A/N: Sorry if this Author's Note turns out really long, but there are things you need to know! So please do read! :) First, I'm not sure if this will be one long fic or if there will be a sequel. The timeline spans from the summer before 6th year to sometime after 7th year (that part is a surprise). Second, this is my first L/J fic, so I'll try my best. Lily and James are my OTP for life! Third, every chapter will start with a song excerpt. The song I chose will typically fit nicely with the plot of the chapter it goes with. I do recommend listening to the songs :) Lastly, there may be a few parts that are from any of the seven HP books. Those parts will remain canon. I hope you enjoy and please feel free to leave a review! They really do make my day and inspire me to update!

Chapter One

"When did we start to build these walls

and is there any way

to storm your gates?"

-We're All We Have by Anberlin

Youth is something that progresses with time, lasting years rather than a few months, weeks, or days. The wise cherish it and the innocent cling to it. Then, suddenly, with a significant event to spark it, youth is lost. Instigated by unique circumstances, it's lost by some far too early than is fair. Naturalism makes that so. Naturalism being the exposure to forces beyond one's control. And time which has a habit of quickening without warning. It's no wonder children become adults with no volition or understanding of the predicament. And so, with naturalism as the instigator and time to prove it, youth can be exceptionally short-lived whether you're wise, innocent, neither, or both. Sometimes the transition goes with little notice and other times it can be life-changing. Half of it depends on prospective. The other half goes back to naturalism. Whatever way you look at it, it's inevitably going to happen sooner or later. In this case, it's now.

Lily

Lily Evans was in disbelief over the piece of parchment she held in her hands.

"Unbelievable," she muttered to herself.

Written on the parchment was a long apology—no, plea—for forgiveness from the person who had recently been her best friend. Severus Snape. If she was honest with herself, Lily really wasn't expecting this at all. The letter read:

Lily,

I know it's been a few weeks since the Mudblood incident and you've already made it clear that you don't want to be friends, but I'm not giving up. Not yet. We've been friends since we were just nine years old. Trust me, I wouldn't willingly and so easily let go of what we had. I'm sorry for calling you a Mudblood. It was an accident. I was just embarrassed and irritated because Potter and Black—

Though there was still a page left of Snape's cramped writing, Lily stopped there. She was weary of Snape's many excuses for his outburst that occurred after O.W.L.s. Rolling her eyes, Lily balled up the wasted parchment and tossed it into the rubbish bin that sat in the corner of her tidy room. The dark brown owl Snape had used to send the letter was hooting atop her desk. Rather cross, she waved her hands at the owl, shooing it out through the open window.

"I don't have anything for you," she snapped. With that, the owl quickly flew away, shrinking in size the longer Lily watched.

Sighing, she retreated from her room, trying her best to prevent thoughts of Snape from dominating her mind. Upon reaching the kitchen downstairs, Lily was greeted by the fresh smell of bacon, hashed browns, and eggs. Her sister, Petunia already sat at the round dining table while Mrs. Evans prepared a plate for herself. Mr. Evans was undoubtedly at work.

"Lily, there's plenty here for you," Mia Evans said, sitting down next to Petunia.

"Thanks, mum," Lily responded, loading her plate and joining the two girls.

Not even a minute later, Petunia nearly dropped her orange juice in surprise as a light brown owl swooped seemingly out of nowhere and into the kitchen, landing neatly on the counter. A rolled up Daily Prophet was tied to its leg. Knowing it was for her, Lily approached the counter and gently pried off the tie that secured the Prophet to the owl's leg.

Petunia stared at her sister as Lily made her way back to the table and set the Prophet down beside her plate. As the green-eyed girl scanned the front cover, her eyes narrowed.

Her mother seemed to notice, and asked, "What is it, Lily?"

Lily held up the newspaper in response, gesturing to the bold letters on the front.

Death Eaters and the Serious Threat they Pose.

Underneath was a picture of what Lily guessed to be a suspected Death Eater and an article.

"I don't understand," Mrs. Evans said.

"To be honest I don't really understand either. I know there's this powerful wizard named Voldemort. Apparently his followers are called Death Eaters and they've been recruiting. I guess Voldemort is trying to take over the Muggleborns and Muggles. It's all a bit hazy at the moment."

"I see," replied Mrs. Evans. Petunia wore a sour face as she turned her head back and forth from Lily to her mother to the Prophet. She didn't say anything though.

Lily examined the article, her eyes rapidly moving over the text. When she was finished she said, "According to this, it looks like the Death Eaters are serious and are attempting to cause actual trouble….."

"I guess we'll have to wait and see what happens."

"I suppose you're right. In any case, I doubt the Ministry of Magic will let this kind of activity happen," Lily said.

Petunia was still staring, her face looking more and more disgusted. Lily finally noticed and raised her eyebrows.

"Something wrong, Tuney?"

For just a brief second, Petunia looked shocked at being acknowledged. After that, her face was set and stony.

"Oh, nothing that you'd care about," she said.

"Tuney…"

But Petunia didn't say anything more.

"Listen—"

"No, Lily. You listen!"

This caught Lily off guard. Confused, she let Petunia talk.

"I'm sick of not being able to have a single normal conversation in this house! It always has to turn into some discussion about stupid magic! What if nobody cares, Lily? What if you're wasting your time telling us about this stuff that doesn't concern us in the slightest? I don't want to hear about you're freak life and everything it entails!"

Petunia looked livid. Lily stunned.

Then Lily opened her mouth to speak when the girls' mother cut her off.

"Petunia! That was rather uncalled for, don't you think? Lily is just as much a part of this family as you are. I can't believe you would say something like that to your sister."

"I can," Lily muttered.

As if her mother had not spoken, Petunia continued, "And I'm sick of those annoying owls swooping in every day! And I don't want to be associated with your nonsense! I'd rather us just not talk!"

"But Petunia—"

"No, freak! I've had it!"

Petunia rose from her chair, exited the kitchen, and stormed up to her bedroom, leaving an uncomfortable silence in her wake.

Lily didn't know what to say. She surely didn't want to talk to Petunia at this point. She turned to her mother.

"Lily, it's okay. I'll talk to her. Don't worry about it. I'm sure she's just in a mood."

"No. She's not. I've always know she's felt that way. She doesn't exactly hide that fact. Mum, you don't have to talk to her. I will later," Lily said as evenly as possible.

"Are you sure?"

"Postivie. Thanks, mum." Lily allowed herself to give her mother a small smile.

"You're welcome."

Mia Evans left the table with hers and Petunia's plates. With a small sigh, Lily finished her breakfast even though she was hardly in the mood for eating.

The summer had barely begun and already Lily wished she was back at Hogwarts.

Sirius

"As if I really give a shit about what this family thinks anymore! As if I ever did! You can't honestly believe that I'd be willing to go and screw myself over by joining the damn Death Eaters? If you did, you must be a lot more stupid than I had originally thought, which is saying something?"

Sirius Black was yelling at his mother.

Again.

Yes, it was a regularity that they had full blown arguments about how much shame Sirius was bringing to Walburga Black's Pureblood family. Needless to say, Sirius was growing tired of it. Ever since he was sorted into Gryffindor six years ago, Sirius received nothing but contempt from his, as he called her, dear old mum. This very argument just happened to be the straw that broke the camel's back.

"Don't you even start with me in that tone, you Bloodtraitor! I've heard enough of you being ungrateful and disrespectful! You deserve everything I say to you and you know it—"

"Oh, I deserve this do I? That's incredibly humorous coming from an old hag like you! I'm done! I'm out of here!" Sirius yelled forcefully.

His mother's screams followed him as he flew up the stairs to his bedroom. Sirius's trunk had been packed for a couple days now, in preparation for this day. He knew it would be coming soon.

"I'm so fucking sick of this house and my whole damn family," he said to himself, kicking his trunk.

Now, with his foot in pain, he grabbed a mirror from his bedside table and spoke clearly into it, "James Potter."

A few seconds passed in which Sirius stood, fuming. Then, a bespectacled teenager with exceptionally untidy hair appeared, replacing Sirius's reflection.

"Padfoot?"

"I'm leaving. She's finally sent me over the edge. I'll be at your place in a couple minutes," Sirius said, his tone bitter.

James seemed to understand immediately. He nodded at his best friend and said, "Been waiting for this day to come! We've been separated for a bit too long, mate!"

"Mmphf. See you soon, Prongs."

A second later, James's face vanished and Sirius was staring once again at his own reflection. Sirius stood there for a few seconds longer before stuffing the mirror in his pocket and grabbing his trunk. He also grabbed his wand from off of his bed and wandered back down the stairs to where less cheerful beings awaited.

"Where the do you think you're going?" Walburga demanded the moment Sirius was in her view again.

"Away from this hell-hole," Sirius said, trying his best to stay calm.

"Oh, yes! Because you have a place to go do you? And money? A likely story!"

"Don't act so disappointed that I'm leaving, mother," Sirius replied sarcastically.

Walburga simply stared at him, hate etched in every line of her hideous face. She and Sirius made eye contact for several seconds, both unsure of what to say next.

"What's going on?"

"Nothing, Regulus, dear. Just your failure of a brother being his usual self. Thinks he's going to run away," Walburga said, laughing in spite of herself.

Sirius shook his head at his mother and younger brother.

"The two of you will never get it, will you?"

When neither of them responded, he said, "Didn't think so."

Regulus looked like he was on the verge of speech. He almost looked surprised that his older brother was leaving. Almost.

Sirius turned his back on the two people he didn't consider family and walked out the front door, slamming it shut for the last time.

It was cloudy outside and rather more chilly than usual. Sirius could tell that rain was coming soon. If only he was able to apparate already. Unfortunately, that privilege wouldn't become his until later this year.

Frowning, Sirius mounted his old broomstick, attached his trunk to it, and took off through Grimmauld Place. It was quite relieving to escape the god-awful place.

On Sirius flew. About three-quarters of the way there, he felt the first couple rain drops hit his face, icy and unwelcome. Soon they began to fall in earnest. There was nothing he could do about the drops since he was underage. Annoyed further, Sirius sped up.

As it began to pour, James's house became visible through the sheets of rain and Sirius was drenched. He quickly descended, landing on the lawn of James's extremely large house.

He detached his trunk from the broom and lugged it up to the Potters' front door where he knocked three times. Almost instantly, James Potter flung open the door to let his best mate in.

There was a moment when James and Sirius looked at each other, Sirius soaking wet and James with an expression of pity, that they understood that they were indeed more than just best friends, but brothers. They were always going to help each other and they were capable of understanding each other with little to no words. Sirius knew he was with his proper family.

Mrs. Potter came bustling into the hallway, shaking her head frantically.

'Oh, Sirius! I'm sorry, dear!" she exclaimed, hugging him as if he were her son. She then whipped out her wand and pointed it at Sirius. Instantly, his clothes were dry and warm again.

"Thanks, Mrs. Potter," Sirius said, grinning.

"Of course."

And Sirius knew his summer was about to get a whole lot better.