Disclaimer: I only own the characters I have made up. The rest are all owned by J.K.

"Padfoot, mate, you need to wake up." James whispered quietly to his sleeping friend.

Sirius turned over and mumbled something that sounded like, "Yes, yes, I want the apple."

James didn't want to know, so instead he grabbed hold of Sirius's shoulders and jerked him awake. Sirius's eyes flew opened as he swore,

"Bloody hell, that was a good dream, Prongs!"

"Sorry," James said, not looking the least bit, but had a strange smirk on his face, "but we have some pressing news."

Sirius raised his eyebrows as he swung his legs over the side of the bed, getting up, and looked around for a shirt.

"We have some new neighbors coming today."

"So? What has that go to-" Sirius's eyes lit up, "new pranking projects!" He threw on a blue shirt over his head as he started looking for some pants, but now Sirius didn't seem so tired, but excited for the pranking to begin.

"Well, there's that but, the neighbors, there's a girl our age." James said waiting for a certain reaction.

He got that reaction.

Sirius whipped his head around and smirked, grabbing a pair of newly found pants and some shoes he went off out of the house, running.

This Saturday in July was very bright and hot, considering it was only about 9'o clock, out of a mansion of a house ran a lone figure on a mission, Sirius Black. Sirius had been living with his best friend James and his family since about fifth year. One day he couldn't take his family any more and ran away leaving his old life behind as soon as he knocked on the Potter's door and was welcomed in as a second son. Sirius sprinted down the driveway, having been too excited to walk like a normal person; he loved all girls, especially new ones. However, when Sirius reached the end of the driveway he realized it wouldn't be the best first impression to see one of your neighbors running towards you, didn't want to scare her off. So instead Sirius slowed to a walk, shoving his hands into his pockets and started whistling some undetermined tune. Sirius turned on his heels to the house directly to the right of James's, the house that has been unoccupied for about 10 years but was essentially the same size as James's. When Sirius was about twenty feet away he was what looked like two parents, a young boy of about 14 and a girl, a very familiar looking girl. Sirius abruptly stopped walking towards the new neighbors and stared intently at the girl, Sirius then squinted his eyes to try and determine if he knew her. This as of yet undetermined girl was kind of tallish, about 5'7" Sirius guessed, him being so far away he couldn't really tell if she were attractive or not but he saw dark, dark, brown hair, almost black, and he noticed something, white Converse sneakers, then Sirius realized who it was,

"Delia!" Sirius yelled excitedly as he ran up her gravel driveway and halted right before her, grinning happily.

"Sirius! Is that you?" Delia asked, laughing after getting over the shock of having some random guy run over to her screaming.

Delia looked up for a moment and studied Sirius, making sure he was fine; her face broke into a smile. When Delia smiled, her whole face smiled.

"I didn't know you lived here."

"I moved in with James." Sirius replied, still smiling, Delia was the one girl that actually liked to live life to the fullest, to have fun and hang out with the guys and especially prank people.

"Speak of the devil!" Delia exclaimed as James slowly walked up the driveway, looking winded.

"You know Padfoot," James said through panting, "you can run really fast when you want to, by the way-" James looked up at his new neighbor for the first time, "Delia? Is that you?"

"James!" Delia ran too him and gave him a big hug.

James smiled as she ruffled his already messy hair, no longer winded he exclaimed, "This summer is going to be a blast now that you're here! I know loads of pranks we can pull! You up for it?" James asked looking at her with his hazel eyes.

Delia put her finger to her chin, pondering, "Hmm, I don't know," The boys shared a glance, "I could either have the best summer of my entire life or have tea with my parents for 3 months, and tea as you know is vital to anyone's good health."

"So, that's a yes?"

"No, that's a 'hell yes'!"

"Thank goodness, you know, Delia, for a minute there…"

"I lost myself?" Delia finished.

"What?"

Delia smiled as she closed her eyes and turned her face towards the bright, warm sun, "Nothing, just one of my ramblings."

They were interrupted by Delia's mom who not only had the same golden eyes filled with energy and humor, but the two seemed to have the same spunk, "Cordelia, honey, can you do me the biggest favor and get out of here, putting away these boxes would go much quicker if you weren't here."

"But don't you want me to use my magical powers?" Delia asked wiggling her fingers around.

"Oh no that's alright, you know how I don't like that magic stuff too much, besides; I just don't want to have to make sure you're not planning on doing anything to any of our belongings." Delia's mom gave her a knowing look as Delia tried to protest. Realizing however what that meant, Delia smiled and replied,

"What ever you say, mother darling I'll be back later tonight." Delia then turned to Sirius and James, "Is it alright if I hang out with you guys?"

"That'd be great." Sirius said with a smile.

"Great! Let's go." James said as he turned on his heel and started running down Delia's driveway.

Sirius and Delia followed closely behind, as Delia's mother started putting the boxes away she yelled to her running daughter, "Don't get arrested!"

Delia reached the Potter's residence first, and then Sirius and finally James came up the driveway looking winded again. Delia looked at James worriedly for a second and questioned, "Are you alright?"

James nodded, "I'm a terrible runner, always had been."

Sirius started jumping up and down as he grew impatient, "Come on, come on, I'm hungry!"

James then asked, "And you can't open the door yourself because…?"

"Oh." Sirius said as he turned the brass knob and bonded into the foyer.

"Is he heading for the kitchen?" Delia pondered as she followed James in.

James glanced down at her, "Is he Sirius Black?"

"The one and only."

"Then he's headed for the kitchen." James replied grinning, "So, Delia how's my future bride to be?"

"You mean Remus? I'm sure he's fine." Delia said with a smirk.

James glared at her.

Delia put her hands up and said, "Sorry, sorry, didn't know you wanted to keep it secret, no, umm she's fine, a little angry to have to stay with her sister Petunia all summer but besides that…"

"Well, why don't you invite her over?" James asked trying to sound innocent as they turned the corner, nearing the kitchen.

"I'm sure you'd love that, but I can't, her parent's said that since it was her last summer before being an adult they want to stay together as a family I can't even write to her!"

"Damn."

"I know; I'm sorry you couldn't see your Lily-flower before school starts up again." Delia placed her hand comfortingly on his arm.

"Are you being sarcastic?" James asked as he walked into the kitchen, Delia following close behind replied,

"Surprisingly no, considering I'm always sarcastic, do you-" Delia stopped talking abruptly as she saw Sirius gorging on what looked like half the food in the house. Delia stared in amazement as Sirius ate handfuls of cereal, not bothering with the milk.

"How the bloody hell do you stay so skinny?" Delia asked, sliding into a seat across from the famished Sirius as she looked at him curiously.

Sirius shrugged, "I'm a growing boy, and besides; I love food!"

"Never would've guessed." Delia mumbled.

James chuckled to himself as he too slid into a seat, this one next to Sirius, "She has a point Padfoot, you do eat a lot."

"Pfft," Sirius said spewing Lucky Charms all over the table, "and you're saying you don't eat a lot."

Delia's eyes widened slightly, "Oh, Lucky Charms! Here, share." Delia grabbed the box and started searching around for the marshmallows.

Sirius got up, knowing that Delia would never give up the Lucky Charms got up and walked over to the counter, grabbing LIFE instead and sat back down.

"So," James asked as he stared in fascination as Delia meticulously picked out the little marshmallows and how Sirius seemed to not be chewing anything, "what are the plans for today?"

Delia looked at James, thinking as she munched on a clover, "Well, I have to write Calia, but besides that, I got nothing."

"Mr. Maloney?" Sirius suggest, shrugging.

James shook his head, "Nah, he's so senile, he wouldn't even notice anything. Hey, Delia," James asked, turning his head towards her, "do you think I could have some?"

"Here, take the whole thing, I'm really not that hungry."

Sirius then asked, "So why did you take it from me?"

Delia shrugged as she handed the open box to James, got up as started walking around the kitchen, surveying her surroundings, "I always enjoy torturing you, Sirius Black."

James, deciding to ignore that comment, turned to Sirius as asked, "The Steven's?"

Sirius gave a look of horror.

"Right."

Delia spoke up, "Have you guys pranked everyone in the entire neighborhood?"

"I have a feeling…" James answered, grinning proudly.

Sirius's eyes lit up, "I got it!"

James and Delia looked at him curiously, "The one boy we can always prank and get entertainment each and every time."

Delia shuddered as James shouted, "Snape!"

"Why don't you guys just leave him alone," Delia asked, "remember, karma, karma, karma."

"You're too nice, you and Lily are the only ones that talk to him, that's probably why he's infatuated with you two." Sirius suggested.

"Don't remind me."

"Ok," James said, wanting to get away from where the conversation could be heading, his infatuation with Lily, "so what should we do to him."

Delia sighed, thereby agreeing to go along with the prank, and jumped up to sit on the kitchen counter, facing both the boys.

"Well," Sirius mused, putting away the cereal, "we should write him some mail, I'm sure he doesn't receive much."

James snorted, running his hand through his hair out of habit.

"What sort of letter?" Delia inquired.

Sirius shrugged, "I haven't thought it through that far."

Delia mumbled to herself, "Brightest star my ass."

"Excuse me Delia, did you say something?" Sirius asked smirking.

"You know it." Delia retorted back as she jumped down from the counter and went back to sit down across from Sirius.

"I have an idea," James said suddenly, mischievous grin in place as Delia slid into her chair, "A love letter."

Delia looked on in horror as Sirius hooted with laughter.

"That's bloody perfect, Prongs."

Delia swallowed, "But, but, who's the love letter going to be about?" she asked, fearing the answer she knew was coming.

"You of course."

Delia banged her head on the table saying to herself over and over, "No, no, no."

James continued, ignoring her reaction, "I mean, it seems right to do it again…"

Delia, continuing to bang her head asked, "Again?"

"Yeah," James looked around sheepishly, "we kind of wrote him a love letter for you in forth year."

Delia stopped banging her head long enough to say, "So that's why he followed me around like a puppy dog for three months."

"So, no hard feelings?" James asked.

Delia shook her head, "I'm over it."

"So, are you up for it? Writing the letter I mean?"

Delia looked at James and sighed, "It better bloody well be worth it."

Sirius leaned back in his chair and replied, "Oh it will, you don't need to worry about that." Sirius said grinning at his thoughts.

"Well," Delia said as she slowly got up from her chair, "might as well get this done now."

"This is going to be so much fun!" James voiced excitedly.

"Yeah," Delia said rubbing her now red forehead, "so who wants to write it?"

"I will," Sirius volunteered as he led the trio to James's room, "oddly enough my handwriting is the best."

"Scary." James mused

"Hey!" Delia said looking offended, "It's not my fault I have the handwriting of a blind person who wrote with the wrong hand."

Sirius snorted as he walked up the stairs, hand lightly holding the mahogany banister. Turning left he reached James's door, glancing over at James Sirius asked, "Where's John?"

"I think he's in mum's room, bigger window." James strode quickly to a room down the hall as Sirius led Delia into James room. Delia scanned his room quickly; noting the quidditch posters of what she assumed was his favorite team, The Thunder Barons, the large bed in the center of the room with a night stand next to it. Delia walked closer to the night stand, examining it and saw two pictures. Delia smiled at the one that James took the last day of sixth year, with everyone, well, everyone that mattered; James, Sirius, Remus, Peter, Delia, Lily, Calia, and Zee. In the picture all eight of them were just running around and laughing, having fun, then, at the last second all turned to face the camera and started smiling and waving. It was her favorite picture by far since James gave everyone a copy. Delia slowly sat down on James's blue bed and placed the picture where it belonged. Then, Delia noticed the other picture, facing James's bed; she picked it up and saw Lily. Smiling, fun, Lily, the Lily of James's dreams. Delia smiled again, this time a sad sort of smile, 'When was she ever going to realize that James is her soul mate?' Delia asked herself as she placed that picture back where it belonged, in the back of her head, Delia heard her own voice answer, 'Be patient, whatever is supposed to happen will happen, don't tempt fate.' Delia rose from James's bed as she thought to herself again, 'Great, now I'm really insane.' Delia walked over to Sirius, who was busy studying the floor. Instead of looking at him or talking to him, Delia decided to look all around James's room, taking in everything. James walked into the room quickly, toting John, the family barn owl, in a rather large cage,

"Found him!" James exclaimed triumphantly, not noticing the awkward silence between his two friends. James places the sleepy owl and its cage on the floor and look at Delia and Sirius.

Delia spoke up first, "Do what you want, I am going to lie down." Delia ran over to James's bed, jumped in, and started to snuggle underneath the covers. Delia sighed contently as she murmured, "I like sleeping, sleeping is nice."

"Sure, Delia, go ahead, you can sleep in my bed." James said sarcastically as he started searching for some parchment to write on.

Sirius just shook his head as he slid into a chair by James's desk, "She does that a lot." Sirius said as he motioned his head to Delia's sleeping form.

James shrugged as he placed a slightly wrinkled piece of parchment in front of Sirius and handed him a quill, "I've never noticed, here, write."

Sirius sighed, "Alright, here goes nothing." Sirius grabbed the quill and with his infamous smirk, Sirius started to write down a love letter.

After a couple minutes, Sirius signed the paper and looked down at his handiwork for a moment, pleased he walked over to James who, sitting on the edge of his bed so as not to wake Delia who was already in a deep slumber, was eager to read it, handed it to his fellow Marauder who smiled devilishly as he finished reading,

Dearest Snape,

I know I have never talked to you much or anything, but, after all this time I've finally realized something, I am in love. Yes, I Cordelia Alzubra Hudson am in love with you. Remember that day last year in potions when we were partners? Well, that was the day I fell in love. I can't help it, no matter where I go or who I'm with; I can't help thinking of you. Please darling Snape, return the favor of loving me?

Yours,
Delia

James looked at Sirius, "That is bloody perfect, mate, you even sound like her. Hey, how did you know her middle name?"

Sirius shrugged, "It's not that hard."

James looked at Sirius, dumbfounded.

Sirius smiled a little, "It means basically the same as my first name, Bright Star."

James nodded and looked at Sirius curiously, "You're acting a bit odd, Padfoot, are you sure you're ok? Hey, also, how do you know they were partners last year?"

Sirius shrugged as he walked over to Delia's sleeping form and shook her gently on the shoulder whispering softly, "Delia, wake up."

Delia's eyes shot open as she looked up at Sirius.

James stared in amazement, "You went to sleep that fast? It was five minutes at the most."

Delia shrugged as she swung her legs over the side of the bed, now sitting next to James she held out her hand to read the love letter.

After reading it Delia sighed, "As I said before, guys, this better bloody well be worth it, I don't want Snape to be following me around again, that was a bad experience in and of itself."

"It'll be hilarious, trust me." Sirius replied shaking his shaggy ebony hair out of his eyes.

James grabbed the letter back from Delia and attached the rolled up parchment to John's leg, who was still in his caged, looking a little peeved. After that was done, John climbed onto James's arm and James walked over to the window, instructing John where to go and to wait for a reply. James opened the window quickly and send him off out of the window. James then shut the window and glanced at Delia who asked,

"So do we just wait?"

James nodded as he ran his fingers through his hair quickly and sat down, straddling his chair which Sirius only recently occupied.

"You know I must say," Delia spoke as she got up from James's bed and started wondering around, "Usually you're pranks are more…excitement filled and enticing."

Sirius smirked, "What do you expect? It is summer after all. Do you think we'd be up to full Marauder standards with just half of the team?"

"Pfft, yeah." Delia answered smiling widely. Delia studied the carpet for a second before she stood up and exclaimed, "Shit!"

"Language!" Sirius said looked shocked.

Delia walked over to where James was sitting and pushed him out of the seat. He scowled at her from the floor as she grabbed another sheet of wrinkled parchment and quill and began writing. "Sorry, Jams," Delia replied, calling him the nickname she gave him in second year, "I need to write Calia!"

"Calia darling,

Helllooooooo….summer, should be all year round, wouldn't you agree? So anyway, me and the rest of the Hudson gang moved, as I mentioned and guess what, we apparently moved to a wizard community since I now live next to the infamous Marauders. Well, half of them, James and Sirius. Oh, the girls will despise me now! Joking. But, I must say, having these two as neighbors is much better then Mrs. Armistead, (gag!) you've met her haven't you? So anyway, how's your summer going? Enjoying having no company except Oliver? Merlin, he is such a loser, how old is he now anyway? Like 21 and he still lives at home. Well, I have to go, write back in warp speed! Oh, oh, oh, ew, Sirius wrote Snape a love letter for me, I hope he doesn't get all 'lost puppy' with me again, Snape I mean, not Sirius. Well, I'm out.

I am such a dork…

And I'm going now…

Ok…

Now…

This is the last time, I swear…

So I lied, shoot me…

With the loveliest love,

Franklin Shelter AKA Aubrey Tyler AKA The Rug Outside AKA Me, Cordelia Hudson."

Delia studied her handiwork for a second before rolling up the letter and shoving it in her jeans pocket, waiting for John to return. With a sigh she stood up and faced the boys, "I'm gonna go wander around outside, anyone want to take a walk?"

James, who was now sitting on his bed, stared at the picture of Lily and spoke up, "Nah, Delia, that's ok I'm just going to go stay here and…sleep."

Delia snorted, "Sure that's all you're going to do, James, whatever you say." Delia mumbled sarcastically as she turned her body to face Sirius, who was leaning against James's bureau, watching her. Delia raised her eyebrows in question.

Sirius seemed hesitant for a second before giving in and saying, "Yeah, ok, I'll go."

Delia's face broke into a smile as she led Sirius out James's door, calling out to James, "Have fun!"

"I'm going to sleep!" James called out towards the now empty doorway.

"Sure you are!" James heard Delia shout faintly from down the hall. James smiled and shook his head thinking of Delia, she could always read his mind. James stretched out on his bed and stared at his favorite picture in the entire universe, the picture of his love, his soul mate, his Lily. James took off his glasses and closed his eyes slowly, thinking of nothing but Lily as he gently was lulled to sleep.

So, should I go on with the story or is it complete crap and should never have even bothered, please be honest.