For those of you that read part one, scroll down until you see a line of ******** and you'll find part two. Enjoy my lovely flow of ideas in this chapter that enabled me to make it nice and long!

Disclaimer: JK owns Harry Potter indicia, Philip Pullman owns daemons. I own a few characters and pretty much everyone's personalities because they're nothing like what JK has written them as. The plot's mine. Get your greedy eyes off it.

:D

~*~ Golden Summer ~*~

~It's never been like this before

~Although it's quite the same

~But it all seems different somehow

~Nothing much has changed

~I still seem the same person as before

~But it all looks different

~After this Golden Summer

~And the sun's still rises in the sky

~The exact same sun still sets in the night

~And the stars still shine bright

~There's something deeper down

~Something you can't touch

~I can never quite put my finger on it

~It works like magic everywhere

~Nothing goes unseen

~Everything is all different

~After this Golden Summer

And that's how it was after that stay at Bella's. I was officially Gray Parkson's girlfriend (we'd written to each other several times) and, for reasons beyond my comprehension, I was also in the bad books of a certain James Harold Potter.

Again.

All had been well up until my second visit to the Potter mansion. This time I got there by more conventional methods, although James had tried on numerous occasions to convince me to fly again. When I had arrived there, Hilary was 'caught up in some necessary engagement', according to Sarah Potter, who had explained that her daughter would be free in half an hour or so, and that James was upstairs if I wanted to go see him. And what else was there to do to kill half an hour other than visit my dear friend James? Nothing. So, off I set, up the extremely large staircase to where I was pretty sure James's room was. I was actually heading in the wrong direction, but luckily for me James was striding up the hall anyway. He appeared to be rather grumpy, but he looked up at me and smiled when he saw me.

'Hello!' he said cheerfully, holding out his arms for a hug. 'When did you get here?'

'About five minutes ago,' I said, giving him a quick hug before stepping back.

'If you're looking for Hilary, she's caught up in a -'

'- necessary engagement. Yeah, I know,' I said dryly. James laughed.

'I see Sarah hasn't been any more revealing with you than she was with me, then.'

'Nope. So what you been up to?' I asked. James pulled a face.

'Listening to another lecture from Charles about how I really must refrain from my misbehaviours and start focusing on my schoolwork,' he said, rolling his eyes.

'But you're top of your year, aren't you?' I asked, confused.

'Yeah, but if I'm not careful Snivelus might overtake me,' he joked, pretending to be pained at the very thought. 'Hungry? Thirsty?'

'I wouldn't mind a drink,' I said, nodding. We began to walk towards the kitchens. 'So, Sirius isn't here?'

'Nope. He's gone to Majorca on holidays, and has been banned from communicating with me,' James snickered. 'His family seem to think that somehow, if Sirius and I are allowed to converse in anyway, we will end up ruining their holiday. I think they're crazy, myself.' He shrugged. 'Remus is having his little 'invisible time' -'

'His what?'

'Oh, me and Sirius call it his 'invisible time'. Every couple of weeks he just disappears for a few days and makes up all these silly excuses why. Visiting his sick grandma and all that rot, but we reckon his lying. He doesn't want to tell us, though, so we leave him alone. Anyway, that leaves Peter... and, well... I think you can understand why Peter isn't here.'

I often felt sorry for Peter, but it was understandable how everyone tired of him. For a twelve going on thirteen year old, he had the mind of a three year old, attention span of a two year old and the speaking ability of a one year old. He was quite tiresome.

'What do you want to drink?' James asked, pressing a button on a wall next to a large white door.

'What do you have?'

'Anything and everything,' he grinned. 'Soda?' 'A soda is fine,' I smiled, just as a small head appeared through a doggy- door-like flap that had swung open near the bottom of the door.

'What does Master James want?' squeaked the house elf, blinking it's large lamp-like eyes. 'Two sodas, please.'

The head wobbled a nod before disappearing back through the door.

'Hilary was so excited when you were allowed to come. Charles has been giving her a pretty hard time, since she's defied him and everyone he's tried to set her up with. Don't blame her, though. They're all rotten. I'm surprised he hasn't started on me about Paige. If she's really mad at me she'd tell her father, and he'd immediately do something against Charles. But so far I haven't heard of anything of the sort,' he shrugged, bending down to take the two glasses of soda from the house elf, who had reappeared.

'Thanks,' he nodded to the elf, before straightening up and handing me a glass.

'Ta,' I said, taking a sip. 'You know, that's interesting. You'd think the Minister wouldn't be so easily influenced?'

'He isn't, except when it comes to Paige. Her parents have split, you see. So Appleton does everything within his power to give her what she wants, as if to make up for her mother not being there. She used to be a pretty nice kid, but he's turned her into a spoilt brat.'

I nodded my agreement. James sighed and continued.

'She's not as smart as she could be, either. If she really applied herself, she'd be pretty good. But all she cares about is the social side of things and Appleton doesn't stop her. You don't need brains to make it big in high society; just a pretty face and daddy's big bank account. Once upon a time she was top of our class, back in primary school. But over the years and since she's come to Hogwarts, she just gave up caring. Now she doesn't have a clue about anything, which is a shame.'

'Dumb blonde, huh? Lives up to her hair colour.'

'How did you know her hair's not natural?' James asked curiously.

'It's a girl thing. I can just tell,' I said mysteriously, giving a small laugh.

'So, is James Potter actually single for once?'

James feigned a look of horror.

'Lily, what do you take me for? Of course not!'

'Hufflepuff?' I sighed good-naturedly.

'Yup. Same year. Cirstie Simmons. Hot as hell,' he grinned.

'James, you're unbelievable.'

'I hear it everyday,' he said, smirking. I hit him.

'You're not that popular.' 'Haven't you noticed my fan club?' he asked. 'Besides, you wouldn't know, would you? But Lily, I cannot believe that someone like you is still single.' He shook his head.

'And who said I'm single?' I asked, raising an eyebrow. James practically froze.

'Gray... ?' he said slowly.

I nodded.

'You're going out with Gray?'

I nodded again.

'Since when?'

'Since a week ago,' I replied casually.

'Oh,' was his reply as he ran a hand through his hair. 'Congratulations.'

'Thanks,' I said.

I had just been about to ask him how long he had been goin out with Cirstie when Hilary came up the stairs.

'Hey, Lily!'

I spun around and grinned.

'Hey!' I said, hugging her. 'How was your 'necessary engagement'?'

'Oh, that,' Hilary said, rolling her eyes. 'Ridiculous. Come on, let's go up to my room.'

'See you, Ja -' I began, but stopped mid sentence. James had already disappeared. Hilary looked around.

'Temperamental git,' she said darkly. 'Anyone would think he had PMS with all his mood swings lately. Come on, this way to my room.'

* * *

After relocating the room Hilary had now deemed as officially mine and putting my belongings inside, Hilary and I went down for afternoon tea with Sarah and Charles and James. Well, James was supposed to be there. He wasn't, though.

'Where is he?' growled Charles when James still hadn't appeared five minutes later.

'In his room,' Hilary said, as this was obvious.

'Doesn't he know what time it is?' asked Sarah, sounding irritated. She tucked her hair behind an ear.

'He doesn't want to come down because he doesn't want to see you,' she said, looking at her father, 'and get in a riff again. And he said he wants to be by himself for a little while.' Charles and Sarah seemed to take no notice of what she had just said.

'Someone should go get him,' Charles said, standing, but Sarah put her hand on his arm and stopped him.

'There's no use in you going, Charles. You'll only end up arguing,' she said with a sigh. The pair looked at Hilary.

'Oh yeah, like he's really going to talk to me,' she said sarcastically. 'He's in a shi-'

'I will not tolerate that language in this house,' Charles interrupted.

'Can't we start without him?' Hilary asked impatiently.

'No, he has been called to tea and he will come. Whether I have to go get him or not,' he replied sternly, standing again.

I could see that this wasn't going to end nicely if James had another argument with his father, so I spoke.

'I'll go speak to him, if you like,' I said quietly.

Charles and Sarah exchanged glances.

'It's not very app-'

'Oh, James is only twelve for god's sakes, Charles,' Sarah said, frowning. 'He's been raised otherwise, at any rate. They obviously spend time at school together.'

I looked at Hilary, and she rolled her eyes.

'If James is going to talk to anyone, it would be more likely to be Lily. They're like best friends,' she said. 'Besides, before you start thinking along those lines, James has a girlfriend. And although he's many things, stupid is not one of them. Not that he even thinks of Lily in that way, but I can tell exactly what you're thinking. Either let Lily go or leave him alone. It's the only way we're going to get to eat anytime soon.'

'Very well, Lilian. Go and see if you can coax that disobedient son of mine downstairs,' Sarah said despairingly, massaging her temples. I stood and pushed in my chair before walking out of the hall. I didn't know why I was doing this. Why would James listen to me? In fact, I don't think I even wanted him to listen to me. I thought he had every right to spend some time by himself without his parents prying and bossing him. Charles and Sarah were being quite ridiculous.

I reached James's door and knocked hesitantly three times.

'I'm not hungry,' came his call. 'And I don't care what you say, I'm not coming down to tea, so save your breath. And before you start yelling, try and remember that we have a visitor.'

'James?' I asked.

There was a loud bang from inside before the door opened enough for James to look out.

'Lily? I'd thought you were Charles... er, did you want to come in?'

He opened the door wider and I stepped inside. James's room was mostly blue and white. He had posters of his Quidditch team on the wall, and a photo of himself and Sirius. The floor was scattered with clothes and whatnot, and I had to tread carefully so as not to break anything.

'I suppose They sent you up here?' he sighed, flopping back on his bed.

'Actually, I volunteered. I thought you might rather speak to me than your father.'

James gave a bitter laugh.

'Got that one right. He'd just start another argument, like always.'

'So, I never got to ask you. When did this thing with Cirstie come about? You never told me.'

'Do I usually tell you everything?' he asked snappishly. 'You never told me about Gray until today, either.'

'Geez, settle down.'

'No, I don't want to. I'm just sick of everything. I'm sick of everything expecting so much of me. Why can't I just have it easy like everyone else?'

I looked at him, shocked.

'Not everyone else has it easy,' I said quietly. James looked up at me before picking up a ball from the floor and throwing it up and catching it.

'Easier than me, I'd say they do.'

'You have things others don't, James. You may not like it, but don't be ungrateful, either.'

'You sound exactly like Charles!' James said angrily. 'I don't want your lectures! And I think I have every reason to be ungrateful! Do you have two awful parents that couldn't care less about you? No! Do you have to be prepared to lose every friend you make because your father may not like him? No!'

I was feeling slightly hurt that James was taking his anger out on me. I knew I shouldn't have retaliated, but I did.

'You don't have it as hard as you think, James Potter! Is your father dead? No! Do you have a sister that hates your guts and is determined to make your life living hell? No! Did you just lose your best friend because she had to move to New York? No! Are you tight for cash? No! Are you a muggle born, James? Do you get up every morning in fear of what people are going to say about you that day? How they're going to insult you because you aren't a pureblood? No! Do you get that awful, scared feeling in your stomach every time Malfoy enters the room? No! You don't!'

James's eyes were slightly wide in shock. I took a deep breath.

'But I do. You may think you have it hard, James Potter. But you're a lot better off than the rest of us. And do you see everyone else moping around feeling sorry for themselves? No, you don't. We put up with it. Because there's nothing else to do but soldier on. And I'm not saying your life is perfect, James, because I know you do have some bad people and things in your life. But so does everyone else. You aren't the only person with problems, and I think you should stop taking your anger out on everyone else.'

And with that, I walked out of his room, not even bothering to close the door.

When I returned back downstairs, I sat down curtly, tucking my hair behind my ears and scooting forwards in my chair. Hilary laughed at the look on my face.

'Looks like Lily's had a taste of one of James's moods.'

'So you were unsuccessful then, Lilian?' Sarah asked with a slightly amused smile. 'I really thought James would be nicer to you. He does think very highly of you, you know.'

He sure had a funny way of showing it lately. His attitude was on and off like a tap.

'I think it would be best for everyone if he was left alone for now,' was all I said, and it was left at that.

'Very well, he can miss out,' Sarah said, glancing warningly at Charles, who had seemed to have opened his mouth in protest.

'Lavinia, would you pass the scones?'

When I had asked Hilary about her parents's odd way with names, she had explained to me that in the circles of high society there was somewhat of a protocol with names. Apparently there weren't many children form well-off families that called their parents by 'mum' and 'dad'. She'd said that it made them feel old. And, according to Hilary, Charles and Sarah thought that Hilary was not a formal enough name, which was why they often called her Lavinia or Hilary-Lavinia. I personally thought the whole thing was rather ridiculous.

'So what did James say to you before?' Hilary asked curiously once Charles and Sarah had left the room half an hour later. 'You looked pretty annoyed.'

'I was,' I said. 'He's busy feeling sorry for himself. I asked him a simple question, and he snapped at me about everyone always expecting everything from him and how tough his life was, so I decided to remind him that he wasn't the only person with troubles.'

'I would have just ignored him. It's no use talking to him when he gets like that.'

'I probably overreacted - I know I really shouldn't have taken it to heart. But I hate it when people sit there feeling sorry for themselves when there is so many people in the world that are a whole lot worse off,' I sighed.

'He knows you've got it worse than him, Lily. But everyone gets rueful once in awhile. I just wish I knew what's making him so anguished. He's fighting something more than just our parents. He's got something against life lately.'

'I shouldn't have snapped at him.'

'Why not? You don't deserve to have him taking his anger out on you,' Hilary pointed out. 'But he wanted to be left alone. I should have left him.'

'Lily, if you hadn't have gone up there, Charles would have, and then all hell would have broken loose.'

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw someone appear in the doorway. Soon enough, James lumbered in.

'Any food left?' he sighed.

'You weren't hungry,' Hilary replied airily.

'Quite the contrary, I was starving. But I wasn't about to let Charles know that,' he frowned.

'Listen, Lily - I'm sorry about before, OK? I just wasn't in the mood to be talking to anyone, and that's why I wasn't coming downstairs.'

'So are we in a better mood now?' Hilary asked, still not looking at her brother.

'Yes, mother,' he said satirically.

'Uh-uh-ah,' Hilary tutted, turning around. 'None of that attitude, young man.' She grinned at her brother. He gave her a sardonic smile in return.

'Yes, Hilary. I am perfectly happy.'

'Better,' Hilary nodded, swinging back around to face me. 'So. Where were we?'

I laughed and shrugged.

'We were discussing how Bella somehow talked me into going out with Gray.' I met James's eyes across the room. He smiled at me and I relaxed. Hilary, on the other hand, was rather excited.

'She what? When? Why wasn't I informed of this?'

And so the whole story spilled out, of the game of truth or dare and the events that followed. Hilary and James found the story about Bella's phone call to Sirius rather amusing. 'That's Sirius all right. He can't stand her. Though, neither can I,' James laughed, seeming a lot more cheerful.

'Oh, he couldn't hang up quick enough,' I agreed. 'You, on the other hand, caught me out.'

'How couldn't I?' James said dryly. 'You cracked up laughing after one sentence. And I can recognise your laugh anywhere.'

I met his eyes for a minute.

'You have a nice laugh,' Hilary agreed. 'It's like bells - this loud, ringing sound. Everyone else feels happy when you laugh.'

'If you say so,' I said with amusement.

'So, Lily. You haven't told us what question Bella asked you first,' James said with a smirk, sitting down at the table, obviously tiring from leaning against the wall.

'What do you think?' I asked, rolling my eyes.

'I wouldn't have a clue,' he said innocently. 'You'll have to tell me.'

I looked at Hilary, but she raised her palms.

'How am I supposed to know what you two said if I wasn't there?' she grinned.

'I'm not going to say it, because you two know perfectly well what question she asked me.'

'No we don't,' Hilary and James said together.

'Fine! I give up! She asked me if I liked James!' I said, knowing they weren't going to relent.

'Ah, yes! That question! And what was your answer?' James asked, blinking and smiling charmingly at me. I mock glared at him.

'What do you think I said?'

'That you're madly in love with me?'

'Yep, of course that's what I said. How did you guess?' I said with an air of sarcasm. 'No, James. I'm sorry - but I just don't have those kind of feelings for you,' I grinned.

'It's a shame; we could be beautiful together,' he said, shaking his head sadly. Hilary had been watching us with amusement.

'You two are like a two-person soapie. Days of Our Drearies look out.'

'I reckon,' I agreed. 'Marlina and Stefano, kiss my ass.'

'Lily, did you just say a bad word?' James asked incredulously.

'Got a problem?'

'Nope. Just never heard you say anything bad before. Continue.'

'Thank you.'

'You're welcome. Now, what shall we call our show?' he asked thoughtfully.

'Dunno. What are your suggestions?' I asked.

'Wayne's World?'

'James, it's been done.'

'Ooohhhhhhh, right. The James Potter Late Show?'

'I don't even want to begin to imagine what that show would be about,' I said, closing my eyes and shaking the thought from my head. 'The Tom and Jerry Show?' he offered.

'And that name is sooooooooooo original,' I said sarcastically.

'The James and Lily show?'

'I like it, but my name should go first.'

'Why?' asked James, frowning.

'Because Lily and James sounds better than James and Lily, don't you think, Hils?'

Hilary was, yet again, watching us silently with amusement.

'Oh, yes. Those two names sound perfect next to one another. You know, James, I think you should add your surname in there to make it a little more personal.'

'What, The Lily and James Potter show?' he asked, clueless. Hilary lost it.

'Married now are we, James?' I asked him, raising an eyebrow.

'Homey touches! It needs homey touches!' Hilary said through her laughing. James and I both eyed her warily.

'Is she on drugs?' I whispered to James.

'I didn't think she was, but now I'm not sure.'

'Well, if she's not on drugs, I think maybe she needs some.'

He nodded his head in agreement.

'But if she is, I want some,' he whispered back.

'Maybe she's just cracked it.'

'Yeah - don't worry, Hilary. Where you're going, everyone will believe you.' 'You'll be able to put in all the homey touches you want, too,' I giggled.

'The walls are padded and white,' he added.

'And the coats are three sizes too small.'

Hilary was still laughing.

'I had - a funny - mental - image,' she managed through her giggling. 'You two - married! Husband - and - hic - wife! Homey touches! It needs - hic - homey touches!'

'Hilary, what have you been smoking?' I asked concernedly, wondering what on earth she was on about. When she had finally calmed down, she took a deep breath.

'I had this funny mental picture of you two married, OK? James was sitting in a lounge chair reading the paper and you were dancing around the house telling him that it needed homey touches!'

She bust out laughing again.

I patted her sympathetically on the back.

'There, there, Hilary. We understand your problem.'

James laughed.

'Actually, I'm not sure I do. What delusional delinquent do I have for a sister here?'

'I'm not sure I really want to find out,' I admitted.

'I think her brains are cooked or something,' James said, scrutinizing her.

'What could have done it?' I asked with fake wonder.

'Maybe she was born like this,' he shrugged.

Hilary only laughed harder.

'Would you two stop talking about me like I'm not here?' she said, wiping tears from her eyes.

'I wasn't aware of the fact that she was with us,' I whispered to James.

'Me neither. Do you think it's safe to approach her now?'

'I don't know, it's a risk,' I told him, shaking my head.

'Well, I guess it's one I'll just have to take. I'm going in.'

James got up out of his chair and walked over to Hilary and began tickling her. She let out another cry of laughter before getting up to escape. James chased after her and I followed. We ended up upstairs in one of the spare rooms. Hilary had tried to take refuge in there but in the end only succeeded in cornering herself. So we tickled the hell out of her. 'I give up! I give up! You got me! Stop, please!'

And so we stopped, breathing hard.

'I'm all tickled out,' she sighed, but she had a sly look on her face. 'James, do you remember the start of the year, at Hogwarts, when you mentioned how loyal Potters were to one another?'

'Yeah,' James said slowly.

'Well, I think it's time to for the Potters to unite against that dreadful tickling queen over there,' she said, gesturing at me with her head. James soon got the same sly look on his face, and I opened my eyes wide.

'Oh no, no, please - noooooooooooooooooo!'

They were upon me in an instant. I was backed up against a wall and a cornered little Lily was no match for two tickling Potters.

'Ahhhhhhhhhhh! Stop, please,' I breathed, my stomach hurting from laughing.

'Stop it,' I giggled, but they kept tickling me. I curled myself up into a ball-like shape, trying to escape. James rolled me over to get at my sensitive sides again, but I cried out.

'Ow, ow - my earring, ow!' I hissed, Hilary stopped, but James leaned forward, his face near mine.

'Why should I stop?' he asked.

'Because my earring is hooked,' I said, glaring at him.

'Intermission,' James announced solemnly. 'This tickle war will recommence in two minutes time.'

I sat up, panting hard, and unhooked my earring from my sweater, smiling and shaking my head at the same time.

'You are going to pay for that, James Potter.'

'Really?' he asked, grabbing a hold of my bra strap through my shirt and pulling it back and releasing it.

'Ow!' I yelped. 'James!'

He scrambled away before I could get back at him. Just then, the door was opened. Charles was standing in the doorways.

'What is going on in here?' he demanded. Hilary remained silent. James stood up and faced his father.

'We were playing around,' he said in a tone that implied he was just daring his father to challenge this fact.

'How many times have I told you not to muck around in the rooms?' Charles said in a menacing voice.

'I don't know. Remind me,' James said, not faltering. By now Hilary, too, was staring resistantly at her father. Whether it was because I was present, or because he could sense he was fighting a losing battle, Charles Potter gave into his children.

'I'll let it slide. But don't break anything, and I want it just as you found it when you leave.'

And with that, he disappeared.

* * *

Firregaze was an odd kind of creature. According to James his preferred form was a snow leopard, and at first this had been true. But after I had returned from Bella's, he had taken somewhat of a liking to being a fox. Not that I minded; a fox was much more 'normal' than having a snow leopard prowling the house. But I had just thought it odd that while Firregaze was truthfully a feline, he was suddenly finding comfort in becoming dog-like.

I had quickly become accustomed to having him following me everywhere. Unlike Storm Shadow, who was more of a solitary animal, he loved being around people. When there were several people around he often took the form of a puppy, wagging his tail happily and snapping playfully at people's heels. At night he would curl up on the end of my bed, a sleek red fox.

Out of interest, I had spoken to James about the daemon, wondering if there was any kind of person that specialized in dealing with daemons or just magical beings in particular. He had responded with the details of an uncle of his, saying he wasn't quite sure what he did exactly but he was bound to know about daemons.

I had no idea what had compelled me to ask James over Bella, or Hilary. It might have been the fact that he was the smartest in his year, or because he knew a lot of people, or maybe just because I had just been turning to James a lot lately, when his moods weren't getting in the way. I had always felt guilty when I called the Potters's house to ask for James and Hilary answered the phone. I knew I really had no reason to, but maybe it was just because our friendship seemed more likely than James's and mine - we were both the same age, and female. But despite the strangeness of the situation, there was nothing anyone could do to deny the fact that James and I were very close. It had just happened.

James had offered to go visit his uncle with me, and I had managed to convince my mother. So there I was, Firregaze hopping about my feet as a blue jay, standing on the doorstep of number twenty two Mundareen Avenue. James was knocking on the door and I stood a little back, not feeling entirely welcome on a stranger's property. A man in his late forties answered the door. He had greying hair and eyes the same startling blue as James's.

This man was Raul Potter.

**********************************************************************

* * *

Raul had been rather ecstatic to see Firregaze - he spent a great deal of time fussing over him, and he became a puppy in an instant, happily lapping up all the attention.

'You'll have to excuse excitement, children - it's just that I haven't seen a daemon for many years. They're becoming quite rare. Fascinating creatures, aren't they?'

I nodded my head in agreement. Firregaze was now a fox again, and curled affectionately around my feet. I leaned down to pat his head.

'I'm sorry to bother you, sir, but -'

'Please, call me Raul,' he said politely. I smiled.

'I'm sorry to bother you, Raul, but I was just curious to know more about daemons, and why he seems to have attached himself to me...'

James came and sat next to me on the couch.

'I was rather surprised when James had told me there was a daemon at Hogwarts,' Raul said. 'And one that had no owner, too. It is uncommon for a daemon not to attach itself to someone.'

'But why Lily?' James asked curiously. 'He's been at Hogwarts for ages - he must have met hundreds of kids.'

'Firregaze would not have attached himself to you without a reason,' Raul told me. 'What that reason is, I do not know.'

'If Firregaze is a snow leopard, how come he's been a fox so often lately?' I asked.

'Because, Lily, if I'm correct, you yourself are a fox. In fact, Firregaze tells me he's never seen someone more like a fox in his lifetime.'

I gaped.

'You can talk to him?'

'No, but he can communicate with us.'

'How? He can't speak, can he?' James asked, puzzled.

'Actually, James - it's more a case of people can't listen. We would all be able to understand a lot more if we simply listened,' the man said kindly. 'Firregaze is a fox because you are one, and you are his human. Shape shifters that spend a lot of time with a human are eventually prone to take on the form of whatever the human is by nature.'

'Oh,' I said, for lack of anything else. It was rather a lot of information to be absorbing.

'So everyone has an animal nature?'

Raul nodded. 'A shape shifter is a perfect way to discover your true nature, in fact. We know you're a fox, Lily... but James... put your hand on Firregaze, James.'

Looking slightly confused, James placed a hand on Firregaze's back.

Firregaze quivered slightly at the touch, but didn't draw back. After a few moments he darted a step to the side and stood still. Raul leant down towards him.

'What is he, boy? You know, don't you?'

Firregaze flicked his tail in spasms and tossed his head a few times before starting at a short trot. Soon enough he was a stag with a handsome head of antlers, bobbing his head gracefully. Without meaning to I took a sharp intake of breath. James was watching Firregaze with awe.

'Yes... it portrays you well, doesn't it James? Rather proud and daunting, aren't you?'

'Awesome,' was all James said.

'If you don't mind me asking, what animal are you?' I asked, fearing it was a rather personal question.

'An owl,' Raul replied, extending his arm. Firregaze threw his head up slightly and suddenly he was a black owl with a white breast, mid-air. He landed gracefully on Raul's arm.

'My form is obviously rather prominent to him, considering I am capable of transforming myself.'

'You're an animagus?' James asked, impressed.

'Not an animagus, but a daimonagus. Same concept, though. I have already told you that every human possesses an animal nature. The skill of an animagus is to make use of the connection between mind and spirit - human and animal - which is strengthened by magic. The animagus process is difficult and there are some people unable to transform, even with it's magic strengthening the bond. But as there are those devoid of the ability, there are those advanced in it as well. Thus there are a select few witches and wizards capable of making the transformation without first becoming an animagus.'

'And you're one of those?' I breathed, still rather dazed by this revelation of information.

'Yes. An Firregaze is too, in his own way. Elite animals are born with his ability to change shape.'

I exchanged a glance with James. We were both in awe of what we had learned.

'You have found a loyal friend and faithful protector in coming across Firregaze, Lily. It is an honour to be chosen by a daemon.'

I nodded.

'I don't need to ask if you will take good care of him - I can already tell he loves you dearly, and a daemon never chooses an unworthy friend. I would take his acceptance of both your friendships as a compliment, you as well James. He obviously likes you.' 'So Firregaze is just really a normal snow leopard? Will he live longer?' I asked.

'Possibly, as shape shifting is a gift that can get an animal out of tight situations. Imagine being able to have access to every weapon an animal could possess - teeth, claws, poison. He can transform in an instant to whatever shape fits his mood or situation. In a way, it gives him nine lives.'

* * *

The rest of the summer passed relatively quickly. I had a wonderful time - exploring London and Diagon Alley with my friends, writing long letters to Joey and working up humungous phone bills, not just talking to her but to Bella and Hilary as well, plus the odd one to James. Two weeks into vacation and Hilary went to San Francisco with her parents on a business trip for a couple of weeks, and James came backwards and forwards between my house and Remus's, mostly because Remus had other arrangements but it wasn't quite appropriate for James to be sleeping at my house. We had discovered, though, that Remus didn't live too far away from me, therefore James could easily catch the bus to my house if Remus and his family were busy. So I spent even more time with James then.

We were definitely getting closer. But before you go getting any ideas, it was purely friendship and nothing more - as odd as it seemed for a male and female to be such close friends.

On one of the last days of summer I took James to a movie, which was something he had never done. He enjoyed it immensely - the whole notion of buying popcorn and watching the movie, even buying tickets, was strangely fascinating for him. He received several looks for his obvious ignorance of the way things worked, but once he had noticed this he had done a good job of hiding his lack of knowledge.

Afterwards we headed back to my place where James had another go on the trampoline while I experimented with Firregaze, trying to see if he could fetch a ball. When I asked him to go get it he had given me a rather indignant look, and I had realised it was more a matter of whether he wanted to fetch a ball.

The rest of the summer was much like that - once the Potters had returned James went home. I spent another few days at their house and Bella's, plus they came over to mine. I caught up with René and Melody, too.

All in all, it really was a golden summer.

***************************

there we go - nice long chapter

here a summary since sum1 wanted one to refresh their memory:

Summary of Year One:

Lily discovers she is a witch, parts with her best friend and goes to Hogwarts, where she meets Bella, Hilary, James, Sirius, Remus and some others. She's bullied by Malfoy, but is overcoming this with the help of her friends and the daemon Firregaze, who has mysteriously appointed himself Lily's 'protector'. During the year she attends a ball with James, has a few parties with her new and old friends, solved a mystery involving James and his ex-girlfriend Paige, played a few pranks and said goodbye to her best friend. There's been laughs and tears along the way, but she's always had her friends to count on, no matter what. Now, on to their second year...

SezZie

PS. I am sooooooooooooooooooo excited about the next chapter! Lol. I've already got the main idea for it and I've written some out.......... but wait for it......... we finally have a plot beginning to form! Yay! Lol. And I wrote another Sorting Hat song. It took me forever and I'm pretty proud of it so you have to tell me what you think of it. AND YOU BETTER LIKE IT COZ IT TOOK ME AGES AND AGES TO GET IT RIGHT! Lol. I'm calm.

Well, laters.