Quick Note: This one is sort. The idea just popped into my head and it needed to happen. I will hopefully have a longer chapter soon. And because I keep forgetting, I don't own Harry Potter or any of its properties.
If you had asked Lily in sixth year if there was anything that would surprise her about the Marauders, she would have said no. She was sure that she had them all figured out. As seventh year progressed, however, she learned many surprising things.
She learned that Remus was a Werewolf.
She really should have figured that out sooner. But of all the people to suspect, Remus was the last on her list. Even despite the fact that Snape had told her multiple times that he was. Maybe even because of that. She had, of course, read about the horrors of Werewolves in Defence Against the Dark Arts, but none of that seemed to match the kind boy that she had come to know.
Remus wasn't a monster. No matter what she didn't know about his condition, she was sure of that. So she accepted it, and never let it taint her view of her first Marauder friend.
She learned that Peter was an artist.
Of all the talents he could possess she was surprised by this one. Peter was quiet, he mostly kept to himself, and didn't really seem remarkable. But, oh, how he loved to draw. He was good at it too. Lily kept a picture of a unicorn that he'd drawn for her for Christmas by her bed and all of her roommates were jealous of it. He had also apparently drawn a map of the school that the boys had been very proud of. Unfortunately, they had lost it to Flitch, but that didn't matter. They all still loved that map.
She joined in their encouragement of Peter's skill. She loved that she could help the poor boy's confidence in that small way.
She learned that Sirius was a virgin.
That really shocked her. Like the rest of the school, she simply assumed that Sirius Black slept around. He'd been seen with enough girls and even some guys. She knew plenty of people that he had snogged senseless but apparently that was as far as they all went. Of all the pureblooded teachings he could have chosen to embrace, he held firmly to the idea of monogamy, and fidelity.
He had also informed her that it was the chivalrous thing to do. She had seen a grand new side of him that day. One that she hope never left.
She learned that James was furiously, and perfectly loyal.
He became an Animagus for Remus. He always listened when Peter needed to vent about his father, who had left them. He took Sirius in when his own family wouldn't. He secretly took down some Slytherins that had been hassling Regulus, despite the fact that the Black brothers were not talking. Anyone who said anything against McGonagall would wake up to some sort of Transfiguration themed prank (usually involving their undergarments). He went to the Slug Parties with her despite the fact that Sirius teased him relentlessly about it because she liked to go.
James Potter was the most loyal friend anyone could ever ask for. And she loves him for it.
She loved all of her boys really. The Marauders were hers. And she, well, she was proud to be their girl.