A/N: Unabashed fluffy-angst. I keep hearing this song lately as for some unknown reason it is played during the holidays. A brief little "What if" songfic. The usual fanfic copyright disclaimers- everyone and everything in here belongs to J.K. Rowling, no money is being made and no infringement is implied. None of this belongs to me except the idea. The lyrics are quoted without permission-copyright info at the end. My thanks to my beta reader Beth, who gratefully informed me that reading this finally purged the song from her head since she kept hearing it lately as well. ;o)

 

 

My Favorite Things

By madame en

 

 

 

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens

Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens

Brown paper packages tied up with strings

These are a few of my favorite things

 

 

"What are you singing, Lily?" James asked softly, leaning against the doorframe of the nursery. He had been watching as his wife sat in her rocking chair singing softly to their young son. His heart ached- moments such as this were so precious to him, especially now as preparations were being made for his family to "disappear."

 

 

"Oh," Lily grinned, "a song from my childhood. It's from a Muggle movie that my parents took us to when I was young- then it was on television once a year. I used to so look forward to watching it."

 

 

"I didn't realize Muggle movies had songs," James replied, as he came in and leaned over her, grinning as little Harry grasped a lock of her hair in his tiny hand and proceeded to try and stuff it in his mouth. Lily gently tugged it away from his mouth, but his little fingers refused to loosen their grip.

 

 

"Well, not so much anymore, but they used to be very popular. This one was based on a true story about a family that had to flee the Nazis in Germany during World War II." James looked at her blankly, and she added, "When Dumbledore defeated Grindelwald."

 

 

The conversation paused as the young couple became entranced again by the sight of their baby. Harry had given a little yawn, slowly released the hair and drifted off to sleep.

 

 

"Did they escape?" James suddenly asked with interest, pushing a lock of black hair away from his sleeping son's eyes.

"Yes. They went into hiding, then crossed over the Alps on foot into Switzerland." She sighed, and added softly, "They had to leave everything behind."

 

 

"Sounds somewhat familiar, although I didn’t think of Switzerland," James replied with a brief kiss on top of Lily's head. He conjured a chair and sat beside her. "So these Muggles were fleeing from Dark Forces and had time to stop and sing about things like cauldrons?"

 

 

"Kettles, actually, and, well, musical theater is a form of Muggle storytelling. The songs in the show push the story forward. Some of it's very beautiful." She glanced up at him with a little smirk. "I'm sure the real family didn't burst into song in the middle of their escape."

 

 

"Sing it again."

 

 

Lily smiled then gazed at the baby in her arms, and began to sing softly.

 

 

Cream colored ponies and crisp apple streudels

Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles

Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings

These are a few of my favorite things

 

 

"Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings- I like that image. What part of the story does this song push forward?" James asked, absently stroking Lily's hair.

 

 

"Well, the children are afraid during a thunderstorm and the governess- who will later marry their father- is trying to reassure them that everything will be all right. So she has them think about their favorite things to distract them from their fears."

 

 

"Does it work?" James asked, looking at her carefully.

 

 

Lily looked at him, her eyes full of love and sadness. "In the movie it does," she whispered.

 

 

"Sing some more," he said softly, putting his forehead to hers.

 

 

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes

Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes

Silver white winters that melt into springs

These are a few of my favorite things

 

When the dog bites

When the bee stings

When I'm feeling sad

I simply remember my favorite things

And then I don't feel so bad

 

 

They sat in silence for some time, before James' irrepressible good humor resurfaced. "Okay, let me get this straight," James said, grinning, before clearing his throat. "Girls in black dresses with long auburn tresses…"

 

 

Lily burst out laughing then quieted so as not to wake Harry. She followed his lead. "Wizards with black hair and oversize glasses," she sang softly as she reached up to stroke his cheek.

 

 

James thought for a minute, then grinned wickedly. "Mad dogs and werewolves who howl at the moon…."

 

 

"Well, not quite a rhyme, but definitely some of my favorite things," Lily laughed. She looked tenderly at him before singing softly once more.

 

 

When I'm feeling sad

I simply remember my favorite things

And then I don't feel so bad.

 

 

 

*******

 

 

"My Favorite Things"

From The Sound of Music ©1959

Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II/Music by Richard Rodgers