascended the steep steps carved into the stone in front of them and shoved open a trapdoor that had been disguised to match the rest of the tunnel. He turned back to her again and gestured for her to follow him.

“Where are we exactly?” she asked as she pulled herself through the door and took stock of their new surroundings. It looked like a storage room; there were large wooden crates stacked all around.

“Honeydukes’ cellar,” James declared to the dusty room.

“Honeydukes,” Lily repeated. James nodded enthusiastically. “James, what? Aren’t they closed?”

“Well, to customers, yes. But, you know the owners live above the shop and they just so happen to host a dinner party for their friends every other Friday. I did think this through. We can still get out through the front door. They won’t have put any enchantments up.”

Lily gaped at him. How many times had James and his friends sneaked into Hogsmeade this way to know all this?

“C’mon,” James said, taking her by the elbow. He led her out of the cellar and into the shop. It looked so much different when it wasn’t crammed with students talking and laughing and teasing each other with jars of cockroach clusters.

The bells on the shop door tinkled as they stepped out onto the high street. A light snow was coming down, the flakes drifting lazily towards the ground.

Lily had always associated Hogsmeade with a frenzied, chaotic sort of energy: run here, run there, squeeze through the packs of students to order a drink at the Three Broomsticks, duck into the alley to avoid a classmate, get back to the school before the dinner rush. Here in the darkness with only James at her side, it was like she was seeing the village entirely anew.

She heard James cast a warming charm around them and then he took her hand in his, tugging her gently down the lane. They were the only ones out. Most of the shops were dark, but Lily could see the candles glowing in the windows of the wizard homes in the distance.

They walked together in silence, the quiet itself like a spell neither of them wanted to risk breaking. Lily knew that moments like these were scarce. And they would become nearly non-existent once they finished school and were fully embroiled in the war. They would have to forge this time - the quiet, the happiness, the peace - for themselves.

With James, she knew that was possible.

It was Sirius who managed it first, but only by an hour or two. Years after, if asked for one of their greatest memories of all of the adventures they had together, becoming animagi together would remain the answer.  It was a pivotal moment not only in their development from children to young men, but in the evolution of their very friendship. Close as brothers when they started their journey towards illegally transfiguring themselves, their bond after was sacred and unyielding.

Three months into fifth year, two days after a full moon, there was a lightning storm. Remus was still in the hospital, Peter had not returned from detention with Professor Sprout from a prank in class gone awry. Sirius and James snuck out of the castle under the invisibility cloak. It was not past curfew - most people were at dinner, so the use of the cloak was a bit unnecessary. But it added an element of mystique to the proceedings, and if there was one thing that the boys could appreciate together, it was the added flare.

They headed straight to the Quidditch field, putting up Alertness Charms as they went that Remus had found and suggested they learn if they wanted to be successful at this ridiculous endeavor. He had long ago stopped trying to talk James and Sirius out of their plan. Instead, sometime in third year, he had stopped ignoring their schemes and adopted the role of research assistant. He devoted most of his time not consumed by Prefect duties and homework to coming up with new spells that would aid the other boys. Most of the time it meant helping Peter, who lacked the natural gumption that fueled most of Potter and Black’s successes.

The weather was atrocious. Rain pelted down on the two figures and the and bent the trees into gruesome stick figures, shedding the last of their leaves in an angry shake. “Lovely day for a stroll, isn’t it, mate!?” Sirius threw his arm around James’s shoulder and raised his face to the sky, feeling the rain beat down on his cheeks and wet his hair. James grinned and crowed a whoop of delight.

The two boys were already soaking wet and James could barely see thanks to the rain running down in sheets on his glasses.  His thick, wiry hair stuck up in giant, wet poofs all of his head, making him look like a tall, gangly troll. Sirius, who was broader but not taller than James, could feel his longer, shaggier hair curl up around his shoulders as it dripped down onto his shoulders.

“Do you have your potion?” James asked and spun around them in a circle, securing the last of their protective wards against anyone who would be stupid enough (like them) to be out in the middle of the storm. A roll of thunder answered him and Sirius laughed manically, high on adrenaline and risk. He groped in his damp pocket for the small vial and showed it to James.

“Mate, this is it. You’re ready.” James gripped onto Sirius’s arm, in an attempt to calm his friend, who suddenly looked slightly putrid green, but also to comfort himself. “We have arrived!”

They had never been this close. There had been a failed attempt last year and the abysmal failure over the summer. The summer’s failure had humbled the boys and they had resolved to each other then that their next attempt would be different. It would be better. It would be controlled. It would be focused. And now they could feel the difference in the air. While damp and slightly chilly, there was a crackle of energy on the wind, occasionally erupting into actual lightning overhead.

Sirius took a deep breath and then pulled out his wand. James said nothing as the other boy concentrated on the words he needed to say, the words he had been reciting at sunrise and sunset for the better part of four months, ever since their disastrous attempt in August, and then pointed his wand straight at his heart.

“Amato Animo Animato Animagus!”

James then handed him the potion. “Cheers, brother!” He thumped Sirius on the back and took a step back. Sirius popped the cork from the vial and downed it in one swig.

At first, nothing happened. Then, with a clap of thunder roaring overhead and the buzzing of a tripped Alertness Charm, Sirius screamed. His body began to morph from its human shape. Limbs twisted in unnatural ways, cracking bones. Hair began to sprout everywhere, as dark and as thick as Sirius’s long, dark curls. James couldn’t move. His mind whirred with adrenaline and excitement. He wanted to run to check on the buzzing from the Alertness Charm, but he also felt like screaming right along with Sirius. He did neither. He was unable to take his eyes from the gruesome sight in front of him.

Sirius’s scream died on his tongue as he fell to the ground, his head elongating and disappearing in a dizzying spread of fur. His body was mutilated past the point of recognition, half human, half beast. James could see now it wasn’t hair after all, but fur and it was everywhere. Even as Sirius was shrinking in height, but not girth, the fur kept coming. Huge pads erupted from palms of his hand, which braced his fall to all fours.

The Alertness Charm buzzed again, this time closer. James had no choice this time but to turn away from the carnage in front of him and run back along their path, through the clump of trees that separated the pitch from the school.

“Lumos!” His wand’s tip erupted into a beacon of light and he held it up high, shining the light into the shadows of the small glenn. The path to the school snaked up the hill and out of sight. In the middle of it something froze. It was an animal of some kind. James hissed and approached, trying to scare it away. Closer, he could tell it was a small deer of some kind, perhaps not more than a few years old. The antlers on its head were not fully formed. It did not move, but regarded him with an interested expression and then turned, heading into the thickest part of the clump of trees and disappearing.

From down on the Quidditch field, James heard a deep bark. Whirling around again, he sprinted back down towards the pitch, searching for Sirius. Instead of the convulsing, mutilated body James had left stood a gigantic black dog. He was enormous, easily the size of the small Shetland pony that had lived in James’s back garden growing up. Absolutely covered in black fur, the dog barked again and lunged at James, who fell to his knees and through his arms around the animal. The fur felt different than regular dog hair, almost like human hair but with fur’s consistency.

“Sirius! You did it! This is…” He drew back to look into the dog’s face. The eyes were a dark brown, but danced with humor only James Potter would recognize. The dog sniffed at James’s face and then licked him with a huge pink tongue.

James laughed and pushed the dog away from his face. “Merlin, man, don’t kiss me. I know where that tongue’s been.” The dog grinned at him and then threw its head back and barked. Another clap of lightning sounded and James stood up, looking up at the sky. The dog ran around his feet, yipping and barking, making a right old racket. At James’s full height, the dog came up to almost his waist. Not expecting it, the dog jumped up to put its paws on James’s shoulders and was almost tall enough that James did not have to look down very far to see into its face.

“Easy, boy,” James said, his voice tight with affection. He was so proud of Sirius that he almost couldn’t talk. They had done it. Their plan was actually possible. Remus would not have to be alone again. At the very least, Sirius could be with him for every future transformation. The enormity of their success wrapped him in a cocoon of emotion and he reached up to pet the dog’s face again, rubbing his ears like he would any house pet.

Sirius - the dog - barked and dropped back to its front paws and then nuzzled James’s pocket where his own potion was ready to go. James pulled it out and examined the contents, then raised his head to the sky. There had been a lull in the storm and the rain had ceased in the excitement of Sirius’s own transformation and James needing to investigate the glenn.

“Think I should give it a go? It’s not the beginning of the storm anymore.”

The dog whined and then ran around James in a big circle, barking.  James laughed and then pulled out his wand and the Snitch he always carried it. He transfigured the snitch into a big rubber ball and then chucked it into the air, watching it soar across the pitch towards one of the far goal posts. Sirius howled and bolted after the ball, tail tucked behind his legs as he took off, trying out his new form.

James could not let himself feel disappointed about not being able to attempt his own transformation tonight. Their years of hard work had paid off. It was not often in James’s life, nor would happen often in the future, that he felt overwhelmingly proud of the work he had done. But in this moment, he did. He watched Sirius catch the ball in his mouth and dart back towards him. And he laughed. It had begun to rain again and he threw his head back and he laughed as the rain poured down around him and the sounds of a happy dog filled the air.

Almost an hour later, the storm had ended but the rain had not. Sirius had finally grown tired of playing fetch and had joined James in the first row of the Quidditch stands. The Snitch had been transfigured back from a ball to its original form and James threw it up into the sky and then jumped up to retrieve it. He felt drunk on their success every time he looked down at the dog laying at his feet.

It was now getting late, growing darker by the minute, and James wondered if they should head back to school. He was almost hesitant to suggest it, not wanting to ruin the momentous occasion but also desperately wanting to fill Remus and Peter in on the events of their evening.

“What do you think, boy?” James leaned down and stroked the dog’s ears. “Think we should head on back?”

At the suggestion, the dog growled and shook its great head. Overhead, a clap of thunder rumbled and James instantly glanced at the sky. Dark clouds, which had felt just like encroaching darkness, had rolled in from the west and lent an eery feeling to the deserted pitch.

“I think it might storm again,” James whispered, hope and excitement both leaping together in his chest. He pulled out his own potion and held it up to the dog’s face. As if to answer his summation, lightning flashed and James could see the reflection in the dog’s big, brown eyes. Sirius started to howl and James began to laugh again. “Okay, let’s try!”

It was hours later when James and Sirius finally donned the invisibility cloak and slunk back up the hill to the school. James had, with little doubt once he had watched his best friend do it for himself, mastered the animagus form and had transformed into a gigantic stag.

They were drunk on youth, ambition, success, and luck. Thus, as they stumbled back into the Great Hall, an hour past curfew and most of their long legs sticking out of the bottom of the invisibility cloak, it could have been a disastrous end to their evening had they been found by anyone other than Lily Evans and Remus Lupin.

However, since that fateful night was no one’s but theirs, disaster was averted. James slid the cloak from their frames at the sight of Remus descending the stairs and waved. Sirius bobbed on his feet with palpable excitement.

“Remus!” Sirius hollered, charging forward towards their friend. “We did it!”

Remus, who had been talking in low murmurs to Lily Evans, froze. He looked instantly to James for confirmation, who nodded as he bounded up the stairs after Sirius and pulled Remus into a tight hug.

“It’s true, mate. Every word.” Too enthralled with their success, he barely remembered Evans until after he had let go of him. Instantly, his hand went to his hair. Ever since the beginning of that year, Lily Evans had made him nervous.

“Uh, hey there, Evans.”

She frowned at him in response. “Potter. Black. You two are out after curfew. Remus, I really don’t think we can just let them…” She turned to Remus, who was still speechless and was now almost sagging against Sirius. Whatever color he had regained from surviving another full moon was gone.

“Remus?” Her eyes went to Sirius and then they narrowed. “Black, what did you mean, ‘you did it?’ Did what exactly?”

Sirius beamed. “Changed the course of history, Evans! We’re…we’re Marauders!” He pulled at Remus, clutching him now around the waist with one hand. Remus had apparently lost all powers of speech. “Come on, pal. We’ll show you ourselves. Right now. We just need to go and collect poor Pete from purgatory down in the greenhouses.”

“But it’s after curfew…!” Lily began, but Sirius wasn’t listening as he pulled Remus towards the door leading out of the Great Hall. James cut in.

“Look, Evans…” He paused. The enormity of what he and Sirius had achieved that night hit him squarely in the face. James had thought he knew the consequences well enough when they had come to their decision all of those years ago about becoming Animagi, but they had been children. He was older now, maybe not a man yet, but clearly someone who was now required to wrestle with the consequences the actions of his youth brought.

Lily watched Sirius and Remus disappear outside and then looked up at James, her frown deep and disturbed. “Tell me, Potter, why I should not confiscate your invisibility cloak and march you straight to Professor Dumbledore’s office myself? I am never surprised by your audacity, but your brazen disrespect for the rules and your willingness to allow your friends to be swept up along with you is disgusting.”

On a normal evening, this would have made James at once disappointed and angry at the same time. But tonight her words did little to goad him. He was too busy riding the high of their triumph and basking in Remus’s stunned reaction. It felt too good. Everything would be okay from here on out.

“Evans, can I ask you something?” He bent over to retrieve the cloak that had fallen to his feet when he had hugged Remus.  “Have you ever done something for a friend that would change their life? For the better? And you didn’t do it because someone told you to or because it would be a good laugh? But because you knew it would help them in ways - huge ways - and they would never ask you to do it but you know it’s the right thing and you did it anyway?” Words tumbled out of him at her and he finally shut his mouth, or otherwise he would have kept going.

Her face fell in shock at his honesty and without thinking, she nodded. Then she realized what she had done and blushed, breaking eye contact with him and looking at her feet.

Potter grinned. “Well, to answer your question, I can’t tell you what I did tonight because it’s not my secret to tell. But I can tell you that I made Remus’s life better. His life, after tonight, will never be the same. You don’t have to understand - or even believe me! - but if you like Remus at all, you’ll let us have this one night.” He folded his arms across his chest and smiled at her.

Lily shook her head at him, in annoyance, dismay, and a touch of bemusement. “Good grief, Potter. Get out of here. Before I start to think you’re pulling my leg to get out of trouble.”