A/N- Hello, all! I've had some time on my hands this weekend and I have just finished with the new chapter. It's a little long, but I guess I just had a lot to say. I hope you all enjoy it!

Chapter Three: Unexpected Pleasantries

James woke up on Thursday at eight-thirty. He lifted his eye lids groggily and shoved his glasses on his head. His stomach growled menacingly at him.

"Shut it, you," he told it. He dragged his feet out of bed and stumbled down to the kitchen. He got to the counter and saw a piece of parchment on it.

Sent away on Auror business. Be back Tuesday at the absolute latest.

Love,

Mum

"Constance!" James called out to the seemingly empty kitchen. There was a pop and a small house elf stood on the counter before him.

"Yes, Master Potter. What is it you require?" she said in a shaky voice.

"Constance, it's James. Would you mind making me an omelet?" he asked, batting his eyes at her.

"It's not a problem, Master Po-J-James," Constance stammered. James gave her a grateful smile and within a few minutes, he was digging into his own meal.

"This is the best omelet you have ever made," he told the old house elf, honestly.

Her ears pricked up, "Why thank you, good Master. It is a house elf's duty to please."

"You are the best house elf ever them, Constance," he praised. The elf blushed and replied, "If that is all the Master is needing, Constance must go and finish cleaning the Mistress's house."

"You may go thanks."

James trudged back up to his room and sat down. He did not have to meet with his fellow Marauders until noon at Diagon Alley. If he got ready now, he could grab some fire whiskey at the Leaky Cauldron before the rest got there.

Grinning to himself, James grabbed a black T-shirt and a pair of jeans then went to take a shower.

"Lily!" screeched Petunia.

Lily ignored the cries of her sister and rolled over in her bed.

"LILY EVANS!"

"Shove off! Will you?" Lily shouted back.

"Not until you tell you gross friend to not come by the house unannounced! It is rude!"

Lily got out of bed, confused. Who was at her home? She strode over to her door, opened it, and proceeded down the stairs. Petunia was standing at the door, glaring at the greasy, hook nosed young man standing outside of it.

"Sev! I mean… Severus," Lily said, narrowing her eyes suspiciously.

"Sorry, Tuney, it won't happen again," Lily told her, consolingly. Petunia just huffed angrily and marched back into the kitchen. Turning to Snape, Lily began, "Severus. What do you want?"

Her tone was icy. She thought that she made it clear to him that as long as he hung around with Avery and Mulciber –and those other professed Death Eaters –she refused to be in his company.

"Lily, I know you said you didn't want to see me-" he began, but Lily cut him off.

"Numerous times, Snape," she hissed.

"But, it's our last year at Hogwarts… Don't you think that we can… maybe… forgive and forget?" he asked, timidly.

"Severus… what did I say?" Lily asked his, sharply.

"W-well, you said-"

"I said, 'You've chosen your way and I've chosen mine'. Don't think I haven't forgotten this. Just the other day, Marlene was here talking about how she saw you hanging 'round Mulciber. She said you were terrorizing a poor Muggleborn. So don't you dare come prancing in here as if you've changed your ways. I know you haven't. It's been about two years since you called me that foul name. I was hoping some sense had been knocked into you. I guess it hasn't. Now, will you please leave my home?" Lily finished with a huff.

Severus Snape looked lost. He began to shuffle outside when he stopped.

"I guess I'll let you live it up with your precious, perfect Head Boy Potter. I know he's got the badge. I also know that you have the Head Girl badge. Don't forget that he's just as much of a nuisance as always." Severus spat.

"I've heard some splendid reviews over James Potter, thank you very much. I don't need you saying anything about him. Dear God, Severus. It is always the same conversation with you. I don't care, alright? I am done with your whining and complaining and sheer ignorance. Please go before I am forced to hex you."

He looked hurt as he practically ran out of her house. She watched him go with disgust. Their conversation had been just like their fifth year all over again, but she was finally done. No more would she sympathize with and pity Severus Snape. He did not deserve it.

Lily stormed back up the stairs and found Petunia waiting for her.

"Lily, what have I told you about having… having your kind around the house? I don't like it," she started.

"God, Petunia, will you back off? Who died and made you the queen of the pig pen?" Lily shot.

For a moment, Petunia just looked down. Lily slowly realized her mistake.

"Tuney, no, I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking straight. Please-" but Petunia did not listen. She just stormed off into her room and shut her door. Lily heard the lock bolt into place.

"I have to muck everything up all the time! If it's not hurting Severus for the thousandth time, it's breaking Tuney's heart," she muttered walking into her bathroom and turning on the shower.

If her mother had still been around, she would have told Lily to not worry that Petunia knew that it was a mistake. But that's exactly what Tuney had been upset about. Lily had reminded her that for the past few years, Petunia had been the 'woman of the house'. While Lily was off at school, her mother caught a nasty flu that the doctors couldn't cure. She had passed away shortly after the Christmas holidays. It had been a nasty year. The same year Lily had severed ties with Severus.

Lily decided that today was not the time for her to be reminiscing and feeling sorry for herself. When she stepped out of the shower, she put on jeans and a light maroon sweater, fixed her hair and makeup with a little help from magic, and apparated straight to the Leaky Cauldron.

She may have been an hour early to meet Marlene, but that did not matter. Lily just wanted a glass of fire whiskey to calm her nerves and drive away her guilt.

The pub was practically empty, seeing how it was still only eleven, and Lily strode over to the bar. Tom, the barman, was nowhere to be seen. She glanced down the bar and saw none other than James Potter, Head Boy extraordinaire. She rolled her eyes.

He was reading a copy of the Daily Prophet, his hair still owned the windswept look, and he had a glass of fire whiskey in front of him. He had not noticed her yet.

Suddenly, Tom appeared in front of her.

"Do you need something, miss?" he asked, while wiping off the counter.

"A glass of fire whiskey, if you please," she responded, glancing back at Potter. He did not look up. Whatever he was reading must have been fairly interesting. Remember her quarrel with Snape earlier, Lily felt a sense of rebellion wash over her. She wandered over to where the young man was sitting.

She slid into the seat next to him and when he still did not look up, she finally spoke, "Interesting read, Potter?"

He jumped, nearly knocking over his whiskey as he stammered, "E-Evans! I didn't see you. I-uh how are you?"

She smirked as his hand jumped to his hair.

"Oh, I'm doing swell, Potter… swell…" she said. "How are you?"

"Oh, not too bad. What brings you here to the Leaky Cauldron?" he asked.

"You know me; I am an avid drunk and must therefore keep up appearances. What brings you here at eleven in the morning?"

"Oh, I am meeting the dashing Sirius Black, the brilliant Remus Lupin and the somewhat disappointing Peter Pettigrew," James said, flashing a smile at me.

"Ah, I see."

"And where is your partner in crime, Miss Evans?"

"Oh well, she is meeting me here in about an hour. We have important school business to attend to."

"Yes, you do. I assume as Head Girl you need to be prepared for it all," he said, smirking.

"Of course I do. And so does our Head Boy. We have our work cut out for us this year, he and I," Lily quipped.

"You both sure do, but I heard the guy has been a real prat in the past. This year he's bound to be even worse."

"I am dreading every moment," she said, laughing.

It was odd. Lily had never been able to speak with James for more than two seconds without him asking for her hand. He was still as sarcastic as ever, but Lily was hoping that this year would be bearable.

Tom reappeared and set her drink in front of her. She paid him and took a tentative sip of the liquid. It shot down her insides and set a fire in the pit of her stomach. She sighed.

James shot her a look but seemed to bite his tongue.

"What is it, Potter? Cat got your tongue?" she asked.

Potter just smiled and shook his head.

"You never answered my question, you know? What are you so entranced with?" She slid the paper over so she could see the headline displayed.

Hostages Taken in Surrey. Death Eaters Claim Two More Lives.

Lily closed her eyes. "Oh, I see…" she breathed.

"I… I… I'm just worried about my mother…" James began. "It's just… she's an Auror and it's not exactly a safe job, is it? She's off on business right now and I'm stuck here waiting for news. I just wish I could be out there in the thick of it all."

Lily looked at him, shocked. She had not expected him to be so sincere and certain.

"We only have a year left of Hogwarts… James. Who knows, maybe you'll have the opportunity to join the Aurors and help fight the war."

James shook his head.

"No, that's just not really for me… you know? It's more like… I want to be able to predict Voldemort's actions. I want to actually save people, not just find bodies once he's finished with them. I want to protect and put my life on the line for others. Plus, with all this corruption going on in the Ministry… it's just not a good place to work at anymore. You should hear the stories my mother comes home with. She's finding it hard to trust anyone these days."

Lily had no words; she just nodded as if Confundus charm had just been placed on her. This is not the same James Potter who had terrorized Severus Snape out in the courtyard during O.W.L season. This was not the boy who asked her out every day for years. This is was a boy who was just starting to realize his place in the world. James Potter was becoming a man.

She gulped down the rest of her fire whiskey. It was quiet between them for a while.

"Lily, I know you are probably not too thrilled that we are going to be Heads together. No, don't deny it," he said as she opened her mouth. "I know you aren't. I just wanted you to know that… I'm going to try to change your mind every step of the way. So, when term starts, just do your thing and I'll keep up."

Lily gaped at him.

"Lily! You're here early! I didn't expect you for another ten minutes." Lily turned to see her best friend Marlene McKinnon rushing to her side with Sirius Black following close behind her. Marlene's blond curls bounced on top of her shoulders.

"Oh! Potter, erm, I didn't see you there. Uh, hello!" she spluttered. Lily, however, looked at Sirius.

"Were you two together?" she asked Marlene.

"What? N-no! We just got here at… the same time and… oh, Lily… you know I'm a lousy liar…" she pulled her red haired friend away from the two young men.

"I ran into Sirius here just the other day and well, we may or may not have spent the morning… together?" she squeaked.

"What the bloody hell, Marlene?" Lily asked, incredulously.

"Oh, Lily, don't hate me! You know I've always had a soft spot for him and he's got scruff now! On his face! He's practically a man!" Marlene hung her head in shame. "I am hopelessly attracted to beards."

"But Jonathan would never approve," Lily teased, mockingly. She was referring, of course, to Marlene's older and protective brother.

"What Jonathan doesn't know won't kill him," she sniffed, indignantly. "By the by," she continued. "What were you doing with Potter?"

"Ugh, James Potter and I were merely discussing headlines and… simple stuff like that." Lily said. She was keeping the rest of the conversation to herself, since she had not properly dissected it.

"You know, he's looking mighty fine this year," Marlene winked. Lily shoved her shoulder playfully.

"Oh, my dear Marlene, you know my type. I like the bad boys, who break the school rules on a daily basis and the ones who don't study and still earn fantastic marks," Lily replied sardonically.

Marlene laughed, linked their arms, and dragged Lily back to where the boys were sitting. They had quadrupled in size with James and Sirius being joined by Remus and Peter.

"Remus! How good it is to see you!" Lily said, striding over to the brown haired boy and hugging him.

"Hullo, Lily!" he said, brightly. "Have a good holiday so far?"

"Oh, it's been alright," she replied to him, "and hello to you too, Peter."

"Hello, Evans!" Peter said, smiling toothily at her.

"Well, Marlene and I must be off. There is shopping to do and no time to waste!" Lily announced to the company.

"Maybe we'll catch up with you later then?" Sirius asked, hopefully. "I'm sure Marlene wouldn't mind an ice cream from Florean Fortescue's later?" He winked at her and Lily almost gagged.

She caught James's eye and he smiled benignly at her, his eyes twinkling.

Marlene giggled like a maniac, "Why, I would love that… Lily?"

Lily sighed, "I guess we could make time… Say around two?"

It was decided. As she and Marlene were walking away, Lily Evans had to fight the urge not to look back at James Potter. Something had replaced him. He was different, or perhaps he was simply pulling a charade on her. Lily was anxious to see what the school year held for him.