A/n; WOOHOO! TWO HUNDRED REVIEWS! *tosses confetti around* Oh my God, this is so darn cool! I want to thank every single person who's ever read this and reviewed it, every review counts and… it's just made my day. Thank you so much, from the bottom of my heart for all of your support.
Thanks especially to Mary, my bestest friend in science besides Cate and Kerri, who gave me my 200th review! =)
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It was an unusual stuffy, hot June night in the castle on Lily's last night in Hogwarts before summer vacation. She was busy packing up with Sierra, Arabella and Sabrina.
"So you will write over the summer?" Sierra asked worriedly. "I haven't heard anything from Jaden since – well, Misty's death."
"He wasn't what we'd call 'socially elite' either," Arabella said sarcastically.
"You haven't heard from him yet? I expected he ran away or something after the Death Eater attack in December, but gods, you should've heard from him by now! Why didn't you tell us?" Lily asked in a concerned voice.
"I – I didn't think he'd never write to me again," Sierra said her eyes brimming with tears, "and – now I don't know what to do! Oh, my brother is out there somewhere in the world, unsheltered – unprotected!"
"Oh, Sierra," Arabella said with a sympathetic look on her face as Sierra dissolved into tears over her brother. Lily felt a pang of compassion for her as well – Jaden was a bit eccentric and a tad on the scary side but he was her only family. Arabella and Sabrina ran over to comfort Sierra but Lily hung back.
"I'm going downstairs to see if I've picked up all of my books and maps and everything, all right? Sia, are you going to be ok?" she asked a little uncomfortably.
Sierra nodded, her eyes puffy. "Can you check for me too?"
"Sure," Lily said flashing her friend a comforting smile before she bounded down the stairs.
There was almost no one in the Common Room; save James and his posse, as usual.
"Sirius, shut up someone's – oh wait, its just Lily," James said, coolly regarding her presence. Things had iced over them and things were back to the way they'd been before the whole 'Lily and James' thing started.
"Hi James," Lily said just as coolly, lifting up one of the couch's pillows to see if there were any odd and ends around that belonged to the girls.
"Nice to see you around," he replied rolling up a piece of parchment.
"Lily! Seems like we never see you anymore!" Sirius exclaimed and Lily was glad she and Sirius never stopped being friends because of her and James.
"Where's Remus?"
"Not… here?" James said glancing in an obvious way at the empty space surrounding them.
"Oh," Lily said, not being able to think of anything else to say.
"So – what're you doing this summer?" Sirius asked rocking back and forth on the balls of his toes.
"Nothing of interest, going to spend it with my parents," Lily said morosely, trying to suppress a grimace.
"That's awful," Sirius said although James made no moves to sympathize with her, "would you like to come and spend some of the summer with us?"
James' jaw dropped in indignation. "SIRIUS!"
"I wouldn't want to burden you with my presence seeing how James has so openly protested," Lily spat, going off like a short-lit fuse.
"No, no it's fine! James is just being a prick – he'll love having you tag along," Sirius insisted.
"Sirius! I can't believe what a jerk you are! I don't want Evans around for the summer!" James whined.
"Stop whining you big baby," Sirius snapped.
"So you mean I'm going to go to the infamous Black residence this summer?" Lily asked with an air of fake awe and admiration in her voice.
"Actually, we'd be going to the infamous Black beach house in Wizard's Cove."
"Pardon my asking, but what the hell's Wizard's Cove?"
"A very exclusive stretch of beach no Muggles no about, hence the name 'Wizards' Cove. Jamesie and I nearly grew up there every summer – that was where we first met. Their house was right next to ours," Sirius said punching James in the arm in a rather weak show of brotherly affection.
"It sounds wonderful! Who else is going?" Lily asked, sitting down on the couch with all it's cushions pulled up and things from sweaters to glasses being sat on.
"Oh, well I haven't invited –"
"It'd probably just be you plus Remus, Sirius and I," James said shortly.
"Oh," Lily said.
"Nonsense! Lily won't want to hang around with the Maur – I mean, us!" Sirius said quickly.
"You're right – maybe she shouldn't come at all!" James suggested brightly.
"Oh grow up Jamesie, like I'd miss this!" Lily said slapping his arm rather hard.
"I'll most definitely invite Sierra," Sirius said with a cheeky grin, "but I can also bring along Arabella and Sabrina."
"THANK YOU!" Lily said jumping up and giving Sirius a giant hug, "I'm going to go upstairs right now and tell them!"
James watched Lily run upstairs, beside herself with glee. "You realize how much I hate that girl, right?" he asked Sirius in a flat voice.
Sirius shrugged. "Oh, I don't know Jamesie – all you have to do is get used to the red hair and fiery temper. You know we've been over this millions of times – she's not your average dumb blonde."
"But I don't date dumb blondes!" James protested.
"Yes you do," Sirius said with a smirk.
"Well fine! Maybe I do but I can most definitely stand Little Miss Prim-and-Proper this summer or die trying," James said firmly.
"But don't you have a girlfriend you could occupy yourself with so you wouldn't have to see Lily?"
James gasped. "No actually, Si, I don't!"
Sirius gasped audibly as well, pretending to have figured it out just then. "Well there's your answer – take some girl you've had your eye on and forget the redhead."
"You know, I do have somewhat of a crush on that Ravenclaw – Fiona Blossom…" James mused carefully.
"Ooh. The secret comes out," Sirius said rolling his eyes, "but didn't you date her already?"
"Hard to keep them straight, Sirius my boy," James said winking.
"Oh yes James, it is so hard."
"I think I'll go pay a little visit to her tomorrow morning," James said grinning.
"You do realize that you can't send her packing halfway through the summer because she's bugging you, right?" Sirius asked.
"Of course Sirius!" James said although Sirius felt a horrible feeling in his gut that by at least three weeks, James would send Fiona packing.
Or, maybe, James would surprise him…
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Not surprisingly enough, Fiona graciously accepted James' 'proposal' complete with that cute fangirl blush and lots of punctuating giggles. Lily was thoroughly disgusted by the whole state of affairs.
"I give it three weeks," Arabella said reassuringly to Lily later that next night as they lounged around in their pajamas in the girls' dorm.
Lily looked at Arabella like she'd just been beamed down to Hogwarts. "Bella, I give it three days!"
"I really am starting to think that we are the only four left at Hogwarts who actually keep their wits about them when James Potter graces their presence," Sabrina drawled.
"With the exception of Lily," Sierra chimed in and all three of them laughed. Lily shot them a dirty look and picked up the Muggle book she'd started reading, ignoring them.
"I'd prefer if we not talk about past flings I have had with that – hideous beastly creature," she said wrinkling her nose.
"But it's so cute! And I'm betting you've still got feelings for him!" Sierra accused.
"Yes, this whole 'I hate Potter' thing is just a façade!" Sabrina grinned.
"It is not!" Lily exclaimed loudly, flustered.
"Oh, come on Lily, denying it won't get you anywhere! Admittance is the first step, right?" Arabella said. She nearly broke out in laughter at the sight of Lily's face.
"I – well – stop accusing me of that!" Lily said furiously, her face a bright red.
All three of her roommates burst into giggles.
"Oh Lily, you should really see your face – it's priceless!" Sierra gasped, trying to catch her breath.
"I don't appreciate it very much!" Lily scowled.
"Oh really Lily its all in good fun," Sabrina said. She softened slightly at Lily's genuine hurt expression.
"All in good fun," Lily repeated sourly, flopping on her bed. "I'm going to bed. Lord knows I'm going to need my strength for tomorrow."
The girls chorused goodnight to her but Lily didn't fall asleep. In fact, a certain messy-haired boy haunted her dreams and kept her from dreams for a very long time.
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"Jamesie, I was wondering – do you think I should pack most of my bathing suits or buy one there?" Fiona asked the next morning. She settled herself happily in his lap, earning some raised eyebrows from Sirius and Remus. Porridge dripped sloppily from Remus' spoon as his hand was immobile halfway to his mouth. James just smirked back in their direction, placing his hands on her hips.
"I think you should do whatever you want to do; if you want a new one, Jamesie will take care of it," James said, kissing her nose playfully.
"Oh God Potter, no one wants a freaking floor show!" Lily said disgustedly, nearly throwing up her breakfast at the very public show of affection.
"You're just jealous because you couldn't get this kind of attention from a guy, or even a girl, if you tried!" James shot back. He wasted no more time then in getting totally into kissing Fiona.
"Oh, real mature," Lily sneered, rolling her eyes. Fiona looked immensely pleased with herself, getting into it as well.
"And… here comes Jamesie Junior!" Sirius cried happily, egging them on. Professor McGonagall, unfortunately, heard this and her jaw nearly grazed the ground and marched over to the happy couple.
"MISTER POTTER! THAT will be QUITE enough!" she cried indignantly. James slowly broke away from Fiona, her pink lip-gloss smeared all over his lips.
He smiled sheepishly and what he hoped was a teacher-charming smile (hey, he could charm any girl at this school! How different was Professor McGonagall?) but the professor didn't look amused.
"Back to your assigned table, Miss Blossom," McGonagall said sternly. Fiona blushed, unwound herself from James and gave a small wave as she slinked back to the Ravenclaw table.
"It was an honest mistake, Professor!" James insisted. Sirius coughed, hoping James would notice the lip-gloss. James looked at Sirius and Sirius pantomimed a girl putting on lipstick. James quickly snatched a napkin, eyes wide with horror and wiped the sticky goo off his face.
"She just happened to trip and you caught her on the lips, eh?" she pressed severely.
James gulped. Sirius let out a snort that quickly became a coughing fit as McGonagall shot a warning look at him.
"Hmm. Well, don't let it happen again, Potter. I won't stand for this very public show of affection; you're all a bunch of hormone-driven teenagers in my book. Keep it under wraps, will you?"
"Yes m'am," James said saluting, his face bright red.
"Oh, and just to make sure it doesn't happen again, 20 points from Gryffindor." She walked away swiftly, robes billowing.
"Witchy. Lily could end up exactly like her some day: old, teaching and telling off kids for making out. What a life!" Sirius said incredulously.
"I heard that! I will not end up an old crone!" Lily said offended.
"With a face like that, you already are!" James told her.
Lily smiled disarmingly and didn't say a word, turning back to her breakfast and conversations.
"She's something else, I'll tell you," Sirius said with an amused smile. "You know, if you weren't so bloody in love with her I'd date her in a second."
"You can have her," James said bitterly.
"Sorry mate, I don't steal another guy's um – mate."
"Jonathan Quigley's in love with her; I swear to God," James said feeling a twinge of annoyance, "he's always talking about her."
"Ha! See? You're already missing out! God James, imagine Lily going to somebody like Jonathan Quigley, Mr. Prep himself!" Remus exclaimed.
"She'd never go out with him; he's not good enough for her," James said self-assuredly.
Sirius and Remus exchanged knowing glances.
"Well then James, who exactly is good enough for Lily?" Sirius asked lightly.
"Somebody who is – well, like you Sirius: someone who really knows how to treat a lady like Lily," James said.
Sirius looked doggedly at James. "You're just saying that to put us off."
James pretended to look shocked at this revelation. "So I am!"
"Well all we're saying is that would you rather another perfectly good girl who only comes around once in a million years go to a guy like Jonathan Quigley or go to somebody like – well, you?" Remus said logically.
"I'd rather her go to Severus Snape than me," James said loudly.
"I give up!" Sirius said throwing his hands up in the air.
"Face it Sirius: we can't convince James; he's been around the block a few times," Remus said, but all hope wasn't lost yet. They still had all summer and Wizard's Cove was noted for it's beautiful beaches and even more beautiful, romantic spots. But Lily didn't have to know that – not yet.
"Well – I've got to get going, Divination first with Hufflepuffs," Sirius said brightly and went off with Sierra.
Remus got up briskly as well, pushing his chair in. "Uh… well I've got to go check some things on the Quidditch season next year – I think Professor McGonagall wants me to be commentator next year."
"Bye –" James said as Remus practically sprinted away.
"Aw Potter's all alone! What, no entourage?" Lily asked scooting her chair right next to his.
"Sod off Evans, I'm brooding. You're distracting me from being handsome," James said sourly, trying to swat her away.
"Oh, I'm so sorry Your Highness! Please, let me kiss your shoes!" Lily said sarcastically.
"What do you want with me now?" James asked, annoyed.
"Nothing. I felt like coming over and annoying you."
"Go hang out with your little groupies," James replied resentfully.
"My little groupies? I could hand you over to the Hufflepuff girls and you'd come back five minutes later with no pants on and a ripped shirt and one shoe on!"
"I'm sure you've fancied me with no pants on," James said slyly, knowing it would turn Lily off and disgust her.
"Oh, God Potter. Get over yourself!" Lily said disgustedly and turned red, true to James' prediction.
"So you're not denying it?" James asked cheekily.
Damn! Stop blushing, Evans! Lily thought. Though the thought of James without pants really was disgusting, she couldn't prevent the color from creeping over her cheeks.
"Look Potter, all I came over here to ask was what you thought about Amos Diggory," Lily said looking slightly flustered.
James looked at her with one eyebrow raised. "What I thought about Amos Diggory? You came over to ask me what my opinion is on Amos Diggory?"
Lily looked a little guilty. "Yeah. So, what's his deal?"
"Well, he's my worst enemy and he's on the Hufflepuff Quidditch team."
"POTTER!" Lily said frustrated. She slapped him on the arm.
"All right, fine. He's single at the moment, the last girlfriend he had was Sonya Chang but she graduated last year. His record for longest period of time with a girl was four months, with Sonya and his reliability is – well –"
"Better than yours," Lily interjected smoothly.
"Thank you," James said, not missing a beat.
"You're welcome."
"Is that all I need to know?"
"Watch how he carries himself, I won't say anything that'll taint your perfect little schoolgirl crush on him but don't hold your breath; he likes fast women," James said, fibbing a tad. He couldn't understand why he wanted to antagonize Diggory, other than the fact that he hated him. He got this horrible pang of – it couldn't be jealousy, but he got a pang of something whenever someone showed the slightest interest in Lily or vice versa.
Lily's face fell just a bit. "I can be fast –"
"Don't change for him Lily, he's not worth it," James said briskly, "and now I bid you farewell for the time being because I'm going to be late for Arithmancy."
Lily sat there, dumbfounded and about to be late for class.
"He called me Lily," she said quietly to herself.
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Teeheehee. I am so evil. Eehevil! R/R!