Chapter Three

The next few weeks passed by the same way as they always had at Hogwarts. Remus and the Marauders had had their monthly jaunts in the grounds, Sirius already had himself a girl and James had already led Gryffindor to two brilliant triumphs in the Quidditch practices. Meanwhile, Lily had so far achieved straight As for every homework they had received and gained around seventy points for Gryffindor in the running for House Cup.

James was still hurt and confused at Sirius' behaviour since the train ride, though they spoke normally and were completely relaxed around each other. He was at a loss as to why Sirius would be so cold about James' breakthroughs with Lily, but determined to find out.

The Marauders sat idly in the best armchairs in the Gryffindor common room, chatting and laughing. Every few seconds, James' eyes would dart towards Lily, sitting on the floor by the fireplace, completing that week's Transfiguration homework, his heart swelling each time as she brushed a piece of hair out of her eyes, or sucked on her quill in confusion, or sighed peacefully and stared into the fire. He had never been in any doubt of his feelings for her, but every time he looked at her, James felt them intensify, and knew that it was no longer a schoolboy crush; he was truly in love for the first time in his life.

'Oi! James! I'm trying to talk to you mate!'

'Huh? What? Oh right, yeah, what were you saying Sirius?"

'Well, if you'd been listening instead of ogling a certain gorgeous redhead, you'd probably know I was wondering whether we'd get caught if we encouraged Peeves to drop a chandelier on Snivelly's head.'

'Sirius I told you, we're leaving him alone this year.'

'Yeah, sure, but mate how many times are you gonna let him make you dangle upside down with his wand before you finally decide to get him back for it?'

'I told you, I'm laying off the guy, will you please drop it before I jinx you?'

'Fine, but since this Evans bitch started talking to you you've been a complete bore.'

James stood up, completely enraged.

'What did you call her!'

'James, mate, sit down, everyone's staring!' James shook Remus' hand off his arm and took a step closer to Sirius, who looked scared but masked it under his usual arrogant façade.

'I said what did you call her?'

'Look, I'm sorry all right? I just miss the old James, you know? The one who was fun and a good friend instead being all lovey-dovey and obsessed with this girl Evans all the time!'

'Her name is Lily, Sirius!'

'Yeah- whatever, and your name is James! And you are my best mate in the world and you're acting like a complete ass!'

'Right. Yeah. Right. Ok. I get it. I'm sorry,' James sighed, still prickling but determined to calm down. Lily probably wouldn't take very warmly to his losing his temper like this in the middle of the common room. Plus, he had never had a fight with Sirius before. They were like brothers, and this was a strange thing to happen between them.

' James, you gonna sit down now?' James turned his head slightly and saw Remus tugging at the sleeve of his robes.

Akwardly, he took his seat again and looked apologetically at Sirius. He wasn't looking at him, but out the window at a huge barn owl carrying a red envelope which was smoking slightly at the corners.

Opening the letter silently, Sirius took a deep breath and braced himself.

'Filthy traitor! Shame on you! Bringing shame on the Black family name and cavorting with Mudbloods and blood traitors! Betraying your kin! Filth! Filth! Stay away from this house

boy! Away! You will never be welcomed back into the Black family! Never! May you rot in hell you piece of filth!'

Sirius put his head in his hands and closed his eyes as the letter shrivelled in his open hand. Leaning back in his seat, a pained expression on his face, he opened them and arranged his face into an expression of casual indifference. Only James recognised the hurt and embarrassment underneath the pretence. The argument forgotten, he put his hand on Sirius' knee and forced a comforting smile.

'Who cares about the stupid hag? You're practically a Potter now mate. That's what my parents say anyway. They love having you around. Don't worry about it,' James said, then looking around the room at the staring faces, he said, 'What are you lot staring at? This doesn't have anything to do with you!'

His eyes fell on Lily, who didn't turn her face away from him, but smiled slightly at him, then turned back to her work.

'Thanks James,' said Sirius, eying James' face amusedly, 'You can, er, take your hand off my knee now. Don't want people getting ideas now do we?'

A few weeks later, James sat on his bed, his legs crossed, trying as hard as he could to concentrate on his Charms work. He was trying to practice a Hovering charm, making his book hover in the air, but his concentration was suffering badly. He had spent the whole of last Saturday with Lily, sitting by the lake, messing around. James had taught her to catch a ball behind her back with her eyes closed, and, enjoying the last few hot days of the year, they had gone swimming in the lake till the early evening. Both James' and Lily's friends looked on incredulously as they laughed, ducking under the water and grabbing one another's ankles, splashing each other and racing across the water, gilded with autumn leaves. James remembered every detail as his books hovered higher and higher above his head. He reached his left hand up and rumpled his hair dazedly.

'I thought I told you not to do that anymore?'

Each of James' heavy books fell on his head, one after the other as his head swivelled to his door to see Lily framed in the doorway, the light gilding her red hair, and her emerald eyes sparkling with amusement as James groaned and lay back in his pillows with his eyes closed, rubbing his head.

'Oh my god. That hurt like hell.'

'Sorry,' Lily laughed.

'Aaaaargh.'

'Oh god you're bleeding.'

'Really? Cool. How much?'

'Shut up you dumbass- come here.'

Lily pulled him over to her so he was leaning against her shoulder. He looked up at her and, as their eyes met, she smiled shyly, one eyebrow raised slightly, and tapped his head hard with her wand.

'Ow! You-!' James grabbed her and pushed her off the bed, laughing. They rolled on the plush green carpet in hysterics and stopped abruptly, looking into each others' eyes. Lily rolled over so she was on top of James, and, gazing into his eyes for a second, lowered her head slowly and kissed him deeply on the mouth.

How long they stayed there, kissing on the carpet, neither of them knew. As the sky outside grew darker and darker, they held each other, caressing, exploring each others' bodies. Lily pressed her hands to James' muscular back, feeling his strong arms hold her, his face nuzzling her neck. He breathed in her soft smell, felt her body in his arms, listened to her steady breathing, felt his heart soar as they shared in this moment, as he experienced the moment he had been longing for so long.

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