Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter
~Lily~ Beginnings and Endings All Over Again
"It was just the look on his face. It was just like last year," Lily said, still shivering from the cold lake water.
"But it's completely different, Lils. You guys are practically best friends now. I mean he went to your sister's wedding with you. And I'll admit that it did resemble the whole Snape incident last year, but you can't hold that over James' head anymore. You forgave him for it and became his friend," Marlene reminded her. She felt immediately guilty.
"I know, I'm not mad at him or anything. I just think that... well I might fancy him or something. But then today it reminded me so much of who he used to be: a bully. And I know it isn't fair of me to be mad at him, but I'm scared. Everything has changed so much in a year," Lily said trembling. She watched Marlene's face, full of surprise and shock.
"You fancy him?" Marlene said slowly.
"Yeah I do."
"And you're scared that he might become a bully again?" Marlene asked again.
"No... no that isn't it. I know he's a good person and he wouldn't hurt someone unless they deserve it. The thing is that I feel like if I admit my feelings to him, then there is no backing out. Then it's real and I'll be committed. Not that I'd want to back out, but I feel like there is so much pressure to stay the way I have always been, but that isn't fair to him. He would do anything for me. I know it probably doesn't make any sense," Lily did her best to explain.
"No I think I get it. It wasn't so much that you are mad that he was a bully, but that it reminded you of his old self today, even though everything has changed. Now he'd lay his life down for you and you are scared of feeling the same way. Right?" Marlene said. Lily nodded and Marlene pulled her into a hug.
"What do I do?" Lily asked, sounding young.
"All I know is that you have to talk to him. He thinks he did something wrong and he's terrified that you hate him," Marlene said.
"Right, but I think you should talk to Sirius too." Lily stood up. Marlene began to protest, but Lily silenced her, "It's like what James said. You have to explain it to him."
"Do I have to?"
"Yes, we'll go over there together," Lily said pulling Marlene towards the door.
"You know, I like giving advice much more than receiving it," Marlene said dryly. Lily snorted.
"Yeah, same here," Lily chuckled. The two girls walked up the stairs to the boys dormitory. Lily knocked lightly and almost immediately the door swung open. Remus stood there, with a calm anger on his face. She saw Emmeline sitting on the edge of one of the boy's beds, angry tears streaming down her face.
"Are they what you're hiding from me? Meeting up with my dormmates? Huh?" Emmeline demanded.
"I'm not hiding anything from you," he insisted.
"Then where are you sneaking out to all the time!?" Emmeline demanded.
"I'm not," he said weaker this time.
"Don't lie, Remus. Something is going on with you. Just tell me," Emmeline said. She seemed sad now. Pleading. "Please?"
"I- I can't."
"But you are hiding something from me. I knew it," Emmeline shrieked. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment, "Tell me you aren't meeting up with my dormmates at night."
"No he is not. God no," Lily said.
"Really Lily? Because I remember you saying that Remus was your best looking friend," Emmeline spat, as she cried.
"I was only teasing Sirius when I said that. Besides we would never do that to you," Lily defended herself. Emmeline only scoffed to herself and Marlene and Lily looked worriedly to Remus.
"Can I help you guys?" Remus asked, sounding tired. From the look in his eyes, she knew that Remus was wishing he was anywhere else.
"Um yeah. We were looking for Sirius and James," Marlene asked.
"I think Sirius went to the kitchen and James was in the Common Room," Remus said. The two girls thanked him, before quickly escaping out the door. Lily felt horrible about Remus' predicament. She knew that Remus knew his relationship would end this way. And the only way to save it was for Remus to tell Emmeline that he's a werewolf, otherwise she'd never be able to trust him. But the downside was that she might be absolutely terrified about him and leak his secret or get him expelled. So yeah, you could say Remus was in a pickle.
"I feel so bad for him," Marlene whispered to Lily as they went back down the stairs.
"Yeah, but I'm sure they will get through it," Lily reassured, but she wasn't sure herself, "Now we should probably split up. I'll go talk to James in the Common Room and you go find Sirius in wherever the kitchen is."
"Yeah, I'll see you in the dormitory after," Marlene said.
"Bye." Lily walked over to the same couch where James had sat a few weeks before. Once again he sat there, sitting next to small rosy cheeked Hestia Jones, who was giggling at one of his jokes. Lily came over and sat to the right of James.
"Hey," she said quietly. His head shot up, looking hopeful and angry and confused all at the same time.
"Lily," James said.
"Um Hestia, would you mind giving James and I a moment. I just need to talk to him," Lily asked the girl. Hestia looked up at her tutor and smiled before going over to one of her friends.
"I'm sorry James," she said, not sure what to say. "I wasn't mad at you, I just- I just got confused. It just reminded me about how different everything used to be between us and how everything is changing even more. And I'm sorry James, you didn't deserve it... any of it. And I haven't been fair to you. I have relied on you and I shouldn't have. I don't want to manipulate your emotions or do anything of the sort. Everything is just falling apart and I'd really like it if you and I didn't. So I'm sorry." Lily was doing her best to try and stop her tears from streaming down her face. And her words came out all at once. She couldn't bring herself to tell him she fancied him, not yet. She didn't want to manipulate him. And she wasn't even sure of his reaction, but she didn't expect laughter. His large crooked grin forming and him guffawing as he pulled her into a hug.
"I'm just glad you don't hate me," James said, still grinning. His laughter was so contagious that she giggled a bit too.
"I could never hate you James Potter," Lily promised him. His grin fell for a second, and he stared at her lips. She wanted nothing more than to lean forward and press her lips onto his. Lily gulped as neither one of them moved. And this time, Lily had no intention of moving. He glanced back to her eyes then pulled away. They sat there for a few moments, neither wanting to address their little moment.
"I should probably go find Marlene. I sent her to go talk to Sirius and settle their issues," Lily told James, who nodded. "So I'll see you later."
"Yeah. See you," James replied. Lily hurried out of the Common Room. She knew that Marlene and her had agreed to meet in the Common Room, but Lily needed to get out of there. She would find Marlene on her own.
And Lily sure did find them. Although she definitely heard them before she saw them.
"You absolute buffoon! How could you be so heartless!?" Lily heard Marlene shout from around the corner.
"Dunno, I think it runs in my family." Sirius replied dryly, as if it didn't bother him in the slightest.
"You are a callous prick!" she continued to yell, "How can you just act like you don't care. You- you were moping about for weeks and now you feel nothing? Yell or shout or do something!"
"I'm not going to shout at you," Sirius said calmly. "Nor will I be yelling."
"Why not?" Marlene demanded, "Surely I deserve it."
"Well to be quite honest: I am over you," Sirius said with a shrug. Lily hid behind the corner, watching and waiting.
"Over me?" Marlene said. Her voice sounded like her heart broke. Not just broke, but shattered into a million pieces at the sound of those four words. And Lily's heart was tugged at for her.
"Yes. As you said I was moping for weeks, so I decided that that was stupid. Why should I be sad about someone who had made it perfectly clear that they didn't like me. They didn't like me so much that they decided to break up with me three times without an explanation," Sirius explained coolly, "So yes Marlene, I am over you. And I am not going to jump back into a relationship with you just because you realized that you were in the wrong here. I'm done with you." His voice had an odd finality to it. Lily wasn't sure if she wanted to hug Sirius or Marlene more.
"Wait Sirius," Marlene said quietly, "I'm sorry." Lily didn't hear him respond to her, just dead silence.
"Okay. Well I better get going, I have to pack," Sirius said without a hint of emotion.
"I'm sorry I broke up with you. And it hurts me to see you so emotionless and I guess what I'm trying to say is that I don't want to get in the way of your happiness," Marlene explained.
"I'm not sad about it anymore Marls. I'm over it," Sirius said.
"But you aren't happy. Just because you aren't sad doesn't make you happy. I don't want our mess of a relationship to get in the way of you finding a better person for you. Someone who isn't so messed up," Marlene told him.
"There isn't anyone better for me, because I'm messed up too. So I've decided that dating isn't my thing. And I'm perfectly content about it, so you don't have to feel guilty. Okay?" Sirius asked.
"Alright."
"But we still aren't friends. I can't do that," Sirius said. "Not yet."
"I understand," Marlene whispered, as Sirius walked away. Lily heard Marlene's sobs begin to arise. Lily ran around the corner to comfort her friend. Marlene was holding her hand in her hands on the floor, a sight Lily had never seen before. Marlene had always been the strong one, the one who powered through her heartache. Even with her mum's death, Marlene tried her best to not let her friends see her crying.
"Oh Marls, it's going to be ok," Lily promised, pulling her friend into a hug.
"No it won't, I'm a horrible person. I didn't just break up with him, I've broken him," Marlene sobbed.
"He'll be okay. He's strong and he's got some really great friends to help him," Lily reassured Marlene.
"I told him that I'd be willing to try again, but he said he didn't feel anything for me anymore. He rejected me and I don't even blame him," Marlene told her. "James was right, I toyed with his heart even if I didn't mean to."
"Hey, you had a lot going on and you apologised for it and that's all you can do," Lily said.
"I messed it all up, Lily. Why don't you understand that!" Marlene cried.
"I do understand. But there is nothing more you can do now. You have to let him have his space and you need to heal yourself too." Lily hugged Marlene harder. She wanted to make sure her friend knew that she wasn't alone.
"What if he doesn't let himself be in a healthy relationship ever again? He said he gave up dating." Marlene asked scared.
"But he also said that you shouldn't be guilty about it either, Marls. He didn't date anyone before he met you and maybe that is what works for him," Lily said.
"But it's all my fault," Marlene pouted again.
"Stop this. Stop now! This isn't the Marlene I know. You are drowning in self-pity and tears and that isn't you. Sirius is an adult, as are you. So stop acting like he can't handle a break up that took place over a month ago," Lily said firmly. Marlene stared at her with wide eyes, "Now lets go back to our room, because we need to get all our things ready for the train tomorrow. Okay?"
"Okay."
"Now let's go." Lily helped Marlene off the floor and the two girls walked back to Gryffindor Tower.
~James~ The Other Guy
"What do you mean she can't come next week?" James asked, slightly upset.
"Her parents dragged her and her sister onto a three week cruise. Lily said that they surprised them yesterday and they left this morning," Marlene said, "She told me to tell you that she was sorry she couldn't make it. Her parents wouldn't let her or Petunia skip."
"What's a cruise?" James said perplexed. Probably just some muggle thing, James thought.
"Lily said that it was a large vacation boat. I dunno how it works," Marlene said.
"This sucks," James said to Marlene.
"Yeah, but you still have Sirius, Remus, and Peter," Marlene said positively.
"And you," James reminded her. She shot him an apologetic glance. "You aren't coming, are you?"
"Well I was going to, but now that Lily isn't coming... and Sirius made it clear that we were not friends. So I figured I'd probably just hang out with Mary and Dorcas or something.
"Don't not come on Padfoot's account. He wouldn't mind your presence," James said.
"James I appreciate it, but I'm the only one that he wouldn't show his new flat to. And I promised the girls that I'd hang out with them soon anyway," Marlene said.
"Fine, but when is Lily getting back?" James pouted.
"I told you the cruise ended in three weeks. But why don't you owl her if you want to know more," Marlene grumbled. The familiar crack of apparation occurred just outside James' room. James looked down to see Sirius waving up at him.
"Is that Sirius?" Marlene asked, sounding weak.
"Yeah. When did he get a man bun?" James asked chuckling. He watched Sirius run over to the front door to let himself inside. James looked back over to Marlene who looked slightly pale.
"I'd better be heading out. I promised my brother that I'd teach him how to play Chaser. He's really set on making the Ravenclaw Quidditch Team now that he's a third year. So I'd best be going," Marlene rambled. James heard the door open, revealing Sirius and his new man bun. James smiled at his friend, who only had eyes for Marlene. Her face was bright red and Sirius' intense gaze was unrelenting.
"Hey Padfoot," James said, trying to break the silence.
"Prongs," Sirius said, still staring at Marlene.
"Well I shall go. Nice to see you James. Sirius," Marlene said before she walked past Sirius. James heard another loud crack outside. He looked over to see Remus walking up to his front door. When James turned back around Marlene was gone.
"Is it always going to be so awkward around you two?"
"I told you that I'm not being her friend. And why are you so upset?" Sirius asked him.
"Lily isn't coming on holiday with us all."
"Really, why not?"
"Off on a cruise with her family. Marlene said that her parents wouldn't let her miss it," James said. He watched Sirius flinch when he said Marlene. "And now Marlene isn't coming because without Lily there it will be even more awkward with you two."
"Sorry mate. That's bad luck," Sirius said. He sat down next to James as Remus entered.
"Hey Moony," James said.
"Why d'you two look so down?" Remus asked.
"Lily can't make it on holiday with us," Sirius responded for James. "She's off on holiday with her family. On one of those vacation boats."
"Why don't you go visit her. I mean she probably isn't enjoying being holed up on a boat with her sister. You should go Apparate on board and say hello," Remus proposed.
"I can't, because I don't know where on Earth that boat is. And it's moving so I'd have to time my destination perfectly. And she didn't even write me yet this summer, so she probably doesn't want to see me," James said.
"Rubbish. I doubt that she doesn't want to see you. And have you written to her?" Remus asked.
"Well no-"
"Then go send her a letter, Prongs. Don't be daft. The rest of us lost out on the Gryffindor girls. You're the only one with a chance left," Remus said. He seemed to be taking his breakup with Emmeline well, although James knew better. Remus was just trying to not burden anyone else with his feelings, but James figured that Remus was hurting too.
"I dunno, I'd say Wormy has got a better chance with Dorcas than James does with Lily," Sirius joked.
"Ignore him Prongs," Remus said. Then he turned to Sirius, "Peter's with Joanne anyways."
"Right right, forgot about the little Hufflepuff," Sirius remembered. "I'm surprised ickle Petey could keep a bird around this long." Sirius smirked to himself.
"You're just mad he's got a girlfriend and you don't."
"Yeah? I don't see you with one either." Sirius and Remus bickered back and forth. James tuned them out as he thought.
"I'll just go write her then," James grumbled. He scrawled out a few lines and cordially signed his name, then he attached the letter to his owl, Hermes. Hermes flew out of his window and soon he was but a dot in the wind. Sirius and Remus stopped fighting.
"Now the more important matter is regarding Padfoot's hair," Remus smirked. Sirius' hands flew to his hair and he grinned.
"You like?" Sirius said.
"Gorgeous. Absolutely spiffing. I wouldn't be surprised if girls swooned at your sight. Guys too," Remus deadpanned. Sirius somehow ignored the sarcasm and took it in stride.
"Yeah I thought so too. My landlord has his hair in the same style, he said that he thought it'd look good on me. And, who was he kidding, of course it'd look good on me," Sirius recalled with a boyish grin.
"As much as we'd all love to hear about your hair, I'd like to know where Wormtail is. Wasn't he supposed to be here by now?" James asked annoyed. It felt like his friends were ditching him left and right.
"Yeah I owled him and he said his mum wouldn't let him go out tonight. Y'know how she gets overprotective about him ever since what happened to his dad..." Remus trailed off.
"Obviously that was hard on them and all, but Wormy's dad died from Dragon Pox. It isn't like a seventeen year old wizard is about to contract a fatal case of Dragon Pox," Sirius said.
"I know, but Peter is all that Mrs. Pettigrew has left, and the world isn't exactly safe right now. And Peter said that his mum just got laid off from her job in Diagon Alley, because the shop closed down. So now they have no income," Remus told the two boys.
"That's horrible," James said, "I had no idea about her losing her job. What if we went over to Peter's house instead. That way he can still see us without having to worry his mum." The three boys all looked at each other and agreed.
"Alright let's go," Remus said before Apparating with a loud crack. James and Sirius both followed him.
They walked up the cracked walkway, with weeds all throughout it, up to the small cottage that Peter Pettigrew called home. The Marauders had only been outside Peter's house, never inside. So they were a bit nervous as they knocked on the door.
"Who are you?" Peter's mum asked, her eyes squinting suspiciously at them. James put on his most charming grin, assuming Sirius and Remus were doing the same. Her body blocked the doorway, so they couldn't see behind her. She had the same watery blue eyes that Peter did and the same colour of straw coloured hair, except hers was much grayer.
"It's Peter's friends. I'm James Potter and this is Sirius and Remus," James reminded the woman. They had met before, however brief, but James thought that she should at least remember them.
"Potter ya say..." she seemed comforted by the fact that James was a Potter, "An' what're your surnames? Are ya pureblood?"
"Black. Sirius Black," Sirius mumbled unhappily. He despised his surname, but Mrs. Pettigrew most definitely didn't. A scraggly grin grew on her face as she took in Sirius' words.
"And I'm Remus Lupin, halfblood," he said, standing a bit taller, trying to compensate himself it seemed. Peter's mum's smile fell slightly at the halfblood comment, but she ushered them in all the same.
"I didn't know my Petey's so popular, he just had some friends over before. How lovely," Mrs. Pettigrew said with pride glowing on her wrinkled face. The boys looked at each other in confusion. Who else would Peter have over? It isn't like the Marauders couldn't have other friends, but they didn't have many other close friends. They had each other and that had always been more than enough.
"Who was here?" James asked.
"Oh I dunno their names, my mem'ry isn't what it used to be, but they were good boys. Purebloods," she said happily, "An' Petey's jus' in his room." James thanked Mrs. Pettigrew and walked back towards a room that appeared to be Peter's.
"Wormtail?" he said. The floorboards creaked beneath his feet.
"Prongs?" Peter said sounding scared. James creaked the door open. "What're you guys doin' here!?"
"Remus said your mum wouldn't let you go out, so we came over instead," James said.
"Oh well thanks," Peter said, his eyes glued on the windows.
"Expecting someone, Wormy?" Sirius asked with a cold voice. James knew Sirius hated what Mrs. Pettigrew had said to them. "Perhaps your good Pureblood buddies?" Peter turned to them, his eyes dropping to the floor, and he spoke.
"No, no, I'm jus' not feeling so good today and Joanne's brothers came over to tell me that she isn't able to hang out tommorow," Peter said quickly. If James hadn't known better, than he'd say that Peter was lying. But why would Peter of all people have to lie to his best friends.
"We can go if you'd like. We just thought you'd like to see us," James said.
"If it isn't too much trouble. I feel bad that you came all the way out here..." Peter trailed off, his eyes returned to the window.
"Not an issue, Wormy. We'll get out of your hair," Sirius said, sounding much more pleasant. "Feel better."
"Thanks mate," Peter said, before falling back onto his bed. Sirius, Remus, and James all Apparated back home. Not thinking twice about their visit. They had some fun things planned anyways.
Dear James,
It was lovely to hear from you and I apologise for not being able to make it to your beach house next week. It truly sounds like it'd be a smashing time and I hope you all enjoy yourselves. Unfortunately I am stuck with Tuney on a boat for a few weeks. A very luxurious boat, but a confined space no less. There is truly only so far I can go without seeing her. I was going mad with boredom the first few days until this morning when I met a wonderful lad from Durmstrang. He's a delightful guy and the prospects of the trip are already looking up. You'd like him a lot. He sort of reminds me of Remus. Tomorrow afternoon we are docking in Athens and Gregor and I are going to explore the Parthenon (turns out he loves Muggle history too) and I am very excited!
With love,
Lily
P.S. I'm hoping we see a Chimera! Fingers crossed!
James read and reread her letter, hoping that it would make him a bit closer to her. And each time he read it he felt a pang of jealousy when she mentioned her new friend, Gregor from Durmstrang. It wasn't fair that she was off frolicking with foreign men while James would give anything to spend three weeks with her. He remembered how Remus said that he should Apparate and visit her, but Greece was a long way away. And James had never Apparated that far of a distance before. Perhaps he should do it anyway and risk Splinching himself. Or maybe he could get a Portkey instead?
"Mum?" James asked.
"Yes," she answered, turning to face her son.
"Say if I, hypothetically of course, wanted to Apparate somewhere rather far away would I be likely to get Splinched?" James went on. His mother raised an eyebrow at him.
"How far are you, hypothetically, saying?"
"Try Greece," James said nonchalantly.
"Greece? What do you want to do there?" Euphemia Potter asked.
"It's hypothetical. My question is do you think I could do it without getting Splinched?" James restated. His mum paused for a moment, torn between answering or demanding why he wants to go to Greece.
"Yes, I think you'd be alright," she said at last. A look of triumph grew on his face.
"Thanks Mum!" he said, jumping in the air. He began to run back up to his room.
"James Fleamont Potter!" his mother shouted. James flinched. He despised his middle name. It was awful and not a good middle name, because it was actually a last name that was turned into a first name for his father. Why anyone would want to pass that name on was beyond James.
"Yes Mum," he said smiling sweetly.
"Why in the name of Merlin do you want to go to Greece? We are going to our beach house just next week," his mother said, sounding tired.
"I, um, I want to visit a friend. And I have to do it today otherwise I might not see her until school starts," James pleaded, "Can I please go, I swear I won't be long."
"I didn't say you couldn't go, just that I wanted to know why you needed to go. I know how much Lily means to you," Mrs. Potter said with a light smile. James was elated, he ran over and gave her a huge hug. Then it dawned on him, he hadn't mentioned Lily at all.
"Mum? How did you know it was about Lily?" James asked confused.
"What other girl would you risk getting Splinched for, only so you could visit her?" she responded. James laughed, suddenly thankful for his mother and how understanding she is.
"Yeah, you're right," he said. "I'll see you later then. Bye Mum."
"I love you. Be safe!"
"Love you too," James responded before rushing upstairs to change into Muggle clothes.
With a loud crack and a slightly nauseous feeling, James arrived on the Acropolis completely unharmed. He checked his watch and it was 1 o'clock. He hoped he'd be able to catch her and this Gregor bloke before they went inside the Parthenon. His eyes scanned the crowds, hoping he'd catch a glimpse of vivid red hair, but none that matched Lily's. Had he expected to be able to find her that easily? No, but he had hoped he would. So instead of waiting, he decided to head up to the monument himself. And after maybe twenty minutes or so, he found himself chatting with an American tourist named Amanda.
"So... what is it like living in England? I love your accent by the way," Amanda said, batting her eyelashes as she spoke in a mesmerizing sort of way.
"It's alright I guess. I'm not home very often except for summer, Christmas, and Easter holiday. I go to a Boarding school in Scotland, I guess you could call it," James explained to the girl. He was trying his very hardest to talk to her without mentioning any part of his magical life. Boarding School is what his mother always taught him to say if a Muggle asked him where he went to school. And to be as vague as possible.
"Boarding school? Interesting, sounds like an upgrade from my public school. So what are you doing all by yourself in Greece?" she asked. James liked this girl, she seemed nice and easy to talk to even though they had just met.
"Well I came looking to surprise a friend of mine, but I can't find my friend."
"That's horrible. You came all the way out here and you can't even meet up with them," Amanda said.
"Yeah well it's been nice meeting you, so it hasn't been enitrely a waste of a trip," he said smiling at her. A blush grew on her cheeks.
"It's been nice meeting you too, Mr. James Potter. How would you like to exchange phone numbers? Maybe I could visit you over in England some time," Amanda said with an equally charming smile.
"Now I'd love that, except-" James began
"James!?" a shout came from behind him. He swung his head around so fast, seeing Lily's red hair spilling out of her braid, strands flying everywhere. She sported a new light tan and some wicked sunglasses.
"Lily!" James shouted. She ran over to him practically tackling him as they embraced for several moments. She no longer smelled of strawberries and vanilla, but rather of sunscreen and coconut.
"What the bleeding hell are you doing here?" she asked as she grinned like a maniac. She seemed much more carefree than at school. James couldn't help but grin at her.
"I thought I'd come and surprise you. I didn't want you to be too miserable without me," James joked. A man from behind Lily coughed into his fist, as though to remind her that he was there.
"Oh James, meet Gregor," Lily exclaimed. She dragged Gregor forward to meet James. He extended his hand to James, and they shook hands. Gregor had quite the firm handshake.
"I'm James Potter, a friend of Lily's," James told the Gregor. Gregor sported curly black hair, a scraggly beard, and dark brown eyes.
"Gregor Markov Rusev, also a friend of Lily's," Gregor said with a unnerving stare and a thick accent.
"Nice to meet you Greg, is it alright if I call you Greg?" James asked, smiling at the Bulgarian.
"Zat's vot my friends call me," Gregor said. James wasn't sure if that meant he considered James a friend, or if he was saying not to call him that.
"Lovely, so I hear you like Muggle history, yeah?" James said, slinging his arm around Greg's shoulder.
"Muggle? What's that?" Amanda asked. James froze. He forgot that Amanda was still there.
"Oh, it's just a nickname us Brits have for the Greeks," Lily intervened quickly. James shot Lily an appreciative glance. Who knew that Lily Evans was such a smooth liar.
"Oh." Amanda laughed. "And you must be the friend James came out to surprise," Amanda said to Lily.
"Yeah I suppose I am. I'm Lily Evans," she said, going to for a friendly hug with Amanda.
"Amanda Tanaka," she said, hugging Lily back.
"How do you know James?" Lily asked.
"Oh I met him just now," she replied.
"Nice. We go to school together. And Gregor is a fellow w- I mean he goes to another branch of our boarding school in Bulgaria," Lily said.
"Bulgaria... wow! That's cool," Amanda said. Behind her was a middle aged woman and man waving Amanda over. "Oh that's my parents, I should go."
"Bye Amanda, it was nice meeting you," James told her.
"You too. Oh, before I forget, what do you say about your phone number?" Amanda asked again. James was secretly panicked, he hardly knew what a phone was, much less actually having one. He turned to Lily, hoping she'd know what to do.
"I'm sure he'd love to hear from you again, but at school there aren't any phones," Lily answered.
"Right, yeah we don't have much communication with Mug- with people outside school. Especially not across an ocean," James said nervously. He didn't enjoy lying to people, but he wouldn't want anyone to find out about the Wizarding World either.
"Oh, um well then have fun looking at the Muggle ruins," Amanda said with a smile. James chuckled at her use of the word, although in a technical sense it was still correct.
"Thanks Amanda. See you," James said with a wave. Amanda waved back before returning to her family. Once she was out of listening range James turned to Lily.
"Thanks for covering for me. I'm a horrid liar," James said laughing.
"I didn't know James Potter was bad at anything," Lily smirked.
"Of course I'm bad at things. Like lying and what else... oh I know! Getting Lily Evans to like me," James said laughing again.
"Nope, you checked that off your list eventually," Lily said.
"Damn, now I'm only bad at one thing," James joked, but there was only silence, "So how has the boat been so far? Your sister treating you alright?"
"Yeah, she isn't paying me much mind since Vernon is here. We only had one fight so far. That's basically a record, you should know. I would've been miserable if I didn't meet Gregor," Lily said shooting Gregor an appreciative smile.
"How did you guys meet? And how'd you know he was a wizard?" James wondered. Unless James saw someone doing magic, he'd have no clue they were a wizard. Well unless they wore wizard's clothing or were in a wizarding place.
"Oh well it's an odd story actually," she said, stealing another secret glance with Gregor that made James' heart break a bit. "It was the night I fought with Petunia. It was over something stupid and I had it coming really, the way I was looking for a fight. I was so angry that I was here, especially after the way things ended at the wedding with Tuney and me. And this was probably the first fight we have had where Petunia was in the right. And after I needed fresh air desperately and I started hyperventilating. After like twenty minutes, I was finally able to pull myself together and Gregor sat down next to me, asking if I was alright. And I was wary of him, because I didn't know him, so I started to head back to my room. But I tripped over myself and he came to help me up, but my wand had fallen from my pocket. I tried to hide it and I had got up again and he called for me to wait up. He told me he went to Durmstrang and I was shocked to say the least. And ever since he's been my companion." Her smile brightened as she finished the story. James saw the corners of Gregor's mouth turn up, like he was remembering something pleasant, and it made James want to vomit.
"Wow," James said, trying to not sound disgusted. "I'm glad you haven't been miserable." He tried to force a laugh for her sake, but jealousy shot through his veins.
"Well it's even better now that your here. I want to go see the temple of Zeus. D'you know who Zeus is?" Lily asked excitedly. He shook his head, because he wasn't sure he could control his tongue at the moment. But it didn't turn out to be an issue, because he recovered while Lily gave him a full and detailed explanation about the Greek Gods.
"What's it called? Mythology?" James asked after she finished.
"Yeah, it's intriguing isn't it?" she asked him.
"Yeah, although we can sort of do all the things that the Gods and Goddesses could. Y'know like water powers and growing plants," he pointed out.
"Hardly. Gods are immortal and everlasting. But wizards are just mortals with special powers," Lily told him. James was prepared to argue his point, but he didn't get the opportunity.
"Vell that's the purpose isn't it. The purpose of life, the thing that makes it valuable, is that it ends," Gregor said. It was the first time he spoke more than one sentence.
"So you think we are more powerful than these supposed 'Gods' because we can die?" James asked. He disagreed, but he wanted to hear Gregor out first. This conversation interested him.
"No, I think death gives life meaning and many fear death because it's unknown. I don't think you should fear your purpose. To conquer death, you must stop fearing it. And ve all must die... even Gods," Gregor answered with a grimness. James caught himself holding his breath as Gregor spoke. His words were spoken with an eerie calmness and wisdom.
"That- that was very poetic Gregor," Lily said slowly, like she was replaying his words over and over. Gregor only shrugged and continued walking silently. The three of them walked in silence for awhile, which never really happened to James. He was always engaging in conversation with whoever he was with, but it felt wrong now. Like James was intruding on Lily and Gregor, which he technically was...
"I should get going," James said to Lily as they left the Temple of Zeus.
"Why. You haven't been here too long," Lily said, looking at the sun that was still high in the sky.
"I know, but I..." James thought for a moment, "I just need to get home." She looked at him suspiciously.
"James..." she said nonbelievingly.
"I'll see you at school, okay?" James said.
"Yeah, I'll see you at school," Lily then offered, "but you don't need to leave yet. Or you could come visit me another day too." James stared into her eyes, but he was to say anything.
"Goodbye James," Gregor said, sticking his hand out again. James quickly shook Gregor's hand, before pulling Lily into a hug.
"I'll see you a school, Lily." James stepped out of the hug and waved to her.
"Write to me at least," she asked him, but James only smiled nervously. James apparated away, back to his home. His safe home.
AN: Thank you for the kind words. And to the people saying this deserves more recognition: Thank you. It means a lot! Please keep reviewing.