Title: A Winter Solstice Tale
Author: ragdoll
Recipient: pre_raphaelite1
Characters: James Potter/Lily Potter
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: oral sex, pregnancy fetish, outdoor sex, unrepentant slush
Themes/kinks chosen: pregnancy fetish, outdoor sex
Word Count: 3385
Summary: On the night of the Winter Solstice, James Potter decides to show his wife how Yule was celebrated by wizards in the old days.
Author's notes: This is for pre_raphaelite1 who asked for James/Lily, a stag, pregnancy fetish and reverent/ethereal sex. Happy holidays, my dear!

Much thanks to my amazing betas/cheerleaders: luvscharlie and r_grayjoy for their support and advice.



The night was cold as James Potter watched his young bride step out the back door of their house, the snow crunching lightly beneath her booted feet. It was pitch black outside, the barest sliver of the waxing moon hanging in the velvet dark sky, turning the snow to silver in the scant light.

"James? James Potter, where are you?"

In his mind, James chuckled to himself although it came out as a low 'whuff', then purposely placed his foot forward. The carefully arranged twigs beneath his hoof broke with a loud, reverberating "snap".

"James?" There was a flare of light as Lily cast a Lumos spell, brandishing her wand in front of her like a Muggle torch. "James, this isn't funny..." Her voice trailed off as she turned in the direction of the sound and her eyes lit on the magnificent 14-point stag partially obscured in the shadows. At least, James was reasonably certain he was a magnificent stag. "Ah, Prongs. There you are."

He pawed the ground, spraying snow and ice everywhere, then lowered his head as her lips curved up in the slightest hint of a smile. With a start, he sprung away from her, hoping she'd suss out she was supposed to follow. Of course, he knew how clever his Lily was; there was no question that she'd know what to do.

James leapt through the snow, checking over his shoulder from time to time, making certain Lily could keep up with him, leading her on a merry chase through the dark expanse of their back garden. Finally, he stopped short, waiting for Lily to catch up. She came trudging along, her breath coming in long, ragged bursts of frost.

Trotting to her side, James nudged her with his nose, as if to reassure her that their journey was at an end.

"Potter, this had better be worth it," she said testily, wrapping her arms around her belly protectively.

Deciding the joke had gone far enough, James transformed himself back into his human form. He reached for his wife, hugging her close and rubbing her back gently. "I hope it will be," he said softly. He kissed her brow, then pulled back, giving a quick flick of his wand behind them. "So, Lily, what do you think?" he asked as the yard lit up in and array of brilliant, shimmering colours.

"Oh, James," Lily breathed, her face lighting up with excitement as she caught sight of the decorated tree. Brightly coloured ornaments and garlands of tinsel twinkled and shone, illuminated by the flickering wax candles placed in its branches. "It's beautiful! However did you do all of this without my noticing?"

James chuckled and preened ever-so-slightly. "I'm a Marauder, my love. I couldn't possibly give away our secrets."

"Potter, you're a prat," she replied, giving him a playful cuff on the shoulder, her eyes still fixed on the tree. "But a very clever one."

"And that, Evans," James stole a kiss from her as he laughed, "is why you love me so."

"Did you do this all yourself?"

He looked at her pretending to be wounded. "Are you suggesting that I am incapable of pulling off something like this on my own?"

"Well, now that you mention it..." Lily teased, slipping an arm around his waist and shivering in the chilly night air.

Scowling, James pressed his forehead against his wife's, peering at her behind his glasses. "Oh, all right. Padfoot, Moony and Wormtail might've had a little to do with it too. But it was my idea, and you'll notice none of them are on hand to take credit for things..."

"Only because we didn't invite them round." The corner of Lily's mouth quirked up into an amused smirk. "For once."

"I could've sworn that was your idea. You didn't actually want them all here now, do you?" James said softly, gently caressing Lily's hip.

"No, actually. This is the last Christmas the two of us will ever get to spend alone. I rather like being with you and only you. I hope you don't mind, James."

He shook his head, raking back his unruly black hair as it fell into his eyes. "Hardly. I do love my mates, but I love my wife more." His fingers trailed over her hip to the slight swell of her belly, the change almost imperceptible so far. "Hard to believe that in a few months, it won't be just the two of us anymore."

Lily's smile grew wider. "It's rarely just the two of us given your mates' talents at dropping by at the most inopportune moments, but..." She put her hand over his, their entwined fingers resting over her abdomen. "It's still a bit of a shock, isn't it?"

"Yeah. But a good one, I hope." They hadn't told anyone Lily was pregnant yet, deciding to wait the obligatory three months before breaking the news. Not even Sirius, their closest friend in the world, was privy to the information although James had a feeling Sirius might already suspect. It was hard to keep any secrets from the prying nose of Padfoot.

"More than good." Lily pulled James's head down for a kiss. "The best."

James finally broke away as he felt Lily shivering against him. "You cold, love?" he asked.

"A bit," she admitted. "Perhaps we should go back into the house?"

He flashed her a mischievous grin as he shook his head. "Actually, I've got a much better idea."

"If I didn't know better, Potter, I'd say you might have had this planned..."

"Me?" James blinked in feigned innocence behind his glasses. "Never."

With a few extravagant flourishes of his wand, he Summoned a duvet from the house, spreading it out on top of the snow. Approaching it, James touched the tip of his wand to each of the four corners, then extended his hand to his wife, beckoning her to join him.

The duvet was Charmed to be warm and comfortable, protecting them from the elements. They were far enough out to be away from the prying eyes of neighbours or anyone else who might happen by, but James had cast an assortment of protective spells upon it to repel unwanted visitors should any appear. It never hurt to be cautious, especially these days.

James slid Lily's cloak from her shoulders, folding it neatly on the ground.

"What are you—?" Lily started, perplexed by his actions. "Out here?"

"Why not?" He gave a quick nod, taking in how beautiful she looked at the moment, limned by the candlelight. Her long hair glowed like burnished copper, her incredibly green, almond-shaped eyes shining as she stared back at him, her full lips curving up into a wicked smile. "It's the Winter Solstice tonight, love — Yuletide, the longest night on the wheel of the year."

"I am well aware of what the Solstice is—"

"In the old days, Wizards celebrated Yule as the night of renewal and rebirth, the return of longer days as the Lord of the Sun was reborn from the womb of the Goddess," James continued as if he hadn't heard her. "My ancestors were quite keen on appeasing their Gods and celebrating the seasons."

"You're wittering on like a deranged Ravenclaw, Potter," Lily said archly as she took his outstretched hand, allowing herself to be tugged to his side. "And what exactly has that to do with us?"

"You are the Goddess...my goddess, and from what you've told me," James grinned proudly, his hand skimming across the almost imperceptible bulge of her belly, "we've got a baby on the way."

Lily snickered in response. "I know you think very highly of yourself, Big Head, but our baby is hardly going to be the Lord of the Sun."

"He's going to be the greatest wizard the world has ever seen!" James insisted.

"Think so, do you?" she challenged.

"He'll be our son, won't he?" James shrugged diffidently. "Oi, I'm being symbolic here. Just play along, love. Besides, the stag — that would be me — is one of the five oldest and wisest animals in the world. He embodies dignity, power and integrity —" There was a derisive snort from Lily which he pointedly ignored, "and is connected to such powerful native gods as Herne the Hunter and Cernunnos. There's got to be some reason that it became my Animagus form, now isn't there?" He drew in close, his mouth against the shell of her ear and whispered, "Let me worship you the way you deserve to be, my goddess. My beautiful, beautiful Lily."

"And when did you become such a romantic git?" Lily teased, entwining her fingers in his hair.

"Since I first laid eyes on you," he murmured, beginning to nuzzle her earlobe.

"Good answer," Lily said with a contented sigh.

James chuckled. "Yeah, I thought so too." Taking her chin in his hand, he tilted her face up to his, claiming her mouth with his own. Her lips were soft and warm and sweet as he kissed her, crushing her against him.

"Ow," Lily yelped, drawing back slightly. "Watch the tits, Potter."

"Sorry, love." James gave her his most contrite smile. Her breasts had grown much more tender since she'd become pregnant, and — as much to his delight — much larger as well. His fingers closed around the swell of her breast, caressing her gently. He could feel the nipple hardening through the thin fabric of her top. "Didn't mean to hurt you."

"Mmm. I know," she breathed, her eyes closing as he continued to brush his fingers over her breast lightly.

James kissed her again, sucking on Lily's lower lip as he slid his hands beneath her shirt, skimming along her warm, silken skin, only breaking away long enough to pull the garment over her head. Lily shivered in the night air; James strengthened the warming spells immediately until it felt as if they were in front of a roaring fire rather than in the middle of their back garden in December.

He could feel his cock twitch in response to the sight of his wife half-dressed in front of him, her breasts, pale and full, straining against the confines of her red satin bra. His hands went back to her breasts, cupping them gingerly as he drew slow circles around the taut peaks of her nipples with the pads of his thumbs. Yes, they were definitely larger.

Lily let out a soft gasp followed by a moan of approval as James kissed her harder this time. He let his kisses trail to her chin and along the line of her jaw to the crook of her neck, his teeth grazing the soft skin. She clutched at him, her hips swaying gently as his lips ranged southward to her collarbone and then down between her breasts.

He heard her whimpering as he buried his face between them, running the tip of his tongue along her pale skin, savouring the sweet and salty taste. Fumbling with the clasp of her bra, he unhooked it and slowly slid it down her arms, tossing it cavalierly on top of the growing pile of clothing.

"Beautiful," he whispered, his mouth watering at the sight of her half-naked body and all its delectable, lush curves. Reaching around, James unfastened her long, dark skirt, tugging it down to pool around her ankles as he dropped to his knees in front of her. Lily stepped out of her skirt, kicking it away hastily while James worked to slip off her boots and stockings, placing reverent kisses on the soles of her feet before working his way up her bared legs. He nibbled on the crooks of her knees, once again eliciting contented sighs from her as he did.

His hands skimmed up the length of her legs, her thighs already warm and damp under his fingertips. He knelt in front of her, kissing his way up to her hips, then across to her belly. Playfully, James stuck his tongue in her navel, making her squeal and squirm, before nuzzling down the slight bump of her belly. She was just beginning to show, her curves more pronounced, and James had never found her more desirable. He could barely wait for her grow bigger and rounder as her pregnancy progressed. The thought of her body ripening further only excited him more, shooting through him like a jolt of electricity. His cock throbbed painfully as he peeled off her knickers, leaving her naked and open before him.

The blazing light from the tree turned Lily's skin to glowing alabaster, her hair to flame, as if the statue of a classical goddess had come to life beneath his hands. James pressed his lips to the curls at the juncture of her thighs, breathing in the familiar, intoxicating scent of her musk as his fingers stroked along the slick edges of her labia. With a chuckle, he took off his glasses, placing them safely on top of her clothes before continuing.

"Uh oh, serious business," Lily panted.

"Mmm hmm." With that, James pulled her to him again; he could feel her trembling as he snaked his tongue out, slowly sucking the hard nub of her clit between his lips, savouring her unmistakable taste. Lily buried her fingers in his hair, urging him on.

"Oh, James!" she gasped, tightening her hold on his hair. She cried out, pressing forward as she draped one leg over his shoulder, hooking it behind his back to grant him further access. He moaned against her skin, grabbing her arse to pull her closer, beginning to lick her in earnest.

Lily shifted against him, her nails digging into his scalp, her hips starting to buck in a frantic rhythm as James licked and sucked at her sensitive flesh. Her cries began to grow louder, making him thankful he'd put Imperturbable spells on the duvet to keep the neighbours from hearing what they were getting up to.

To his surprise, Lily then shoved him away forcefully, her eyes dark with desire. "No—I want..." she panted, pushing him onto his back. Luckily for James, the duvet had been fortified with cushioning charms. Before he could stop her, she was hovering over him on her knees, clawing at his belt and trousers, yanking them down over his hips. "Want you. Want you."

James didn't protest as she straddled his legs, grabbing his aching cock with one hand and stroking him firmly before easing herself down upon him. He managed to sit up, hissing, "That's my girl..."

Her face lit up with a feral grin, and with a saucy toss of her head, Lily settled herself in his lap, her arms around his neck, her thighs against his. She shifted again, constricting around him until he was seeing stars.

"Lily," he groaned, his hands going to her hips, gripping her tightly. "Love..."

She began to move, rising up on her knees and then plunging down again in one fluid motion, James's hips thrusting up to meet hers urgently as she began to ride him. He watched transfixed as her swollen breasts bounced, swallowing hard at the sight. Although Lily's condition was barely visible, the simple fact that she was carrying his child excited him in ways he couldn't describe. He just knew that somehow it made her more feminine, more vibrant, powerful, and sexy than ever to him. Pulling her down, he clamped his lips over hers, swallowing her moans as the momentum built to a frenzied pace, until they were moving together as one.

Lily clutched at him in desperation, her breathing ragged and hot against his cheek. He could feel her starting to quiver, her muffled moans driving James mad, sending him spiralling closer and closer to the brink. With a strangled cry, she climaxed, shuddering and shaking violently in his arms. Hearing her like this, feeling her like this, was more than James could take — all control slipped away as he spilled into her in a heated rush.

James fought for breath as Lily relaxed in his hold, slumping forward to pepper his face with soft kisses. He cradled her against him, stroking her bare back, letting his fingertips trail down the length of her spine. "I love you, Lily Potter," he murmured, his voice rough with exertion.

"I love you too," Lily whispered back, resting her head on his shoulder. She pressed her lips against the crook of his neck, fingers tangled in his hair.

He pulled her down onto the duvet, stretching out, while Lily nestled against him in the safety of his arms. Gently stroking her hair, James watched as his wife's eyes fluttered closed, her breathing growing deep and even. He'd never seen anyone fall asleep so fast until she'd become pregnant. The Healers had assured him that it was natural for the first trimester, but it was still a bit unnerving to witness. "Lily," he said, giving her a gentle shake. "Lily-love, wake up."

"Mmph?" She raised her head off his chest, blinking her eyes.

"We should get you inside before you kip here for the night." James laughed softly. "The last thing we need is Padfoot coming round tomorrow to find you here like this...goddess or not. Besides, the spells will only last so long, and then we'll both freeze our bits off."

"No doubt Sirius would get a good laugh out of that.." Lily stifled a yawn, then struggled to sit up as James rolled over, grabbing for his glasses, followed by her clothes. He helped her to dress before pulling up his trousers and smoothing out his shirt.

She seemed to be wavering as she rose to her feet; James rushed to her side, wrapping an arm around her waist in support. "Come on, then. Time for bed."

"Mmmmaybe," Lily said, her lips curling up into an attractive smirk. "I might just need some further convincing regarding my divinity."

James felt another frisson of excitement coursing through him. "Oh, really?"

She fluttered her eyelashes, giving him her most demure expression. "One side effect of pregnancy is this bloody exhaustion. Another is that I seem to be terminally randy. At the moment, one is most certainly winning out over the other."

"Right. Then time is of the essence, my darling. Before you change your mind."

"I promise you, I won't." She wound her arms around his neck and kissed him hungrily. "Happy Yule, sweetheart."

"Happy Yule." James quickly Vanished the duvet, picking up Lily's cloak and draping it over her shoulders gallantly in order to keep her warm. Beaming as he led her back through the snowy yard, following his own path, he relished the feel of her body close to his own.

He was pleased that everything had gone according to plan, and that Lily seemed so happy and at peace, only wishing they'd had the luxury of sleeping outside beneath the stars and sky. He hadn't wanted to spoil the mood by reminding her that they were safer indoors; no Death Eaters had managed to find them yet, but these days, it was better to be safe than sorry. It was embarrassing for him to be so practical, but impending fatherhood had taught James Potter not to be quite as reckless as he had been in past.

There was more he wanted to tell Lily about what they'd done tonight, but not now. If all went well, their lovemaking would prove to have been more than just a celebration of Yule, but also a rite of protection for the pair of them as well as their unborn child. There had been an extra bit of old magic that James had woven into the spells he'd placed on the duvet and around the Yule tree, spells which he sincerely hoped would be beneficial. If he and Lily were lucky, perhaps the old gods were listening. Perhaps they'd approve of his observing the holiday in the ways of his ancestors, and smile upon his wife and their child.

Lily stopped to kiss him again, a kiss filled with love, lust and the promise of all sorts of carnal delights. All worries went completely out of James's mind. For now, he had a beautiful woman to love and to worship. For now, that was more than enough for him.