Summer Letters

Tell me what you think

/.\

Finally the summer had come and relieved Lily from such a busy year. N.E.W.T. classes had hit her hard since she was taking so many, not to mention prefect duties while the Marauders were around. It didn't help that James had outdone himself this year, seeming to know exactly where she was at every moment of the day. He asked her to go out constantly, ranging from notes handed to innocent by-standers, to declaring his love loudly in the common room, to pulling the occasional irritating prank. But she tried not to think of that at the moment. She didn't want to infuriate herself when she was supposed to be relaxing.

Lily was home and in her bedroom. It was decorated in just the way she liked it. There were soft pink roses on the bedspread and the walls were cream colored. She had dark cherry wood furniture: a bed, a dresser, a nightstand, and a desk. Light pink curtains fluttered in the breeze of her half opened window.

She was sprawled across her bed, reading. For once it was not a school book that she was holding. A slight smile played at her pink lips as her gemstone eyes darted across the pages. She got to the end of the chapter she was reading and paused, glancing around the room, somehow paranoid that James would burst out from under her bed and request her hand in marriage. Breathing a sigh of relief, she looked back to her book, but decided to close it. Her stomach rumbled and her alarm clock told her that it was 12:15. Lily pushed herself off of the bed, making for the door. "No Potter," she whispered to bask in her fortune. She was delighted to have a mealtime at which her sandwich wouldn't turn into a slug. Though she still wondered why James had bothered to do that in the first place.

Humming, she pulled the door open, but just as she was about to take a step, a soft noise issued from somewhere in her room. She almost decided to ignore it, but then it happened again and this time she recognized it as an owl. Hopefully from a friend, she had been meaning to write, but had been too busy enjoying herself to get around to it. Soon she was across the room, waving the bird inside. The owl fluttered past her and landed on her dresser, preening a few feathers before sticking its leg out so she could take the letter. Still with a smile, she untied the letter and took it to her desk. The envelope was quite heavy. Long letter. But as soon as she turned the letter over and saw the cramped writing she knew she wouldn't open this letter. It was from James and most definitely dangerous and/or annoying.

With a shake of her head she tossed the letter onto her desk and disappeared downstairs with her red hair trailing behind her.

/.\

It had taken James hours to write that letter and then hours more to for him to send it. He was being unusually cautious, somehow knowing that this was his best chance at Lily. For some reason, when he was at school with his mates around, he had never been able to fully express to Lily what she meant to him. It would always, always end up with Lily screaming and red in the face. Though she looked cute when she was angry, he wanted to show her the real James.

He was pacing back and forth across his room and chewing on his lower lip. The letter had gone out this morning and he had no reply as of yet, but of course she might not even have the letter yet. With a sigh he threw himself onto his bed and stared at the ceiling. James' room was a mismatched mix that screamed his personality. The walls were adorned with random quidditch posters. He had a red bedspread and a gold cushioned chair in the corner. It was messy with robes and books on the floor. He put his feet up on his open trunk.

What if she didn't open it? He had thought about forging someone else's handwriting, but that would only have made Lily like him less. He shouldn't have written her name on the outside. Then she would be curious and open it. He cursed himself quietly.

This had been the most agonizing day of his life. James had never liked waiting, but that was all he had done today. Even meals had been neglected. Sirius would have been ashamed. Girls were under food on the priorities list, but of course, that was Sirius and for him, having a girlfriend was as easy as getting a sandwich.

Not to say that James had too much difficulty. He had dated plenty of girls in his day. But none of them was Lily. He was driving himself crazy with all of these thoughts.

Suddenly there was a tap on the window. He sat straight up, knowing that it was an owl. The curtains were drawn and he rushed over and ripped them open. Immediately his face fell. The sleek black owl was one of the Black family's. All the same, he pulled open the window and let it in. It perched only for a moment and flew away as soon as James had the letter. He tried to be optimistic. A letter from Sirius was good…But it was not what he had wished for.

He strolled to his bed and laid down, opening the envelope.

Prongs-

Hey, mate. What have you been up to? Hope you aren't having all the pranks without me. My parents are still being blithering idiots as always. Regulus is their little hero. I swear I was not that ugly when I was his age. I mean really…But I can't do anything about it.

I just can't wait to get over to your house and be rid of all of this talk about Muggle-loving, blood traitors. I have had enough and I've only been here a week. Oh well. Five days and counting, right? Thanks for inviting me, mate. I know I say that every summer, but every summer I want to get away from them more and more. I swear it is getting worse around here.

I have a few good pranks we can pull on that neighbor of yours. He is such an old git. It will serve him right for telling us off about those kneazles. That was a fun time, wasn't it?

Anyway, 'dear mummy' is calling. I guess I have to wash all of the dishes again. Maybe Regulus won't taunt me this time. Yeah right.

Padfoot

Couldn't help but smile. Leave it to Sirius to be the first to plan a new prank for the summer. James had actually forgotten that his friends were planning to visit. He had thought about it much, he was so used to Sirius staying over the summer. They always managed to find something to do. His friends would come as a welcome relief from all of the waiting and pacing and wringing his hands.

Thinking about the visit reminded him that he needed to write to Peter and be sure he wouldn't be coming. His mother never let him, not to say that James was particularly disappointed about it. Peter was clumsy and many times had gotten them caught when doing a prank. He pulled out some parchment and scribble a short note to him.

/.\

Sirius sat in his dim kitchen clutching a letter. Regulus was busy trying to read it over his shoulder and because of the way his parents played favorites, he was not able to do anything except stop reading it. Slipping it into his pocket he looked down at his oatmeal. Kreacher knew that he hated oatmeal. He should have been more specific when he asked for a warm breakfast. He didn't dare send it back, his mother had a soft spot for the wretched creature.

He shoveled down the sticky grey mess that was his breakfast as fast as he could. Regulus gave up and sat across from him, eating bacon and eggs. Sirius glared at him for a second before leaving the table and dashing up the stairs.

When he got to his room, which was at the very top of the house, he couldn't help but smile. It was the complete opposite of the rest of the house. It was much cleaner, though he was not a stranger to clothing laying around on the floor and the windows had no curtains at all instead of the black dragon hide things that blocked all of the sunlight from the rest of the house. His bedspread, like that of James, was red and he had lots of gold pillows. This was the only place he could flaunt the fact that he was a Gryffindor.

Flopping into a big squishy chair, he pulled the letter out of his robes and opened it.

Padfoot,

Hey. What day exactly are we supposed to arrived at the Potter's? I seem to have misplaced my invitation. Well, if you call James punching me in the arm and demanding that I come an invitation. I wish someone would tell him about parchment. But I suppose he already knows. Imagine if he punched a teacher instead of writing an essay. Anyways, how is you summer going?

I have been fine, of course I had to go through you-know-what without Padfoot and Prongs, but luckily that was only last night. I'm a little weak, but definitely holding out. I will get to stay over at James' longer before I have to leave since it was so early. If they only they knew that I was safer with you guys around. I can't really tell my parents about my animal friends, though. I don't think that would make them more eager to let me stay longer, if you know what I mean. If only they knew what happened at school. Here I am grinning like a madman. That last prank on Snape. How do you think of these things? Really…

My family is going to take a trip to Egypt later in the summer. I hear that the curses on the tombs down there are wild. It will be a very interesting trip. I heard we have to learn about Egypt in History of Magic this year, but you don't really care much do you? You and James failed that exam on purpose. Don't think I didn't figure it out. I'm now alone in there with Binns and his amazing ability to put people to sleep.

But I must be going. Mother thinks I am starting on the summer Potions assignment. It is a nasty one, isn't it?

Moony

Sirius set his letter aside. He wouldn't write back just now. His owl was still out delivering a letter to James. He was looking forward to getting to the Potter's and getting away from the Black's. He hardly considered himself a part of his family and he knew that they agreed that he didn't belong here. A lion in a pit of snakes.

/.\

A sandy haired young man sat outside on his porch holding an unopened letter. Remus had received it last night, but had been too busy with the summer potions assignment to read it. Now it was morning and he had finished breakfast. He opened the letter and began to read.

Moony,

Hey. It's Peter. How is your summer? Mine has been okay. I had been playing a bit of Quidditch with a neighbor, but I am still terrible. Of course I did happen to score one goal. Right through the center. Do you think James would be happy?

I got a letter from him today. Wanted to know if I would be over for the summer. Of course not. Mother hasn't changed at all from last summer. She said not even if I clean the whole house. Oh well…

I tripped down the stairs this morning, but luckily I only got a few bruises. No scars thankfully. Have you started on any of the summer work? It is really hard. The herbology has been driving me crazy. I can't understand any of it. Will you help me sometime? Thanks.

I should go. My friends are here.

Wormtail

Remus shook his head. Peter was way to eager to please Sirius and James. He got walked over all of the time. Remus was fairly certain that Peter's 'friends' were only playing with him so they could have a laugh. He hated to admit that Peter was horrible at Quidditch, not that Remus was all that good either, but Peter could barely hold onto a quaffle.

It was almost fortunate that Peter wouldn't be at James' house during the summer. It would save him a lot of torture. Even if his 'friends' at home weren't too nice, they couldn't do worse damage than James and Sirius, though Remus knew that the both of them liked Peter to some degree.

He stood up and went inside and up to his bedroom. This letter had reminded him that he needed to write to Lily. They hadn't really known each other until fifth year when they both became prefects. Since then they had been pretty close friends. Both liked to read and didn't like Quidditch as much as most people. They had started to study together and then ended up hanging out during the times that Sirius and James had detention, which was quite often.

Sitting at his desk, which was very meticulously organized like the rest of his room, he pulled out some parchment and started to write.

Lils-

How are you? My summer has been alright so far. I got a letter from Peter last night. The usual things are happening to him. He has a few people he thinks are friends, but I expect that they are having a laugh at his Quidditch skills.

I hope you are well. Isn't it nice to have a relief from the stress of N.E.W.T level classes? I am especially happy to leave potions behind, though I have started on the homework already. You, of course, have no problem with potions, being part of the Slug Club and all. Not to say you don't deserve it. You are quite brilliant in potions.

I am supposed to be going to James' soon, though I have forgotten when. I will try not to do anything you wouldn't approve of, as I try to stay as far from their pranks as possible, most of the time, but I will have to associate with James, which you have never approved of.

You know he isn't all that bad. It just seems that he acts like more of a git whenever around you, which is a lot of the time. Sometimes I thought he might be following you. But he isn't a stalker or anything.

Don't let Petunia bother you too much.

Sincerely,

Remus Lupin

He gave the letter to his owl and sent it quickly. With nothing else to do, he opened his potions book and started to read.

/.\

Peter's hands were shaking slightly with excitement. He had just received a letter from James. His mother had called up the stairs that someone had written him and he had rushed from his room and ended up falling halfway down. He had bruised his elbow and knees, but he was okay.

When he saw the messy way his name was scrawled on the outside of the letter he had known it was James. His mothered stared after him when he ripped the letter from her hand and dashed back to his room, skipping over every other stair.

Now he was sitting at his desk, which was placed in front of his window, opening the letter.

Wormtail,

I was wondered if you got your mom to let you come this summer. Reply soon.

Prongs

His mother would never let him go to the Potter's for the summer. She was afraid that something would happen to him or that he would miss home. Mrs. Pettigrew had been overprotective of her son since his father died when he was three years old. Most of the time Peter did not mind his mother fussing over him, but this was an exception. He always missed all of the best times the Marauders had and no matter how he begged, she would never let him go.

Sighing, he took out a spare parchment and a quill.

Prongs,

My mother still hasn't budged. I always miss all of the good stuff. Its not fair. Your house isn't dangerous or anything. But there is no way to convince her, so I am stuck here. Maybe next year, right?

How has your summer been? Mine has been okay. Played a bit of Quidditch. I started some homework. Didn't they give us a lot this year? I don't know how I will get through it. Maybe Moony will help me. I think I will write him right now.

Wormtail

He was still smiling about the unexpected letter from James as he wrote to Remus.