AN; I haven't updated for a while due to starting my A2 course, but I'm all alone on a Friday night (yes, I have no friends) and felt I should update – It's in need of it! So, I hope you enjoy, and if you don't…well. Never mind.

Love, Among Other Agonies

Sunday, July 19th

This is supposed to be the first day of the holidays.

For me, it's the first day of extreme torture.

Alice wouldn't make a bet like that, would she? I thought she came from a nice family, father in the ministry, mother a…well, I don't know but I imagine she cooks nice dinners, or something.

You never can tell, can you?

Assuming she has actually made this ridiculous bet thing.

Muggles may be onto something, actually, with those fellytones you see them take around, where you can send messages from. Owl post just doesn't have instant relief, really.

Besides, what would you put?

Dear Lily,

I hear you're only going out with me for a bet?

And if you are, fancy elaborating?

Yours sincerely, James Potter.

You see what I mean?

I'm utterly and thoroughly at a loose end.

Sirius isn't helping by replaying his entire conversation with Robert Davies about aforementioned bet over and over again.

Apparently Davies (the complete git, I'd hex him but we're not allowed in the holidays, which is useless – what's the point of going to learn about magic if we can't even bloody use it?) came up to Sirius, punched him on the arm in a manly how-are-you sort of way, and told Sirius about a hilarious story he'd just heard from Polly Luton.

I hate holidays.

Oh, hold on, mum wants me to help cook the pasta, apparently she's burnt it.

How that woman manages to burn things even with the use of magic mystifies me.

Also I don't know how on earth you can burn pasta.

Oh, Prongs, you're such an ikkle-wikkle stresshead, you are. It was only what Polly had heard from Jenny, who'd heard it from Lucy, who'd heard it from Rebecca. You know what girls are like with their silly rumours.

Though, judging by the fact that Lily used to hate you, it might be a rumour based on fact, because surely people can't change their mind that quickly.

You know what, Prongs, you should get her to sleep with you, because she'd only do that if she really did like you. Girls are silly like that.

SIRIUS!

That's awful! You can't just sleep with girls like that…

You don't, do you?

Why am I asking anyway! You shouldn't be writing in this, let alone reading it. I should keep it on me at all times, but unfortunately with a mother like mine that might not be possible. We had to start again with the pasta.

But anyway, I respect Lily and that means I'm not going to ask her to do something like that.

I know.

I'll just ask her, outright, when we go to Diagon Alley in two days. I only have to wait two days. It can't be that bad, can it? Two days.

I bet that's nothing to, erm…

No, not a clue, actually. It's a bloody long time.

Monday 20th July

One day left. I got a letter from her, which was quite short.

Dear James,

How are you?

I hope everything's well with you and Sirius. My family were glad to see me back. I've already started on my homework. I want it out the way, because then it means I get more time to do my own things, and see you, if you'd like. I know I would.

Is it alright if we meet outside Gringotts tomorrow at twelve? If you have any objections, send an owl, but if not, I wouldn't bother, as I'm visiting my aunty before coming down to London.

Can't wait to see you, love Lily.

P.S. If you bring Sirius, can you try convince him to do something on his own? I'd like to be with you without him, if that's possible.

Short it may have been, but it most definitely sounds as if she's quite keen on me. And I'm glad I don't have to write back, because I'm rubbish at writing letter and would probably end up asking what kind of socks she wanted for Christmas, even though I'd never get her socks.

I showed it to Sirius and he went a bit moody for a bit, then declared he's stay at home if he wasn't wanted, and would help my dad set up his shed.

I said that was fine, and he most certainly wasn't wanted.

It's a shame no girl wants Sirius.

Well, they do. But not like Lily wants me (I hope).

Maybe Sirius just needs a woman's love to help him understand girls, and stop being such a dirty cheat.

I know I'm much happier being a one-woman man. It doesn't matter to me that I can never kiss another girl again, because I don't want to. Lily's perfect, and I wouldn't ever want to leave her. I miss her, you know. And the best part is, I don't care if it sounds wet. It's how I feel.

Tuesday July 21st

Wow. Profound, Prongs. That was actually quite sweet, though I hate to admit it. Ergh, you're getting all mature and grown up. It's a good job I'm you're friend, because otherwise I might not like you.

I wonder how you're getting along in Diagon Alley.

You're a prat for not inviting me.

I really needed new robes.

We'd better go, just you and me, sometime.

You know what, Prongs? I kind of miss the old times. You've got a girl now, and you don't need me as much. And I don't like it, I suppose. And that's the most sentimental you'll ever hear me being to you, so don't bother laughing. It's quite a coincidence that the word sentimental has 'mental' involved.

Maybe I do need a girlfriend.

I wonder if Polly Luton goes further than snogging on the first date?