AN: Queen Rowling owns them all.

The next morning something had changed, Lily could feel it. When she reached the Great Hall for breakfast, she knew exactly what was wrong. The Gryffindor table was too quiet; Potter and Black weren't talking to each other. Pettigrew sitting next to Potter, across from Black was pushing his eggs around the plate, looking up to glance nervously at Potter and Black as both of them sported identical blank looks. Almost the entire table was looking at them, Lily included. Black and Potter had never been in a fight with each other, they were rumoured to be twins born from separate mothers.

"What's wrong with them?" Lily whispered to Alice who shook her head "No idea, Frank doesn't know anything either and he is worried. He says that the last time James refused to talk to someone was when he was seven and his parents had postponed his trip to Greece to visit his uncle Anthony because they were caught up in a case. I remember that time, it lasted a week and I don't want it to happen again. Ever."

"Okay. And where is Remus?"

"Hospital wing."

"Again?"

"Well, you know they say he is really sick."

Lily nodded and looked at Marlene and Mary sitting across from them, they shrugged and Lily went back to her breakfast but something was missing. Somehow she had failed to notice how much she was used to Potter's and Black's laughter. She felt like she was attending a mourning with people whispering to each other rather than talking. Classes that day felt subdued. Lily hoped that once Remus joined them back things would be better. Two days later when Remus did join them, things got worse. At least Remus could get Potter to talk, but Black looked depressed. Lily thought one of these days Black would break. By the end of the week even McGonagall lost it and lectured them on resolving their differences and going back to being the nuisance that they were. Lily hoped that things would change over the weekend; no one knew what had happened between the four of them. The one thing Lily marvelled about the four of them was that they always had each other's back, even when they were fighting. Lily noticed that Remus discreetly corrected Black's potion as Black was poring over his potions book. Black covering Potter and Remus with thick blankets as the two passed out on the couches in the common room while finishing their homework; Lily could swear that he affectionately ruffled their hair before neatly rolling up their homework and putting away their things. Peter was seen taking food to the boys' dormitory on a Saturday, two weeks after the four fought. Black had apparently over slept and skipped breakfast, so Potter and Remus had prepared a plate for him and asked Peter to deliver it.

It was a pleasant surprise for the entire table and McGonagall, when on Sunday morning which was the last day of the term, the four boys were sitting at the table throwing food at each other and laughing their head off. As Lily sat in her usual place next to Alice; Alice grinned at her and said "Looks like our adorable trouble makers are back." Lily rolled her eyes before looking at the four boys. Remus held his Arithmancy book in front of him as a shield, as Potter flicked his porridge at him, Black had a magical shield around him and was reading the paper while Pettigrew had ducked under the table, and all of them were laughing.

Feeling reasonably cheerful, Lily looked over at the Slytherin table and grinned at Severus, jerking her head towards the door of the hall before packing her toast and walking out of the hall. Lily had to wait a few minutes, before Severus joined her in the entrance hall.

"To what do I owe this pleasure, Miss Evans?" Severus asked smirking at her. She grinned.

"Well, it's just 8:30 and the carriages won't leave till 10:00, I thought maybe we could go for a walk around the lake."

Severus smiled as Lily linked her arm with his and led him out. They spent their time walking and laughing about silly things. They weren't a Gryffindor and a Slytherin, they were back to being Severus and Lily, best friends forever. It was around 9:30 when Severus checked his watch and suggested that they better head inside and get their trunks. As they reached the entrance hall, Lily gave Severus a tight hug, "I missed you Sev. I missed this, I hate arguing with you and that's what we had been doing for a while. I was afraid that I was losing you. Promise me, no matter what happens we will not lose each other."

"Of course Lils. I can't afford to lose you." He smiled softly at her before walking towards the dungeons as Lily walked up towards the tower. As she was crossing a corridor, a piece of parchment fluttered at her feet; picking it up she was shocked to see that it was a letter addressed to her.

Dear Lily

I know you will never read this letter. I know your brow won't furrow in concentration and your teeth won't bite your lower lip, as your green eyes rove through this letter. You won't shake your head, walk over and hug me. No, I know your warm hands won't even write a reply to this letter because I will never send it to you but I need to write this to you. I need to tell someone about all the things that are eating me up. I know if I come up and tell you about all my worries you probably won't believe me. You see that cheerful person I always am, is just as an act. It wasn't an act when we were younger but then the war intensified and I am worried. I am worried that I will lose everyone I care about.

Mum and dad went on a mission and haven't returned yet, they have not written in a week. It worries me, what if they don't come back? I am only 15! How am I supposed to live? How will I live without them? They are all I have. Uncle Toni wrote yesterday, assuring me that everything was fine and mom and dad would return like they always do. I hope they do, I know I shouldn't feel this, but I am relieved that I won't be alone at home on Christmas. The entire family is coming together for Christmas, I rather like this tradition.

Well, you know about my brothers don't you? Paddy, Moony and Wormy, they were supposed to come over during the break, after Christmas and stay till New Year but I don't know about that anymore. I know Paddy is impulsive; he acts before he thinks, but he has his heart in the right place. Obviously, you know what I am talking about, I told you about it in my last letter. I am afraid that I will lose the three of them this way or that. Either Voldemort or his cronies would kill them or we would fall apart because of our own short comings and what would I do without them? I am who I am because of them; they are a part of me. I don't want to lose them and I don't want to lose you.

Promise me Lily, you would always be the fiery person that you are now. That your green eyes will always burn with fire and you would always toss your beautiful red hair as you march out in your anger. Promise me your eyes would always be the windows to your soul; promise me you would always worry your lip when you concentrate on your work or feel upset. Promise me that your heart will always beat and I promise you, that I will do everything in my power to keep you smiling, to keep your heart beating; I will die for you Lily, all you have to do is promise to live for me.

Well, I should get going. Moony is giving me weird looks; he really wants to know who do I keep writing to all the time. I bet the idiots would never let me live this down; not to mention plan an elaborate plan to let you know that Prongs, Marauder Extraordinaire is crazy about you. I really am, I wish I could take you out on a date but if you knew who I am, you won't give me the time of the day; I am so sure of it. And why would you? You are perfect and I am a mess, I lose my marbles around you. Why would you give your time to me? Anyway, I really, really, really have to go now before Moony comes over and snatches the letter from me. I told him I was writing down an elaborate prank plan for the start of next term. Love you.

Yours forever

Prongs

Lily was still thinking about the letter as she sat down next to Marlene in their compartment aboard the Hogwarts Express. "Hey, why are you so lost today?" Marlene asked nudging Lily, as Alice and Frank entered the compartment and sat down across Marlene and Lily next to Mary.

"Yeah Lils. You have been rather distant this morning." Alice commented.

Lily stared at her friends, debating internally. She wanted to talk to someone about the letter but she didn't want to share the letter with anyone either; it was a secret letter, she wasn't supposed to receive it but she had and it was so touching, so passionate, so full of love. She wasn't sure that any boy in her year would be so passionate but Prongs was and he loved her, at least that's what he said in his letter. Deciding that she won't be able to live with the secret and knowing that she won't receive another letter ever, she told them about the abandoned letter from Prongs.

"I don't know Lily, this Prongs character sounds shady. I mean isn't he exhibiting stalker tendency? How does he know so much about you, while you know nothing about him?" Marlene said looking skeptical.

"But Lily was never supposed to get this letter, maybe he writes to her to clear his head." Mary pointed out.

"Exactly my point! That's creepy, stalker behaviour."

"Or maybe Lily does know Prongs, maybe they are friends. Lily has a lot of friends, maybe he is someone she knows and spends some time with." Alice interjected as Frank observed all of them.

"Whatever it is, I think this is really romantic." Mary added

"Why are you guys discussing it? As the letter said, Prongs never meant to send the letter to Lily here. She probably won't receive anymore letters and it's not as if Lily can reply back to this guy anyhow." Frank interjected. Alice gave him an exasperated look before reluctantly dropping the topic and moving on to discuss other things. After a while Frank left saying he wanted to meet his mates Fabian and Gideon (Alice's cousins) and James before reaching London.

Four boys sat in a compartment not far from Lily's compartment, munching on pumpkin pasties; Bertie Bott's every flavour beans, Chocolate frogs and Liquorice wands that they had just bought from the food trolley. Frank stepped in and sat down next to the handsome boy with wavy black hair and stormy grey eyes and looked across at his little cousin, with unruly jet black hair and hazel eyes.

"Hey, mom said that she would be at the station to take us to the Manor. Uncle Toni would be arriving tomorrow morning." His cousin nodded before offering him a chocolate frog. "Thanks, Prongs."

The mood of the compartment changed immediately, from being cheerful and relaxed to being charged with tension. "Why would you call me Prongs? No one knows who the Marauders are" His cousin stammered.

"Oh! Well, let's see; maybe because a certain redhead found an abandoned letter addressed to her in a corridor at school; a letter written by Prongs." He said, enjoying the affect his words had, as the remaining three boys stared at his cousin, listening intently.

"Don't worry, the letter was very vague. But do you know what was particularly interesting, Jamie?" James Potter shook his head looking mortified.

"The letter talked about Prongs' parents. Apparently they had gone off on a mission somewhere and haven't returned yet. Now, who do we know, whose parents went off on a mission and haven't returned yet?" Frank asked looking pointedly at him.

"James Potter, what did you do?" Remus asked in a tired voice.

"N-nothing!" James stammered, "She wasn't supposed to get the letter! I never sent it to her. I- I- I must have dropped it by accident. I swear, she won't get another letter ever. And Frankie you won't tell anyone right?"

"Yeah, sure. I won't tell anyone. But keep being careless and I won't need to tell anyone, they will find out themselves." Frank said leaving the compartment. Silence descended in the compartment as the three boys watched James warily.

"Look, I promise. I have written loads of letters to her, none of them have reached her. I don't want them to reach her. It was an honest mistake. I would be more careful, I promise."

"Well, maybe you shouldn't be more careful." Sirius said suddenly.

Three boys rounded at him looking nonplussed. "What do you mean he shouldn't be more careful?" Remus asked narrowing his eyes.

"Well, you heard Frank. Evans is thinking about Prongs here and thinking positively about him. Maybe you should write to her more. Let her see your normal side. You know the side that the rest of us see."

"Why can't he simply talk to Lily and befriend her and show her this normal side of his?" Remus asked.

"Because all of us know that Prongsie here loses his thinking skills when he is around her. His brain goes into some sort of idiocy over drive and he makes a complete prat of himself in front of her. Maybe he should write to her and then later on reveal who he is. You know, a little more dramatically. Girls love drama." Sirius declared confidently.

"Well, you do have a point, but this looks like a bad idea. Maybe Prongs should practice talking to her like a normal person and then attempt a friendship. Revealing his identity as Prongs means revealing a little bit of our secrets." Remus said.

"Well, weren't you planning on telling her about your furry little problem as it is?"

"I wouldn't have to tell her, had you not sent Snivellus down to visit me."

"I am sorry Moony, I really am. I was pissed, I wasn't thinking. You will never know how much I regret it."

"Forget it, I have moved on from it. I suggest you do too. All of us make mistakes. Nothing bad happened, thanks to Prongs. But I do have to tell her soon."

"I think Pads is right, I will keep writing to Lily. It helps me cope and now she can reply back to me." James said suddenly with a dreamy look on his face. Sirius beamed at him, Remus shook his head muttering that he still thought it was a bad idea and Peter snored, having dozed off somewhere in the middle of the conversation.

AN: Please do read and review. Let me know what you think about Jily and the Marauders. This will probably be a long fic, I would need all the support and motivation to finish it. Please to read and review. Happy reading.