ALWAYS

Pain for Love

The whole school was in awe at how good James Potter and Lily Evans got along and did the Head work.

Those who were once sworn enemies now seemed to be good friends.

James and Lily seemed to have understood each other quite a lot over the next few weeks. They would sit down in the Heads Dorm and study, only speaking when the other had a doubt. James would help Lily in transfiguration while the latter helped him in Potions.

They even had one of those fun talks once in a while. Every morning Lily would get up to make coffee for both of them, while James washed the dishes.

To James this was blissful oblivion. A chance to get closer to Lily Evans. But to Lily this was just friendship. She was just friends with James Potter.

She constantly told herself this, whenever her thoughts drifted away towards James. She even took a liking to Sirius, whom she thought she could never develop a friendship with.

"Lily Flower" he would call her, and she would smile at the nickname Sirius Black had given her every time he greeted her.

Finally it was the time for their first Hogsmeade trip. It was the first weekend of the second month of school and they were all wrapped in woollen sweaters, gloves and boots ready to enjoy one of the few last moments they had together - before their schooling would come to an end.

"Lily wait up", panted James as he caught up with her.

She turned around looking at James, "James!" she exclaimed as she looked down at him, trying to catch his breath.

Yes. They were on first name basis now.

Sirius came running towards them, with Remus and Peter at his heels, "Lily Flower" he said "You have got to wait up for us. I mean why the hurry? Anyone waiting for you ?" he asked with a sly grin as both Remus and Pettigrew turned away, pretending to not listen as James glared at Sirius.

"Well, Black what if I actually do ?" she asked with an air of mystery around her.

James turned his head faster than a Hippogriff whose feathers were on fire to look at Lily with surprise, trying his best to hide his jealousy.

She looked around, taking in the reactions of the Marauders, and gave a huge smile as she hugged Sirius, whose reaction was most amusing, mixed with shock and the fear of what James would do to him after they were out of sight of Lily.

"Chill Black! I'm a single pringle." she said as everyone let out a sigh of relief.

"Look who just got a lot better at cracking jokes" said Sirius as he hugged her back, relief flooding through his body.

"My lily Flower" he shouted as he picked her up and swirled her through the air.

"Put me down Black! Sirius Black put me down this instant" she said trying to sound as serious as she could, while James, Lupin and Peter looked at them amused.
********
"Ah, the bliss and warmth of Butterbeer" said Sirius as he took a sip from his Butterbeer and looked around and the rest of his friends with an air of delight.

James, Lupin, Peter, Lily, Alice and Marlene were all huddled around the table drinking their Butterbeer. They all looked happy with the warmth they felt through their veins.

Sirius got up and went to a Ravenclaw fifth year, and said "Hey you wanna head up to the shrieking shack? "he asked as the girl looked up to him, impervious to what he was saying and raised her eyebrows. "We can do some shrieking of our own" he said, amusement flickering through his eyes.