Wow this took much longer than it should've, considering I haven't been getting any homework that I'm actually doing.

Thanks to everyone who read this! And thanks to Abnegation Ravenclaw, LifeIsMoreThanAPrettyFace, and jksavedmylife for following, Thanks so much I'm assuming you'll be the first to read this chapter, feel free to tell me what you want out of this story. Thanks to Abnegation Ravenclaw and WiseGirlRocks too for favouriting (sp?) (Thanks WiseGirlRocks for following me from one fandom to the other, hahaha)

And Towards-Infinity-4ever: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR REVIEWING YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH THAT MEANT TO ME! Especially since you said it was good 3 thanks! I'm not quite sure it's good enough, I read some of the ones from there and they are good (well, the ones I read, which is like... three? I only read Marauders era, so...)

Well, hope you enjoy this one!


Chapter 3

Evans,

Yes, you should be worried. I'm currently trying to stop him. I'll let you figure out why.

James Potter

~0~

"I can't believe you, Sirius!" Lily said for the twentieth time. "You're breaking the law!" She hissed under her breath. Remus sighed beside her, having been a good citizen an apparated to the Leakey Cauldron, but had also failed in convincing Sirius to apparate as well. "And you, Remus, you let him!"

"You should know by now that I don't let Padfoot do anything, I simply can't always stop him." Remus replied. "There's a difference."

"Either way, you shouldn't have done it and you're not going back that way at all!" Lily retorted hotly. "Sirius, I'm confiscating that bike! Unless you want to drive all the way back to Potter Manor, that thing is mine."

"You're not in school, you don't have that authority in the real world, and moreover, you don't even know how to work it!"

"I'm a muggle-born, Sirius, I've ridden a motorbike before."

"Really?" Even Remus seemed surprised.

"Of course! Well, I mean," Lily blushed. "There was an old friend of mine from school, we went out two summers ago, and he taught me how to ride his motorcycle, and I'm assuming it's the same."

"You mean…" Sirius furrowed his eyebrows. "You have muggle friends?"

"Really, now? I'm a muggle-born who lives in a muggle town with no wizards or witches nearby except Snape, and you expect me to not have any friends? How do you think I survived elementary school?"

Remus murmured to Sirius about what elementary school was briefly before Sirius answered. "Well if I'm being completely honest, Evans, I thought you were a swot who had no friends." Remus elbowed him. "Ow! In the best way possible, that is."

Lily laughed. "Oh, no, I'm completely different in the muggle world." She informed them. "I'm lazy and unmotivated, I got average grades in school—I probably could've done really well in school, only I never tried—and I focused my entire life on fitting in, making friends, and generally just being well-liked."

"I don't believe you."

"Magic makes everything faster and easier, Sirius. You don't understand, since you grew up with magic, but without it, we have to do all our chores by hand. Get driven to and from school and anywhere you wanted to go—everything has to be done manually, so regular life-style took longer and hanging out and meeting people took time. Plus, once I'd known there was an easier way to do things, I needed to know."

"Well I've done chores by hand! Sort of."

"You had a house-elf, Sirius."

"Yes, but now I do my chores by hand."

"Sirius… Your apartment is a mess, and you basically still live with the Potters."

"Whose side are you on, Moony?"

"The one that's right."

"Speaking of right and wrong, Sirius, what you did is still terrible and you shouldn't have done it. Hand over the keys now."

"No."

"Pads, just hand over the keys. We can apparate back."

"Moony, you are a terrible friend."

"Actually, he's trying to make sure you don't get into too much trouble. I'd say a better friend than you're aware of."

"Besides, you can always just get it back later. Or how about you send it off to Potter Manor now, and apparate back with me later."

"But what is the point of having a motorbike if you're not going to use it?"

"You can, just use it properly!"

"I am! I gave it the function to fly, and so its proper use is to fly!"

"Keep your voice down, Padfoot!"

"Its proper use is to drive, Sirius—Ugh!" Lily threw her hands up into the air. "You know I asked to meet you two out here because I couldn't stand Petunia and all her looks, all the arguments we got ourselves into, and all the wedding planning! And you two are helping me no less than she was!"

"Oi! We're not talking about marriages! I'd say we're plenty better than her!"

"First, that's grammatically incorrect, I don't know what goes through your head when you speak, and second, I meant making me angry!"

"Padfoot, just drop it. Lily, we're sorry. I'll make sure he gets back without flying the bike. Now, let's put that behind us and discuss something less aggravating."

"You're right, Moony. Besides, it's Prong's job to get Lily all riled up."

"Just because I'm friends with you two and wrote a few civil letters to Potter does not mean you're allowed to make comments like that about us."

"Right. These 'civil letters'…"

"What about them?"

"Why the change of heart?"

"I needed someone to listen, and I guess… He was there."

"We were willing to listen too, Lily."

"I know that, Remus, but you've listened to my problems, to me rant and talk about Petunia and Severus. You understand already. I guess I just wanted a different perspective. Plus, I wanted to talk to someone who didn't seem to have family problems—no offence, you two."

"Why would we take offence? I definitely have family issues. Remus doesn't quite have family problems, but—"

"My problems are enough to be categorised under every type of problem possible, including family ones."

"Yes, I suppose. Anyway, it turns out that Potter is simply dying to have family problems. Went crying to me about—Hang on, did he read our letters to you?"

"No, wouldn't let us, don't let your knickers get into a twist."

"Sirius, that expression is simply vulgar. And I was just wondering, because I wanted to know if he's changed at all, to you two."

"No… Why?"

"It's just, his letters have been less and less… conceited, I suppose."

"That's because you don't like it when he's conceited."

"Which is really funny, because I'm always arrogant and you love me."

"I'm not going to respond to that, Sirius. But I'd been hoping that maybe… Y'know, that he'd actually changed, been less arrogant."

"He's always been more arrogant around you Lily, so maybe less arrogant to you is just regular James to us."

"And anyway, when he's talking to me, there's nothing for him to be arrogant about, eh, Lily-flower?"

"So nothing at all? No change?"

"Ah, don't look so down, love, I'm sure you'll inspire him to change eventually. Just keep at it."

"Although, now that you mention it, he did ask me about being a half-blood or something like that. My dad being a muggle-born, I mean. And he did ask me what I thought about all our Maraudering."

"He never did any of that with me!"

"That's because I'm the mature one of the four of us."

"I'm assuming I'm not part of the four, since I must say, I believe I'm more mature than the three of you, four if you count Peter."

"Well, I'd be offended, but you're probably right. I did take part in at least half of the pranks."

"Hold up, back to the topic at hand, James went to you asking you about blood status and pranks?"

"Not exactly, more like he wanted to know if he was really that close-minded and blind about the prejudices and hardships others had to go through."

"And the answer was very, I suppose?"

"Don't be like that, Lily, he's aware but doesn't understand. You should give him credit for trying, at least."

"Why didn't he come to me?"

"Because you'd be even worse than him if you weren't born with your blood status shoved into your face, or if you had no other reason for pranks aside from 'it's fun.'"

"Prongs does too!"

"He does? Do enlighten me, Sirius, why does Potter play pranks?"

"Well… Because he thinks that's what his dad did, and he's always wanted to be exactly like his dad, if not better. And also because I want to."

"Humph."

"Sirius, I think you're doing more harm than good. And anyway, Lily, I do think he left our conversation with more knowledge and understanding than before."

"Yes, he seemed to reflect more upon his actions in his letters to me. Sirius, I do believe you're a bad influence on Potter. Perhaps Remus and I together will finally be able to undo whatever you instilled into his mind. Everyone knows Remus alone was not enough. No offence."

"None taken, it's true."

"I'll have you know that I'm not that bad of an influence! Without me James would not have hated Slytherins as much, been as motivated to beat me in classes, or understood that you don't have to follow in your parent's footsteps."

"The last one I will say is pretty good, if only it'd worked a bit better, and the second one, although also good, I think would have happened anyway because Remus and I exist to motivate him, and the first one is just despicable."

"Padfoot, you're a bad influence. Just admit it."

"Fine! But I'm still his best mate and he still cares about me more than you!"

"Are you talking to me or Lily?"

"Erm… Well I was referring to both of you, but now that I think about it, just you, Moony."

"Right, because if you were talking to Lily I'd just remind you that it's Lily Evans, the girl Prongs has been madly in love with for the last—"

"He has not been madly in love with me, please. Potter's not capable of that strong of an emotion, he'd be too overwhelmed."

"Why else do you think he acts like a git around you? Because he's so overwhelmed he doesn't know how else to act, the poor fool."

"Yes, well, that's all very charming, but I think Potter and I will be able to manage being friendly acquaintances, or at least civil to each other now. That means he won't ever ask me out or flirt with me again, and I must admit, I'm looking forward to this year."

"He was serious about that, wasn't he, Moony?"

"Very serious, actually. I think his exact words were 'she wants me to get over her, then I will.'"

"Perfect! Set him up with Amelia from Ravenclaw, will you? She's been eyeing him for a while now, hopefully it'll last throughout the summer."

"She's not pretty enough."

"Really? He's not that shallow, is he? She's a terrific witch."

"No, he's not, but I am. I will only set him up with someone both pretty and talented."

"Just like you can only have the perfect girl?"

"Yes, exactly."

"But how about an imperfect boy who's just perfect for you?"

"Oh, come off it, Lily, it's gotten so old now with James mentioning it every other day, I simply cannot deal with being matched with Sirius again."

"Who said I was matching him with you? You're being a bit presumptuous, Remus."

"Perhaps we can set him up with Smith, she's fit."

"Yes Padfoot, but she's as dumb as a doorknob."

"Honestly, is this how you talk about girls?"

"Yes."

"Isn't that how you talk about guys?"

"Well, yes, but it's different for us."

"Why?"

"Because we put more importance over other stuff aside from just two character traits."

"So do we, it's just that at first glance, those two have to be adequate before we focus on other stuff. Take you, Lily-flower, for example. You're pretty and you're top of the class, which is why Prongs even looked twice. If I'd looked twice—which I didn't because James did—I'd have seen your temper and your annoying-ness and swottiness and decided you weren't worth it. Prongs, however, seems to think it's endearing or something like that."

"I'm glad to know."

"I thought we'd agreed to help Prongs, Padfoot."

"Let's not talk about Potter. I'd rather talk as if we didn't have any problems. Let's go to Diagon Alley and shop or something."

"Splendid idea, Lily. Let me just send Padfoot's motorbike back to Potter Manor."

"Hey!"

Lily laughed at Sirius' face and he threw his arm around her, grinning. She pretended not to notice the look he and Remus shared, one that clearly said, good job, she's happy now. She wasn't going to let anyone ruin her day.

~0~

Dear Potter,

I feel like Remus' reason for 'being a swot' is actually better than mine. He might not have told you, but he tries hard because he knows that Prof. Dumbledore is risking his own credibility by letting him into the school, so wants to prove to everyone that he'd chosen correctly. He feels that the least he can do for Dumbledore is to do well in school. Even more so when he was made Prefect.

I seriously doubt I'll do something great enough to forever be on the history books, although it is an aspiration of mine. It's nice too, to have your vote of confidence. I'd say it isn't worth much, but it actually is, as long as you're being genuine. I very much hope you are. In fact, aside from Slughorn, I think you're the only one who's ever said I could make it. Straight-up, I mean. Others have mentioned that I'm a good witch, or smart and hard-working, but never said I could actually do something amazing with my life.

I asked Sirius and Remus yesterday if they thought you changed. I'd hoped that maybe you had, since you said my questions made you think and all that. They said you didn't, and then Remus mentioned that you did give some thought to it all. I suppose that's all I can ask for. I do hope you change for the better, though. Perhaps then we can be friends, real ones. What we are now doesn't seem to count. It's more like you're a confidant that I won't be caught dead with outside of our letters. But you do sound like you've matured, so if it's true, then that'd be nice.

I feel like I just broke a barrier here. As if we've just met, instead of known each other for years, and are finally deciding to trust each other—except with us, everything's reversed. Oh well.

I'll try not to say anything about your pureblood problem. Maybe you'll get better. Maybe you already are. Maybe you aren't and you never will. No one's perfect, and you're already trying to change. At least you're more aware now, right?

I suppose there's not much I can say about house-elves, either, since I don't want to sound too condescending. (Look at me, trying not to talk to you with contempt! Perhaps we're both changing) But I would like to meet one. When we get to Hogwarts, you guys have to take me. I'll demand it of you. And of course, it will not be a date because I don't fancy you and that'd be cruel of me. I firmly believe that a relationship ought to have two equal and willing people who are at a mutual understanding of where their relationship lies. Communication is the key, which is why I'm telling you all this about where our relationship, or lack thereof, lies. I hope I didn't hurt your feelings.

I'm definitely changing! A month ago I wouldn't have even cared about your feelings, and yet now I'm telling you I do.

Sincerely, because I really am sincere,

Lily

P.S. Thanks for nothing, I had an argument with Sirius about his bike.

Dear Lily,

I don't know whether to be happy or sad that you said we could be friends if I changed for the better. I'm determined to do so, although now I've figured out that it's much easier said than done.

Sirius is moving out tomorrow (for good this time, he's taking all his stuff), and Moony is heading back to his parents later today. (He's sort of mad at me for taking the time to respond to you instead of spend time with him before he leaves, but he'll live.) I'm sort of glad for it, actually. Never thought I'd ever say that I was happy to be alone in the house—well, not quite, since my parents are still around—but it's true. I found that Sirius was definitely hindering me in my changes. Kept looking at me like I was crazy and asking me what was in my drink this morning.

Remus is helping, though, and I am sad he's leaving (don't tell Padfoot), since he's been very supportive in my transformation. (oops, that's a bad word to use.) Keep an eye out for him, will you? With Padfoot living by himself for the first time, and me helping him out, we'll be a bit too busy to watch over him properly, but I don't think he's quite over the Incident. He pretends he is, but I don't think he is completely.

However, when not over at Sirius' house or Remus' or when either are at my place, I'm going to be completely bored. What do you do when you're bored, aside from study? I think I've read everything in our library already, and one can only play Quidditch by himself for so long. I was often bored, before Sirius moved in, and now that he's moving out, I feel like the cycle will continue. Keep with your letters, will you? And if you ever want, come over, you'll always be welcome. I'm inviting you now so that I don't sound deranged and desperate for human attention.

Speaking of human attention (don't ask), please also keep an eye on Sirius? He's never lived by himself before, and I'm worried. He might need a woman's… touch. I'm a bit afraid, to be honest, that he'll blow himself up trying to cook… pasta or whatever. Eggs, even. Which is easier to make? Poppy says pasta is easier, but takes longer. Okay, sure, Poppy.

I really have to go, sorry. Moony is yelling at me, and I think Sirius is trying to pack the bed.

Awaiting your reply,

James

P.S. You should know by now that no one can talk Sirius out of doing something once he's put his mind to it.

Dear James,

I think I stared at your name for thirty seconds straight. It feels weird even penning your first name. Although, I suppose if we want some change, I'll have to call the new you 'James' and not 'Potter'. I'd say it was weird to be called Lily by you, but to be perfectly honest, it wasn't. I hadn't even noticed you'd used my first name until after I'd written yours.

I feel so strange, as if names are really deciding factors of our life. "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet" or something like that, right? And yet… Names do mean things. I was so adamant about never calling you James, for reasons I can't fathom, and now that I have I'm making such a big fuss about it. I'm being silly, aren't I?

I find that after being in Hogwarts, having four roommates and everything like that, it's sort of refreshing to have my own room again. I suppose it's like that for you too, with Sirius. After all, he really makes himself known and takes up space. With him gone, I'd be very aware of how alone I was, whether or not I were lonely. Although I suppose bored is a good word for it, too. I read, but you've already vetoed that. Honestly? Try getting to know your parents better. Talk to them, tell them all your problems and all your achievements. Remus might be supportive and helpful in your changing, Sirius not at all, but your parents are your parents. Especially since you're an only child and they've retired, they have nothing else to do with their lives but help make yours better. I'm sure if you just reached out to them, they'd understand and help you. Parents are supposed to know you better than anyone.

Of course, I suppose I'm not one to talk much about parents. I still haven't talked to mine properly about my issues with Petunia, or Severus. Whenever I talk to them, it's always about magic, about the wizarding world and all the things I learned at school. They know about my friends, of course, but not all that much. I've never been the most open about friends, though, at least not with my parents. It's like, I'm closer to my dad, but I can't very well talk to him about girl problems, now can I?

To jump to another topic, yes, I'll definitely keep an eye out for both Sirius and Remus. I understand how taxing this summer is for everyone, with all the changes and the war getting worse and worse every day. I can barely read the paper now, but have to, just to make sure that at least Marlene's okay and everyone else. It's gotten better now—or worse, depending on how you see it—the obituary page barely says anything, and the Prophet just glances over the war information. I don't know if that's good or bad.

Aside from the war, though, Sirius is definitely going to need some help settling in and everything. Remus mentioned that his apartment is a mess, and I figure that, having lived with house-elves, he has no idea how to maintain a house or do any chores, with or without magic. Also, he might try to take advantage of having a whole apartment to himself, and I suppose I'll have to remind him to be responsible and a gentleman, since you Marauders won't be of any help. Was that what you were referring to when you said 'woman's touch'? (Or perhaps 'human attention'?)

And Remus will only get worse, I'm afraid. Next year's our last year in Hogwarts, and after that he has nearly no prospects whatsoever. And definitely none for his qualifications. I mean, you and I actually have a chance of getting into Auror training, or whatever it is we'll want, but Remus won't get the time of day. We'll have to be there for him, remind him that what really matters are friends and family. We'll need lots of laughs this year, James. Proper ones, ones at no one's expense. I'd like you to change, but I'd still like you to make people laugh. Do you think you and the Marauders can do that?

Still think this is a bit strange,

Lily

P.S. Yes, but I'm still angry at you and Sirius for it. I have no doubt that you half-encouraged him.

thereneedstobeatimechangethingybecauseweneedtoskiptothelatterhalfofthesummer

Dear Lily,

Can you believe that it's been more than a month in which we've been corresponding? There is an enormous stack of papers all from you, and I was feeling nostalgic (alright, bored) today and decided to read them all.

You used to call me Potter like you'd never dream of calling me James. And I used to call you Evans just as adamantly. I was an arrogant git in my first few letters, its a wonder we even became friends—we are that, now, right? And I have gotten better? I must have, or else you'd have stopped talking to me long ago and I wouldn't have noticed how annoying I'd been back then. Funny how much you can change in just a few weeks. (when all you have to do is sit around and work on changing…I blame Padfoot, but I blame him for everything.)

It's also a wonder that we haven't run out of things to say. Some of my letters with Peter are so short, I wonder why I even bother. I know about half as much about him as I do about you, and yet I still feel like there is so much for me to learn about you.

How was Petunia today? The parents laughed at me today for telling them I was bored and asking if they wanted to play Quidditch with me. I suppose it was a silly idea, but what can I say? I think it's only your letters and the occasional company from Padfoot and Moony that keep me sane. I can't believe I once wanted Sirius gone. (Which I would have denied except for the fact that I wrote it to you, and I've never lied to you in a letter before.)

So, that was my day so far: being laughed at by my parents for being bored out of my mind, reading our letters, which, before you get all confused, I copied to see hidden meanings behind our back-and-forth and then later just became a habit. Yes, you can laugh now. What can I say? I was horribly in love with you.

Bored to the point of death,

James

P.S. Have you gotten your letter yet? It usually gets here end of July, early August, but it isn't here yet and we're almost half-way through August. I'm a bit worried.


I think I realised that I made a grievous mistake in writing this. This is going to take me another year, won't it? And if you're one of those people who followed me for the sake of Moving On, well, you probably really hate me right now because I'm not really writing it... at all... I said I'd start... and then I forgot again... :) Sorry

Well, tell me what you think! I personally think that I suck at character development, so any advice you guys might have would be REALLY appreciated! Or like, if you favourite it or follow it, just a little note about what I might be doing right would be nice. :)