"I can't believe that you are going to stay with him for the summer," Jenna said as she, Lily and Sarah packed up their belongings in their trunks.
"I know…but hey, at least its not a stranger," Sarah said, trying to get Lily to see the better side of this.
"I would rather stay with a stranger than stay with him," Lily said as she started to drag her trunk down the steps to the common room.
"But Lily…it'll only be for two months," Sarah said.
"Yes I know, but then there'll be next year and who knows after that. I have no family to go home to and no matter who it is I stay with…"
"Lily…that's not true. Dumbledore did this arrangement because he knew that you would be safe…even if it is with Potter," Jenna said.
"I know but…he can be so mean to me and then with him pulling pranks on me and everything," Lily said, sighing as she sat down on the couch.
"Well, if it makes you feel any better, Dumbledore said that you could invite us over to stay with you at the Potter's house. He said that his parents won't mind and they understand how a summer can be without friends and everything," Sarah said as she saw Lily's face light up.
"Really?" Lily asked as she stood up.
"Yeah, even though I'm still against the idea," said a voice from behind them.
"Stuff it, Potter," Lily said as she turned around and glared at him.
"Look, why can't we all just try to be civil to one another. You two don't even have to talk to one another while we're on the train," Remus said as he looked at the two of them.
"What?" Lily asked, looking at him.
"Oh, uh… we forgot to tell you, Lily. You see, Remus asked us all to stay in the same cabin together on the way back," Jenna said as she looked at her friends face.
"Yeah…we were going to tell you…but…well, we kind of forgot," Sarah said as she looked at Lily, hoping that she wouldn't be mad.
"Oh…well…all right," Lily said as she looked at her friend's faces and agreed.
"Come on, Evans…we can't be that bad," Sirius said as he put an arm around her shoulder.
"As bad as you might think you're not, its not you who I'm worried about," Lily said as she smiled up at him.
"Its nice to know that you're so worried about me, Evans," James said as he smirked at her.
"The day that I worry about you, Potter, is the day that I fall in love with you…which trust me, won't be happening at all," Lily said as she glared at him.
"Come on, Lily. We better get down to the Great Hall so we could get something to eat before we leave," Sarah said as she and Jenna grabbed Lily's arm and left.
"Prongs, maybe you should try to be nicer to her," Remus said as he looked at his friend.
"For once, I agree with, Moony, Prongs. The girl has been through a lot this past year and well…"
"Padfoot, don't tell me that you're getting soft," James said as he glanced at him.
"Not at all, Prongs, but…"
"At least try to be more civil towards her. We'll both be watching you on the train and we're both coming over to your house this summer as well," Remus said as he looked at him.
"Alright, alright…I'll…try being more civil with her," James said as Remus and Sirius patted him on the back and left to go eat.
"We were really going to tell you, Lily," Sarah said as they ate.
"That's alright you guys. Besides, I know that you fancy those pricks, so its alright," Lily said as they all smiled at one another.
"But really, though, Lily, you should try to be a bit more civil with him," Jenna said, looking at her.
"Jenna, to be civil with Potter is like trying to be civil with Malfoy or Snape," Lily said.
"Really now, Evans," a voice said from behind them.
"Why, if it isn't the mudblood," said another voice from behind the group of girls.
"Sod off, Malfoy," Lily said as she didn't turn around to look at him.
"Why don't you two just leave us alone," Sarah said as she glared up at them, along with Jenna.
"We didn't come here to talk to you, we came here to talk to the filthy little mudblood," Lucius said as he smirked at the red headed girl in front of him.
"…"
Sarah and Jenna looked at one another and then at Lily, seeing her face trying to hide her emotions. Jenna nodded to them both and took off running out of the Great Hall, looking for the Marauders.
"You know, you shouldn't even be allowed in this school," Lucius said, smirking at her.
"We believe that it's a disgrace to have mudbloods like you running around in our school," Severus said, glaring at her back.
"As well as little prats like you," Lily said as turned around to face them this time.
"You listen here you mudblood…"
"Why don't you pick on someone else," Sarah said as she stood up.
"Why should we listen to someone like you who lowers herself to speak and hang out with a mudblood," Lucius said, sneering at her.
"Just go sod off, both of you," Lily said as she stood up as well, glaring at them.
"Well, well, well…why don't…
"You go and sod off before something bad happens. Besides, we haven't been allowed to pull a prank for months now, but seeing as how it's the last day and we're all riding on the same train…"
"You're a disgrace as well, Potter," Lucius said, glaring at him.
"And you're still a prick as well as a disgrace to your house. Wouldn't want something to happen like last time…right," James said as he smirked at their faces.
"Fine. See you around, mudblood," Lucius said as he and Severus sneered at Lily one more time and left.
"Ugh…what a bunch of prats," Lily said as she crossed her arms over her chest and sat down.
"Your welcome, Evans," James said as he sat down next to her while Remus sat next to Jenna and Sirius sat next to Sarah.
"…Thanks, Potter," Lily said as she gave him a small smile and just picked at her plate.
"Lily, you've got to eat something," Jenna said as she noticed that Lily wasn't eating.
"Yeah, besides, it's a long trip back and the trolley doesn't carry food…only goodies," Sarah said as she tried to get Lily to laugh or at least smile.
"I'm not really that hungry you guys. I'll see you all at the train, though, okay," Lily said as she stood up and left, her eyes watering.
"But the train doesn't leave for another two or three hours at least," Sarah said as she looked up at Sirius.
Sirius and Remus both looked at one another, nodded and then looked at James who was starring at Lily as she left the hall. When James turned around again to face them, they both nodded at him and James starred back at them.
"Prongs…why don't you go check on her?" Remus said, smirking at him.
"Yeah…you know…just to be sure that she's all right and all," Sirius said as he also smirked at him.
"Why do I have to…"
"James…remember what we talked about?" Remus asked as he leaned forward.
James looked at the two of them and knew that they weren't going to let it go, especially when Remus had that look in his eye and when Sirius had that grin of his.
"Please, James," Sarah said as she looked up at him.
"I know it might seem like she hates you and everything…but…well…please, just go see her. Besides, I don't think she wants to see us right now anyways," Jenna said, as she looked up at James and waited.
"Alright, then. I guess I'll see you guys at the train, too," James said as he got up and went looking for Lily.
"So, when are you all planning on visiting Lily?" Remus asked as he smiled at where James was sitting at before he left.
"Don't know really. Sarah and I were thinking of going a week or two before its time for us to get our supplies and things for next year," Jenna said as she looked at Sarah, who nodded.
"Well then, I suppose we shall be seeing you there then," Sirius said as he smiled mischievously before stuffing his sausages into his mouth.
"Evans!" James yelled as he tried to catch up to the red head.
"Leave me alone, Potter," Lily said as she continued walking quickly towards the area where the boats and carriages were.
"Evans! Evans, please wait!" James said as he finally caught up to her and wrapped his arms around her waist while she just stood there, silently shaking.
"Let me go, Potter," Lily said as she tried to control her voice.
"Evans…look…I know that we aren't exactly the best of friends and everything…but…I'm here okay…if you ever want to talk or anything," James said, feeling a bit uncomfortable, but relaxed when she talked back to him.
"Potter, why are you being so nice to me? You've never stood up for me when Malfoy and Snape were being pricks to me…and you've never cared about what it is I'm feeling…so why now?" Lily asked as she still tried to control herself.
"Evans…I…I'm so…I'm so sorry…for everything that I've done to you…you know the pranks and all…and not helping out a fellow Gryffindor," James said as he looked down at her, but Lily just bowed her head and continued to shake.
When Lily didn't say anything to James, he began to start to feel uncomfortable again with the silence. He still had his arms wrapped around her and was wondering if she was going to smack him for that later or the fact that he was here, helping her instead of her friends or even Remus or Sirius. Deciding that he had better let go before something were to happen that would involve him getting slapped, Lily did something that James never thought that she would do…much more or less with him.
"Why?" was all that Lily said as she wrapped her arms around him and sobbed, not being able to control herself anymore.
"…Its…going to be alright…everything is going to be alright," James said, a little bit shocked at what she just did, but rubbed her back up and down and tried to calm her down.
"No…its not alright, Potter," Lily said as she moved away from him, missing his warmth.
"Evans…Lily…you've still got your friends and you've got my friends," James said, but Lily just turned away from him. "And you've got me."
"Potter…"
"Evans, if you're going to be staying at my house this summer, at least let my parents help you at times like this. I know you and I aren't the best of friends…like I said before…but my parents are going to be there to help you. And…we have to sort of call a truce among us, too…which is another thing that was going to ask you about. So, we have to start being civil to one another and everything…at least until school starts up again…if you want," James said, walking up to her.
"Potter…um…I…well…I mean…"
"Lily…if you ever need to talk…the others are here and your friends Jetins and Higgins will be coming over this summer as well…and…I'm here," James said as he stood next to her.
"…James…thanks…for everything, but just keep Malfoy and Snape away from me on the train though…okay," Lily said as she smiled a small smile and James smiled back at her, wondering why it felt so right.
Thanks again for all of the reviews and suggestions. Means a lot to me you guys! I'm still hoping that Sirius will start to be or get funnier later on…don't know when now…but hopefully soon. J Thank you for your ideas again and if you still have anymore…let me know and I'll put it in the story! Flames are welcomed as usual! Thanks! Laters! - Bluepiper