Sirius' Lily

How often had I heard that laugh?

Not enough, it still amazed me.

In fact, Lily as a whole still amazed me.

She was the most interesting, amazing girl I ever had the fortune of knowing.

After getting to know her better, when at last she agreed to date ol' Prongsie, I truly discovered the real Lily, the Lily behind all her intelligence and that pretty face.

I remember she was one of the first people I told about my family (other than James, of course)...

It was a cold, gray day- the kind of days Lily and I often took walks on, just talking.

Lily's an excellent person to talk to, she listens and understands.

And she has a knack of knowing when someone wants to talk, and when they just want to be left alone.

"Sirius..."

I turned to face her.

"Yeah?"

"Do you want to talk?"

I sighed heavily and nodded.

"My family..."

"Is something wrong?"

I laughed.

"They sure think something's wrong. With me, that is."

Her eyes widened and she waited for me to continue.

"My family...is really big on the whole purebloods-are-better-muggleborns-should-die thing." I said, frowning.

"Oh..."

"And...they don't approve of my friends at all. They hate James, detest Remus and think that Peter is misguided and that I should help him find the right path. I of course said that he was already on it...I told them they were a bunch of lunatics."

"I can imagine that didn't go well." Lily said and I nodded.

"Nope, it didn't. That bloody mad woman whom I am forced to call my 'mother' tried to starve me. But I ran away."

"You ran away!" she gasped. "Where to?"

"To James'. An uncle of mine had left me some money, but until I get back on my feet, I'm staying with the Potters. They're more my family than my crazed parents and brother ever were." I said, scowling.

"Do you miss them at all?" she asked quietly.

"Not in the least." I replied at once. "But..."

"But?"

"Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to have a family that cared about me." I said, looking down.

"Oh, Sirius..."

She hugged me for a moment before looking up at me with a smile.

"Siri, you have a family that cares about you very much. Us."

"You?"

"Yes, me, James, Remus, Peter, at least." she laughed quietly. "And I'm sure your fanclub cares about you too." she joked.

I laughed and draped an arm around her shoulders casually.

"I'm sure they do..."

She beamed and nodded, happy that she had made me feel better.

Which she had.

"Thank you, Lily." I said, as we walked inside the castle.

"No problem Sirius. Anytime."

"Um...guys? Is something wrong?"

I look up.

Oh, whoops, I guess I've been silent all that time.

"What? Oh sorry Lily, just thinking." says James.

"Yeah." I agree, shaking my head.

"What about?" she asks.

"Oh, just old times." Remus says.

Wow, we sure do think alike.

Peter nods at this, and Lily gives us a weird look before laughing.

"Oh you silly boys..."

"That's us!" I say, grinning, "Forever silly and immature."

"Speak for yourself, Padfoot." Remus says, making Lily laugh again.

"Well, you're all my silly boys." she says, putting her head on Prongs' shoulder.

"And you're my beautiful Lily." James says, looking at her with lovey-dovey eyes that make me sick.

"Hey, what about us!" I protest indignantly.

"Oh alright, alright!" James says.

"So she's our Lily." Remus says somewhat happily.

"For immature idiots, you all sure are sweet." Lily comments.

"Aw thanks Lils." I say.

"And just so you know, I love you all very much." she continues.

"But you love me the most! Right?" I ask, hopefully.

I know her answer, though.

"I'm sorry Siri, I'm afraid James holds that title." she says, kissing his cheek.

Yep, I knew it.

"Aww..." I pout, causing quiet laughter.

"Well it is getting late, I'm off to bed. Goodnight!" Lily says, a while later.

"Goodnight Lily!" we all say, watching her go upstairs.

Predictably, just after Lily goes up, Prongs leaves too.

"Night guys, I'm going to sleep."

"Goodnight." Moony, Wormtail and I mumble as Prongs goes upstairs.

"We all should get to bed. Long day tomorrow." Remus says. "So, goodnight."

"Yeah...night Moony, Wormtail." I say.

"Goodnight Padfoot."

Our dorms are back in Gryffindor Tower (we were in the Head Boy/Girl common room, as Jamesie and Lily are Head Boy and Girl), and we could walk back together, but apparently Moony doesn't want to, as he quickens his pace and walks alone.

So, Peter and I walk back together, and by the time we get to the 7th year Boys dorm, Moony's curtains are closed and I'm pretty sure he's asleep.

Closing the curtains on my bed, I flop down on the unmade covers, all the while thinking about Lily.

Lily. I wonder if she knows exactly how much she means to us. All of us.

Well, at least I can rest assured that now she knows how much she means to James.

And if my two best friends are happy, then I'm happy.

Goodnight Lily.