Author's notes: O. K so it may be a little slow to get off the ground but I assure you that once the action kicks in it's really quite a good bit of stuff - even if I do say so myself!
Disclaimer: All (or nearly all) characters within are the formulation and property of J.K. Rowling and I haven't got one scrap of permission to use them.
Before the Storm
The warm rays of the sun rose and dispersed the clouds of mist that had hovered over the castle for many days before. This difference was evident from a glance at the enchanted ceiling of the Great Hall as the light lit up the faces of those below it. James, Sirius, Remus and Peter took seats at the middle of the Griffindor table for breakfast, hurriedly discussing something under their breath. Their quick tone and frequent glances at the Slytherin table drew the attention of a pretty, green-eyed, fellow seventh year. When she reached the four boys she quickly sat down opposite them and, before any could say a word either in protest or welcome, she began to accost them in turn. The hum of conversation was quenched instantly. "And what are you lot playing at then?" She shot at them, giving Sirius in particular, a look of disgust.
"Planning? Us? You know we never plan anything, Evans." Sirius replied coolly "It just...sort of happens!"
Lily, giving up this target and instead spotting a weak point, diverted her attentions to the next boy.
"James?" She questioned, but with a noticeably softer tone than before.
"Ahh Lily!" James replied "You know I've always had a soft spot for your questionings!" He smiled. "And that's why I'm telling you that..." James paused. Sirius seemed to hold his breath for a few moments before ... "Sirius is correct in saying that we're up to absolutely nothing." Sirius and Peter grinned. Lupin and Lily frowned.
Noticing this, he then added in an apologetic tone, "Sorry," But this appeared to be ignored. Lily, looking both angry and as though she expected nothing more from them, rose and moved down the table to rejoin her friends.
"You know" James began, with his eyes fixed on the back of Lily's head "I think she's finally warming to me"
"Yeah," said Sirius. A few moments later he could be heard, muttering in an undertone "very, very slowly!"
"What'd you say, Padfoot?" James questioned instantly.
"Huh?" Sirius replied with an obviously fake air of ignorance "Oh! I was just saying that, in a few decades she might even look you in the eye once in a while!" He replied sarcastically with a certain sparkle in his eye.
"What're you talking about?" James pressured, including a hand movement of placing two fingers to his eyes and then to an invisible person infront of him to demonstrate exactly how much eye contact he had received from Lily Evans.
"It's not so much this" said Sirius mimicking him "but this" and Sirius placed his head so far forward that his nose and his dark mop of hair nearly became contaminated by the jam spread thickly onto his toast. It reminded James of another Hogwarts student's actions in the O.W.L exams two years previously. Faced with this, James didn't know whether to hex or hug Sirius and his confusion showed on his face. "If anything, Padfoot, that only increases my suspicions." He finally replied, a certain amount of power depicted in his voice. Due to the seriousness of this remark, Sirius thought it best not to argue for once.
Remus rolled his eyes at them both and then returned to his boiled egg. This didn't go unnoticed as James said cheerfully: "Anyway my dear Moony - just two weeks till full moon!" Remus began to make a series of hushing noises, his eyes fixed on a figure walking infront of him. These failed to gain any effect over the other three's debates on the future events of this full moon however, and Remus was forced to resort to "Bloody hell! It's a wonder anything's kept secret with you lot! So will you shut up?" to silence them. He added, due to their piercing looks, in a vain attempt to restore peace."At least until we're somewhere quieter." The four became deadly silent in response to this rare outburst, which was finally broken by James.
"Chip on your shoulder, Moony?" he asked quite light-heartedly, however.
"Yeah, somethin' you wanna discuss?" Sirius added.
"No ... nothing" Remus replied, staring at his empty plate. "We'd better go..."
"Yeah, suppose we had" said James, glancing around the room at large spaces at each of the four tables. "It's getting a bit quiet here."
The four stood up near enough in one motion, slung their bags over their backs and made their way out of the Great Hall and to Transfiguration where they received a long and detailed talk on the importance of the upcoming N.E.W.Ts and the need to 'study at every opportunity,' as Professor McGonagall put it. After an hour or so of this they emerged, bleary eyed, in to the corridor.
"There was no need for that!" James exclaimed, whilst repeatedly blinking to readjust his eyes to the bright light of his new surroundings.
"Yeah, we don't exactly need reminding daily" added Remus "My memory's perfectly fine, thanks."
The all smiled but James more so as he saw, further down the corridor, something to interest him. Lily was walking towards him - and better than that- perfectly alone."Meet you back in the common room" he said dreamily to anyone that was listening. "See you later, Wormtail" and he sped after Lily who had just disappeared behind a tapestry."Can I walk you anywhere, Lily?"She jumped but soon regained herself when she saw who had caused it.
"Well...after six years of being here I think I can find my way around" Lily replied, catching his eye and seeing the odd expression that had appeared on his face "but you can walk with me if you like..."
"Great! Where we off to,"a great positive change now engulfing his face.
"Library - I've got a free now and Flitwick has given us homework already."
"Can't be that hard though" James said boldly "I mean it is only Charms."
"Charms it may be Potter, but we're doing some pretty advanced wand movements lately! Anyway...when did I ever say it was hard?"
When she called James 'Potter' these days he knew Lily was serious - or irritated - so he apologised, but only half-heartedly as the idea of 'complicated wand movements' was laughable to him. However, to Lily this apology seemed a great achievement and she grinned - but only so as James wouldn't notice.
After half an hour of watching her work Lily took pity on James and suggested that they return to the common room for a break, as much for her sake than his, because she wasn't sure that she could take any more of his staring at her. James agreed strongly, thankful for anything to ease his boredom, and they were soon passing through the portrait hole of the Griffindor common room. Despite his better attempts to ignore them, James and Lily were forced to sit by the fire with Sirius and Remus. This was due to Sirius' repeated shouts of "Hey! Over here! Prongs! Ja-a-mes OVER HERE!" James tried to look as if he hadn't heard and, when he had weaved himself through the many chairs and tables of the room, gasped "Oh, sorry Padfoot, didn't here you." It seemed that he hadn't managed to quite convince Remus with this who looked at him apologetically. James returned this with a look of desperacy.
"You must be gettin' deaf in your old age, Prongs" Sirius joked. "So ... How are you, Evans?" He added with a decided effort.
"Err ... Fine thanks." Replied Lily, a little amazed at this sudden hospitality. For years Sirius had practically refused to accept that she was alive. She wasn't the only one as James showed when Lily had left after a few more minutes of this kindness, mentioning something about 'needing to finish that Charms essay.'
"You feeling all right Sirius?" James questioned, and Remus let out a small snigger that was hidden swiftly behind his copy of 'The Prophet' and a rustling of paper.
"Just smashing." Sirius replied with a puzzled expression.
"Only I thought that - with you talking like that - that er-"
"Like what?" Sirius interjected.
"Hi Lily! How are you, Lily? Oh good Lily, yes Lily, no Lily ... Can I lick your shoes Lily?" James mocked.
"Oh haha! Well. If you must know, I thought that after your sudden - er - 'closeness' I'd better - you know - at least recognise she's there ..."
"You did that, alright!" James grinned. "But do me a favour and tone it down a bit or she'll start to think your coming onto her!"
Sirius smiled to himself. "She wishes!" He said smoothly, sinking further into his armchair.
"No I don't think she does, really" protested James, running his hand through his hair to make his appearance more 'desirable.' Remus closed his paper and looked from one to the other "I think your both wrong," he ventured, sitting up in his chair and barely concealing a smirk "it's me she wants really!" For his cheek he received two carefully aimed cushions, one after the other, full in the face. Remus tried to regain his composure.
"Nope, definitely me" finished James, glancing at the portrait hole where he had moments ago seen Lily Evans vanish.