Author's Note: I have to remember all my ideas… If I forget to put one in, it'll ruin the whole plot. Well, gotta get to typing now.

Title: Love and Flashbacks

Rating: PG

Spoilers: Erm… Possibly.

Summary: Lily and James remember the events that led to their romance.

Disclaimer: As much as I'd love to own Harry Potter and its characters, I don't.

Setting: This story takes place when the Marauders are at Hogwarts.

*** = setting change

*~*= begin flashback

~*~ = end flashback

[…] = time

italics = emphasis

~The Birthday~

"Sirius's birthday is in one week, and I still don't know what to get him!" Koren wailed. She was standing in Zonko's with Lily and Charlotte. "I mean, what do you get for the prankster who has everything?"

"Excuse me," the clerk behind the counter said, "but are you talking about Sirius Black?"

Koren nodded.

"Well, I think I have just the thing," he said as he pulled out something from underneath the counter. "New product. Just come in yesterday. Interested?"

The blonde inspected the package. "I'll take it. Thanks."

"No problem. Those boys are my best customers."

She had just finished paying for the item when the Marauders came in.

"Uh, Koren?" Lily said. "Look who's here."

Koren gasped and thrust the package behind her back as her boyfriend approached her.

"Hey. What've you got there?" he asked, trying to see what she was holding.

"Nothing."

"Come on, what is it?"

Charlotte, who was standing behind Koren, grabbed the package and put it behind her own back. "It's uh—it's mine."

"Yeah," Lily and Koren agreed nervously.

"What are you three up to?" James asked suspiciously.

"Nothing. Er—bye," Lily said, running out of the shop. Charlotte followed Koren, carefully keeping the package away from the boys' view.

***

"Thanks, Char," Koren said outside. She took the package from her friend.

"No problem."

Lily remarked, "You know, I bet they think we're insane."

Koren replied, "Yeah, but they still gotta love us anyway."

The three girls laughed.

***

[1 week later]

"Happy birthday!" the girls shouted as Sirius came downstairs.

He grinned. Behind him, James, Remus, and Peter were coming down the stairs carrying gift-wrapped boxes.

Koren pushed him into a chair and plopped her gift to him on his lap. "Open it!"

He ripped off the wrapping. "Hey! This is that new—um—that new… thing! When did you get this?"

"Last week."

"So that's why you were acting so weird," Remus mused.

"It was supposed to be a surprise. We didn't want to ruin it," Charlotte replied, sitting down next to him.

The others gave Sirius their presents. "Hey!—Wow!—Cool!—You are now officially my favorite person!"

***

James and Lily were alone in the common room.

"So. What are you going to do for my birthday?" James asked curiously.

"Hmm. I don't know. Nothing, I guess." The redhead grinned.

"Aww, come on."

"It's a surprise. And don't bother asking Koren or Charlotte. They won't tell you." She kissed him. "Besides, your birthday's three weeks away. Don't have definite plans yet."

*~*

[3rd year]

"Potter!" Lily cried angrily.

"What?" James replied innocently.

"You set off a Dungbomb in my room!"

"I was just testing out my birthday present."

"Birthday, huh? Let me give you your present." Lily took out her wand. "Rictusempra!"

James started laughing uncontrollably. The Tickling Charm was making him laugh so hard that it hurt. "Okay, I'm sorry! Just make it stop!"

Lily stopped the incantation. "Okay, now go get rid of the smell, Potter."

~*~

After a while, James fell asleep. Lily smiled and curled up next to him.

***

"Lily. James. Wake up," a gentle voice called.

"Hmm?" Lily opened her eyes. Five Gryffindors were grinning down at them. Charlotte had woken her up. "Oh jeez. James, wake up." She punched him.

"Huh? Wha—? Did I score my two hundredth goal yet?"

"You were dreaming, Prongs," Remus told him.

"Oh." James sat up.

Lily kissed him. "Silly. Like you could win a Quidditch game by yourself."

"I could."

The others looked at him skeptically.

"Okay, okay. I'd need a Seeker to catch the Snitch to end the game after I score all the goals."

"So you and Richard are gonna win the game against Ravenclaw next week all by yourselves?" Koren asked.

"Yep." He burst out laughing. "Come on, let's go eat."

***

[19 days later]

"Boo!" Lily greeted James. "Happy birthday."

"Morning, Lily." He started kissing her.

***

[5 minutes later]

Sirius looked at his watch. "How long do you think they can last before they need to come up for air?" he asked the others, looking at Lily and James.

They shrugged. Remus cleared his throat.

James separated himself from the redhead. "All right, give me my presents, because we gotta get to class soon."

***

"Hey, Lils?"

"Lils? Where'd that come from?"

"I don't know." James wrapped an arm around her waist. "I have something to tell you."

"What is it?"

"I love you," he whispered.

"You do?"

"Yeah."

"I love you too."

*~*

[2nd year]

"I hate you, James Potter!"

"Yeah, well, I hate you too, Evans!"

"Look what you did to my Potions essay! It took me a long time to write it!"

"I told you, it was an accident!"

"I don't care! Professor Brewer is going to kill me! Fix it!"

"How?"

"How?!" Lily screeched. "Just do it!"

"All right, hold on." James fixed the essay he had ruined with a flick of his wand. "There."

"I still hate you."

"Back at ya."

"They are so perfect for each other," Sirius whispered to Remus, Charlotte, Koren, and Peter. "They'll end up getting married, I'm telling you. That's only if they don't kill each other first, of course."

"What did you say?!"

"Nothing."

~*~

"James? How did we go from hating each other to loving each other?"

"Honestly? I have no idea."

TO BE CONTINUED…

Author's Note: I have a feeling that this fic is getting suckier and suckier… I tell ya, I'm better at beginnings and endings than middles… Maybe if I got more reviews, I'd feel more inspired… *hint hint* Just kidding…