Chapter 19 "Underneath it all" by marauderyears

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or anything related to it, J.K Rowling does.

Note: I am so happy at the number of reviews I have. Thanks to all! I just wanted to say that I was happy that everyone noticed that I try to update frequently. I know what it's like to find a fic you like and to have to wait around for weeks/months for the next update to come along...especially when it's a cliffhanger- that's irritating, isn't it? I actually post a new chapter everytime I have at least 5-6 reviews...I don't know if anybody noticed that though, lol.

hpotterluver: That is weird. What a coincidence! Yes, I felt bad for making Lena the guinea pig, but she really should have noticed that James wasn't that into her. Oh well.

Slytherinbabe05: You're welcome...and you're welcome again. I may be the writer, but you're a reviewer and reviewers have a lot of influence on me, lol.

Pranks Are So Siriusly Padfoot: Aw, I bet it did go nice with the ending. I agree with you about the reviews for each chapter! Thank you for doing that again, it makes me happy because I really like to know what people think of each individual chapter, not just the entire story as a whole. Although, ANY review is nice.

evil-pillow: Glad you like it!

Hello? mary: I'm happy to hear that you liked those parts, I enjoyed writing them. The irritating smirks/smiles and Lily wanting to punch them part- that's sort of based on what I feel sometimes. If I have to admit someone's right and I'm wrong, they usually give me this God-awful smirk that makes me wanna punch someone, lol. Of course I never actually would...

iluv0liver16: Tell me about it. High school takes up A LOT of time. At least by the time the weekend rolls around, I already have a couple of updates up, so no cliffies for you! Thanks to you for being an awesome reviewer!

ZayneLily: What are you confused about?

GreyShadows: Wow, you have no idea how happy your review made me! I have this big goofy grin that could compete with James'. LOL. And about Lily's parents dieing...I was hoping no one notice my goof up, lol. I was so fixed on the Lily and James scene, that I totally forgot about her parents, and yes she should have been more sad. When I get a chance at the end of the story I might try to go back and fix the errors, but once you put in a chapter, it takes a while to redowload it and edit it and replace that chapter...etc.

Carmel March: Awwwww! Thank you so much. Your review made me soooooooo happy!

Lily's POV

I tossed a pair of socks into my open trunk. There we go! I think that's all. I re-checked my list a few times, and finally decided that I had everything. Except for my books, which I need to get at Diagon Alley.

I'm happy to say that even though I had a miserable summer, I kept in contact with James. And Sirius and Remus. I even wrote a few letters to Peter. I reread the most recent letter that James had sent me. We had sent each other letters everyday. I always get excited when I see his owl on my bed with a new letter:

Lily,

I hope all is well over there and that Petunia stops pestering you. I think she's just jealous of you. You're pretty intimidating sometimes. Just kidding there, Flower. Everything's just peachy here. Sirius is having another Sugar Overdose episode. This time he only set fire to the living room. My mum just about had a cow. We (me, Remus, and Peter) were able to corner him and sedate him. Well not sedate him, more or less just stun him so that my mum and dad can finally have a moment to relax. Dad is worried that we'll 'accidentally' forget to un-stun him. Ha. That only happened twice. And let me assure you, it was the quietest (and best) eight hours of our lives. Ha. Just kidding...again. Me and the guys are going to Diagon Alley the day before term starts to get our supplies. Come meet up with us at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor for some ice cream. I know you like ice cream. Double chocolate with rainbow sprinkles, right? Simple, but tasty! I agree. Sirius tends to like the more extravagant ice cream...unfortunately. Sirius was banned from Florences' for 2 years because of that...Luckily that was in 2nd year, so he can go now- Hi Lily Flower!!! Wassuuuuuuppp?!!!- Sirius! Give me back my quill...hey- No, this is James. I was just kidding back there about me being Sirius- No it really is Sirius- I, James Potter, would like to profess my undying love to you right now- Padfoot give Prongs back his quill so he can finish writing to Lily - Sirius, Remus, OUT!!! There I just locked them out of my room. Thank Merlin. I'm pretending that I can't hear Sirius' pleas to let him in because 'There's Extra Terrestrial activity out here James, I'm scared. Let me in or I'll die! I know you don't want me to die Prongs... let me in!!' Well, you get the idea. Anyways, I think Remus has just stunned him again, I better go and un-stun him! See you at Diagon Alley!

Yours Truly,

James

I smile as I put the letter back down. James and his friends always find a way to cheer me up, even if they don't know it. I will definitely plan on meeting them at Diagon Alley.

James' POV

"Are you ready to go Prongs?" I looked up to see Sirius sticking his head in my room, his hair still wet from his hour and a half shower.

"Yeah just hold on a second Padfoot." I grabbed the small box that was filled with every letter I had received from Lily. I had shrunken the box (and letters) so that no one would find it. I could only imagine the teasing and tormenting I'd get from Padfoot and Moony. Even Wormtail could be pretty interrogative.

I was surprised when I sent a letter to Lily and she had actually returned it. This was only a week after we had gotten out from Hogwarts, too. I used to send her letters in 4th and 5th year only for her to either ignore them or send one back with a hex in it. Sirius and Remus always found these letters highly amusing. We'll see how amusing it is when they have to walk around with boils on their...body. They hurt like crazy.

I ran down the staircase and skipped the last few steps and landed with a thud on the ground. Remus and Sirius looked up.

Remus grinned. "I thought there was a herd of Hippogriffs coming down the stairs. You sound almost as bad as Padfoot when he runs down the stairs." Sirius glowered at him as I laughed.

"Are we ready to go? Are we meeting Wormtail at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor along with Lily?"

Sirius looked up. "Lily's going to actually meet with us?"

I looked at him, uncertainly. "Yeah, why?"

He shrugged. "I'm just surprised that she'd agree to go with you...err, I mean us." I threw the pillow that rested on the couch at him, only to result in an all out pillow fight.

"What's this?! If I've told you once, I've told you a MILLION times. DO NOT FIGHT IN THE HOUSE!" The three of us stopped, abashed, and looked up at my glowering mom. My mom rolled her eyes as we all ran outside to continue the fight.

Lily's POV

"Lily!" I turned around, and to my delight saw Frankie sitting at Florences' with Alice. He had told me that he had a crush on her, but I didn't think that he had the guts to ask her out. Frankie has always been a bit passive.

I walked over to them, but didn't sit down. I didn't want to intrude on them.

I smiled at Alice, who shyly smiled back at me. I raised an eyebrow at Frankie, but he just blushed.

"Hi Alice, how was your summer?"

"It was very nice. And yours?"

"Not very exciting, but it was okay I suppose." I turned to Frankie. "I didn't get to see you all summer. How was it?"

Frankie shrugged. "I went to Greece with my family. My mom's parents live there. It was really hot though."

I looked around for any familiar faces. Frankie must have known who I was looking for because he said, smiling. "James, Sirius, and Remus are all inside ordering their ice cream. Unfortunately it's taking awhile because Sirius is trying to put as many toppings on his ice cream as the store owner will allow."

I rolled my eyes as Alice stifled a laugh. I waved goodbye to Frankie and Alice and entered the cool shop.

The store had an abnormally large queue, but that might have been because of the hold-up that is also known as Sirius. After a few minutes, the three boys turned around and must have seen me because they all came running over to me, grinning.

Sirius practically knocked me over with his enormous hug. I laughed as his arm wrapped around me only to have the ice cream that was in it splatter on his new robes. Thankfully not mine or I wouldn't have been laughing.

Remus and James in turn gave me a hug. I don't know if it was just me, but James' hug seemed to last the longest. Remus and Sirius went off to find a table outside, but James held me back.

"Here." He handed me a delicious looking ice cream. "I knew your favorite ice cream was Double Chocolate with rainbow sprinkles, so I got it for you..." He trailed off awkwardly. I took the ice cream for him, smiling widely.

"Thank you very much James. That's very sweet." I leaned up and gave him a peck on his cheek. He blushed and I turned around and walked outside to see where Remus and Sirius were.

James' POV

I don't know how long I stood there with my hand on my cheek, but the guy behind me woke me up out of my trance. "You're not a tree kid, keep on moving, you're causing a traffic jam."

"Oh thank you kind-sir for letting me know that I am in fact not a tree. I was having an identity crisis, and didn't realize what species I was until you pointed it out to me just now. I salute you!" I saluted him and walked off to go find Lily and the gang.

"Hey Prongs, we thought you'd gotten lost in there." I flicked a nut off my ice cream at Sirius.

Remus grimaced. "Let's not start another food fight, shall we?"

Lily quickly looked up at Remus. "Another food fight?" I shot Remus a pointed look behind Lily. Remus noticed it and shrugged at Lily.

"Oh it was an accident in our 1st year, no big deal." Lily glanced at me and then continued eating her ice cream. I sighed with relief and mouthed 'thank you' to Remus who just grinned back.

I forgot to mention my plan for this year. I know that I've been immature the past couple of years, but I really want to change. So over the summer my friends helped me change. Although according to Remus it was mostly my self.

I'm not going to ask Lily out this year until we become very close friends. I've got a head start because over the summer (thanks to our letters) Lily and I became pretty close. But not close enough for me to ask her out quite yet. I have to be sure that she likes me. I mean, I know she likes me, but I mean more than just like. I also have to show her the gentleman side of me. And yes, I do have it in me.

No more pranks, which I haven't done in awhile anyways, no more picking on the Slytherins or Snape for that matter. I'm going to try and be civil to him. I'm not going to have a single girlfriend or date this year (unless it's Lily Evans). I'm not going to take advantage of my position as Head Boy this year. Did I mention I was Head Boy? Well, surprisingly I am. Yes, you make think this is a lot to ask of James Potter, but I'm going to try. I'm changing for the girl that I've loved for almost 7 years. I'm changing for Lily Evans.

So the bottom line is: I'm going to have to act...mature.