It's been ages, I know, but I have an excuse (kind of). I was in Chicago for a week and a half, and none of my relatives have a computer (not that I would of put it up anyway). This chapter's extra long, so maybe it'll make up for it a bit. And I finally remembered to thank the saints that reviewed (it's at the end of the chapter.)

Disclaimer: Talya's been bugging me about this, so here it is, being unbearably sarcastic – DUH. (I hate this word, but it really sums up disclaimers)

We've done it. We've finally finished it. I'm sure I'll look back, years later, and wonder how we did it, only fifteen, yet we're full fledged animagi. Not to mention illegal animagi. No, we definitely shouldn't mention that. The first full moon's in a few days, and Peter is freaking out.

"Are you sure we can do this, James?"

I didn't have time to listen to Peter. I was too busy thinking about – was I thinking about – no, I wasn't – false alarm – seems like there's been a lot of those in my head lately – especially about – wait, no. The whole point of this conversation is to remind me I don't think about – or do I? – No, I don't. Good, just checking.

"James?" Peter whined.

"What?"

"Shouldn't we try transforming at least once before the actual full moon?" Christ, how many times have I told him? Obviously not enough.

" I repeat, we WILL NOT try it until we are with Remus and Sirius again. We're going to do it together." We drank the potion itself at the end of last year, but it supposed to take a couple months to set in. We all agreed that we would only try it with each other, but Sirius' parents forbade him from "mingling" with us "mud blood lovers" this summer. And Remus was in France. So that left me to spend my days with Peter, and for the first time, I felt jubilant on August 31st.

Tomorrow I go back. Back to the "freak" world I know. Back to Alice, back to Frank, back to Hogwarts, and back to Potter.

It's sad really, the life I lead. I spend nine months of the year in his company, or with people who wish to be in his company, and come home for the summer only to be met with the presence of Petunia.

"LILY!" Speak of the devil. Petunia.

I wasn't in the mood to chat. "WHAT?"

"DON'T YELL AT ME LIKE THAT! WHAT DID I DO TO YOU?" My god. Was she thicker than I thought?

"Then don't be such a hypocrite."

"I AM NOT!"

"You just think that, Petunia." Having an idiot for a sister wasn't so bad. You always won the arguments.

She shut up for a few seconds, only to come back with, "YOU NEVER ANSWERED MY QUESTION!"

"Oh my! Our little witch is going off to her fifth year at Hogwarts! My how time flies!"

Mum began her annual "Our Little Witch" speech. It had become a tradition. Every year, before I went on to the platform, my mother would review this topic, dropping the phrase "Our little witch" every other sentence. Then - oh yes, here it is now - Petunia's insult.

"She's the hog wart." Petty had all year to think up this line. All her creativity went into it. Usually, this would be followed by a light scolding, but a snicker distracted mum. She turned around and issued a new addition to her yearly speech.

"Why Lily, why don't you introduce me to your little friend?"

I appreciated the change in her routine, but "little friend" is not how I would describe James Potter.

I clenched my teeth, and introduced my family to the infamous Potter.

To my surprise, Petunia transformed. She straightened up - eyes now alert – and with her hand swept her brown locks from one side if her head to the other, fluttering her eyelashes. "How nice to meet you, James."

I bit my cheeks to stifle my laughter.

She continued her act through our stiff conversation, the kind you have when people inquire for the sake of being polite, not because they're truly interested in what you have to say.

Finally, mum announced that they really must be going, gave me a peck on the cheek, and said she and Petunia would miss me. Walking away, Petunia looked over her shoulder, waving back at us.

I couldn't hold it in. I exploded.

I glanced down at Lily, laughing her head off. She grasped my arm for balance, and I asked her just what was so funny.

"Petunia," she gasped. "You're so oblivious!"

"What about her?" She seemed normal enough.

"She likes you, stupid."

I ruffled my hair. "Who doesn't?"

Why was I saying this? I didn't want – no, never – but then why did I ask – I practically said – no way. It was just an arrogant comment – but that's the kind of thing I say when I – this is different though – no it's not – WHATEVER. I'll leave my hormones to sort themselves out.

"You're such a git, Potter." Lily was kidding. I think.

"Well, someone has to do it."

Lily shook her head, replying, "You should be glad I'm in a forgiving mood today. Normally, I'd be pissed off by all your arrogance."

I snorted. "Arrogance? I believe the problem lies with you being overly sensitive."

This seemed to darken her mood quite a bit. "And, tell me, exactly HOW am I overly sensitive?"

"Well," I began, ticking them off on my fingers for effect, "You're always yelling at me for no good reason, you're always complaining about me, you get offended at practically anything I say. And, now that you're prefect," I concluded, "You'll be docking points constantly." Okay, that might have been a slight exaggeration, but hey, she needs to face her faults, right?

However, she didn't appreciate my kind gesture of showing them to her.

"Potter!" she screeched. "My 'faults' are nothing compared to what is wrong with YOU! You STRUT around the halls, cursing people's noses off, JUST FOR THE HECK OF IT! You expect everyone to think you're some sort of GOD, and bow down to you! And QUIDDITCH! Don't get me started on THAT, Potter! A STUPID, MEAN, USELLESS SEEKER IS WHAT YOU ARE! For some obscure reason everyone WORSHIPS you for those qualities! And you're always messing up your awful hair! What, do you think it looks SEXY? More like IDIOTIC! And torturing Snape because it's FUNNY! You actually find going out of your way to ruin someone's day AMUSING! You're a BASTARD, Potter! A heartless BASTARD!"

By this point her voice had built up, and she screamed that last word with so much force that it dug into you, criticizing you over and over and over and over…

Lily spun on her heel to stomp off, but came face to face with a quizzical looking Alice.

Her eyes immediately lost their anger, and her furious expression morphed into one of pleasant surprise.

"Why Alice! It's been ages, you really must tell me about Italy…" And with that, Lily linked her arm through Alice's, chattering all the while, and led her away.

Strolling away, Alice twisted her head around, glanced at me, and laughed.

That took a while. Now here's the big, squishy thank yous:

Phat duck: uh, thanx talya, but you really don't need to check to see if anyone's reviewed everyday. Ya, well I talk to you almost everyday, but I'm still upset that you're going to camp to a month. STOP BUGGING ME ABOUT WRITING THE NEXT CHAPTER EVERY FREAKIN' DAY! (actually, it's okay, I probably wouldn't of put it up so soon if it wasn't for you)

Revi: it took me forever to find out what LMAO meant! Dankeshun (or however you spell it)

Billy: well, the whole self confidence thing I wrote was a joke (most say I'm too confident), but I can become an egoistical prick too if you want.

Vermillion guppy: uh huh. Whatever, talya.

Monkeynolikefanfiction: I can't belive you didn't even bother to read the story, mia! Oh well, I'm impressed you got on fanfiction in the first place.

StarCrossed Lovers: I'll try to fit that in somewhere, but it'll be difficult….

THANK YOU TO:

Jillie

Phredtheflyingmonkey

Jesusfreakfromdp

Mirkwoodmage

The next chapter will include…something.