A/N: TO all my readers from One of Them who, hopefully, are reading this. I want to thank you all for the tremendous amount of support you gave me on my last story. It meant worlds.

Bold thoughts are James

Italicized are Lily.


"Good morning Lily."

"'Morning," Lily grumbled back, rubbing her eyes tiredly.

Her father chuckled as he flipped her egg-white omelette. She slid into a seat at the table as she slowly woke up.

"Where's Mum?" she asked.

Mr. Evans chuckled. "At work Lily, it's eleven o'clock."

"Why aren't you at work?"

"Because it's Saturday." He gave her an odd look. "Are you feeling alright?"

Well there's nothing to do around here. It's not my fault I can't tell Tuesday from Friday.

"I'm fine," Lily told him.

Her father slid the omelette onto a plate and placed a slice of toast on the side, throwing a dish towel over his shoulder he brought it to her. "Breakfast," he announced, "is served."

Lily looked at the time and realized he had been right. It was nearing eleven thirty. "Brunch," she corrected. "And it looks delicious, thank you."

"You're welcome," he replied.

"Where's Petunia?" Lily questioned, realizing her bitter sister was absent.

"She went out with Lisa and Rita."

Gads, they're annoying.

"Oh," Lily said, trying to hide her distaste.

Apparently she didn't do a very good job as her father gave her a stern look. "Lily," he warned.

"Sorry," Lily apologized.

But what obligation do I have to be nice to them anyway? They ignore me and/or laugh at me. And Merlin when Lisa laughs she's most likely traumatizing any children within a three mile radius.

"They're teenage girls Lily," her father said tiredly. "I know you don't find them…pleasant, but they are your sisters friends so be nice. And I'm sure you and your friends are the same way. The only difference is she's never around them as you're away most of the year for school while she's-"

While she's here with us.

Lily's father echoed her thoughts. A phrase she had heard too many times to count.

Merlin, I hate it when they say that. I mean…it's like a freaking guilt trip. Except, they don't even realize it.

Lily sighed. "I know," she said, a phrase she had said too many time to count. A generic phrase that stopped the conversation easily.

He opened his mouth to say something else when the sound of a car pulling up in their driveway made him freeze. His eyes widened.

"You forgot to put the vent on?" Lily guessed. She looked over at the stove, Petunia couldn't stand it when the smell of food filled the house and the only way to prevent it was to turn on the vent over the stove. And this was something her father seemed to constantly forget.

Well you can't turn it on now. It's a little late Dad.

Her father threw open the kitchen window above the counter, pulling back the curtains as well to let the fresh air and sunshine in. Lily cut into her omelette and took a bite.

Delicious. At least one of my parents can cook.

As soon as her father had moved away from the window and owl flew in, a beautiful Great Horned owl. The owl dropped a sealed letter in on the table before jumping and flapping its wings twice to land and perch on the counter.

Not again. I swear to Merlin if it's another-

Mr. Evans looked at Lily, clearly startled. "Sorry," Lily apologized.

"It's okay," he told her, though his heartbeat still hadn't calmed. "That still needs some getting used to is all."

Of course.

They heard the front door open and the sound of shoes being kicked off.

"Isn't the owl supposed to leave after delivering the mail?" her father asked slowly.

"Usually, but—"

"What the hell, Lily? How many times have I told you to put your freaking shoes in the closet?"

Merlin Petunia.

"I nearly broke my ankle coming into the house!" Petunia shrieked as she stormed her way into the kitchen. "Like my morning hasn't been bad enough without you trying to maim me. Rita and Lisa decided to go swimming and forgot to tell me so I had to come back here to get my swimsuit and—"

Lily tuned out and a moment later she heard her sister shut up long enough to give the brief opportunity for someone to comment.

"Mum borrowed my shoes to get the mail last night," Lily said tiredly. "And by the way, good morning to you too."

Petunia completely ignored her sister and instead dropped her bag in the doorway and sat down at the table, promptly letting out a loud scream.

"Lily!" she screeched.

"What?"

Mr. Evans sighed at the two girls. "Lily, maybe you should take the owl outside."

What harm did the owl do? Maybe you should take her outside.

Lily bit her tongue and grabbed a tea towel off the counter, draping it over her arm and then letting the owl hop on. She grabbed the letter and her plate before leaving the kitchen, wordlessly. She slipped on her flip-flops and pushed open the screen door, lucky that Petunia had forgotten to shut—or probably slam—the front door behind her.

She took a seat on the cream porch swing as the large owl left her arm to settle on the tan wood rail that framed the wraparound porch. Sighing, she put her plate on her lap and bit into her toast, not caring if the neighbours saw her in her pink pyjama shorts and tank top.

Well?

Lily shooed the owl, "You can leave." The owl cocked its head to the side. "Go," she urged.

Really? It's not even noon and I have a wretched excuse of a sister shooting her mouth off inside, a letter I'm just 'dying' to read and an owl who clearly doesn't understand its job. Good grief. I have weeks left of this. Just shoot me now.

She sighed. "Look, I have nothing to give you," she held up her hands for proof. "Sorry. Now will you please fly back to wherever your big-headed owner sent you from?"

The owl tilted its head the other way now and Lily huffed. She stared the bird down, and while the bird met her green eyes head on, this tactic proved pointless. The owl stayed put and finally Lily gave up.

Fine. You can stay out here as long as you like. Don't mind me, I'll just be here eating my breakfast.

She was finished her omelette and about four bites from completely devouring her toast when the owl flew over to the porch swing and tapped the letter with its beak impatiently.

"I don't want to read it," Lily said.

Again the owl tapped on the envelope.

"No," Lily said. "I won't."

The owl picked the envelope up in its talons and dropped it onto Lily's lap again. It let out a low 'hoot' and Lily flinched back a bit. The owl gave Lily's arm a quick peck with its beak. It was sharp and startling, not hard enough to draw blood but enough to leave a short, red, scratch on her pale skin. She pulled her arm away quickly and glared at the bird.

"Fine," she grumbled and quickly finished the rest of her toast before opening the letter.

Oh Merlin.

Dear Lily,

I've missed you. It's been two weeks since our last day of being sixth years. Two weeks without seeing your gorgeousness. You haven't replied to my letters. And you know, that hurts Lily, it really does.

So this time I've pulled my wits together and made it impossible for you to ignore me. By now you've probably gotten quite acquainted with Mona, my owl. And as you read this letter she is most likely watching you from approximately five inches away. Now you're probably checking and realizing that yes, I'm right. Anyway, Mona has been given specific instructions to not let you out of her sight until you have both read and replied to my letter.

From the information I managed to gather from your friends before we left Hogwarts for the summer hols, you aren't busy this summer. At all. Hearing this I felt rather pitying towards you and have decided I should be the solution to the boredom you are experiencing. Therefore, I would like to take you out to dinner sometime, or lunch, or whatever works for you.

Just send me your address and a time and date so I can pick you up.

James XOXOXXXX

P. S. Remember, Mona won't leave until you read and REPLY to this letter and she is quite the intelligent bird.

Lily practically growled as she finished reading the letter. She looked at Mona and shooed her further than the five inches James had been right about.

Picking up her plate and the letter Lily went back inside, leaving Mona on the porch. She went into the kitchen and dropped her dishes in the sink, telling herself she'd wash them later and ignoring Petunia's presence as she went upstairs.

Once Lily was in her room she threw the letter on her desk and sat down on her bed. She lay back and closed her eyes, sighing tiredly.

Stupid Potter. I cannot believe him and the length he would go just to piss me off. Honestly. He couldn't take a hint from the first three letters I ignored. Or…he did take the hint and instead of retreating decided to come back full force and with an actual plan. I wish he would just—

Lily's thoughts were cut short as a tapping noise sounded from her window. And of course, Mona was on her window sill, waiting expectantly.

Merlin.

"I'll reply later," Lily told her. "Go…fly around or something."

After a fifteen minute argument with a bird whose only responses were tilting her left or right or tapping on the window, Lily finally relented and let the owl in.

She lay down some old newspaper on her desk and hoped the bird was as smart as James claimed it was.


"Prongs!" Sirius called from his room.

Don't tell me you broke another lamp Padfoot.

"Yeah?" James replied, sticking his head out the door to see Sirius walking over to him anyway.

"You unpacked yet?" Sirius asked, glancing in James' mirror and fixing his hair.

Narcissist.

"Just about," James told him. He turned to Pip who snapped her fingers, his clothes instantly flying from his trunk to his closet. "Done," he said. "Thanks Pip, now can you the last box is in the foyer back home. Mind getting it here?"

Pip nodded and popped away.

"Once that box is unpacked we're finished," Sirius grinned. "Man, Prongs, seventeen we are free men. The Ministry can't touch us."

"No kidding. Oh, and I put the Zonko's products we brought in the hall closet. Top shelf."

"Great." Sirius paused. "So when do we get girls over here? Because I was thinking that we could hit the pub we passed—"

Well…

"Look," James started, trying to break it to his best mate gently, "I'm not saying we can't do that. But, well, we never know when Mum and Dad are going to drop in to make sure everything's okay, so it may not be a good idea to bring girls over so soon."

Sirius sighed, "You're kidding me, right? Is this because of Lily?"

"No," James said. "Although…she still hasn't replied to my letter yet. Mona hasn't come back."

"What? You think she stole your bird?"

"No, I think she hates me so much I'm not even worth her taking the time to write and tell me how much she hates me."

Sirius considered this. "I think you'd be luckier if she just stole your owl. But anyway, you don't actually believe Mum and Dad are going to drop in randomly…do you?"

It was sort of sweet the way Sirius referred to James' parents as 'Mum and Dad' now, after they had taken him in the summer before. If only he was that sweet to all the girls he womanized.

"Well they trusted us to spend two weeks here alone," James said, looking around at the house he and Sirius would occupy for the next two weeks while his parents were on a 'second honeymoon' in Italy. "I don't know how much more trusting they could do."

Sirius shrugged. "I guess you're right. But listen, I've already counted nearly dozen gorgeous girls. One of which was a redhead, and, even though I saw her first, you can have dibs."

I don't want another redhead. I want Lily. And where is Mona with her reply?

James sighed and, not wanting to hurt Sirius' feelings, thanked him for his thoughtfulness.

"Are we allowed to play Quidditch here?" Sirius asked. "Or will the muggles see us?"

"Dad says there's a pitch a little ways back in a clearing."

"Great. I'll get my broom."


A/N: Alright so thanks for giving the first chapter a try and please stick around for the next one! Also, please, please, please review.

Question: My favourite fountain drink is what?

Anyways,

Scarlett