Chapter 8: The Divine Secrets of the Marauder Brotherhood

"Lily, dear, may I come in" called the gentle voice of Lizzie Potter.

Lily was in the process of combing her red, fiery hair. She walked to the door and opened it, allowing Lizzie to walk in.

"Good Morning, Mrs. Potter."

"Please, call me Elizabeth or Lizzie. Mrs. Potter was my mother-in-law."

"It will take some getting used to, but I'll try." replied Lily honestly.

"Good girl. Now, dear I just wanted to check up on you and see how you were settling in. I know yesterday was a lot to take in." Lizzie said as she looked upon Lily with motherly affection. She really was as beautiful as James had described her.

"I am doing alright," Lily lied. She felt a constant pain in her chest, like her heart was made of metal.

"I know I could never replace the relationship you had with your mother but I want you to know that I am here, if you want to talk. Us women need to stick together."

Lily felt her throat constrict a bit at the reminder that she was an orphan now. She nodded her understanding to Lizzie, who must have guessed how Lily felt for she pulled her into a hug.

"Tobias and I are about to leave for work. You are welcome to do whatever you want and to use whatever you please. We just ask that you don't leave the grounds. The boys will be here too, and just call Effie if you need anything. Also I'm going to get you some clothes today. Would you prefer muggle clothes or wizarding robes, dear?"

"Thank you Mrs. Po- Lizzie, either is fine."

"Floo or owl if you need anything, and if the boys give you any trouble, I've heard you a great at the stinging hex." Lizzie winked and left Lily to continue getting ready for the day before her.

Lily giggled. The Potters were so care free, despite their age. Lily started to think of what she could do. Being her second morning consciously awake at the Potter mansion, she still had a lot of exploring to do.

"Lillllyyyyy, tell Moony that a flying motorcycle is not a dumb idea," Sirius said loudly barging into her room.

"It is a dumb idea Sirius, and it's illegal," interjected Lily.

"Padfoot, you cant just barge in here like that. What if Lily wasn't decent," cried James, coming in after him.

"Well she was decent. Plus, Moony hurt my feelings".

"Sorry Lily, I'll keep them both on a shorter leash," Remus added.

"It's fine. I may just have to charm the door to not let those two in anymore" Lily joked.

"So, Lily, What were you planning to do today?" James asked nervously, hoping she wanted to spend time with him (and his friends, of course).

"I was hoping I could bake. It always makes me feel better."

"The kitchen is all stocked up. Effie can help you find what you need." James replied. "If you get bored or something, come find us. We will be outside by the pool."

"You have a pool?" Lily asked.

"Two actually" Remus chimed in.

"I love swimming, the baking can wait. You three don't mind if I join you?"

"None at all, Red" Sirius said.

"Red?" Lily replied while arching her eyebrows at the boy in front of her.

"Yea, got a problem with it. We all have nicknames, so why leave you out?"

"Do you have a bathing suit, Lily?" James asked.

"I do actually. Alice got me one for my birthday and it was still in my trunk, when…things happened. Anyways, nothing in there was damaged. Let me just change and get something to eat."

"Just meet us in the kitchen, Lily. If I don't get these two fed in time, they might eat each other" Remus joked.

Lily laughed. She headed to her trunk and rummaged through it, until she found the swimsuit. Lily felt a little nervous, while putting it on. She looked at herself in the mirror and thought, "This is a little too revealing, but it's all I have".

She also put on the cover dress that Alice got her. In the back of her mind she knew she should have written to her by now. But she didn't know how to tell her everything that happened in a letter. Part of her also wasn't ready to talk about it yet, and telling Alice would make it too real. Lily pushed all these thoughts away and headed downstairs to join the boys for breakfast.

"So what's for breakfast?" asked Lily as she walked into the kitchen.

"Effie can whip up anything you want," Remus answered, seeing how James and Sirius had more food in their mouths than could fit in there.

"Charming guys, real charming. If only your fan club could see you now." Lily said, slightly disgusted.

James managed to swallow his food and said, "what fans, those crazy birds are stalkers. You know once they kidnapped Padfoot." James laughed. "If only they knew about him and –" James shut up when Remus kicked him under the table giving him a glare.

"What about Black? Is he dating someone?" Lily asked intrigued.

"Marauder's secret, love" Sirius replied, smirking.

"Don't call me love." "Don't call her love." James and Lily said at the same time.

"Seems like everyone is touchy today"

"Shut up and eat you food, Paddy." Remus said, while patting Sirius on the back.

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Once they were all fed, they headed out to the pool. Lily's jaw dropped as she took in the sight before her. She was waiting to see a pool, but what stood before her was a tropical paradise.

The boys quickly took their shirts off and jumped into the pool. As Lily stood and watched them, she finally understood why so many girls were madly in love with the Marauders. They really were fine specimens of the male gender. Quiditch had done its magic in sculpting the bodies of James and Sirius. Lily realized that she was staring at James' well-toned chest and looked away suddenly. Lily became nervous about revealing her bathing suit.

"Come on, Lils, jump in. It's not that cold." James shouted to her.

Lily nervously pulled off her cover up dress to reveal a two-piece, red bikini. The top half was in a halter style with a plunging neckline, with a black and white striped design on the straps that went around her neck and her bust. The bottom had the same pattern on the band that went around her hips.

James' jaw was practically on the floor. He was about to hyperventilate. He couldn't take his eyes off her. He had never seen so much of her body naked. Sirius wolf whistled at Lily, causing James to punch him in the shoulder playfully. Lily not wanting them to see her blush at James' reaction dived into the pool.

"Let's play a game!" Sirius shouted.

"Fine, Padfoot. What game". Remus said in an exasperated tone. He always got a little abrasive the closer the full moon got.

"Why do you take that tone with me Moony? Why don't you love me, Moony?" Sirius said in a dramatic tone.

"Fine, Padfoot. What do you want to play?" Remus said in a fake peppy tone.

"How about 20 Questions?" Lily offered.

"That sounds boring, Red." Sirius said as he rolled his eyes.

"Well, Sirius, if the game is beneath you, then by all means stay bored. I can very easily just float around or even accio a book to read."

"Fine, fine. We can play."

"Lily, you don't want to play any game Marauder style. Things usually get out of hand." James said.

"I can take care of myself, James." Lily rolled her eyes at him.

"Okay Lily. The rules are we cast a truth telling charm over all of us. But if you ask us official Marauder secrets we can't answer them" Remus said.

"You boys think you are so mysterious," Lily rebutted. "Besides, I know some of your secrets".

"What!" All three Marauders shouted at the same time.

"Fine, Lily. I'll go first. What is a Marauder secret that you know?" Sirius asked.

Lily could feel the tingling of the truth telling charm that Remus casted over all of them.

"I know that Remus is a werewolf and that's why you guys call him Moony."

"How do you know?" Remus asked in a quiet voice.

"You kept going to 'visit your sick mother'. She only got sick during full moons, you were always sick, and James kept mentioning your 'fury little problem'. I added two plus two."

"Does anyone else know?" Remus asked again.

"It wasn't my secret to tell. I think Snape might have figured it out. He asked me some weird questions towards the end of fifth year. Remus, I want you to know I've never thought of you any differently. You are one of the best humans I know and I know you wouldn't intentionally harm anyone. You have one of the kindest hearts around."

The boys could feel their hearts swell up with affection for Lily. Remus moved closer to Lily and gave her a tight hug.

"Thank you, Lily. Thank you." he whispered.

"My turn, I guess" Lily said. "Um, let us lighten things up a bit. James, how many girls have you kissed?" Lily asked genuinely curious.

Sirius and Remus looked at each other and busted out laughing. James turned bright read and mumbled something that no one could hear.

"Sorry didn't catch that" Lily replied confused.

James cleared his throat and looked Lily in the eyes and said "None."

"Wait, What! What about all those rumors and all those girls that claimed that you had your way with them in the broom cupboards at Hogwarts?"

"None of them true" James stated.

"You're not gay, are you? There would be nothing wrong with that, just a lot of disappointed girls at Hogwarts. And if you are and needed a beard, I would have agreed to date you a long time ago." Lily babbled nervously.

"No, Lily. I am not gay." James said.

"Then, why?" Lily asked. She wasn't sure she wanted to know the answer.

"I wanted my first kiss to be with the perfect girl. I found the girl, now I'm just waiting for her to realize we are made for each other."

Lily wasn't sure how to respond to that other than to blush. She knew that James was infatuated with her, but she didn't know that he was waiting for her.

"Okay, Padfoot, if you could only save Moony or Me, who would you choose?" James said, wanting to divert the conversation away from his lack of a love life.

"Come on Prongsie, that's not fair" Sirius whined.

"Yea, Padfoot, answer the question." Remus teased.

"If I had to choose, and I am not choosing, I'd say Prongs." Sirius said with a sigh.

"Ohhh, thanks a lot Padfoot" Remus joked.

"Hey, Blame Prongs, he made me choose." Sirius replied while throwing his hands up.

And so the game continued for several rounds, until it was once again Lily's turn.

"Sirius, you don't actually have to answer this one, but why do the Potters call you their son?" Lily questioned.

"It's fine. I'm surprised you hadn't asked earlier. As you know I come from the Nobel house of Black. I was never like them, even as I child. I didn't agree with some of the things they tried to teach me. They are really into the dark arts and they hate all things muggles. The lot of them have already joined Voldemort, even Regulus. Back in first year, when I got sorted into Gryffindor, was when I really became the family disappointment. My mother sent me a letter that was cursed and it caused me to grow boils all over my hands. Prongs told everyone it was a duel between us gone wrong. You don't know what it is like having your family hate you. Summer before fifth year I couldn't take the abuse anymore and I left. I came here and the Potters took me in. It was only meant to be for a while, but they instantly took me in like a son. They love me like a son. So, as far as we are all concerned, they are my parents."

Lily felt her throat tighten as she listened to Sirius' story. Sensing that their friend needed comforting, Remus and James patted Sirius on the back.

"I'm sorry for asking."

"It's fine, really. Just, you know keep it to yourself."

Lily was reminded of just how alone she really was. Her family was gone.

"I'm going to go back to my room" Lily said, suddenly feeling like she needed to be alone.

"Lily" James called loudly after her, but it was too late. She was already running back to the house.

XXX XXX

It must have been several hours later, when Lily was able to stop crying. She hadn't noticed how hungry she was. She didn't know what time it was, but judging by the light outside it must have been some time in the evening. The Potter Mansion seemed so quite to Lily. Upon hearing her stomach rumble, she decided to go down to the kitchen and get something to eat.

When Lily stepped out of her room, she could see James speaking with his mother in his bedroom. She didn't mean to spy on them, but James was really angry. Lily didn't know what could make James yell at his mother like that.

"For how long?" James asked in a tight tone.

"We don't know, honey. You know we never know how these things work out". Lizzie replied to her son in a soothing voice.

"When are you both leaving?"

"Tonight. The sooner your father and I finish this mission the better it will be. The information is sensitive and highly needed."

James yelled in frustration. He eventually managed to sit on his bed next to his mother. She opened his arms to him and he let his mother embrace him like did when he was child.

"I just don't know what I'd do if I lost you or dad. I'd be lost without you. I think Lily is so brave for even getting out of bed. I know I'd be worse off than her."

"You really care about her, don't you honey?"

"I love her mom. I do."

"She will see it one day. One day she will look past who she thinks you are and she will see the great, brave, generous man that I raised."

"Promise you will both be careful and that you will write when you can. And promise to take care of each other. The missions you and dad go on only get more and more dangerous. You aren't as young as you used to be."

"I promise darling. Everything we do is for you. We are fighting to leave a safer world for you. You mean so much to us and your father and I love you very much. I should go tell your brother that we are leaving."

"Wait, mummy. Stay with me a little bit longer" James pleaded while holding onto his mother tightly. He was scared he might loose them. "I'd be lost without you and dad." James whispered.

Lily realized that she just witnessed a private moment. She decided to continue on her way to the kitchen, her heart feeling sorrow for James.

XXX XXX

"What's that smell?" James asked, walking into the kitchen.

"Chocolate Chip, blueberry, and banana nut muffins." Lily replied. When she got to the kitchen she decided to bake, after eating a light snack. Her face had specks of flour over it, and her apron was covered in the remnants of ingredients.

"Mind if I have one, when they are done?"

"Not at all. I made enough to feed an army. What brings you down here? Shouldn't you be wreaking havoc with Sirius or something?"

"I'll have you know, Lily, that I'm a growing man. Therefore, I need constant nourishment. As for Padfoot, he is currently conspiring with Remus" James said, knowing all to well what Sirius and Remus were up to.

"You guys are very close, aren't you?"

"Yup, we are brothers, all of us. We look out for one another."

"It's special."

"Don't make it sound girly. We are men." James replied laughing. "By the way, my mum stopped by. She dropt off some clothes and things for you in your room."

"Ohhh, that's really nice of her. Is she still here so I can thank her?"

"Um no, my dad and her left on an urgent mission. They don't know for how long and they never tell me where they are or what they are doing."

"I'm sorry James. It must be hard for you not being able to know that" Lily reached out to him and squeezed his hand. James squeezed back.

"Can I have a muffin now?"

"They haven't finished cooling off, but go ahead."

"Are you just going to give me what I want because you feel bad for me?"

"Yea, pretty much" Lily admitted. She handed him a chocolate chip muffin, his favorite.

"Lily?" James asked tentatively.

"hmm." Lily replied as she took the next batch of muffins out of the magical oven. It wasn't really an oven, not like a muggle one at least. It had taken Lily a while to figure out how to use it, but she wasn't the brightest witch her age for nothing.

"Can I hug you, please?"

Lily looked up at him. She had never seen such sadness in his eyes. She moved closer to him and put her arms around him. Her head rested close to his heart and she could hear its rhythmic beating. James rested his chin on the top of her head and his arms went around her shoulder, pulling her closer to him. They just stood there in the middle of the kitchen holding one another.

XXX XXX

That night Lily felt the emptiness of the Potter mansion. It was just the Marauders, Effie and herself. She has never felt such loneliness at her family home. Thinking about her parents brought about the pain that came along with her grief. Lily felt the urge to cry and she realized that she didn't want to be alone. She pulled out her inner Gryffindor and decided to go to James in his room. She quietly opened his bedroom door. The room was dark, and she could vaguely make out James' body lying in his bed.

"James" Lily whispered. James didn't even stir.

Lily decided to walk towards his bed to shake him awake. When she was nearing his bed she tripped on something on the floor. The object began to yell loudly, which caused Lily to scream, which caused James to wake up and pull out his wand.

"Lily, stop yelling you daft cow, it's just me" Sirius said once his heart calmed down.

"Damn you, Sirius Black. You scared me half to death. What are you doing here anyway?"

"I could ask you the same question, Red." Sirius replied with a smirk.

Remus, being oh so ever the calm one, cast the Lumos charm so that they had some light.

"Is everything alright, Lily?" James asked, just realizing that the girl of his dreams willingly came into his room in the dead of night.

"I didn't want to be alone tonight and so I came in here for some company". Lily blushed while talking. It just occurred to her how this might look to someone. "So there, Black. Why are you and Remus sleeping on the floor next to James' bed?"

"Whenever Mum and Dad go on Missions, we don't like how empty the house feels. So I come her and sleep." Sirius said while blushing as well. "You have a problem with my sensitive side?" Sirius replied to Lily's giggle.

"What about you, Remus?"

"I don't like being left out" Remus said while not looking at Lily in the eyes. Lily sensed that that wasn't the whole truth but she lit it slide.

Lily felt awkward just standing there with three teenage boys just looking at her.

"James, do you mind if I sleep in here with you guys tonight?"

"Of course I don't mind Lils, here take my bed" James immediately jumped out of his bed. "You can take the bed and I'll take the couch."

"I can't let you do that James, it's your bed. You take the bed and I'll take the couch."

"What kind of gentleman would I be if I let you do that?"

"The kind that you have always been, which is none. I'm a big girl James. I'll take the couch."

"Lily, just take the bed." James pleaded with her.

"Lily, just take the damn bed so that some of us can get some sleep." Sirius shouted in a frustrated tone. Anyone who knew Lily knew just how stubborn she could be in. In the end, they compromised. Both Lily and James would take the bed. Lily climbed in awkwardly feeling uneasy about spending the night with James Potter in his bed.

Lily couldn't help but notice just how much his bed carried his scent. She inhaled deeply. It was coming from all around her, including the boy next to her. James had turned his head to look at Lily, but sleep quickly overtook him.

Once Lily was sure he was sleep, she took of his glasses and placed them on the nightstand closest to her. When she settled back, James stirred in his slumber and wrapped his arms around her. Lily realized that she felt safe and a lot less lonely. She closed her eyes and allowed sleep to consume her. Her last thoughts of how little she actually knew about the boys before her.