DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter, or any of the content referenced/quoted. Warning for swearing.

...

The Stag

Emilia is eleven when she meets James Potter. She has heard a lot about him by that point; Remus describes him as cocky but with a good heart, Sirius calls him brother, Cass calls him arrogant and Lily brands him a toerag, not worth the effort to even speak about. Emilia wonders how true Lily's words were as she speaks an awful lot about a boy she claims to despise.

It is a warm June Day as they travel down to Kings Cross to see Cass arrive back on the Hogwarts Express. Emilia has grown a little this year, but her hopes of being able to keep up heightwise with the boys are slowly diminishing.

She shoots off as soon as they reach the platform, leaving her mum to locate Cass while she searches for her boys. Emilia only just manages to slip into the crowd stepping onto the platform when an arm is wrapped around her waist and she is hoisted into the air. She squeals loudly.

"Well, look at what I've got here!" Sirius' voice comes from behind her. "If it isn't Best Withers!"

"Siri! Put me down!" She wriggles in his arms as he starts to carry her through the crowd.

"But Best Withers! Why would I let your best feet touch such dirty ground when I can transport you across it!"

"Siri!"

He begins to hum loudly and offtune. She squirms, trying to look up at him.

"You're such a child!" She exclaims.

"If I'm a child then what are you?"

"A mini-adult," she deadpans. He guffaws at her, his great whooping laugh ringing out across the platform. Several eyes turn their way, and in the distance, Emilia can see her sister scowling at them while Isobel tries to disguise her laughter.

He drops her to her feet moments later. She turns and scowls up at him, hands on her hips.

"Woah!" He exclaims, "Best Withers, have you grown?"

He holds a hand up to the top of her head, lowers it then raises it and then holds it to his own figure. It barely reaches his chest.

"What do you think, Moony? Grown, not grown?"

Emilia turns to face her best friend, who rolls his eyes at Sirius' antics.

"I don't know, Padfoot - hang on a second, is that my shirt?"

Remus plucks at the corduroy hanging limply from her shoulders, but she brushes him off.

"If it was, it wouldn't matter because it's mine now," she says primly.

"That was my favourite shirt," Remus says.

"If it was your favourite shirt, you shouldn't have left it at mine then."

Sirius laughs as Remus sighs.

"Hello my fellow Marauders, what's all the fuss...about…" A boy pushes his way through the crowd into their little circle, his words trailing off when he sees Emilia.

"James, mate, thought you were saying goodbye to Lily," Remus says.

"Nice of you to greet us with your presence before we depart for the summer," Sirius adds, nudging the boy, James, in the ribs.

"Lily got picked up early," James grins. "Who's this then?"

Emilia stares up at this boy with messy hair and skewed glasses perching on the end of his nose. She can see the cockiness, but beneath that, she has a feeling he has a soft heart. There's something about him, something she can't quite put her finger on.

"I'm Emilia, my friends call me Em, but you can call me Best Withers."

"You're Em?" James asks, surprise flickering across his face.

Emilia scowls at him, "I didn't say you could call me that."

"I, uh, sorry, I, uhm…I didn't know you were uh..." he trails off looking at Remus and Sirius for help. The two boys just snicker at each other.

"Best Withers."

"Yeah, that, Best Withers," he repeats lamely. Then he pauses, "Wait, Withers? You're Cass' little sister, right?"

"Yes," she replies hesitantly. His recovery from her sharp words throws her for a moment.

"That means you know Lily, right?"

Sirius groans behind him while Remus massages the bridge of his nose, an exasperated expression Emilia knows all too well crossing his face.

"I suppose, why?"

He grips both of her shoulders in a tight hold, "You can help me win her affection! Like a...like a secret agent!"

Emilia blinks up at the strange boy before her, and then looks to Remus, "This is the great James Potter everyone talks about?"

James releases her to preen at her words.

"So you have heard of me?"

"Yeah, but I didn't think you'd be such a dork."

James deflates as Sirius erupts into laughter. She blinks at him, wondering what was so funny. She'd only spoken the truth after all. Emilia turns to face Remus, who looks like he can't quite decide if he wants to disappear or laugh like Sirius.

"What's a marauder?" She asks.

He blinks at her, "Eh?"

"Dork called you guys marauders," she says. "What is it?"

"We're Marauders!" Sirius breaks in, sliding an arm around her shoulder. He uses his other to gesticulate grandly, "Experts in pranking and mischief."

"That sounds dumb."

"Now, now Withers, don't be bitter," Sirius says with a tut.

"Bitter? Why would I be bitter? You're friends with dork there."

"Why is she so mean?" James whispers to Remus.

"She's not mean, she's just blunt."

Emilia grins widely at the boy, while Remus just sighs. He wonders how he managed to end up with such weird friends.

"Well, it's been fun, losers, but I better go before my sister's head explodes over how much cooler my friends are than hers."

"Friends?" Sirius cups his ears, "Did I just hear you say friends as in plural? Don't tell me you're upgrading me, Withers?"

"The chocolate basket at Christmas was enough to win me over, Black."

"You sent her a chocolate basket at Christmas!" Remus exclaims, "And not me?"

"There were much higher stakes, Moony. I've won you over already," Sirius shrugs. Remus scowls at his friend.

Emilia does not mention their use of strange nicknames.

Instead, she reaches into her bag and pulls out a small Tupperware. She hands it over to Remus with a small smile.

"My latest batch," she says quietly, pressing the tub into his hands.

He looks down at the tub, before pulling her into a tight hug. She grins into his chest as he holds her close. After a moment, they pull apart. The train whistles in the distance, and Emilia tears her gaze from Remus to look for her sister. Cass waves at her impatiently from near the train doors.

She gives Remus' hand a quick squeeze then starts to head off.

"You all better write! That's the rule!" She shouts over her shoulder as she goes.

"What rule?" James asks.

"Ah, Prongs, my friend, you are in for a treat," Sirius claps his friend on the back. "Let me enlighten you about the mysteries of Emilia Withers."

Remus stares at the spot where Em disappeared. The scent of oranges lingers, sweet and sharp, warm like a bright day in Autumn. He smiles.