Chapter – 2

James P.O.V

Lily's request to meet was odd. She never asked the marauders to meet with her. Ever! She either seeked them out herself or she didn't speak to them.

"So, Jamie!" Sirius started, speaking loud enough for the entire Gryffindor house to hear him. "Ready for our date with Evans?"

James ignored Sirius' obnoxious behavior and turned to Remus instead. Remus obviously didn't see anything of importance in this meeting, because he was lounging on his bed reading a book.

"Remi, aren't you going to get ready?" Sirius asked, noticing James' gaze. Sirius was such a fashionista sometimes that everyone around him was dressed well simply to please him.

Remus was the exception as usual.

"I'm not getting dressed up to meet my friend, Sirius." He stated, each word clearly enunciated and emphasized. Most of the time he spoke slowly to counter the speed of the marauders. But his statement hit James in a way nothing else would.

Remus was friends with Lily Evans, the one person who James wanted to know well. And Remus did help him out, but Lily still didn't like him. She was always in her own world, her own bubble of friends, admirers, enemies. And she didn't like him.

But Lily was one of the few people who was brave enough to express her true feelings for anyone and anything, regardless of previous misconceptions or the opinion of other people. Which was why her friendship with Severus Snape was so unique. Nobody else was brave enough to remain friends with someone even after all the peer pressure.

And in the relative privacy of his mind, James would admit that maybe Snape was a better person that James was. Because Snape didn't fight everyone that he was envious or jealous of. And Snape didn't pull mean pranks on people just because he didn't like them, and Snape didn't pick fights with anyone because he respected Lily and their friendship. Sure, Snape was still nasty and sarcastic and rude, and he hurt quite a few people, but he never did it in the way James did. And that made him a better person in this situation.

"Lost in your daydreams again, Jamie?" Peter, his oldest friend asked.

Peter was something like the odd one out in their group. He was the shortest in their year, chubby - as he hadn't lost any of his baby fat yet, and he was extremely naïve. He wasn't as smart as the rest of them, or as handsome, or popular. But he was a valuable member because he was James' best friend.

"Not at all, Pete. Why would I be?" James asked, going for nonchalance. By the other marauders' laughter, he had failed miserably. Though his performance was not aided by his appearance.

"You might want to clean up if you want to look halfway presentable." Sirius claimed, sprawled out on the floor and still looking like a model. Unable to deal with his friend's smirking face, James stormed into the bathroom and started getting ready.

By the time they left their room, and reached the meeting place – the library, they were predictably late. Remus had sent a message ahead to Lily and Severus (he did know that they would both be there, and he had avoided telling James and Sirius), and Lily was prepared to wait them out.

"Hello, Evans!" James started, and in sync every head in the library turned to the group. That line was always how James started his flirting, and everyone was curious to see how he would head out this time. Especially since Severus Snape was also present. "I see we have an unexpected guest."

James didn't know why Snape was there, but he wasn't going to argue with Lily when she had finally asked them to speak. And he wasn't going to let Sirius spoil this for him either. Remus didn't even seem slightly surprised, so the traitor probably knew that Snape would be here in advance.

"Potter." Lily acknowledged, before turning to Snape. They seemed to have some sort of conversation, and Lily turned back to them. "Do you have someplace safe, where no one can listen in on our conversations?"

James nodded, perhaps a tad bit too fast if everyone else's amused looks were anything to go by. The entire library, even the books, were giving him amused looks!

"Shall we then?" Remus took over, saving James from further embarrassment. Perhaps he wasn't so much of a traitor after all.

On the way to the Room of Requirement on the seventh floor, Remus, Lily and Snape kept up a constant stream of conversation about daily life and school, while Sirius brooded, Peter just lurked around, and James followed in a daze.

It was only when they were seated that James snapped out of it and started the conversation.

"So, what exactly did you want this meeting for?"

Lily and Snape exchanged looks, and Lily pouted as she removed a piece of paper from her bag. So, this entire meeting hadn't been by her choice. Snape of all people was encouraging her to do this.

"This is a letter." She waved it around, a little too aggressively. "You will read it and return it to me. Understand?"

James would never admit this out loud, but Lily was the scariest person ever. Whenever she was angry or annoyed or frustrated, it was like her hair lit up as if it was on fire, and her eyes glowed dangerously, sharpening like the shards of an emerald. She looked like a mystical creature from a far-off realm. And he loved that look on her, which is why he annoyed her so often. Not that he would let anyone know.

"What do you take us for, Evans. Savages?" Sirius asked, sarcasm flowing from him as naturally as insults and charisma. Lily seemed tempted to reply with some scathing retort, but Remus just took the letter from her.

He winced as he read it and handed it over to Peter next. Peter was practically shaking with nerves and anxiousness as he read it. So much so that Sirius just snatched the paper from his hand, even before he was done. Sirius seemed the most affected by the letter if his already pale face turning bone white was ay indication, and the fact that he threw the paper at James as if it had burned him.

James anxiously opened the letter and read it.

Dear Lily Evans,

As someone who has your best interests at heart and would definitely be glad to meet you again; I am writing this letter so that you can have a better future!

There are a few important things you need to know. The Marauders might be arrogant bullies, but they are people you want on your side in any confrontation. They might not have reached their full potential, but they will.

Voldemort has created seven Horcruxes, pieces of his soul that have been split from his body and hidden in containers of his choice. In our time these containers are famous items of the Founders of Hogwarts.

I have a few pieces of advice for you as well. Firstly, a quote by one of my friends: 'It's not paranoia if they're actually out to get you!'. Secondly: Trust your friends, but not beyond reason, because in desperate situations anyone can betray you. Thirdly: A betrayal from a friend hurts more than a betrayal from an enemy, because it's more unexpected.

If nothing else, trust that I know what's going to happen and I only wish for the future to be better. If you are wondering why I chose you, well, some people are born to be legends. And you can influence people in a way nobody else in your generation will be able to. I wish you all the best, and good luck!

A child of the times.

"That was ominous." James muttered, not understanding why Sirius was so pale, or why Remus was so nervous. Sure, splitting your soul seemed like a bad thing, but surely it wasn't so horrible!

"That's what even I thought," Lily admitted, snatching the letter from his hands. "But Severus here disagrees with me."

James turned to Snape, along with Peter, both incredulous at this claim. But Sirius and Remus seemed to agree with Snape. If they got into a civil war, James was beating Snape up, Remus' instructions be damned!