Disclaimer: Harry Potter is property of Jo Rowling. I don't own anything. Except for maybe Tanya.

Chapter I: Dirty Words

Sirius Black pushed open the great oak doors only to feel the cool winter air encircle him. He shivered slightly and pulled his cloak tightly around him. He spotted a frozen Lily Evans under a willow tree, reading her Defense Against the Dark Arts textbook.

"Jamesypoo not stalking you today, eh Lily?"

"Fortunately, no," she said without looking up. "And where have you been lately?"

"Erm… uh… homework?" he answered quickly.

"The young Sirius Black doing homework! Now I've heard everything!" He was glad she believed him. He had actually been in his grim-like dog form making yellow snow.

"Seeing as I can't find Remus, James or Peter, want to go inside for some hot chocolate?"

"Sure," Lily replied. She picked up her soggy books and walked back to the castle. Just as the heavy doors closed, James Potter fell out of a tree.

"Going for hot chocolate together… without James Potter! Not if I can help it!" he chided and ran after Lily and Sirius. Remus Lupin peeked out to see if anyone was coming, then he quickly jumped out from the tunnel under the Whomping Willow. His eyes were blood shot and had bags under them. If anything, it seemed as though he hadn't had any sleep at all. The young werewolf brushed himself off and walked to the Great Hall to meet up with his friends.

"You see, there are many great uses for yellow snow…"Sirius babbled on. Lily felt bored out of her mind. Then the doors opened and it James Potter had entered the room. All the girls stared. He didn't seem to notice but Lily kept almost firm eye contact with him until he sat down.

"Hi James," she managed to say in a weak, hoarse voice.

"Well, 'ello Lily and Sirius," he acknowledged. "What have you three been up to?"

"Three?" Sirius asked.

"Well, I would also like to know what Mooney has been doing." At that moment, Sirius jumped at a rather sullen looking Remus.

"Are you alright, Remus? You look awfully sick. It looks like last night was pretty rough. Do you want to go the infirmary?" Lily asked, looking worried.

"I do feel a bit dizzy. I'll go, just to be sure," Lily stood up and took Remus to Madame Pompfrey, leaving Padfoot and Prongs alone.

"Isn't she beautiful?"

"Who?"

"Her. Lily. She cares so much about the well being of everyone… even Slytherins. Her graceful strides, stunning green eyes and charming voice…"

"She out of your league mate, even for you."

"…and radiant orange locks."

Lily tended to Remus's side until Madame Pompfrey scolded her for being out so late. The next day, Lily made sure to check on Remus between classes. Finally, the weary werewolf told her he'd be fine for the rest of the day and if she came to check on him before supper, she would surely be in the bed beside him for worse injuries. She kept her promise but came back up at the strike of seven to retrieve him.

Spring time began quickly which meant two things; Quidditch and harder work. Lily was already having trouble.

"I can't figure out these crazy patterns that make no sense." She got frustrated as she laid her head on the table and tears rolled down her cheeks. She heard the scratching of a quill. She looked up to see James doing her star chart.

"Oh my god! Thank you!" she exclaimed. James finished the star chart and went upstairs to his dormitory. He collapsed on his bed, feeling exhausted in a lovely sort of way. He fell asleep, still in his robes, thinking about the day he would marry Lily Evans.

Remus woke up bright and early, ready and waiting for the rest of the Marauders beside the one-eyed witch, Finally, a pack of smitten girls came bustling around the corner and he knew James was coming. For some reason, some of them were crying.

"Excuse me, why are you crying?"

"James Potter is taken. There is no hope! He gone!" Not knowing what the distressed girl meant by this message, he began to panic, thinking that James could be hurt or something. Then James himself came around the corner, hand in hand with none other that Lily Evans.

"Well, speak of the devil!"

"Ha ha ha," Lily said with a sarcastic smirk. "Sirius and Peter are already up at the charms classroom. Let's go!" Rumors and tales of James and Lily spread like wildfire.

"They're just showing off,"

"He's just teasing the girl, pulling her heart strings."

"It was love at first sight!"

"They're under a love potion!" These were just a few of the milder ones.

Lily wrote a letter home to tell her older sister, Petunia, about James.

Dear Petunia,

I hope this finds you well. I have just learned some of the most difficult spells in the wizarding world. It's amazing. Guess what? I met a boy as school. He's asked me on a night out! I have enclosed a photograph of my friends and I. James is the furthest on the left.

Your loving sister,

Lily

It did not take long for Petunia to reply.

Dear Lillian,

It's smashing that you are actually learning something at that dreaded school of yours. I don't know about this James boy. Him and his friends seem like trouble-makers if you ask me. As your older sister, I forbid you to seem him.

Sincerely,

Petunia

Lily was disappointed that Petunia did not like James but she was going to see him all the same. She stuck beside him all the way. Today she was especially happy because they were going to Hogesmade, a wizarding village near Hogwarts. She stayed close, tagging along with James and his friends. They decided to go into "The Three Broomsticks" to warm up.

"Five butterbeers, please." Lily said to Madame Rosemerta, the waitress.

"Right, that'll be thirteen Sickles and five Knuts," Lily handed over her money and within seconds, Madame Rosemerta was back with the butterbeers.

"You really didn't have to pay," James muttered.

"My pleasure," she replied. They drank the rest of their butterbeers in silence and then left. They headed for the Shrieking Shack with their hands warm and stomachs full. They went into one of the rooms to just kind of joke around. Lily played the piano while the Marauder's jumped and fooled around. They goofed off and did stupid things while taking place is stupid discussions. Then, before James could stop himself, the two worst words escaped his mouth.

"Filthy Mudbloods!