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Summary: A James and Lily Story. They both led seemingly perfect lives – appearing like flawless portraits. In 6th year, everything began changing drastically, forcing them to leave childhood, and their perfect images, behind forever. Follows The Marauders Era's 6th year at school.

Authors' Note: Hello! This story is written from the efforts of two people. We're both a bit eccentric, and it's our first fanfic, so please bear with any blunders we may commit. Reviews would be nice. Yeah. We would love to hear some input from readers; ideas, constructive criticism, and hey – even flames. We've got tough skin, so don't be afraid to swear and curse at us – just be considerate and offer reasons for you flame, ok? Excellent. Thumbs up. Onward then!

This first chapter's a bit short. Introductions to characters, setting and whatnot. Kind of boring, but more action promised soon! Cheers.

Chapter 1: Hidey Ho! Back to Hogwarts we go!

Lily Evans leaned back effortlessly in the black Chevy her father was driving. She pushed a stray lock of auburn off her face and looked up at the letters and postcard that were next to her. All were from her three best friends and dorm mates who attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry with her. Lily smiled fondly as she thought of them and opened her photo album of Hogwarts and her emerald eyes trailed over the most recent picture, all four of them standing at the gates and smiling cheekily, taken last year on the last day of school.

Her red-head swung forward as she bent over to put her stuff away. Suddenly, another picture, this one of a well-built handsome boy fell out and Lily blushed as she retrieved it. It was David Reeve, her 7th year Ravenclaw boyfriend smiling charmingly at her. His brown hair was combed back, and his blue eyes sparkled. David had asked her out near the end of the previous year, and was Lily's first boyfriend. He was also a Beater on the Ravenclaw Quidditch team, but Lily still would still cheer for Gryffindor when their houses were opponents.

Lily's sister Petunia shot daggers at her as Lily put away her picture of David. Petunia was blond, tall, far too skinny, and horse-faced. Despite this, Lily secretly still loved her sister fiercely though would never dare show it. Before the arrival of the letter that changed her life; her invitation to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry back when she was a mere 11 years old, her and Petunia's relationship had been quite warm and close. The sisters had been inseparable and adored each other's company. But things had since changed.

Shortly after receiving her letter, Lily had noticed a change in Petunia. Her older sister would often sneak into Lily's room to open the Hogwarts letter and read it repeatedly with envious eyes. Lily had caught her several times and would have been more than happy to allow her to read it. Except Petunia had flown into a rage when Lily discovered her reading the letter for the first time; she had broken into a fit of tears and called Lily every foul name under the sun. From that time on, Lily's older sister distanced herself from the rest of the family as they fawned over Lily's fascinating school things and magical belongings. She became curt and cutting with Lily and had developed a certain discontent and prejudice of all witches and wizards. Lily's auburn head turned and looked sorrowfully over at her older sister; she definitely missed her.

Her parents were more understanding and impressed when they looked at Lily's school things. Her father David was a corporate lawyer, and her mother Elizabeth was an interior designer. They were slightly disappointed at first, by having to send Lily so far away, but they dealt with it gradually and loved receiving magical things, small trinkets from Hogsmeade or looking at Lily's fascinating schoolbooks.

"Ready for school this year?" Her mother asked as she turned around and smiled kindly at her two daughters.

"Yeah, I can't wait to see everyone again." Lily said, grinning as she imagined how they would all meet up within the hour.

Her mother seemed to think along the same lines, as she nodded and inquired curiously, "How come you didn't visit each other so much this summer?"

Lily sighed as she thought back of all the summers back, when Mai had invited all of them to her house for 2 weeks, and all the fun they had. "I saw Hestia a couple of times, but she missed Kevin so much she practically lived at his house. Kat went to Canada for the summer and just returned two days ago. Her Step Dad had to oversee a bunch of things for the Ministry. And I haven't even heard from Mai much; last she wrote, she said she was busy discovering her inner self or something."

"You'll have to invite them all over for the holidays at one point then. They all seem like such charming, well brought up girls." Her mother smiled as she turned back around and then began looking for something in her purse.

"Especially since they're all freaks from that freak school," Petunia hissed softly under her breath.

"That's enough from you! It's time that you accept the fact that Lily's a witch. Just because people are different from you doesn't mean that you can treat them disrespectfully. You're not allowed to do go out with that Dursley fellow for a month, unless your mother and I are present. Do I make myself clear?" their father barked and made a sharp turn.

"But Dad! I'm eighteen! You can't do this to me!" Petunia shrieked so loudly that several passers by stared making Lily wished she was of age so she could put a Silencing Charm on her.

"I can and I will." Their father said holding on to the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles were turned white.

"I can't stand this! You're ruining my life!" With that, Petunia began sobbing her eyes out.

Lily tried to block out her sister's cry for attention and went back to thinking about Hogwarts. The magnificent castle, so obscure, undiscovered, yet so safe; the excitement of Quidditch games, all the things you absorbed in a year from your lessons, goofing off with friends, and just a wonderful feeling of being surrounded by love. Of course, with people like Severus Snape, Lucius Malfoy, Mike Goyle and the rest of Slytherins who were always sneering at her and calling her "Mudblood", that feeling of love vanished sometimes, but returned immediately when those very Slytherins were jinxed moments later.

But then again, if that jinxer – and your rescuer, just happened to be James Potter or his little group of friends, you'd feel worse than ever. Lily found herself frowning when she thought of James and his friends, the "Marauders" as they called themselves. James thought he was the "ring leader" of the group. He was born into and raised from a well-respected, well-known family that contributed immensely to the progress of the wizarding world, particularly famous for the many aurors that came from the family. This somewhat celebrity stardom, had gone very far in James Potter's ego and caused him to believe that he ruled the school. But of course, most of the female population agreed and thought he did too. With messy black hair, mischievous hazel eyes behind the most fashionable glasses, an athletic body, an amazing Chaser, brains, money, and a name – who could possibly resist him?

Lily could and did. After she counted the part where he was an arrogant, attention-seeking prat who hexed anyone who got him mad into oblivion, it was pretty easy.

He was rarely seen without his right hand man, best friend Sirius Black; in fact, it wouldn't surprise Lily if they were long-lost twins. Sirius was a lot like James, just as much "charm". He also had dark hair, also played Quidditch – Beater respectfully - and also very roguish. But unlike bush-head James, Sirius' hair always flopped gracefully into his clear, blue eyes, and he was more muscular, more handsome, and much, MUCH more flirtatious; he managed to obtain a new girlfriend every few weeks. He had a hefty reputation as a ladies man and skirt chasing was near the top of his list of hobbies.

When his friend Remus Lupin commented on this, Sirius laughed and replied, "I'm only looking for the right one Moony, and how can I find her if I don't look around and experiment with different girls?" Out of her friends, Hestia enjoyed flirting with him, Mai was indifferent, but Kat seemed to be the one that liked him a lot, or loved him rather. Which didn't make much sense to Lily, but then, did anything in her world make sense anymore? Was there anyone sensible?

Speaking in Marauder terms (which Lily realized in horror that she was doing so), Remus Lupin was the only sensible one. Lily always thought that Remus was the only Marauder she liked, though she could not possibly understand how he could stand both Sirius and James and not go insane. He was tall and handsome like Sirius and James, but less in the behold-me-I-am-in-your-face kind of way. His good looks came more with his soft demeanor and gentle but good-natured spirit. With sandy brown hair that often fell into his bluish-gray eyes when he was studying, many girls swooned over his boyish shyness. He was frequently pale and peaky, something he must have attained from his family genes; Remus had to often leave school for a couple of days to visit his frail-health grandmother, whom Lily could not believe could be still alive after being terminally ill for six years. He was trustworthy, though aloof, and considerate, though even he loved to pull pranks on people with his friends sometimes.

The last member of the Marauders was Peter Pettigrew, average height – though noticeable shorter than the other three Marauders, rather chubby boy with wispy blond hair and watery blue eyes. Lily didn't know much about him, but Hestia (who had sat beside him once in Defense Against the Dark Arts) said that he was nice, and loved pranking as much as his friends, though he wasn't all that bright, and always counted on his friends to help him out with his studying or out of big messes. Not many people thought much of him, but Lily guessed that he had to be somewhat like the other three to be accepted into the circle with them.

Lily sighed and tried to think of something else, something other than the Marauders and how they drove her nuts sometimes. Her eyes turned toward the sun cast scenery moving gracefully past her window view. She smiled dreamily and went onto Cloud Nine thinking about the boyfriend she was going to see soon. About her cherished group of friends. And about her beloved school of mystery and magic.

Her thoughts were rudely interrupted after what seemed like a few moments when her dad pulled into an empty parking space outside the train station. Her things were lifted out of the trunk, and with a last goodbye, Lily stepped into the old building. She was going to be seeing everyone sooner than she expected.

James Potter sighed impatiently and looked at his watch for the hundredth time. Where is she? He wondered, scanning the whole of Platform 9¾. After several minutes without any success, he sat himself down on one of his suitcases in irritation and continued to eye the entrance.

"Prongs, do you really think that by staring at the barrier you're going to make Evans appear?" Sirius Black asked grinning as he checked out some giggling Hufflepuff girls as they went by.

"Naah, he's just dreaming again. Dreaming that Lily Evans will ever give him the time of day!" Peter Pettigrew piped up in a high-pitched squeaky voice that made James, Sirius, and Remus wonder if Peter was ever going to hit puberty.

"Oi, was that an insult coming out of your mouth Petey? I don't believe it, he's finally growing up!" Sirius yelled and hit Peter good-naturedly on the back, nearly knocking him over.

"Are you sure? Our little Petey growing up? How utterly heart wrenching," Remus stopped to dramatically close his eyes and cross one hand across his chest solemnly. After several seconds, he opened soft eyes again and grinned, "No worries Wormtail, you'll always be our little 'Rat' no matter what."

Peter gave an squeaky and slighted, "Hey!"

Remus rarely joined in the little jabs that the rest of his friends said to each other, but there were times when he simply could not help himself. When he turned around and spotted three girls walking towards the train and waved at them. They all waved back and continued talking, while James glowered that Lily wasn't with them.

Sirius watched him with pity and shook his head, "I seriously don't know how you can stand her mate. Sure, she might make a pretty good snog and all…" Here James stood up, giving him a threatening look, "but she's a regular spitfire. There's nothing wrong with her mate, other than the fact that she'll blow your head off with her screeching every time you say hello."

Both Remus and James shot daggers at Sirius with their eyes. He just shrugged at them and began telling Peter some story of how close he was to getting lucky with some Muggle girl over the summer. James meanwhile, returned his attention back to thinking about Lily.

Lily, with her silky red hair that smelled so sweet that framed her milk-white face. Lily with her dazzling round, bright green eyes that always had some sort of strong emotion in them, even if that emotion was of the greatest loathing and detest when they looked in his direction. Lily who was one of the smartest girls in the school. Lily who was caring and reliable, and always knew the right thing to say. Lily who was-

James stopped thinking.

Lily who had just entered Platform 9¾, looking slightly disheveled but still incredibly and stunningly beautiful all the same.

He looked away from her, catching his breath and running a hand through his hair, then remembering that Lily hated that habit, so he stopped and tried flattening it. "She's here," James said bluntly to Sirius, with a mile wide grin on his face.

"Good for you mate, have a cookie," Sirius countered back automatically.

Sneaking a glance at her as she made her way over to two of her friends, James smiled goofily. Oh yes, it was good to be back.

That's all for now

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