A/N: Sorry it took so long to get this chapter out!!!!! I really am sorry!!!!

This chapter is dedicated to Nicole for always being there, even when I'm not at my high points in life, and to Agent Idiot for inspiring most of this chapter to me. Thanks a million!!!

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or his universe. Even more sadly, I'm just a pathetic writer who is borrowing work from someone she can never live up to. *Bows to JKR*

Illicit Love

Chapter Ten

End of Summer

"James? James! Wait up, don't go now, I'd like to have a word with you if you'd allow it."

The figure, while bumbling rather than ominous, strode easily towards the five teenagers, his muscular body evident behind his thin robes.

"James," The figure said breathlessly. "I'm sorry to bother you... I'm – "

"You're Vincent Parker!" Sirius exclaimed.

The man eyed the black-haired boy for a moment before turning back to James.

"Yes, I'm Vincent Parker."

The four boys' eyes brightened in awe, but Lily just looked at the strange man in confusion.

"It's very nice to meet you, Mr. Parker," she said. "But if you'll excuse us, we've all got to get back to home now."

"Lily, you don't understand!" Peter hissed. "He's Vincent Parker."

"Very well established; so he said he was."

James shook his head while Sirius muttered good-naturedly, "I'm so ashamed!"

"You see, Miss – Lily is it?" Vincent Parker asked. Lily nodded. "Well, you see, Lily, I play for the Quidditch team Puddlemere United."

Realization spread across the young woman's face. "I see..." she replied timidly, blushing slightly.

"Yes.... Well, I've been searching for talent, Mr. Potter. I'm sure you've heard that Kayleigh Branford is going on maternity leave come springtime, and she'll not be playing Quidditch anymore. We're losing the best damn chaser we have on the team, so, obviously we need a replacement."

James knitted his eyebrows, wondering what this all had to do with him while not giving his hopes up. "I'm sorry. I know how you feel, being Quidditch Captain for three years, I know what it's like losing good teammates."

Vincent smiled warmly. "Well, Jordan Berry, the owner of the team, is father to Pricilla Berry, who I believe is a Hufflepuff sixth year and has done nothing but speak good of you."

James' cheeks colored. He knew who Pricilla Berry was. She was a girl who wasn't smart at all, nor had any common sense, and couldn't carry on a conversation. But she was very pretty and that made up for it because you didn't talk to Pricilla, you snogged her.

"Yes, I know her," James said.

"I'm parched, let's have a drink, shall we? On me."

"Um..."

"Your friends can come too, if they'd like."

"Sure, why not?"

They were soon in the Leaky Cauldron and sat down at a private table in a far, far corner of the room.

Vincent Parker took a swig of his mulled mead and looked around the private room he had requested. James sat across from Vincent, and his friends scattered around the tables.

"Well, to get back to my story, Pricilla Berry talks nothing but good of you, and Mr. Berry went to see you play. He then said nothing but how damn great you are." He swigged his mead again. Sirius clapped James on the back.

"Sir, I'm confused about – " James began.

"Don't want to give your hopes up, eh?" Vincent said, smiling. "I've seen you play. Brilliant tactics, you have, zooming around, passing the Quaffle craftily. You make it look like bleeding ballet. I'm not that graceful, that's why I'm a Beater. Quidditch never ceases to amaze me, though." He shook his head as if in some kind of supernatural awe. "James, as captain of the Puddlemere United team, I believe you're what we've been looking for."

"Me?" James asked, overwhelmed. "But I'm still in school."

"Yes, we can work around that, we're not going to need you wholly until springtime. Until then, you'd only have to come to practices a few times a month."

James was completely stunned. "Are you sure you've got the right wizard?"

"James Henry, five-eleven, dark hair, dark eyes, picture's in the magazines all the time," he looked James up and down for a moment. "Yep, that's you, unless you have a twin who's also named James."

"No, no, I am James..."

"Great! You'll start training tomorrow. Mr. Berry and the rest of your team will keep their eyes on you, make sure you're really what they want, but don't fret – it's not like you're completely daft in the area or that we have anyone better for the job. You'll be receiving an owl that will give you the details about tomorrow." Vincent downed the rest of his mead and stood. He shook James' hand. "It was a pleasure to meet you." Then he shook the other three boys' hands and kissed Lily's. "Charming to meet you all. Goodbye." Then he Apparated away. Sirius punched James' arm.

"Ow!"

"Sorry, it looked like you needed that."

"Yeah, I did."

"We all did," Remus said.

"Puddlemere United, eh? Good team, they are," Sirius stated.

"Best England has, I'll say," Peter answered.

"Lily Mariah Evans!"

The redhead whipped around.

"Hello, Mummy Dearest."

"We've been waiting for you for over an hour, young lady! How could you do this to us?" Serena Evans said. "Some twenty-stone pervert could have picked you up and carried you off!"

Lily rolled her eyes. "Not in a pub full of hundreds of magical people with wands, they couldn't."

"I don't like that tone, let's get out of here!"

"Yes, Mum. I'll be out shortly."

The blonde woman left the pub and Lily turned to her friends.

"Well, I suppose I have to go now," she said. She hugged and kissed her friends goodbye, congratulated James and kissed him properly, then, with a final wave, she disappeared through the door and into Muggle London. After three steps towards the waiting car, Lily couldn't wait to get back to her world."

* * *

Remus Lupin was packing the rest of his stuff into his trunk when a knock came athis door.

"Come in."

A blonde woman the age of twenty-three came in.

"Going back...are you ready for it?"

"Yeah, I'm very excited. How about you, Jeanna? What are you and Lukas and the kinds doing this year?"

"Back to France, though I do love it here in England. Phillipe is goes to Beauxbatons this year, he's excited."

Jeanna was Remus' French stepsister. She grew up with her father and younger brother, Pierre, just outside of Paris, and had attended Beauxbatons Academy of Magic. When she was twelve, her father remarried to Vesta Pirandello-Lupin– Remus' mother, and they bought a castle on the coast of England so that Jeanna and Pierre could attend Beauxbatons and Remus could go to Hogwarts.

Jeanna had three children, the oldest starting school and the youngest barely a yeat. She and her husband, Lukas, lived in a large flat in the heart of Paris, as they all loved the excitement of the city.

Remus' stepbrother Pierre was the same age as himself. Pierre was a great buddy of Remus' when they were at home for the holidays. They talked of everything and anything and told each other all of their secrets. But the best part was, they were both the same. Same as in illnesses.

Both Remus and Pierre were werewolves.

Remus had been bitten by the curse when he was five and Pierre had been cursed since he was three. Having that in common, they quickly became the best of friends after they became brothers at the age of six.

"So, are you going to miss Hogwarts?"

Remus thought before turning to his sister. "I really am. So much, it's like my stomach aches when I think about it."

"You're going to get ulcers if you keep that up."

"Ulcers are the least of my problems."

"True." Jeanna sat down. "What are you going to do after you graduate?"

Remus shrugged. "I don't know what I can do."

"Let me rephrase the question – what do you want to do after graduation?"

The teenage boy's eyes lightened. "I want to be a magical animal veterinarian."

"Oui?' Jeanna asked, puling her brother down on the bed beside her. "I never would have thought."

"But I can't..."

"Why ever not?"

"Because I'm a fearful beast – animals are afraid of me, people are afraid of me."

"Remus, all you're doing is putting yourself down. Don't do that! You can be anything you want to be – don't trick yourself into thinking that you're not good enough."

"You've seen the way the cats around here scurry away from me."

"Those are domesticated Muggle animals. They're not the kind you buy at a petshop or menagerie in Diagon Alley. They're made to fear things they don't know – very small brain capacity. I mean, you've seen my dog Gigi – she can't even sit!"

Remus smiled. "You're right."

"Of course I am."

He wrapped his arms around his older sister and kissed her cheek affectionately.

"In all my eleven years of being stuck with an older sister, I've hardly regretted a day of it."

Jeanna smiled. "Gee thanks."

* * *

An hour later, Remus popped his head into Pierre's room to see what he was up to. He was sitting at his desk, muttering to himself darkly in French, and Remus could only catch a few words that he knew – especially the curses.

"Bonjour, parlez-vous Anglais, monsieur?" he said, not quite sure if the little French he knew was correct. Pierre turned and smiled, his dark eyes shining.

"Oui, monsieur, oui."

Remus let himself in and closed the door softly behind him.

"Care to tell me what the matter is?" he asked.

The dark haired boy shrugged. "What's wrong with you?"

"Ending Hogwarts," Remus answered. "Aren't you afraid to end your days at Beauxbatons?"

"Not in the slightest," Pierre answered. "The only thing is I'll miss is the holidays."

Remus smiled, and the two brothers launched into conversation about the good times they had had. They talked about the year's adventures they would have, and how they would miss being werewolves together – the time they wrestled and played like children while locked in the dungeons of the castle. They always came away with bite marks and scratches when they did that, but it was always fun. Remus had fun with his friends too, while James, Peter, and Sirius roamed around with him in their illegal Animagi forms, but it wasn't the same.

Pierre knew what it was like to have a cursed life. He always made the best of it, even when he was in pain and cranky and beast-like. He was very outgoing too, unlike Remus. Pierre was outgoing so that no one would suspect that there was something wrong with him, Remus guessed. He thought about being more out there before, but decided that he was comfortable with his set of friends and how he lived his life. He was beginning to think that if he wasn't a werewolf, he'd be just the same. Which, Pierre and he had discussed, was a look at the bright side. If they weren't werewolves, they'd be the exact same people they were now. Remus didn't know if it was true, really, but at least it made him feel better.

"What is Hogwarts like?" Pierre asked.

"I've told you a hundred times," Remus replied. "Just like you've told me about Beauxbatons."

"No, really, what's it like to go there? What are the people like? What are the professors like?"

"Well," Remus began, not knowing where to take this. "Usually everyone at Hogwarts is really nice, except for the Slytherins, but I suspect that that's just their ways. They're not even nice to each other. The professors are great. I like them all. Even our Divination professor I enjoy sometimes, just because she predicts that I won't be around for very long since she knows I'm a werewolf. We all know she's full of dung."

"What do you think of America?" Pierre asked.

"Well, I've never been there. I've been to Canada when I was younger, but that's not America. Why?"

Pierre shrugged. "I don't know. That's where the girl is that I was grumbling about. I owl her a lot and I've talked to her via firebox networking, but I want to go visit her. Actually, I would just like to get away from Europe for a while. Go see the world. I'd start by picking Hannah up and Flooing all over the world. China, Mexico, Brazil, the Bahamas."

"What are you getting at?" Remus asked, looking concerned.

"You've been to so many interesting places, but I haven't been anywhere. Feeling jealous, that's all."

Remus knew it was more than that, but he didn't comment.

"Remus, what are James and the rest of your friends like?"

Remus knitted his eyebrows. "They're the best friends I could ever ask for. Just like you are to me."

"And Lily?"

"She's a very sweet girl, very pretty too."

"Do you ever think of leaving them?"

"Pierre, are you okay?" Remus asked, worried.

"I'm fine. If I leave you sometime, would you take it personally."

"Do I need to get Mum?"

"This isn't a death wish or anything – don't freak out. I just want to see the world, I want to leave behind the people who know me as The Werewolf and just journey, have adventures." He sighed. "Want to come with me? We could be the Amazing Lupin-Dicen Brothers, doing magic tricks for people who would be none the wiser."

"Scamming people?"

"No, not exactly. What Muggles don't know can't hurt them, right?"

"I suppose."

There was silence.

"Are you unhappy?"

"No," the dark-haired French boy replied. "Just want a change in my life. So, I thought I should tell you in person that as soon as I get on the train to Beauxbatons, I'm jumping off and heading for the nearest Floo station for America and Hannah."

Remus could feel the tears sting the back of his eyes. This young man had been his brother for eleven years, they had grown up together and got on together better than Remus knew of any other siblings. Now he was leaving, just like that?

"Pierre, I – I don't know what to say. Please don't go."

"I have to. Hannah's counting on me anyway." The other young wizard had tears welled in his eyes too.

The brothers embraced tightly, clapping each other on the back every so often.

"Promise me you'll owl," Remus said.

"I definitely will. And you have to come visit me once you can Apparate." Remus nodded against Pierre's shoulder.

"You have never been a stepbrother to me," he said.

"Nor you for me," Pierre replied.

Unspoken but understood all the same: You are my brother, I love you.

Remus left his brother's room and returned to his own, where he sat and pondered. Pierre was his main support in life. With him gone, he'd be by himself, no one to talk to, no one to understand him. This was going to be a dramatic change in his life. He just prayed that Pierre was making a right choice and wished him good luck and well-being. He also prayed that his friends would continue to remain a constant in his life, because without Pierre, they were all he had left. 

* * *

James sat upon his bed, daydreaming when his mother poked her head in.

"Knut for your thoughts."

"'Morning, Mum. I hope you're well."

"Yes, thank you." She came in and sat on the large, down bed. There was an awkward silence. "So, Head Boy this year, and possible chaser position on the Puddlemere United team." James nodded. "We're proud of you." James looked away. "James, I know your father doesn't act like it, but he really is."

"Bull shit!" James exclaimed.

"James Henry!" Rhien Potter cried.

"We both know that's not true. Whatever I do is not good enough. Perfect marks and all I hear is 'Son, you can do better.'  13 O.W.L.'s – 'Haven't you ever heard of extra credit?' Quidditch Captain for two years and star chaser for five years, winning the Quidditch Cup for the first time in twenty years for Gryffindor and every year since – 'That's nice, son, but beating them only by a thousand points? You could have done double that.' Do you know how it is for me?"

Rhien placed her head in her hands and sobbed loudly. "James, James...my love...mon amour..."

James stood in rage.

"He doesn't care. Nothing is good enough for him. I'm sick and tired of it, mother. Sick and tired of his demands, your drunken scenes, all this blood snobbery. Seeking high titles and places like some sport – it's disgusting! My life has been put through hell."

"I'm sorry...s-so sorry...James...I..." She sobbed. "I'm sorry to have brought you up in this kind of world. I had no choice but to bring you into it.

"You could have aborted, could have left. No. Selfishly, you didn't want to be here on your own."

Silence.

"You couldn't because you're just as bad as he is. You care just as much as he does about money, blood, and reputations. You'll suffer 'til you feel as if you can't take it anymore and hope to whatever god is out there for death, all just for nice things and people to lick the dust off your shoes. It's pitiful! Sick! Putrid!"

Mrs. Potter simply sobbed, shaking her head violently. James stood by the window, his shoulders shaking. He turned back to his mother.

"But I don't blame you."

His mother looked up at him sharply. "You – you don't?"

"No. It's neither yours nor my father's fault that you both were brought up in this lifestyle. I'm not the first to suffer from it, and not the last either. All I can do is take it one day at a time."

"Yes, I suppose." She paused, wiping her eyes. "I had no idea you felt this way."

"I'm sorry I yelled and ranted."

"No, I'm glad you did."

James sat back down next to his mother.

"I'll talk to your father."

James' eyes brightened and he hugged his mother.

"So, what are you going to do once you get back to school?"

"Wreak havoc and mayhem with the boys," James replied, grinning.

"You remind me of my teenage love. His name was Jamison Moore. We called him James." James knitted his eyebrows. "Yes, that's who you're named after. Don't tell your father that. He thinks James Henry is after the great kings of England. He always tells me that Jessie should have been named Elizabeth." She chuckled. "Anyway, he was as much a prankster as I hear you are."

James smiled.

"Mum, since today is my last day here, let's spend it together – just me and you. We've never really had any bonding time before."

James and Rhien spent the rest of that day together. They took a long walk around the estate, noticing the trees starting to turn colors, and they chatted quite a bit. Then they attempted to make dinner, but it didn't quite work, so the house-elves ending up making a huge four-course meal.

James knew that if he had his mother under his thumb, she would be more likely to help him with his father. He also had Jessica to help him. It was going quite well, and he certainly hoped that things would be continuing to flow in that direction.

* * *

Mrs. Rosa Pettigrew looked at her son with shining eyes.

"My little Petey is all grown up and going off to his seventh year. What do you plan to do after graduation?"

Peter shrugged.

"That's okay, son," Mr. Nigel Pettigrew said. "You can stay here and help me out with the family business."

"Sounds good to me," Peter replied, watching Mrs. Trimble, the hired help, pack his trunk.

"Now, Nigel," Rosa said. "I doubt that our Peter would want to be cleaning toilets the rest of his days."

"I don't clean toilets, Rosa," Nigel explained. "I plumb – there's a difference. Wizards don't understand plumbing and septic systems, they need me to help them out."

"I'll never understand, but as long as you keep the hot water coming, I'm happy."

Nigel pulled Rosa into his arms and she squealed in surprise.

"I'll keep the hot water coming, I will," he growled. Rosa giggled.

"Oh stop it, Nig."

"You guys are gross!" Peter said. "Mrs. Trimble, make them stop!" The woman smiled.

"Oh, Peter," she said in her thick, Haitian accent. "When two people are in love, it's natural to – "

"Stop it, you're making me ill!" Peter exclaimed, covering his ears. The three adults smiled.

"Peter, my love, you crack me up. You're a good boy. We know you can make anything of yourself. We believe in you – you'll move mountains, change the world even."

Peter smiled. His parents boosted his self-confidence, even though his knew he wasn't very smart or witty. It made him feel good. And maybe he could change the world in some way.

* * *

A/N: Sorry, sorry, sorry that it took so long to get this one out. I have been so busy that I hardly have time to think! I didn't mean to keep this chapter for so long! It's been in my notebook forever, and then I finally got time to get it into the computer. Believe me, you have no idea how happy I am!

Mr. Vincent Parker was going to be Ludo Bagman, but if it was Ludo Bagman, I'd be going out of canon, because Bagman's nose wasn't broken until after James and Lily were killed and Voldemort had his downfall, I'm pretty sure. It's in Goblet of Fire in the chapter 'The Penseive. Who knows, maybe it wasn't; but I give two thumbs up to those who guessed Ludo Bagman, because you were right, but I went against my instincts. I'm sure it could have still been Bagman, but I didn't want to risk it. : )

I want to give a HUGE THANK YOU to all of you who have waited patiently. I truly hope things will settle down a bit and I can have some time to myself more so I can get writing done. If you think you're going through a withdrawal (and I know some of you are because you've told me) think about how I feel!

Anyway, onto the Thank-you's

* * *

Mrs. Moony

Oliverwoodschic

PracticalPrincess

Raven

Artistic Muse

Calypzo – Great job for guessing Bagman!

VeelaStar – I'm on your  favorites list? I'm honored! If I get the chance, I would love to read your story. You like Third Eye Blind? Me too! And I liked your long review, even though it was about your life's history. It made me laugh!

Jess the Great

Emily Woodmark

Majestyic

DancinEvy

Marzoog – Minnesotan in London. How fun! A Channeling Locket is something I made up for Even Angels Fall. Basically, it is a locket that will show you anyone you desire to see in the picture area and you will be able to telepathically talk to them. One of my more brilliant ideas, if I do say so myself! And this chapter would have been out sooner, but I've been busy, as I said. *shakes head* I know what soon means, and it's in my vocabulary, but sometimes I'm not able to use it! Please forgive me!

Uknowwhoslittleprincess – I liked your joke! It made me giggle!

Sunny

KirjavaLyra

Caroline

Morrigan

Lexie

TaylorWtich02

STaRgIrLeLLiE – Cheese Doritos and chocolate? Ewwww! If I have time (eventually I will) I'd love to read your stories. I really mean it when I say it, but sometimes I just don't get around to it. So don't be offended!

Pumpkin Juice

Kristatwen

Agent Idiot – I hope I didn't embarrass you by dedicating this chapter to you, but you did make me think about what the family life of Peter and Remus were like. I know it's not into so much depth, but I wanted to do it. There will probably be more later. Thank you for placing me on your favorites list. *bows* I'm so honored!! I'm glad you like Sirius' character. I wanted to do something different with him, because he's always the same in fanfiction. I like having Sirius, Peter, and Remus not James and Lily tagalongs too. This way, they've got a part too. Lily is a bit bland, but that's how I'm liking it right now. She'll get more exciting once she starts hanging around the Marauders. She's mostly bland because she's had a bland life. The Boys are going to spice it up a bit for her. I don't think I'll make her bitchy – you have been spoiled by that, but she'll be exciting. Jessica is going to be bitchier. Desperate times called for desperate measures. Jessie knew how Lily felt in a way and wanted to be nice to her. Petunia Lucille. If you still need to borrow it, be my guest. The other character's full names would be (according to my Falling universe) James Alan Potter, Lily Mariah Evans, Sirius Kent Black, Remus Jonan Lupin, Peter Gavin Pettigrew. In the Illicit Love universe, I've picked different names for a few characters: James Henry Potter and Sean Sirius Black. Well, you can have a meal coupon, and I better get going before this message is any longer! Thanks!

Britz – I reviewed your story, did you see? If not, I wanted it to be a surprise, that's why I didn't comment on it. You liked Jessica and Sirius snogging? I liked it too! Urgh! The Marauder's eating habits are gross, aren't they? You're my bestest fan? *blushes* I'm happy!

FrOlIcKiNgLaDy – I'm on your fave story list too? *sobs* Thank you!  Actually, I wrote this story by just sitting down and writing it on paper or on computer. That's the way it works for me. Usually I do have an outline of events that are going to happen, but I don't usually follow the outline. So, believe me, when you guys want to know what happens next, I want to know as much as you do!

Sineadluv – I did think you abandoned me! I'm glad you're back though. Stupid parents!

Eleana23

Pilikika – You go to my profile straightaway? I'm sorry to have disappointed you for the last few weeks! You speak French? How unfair! How did I do with my little French excerpt with Remus and Pierre? I tried!

UnforgivenChild

Iluvoliverwood – You're behind the times? I am too! I don't even want to think about what Thorn & Buck has been discussing without me there. It makes me seasick! : )

Ooh

* * *

THANK YOU ALL!!!!

* * *

Now, what can I give away this time? I'm running out of ideas!

All reviewers will receive an authentic disco-dancing outfit and a Time Turner, so you can go back to the days of the MWPP/L era and disco-dance with the Marauders and Lily. Anyone who wants to be Sirius' Groupie, sign up in the lobby, er...in your review!

Happy reading!

~Lavender