december jily challenge
JILY CHALLENGE (@jilychallenge):
@gxnevras vs @lamelylimes
wintery tropes + hot chocolate by the fire
*
The Gryffindor common room was alight with happiness that drifted in the air like snow. Students lounged on the couches, sat against windowpanes, all talking, laughing, and whispering to one another. The fire cast dancing shadows on the walls. Mugs of hot chocolate warmed the fingers of tired hands. A lilting tune ran under it all, riddled with cymbals and trumpets.
“Didn’t know you were a fan of musicals, Marlene,” said James. They were spread out in front of the fire, the six of them: James, Lily, Sirius, Remus, Peter, Dorcas, and Marlene. The next day many of them would leave for home, but for now they were all together.
“Just West Side Story,” replied Marlene. “Most musicals aren’t worth my time.”
“What’s so different about this one?” Sirius asked.
Marlene shrugged. “Something about it.”
Lily sat on the carpeted floor, her back resting against the side of the couch. She had her legs straightened out in front of her so her feet could catch the heat of the fire. James loved to tease her about her toes, which were always, inevitably cold. She felt a familiar nostalgia in the air; this was their last December at Hogwarts. Next year, they would be spending the holidays out there in the war-torn world. She wanted to cherish the time she had left here, in this common room, where she felt nothing short of safe, surrounded by her friends, whose laughter reminded her of the crackling fire, the days they have spent together, and the happy childhood that had seemed to run away from her before she could catch up. She was seventeen years old, but she didn’t feel like an adult, not even close.
James nudged her shoulder, stealing her attention from the fire, which had begun to burn her eyes she had been staring at it for so long. James had grown up a lot in the past few years, but he still gave of an air of mischief, one that he would probably never outgrow. Once long ago it would have annoyed her a great deal, but now she found it endearing.
“Penny for your thoughts?” he said softly. The rest of their friends were laughing over something that Lily had completely missed in her reverie.
“Keep your penny,” she said.