Disclaimer: I own nothing Harry Potter related. J.K. Rowling is the lucky lady who can claim it.

Thanks for the reviews, much appreciated! Sorry it took me so long to get up another chapter. It's been a rather interesting month in my life since I've last posted. And I also wanted to read the last book before I continued with the story to try to make it as accurate as I can with the books. (Wow! It was..amazing! to say the least. Very sad. I cried quite a bit. Especially the bits about Lily and James. It just breaks me up because I feel so bad for Harry to know his parents are dead. I'm rambling..sorry! Story…)

Chapter 7: Happy Times

"Shawn, dear? It's me, Lily." Lily said cautiously while approaching the closed maroon curtains but hearing no answer.

"Shawn, mate? It's James. Are you in there?"

Still no answer.

James decided to open the curtains and found a note on Shawn's pillow.

Lily and Gina,

Sorry I missed your visit. I'll see you later. I wanted to go out for a walk. It's such a lovely night. It was a perfect time to clear my head. I promise we'll have breakfast in the morning.

Shawn

Lily whispered, "Oh." She really was worried about Shawn. She figured the weight of losing his grandmother was hitting him hard now.

"I'm sure he's fine, Evans." James suggested hoping it was true. He really thought highly of Shawn and knew Lily did too.

"Thanks, Potter. I'm sure he'll be fine too. I …just really wanted to see him. There's just something in the pit of my stomach telling me I need to see him."

"You really care for him, don't you?" James questioned with a hurt noticeable in his voice.

"Yes, I do." Lily said, not really thinking about taking James's feelings into consideration.

"Hey, Evans?"

"Hmm?"

"Do you like hot cocoa?"

"With marshmallows?"

"Without a doubt!"

"So, I'm hoping that you're offering some since you're asking?" Lily laughed while inquiring.

"Well, yes and no. Yes I'm offering. But no, I don't have any made yet. Would you like to go to the common room and make some with me?"

"Yes and no…"

"How is that an answer?!?" James uttered in confusion.

"Hahaha. Let me finish. Yes I would love to, but I can't right now. I have a prefect meeting to attend. So calm down. I really must be going now, but the meeting should be over around 9."

"Okay, so hot cocoa, nine o'clock, common room. Got it." James reiterated as Lily hastened from the room. Once she was gone, like a little kid who got candy, James jumped up and down and shouted, "She is going to hang out with me! She wasn't even mean! YES!"

James sat in his room doing some studying for future pranks and accomplishing some homework while anxiously awaiting nine o'clock. The enormous grin on his face could not be removed by anyone.

&&&&&

"Sirius Black! Please be caref…whoooooaaaa!" Gina screamed while hanging on for dear life as Sirius soared through the air doing a sudden dive towards the lake.

Sirius barked with laughter. "I'm sorry, love. I couldn't resist. Isn't that Snivellus over there?"

"Over where?"

"There!" Sirius made another quick movement on the broom earning him a slap on the head from Gina. "Uh…okay. Umm. Enough broom time. Lake?"

"What are you like five? You can't even make complete sentences." Gina teased.

She couldn't tell for sure, but it appeared Sirius blushed or had windswept red cheeks.

"Pardon me, madam, would you care to accompany me to a lovely spot by the lake? If you will not think it impertinent, of course." Sirius bowed and offered his arm to Gina.

"Mr. Black, I'd be delighted. Nothing would bring me greater pleasure." Gina curtseyed and giggled, and proceeded to accept Sirius's outstretched arm.

"By accepting this offer, you bring me great joy, Miss Parks. Shall we?"

"I never knew you could be such a gentleman, Sirius." Inside Gina's mind, she screamed. She absolutely adored this sort of thing.

The two continued walking toward a spot where the moon beams cascaded through the tree limbs creating an enchanted looking spot. Here, Sirius conjured a blanket and pillows and motioned for Gina to sit beside him.

"You know Sirius…I was thinking. I'm really glad Lily is starting to come around with the Marauders. It makes my being friends with you guys easier. Although none of us understand why she's friends with Snape. I notice she's been talking to him less and less. Maybe they had a row or something."

"I hope so, Lily, is certainly too good to be friends with the likes of him. I'm just glad she finally forgave me from the first time she met me on the train for teasing Snape. It took her long enough; I think she still holds it against James."

"I foresee Lily and James getting along better in the future."

"Oh really?"

"Yes, yes. I can't say why. That's between me and Lily, but I'll say that she's realized something."

"Way to leave a guy hanging."

"Look! A shooting star! Make a wish!"

"What did you wish for? I'll tell you if you tell me?"

"That's pointless, Sirius! I can't tell you. It won't make my wish come true."

"Well fine. I didn't want to tell you anyway. So ha!"

Gina giggled. "You're just too much Sirius."

Sirius noticed that he had placed his hand rather close to Gina's. He noticed how long and skinny her fingers were. He had the sudden urge to gently edge his hand over to make their fingers touch, but he felt, dare he think it…scared. A good kind of scared though, the scared that has butterflies fluttering about in your stomach.

"So, you really never knew I could be a gentleman?" Sirius asked, not kidding.

Gina had thought about answering something funny about how she was surprised he had not tried anything on her, but judging from the tone in his voice she had better not.

"No. I never have had occasion to notice. But you're quite good at it, I must say. I'm a sucker for that sort of thing."

"Aww. Yay! I'm glad. I hate having that reputation of being a player. I mean, I know it's true, but a guy can change…."

"I've noticed." Gina whispered barely audible, causing Sirius to glance at her and notice she shivered.

A light bulb clicked on inside of the Marauder. He removed his cloak and put it about Gina's shoulders.

The girl and boy lay there on the cool October night talking about who knows what for hours until Gina fell asleep.

Sirius stared at her as the even sounds of breath emitted from her. He thought she was a very pretty girl. He was even surprised at how he had been so gentlemanly to her. It was usual he kissed a girl the first time they went out. But this was different.

&&&&&

James was staring at the portrait that let fellow Gryffindors in or out of the common room. He would curse to himself when it would open and Lily did not enter. He figured the prefect meeting had gone later than expected.

At last Lily came. And James was thrilled.

"Potter! You better have that hot chocolate ready when I get back downstairs!"

"Ay ay, miss! But..where are you going?"

"To change into my pajamas, of course!" Lily gleefully said and ran up the steps to her room.

"Wow. I sounded a little too excited just then. Okay. I'm talking to myself. Mental, I must be. If only I had something…" the emerald eyed girl gasped in mid-sentence. "My diary! I can pick who I want to talk to in it. I'll use that later. Make mental note to self…okay…got it. Oh dear, I'm still talking to myself."

Lily changed into her pajamas and hesitated in her room for as long as she dared. She really was trying to be polite to James Potter. She was trying, but forgetting how things were is going to be hard. She decided to grab her camera and the potion to develop her pictures and bring that downstairs with her and James.

"Took you long enough, geez." James joked while smiling at her.

"I know, I know." Lily sighed. "I got distracted."

"Okay, here's your mug, and the marshmallows are over there and the hot chocolate is over the fire, help yourself!"

"Not that this isn't wonderful, Potter, but you drink first." Lily prodded, she couldn't be too careful.

To say this didn't hurt James would be a lie, but he obliged. He was willing to suffer little remarks like that. It's not like they aren't deserved.

As soon as James drank and Lily was sure nothing was going to happen, she got her share and loaded the marshmallows on top. "Excellent taste, Potter."

"Thanks." James uttered blushing at the compliment.

"Help me develop my pictures? I've never done it before, and I'd be sad if I messed my pictures up."

"Of course. No problem. It's really very simple."

About 3 mugs of hot chocolate later, the two were laughing at the developed pictures from Lily's birthday.

"This is priceless! This must be when you and Sirius stole the camera. What's that face Sirius is making, but oh, you're face!" Lily erupted with laughter. "I'm going to have to frame this one, for blackmail.."

"What, but, but, but, you wouldn't do that!"
"I wouldn't?" Lily questioned innocently, which was slightly creepy.

"Do you mind if I have one of these doubles of the group? Just for memories?" James asked hopefully.

"Since you made me hot chocolate, and didn't poison it, which I'm surprised because we've had our moments….sure." Lily was surprised she just uttered those words. She actually meant them, which was surprising. She was having a blast with just her and James. He really could be different, or maybe he was always like this and she never gave him the chance.

James was caught off guard by Lily saying those words, also. He wanted to press her to explain why they had their moments, he just needed to get that courage. He wanted to phrase it and not have her get angry. "Thanks, Evans. Appreciate it."

James stuffed the picture in his robe and noticed it was getting late. Courage building up in his chest or maybe his heart was just beating faster James dared ask, "Evans, why are you being nice to me? Now, of all times. Why not tomorrow or last year or ten years from now? I'm not saying I mind, I prefer it, I'm just curious."

Lily was a little taken aback. This wasn't totally unexpected. If she were thinking properly, she would know it was going to come up in conversation sooner or later. She sighed and began, "It started on the Hogwarts train when you insulted Severus. Beside my sister and parents, he was the closest friend I had. He knew I was a witch, he told me what I was, and told me about the wizarding world. He used to be one of my really good friends, but he's chosen his fate now. I've chosen mine."

Lily appeared very sad to James, but he remained silent, waiting for her to continue.

"I know Severus deserves that insult now, but think how you would feel if someone were insulting Sirius? A second reason was that I found you very immature. Always pranking people but it's nothing compared to the Dark Arts that I know that Severus uses."

James wanted to jump in and defend his pranks, but he held his tongue by biting it.

"The last reason is I found your attitude wholly annoying. Always ruffling your hair, playing with the snitch, asking me out so often. But then I had my eyes opened and realized that you're only 16 and you seem to have changed this year thus far. You've matured and the pranks have not been so frequent."

At this point, the Marauder known as Prongs, spoke, "Wow. To hear it all put into perspective like that…"

Lily interrupted him, blushed from embarrassment, and added, "but most importantly, I realized that maybe I needed to change too. I'm really sorry I've been rude to you, James."

"It's okay, I deserved it most of the time. I'm glad we've had this discussion. I really hope that we can be friends now. I've really had fun tonite."

"I have too, amazingly enough. Who would have thought?" Lily playfully said, trying to lighten the mood a little.

"HOLD ON! WAIT just a minute. You called me, James?" James Potter articulated with happiness, shock, and amazement.

"I did, didn't I?" a perplexed Lily muttered.

"Yeah, so, I guess we should stop use of surnames?"

"I would concur."

"Sirius isn't back with Gina, yet is he?

"She wasn't in the room earlier."

"Interesting. Simply interesting."

"James, I'm quite exhausted. Thank you very much for the hot chocolate, it was wonderful. We'll have to do it again sometime."

"I'm glad we had a chance to talk and hang out. Goodnight, Lily. Sweet dreams."

"Me too. Night." Lily said while walking up the stairs to her bed.

&&&&&

James was so happy that he and Lily Evans were friends. Last year it had seemed so important to have her, but now he felt it was more important to be her friend. He figured his maturity level had changed.

He was tired as well and walked to his bedroom to dream happy thoughts and think of good Halloween pranks.

&&&&&

When safely in her bedroom, Lily felt better inside. She had lifted the grudge against James Potter. She felt lighter. She never realized that disliking someone was harder than being friends with them.

She decided to open the diary and saw a spot to write the person she wanted to be in the diary. She couldn't think of any person who was dead that she wanted to be in the diary…the stipulations were 'as long as they weren't alive.'

"I wonder if literary characters count?" Lily wondered to herself. "It's worth a shot."

She tapped her wand to the page and thought, "Elizabeth Bennet, from Pride & Prejudice."

Almost instantly, the page turned and writing appeared,

Greetings from Pemberley, ma'am. With who may I ask do I have the pleasure of speaking?I am Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy.

Lily squealed with delight, she mentally made a note to give Shawn the biggest hug ever tomorrow when she had breakfast with him and Gina.

I, am, Miss Lily Evans, from Hogwarts. How are you Mrs. Darcy?

I'm wonderful, but my understanding is this diary is about you, my dear friend.

It doesn't have to be all about me, I'd love to hear about your life, too!

I'm flattered, Miss Evans. Ask anything you'd like.

Is Pemberley as grand as you remembered it?

It's that and so much more. I'm quite happy with my situation. You have something on your mind?

I'm pleased to hear it! Yes, I had an interesting conversation tonight with someone I despised not very long ago. He asked me why I hated him because I've been being nice to him lately.

Oh. Matters are settled now?

Yes. We're friends now. I must admit that my friend, Gina, read the book you are from, as did I, and it and she helped me open my eyes.

I'm honored. Are you speaking of Mr. Darcy and myself?

Indeed. The dislike you had of him from not knowing him well. Part of my dislike of Potter..err..James, I believe is from my not knowing him.

I did quite dislike him, I had my reasons, or so I thought. I just needed to better understand him, but to do that, I needed to better understand myself.

Exactly. That is what I've gathered from the reading. I have applied it to me, not just with James, but to re-evaluate myself.

Bravo, Miss Evans. Just remember to remain true to yourself.

I will Mrs. Darcy, I will. I need to get to sleep. I have class tomorrow.

Goodnight Miss Evans, may I call you Lily?

Of course, Mrs. Darcy.

Please call me, Elizabeth or Lizzy. Whichever you prefer.

Goodnight, talk to you soon.

Lily was exhausted but bursting with happiness on the inside from the excitement caused by her diary.

&&&&&

The next day would not be so great. Lily walked down to the common room and nearly fainted from what she saw.

&&&&&

Sorry to leave the cliff hanger like that! It seemed a good place to stop the chapter. The next chapter should be up fairly soon. Please review! Reviews let me know if I should keep writing or not. J