After All These Years

*****

"Wow! Look at the handle. Just look at it! Have you ever seen anything more clean or more shiny?" Sirius asked, marveling and gaping at his new broomstick.

"I can't believe you just blew 400 galleons on that," James said, looking at Sirius in disbelief. "400 galleons down the toilet!"

"I'm so sorry, mother," Sirius snorted.

"It's okay, dear. You're grounded for two weeks, now give me the broom," James said, grinning his usual lopsided grin.

"Aww, mummy! But I want the broom!" Sirius whined, acting like a five year old. "Baby Sirius wants the broom! Baby Sirius wants it!" Sirius yanked the broom from James' hand. James threw his hands in the air in defeat and handed over the new broomstick while Sirius gloated.

"He has problems, doesn't he?" Lily said quietly to James.

James laughed and shrugged. "I've known him all my life - we play around all the time. We're like brothers, I mean - I know him. Really know him."

Lily smiled. "That's neat. I've always wanted someone like that. You're so lucky."

"I know. Thanks. But sometimes he can be such a pain in my arse," James smiled back.

"Um, when you two are done staring into each other's eyes and flirting, can we go find Remie and Bella?" Sirius said.

"Yes, and we were NOT flirting!" Lily laughed.

"Ha! So you admit it, you WERE staring into each other's eyes!" Sirius said triumphantly.

"Come on, let's go find Remus and Arabella," Lily said evasively, grabbing Sirius' and James' hands and dragging it them toward a few shops.

The threesome walked around Diagon Alley and finally bumped into Arabella and Remus who had just finished buying ice cream from Florean Fortescue's Ice-cream Parlor. Arabella was holding a massive cone, with a massive scoop of ice cream on it. Remus was holding the change.

"Moony... nice!" Sirius sniggered, eyeing the cone. Obviously he thought Arabella and Remus were going to share it.

"Shut up, you big git," Remus replied, his cheeks flushed.

"I may be a big git, but not as much as a ladies' man as you, Remie," Sirius winked.

"Ugh, I'm not eating ice cream... Bella is." Remus rolled his eyes.

"Oh, Sirius! Shut up, you're just jealous because you can't keep a steady girlfriend," Arabella said, rolling her eyes while licking her huge ice cream cone. "Mmm!" She squealed in delight. "This ice cream is delicious! Thanks Remus!"

"Your welcome," Remus answered, shoving the change into his pocket.

"Well, what if I don't want a steady girlfriend?" Sirius asked, raising an eyebrow and crossing his arms.

"Right. You just dump every girl you date because you're not looking for love, or anything. Just a fling," Arabella said lightly, rolling her eyes and licking her ice cream.

"Bell, that was harsh! If you want to talk to the real womanizer here, talk to the man next to me - James Potter. He's been with even more ladies than I ever have - or will," Sirius said, gesturing towards James.

"James and that scrawny arse of his, a womanizer?" Lily laughed.

"Hey, I don't have a scrawny arse!" James said indignantly while trying to look at his behind, but he failed miserably and looked like a dog chasing his tail. "Argh! I can't see it." James muttered a spell and summoned a mirror. He went in front of the mirror, looking smug. "Well, my arse is muscular and just perfect fine. In fact, I think it looks better than it ever was!"

"What mirror are you looking in?" Sirius snorted with laughter.

Everyone else sniggered while James looked irritated.

"What is this, 'Insult-James-Day-and-make-him-pissed'?" James asked cynically. Sirius got out his little black book, which he mostly used for getting girls' phone numbers, and shrugged. "If you want me to, I will make it 'Insult-James-Day-and-make-him-pissed' today." Sirius grinned while Lily playfully hit his shoulder and Remus and Arabella was still sniggering.

"You're just jealous because you don't have my fine bottom," James said, crossing his arms, and admiring his bottom some more.

Sirius rolled his eyes and said sarcastically, "Sure, sure. Like I'd need your butt."

*****

They reached the brick wall. As Remus and Arabella exchanged hugs and kisses, Sirius sniggered, and James smiled at Lily. She had changed so much since they had been Head Boy and Girl together, during their final year at Hogwarts. She never spoke to him much. She was always the "in-the-corner-studying-and-doing-homework-top-of-all-her-classes" girl. She was fat, ugly, loathed, friendless, a loser, unpopular, pimple-faced...but now she was... beautiful, to put it bluntly.

"James," Sirius muttered while elbowing him hard in the ribs. His trance broke and he faced Sirius.

"What?" James growled angrily.

"It's time to go," Sirius winked. His voice dropped to a whisper only James could hear. "I saw the way you were staring at Lily." Sirius nudged James.

"What about the way I was staring at her?" James muttered back.

"You're in love," Sirius said, sniggering. "I wonder when this day would come... my wittle baby all grown up, aw isn't dat sweet, int dat just suh-weet?"

"Well, I hope we can do this again soon," Lily said, smiling her dazzling smile at everyone. Is it just me, or can I not feel my legs anymore? James thought as he smiled back to her.

"Well, g'bye," Arabella said, blowing Remus a kiss.

"Goodbye," Remus said, waving slightly, as Lily and Arabella apparated back to their flat.

*****

"Y'know Prongs, I saw the way you were looking at her," Sirius said, through chewing on his dinner, a chicken burger with extra everything, his ultimate favorite.

"Um, okay," James said reluctantly.

"I swear - it looked like you're in love with her of something," Sirius said, his mouth opened wide, chomping on his food.

"Padfoot! Shut your mouth, I can see your ABC food!" James said in disgust. (A/N: For those of you who don't know, ABC food is already been chewed food ;).)

Sirius swallowed and said, "I'm not the only one who eats like that." And coughed which oddly sounded like 'James Potter'.

"Well, I don't love, or like her romantically. I was just really shocked. I mean, look how much she's changed. She was so ugly and fat and despised at Hogwarts, and look at her now! I mean, she's so... pretty," James said. "I bet she'd kill at the reunion." Sirius and James knew that the reunion of Hogwarts was coming up in a month. It had been a few years since they graduated, and an old rich classmate of theirs invited everyone in their year to her house. Her name was Narcissa White, and of course, being James' ex-girlfriend, he was one of the very few people to be informed. Who wouldn't want the most popular guy and most wanted - well, ONE of the most wanted guys at your party who was ALSO your ex-boyfriend? Narcissa mainly wanted to show him what he had been missing.

"Yeah, you're right. But, hell, I was shocked too, and she is really pretty, but you were totally drooling, it looked like you wanted to eat her," Sirius replied, taking another bite of his burger, with his mouth closed while chewing this time.

"Was it that obvious?" James said thoughtfully.

"Yes," Sirius said through his stuffed mouth. This time it was open and James was disgusted and heaved a sigh. "When's the wedding?"

*****

"... did you see the way they were looking at me? I mean, they were gaping at me like I was some purple sloth with fangs sticking out of me or something," Lily said, shaking her head.

Arabella laughed. "You are NOT a purple sloth - they were gaping at you, because... well, just look at you!"

"What about me? I haven't changed that much, have I?" Lily asked, standing in front of the mirror.

"Yes, you have! I've seen pictures of you in your Hogwarts days! They haven't seen you since the days in Hogwarts and you were the opposite of what you are now back then. Plus, Sirius and James were staring at you like there was no tomorrow." Arabella giggled.

"Yes, well, being beautiful can be quite complicated sometimes," Lily said lightly, straightening her shirt and trying to keep a straight face. Failing miserably, she burst into laughter with Arabella as they rolled on her bed, gossiping about every detail about the Marauders'.

*****

"James! An owl's here for you!" Sirius yelled, while opening the window to let the barn-colored owl in. He swooped in as James entered the room. The letter clutched tightly in the talons of the owl fell lightly into James' hands and the owl perched on his shoulder.

"Good Apollo..." James said softly. He stroked his head. What do Mum and Dad want? James wondered.

Dear James,

This is your father. Still remember me, eh, lad? Well, me and your mother and I were thinking, would you like to go to a trip to France? We just came back and thought it was absolutely splendid. The sights, the food - everything. And the price is really cheap too. 20 galleons per person. And you could take one of your friends. We'll pay for it, oh, and the trip's about two weeks long. Be sure to owl me back, laddie.

Your Father

Hmm... would I like to go to France? It sounds fun, but whom should I bring? Sirius, of course, he's got nothing to do... Remus? Hm, then I'd have to bring Arabella. Oh bloody hell, she can come to, then Lily gets to come. Yay. Wait did I just say 'Yay'? Oh god, what in bloody hell is wrong with me?

James got out a quill and parchment and started furiously started to scratching letters onto the parchment with the quill pen.

Dear Father,

This is your son. Still remember me, eh, pop? Haha. Well, I'd love to accept your offer. I was thinking on bringing Sirius, Remus, Arabella, and Lily? Arabella is Remus' girlfriend, and Lily's her best friend. We're all good friends and we'd have loads of fun on this trip. Especially with Sirius hanging around us. I'll owl you back when I get everyone's reply. Thanks so much for being nice. I love you!

James

James sent the letter off with Apollo and got another piece of parchment and started to scribble letters on it.

Dear Lily and Arabella,

My parents were asking me if I wanted to go to a trip to France, and I could bring a friend/friends. Since you guys are my friends, would you like to go with me? I'll have to bring Remus - for Arabella's sake, and Sirius is coming along too. He's got nothing to do. We can get to know each other better, there's a lot of catching up we must do, eh? And maybe become closer friends. Send me back your answer with Apollo ASAP.

Waiting for your answer,
James

James checked over the parchment over, so spelling mistakes wouldn't embarrass him. He finally got a good copy and sent it off with Sirius' sickly, pale, green owl - Hooters.

He laid back in his chair. France - here we come!

*****

"... so can you come?" James asked hopefully. He had just finished explaining about the whole trip.

"Oh, James. I know you want me to come... but what about Moony's time-of-the-month?" Sirius said, his voice dropping to a low mutter.

"Oh, I forgot. Well, when's the full moon this month?" James asked.

"Er... Tuesday," Sirius said.

"Okay, we'll leave next Tuesday for two weeks, no problems?" James asked.

Sirius grinned. "Yup. Now let's see if the redhead and blondie want to go."

*****