Lily

I usually love Christmas. But today, I just wanted to be back at Hogwarts. Tuney and I did our thing; we woke up early, unwrapped presents, thanked each other. We sipped hot chocolate in our mugs and snuck in marshmallows when Dad wasn't looking. We heated the extra chocolate chips on the stove while cookies baked in the oven and licked the sweet syrup off our fingers. It was perfect, but I missed my friends.

Plus, it was a bit awkward around my parents. None of knew quite what to say as we sat around after lunch, still in our pajamas (as per tradition), surrounded by festive wrapping paper. Normally conversation flows easily, but even the tried-and-true "how's school" question fell flat after I had to explain to a disgusted Petunia what Herbology was and ignore Mum's subtle probing about Potter. Of course, hearing his name reminded me of him. He reminded me of Sirius. Stupid, stupid brain. I didn't, you know, fancy the boy at all! I just recently admitted to myself (okay, last night) that he was a little…cute (okay, a lot). Which made me blush. Which made Mum more curious.

After Mum gave up trying to get information out of me and left, with Dad, to get ready, Petunia cornered me in the kitchen. "So spill," she demanded, her pale hand catching my wrist.

"Spill what?" What was she on about?

She sighed like it was all-so-obvious and I should know what thoughts ran through her brain. "Who's the boy?"

"What?" I stammered. Boy? She couldn't mean…Sirius? "Boy?"

"Yes, dimwit. The boy that had you blushing back there!" Tuney said harshly, her cherry red nails digging in to my skin.

"There's no boy, Tuney!" I protested. She was crazy? Just because I decided that Sirius was mildly attractive didn't mean I fancied him! And how did she know already? Could she read minds?

"And I'm not going out with Nick," she sighed in frustration. "Of course there's a boy. You're twelve! Almost! Hate to ruin it, Lils, but there's always going to be boy from now on."

"Tuney." I wasn't going to be a boy-obsessed maniac. Please.

"Lily," she said mockingly. "Humor me. If there was a boy, who would it be?"

"There isn't a boy." I said this firmly. She groaned.

"Lily," she began, lip pouting. "I never see you! And you never write to me. Okay, so I was bitchy to you. But I got over that, yada yada yada, I'm sorry. But we never talk anymore!"

I looked at her, my resolve weakening. Was she kidding? Tuney always could play me like a guitar. And today, she honestly looked like she was going to cry, what with her un-made up face and messy Christmas pjs. "You can't tell anyone."

"Duh, of course!" Tuney cheered, dragging me to the den and shutting the door. "Time to spill, sister!"

"So his name's Sirius," I said hesitantly, sinking into a couch next to Petunia.

"Ooh, sexy name," she giggled, laughing harder at my appalled look. Sexy? Sirius? "You're such an innocent. Okay. Tell me more. Wait! Is he hot?"

"Uh…maybe?" She was so…giggly. Is this how I'm going be when I'm older? No. I won't let myself get to this. That was a mean thought, but Petunia was so excited! Boys weren't all that special. Except Sirius…

"Describe! Wait. Is he that boy at that party like a year ago? The dark hair one?"

And so it began. Twenty loud, giggly minutes later, I was free. Talking with her was nice, I decided. If only I felt more comfortable around my parents.

James

"Little cuz, wake up," a deep voice said in my ear. I blinked once, twice, and went back to sleep. Why was he disrupting my sleep? Some people needed their beauty sleep, especially because I'd stayed up until midnight last night waiting for Liam to come in.

Wait one second…Liam?

"Liam?" I asked, my eyes still closed.

"Guilty, James."

My eyes flew open and I jumped out of bed. Liam was here! Finally! I couldn't wait to tell him about all the pranks I'd pulled when he was gone. "Liam!" I cried. "You look older."

"Because I am older." He had brown hair and hazel eyes like mine, and was at least a few heads taller then I was. He rolled his eyes. "It's nearly eight, get up lazy. And wake your snoring friend over there."

"When'd you get in?" I asked, sitting up in bed.

"After Santa did, dimwit," he said teasingly, ruffling my hair. "Which means…presents! And I love you, cousin, but not enough that I'm waiting any longer for them."

After I woke up Sirius (note to self: never pour water on him. Bad idea), I dragged him downstairs and my cousins and I sat around the fire, opening presents. Well actually, only Madelyn, Louis and I sat around the fire. Molly (she's seventeen…I mentioned her before, right?) went to go hang out with her cool seventh year friends and Liam's siblings went off by themselves to eat breakfast.

Not that I cared. Liam, who was nearly nineteen by now, was much better than Molly. But anyway. Let's see. I got…chocolate and a wand holster from Dad, candy and a prank book from Mum, various prank items from all my relatives, a How to Improve Your Game book from Liam and items like that. The regular. Still, I was pleased with my stash this year. Mum told me I was the easiest to buy for; I was perfectly happy with pranking items and candy. I was simple like that.

Sirius got the same things from my parents that I did, and he looked rather pleased. Liam, however, was eyeing him. "Sirius Black, eh? What'd your parents get you?" he asked suddenly. I glared at my cousin. Sirius' parents were a touchy subject. No wonder, as they were Slytherins and part of the Black family. Sirius never really mentioned them. All I knew about them was that he disliked his entire family, apart from his cousin and little brother. Liam should know this…why was he bringing this up?

Sirius looked confused. "Um, they don't send me presents," he said softly, rolling a candy wrapper between his fingers. "I…get them when I go home."

"Why?" Liam prodded. "They too big to send by post, like regular people?"

"Liam," I protested, but he shut me up with a glare. I didn't understand it. Liam had the completely wrong idea!

"LiLi, don't say that," scolded Madelyn. She knew a bit about Sirius…she loathed Narcissa Black, Sirius' cousin. Liam didn't say anything, only fixing his eyes on Sirius intently.

"Or perhaps they don't care about their little Gryffindor kid? Merlin knows Slytherins have no loyalty…even to their own children," Liam says haughtily. I was taken aback. This was nothing like the Liam I knew. My cousin was a laidback, cool sort of guy who liked pranking people and playing Quidditch. Not someone who insults people they barely knew! "Little Black kids have to fend for themselves, do they? Or do their slaves care for them?"

Sirius looked down, crumpling the wrapper savagely. I nudged him with my shoulder for comfort, hardly believing the ugly, angry look on my cousin's face. Merlin. Sirius looked up, pinning Liam under a steely glare. "You would know about expensive presents, wouldn't you?" He asked sneeringly, sounding so…Slytherin, that it surprised me. "Mummy gives you extra large gifts because she's never there on Christmas, am I right?"

Madelyn gasped and Liam recoiled. I closed my eyes. This was bad. Forget bad…this was awful. I couldn't side with Liam, because Sirius would get upset, but I couldn't go against my family! "Sirius…" I pleaded, like I had to Liam moments before.

Sirius didn't look in my direction. His narrowed eyes were firmly fixed on Liam's face, and I barely recognized him. His face was cool and expressionless, apart from a small, mocking sneer. "Why is that, I wonder?" He continued smoothly. "Perhaps she prefers work over her children?"

"Of course not!" exploded my cousin. This was true. My aunt didn't even work.

"No? Perhaps she prefers a quick shag over her kids, then?" Sirius said coldly, and even I recoiled. I swore frequently, if only to rebel against Mum and Dad, but I didn't use…well…language like that. I was torn between blushing and being angry – he was insulting my aunt, after all – but I took a closer look at Sirius and changed my mind.

He was shaking, just slightly, and his eyes were just slightly filmed over with tears. His hand was clenched around the other one, and he dug his thumb fingernail into his palm. I suddenly remembered something Mum had told me years ago, during some of my etiquette lessons: "Traditionally, all purebloods are supposed to learn to wear a 'mark', so to speak," she'd told me. "It's considered a weakness to show your emotions. But nowadays, only the strict purebloods bother with it…usual the Slytherin families. They seem to think you can cut and tear at your opponent better if you're completely unaffected."

Sirius doubtlessly learned to wear a 'mask' like Mum said. Suddenly, I couldn't feel any anger at all towards my best friend. He was obviously hurting, and dealing with it the best way he could.

"You little bastard!" Liam was protesting, his face flush and bright red. Thankfully, we were the only ones in the guest rooms Dumbledore had provided my cousins with (which somehow appeared in the middle of Gryffindor Tower) so nobody was around. "James, Madelyn, get this little shite out of here!"

Madelyn wasn't one to take orders from anyone, even Liam. She stood; Levitating her presents with a lazy flick of her wand, Maddy snapped her gum and said, "Don't tell me what to do, Liam. Sort out your little problems by yourself. Bye, James. I'm off to find Mol."

"Traitor," he grumbled softly. Liam fixed me with a stare. "I don't know who Black thinks he is, but I want him out of my room."

"Fine," I said boldly, surprising myself. I glared right back at him and he looked taken aback. "Come on, Sirius, we're leaving."

"James!" Liam protested, his face losing the angry shade. "What are you doing?"

"Helping my friend," I said promptly. "And then coming back to talk to you. Merlin, Liam." I put my arm around a shell-shocked Sirius and copied Maddy, Levitating our presents as well. I steered my friend to the door, kicked it open and walked out, the line of presents following. As I left Liam standing the middle of the room, dumbstruck, I couldn't help but say bitterly, "Way to ruin Christmas, Liam."

Sirius stared at me blankly in the privacy of our dorm. "James," he choked out, and suddenly his mask fell and he was crying.

I pulled my friend into a hug. I didn't care about appearances right then. I didn't care that this was mushy and girly, and that blokes didn't hug or cry. Sirius was hurting, badly, and it was my duty as his friend to help.

"Sirius," I said in reply. "Merlin, I'm sorry about my prattish cousin."

"But I insulted your family!" Sirius said shakily. "And I was rude, and…"

"Shut up, mate!" I said sharply. "Liam started it. And you were just defending yourself."

Sirius slid onto the bed and I sat next to him, my arm still around

his shoulders for support. "It's true," he whispered, barely audible. "My parents don't care about me."

Surely this wasn't true. "Sirius, they do," I reassured him. "They're just getting over the shock that you're a Gryffindor."

Sirius shook his head vigorously, sniffing. "No, James," he choked out. "They don't care at all! They never have, and I know they never will…hell, they don't care if I live or die. They'd probably prefer it if I left and never returned."

Lily

I nibbled on my quill. What was I to write? Oh, bugger Petunia. She had insisted I write a letter to Sirius for Christmas. Why would I do that? Firstly, I did not fancy him. Secondly, I've never written a boy anything! (Well, okay, I've written Dad and my uncles). What was I supposed to say?

Dear Sirius, I started, before crossing that out. 'Dear' sounded so…dear-ish! I tried again…and promptly ruled out 'Sirius' for being too rude, 'Hey, Sirius' for being to casual, and 'To Sirius' for being to formal.

I settled on: 'Merry Christmas, Sirius!'

I hope you're having a great Christmas! I'm having a pretty good one here in the Muggle world! There's plenty of Coca-Cola to go around! Did you get any nice presents? I'm so sorry that I didn't get you anything! I'll have to make it up for you—

Merlin, how many exclamation points were I using? Did I want to sound so…excited? I crumpled it up and tried again.

Merry Christmas, Sirius!

How has your Christmas been going so far? You're at Hogwarts, right? You have to tell me what its like at school. I bet the feast is delicious. I'm enjoying myself at home in the Muggle world. One the telly, there has been plenty of Coca-Cola commercials running. I've gone through a bottle today alone. Since I didn't get you anything for Christmas, I might just get you a bottle when I return…if you're nice.

Just kidding. Anyway, see you at school! I don't miss your idiotic pranks with Potter (he is rather childish), but I do miss my Trans partner! I tried to explain to my sister what our school classes were, and she got completely grossed out. Oh, well. She's a bit squeamish.

I worried a little about mentioning Petunia, but decided that Sirius wouldn't do anything. But, how was I supposed to sign off? I usually wrote 'Love' at the end of my letters, but what if that gave him the wrong idea? I couldn't write 'Sincerely' because that was so cold and formal. 'Yours truly' was also very clingy, but just writing 'Lily' was so abrupt! Oh, stop it, Lily, I chided myself. Don't act like this was any different than a letter to Aunt Jill!

Frowning at myself, I signed it 'Love, Lily' and rolled it up, whistling for Arty. Stupid brain.

James

"You know you're always welcome at my place, right?" I offered, not sure what I should say.

Sirius grinned, just slightly. "Yes. Yes, I know."

"Good." I tapped my fingers on my thigh as we sat there in silence. I hated silence, especially when I couldn't think what to say. Had what Sirius said was true? I had no trouble believing it, if it weren't for one thing: they were his parents. I knew they weren't exactly affectionate, as he never got birthday cards or letters or anything from home, and he hadn't even owled his parents when he stayed over. I'd just assumed they were still mad about his getting into Gryffindor.

But the way Sirius had said it, how he'd told me so matter-of-factly that they would probably prefer if he died, made me think. If it was true, and not Sirius just assuming something, then I felt like the biggest git in the world. How had I not realized that?

Sirius, tired of the silent, chuckled. I looked up to see his smiling face. "Merlin, James," he said, "I'm not a different person or anything."

"You never told me before," was all I said. "And I didn't notice."

"Is that what you're on about?" he asked, making me feel stupid. "Jamesie boy, trust me. It doesn't bother me usually, alright? I'm used to it. Just forget I told you that my parents think I'm a load of shite and help me think of a plan to prank your cousin – if that's fine with you."

I nodded. I could tell that Sirius just wanted this to be done with, and I didn't blame him. I wasn't as insensitive as everybody seemed to think. I told him, "I'm all for it," and he clapped my shoulder, hard.

"Great!" Sirius said, leaping out of his chair. Though he had red eyes and tearstains, he still looked extremely happy. Despite myself, I had to wonder, Is he always wearing a mask, even around me? Does he even like me?

But that was stupid, and dumb, and why was I questioning his friendship? He cried around me, for Merlin's sake, and I go wondering if it all was an act? It wasn't. I was just reeling with what happened. After we pranked Liam, I would be fine again.

A pecking sound against the window snapped me out of it. Sirius looked up as I stood, and he crossed the room to let in a pretty owl that looked sort of familiar. "It's addressed to me," he told me before I could ask, unrolling the letter. The owl didn't leave, obviously expecting a reply, so I got up to fetch it some treats.

"Who's it from?" I asked as the owl crunched on Lily's Mousy Munchies.

"Lily Evans," he said curiously, his eyes going to the bottom of the letter.

"What?" I yelled, getting up to see for myself. Sure enough at the bottom it said, 'Love, Lily' in her girly, curling writing. What? Love, Lily? Why was Lily writing to Sirius (and not me!) and signing it with love? "Did you write to her, Sirius?" I asked. That would make sense, if she was just replying. But that would mean Sirius wrote to her without telling me, which is a whole other problem!

"No," Sirius muttered, reading the letter. He chuckled quietly at something, and I tried to read it over his shoulder…what was she doing? She was…chatting with him, like they were friends! And what was with her saying she missed him?

And then she mentioned me, but she only called me idiotic and childish!

"Sirius!" I cried, and he turned around.

"What?" He said defensively. Why was he being so defensive?

I wanted to say, Why is she writing to you? Are you friends with her? Why'd she sign it Love? I only asked, "She called me idiotic! And childish!"

"We'll have to prank her for that," he said in a calm-down way. "I wonder why she wrote to me…did she write you?"

"Of course not!"

"Yes, actually, she does hate you," he said musingly. "Maybe she just wrote everybody she didn't hate?"

That would make sense. I felt myself calming down a little. "And signed them all 'Love'?"

Sirius backed away, every-so-slowly. What? What did I do? "Mate, calm down. Seriously. It's no big deal. Lily and I are…not enemies anymore, okay?"

Not enemies? "And not enemies write their other not enemies?"

"Lily's a bit different, James…maybe it's a Muggle culture," he pointed out. I scowled.

"Are you going to write back?"

"I have to, Art's not going to leave without a reply," he said absently, bending down to search the floor for some parchment.

"Art?" I asked. Who was Art?

"Her owl, Artemis," he said, like that should be glaringly obvious. He found some paper and started scribbling. When I didn't say anything, he told me, "Come on, James, everybody knows that."

Well, I didn't. "I'm going to go check on Liam," I said grouchily, but he didn't look up from where he was writing Lily. "Have fun writing to the Fire Dragon."

Lily

I paced my room, waiting anxiously for a reply. I knew that the reply – if there was one – could take hours to come…what if Sirius wasn't there for Art? Or didn't want to reply? What if he just sniggered about it with Potter and tore my letter up? This was so stressful! Stupid Petunia and her stupid ideas! I must have sounded so desperate, like I fancied him…

I didn't fancy him, honestly, I didn't! Boys were icky! They were gross and had cooties…and I found that I didn't believe that anymore, at least in Sirius' case. Now Potter, there was a gross boy who I could firmly believe had little cooties crawling all over him and infecting him…Merlin, that boy was a giant, talking cootie!

The thought made me laugh. I imagined a big bug like animal with glasses and Potter's unruly hair, clicking his big pincers at me. "Lily," it said in a horrible, infected, nasally voice. No…it would actually said, "Evans."

"Evans," Cootie-Potter said gratingly, advancing on me as I brandished my wand.

"Get away from me, Potter," I threatened.

"Let me serve you…" Cootie-Potter moaned, waving its feelers at me. "I am a big, overgrown git who thinks he's the best…and I have jealousy issues and a huge ego…" Actually, I decided, changing up my fantasy, that used too big words for Potter. He would say something like, "I am a big-headed prat who is in love with the Giant Squid…I am too stupid to try and defeat you…I can only use stupid pranks that I stupidly think of when I am sick…"

I snickered, imagining myself going, "You, Potter, are the world's biggest git! I have been sent from…the Muggle world to cure you of your git-ness! With this!" I waved a big bottle of Git-Be-Gone that I'd been hiding behind my back.

"Nooooo!" Cootie-Potter pleaded as I snapped into action. He growled and snapped his pincers.

"Petrificus Totalus!" I yelled, causing him to freeze. His buggy eyes popped as he fell over with a thud (he was fat from all the food he shoveled in his belly). I stood over him, pouring the Git-Be-Gone all over his big head and body…

His pincers shivered and snapped off, disappearing. His feelers shrunk back into his head, along two of his six arms and legs. His ant-like body shimmered until it emitted a huge mist…I cleared it with a simple spell, leaving Potter groveling at my feet.

"Thank you, Your Highness," he said, his voice trembling from awe. "Thanks to your supreme skill and power, I have been cured! How shall I ever repay you?"

"Well," I started, imaging all of the ways he could be my slave…he could fetch me my things every day, and wash my clothes and make me breakfast, and do my homework and feed my owl, and whenever I needed anything I'd force him to do it… "You can start by—"

Tap! Tap! Tap!

My fantasy shriveled and dried as the tapping stopped my concentration. I whirled around and glared at the interruption – couldn't it tell I was at the key point? I'd just started to order Potter to clean the toilets! – but once I saw what it was I forgot all about Potter.

It was Artemis! With a letter!

I ran to the window and let her in. She hooted softly at me around the treat that she was biting, and stuck out her leg. As soon as I untied the letter, she hooted again and went into her cage.

I unrolled the letter eagerly and spread it out on the table. It was from Sirius!

Merry Christmas back to you, Lilykins!

Thanks for your letter. I was having a pretty good Christmas over here, even though James' idiot cousin ruined it by insulting my parents. It's okay, we're going to get him back. James says hi. Well actually, he doesn't, but I'm sure he would?

Anyway, I'm sorry I didn't get you a gift. You don't have to get me anything, really. Thank you again for the letter. I guess I miss you too, just not classes. I do not miss Minnie or Trans. Ugh.

Sorry about your sister. I would offer to prank her for you, but that wouldn't go over too well, would it? Ah, well. Soon you'll be back partying with devilishly handsome wizards such as myself. A snowball fight will cure you, eh? I'll win, of course. It's just the natural order of things.

See you at school!

Thanks, Sirius.

The letter made me laugh. Sirius' cockiness shone through, but instead of irritating me like Potter's did, it made me chuckle. Of course Potter ruined Christmas. It must run in the family.

I laughed, clutching the letter to my chest. Why was I thinking about the Pothead? Sirius wrote me back! He wrote me back!

Oh, Merlin I was hopeless.

But…

Sirius wrote me back!

James

I was going to do it. I was going to confront my nineteen year old cousin. I really was.

Oh, Merlin.

Sirius and I pranked him real good a few days ago. World's Biggest Git appeared on his back in flashing letters, and we cut off his all his hair so he was bald until he threatened me enough for us to give him the antidote. It was pretty hilarious.

Liam hadn't talked to me since then, but I'd decided I had to talk to him. That's what Mum said I should do. Maddy apparently wrote her and my aunts and told them what happened. Everyone was pretty furious at Liam, but to my surprise, nobody was mad at me.

Mum and Dad told me I had to talk to Liam and tell him what he did wrong. Dad said something about how he'd listen to me because I was his cousin, but not to them because they were older. It didn't make much sense to me, but I decided I had to talk to him anyway. Sirius didn't want me to. At the moment, he was sulking in the corner, feeling guilty. Something about not wanting to break up the family?

It didn't make much sense to me. Our family fought a lot, but it was never about anything serious. When I told Sirius that, he only smirked and said this time it was Sirius…which is a stupid joke.

I ignored the fact that he wrote Evans back. He was just being nice, he told me so. It was nothing more.

Ugh, I was stalling now. What was I scared of? I knocked on Liam's door, and he opened it.

"Oh, hey James," he said, looking down. "Look, I'm sorry about what I said."

That was easier than I thought. I wanted to leave, but I thought about Sirius crying. "Tell that to Sirius," I told him, walking inside. He winced.

"He should apologize first," Liam tried, before sighing. He sat next to me on the couch and looked down. "Listen, James. I will apologize to your friend. I truly am sorry."

"Why'd you start it, Liam?"

"Because I'm a prat?" Liam said, laughing. I grinned too. He put his arm around my shoulder and said, "I was angry, I guess. He reminded me a bit of me. I don't know if you remember, but when you were really small Mum used to spend Christmas with us and Dad, remember? Then they split, and she never spent anytime with us anymore."

I couldn't remember when my aunt was ever present at Christmas, but this sounded true. I nodded. "I'm sorry, Liam."

"Ah, it's not your fault, sport. I was just mad that someone else never saw their mums at Christmas either."

This made sense. "Sirius was hurt, you know," I said, even though I wanted to just shut up. This was hard. I wanted to be treated as older, but talking to my favorite cousin like I was his age was too hard for me.

"I know," my cousin said, squeezing my shoulders. "Tell you what. I'll go apologize to him, and let's all go down to the Pitch and play some Quidditch? I learned a new move last week."

This sounded good to me. I hopped off the couch and said, "Let's go!"

We entered our dorm to find Sirius scribbling a letter to Remus (yes, I secretly checked). Without looking up, he said, "Bout time, Jamesie…I was getting worried."

Liam cleared his throat. "Sirius," he said, and Sirius' head snapped up. When he saw Liam, his expression became guarded.

"Yes?"

"I apologize," Liam said clearly. "I said some horrible things about your family, and I'm sorry for any hurt I caused you."

I expected Sirius to not accept, but he stood as well. "I'm sorry, too…Liam, isn't it? I shouldn't have said that about your family, either."

I'm sure my mouth was hanging open. Sirius, apologizing without any prompts? He sounded so adult. I could hardly believe it. I'd expected Liam to take forever to get to the point, and for Sirius not to accept. Then, I'd thought I would have to make Sirius apologize, which Liam wouldn't accept. We'd been in there for about five minutes, and they both said they were sorry?

Was the word turning properly?

"Look at him," sniggered Sirius, pointing at me. "Poor bloke. A bit funny in the head, that one, but I expect you knew that."

"Yes," Liam said, a small smile breaking out on his face, "I did."

Hey!

Lily

Finally. It was time to go. I couldn't wait to see Hogwarts again! I dragged my trunk down the stairs, and positioned myself near the door. "Mum!" I called. "Dad! Tuney! It's nearly ten fifteen, it's time to go!"

Tuney walked into the hallway. "God, Freak, don't be so excited to leave."

I wasn't insulted. Like how I called her 'Loony-Tunes,' she called my Freak. It was just the way of things. But she did have a point. I wanted to see Hogwarts again, walk in the beautiful grounds, see all my friends and do my homework late at night near the fire, but I didn't want to leave my family…too much.

"Aw, Tunes, you know I don't want to leave you," I told her sweetly, hugging her bony self around the middle. "Mum and Dad, I can't make any promises."

"Get in the car, brat," came the voice of Dad from behind me. "I can't make any promises either, Lily."

I laughed and did as he said. Petunia followed me to the backseat of the car and shut the door. Dad and Mum were still talking in the doorway, so she leaned closer to me and hissed, "Excited to see a certain Sirius?"

"Shut up!" I squeaked, cheeks red. "Petunia!"

She leaned back, looking satisfied. "I'll miss you too, Lily…but only if you write me whenever something exciting happens with You-Know-Who."

I rolled my eyes. "Promise," I told her, still blushing. "But nothing's going to happen, God."

"He wrote back, didn't he?" wheedled Petunia as Dad came around to the back and loaded in my trunk. I glared at her, daring her to saw one word about Sirius. She didn't, thank God.

If she did, forget pranking. I might have to murder her.

"Bye!" I called, turning to wave as my family headed off without me. I peered at them as they disappeared into the crowd of people, feeling faintly disappointed that they didn't turn and wave back. They must have not heard me.

I suddenly felt something pressing into me and nearly screamed before realizing I was leaning on the barrier. I looked around cautiously, making sure nobody was watching, and stepped back. Sirius and Potter, of all people – I tried not to blush – stepped through, one after another.

Potter saw me first, interrupting their heated discussion of Quidditch. "Evans. This seems familiar."

My eyes narrowed. "I'm not buying you anything."

Potter laughed. "Sure about that?" He ruffled his hair.

I had a sudden flash of my Cootie-Potter waving its feelers at me and sniggered to myself. It was a childish fantasy, but I couldn't help but grin at the image.

"What're you smiling at, Lilykins?" Sirius asked. "I mean, I know I'm very amusing—"

My cheeks heating, I interrupted, "I wasn't laughing at you, don't worry."

"Oh? And what were you laughing at, m'lady?" Sirius said teasingly, holding his arm out as he motioned towards the barrier. "How about you tell me all about it…inside?"

"Afraid the Muggles will bite?" I joked, glancing around before walking through the barrier without Sirius. Ah! I thought, trying to calm down. He's talking to me!

God, Lily, act a little more like Petunia, why don't you, I scolded myself. It's Sirius. Stop it.

But he's a boy.

But nothing. He's Sirius Black, your Transfiguration partner who you find mildly cute. Get a grip.

I could do this. I pictured Petunia squealing about a boy and shuddered. I would not become…that.

Sirius appeared behind me, scowling. I frowned at him (trouble in paradise?) and he muttered, "James doesn't exactly like me talking to you."

The git! How dare he? "Where is the prat?" I hissed, wishing fervently for some Git-Be-Gone. "He has no right to say who I can or cannot talk to!"

"Who doesn't?" A familiar voice said from behind me. I turned and found myself enveloped in Lizzie's arms.

"Lizzie!" I cried, and she yelled my name back in my ear. "I missed you so badly!"

"Oh Merlin! I missed you too! How was Christmas? I have so much to tell you!" Lizzie said excitedly.

I forgot all about Sirius. "What?"

Lizzie dragged me over to a corner. "Okay. Two things. First, you know how Alice kept disappearing and all? She's friends with these 'Puff twins, that's where she would go. Two, I'm going to be a big sister!"

My mouth dropped open. "Wow," was all I said. I shook my head. "Slow down, Liz. Firstly…which 'Puff twins?"

"The Smiths," she said airily, "I don't know their names. Bit stuck up, actually. I don't really like them."

"Huh." I tried to place them, and couldn't. I decided to pay more attention to Alice this term, so she wouldn't blow up at me like she had last term. I'd never written her, I realized with a pang. That would make for awkward nights in the dorm, unless I went and talked to her about it.

"Yes, well, I'm going to be a big sister!" Lizzie shrieked, jumping up and down. "I just found out yesterday, or I would've owled you. But can you believe it? Me, a sister!"

I could, actually, picture Lizzie as an excellent big sister. "You'll be fantastic," I assured her. "But won't there be a twelve year age gap?"

Lizzie shrugged, unconcerned. "Who cares?" This seemed rather odd to me. I guess she noticed my strange expression and said, "Oh, Lily. Wizards and witches age differently from Muggles. Like Dumbledore! That man's nearly one hundred years old, I heard! Loads of siblings have huge age differences."

I had noticed that the professors at school were older than most teachers at Petunia's school. I frowned as I tried to remember a hazy conversation with Sirius. "Sirius said there was a two year difference between him and his brother, though."

"Well, not everybody," Lizzie said obviously, before shaking that off as trivial. "But me, a big sister! I hope it's a girl. But baby brothers are so adorable…"

I laughed. "I wish Petunia was a boy," I sighed wistfully, but I didn't think she heard me. She was off and running, explaining to me how her mum had said she could decorate the nursery in summer before the baby came.

I wondered what it would be like to have a little sibling. Rather annoying, it seemed to me, but also quite nice to have someone to look up to you. It would nice to be the older one, for once.

James

Where did Sirius get off, talking to Evans like they were great chums? Hadn't we agreed she was off-limits for friendship? Or anything civil? I got that he was being friendly, so I'd tried to explain to him that being friends with the frigid girl was useless, and would only come back to bite him in the arse. But instead of laughing and realizing I was right, he'd only snapped at me and stormed off…to talk to her!

I walked through the barrier moodily, though I felt better when I saw Sirius chatting to Remus, not the Lava Monster. She was over there talking to the blond one. (All right, I knew her name quite well, but I wasn't in the mood).

"…him good!" Sirius was explaining to Remus as I snuck up behind them. Remus saw me and smirked – were we finally corrupting him? – but Sirius didn't pay me any attention. Was he talking about Liam?

"Who, good?" I asked, expecting to frighten Sirius.

But he only waved his hand at me and continued talking. Affronted, I walked around so I was in the triangle. I cleared my throat, and Sirius finally stopped talking. He barely spared me a glance. "Stopped sulking, James?" He asked. Remus' eyebrows went up. "Jamesie here is jealous that I'm friends with Lily."

For some strange reason, Remus choked. "Merlin, Remus, you good?" I asked, but he just held up a hand as he made some strange, rasping, choking noises. When he was done, he looked up at me, his face bright red. He had this funny little smile on his face, and he couldn't stop his lips from twitching. "What's the matter?"

"N-nothing," he coughed amusedly. "You're jealous, then?"

My mouth dropped open. "What? Of course not? Why would I be jealous that Sirius is friends with that stupid, shallow, dumb, stuck-up, frigid, conniving—"

"Learning some words, I see," Remus remarked, his smile widening. "Whatever you say, James. I'm off to say goodbye to my parents. Meet you on the train, same compartment as last term?"

I nodded, but I was more interesting in glaring at Sirius. "Not jealous, eh?"

"No!" I protested. What a stupid idea!

"Hmm?" Sirius said, smirk widening on his face. "Then you aren't upset that we are friends?"

"Yes—no—oh, I don't know, Sirius," I growled. I felt like a fool. "Meet me on the train in ten minutes. I'm off, too."

I left Sirius standing by himself, chuckling. Merlin. What was wrong with the world?

Lily

"Lily," a strange, formal voice said from behind me. Lizzie stopped talking and looked completely surprised. I turned…to see a neatly groomed Severus, already in his Hogwarts robes, standing there stiffly.

"Severus!" I gasped in surprise. What was he doing? I hadn't seen him, let alone talked to him, since our last little spat. He'd stayed at Hogwarts for Christmas and had avoided me whenever I tried to come near.

"I think I see Aliya," mumbled Lizzie, sprinting off. But I didn't hear her, I was so absorbed in staring at Severus. He was thinner, his hair greasier than ever, his long, straight nose pointing at the ground like his head.

"What…what are you doing here?" I stammered.

He looked ready to leave. "I could go," he offered, but I took his arm without thinking about it and dragged him to a quieter part of the station. We had fifteen minutes – more like ten, okay – until we had to board, and I was determined to talk to him for once.

"Don't you dare," I warn him, and a small smile appeared on the corner of his lips.

"How was your holiday, Lily?" Severus asked. I could tell he wanted to say something else, but didn't want to bring it up.

"Enjoyable," I answered. "Petunia was perfectly kind to me. Normal, even."

Severus winced, and I remembered how he'd told me to leave her be. "Listen, Lily, I'm sorry if I offended you last term."

"It's fine," I dismissed. His smile grew as I continued, "You were right. If Petunia hadn't improved, I don't think I could have lasted Christmas without hexing her."

Severus chuckled. "I can imagine," he said, almost…fondly? "That would not have been pleasant."

I smiled at his quirky, formal speech. "I had a nice dream about hexing Potter," I told him as we headed towards the train. I'd thought he would appreciate that, and he did. Severus snorted – his version of laughter – as we avoided a couple who were kissing goodbye.

"Hope it was good."

"It was. How was your Christmas?" I asked him curiously. I knew that his Christmases at home were dreadful, but I wondered how he got along at Hogwarts.

"Fine. Potter and Black stayed as well, but I don't think they noticed I was there," he told me as we boarded.

"Potter tends to do that," I laughed, leaving Sirius out. But Severus picked up on it, I could tell, by raising his eyebrow.

But, he didn't say anything about it (for now, I couldn't help thinking), only continuing, "I much preferred it to my house."

I noticed how he didn't say home. Not that I could blame him. I wouldn't call his falling down house 'home' either. "Did you write your parents at all?" I prodded, even though I knew this was likely to fail.

Severus stiffened. "I did not contact my father, no."

"Your mum?" I wheedled, eager to learn more about my mysterious friend. I knew he didn't hate his magical mum, as opposed to his Muggle father, but I'd never heard much about her.

Severus looked straight ahead and I internally rolled my eyes. Looked like the stiffness was back. I motioned him towards a compartment, resolving to get to the bottom of this. Liz and Aliya could wait. As we sat down and the door slid closed, he seemed to relax. "Yes. I got a letter from her. She somehow managed to sneak it past my father. Perhaps when he was drunk on the couch."

I winced. "That must have been nice," I said cheerfully.

"Yes. She is doing well, she says. My father has been spending more and more time out, so she rarely even sees him anymore."

"Sev…" I said carefully, "Why don't they get a divorce?"

"I wish, Lily. But they wouldn't, trust me. My father is to dependent on my mum's magic to survive. Without her, he would been overrun with bills in a month; being a witch does make heating and cooling costs go down quite a bit. We don't even have a dishwasher."

I'd never thought about it that way, but wizards really did have it easy. They could heat or cool or clean the house with a few flicks of their wand. I recalled how much time I spent stacking and unstacking the dishwasher alone (that was my main chore at my house), never mind cleaning my room. It seemed so unfair I couldn't take care of it with my wand. "Yes," was all I said, however. "I suppose that makes sense."

Severus nodded. "I smuggled her in some money."

"Oh, Severus," I whispered, without thinking about what I was doing, "How do you stand it?"

He looked surprised. "Stand what?"

"Living there," I cried. "How do you survive?"

"Lily, I only live there for a few months out of the year. I can handle it. Remember, I was born into it, right?"

James

Why was Sirius acting so strange? He smirked whenever he saw me, and it was driving me insane. Was it about Evans? Was it something I said? I had to get to the bottom of this. Was I slowly going mad?

Lily

Wow. Lizzie's enthusiasm has worn me out. All night long she'd chattered about her news. Aliya and I barely got a word in, and Alice only slunk in minutes before curfew. We finally got her to be quiet, but neither Aliya nor I had any interesting news (I wasn't about to tell her about Sirius. Not with Aliya there) so after a few minutes of discussing Tuney's latest behavior, she was off again.

I needed to talk to someone sane.

James

I hate classes. Honestly, I do. What do we have first? Bloody Tranfiguration.

I'd stopped wondering why I felt so angry about Evans and Sirius. It was obviously, as Remus pointed out, jealousy that Evans was spending so much time with him, which meant he spent less time with me. It really didn't have to do with Evans at all. So I begged Remus to tell Sirius that for me, and he only laughed at me and clapped me on the back, telling me he had "no intention of deserting my best mate for a girl."

If that was so, why did he seem so excited for Double Transfiguration?

We all filed into the classroom, where Professor McGonagall was waiting for us. Before we could sit down, she began, "Get into your groups. We will be working on a complex spell today to change our shoes into frogs. This may take several classes to achieve."

Evans hissed, "Sirius!" loudly as I paired with Remus. I saw them sit together, with that other girl – Julia? Julie? – and suddenly dragged Remus near them. We sat a row behind.

"Why are we stalking Sirius?" Remus asked, amused. He busied himself getting ready while I glared at the boy in question.

"No reason."

"It doesn't have to do with a certain Lily Evans?" Remus continued, stacking his parchment on top of his books.

"No. I just want to see if Sirius is serious about not abandoning me," I said, like it was so obvious.

Remus muttered, "hopeless," but I barely heard him. Evans was laughing at something Sirius said, touching his arm while she giggled. She was acting…like she fancied him! Could she fancy him?

McGonagall started her lecture, so Evans promptly stopped – the goodie-goodie – but Sirius continued to tease her, poking her with his quill until she giggled softly.

"Find something funny, Miss Evans?" Professor McGonagall asked crisply. I smirked, that would show her.

"Of course not, Professor," she responded in a shocked voice. "I was just smiling in anticipation. I can't wait to begin."

Now, was that the answer of someone who deserved to be Sirius' friend? Of course not. I was just looking out for him.

Lily

"Look at Minnie," Sirius said, grinning, as McGonagall directed us into groups. "So stern. Someone needs to loosen her up."

"Why do you call her Minnie?" I asked curiously, ignoring the image of Slughorn that popped into my brain when he said 'loosen her up.'

"Overhead Dumbledore talking to her," he smirked, winking at me. "Called her Minerva. I personally think they're having a torrid affair."

"Sirius!" I giggled, reaching over to smack his arm. However, my touch lingered on his warm arm and I blushed slightly. So he wouldn't notice, I continued quickly, "Everyone knows her and Slughorn have a thing."

"Sluggy and Minnie?" Sirius gasped, looking appalled. "Say it isn't so!"

"You started it," I said childishly, feeling a smile tug at my lips.

Sirius opened his mouth to respond but just then the Professor – not Minnie, for God's sake – started to talk, so he simply stuck his tongue out at me.

I turned my chair just slightly so it was facing Julie's and stuck my nose up in the air, studiously ignoring him and taking notes at the same time. Sirius huffed, obviously not liking being ignored as Minnie—McGonagall, dang it!—continued: "…known first as the Shoe-Toad spell, as the originators hadn't intended on sharing their creation with the world, as they hadn't thought anybody would find a use for it…"

Why would you need a spell to turn shoes into frogs? I carefully took notes, adding, 'Originators hadn't meant to share 'Shoe-Toad spell' – no use for it' as a neatly bulleted fact.

Then I nearly shrieked.

The reason? Somebody was poking me with a quill! I glared at him, whipping back around in my seat so I could write down another thing McGonagall had said. What was he doing?

But Sirius didn't give up. Instead of poking me, he lightly traced it around my stomach, so I had to bite my lip to keep from smiling. I was very ticklish, and didn't think I could contain myself much longer—I had to laugh as Sirius poked me again, burying in the soft feathers into my side.

"Miss Evans?" McGonagall asked me sternly. She said something else, probably asking why I was laughing, but the git besides me was still tickling me with his feather!

"Of course not, Professor," I said as she stopped expectantly. I did my best 'Who, me?' shocked voice, hoping it would think I wasn't guilty. "I was just smiling in anticipation. I can't wait to begin."

The professor huffed and continued her lesson without taking any points, thank God. I brushed away the feather and thankfully it stopped, but the distraction was replaced by another: Sirius.

He leaned over to whisper in my ear, his hot breath fanning over my cheek, "Suck up much, Lils?"

I ignored the fact that he called me Lils. "Perhaps," I whispered back in my best prim voice, "But you'll be changing your mind when I get the spell before you."

He chuckled, causing goosebumps to rise over my skin. I pointedly moved my head away and he retreated, also very obviously scribbling notes.

James

What? What the hell was that? Why was he whispering in her ear like that?

I burned with jealousy.

A/N: I'm sorry if you think the confrontation between Liam and James was resolved too quickly. I tried to emphasize that James really didn't want to be there, and Liam was sorry. I think it went pretty well; James didn't exactly want to confront someone he looked up to.

I hoped you enjoyed this chapter! Ah, poor James, though. He's so obvious. Twelve-year-olds aren't exactly known for their subtly. Or their flirting skills. Nice going, Sirius!

Next chapter comes a confrontation with Alice, as well as a certain Indian girl telling a very shocked redheaded girl that she approves. Of course, Lily has no idea of what. But that's okay. She might realize her feelings by next year, ay? That's where the fun begins.

Anyway, in case you hadn't noticed: I'm back! This chapter was a bit short, since I'm very jetlagged and tired. Got back yesterday, and what did I do? Immediately sat down to churn out this chapter. So forgive me for any mistakes.

Speaking of mistakes, I'm planning on maybe going over my previous chapters to fix for mistakes? Of course, if someone wants to do it for me, hint hint, I'd appreciate it very much…

Thank you all for all your kind reviews! To a certain perceptive anonymous reviewer: shush. Don't give anything away. Am I that obvious? Merlin. (I love saying that.)

Update coming soon, I hope. School coming soon as well, so we'll see. But don't worry. I will never neglect my kind readers. While you're waiting, go check out my HG/DM oneshot, "What You Know." I was trying out a new writing style, and enjoyed it quite a bit.

Lots of love to everyone reading!