Note: Thanks to my reviewers for the reviews! I know I've posted Chapter Nine today and it took a long time, about a week, so I might not finish this one until a week, too. I'll try to make it shorter! Cyaz!

Chapter Nine: Two Bloody Annoying Little Pranksters

After a long day at the zoo, with James calling her, "Lily darling", "winnie-poo" and "sunshine", she flopped down on her soft fluffy bed. Why did that Pothead have to be so annoying? Lily just wanted to live her life. She wanted to study hard, get good grades (she had got that, at least, under control) and get a job at the Ministry.

'Lily!' screamed Petunia. 'What did you do!' Lily rushed over to Petunia's room. It was a mess, with four owls flying crazily all over the place, ripping up clothes and tearing up the carpet. Petunia's favourite purple bra dangled from the fan. She was jumping, trying to get it.

'Lily!' she panted. 'What – have – your – filthy – little – friends – sent – you?'

'Leave it to me. I'll fix up this mess.' Lily got out her wand and Petunia hurriedly backed out of the room. She shut the heavy door.

'Come on!' called Lily to the owls. She extended her left arm and the owls flew over. She cooed over them for a while. One was quite small and fluffy, a grey one. The second was a handsome arrogant tawny one, which reminded Lily of James. The third was a normal brown one, except it had some strange black spots on its back. The fourth was very fat and it was snowy white. Lily relieved the grey one of its post first. It twittered excitedly, wondering if it had got the letter to the right person. It hopped over to the windowsill, then took off and kept flying all around Lily's head. She opened the letter and parcel. It was from that prankster, Sirius, or Padfoot.

Hey Lils,

How are you? Coping okay with the Muggles? Listen, James owled me and told me that he lives near you. I'm going over to his place to stay for a few weeks. I guess we'll see each other soon! Sorry about Pigwidgeon, my brother Regulus is always obsessed with something and right now its breeding owls. This is a new one, stupid name, Pigwidgeon, don't you think? Send Pig back with a reply.

Bye,

Sirius

Lily grinned. She couldn't help it. She tore the plain brown paper off the parcel. She gasped. Inside was a beautiful fine thin silver necklace with an oval emerald. She immediately put it on. There was another note.

This reminded me of you when I saw it in Hogsmeade. I think it brings out your eyes. I used a compatu… no, wait, one of those computers you were telling me about and glued the necklace on your neck with a program or something. I dunno. Whatever. But anyway… I forgot to give it to you before, so here it is. Enjoy.

Lily smiled, and to her amazement, salty tears leaked out of her eyes. Sirius was so sweet, even though she didn't really like him that much. The corners of her mouth went up in a grin as she thought of Sirius trying to use a computer.

'Damn thing!' he would say, and blast it up when it was frozen. She quickly wrote back a reply and sent it with Pigwidgeon. She was worried that her letter was too heavy for the little owl, but he managed to get out of the window and out into the night air. Lily called the tawny owl over and ripped open the envelope.

Dear Lily-poo,

You were really silent today. Are you okay? Sirius said he owled. He's coming over. Anyway, happy holidays. Just relax, and don't worry about that five thousand word Potions essay on Boomslang skin we have to do…

Love,

James Potter

P.S.: Or you can always call me "James sweetie".

Lily sighed deeply. She opened the parcel. Inside was a single lily and a painting of James… with his shirt off. Lily just grinned. It was so funny. There was a note wedged in the frame.

I painted it myself… well okay, I used a spell to give me artist's talent… but do you like it anyway? Reply back with Gringo!

James

Then Lily regathered herself. Five thousand word Potions essay on Boomslang skin! Oh, no! She had to do that! She quickly ripped off a piece of parchment from the big roll and took out her quill. She sent an angry reply back to James with Gringo. She then took the parcel off the brown one with spots. It was from Frank Longbottom. Strange… Inside was a note and a box of Chocolate Frogs.

Heya Lily!

I don't think we know each other that well, but you're in my Defence Against the Dark Arts class, you know, with Professor Harrington and the Marauders? Anyway my mum says I should be polite and send every single girl in my year a box of chockies… so here's yours. Sorry about the strange black spots, I Transfigured my toad Trevor, he might turn back to a toad, could you please do the spell in case? I'll see you at Hogwarts.

Frank Longbottom

Lily smiled. Frank was a nice boy, quite pudgy and forgetful, but clever. She did the Transfiguration spell on Trevor quickly, then she wrote back and sent him a box of the heart candies.

Muggle food

She had written in her letter to explain. The last owl was from Remus Lupin. Her mouth formed a smile again.

Dear Lily,

I hope James hasn't been bothering you… he owled me and told how he lives down the street from you. Oh deary me… trouble always finds that young man, but maybe he just tries to find it… anyway here's something in case you get really bothered with him… brewed it myself. Do you think Valterra is okay? A Muggle vet has "diagnosed" her with a type of "Cancer". I don't know what that means, but I thought you would know. Sirius said it's some type of illness or something. Owl back please with your own owl, Valterra isn't fit, but she's the only owl I've got… Please do something about the "Cancer" and tell me about it!

Remus

Lily looked over at the fat owl. It certainly looked like it had a type of Cancer. She quickly poked and prodded it, then opened Remus' parcel. In it was six glass bottles filled with aquamariney liquid. There was another note.

It is a type of good luck potion like Devisi. It is called Felix Felicis. You will have good luck for three hours if you drink it. You don't have to if you don't want to, I mean, I'm not exactly the best Potions brewer, if you ask me, I think it's Severus Snape. I'll see you at school.

Remus

Lily remembered that the room needed cleaning up, and she cast a few spells. Soon, everything was as it had been before. She gathered all the owls and her parcels and went back to her room. She arranged the six bottles on her shelf and put the necklace back into its case. She then looked at the clock. 2:30am! God was Lily tired! She crept into bed, not bothering to change, and feel asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow.

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'Wakey wakey, sunshine.' Lily's eyes fluttered open. She nearly screamed as she saw James' face hovering over hers so close, but he clamped a large hand over her mouth.

'Shh,' he said. 'I just came to check up on you. I got your letter. Five thousand word Potions essay on Boomslang skin, eh, and you forgot? Lily, sunshine, how could you?' James ducked as Lily threw her pillow at him.

'Watch your tongue, Potter.' Lily's eyes narrowed.

'Where's my morning kiss, sunshine?' said James, puckering up his lips. Lily pushed her palm into his lips.

'Shut up and go out. I'm going to get dressed. Actually, a better thing would be to leave.'

'Of course, sunshine, abiding your wishes…' James Disapparated with a faint POP.

'And don't you ever call me "sunshine" or "Lily sunshine" again! Or "Lily darling" or "Lily-poo", or even "winnie-poo"!' screamed Lily after him. James had learnt to Apparate at an early age, even though he wasn't supposed to. Lily rolled her eyes and started to get out of bed.

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'Hey, sunshine!' Lily opened the door to find Sirius and James standing on the doorstep.

'I guess you didn't hear me,' said Lily sarcastically.

'Who are your little friends?' asked Mr. Evans, coming down the stairs at that moment.

'No one, Dad. Just Sirius Black. And you met James the other night. Sirius' from school as well.'

'Nice to meet you,' said Mr. Evans, shaking hands with Sirius.

'You too, Mr. Evans.' Sirius grinned. Mr. Evans left the two boys and Lily.

'So, Evans, you done anything interesting?' asked Sirius.

'No,' cut in James. 'Besides from seeing me.' That earnt a hard slap across the face from Lily. Some colourful language escaped her mouth.

'Shut up! Sirius, it was all good except for the time I spent with this bastard here. Oh yeah, and thanks for the necklace.'

'What about my painting?' whined James, pretending to look hurt.

'Shut your bloody mouth, Potter.'

'Anything, sunshine.' Sirius grimaced.

'Lovebirds.'

'Shut up,' retorted Lily quickly, and slapped him across the chest.

'Feisty,' purred Sirius.

'Oh, shut your big fat bloody mouth, Sirius.' Lily slapped him across the chest again.

'Show me your place.'

'No, I can't be stuffed… I just woke up.'

'Well… show me your room.'

'No… I've got that Potions essay… you'd better leave!' She lifted her wand threateningly. 'Expecto Patronum!' The beaver burst out of the wand, bared its teeth and Sirius and James hurried away out of the open door. The beaver shot after them for a few metres, then disappeared. Lily just grinned. She knew she'd see the other two some other day. Sighing, she went up the stairs to do her five thousand word Potions essay on Boomslang skin.

Note: Hey peepz! Don't worry this is not the end! I have some goodies in store for all you readers… oh yes… Chapter Ten coming soon!