I do not own Harry Potter. First of all I am sooooo sorry for the delay, I went away and when I came back and was just going to write a chapter my computer crashed! But it's up and running again thank God.

Thanks to Anti-Banana19, inesita55, Wolfgirlxoxo and vampireclan007 for reviewing. To inesita55, you have no idea how much your review meant to me.

Lily turned over in her bed, stretched and yawned. It was the last day of school before the Easter holidays. The school term had gone surprisingly quickly. Between mountains of homework and endless projects Lily had been kept busy with school work.

She was going home for the Easter holidays and she was looking forward to seeing her parents. She also longed to see her sister Petunia and make things right with her. Last time she was at home, they had been constantly sniping at each other. Lily moaned about her sister, but the truth was she missed her, the way she was before Lily had gotten her Hogwarts letter.

Since January, Sirius, Remus and Peter had several times tried to entice her to join them in some of their crazy escapades such as breaking into the Slytherin Common Room and putting itching powder on all of their furniture.

Lily had asked them how on earth they expected to get that far without being seen by any Slytherins and Sirius smiled knowingly and replied that James had a way and simply winked at her. She had dismissed Sirius' confidence but was incredulous when one morning in the middle of the school term she witnessed all of the Slytherins scratching themselves until they were red raw.

"How in the name of Merlin did you do it?" she asked Sirius and Peter over breakfast (Remus was ill again and was staying in bed for the day).

"That's for us to know and for you to wonder," replied Sirius laughing. James smiled from the other end of the table before Chloe tapped his shoulder seeking his undivided attention yet again.

"She's a leech," said Sirius. "I'm fed up - she's taking up so much of James' time that she is interfering with our innocent plans for amusement."

"Yeah right," said Lily. "The day I hear 'innocent' and your names in the same sentence will be the day McGonagall marries Flitwick." Then she said, after a pause, "But everyone knows it's Dumbledore she fancies."

"Ahem," Lily heard from behind her.

She mouthed to Sirius with wide eyes, "McGonagall's behind me, isn't she?"

Sirius nodded trying to keep from bursting out laughing. James Potter on the other hand could not control himself and roared with laughter from his end of the table.

"Miss Evans, you would be well advised not to spread silly rumours about faculty members," McGonagall said, giving her the evil eye.

"Yes Professor", said Lily sheepishly while Sirius, Peter and James burst out laughing uncontrollably.

"We all know it's me Minnie fancies anyway", whispered Sirius as McGonagall walked way, sending the students into raucous laughter. Even Lily couldn't help herself.

When Lily thought about it, she could only wonder at how the Marauders managed to get around the Castle without being caught.

...

"Are you awake Lily?" she heard Alice say with a worried voice as she entered the dormitory.

"Yes, are you okay Alice?"

"I've just heard that Frank was called to St. Mungo's Hospital late last night - something about his mother being attacked by a group of evil wizards. I don't know any more details but I am really worried for him Lily," Alice said, her voice shaking.

Lily got out of bed quickly to comfort her friend.

"Don't worry Alice, I'll go with you to St. Mungo's later this morning - we've only two classes before we break up for the holidays."

"Would you Lily? That would be great, I don't want to go home for the holidays without seeking Frank and making sure he is alright."

...

Lily and Alice followed the directions given to them by the small, wispy witch at the Hospital reception desk and knocked softly on Mrs. Longbottom's door.

"Come in," they heard a woman's loud voice boom from inside.

Frank's eyes lit up when he saw Alice enter the hospital room with Lily and he stood up from beside his mother's bed.

"Hello, I didn't mean to intrude" said Alice awkwardly, "I just wanted to make sure you were alright," she said to Frank.

"No intrusion my dear, I am delighted to meet you", said Mrs. Longbottom.

"Frank told me all about you last night when he thought I was on my way out, but it will take more than a nasty little group of stupid Death Eaters in training to rattle me. I am actually being released from the hospital later today, fastest recovery they've ever seen after being attacked in such a fashion - cowards - four against one! But they got what they deserve."

Lily instantly liked Frank's mother. She came across as a strong, fearless woman who refused to tolerate bullies.

Frank's face went bright red and Alice smiled at Mrs. Longbottom shyly.

"Pleasure to meet you too," she said in a quiet voice.

After spending some time visiting with Frank and his mother, Lily excused herself to go and fetch something to drink. She walked down the corridor, turned a corner and literally bumped into James Potter.

"What are you doing here?" said Lily in surprise, her heart skipping a beat.

"Hello to you too Evans," James smiled. "I heard about Frank's mother - is she okay?"

"Better than okay," replied Lily, "She's amazing. Four wizards attacked her looking for information about 'The Order' - whatever that is - but she fought them off and is making a full recovery."

"That's great," said James smiling and staring at Lily's face for what seemed like an eternity.

"I came with Sirius," James eventually explained "He has to have a bone in his right hand mended, seeing as it came into contact with his brother Regulus' jaw just after school broke up. He told Regulus he was coming to mine for the holidays and he'd rather die a slow, agonising death than spend Easter at home with his family raving about pure bloods. Let's just say their discussion got somewhat physical after that…."

"Poor Sirius," Lily said in a concerned voice.

"Poor Regulus I'd say. Sirius has a nasty right hook," smiled James

"So, what are your plans for the holidays?" he asked Lily in an interested tone.

"Nothing exciting, just catching up with my family."

"Well, when you've done that, why don't you come over to mine and keep Sirius and me company for a few days?" he asked in a friendly and expectant tone.

Lily was taken aback and felt awkward at James' forthright manner. James Potter, the subject of many girls' daydreams had just asked her to come over to his house for some of the Easter holidays. She honestly didn't know what to say.

"Don't look so surprised, we're supposed to be trying to be friends, remember?" James teased.

"I kinda got the impression you had decided not to bother after all," said Lily with a slight shrug, meeting James' eyes.

James glanced away, "I got the wrong impression about you too , but I know from the Map that you haven't had anything to do with him since the party and I was just too stubborn to admit it. No, Evans," he announced, "We should be friends."

Lily frowned in confusion but before she had a chance to ask, 'What Map?' And anything to do with who?" she heard Sirius' voice -

"Ahh, the beautiful Lily-flower," he said as he sauntered down the corridor towards them.

"Are you okay?" said Lily in a concerned tone.

"Couldn't be happier. The bone is mended, we have no school for two whole weeks and I'm spending them with my best mate," he said as he slapped James on the back.

Sirius' good humour was infectious and Lily decided that she might as well get into the holiday mood.

"No, I mean okay in the head?" Lily smirked.

"No, Lily-flower and I never will be," joked Sirius.

"That's why we get on so well, after all," said James. "You can't expect me to have a fully sane best friend, can you Lily?"

Lily felt a strange sensation when James used her first name - she thought she liked it.

"You guys have a great holiday," said Lily smiling. "I've a lot of catching up to do with my family," she said looking at James in answer to his earlier invitation.

"Okay - see you after the holidays then," said James in what seemed to be a slightly disappointed tone as he turned reluctantly and walked away towards the exit.

Sirius then threw his arm over Lily's shoulder and whispered in her ear in a mischievous voice,

"Thought you might be interested to know that James broke up with Chloe this morning". He pulled away, smiled face to face with Lily as he wiggled his eyebrows.

"Why? What happened?" Lily rushed.

"Slow down there," Sirius said. "You'll have to ask James yourself. See you in two weeks."

Don't worry you Chloe fans out there. She's far from gone . . .

BAAWAAHAAHAA!