The next day, both Lily and James awoke in their own beds. They got dressed separately, and went down to breakfast, Lily with her friends and James with his. The rain poured down from the enchanted ceiling, but thankfully dissolved before drenching the students.

The Daily Prophet was full of bad news, but that was nothing new. After months of attacks on Muggles, Muggleborns and what were beginning to be called "blood traitors" by some, the articles about it were familiar to everyone.

What was new, however, was the return of Alice Fortescue. Lily first noticed her as she and Avril, Dorcas and Robyn all sat at the Gryffindor table. Alice was sitting at the other end, and when Lily saw her she stood up and went to her.

"Alice, you're back!" she cried, sitting down next to her and giving her a hug.

"Yeah," Alice said. There was still a trace of sadness in her, but at least she was smiling. "How have things been here?"

"Uh, they've been alright... Well, Dirk Cresswell tried to do himself off while under the Imperius curse, and Leah Potter tried to do Remus and me off, also while Imperiused. But apart from that, nothing new."

Alice looked shocked, and Lily laughed. "Yeah, okay, that wasn't really funny. It was quite serious, actually, but as there's been no other attacks since..."

"Blimey. Were you all okay?"

"Yeah, in shock really. Remus cracked his head open, but he's alright now. Oh, and Gryffindor won the match!"

"Really? How much by?"

"I can't remember... But by quite a bit, I think... Avril had to pay off this bet she'd made with Mundungus."

"Is he still betting? You do know, as Head Girl, I should probably report him." Alice smirked. "Ah, well, he'll never change..."

"He won't, he's a lost cause. But anyway, how are you?" Lily asked her tentatively.

Alice sighed. "I'm alright. Going home has been good for me, and I was with my mum and stuff, so that was good too. The funeral was pretty awful, though. Still... I'm back now. It's good seeing Frank again, anyway." She smiled over at where, a few seats away, her boyfriend was with his friends, eating breakfast. "He's been so supportive."

"I'm glad. It is good to see you, Al."

"Good to see you too, Lily."

Lily said bye to her, and with a last smile went back to her seat. She sat down next to Avril.

"So, how is she?"

"She's good," Lily said. "It must be hard for her, but she's doing okay. To be honest, I'm glad she's got Frank."

"What, Frank Longbottom?"

"Yeah... He seems like a nice bloke. It must be nice, having someone who will always be there for you, whatever you tell him." As she said that, she remembered the night before, and what a good listener James had been. He had heard out her whole story, and she was grateful for that. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him at his end of the table, laughing at a joke Sirius had just made.

She got up, and walked towards him. He looked up as she got nearer, and his grin faltered for a second, but was back in place before anyone except Lily noticed.

"Hey, Lily-flower," Sirius greeted her. "Sorry about last night, uh... I think I was a bit intoxicated."

"It was probably all that Firewhiskey you sneaked up from the kitchens," she laughed.

"But yeah, I get the feeling maybe I shouldn't have interrupted you two," he said, eying James significantly. Lily blushed.

"Oh, there was nothing to interrupt..."

"Funny," Sirius mused. "That's the exact same answer James gave me."

"Yeah, well... I kind of wanted to speak to you," she said, looking at James. "Do you fancy a walk?"

He stood up, and they got out of the Great Hall. The general chatter of the people having breakfast died down as they walked away. It was raining hard outside, so they just stood in the doorway of the castle, looking out. It was not the place that mattered, Lily thought, but what she had to say that did.

"James..." Long gone were the times when they called each other by their surnames. So much had changed between them in such short time. "I just wanted to thank you."

"There's no need," he said automatically.

"There is. I was confused last night. I almost forgave Severus... He was just so convincing, you know? He really is sorry, but for the wrong reasons."

"How's that?" James didn't understand what she was saying.

"He's sorry he upset me, he's sorry I'm not his friend anymore," she sighed. "But he's not really sorry for what he said. He still doesn't believe, truly, that he was in the wrong. And I now realize that he never will."

"So you still don't...?" He trailed off, unsure of how he would sound.

"I still don't love him?" She was good, almost too good, at knowing what he was thinking. "No, I don't. Not even as friends anymore. But anyway, that's what I wanted to say: thank you."

"Lily, there is nothing you have to thank me for. I just did what anybody would have done."

"But still, I needed to tell someone all that shit, and you were there for me. So yeah. Thanks," she smiled at him, and then turned to watch the rain pouring down onto the grounds.

There was a certain beauty in rain, she thought, as she looked out. Sun was good, but the idea of the clouds opening, and emptying their water down on them, appealed to her.

"How do you do that?" James asked out of the blue.

She turned her head to look at him. "Do what?"

"That thing where you're just talking to me, and you suddenly turn really mysterious, and you look away..."

"Oh, uh, sorry."

"No, it's not a bad thing. Quite beautiful, actually," he said.

Lily tried hard not to blush, but there was nothing she could do. Her cheeks turned a light pink. How was it possible that this boy always made her blush? Whenever they spoke, her heart started fluttering nervously, and her cheeks felt like they were constantly on a radiator. What was it about James Potter?

"We'd better get back," he said. "Or they'll all start thinking we're making out."

She grinned at him. "I think that's what most of them are hoping for."

The rain poured down all through November, a month which brought only the event of a Hufflepuff-Ravenclaw match. It was exciting for Lily, but nowhere near as much as when her House had played. Ravenclaw won by a long way.

The rain carried on pouring right into December. It was possible that every student in the school was wishing for snow, but it had still not come.

It didn't come when Dorcas wished for it. She was sick of practicing Quidditch in the rain, for it was cold and miserable, and she could barely see the players, never mind the ball. The rest of the team wished for the rain to stop as much as she did.

It didn't come when Robyn wished for it. It was her habit to take long walks in the grounds (sometimes even in the Forbidden Forest, although that was something she had never told anyone), and she didn't enjoy them as much when it rained. She felt trapped, holed inside the castle when what she wanted to be doing was walk around the grounds in the sun, or if that was not possible, in the snow.

It didn't come when Avril wished for it. She also liked going around the grounds in her spare time, although it was usually in company. There were corners all around the gardens of Hogwarts (by the lake, by the castle walls, under the shade of the trees), that were always pleasant when she took a guy there. During the past few months, she had been with a whole number of guys, and they had had to make out inside, which was not nearly as nice. Although maybe it was a good thing that she wasn't encouraged: lately, having spent so much of her time with boys, her marks had been going down. Especially in Defence Against the Dark Arts, in which she's got a D for her last essay. She was thinking about asking someone for tutoring, but she would have to find someone who was willing.

And Lily? Yes, she wished for it too. She enjoyed snow, for the grounds looked beautiful covered in white. Also, Christmas was soon coming, which was her favourite season. All the food, that warm sort of feeling, and all those presents...

Speaking of presents, she had to buy them. For her family, and friends. She loved giving stuff away, but most of all she liked choosing things for them. It was a tradition between Avril, Robyn, Dorcas and her that they never bought each other stuff, they always made each other presents, or gave them something second-hand. They always exchanged presents on the last day before the holidays.

But for her family, she could buy stuff, so she decided to use the Hogsmeade trip, which was rapidly approaching, for that purpose.

It was drizzling, as it had been for days, when she walked out of the castle towards Hogsmeade. Avril, Dorcas and Robyn were with her, chatting animatedly. There was a sense of freedom in being let out of the castle, and it was always pleasant.

"Hey!" someone called from behind them. They turned round simultaneously, and saw four boys coming towards them. Sirius was the first to reach them, and he smiled at them warmly. "How are my gorgeous girls today?" he winked.

Avril giggled. "Oh, you're such a charmer. So, are you guys joining us for our shopping trip?"

"Shopping?" James, Remus and Peter reached the group.

"Yeah, you know, Christmas presents and all that," Dorcas explained.

"Oh, right. Fine by me," said Sirius. He looked at the other three boys, and they nodded, so the whol group set off towards the main shopping street in Hogsmeade. The rain started falling heavier, so they went into the first shop they arrived at, which happened to be Gladrags Wizardwear. They shook off the rain on the mat by the door, and filed in. It was warm inside, and the shop assistants didn't mind them being there, so they decided to hang around until the rain relented a bit.

Lily looked around the hangers and shelves. Most of the clothing in there was for wizards, but there was also a whole line of Muggle clothes (which Lily supposed was for wizards in the Muggle world). She shifted through it, not really sure what she was looking for. Lily wasn't really into shopping, and didn't usually enjoy clothes-shopping at all.

"What are you looking for?" a voice asked from behind, making her jump. She turned round, already knowing who it was.

"Oh, Merlin, will you stop doing that?" she asked James. But she knew he wouldn't: it was a habit of his, sneaking up on people.

"I can't help it!" he shrugged.

"I guess not... I'll just have to get used to it."

"So, anyway, what are you looking for?" he looked over her shoulder. "That's a nice t-shirt, it would look nice on you."

"Thanks... But it's for my sister. As a Christmas present, you know. I think it would suit her... what do you think?"

He laughed, "I've never even seen her, Lily. I don't know what she looks like. But if you think she'll like it, then she probably will. She's your sister, isn't she?"

"Yeah... Yeah, I think I'll get it for her." She picked up the t-shirt in Petunia's size, and had a look around the shop. "And I have to find some socks for my dad, too."

"Socks?" he raised an eyebrow.

She grinned at his confused look. "Oh, I know it's typical, but it's a kind of tradition. He gets me some socks, and I get him some. We've been doing it since I was about six... We have to pick out some really unusual ones, you know."

James laughed, the corners of his eyes crinkling (Lily always noticed that), and they went over to the socks. There were hundreds, all different colours, shapes and sizes. Some spoke when you put them on, some flashed like Christmas lights, and a pair even changed colour according to your mood. When James and Lily tried them on, they turned to a deep red shade, which puzzled them both. It was obvious that blue meant peaceful, and that green meant jealous, but red?

In any case, Lily bought a pair of socks that glowed in the dark for her dad, and a flowery scarf for her mum. She payed for all three things, and went over to the far side of the shop, where Sirius was amusing everyone by trying on the different hats. He was at that moment wearing a bright pink beret, and looking himself in the mirror while he pretended to twirl an imaginary mustache.

Lily and James both laughed at the sight of him, but he looked indignant. "What are you laughing at, my dear people? I think this hat rather suits me..." He put it back on the shelf, and picked up a large, floppy sunhat, clearly intended for a woman. "Oh, no, this one really looks good... Brings out the colour of my eyes, you see?" He placed it on the shelf again, and suddenly opened his eyes wide. "Wow! Look at that!" His finger pointed to the line of hats, but no one saw anything particularly special on it.

"What? What is it?" Peter asked him.

Sirius didn't answer, but instead lunged for a hat. He picked it out, and everyone finally saw it. Deep purple in colour, it was an elegant (almost too elegant) fedora. He pulled it on, and it settled around his hair.

James laughed loudly. "You're going to wear a fedora?"

He stuck his tongue out at her, and carried on looking at himself in the mirror. "It's called a trilby, you uncultured git, and of course I'm going to wear it." With that, he marched off to the cashier, where he proceeded to buy the hat.

"But it's not even the weather for hats like that..." said Remus, looking at the rain pouring down outside.

"So? I can wear it when it's warmer again, can't I?" he looked at his hat happily. "Still, I feel kind of daft carrying it around. I'll send it back up to the castle." He drew his wand, and the hat vanished, presumably to have appeared in the boy's dormitory.

"Anyone fancy a drink in the Three Broomsticks?" He didn't wait for their answer, but simply strode out of the door. The rest of the group looked at each other, but then followed him.

"Agrippa, it's bloody cold..." Dorcas muttered as they all walked down the street. They were all grateful when they spotted the glowing warmth flooding through the windows of the Three Broomsticks. It didn't take them long for them to reach it and go inside.

That pub was always a good place in winter: warm, with good food and drink, there was always someone to talk to.

Also, Jenna Rostmerta was always there. Now, Jenna was not what you would call a permissive barmaid. If she ever had any problems with anyone in the pub, she would throw them out with no scruples. But she was undeniably sexy, a fact which had not escaped any straight male student in Hogwarts.

The four Marauders and the four girls sat down in a corner. Sirius asked them all what they wanted, and crossed the room towards the bar. He leaned against it, and Jenna came over to him.

"Hey, Sirius," she greeted him, pushing a stray blond curl behind her ear. "What can I get you?"

"Eight Butterbeers, please. You're looking nice today," he noticed.

She didn't blush, for Jenna Rosmerta was not the kind of girl to do so, but instead looking at him with a half-smile on her face. "Not looking too bad yourself... It's been a while since I last saw you," she said, pouring the drinks.

"Last Hogsmeade trip," remembered Sirius.

"Yeah... Fancy carrying on what we left off?" she winked at him as she went off to attend another customer. When she came back, Sirius sighed.

"Look, Jenna... That was one night," and indeed it had been. The last time they had seen each other, things had escalated quickly, leading to the two of them in the back room. Sirius had had to leave it at that (having a curfew always got in the way of that kind of thing), despite them both having wanted more. "And now- Well, things are different now."

She looked at him, and then laughed. "Are you saying what I think you're saying?"

"Depends what you think I'm saying," he grinned.

"You're dating someone?" He didn't say anything, just kept grinning. "Oh my Merlin, Sirius Black dating someone! This has got to be a first."

"It is, actually," he admitted.

"Is it someone at that table?" she asked him curiously, nodding towards where the Marauders and the girls were sitting talking.

"Nope."

"Pity, the girls are rather cute... Is that Lily Evans next to James?"

"Yeah," said Sirius. "Why?"

"I thought they didn't get on? It seems strange to see them so close, without ripping each other's heads off."

Sirius nodded. Truth be told, it surprised him too. The friendship that had developed over the past few months between James and Lily was definitely unexpected. But it made Prongs happy, and it was pleasant to have a rest from their fighting.

Jenna gave him the drinks on a tray, so he thanked her and made his way carefully back to his seat. As he sat down, he couldn't help but watch his best mate and Lily, and the way that they spoke to each other. They always listened to what the other had to say, often teasing and laughing. There was something in the way they looked at each other that made Sirius smile.

"What are you grinning at?" Avril asked him quietly.

"Just... Look at them," he said, nodding at Lily and James.

She did, and smiled. "They're so happy. You know what? I think they should be together."

"Mmm..."

"I mean, it looks like they're together already, with the soppy grins and the inside jokes... Like a couple, you know?"

"Yeah, I get what you mean." In all the time they had been on this trip, James had spent most of his time with Lily.

"It's a pity, though..." said Avril.

"What is?"

"I've got a bet on with Dorcas, that they won't be together by the end of the year. She ships them, you see."

"Ships them? What in Agrippa's name is that?" he asked her, amused.

"It's like, when you think they'd make a good couple, and you want them to be together. Dorcas says she ships them more than she ships Tom Baker and Elisabeth Sladen."

"Who are they?"

"I think they're from Muggle show she watches."

"Right... So shipping is basically when you think two people would be good together? Well, I guess I ship them too, then."

"Mm," Avril nodded, sipping her drink. "I think I do too."

When they had all finished their Butterbeers, and were sufficiently warm again, they decided to go back out to the shops, where everyone still had to get presents for their family and friends.

They traipsed along the main street in Hogsmeade, which was mostly composed of shops and pubs. Lily always enjoyed coming to the town, but on this occasion especially. It was a good feeling, walking down the middle of the street with all her friends, looking in shop windows, every so often going in to buy something.

Honeyduke's was particularly appealing to all of them, so they crammed inside the already-full shop, and stocked up on their fair share of sweets.

"Want some beans?" James asked her as the two of them went back outside. The rest of the group were still deciding what they were going to get.

She nodded, and James picked out a deep purple bean for her.

"Blackberry. It's your favourite, right?"

She nodded, smiling. "How did you know?"

"Well, it's the one you always pick out, so I guess that was a kind of clue," he teased.

She was touched that he had noticed such a small detail as that, but didn't say anything. They were silent for a moment or two.

"Merlin, it's effing freezing out here..." James shivered in his thin coat.

"Do you want my coat?" she asked him.

He grinned, but then realized she wasn't joking. "What? You'd probably freeze to death if you took your coat off in this weather."

"No, really," she said. "I don't feel the cold. Like, it can be minus degrees outside, and I could still go out in a t-shirt."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah. I guess I'm just weird like that."

"I guess you are," they both laughed. "In any case, wouldn't it be a bit weird if I borrowed your jacket? Like, isn't it meant to be the other way around?"

She raised an eyebrow. "I think you'll find that's what's commonly known as a stereotype."

"Mmm..." he thought about it, and realized she was right. "Sorry."

"It's okay. I guess someone as silly as you can't tell when he's being a stereotypical prat," she tried to look serious, but laughed.

He did the same, and then paused for a second. "So, uh... can I borrow your jacket?"

"You really want to? Why?"

"Well, first because it's flipping freezing out here, second because I think it would suit me. Everything suits me," he said modestly. "Third, because I wouldn't mind seeing if you really don't feel the cold. And fourth because I want to prove to you that stereotypes don't matter to me. It's just that I didn't realize that that was one until you pointed it out."

She looked at him for a moment, and then grinned. She took off her thick coat, a dark one with fur round the hood, and handed it to him.

He held it up by the shoulders. "There's no way in hell this is going to fit." Nonetheless, he tried it on, struggling as he tried to push his arms through the sleeves. "You're so titchy."

Lily blushed. It was true that she was thin, and not very tall either. James stood at least a head and a half higher than her.

When he finally got it on, and did it up, Lily burst out laughing. The sleeves reached just past his elbows, his hands sticking out comically. "Yes, it really suits you, James," she smirked.

"Do not mock me," he said with dignity, turning round to see his reflection in the shop window. "I think it looks rather dashing."

As Lily laughed again, the rest of the group came outside to join them. They blinked at James, and laughed too.

"Isn't it meant to be the other way round, though?" Peter said. "The guy lending the girl his jacket?"

"That is a stereotype, Pete," Sirius shook his head in disapproval. "And you'd do best not to say that again if you don't want your legs jinxed off. I'm proud to say, I've never stereotyped anyone..." he trailed off, as a thought occurred to him. "Hey, fancy playing "I've never"?"

"What's that?" Dorcas asked him.

Remus groaned. "It's a game... A terrible, terrible game that is best forgotten..."

"Why? Is it really that bad?" said Avril. "I like the sound of this."

"It's not so much the game, as what happened after it," Remus explained. "The last time we played, it ended with all four of us waking up with a hangover, not remembering much of the previous evening."

"Wow, sound like fun! So, how do you play?"

"How about we go back to the castle, and I tell you all the rules there?" Sirius announced to the group in general.

They all agreed to, although Remus didn't look best pleased. At least it was a Saturday the next day, though, so they wouldn't have to get up early, or go to class pretending they didn't have a hangover.

When they arrived at the castle, the girls started towards the Common Room, but Sirius quickly stopped them. "The game we're going to be playing is probably not for the innocent eyes of first years," he said, worrying them slightly. "How about we go out onto the roof?"

"The roof?" Lily repeated incredulously. "Are you kidding me, Black?"

"No... Okay, it sounds dangerous, but there's actually this place, sort of on the roof and sort of not, where it's not dangerous at all. It's rather beautiful, too," he said, knowing that would appeal to her.

She pursed her lips, wondering whether this was a good idea, but finally decided to follow him. They climbed narrow stairs that Lily didn't even know existed for a while, until they reached the top of the staircase, and saw the place Sirius was telling them about.

There was a wide space, about eight steps on way and six the other, right on top of the roof of the main building, where the floor was completely flat. It was tiled with slate, the same as the roof, but looked safe enough. The view from there was incredible: as there were no walls out there, they were able to see all of the grounds, the Lake, Hagrid's hut, the Forbidden Forest... All of it at once. It was beautiful, and that was probably what made Lily nod at Sirius. He grinned evilly. Whatever this game was, Lily had a feeling she might regret it.