DISCLAIMER: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. Actually this disclaimer isn't even mine; I got it from another fan- fic to make sure I covered everything.

Thanks for all of your reviews! They are encouraging and mean a lot. lillyblack-no1, Aseretasylum, Lily-Potter8, little-angel123452000, lilred-07, SiriusJamesRemus'sgirl, kluvhp, Kiliana Lupin, the-power-of-love, Stargirl1439, zildjianpride, and randomfrizzhead

Chapter 3:

Marlee almost attacked Lily when she opened the door. "Oh I missed you!" Marlee exclaimed while Lily was still catching her breath.

Marlee had thin blond hair a couple inches past her shoulders, angling toward her face, which was tan despite it only being days into the summer holiday. A purple tee shirt hugged her thin waist, but accented her wider hips, which were covered by a pair of blue jean shorts. Sunglasses covered her deep, soft brown eyes, and brown sandals were worn on her small, perfectly pedicured feet. Lily curled her toes under hers.

"Geeze you look horrible," she commented

"I know I do, I only just got up 10 minutes ago and I have chores to last me all day. What was the point in getting ready?"

"I don't know, incase some cute paperboy rides by. Chores to last you all day? Well what am I going to do? I got a cab to get here and everything."

"Sorry to inconvenience you. We can still talk; I'll just be cleaning too. Wanna go outside? I need to work on the garden. "

"Sure, sounds great."

Lily offered her a glass of lemonade and got her a chair to sit at. While getting the tools out of the shed, Marlee asked about the letter.

"Oh my God! I can't believe you signed me up for that!" She exclaimed while getting the rake out.

"I knew you would love it. I got Colin as mine."

"Ooh the cute 6th year from Hufflepuff?"

"No! The fat Slytherin. I told him my friend played a joke on me and I wasn't interested."

"Ha, we are remaining anonymous. Which kind of scares me because he could be a fat Slytherin too. He seems nice enough, plays Quidditch and all."

"I thought you hated Quidditch." Marlee shot back, seemingly jealous that Lily may actually have some fun with this.

"I don't hate it, I'm just not obsessed with it."

"Well I'm not either, It's just really fun to play and get into." Marlee was the keeper for the Gryffindor team. "Well if he plays Quidditch maybe we can figure out who it is. Do you have some parchment and a quill?" Marlee was a full pure- blood and only depended on these for writing.

"Right in the kitchen there is a notebook and a pen." Lily suggested as she went on her knees and put on the gardening gloves.

"Oh ya... those things. Be right back."

As Lily pulled out the weeds filling her garden, which was full of them due to neglect, Marlee wrote down the players for each of the house teams. "OK from Gryffindor we have James, Sirius, Jimmy, and William. From Ravenclaw we have Josh, Edgar, and Aiken. From Slytherin he could be Alden, Shea, Gregory, or Tim. From Hufflepuff we could have Michael, George, James or Colin. You have to learn more about him so we can rule them out from there."

Lily grunted as she pulled a huge weed out. "He is third in his year too, pureblood, and would be someone who likes paintball."

"What is paintball? Mmm... well then I know Edgar from Ravenclaw is dummer than a doornail, no idea how he made it in that house." She X-ed out his name. "Will is half-blood, and so is Michael. I think George is muggle-born. That leaves..."

OOOOOOOOOO

Dear Pen Pal,

Socks? In the middle of the summer? Not for me, right now I'm barefoot. My summer, to be honest, isn't going well at all. I did chores all day, luckily my friend came over to keep me company, and my mum is sick. I know cancer isn't a problem in the magical world, but it's really taking a toll on my mother.

Because of her illness, I am actually considering becoming a healer or nurse. Just to think how much Madame Pomfrey helps us out so much, and how influential the job is, really appeals to me. I wish I could help her out, even if it was illegal. Unfortunately, they will not take a muggle at St. Mungo's. This is one big reason my sister hates me. She doesn't understand that I don't think I could do the transfiguration, and I could kill her if I do it wrong. I actually haven't told many people about my mum. I guess it's a lot easier to write it down than to tell someone.

So tell me how your summer is fairing.

Write back soon, your Pen Pal

I'm not sure I ever had one; at least I can't remember, but any embarrassing nicknames?

OOOOOOOOOOOO

Dear Pen Pal,

My mum used to call me so many embarrassing names like Dimples or putting "ickle" in front of my name. I'm really sorry about your mum and I hope your summer improves. My grandmother passed away last summer and it was so hard on the whole family. I do remember though, that it brought the family together and made us stronger. I hope you are all brought together through her sickness, maybe even you and your sister. Although I am usually not very serious but... wait... listen almost no one knows this about me so keep it quie. I don't want to ruin my reputation... but I love poetry. My dad used to read to my mum every night and I got hooked on it. This may encourage you from Walt Whitman:

Out of the rolling ocean the crowd came a drop gently to me,
Whispering I love you, before long I die,
I have travel'd a long way merely to look on you to touch you.
For I could not die till I once look'd on you,
For I fear's I might afterward lose you.

Now we have met, we have look'd, we are safe,
Return to peace to the ocean, my love,
I too am part of that ocean, my love, we are not so much separated,
Behold the great rondure, the cohesion of it all, how perfect!
But as for me, for you, the irresistible sea is to separate us,
As for an hour, carrying us diverse, yet cannot carry us diverse

forever;
Be not impatient-a little space-know you I salute the air, the

ocean and the land,
Every day at sundown for your dear sake my love.

I hope it helps. My summer is going really well. My friend and I have been playing Quidditch, behind the trees in my backyard. We only play with the quaffle, but it's still really fun. I like hearing from you so write back soon!

-Your friend

What makes you laugh? I laugh really easily. I love randomness it always makes me laugh. I love when you become such close friends with someone that all you have to do is look at them, and laughter comes with the rush of memories associated with them.

OOOOOOOOOOO

Lily was reminded of the poem as she sat beside her mother. Her face was pale and her hair thinned so much, she appeared bald from far away. Her mother squeezed her hand. "I love you so much mum," she whispered in her ear.

"I love you so much too" Lily tried to hold back the tears. She seemed so close, yet so separated from her mother.

But as for me, for you, the irresistible sea is to separate us,
As for an hour, carrying us diverse, yet cannot carry us diverse forever.

She remembered the words so clearly after reading the letter several times last night. He had, so far, seemed too good to be true. Caressing her mother's hand she bent down and began to tell her about the boy she had been writing to.

OOOOOOOOO

Dear Dimples,

You know I just needed something to call you, you shouldn't have answered that question. I promise I won't have anymore ulterior motives next time. Thank you for the encouragement, I loved the poem. Please send me some more! I promise I won't tell and "ruin your reputation."

I sat with my mum the other day and I just hated seeing her that way, but I did remember what you wrote to me. She has been in the hospital a couple nights now. The doctors said that she was just weak after the chemo, but she will be back at home with us in a week or so. Thanks again, I can't wait to hear from you.

Your friend

I'm not exactly sure what makes me laugh. Jokes, pranks, just doing fun, stupid things... I guess just the usual. What makes you cry? Seeing my mum suffer, along with my dad. "I love when you become such close friends with someone that all you have to do is look at them, and laughter comes with the rush of memories associated with them." Maybe I should call you a poet!

James smiled, knowing the poem had encouraged her. He could create a vivid picture of his family, grandparents and all, sitting by the fire when he was younger. His father would read poetry for hours, Walt Whitman being his favorite. It was using poetry that his father taught him to read. He remembered when he was four, reading nursery rhymes to the family before his father opened his book. He knew his father still read at night on the porch, he made a mental note to join them sometime. Since Sirius had been living there, he had been with him instead.

His pen pal had been on his mind a lot lately, and he found his mind wandering to her letters, and himself anticipating them all day. Right after reading it he grabbed his own parchment and quill.

Dear Sunshine,

The last time I cried was after seeing one of my best friends go through I really painful situation. So I guess at seeing others suffering is what makes me cry. And as you requested I give you Robert Frost, "Into my Own":

One of my wishes is that those dark trees,
So old and firm they scarcely show the breeze,
Were not, as 'twere, the merest mask of gloom,
But stretched away unto the edge of doom.

I should not be withheld but that some day
Into their vastness I should steal away,
Fearless of ever finding open land,
Or highway where the slow wheel pours the sand.

I do not see why I should e'er turn back,
Or those should not set forth upon my track
To overtake me, who should miss me here
And long to know if still I held them dear.

They would not find me changed from him they knew--
Only more sure of all I thought was true.

Now what are doctors? And chemo? I'm horrible with muggle terms. You should see my friend and I in town. We only ever go for paintballing but he can be so stupid, pointing at things saying: "look at the things those muggles think up!" At least when I don't know what something is, I ask quietly, not screaming the word "muggle" when they can hear me. So what things do you do for enjoyment? You already know I love Quidditch, which everyone knows, and poetry (remember don't tell anyone). I also love Care of Magical Creatures class, and so in- turn love magical creatures. Even non- magical animals are so interesting. Living near the woods and a village near moors I love nature and natural things. I remember walking throughout the moors and woods when I was younger, not coming home till after dark. That got me in tons of trouble. So I don't know what else to say so I'll ask my question. What do you want to accomplish in life? I know I want to make a difference, especially in the fight against you-know- who. I read in the newspapers everyday of more and more people being killed, and others laying their lives down for others. I mean professional Quidditch sounds great, but I want to do more than entertain people. Write back soon! – Dimples

OOOOOOOOO

The first poem was written by Walt Whitman. It can be found in Children of Adam and is titled "Out of the Rolling Ocean." Robert Frost wrote the second Poem as indicated. I know the poetry can be a little corny, but I needed him to be Prince Charming! I hope the format was better and easier to read, thank you for the advice- the reviews are great!

NEXT: Lily and James make plans to meet up