Lily and James the Prequel

Their second year passed about the same as the first. They were all great friends. Lily, James, and Sirius were on the quidditch team, but Remus dropped out because some of the games were on a full moon or near it. James and Lily both went out with other people, though they didn't like it, and refused to admit it. Lily almost snapped when she saw James kissing a Ravenclaw girl. James's reaction was much more severe when he saw Lily kissing Anthony Clark. He hexed his bed so that it tossed him out. They took muggle studies instead of flying this year, but they only learned about brief histories of muggle countries. Lily introduced the Marauders to crazy glue, and they taught her Gobstones. James went away with his parents for vacation as usual during the summer, and Lily went to stay with Kathleen for a couple of weeks at her beach house. She came back home with nothing to do but homework, and was counting down the days until James got back.

Lily's hair had grown to her armpits, and she decided to leave it there. It was at a manageable length, and it looked good enough to her. Lily had went to see Lord of the Rings, and thought it was a pretty good movie. Elijah Wood wasn't an eyesore either. She was walking through the gate to her house when she saw that the light in James's room was on, so the Potter's were home. She decided to cook her specialty, watermelon pie, and bring it to them. James loved watermelon pie, and the house elves were rather bad at fixing it.

Lily quickly made the pies, and then waited what seemed like an eternity for them to chill. She wished she was a licensed witch so she could use a freezing spell. Finally the pie was cold enough, and she ran over to the Potter's. She was about ready to knock on the door when James opened it.
"Hi James, how'd you know to open the door? ESP?"
"No, I saw you coming. What do you have?"
"Watermelon pies. A homecoming present. See, I'm being excessively nice today. How was your trip?"
"Fun, we went to the Bahamas. You would have loved it."
"I'll mention that to my parents. Maybe they'll take the hint and take me there." Lily joked, not realizing she would go there with James someday.

Lily was disgusted to see that James grew what had to be another three inches, while she was 5'5". The same height she had ended the year in.
James noticed Lily had gotten even prettier. Her hair looked wonderful, and he was feeling guilty about the gum incident. She still maintained her petite frame. He realized he was staring at her like some moron so he said the first thing that came to mind. "Lily, you look gorgeous."

"Thanks, you umm, look, er, uh, healthy." Lily said, and then realized how dumb she just sounded. Both of them started laughing and James invited her in.
"Give the house elves the pies and they can keep them cold. How was your summer?" James said
"Okay, I visited Kathleen for a couple of weeks. Went on a family vacation. Attended more business parties with my father than I would care to remember. I saw Jason a couple of times and that's about it. Oh, I practically live in my swimming pool. I am growing fins." She noticed James's face darkened when she said she saw Jason a couple of times.
"Sounds charming" he said sarcastically.
"Mood swing city." Lily mumbled, and he luckily took the hint.
"Guess what?" James said excitedly.
"Aliens have abducted your parents."
"No, I'm going to be captain of the quidditch team." James said with a huge smile.
"James, that's wonderful!" Lily said and hugged him. "Although it's not a surprise. James Potter, the most popular guy at school. The star chaser. The excellent student. Did you honestly expect not to?"
"Actually, not this year, I didn't. I figured Kaitlin Mentz would be captain. She's a seventh year, I'm just third year." James said.
"Come on, the quidditch team would have been lynched if you weren't the captain. Every girl at the school would attack Kaitlin, and you know it. You look at half of them and they faint." Lily said, close to laughing, but trying not to.

"What can I say? I'm a woman magnet." James said in a gloating voice.
"Can it Potter." Lily said, now bursting out if laughter.
"Well, you're not one to talk Lily. You walk down the hall and guys stop and stare. They walk backwards to see you."
Lily stopped laughing immediately. "They do no such thing. And why are you paying so much attention?"
That effectively got his goat. "Uh, it was just an observation. A blind man could see it."
"Yeah right Potter. I'm going home." Lily said, not caring to be teased.
"Oh, yes, your muggle sister's company is much more pleasing.
"I'm going to shut myself in the library. I want to learn how to be an animagus.
"That's it Lily! That would help Remus!" James exclaimed, and started talking to himself.
"Hello, earth to James. How's that going to help?" Lily asked, dumbfounded.
"Werewolves only attack people. We have been overlooking the obvious. If we can transform into animals we will be safe from him." James said excitedly.
"That would work. Do you want to look at that book with me?" Lily asked.
"Yes, would you bring it over here? My dad has probably got more books on the subject."

Lily ran over to her house, and then ran back to James's house, carrying the book. She was dismayed to see she was already panting; she hadn't picked up a basketball, or worn her running shoes for two years. She knocked on the door and this time Meredith Potter answered.
"I don't suppose you're here to see Gina?"
"No, James."
"That's what I thought." Meredith said resignedly. It seemed her son and this girl were becoming awful close. "He's in the library, you know where it's at, right?"
"Yes" she said, and walked sedately to the library, trying to catch her breath. She walked in and saw James combing through the stacks of books.
"I got it. Are you having any luck?" she asked.
"I've found a couple of books in English, but I think a lot of them are in a different language."
"Here, let me see." Lily said, and found a book in Swedish, one in German, and another in Spanish. "I can read this one in German and Spanish, but I don't know Swedish ." she said. "Would you happen to have a Swedish grammar book?"
"Maybe, other grammar books are over there." he said, pointing towards a small bookshelf by the door. She found it and said, "If we can't find what we need I can probably get a good enough grasp of Swedish to decipher the book."
"Good, I'll read this English one, and how about you start on one of the foreign ones."
"Whatever you say oh great one." Lily said sarcastically, but sat down with the German book all the same.

Lily was trying her best to concentrate, but her mind kept drifting. She finally figured out that the book was only giving general information about animagi, not the steps taken to become one. She found that the one in Spanish told how to become an animagus.
"I found it James." she said happily.
"Let me see!" he said excitedly and grabbed the book from her grasp. "Hey, what's this supposed to mean? I can't read this mumbo jumbo."
"Then wouldn't it be wise to let me have it so I can translate it?"
"Oh, yeah, I guess it would." James said sheepishly, and gave the book back. Soon she had the book's poem listed out.
An animagi is a wonderful power,
not for the weak of heart.
Your animal will reflect your finest and greatest hour.
And the character you display will give the animal shape.
The animal that you mimic is waiting inside, waiting to be revealed.
Few shall have the strength to make it happen, no matter their appeal.
So if you dare, take the test, but always remember, the end justifies the means.

James read it then said, "So how are we supposed to know our animal?"
"From what I gather we find out the animal that is most like ourselves. It has personality indicators listed in here. If we don't choose the right animal we get splinched, or something similar to it."
"That doesn't sound pleasant."

"No, that's why we need to be very careful. Here's the personality indicator." and she handed him a piece of paper.

"According to this I should be a stag." James said.
"I don't know if I should be insulted or not. I'm supposed to be a fox." Lily said, rather put out.
"What's so bad about that?"
"Foxes are sly, crafty, Slytherins." Lily said with disgust.
"Or perhaps gorgeous, beautiful, and intelligent."
"Wrong fox, you moron." Lily said
"I'm just trying to be helpful."
"Thanks anyhow. I'm going home." Lily told him, but she wasn't mad.
"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Nope, I'm going to Diagon Alley." tomorrow.
"Can I go with you?" James asked.
"Sure, but you'll be stuck with just me, since Sirius went already. He sent me an owl that said he would be in Costa Rica until August 29th. Remus is with his parents at a werewolf convention." Lily said, thinking he would back out.
"That's great, when are you leaving?"
"8 o'clock" she said stunned.

The next morning James was at Lily's house at 7:55. Logan Evans answered the door and said, "Ah, James, glad you could make it. I wouldn't want my little girl to be wandering around Dijon Alley on her own."
James didn't want to correct Mr. Evans so he just said, "Thanks, although it's usually a safe place."
Lily had heard her father's blunder as she was coming down the stairs and said, "Dad, I think you mean Diagon Alley, not Dijon."
"Ah, princess, you are right once again. It is becoming quite an annoying occurrence. Your mother and sister will be going with you, but do their shopping in London." he said.
"Sure, ok, MUM! Are you about ready?" Lily shouted up the stairs. She had dropped her former endearments for her parents for a shorted title.
"Yes, sweetheart, we're ready. You look lovely this morning." Debbie said to her daughter.
"Thanks mum." Lily said, and headed towards the door, James following. Debbie and Petunia rode in the front seat leaving the back seat to James and Lily. Lily didn't miss her mother's warning glance at James though. She fastened her seatbelt and started talking quietly with James.
"Did you recheck the personality indicator?" Lily asked him.
"Yeah, I got the same thing again. I also sent it to Sirius and Peter. I know they well want to try it too."
"Good idea. I retried mine again and I'm still a fox."
"Mother, Lily is bragging again." Petunia said in a particularly spiteful tone.
"Oh I am not!" Lily said irritably.
"You just called yourself a fox."
"If that's not eavesdropping, I don't know what is. I was referring to the animal."
"Lily, please don't brag, and Petunia, please don't tattle or eavesdrop." Debbie Evans settled the matter easily.
James was glaring at Petunia with an expression of disbelief. He wisely didn't say anything though, because he got the impression Mrs. Evans didn't care much for him.              Petunia proceeded to sing, "Stand by my Man" all the way to London. Lily tried her best to ignore her; it was becoming increasingly difficult though. James was expecting the windows to break momentarily. Finally James and Lily were dropped off at the Leaky Cauldron. They were out of the car before it even came to a complete stop.
"Remember Lily, be good. Don't get into any trouble..." but that was all Lily heard of the speech her mother was trying to give her because she and James were already inside the Leaky Cauldron.                                                                                                           "Have you got your school supplies yet?" Lily asked James.
"Nope, and I need to get a new owl too. Mine bought the farm last week."
Lily started laughing, "That's terrible, I'm sorry."
"Then why are you laughing?"
"He bought the farm?" she asked in disbelief, still laughing.
"Sirius says that a lot, I just kind of picked up on it."
"That explains it."                                                                                                                James and Lily tapped the bricks to allow them entrance to Diagon Alley. They stepped through to the world of magic. They just started walking down the main street, going into the shops they needed as they came along. Finally all they had to do was get James a new owl, some tarot cards for divination, and robes. James got a white owl with green eyes. Then they got their robes at Madame Malkin's. They were leaving as they heard a shout of "Lily, wait up!" behind them. Lily turned around and saw Severus Snape running after her.
"Yes Severus?" she asked patiently.
"Did it hurt?" Severus asked.
"What?" she asked, puzzled.
"When you fell from Heaven."                                                                                                "I can't believe you just said that to me." Lily said, not knowing whether to laugh or be insulted.
"But Lily, I love you. You're too good for Potter. Break up with him and go out with me."
"I can't break up with him because I'm not going out with him. I definitely wouldn't go out with a guy that uses dumb pick up lines like that. If you have to use them, get more creative ones."
"Okay. Are you from Tennessee?" Snape asked.
"NO!" Lily said through gritted teeth.
"You're the only ten I see." he said.
Lily lost control and started laughing hysterically. Snape looked rather insulted and walked off.                                                                                                                                     Lily was still laughing merrily on a bench five minutes later.
"Lily, it wasn't that funny." James said.
"Yes it was!" she and broke out in laughter again.
"Actually it was pretty funny when he got mad and walked off, but that was it."
"JAMES, YOU'RE THE ONLY TEN I SEE!" she laughed
It took James a minute to realize she was joking, so he decided to play along with it. "Lily, I looked up the word 'beautiful' today and you name was included."
"That's a good one James, but Severus's was better. No, how about this one. There must be something wrong with my eyes, I can't take them off of you!" Lily was still laughing uncontrollably.
"Lily, is your dad in jail?" James asked semi-seriously.
"No, why?"
"He stole the stars from the sky and put them in your eyes." Lily fell off the bench she was laughing so hard, and pretty soon James was in the same condition, only he managed to stay on the bench.                                                                                                    Several people gave them curious glances, and Lily managed to scramble onto the bench, still laughing.
"Hello Mr. Potter, Miss Evans. I see you two are having a good time." Professor Dumbledore said.
Lily wiped the tears from her eyes and said, "Good day Headmaster. And yes, we are having a good time."
"That is excellent that you are enjoying yourselves. May I ask what was so funny?"
"Snape tried two different pick up lines on Lily. Both extremely dumb." James said, after his laughter had subsided.
"Oh, yes, pick-up lines. The only thing they are generally good for are laughs. I suggest you two get a move on if you wish to be finished by dark." Dumbledore said kindly, with a twinkle in his eyes.
"Yes sir." they both said.
"See you at Hogwarts then." he said and walked off. They could just pick up him saying "Ah, young love."                                                                                                                       They both chose to ignore this and walked off toward the "Forecasting the Future" shop. They saw several Hogwarts students there, and everybody stared at the two of them strangely. They finally made it to the shop and the strange owner said, "Ahh, the great couple is here. My children, it is wonderful to watch you grow closer, for we shall be liberated because of your love for one another."
James and Lily looked at each other with disbelief and quickly got the tarot cards they needed. It was a relief to get out of that shop.                                                               They escaped from the shop and Lily said, "Boy, everybody here is crazy. They act like we're married or something."
"No kidding. Remember Mr. Ollivander? And Trelawney? These people have over active imaginations." James said with disgust.
"STOP!" Lily shouted.
"What?" James asked.
"A magical makeup shop!" Lily squealed.
"Aw, Lily, I thought you gave that stuff up." James said. She looked stunning with or without the makeup.
"I gave up muggle makeup. I got to try this stuff." she said, and started dashing into the shop.
"Well, I'm just going to go to into that shop over there." he said, pointing to a paper shop.
"Okay." Lily said, wondering why he would want to go in there.
As soon as she was safely inside of the shop he went into a jewelry shop a little ways down the street. He needed to get Lily a birthday present.                                               Lily had given him a really cool life-size poster of the National English Quidditch team. All of the player talked and moved, and it was just neat. He was determined to get her a really good present. She would love him for this present. Maybe she would give him a kiss for this amazing present. Then he decided he was going mad. There was no way Lily Evans would kiss him. He wasn't sure why he wanted to kiss her. He realized his thoughts were babbling, and quickly got them under control. One of the saleswomen came over to him and said, "How may I help you?" not expecting to get an answer from a thirteen year old boy.
"I actually need you to help me find something for my friend. Her birthday is next week, and I want to get her something really special." James said honestly.
"Okay, what does she look like?"
"She's got really pretty red hair past her shoulders, and the greatest green eyes. She has creamy skin, but no freckles." James said.
"I get the general idea" the woman said dryly. "I suggest silver jewelry, maybe a hair clip?"
"That sounds good." James eventually found the perfect hair clip. It was a silver filigree barrette with green crystal flowers across it. He prayed she liked it.

Lily meanwhile was going crazy over the magical makeup. She finally just decided on some perfume that smelled wonderful and some hair glitter that changed colors. She had quickly got tired of getting up thirty minutes early every day last year, so now she forsaked the makeup and got out of bed five minutes before breakfast. Just as she was done paying James came walking in, carrying a bag from the paper shop.
"Was the paper shop interesting?" she asked.
"Oh, yes, you wouldn't believe the kinds of paper they have there." James said. They did have odd paper; he had bought a piece of blue paper so he could get a sack. They met Lily's mom as planned and went back home. Petunia, thankfully, was not singing.
"James, Lily's birthday party is Friday night, and you and Gina are invited. We're just having Lily's friends over." Mrs. Evans said.
"Okay, I'll be there." James said, looking forward to giving her the present.                       Lily was practically in tears on her birthday. "Mum, you will ruin my life!" she yelled.
"Now, dear, it won't be that bad"
"Yes it will. Nobody has piñatas at their birthday. I'm thirteen. I am not playing pin the tail on the donkey either. I promise I'll run away." Lily threatened.
"Oh, where are you going to run to miss?" Debbie asked her daughter, who said the first thing that came to mind.
"I'm going to run away to James's house. He's my best friend."
"YOU MOST CERTAINLY NOT RUN TO ANY BOY'S HOUSE YOUNG LADY!" her mother bellowed.                                                                                                                                Lily, who was at the age of teenage rebellion said, "Just you watch me." and she walked out of the house and to James's. James's dad opened the door for a change and said, "James is in his room. I suppose you can go see him, but leave the door wide open."
Lily bit her tongue, but she had had enough of condescending parents for one day. She walked up to James's room, and he was there with Remus and Sirius, who had come just for her birthday party.
"Hi, Lily, what's wrong." James asked, noticing her tears.
"My mother. She wants me to have a little kid birthday party. Complete with a piñata and pin the tail on the donkey. And I threatened to run away. She got mad so I walked out. I needed to calm down."
They were all laughing at her and Sirius asked, "What's a piñata?"
"It's a paper mache animal filled with candy. You beat it with a stick to make the candy fall out." she explained.
"Hey, that sounds cool! What are you mad about?" James cried.
"Muggles stop having them at birthdays when they're 10."
"Oh, well, at least you'll get presents." Remus said.
"I better not count on it after the way I acted." Lily said, slightly ashamed at the way she acted.
"You'll definitely get a present from James." Remus said evilly.
"Oh, yes. He's been going on and on about what he's got you." Sirius laughed, and James turned a bright scarlet.
"Thank you James, I am sure I will love it. Thanks for listening you guys, I guess I better go home and face the music." Lily said, feeling better after talking to them.                     Lily walked slowly back home and let herself in. Both of her parents were waiting for her in the hall.
"You worried your mother and I, Lily." Logan said.
"I needed some time away from you guys." Lily said.
"And you went to James Potter's house?" he asked.
"Yes" and her mother gasped as if her worst fears were confirmed.
"Lily, are things between you and James serious?" her mother asked.
"With James? No! He's just my friend." Lily said.
"Okay, we believe you, but please don't ever walk out like that again. We will skip pin the tail on the donkey, but we're leaving the piñata. Got it?" Logan Evans said.
"Yes Dad." Lily said wearily.
"We have invited your cousins too. So we have all the Nintendo games and that stuff hooked up in the TV room. We moved 5 extra TV's in there for that specific purpose. So maybe we can prevent boredom." her mother said.
"Great" Lily said and went upstairs to change. She wished everybody wasn't coming. She would be perfectly happy with just the people from Hogwarts. In fact she would've been happy with just James there.

Lily dressed down in a pair of denim shorts and sleeveless top along with sneakers to match it. Her mother was smoothing down her hair when the doorbell rang. She ran to open it.
"James, thank God you finally got here. My parents are driving me crazy." Lily said in relief.
"What are we? Chopped bologna?" Sirius asked.
"Oh, yes, you saved me too." Lily said with a smile.
"Where do you want these?" Remus asked, holding up the present he had gotten her.
"On that table over there" she said, leading them into the living room.                              "Let me tell you the schedule now, and tell me if you have any questions as to how to act. Please don't do some crazy magic something. I will absolutely die of embarrassment." Lily pleaded.
"Deal." all three of them said.
"Good. First we wait on everybody to get here. Then there's my birthday dinner. Then I get to open presents. After that is cake, and yes James, there is chocolate. After that we can do whatever. There are Nintendo games and that kind of stuff. And we can't forget the piñata however much I want to." Lily said.
"Okay, that sounds pretty simple." James said.
Lily was teaching them how to play Monopoly when her female cousins arrived.
"Oh, he's sooooo cute!" one practically gushed, looking at James.
"I know. He's positively dreamy. And look at his friends!" the other one said.
"They are way too cute to be friends of Lily's, so why are they here?" one asked, having not seen Lily for three years.
"They must play football with her." another asked. There was a total of four. Lily stood up, turning to face them.
"Actually, they're my best friends." she said, and they gasped.
"What?" the blonde one asked.
"They go to my boarding school." Lily answered. The boys were in the corner, whispering about something with an evil look on their faces. James walked up to Lily, put an arm around her waist and said in his most charismatic voice, "I almost forgot to wish you a happy birthday sweetheart."                                                                                       "What?" she asked.
"We can let our secret out now Lily. I hope you don't mind I told Sirius and Remus about us." James said and winked at Lily.
"Oh, Ohhhh. Yeah, that's perfectly alright with me James." Lily said, catching on. She saw Sirius and Remus smirking out of the corner of her eye, and tried hard not to laugh.
"You're her boyfriend?" the brunette asked with shock.
"Of course." James said, as if pointing out the sky was indeed blue.
"It was inevitable. The most popular people in our school." Remus said.
"Yep, every girl is after James, and every guy drools after Lily." Sirius said, eyeing Lily for effect.
"Sirius, you better keep your lecherous eyes off of my girlfriend." James threatened.              "Lily is one of the most popular kids at school?" the other blonde asked incredulously.
"Yes, naturally. Why wouldn't she be? She is on the house team, has excellent manners, is at the top of every class, and is stunningly gorgeous." James said.
"Manners? Lily?"
"Finishing school can do amazing things Vine." Lily said demurely.
"Vine?" all of the boys laughed. Vine was disturbed, most boys fell to the floor with her charm and beauty and mysterious name.
"This is Vine and Leaf" she said, pointing at the two blondes. "And this is Heather and Clover." she said, pointing at the brunettes. "This is James Potter, Sirius Black, and Remus Lupin." Lily pointed them out. "Hey, James, where's Gina?"
"She's still trying to get ready. She is wearing an evening gown." James said.
"And let me guess, you put that idea in here head?"
"Yeah, I kind of mentioned that it was formal."
"You're terrible, go tell her it's casual." Lily said, and James turned to go tell his sister. Lily got an evil look on her face and surprised them all by saying, "sweetheart" and playfully slapped him on the butt.                                                                                 Sirius and Remus collapsed on the floor with laughter. James's jaw dropped to the floor and stared at her with disbelief. Lily was shaking with silent laughter, and had to sit in a chair before she fell. She wasn't able to compose herself until James left the room. The strange thing was she wasn't embarrassed. It was more like a funny prank. Her cousins stared. Sirius sputtered, "Lily, that was priceless. I will never forget that as long as I live."
"Me neither." Remus laughed. "I don't know what was funnier, seeing you do that or seeing his face!"

"Lily, that was so unfair! You took him away from me!" Vine yelled.
"Whatever Vine. You just met him five minutes ago, and he is my boyfriend." Lily lied.
"You think you are so smart." Leaf declared.
"Actually, I know I'm smart. People like you ditzes who think you know everything are really annoying to those of us who do." Lily told them.
"Well, I can't believe you." Clover said.
"I can" Sirius said.
"You deserved it" Remus said.                                                                                        Lily found them in Petunia's room and Lily thought birds of a feather flock together. She was walking back down to the party room when Logan Evans said in his deep booming voice, "Princess, I need to talk to you."
"Yes Dad" she said sweetly, dreading the worst.
"Vine told me about you and James. I think he is a fine boy, and an excellent first boyfriend. I don't want anything to be serious between you two. Got it? And he'll have to talk to me." Logan said.
"Dad, we're not really going out. It was a joke we played on the cousins. You see they were going crazy over James, and being rather rude to me. James decided to pretend to be my boyfriend." Lily explained.
"Oh, okay sweetheart. I understand. Keep up the joke then, because it was funny to here your cousins squawking like that. They need their feathers ruffled. Now about you patting his rear end...."
"Say no more. That was a joke too. I don't know what came over me. It won't happen again."
"Make sure it doesn't. I won't tell your mother about this until you get to Hogwarts because I'm a lot more understanding than she is." Lily got up and left the room with relief.                                                                                                                           James and Gina came through the door and Lily said, "Is our joke still on?"
"Yeah, I explained it to Gina too." James said, watching her warily.
"Okay, my dad found out, so he knows too, but don't worry about him."
"Got it sweetheart" James said, and wrapped his arm around her waist once again.          "He also told me not to slap your butt again." Lily said conversationally.
"Really? How did he know?" James asked.
"Vine tattled." Lily answered.
"Oh, well, I'd say it's for the best in this situation." James said.
"I'm hurt, you don't want me 'patting your rear end' according to my father?" Lily asked.
"I would prefer you didn't." James said coolly.
"Relax, don't throw a hissy fit."
"I'm not."
"I'm not going to argue with you." Lily said, and they walked back into the TV room, which was now filled with all of her cousins, male and female, Remus, Sirius, Kathleen, and Jason.                                                                                                                "LILY!" Kathleen squealed.
"Kathleen! I'm glad you could come!" Lily said, having not seen her for a month or more. She left James's grasp and went to talk to her. James stared at her, and Remus and Sirius came over.
"She's going to ruin this if she doesn't spend enough time with me." James said.
"Relax Romeo," Sirius said, "She doesn't need to spend every waking moment with you. Most couples don't."
"Yeah, you've already wrapped your arm around her twice and she's slapped your butt. I think they get the drift." Remus said.
"I'm thinking you want this to be a permanent institution." Sirius said, "Just look at the present you got her."
"I don't either." James declared. Sirius and Remus just looked at him.
"Yeah, I do." James admitted.                                                                                       James ran to his house like the devil was on his heels, wrote a quick note to Lily, then ran back. He placed it on the present he had gotten her. Soon, they ate dinner and it was present time. James was waiting in prolonged agony for Lily to open his present. She finally picked up the small box wrapped in metallic green paper. She opened the note first, and he tensed while she read it.
Dear Lily,
Will you be my real girlfriend?
James                                                                                                                                      Lily read the note, smiled, and looked directly into his eyes. She nodded her head once and said, "yes." That was all it took for James. He sighed in relief and slouched in his chair. He was still nervous about her liking the present, but at least he wasn't rejected. She opened the present and pulled out the silver barrette and gasped. "Oh, it's gorgeous James, thank you so much!" she exclaimed in delight.                                                                             She had a dazzling smile splitting her face, and James couldn't help but copy it at her look of joy. They sat there smiling at each other for about 3 minutes before Sirius elbowed James in the side. "Quit staring at her like a fool"
"She liked my present." James whispered back gleefully.
"You are such a child." Sirius said distastefully.
"But she liked my present." James repeated.
"Yes, Potter, she liked the present." Remus cut in.
"And we're really going out now. That note asked her." James told them proudly.
"Ohh, nooo. They're as good as married." Sirius groaned.                                                   As soon as the present were unwrapped they made their way to the dining room for cake. The maid would throw away the paper and put the presents in her room. Lily deposited the barrette safely in her dresser on her own though. She saw back down next to James at the table, her dad carrying her birthday cake lit with thirteen candles in her direction. He sat it down in front of her and said, "Make a wish honey."
I wish James would love me forever and she blew out all of the candles.                         Lily was pleased to see she blew out all of her candles, though she didn't really expect her wish to come true. A girl could always hope though. She was having fun, ignoring her cousins. She got into a cake-eating contest with James and Sirius, with Remus as the judge. Each of them swore that they had won, though the clear winner wasn't ever decided. Lily got larger pieces since she was the birthday girl, but James and Sirius had about six slices. Lily wasn't sure how she should act around James, so she acted just like she usually did, except she didn't flirt with any of the boys. She noticed her father's eyes on them a lot so before the piñata was broken Lily pulled James over to the side and said, "I'm not going to tell Dad we're going out for awhile because he'll want to talk to you. And I'm thinking you won't like this talk, so it's definitely best to postpone it for as long as possible."
"Okay, that'll work I guess." James agreed, even though he was kind of hurt Lily didn't want to tell her father about them.                                                                                     "Okay, time to bust the piñatas" Lily's mom said. "There are different piñatas for different age groups." Since her female cousins were older than her they had their own piñatas but declared they were too childish so James, Sirius, and Remus had their own piñata. James got a big kick from beating the piñatas and thought it was rather fun. Soon, everybody went home, even James. Lily had almost fallen asleep when the phone beside her bed rang.  "Hello?" she answered groggily.
"Hi, Lily" James shouted through the phone.
"James? You don't have to shout." Lily said.
"Oh, I've never used one of these tellyphoneys before."
"Telephone. Anyhow, you're next door so there's a good enough connection you don't even have to talk loud." Lily told him.
"Okay, sorry. I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday again." he said.
"Thanks, and thank you for the barrette, I loved it." Lily said.
"You're welcome. I'm glad you liked it." James answered, and they continued to talk for quite awhile. Actually, both of them fell asleep on the phone.                                                At one o'clock Mrs. Evans looked at the lights on her bedside table indicating the phones in use. She usually only needed it for Petunia, but she saw Lily was still on the phone. She went to go tell her daughter to hang up, but found her asleep instead, phone still in hand. She picked up the phone and could hear light breathing on the other end. She checked the caller ID and recognized it as the Potter's number. She smiled softly and hung the phone up.  The next morning Lily woke up, extremely happy. She decided to go running again, for the first time in ages. She put on her only remaining running suit that fit and went out the door, telling her father what she was doing. She managed 5 blocks before she was tired and was about ready to fall down by the time she got back to her street. She saw sparks flying from behind the fence at James's house, so she let herself in the yard gate. She found James, Sirius, and Remus throwing exploding crackers at birds and things in the yard.
"You know that's animal cruelty and could be arrested by muggle police, right?" Lily asked, startling them.
James smiled and said, "Naw, we don't ever get caught."
"And I'm the Queen of Sheba" Lily said sarcastically.
"It's obvious you're not, you look like you fell out of a dumpster." Sirius said.
"I know I don't look that bad. Anyhow, my worst day is ten times better than your best day Black." Lily joked.
"Whatever Evans" Sirius joked back.
"Just don't complain to me when you are put in juvy." Lily said, gave a dazzling smile and walked out. James was still staring at where she was standing like a lost puppy dog.
"Hey, James, snap out of it." Remus said with a laugh.
"Yeah, tell us of this excellent idea that you have to help Remus."
"Well, Lily helped me think of it, and she found it in a Spanish book. Werewolves only attack people, so we are safe if we are in animal form." James said.                                "So, how are we going to turn into animals genius? I think you've spent too much time with Lily, she's fried your brains." Sirius joked.
"We need to become animagis. That way Remus won't attack us and we can be with him when he transforms." James said.
"That sounds awful dangerous and like a lot of work." Remus said.
"You're our best friend. We stick together." James said firmly.
"Thanks you guys. Is Lily going to try it too?"
"Yeah, we've both taken the personality indicator twice. She's a fox and I'm a stag." James said.
"Ha. A stag and a fox! You two are box of laughs!" Sirius said.  "So James, when are you going to pick up the family rings?"                                                                                   "Why would I need them."
"You and lover girl Lily are getting married next week right?" Remus supplied.
"NO" James said.
"Well, let me be the Godfather of your first child. So when you two go on your gazillionth honeymoon I will baby-sit all of your fifty kids for you. But not for free." Sirius said devilishly.
"Anybody would be crazy to leave their kids with you Sirius. If we leave them with anybody, it will be Remus." James said, going along with the joke.
"No, because they wouldn't be able to stay with me for an entire month. That wouldn't be enough for you two." Remus said with a smirk.
"Just shut up you two." James said.                                                                                   Sirius and Remus kept teasing James until he was about ready to blow a gasket. "That's it. I'm going to see Lily." James said petulantly.
"Oh, wittle wuberboy is going to see his wuvergirl." Sirius said in a childish voice. James stomped out of the yard into Lily's. He knocked on the door and Petunia answered. She was wearing a rather trampish outfit.
"Oh, you're Lily's new boyfriend right?" Petunia asked, obviously eager for gossip.
"Petunia, Vernon's on the phone." Lily said sharply, effectively drawing her away from the door, allowing James to enter.
"What are you doing here?" Lily asked.
"Escaping from my supposed best friends." James said.
Lily said, "Do you want to play cards? My dad just taught me a bunch of new games."
"Sure, I don't know how to play any Muggle ones except for that one you taught me." James said.

"Oh, 21." she said, remembering when they played it, and also wondering when he would kiss her. "Let's see, there's BS, rummy, war, go fish, or spades."
Lily gave him a brief summary of each one and they decided on BS. They had been playing it for an hour before Sirius and Remus came in with evil expressions on their face.        "Ah, the two lovebirds are flocking around each other." Sirius said.
"Grow up." Lily told him. Sirius kept on teasing them with rather unflattering phrases when James finally said when it was clear he wasn't going to quit, "Sirius just stop it right now. You're no longer funny."
"Gosh, relax James, don't throw a fit."
"I'm not. Just lay off.  I'm leaving" James said, walking out, Sirius and Remus on his heels.
"So, buddy, have you kissed her yet?" Sirius asked.
"Sirius, what are you on? You are more annoying than usual." James said irritably.
"Young love, it makes me the way I am. You haven't kissed her yet have you? I dare you to go in there right now and kiss her." Sirius said.                                                        "What?" James asked in a strangled voice.
"I double hippogriff dare you to go in there and kiss her." Sirius said. A wizard didn't ignore a double hippogriff dare.
"Fine" James said and walked back into the living room.                                                  Lily was getting ready to walk out the door just as he came in and she ran right into him. He automatically held out his arms to catch her, so he was already holding her.
"Oh, sorry James. What are you doing here? I thought you left." Lily said,
"I forgot to tell you goodbye. I will see you tomorrow." James said, and kissed her. Lily didn't know what hit her. It took her a second to realize what was happening, and then she laced her fingers around his neck as shiver went down her spine. The broke apart shortly and James said, "I'll call you" and left. Lily collapsed in the nearest chair
"My God, what just happened?" she asked the empty room, or what she thought was empty. Her mother had seen the whole thing.
"It looks like love sweetheart. You practically melted in his arms. I wouldn't normally say love to a thirteen year old, but it's written on your face."
"Mum, you're full of it." Lily said, trying to brush it off.
"Whatever you say sweetheart. I won't tell you're father until Christmas. I don't think James will like 'the talk' he gives his daughters' boyfriends."
Meanwhile James walked out and saw Sirius and Remus grinning at him.
"I honestly didn't think you would do it." Remus said.
"Talk about sparks flying. That was hot enough to melt wood." Sirius said.
"Does wood even melt you moron?"
"Who knows, but you get the point. The only problem is her mother saw." Sirius said, and James almost fainted, but at least it wasn't MR. Evans..
"What?" he asked weakly.
"She came up behind us right as you two started playing tongue hockey." Sirius said.
"Then she walked into another room and stayed there, at least until we left." Remus said
"Great." James said flatly.
Only about ten minutes later Lily had to call James because her mom went ahead and told her dad about them. He was shocked that they weren't pretending anymore and insisted on talking to James at 5 o'clock the next day. Once she got James on the phone she said, "James, are you free at five o'clock tomorrow?"
"Sure Lily, I'm all yours." He said, thinking she wanted to do something with him.
"Actually, you're all my dad's. He wants to talk to you." Lily said grimly.
"Oh. Okay, I'll be there five o'clock sharp."
"Alright, see ya tomorrow then. Bye." Lily said, and hung up.                                        "Daddy, please don't embarrass me." Lily pleaded with her father the next day.
"I'll just say what needs to be said." Mr. Evans said noncommittally.
Lily met James at the door at five till five and said, "Hi, my dad's in a good mood today. I think."
"Gee thanks for the encouragement." He said sarcastically.
"Don't snap at me, it isn't my fault. Actually it is. You don't have to talk to him. We can just break up and this whole matter will be dissolved." Lily said.
"Is that really what you want?" James asked quietly, staring down into her eyes.
"No" she whispered.
James knocked on the door of Logan Evans's study as the clock struck five.
"Come in!" a voice shouted from the nether regions of the room. James walked in dressed in nice clothes, a pair of khaki pants and a blue shirt.
"Ah, punctuality, a quality often lacking in today's youth." Logan said cordially. James remained silent.
"Have a seat. Good, now I understand that you and my youngest daughter Lily have been growing closer. Going 'out'." he said calmly.                                                                  "Yes sir" James said calmly, trying to hide that he was about ready to hyperventilate. Her dad was scary. James hadn't moved a muscle since he had planted himself in that chair.
"You seem like a fine young man, but I need to lay down a few laws just to be sure we understand each other."
James could already tell what was coming next.
"You and my daughter are away at boarding school nine months out of the year. I can't control you while you're there, but I hope I can influence your actions and put the fear of God in you. First of all, I DO NOT WANT MY DAUGHTER INVOLVED IN PREMARITAL RELATIONS."