Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

AN - This is set during their sixth year, mid-May I think. It's a note passed around by the marauders, lily and her friend catherine in potions class. At the end, Harry reflects on the note because it was suggested by shetlandlace in order to add depth to the story. so yes - suggestions are welcome, as are reviews... VERY welcome, lol

Hope you like it :) enjoy!

Chapter 2 - Passing Notes in Potions:

(James Potter, Lily Evans, Sirius Black, Catherine, Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew)

Will someone please remind me why we decided to take this stupid subject?

Because, Pad-foot, you want to do well in school

Why?

Because you want to do something productive with your life

No he doesn't. All he wants to do is chase pretty girls and play quidditch.

Hey! I resent that comment.

Tell me I'm wrong, then.

…

I knew it! But hey, there's nothing wrong with a life filled with quidditch.

Couldn't agree more, el capitano!

Hey Cath, why are you writing on our piece of paper?

You think you're the only ones who get bored in Potions? Besides, I'm sitting at the next bench across from you, it's not hard to see what you're writing.

Now where were we? Ah yes, pretty girls. Well, you're one to talk, Prongs, you're completely obsessed.

Yes, but at least he contains his obsession to one girl, unlike someone I know.

cough, player, cough

In my defence, let me please say that I just have a high appreciation for the opposite sex. That doesn't make me a 'player'. Anyway, at least I don't harass prefects to date me. I have one word for you, pathetic. No wait, two better words, lost cause.

Well, I think it's kinda cute.

Thank-you Catherine.

Yeah, sure it's a bit pathetic, and it annoys the shit out of Lily, but you know what they say - the course of true love never did run smooth.

Shakespeare, right?

Moony, you are such a nerd!

Ah, but you all love me anyway!

Cath, do you reckon you could pass this piece of paper to Evans?

Yeah, sure

Good - Okay, Evans - if you're reading this, will you please go out with me? Next Hogsmeade weekend? You know you want to!

She didn't write anything. I think that's a no.

Tough luck mate.

Maybe she can't think what to say

Don't be stupid, Wormtail, of course she can think of what to say. She's hard to shut up.

Hey, go easy on my best friend there Black

Well she is a bit of a control freak, you can't deny that!

She is a prefect though

Yeah, I'm perfectly within my rights to tell you idiots what to do! And I'm telling you now to pay attention coz you're going to need to know this stuff for your NEWTs.

Evans!

…

Come on Evans, why not go out with me?

Why not go out with you?

Yeah, why not?

Why not go out with you, James Potter?

Yes, I James Potter - why are you repeating everything I write?

Why am I repeating everything you write?

Stop it Evans, you're being annoying!

I'm being annoying? Well, now you know how it feels!

She's got you there James

I don't think that's helping!

She's got a point though.

Thank-you Remus

Moony, butt out. Evans, don't agree with him!

Don't tell me what to do!

Don't tell me what to do, then!

Why am I even bothering?

Because secretly you want him so badly it hurts

You have quite the imagination, Sirius

Thank-you

I don't think that was a compliment

Lupin's right

Whatever. Why do you bother, Evans?

No, Sirius, it's not coz I 'want him so badly'

Then why are you still here?

…

Crap, I've just scared her off again, haven't I?

Looks that way

Moony, you are so not helping. When next you fall head over heels for a girl, don't expect my dating advice!

I won't need your help. I'm intelligent, good looking, etc.

Yeah, just ask Lily.

You shouldn't have said that, Pad-foot, look at James's face!

He shouldn't bother answering me, coz I won't speak to him.

What do you mean ask Lily?!!

They went out, remember?

THEY WENT OUT!

Yes, in fourth year?

I think you were too busy with, who was it? Melanie Johns from Hufflepuff. Yeah, coz I was with her sister at the time. It didn't work out between Moony and her though, Prongs, don't worry.

DON'T WORRY!

He seems to be a bit slow today. Do you reckon the potion fumes are going to his head?

Nah, I don't think anything can get through that impossibly thick skull.

Ouch, Evans are you going to be horrible to him all class?

No.

Good.

When he decides to grow up and stop asking me out, then I might be persuaded to be civil to him

But you never told me why you won't go out with me in the first place!

…

Come on Lily, answer me this and I promise I won't ask you again.

(He's got his fingers crossed)

Okay, you want to know the real reason?

Yes!

Because you're arrogant, you're a rule-breaker, you have messy hair, you are intelligent without trying - which is really frustrating. You write notes in class when you should be studying. You pick on people who you think are beneath you - like Severus - you were awful to him and you didn't even apologise! What's more, you strut about the school like you own the place. You go through girls like crazy. And the main reason is, you are so annoying! You don't even like me. You're just in it for the thrill of the chase. So no, Potter, I will never ever ever go out with you!

Wow, that was brutally honest

Yeah, I would leave her alone for a bit now James, she's a bit worked up. In fact, I'm gonna go too. See you guys at quidditch.

Bye Cath!

I think she needs some space.

You think?

Nah, it's so clear she's falling for you mate (note the sarcasm in this sentence)

Shut up Pad-foot.

Well, what are you going to do?

I'll leave her alone… for a bit.

You will?

I'll try. It's nearly the end of the year. Who knows? Maybe next year she'll finally come around, or maybe I will get over her.

Maybe after the match tomorrow, she'll find you irresistible

Thanks Wormtail, but I doubt it.

Don't sweat it, mate. Plenty more fish in the sea.

Yeah, sure, whatever. You know, we should probably start making that potion. We've got, like, twenty minutes left.

I've finished already, I'll help.

Thanks Moony, you life-saver. So when's the next full moon.

A week from Thursday.

Excellent!

Maybe you should help James with your potion?

Yeah, right.

Harry finished reading the crumpled piece of parchment feeling confused. How on Earth had his parents gotten it together? It was clear that Lily had hated James at this point, and she gave some pretty good reasons. His Dad had been a rule-breaker and a bit arrogant, not to mention he was popular with the girls. Well, that's what Sirius had said.

However, the piece of parchment didn't upset Harry. On the contrary, knowing that his parents got together by the end of seventh year, when just over a year before hand James couldn't get Lily to look at him twice, made Harry chuckle slightly. James had obviously been persistent, and Harry put that down to his innate capacity to love. At this point, it was unrequited, but it was still love. And Harry had an inkling that the reason for Lily's defiance of James at this point in her life was due to her growing feelings for him. Or at least, that's what he could tell from her one and only diary entry during her sixth year.

Another thing that Harry loved was how the note reminded him so strongly of Lupin and Sirius. It was so like Lupin to be the peacekeeper, and so like Sirius to be tactless... Well, Harry could imagine him not really thinking through the consequences of how he treated others. He was like that as an adult, a bit, just look at how his maltreatment of Kreacher caused so many problems. Harry found it easy to picture Sirius and James joking with each other easily about girls and quidditch and school. This gave him great comfort - his parents had clearly had great friends.

He was filled with a sudden sadness as he realised that every single person who had written on this piece of parchment was now deceased. He sat there for a minute, before deciding to read on. He wanted to know every possible detail of his parents' lives at Hogwarts.

Hope that was satisfactory - please review if you have time! thanks :)