If Lily had to rate the rest of her morning on a scale from one ten, she would give it about a seven (seven point five if she was feeling extremely generous). She and James bantered back and forth all the way to the park, but it wasn't hostile banter, it was really quite pleasant (considering the elements and certain circumstances she had been unknowingly forced into). She was almost having fun. (Almost.) And if it couldn't quite be classified as fun, she might call it at least civil.

"Where do you suppose they've gone to?" Lily leaned against the fence surrounding the park and craned her neck for signs of Maggie and Sirius.

James put his hands in his pockets, then quickly removed them (hoping Lily may want to spontaneously hold his hand, but of course this was much more than wishful thinking). He shrugged. "Knowing Sirius, probably eating."

"Ice cream?" Lily asked, spotting a small vendor across the park. Even if they weren't there, she was up for a spot of ice cream.

The two began to walk towards it when a great black dog came bounding in front of their path.

"Oh my..." Lily's eyes widened at the size of the dog (which should have been classified as more of a wolf). She laughed when the dog began excitedly tuning around in circles and then jumped up onto it's hind legs as if showing off. "Well aren't you sweet!"

James had to restrain his eye roll (for it would be much too Remus-esque), and quickly looked around the vicinity for a distraction.

"There's Maggie," he pointed to no avail. Lily was now scratching behind the dog's ears. Before it could roll over onto it's belly, James tried again, "We should go—that thing could be ridden with disease, it doesn't have a collar or tags."

The dog barked loudly and jumped up to lick Lily's face.

"Oh, he seems all right," she grinned at the pooch. "Aren't you? You're certainly handsome enough."

The dog barked excitedly as if it were answering her.

"Smart, too," Lily ran her hand up and down it's black shaggy fur.

James brought a hand to his face and rubbed his eyes. He would never hear the end of this.

"Hey," Maggie appeared beside James. She was carrying two ice cream cones. "Did you see where Sirius has gone off to?"

"Can't say that I have," James said through gritted teeth.

"Where did you get those?" Lily asked, looking at the ice cream cones.

Maggie motioned to the ice cream kiosk. "There, why?"

"Please tell me you brought Muggle money and didn't confound him," Lily narrowed her eyes as Maggie's expression turned to one of guilt. "Maggie, I have money! You couldn't have waited five minutes for me to—"

"I'm sorry, okay?" Maggie sighed, and she looked sincere. "It was Sirius, anyway. He's too damn persuasive..."

Lily breathed out. "I'm going to smack him."

"I guarantee I will smack him harder," James guaranteed. "Don't turn around."

Lily did turn around and as soon as she realized the dog was gone, she saw Sirius coming out from behind a tree.

"What the hell were you doing?" Maggie demanded. "Your ice cream is melting all over my hand."

"Want me to lick it off for you?" Sirius asked as he took his cone out of her hand and winked quite seductively.

Lily wrinkled her nose. "If I weren't so disgusted by that comment, my fist would have already found the side of your face. Lucky you. Can I have a word with you, Maggie? Over there."

James waited until Lily dragged Maggie away (to no doubt lecture her more about the legality of her actions) to round on Sirius.

"Are you out of your fucking mind?"

Sirius raised an eyebrow. "About what?"

"You bloody know what! What if—"

"Since when have there ever been 'what ifs,' Prongs? When did you become so cautious? We're seventeen—we have plenty of time to be old and boring."

"Maybe I grew up Sirius." James said bluntly. "Maybe I don't want to be a dickhead to Lily anymore. But if you want to, be my guest. Nothing's stopping you." He began to walk away, disregarding the fact that his decision to be gentlemanly to Lily really had nothing to do with Sirius's little stunt (however it was still relevant enough to bring up).

Sirius ran a hand through his hair. "James, your dad—"

"This has nothing to do with my father!" James snapped. He glared at Sirius for a moment before he walked away.

Sirius sighed. He knew for a fact that this had everything to do with James's father, and he didn't have a clue what to do about it.

-...-

Damn Sirius. Damn Sirius and his damn ability to know exactly what he was thinking even when he tried his best to cover it up. Damn damn damn.

Amidst his thoughts, James vaguely recognized someone sit down beside him and begin speaking to him.

"Er—sorry, repeat that?"

Lily wore a smile. "I don't quite know how to say this, but you've just sat in bird leavings."

James closed his eyes. "Fantastic."

She half-laughed. "Stand and I'll fix you up...there. Much better,"

"Thank you," James sat back down on the wooden bench beside her. They were off to the side of the park under a rather tall tree, and had I not been the perfect spot for birds to nest, it would have made quite a romantic location.

Lily considered him as he was enveloped in his thoughts once more. It was strange seeing him like this. On a normal occasion (normal being quite a relative term), he wouldn't pass up the opportunity to be alone with her like this, and now he wasn't even engaging in conversation. She made up her mind and got to her feet.

"Let's go," she took his arm with her hand and pulled him to his feet.

He looked at her if he were just seeing her for the first time. He let out the most intelligible thing his mind could muster: "Huh?"

Lily smiled empathetically. "You look like you could use some ice cream."

-...-

Maggie breathed out, her hands on her hips. Lily had a point, she knew that. That was the problem: Lily always had a valid point. She was angry, Maggie knew that much. But again, Lily was almost always angry. It was the red headed genes—she would bet anything on it. Why couldn't her father have been exotic, or something? Iraticate the temper alltogether and spare Maggie the whiplash.

But, no. That was unfair. Lily had the right to be mad. In fact, Maggie had practically given her the right on a silver platter.

Interrupting her train of thought was someone's hands wrapping around her waist.

"Can you just not?" Maggie heatedly turned around and came face to face with Sirius. She looked behind him. "What if Lily had seen—?"

Sirius rolled his eyes. "What is it with you Potter folk and secrecy?" He took both of her hands in his. "If I want to hug you, Maggie, you should give me that full right, and all related rights. So I can do this..." He kissed her. "...and this..." He burried his face in her neck.

She pushed him away. "Our deal was no one finds out, Sirius, and that's a bit hard when you're snogging me in the middle of a public park!"

"The loo, then?"

Maggie grinned and tapped his nose. "You know just what a girl likes."