1. Love, lies and fire

"JAMES! Get your hands of me!" Lily twisted out of the black haired boy's arms. They had been at Hogwarts for 3 months of their 6th year, and it hadn't been a day without James hugging and trying to kiss her.

"Give me a chance Lill, why are you always pushing me away?" James looked at Lily as she hid behind their common friend Remus.

"You know I've got a boyfriend, someone I'm very fond of."

"I have a girlfriend too, but I like you more." Remus wasn't a good shield against James, who was stronger and taller then Remus. But it didn't look like James would go after her again.

"You have a new girl every week, I don't care how much you like your girlfriends but I like Tom a lot. So leave me alone. We have been arguing, fighting and disagreeing since we met 6 years ago, can't we just keep it that way?" He looked in to the fiery eyes of the angry redhead hiding behind Remus.

"What do you see in that Ravenclaw-guy anyway, he can't even fly, not as good as me anyway."

"Maybe flying isn't everything Mr. I'm-the-best-seeker-in-the-whole-damned-world-and-don't-forget-I'm-a-prefect." Lily snarled. If she got any angrier now it was James Remus had to protect.

"I like redheads, they have a nasty temper and that makes them rely fiery." James grinned at her.

"Relax Lily, breathe; no good will come out of hitting him," Remus said, he could see she was mad.

"Hi Lill, you win anyway, Tom is probably waiting and James has to find his stupid bimbo of a girlfriend to get comfort. But he doesn't have you, so you won." The blond girl sitting in the chair closest to them finally put down her book on quidditch to stop them before it got out of hand, the blond girl was Nagini, Lily's best friend and the Gryffindor keeper.

"You are right, he's probably waiting, see you later," Lily said as she regained her self-control.

"Yes, you'll definitely see me later," James said looking at her with his brown puppy dog eyes.

"I wasn't talking to you," She snapped before she left the common room.

"Why is she doing this to me?" James asked as he sat down in the chair next to Nagini.

"She's? She's doing this to you? She isn't doing anything to you. You're the only one doing anything. She's trying to have a normal relationship with Tom. Face it Potter, she just doesnt like you." James took the book out of her hands.

"You fixed her up with this Tom-guy, why didn't you just fix her up with me instead?" Nagini was trying to get her book back, but James wouldn't let her have it.

"Easy, you always argue, don't have anything in common and you would find a new girl the next day. I don't fix my friends up to get hurt. Can I have my book back now?"

"No." James said firmly.

"Come on James, don't you have a girl to kiss or something." Nagini tried in vain to get her book back.

"No, she just left. Can we play chess?"

"No, I want to read. Can't I just fix you up with someone to play chess with?"

"Ok, fix me up with someone to play with, and you'll get your book back."

"And you'll leave me alone?" Nagini send him a pleading look.

"Of course." James agreed.

"Remus, please play with this sweet talking, two-timing, bragging, stupid, dirt bag so I'll have my book back and no girls get their hart broken before practice tonight, please." One look into her blue eyes and Remus would do anything she asked him to.

"Sure, if he doesn't have anything better to do."

"No, lets play." James gave Nagini her book back.

h*-*-*-*-*h

Lily was still furious as she walked down the corridors towards the library to meet Tom. Why did James do this to her? She must admit he looked great, but he wasn't her type, and she was definitely not his type. Lily liked to have some safety around her, not jump in and out of relationships without feelings. So James would be the last one on her list. Anyway Tom was really sweet and nice. Lily wouldn't say she loved him; love is to big a word for a 16-year-old girl, or boy, to chew on. But she liked him a lot, they had been dating since Easter and everything was going just fine.

Someone was standing outside the library; Lily could see him from the distance. Tall, dark blond hear, it was Tom all right, grey eyes and the sweetest smile. "Hi sweetie." He said and kissed her gently.

"Hi, sorry I'm late."

"Doesn't matter, you're here now. I knew you'd be late, you've been late every time we have a date, or like now studding, this hole year." He was irritated, Lily could see it. Potter, it was Potter's fault every time.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, it's not my fault, some things always gets in the way." This would be a bad time to tell Tom it was Potter's fault she was late.

"Does your reason have a name?" Lily looked up at him.

"What?" Tom smiled.

"I mean; is there anybody special that keeps you from meeting me?" Lily shook he head and smiled.

"No... no of course not, just things popping up." Lily hated to lie, especially to Tom. But telling your boyfriend that one of the school's Casanovas kept her from going on her dates wasn't a good ide.

"Good. Are we going to get some studying done or what?" Tom looked impatient at her.

"Yes, lets get to work." Tom kissed her cheek and wrapped his arm around her.

"Can you help me with my charms essay, you're so much better at charms than me."

"I can help you, but I'm not going to tell you what to write again." Lily whispered as they entered the library. She already had top grades in all classes except transfiguration so there was nothing Tom could help her with.

"That's ok, I have already started."

"Great, then maybe I'll get started on my DADA-essay." She didn't intend it but there was a touch of sarcasms in her voice.

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing sweetheart, nothing." She kissed him. They sat down in the back of the library.

James stood outside the library watching Lily. The sun played in her long, silky, red hair. She bit her cherry red lip, stroking her white quill against her slightly freckled cheek. Every time she looked over at Tom's paper James could see her green eyes sparkling. James hoped he'd never get closer to risking his life then right now. He knew that just by talking to her he would make that beautiful smile on her lips disappear, but he had to talk to her.

As he walked through the room the groups of girls whispered, sent him winks and waves. Please talk to me Lily, please talk to me, James thought when he stopped next to Lily and Tom's table. "Hi Lill." James voice was low and careful

"Hi James, I'm not talking to you." Lily was still looking down in the book in front of her.

"I come in peace. James raised his hands. Remus asked me, if I could ask you; do you need any help with you're transfiguration?" James couldn't avoid seeing Toms look, the lay-off-my-girl-or-I-will-kill-you-look.

"You're right, I need some serious help, but I'll just get Remus to help me. James, we aren't friends, I don't want to talk to you." Lily looked up at James and into his brown sad eyes.

"Ok, but if you need any help, I'd bee glad to help." James' eyes fell to what was supposed to bee Lily's DADA essay, 3 lines, 3 bloody lines. He had been watching them for some time and she had written 3 lines.

"I'll help her," Tom said mostly to defend Lily from James.

"That isn't much help." Tom couldn't hear what James said, but Lily could.

"You don't have to, Remus will help me. Go away James." Lily smiled, hoping hed actually leave.

"Ok, I just have one question; have you done anything but those 3 lines while you two have been here?" Lily looked down on her essay; How does Dementors influence humans? Lilys smile faded.

"No, I haven't. Just go away James, please."

"I'll go, you found a good subject. You're a smart girl Lill, make some smart choices." To Lily's relief James left the library.

"Is he your reason?" Tom looked into her eyes.

"My what?"

"Your reason, why you're always late?"

"No, no, of course not. We aren't even friends. I'll have to find some books on dementors." Lily started to search the shelves for suitable books.

Lying two times in one day to your boyfriend isn't a good thing to do. A relationship should be based on trust. But if he didn't trust her with James now, what would he do if he knew the truth? Some things are better kept a secret. The worst thing was really that James tried to be nice and sweet, some times, and he did a really good job. Lily hated to push him away when he was like that, but what could she do? Suddenly Lily felt a pair of arms around her waist and heard a low familiar voice.

"You missed this one," he said, holding a book in his hand.

"James stop it, get your hands off me." She whispered. He didn't let her go; instead he kissed her bare neck. His touch made her tremble. To Lily this was a new feeling. His lips barely touching her, gently caressing her skin, but still making every nerve he touched send shivers down her spine. Her brain told her to stop him, but something else inside somewhere told her to let him continue. And right now that something else was winning the battle of her mind.

"Sorry, I just couldn't resist." He let her go. That something that had allowed him to continue wanted her to say don't stop, but her brain regained control and she said:

"What do you think you're doing? My boyfriend's sitting..." James interrupted her.

"Your boyfriend is 4 shelves away, anyway I just wanted to give you this. It's an interesting book, especially for your essay."

"A psychological study of Azkabans prisoners and their crimes. Youve read this?" Lily looked surprised at James.

Yes, it's mostly about how prisoners that committed different types of crime react."

"Thanks!"

"Take good care of it, it's mine, they don't have it in the library. And Lill, I meant what I said about transfiguration. Just ask, ok?"

"Ok, I'll have to get back to Tom. And James, don't ever do anything like what you just did again." James turned smiling and left her alone between the bookshelves again.

A/N: More to come, just have to write it first. Please review. Many thanks to them stands out my writhing day and night, especially to Lasse for reading and correcting my stories.