the marauders- an inseparable bond

[13] a letter

Three of the four sat, cross-legged, on a small bed that made it quite squished for them all to fit. Out loud, James Potter was reading from a small piece of paper.

"Dear Evans,

How has your summer been so far? Mine's been pretty good. Sirius ran away from home, he and his parents never really got along, but now he's come to live with us! The rest of the boys came to visit too, but Peter got in an argument with Sirius, so now he's left."

James decided to skip over the next line, which explained that he had tried to write his friend. The last thing he wanted was another argument

Anyways, how about it, Evans? We're going to be in sixth year! Just two more and we'll have left Hogwarts... Don't tell anyone, but I'm a little scared of leaving. We've always been told what to do (not that I've ever paid much attention to the rules) and when we leave there'll be so many choices we'll have to make.

He had wanted to leave out that last bit, but Remus had assured him that girls liked sensitivity in guys. This had furthered his doubts about Moony's sexuality. His friend claimed he was gay, yet there had been hints he was into girls...

"I wanted to be an auror, but McGonagall said my grades might not be strong enough, so I'm still not sure. What do you want to be? In other news, my cousin Adam just got taken on by Pride of Portree! He plays beater. Are you into Quidditch? If so, you should try out for the team when school starts up. I got named captain of Gryffindor last year.

I hope you're well,

James"

They had discussed for a while how he should sign the letter. Though Lily called him Potter, they had agreed it would be odd to sign it like that. The idea had come to use his full name, but that too was shot down, as it was how you would sign a professional letter. So, they had agreed on just James.

"It's really good." said Sirius.

"Hopefully she won't be able to tell we spent almost a week writing it." smiled Remus.

"Okay, here it goes." James walked over to his handsome tawny screech owl, Gelford, and tied the letter to his leg, after putting in an envelope that had sat ready on top of his dresser. Together, the three friends watched the bird take off into the sky through James' window, and disappear from sight.

***

Lily was crying again. It was stupid, so stupid, why was she crying? He was worthless, mean... but he had been her friend. He had cared for her. The sound of her sobs was interrupted by a tapping on the window. She stopped snivelling at once. Who was writing to her? Of course, she realized, and began to cry again, it was Sev. But Severus didn't have his own owl, and his parents would never let him borrow theirs... He must have taken it. She swallowed, thinking of what his father would do to him. She ripped open the envelope, waiting, yearning for him to convince her they could be friends again.

It was the header that did it. Not once had Severus Snape ever called her Evans. She tried to disregard reason, tell herself that maybe after the argument he wanted to be polite and formal, but Lily Evans wasn't one to pass over reason. She skipped to the bottom of the letter and read the signature. James Potter! She threw the sheet of parchment on her bed, chest heaving. Why on earth was he writing to her? She had been, yet again, stupid. Stupid to get her hopes up, stupid to think Severus would want to be friends again. Stupid, stupid, stupid. When she calmed down, she picked up the paper and read it, slowly. Then she read it again. Then a third time. What was the point of the letter? To see- how she was doing? Why... why would he... A flashback flickered through her mind,

Hey Evans, want to go out with me?

What if he hadn't been having a laugh? No. No! She just hadn't been in her right mind ever since she ended her friendship with a boy who had been her best friend ever since they were little, her first wizard best friend. Though she was thoroughly frustrated with him, she thought it would be only polite to write back. She sat at her desk, scribbling away, when Petunia strutted in.

"So, what was the deal with the Snape boy?" she asked, and Lily could tell that under her fake nonchalance, she truly cared.

"It's over. We're not friends anymore." Lily managed to hold back her sobs this time.

"Well that's a relief, I never liked- What's that?" Petunia had caught sight of James' letter lying on the bed.

"Nothing." She got to her feet, but before she could recuperate the sheet of parchment, Tuney had snatched it up with her claw-like fingers.

"Looks like a letter."

"Give it back!" Lily tried to grab it out of her sister's hand, but Petunia's last growth spurt didn't help.

"Dear Evans-" Petunia began to read out loud.

"Stop it! That's private!"

When she finished Petunia turned to Lily, yet again trying to hide her emotion.

"So- so you've got a little- f-freak boyfriend!"

"He's not my boyfriend!"

"That's fine." Petunia muttered hysterically, "Why should I care? You can go and get married and have your freak children.."

She began to leave, but Lily stepped in front of her.

"Tuney, I'm sorry that Vernon hasn't stopped by-"

"What does that have to do with anything? Get out of my way!" Petunia shoved her sister aside and left the room.

Lily's tears began to spill once more. She couldn't wait until the start of term.