- Love is strong yet delicate.
It can be broken.
To truly love is to understand this.
To be in love is to respect this. –

Trying not to trip over the stairs on the way up had seemed to be a full time job. Over the holidays I'd become accustomed to not bothering with the things. Seeing as my family practically locked me in the 1st floor box room and all. It was the only way to shut Petunia up. She complained every night that I was hexing her to have nightmares – when I wasn't - otherwise. So my parents forced me to sleep downstairs in a makeshift motel. That's what it reminded me of anyway. It never actually felt like home. It's just somewhere to sit out the summer.

"What are you thinking about?" James asked curiously, startling me out of my thoughts.

We'd been sitting in our new common room for half an hour. Professor Dumbledore had already been and gone. Now we were alone and I was trying desperately to ignore him. I found reading a book helped.

"Nothing much. Just life I guess." I replied coolly. I didn't want to encourage the conversation.

"You're still mad about earlier." He commented simply. I turned to face him so that he could see me rolling my eyes.

One of the nicest things about living here was the fireplace I was sitting beside. It made everything seem that much more beautiful. Right now it reflected off James' dark hair. I quickly looked away.

"Clay food hasn't ever appealed to me." I informed him dryly.

I was determined to not show how mad I actually was. I always carefully guarded my anger. But James seemed to be the exception to that rule. It was just so easy to be pissed off with him.

"I said I was sorry." He replied trying to smother his laughter. It made me even more angry that he found it funny.

"You didn't mean it though. You just did it to make me give you a break." I hissed, trying to keep calm.

I sensed his surprise at my outburst. Maybe I'd been wrong.

"If I didn't seem sincere before then I apologize. But most people would just understand that it was a joke." I opened my mouth to reply but realized that he was probably right. I had a habit of over-reacting.

"Fine. Maybe I did take it too seriously. Are you telling me that you really wouldn't mind if someone did that to you?" I shot back. He regarded for a moment trying to figure out how best to word his next reply.

"I'd probably knock their head off with my broom, but that's beside the point. Do you ever lose an argument?" he asked with a small smile.

"No. But there's always a first for everything." I smiled back. I decided that I liked being mad at James. It was much more entertaining than just getting along perfectly all the time.

"Am I interrupting something?"

I turned sharply at the sound of a familiar voice from the hallway. Remus.

"No." I told him quickly. He just grinned in the same way that Sirius had earlier. I sighed as the rest of the Marauders filed in.

My new home didn't stand a chance.

"Well I'm going to go get ready for bed. See you later." I stood up slowly grabbing my book and making my way towards the large oak door. I didn't wait for a reply.

"Goodnight." I heard James mutter dejectedly. I didn't get why he sounded so bothered by my departure. He had his friends to keep him company now.

I turned the bronze doorknob and stepped into my new room. It was all pale creams and whites. But the best part was the bed. It was the biggest four-poster that I'd ever seen. Strike that. The only four-poster that I'd ever seen.

I slipped out of my robes and into shorts and t-shirt. Much more comfortable in my opinion.

James' POV

I almost whacked Remus when I saw him appear in the doorway. Trust him to come when I least expected –or wanted- him to. I'd finally gotten Lily to talk to me normally. And sure, she'd been mad at first. She'd gotten over it.

And besides, I like it when she's mad at me. She gets this light in her green eyes that makes me want to………..well, kiss her I guess.

It was worse that Sirius and Remus had seen it. I just knew that they'd make a huge deal of it. Not so much Peter. He was less observant than the other two.

"So what's been cooking in the house of love?" Sirius asked with a grin. I frowned at him.

"You are so annoying. You realize that?" I replied as he gave me a dig in the ribs. Remus looked at him disapprovingly.

"Don't antagonize him. You know what Prongs gets like when you tease him about her." He said matter-of-factly. Wormtail looked confused.

"What does he get like?" Peter asked looking from me to Remus. Remus gave him a patient look while Sirius scowled.

"He gets even more determined to prove he's a hot-shot." He stated calmly. I opened my mouth in indignation.

"That's not true!" I replied weakly. Sirius looked thoughtful.

"Actually it is. Remember in seventh grade when I said you didn't stand a chance with her and you immediately asked her out?"

"I didn't know that he went out with her." Peter exclaimed excitedly. Normally I would have welcomed the attention. But right now I was too focused on whether or not Lily could hear.

"He hasn't. She said no." Remus informed him dryly. I let out a long sigh.

"Thanks for your support guys." I muttered absently. Sirius whacked me on the back affectionately.

"You know I'm behind you all the way mate. All you need is a plan. One that works for once."

I regarded him dubiously as he looked around the room for inspiration. Remus did not look impressed.

"Keep tricking her into stuff and she won't stick around long enough to find out why." He warned cautiously.

If only I'd taken his advice.