Disclaimer: As usual, I own nothing that you recognize from the book series. I'm on an editing kick again…

Lily Evans and Treasure Belle had been best friends since they had first met on their very first day at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. In fact, they had been best friends since the moment they met on the Hogwarts Express. Lily was from a Muggle family and did not even know that witchcraft existed until she got her letter; Treasure was an American girl from a first generation Pureblood family (her parents were both Muggle-born), who was accepted as one of four magically talented youths from around the world selected each year to be an exchange student at Hogwarts.

Both girls found themselves in a strange yet exciting new world, and they were both eager to explore; neither knew what to expect. As the Hogwarts Express slowed to a stop and the first years were herded onto small boats to cross the lake, Lily and Treasure grasped hands and stared up through the rain and the lake water that was soaking them to the bone, at the castle of Hogwarts where they would be living for the next school year.

Lily,

As much as I love it here in America, I think my real home will be with you and the Gryffindor house in Hogwarts! Just thirteen more days until we're back on the train…I can barely wait!

Enclosed in this letter is your birthday present, but it's kind of a present for me as well. It's a necklace that I bought from a Muggle shop somewhere in Manhattan…but I put a charm on it so when you open it and say the password, mine will warm up so I'll know you want to talk. Then you can see me in the tiny place where you are supposed to put the picture in the locket.

Love Always,

Treasure

P.S. How thick do you think I am, of course I didn't forget the password. It's "Lily loves James," because you know you do!

P.P.S. Congratulations on becoming a Prefect! I told you it would be you!

Lily rolled her eyes at her best friend's letter. As thoughtful as it was for Treasure to send such a useful gift, the password business was childish. Besides, Lily despised James Potter with every ounce of magic in her body. She quickly grabbed a quill and began to pen her reply, ignoring how Treasure's white dove, Snow, stared at her mockingly.

When she was done, Lily closed her ink bottle and placed it with her quill on her night table. Humming quietly she folded up the parchment and put it in an envelope. The envelope said in loopy, shimmering handwriting:

Treasure Belle

The writing shimmered with the colors of a prism as different forms of light hit it. It was the last of Treasure's Christmas gifts to Lily last year - a fine set of inks and letterhead. Some of the inks came in various different colors, or else changed scents at a written word. Some of the inks were invisible, and Lily had managed to charm them so that they would scramble the words on a piece of parchment until none but the receiver's wand tapped the page. She had also charmed all the envelopes so they were unable to be opened by anyone but the intended recipient - in this case, Treasure. Professor Flitwick, the tiny black haired wizard who taught Charms, was most impressed with the Lily's handiwork, as it had taken him a full ten minutes to decipher one such note. He was not so impressed that he refrained from reading it aloud, however, but he didn't dock Gryffindor any House Points all the same.

Snow flew onto Lily's shoulder and held out her leg for Lily to fasten the envelope. Lily smiled at the bird, who was no ordinary pigeon. Snow had whiter than white feathers, but they shimmered silver in the moonlight. Her eyes were deep ocean blue, her beak was pale gold as were her talons. Snow cooed softly, a sound that was like a soft burble of pebbles on the bottom of a gently running river. Lily released the bird into the night air, watching as she flew out of sight. Lily pulled her soft silk drapes over the window, leaving it open and turned to go to bed.

Days later, Treasure sat by her desk doing her summer homework. There were only four days left before she was due to fly to London, and was very excited because it would be her first time on a magic carpet. Unfortunately, Treasure reflected, it would also probably be her last time on a magic carpet - the Ministry of Magic intended to ban them, as it was becoming more difficult than ever to keep them unseen by Muggle eyes. She had made arrangements with Lily to stay with her and her family for three days before boarding the Hogwarts Express and beginning her fifth year at Hogwarts.

Treasure rubbed her temples wearily, she had done nearly all of her homework except for Potions and Transfiguration, incidentally her two most challenging subjects. Sighing, she tossed back her long dark hair and picked up her quill. My fingers will be permanently stained with this stupid ink from this stupid quill because of this stupid homework, she thought angrily, but began to scratch away at the first of three essays she had yet to do.

Suddenly she heard a soft fluttering of wings and saw Snow flying through her window with an envelope attached to her leg. "Snow!" Treasure said happily, holding out her hand for the bird to land on, her homework quite forgotten for the moment. Treasure patted the dove's head and unfastened the letter, setting Snow on her perch and scattering birdseed before hastily opening the letter. It was from Lily.

Treasure you twit,

How many times must I explain to you that I HATE James Potter with a passion? Although your gift was thoughtful and useful, the entire sentiment is ruined because of your ridiculous "password." When I find a charm to change it, believe me I will. I cant wait until we get back to Hogwarts so I can thrash you the way you deserve to be thrashed, because you are nearly as arrogant as James is!

Either way, I miss you greatly, you horrid witch - why must you live quite so far away? It takes your dove such a long time to travel from London to America! And it takes days for her to recover as well. Well, I suppose it cant be helped, I'll be seeing you in…twelve days now, as it is two o' clock in the morning here. Petunia will kill me if I wake her up with the scratching of the quill.

Alright dear, I need some sleep. Sweet dreams, love, see you soon and thanks again for the gift.

Hugs and kisses,

Lily

P.S. I hate James Potter

P.P.S. If you did not skive off class quite so much (probably to go gallivanting with Sirius, who is nearly as insufferable as Potter) you would have been made a Prefect instead of me.

Treasure laughed as she read the letter over again, grateful for a distraction. She picked up her locket that lay on her desk and opened it, saying softly into its antique gold heart, "Lily loves James," and trying not to laugh. She waited a moment and then Lily's face appeared like a tiny picture in the locket.

"Hey, Lils." Treasure grinned.

Lily rolled her eyes. "You are a insufferable, Treasure. What a moronic password," she said.

"Oh if it bothers you so much, I'll just change it. You are such a baby, Lily," Treasure retorted, mock-angry.

"I'm a baby? I'm not the one who came up with a completely childish password for this stupid locket! Couldn't you just say my name when you want to talk to me, and I just say your name when I want to talk to you?" Lily asked.

"Where's the fun in that?"

"Fun is not the point! THE POINT IS I DESPISE JAMES POTTER AND EVERY TIME I WANT TO TALK TO YOU WITH THIS BLASTED THING, I HAVE TO SAY THAT I LOVE HIM!" Lily yelled.

Treasure raised an eyebrow. "Are you quite sure you're not overworking yourself, Lils? You seem a bit tense…"

Lily started to laugh. "Before I met you, Treasure, I was never this tense," she said.

Treasure sighed, "You love me anyway, Lily, you know you do, just like you--"

"Don't even say it, Treasure, don't--"

"Just like you love, Ja--"

"I'm warning you - I'll send you a hex with my next Owl."

"I'm willing to risk it!"

"Say it and I swear I'll make your life at Hogwarts a living hell!"

"Just like you love JAMES!" Treasure yelled.

Lily was fuming. She nearly closed the locket on Treasure, who, upon seeing this decided to change tactics.

"Oh, come off it Lily, he isn't so bad…And he's mad for you…Maybe if you just get to know him…" Treasure suggested gently. Lily pursed her lips, as if the idea of 'getting to know' James Potter gave her the sensation not unlike sucking a lemon.

"You know when you do that, you resemble Professor McGonagall," Treasure teased.

Lily let out a breath and said slowly, "Although I wont deny that James is a bit good looking and at times quite a laugh, I don't like him and I definitely don't love him. He is an arrogant, big-headed--"

"Pompous, self-centered arse of a human being, I know Lily you've said it more times than I can count," Treasure finally admitted. It was quite a shame, actually. Treasure had no problem at all with James; in fact, she thought he was quite likeable despite his tendency for arrogance. And the fact that he was absolutely in love with Lily despite his popularity and her obvious disdain for him made Treasure like him even more.

"And I don't know why it fascinates you to keep badgering me about this, Treasure. I've said it time and time again, that I will never go on a date with James Potter! I'd sooner make a meal of seven fully-grown skrewts before I even consider dating him!" Lily ranted.

"Never say never, Lils. And don't make a vow you might one day have to break -" Treasure, glancing at her open copy of Crystal Gazing for the Clairvoyant, attempted to imitate the mannerisms of their Divination teacher, Professor D'yani. The effect was somewhat ruined by her uncontrollable sniggering at the furious look on Lily's face. It was even funnier as Lily's face was roughly the size of a grape due to the locket.

"I'll make an Unbreakable Vow that I wont ever date James Potter, Tres! Don't you think I wont!"

"If you say so…"

"Oh, do shut up, Treasure. Look, I have to go, Petunia thinks I'm mad because I'm talking to a locket…" Lily said distractedly, looking over her shoulder to where Petunia was standing in her doorway, looking perturbed and angry. Lily sighed.

"So? Tell Petunia to take her lipstick out of her ass because it doesn't go there, and that lump she calls her boyfriend is too thick to notice it anyway," Treasure said. Lily laughed but quickly covered it up by coughing.

"She heard that, dear."

"HELLO PETUNIA, DARLING!" Treasure shouted, and Lily laughed again.

"Goodbye, Treasure, I'll see you in four days. Be good, for God's sake…" Lily said, closing the locket. Four days would never come fast enough.