Crystals
Challenge Twenty-One: Winter Holidays Past
Title: Crystals
Author: angelps_7
Wizard/Witch: James/Lily
Rating/Warnings: G/PG
Genre: Romance
Word count: Exactly 500
Prompt: sparkling everlasting icicles
Summary: Lily wants a winter fantasy, and James tries to impress her.
Lily stood to the side of a path near the entrance to the gardens, watching her boyfriend and Sirius attempt, and fail horribly, to show off their Muggle dance moves. She folded her arms, and a fond smile graced her features as she fully absorbed her surroundings.
This year, Dumbledore decided to hold the Yule Ball outdoors in the Hogwarts Gardens, an area she never knew existed. The entire area had become a winter oasis in true Dumbledore fashion, complete with both Snow and Heating Charms, icicles and palm trees, and holiday desserts and tropical drinks.
James approached her, breathless and flushed, pecking her softly on the cheek. “I’ve told you how beautiful you look tonight, right?”
“Only a few times.”
“I mean it, Lily.”
Lily smiled and averted her eyes from his all-too-powerful gaze. “It’s so lovely out here.” She gently fingered a sparkling icicle. “But too bad it won’t last,” she added, watching a drop form on its icy surface and fall to the ground.
“Come with me,” he murmured into her ear, and she allowed his warm grasp to lead her further into the gardens of Hogwarts, away from the music and crowds, past a series of statues and fairy-lit trees, and into a clearing with a single fountain surrounded by-
“-roses? But it’s the middle of winter… and all this snow, and the icicles…”
They stood amidst a sea of white roses speckled with a few red, in a winter wonderland that made her think that perhaps she was in a dream, or otherwise drunk. Off to the side, a clear stream of water and broken ice gently flowed downwards, it’s trickling the only sound heard. Was this real? Lily thought.
Frost and icicles chandeliered the surrounding trees, and upon closer scrutiny, smaller, thinner crystals hung on each twig like ornaments on a Christmas tree. Even more icicles, some formed on branches, and many more enchanted to float midair, hung like a sheer silver-blue canopy, reflecting glittering red petals underneath and the starry night sky from above. Powdered snow gently fell on their heads.
She shivered; it definitely felt real, especially when James draped his coat over her shoulders.
He pulled her close and trailed feather-light kisses down her neck, his fingers following and his breath hot on her skin.
“They’re enchanted,” he whispered. “Everything,” he said between kisses, “everlasting.” She turned in his arms, grasping his neck and kissing him full on the mouth.
Lily pulled away to watch a dying icicle sweat its final drops. And as immediately as it disappeared, a new icicle took its place.
“See?” James whispered, as if he was afraid his voice would somehow destroy the garden’s atmosphere.
Lily let out a surprised breath as he gathered her into his arms. “I love you.”
Rather than tense up, she was both surprised and relieved when James held her even tighter, pulling her hips closer to him.
“I love you too,” he said against her smiling lips. “And merry Christmas.”
Author's Notes: Oh gosh, so this just played out in my head as a sort of dream, so sorry if it’s too fluffy… I just feel that the holidays can bring on these holiday magic type of romantic fantasies, at least for me they do... :)
Proof Reader: lylianf