James sat on lily's bed, taking in the room around him. There were books everywhere. Packed on the shelf, stacked on the dresser, there were even some poking out from under the bed. Pictures covered the walls, strung up with thread and twine. There were pictures of lily with her dorm mates at hogwarts, pictures of lily and the marauders. One of her and peter laughing during a game of exploding snap. One of her and sirius outside in the snow wearing only bathing suits (they had done it on a dare). Several of lily and james together, and several of james by himself. She must have taken these when he wasn't looking. There were some of him laughing in the great hall, reading over his homework in the common room while everyone else was asleep, him playing quidditch. He smiled and stood up, walking over to a picture of him and lily play fighting over a chocolate frog.

Over on the dresser stood a few framed pictures. One of lily and her mother on what must have been her first day of primary school. James could only laugh when he saw it. Lily's hair was bright and untamable, unlike how dark and smooth it was now. She had the same smile, though. A wide, open mouthed smile, tilted slightly to the left. Next to that picture was one of her and james. They were standing in a snow-crowded street in hogsmeade, smiling with their foreheads pressed together. He had no idea how lily had gotten this picture. Maybe remus had taken it.

He looked and saw that there was another picture on the other end of the dresser. It was lily at about age eight or so, hugging who must have been petunia. They both wore wide smiles and matching shirts. Lily's hair had calmed a little bit and darkened its color. She also looked nothing like her sister. James had noticed that earlier but the difference here was almost unbelievable. While lily had bright green eyes petunia's were almost brown. Lily had full, pink lips and petunia's were almost non-existent. Lily had a small button nose, but petunia's was a bit large for her face and hooked at the end. James actually felt rather bad for a moment because it was as if petunia had inherited all the worst features her two parents had to offer. She still looked happy, though. That was a stark difference in how she had looked today. Her and lily both. James was startled by a voice behind him.

"That was one of the last times petunia and i got along." james turned to see lily. She had wet hair and her eyes were slightly puffy, as if she had been crying. He didn't blame her at all.

"What happened between you two?" james knew petunia thought lily an outcast of sorts because of her magic, but that was about it. Lily didn't usual go into detail about her family.

"She got jealous, i suppose." lily walked over and picked up the photo sadly "she always wanted to do it too. Magic, i mean. She even wrote dumbledore one time, asking him why she couldn't go to hogwarts too. Why she wasn't like me." lily went and sat on the side of her bed.

"I don't blame her, really." she continued, the photograph still in her hands "i would be angry too if my only sister had magic and i didn't. I would hate me too." james went and sat next to her. He put an arm around her shoulder and lily leaned into him.

"She doesn't hate you." he took the picture from her and set it on top of the bookshelf next to the bed.

"Yes she does." she didn't say it sadly. Just certainly.

"No. she doesn't. She just doesn't like the fact that you're talented and beautiful and probably everything she always wanted to be. She doesn't like that she grew up getting plenty of attention until you came along. She loves you. I know she does. She just may not like you very much right now."

"James, she hasn't liked me for the past eight years."

"She'll get over it. Just wait. One day she'll see what an arrogant prick she was and apologize." lily gave a dry laugh

"You clearly don't know petunia."

"Maybe not. But one day you'll see i'm right. It might not be until the two of you are in your forties, and planning mid-day brunches. But it'll happen."

"Not i'm in my forties, huh?"

"Mhm."

"and where will you be by then?"

"I'll be wherever you want me to be."

"I want you to be with me. Forever."

"Then that's where i'll be."