(Untitled)

[lilium_evansiae]

Lily comes into the bar this evening with a large paper bag, with a roll of red and gold wrapping paper sticking out of the top of it

Comments

[alotofgood]

"It's very Gryffindor," James remarks, grinning.

He settles himself down into the seat across from her.

"I like it."

[lilium_evansiae]

"Good.

"Because I'll probably wind up wrapping your present in it, too.

"Hello, James."

[alotofgood]

"Hello, Lily."

James leans over to kiss her.

"And I don't suppose I get any hints as to what I'm getting this Christmas?"

[lilium_evansiae]

"Not a one," she says, easily.

(After he's kissed her, of course.)

"Well, maybe one. Maybe.

"If you ask very nicely."

[alotofgood]

James raises his eyebrows.

The 'Challenge Accepted' expression is written clear on his face.

"Oh, Lily Evans. Wonderful, brilliant, clever Lily Evans. Might you ever so kindly bestow upon my lowliness a single inkling of what I may receive this Christmas?

"For it is an honour to receive anything at all from you, and I'd need to prepare myself - at least a little - for what I might get."

[lilium_evansiae]

Lily laughs.

"Goodness, James, for that you may have two.

She leans forward.

"All right, my adorable if lowly James Potter, for Christmas this year, I will tell you that ...

"I am not getting you a hippogriff.

"Or an aubergine."

[alotofgood]

James leans forward, too. The better to hear this hint, after all.

But ... that isn't exactly what he's expecting.

He lets his jaw drop.

Dramatically.

"That's all I get?" he asks, leaning back, arms crossed. "Really, Lily? After all that effort?"

[lilium_evansiae]

"Well, not all," Lily says, leaning over to kiss his cheek. "Consolation prize."

She settles back in her chair.

"Pass me the scissors, would you, James?"

[alotofgood]

With the ease of someone very much unimpressed, James plucks up the pair of scissors and passes them forward.

"You know, I suppose it was my own fault. I should have specified the sort of hint I expected to get."

[lilium_evansiae]

Lily sets a book (To Kill a Mockingbird) on top of the paper and cuts off a piece that will be the right size to wrap it.

"And d'you think that would have worked? Specifying? Really?"

Really, James?

[alotofgood]

"You mean it wouldn't?" James asks, in all innocence.

"Blimey, Lily, you're a hard nut to crack. Have you looked into spy work after Hogwarts?"

[lilium_evansiae]

"Maybe I will," she says.

Then again, it's easy to avoid giving hints about something when even she doesn't know what it is yet.

"Do wizards have spies?

"Is there some Hogwarts graduate off trying to infiltrate the Russian Ministry of Magic even as we speak?"

[alotofgood]

"Well, I don't think we're supposed to know, if there were," James points out. "But I'm sure there must be. I reckon they'd be a bit like Aurors, only ... they're more like Top Secret Aurors, really."

He watches her for a moment.

"So, who's that one for, then?"

Since it can't be him, otherwise the surprise is gone.

[lilium_evansiae]

Actually, the surprise is probably just beginning.

Lily looks down and frowns.

She'd meant to grab the book for Glynis, but James was all James-like and distracting.

"Um.

"Okay, this is probably going to be weird.

"And maybe awkward.

"His name is Albus.

"And, um, he's Harry's son."

[alotofgood]

For one strange, strange moment, James' brain seizes all function so that he remains seated in his chair, looking completely ... well, flabbergasted.

Weird enough that he's got a son, brilliant as he is, and honestly - well, it's been quite a while since he's seen him that Harry hasn't exactly been in James' thoughts.

So, this ...

This is -

Right.

"Right."

[lilium_evansiae]

"That was probably not the best way to tell you that, was it?

"I'm sorry, James."

Granted, she has no idea what a good way would be.

But that clearly wasn't it.