"James, dear, would you please turn the music down if you're not coming to dinner?" Mrs. Potter's voice sounded muffled through the thick door to James's bedroom, but that might have also had to do with the loud rock music pouring from his radio and reverberating around the room in crashing cymbals and fast guitar riffs. Tear my heart out, put your Ice spell in, the Crashing Ravens' lead singer was growling sexily into the microphone, while James ignored his mother and stared up at the ceiling.

It was papered with posters of his and Sirius's favourite Quidditch team, the ones that hadn't fit on James's walls anymore. And there he was, Rico Escarill, right in the middle of his team, grinning up at the camera in such a self-assured way it was bordering on arrogance. He was the best of the best, thought James. Why couldn't he have seen those bloody Bludgers?

The letter still lay on his desk, the torn envelope next to it. "What did I do to deserve this?" he said miserably to himself, waving his wand to turn the radio up a bit louder. Annoying his mother when she was in the middle of preparing for her witches' luncheon at least offered him a bit of relief.

Dear Mr. Potter,

We regret to inform you that due to personal reasons, the Quidditch camp scheduled to start on July 20th has to be canceled.

It wasn't fair.

„James, stop being unreasonable," said Mrs. Potter's voice through the door, knocking again and sounding exasperated. "It's not my fault Rico fell off his broom!"

James closed his eyes. The Crashing Ravens' song had ended and there was something slower, softer on now. He raised his arm to change the station, find something even louder to annoy her, but then dropped it again. She was right, of course, it wasn't her fault the Quidditch camp was off – but what was he supposed to do now? The camp had been his highlight for the summer and now it stretched ahead of him, empty and friendless and boring.

His best friends Sirius, Remus and Peter were all scattered across the country at their various parents' houses. Peter's family was too poor and big to travel in summer and they usually needed his help taking care of his two young twin brothers, Remus was spending some quality time with his father and Sirius – James sat up, a lopsided grin spreading across his face . Sirius would be livid about the camp.

Out of all of his friends, James knew no one who hated his family as much as Sirius Black. They lived in a luxurious townhouse in the center of London, not far from the Potters' city place, and Sirius called it his own private Azkaban. He had been excited at the prospect of only having to stay there for a week before the Quidditch camp and then coming straight home to James's summer house. "So I'll only need to spend a few days with that bunch of pureblood-loving, Muggle-hating fanatics," he had said to the others' with a satisfied smile. "Enough to put up all my Gryffindor posters and banners on the walls with permanent sticking charms."

Sirius, at least, would be persuaded to spend the summer with James. And who knew, maybe Godric's Hollow wouldn't be so boring after all? After all, right outside the door, was a veritable park of a garden and on this very corridor there were half a dozen rooms for visitors, ready to be filled!

James flicked his wand, making the radio cut off mid-song, and leapt off his bed. "Mum! Can I ask you something?"

"Famous Seeker Rico Escarill Injured in Freak Accident"

Lily smoothed down the Daily Prophet in front of her and took a sip from her coffee mug. It was one of the few things she really liked about coming home – good coffee. For some reason, the Professors at school that the students should survive on only builders' tea and milk in the morning, because apparently, "Why does a wizard need caffeine?" But here, in Godric's Hollow, as the sun was just creeping through the window over the rose trellis, Lily could enjoy a whole pot all by herself.

The rest of the house was still asleep, even Molly draped over her lap and purring. It was Lily's time all to herself, the only time she could read the Prophet in peace without fascinated questions from her parents and Petunia pursing her lips and interrupting her train of thought with stories about Vernon-this and Vernon-that.

Leaning down, she began reading the article. Above were two pictures: One of a handsome, tousle-haired young man in Quidditch robes and surrounded by teammates and the other of a decidedly woebegone-looking gentleman with big white bandage around the middle part of his faces, being carried off a Quidditch-pitch in a stretcher.

"Escarill, 22, was hit by two Bludgers in yesterday's final Quidditch league match against the Sorebucker Swifties. Just about to catch the Snitch, the Swifties' Beaters Perdic Muskovitch and Reina Star, both 24, attempted the famously difficult Cross-curving Snitch-snatcher move. By beating two Bludgers close together so they make a cross about the Snitch, this move is designed to create a gust of wind so strong as to blow it away from a Seeker's searching fingers at the very last moment without causing injury. (This move was only once successfully executed in the Quidditch Cup Final of 1837, making Poland the legendary one-time winner of the Cup it still is today.)

Unfortunately, the move proved unsuccessful in yesterday's match. Instead of crossing the Bludgers, they crashed together, one of them spinning right into the young seeker's face and making him fall 50 feet from his groom. Medi-wizards were on-site immediately to treat Escarill and later moved him to St. Mungo's, where he is being treated for trauma and brain damage induced by the force of the lockout. His condition remains critical."

Lily lowered the paper. She wasn't much of a Quidditch fan herself, but from James Potter's gang she knew he was very famous and talented. In the past months, every single conversation she had overheard them having had "Rico says" or "Rico did" or "Did you see Rico catch that Snitch last week?" in it. They would all be pretty shocked to hear of their hero's fall, she thought. But why people still continued to play that awful sport, she couldn't understand!

There was a tap on the kitchen door and Lily looked up to see Nora's wildly curly head and wide smile in the window. She waved and pointed at the doorknob.

Lily gently set Molly on the chair next to her and opened to door. Nora immediately enveloped her friend in a tight hug, her curls tickling Lily's cheeks. Like always, Nora smelled a little like the leaves and moss of a forest, and her mud-caked boots told Lily that was exactly where Nora had come from.

"It's good to see a familiar face," she sighed in a low voice, shutting the kitchen door so her family wouldn't be woken by the noise. "But you're up early. Have you been exploring?"
Nora's eyes glinted as she unwound the thin scarf from around her neck and dropped into the chair next to Lily's cat. "I have," she said excitedly. "I took my Advanced Herbology book and you wouldn't believe all the magical plants that grow around here. I'm thinking drying some of them and starting a scrapbook!"

At Hogwarts, Lily and Nora were equally excited about their Advanced Herbology class, sometimes spending their spare time in the greenhouses to help Professor Grassbeam tend to the plants. Lily, however, was also fascinated by Potions, whereas Nora hated the class. In fact, she had been working on an essay for Professor Slughorn just before the owl had delivered her Daily Prophet.

"Working already?" asked Nora in surprise, as she saw Lily's notes strewn over the kitchen table, a quill lying on top of her textbook. "It's just first day into the holidays!"

Lily glanced at the closed kitchen door, then bit her lip. "Tuney's getting worse. She won't even talk to me anymore now."

Nora frowned. "I thought you said Christmas had been better," she said. "So what brought on the change?"

"It's her new boyfriend, Vernon, I think," replied Lily. "He's very ambitious and impressive, apparently, full of plans for his future with her. And with her computer courses and college classes, I think she's so caught up in acting all normal – or that's what she calls it - she's really started to despise anything that has to do with magic. Including me." She fumbled with her long, red plait, twisting the end around her finger. "I just always kind of hoped she would find a way to accept me for what I am one day and we could be friends again, but I don't think there's any hope for that now."

Dinner the previous night had been a thoroughly frosty affair again. Lily loved her parents and missed them all year, writing to her mother at least once a week about the goings-on a t school, but with Petunia there, the atmosphere was somewhat subdued. When they had been younger, Lily had always been the bubbly, wild one, Petunia tagging along a few steps behind, always careful and a little cynical. But Lily had loved that about her, just as Petunia had always loved her lively, free-spirited younger sister.

The arrival of Lily's Hogwarts letter more than five years ago had been the end of that carefree relationship. Though she had never said it, Petunia had been incredibly envious of Lily, suddenly treating her with an icy, sometimes sneering haughtiness, which had driven a thick wedge between the sisters. It had been left to grow and deep over the years, with Lily always hoping that one holiday she would return home to the family she had once had. Her parents supported Lily's dreams – now magical and somewhat different from the eleven-year-old who had wanted to be a painter – but the absence of any loving relationship with her sister made Lily feel unbalanced in a way she never did at Hogwarts, like a weight was tied to one of her feet.

Nora looked thoughtfully at Lily for a long moment. She didn't particularly like Petunia, nor could she understand why Lily continually tried to become friendly with her even after a million rebuttals, but she knew Lily cared, so she couldn't rightly tell her any of this. Finally, she said, "Let's see what the summer brings. Who knows, maybe she'll come around. I would. I mean, you're a nice enough person," she added with a wink. Lily stuck her tongue out at her.

Relieved to see her friend looking a little happier, Nora jumped to her feet. "Marlene's arriving on the train in two hours and I'm starving, so you need to come with me and have some breakfast."
Lily smiled fondly at the other witch. Nora was always so full of positive energy, it was hard to feel gloomy around her. Plus, the prospect of seeing her other best friend in only a few hours made Lily quickly forget about her troubles with Petunia.

In a few minutes they had cleared away all of Lily's study utensils, left a note to Mr. and Mrs. Evans, given Molly a pat on the head and stepped out into the warm July sunshine.

"Oi, Prongs, get some new glasses, will you? We're over here!" yelled Sirius Black, waving from the train window.

James jogged along the platform, broomstick still in hand. He had left too late, of course, and Sirius could never remember that he ought to get off at the other end of the train. The tousle-haired , handsome young wizard caught James in a quick hug as he leapt from the compartment, closely followed by James's other two best friends Remus and Peter.

Remus looked a little pale as always at this time of the month – the moon had only just started to wane, while Peter seemed to have gotten a bit chubbier in just a few days at home.

"It's good to see you," he said, grinning around at them. "Elfie's already cooked us the biggest dinner imaginable, according to Mum. And she said it won't be a problem to have an extra room for you at the end of the month, Wolfie. She loves redecorating."

"James," hissed Remus, his eyes darting nervously up and down the platform as Sirius roared with laughter.

"Good one, Prongs," said Sirius in a conspiratory tone. "We wouldn't want your mother thinking the furry little problem is getting out of hand now, do we?" Hardly anyone at Hogwarts new of his affliction and James's mother had only learned the truth a year before. To help Remus enjoy his time at school nonetheless, the three others had learned how to transform into animals and keep him company. Over the years, it had grown to be one of their favourite pastimes.

"You mean she still doesn't know about you being an Animagus?" asked Peter, his eyes widening. He alone still had slightly high-pitched voice, while all the other boys had developed their deeper tones in third year, though maybe it was just the rat in him coming out a little …

"Don't be ridiculous," said James, not unkindly. "She knows so many people in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, she would have to turn me in so they can lock me up in Azkaban!"

This time, they all laughed, though of course, it wasn't entirely a laughing matter. It was one thing to tell his mother about Lupin being a werewolf – several of the teachers also knew this – but them being Animagi was their own little secret, only shared between the Marauders.

Suddenly, there was a little gasp behind them, followed by: "Remus! What are you doing here?"

It was Lily Evans, dressed in torn jeans and huge yellow sweater, her hair in a plait down her back. She looked slightly out of breath as she strode towards them, as though she had just been running, as did the girl right behind her, her best friend Nora Blackthorn. A huge smile was spread across her face at the sight of her fellow Gryffindor prefect, the kind of smile she had never given James before.

It slipped now, as her eyes fell upon the other three boys standing with Remus. She slowed and stopped a few feet away from them, evidently regretting her outburst.

"Lily! Nora," said Remus with a smile and a nod to each of them, stepping forward and away from his friends. He knew she didn't like them much - especially James who tended to goad her and liked to smoke in the common room. "How are you?"

"Fine," she replied, a little reservedly, her eyes flicking to the other Marauders again, who were gazing at her and Nora. Her chin came up and she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Evidently she was torn between being her usual friendly, cheerful self around Remus and Nora, and being stand-offish towards the rest of the Marauders. "What are you doing in Godric's Hollow?"

"Visiting Pr- James," said Remus. "For the summer."

"Oh," said Lily, blushing a little as her eyes flicked to James for a second. "Wow. Well, that's - nice. I thought you were staying with your father?"

"Well, I –"

"Hello, Evans," interrupted Sirius pointedly from behind Remus's back. "How's it going?"

"Oh, um, hello Sirius," said Lily and bit her lip. She knew it was impolite not to address the other three, but after the way James had left her standing in that field ... she wouldn't do it! This wasn't Hogwarts now where they all had classes together and she had to act the model prefect – this was her summer holiday. It wasn't her job to be friendly to people who constantly annoyed her during the summer holiday!

So she ignored Sirius's question and said nothing more, though it was a shame. If it had only been Remus there, she could have happily chatted with him all afternoon, but the rest of his gang she just couldn't stand. Especially that Sirius Black, now eyeing up Nora appreciatively, who crossed her arms tightly across her chest and scowled.

"Stop gawking, Black," she snapped at him.

"You know, with both our names having 'Black' in it, you'd think we were practically a match made in heaven," said Sirius musingly, leaning against a bench, clearly unperturbed by her manner. "You thought so not such a long time ago, remember?"

Nora, unlike Lily, hardly ever blushed and was admirably able to keep her cool even with someone as irritating as Sirius Black. She ignored him and turned to her friend. "Lily, are you done here? We need to find Marlene."

"Already here!" called a breathless voice from behind them before Lily could answer. Marlene, who had apparently got in at the front, was jogging towards them, looking neat as always, in a plain grey dress and her brown hair in a ponytail.

Lily, relieved at the interruption from their uncomfortable conversation, hugged her tightly. "I'm so glad you're here! How was London?"

"Oh, it was lovely! Hi!" beamed the other witch, kissing Nora on the cheek and glancing at the boys slightly confusedly. "Uh, and hello, you three - Mum and I just had lunch at a really nice Indian place a while ago, before she had to go to work. They have these crazy two-headed birds but Mum said they looked like parrots to her, can you believe that? I'll have to show the place to you when we go down to London -"

"Taking a trip, Evans?" interrupted James with a devilish grin. "Can we come?"

Lily felt her blood boil as she whirled to face him. "Will you be lending us your car then, by any chance? Or do you always make people walk to the places they need to go?"

"Oh, this is about Bernie!" said James, a look of mock realisation passing over his face. "I simply can't understand why Mother hired him, he has such bad manners. Practically whisked me off before I could get you on board."

"Oh, shut up, Potter," hissed Lily. "You're not getting funnier by making your sentences longer."

Peter and Remus actually chortled at that along with Nora and Marlene, but James merely pretended to be hurt. "The sting of your poisonous tongue has pierced by heart once again, Lady Evans," he said, pressing a hand to his chest dramatically. "I am slain." And he buckled to his knees on the platform, making Sirius bark with laughter.
"You're mental, Prongs!" he said, yanking his friend back to his feet. "Let's get the ladies and head back to your house –"

"What?" said Marlene in surprise. "We're actually meeting the boys here?"

"No, we're not," said Lily quickly, still red in the face. "We just – we just ran into each other."

"Yes, Lily and I got stuck at the bakery, so we literally did," added Nora. "And then Lily wanted to say hello to Remus. Why we should be going anywhere with you," she said with an icy glare at Sirius, "escapes me entirely."

As Marlene's expression changed from confusion to amusement, a disgustingly confident grin started stretching over Sirius's face. "Well, well, I have a feeling it's going to be an interesting summer," he said in a drawling voice. "Don't you, Prongs? With Evans, Blackthorn and McKinnon around – we might all end up the best of friends. Or more," he said very pointedly, clapping James on the back, who, to Lily's surprise, half-blushed. The other three Marauders grinned.

Lily looked first at Nora, then at Marlene. Did he fancy one of them? But before she could get to the bottom of her thought, James had already composed his face back into his usual arrogant confidence and grabbed one of Sirius's duffel bags. "Let's get going. Before something interesting happens right now, Padfoot."

And leaving the girls to giggle about their absolutely ridiculous nicknames once again, the four boys traipsed away down the platform, James leading.