Disclaimer: Characters and settings are property of J.K. Rowling. What you don't recognize is mine. And I wish I owned the Marauders (specifically Sirius and Remus) but most unfortunately, I do not.

Last Chapter: Lily and James spend lots of time getting to know each other; everyone gets prepared for exams. Not a particularly eventful chapter, in terms of drama and action. Sorry about that.

And before I forget, Carpe Diem translates to "Seize the day." It's Latin, and it basically means to live each day as though it were your last, with no regrets. It seemed to fit Janine and Sirius's POV.

X-X-X-X-X

Humming to himself, James headed down the stairs with Alyssa and Lily, listening to the two girls on either side of him chattering, giggling about something or another. It was a fine day. There was one week left for exams, and ordinarily, everyone would be spending the Saturday studying, fighting over books, arguing over the validity of this Potions text or another, begging one another for notes (and, in some cases, trying to buy/sell brain stimulants to each other in hopes of either getting a better grade or making some good pocket money. Wandering around with Lily, James had already seen her confiscate seven in the last week alone.)

But nobody was doing the usual things today, for one simple reason: everyone was in a high state of excitement, anticipating the Quidditch Final between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw. James wasn't nervous – he never was – but Damien Garnet had worked them all to the bone the night before, and Janine had flat-out refused to eat any dinner, and it was unlikely she'd eat any breakfast either, and Jen was chewing her nails to uneven stubs. Cassie Barrington was feverishly muttering all the Seeker moves she could think of to herself, while Benedict Rennet had taken to pouncing on James or Janine in the hallway in the past week, looking hectic and harassed, demanding to know if they'd been practicing their formation on their own time, and how good were they, because he hadn't had much time to study, with N.E.W.T.'s and all, you know?

Only James and Sirius remained confident. They would win. They always did. Cassie was a good Seeker, and even on an off day, James, Janine, and Benedict could pick up the slack with their Chasing abilities. Ravenclaw was good this year, but then, so was Slytherin, and the Slytherin team in general played much dirtier, and Gryffindor had still beaten them.

Yes, there was nothing to worry about.

But when James, Lily, and Alyssa entered the hallway, chatting unconcernedly, James had been the first to see the pale, drawn faces, to hear all the horrified whispers, and to see the teachers up at the tables, looking so very sad, and to see the conspicuous absence of his best mate, his best mate's girlfriend, as well as the team's Seeker. Looking around the Hall, James noticed others missing, as well, and as he realized why, his face drained of all color.

By now, Lily and Alyssa had noticed as well, and were shooting one another curious, if cautious glances. "What's going on?" Alyssa asked, frowning. People had begun to notice her, and were whispering behind closed hands as they spotted her. She looked down at her outfit; it was quite clean. "Do I look all right?" she asked Lily uncertainly.

"You look fine. I imagine some idiot is spreading stupid rumors or…" She trailed off at the look on James's face. "James? What's wrong? You look as though you've seen a ghost."

"What the bloody hell is going on?" Alyssa demanded irritably. People had begun to notice her, and were pointing and whispered. "Oy! What are you staring at?" she snapped a passing Hufflepuff second-year, who gave a terrified squeak and quickly hid his eyes. She turned and scowled at James. "James Potter, if you know something, you had better tell me right now."

"…Owls," he finally choked out. Alyssa turned, and frowned slowly. Littered around the hall were black envelopes with the Ministry seal, and comprehension began to dawn on her face. Lily continued to look confused; meanwhile the color drained from Alyssa's face. On Gryffindor table sat one unopened envelope.

"Oh, no," she began to stammer. "Oh, no, no, no…"

"What's going on?" asked Lily, giving her a concerned look, and then looking to James. "Somebody tell me what's going on!"

"Miss Comforts, I think you had best come with me," a voice said gently from behind them. Professor Dumbledore stood there, a terribly sad look on his kind, old face. "I will take you to my office."

Alyssa started off wordlessly, as Dumbledore look to James. "I don't suppose, James, that you've Sirius?" he asked softly.

"No," James answered. "But I imagine he's off with Janine, or something." His blood ran cold. "What happened?"

"I'm afraid I am unable to disclose that information at the moment," Dumbledore said softly. "However, if you do see him – or perhaps happen to discover where he is – please let me know, or send him to me at once."

"Is he in trouble?" inquired Lily. "Is Alyssa? Professor, I don't know what's-"

"Ah, Miss Evans – I forget, sometimes, that you are a Muggleborn witch. The black envelopes are formal notices from the Ministry of Magic…"

"…Signaling a family member's death," James finished hollowly. "Professor, I've really got to know what happened – Sirius is my best friend-"

"Me, too," insisted Lily, "Alyssa is my friend, and I suppose Sirius is too-"

"It would be a gross violation of the rules that accompany these envelopes to notify anyone other than the family members of the contents, if they do not already know," Dumbledore informed them softly. He paused, and added, "I apologize, Lily, James." Turning, he went down the hall after Alyssa.

Lily's eyes were bright with tears. "I… oh, I don't know what to say. Or what to do. D'you think Janine got one? What about Cassie Barrington, d'you think she did?"

"I don't know," James whispered vacantly, and he turned to look around the Great Hall. Again, he could see a number of faces missing. Lily blinked away tears, and James, ignoring his mind as it screamed at him not to, opened his arms to her. And she dove into them and pressed her face into his shirt, and his arms tightened protectively around her, as though he could keep the world's evils away just by holding her like that forever. He rested his chin on top of her head, feeling worse by every minute, but glad that he could feel her heart beating just next to his. "I just… don't know."

X-X-X-X-X

Dinner that night was a somber affair. The Quidditch match had, of course, been cancelled; James, despite his best efforts, could not find Sirius, and when he rushed up to his dorm to find the Marauder's Map, he discovered it gone already. Janine had, at long last, appeared from dinner; her eyes were red rimmed, and her skin was scarily translucent, as if though she were completely drained of all energy; she refused to say where she was, or even if she knew where Sirius had been, despite numerous questions from the other three boys.

At the end of the dinner, Dumbledore stood up, his face heavy and sad. James realized, with some shock, that Dumbledore really as quite old – it had never really occurred to him before, because the man was such a pillar of strength, but now he just looked old. James shivered; Lily, next to him, shot him a concerned look.

"As many of you have heard – be it through the gossip chain that exists here, or perhaps from the Daily Prophet – there was an attack in Diagon Alley today. A very large-scale attack; many of you have lost friends or family in it. Tonight we remember those who died at the hands of the man who calls himself Lord Voldemort.

"I am afraid the Quidditch Final will be cancelled in light of recent events, as well as the last Hogsmeade visit of the year – for your own safety. I do sincerely apologize, and I offer my sympathies to those of you who have lost someone.

"I ask you all to look around yourselves, and find the people whom you have regularly sought out to spend time with, and then those that you have not. We are at war. Now is not the time to divide ourselves and remain within our comfort zones. Hogwarts will protect you for as long as it can; in return, when you leave our hallowed halls, you must try to give something back. Befriends those you have not. Now is not a time for division amongst ourselves.

"As a very wise Muggle by the name of G.P. Morris once said, 'United we stand, divided we fall.' And he is right. We must stand together, or we risk falling to our knees in the face of a terrible man, bent on the destruction of the world we have built. Because we are at war.

"I ask you to think carefully on what I have said, as I bid you good night. Please return to your dormitories at this time. I understand that it is early, but I would see you all safely into bed this one night, to know that you are there, considering what I have said. I bid you good night."

There were a few moments where nobody moved; everyone stared silently at Dumbledore, some with incomprehension, others with sad understanding. Over at the Slytherin end, some stared at Dumbledore with silent derision. James saw Snape's face, and was astonished to discover that the boy was staring at Dumbledore with the same look he himself had on his face: one of grim determination. He looked at Lily and saw a similar expression.

X-X-X-X-X

Lily was the first to enter the dormitory, and she wasn't at all surprised to see Alyssa plopped on her bed, her eyes red-rimmed, clutching a pillow. "She left me the shop," Alyssa said thickly. "She… she had a will, and everything. Since the last attack on the Alley. It's like – it's like she knew. She knew they were coming for her."

Lily didn't have to ask whom she was talking about. Lily knew that Alyssa loved her family dearly, but that her aunt Cecilia was by far her favorite.

"Well, she left it to both of us," Alyssa continued in soft tones. "Me and Brianna. I don't – I don't know what we'll do with it. Continue the sales, I suppose. I've been drawing designs in my head for years, but you know, I'd feel so useless if I owned a dress shop. Dumbledore told me we were at war, and that each of us had to consider where we wanted to be in the war, how we wanted to be a part of it. I asked him what he meant, and he just shook his head…"

"Oh, Alyssa." Janine sat on her bed and put her arms around the other girl; as if like that, the other clustered around Alyssa gently, sitting on her bed, not too close, but not so far away. They offered comfort without encroaching too much on her space. Alyssa gave them all a watery smile.

"Thanks for being here for me, guys."

"As if we wouldn't be," Jen said, sniffing. Her eyes were watering; she hastily drew a hand across them, muttering about dust in her eyes.

"It's just…" A tear slid down Alyssa's cheek, and then she looked up fiercely and angrily. "It isn't bloody fair, is it? What right does he have to go around killing poor people? I just – it isn't fair!" she spluttered, and pulled away from her friends and went to stand by the window. "I'm going to do something about it someday," Alyssa said coldly, her blue eyes glinting. "Dumbledore – I think I know what he meant now – I won't sit back. I won't. I'm not going to sit back and let them do it for me. I'm going to fight, too."

And she looked so fierce, just then, so much stronger and bolder than Lily had ever seen her, that Lily often wondered in the years after that day if it was in Alyssa's expression that she had first understood that they were at war, and that nobody was going to be able to fight the war for them, that they'd have to fight it themselves, and they'd have to survive, even if it was with no one to help them

X-X-X-X-X

In the other dormitory, the situation was the opposite. Sirius's bed had a gentle slope to it, as if he'd lain down there without getting under the sheets, and then left before the others came back. James looked tiredly at the bed, wishing that Sirius would come to him, to talk or something, but Sirius didn't come. Hours crept by as the three boys – that is, James, Peter, and Remus – sat in complete silence. James sat on his bed, fiddling with a snitch but never actually letting it go; Peter lay on the floor, chewing on a quill as he thought of things to write to Anna, but never actually writing any of it; Remus sat propped up against his pillows, reading a book, but James knew he wasn't really reading, for the pages never turned and his eyes never moved.

At half past three, Sirius trooped in, looking exhausted and angry, muttering under his breath like a madman. His entrance only testified that his three friends had been waiting for him; Remus leapt off his bed, the book falling from his hands; Peter jumped up from his place on the floor, as if electrified; James completely let the snitch go and zoom off as he got to his feet.

"Where have you been?" they all asked at once, and then they all winced, for it sounds too much like an interrogation.

Sirius threw himself on his bed, and muttered, "Uncle Alphard."

James flinched. Sirius didn't like most of his family, but the youngest of the three Black brothers (of which Orion Black, Sirius's father, was the middle) had always had a close bond with his somewhat wayward nephew, and undoubtedly Sirius was taking the news of his death very hard.

The three boys stood uncertainly away from the fourth Marauder, as if unsure what to do or say. Finally, James said very quietly, sitting on the bed, "I'm sorry, mate."

"Yeah." Sirius's face was buried into his pillow, his dark hair a stark contrast against its whiteness. "Me too."

X-X-X-X-X

Sirius sat sullenly in a squishy armchair before the Headmaster's desk, scowling down at his shoes. Dumbledore said nothing to the boy – no, young man – before him, not for long moments. At long last, he spoke.

"Mr. Black, you were gone for a very long time yesterday."

"I didn't go anywhere."

"No one was able to find you." The old man's voice was somber and quiet. "I understand that you're in pain-"

"I really don't see the point to his conversation," interrupted Sirius sulkily. "D'you want to know where I was? Fine, then. I was on the roof the North Tower. I flew up there, and Janine found me. She stayed up there with me for a few hours, and then I sent her away."

"And you sat up there until three in the morning?"

Sirius blinked at his Headmaster, as if wondering how he'd known that, and then nodded tightly. "I needed space."

"You could not find space within the castle?"

"It was too stuffy. I couldn't breathe." Sirius closed his mouth, as if he didn't feel like having this conversation. "You wanted to know where I was; now you do. Can I go?"

Dumbledore stood up. "I understand that your uncle's assets are now yours, is that correct? He left everything to you."

"Yeah, he did. Said I was the only decent Black, and after all that'd happened last summer…" Sirius's eyes narrowed. "I s'pose you know about that, don't you? About me staying with the Potters? Who'm I kidding… 'course you do. You sent me my letter there."

"One does not have to know where another is to send them a letter," Dumbledore corrected gently, but then he nodded. "Yes, Sirius, I was made aware of that when your mother wrote to tell me so."

"She noticed, did she?"

"You are a very conspicuous presence wherever you go, Sirius, so it is only natural that one would notice your absence. That aside, she is your mother."

"I dunno. I think I might have been adopted." Sirius knew that wasn't true; he was the spitting image of his father. There was no doubt in anyone's mind where he came from; what his parentage was. "What did you call me here for?" he finally muttered, after a few moments' silence.

"To discuss the burden that has been placed upon you."

"Uncle Alphard's barrister has scheduled a meeting with me once I've finished exams and am out of school for the summer. I won't be going back to the Potters' – I can't. I've… been imposing for years. It's time I got my own place. I'll have the money, now. I'll get a job. I can do it."

"I believe you can. You are a survivor, Sirius, because surviving is what you do best, no matter the circumstances." Sirius shrugged indifferently. "Have you given any thought to your future?"

"'Course I have," Sirius mumbled. "I've just told you what they were."

"Not that – once you've finished Hogwarts. Graduated and moved on."

"Dunno," Sirius grunted. "I'd originally planned to get a flat with James, but I'm just going to get one on my own, I s'pose. I'll get a job next summer, and then I'll think of something to do afterwards. I dunno. I think I might like something that involved travel. Getting away from England. It'd be nice."

"I have no doubt it would. You might consider a Curse-breaker, were times not as they are." Dumbledore leaned forward, steepling his fingers, looking at Sirius intently over his half-moon spectacles. "I take it, then, that you do not plan to go into Quidditch?"

"Quidditch is for James and Janine," said Sirius. "It's a nice hobby for me."

"I rather expected that. I don't imagine you'd be content with a life of playing a professional sport, not when you have so much to give the world." Dumbledore sighed. "Your marks are good, Sirius – despite your apparent disregard for the general idea of studying. If you continue to keep you grades up through your seventh year, you would be eligible for virtually any job. However…"

"I've thought about being a Curse-breaker," Sirius finally admitted, "but seeing as we're at war – 'cause we are, aren't we? – I thought I might do something more… useful."

"My sentiments exactly," replied Dumbledore. "Have you given consideration to becoming an Auror?" Sirius's head snapped up. "You are taking the classes necessary now," Dumbledore continued, "and despite your reckless behavior earlier this year, I might be willing to give you a recommendation for the training program, if you can prove to me that you have learned from the incident in November."

"I have," Sirius murmured, shame-faced.

"There is no shame is mistakes, my boy. Your mistake was a bit more severe than others, but there has been no lasting harm done, so long as you learn from it." Dumbledore studied him. "I understand your wanting to get a job and support yourself, but you will be able to apparate this summer – provided you pass the examination, of course – and even if you can't, you could always use floo powder. Have you ever heard of L'Académie Magique de Paris?"

Sirius glanced at him, perplexed. "Sure," he finally said, after a few moments. "It's that post-school study program, right? One of the best in Europe. A lot of Beauxbatons students go there, I remember someone mentioning it to me – might've been Andromeda."

"She did consider attending, before she eloped," said Dumbledore slowly. "If you apply now, you could take summer courses in Defensive Magic to better prepare you for an Auror Training Program. I do think it would certainly be beneficial, should you wish to pursue a career in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement – or perhaps a career in the Department of Mysteries?"

Sirius stiffened. His father worked in the Department of Mysteries. "No thanks," he said dryly. "Magical Law Enforcement… d'you think I could do it?"

"I believe you would make an excellent Auror, Sirius, but do not be misled: it is far more work than you can imagine."

"I could do it," Sirius said fiercely. "I'd become an Auror – get them back for what they did to Uncle Alphard-"

Dumbledore carefully hid his alarm. "I do not suggest this to you as a venture of revenge, Sirius. I suggest it to you as an opportunity to fight in this war, to fight for the freedom of yourself and your friends, and to do something that I truly believe you would excel at."

Sirius hesitated. "I… I want that, sir. Truly, I do. But Uncle Alphard…"

"Would not wish you to lose your head over his death," Dumbledore said firmly. "He would, I believe, be proud to see you do such a thing with your life, however. I have applications here, Sirius, and although L'Académie Magique de Paris will certainly lighten your pockets, it would be an excellent course of action. You could take night classes, and work during the day, if that is your wish."

"D'you have the applications? Sir?"

"Yes, I do." Dumbledore reached into his desk and handed them over to Sirius, watching patiently as the eager young man began to fill out the forms excitedly. Sirius Black was a brilliant young man, rash and reckless though he was, and Dumbledore was elated to see one of his brightest students channel his potential into something so useful.

X-X-X-X-X

With the tragic disaster of Diagon Alley weighing heavily on all of their minds, (not at all helped by the number of articles in the Daily Prophet and virtually every magazine in the Wizarding World, detailing the tragic losses of a family, or simply showing pictures of the multitudes of damage at Diagon Alley), most students went into the exam week with feelings of depression and the particularly distinct feeling of being completely unprepared.

As the nine Gryffindor sixth-years emerged from their first exam – Potions – Janine moaned, "I failed!"

"Don't be ridiculous," Jen told her waspishly, "you don't fail at Potions; your bloody good at it. Now when we get to History, you're screwed over. Your Charms work is shoddy, too, and if you'd been paying more attention at Transfiguration, you certainly be better-off, and-"

"Jen, shut up," Remus said wearily, resting a hand on her shoulder. To everyone's amazement, the dark-haired girl quieted, although with a rather sullen expression of her face. She shot Remus a very wry smile nonetheless, and as he returned it, Alyssa pointedly looked away and walked a bit faster, away from the others.

"What's up with her?" Jen said. "Surely she's not upset about us, is she?" Remus elbowed her lightly.

Janine shrugged indifferently. "Davy Gudgeon broke up with her. Said the stress of N.E.W.T.'s was getting to him, and he didn't have time for her anymore. He's right, of course, but he was rather hasty about it, and she's still a bit upset. I suppose seeing any other couple doing all right is bothering her."

Jen looked unconvinced, but she nodded. "Oh." She sighed, pulling Herbology – the next exam – notes from her bag. She shoved them under Remus's nose. "Quiz me, would you?"

"You'll be fine, Jennie," Marlene told her comfortingly. "You studied; we all did."

"Look at it this way," said Lily cheerfully. Of the group, she was the only one who didn't seem even the least stressed by the exams. "Next year will be worse, so we should be grateful for the exams we have now, right?" Nobody seemed to like that sentiment; Janine shoved Lily lightly, so that she stumbled into Peter.

"Piss off, Evans," Janine said, but it was rather good-naturedly concerned her temperament as of late, and she added thoughtfully, "Sorry, Pete."

"S'all right," Peter mumbled, shaking his brown hair from his eyes. "You're not worried, are you, Lily?" he added to her. "I mean, I'm bloody terrified, but you've studied, so you're not worried?"

"Not at all," Lily replied smoothly. "I was a bit about Transfiguration, of course, because McGonagall's exams are always difficult, but James and I studied together, so I'm not so much anymore."

"Studied together, did you?" Sirius asked, waggling his eyebrows. Since his uncle's death, he'd made a concentrated effort to be as cheerful as possible – he'd informed James that Alphard wouldn't have wanted him to be depressed, and it was much better idea to take life as it was and enjoy it while he could. James wholeheartedly agreed, as it meant he didn't have to put up with Sirius's fits of moodiness. Besides, he hated to see Sirius moping. "Is that what they're calling it now?"

James elbowed him. "Hey! Our relationship is strictly platonic." He smiled an achingly handsome smile at Lily. "Isn't it?"

Lily felt the beginning of butterflies in her stomach. "Er – yes. Platonic." She saw Janine watching her beadily and ignored it.

Spending more time with James really did mean getting to know him better. At first, Lily had enjoyed his simple companionship, reveling in the fact that he wasn't hitting on her, or asking her out, or even dropping loaded remarks and hints. She liked him as a friend, but she was strongly suspecting that she was starting to like him as much more than that.

When he smiled at her, she felt nervousness fluttering in her stomach; when he laughed, she couldn't help but notice how deep and nice-sounding it was, how the action made his very white teeth flash; when he spoke to her, she saw how very nice his warm hazel eyes were, how comforting and friendly but with underlying depths that, in some way, terrified her…

Bloody hell, Lily thought desperately, I'm falling for James effing Potter!

"Lily?" He looked concerned for her, gently taking her elbow in a platonic gesture to bring her back to the present. Nevertheless, she felt the urge to jerk away as though his touch burned. "Are you all right?"

"Oh, I imagine she's just fine," Janine interjected smartly, her eyes gleaming in a way that Lily did not like. Since that conversation in the dorms, Janine had taken to tormenting Lily in front of their friends at every opportunity, and when it was just the two of them, she'd been pushing Lily to end that stupid deal by asking James out herself. "Aren't you, Lily?"

"Just fine," Lily replied softly, her eyes trained on Janine. James frowned, looking from one girl to another, failing to notice the direct warning looks that Lily sent her friend, oblivious to the devilish sparkle in Janine's eye.

"Of course we are," Janine replied airily. "Walk with me, Lil? I want to pick your brain about… Herbology."

"Pick Marlene's," Lily said flatly. She'd had enough of Janine's pushiness, and was beginning to get irritated. "I've just remembering something I have to ask Professor Cetearyl, so I'll need to go back."

"Want me to come with you?" offered James at once. "I'm not hungry, anyway."

"I – er – no, that's all right," Lily said, flushing, trying to ignore her friends' peculiar expressions. "I'll just – you go ahead, and I'll catch up."

"Are you sure?" he asked, genuinely concerned. "You know, you're terribly feverish-looking; are you sure the stress of exams isn't getting to you? I'm sure you did fine on your exam," he continued soothingly, "so let it go and come have lunch, Lily."

"No, that's all right, I really do have to ask him something, or else it will bother me and I won't be able to study for Herbology," she lied desperately.

"You know, I think I have a question about question #4," Janine said thoughtfully, a slow smirk forming across her lips. "Why don't I come with you?" Despite its phrasing, it wasn't a question. Lily scowled.

"No!" she snapped out, so vehemently that even Janine looked astonished. "Just – go ahead to lunch," she said, silently fuming. Doesn't she know when to leave well enough alone? "I'd rather I went by myself."

Janine's face had become closed; Lily knew what followed now. Janine would fall into a sullen silence, looking sulky and pouty, and would give Lily the silent treatment until Lily spilled anything that was bothering her. Usually it worked; Lily was determined not to let it work now.

When did my best friend become such a bloody brat? Lily wondered irritably. Turning, she hitched her bag higher up her shoulder and stalked down the hallway. Well, hell, if she's going to be brat about it, fine then. I'm not playing her stupid little manipulative games anymore.

"Lily – wait!" Lily paused, and allowed Marlene to catch up with her. "Janine was-"

"-Being a brat?" Lily suggested. "You know, I've never noticed before, but she can be bloody insufferable sometimes. Either that, or Black is rubbing off on her more than I thought, and while it's charming on him, it's annoying on her."

Marlene shrugged. "You know that her father indulges in her every little whim. Can't bear to discipline her… I reckon that the time back in Diagon Alley, over break, well, that was a first for her, which is why she really blew up. You've just got to ignore her. She's like a puppy. If she doesn't get attention, she comes to you."

"I'm starting to think Joanne Gainsborough is a bit right about her," Lily muttered thoughtfully. "She's driving me nutters lately."

"Yes, well," Marlene said noncommittally. "Anyway – don't be too angry with her, yeah? It comes from nearly seventeen years of being treated that way. I have to admit, despite their incessant fights, I think Sirius is good for her," she said suddenly. "He doesn't put up with her bitch fits all the time – most of her boyfriends are the ones to apologize when she throws a fit. Didn't you notice?"

Lily pursed her lips. "No, I never did."

"Well, of course not. You've been such good friends, you never took the opportunity. Now that you're spending more time with James than with us…"

Lily's insides squirmed guiltily. "Yes, that – oh, I'm sorry, Marly, I feel awful about it-"

"Don't you dare," Marlene interrupted with a smile. "There's nothing wrong with having him for a friend, but Lily, it's not just Janine. We've all noticed, you know. Are you… falling for him?"

"I might be," Lily replied carefully. "But I prefer to leave that particular train of thought alone for now."

"You have to think about it some time."

"Yes, I do, and when that time comes, I will. Until then, I refuse to let it distract me."

"Sometimes things are better if you just confront them, Lil."

"Oh, I know. Weren't we talking about Janine?" she added, in a pathetic attempt to distract Marlene from her current line of questioning. Marlene smirked, to let Lily know that she wasn't buying her ploy, but shrugged anyway. "I just wanted to tell you not to let her get to you, that's all."

"I don't plan on it."

"Good. Because, you know, she's still our friend, but she is petty and childish sometimes – it's just the way she was brought up; she never knew when to cut back and let go. But one of these days, Janine will grow up and stop being a right spoiled brat, and she'll become an absolutely lovely person we'll all want to kill because she'll be so damn perfect."

Lily snorted. "Oh, yes. I just hope I'm alive to see the day." The two girls grinned and burst into laughter, and went onto lunch, Marlene helping Lily to invent a reason for her seeing Cetearyl, and what his imagined response might have been.

Very quietly, James, who had been standing around the corner and listening to every word that was said, pressed into the shadows as the two girls passed, feeling elated. In just a little over two weeks, James would ask her out, and so long as Lily was being truthful with Marlene and he'd read the signs right, she'd say yes and give him his chance.

Now, all he had to do was make sure that Lily never found he'd been eavesdropping and keep himself from screwing everything up somehow.

X-X-X-X-X

A/N: So I know Janine was a major brat in this chapter, but somebody made the comment that she seemed too perfect, which is sort of true. We've only seen her good side recently, and I figured it was time to clear up Janine's character: NO, she is not a bad person. She is, however, a rich, spoiled brat and a daddy's girl. Like Marlene says: she's not used to not getting her way, because all she ever had to do was run to Daddy when she wanted something, and she'd get it. Janine is far from perfect. Yes, she is pretty. Yes, she is athletic. Yes, she is quite intelligent. The problem is, she's vain and spoiled and is prone to sulking and pouting when she doesn't get her way, which I hope was evident. Personally, I'd rather be Lily than Janine (even though Janine does have the drop-dead-gorgeous-and-outrageously-sexy Sirius for her boyfriend. I'd want him for a boyfriend too). Mostly because Lily is, overall, a better person. Does that make sense?

Okay, so here's the REALLY IMPORTANT PART! I am going to be gone. Sorry, but I won't have access to a computer until some time in August, so… yeah. No updates between now and then. On ANY of my stories. Sorry. And just fyi… I'll probably lose some steam once HBP comes out (even though I don't get to read it until August… sob) because it will depress me to know that this story has become absolute, irrevocably, blatantly AU. (Alternate Universe, for those who don't know. As in… non-canon. Never going to happen. How tragic). Nevertheless, I will try my best to finish all of the Marauder years, and I may or may not do what would happen in my version of Harry's sixth and seventh years. Or I may just decide to kill of all the characters but for the strictly canon ones (which would be mean and would pretty much destroy me)… but that's unlikely. I'll probably just write up until Lily and James die, and leave it hanging, unless I get the sudden urge to go ahead and write what would happen in Harry's sixth year following the events of this story. Whatever.

That being said, this story has one, two, max three (I'm banking on two, possibly even one if I can squeeze it all in) chapters left, and then I start "Shades of Grey" (yes, I am using the British spelling… so for whoever asked, 'grey' is the British spelling, 'gray' is the American spelling. I think).

Now, I got a few questions about myself. I'm unwilling to give out information about myself on the internet (for understandable reasons) so I'll leave it at that no, I'm not British, I'm from the United States, and my heritage is from India, and that's all I'm going to say. Sorry if you're curious – but that's my policy.

Please leave a review for me – I swear I will update as soon as I can when I get back in August! I love you all for sticking with me this long, and I hope you'll continue to stick with me. Much love, xoxo, Peaches 3