Disclaimer: You know I don't own them. I know I don't own them. Okay?
AN: I know it's been ages since I last wrote, but I'll make up for it! I promise! How about… The Lily/James romance you've all been waiting for? Oh yeah, the Ravenclaw/Hufflepuff circus is going to be in this chapter, cause there was no plot for the preparations…ENJOY!

Little Eagle

"Hey James," Lily wandered up to him, poking him in the shoulder. "Are you going to move?" She asked. "You're blocking the corridor."

"Oh, sorry." James said absently. "Lily, what would you do if you really, really liked someone, but they probably didn't feel the same?"

"Um..." Lily was stuck; she was in the same position herself. "Tell them, I suppose… you never know, they might like you."

"Thanks Lil," James grinned. "Coming to breakfast?"

"Oh no, I was going down to the Great Hall to admire the walls," Lily said sarcastically.

"Oh really? Do tell me what you think of the north wall. Is it getting worn from all the food hurled against it from our table, or is it still in mint condition?" James said, grinning. "I do so wonder."

"Shutup." Lily swatted James, before grabbing his arm and pulling him in the direction of the Great Hall. "I'm more worried about the south wall personally. What with having all those Slytherins so close to it…"

"Wher yu bin?" Sirius asked through a mouthful of toast.

"Giving James advice on his love life," Lily said, her throat tightening.

"Aw, is poor ikkle Jamsie stucked, then?" Sirius said in a baby voice.

"Shut it Sirius." James growled, then in a lower voice, "full moon tonight."

"Shit." Remus swore. "I actually forgot!"

"Wow," Lily whistled. "You were that concentrated?"

"Yeah." Remus shook his head on amazement, "I never thought it'd happen."

"But that means you'll miss the circus," Lily cried, dismayed.
"Damn." Remus sighed. "I'll have to talk to Gormardus."

"How can you be friends with one of them?" Sirius scowled.

"Get over it Sirius," Lily punched his arm lightly. She was now friendly with a Slytherin girl called Aanni Whrergs. They managed the animal acts together, as they both refused to don the clothes of a clown. Remus and Gormardus helped them, along with, surprisingly, a first year called Charlie Weasly. He was a natural with animals, especially dangerous ones, but given his age he only handled the gentler ones. His older brother, William -known as Bill-, was amazingly good at financial things, so he was in charge of the first years organising ticket sales.

"Why?" Sirius asked sulkily. "They're the enemy. You don't befriend the enemy."

"You are so narrow minded," Remus said disgustedly. "Like most of the Slytherins. It's strange to think you've got something so in common with them. I'm going to talk to Gormardus."

"I'll come." Lily stood up and gave Sirius a reproachful look. "You don't have to like them, Sirius. You just have to accept that they are our friends, and tolerate them."

"Yes mother." Sirius muttered as Lily and Remus walked over to the Slytherin table.

"The Slytherins aren't all that bad," Peter said, defending them. He was now 'friends' with Gouramy Lestrang, and he liked to think that sticking up for them meant he was really friends with them. It didn't.

"Then go and join them, if you're so fond of them." Sirius snarled. Peter shook his head and left.
"What is your problem today?" James asked, exasperated. "You've managed to piss off Lily, Remus and Peter in under five minutes without physically doing anything to them!"

"They're being friendly with Slytherins!" Sirius growled.

"Oh Sirius," James sighed, and shook his head. "They're entitled to be friends with whoever they want."

"Not Slytherins," Sirius said stubbornly.

"You've dated Slytherins." James said.

"That's totally different!"

"How?"

"I had no intention of forming a long term friendship with any of them!"

"But you were using their hope that you would to get them to go out with you," James said reasonably.

"So?"

"All I'm saying is you should judge them as a person, not as a member of a house."

"Shutup James." Sirius glared at him. "Whose side are you on, anyway?"

"Not yours." James said, and walked away. Sirius glared after him.

"The Ravenclaw/Hufflepuff circus is open!" Lily grabbed James and Sirius's arms, managed to hook Remus's shin with her foot, and tried to drag them along with her. Peter followed behind. The got down to the Quidditch Pitch, where they gave their previously bought tickets (courtesy of Remus) to the ticket booth person, and went in.

"RIDES!" Lily shrieked, seeing some dodge'ems, a roller coaster, and a jumping castle. One of the advanced Ravenclaws was obviously a muggle born. She explained what each ride was like to James, Sirius, and Peter (Remus had knowledge), and they tried them all. After the fourth headsplitting collision with Sirius and Peter, she and James managed to pry Sirius away from the Dodge'ems. She went off with Aanni for a while, before joining up with the marauders again to go to the show in the Top tent. They watched the clowns, the magic acts, the animals, the freakshow, and the acrobatics. They ooed and aaaed, and Sirius, being Sirius, turned the most impressive animal, a giant tiger -tame, of course- into a mouse. Then it was time to go back to dinner. They were walking slowly back when Snape sauntered up to them.

"It's a pity that April bitch had to miss this," He sneered. Lily let out a muffled sob, and Remus bowed his head.

"Piss off Snape." Remus snarled.

"Make me." Snape answered, then continued. "You know, she could have been part of that freakshow act, she was freakishly ugly."

"Severus," Gormardus was hurrying up to them, "Shut up!"

"And the way she betrayed you all, I mean, it's a wonder you don't curse her name-"

"Be quiet, Severus!" Aanni was running up behind them.

"Where do you go every night, Lupin," Snape hissed. "Now that you don't have that whore to-"

"Watch what you say, Snape." Remus had stopped dead. "Never, ever, insult April. Ever. I will kill you if you say one more word." At that moment Gormardus and Aanni grabbed Snape's arms and hauled him away. They only released him when he was safely two hundred meters behind the marauders and Lily.

"I hate him." Lily said, and Sirius saw the pain and anger in her and Remus's eyes, and he formed the beginnings of a plan.

"I'll catch up with you guys," He said, and dropped behind to talk to Snape.

Dinner had passed, and the four (Remus wasn't there) were sitting in the sixth year boys dormitory, planning a prank to pull on Snape. Sirius decided to drop the bombshell.

"I pulled the ultimate revenge prank on Snape this afternoon,"

"What?" James, Lily and Peter all looked at him.

"I told him how to get into the Willow," He stated simply. "He'll get the fright of his life, and he'll leave us alone-"

"You idiot!" Lily snapped, and James peered anxiously out of the window.

"It's raising." He groaned. "Sirius, what have you done?"

"Snape could die!" Lily snarled, then turned to James. "We have to stop him." She said matter-of-factly.

"What about me?" Sirius asked.

"Stay here and don't get into any more trouble." Lily snapped, "Peter, get Dumbledore-"

"I can see someone crossing the grounds - it looks like Snape" James said urgently. There was no time for discussion.

"You run, I'll fly!" Lily said, and transformed into an eagle. She leaped out the window as James pelted through the school.

"Snape! Stop!" She shouted, transforming while still a meter off the ground, and she fell awkwardly.

"What?" Snape turned around. "It's the mudblood."

"Snape, listen, don't go in there!" Lily said desperately. She knew she had to buy as much time as she could, to let James get here. James was strong enough to hold Snape back. She didn't even think about Dumbledore.

"Why not?" Snape leered.

"You'll die!" Lily had spotted James running as fast as he could behind Snape.

"Liar." Snape spat at her, then stalked to the tree and picked up the pokey stick.

"SNAPE NO!" James shouted, getting to the tree. Snape laughed and disappeared inside. James threw himself in after him, and Lily felt her heart leap into her mouth.

"James!" She screamed. She waited from what seemed an eternity - in reality, only a few minutes- before she saw James stagger out, pulling an unconscious Snape with him. And behind them, a werewolf.

"STUPERFY!" Dumbledore was there, and Remus fell to the ground. Lily didn't even think. She launched herself at James, and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I thought I'd lost you," She sobbed, clinging to him. "I like you James, I really do. And I thought I'd lost you."

"It's okay Lily," James hugged her tightly, "I'm here Lily. I'm always here for you."

Romance… hrm…. Well, it's a START!

Fire Lizid,