#giinyweasley

Anyway, far be it from me to witter on about myself (as highly entertaining as that might be), I should really ask you about your hols - though efforts may be futile considering our shameful letters to responses ratio in times gone by.  Luckily for you, I’m not one to cower in the face of constant, merciless rejection. How are your hols, Evans? Are you enjoying yourself? Did you get a lump of coal in your stocking? Sirius did.

Evans, I’m very bored. Mum’s rallying the House Elves and seems to be setting fire to the WORLD’S BIGGEST CHRISTMAS PUD, and naturally Sirius is drawn to the flames (renowned pyromaniac that he is) but alas, I am unmoved. I would usually be found next to my best friend, restraining his poor little hands, lest he get burned, but today, I do not have the strength. I don’t mean to lay the blame entirely at your feet, but I do have reason to suspect it is your fault. For instance, you have hair that is the exact same colour as these flames – which are likely to get out of control soon if mum’s not careful – and therefore, I am very distracted by thoughts of your ugly mug. If only you would return one of my letters, or GOD WILLING, RSVP to my gilded invitation to our New Years party which you have NEVER ATTENDED. You are missing out!!!! Also your invite was the only one gilded so you really should repay me with your presence. It is only fair and I know how you feel about fairness, Evans. I really do.

Anyway, I’d be much obliged if you’d come. Mary’s invited too, and Alice ALWAYS COMES. Marlene may as well be living here but I can’t be sure she’ll make an appearance as it appears the task of saving Sirius’ fingers has fallen to her and her hair is already singed. Perhaps she would be glad of your support too, at New Years, given her potentially very drastic new haircut.

Merry Christmas again, EvansLily , Lily Evans! See you at school, if not on New Years Eve!

Yours, James Potter

P.S. Even if you say yes, there’s still a chance my house might burn down any second and you won’t have to come at all anyway. But you’ll have said yes and you’ll have made me embarrassingly happy in the seconds before my fiery death – think of that Evans! A dying man’s wish!

P.P.S. Mum says hi. Padfoot and Marlene also say things but they can write their own letters with their bandaged stumps when this pudding fire is over with. See you!

Christmas 1977

Dear Lily,

I hope you don’t mind me calling you Lily after all this time, but seeing as it’s your name I’m assume you don’t care about me using it.

Also we snogged and if that doesn’t suggest a move to first name terms, I don’t know what does.

I meant to write a bit more before I used the word “snogged” in this letter, but here we are, and I’m running out of parchment so you’ll have to lump it. And anyway, if you can’t say “snogged” 2 lines down in a Christmas letter, when can you say it?

Sirius says I’m being a pansy. I’ve turned him into a cactus in return, which I think is fair.

As always, your absence in these most wintery of hols is very depressing, Lily. I know you’ve already said you’ll come to my New Years party again, but mum and dad say you can come a bit earlier if you fancy it. You don’t have to, of course, I’m not going to combust or be a wanker about it, but the offer’s there nonetheless.

I’ll save you a bit of mildly charred Christmas pud if you like. I know how much you enjoyed it last year. It won’t be exactly the same of course, seeing as mum wasn’t feeling up to making it, but the house elves have done alright.

Fuck it – Lily, please visit soon! I miss you! The Christmas pud misses you! Merlin knows Sirius is missing me and I’m not myself without you (please show no one this letter or I’ll be forced to revoke snogging rights and I’m counting on that to be threatening enough.)

Also mum actually won’t shut up about you. You made quite the impression last year, but I think it’s mostly because she’s fed up of being stuck with me, dad and Padfoot for company. Pads is particularly useless, seeing as he keeps apparating into her room with cups of tea and spilling them all over the carpet. I think she’d be happy to see someone competent, with more than half a brain cell and unfortunately, Pete knocked my last one off with a well-placed bludger yesterday. I’m now both frighteningly stupid and in pain. Only you can end our misery – both mum’s and mine, though hopefully your technique will differ depending on which of us you’re helping. I don’t mean to labour the point about the snogging and all, but I could really do with some now. Mum, on the other hand, would be pleased with a fruitcake at most.

Anyway, I hope you’re all well in Cokeworth. Say hello to your parents. And to your sister if she’s there (though I suppose she’d prefer it if you didn’t mention me, so that’s fine too. It can be my present to her instead.)

 You should come here as soon as possible, if you can! After all, it’s sodding Christmas, Lily! It’s a time of goodwill and snogging and fuck all else!

Happy Christmas, Lily!

Yours, James

P.S. I hope you like your present! It’s not from Zonko’s this year!

Christmas 1978

Dear Lily,

Merry Christmas, love! Sorry me and dad couldn’t come for Christmas dinner, as much as we wanted to. My Aunt Mildred insisted on coming round to help with stuff and my dad hadn’t the heart to say no. Between me and you though, I don’t think he’s got the heart for anything much these days. Christmas has been a bit odd this year.

Sirius is here, as always. Couldn’t get rid of him if I tried (and I have tried.) He’s living in Diagon Alley now though, which of course you already know because he probably sent you that weird letter about it too, seeing as you’re practically one of us now. Yes, that’s right, Evans – shagging me was initiation.

I hope your mum and dad and sister, and um, Vernon, if he’s there, are alright.

(Actually, I don’t really hope Vernon’s alright, I sort of hope he chokes on a pickled onion, but it’s Christmas, so I thought I’d at least try and be nice about him. Alas, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.)

Thanks for my present by the way. I loved it. Very thoughtful of you indeed!

Ach, Lils, this is so unbelievably shit. Aunt Mildred has kept me from you and it’s you I really need (insert image of Sirius vomiting here.) It’s horrible here, all gloomy without mum and Sirius is trying to set alight to the Christmas pud without help. As if things couldn’t get any worse! Anyway, my point is, I’m feeling a shade less Christmassy than usual and could do with a steady glass of whisky and a mince pie. And I reckon Aunt Milly will let me out later – fancy a quick trip to the pub? I promise I’ll leave Sirius at home... If not, if you’re busy, I understand, love. I’ll see you tomorrow instead! I’m so pleased you’re coming earlier this year. Everything’s a bit, well, hard now.

Merlin, I’m such a wet lettuce! Bloody Happy Christmas!

Write back about later! And I hope you enjoy your present! I picked it especially! Lots of love, James x

P.S. Quick heads up: I have a very important question to ask when I see you (two actually but one is slightly more important than the other. One is about trifle and I don’t know what could be more important than that really...)

  ~

Dear James, Of course, I’d love to go to the pub with you. Pick me up about 8? Vernon’s being a nightmare as usual and not a pickled onion in sight! Woe indeed. See you later and Merry Christmas, darling! Love, Lily xxx

P.S. You know I enjoyed my present you smug bastard. Thankyou. P.P.S I look forward to your questioning.

Christmas 1979

Dear Lily,

This feels a little weirder than usual, seeing as you’re only in the next room and could walk in any second. Brings a little danger to the art of letter writing and I must admit I like it. Also before you start calling this letter redundant and a waste of good parchment, let me just tell you why you are wrong first.

1.       It is tradition for me to send you a special Christmas letter.

2.        Historically speaking, Christmas is the only time you ever responded to my letters and thus I can only assume that this is the time of year you most like speaking to me.

3.       Also that you take me seriously on this most happy of days.

4.       Also historically speaking, this is somewhat of an anniversary for us. Letter-wise anyway. The first time you replied, on Boxing Day, which is tomorrow but nonetheless, you wrote the letter 4 years ago TODAY.

5.        You could perhaps call that the start of our relationship. It was, at least, the start of our very beneficial friendship.

6.       I’d feel weird if I didn’t write you a letter at Christmas.

So there, Evans! This letter is VERY important. Perhaps the MOST important, seeing as it will be the last one you receive as an Evans.

Shall I call you Evans as much as possible whilst I can?

I think I probably will.

Anyway, let me just tell you, Evans, that I love you very much and yes, I realise I’m being soppy but it’s Christmas and it’s a letter, and you really should know that I love you with all of my soppy heart.

Please don’t show this letter to anyone. It’d ruin my punk reputation.

Also congratulations on stopping Christmas Pud Inferno 1979! Impressive work, Evans. My mother couldn’t have done it. Sirius isn’t pleased now, but he certainly will be later. A no blisters Christmas – I never thought I’d see the day!

I’ll just casually admit here that I burnt the turkey.

THANKS FOR MY PRESENT EVANS. Best one yet! You really have to stop spoiling me. I’ll spoil you later, though, don’t you worry. I’m not one for debts. Merry Christmas, Evans.

I fucking love you.

Yours, James xxxxxxxxxx P.S. Are you still craving sprouts? P.P.S I only ask for my own safety. I’d prefer not to get blown away during the Queen’s speech later, that’s all.

Christmas 1980

An Early Draft

Dear Lily (and Harry!),

Merry Christmas to my favourite two people in the whole world. I know you can see me writing this and you’re probably smirking something stupid about it but thanks for not stopping me or trying to get a look before it’s finished. This letter has very important things to say to the both of you. I know we’ve been in hiding for what, nearly 8 months now, and it’s not easy for any of us. But this is Christmas and I don’t care about hiding or Voldemort or Dumbledore today. I care about you two. And the fact that Sirius isn’t here to burn down our house. I still can’t decide if that’s a blessing or a curse. It certainly wouldn’t be the most dangerous thing to encounter nowadays, would it?

Thankyou, Lily, for being the love of my life and the most wonderful wife a man could ask for. I don’t deserve you, or Harry and I’m so grateful to you both for making my life the best it can be, even in such dreadful circumstances. You’re everything I’ve ever dreamed about and I love you both so very much, I’m not even going to apologise for it. It’s Christmas and this letter is tradition – one I hope to continue for many years to come. Merry Christmas, Lils. Let’s make it a good one. Yours and Harry’s forever, James x

The real letter James sent on Christmas Day 1980

Dear Lily and Harry, MERRY CHRISTMAS POTTERS! This letter is the first of MANY to be addressed to you both! My little family! I could watch you tinker with the baubles all day! (Lily, that is not a euphemism, it was addressed to our son, you TART.) (Pleased to know you haven’t changed though, darling.)

This has been the loveliest Christmas ever. I didn’t burn the turkey, Sirius didn’t burn the house down and Harry, Harry – if you ever read this, and I hope you don’t because your old dad will blush – you are the best thing to happen to me and your mum and we love you.

And we get toys for Christmas now!

I know writing this letter is redundant because this house is small, and we’ve nowhere else to go, but Lily, and Harry, both of you are perfect and you deserve all the special Christmas letters in the world. But sadly, only I can write them to you, so this will have to be the only one for this year. I’ll make up for it every year after, I promise. Again, Harry, if you’re reading this, I’ll make sure to send them to you even after you’re married. Your dad is known for his determination – just ask your mother.

Hiding isn’t always easy, but with you two, everything is better, so for that, I thank you and kiss you and blow raspberries on your tiny baby stomach (again Lily, that one’s for Harry.) Merry Xmas to you both!

And Lily? Let’s not let Sirius buy any more dog toys. His narcissism kills me.