AN: New chapter! Hope you enjoy:D
I think this story should be wrapping up soon, I don't want it to be like 50 chapters. But I think i'm definitely going to do a sequel, of seventh year. Do you think that's a good idea?:)x

Sirius kicked the floor with his foot as he headed back to Gryffindor Tower. He was angry and pissed off.
He really thought he liked Marlene, more than any of the other girls. But if it was going to be like this all of the time, was it really worth it?
Sirius could easily find a willing girl, even prettier than Marlene, who would do whatever he said, laugh at all of his jokes. But was that boring?
Did he really want a robot for a girlfriend?
He sighed and pushed his hair away from his face. He now understood everything that James and Lily had gone through. He realised that James must love her a lot to put up with all of the fighting over the years.
So, was he willing to do that for Marlene?
Sirius didn't have a clue.

Remus crossed his arms and uncrossed them. He just couldn't get comfortable. He was lying on his bed facing the ceiling. The covers were tangled and he was too hot, but every time he moved a new spasm of pain passed through his body. He had no way of telling the time, but reckoned it must be around eight. Dinner would be over, and Madam Pomfrey would be up soon to get him to the shack.

He felt bad for shouting at James about Lily…it's not like he'd known what had been going on. But still, he was endlessly embarrassed. Letting a girl fight his battles for him?
He was grateful to Lily for protecting him, but honestly, how was he going to even look at Amos?
Of course, technically Lily had saved his life. If Amos had of told everybody he would have been forced to leave school, become an outcast, never get a proper job.
But because of her, he still had a chance.

James shivered.
He didn't think he'd ever been so cold in all of his sixteen years. He was sat on the banks of the Lake, and would be depressed, if it weren't for the girl sitting beside him.
Lily had her head tucked into his neck, and his arms were tight around her waist. She had used a heating spell on them so their clothes weren't sopping wet, but that didn't do much to help the fact that it was still bloody freezing outside.
So why didn't they go inside?
James smiled. Out here, it was like all of the drama didn't exist. His parents were okay, Marlene and Sirius weren't fighting, Voldemort didn't exist…
Out here by the lake, it was just Lily and he.
"This is our spot." He grinned. Lily looked up.
"What do you mean?"
"Y'know, this is where we are. Where the good things have happened." He glanced around at the oak tree just metres back. "And the bad…but memories none the less."
Lily laughed.
"It's special!" Continued James. "We should mark it…as our territory."
"Going to pee on the tree then?"
James smirked and nudged her shoulder. "Don't ruin the moment."
Lily smiled and stood up, grabbing his hand.
She walked over to the tree and took out her wand.
There were plenty of inscriptions etched onto the bark already. She frowned.
"It's taken."

James shook his head.
"I shall climb to the highest branch and write my love for you on the top of the tree."
"You will break your neck."
"It'll be romantic," James persisted, letting go of Lily and looking for a place to climb. He stuck his foot in a notch in the tree and reached up to the next branch.

Lily stepped back and watched James make slow progress up to the tree. When he reached a branch about 2 metres off the ground, he looked down at Lily.
James's face was pale and his eyes were wide.
"Lily?" He said in a shaky voice.
"Yeah?"
"I've just remembered something."
"What?"
"I'm bloody terrified of heights."
Lily laughed and shook her head. James Potter, everyone…
"You're Quidditch captain!"
"Yeah," James called, his voice quivering. "But i'm safe on a nice magical broom that's holding me up. This is completely different!"
"You're an arse!" She called up.
"This isn't funny!" Moaned James.
"Don't look down then, just keep going."

James rolled his eyes and continued climbing the tree, even slower than before. Lily laughed to herself as she watched him quiver and grumble to himself.
When he finally reached the tallest branch, James settled himself on a sturdy branch and looked down.
Lily made a heart with her fingers and smiled reassuringly. This seemed to give him a burst of energy.
He took his wand out of his pocket and aimed it at the top of the tree.
From where she was, Lily could see what he was writing.
"Nearly finished!" James called down, shaking his hands above his head.

His extra movement proved too much for the old tree to take. The branch was evidently not as sturdy as it had seemed. With a loud crunch, the branch fell to the floor, James coming down along with it.
"AAAAAAAHHHH LILYYYYY!" He screamed.
Lily raised her wand and slowed his fall. James hit the ground and stood up, moaning and wiping leaves off of himself.
"Bloody git, I hate this sodding tree. How ridiculous…" He mumbled on and Lily laughed, moving closer to the tree trunk. She looked up and saw James's message.
Splayed across the wood in terrible handwriting, James had been writing,

"Lily Evans and James Potter officially own this tree and all of it's surrounding land."

Unfortunately, due to his nervousness and untimely fall, James had not succeeded in completing the message. Instead, it said:

"Lil Evans and James Pooter officially own this treee and all of it's-"

"Nice try, good effort." Said Lily, laughing.
James moved to stand beside her.
"Oh whatever." He said, a sad look on his face.
Lily smiled and took his hands, kissing his cheek.
"I love it." She said. "It's got character."
Lily began walking along, pulling him behind her.
"Come on Mr Pooter, you've got a long night ahead of you."

James reluctantly followed her, having completely forgotten about the full moon.
But there it was, rising to the top of the sky as it lit their path back to the castle.

When he left Lily in the common room with an angry looking Marlene, James walked up to the dorm. He was worried that Remus would still be angry with him. Sirius might even be angry about him leaving him at the dinner table. But that short hour with Lily had been worth it all. It really was brilliant, being able to talk to her. He thought that after the funeral tomorrow, he would ask her out properly. They could finally go to Hogsmeade. James smiled.

He pushed open the door and found Peter and Sirius seated around the room.
"Hullo." Said James somewhat sheepishly.
Sirius looked moody, and ignored James completely.
And Peter didn't seem to understand what was wrong at all, grinning widely at him.
"Moony already down there?"
Peter nodded. "Yep, it's 10 now…we should go soon."
"Alright." He said, sitting down on the edge of his bed. "Padfoot?"
Sirius looked up.
"What?"
"Are you okay?"
Sirius scoffed. "Yes. Why the bloody hell wouldn't I be?"
"Well…because of Marlene."
He rolled his eyes. "Minor tiff. I don't care."
James nodded, deciding to leave it at that. Though he had a feeling that Sirius wasn't being completely truthful.
"Right." Said Sirius, standing up and stretching his arms out. "Lets go."

Lily sat in the armchair right beside the fire, still shivering slightly.
"Where are Hestia and Alice?"
Marlene shrugged.
"Alice is probably with Frank. Haven't a clue about Hestia."
Lily could see that Marlene was upset, but she was trying her best to hide it.
"Alright?"
Marlene looked into the fire.
"Yes…I'm okay."
"What happened with you and Sirius?"
Marlene sighed and shook her blonde hair over one shoulder.
"I honestly don't know. I mean, it was never anything, well, serious. But he started acting strangely because he'd heard I'd kissed another boy. You know that hufflepuff seventh year? Adam Gilbert?"
Lily nodded.
"Yeah, well it all went from there. I don't know why he kicked up such a fuss. Everyone knows he goes to the astronomy tower almost every Wednesday night with that Caitlin Mellet."
Lily nodded again.
She didn't say it, but it sounded to her like Sirius was jealous. Maybe he really liked Marlene?

"You should talk to him." She said.
Marlene laughed.
"No offence, I don't think you're the best person to get advice from. I mean, you and James had the biggest feud in Hogwarts history!"
"True…" She agreed. "But it's all worked out now." Lily grinned.

"Has he asked you out yet? Like, are you his girlfriend?"
That made her smile falter. He hadn't asked her…but for a moment, the very thought scared her a little bit.
If she was honest, Lily really didn't know James that well.
They'd jumped from enemies to being an item, without pausing to be friends first.
"No, he hasn't." She said slowly. "But, I think maybe…we should take it slow."
"Like you don't want to be in a relationship with him?"
Lily paused, and then shook her head.
"No. I mean; I like hanging out with him like we are right now. But I think we should take the time to be friends first. Just friends."
Lily turned back to the fire, wondering if she had said the wrong thing.

Just then, James, Sirius and Peter descended from the stairs. Lily saw James smile at her and he blew a kiss.
Lily smiled awkwardly and turned away. Marlene had her eyes determinedly cast downwards, refusing to acknowledge Sirius.