Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter series. Alas, it is the property of J.K. Rowling. It's use here is purely for entertainment value. Basically, I admit that my enslavement of Remus is all in my head, and I'm not getting paid for this.

"PEEVES! YOU GET DOWN HERE THIS INSTANT!" Minerva McGonagall screeched loudly.

Seventh Year Lily Evans sighed and rolled her eyes. Peeves had really done it this time. Stealing McGonagall's tartan hat was definitely NOT something that would be taken lightly. At least not by the professor in question.

She did not shrink from decorating the magnificently large pine in front of her as the ebony-haired lady continued to ladle out threats to the rude little man (who was apparently not within hearing distance as she clearly heard the Bloody Baron mentioned a time or two).

When no reply was audible, McGonagall wheeled on the spot and faced Lily.

"Miss Evans, you did not happen to see where that horrible, desolate excuse for a being made off to, did you?"

Lily shook her head in feigned sadness, trying her hardest to suppress the smile that threatened to light up her emerald green eyes any moment now.

"I'm sorry, Professor. I was so caught up in the decorating . . ."

McGonagall sighed.

"Very well, dear, but please let me know if you see him. Oh, and if you do have that horrible misfortune, please inform him that the Bloody Baron will hear about this."

"Of course, Professor."

After she was sure the strictest professor in Hogwarts had departed for the headmaster's office, Lily no longer tried to contain the smile. While she did pity McGonagall the loss of her beloved hat, it was a rather humorous event.

She quickly glanced around the tree as she heard a distinctly masculine chuckle. There, bedecking the back of the tree with several live owls was none other than the Head Boy himself.

"What are you doing here, James?" Lily inquired of the raven-haired boy now in front of her.

James Potter jumped slightly, though whether from shock at her presence or surprise at the use of his first name she had no idea.

"Why Lily darling, I'm positively hurt. Here I am trying to spread the holiday cheer to those not as naturally jolly as me and you start acting as though I'm up to no good." He grinned good naturedly.

Lily rolled her eyes and ignored the endearment.

"I didn't mean why are you "spreading the holiday cheer" as you call it, you prat! I meant what are you doing here, as in at Hogwarts? I assumed you would be spending Christmas at home as always."

He shook his head and added another owl to the tree.

"No, not this year, I'm afraid. Moony, Padfoot, and I decided our services would be more useful here this festive holiday season." He grinned again. "What about you, my dear Evans? What circumstance finds you here this year?"

Lily's smile drooped, her formerly jovial mood now nonexistent. Tears threatened to spew from her eyes. If anyone else had asked her this she probably would have thought up some bogus excuse. But this was Potter. And while he had previously held the title of "World's Biggest Prat," something had changed when he arrived for Seventh Year. He had matured. Oh, he still had a bit of that old arrogance that could drive her positively MAD, but he had also offered her a friendly shoulder any time she needed one. She had found herself actually talking to him as she would a friend and had begun to consider him one. What could it hurt to tell him? She knew he wouldn't tell anyone. Here goes, she thought.

"My sister's getting married. I wasn't invited." She smiled sadly and looked at the floor. "In fact, she made it unquestionably clear that I am to stay far away from her and her fiancé. She's been waiting her whole life for this day and under no circumstances is a "freak" like me going to mess it all up for her." She bit her lip mournfully as she finally realized how much it had truly hurt her to hear her sister, who had used to be her best friend, utter such painful words. A tear left a salty trail down her cheek as she finally looked up and met Potter's gaze.

His hazel eyes were widened in disbelief.

"She actually called you a freak? She called you a freak?"

Lily nodded, another tear joining the first.

He scowled and clenched his fist, suddenly feeling fiercely protective of the auburn-haired Head Girl he had burned a torch for since Third Year. But this quickly lessened to concern as he saw her beautiful green eyes, their gaze resting unseeing on his trainers, filled with unshed tears. He stepped closer to her and did the first thing he could think of. He wrapped his arms around her.

Lily's initial reaction was to stiffen, but she quickly relaxed as she realized that he was only trying to offer her comfort in the only way he knew how at the moment. She closed her eyes and laid her head on his shoulder as she felt him rest his chin on her head.

"POTTY AND DAISY HEAD SITTING IN A TREE! K-I-S-S-I-N-G!"

Lily and James looked up from their embrace to see Peeves dancing around overhead and grinning as he did only when tormenting students. He usually left James alone because of his Marauder connections, but he obviously thought this an opportunity too good to miss.

Lily quickly pushed away from James and drew her hand across her eyes. When she re-directed her glance at Peeves overhead, there was a fierce gleam in those emerald orbs.

"Peeves," she said calmly to the portly little man, "you know that I hate that nickname. I would appreciate it if you would not address me as so from now on."

Peeves chuckled.

"Oooh, ickle Daisy Head thinks she can give me orders, does she? Well, I'll show her." He then proceeded to blow a very rude raspberry in Lily's direction.

"Very well, Peeves. Have it your way. I was just on my way to visit the Bloody Baron anyway. McGonagall, I believe, is also planning on paying him a visit if her hat is not returned in the next hour. You know he always adores hearing about you, Peeves." Lily smiled mischievously for effect.

This arrangement apparently did not suit Peeves very well as he blew another loud, wet raspberry at her and flew off in the opposite direction of the Slytherin common room.

"Very impressive, my dear. You must share you technique." James smiled kindly down at her. When she didn't reply he inquired quietly, "Do you want to talk about it? I know a place we can go where we won't be disturbed."

She quickly looked up at him questionably, having been privy to thee year's worth of his suggestive offers before now. Seeing the sincereity in his hazel eyes, her shoulders sagged and she answered, "No, thank you, James. I'm okay now. It's not as if it was something of a surprise, anyway."

He sighed and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"You know you can talk to me anytime, right Lily?" The smile he gave her was all kindness and earnestness.

She returned his smile slowly. He has such a nice smile, she noticed. Wait, what? Snap out of it, Evans!

She shook her head as if to clear it and met his gaze.

"Yes, I know. Thank you again." Her smile grew bigger. It lit up her face and made her eyes sparkle.

His did, too. "Anytime, Lily, anytime."

They stood there, just smiling at each other as the minutes passed. She noticed that he had moved closer; they were mere centimeters apart. In that last moment, Lily was sure he was going to kiss her. What scared her was that she wasn't sure she'd mind if he did.

But that moment passed, and he reluctantly turned away and looked away at the Christmas tree, one of the twelve that lit up the Great Hall each year, still to the left of them.

"I'd better get going," he said quietly, not seeing her rather dumbfounded expression. "I promised Flitwick I'd help him with something. See you later."

And with that, he calmly strode away down the corridor.

Author's Note: Chapter one is pretty much just the introduction to the story; there's not much action. Chapter two has already been written (yay!), and will be posted after a quick clean up. I hope you enjoyed what little there was to sample (two will be much longer), and please review! Constructive criticism is greatly appreciated! Come on, hit the pretty button. You know you want to...