Author's Note: Hi… Sorry about the delay, but I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO LOGIN for a while for unknown reasons…

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

italics = thoughts

~The Future~

Lily and James were outside, taking a walk.

"James?"

"Hmm?" he replied, turning to look at her.

"If we got married, what kind of life do you think we'd have?"

He pondered the question for a minute. "Well, let's see… We'd get married and get jobs. Then I guess we'd have kid. And we'd raise them and grow old together, and… live happily ever after." He grinned. "It's all horribly cliché, but that's what I want."

Lily smiled. "It's nice."

*~*

[4th year]

"So how many kids do you want when you get married?" Koren asked.

"I don't know," Charlotte replied.

Lily said, "Not more than two. What about you?"

"Well, I don't know. I'd have to decide when it happens. You know me. I'm not really the planning type of person. Unless it's more of a plot than a plan…"

"So then what kind of guy would you want for a husband?"

"A nice one."

"Well, duh," Lily replied, rolling her eyes at her friend.

"I'd want someone who wouldn't hurt me. Someone who really loves me and who's really kind and really sweet… And… well, I don't know…" Charlotte said, looking at the ceiling.

"Oy… That was so sappy, Char. Anyway, besides all that, I'd want someone who knows how to have fun," Koren replied.

"Of course you do," Lily said, "you're you."

Koren grinned in response. "Fine, Lily, what kind of guy do you want?"

"Someone who'd always be there for me… and try to help me if I'm in trouble."

~*~

James smiled and kissed his girlfriend.

***

"Charlotte?" Remus whispered. He and his girlfriend were sitting on the couch.

"What?"

"Are you—afraid—of me?"

"No. Why would I be?" the dark-haired girl asked, sitting up.

"Well, I mean, because of what I am."

Charlotte looked at his face. "No."

"Why not?"

"It's not your fault that you are what you are. I could never be afraid of you, especially for something that isn't your fault."

Remus smiled a little. "Thanks." He pulled her closer to him. He sighed and softly said, "Marry me."

Charlotte sat up and turned to face him. "What?"

"Oh God, was that out loud?"

"Yeah, yeah, it was out loud." Charlotte didn't seem like herself at the moment.

"Oh my God…" Remus got up and started repeating that phrase while pacing around the room. He kept running his hands through his hair.

"Remus. Remus." Charlotte had calmed down after the initial shock. "Okay, we need to figure this out."

"Yeah. Yeah. Why'd I say it? I must be insane," he muttered to himself.

"All right, now, did you really mean it?"

Remus bit his lip. "Yeah. But I didn't mean it for right now… I was thinking that maybe… in the future… but…"

"Okay." Charlotte nodded. "Then this never happened, okay? Just forget about this and move on."

"Yeah. Okay."

***

[The next day]

Sirius was watching Koren running around outside with a small smile on his face. He was thinking about the thing that he had been thinking about since the train ride from Hogwarts. Should I? She said she'd say yes if I asked her. I heard her say that. But what if she didn't mean it? And I can't ask her here. It would be too weird with her parents around.

"Sirius!" the blonde called. "Why do you look so—well—serious?"

"I was just thinking about something."

"About what?"

"Nothing."

"Okay, anytime someone says 'nothing,' there's usually something," Koren said, with her hands on her hips.

"I was thinking about us."

"What about us?" she asked, curious.

"Just—stuff."

"Fine. Don't tell me. I'll get it out of you sooner or later."

TO BE CONTINUED…

Author's Note: I'm so sorry, but don't expect a lot of updates for a while. It's my stinking computer. I can't login, so I can only get like one chapter up if I go to someone else's house.