A new chapter! I did it! It was hard when I have so many assignments to do… so I dropped the assignments and wrote this! Ooops, but never mind, I'm enjoying this too much!

Thanks for all the reviews on the last chapter! I must be doing something right because I get more reviews each time! Keep them coming – it motivates me to write more!

Hope you enjoy this chapter and don't forget to review…

7: Letters and Distractions

Dear Claire,

Hey, thanks for your letter the other week, it sounds like you're having a really great time.

This isn't easy for me to talk about but I thought you ought to know… my parents were attacked two days ago. I think it was a death eater attack but I don't know yet and to be honest at the moment I couldn't care less because I'm so worried about my parents. They're both still in a critical condition and neither of them have woken up.

But look, don't worry about me… Merlin, this isn't easy for me to say either… James is looking after me. Yes, James as in James Potter. I'm staying at his house; I had to get away from Petunia. He offered when he saw what a total cow she is and in the delirious state that I was, I accepted. He's being quite sweet though and I'm not feeling the urge to hex him into next year so don't worry he should still be in one piece by the start of term. My sanity, however, is another matter…

All my love,

Lily

Lily put her quill down and skimmed her eyes across the parchment, briefly reading the letter she had just written. She sighed slightly but seemed satisfied and pulled two other pieces of parchment towards her before neatly copying out the letter twice more and addressing them one to each of her best friends.

She walked over to the window where James's owl perched, watching her. She carefully tied the letters to his leg and made sure he understood the three different destinations they were to be delivered to before watching him fly off into the sunrise.

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Later that day, when Lily returned from the hospital she shook James away from her and shut herself in her room collapsing tiredly on the bed and shutting her eyes. She was just drifting off into a light sleep when she heard a loud squawk and lifted her head to see that James's owl had returned and was perched innocently on the dresser.

Lily jumped to her feet and undid the letters tied to the owl's leg. Once relieved of his burden, the owl spread his wings as if stretching and then turned his wide eyes towards Lily, watching as she began to read the letters and receiving a few gentle strokes of his feathers as she did so.

Lily,

Babe, I don't know what to say. I nearly cried when I read your letter, your parents are the sweetest people I know. I'm sure they will be okay, keep your chin up!

As for the second – er – development, I didn't see that coming! He sounds like he's treating you alright though but if he's anything but sweet towards you I'll be over there to rip his head off. I'm not joking, Lily if you need me I'll drop this holiday I don't care if my parents ground me for the rest of my mortal life.

I'm here for you.

Lots of love,

Clare

Dear Lily,

I want to give you a big hug. Can you forgive me for not being there for you? Although it sounds like James is your current friend substitute (how on earth did that happen, by the way?!), make sure he looks after you like we all would.

I'm sure your parents will be okay; they're tough cookies.

Owl me anytime you need me,

Hannah

Lils,

You're at James Potter's house?!

You'll have to excuse me I'm finding it hard to be capable of words right now…

Send my best wishes and get well soon vibes to your parents, you know they'll work!

Love you lots like jelly tots,

Jen

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Lily rubbed her eyes and got tiredly to her feet, blinking in the dusk light that was now gracing the room. She crossed to the door before turning slightly and holding out her arm to which the owl came silently. Stroking his feathers absentmindedly once more she made her way downstairs, her footsteps sounding painfully loud in the silence.

She paused in the entrance hall, suddenly realising that she had no idea where James could be in this huge house. Lily looked down at the owl still perched on her arm and whispered, "Do you know where he is?" the owl merely continued to look at her, blinking once just as Lily heard the faint sound of laughter reach her ears.

She smiled slightly and walked towards the door to the kitchen, stopping just outside for a second before pushing the door open slowly. The voices instantly ceased and Lily stepped into the kitchen properly, looking around to reveal James who was leaning back in his chair comfortably with his legs propped up on the table and Sirius, who was sitting next to him in a similar position, looking just as at ease as his friend.

"Hey, Lily." Said James with a smile which, for reasons unknown to Lily, made Sirius snort with suppressed laughter. James shot him a look and he ceased.

For some reason Lily instantly felt very uncomfortable, "Um, your owl came back… thank you for letting me borrow him."

"No problem." James made a clucking sound with his mouth and his owl flew over to him and perched on his shoulder.

Lily felt her eyes being drawn back to Sirius who was just sitting so comfortably in the Potter's kitchen, slumped across the chair and table as if he owned the place. She nearly jumped when Sirius realised she had been looking at him and made eye contact with her.

"Hello, Lily." He said with a slightly amused smile playing on the corner of his lips.

"Hello." She replied politely but then instantly felt uncomfortable again, she didn't know Sirius at all, and she had no idea what to say to him.

"Sirius just popped round for a bit of company." Offered James by a means of explanation. "Pull up a chair, Lily." He added, gesturing to the other chairs around the table.

"Yeah, that and the chance to sample some of your mother's fantastic cooking." Said Sirius as Lily slid into the chair next to James, "but it seems I chose the wrong time to come!"

"Why?" Asked Lily, looking between the boys, "Where is she?"

"Work." Answered James shortly, "my dad too."

"Shame." Said Sirius easily, "I was really looking forward to a good old chat."

James stuck his tongue out at Sirius childishly and Sirius simply laughed, leaning back even further in his chair and stretching his arms up.

"Do you like the house, Lily?" Asked Sirius suddenly making Lily start.

"Oh – yes, it's lovely… if not a bit too big." She replied to Sirius but her gaze quickly turned on James when he let out a short laugh.

"You get used to it."

Sirius snorted, "What are you talking about – you grew up here! You know it like the back of your hand."

"Well yeah…" Agreed James, "But you've got to know it pretty well by now too."

"It's one of my many talents."

"One of your many talents is knowing the way round the Potter household?" James chuckled.

"It does seem to be a rare talent." Piped up Lily, "You'd need a sniffer dog to find things in this place."

"Woof." Said Sirius innocently which promptly sent James into peals of uncontrollable laughter.

"What?" Asked Lily, confused.

She watched as James doubled over and struggled to control his laughter.

"Did I say something?" Asked Sirius, his face still a perfect picture of innocence.

This only seemed to make James laugh harder and Lily looked on utterly confused as Sirius cracked a smile and whacked James on the head.

"Shut up you plonk." He grinned.

James lifted his head, wheezing slightly through the bouts of laughter that still escaped his mouth. It was at this point that the kitchen door opened and James's parents walked in.

"James! What on earth…" Said his mother looking at him in astonishment; Lily supposed that was due to the tears of mirth now running down James's cheeks.

"Sirius-" James managed to gasp out.

"Sirius Black, what have you done?" Demanded Mrs Potter, now turning on the other boy in the kitchen.

"Nothing, Mrs P!" Replied Sirius indignantly, correctly interpreting her unspoken assumption that he had hexed her son.

James finally managed to stop laughing and grinned at Sirius who simply shook his head in despair at his friend.

"You two are going to be the death of me." Declared Mrs Potter before turning slightly and seeming to notice Lily's presence for the first time, "Hello, Lily, I hope these boys aren't traumatising you too much?"

"No, it's okay, Mrs Potter." She replied, watching James wipe the tears away from his face out of the corner of her eye and stifling a smile.

"Why don't you boys show Lily the games room?" Suggested Mr Potter.

"Sure." Said James as he got to his feet, "Come along children."

He headed out of the kitchen with Sirius hot on his heels complaining, "James I resent you calling me a child – I'm only two months younger than you…"

Their voices trailed off as the door swung shut and Lily realised, too late, that she hadn't risen from her chair. Mrs Potter smiled knowingly at her.

"They can be a bit much sometimes can't they? Especially when they're together." She chuckled affectionately, "Don't worry dear, they may be a little loud but they've both got hearts of gold."

Lily smiled slightly in reply as she got to her feet and made to follow the boys, "Thanks, Mrs Potter."

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"Sirius! You cheated!"

"Shoot me."

Sirius grinned wickedly at James who only groaned dramatically in response.

The three of them were sprawled on a large rug in the middle of the games room currently engrossed in a very complex wizarding board game. Lily had long since given up trying to understand the rules and instead accepted the fact that there was no way she could win anyway because Sirius kept cheating. Not that she realised he was cheating when he did though, because she didn't understand the rules.

"Lily! Back me up!" Demanded James drawing the red-head's attention.

"Huh?" She responded.

"Bad luck, James, the girl's not paying attention."

"Back me up," James said again, ignoring Sirius, "He's cheating!"

Lily shrugged, "He probably is."

"Ha!"

"She said probably, James." Sirius pointed out, grinning wickedly.

"Lily!" James, whined, actually whined.

Lily suddenly giggled, surprising herself, "How am I supposed to tell? I don't get the rules of this stupid game."

"The world as we know it has come to an end." James raised his arms theatrically.

"Don't be a sap, James." Snorted Sirius and whacked him on the head for the second time that night.

"Ow!"

"You deserved that."

"No I didn't!"

"Yes you did."

"No I-"

"Shut up!" Interrupted Lily, attempting to look stern but failing with an outburst of giggles, "You are both insane." She shook her head.

"Probably." Said Sirius instantly, "So we're agreed then? Game over and I win."

"Urgh." Managed James, "You are impossible."

"Probably."

Lily stretched yawning and then stood up, drawing the attention of both boys to her.

"Well thanks for an entertaining evening, but I'm going to go to bed now."

"Goodbye, Lily… we'll miss you…" Said Sirius, sniffing dramatically and wiping a fake tear away from the corner of his eye.

Lily giggled, "You're mad."

"There's no hope for him," Responded James, earning himself another whack to the head, "Ouch! Honestly, Sirius… Night Lily."

"Goodnight."

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It was only after she had slipped into the comfortable bed upstairs when she realised that intentionally or not… probably intentionally, she thought to herself, James and Sirius had managed to keep her distracted and amused for most of the night. More importantly, her thoughts had not strayed to her parents for hours consequently meaning that she had been more relaxed than she had been in days. James is so scheming; she thought as she pulled the covers up to her chin and fell asleep with a small smile on her face.