I know it's been ages but it won't be long until I finish up this story

Disclaimer – I'm still not J K Rowling (unfortunately)

Lily and Remus sat by the fire chatting, while James sat at a table and wrote to his parents and Sirius sat next to him studying the Marauders Map. Suddenly Sirius looked up from where he had been studying the map "When do you think Minnie opens her presents?" Lily looked up with a small frown on her face,

"Why do you ask?"

"Never mind I think she's just finished" he said moving to hide behind the sofa Lily was sat on.

James moved over to sit with Lily and Remus by the fire and shrugged a Lily's questioning look, "Whatever it is it's all him" James said moments before the portrait swung open to reveal and angry Professor McGonagall "Where is Mister Black?"

Sirius popped up from behind Lily "I have it on good authority you have no evidence." He stated before hiding again. "Then why did I receive a gift of catnip and string with your name on it Mister Black?"

"I don't know professor maybe you miss read it." His hopeful voice muffled by the carpet.

"I don't believe I did Mister Black so you will serve detention with me on the first day of the new term is that understood."

"Yes Professor." Sirius groaned.

As soon as McGonagall had left the three students were kneeling on the couch looking over the back at Sirius, face down below them. "Why did you send McGonagall catnip and string for Christmas?" Lily giggled.

"It was a dare from him" Sirius rolled his head to the side and pointed at James next to Lily.

"What! No, it wasn't" came James' indignant cry causing Lily to lean away from the noise.

"Yes you did when I lost the exploding snap war." James looked thoughtful for a moment and then his face lit up "oh yeah I remember that, and you brought the things at the next Hogsmead weekend so we wouldn't forget and then gave it to Missy ready for Christmas, sorry Padfoot" a massive grin on his face showing he wasn't really that sorry at his best mates misfortune. Remus shook his head while Lily smiled behind her hand "At least it's just one detention not a week." She said. Remus moved to an armchair while James and Lily just turned around.

"I'm going to bed" Sirius pouted before stomping up to the boy's dorm room.

"Lily, "Remus started leaning forward slightly "James told me what happened to your parents did you want us to come with you to get your stuff at the start of the summer?" Lily looked up surprised at the question she had been expecting the usual how are you feeling. "I …" Lily trailed off unsure. James frowned at the look on Lily's face and then he realised what was wrong "Lily do you have somewhere to go over the summer till September?"

Lily bit her lip then shook her head slightly looking down embarrassed. James and Remus shared a look "Lily do you want to stay with me?" James asked. Lily looked at him shock and surprise painting her face "I couldn't it wouldn't be fair for you parents to have me in the house as well as you." Lily argued "Why they already took Sirius in, and Remus and Peter spend most of the summer round at mine anyway so one more isn't a problem."

"Well only if you write and ask your parents first and they say it's okay." She said cautiously "I'm going to head up to bed." She said moving towards the girls staircase, "Oh and James, Thank you." She said softly a small smile on her lips he smiled back "No Problem."

James turned to Remus and grinned before pulling some spare parchment towards him along with a quill and ink and quickly wrote an extra letter asking his parents if Lily could stay with them over the summer. Soon he was standing pulling his invisibility cloak from his pocket. Remus stood as well "Want me to come?" he asked. "Nah, you go to bed just let Padfoot know where I am." He replied pulling the cloak over his head and heading to the portrait hole. He made it to the owlery with no problems once inside he looked around for Mrs Norris when he was sure she wasn't there he pulled the cloak off and whistled for his tawny owl, "here can you take this to mom and dad for me as quickly as possible?" she hooted in response and after an affectionate nip on his finger she flew off into the night. Hurriedly James pulled the cloak back over his head and left the owlery and made it back to the common room with no problems finally he fell onto his bed with a grin.

The next morning Sirius and Remus were up and ready while James was still asleep. "Should we wake him up before we head to breakfast?" Remus asked, "Moony what a wonderful idea" Sirius said a wicked grin on his face leaning down next to James' ear "Hey Prongs Lily's here waiting for you to wake up." He said James was awake in seconds looking around wildly while Remus and Sirius rolled around on the floor laughing at his reaction. With a huff James got up to get ready leaving his mad friends where they were. They finally joined Lily who had been reading by the fire waiting for them to come down, they all headed down for breakfast Sirius still laughing occasionally when he remembered the look on James' face when he had sat up. Lily looked questioningly at Remus who only shook his head letting it drop she carried on talking to James about transfiguration. Not long after they had sat down and started their breakfasts the morning post arrived James owl flew down landing gracefully in front of the Gryffindor students, dropping two letters by James' plate she sat back and preened her feathers "Thanks" James said feeding her the crusts from his toast. With a quiet hoot she left heading back to the owlery.

James looked at the letters before handing one to Lily when she looked down her name was on the front in elegant writing opening it up carefully, she smiled as James just ripped his open. Looking down she read the letter,

Dear Lily,

James has written to myself, and Charles asking if you could stay over the summer. We would be happy to have you stay with us for the summer, although I will warn you James and Sirius often have Remus and Peter round so you will have to put up with the four boys however from what James has told me you are more than capable of keeping them in line.

I look forward to meeting you.

Darlene x

reaching the end of the letter she turned her gaze to James who, having had the positive response he was expecting, had returned to his breakfast. "When did you write to your parents to ask if I could stay at yours over the summer?" Lily question the dark-haired teen who had a mouthful of food, Remus answered for his friend "Last night as soon as you had gone to bed." Grinning while his friend squirmed in discomfort Lily just smiled at James before mouthing 'Thank you' across the table while the others weren't watching. Once they had finished a leisurely breakfast, they headed back to the common room in the Marauders usual rowdy fashion.