James absentmindedly stroked Lily's hair as she sat in his lap and talked across the room to Remus. The six of them sat in a circle in the living room. The were sitting contentedly talking enjoyably to each other. Lily sat in James's lap while they lounged on the couch, and Sirius was lying with his head in Emmeline's lap, Remus was sitting cross-legged on a stool, and Peter sat with his head leaning on the wall, listening quietly to their conversation.

Remus yawned, "Well, night all, I think I'm going to go to bed."

"Night." murmured Sirius sleepily.

"Sweet dreams." smiled Lily.

The rest of them said good night, and Remus drifted off to bed.

Peter nodded, "I think I'm going to get some shut-eye myself."

He went off to bed, not saying good night to anybody. Peter had been routinely moody the whole day, worrying the group.

Sirius smiled up at Emmeline, "Want to go to bed?"

Emmeline's hands started shaking, "Y-yes." The two of them walked to bed, hand in hand, looking very nervous.

James kissed Lily's cheek, "Do you want to go to bed?"

"If..." she hesitated, "If you want to."

"No!" started James, "I didn't mean it like that! I just meant...well...not that I don't want to. But I wouldn't want it like that if you didn't want to, though I mean I hope you want to, but then you don't have to, and we can just-"

Lily put her fingers to his lips, "I want to."

"You do?" he sounded surprised.

Lily smiled, which he took as a consent. The two of them walked slowly off to bed, Lily's head on James's shoulder, and the rest...was up to the magic of the night.

--

Lily woke up, stretching, her limbs loving the feel of the limberness. The sun was shining through the window and cast a golden ray across Lily's pillow, bringing out the auburn highlights in her red hair. She felt arms around her. Strong arms, loving arms. She unclasped them then turned around to see James, lying in his boxers, his dark hair more rumpled than ever, his glasses askew. His eyelids were closed over his hazel eyes, and a slight smile adorned his sleepdriven features. He was so close that she could count every single one of his dark lashes.

Magical feelings had erupted inside her that night, and Lily didn't know how to contain herself. Love exuded from every one of her orifices, and for one brief moment she and James had been united and she had never felt like this about anyone.

James stirred. He yawned and stretched, his left hand nearly knocking Lily's head, "Morning, darling."

She smiled, "Morning."

He grinned, "Sleep well?"

She laughed, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, "Not particularly. I was rather...preoccupied."

He kissed her cheek, "Me as well. Want to go to the kitchen for a nosh?"

She nodded, and he swung himself out of bed. He pulled a t-shirt on, and helped Lily out of bed. She pulled on an overlarge shirt that read: ROCK WITH THE WEIRD SISTERS.

The two of them walked sleepily towards the kitchen, hand in hand. When they reached it, they witnessed the scene of Sirius and Emmeline kissing over the sugar bowl. Sirius was wearing baggy jeans, and Emmeline was wearing one of Sirius's t-shirts. They turned around abruptly when James and Lily walked into the kitchen, and Lily felt terrible as if they had just intruded on something very private.

But James was grinning, "Morning, all. It seems you two had a good night."

Sirius walked over to James and the two of them exchanged significant looks with raised eyebrows, "Wonderful."

James grinned, "We're going to leave, so that you two can talk, because I know that you're dying to."

Lily rolled her eyes, "Oh, please! Don't pretend that you guys aren't going to gossip like two old ladies once out of earshot."

James and Sirius didn't answer but walked over to the door of the apartment so they could go on a walk in the fresh morning air.

Emmeline and Lily sat down at the kitchen table with plates of eggs and glasses of orange juice.

"So," started Emmeline, taking a sip of her orange juice, "Tell me everything."

--

"So," started Sirius, "How was it?" he asked, waggling his eyebrows wolfishly.

James grinned, "That's between me and Lily."

Sirius sighed, "I can take a hint. Whatever. I'm not interested in your and Lily's conquests."

James smiled, "Don't pout, Padfoot, it's not too becoming."

Sirius narrowed his eyes, "I'm not pouting, prongsie. I'm just offended that you don't trust me enough to tell me things."

"It's not that I don't trust you," sighed James, "It's just that I don't think Lily would be too pleased if I told you what I percepted of it."

"Ah." said Sirius, "So you think Lily's version of what happened will be different than yours?"

"Yes. That's why I'm not mad that she's going to tell Em and Dorcas everything, but I know she'll be mad if I tell you. And besides, Padfoot, it's not like you were going to tell me anything about you and Em."

Sirius smiled sneakily, "Of course I was!"

James raised an eyebrow, "Were you?"

Sirius laughed and held up his hands in surrender, "Okay, okay! Fine, maybe blokes just aren't supposed to share."

James smiled, "The unsaid is more magical unsaid. And I suppose we just have to live in our own happiness instead of just taking away the magic and secretiveness of each other's."

Sirius raised an eyebrow, "Yeah, ok, prongs. And besides I don't want to tell you about my explorations."

And with this crass comment, the two of them made their way happily back to the apartment, not having told each other anything, but still sharing with each other more than they could have hoped for.

--

Emmeline stretched her legs out from underneath her as she and Sirius sat in the living room.

He smiled calmly at her, "So how are you?"

She smiled back, "Fine, thanks. You?"

"I-" but Sirius could say no more, because the fire in the fireplace had just turned green, and there was a young woman's head sitting in the fire.

"Dorcas!" exclaimed Emmeline.

Dorcas's head grinned, "Hey Em, Hey Sirius! Where are the rest?"

"Lily!" called Emmeline, shock adorning her face, "James, Peter, Remus!"

Sirius was still staring in wonder at Dorcas, "What are you doing here Meadowes?!"

She frowned, "Am I not welcome."

Sirius sighed in exasperation, "You know that's not what I meant! I meant why are you here?"

She scanned their faces, "Let's wait 'till the rest have come."

Lily, James, Peter, and Remus came in, looking confused.

"Dorcas!" screamed Lily dropping to her knees in front of the fire, "What are you doing here?"

The other boys sat on the couch in bemusement, waiting for an explanation.

Dorcas laughed, "Well, I was just getting to that. To be quick: I was living with Marlene for some time, but then Dumbledore contacted me, and I went to Hogwarts. He asked me to come before all of you folk, because he knew you were together and wanted to give you a bit of vacation before he bothered you with his request."

"Which is?" asked Remus, his eyebrows knitted together.

Dorcas chewed her lip, "Well, I can't tell you that here, we could be overheard, but please come to Hogwarts tomorrow morning and you'll learn everything. All I can say is that it's really important and that you definitely should come. Oh, and I really want to see all of you lot in person again, so please please come!"

James studied her face seriously, "Does it have to do with Voldemort?"

Dorcas cringed visibly, "Don't say his name!"

James rolled his eyes, "Dorcas, if it does have to do with him, then you should say it because remember: fear of the name increases fear of the thing itself."

Dorcas's head sighed in the fire, "That's besides the point. I don't need you lecturing me on bravery, James."

Peter leaned forward, "Forget it. Does it?"

Dorcas bit her lip again, "Um...yes."

The rest gasped in awe.

Dorcas raised her eyebrows, "Now who's scared? Well, mates, I have to go."

They all protested.

Lily groaned, "Meadowes! You just got here! Won't you stay?"

Dorcas shook her head, "I'm really sorry! But I'm on a tight schedule, and besides, my knees are killing me!"

Emmeline laughed, "Okay, love. We'll see you tomorrow?"

Dorcas's face lit up, "You're coming?"

Lily grinned, "Well of course dear! Now go, we'll be seeing you soon."

"Bye!" she called, her head spinning in the fire, the dancing flames turning green once again.

The rest of them called goodbye as her soft brown caramel colored hair whipped out of sight.

--

a/n: thanks for reading! now you know the next step! review!! I hope you liked it...I don't think I'll be adding to chapter 15, but I will be updating soon!