Title: Stupid Love Stories
Author: InkQuillz/Mikayla
Spoiler Warning: None.
Chapter/s: 1/?
Genre: Romance
Rating: PG
Summary: When Lily unwittingly falls into a trap set by a group of mischievous Gryffindor girls, all she can think of is surviving the summer without James Potter ruining her holiday. Unfortunately, fate has other plans.
Disclaimer: Don't own Harry Potter characters. I wish I did... :P
Author's note: Written for my friend Hannah, who plays Lily Evans to my James Potter on one of my rpgs.

The train rattled to a stop and Lily Evans automatically put her hand out to steady her trunk as it wobbled dangerously on the seat beside her. Looking up from her book with only mild interest.

"Next stop, miss. 'Bout twenty minutes." The conductor said, eyeing her curious parcels and cases with the Hogwarts stamps once again. She ignored his looks and smiled politely, after thanking him and making sure he'd wandered off back down the train, she returned to her book. The moving images would surely have given him more reason to linger. He was a tall, balding man with a rounding belly and his blue eyes reminded her somewhat of Professor Dumbledore; he gave her the impression he was trying to x-ray her bags for any sign of what was inside.

When the announcer signalled that the next stop would be Hollow's Walk Station, fifteen minutes later, Lily packed up her book, threw the strap of her carry-on travel case over her shoulder and started to pull her Hogwarts trunk off the seat. With a little help from the ever suspicious conductor and another passenger, Lily was stood at the door waiting for the train to stop.

It was her final summer as a Hogwarts' student, she'd already received word of her impending duties as Head Girl and after much celebration with her parents, had received an invitation that as a graduating student, she just couldn't pass up.

Marlene McKinnon lived in the back of beyond, according to the number of trains Lily had had to wrestle with in order to get here, Dorcas and Mary, both living in the Wizarding World had been able to Floo straight to Marlene's home in Wales, Lily had never been connected to the network, given that she was a muggle household and had no valid reason for 'needing' one. But the final two weeks of the holidays would be well worth the travel.

The bell dinged, the train stopped and Lily was greeted by the scents of fresh country air. Mary was standing on the platform with a trolley and a wide grin. The girls both gave a joyous squeal as they enveloped each other in tight hugs.

"I'm so glad you decided to come!"

"How could I miss it? It's our last chance!" Lily replied, both girls were smiling.

"Don't say that! I have no intentions of growing up just yet." They laughed and pulled, pushed and kicked Lily's trunk and bags onto the trolley.

"They said we could borrow this, it's a small village, they know where I live if I don't get it back to them." Marlene explained as they made their way toward the exit.

Lily, who had never slept over any of her friends' homes, was not sure what to expect. Lily, had in fact, only been inside one wizarding home and that had been Severus' some years ago now. Even then, she had not stayed long and had been eager to leave. As they made their way through Hollow's Walk, the pretty grey stone slabs turned to gravel. They passed churches and small shops and a quaint little pub. When they reached what Lily assumed to be the centre of the village, a large statue towered over them.

"Ready?" Marlene asked slyly. Lily turned to ask what she meant, but as soon as they had passed the statue, the world around them seemed to shift. Lily gasped and stared around her, the statue turned to a figure she recognised well.

"Is that...?"

"Gryffindor? Yeah."

A tall man with a beard that resembled a mane stared down at her, at his heels; a lion was stretched out and looked at the girls with a sleepy expression. His stone face as cracked and weather-worn as the wizard's above him. The rest of the Hollow was so amazingly wizard-like that Lily couldn't believe it could be hidden. Even after six and bit years, she still had a lot to learn about the wizarding world. More exotic looking plants grow around shrubberies outside the cottages, there were children laughing in the air around them on brooms, owls flew to windows and Lily was sure she could smell the magic around her.

"Welcome to Godric's Hollow, Miss Evans!" Marlene cheered and started off again, she turned down a small road to the left. They passed several houses and were nearing a field when she finally stopped.

"Morning, Dorea!" She greeted with a friendly wave at a woman opposite, who was pulling giant daisies out of a border around her white wooden fence.

"Good morning, Marlene!" The lady returned, looking up. From what Lily could see of her wrinkled face was blotchy and red and the grey hair which was not covered by the straw hat she wore was marred by spots of soil. She pulled off her gardening gloves and stood up with a great deal of difficulty. "Another friend! Well, well you're mother wasn't joking when she said she had a house full."

Marlene laughed and Lily stood silently, waiting to either be introduced or led away. She tried to make a guess at which of these houses belonged to her friend. Perhaps Mary or Dorcas would look out and give her a sign.

"We're having a last summer holiday celebration." Marlene explained.

"Ah, to be young." The women responded and rubbed the base of her spine, she winced. She was clearly too old to be doing such hard labour and Lily wondered why she had not used magic. "Are you all still coming over for dinner? I must tell the boys, I keep meaning too. Always so busy doing whatever it is young boys get up to these days."

Lily just so happened to be looking in Marlene's direction and so caught the sly smirk that had proudly situated itself on her friend's face. Marlene was planning something and for once, Lily was a little afraid.

"Yes, mum's making her famed fruit punch as we speak. Anyway, Dorea, Lily and I should be getting her stuff inside. We'll see you tomorrow night!" Marlene took the handles of the trolley and started pushing it toward the last of the cottages. Lily followed along behind, after waving at the old woman, who waved back.

Before they'd made it down the pathway completely, a familiar voice shouted over the perfect silence that seemed to fall on Godric's Hollow.

"Mum... Mum." Lily turned and to her horror, though she had known the voice anywhere, James Potter was now stood beside Dorea; he was holding out a glass of water and his other hand was open; holding out to her something which was too small to see: Though Lily did not have to be the genius that she was to know it was some form of medication. "You need to take these." James chastised. The woman took the water, took a few sips before plucking the tablets from her son's hand and swallowing both at once. When she had drained half the glass, she passed it back to James, who smiled sweetly back at her. "Thank you." He grinned and then looked at his watch, checked the time and turned back to her. "Next dose in four hours, okay?" His mother nodded.

Marlene seemed to be choking and walked faster, knowing that Lily would round on her once she'd gotten over the shock. Lily barely noticed though, here he was, the bane of her existence; as annoyingly good looking as ever, cool, calm, collected and doting and affectionate. She watched as he kissed his mother's cheek and turned away. He had not noticed Lily, she was glad of that at least.

It took her a few minutes to regain her senses and the redhead turned. Marlene had managed to make it to her front door and was thrusting the trolley over the threshold.

"How could you not mention you're neighbours with James Potter!" Lily asked credulously ten minutes later, when both girls were inside the rather spacious kitchen.

"It slipped my mind?" Marlene tried, but challenged with Lily's glare she sighed. "I've known him my whole life; we used to be best friends till we got to Hogwarts."

The redhead gaped, how had she never known this? Granted, she'd only really gotten close with her dorm-mates since fourth year, closer after the incident with Sev after OWLs, before that she had scarcely said more than a few words at a time to any of them. Dorcas appeared first, she had her raven hair in a loose bun; she was taller than Lily and had to stoop to kiss her cheek.

"Finally here!" Was her hello as Mary entered.

"Lily!" She squeaked.

Mary was the smallest of the four girls but by the far the prettiest in Lily's opinion. She had long blonde hair that fell in such natural waves that it was the one thing that Lily's vanity was jealous of. She wrapped her arms around Mary, who was returned the gesture fondly.

"Now it's a party, we're all here." Dorcas grinned; Mary blushed and looked toward the window that faced the Potter's front garden. Realising she was the only one who hadn't known what she was walking in on, Lily sighed heavily and slumped into a wooden chair around the dining table.

"She's already seen James." Marlene explained.

"Oh, bet he was thrilled."

"He didn't see me and I'd like to keep it that way. I can't believe you guys."