Lily's look was priceless a small part of her almost thought this just happened to be the worlds weirdest coincidence. But of course the smirks on Alice and Mary's faces proved otherwise.

"You did this !?" Lily asked laughing incredulously.

"Well it was actually James' suggestion" Mary said smiling.

Lily felt her stomach flip. James had organised this ? She knew that all the boys lived quite a while away, he would have to had planned this in advance to get them together like this.

The four boys had spotted the girls table and smiling began to walk over.

"Your hair looks fine mate" Sirius whispered grinning.

In his nervousness James had been repeatedly ruffling and flattening his hair. He stopped however as they reached the table.

Lily looked up at them. All the boys had on thick coats, scarfs and hats due to the freezing weather outside. All except James who to Lily's amusement was seemingly unwilling to cover his perfect hair with a hat.

Mary had stood up to kiss Sirius and Lily felt oddly uncomfortable she didn't know what to say to James.

Luckily he spoke first.

"How are you doing" he said pulling up a chair and gripping her hand.

"I- oh James" she whispered squeezing his hand back "you organised all this for me ?".

"Course I did, oh Lily I'm so sorry about your dad".

"How are things at home?" Remus asked "sorry" he added quickly "that's a stupid question".

"No it's not" Lily replied quietly "it's, well, it's as I expected really".

"And your sister?" Sirius said skeptically.

Lily gave a dark laugh "awful, she doesn't want me there, dad doesn't want any of us there, and all mum does is cry". Lily's voice wavered.

"How long do they think he has ?" Peter said sadly.

"They originally said maybe months, but it's more like weeks now" . Lily replied wiping her face on her sleeve.

"Sorry Lil's" James said "we're meant to be cheering you up not making you cry".

"Well how can she not cry James she's looking at your ugly mug after all". Sirius said laughing.

"You don't think he's ugly do you Lily ?" Remus asked with a suggestive smile.

"No.." she replied slowly, brushing James hair back with her free hand searching his face intently "I think you look nice".

James blushed but grinned back.

"Did you read the prophet this morning?" Lily asked, she could tell immediately everyone on the table had been hoping this subject wouldn't come up.

"Yes, yes I did" Alice said sadly "Lily it doesn't mean anything though, there's no way in hell Dumbledore is going to let it happen".

The article to which they were all referring had been talking of muggleborns struggling to get jobs as the prejudice increased. People were even afraid to allow them entry to shops to buy their wares for fear of the repercussions. Lord Voldemort's power upon the ministry was rising and there were talks of Hogwarts being next.

"I don't doubt that, but it's only going to get worse and we only have seven months of school left, I have to get a job. I was thinking" Lily said tentatively "of applying for muggle positions. They won't be well paid as I obviously don't have any muggle school grades but I'm sure I can still find something that...".

"What ?" James interrupted incredulously "Lily please you can't be serious".

"No, that's me !" Sirius said trying to smile , no one else did however.

"Yes I'm being serious, what else am I going to do James? If no wizard will give me a job".

"Well can't you wait? Why do you need to get one straight away?" James replied

Remus gave an annoyed tut at that.

"What ?" James said gruffly

"James not all of us have rich parents, most of us haven't got a choice but to go out and get jobs" Remus replied pointedly.

James flushed feeling incredibly out of touch.

"My family have already been struggling for money James" Lily whispered "dad quit his job just before he got ill so there's been no sick pay, and mums part time job at the florists barley covers anything".

"Merlins" James said ruffling his hair awkwardly "I'm sorry Lily I- ... what a prat".

"Yes" said Mary sourly "you are".

Lily shook her head "I shouldn't have brought it up, here you all are to see me and I'm just bringing everyone down".

XXXX

The rest of the visit was spent in much better spirits as the seven of them chatted casually about exams, and teased James for his lack of a hat.

"We better get going" James said checking his watch " Dad will be coming back to pick us up soon".

"Thank him for me" Lily said earnestly "you couldn't have come here without him".

"Would you like to thank him yourself?" James said grinning.

"I- oh yes ok" Lily said blushing again.

"Meeting the parent Lil's" Mary teased "we'll wait in here for you".

Lily put her coat on and joined the other Marauders outside.

She was shivering slightly having been in the warm cafe for so long. But James opened his coat hugging Lily inside it.

"How are you so warm?" She giggled.

"Oh James is always smoking hot!" Sirius laughed waggling his eyebrows.

There was suddenly a loud crack as in a swirl of robes Fleamont Potter apparated into view.

Lily immediately stepped back from James smoothing down her long auburn hair.

"All right boys?" Fleamont said smiling "and ah, hello" he said bowing low "you must be the famous Lily".

"Yes it's lovely to meet you mister Potter" she said blushing furiously "she elbowed James in the ribs " famous ? What have you been saying about me?".

"Oh nothing bad I assure you" Fleamont said smiling.

"Just how badly he has the hots for you Lily" Sirius sniggered to James' glare.

"Well I wanted to thank you, it's been pretty lonely at home it was lovely to se everyone" Lily said smiling gratefully at Fleamont.

"It was my pleasure, I do hope your managing everything ok?" He asked

"As well as I can" Lily replied.

"Well we better be going then, Peter I'll drop you back first".

Peter linked arms with Fleamont as they disappeared in a flurry of robes.

He repeated this twice more until it was just James and Lily alone in the alleyway.

"Oh James, Thankyou so much for today" Lily said quietly "it was so thoughtful of you".

James gulped slightly Lily was so close to his face he could've counted the light spattering of freckles across her nose.

"I just want to make you happy" he said breathily.

" you do" she whispered

He could feel the rise and fall of her chest against his.

"Lily .. I"

But before James could finish she started to kiss him. He enveloped his arms tightly around her as she settled hers in his hair, he was just beginning to move his hands slowly down past her waist when..

She broke apart from him suddenly. James felt sick, had he tried to go too far ?

"Sorry" Lily said blushing "James your ride is here".

Spinning around James saw his father

"Oh" he said chuckling awkwardly "hi dad".

Fleamont was smiling knowingly "don't let me interrupt" he said with a wink.

XXXX

"You were ages!" Mary said as Lily slipped back into the cafe.

"Was James' dad late?" Alice asked sipping on her hot chocolate.

"Oh no I hung back to keep him company whilst he apparated everyone out".

"Keeping him company eh" Mary said knowingly "did your mouth keep his mouth company too?".

"Maybe" Lily giggled

"Oh Lil's I'm so glad you've finally gotten together". Mary said smiling.

"I am too, but I'm not rushing into anything" Lily said carefully

Alice laughed a little " we know that. But James has been waiting for forever I don't think he's going to want to do anything to mess things up".

"Well I hope not" Mary added "he better treat you right or he'll have us to answer to".

XXXX

Christmas Day was a rather somber affair for Lily. Knowing it was the family's last Christmas with Mr Evans meant it couldn't be anything but.

In the evening as was their tradition the little family was gathered around the television watching the Wizard of Oz.

Lily was sat next to her father holding his hand as if she were a small child once more. She looked as Petunia got up from her armchair but assumed she was going to the toilet or perhaps going to change from her formal dress.

"Mum I'm off now" Petunia said she had walked back into the living room with her coat and hat on.

"What?" Lily said snapped out of her sleepy state "where are you going ?".

"To visit Vernon and his family at Christmas of course" Petunia spat.

Lily stood up not wanting her father to hear "Tuney please" she whispered "what about our family this is dads last Christmas!".

"Don't make this all about you Lily. I already spoke to dad and he was fine with it, I have to make time for my new family now". Petunia said in a cold whisper.

"Goodbye dad" she said pointedly.

"Yes , yes have a good time wish the Dursley's a merry Christmas".

"I will" Petunia said glowering at Lily as she walked out.

XXXX

"10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1 HAPPY NEW YEAR"

James hugged Sirius, Remus, and Peter.

"Happy new year Prongs" Sirius said ruffling James hair.

It was the Potters annual New Years party which always proved to be an exceptionally enjoyable time. All James wished was that he could have invited Lily. Under any other circumstance he would have but he didn't want Lily to even consider spending time away from her family now. knowing that in just a few short days she had to leave them to return to Hogwarts.

"Firewhisky anyone ?" Remus said offering round a tray, they were all already a bit tipsy.

"Ah why not let's ring in 1978 properly" James said downing the drink in one and hiccuping.

"I had no clue what a lightweight you were" Peter laughed

"Lightweight !" James yelled theatrically gaining the attention of some of the other party goers. "You hear this everyone Pete here thinks I'm a lightweight, I think he's challenging me to a competition !".

There was laughter and cheers to this statement except Peter who had turned bright red.

"Common then Pete" James said as family friend lined up two lines of shots either side of the table.

"Oh alright" Peter said shaking his head but he was laughing all the same.

"Now we all know the rules" Sirius said grinning. "I'll count down to one and then James and Peter race to see who can down the most shots first. Competitors are you ready ?"

Both Peter and James nodded, James rolling up his sleeves dramatically.

"3, 2, 1, DRINK".

XXXX

"Augh my head" James hadn't even made it to his room last night but passed out on the sofa. There was a familiar tapping noise coming from somewhere in the room.

Wondering what it was he sat up to see Peveral at the living room window. James tentatively got up still clutching his pounding head and made it past the rubbish littered on the floor to open it.

He recognised the letters writing as Lily's immediately.

James,

My dad passed away last night the funeral is the day before we go back to school, if you Remus, Peter and Sirius could make it that would mean so much to me, I really need you right now.

Love Lily.