Well I have decided to start Christmas shopping today. I’m doing it all by mail order because the next Hogsmeade trip isn’t until February. So far I have seen some things I think my friends would like. I have to go home for Christmas. My mum says she needs my help because Petunia is married and is having her own holiday with her husband and his sister. I want to go because I need to meet Cassidy. My mum adores her, I could tell from the way she wrote about her in the letter. ‘Cassidy is so smart.’ Things like that. My mum’s Christmases are always fun. We get huge trees with tons of lights and stuff. I can just see her throwing tinsel all over the house. She is probably doing that right now even though it’s November. So I was talking to Rory and Crystal earlier and Rory was all, “I wish you were staying here with us, Lils.” I haven’t told James that I have to go home yet, but I will. He’ll just tell me not to meet another guy.
Lily
November 3, 1977
Transfiguration
McGonagall is giving us time to work on our essays, but I am nearly finished already. So here I am writing. Today James got a letter from his mum. It said he was to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas because Mr. and Mrs. Potter are going on their second honeymoon. He just went, “At least I got you, Lils.” And then I was forced to tell him that I have to go home. “I’m going home, James. My mum needs me to help.” I told him. I swear, his face fell three feet. “Oh,” he said quietly, like if he said it loudly I would have to go right then. Then a brilliant idea struck me. “You could come home with me,” I said. “Would that be alright?” he asked. “I’ll have to check, but I’m sure it’ll be fine.” So I am going to write my mum and get permission from her. It would be so much fun to have James around. That way if I don’t like Cassidy I can just go somewhere with James. Or maybe I will like Cassidy and we’ll go somewhere without James. That would be quite funny in my opinion. I also think it would be fun to have to explain all the Muggle stuff to James. You know, I think I’ll start that letter now.
Lily
James’s POV
November 4, 1977
Potions
Yawn. What a boring class. Someone could blow up and Key wouldn’t even notice. How she got the job, I’ll never know. I think that if Professor Dumbledore ever walked in while there was a class, Key would be out of here faster than the speed of light. I might get to spend the holidays with Lily because my parents are going away on their second honeymoon. I know Lily is wanting to meet that new sister of hers. I don’t know how I would react to news like that. She’s pretty strong. I think the only thing that could ever break her down would be if her heart was broken. But that happens to everyone at some point in his or her life. Hearts, for whatever reason, were made to be broken. So much homework, so little time. I’ve got an essay for McGonagall and two for Binns, and three charts to complete for Sinistra (Astronomy). Thank the Lord Key is too lazy to give us any. You’d have to have absolutely no brain not to pass Potions with an ‘O’. Remus is still looking quite tired, although the full moon passed on the second of November. He looks half asleep. Peter is reading a comic book, and Sirius is building a house of cards with his pack of Exploding Snap. Lily is bent over something, (hopefully the letter to her mum asking if she can invite me for Christmas) and Rory and Crystal are gossiping quite loudly about some Slytherins, who are shooting them nasty looks. Typical Slytherins. I am so psyched because the first Quidditch match of the season is coming up on Saturday! It’s Gryffindor vs. Ravenclaw. We are so going to kick some Ravenclaw butt. Nothing against Ravenclaw, but Gryffindor has kept the Quidditch Cup in McGonagall’s study for six years, all thanks to me and Crystal, two of the best Chasers ever to play at Hogwarts, according to McGonagall. Oh, and our team this year is so awesome! We’ve got TJ Wood (A/N Oliver Wood’s dad) as Keeper, Alice Prewett (A/N Neville’s mum) and Frank Longbottom (A/N Neville’s dad) as the Beaters, Jennifer Bone as Seeker, and of course, there’s the star Chasers, Crystal, Alexis Clark, and me. Ravenclaw is so going down.
James
November 5, 1977
Potions
This officially the best time to write. Two more days until I’m out on the field! There’s no hoop I can’t touch. Today I have to finish all of my homework because there’s no way I’ll be able to concentrate tomorrow night; I’ll be too excited. But Lily has already agreed to help me in the library later. All I have is the two essays for Binns. But as History of Magic is the most boring class (besides Potions of course) it’ll be a nightmare. Darn these teachers and their insane need to torture us with so much homework. sometimes I wish I could be the teacher, just for one day, so they could know what it’s like. Hey, that’s not a bad idea. It would never be agreed to, but it would be fun. Except I would have to plan a lesson, and that would take up valuable time that I could be spending with Lily. I’m planning on telling her my little secret soon. Actually I have two and they’re both important, but one is waiting for Christmas. I swore that to myself. By then, we’ll have been dating for two months, and by then I’ll know for sure.
So the little secret I’m letting her in on is that I’m an Animagi and that my form is a stag. I have no idea how she’ll react, but I have to tell her. I suspect she knows that my friends and I have a major secret. Anyway, Lily told me she sent the letter to her mum this morning. So back to the Quidditch match. I looked in the Daily Prophet for the weather reports. Saturday’s forecast says it’ll be clear but slightly windy. Those are perfect conditions because Jennifer Bone is so lightweight that she’ll probably go a little faster. Key just woke up. There is a chance she’s going to give us work now, so I should go.
James
Lily’s POV
November 7, 1977
The Great Hall
I just got a letter from my mum with her response to my question about James. She said it was OK! I’m like happy now! It was starting to be a bad day, too. I have a strong suspicion that this holiday is going to be very big for me. Hmm…I just know that boyfriend of mine is planning something. I wonder what it could be. The Quidditch game is about to start! I’d better go!
Lily
November 8, 1977
The Head’s Common Room
Only one month and seventeen days until Christmas! I feel just like a little kid again, counting the days until my favorite holiday. The Quidditch game yesterday was really spectacular. James scored ten times, Crystal scored eight times (180 points so far) Alexis Clark scored only five times, but with the Snitch caught by Jennifer Bone, we won 380 to 10. I almost feel sorry for Ravenclaw. So I told James he could come for Christmas and he was super excited. He was all, “It’s going to be the best Christmas ever!” Which definitely means he’s up to something. With him, you never know. Did I ever explain what that box was for? I don’t think I did. It’s a memory box. I have two things in it so far: the lily James put in it and the picture Rory took of us in Hogsmeade by the fountain. I want to have it filled up by the time graduation rolls around. I’ve always been the type of person who looks back at everything. Sometimes it’s painful, like when I think of my dad, but it’s always OK to do as long as you don’t dwell too much on it. Nothing can change the past; what’s done is done. My mum always told me I was meant for great things; special things. Like a pre-determined destiny. I like the sound of that. Hogwarts and my newly founded connection with James is what were meant for me. Wow, re-reading this it seems like this was an important entry and I don’t want to keep going into it. So I think I’ll go hang out with my friends. I get the feeling we’re going to be together for a while.
Lily
November 10, 1977
Detention
I know what you’re thinking: Lily Evans in detention? Not possible, you say. Before, I thought it wasn’t possible either. Damn Brazzle. Damn her. Anyway, you might be wondering what I did. Nothing. I was an innocent bystander. Honestly. So I was standing outside the Divination room when James and Sirius struck. Malfoy and Snape happened to be coming into class when all of a sudden they were two inches tall. Unfortunately, Brazzle was coming to let us in and saw the whole thing. “Potter, Black, Evans, detention tonight, my tower, 7:00,” she sneered. She fixed Malfoy and Snape (who had been demanding to be brought back to full size in such squeaky voices that you’d have thought mice could talk) and began the most boring Divination class this school has ever seen. Oh, well. There’s no reasoning with her, I swear. James and Sirius both protested that I did nothing, but no, Brazzle didn’t listen. I hope she chokes on her dinner. I’m going to just glare fixedly at her until she jumps out her window.
Lily
James’s POV
November 13, 1977
Potions
It’s been quite a while, I realize that. Like eight days or something. I’ve been busy. There was the Quidditch game on Saturday, (in which I kicked some serious ass) and there was detention from Brazzle and I forgot to bring my notebook and I had a huge mountain of homework. Thankfully it has shrunk to a small boulder and I am able to write, which I have wanted to do for forever. So here I am. In the Quidditch game, I was like all over the place. I scored 100 points for Gryffindor. We’re so going to win the House Cup. Lily said that her mum said I could go for Christmas. It’s going to be awesome. I’ve never been in a Muggle house before. I have a special surprise planned for her. Even though we have been seeing each other for nearly a month, there has been no commitment made officially. I know I’ve written things like, ‘That girlfriend of mine is up to something’, but if we wanted we could still go out with other people. I wouldn’t, of course, but whatever. So this surprise I am planning is going to be a major turning point either way. There is a silver promise ring I saw her admiring in a Hogsmeade window. I’m going to get permission from Dumbledore or McGonagall to go down there and buy it for her. Then, on Christmas Eve, I plan on taking her on a walk, maybe to a quiet, deserted park, and ask her if she’ll be mine exclusively. There is nothing else that could possibly be more romantic. It is hard to think of romantic ides with the idiot I call my best friend and Rory making out all over the place. Not that Remus and Crystal are any better, though. He’s always practically hyperventilating because he finally let Crystal in on this slightly important secret he has and she didn’t run away or call him a freak. (A/N Props to Crystal!) So they’re practically married (Not really, though I can see that it could go that way). Peter is behaving quite oddly. I know I haven’t mentioned him much, but he’s still my friend. Anyway, he’s been hanging out with Slytherins. Can you imagine? Malfoy and Snape, for that matter. Out of Sirius, Remus, and I, I’d have to say Sirius is the most upset. He is absolutely outraged.
“Loyalty (something he’s not showing us) is important. I say we ban him.” Sirius bellowed when Peter ditched us. (More or less)
At this point, Rory had to say something. “Hon, he’s probably done something stupid and he’s in their debt. He’ll be back.”
The rest of us agreed and finally Sirius shut up. He was kind of forced to. That was earlier today on the way to Transfiguration. He’s still sitting next to me, muttering about how much of a traitor Peter supposedly is.
“True lions don’t hang with snakes,” he says. I wonder if he knows that we aren’t really lions; we’re people. But I however, am not going to be stupid enough to tell him this. Nothing good will come from it; I’ll only get my head bitten off. I think he’s so upset about it because he and his cousin Andromeda (A/N Tonks’s mum) are the only Blacks who were in Gryffindor. His family practically hates him (in fact they do because he was forced to run away from home before we started sixth year) and now that Peter’s gone green and silver instead of red and gold, he’s mad because he feels betrayed. Remus and Peter and I are his family. Rory, too, I suppose. That’s got to be why he’s so pissed. Wow, I figured it out on my own. I feel special.
James
November 15, 1977
Transfiguration
By some miracle or another, I’m actually ahead of the class. I did an assignment before I was supposed to. How that happened I’ll never know. I think Lily’s rubbed off on me. She’s done of course. We did that assignment last night in the library and almost got kicked out because Madam Pince (our scrawny excuse of a librarian) caught us giggling. Since when is giggling against the law? Last time I checked, it was perfectly OK and even classified as enjoyable! Anyway, Lily was like bored last night, so she went to McGonagall and got the assignment she gave us today. Then she dragged me to the library and we did the assignment. Then I made some comment or another on a geeky-looking Slytherin (which is rare as most of them are brain dead) and it was totally funny. That’s when Lily started laughing and she was bright red so I laughed too. Pince came up to us and was all, “This is a LIBRARY! It must be silent!” After she walked away, I started mocking her, making Lily laugh harder. So that’s how I ended up ahead of the class. Lily is sitting diagonally in front of me, all bent over. It’s most likely her own journal.
James
Lily’s POV
November 15, 1977
Transfiguration
Lately it seems we’ve been given more essays than spells to learn. I find that a bit odd. We learn maybe one or two spells a week per class and then we do essays about how helpful they are. I swear, these professors are trying to make us use all of our parchment. Evil, they are. The year is almost over. I can’t believe it’s almost 1978. Wow, I feel so old. I’m nearly grown. Again this seems to be a more important entry, much like one of my more recent ones. I believe it was the 8. I can’t help but think that half of the people I’ve known for almost seven years are ones I might never see again. I couldn’t care less if I never see them again for some of them. Take Mariah Sanders. How she ended up in Gryffindor, I’ll never know. She’s a complete idiot. But there are some people I wish I got to know better, like Alice Prewett. And Frank Longbottom. They were always just there. I know that just because soon we’ll all be going our separate ways in this world, settling down and making names for ourselves is no reason to strike up friendships overnight. No, friendship is just something you’ve got to work at. Peace and trust can take years to build and seconds to shatter. And there’s a threat rising. A threat by the name of Voldemort. His name has been familiar to me since my first train trip to Hogwarts. Rory and Crystal told me about how he thinks purebloods are the only ones who should know about Hogwarts. Rory told me that he was discreetly going around to pureblood families asking for their support. Crystal said that she was there when her father was asked. She wasn’t supposed to be, but she was. Crystal said there were three men in black robes. All had masks, and she said she was afraid for her dad.
“I knew he wouldn’t stand for anything like that,” Crystal had said so many years ago.
So now his name has been popping up everywhere more and more. The wizard world (which I have grown to love so much) is in for dark times. And this is one of the reasons I gave James a second chance. I don’t want to hear about him dying and feeling guilty for the rest of my life. It’s also why I want to get to know those who I never really bothered to before. United we stand, divided we fall.
Lily
November 17, 1977
The Room of Requirement
I’m actually here because I want to be, not because everyone is bugging me. It’s a little odd. So I was looking back at my last entry earlier. Yes, we are definitely in for dark times. But it’s not all heartbreaking. There is joy to be had. I find I feel happiest when I’m with James, Remus, Sirius, Crystal, and Rory. It’s the six of us, all the way. I know it sounds cheesy to be seventeen and say ‘best friends forever’, but that is how I feel. I think there’s nothing that could break us apart, ever. We’ve got to be there for each other. Especially because something life changing could happen any second. Again, united we stand, divided we fall. I wish there was some kind of league I could join. I want to be able to do my part. I refuse to be one of those people who complains all the time but never does anything. I’m sure Dumbledore has already thought of this. But it’s probably for overage wizards who have left school. Well, I intend to see him tomorrow and then I’ll see what’s up. Maybe I’ll drag James along. I know that he’s always been very outspoken about the dark arts. I doubt James is going to sit around and let the people he cares about die. Yeah I think I’ll talk to him. I’ll go right now.
Lily
Regular POV
November 18, 1977
Dumbledore’s Office
Lily and James had arranged a meeting with Dumbledore for 6:00. They arrived right on time.
“Ah, Miss Evans, Mr. Potter. How can I help you today?” Dumbledore asked kindly.
“Well, sir, we’ve been wondering if there’s something we can do to help in this war the wizard world has been preparing for,” James stated carefully. He wanted Dumbledore to take him seriously and see that he meant what he said.
Dumbledore looked at them thoughtfully over his half-moon spectacles. He spoke.
“There is an Order forming. However, it is for older wizards who have left school. So after you are graduates, I can’t stop you from joining. But consider this: You’re young. You’ve got your whole lives ahead of you. Don’t sacrifice yourselves at such a young age.” He smiled.
“Excuse me, Professor, but we want to help. It is kind of you to consider our futures and try to put things in perspective for us, but I find it necessary to do something.” Lily said.
Dumbledore looked at her. “Powerfully spoken, Miss Evans. Truth be told, I knew you would join and fight. I don’t wish to frighten you, but whatever decision you make, your lives depend on it. I leave you now to mull this thought over.”
“Lily, are you OK?” James asked, putting an arm around her.
She had indeed been quiet for several minutes. They were walking back to their tower to discuss this news. How could their lives depend on something so simple as good versus evil?
“Pre-determined destiny,” she said slowly.
James raised an eyebrow. “Excuse me?”
Lily explained. “My mum tells me that I was meant for special things. And it all makes sense. I used to wonder what she meant before I got my letter. I told her I finally knew what she meant. My mum told me that it wasn’t what she meant, but that it was a connection between me and someone else.” Lily said.
“Oh. I get it now,” James said. “It was me and you that were destined to be and we will shape the history of the wizard world.” (A/N duh)
Lily smiled. “So you were right all along. We were supposed to be together.”
“Now we’ve got one more thing to discuss.” James said.
Lily nodded grimly. “Whatever choice we make, it’s big, bigger than any decision we’ve ever made before.”
Several hours later, they went to bed, exhausted. Both were all for giving themselves up to free the wizard world.
“We’ll do what we have to,” James had said.
Still, it was a huge event. They had to take it slowly. It was the course of their futures they were planning.
James’s POV
November 20, 1977
The Lake
Lily is here next to me, staring off into space. It’s been quite a few days since I’ve written. I’m not nearly as good at keeping up with my notebook as Lily is but whatever. Professor Dumbledore has told us that fighting against Voldemort (which we are determined to do) will most likely cost us our lives. I suspected as much, really I did. Voldemort thinks he’s going to take the wizard world. He’s not going to get it without a fight. I would die to protect my friends if I could, and so would Lily. That is all I have to say.
James
November 22, 1977
The Lake
We (Lily and I) have taken to sitting here at night after patrol duty. It’s getting quite cold but I for one don’t care. It’s odd; I just want everything to be simple again. I feel like I’m five years old again, wanting my mum and dad. But Voldemort is coming for the world and he’s no getting it without a fight. Lily and I have spoken to our friends and we’re all for it. After school, we’ve got to join the Order, and join it we will. There’s something else I’ve been trying to make sense of. Lily said the other day her mum tells her she’s meant for special things. That a connection between Lily and another person (me) was destined. So we’re going to be crucial to the war. But if it’s Lily and I that are supposed to be, then we could break up and then there’s a chance that history will be entirely different. I wonder if she realizes this. That makes Christmas Eve even more important to our lives. Whoa I feel all deep and mysterious now. I think I’ll go.
James
Lily’s POV
November 22, 1977
The Lake
I am sitting here with James. It seems to be an unofficial tradition that we’ve started. After patrol duty is over, out we go. So we talked to Dumbledore a couple days ago about joining what he calls the Order. He said that our lives could depend on it. Anything we do could shape the history of our world. I feel important now. We talked to the others about it, and they are all for joining. I really feel like I’m going to be able to do my part. And I like that. This is one of those heavier entries that I seem to be writing lately. But they’ve been heavy because so much is going on right now. Voldemort becoming powerful; joining the Order after I leave school; James. Things are different. And I don’t necessarily like these things.
Lily
November 25, 1977
My Room
I’m done with Christmas a month early. Hooray for me. I find I can’t wait to get out of school in June. I need to do my part and I realize that. I’m going to forget about everything for a while and relax. Dumbledore’s got a hold on things and we’ve got to trust him. If we don’t there’s nothing we can do. It would be like giving up without fighting. I’m seventeen. I’ve realized something. I used to wonder why I was put in Gryffindor. I wasn’t particularly brave. I found my courage finally. I know I didn’t feel brave because I never had to before. But now everything and everyone in my life is at stake. That’s what I think of bravery. Being there for the world when it needs you. Being there for anyone when they need you. I’m a Gryffindor at heart. I was born a lion and I’m going like a lion.
Lily
November 27, 1977
Charms
My favorite class. It’s so much fun I think. However, Flitwick is gone so they put Filch in charge. He’s sitting here staring at everyone like we did something wrong. It’s probably because he’s a Squib. He’s bitter. Oh well. This class is over soon anyway. For the first time ever, I’m counting the days until Christmas. I want to go home and see my mum. And that new sister of mine. I need to go home. I’m worried I might never see them again because of the Death Eaters attacking Muggles. James is sitting in front of me. I can tell he’s asleep because he’s all slumped over. It’s almost cute except he’s snoring quietly. I sure hope he doesn’t start to drool. I’m going to try to wake him up before he gets in trouble.
Lily
James’s POV
November 29, 1977
The Carriage to Hogsmeade
Dumbledore sent me to Hogsmeade because he said there was something I had to do. I wonder how he knew I wanted to buy that ring for Lily without me telling him. It’s slightly creepy how he knows everything. Anyway, I am so on a mission. Nothing is going to stop me. I must say, it was quite nice for Professor Dumbledore to arrange the carriage for me. I would have been totally happy walking. In the time it would take to walk to Hogsmeade, find the store, buy the ring, and walk back, three of my toes would have fallen off, but I wouldn’t care. It is seriously going to be the best Christmas ever. I feel like a child again, writing that. I’m really looking forward to spending the holidays with Lily and her family. I hardly know anything about Muggles. I would like to see what types of things they use to substitute magic. I’ve seen some things before on the way to Diagon Alley. I distinctly remember something called a parking meter. Muggles are so immune to magic that they wouldn’t know a wizard if one was staring them in the face. That’s why I think Lily is lucky; she knows both worlds. Oh, well, I’m here; I’d better go.
James
Regular POV
November 29, 1977
Magic Wand Jewelers
‘Lame name,’ James thought as he walked inside.
He shoved this thought aside as a saleslady rushed at him.
“Can I help you, dear?”
James cleared his throat nervously. “Do you still have the silver promise ring that was in the window about a month ago?”
She smiled, showing dazzling white teeth. “We have one left. Would you like to look at it?”
“Yes.”
“Right this way. So, is this a special present for a special someone?” she continued. James nodded.
She disappeared into a back room for a moment and came back carrying a soft pink box, which she handed to James.
He opened it. It was exactly the same one she had stared at for ten minutes before realized what she was doing. It was made of braided silver, with a small diamond in the center.
“I’ll take it,” he said almost instantly.
“7 Galleons and 12 Sickles, dear,” the saleslady said.
James paid her and went back to his carriage.
James’s POV
November 30, 1977
The Room of Requirement
I’m hiding out here because Lily is kind of mad at me. She wanted to know where I was last night and I can’t tell her. If I do, she’ll know automatically that I got her the ring she wanted. And even if I tell her I was in Hogsmeade, she’ll still figure it out. And there’s someone at the portrait hole. OMG it’s Lily. How did she find me? Luckily I have my Invisibility Cloak. I don’t want her yelling at me more.
James
November 30, 1977
The Room of Requirement
She found me. It was the notebook. I left it on the table. I finally told her and I don’t think she figured it out. I’m paranoid, it seems. She left again, so I shall be left alone for a while. Ooh, a Chocolate Frog. Yum. Ooh I got a Merlin card. I’ve been looking for that one. I’ve got quite a large collection of Chocolate frog cards. Anyway, that was pretty random. I really don’t want to wait over three weeks to give her that promise ring. Lily and I are supposed to be together forever. I really believe that. OMG I just heard a scream. I’m going to see what’s going on.
James
Review if you want the next chapter by Christmas!
-meluvshp-
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