The one where Lily goes to James' for the holidays
The rest of the school year went far too quickly for the Marauders. It seemed like one day they were just getting over the hangovers from the New Years Eve drinks and the next they were seated in a compartment on the Hogwarts Express. Lily and James were snuggled up together, making Sirius and Remus, who were playing Exploding Snap, shudder. Peter was sitting a bit apart from them all, silent and thinking.
'What are you guys doing in the summer?' Remus asked, packing away the cards. His singed eyebrows were good enough reasons to call it quits.
'Lils and I are going to the Lake.' James said.
'Don't get sun burnt,' muttered Peter, snickering at the vision of a very red Lily returning to Hogwarts.
'I'm going to France for a holiday.' Sirius announced. 'My mum wants me to learn the "language of love." Lot of good that will do me when she doesn't want me going out with anyone.' He began writing in his diary.
'Gods help us. The girls will be falling at your feet.' Remus grinned. 'And some of the guys.'
'That is not fair, Remus,' Sirius waved his quill at him. 'It was just the one and I never returned his feelings.
'But you would have made such a lovely couple.' Remus made kissy faces and grinned.
'Quit it, you too.' James mumbled from Lily's hair. 'What about you, Peter? What do you intend on doing these holidays?'
Peter licked his lips. 'I-I-I'm n-n-not doing anything,' he stammered. It wouldn't be very smooth if he told them he was going to stay with Severus Snape and see what kind of powerful friends he had.
The door to the compartment slid open and Severus himself walked in. His dark eyes widened with humor as he took in the scene. James had his arm around Lily; Sirius had a bushy quill at his lips deep in thought, Remus had his hands to his face, rubbing at his burnt eyebrows and Peter was staring at the opposite wall, looking paler than usual. Severus had two gorilla-like men either side of them, their faces blank and distant.
Lily sat up, patting at her hair. 'What do you want, Snape?'
'I just wanted to see how my favorite Gryffindors were doing?' He sneered at them. 'Peter, everything is set for your arrival tomorrow. My father is looking forward to meeting you.'
The boy started and looked at Snape with horror. Before he could talk, however, James said, 'Snape, stop trying to make Peter look bad. Get out of here.'
'If you don't mind, boys,' Snape said, relaxing on to the seat. 'I quite like it here.'
Three boys had their wands out and another was fumbling for his own before anyone said another word. Snape looked at his thugs then at the wands. If they tried anything, the two bodyguards would use their "skills" to get revenge. 'Are you sure you want to do that?' His voice was low and silky.
Lily stood and picked up Snape's sleeve. 'Come with me, Severus.' She dragged him outside, closing the door before Snape's men could follow. She pushed him against the wall, her wand at his throat. 'I know what you are going to become Severus. It isn't pretty. The Dark Mark will burn your delicate skin and you will writhe in the pain of your master.' Her mouth went next to his ear so she could hiss the last words of her speech: 'I know a lot more about you than you would ever believe. I know more than you do. Don't ever forget that.'
She let her hand drop and pulled her face away. His look of frozen shock was Lily's reward. It took a moment for Severus to compose his features. When he did, he looked at her with eyes lacking any emotion. 'You had better not overstep yourself next time, Mudblood.'
Lily slapped him a little reluctantly. The Weasleys were a pureblood family and never had heard the term Mudblood. 'Get lost, Professor.' She said, making a show of wiping her hand on his robes.
With a flick of her hair that she had seen Janet do a thousand times, Lily returned to the compartment and James' arms. 'What did you do?' He asked.
'Just gave that git a run for his money.' Her reply wasn't very comforting, but he let it slide.
She gave Sirius a huge hug, burying her face in his shoulder. 'Oh, Padfoot, I'm going to miss you.'
'It's just the holidays! I'll see you in a few weeks.' He grinned, letting her go. 'Besides, I may force my parents to take us up to the Lake in the last days of our break. I would never let an opportunity to see you in a swimsuit pass me by.'
She scowled at him. 'Don't get any ideas, young Black.'
'I won't, Lils. Marauders' honor.' He held up his hand and crossed his fingers.
Lily rolled her eyes and gave Remus a similar hug. 'You know what, Remus?' Her voice was very low. Only he could hear it. 'I could be very happy with you.' As they drew apart, he looked at her quizzically. 'No, James is my life, but I could be very happy living with you.'
Lily got a shiver as she said that. Remus only smiled. 'I would be very, very happy with you, Lily.'
'Take care of yourself, Remus.' She kissed his cheek and turned to Peter.
'Peter,' her voice became sorrowful. 'I admit we didn't end on good terms. I blame myself for your fall out with James.' She held out her hand.
He shook it warily. 'Have a good summer, Lily.'
'You too, Pete.' She smiled and gave him a brief hug.
'Lily, my parents are here!' James said, grinning once more to his friends. 'My mum is just dying to meet you.'
Taking a deep breath and brushing any dirt from her robes clean, she followed James to his parents. All her luggage was already in a pile at their feet, waiting for her to collect it. 'Hello dear,' said a woman with brown hair that looked like it was only barely staying in the braid. Lily frowned for a moment before realization hit.
Her jaw dropped.
'Hermione?' Lily said it so softly, she was sure they hadn't heard until the woman gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
'My name is Annabel Potter. I'm James' mother. Is there anything wrong, my dear?' Her voice was Hermione's, albeit a little deeper. However, had Ginny not fallen into the past, she was sure that was what Hermione would sound like.
'Lily Evans, it is a pleasure to meet you Mrs. Potter.' She smiled, recovering from the shock quite nicely.
'Call me Annabel, please.' Annabel even smiled like Hermione. It was quite unnerving.
'Hey, sport!' A tall man that, thankfully, didn't remind Lily of anybody, mussed up James' hair. 'How was Hogwarts for another year? Got any tales to tell?'
'I think the most rewarding tale I have is of meeting Lily.' James said, his face turning red.
'Aww, James, that was so sweet.' Lily said, grinning at him. Her Gryffindor courage showing itself, she said: 'He's only saying that because he doesn't want to tell you about the times the teachers nearly caught him. They are so...unspectacular.'
James rolled his eyes. 'This is going to be one long summer.'
Lily absolutely loved James' parents. His father, Robert, was one of those people who looked rough on the outside and yet loved his family with a fierce passion. He accepted her and began treating her like a daughter. Lily still missed her family dreadfully, but it helped to know that Robert was willing to play the part if needed.
Annabel was intriguing. She and Hermione were the same soul, she concluded. Hermione must have been Annabel in a past life. Just looking around the house James had grown up in, it was evident. Books were everywhere. Muggle books, books on everything except Divination, to which Annabel said "as if I'd have books on that subject in my home. It's a load of rubbish." Lily secretly agreed with her.
They stayed in the house for a few days, to get their affairs in order. One morning, James told her to pack (which only took a few moments as she had been living out of her bags) and get ready to Floo to the summerhouse. He was positively glowing with excitement.
'Morning, Lily.' Annabel called from the kitchen. The smell of bacon, eggs and hash browns made her hungry. 'You look famished, take a seat and have some food.'
Lily didn't need telling twice. James sat down next to her and ate, almost without chewing. Annabel scolded him gently, but told him to go and help his father choose which fishing rod to take with him. He ran off and let his mother take the chair next to his girlfriend.
'Annabel, what can you tell me about the Lake?' Lily asked, wiping her mouth on a napkin.
'The fishing's good.' The one statement hung in the air.
'Anything else?'
'Sorry, Lily. I seriously don't know anything more than my husband and son always go fishing there and that the Lake doesn't even have a name. I think it belongs to Robert's family, he hinted as much, but I've never seen any real evidence.'
'Sounds like some place.' Her mouth twitched.
'It is.' Annabel smiled. 'I'll take you out early one morning, you'll see the mist on the waters...' Her eyes grew distant. 'Oh, it's beautiful.'
Lily cleared away the plates for her and returned. 'I think the lads may be ready for us.' They walked out to the lounge, carefully avoiding Muggle fishing rods that lay haphazardly on the floor. James was grinning at them, his fingers tapping on a bait box.
'Why are you using Muggle means?' Lily asked.
'It's more satisfying.' Robert supplied. 'Where is the fun in using magic when you can do it yourself.'
Lily was reminded vividly of her father when he was passionate about his...plugs. He really did admire Muggles. 'Good point. Have you ever caught yourself on one of the hooks.'
Annabel grimaced. 'You don't want to know how many times I've had to remove one of those damned hooks, Lily.'
'I suppose I wouldn't.' She handed the last of her bags to James, who was standing in the fireplace, Floo Powder in his hand. 'Potter Summerhouse.' His voice was clear with practice.
'You go next, Lily. Then Annabel and I'll finish with the rods.' Robert said, handing her the pot.
She smiled and took a handful of the Powder. Walking into the hearth, she repeated James by saying: "Potter Summerhouse."
Author's Notes: I would like to thank Luke for the use of his name "Annabel". He is doing a story based on the idea and it's called "A Stitch in Time". Go look it up. Umm, what more can I say other than I'm sorry it's not very good and that it is mostly dialogue. I'll get around to doing some hard hitting stuff in the next chapter! And then they go back to school! Don't forget to Review, please!