Two days later a response came.
You will be surprised to find, Mr Black, that I do recall both you and the circumstances under which we last met. I am also fully aware of Lily Evans and her situation, and had planned on making some sort of arrangement. We cannot keep her during the summer holidays, as you yourself know, but will be pleased to welcome her to our school. It would be very fine if some sponsor or patron were to assist her; otherwise, we shall have to come to an agreement. I thank you for taking her under your wing, as it were.
If you or she have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Your letters will be sent shortly to your present (at the time, that is) residence.
Yours,
Albus Dumbledore
Headmaster
"Well," said Sirius. "There you are."
"I like Dumbledore. Should I know you?"
"Of course you should, if you want to survive in Hogwarts."
Lily was shaking her head. "No, I mean you went there, shouldn't I have seen you around?"
"You should have, yes. We're the Marauders."
"There's lots of those."
"No, I mean the Marauders. The only."
"You're not the only ones, there's lots."
"The only ones that you'll hear about more than once. Do you by any chance know of a James Potter?"
He was shocked to see her giggling at the very mention. "Ooh, you mean that Quidditch player?"
"Hey, I play too," Sirius broke in. She ignored him.
"Who doesn't know James Potter? Or should I say, the James Potter. He is the most -"
"Yeah, yeah, and I'm the Sirius Black. But listen – I don't want you to go near him, all right?"
"That's a tough order, Mr Black. I don't see why not."
"He won't buy, and even if he will I don't want him too."
"That's sweet. Should he be the one I'm killing when you fail me?"
"Don't go near him is all." Sirius closed his lips on that, and started another letter. She tried to read it, but he shooed her off, and eventually she went downstairs to sweet-talk Tom into giving her a glass.