Aww, I'm sorry I don't reply to your reviews. I would, it's just. . . I really don't have the time! You wouldn't BELIEVE how much coursework I have! For tomorrow I have to have wrote two english essays, my planning for my maths coursework, and a prep sheet for art! And it's half five already!

But I will try and reply to all you lot. This weekend, maybe? Anyways, I do REALLY appreciate all my readers, so don't think I don't. 'Cause I do.

Anyways, I have to hurry up. Got to go write more on Of Mice and bleedin' Men. . .

Oh, and about the cliff hanger thing. . . Heh. Yeah. I do have a tendency for those. Don't even realise I'm writing them! LoL.

James' POV

I grinned as we pulled away from each other.

"Good answer," I smirked.

"Can we come in now?" Sirius whined, from outside the compartment.

I laughed and pulled Lily onto the seat next to me, slinging an arm around her shoulders. "Yeah, yeah. Come in."

The door flew open so quickly, it banged against the compartment wall, making Helen and Peter wake with a start.

I glanced at Sirius and Remus, who were still stood in the doorway.

Sirius looked at me and Lily with a blank expression, which I knew all too well. It meant he was hiding any emotion that may have been written on his face.

I'm not sure why he was like that, but Remus noticed it as well. Instead of saying anything though, he just cleared his throat and grinned at Lily.

"So, you two, huh? Well that's a surprise! I would never have thought. . ."

Sirius' POV

So. They were finally together.

Well. I think.

That was. . . good.

No, it was good. It seriously was.

It was just. . . Just weird, seeing them sitting like that.

All cozy.

I'll get used to it and everything. . . Just. . .

Ugh. That's it, I need a girl.

James took mine, the git.

Lily's POV

Someone had to pinch me. I had to wake up.

Seriously!

Here I was. . . sat with James Potter's arms around me as the train happily trundled home. . .

We'd been playing the Alphabet Game a few short minutes ago, for God's sake.

And I was going to stay at his house for two weeks!

This was too good to be true.

But. . . I frowned slightly as doubt crept into my mind.

What did this mean? I was confused. I mean. . . I was going out with Logan, wasn't I?

So what was James? I'd only kissed him, it wasn't as if we had decided to become an item, or something. . .

And then Tess.

Tess was going to be really upset, which I cared about now.

She was one of my best friends.

I felt James's arm tighten around my shoulders as he talked happily to Sirius and Remus.

It wasn't fair.

It really wasn't!

Why did it have to be so complicated?

We arrived at James' house a few hours later.

And after Helen and I had gotten over the sheer size of it, we all made our way inside.

He had a pool.

Who in London has an outside pool?

Well, except famous people.

In fact, it was inside and outside. You could swim through this little tunnel to each part.

Jeez. A pool designed for all weather.

In England.

I'll have to remind him that we're not in California.

Then again, I think we've got more important things to discuss than his pool. So scratch that.

"Padfoot, Moony, Wormtail. . ." James said, and I wondered again why they called each other those ridiculous nicknames. "You guys already know your rooms. Lils, Helen. . . Sprout here will take you upstairs to yours."

"Sprout?" Helen laughed, as we looked at the adorable little house elf that was waiting patiently for us to follow him.

"Yeah," James sighed. "It's a long story that involved me and Sirius when we were six."

We'd been standing in the large front hall, but Sprout led us up the grand staircase that was in front of us.

I have to admit, I felt a bit clumsy as I dragged my trunk up the stairs.

Who knew James was this rich?

Apparently, Helen was thinking the same thing, from the glances she kept sending me.

"Would misses like to share the same room, or stay in different ones?" Sprout suddenly asked, his wide green eyes turning to us.

"Um. . ." I looked at Helen and shrugged.

Actually, I wanted us to stay in the same room.

I might get lost in this place on my own.

"Same room?" Helen suggested, raising her eyebrows.

"Yeah, I think so."

Helen and I were shown into a large - no, huge bedroom that had two beds in it.

Two king size beds.

"Wow," I murmured, as I fell onto one of the beds, claiming it as my own.

Well I've got to make sure I get the best bed.

The room was decorated in a deep blue. . . everything was that colour.

Yeah. . . It was amazingly pretty.

"Ooh, we've got a view of the pool," Helen announced, as she peered out of the window.

Then she suddenly turned to me and grinned.

"So you and James, eh? That'll please Tess."

James' POV

"So what happened in the short time we went to look for food?" Sirius asked, as soon as Lily and Helen had gone.

"Short time? Sirius, you were gone for ages."

"Yes, well," he started defensively. "Obviously. . . it helped."

"Yeah," Remus agreed, making his way into the Lounge. "So, what happened?"

We all trailed after him, though Sirius was walking backwards to face me.

"Okay. . ." I said slowly, once we'd all fell into chairs. "Well. . . I don't know. We were playing this really stupid game, then. . . I just got really sick of everything and started dropping really obvious hints."

"Uh-huh. . .?"

"And she picked up on them?" Peter asked, looking interested.

Well either that or she kissed me for no reason.

"Hmm. . ." I said thoughtfully. "I think so. I mean, she didn't say anything. . ."

"Nothing at all?" Sirius cried. "Then how did-?"

"Yeah. She just sort of. . . kissed me instead."

"Really?" Peters jaw dropped.

"She kissed you?" Sirius said. "Well. . . that's. . . um, not what I was expecting."

Lily's POV

That night, nothing really happened. We just relaxed in James' house.

And me and James. . . We didn't really say anything, but just acted as if we were boyfriend and girlfriend.

So I'm still confused, but. . . hey, I'm not complaining.

Helen's happy for me, thank God.

I told her how I actually felt about James and everything, so she now thinks we're "the cutest thing in the world."

Yeah.

"So when exactly is your birthday, Lily?" Remus asked, leaning back in the couch he was slouched across.

"Tuesday," I replied.

"This Tuesday?" James said, frowning slightly. "Wow. We're going to have to get planning if we're gonna have a party. . ."

"We don't have to have a party," I mumbled.

"No, we have to!" Sirius exclaimed. "I want a party!"

James' POV

My mum didn't get in until late that night.

This didn't surprise me, because. . . well, that's just what she does. But it didn't bother me either. I was used to it.

We all stayed up, but a few minutes after my mum walked in, my friends decided to hit the sack.

I dunno if they were truly tired or just wanted to leave me to talk to my mum for awhile, but. . . the point is, they left.

"So. . ." my mother said, as she leafed through a couple of documents and lent against a counter in the kitchen.

She glanced up at me and smiled. A sad smile. It always seemed to be like that since Dad died.

"Which one of those are you going out with?" she asked, nodding her head to where Lily and Helen were following the rest of the Marauders upstairs.

"Mum," I groaned, rolling my eyes.

"What?" she laughed. "Come on, I've barely said hello to some of your other girlfriends, and now you come home with two for a fortnight."

Ugh. Mothers.

"Neither," I insisted, shaking my head. "They're just friends of mine."

"Uh-huh. . ." she said, sounding doubtful.

"I swear!"

"Okay, okay. . ." she said, laughing. She turned her back on me, but didn't hide the smile that was still on her face. "But it's obvious you fancy the pants off the one with red hair."

Okay, now I'm going to bed.

"Mum," I sighed, already making my way upstairs.

I stopped and lent over the banister, staring at her. "You're so. . . so. . ."

There's no words.

"You're supposed to tell me to get my head down and do some work, not to be telling me who I supposedly fancy."

"Nah," she shrugged, leaning back against the wall and grinning. "That was when you were 14. Now, you're 17. Almost 18. It's almost time to start thinking about grandchildren."

Pshht.

I've gotta give her points though. I wasn't expecting that one.

"That has got to be the most. . . absurd thing you ever said," I replied, already walking up the stairs. "And me and Lily aren't. . . you know what? I'm not having this conversation with my mother."

"Okay," she laughed. Then she looked thoughtful. "Lily, huh? Lily Potter. . ."

I groaned and hurried up the stairs, walking into the room where Sirius, Peter and Remus were all talking.

"So what was your mum saying?" Sirius asked casually, as he messed in front of the mirror with his hair.

I swear, Sirius is worse than girls about his hair.

It's pathetic, really. I bet one day some disaster will happen and. . . I don't know. Somehow his mind will be forced away from gel and the perfect spikes.

"Just asking about Lily. . ." I sighed.

"Oh?" Remus looked at me in surprise. "Well now your mother knows everything, do you mind telling your friends?" he grinned.

"I didn't tell her a thing! She just. . . no, forget it."

"She just what?" Wormtail asked.

Ugh.

I rolled my eyes and fell into a heap on my bed. "She was suggesting grandchildren, of all things."

Remus and Peter burst out laughing, but Sirius just turned away from the mirror with raised eyebrows.

"Well. You're certainly moving fast," he said.

"Shut up."

"Go on then. Tell us about you and Lils, why don't you? You've not explained properly yet. . ."

"Well. . . um. . ." I sighed. "I actually don't know. If what's-he-called wasn't in the picture-"

"Logan?" Peter helpfully offered.

"Yeah, him. Well, if he wasn't, then I'd say me and Lily were going out."

"But. . ." Sirius murmured, tilting his head to one side and continuing to fuss with his hair. "He is."

"Well I know that! So. . . I don't know. We've not even talked," I mumbled, playing with a loose strand of cotton on the duvet.

"But you really like her," Remus said quietly. "You should talk to her."

"Hmm."

"Besides," Peter added. "Maybe. . . m-maybe she isn't interested in Logan. You know? Maybe he was a rebound thing. . . because. . . erm. . . ooh! Because she broke up with Sirius!"

Ooh, I like that idea. It beats her actually liking the stupid Slytherin.

Sirius, however, didn't. His eyes darkened and he frowned. "It wasn't as if we were engaged you know," he snapped. "We only went out for a few weeks, at the most. She wouldn't need a rebound thing. She wouldn't need anything if I hadn't have had to break up with her," he muttered, before kicking off his trainers and falling onto his bed.

Lily's POV

When I woke up the next morning, it was still early. Really early. Like six-ish.

I always wake up early when I stay at somebody else's house.

Sighing, I crept quietly out of bed and got ready. From a quick glance outside, I could see that the weather was gorgeous.

Good.

We'll get some good use out of that pool.

Sitting gingerly on my bed, I glanced over at Helen, who was still fast asleep.

I wish she'd wake up.

I didn't want to go wondering around James' house on my own.

But it was either that or I sat there in silence for several hours until Helen woke up.

Rolling my eyes, I stood and made my way out of the room.

Just to bang right into a house elf.

It wasn't the one we had met the other day. . . apparently, this one was a lot more bubbly.

"Hello Miss! Good morning to you!"

I raised my eyebrows slightly. I know I'd woke up early but. . . I was still tired.

"Um. . . morning," I said quietly.

"Mrs. Potter is already downstairs, if you would like company, Miss!" the house elf said, already turning and watering a nearby plant. "I know as Scoob just prepared breakfast, Miss! Scoob prepared eggs, bacon, french toast, saus-"

Scoob?

I laughed. "Did James name you too?"

"Master Potter and Master Black, yes Miss," Scoob nodded enthusiastically. "Master Potter and Master Black named all us house elves, Miss."

"Yeah? Aww."

"Yes Miss! Come, I shall lead you to Mrs. Potter, Miss!"

The house elf led me through a maze of rooms and down a staircase until suddenly we were in the kitchen. It was spacious and had a wonderful view of the outside pool. . . and white.

Very white.

Almost hurt your eyes.

"Good morning, dear," Mrs. Potter said, looking up at me in surprise. She'd been sat at the breakfast bar with a cup of tea and newspaper, but suddenly all her attention was on me. "I didn't expect any of you to be up this early. You're Lily, right?"

I smiled and nodded, as Scoob ran from my side to prepare more food.

"Come sit down," Mrs. Potter said, motioning to a chair opposite her.

Oh God. She better not be expecting a parent-girlfriend talk or something. . .

Not that I'm his girlfriend.

Ugh, I'm gonna confuse myself again.

"So, did you sleep well?" she asked, smiling warmly.

"Erm, yeah. I slept fine, thank you," I answered, smiling.

"Good, good. It's usually only Sirius and everyone James has over here, and they just sleep like logs, so. . ." she trailed off and rolled her eyes, still grinning.

Well, I can believe that. Boys.

"So anyway, Lily," she continued. "I've never heard of you before. Are you in Gryffindor?"

"Yeah. Oh, but I'm not in James' year," I replied, as Scoob set a plate of toast in front of me.

"Oh?"

"I'm in sixth."

"Right," she replied slowly.

I didn't say anything. How should I explain it?

See, I went out with Sirius. Then Sirius dumped me for no reason whatsoever, but that turned out okay as it turned out I really liked James. But James was all over my best friend, so I thought. . . You know. No chance. Then I went out with Logan - who I'm still going out with, actually - really just to persuade myself that I was over James. Funnily enough, I was still head over heels for him. Then, out of the blue, he invites me to spend Easter with him!


Oh, and I also snogged him on the way here after he told me that he also liked me. That would be perfect, but we've barely said a word to each other since. And there's still the little problem of my boyfriend waiting for me back at Hogwarts.

For some bizarre reason, I didn't want to tell her that.

Then I was distracted as James suddenly appeared in the doorway, looking all disheveled from sleep.

You can practically hear my happy sigh, right?

Then he narrowed his eyes at his mum suspiciously. "Well good morning. What are you two talking about?"

"Nothing," replied Mrs. Potter innocently, starting to gather her things together.

As James continued to stand in the doorway staring at his mother, Sirius walked straight past him, yawning and rubbing his eyes.

Clad only in his pajama bottoms, he made his way over to the fridge.

"Morning Mrs. P," he yawned, as he took a box of orange juice and taking a long drink.

Mrs. Potter simply rolled her eyes.

I take it that Sirius comes over a lot, then.

"Good morning Sirius," she replied. Then she ran her fingers through her jet black hair and smiled. "Well, I've got to go. You kids have fun."

"Will do," Sirius nodded.

"Oh, by the way!" James suddenly said, as his mum was about to leave the room. "Can we have a party here on Tuesday?"

"Sure. I guess. What for?"

Wow. She gave in easily. Surprisingly easily.

I like her.

"It's Lily's birthday," Sirius answered, nodding his head towards me.

James' POV

Hmm.

I don't trust my mother.

I was still throwing her suspicious glances as she walked out of the kitchen, but she just smiled sweetly in return.

Okay. Now I'm worried.

What's she said to Lily?

What's Lily said to her?

"So. . ." I said, overly-casually as I grabbed the orange juice off Sirius and took a seat opposite Lily. "What were you two talking about, then?"

Lily shrugged, twirling her fork around her plate that Scoob had just set down in front of her. "Nothing much, actually. I only came in a minute ago. She was just asking if I was in Gryffindor and stuff."

"Oh. Alright. . ."

Lily's POV

A loud yawn from the kitchen doorway let us know that somebody else was up.

We all glanced over to find Remus, still looking half asleep. His hair was all tasseled and. . . well, yeah. He was only dressed in his boxers.

So I take it the Marauders aren't modest around here, then.

Not that I'm complaining. Hey, if I weren't mad over James right now. . . and of there wasn't a part of me that was still angry at Sirius. . .

Let's just say, I like the situation I'm in.

Actually, I shouldn't think that. What about Logan? I liked him and he was sweet. . . And. . .

What the hell, I'm enjoying this while I can.

Heh, I can't wait to see Tess' face when I tell her all this.

"Morning," Remus said groggily, messing with his ear as he made his way towards us. "What are. . ." he trailed off as he yawned again. "What are we talking about? Lily's birthday?"

"Hmm, you know what I was thinking?" Sirius said, looking up from the tub of ice cream he was eating.

Don't ask. I didn't even see him get it out.

"I was thinking that we should tell everyone about the party today. That way more people can come."

"That's a good idea," James agreed.

"Well, duh. Of course it is, look who you're talking to," Sirius smiled cheekily.

Ah, to think.

A few weeks ago, that smile would have melted me.

"Anyone want pancakes?" Sirius suddenly asked, tossing his ice cream tub aside in disgust. "I want pancakes."

"I do," I replied, already bored with my fried breakfast.

James threw me an amused glance. "Are you sure? Sirius is making it."

"Yeah. . ."

"Okay!" Sirius' muffled voice exclaimed, hidden as he had his head buried in a cupboard. "I can't find any plain flour, so I'm substituting for self raising."

"What? You can't use self raising flour in pancakes!"

"Why not? Flour's flour," Sirius answered casually.

Remus rolled his eyes and looked at me pointedly. "You see? Anyway. Maybe we should go into Diagon Alley then. We can buy stuff and see people."

"Yeah, okay," James said, nodding his head. He looked towards me. "You want to do that?"

"Sure."

Sirius suddenly started snickering at something, still at the oven.

"What?" James asked cautiously.

"Nothing. . . The pancake's are just bubbling and it looks sorta. . . Well, disgusting."

"So throw it away."

"No way! I've got to try it. Yo Moony! Get me that tub of toffee and honeycomb ice cream I just saw in the freezer. That'll take away the. . . burnt taste. Oh, and the chocolate sauce from that cupboard over there," Sirius said.

Toffee and honeycomb ice cream with chocolate sauce on burnt pancakes made with self raising flour?

Okay then.

I glanced towards James, but he didn't look at all fazed.

Alrighty. Mental note to self; Don't let any of the boys cook my meals.

Lily's POV

The days leading up to the party passed quite quickly, though James and I still didn't get to really talk.

Anyway. Somehow the Marauders got into Hogwarts. When I asked them about it, they just told me that 'they had their ways'.

Uh huh.

The point is, they got into Hogwarts. And apparently invited. . . oh. . . everybody?

"Okay. . ." James said, as he waved his wand to hang lights around the outside pool. "You girls go get ready if you want. People will probably be here soon and y'know. . . you'll take forever."

Helen grinned and stood up. We hadn't been helping much anyway. Just testing the food.

"Okay. See you in a bit. C'mon Lils."

"Oh yeah," James added, looking towards. "And Lil? I really need to talk to you in a bit."

Helen and I made our way up to our room, where we hurriedly got ready.

"I wonder what James wants to talk about?" she mused, as she used some sort of mousse on her hair to make it wavy.

"Ugh, say everything's awkward?" I groaned, totally forgetting about getting dressed and sitting down on my bed.

Helen sighed and sat next to me. "Look, you really like James, right?"

I hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah. . ."

"So it shouldn't be awkward," she replied simply.

I nodded slowly. That was all very well, but we didn't know what James was going to say, did we?

"I can hear people downstairs already," Helen grinned, standing up and smoothing out her skirt. "Let's finish getting ready."

"Okay. . ." I said, standing up as well. Then I shook my head and crossed my arms. "D'you think Tess is going to hate me?"

"Nah. She won't hate you. She'll be a little surprised. . . maybe a bit unhappy. But you never know, she might be happy for you!"

"Oh, yeah. She'll be over the moon."

It was about twenty minutes later we made our way downstairs.

And you know what I decided?

I was going to enjoy it.

It was my seventeenth birthday, after all.

So I'd just find James, rope him into dancing with me and-

"Ooh!" someone exclaimed, as I banged into them. It was already pretty packed in the house.

That Mrs. Potter is one crazy woman, letting all these kids into her home.

"Oops, sorry Lily," Lorredana smiled, as she realized who it was. "And happy birthday, by the way!"

"Oh, thanks," I answered, flashing her a quick grin.

"So are you having fun? I know it just started and everything but. . . oh yeah, I saw Logan in the kitchen, if you were looking for him," she said.

What?

Oh, so much for enjoying myself.

I glanced towards Helen, who was wearing an expression that clearly said, 'Okay, this is bad.'

"Helen! Lily! Happy birthday!" someone exclaimed, throwing their arms around me.

"Tess?" I breathed, in absolute shock.

Okay. It just got worse.

"W-what are you doing here?" I asked as she pulled away, trying to remember to smile and look pleased.

She already had a light tan. Well, her cheeks were a little sun burnt, but it would easily pass off to people as blusher.

Normally, I would have resented the fact that Tess could go brown while I remained the colour of a milk bottle, but this wasn't an issue at the moment.

Tess here. . . now. . . Meant I had to tell her. . . now. . .

Which also meant I'd have to tell Logan, now.

Okay, so I wasn't that bothered about that. He was just some boy. But he was a sweet boy, and I'd have to come up with a pretty good reason. Soon.

Oh Lord, he was a Slytherin.

"James asked me to come," Tess replied, grinning.

"I-" I started, then stopped when I replayed what she'd just said. "What?"

"James asked me to come," she repeated, still smiling her head off.

I'm telling you, her teeth are too white.

"He is so sweet," she continued, nodding at me and Helen. "Writing to me and everything. . . making sure I could come. . ."

"Yeah," I replied bitterly.

Little darling, isn't he?

"I'll show you the letter later," Tess said. "You should-"

"Why?" Helen interrupted. "What does it say?"

"Erm. . . Just stuff like 'I really want you to come. . .' 'I would really like to get to know you better. . .' 'I really miss you. . .' Oh, you have to read it, but-"

"Wait," I held up a hand and shook my head, trying to distract myself from the music that was quickly increasing in sound, and make sure I heard her right. "Did you just say 'I really miss you'?"

Tess nodded happily. "Can you believe it? Isn't this exciting?"

"Ohh. . . It's something alright."