Chapter: 4

A/N: I realised that I didn't include an author's note in the last one which is too bad cause I want opinions on my poetry and the diary format. This is probably one of my shortest chapters because it really didn't fit in elswhere but I needed this section. Anyways please read and review.

James awoke to a doorbell ringing and a house elf appearing in front of him

"Would master like Sal to get the door?" it squeaked

"Ummm… shouldn't you have asked my mom that?" he asked really not wanting to move. Lily was resting lightly on his chest and the red head badly needed some rest.

"Mistress has locked herself in her room and does not wish to be disturbed" the domestic creature responded sadly.

James groaned "No that's okay Sal, I'll get it but could you get a guest room ready for Lils?" he asked moving towards the stairs as Sal vanished with a pop. Still grumbling and a little worried about his mom, James opened the front door. His expression changed to joy at the sight of one of his best friends and then sadness at Sirius's condition. His friend's usually graceful black hair was caked with dirt, sweat, blood and who knows what else. It looked like he'd gotten dressed with his eyes closed, went through a long battle with fists and spells and then lay in the gutter, which was not all that unlikely. James sighed he was used to the gaunt bruised Sirius but this was something more.

"What happened to you?" James asked

"My Bloody parents that's what happened" Sirius explained wearily as James opened the door all the way ushering him inside.

"Will your mother mind?" he asked before stepping wearily over the threshold, he'd had enough of angry parents.

"Nope, Lily is already here and as far as I can tell my mom has yet to notice"

"Flower? Why is she here?" he asked surprised

"Same reason as you I expect escaping her family"

"I guess it's rough all over" sighed Sirius "why don't we just call Moony and Corbin and call it a pity party"

"'cause they at least have half decent homes, but once Shade wakes up we'll contact them and extend the invitation to meet us at Diagon Alley next month" replied James leading Sirius to the couch where Lily slept.

"Sal" he called

"Yes master," the house elf appeared promptly

"Set up another guest room and leave a note for my mother telling her that two of my friends are here" the house elf bowed once and vanished.

"Are you alright or should I call a healer?" James asked knowing Sirius would never accept a healer's help

"I'm fine, my parents would never kill their eldest son and my healing spells are pretty good, Merlin knows I get enough practice, just some pain killers" he soothed but apparently the boys were talking louder then they'd intended because Lily awoke with a start.

"James?" she yawned then noticed the second boy "Sirius? Why are you here?"

"Aww not happy to see me I'm crushed, unfortunately I'm stuck here, I ran away"

"Oh My God Sirius are you okay?" Lily asked her own troubles forgotten in face of her friend's crisis

"I'm fine, just glad to be out of that hell hole, What is this I hear about someone daring to touch our precious Lily Flower?" he asked with more genteelness then anyone would have thought Sirius possessed

"Sirius, it's nothing you guys are too overprotective and…" but she was cut off as James drew her into an embrace with Sirius joining in. Lily knew that no matter how annoying the marauders got she was grateful to have them.

The three best friends spent the best summer they could remember playing quiditch, pranking each other and exploring the large grounds belonging to Potter Manor. The summer which had always seemed like the longest two months of the year was flying past.

One night Lily woke up around midnight and went downstairs to find Sirius crying slightly and reading a letter.

"Who's it from" she asked "your girlfriend?"

"Lils, you know James, Sev and I aren't serious about any of them, we know there's more to this world, like motorbikes" he gave a week half smile at the joke

Lily ignored the last comment "Yah I know but the rest of the school thinks your just superficial athletes after one thing," her tone implied exactly what that one thing was "why don't you care about your image?"

"cause it's easier to be waived off as an arrogant playboy then to have hundreds of people looking into how screwed up I am," he paused sucking in an angry breath "my whole damn family is"

"It's Reg then?

"Yeah, he doesn't understand why I left, he asked me when I'm coming home and told me the parents are mad" Sirius laughed bitterly

"That's the thing about siblings, you want so badly to help them. At least your brother doesn't blame you"

"Not yet, but if he stays there he'll become just like them"

"Hatred is fear, Petunia fears me and hates me she fears my father and hates me more for not protecting her from him" she paused "Your family hates you because you're something they've never had before, a freethinker. What we do not know we fear, what we fear we destroy"

"Sums up the life of a pureblood, I think running away was the best decision I ever made". Lily grabbed a cup of cocoa and sat with him a while, this was definitely the best thing she'd ever done.

Before they knew it their Hogwarts letters had arrived, of course Dumbledore knew of their change in residence so all three arrived together.

Lily was absolutely delighted to receive O's on all her Owls, Sirius and James matching her in everything but History of Magic and Astronomy.

Remus and Severus had arranged to go to Diagon Alley with them to get supplies and after they were done shopping everyone stopped for ice cream on Severus whose family spoiled him. While James, Sirius and Severus were playfully flirting with several girls from school (including Severus's current girlfriend Mandy) Remus and Lily were quietly discussing books.

"Hey Moony"

"mmm.."

"Why aren't you like that?"

"Like what?"

"Picking up girls only for the sake of it then dumping them after a shag or two"

"Lils, I don't think that bad of any of the boys" Remus sighed and she looked down they weren't cruel but sometimes it jus.. bugged he to see girls practically throwing themselves at her friends. Remus put a comforting hand on her shoulder "hell I have even had a few quick disastrous romances myself", There was a pause as Remus flashed back and immediately knew it was his own insecurities that caused these problems.

I'm not saying they're right but I do think that the girls know that they aren't really serious. Besides" he grinned "I happen to know for a fact that James, one of Hogwarts' top playboys is in fact a virgin"

"But.. all the girls say"

"Of course they do girls love to brag and tell stories just like guys so over time events get exaggerated…" he paused "and you know James if it makes him seem cool". At this Lily rolled her eyes remembering all the times his ego got them detention... or worse.

"Right but why?" she wondered "I know Severus at least has experience"

"I don't know Lily, but James' dad leaving affected him deeply, maybe he wants to be sure before he gets into a serious relationship"

"That does make sense" she admitted. James may not have been the most sensitive person on the planet but maybe that was one situation he'd take a little more care in.

"Of course it does, I am the marauders' one and only shrink aren't I?" Remus asked "Lily no offence but it is generally odd for girls to discuss this type of things with males even those they consider siblings"

"I know Moony but I don't really have female friends I trust and you never laugh at my girlish moments"

"Like I said Lily, I'm just a little ahead of them in the 'handling hormones' department. Hell I wouldn't be surprised if somewhere deep down Sirius is still afraid of cooties" and that mental image had them both in hysterics.

Meanwhile over with the boys…

Sirius, Severus and James were comfortable lounged across a booth telling slightly exaggerated quiditch stories to a small crowd of avidly listening girls when James noticed that Sirius was oddly silent, Severus was too enraptured with Mandy to care.

"Whats eating ya, Paddy?"

"Oh, what , I'm just a little distracted"

"What about?" James asked ignoring the disappointed pouts of the girls as he stopped his boastful monologue

"Well a couple of things actually the first is my little brother Reg, well he's starting Hogwarts and I wonder if he'll end up like the rest of my family" Sirius sighed "he is still my little brother you know" and James nodded.

"Padfoot, this seems to be seriously (no pun intended) bugging you so why don't you talk to him on the platform" James suggested

"Maybe I will, we used to be close when we were small and so maybe he'll listen for old time's sake"