Disclaimer: If I owned this, I would be Jo Rowling. If I was Jo Rowling, I would be working on the seventh book!

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Chapter Six: Apologies and Uncle Alphard

………

May 7, 1977.

Dear Diary,

I just got back from the Slug Club party. I can't express how much I hate those things! I guess it's nice and all, that at least Slughorn likes me, but seriously, how many times can he tell me that I would have been good in Slytherin? My answers always seem to come out impertinent, but I can't help it, and he doesn't seem to notice. And also, he always seems surprised that I'm top of my year, since I'm a muggle-born. But whatever. I guess I'd best try to stay on his good side. Only one more year.

I took Joe to the party. Luckily, he didn't seem to think I was behind all the hexing last Saturday, and when he got back from the hospital wing on Sunday, he asked me to be his girlfriend. I accepted, of course. Potter was spitting mad when he found out, but it's none of his business whom I go out with. I told him that, too.

Well, I'm meeting Joe for a walk around the grounds soon, so I'd better go.

Love always,

Lily Marie Evans

………

"James Potter in the library!"

"Hi, Leighna. I was just doing my Charms homework."

"Hoping you would run into a certain red-haired friend of mine?"

"Actually, quite the opposite. I'm almost scared to do my work in the common room, lest she come in and find something new to yell at me about. And I can't stay in my dormitory, because Sirius has taken to sulking up there and I try not to be in the same room as him longer than necessary."

"Still haven't made up with him?"

"No."

"James, you do realize why Lily's so mad at you, right?"

"Because I hexed her boyfriend."

"Yes, but it's more than that. Corinne, Karen, Alice, and I have been teasing her for a couple of months now into admitting that she likes you. She never told us directly, but I know she was really impressed by how brave you were for saving Snape. I think she finally realized that you weren't just the arrogant prat you once were. Needless to say, she thought you had matured a lot. But then you had to go and mess it all up by hexing her date! Then she realized you were just the same annoying berk you had always been."

"What do you think I should do?"

"Apologize."

"I've tried, but-"

"You obviously haven't tried very hard, because every time you try, she comes up to the dormitory looking madder than ever."

James mumbled something that sounded like, "I'll never understand girls."

"James, all she wants is a sincere apology. Oh, and you should tell her that you're happy for her and Joe."

"But I'm not!" James protested.

"I know, but she thinks you're too protective of her and you think she shouldn't go out with anyone else. Your best bet is to say that you're happy for them."

"Okay," sighed James, defeated. "Thanks Leighna."

"No problem."

………

"Lily-"

"What Potter?" Lily spat.

"I just wanted to say that I'm really sorry for hexing Joe, and I'm sorry for thinking that you shouldn't go out with anyone else. Oh, and I'm really happy for you guys."

Lily was really surprised that his apology had come out sincere this time. "I…you…okay," she finished lamely.

"So are you not mad at me anymore?" James looked hopeful.

Lily sighed. "I guess not. I still can't believe you did that, though!"

"Yeah, well, I didn't really mean to Bat-Bogey Hex him, but I accidentally did nonverbal magic. The teeth, though," he grinned, "I meant to do that."

Lily just rolled her eyes.

………

May 9, 1977.

Dear Diary,

James just apologized to me for hexing Joe, and it actually sounded like he meant it this time. I'm still a little bit mad at him, but at least he finally figured out that he shouldn't have done that. I mean, seriously, it's not like I was his girlfriend or something! He shouldn't have any say at all in whom I kiss!

Speaking of kissing…I have to go meet Joe in like ten minutes!

Love always,

Lily Marie Evans

………

A few weeks later, Lily was sitting with Corinne, Leighna, Karen, and Alice at breakfast. The Marauders and Frank weren't far off, as the two groups had started eating together, bonded by Karen and Remus's and Alice and Frank's relationships.

Lily was telling Leighna how sweet Joe had been on her birthday, which had been the day before. James was trying not to listen.

"…and then he gave me a huge bouquet of red roses and then we kissed, and it was so roman-" Lily was cut off by a large tawny owl landing in front of Sirius. Everyone held their breath. It was a Ministry owl.

Sirius scanned the letter, and when he had finished reading it, he grinned. "My uncle Alphard died."

"And you're grinning about that?" Remus asked incredulously.

Sirius stopped grinning and looked thoughtful. "Well, actually, I suppose I should be sadder than this, but he left me a good deal of gold, so it turned out okay."

"Really? How much?"

"Enough to buy a flat of my own and move out of Prongs's house."

James just nodded. He and Sirius still hadn't made up.

Lily rolled her eyes at James and then asked Sirius, "You live with James?"

"Yeah, I ran away from home last summer and James's parents let me stay with him for the holidays."

"Really? You ran away from home?"

"Yes! You would've too, if your entire family was obsessed with the Dark Arts!"

"And you let him stay with you!" Lily asked James.

"Well, yeah. He is--was," James corrected, "my best mate. And it's not like we didn't have the room."

Lily rolled her eyes again. Everyone except James thought that he should make up with Sirius.

"Hey, Lily love, pass the jam," Sirius said.

………

Before Lily knew it, the days had slipped into June. One night she was writing in her diary in the common room when Remus came up.

June 5, 1977.

Dear Diary,

Last night, Joe and I took a romantic walk around the grounds. It was really nice, what with the smell of flowers, the cool night air, and the reflection of the moon on the lake. Anyway, afterwards, we snogged in the broom closet by the Great Hall, and you'll never guess what happened! We got caught! By fifth-years! Corinne was right; they are really mean fifth-years! Joe was kind of mad that they interrupted us, but I just started giggling, and then I couldn't stop. Joe asked rather sullenly what was so funny, but I wouldn't tell him. I told Karen, Alice, Leighna, and Corinne, though. We laughed well into the night.

Oops, Remus just walked up.

"Hey Lily."

"Hi, Remus."

"You want James and Sirius to make up, don't you?"

"Yes, of course, don't you?"

"Yes! They're driving me crazy! You don't have to sleep in the same room as them!"

"Really, what do they do?"

"Just ignore each other mostly, but occasionally there's an outburst from one or the other. Plus, if this goes on, we won't have an end-of-the-year prank! Will you help me, Lily?"

"Help you what, exactly?" Lily asked warily.

"I don't know. Just help me figure out some way to make James forgive Sirius."

"Maybe…maybe we should try to just talk to James."

"I've already tried. Many times. He always just brushes me off."

"Well, maybe if we all talk to him. Separately, I mean. Like get Corinne to talk to him one day, then the next day have Peter talk to him, and et cetera."

"I don't know…" Remus said, unconvinced.

"It has to work! If we tell him enough times, he has to listen!" Lily said, trying to convince herself as well.

Remus grimaced. "You have no idea how stubborn James is."

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Okay, this chapter was not good at all.

I will probably update again tomorrow, but after that not until the week after next!

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