"I DO NOT CARE ABOUT YOU!" Lily yelled through her closed and locked door, then collapsed on her bed, trying very hard not to let the fat, hot tears of anger slip out of her eyes.

"You're fighting a losing battle, dear," her mirror told her.

Outside, James pressed his ear to the door.

"What else can I do?" Lily asked, frustrated, bunching the red-and-gold duvet up in her fingers. "I've fought with him for so long, I don't know anything else."

"What did he do, dear?"

"We were getting along so well!" Lily wailed. "Talking... laughing... he hadn't asked me out in months. Then the stupid prick had to ask me to the next Hogsmeade weekend." she slammed her fist against the pillow. It sank into the feathery fluffiness until it was out of sight.

"You love him, don't you, dear?"

A thoughtful silence.

"I do," Lily said, slowly, "but I don't know what to do about it! Think of what the school's reaction would be, the teasing and the I-told-you-so's... and Potter would be unbearable!" Lily said miserably.

Outside, James's mouth fell open. He pressed his ear even harder against the door.

"I think James would simply be ecstatic. He really loves you."

"He loves me as long as I'm mad at him, as long as he can't have me, as long as I'm passionate and furious," Lily told the mirror, sitting up and staring at her reflection, with the puffy eyes and wild red hair. "Where would that fire go once he had me? He'd lose interest."

"He wouldn't," the mirror disagreed. "You would still have that fire that makes you Lily, I guarantee it. And James loves you for being you."

Lily sighed. "James would never love me if I surrendered."

"Yes, I would."

Lily whipped around. She had neither seen nor heard the door open and she'd been absolutely sure she'd colloportus'd it shut. But there he was, looking unbearably attractive and anxious. His black hair was lying as flat as he could make it, which wasn't flat at all, and his glasses were slightly askew on his nose. The lamplight glinted off one lens, but through the other one could easily see a wide, gold-flecked hazel eye, unblinkingly staring at her.

"Listening at my door, Potter?" Lily said, as loftily as she could manage.

"I came back to apologize," he said, softly, "and I won't ask you out again. I'm sorry I heard a bit of your conversation."

Lily's mouth twitched. "Come over here," she said. When he didn't move, she walked over, grabbed him by the shirt front, and kissed him.

The mirror sighed happily. "I love happy endings," it said.