The school term started up again and Lily joined the other first years she was somber for the first weeks but soon became her old self. The groups grew closer and the divide ever stronger as January slipped into February.
The weather began to warm and the sun shone longer as March made its appearance. April followed with chocolate and rain, and May filled with exams. As June started to draw to an end we find our young friends preparing for their trip home.
"I can't believe its been nine months, has it really been that long."
It was a hot Sunday afternoon and their last as first years as on Friday they would be returning home from for most their first ever year at school. They had set a blanket out under a large oak tree and had a small picnic set out that the boys had managed to get after finding their way to the kitchens.
Lily looked up from her book and smiled at Alice who was hanging upside down from a branch. She smiled thinking of the first night when she had met Alice, she had changed since then. Her hair had grown several inches and now sat mid way down her back. She had also grown by a few inches and seemed more comfortable around the others, no longer the shy little girl she had been.
"I know it doesn't feel that long ago that I was home."
Splash!
"SIRIUS!"
Alice fell from the tree as she began to laugh; Lily felt a splutter of sound fly from her as they both looked at their friends. Amanda and Peter had been sat by the edge of the lake their feet dangling into the water cooling. They now looked like they had dived in headfirst.
A lone head floated above the water and smiled at them. Sirius had obviously jumped into the lake from the large rock next to Amanda and Peter causing them to end up soaked.
Lily laughed harder as she saw Amanda pull her summer dress off leaving her in a red bikini; she then pushed herself into the water and quickly swam over to Sirius. She watched the pair dunk each other splashing water all over the place.
Peter moved to sit next to her and Alice who was again climbing up into the tree. Lily threw one of the many red and gold towels at him as he rubbed at his hair. Lily looked closely at him, he looked healthier than when he had first arrived and she laughed as he rubbed his stomach and stuck his hand into the basket pulling out a ham salad sandwich. He had put weight on over the year and now seemed to fit in his body.
Peter felt eyes on him and quickly looked up, his gaze was met by green and he couldn't break the gaze. Lily had beautiful eyes that just suited her. Her eyes played with her face making the red of her hair stand brighter and her face paler.
"Pete toss me an egg sandwich will you I'm starved."
Peter laughed as he dug into the basket and pulled out the sandwich he threw it at the messy haired boy who caught it in one hand while his other hand rested on Ginny's head holding her away to stop her from sitting on him.
Peter felt jealous as he looked at the boy, yes they were friends and they'd do anything for the other, only James had it easy. His parents cared about him, he was handsome (or so he had heard Ginny and Amanda say) and he was tall. Peter knew he wasn't what must girls would call cute, he was short and the only way he would get a girl was if his father paid someone.
"What you thinking?"
He looked up and smiled at the upside down girl. He thought she looked a bit funny that way but held his tongue as he decided to answer her question.
"Not much, same as normal."
There was a soft laugh before Lily buried herself back into her book. Peter laid down on the grass next to the blanket using the sun to dry himself as he closed his eyes and took a lazy Sunday afternoon nap.
"Please James give me a bite, I'm hungry."
He rolled his eyes at the girl who was trying to get him. He saw the blue in her eyes shine as her long red hair hit his arm, she was still as beautiful as the first day he had met her, and he knew he wasn't the only one to notice. As he passed the second sandwich to her he sneaked a peak at the boy lying on his side on the soft grass talking to another girl.
He looked closely at his friend; he saw the bags under his eyes and the strain on his face. James was worried about him, he had only arrived back from home two days ago, his grandmother had taken a turn for the worse and they said they expected her to die pretty soon. He seemed to be taking it well as he talked with Branwen, her long brown hair hanging in a loose ponytail.
James moved towards the blanket and joined Lily, lying on his stomach and looking out into the lake. He saw Sirius appear from nowhere and look around, and then from behind a hand appeared and pushed him under. He chuckled at the antics in the lake.
He felt a foot on his back and was about to turn around when it left and the noise of two girls up in the tree was heard. He turned as a droplet of water hit his nose.
"SIRIUS!"
"Why do people keep saying that?"
"Because you keep soaking us, James can you pass me a towel."
He looked at his two friends and smiled at them as he handed the towel over.
Amanda quickly hid her body from sight, she knew that guys were looking at her and she felt uncomfortable with it. She smiled at James as a third year Hufflepuff whistled at her, she felt the blush spread up her face as Sirius waved.
"Thanks mate, I do look good don't I"
Laughter sounded all around as Remus and Branwen joined them. Peter sat up straight at the sound and just smiled.
They sat together talking and laughing until the light began to fade. The group climbed to their feet aware that it was later than they were allowed out and ran into the school. They were all at ease with each other, and if only these times could last and they could forever be twelve their lives would have been happy, but alas life changes, things happen and people are destined to suffer.