a/n: hey all, thanks for the great reviews, Wanderer, Black Sparkles, SilverStreak, A Tye, and Jo. I'm glad you like it so far. I can't garauntee that the next parts will be any good, but hey that's what reviews are for. If you like this you might like my other L/J. (lol, plugging my own stuff.) Anyway, on with the show
Over the summer, things went as if Lily was part of the family. She and James were treated as if they were long lost brothers and sisters. Sirius was overjoyed about their stay since he was an only child. There was never a dull moment with two of the four marauders around. A lot of times Lily just watched as they got into trouble, or eventually tried to keep them from doing something drastic. It was just what she had wanted though. Hanging out with her two best friends all summer; she really didn't need much more. She didn't know there could be such bliss. She had grown very close to Mrs. Black as well. She almost didn't want to go as school grew nearer. The thought of something happening where she had to live with Petunia crossed her mind though, and she couldn't wait to start school. She would be a third year. She felt older. She looked older. Lily had filled out and now looked like a healthy fifteen-year-old. It was almost as if she was making up for the previous summer's starvation and stunted growth. James and Sirius had grown quite a bit as well. They looked a little bit older than they were as well and Sirius even had a little peach fuzz growing on his chin. (a/n: favorite phrase for sparse facial hair. Lol.) He refused to shave it though, so it just looked like dirt on his chin, which made James and Lily laugh every time they looked at it.
"Back on the train to Hogwart's, yet another year of this dream world that I still don't know if I belong to," Lily pondered in a dreamily state as the rain drizzled down on the compartment windows. She pinched herself lightly and smiled at her own silliness. James who was lying across the compartment with his legs resting comfortably on Lily, caught this smile and gave an amused look. Sirius was talking to Remus about the adventures he and James had gone on that summer. He almost toppled off of the seat as he was trying to explain one in particular since he was quite the animated talker. "What're you smiling about Tiger Lily?" James nudged her softly with his foot. She gave him a fake glare and said, "Nothing," smiling in the same way. She had been discovered and didn't want to tell him about her idiotic thoughts. "No, really, I want to know." James sat up and scooched (a/n: anyone who watches the simpsons. Christopher Walkin. Children, scooch closer, don't make me talk to you about the scooching again.) over toward her more. "James it was nothing, I was just thinking. That's all. I can't even remember what I was thinking." She went back to looking out of the window at the rain. "Come on..." he whined and started to tickle her. She tried to beat him off, but her attempts were in vain.
Sirius stopped in mid-explanation and sat down on the seat he had been standing on and started telling Remus something. "Hey man, I'm telling you, it's gonna be this year." Remus looked over and contemplated it. "Well, I don't know about this year, per say, but I would say within the next couple of years. Maybe by...fifth year." Sirius nodded in agreement.
James had finally gotten Lily to confess while the other two inhabitants of the compartment were discussing their predictions. "Geez, all I was thinking was how unreal all of this still seems to me. I mean, I went most of my life with the belief that magic was not real and none of this ever did, nor would it ever now, exist. Here I am though. It's still hard to grasp. So...I just pinched myself to make sure it wasn't a dream or something." This last sentence was mumbled so that she thought it was incoherent, but apparently James had ears like a dog. "You actually pinched yourself?" He chuckled. "That's funny," Lily shot him a glare, "I mean, um, it's funny, but it's cute." He quickly recovered. "Yah, sure, don't even talk to me," Lily folded her arms and turned toward the window. "Aww, come on, Lily, I'm sorry. Geez," James tried his hardest for a serious expression. It didn't work. A knock came at the door of the compartment and it was (a/n: gee... I wonder, there are only a select group to chose from.... Could it be...) the elderly which with the food cart. (yup! I knew it! Wait... I'm supposed to know anyway. ::bites hand in frustration::)
After the food, the train ride continued somewhat calmly. Sirius was engrossed in a conversation with James while Lily and Remus caught up. It seems that Remus's summer in the states was rather interesting. He went to Salem for quite some time. Even though it was supposed to be an educational trip set up by his parents, he actually did have fun learning about the witch trials. Muggles can be so ignorant. Soon the ride came to an end and they all piled out of the train and into a carriage. Sirius and James were still speaking rather softly so as not to be heard by the others, or just so that they would take the hint. The carriages, they had decided last year, were much nicer than the boats.
In a blur the sorting, welcome feast, and the head boy and girl escorting the students to their houses were done, and all were fast asleep in their beds before you could say lights out. Well, all were sleeping beside Lily. For some reason she couldn't fall asleep. She looked over the faces of the girls she had been sharing a room with for two years. This would be their third. She got up and went down to the common room. She couldn't pin what was bugging her. She wasn't sick, she didn't forget to pack anything, yet she had this constant feeling of disappointment. She sat down before the fire and contemplated this. Soon someone plopped down next to her.
"Hey, why are you up?" Lily asked as Sirius yawned a little scratching his head.
"I dunno, I guess I'm just not used to Peter's snoring like an elephant. I got used to the peacefulness back home. That and Jamie-boy is talking a little louder than usual in his sleep." With that he gave Lily a wink and nudged her. "What the hell are you winking for you weirdo?" Lily gave him a confused look. "Hello?" he said as he tapped on her head. "Obviously you're in his dreams." He grinned at her. "Sirius, I'm pretty sure you're in his dreams too. We are his best friends after all." He shook his head, "Well, what I hear after my name is quite different from what I hear after he says yours. Anyway, let me ask you a question." His face sobered completely.
"What?" Lily answered. "Do you like James? I mean, I know everyone always say you guys like each other and that you go out and all of that, but we are always making fun of you. I'm being completely serious right now. As one of your best friends, Lily, do you like him, even just a little bit?" Sirius squinted and put up his fingers to show his idea of a little bit. "Well, to be completely honest, I'm thirteen, Sirius, and the feelings and emotions I have now won't be the same as they are say two or three years from now." Lily quickly thought that would be a nice way to evade the question. Sirius wasn't as confused or ponderous as she had hoped though. "So wait, do you mean to tell me that you do like him?" She blushed a little and took her time to respond. "Well...I guess what I'm saying...is that maybe, possibly, that could be true." A grin exploded across Sirius's face, but she continued more quickly. "Sirius, as my best friend I'm trusting you not to tell anyone. No one. Understand? Please respect the fact that I don't want a soul to know about this. Especially not James. Ok? Pinky swear on it." She held out her hand to his and they locked pinkies. He nodded and they talked about other things. After a while they both fell asleep where they were. Lily woke up a few hours later, as the sun was just rising and she put a blanket over Sirius and went up to her dorm.
The disappointment was forgotten that night as well as for most of the year. It came back in May though. There was many a sleepless night for her that month. This would prove to be foreshadowing the letter she received the day before her exams were to begin. It was from the courts. It said that she was to appear in a muggle court under the guardianship of Mrs. Black in two weeks. It was a custody dispute and Petunia was protesting the restraining order that was soon to be up for review. Two weeks. She was scared. What would happen to her? She didn't want to live with Petunia, but to see her again, she wouldn't be able to tell anyone the things that Petunia did to her. She also felt like she was betraying the only family she had left.
This didn't help her during her exams and she only passed with the equivalent of B's. Remus, being the most studious of the group took this as a sign for something. "Lily, what's up? Usually you fly through the exams with ease and come out on top." She gave him a bogus answer that went something along the lines that she didn't study and they were harder than she had thought. Then she was up in her dorm most of the night.
When her dorm-mates came in to go to sleep, she pretended to already be so. This kept them from asking any questions. About an hour later they had all fallen asleep and Lily was sitting up again. She suddenly realized that she hadn't eaten since this morning and her stomach was beating her other organs up. She stole down the stairs from the girls' dorms and over to the boys. She went into the third year boys' dorm room. They were all asleep. She opened James's trunk and took his invisibility cloak. She threw it on and went down to the kitchen. She sat talking to the house-elves for a good amount of time. When she had finally finished her food, she made her way back up through the castle. Instead of going to her dorm though, she decided to head up to the astrology tower.
Lily sprawled out on the floor of one of the observation decks. It was about seventy degrees out and a sweet breeze whispered to her as it crossed her face. In two more days she would be in court, in front of Petunia, in front of loads of people, telling her stories of humiliation to them all. Could she really do this? The summer air combined with the softly twinkling skies was a deadly combination and she eventually fell asleep.
She didn't wake up until the sun was brightly shining down on her making her hair lighter by the minute. Lily sat up and jumped. James and Sirius were asleep next to her. They too were sprawled out on the ground their face plastered with similar, content smiles. She poked at both of them but only Sirius woke up. James only replied, "No, I don't want to go to work today. I'll just tell them I'm sick." Sirius and Lily both laughed quietly.
"Lily, when you decide to nick James's cloak, make sure that you shut the trunk before you leave. I got up around two to go to the bathroom and saw it lying there, wide open. The door was open too. You really wouldn't make a good marauder. Anyway, I figured it could've been Snape, you know how he found out about that. So I woke James up and we went to get you, but low and behold, we had found our culprit. So we spent the rest of the night looking for you." Sirius was interrupted by James talking in his sleep again. "Awe, Tiger Lily, that's great. I can't believe I'm gonna be a father." Lily blushed heartily and Sirius just laughed. "What did I tell you Lily? Every night it's the same thing. Tiger Lily this and Tiger Lily that. What the heck does he call you that for anyway?" Sirius asked. Lily smiled a little bit, "Well, I told him how, when I was little I used to love this muggle book and movie, Peter Pan. So he got the book from the library one night and read it. One of the characters' names is Tiger Lily." She looked at James who was now sucking his thumb lightly. "Just think Lil, you get to look forward to waking up to that every day for the rest of your life." Sirius said with a grin. He was promptly punched in the arm by Lily. His yelp woke James up though and all talk of the sort stopped.
"Hey there, feel like telling me why you took my cloak and came up here last night?" James asked through a yawn. "Well, I originally took it because I woke up in the middle of the night and I was completely starving. I went down to the kitchen and got some food. When I finished I came up here because it was so nice out and it was still very humid in the dorm." She looked at them both; hoping they would just accept it and the three could go down for lunch or something. "O yah, I would think you were kind of hungry since you hadn't eaten since breakfast. Why is that Lily? Is there something you're not telling us?" Sirius looked at her meaningfully. "Well, I got a letter from the ministry about two weeks ago. It said that I was to appear in court with your mum, Sirius. It said that your mum wants to fight for sole custody over me. Is that true?" He smiled sadly and nodded. "Well, I don't think Petunia will allow it. I know it's not really her decision, but she always has ways of making things go terribly wrong. I'm scared guys. I really don't want to have to go home with Petunia this summer." She looked down at her hands. They were soft, pale; she could feel again. She wondered if that would last.
"When are you going to court?" James asked. "Tomorrow. I guess, I forgot to tell you. You know with the exams and all." They all became very solemn. "Look, Lily, you know that we're here for you and blah, blah, blah. Right? I mean, I don't want to get all mushy or anything, but we're behind you every step. Right James?" Sirius glanced over to a nodding James. Lily smiled and decided to change the subject. "Thanks guys, if you're really behind me every step then I guess you'll be following me down to the dorms to get changed. This is my last day of freedom. I don't want it being spent up here doing nothing." She grabbed the cloak, threw it over them and they made their way down to the Gryffindor house. They changed and went down to lunch. Remus and Peter were there and as soon as they caught sight of their missing friends, they made their way over to greet them and ask them where they had been.
"What's wrong with you guys? No note, no 'Remus we're going out.' I would've been mad when you woke me up but I wouldn't have worried all morn-" He stopped himself in mid-sentence, realizing that he sounded like his mother almost exactly. He then tried to play it cool, "Hey, man, that was totally uncool." Everyone laughed at him. "Sorry mom, Remus, hippie, whoever you are." Sirius said in-between laughs. Peter then began with how he had worried, during which time Remus moved in on Lily asking her where she had been. Peter never even acknowledged Lily. He always had resented the fact that she was closer to his three best friends than he, himself was.
They all ate and spent the rest of the day playing quidditch on the pitch. It was pretty much the perfect day if you didn't considered Lily's court session the next day. She was to leave for Mrs. Black's house at eight. The hour came all too quickly. The friends sat around the fire in the common room talking about Remus's mini-adventure with his broom. They all laughed at the thought of Remus being dragged around by the tails of his cloak that was attached to his Shooting Star. Suddenly Mrs. Black popped out of the fireplace covered in soot. She stood up, dusted herself off, and smiled over at Lily. It was time. She got up and sighed. This was it. This decided whom she was going to live with for the next four years. Sirius got up and gave her a hug. "Lil, don't be scared to tell them anything that happened. She can't hurt you anymore. You don't owe her anything," he whispered to her so that no one could hear his serious tone. It was like a scene from the Wizard of Oz. They all stood in a row waiting to say something to her that was special only from the person who said it. Next came Tin-man. Remus hugged her and said, "Before you know it, it'll be all over and you can come back to school and be happy and help me with my studies ok?" She smiled at him as he backed up again. "Lily, can I talk to you outside for a second?" It was scarecrow-the one she would miss most of all. She and James walked into the hall before the girls' dorms.
"Wish me luck," Lily said nervously. For some reason James looked just as nervous. "Lily, you know how you said that...Petunia makes you feel like...there has to be something wrong with you?" She nodded. "For God's sake, don't think that tomorrow. Don't think it ever. There is nothing wrong with you. I have faith that you will tell the truth tomorrow. I know you want to protect Petunia, but she needs help. This is probably the only way she'll be able to get it. You can't go back there. I hate to think of that even being an option." He looked down. He was pale, scared-looking, worried. She smiled at his over-protective state. "James, I'm going to try to do my best tomorrow. I haven't seen her in over a year. It's going to be hard, but I know you guys are here. I'm thankful for that. Ana's calling me." She walked over toward the fireplace and James followed suit. She said goodbye to everyone and turned to give James a hug before she left. He squeezed her tightly and whispered, "I love you Tiger-Lily." When she let go she just stared at him. Mrs. Black took her arm gently and off they went, into the glowing green flames of the fire.
"Geez, man, what did you say to her?" Remus asked looking at James suspiciously. Sirius knew. He just smiled as he disappeared off to the boys' dorms. "I just told her that we were all here for her and blah, blah, blah. I'm gonna go take a shower." And with that James went up to the boys' dorms as well. "Hey, so you finally told her huh?" was Sirius's greeting as he stood in the doorway awaiting his friend's arrival. "Told her what?" James was trying to play innocent but it was way past that with Sirius. "O I don't know, that you're head-over-heels for her. That you couldn't breathe if she wasn't with you." Sirius's whole face turned into a grin. "Sirius, shut up. This isn't the time to crack jokes. Lily's future lies in what she says tomorrow." James was trying to get off the subject. "Who's kidding? I crack no jokes at this moment, buddy. You told her. I know. I could tell by the way her expression changed from worried and grim to a brightened shock."
James sighed, "I was just trying to give her a little confidence before she left. She's going to be there with only your mom on her side, and then there would be her only sister, the only family she has left, and she has to testify against her." Sirius exploded, "Ha! So you did tell her? O man, James, that's so great!" He patted his buddy on the back and James tried to explain. "See, I meant it like, we all love her. You and I and Remus and...wait, I don't really think Peter does. But anyway, I just didn't want her to feel alone tomorrow." He was blushing considerably which just gave Sirius ammo. Surprisingly enough though, he didn't use this ammo, Sirius only commented with, "Sure..." and a sly grin and went into the showers.
That night, was the most restive night Lily had ever experienced. She had never had so many nightmares in one night, even when she had lived with Petunia. The next three days proved to be some of the most trying for her as well. Though the motions of the trial were quite boring Lily had knots in her stomach from morning until the end of the day. Petunia was so close. She didn't even have to walk five feet and she would be able to hit Lily. She would be able to do horrible things to her.
Over the summer, things went as if Lily was part of the family. She and James were treated as if they were long lost brothers and sisters. Sirius was overjoyed about their stay since he was an only child. There was never a dull moment with two of the four marauders around. A lot of times Lily just watched as they got into trouble, or eventually tried to keep them from doing something drastic. It was just what she had wanted though. Hanging out with her two best friends all summer; she really didn't need much more. She didn't know there could be such bliss. She had grown very close to Mrs. Black as well. She almost didn't want to go as school grew nearer. The thought of something happening where she had to live with Petunia crossed her mind though, and she couldn't wait to start school. She would be a third year. She felt older. She looked older. Lily had filled out and now looked like a healthy fifteen-year-old. It was almost as if she was making up for the previous summer's starvation and stunted growth. James and Sirius had grown quite a bit as well. They looked a little bit older than they were as well and Sirius even had a little peach fuzz growing on his chin. (a/n: favorite phrase for sparse facial hair. Lol.) He refused to shave it though, so it just looked like dirt on his chin, which made James and Lily laugh every time they looked at it.
"Back on the train to Hogwart's, yet another year of this dream world that I still don't know if I belong to," Lily pondered in a dreamily state as the rain drizzled down on the compartment windows. She pinched herself lightly and smiled at her own silliness. James who was lying across the compartment with his legs resting comfortably on Lily, caught this smile and gave an amused look. Sirius was talking to Remus about the adventures he and James had gone on that summer. He almost toppled off of the seat as he was trying to explain one in particular since he was quite the animated talker. "What're you smiling about Tiger Lily?" James nudged her softly with his foot. She gave him a fake glare and said, "Nothing," smiling in the same way. She had been discovered and didn't want to tell him about her idiotic thoughts. "No, really, I want to know." James sat up and scooched (a/n: anyone who watches the simpsons. Christopher Walkin. Children, scooch closer, don't make me talk to you about the scooching again.) over toward her more. "James it was nothing, I was just thinking. That's all. I can't even remember what I was thinking." She went back to looking out of the window at the rain. "Come on..." he whined and started to tickle her. She tried to beat him off, but her attempts were in vain.
Sirius stopped in mid-explanation and sat down on the seat he had been standing on and started telling Remus something. "Hey man, I'm telling you, it's gonna be this year." Remus looked over and contemplated it. "Well, I don't know about this year, per say, but I would say within the next couple of years. Maybe by...fifth year." Sirius nodded in agreement.
James had finally gotten Lily to confess while the other two inhabitants of the compartment were discussing their predictions. "Geez, all I was thinking was how unreal all of this still seems to me. I mean, I went most of my life with the belief that magic was not real and none of this ever did, nor would it ever now, exist. Here I am though. It's still hard to grasp. So...I just pinched myself to make sure it wasn't a dream or something." This last sentence was mumbled so that she thought it was incoherent, but apparently James had ears like a dog. "You actually pinched yourself?" He chuckled. "That's funny," Lily shot him a glare, "I mean, um, it's funny, but it's cute." He quickly recovered. "Yah, sure, don't even talk to me," Lily folded her arms and turned toward the window. "Aww, come on, Lily, I'm sorry. Geez," James tried his hardest for a serious expression. It didn't work. A knock came at the door of the compartment and it was (a/n: gee... I wonder, there are only a select group to chose from.... Could it be...) the elderly which with the food cart. (yup! I knew it! Wait... I'm supposed to know anyway. ::bites hand in frustration::)
After the food, the train ride continued somewhat calmly. Sirius was engrossed in a conversation with James while Lily and Remus caught up. It seems that Remus's summer in the states was rather interesting. He went to Salem for quite some time. Even though it was supposed to be an educational trip set up by his parents, he actually did have fun learning about the witch trials. Muggles can be so ignorant. Soon the ride came to an end and they all piled out of the train and into a carriage. Sirius and James were still speaking rather softly so as not to be heard by the others, or just so that they would take the hint. The carriages, they had decided last year, were much nicer than the boats.
In a blur the sorting, welcome feast, and the head boy and girl escorting the students to their houses were done, and all were fast asleep in their beds before you could say lights out. Well, all were sleeping beside Lily. For some reason she couldn't fall asleep. She looked over the faces of the girls she had been sharing a room with for two years. This would be their third. She got up and went down to the common room. She couldn't pin what was bugging her. She wasn't sick, she didn't forget to pack anything, yet she had this constant feeling of disappointment. She sat down before the fire and contemplated this. Soon someone plopped down next to her.
"Hey, why are you up?" Lily asked as Sirius yawned a little scratching his head.
"I dunno, I guess I'm just not used to Peter's snoring like an elephant. I got used to the peacefulness back home. That and Jamie-boy is talking a little louder than usual in his sleep." With that he gave Lily a wink and nudged her. "What the hell are you winking for you weirdo?" Lily gave him a confused look. "Hello?" he said as he tapped on her head. "Obviously you're in his dreams." He grinned at her. "Sirius, I'm pretty sure you're in his dreams too. We are his best friends after all." He shook his head, "Well, what I hear after my name is quite different from what I hear after he says yours. Anyway, let me ask you a question." His face sobered completely.
"What?" Lily answered. "Do you like James? I mean, I know everyone always say you guys like each other and that you go out and all of that, but we are always making fun of you. I'm being completely serious right now. As one of your best friends, Lily, do you like him, even just a little bit?" Sirius squinted and put up his fingers to show his idea of a little bit. "Well, to be completely honest, I'm thirteen, Sirius, and the feelings and emotions I have now won't be the same as they are say two or three years from now." Lily quickly thought that would be a nice way to evade the question. Sirius wasn't as confused or ponderous as she had hoped though. "So wait, do you mean to tell me that you do like him?" She blushed a little and took her time to respond. "Well...I guess what I'm saying...is that maybe, possibly, that could be true." A grin exploded across Sirius's face, but she continued more quickly. "Sirius, as my best friend I'm trusting you not to tell anyone. No one. Understand? Please respect the fact that I don't want a soul to know about this. Especially not James. Ok? Pinky swear on it." She held out her hand to his and they locked pinkies. He nodded and they talked about other things. After a while they both fell asleep where they were. Lily woke up a few hours later, as the sun was just rising and she put a blanket over Sirius and went up to her dorm.
The disappointment was forgotten that night as well as for most of the year. It came back in May though. There was many a sleepless night for her that month. This would prove to be foreshadowing the letter she received the day before her exams were to begin. It was from the courts. It said that she was to appear in a muggle court under the guardianship of Mrs. Black in two weeks. It was a custody dispute and Petunia was protesting the restraining order that was soon to be up for review. Two weeks. She was scared. What would happen to her? She didn't want to live with Petunia, but to see her again, she wouldn't be able to tell anyone the things that Petunia did to her. She also felt like she was betraying the only family she had left.
This didn't help her during her exams and she only passed with the equivalent of B's. Remus, being the most studious of the group took this as a sign for something. "Lily, what's up? Usually you fly through the exams with ease and come out on top." She gave him a bogus answer that went something along the lines that she didn't study and they were harder than she had thought. Then she was up in her dorm most of the night.
When her dorm-mates came in to go to sleep, she pretended to already be so. This kept them from asking any questions. About an hour later they had all fallen asleep and Lily was sitting up again. She suddenly realized that she hadn't eaten since this morning and her stomach was beating her other organs up. She stole down the stairs from the girls' dorms and over to the boys. She went into the third year boys' dorm room. They were all asleep. She opened James's trunk and took his invisibility cloak. She threw it on and went down to the kitchen. She sat talking to the house-elves for a good amount of time. When she had finally finished her food, she made her way back up through the castle. Instead of going to her dorm though, she decided to head up to the astrology tower.
Lily sprawled out on the floor of one of the observation decks. It was about seventy degrees out and a sweet breeze whispered to her as it crossed her face. In two more days she would be in court, in front of Petunia, in front of loads of people, telling her stories of humiliation to them all. Could she really do this? The summer air combined with the softly twinkling skies was a deadly combination and she eventually fell asleep.
She didn't wake up until the sun was brightly shining down on her making her hair lighter by the minute. Lily sat up and jumped. James and Sirius were asleep next to her. They too were sprawled out on the ground their face plastered with similar, content smiles. She poked at both of them but only Sirius woke up. James only replied, "No, I don't want to go to work today. I'll just tell them I'm sick." Sirius and Lily both laughed quietly.
"Lily, when you decide to nick James's cloak, make sure that you shut the trunk before you leave. I got up around two to go to the bathroom and saw it lying there, wide open. The door was open too. You really wouldn't make a good marauder. Anyway, I figured it could've been Snape, you know how he found out about that. So I woke James up and we went to get you, but low and behold, we had found our culprit. So we spent the rest of the night looking for you." Sirius was interrupted by James talking in his sleep again. "Awe, Tiger Lily, that's great. I can't believe I'm gonna be a father." Lily blushed heartily and Sirius just laughed. "What did I tell you Lily? Every night it's the same thing. Tiger Lily this and Tiger Lily that. What the heck does he call you that for anyway?" Sirius asked. Lily smiled a little bit, "Well, I told him how, when I was little I used to love this muggle book and movie, Peter Pan. So he got the book from the library one night and read it. One of the characters' names is Tiger Lily." She looked at James who was now sucking his thumb lightly. "Just think Lil, you get to look forward to waking up to that every day for the rest of your life." Sirius said with a grin. He was promptly punched in the arm by Lily. His yelp woke James up though and all talk of the sort stopped.
"Hey there, feel like telling me why you took my cloak and came up here last night?" James asked through a yawn. "Well, I originally took it because I woke up in the middle of the night and I was completely starving. I went down to the kitchen and got some food. When I finished I came up here because it was so nice out and it was still very humid in the dorm." She looked at them both; hoping they would just accept it and the three could go down for lunch or something. "O yah, I would think you were kind of hungry since you hadn't eaten since breakfast. Why is that Lily? Is there something you're not telling us?" Sirius looked at her meaningfully. "Well, I got a letter from the ministry about two weeks ago. It said that I was to appear in court with your mum, Sirius. It said that your mum wants to fight for sole custody over me. Is that true?" He smiled sadly and nodded. "Well, I don't think Petunia will allow it. I know it's not really her decision, but she always has ways of making things go terribly wrong. I'm scared guys. I really don't want to have to go home with Petunia this summer." She looked down at her hands. They were soft, pale; she could feel again. She wondered if that would last.
"When are you going to court?" James asked. "Tomorrow. I guess, I forgot to tell you. You know with the exams and all." They all became very solemn. "Look, Lily, you know that we're here for you and blah, blah, blah. Right? I mean, I don't want to get all mushy or anything, but we're behind you every step. Right James?" Sirius glanced over to a nodding James. Lily smiled and decided to change the subject. "Thanks guys, if you're really behind me every step then I guess you'll be following me down to the dorms to get changed. This is my last day of freedom. I don't want it being spent up here doing nothing." She grabbed the cloak, threw it over them and they made their way down to the Gryffindor house. They changed and went down to lunch. Remus and Peter were there and as soon as they caught sight of their missing friends, they made their way over to greet them and ask them where they had been.
"What's wrong with you guys? No note, no 'Remus we're going out.' I would've been mad when you woke me up but I wouldn't have worried all morn-" He stopped himself in mid-sentence, realizing that he sounded like his mother almost exactly. He then tried to play it cool, "Hey, man, that was totally uncool." Everyone laughed at him. "Sorry mom, Remus, hippie, whoever you are." Sirius said in-between laughs. Peter then began with how he had worried, during which time Remus moved in on Lily asking her where she had been. Peter never even acknowledged Lily. He always had resented the fact that she was closer to his three best friends than he, himself was.
They all ate and spent the rest of the day playing quidditch on the pitch. It was pretty much the perfect day if you didn't considered Lily's court session the next day. She was to leave for Mrs. Black's house at eight. The hour came all too quickly. The friends sat around the fire in the common room talking about Remus's mini-adventure with his broom. They all laughed at the thought of Remus being dragged around by the tails of his cloak that was attached to his Shooting Star. Suddenly Mrs. Black popped out of the fireplace covered in soot. She stood up, dusted herself off, and smiled over at Lily. It was time. She got up and sighed. This was it. This decided whom she was going to live with for the next four years. Sirius got up and gave her a hug. "Lil, don't be scared to tell them anything that happened. She can't hurt you anymore. You don't owe her anything," he whispered to her so that no one could hear his serious tone. It was like a scene from the Wizard of Oz. They all stood in a row waiting to say something to her that was special only from the person who said it. Next came Tin-man. Remus hugged her and said, "Before you know it, it'll be all over and you can come back to school and be happy and help me with my studies ok?" She smiled at him as he backed up again. "Lily, can I talk to you outside for a second?" It was scarecrow-the one she would miss most of all. She and James walked into the hall before the girls' dorms.
"Wish me luck," Lily said nervously. For some reason James looked just as nervous. "Lily, you know how you said that...Petunia makes you feel like...there has to be something wrong with you?" She nodded. "For God's sake, don't think that tomorrow. Don't think it ever. There is nothing wrong with you. I have faith that you will tell the truth tomorrow. I know you want to protect Petunia, but she needs help. This is probably the only way she'll be able to get it. You can't go back there. I hate to think of that even being an option." He looked down. He was pale, scared-looking, worried. She smiled at his over-protective state. "James, I'm going to try to do my best tomorrow. I haven't seen her in over a year. It's going to be hard, but I know you guys are here. I'm thankful for that. Ana's calling me." She walked over toward the fireplace and James followed suit. She said goodbye to everyone and turned to give James a hug before she left. He squeezed her tightly and whispered, "I love you Tiger-Lily." When she let go she just stared at him. Mrs. Black took her arm gently and off they went, into the glowing green flames of the fire.
"Geez, man, what did you say to her?" Remus asked looking at James suspiciously. Sirius knew. He just smiled as he disappeared off to the boys' dorms. "I just told her that we were all here for her and blah, blah, blah. I'm gonna go take a shower." And with that James went up to the boys' dorms as well. "Hey, so you finally told her huh?" was Sirius's greeting as he stood in the doorway awaiting his friend's arrival. "Told her what?" James was trying to play innocent but it was way past that with Sirius. "O I don't know, that you're head-over-heels for her. That you couldn't breathe if she wasn't with you." Sirius's whole face turned into a grin. "Sirius, shut up. This isn't the time to crack jokes. Lily's future lies in what she says tomorrow." James was trying to get off the subject. "Who's kidding? I crack no jokes at this moment, buddy. You told her. I know. I could tell by the way her expression changed from worried and grim to a brightened shock."
James sighed, "I was just trying to give her a little confidence before she left. She's going to be there with only your mom on her side, and then there would be her only sister, the only family she has left, and she has to testify against her." Sirius exploded, "Ha! So you did tell her? O man, James, that's so great!" He patted his buddy on the back and James tried to explain. "See, I meant it like, we all love her. You and I and Remus and...wait, I don't really think Peter does. But anyway, I just didn't want her to feel alone tomorrow." He was blushing considerably which just gave Sirius ammo. Surprisingly enough though, he didn't use this ammo, Sirius only commented with, "Sure..." and a sly grin and went into the showers.
That night, was the most restive night Lily had ever experienced. She had never had so many nightmares in one night, even when she had lived with Petunia. The next three days proved to be some of the most trying for her as well. Though the motions of the trial were quite boring Lily had knots in her stomach from morning until the end of the day. Petunia was so close. She didn't even have to walk five feet and she would be able to hit Lily. She would be able to do horrible things to her.