Next morning the four Marauders where all sitting in the Great Hall, having breakfast as usual. At least a hundred owls were flying above their heads, but they didn't even look at them. They chatted along about girls, even James. He was happier today.

He had run into Chris earlier and asked him about what had happened after he'd flown in to Lily. Chris reported that it had been a disaster, he only got to kiss her two times before the door was opened by the Head Girl who threw him out of the room with the words: "Get out of here!" So nothing had happened, and James was content.

"Look at those two", Sirius said and pointed down the big table at a couple. The boy was tall with flaming red hair and very handsome, the girl was shorter and cute.

"Arthur and Molly. I bet they're going to get married and have a million kids, the way they're always snuggling."

"Who cares, look over there. Now that is a first class product", Peter said.

"Too blonde. I'm more into that one over there."

"You know, guys", Remus said. "We are jerks."

"Yeah", James said, "But girls seem to like jerks, since they're always following us."

Suddenly James' owl, a black one named Castor, landed in front of him, carrying a letter in the beak. James took it, gave Castor some bread and watched him fly off to the owlery.

The letter was from Chris.

"Meet me by the statue of Merlin after breakfast." That was all.

James ate quickly and ran off, telling the others that he was going to the bathroom.

He ran into Chris by the statue, where he was sitting on the floor.

"What is it?", James asked.

Chris got up and faced him.

"I'm breaking up with Lily."

James got shocked.

"What!? No, you can't do that. I've sent her flowers today, and a poem, she got them with her owl at breakfast."

"Precisely, James", Chris said. "I don't want to be with her anymore. She told me yesterday that even if I had been an ugly creep she still would have loved me, because of "my" wonderful letters. But those aren't my letters, James, they are yours, meaning that she's in love with you! And that doesn't really make me like her more. You were the one outside the window last night, not me, and you know I'm right in what I'm saying. She wants a romantic guy, and her emotions are... really starting to scare me off."

James was lost for words. He just stared at the boy in front of him. He wanted to punch him and call him an idiot, yet he knew Chris was right, for once in his life Chris was intelligent.

"Then what do we do?", James asked.

"I don't know what you're going to do, but I'm breaking up with Lily. Then I'll leave it to you to tell her the truth about the letters and last night."

"I can't", James said. "She'd hate me! I couldn't stand that!"

Chris suddenly looked at James with new eyes, full of a new understanding.

"Oh my God", he said, almost whispered. "That's why you were helping me all the time. You are in love with Lily."

"Does it matter?", James asked. "She's in love with you."

"No, James. She's in love with the guy who wrote her the letters. You."

James' heart gasped at Chris' words. Lily loved him? But what would he do now?

"Thanks for your help, James", Chris said and walked away. "You've been a good friend, and will always be, but I have to do this."

James sat down on the stone floor by Merlin's feet with blank eyes. This couldn't be happening. How could he feel so miserable while his heart was singing with joy. Lily would be single, and free to him. But when she found out about the letters, she'd never want to speak to him again. But she loved him! That would change very quickly once she knew the truth.

Suddenly a figure came out from the shadows of the corridor. James looked up... and saw Sirius.

"I heard everything, Prongs", he said. "I followed you here."

"Then I guess you hate me too."

"No. I know that you did what you did out of love, even though it was incredibly stupid. Poor Lily, she's going to be devastated."

"I know, Padfoot", James said. "I just.... I love her so much. I love her more than life itself, that's why I've been so absent. I'm sorry."

"It's all right, we all suspected something already. But we never thought it was Lily."

"So... what do I do now?"

"Do yourself a favour, Prongs. Tell her that you love her. Then give her time."

James sighed and got up.

"I know you're right", he said and they both went to their class. "But it's going to be hard."

"We'll help. We're the Marauders, and we never leave each other."

At ten o'clock in the evening the Marauders were in the Gryffindor common room, talking about the situation. Moony, Wormtail and Padfoot now knew everything that had happened and tried to come up with solutions to the problem. Remus was playing the piano.

Then, suddenly the portrait hole opened and Lily entered the room running. Her face was hidden in her hands, she was crying and she ran past the four boys without saying a word.

"Lily!", they all called after her, but she ran into her dormitory and slammed the door.

Remus left his magical floating piano which disappeared and they all knocked on the door to her room.

"Lily, let us in. You've gotta tell us what's wrong."

"Go away", she cried.

"Lily, it's us. The Marauders. Remember us, your best friends? We're worried about you, please open the door."

They waited in silence, until finally Lily opened the door. Tears were streaming down her face and the boys almost heard her heart break inside her.

James forgot everything about hiding his love. He walked up to her, without a word, and put his strong arms around her. She leaned her head upon his shoulder and cried some more. He stroke her hair gently.

"What happened?", he asked. "Can we come in?"

"Yeah", she whispered. James released her and the Marauders stepped inside. Lily went to her bed and sat down. A beautiful bouquet of roses was lying next to her, and the bed was covered with letters and poems. James recognised his own handwriting on them all.

"Chris..... broke up with me", Lily said, staring at the floor. "He likes someone else."

"What?", the Marauders cried. "Who?"

"Cassandra Moore."

"This can't be true", James exclaimed. "She's an air headed bimbo, for God's sake."

"It is true", Lily said. "He told me he liked her, and that my love was too strong for him to carry. And then... he told me that.... the letters are not what I think they are. What does that mean?!"

She hid her face in her hands again and sobbed. The four boys sat down on the floor in front of her, like knights kneeling before their queen.

"I'm sorry", she said. "I'm Lily, and Lily's not supposed to cry, right?"

"It's all right", Peter said. "Cry, Lily."

"Is there anything we can do?", Remus asked.

"Lily, I am so sorry", James said. "This is all my fault, I shouldn't have told him to write to you."

"No, Prongs", she said. "You were great. It was me, I asked too much of him."

"All you wanted was a romantic boyfriend who would say sweet things to you", James said. "Like every other girl wants. It's nothing to think badly of."

Lily picked up one of the letters.

"Could you guys leave me alone for a few minutes?", she said.

"Sure", they said and rose off the floor.

"Not you, James", she said and seized his arm. "Stay."

The others looked back over their shoulders at James, then they left the room.

He turned towards Lily who was holding a poem from him.

"I want to show you something", she said. "The others wouldn't understand, but I think you will. I got this one this morning, along with the roses." Then she read aloud:

"I cross my heart and hope to die

if any word's untrue.

How could I lie and still be worthy of you?

I will be there for you always,

to stand by your side.

If you need me, don't ever think twice.

If you should wake to find the sun

has yet to start the day

and every star up in the sky's gone away,

out of the darkness you'll find me,

aglow in the night

from the light that I see in your eyes.

Lily Evans, let me be your guardian angel.

I'll protect you, and direct you from all harm.

If there is danger, I want you to know

don't be afraid for you're never alone."

She stopped and looked up at him. Then she picked up a tiny piece of paper.

"This is a note from Chris that I got during Potions one day. It's not romantic, it just says that he wants to meet me that evening. Yesterday evening. The handwriting on this note and that on the letters... are not the same. They are different. Chris didn't write those letters, James."

He tried to look surprised.

"Then who did?", he asked.

"I don't know", she cried and dried her eyes with the back of her hand. "Who wrote these? Who made me so happy and yet lied to me so cruelly?"

Again James lost everything. He lifted her up from the bed and held her tightly in his arms.

"Forget about him, Lily. He is an idiot to leave you, and he doesn't realise what a wonderful person you are. But I do. I love you, Lily, I love you more than I can ever tell you."

Lily pushed him away, her tears had stopped. She stared at James with complete confusion in her eyes, as if he had spoken a different language.

"Prongs, are you crazy? This is me, Lily, one of your best friends since day one at Hogwarts."

"Yes, I know", he said. "And I can't hold it back anymore. I love you, Lily. I have watched you and Chris together, and I have been so jealous I could hardly see straight. I thought I was going to loose my mind, I needed to do something."

"James... are you telling me that it was you who....?"

She didn't finished, the answer was plainly written in his face.

"Yes", he said. "It was me. Chris begged me to write those, he couldn't do it by himself, and I knew how much you loved him, so I did it for you. I am so sorry, Lily, I have been a complete idiot and I hate myself for it, but I did it because I love you with all my heart and want you to be happy, even if it is with someone else."

"And last night..."

"It was me outside your window. I was the one talking, Chris was hiding next to me under my invisibility cloak. Lily, I swear I never meant to hurt you like this, I was desperate."

"How can you write a poem about not lying to me when that was all you did?", she yelled angrily.

"I never lied to you, everything in those letters and poems is true. Every word."

He got back on his knees again. His eyes started to fill with tears.

"Please, forgive me. Please, don't hate me."

She sat there, quiet and still, as if she had been turned to stone.

"Go," she said. "Leave me alone."

"Lily..."

"Go, Prongs", she whispered. "Just go. And don't talk to me again. I don't hate you.... but I don't want to see you again."

He rose and looked at her beautiful face. She looked right into his eyes... and slapped his face.

He slowly turned around and left her there.