Girlfriend Will Do Just Fine
Lily Evans, Arabella Figg, Helen Adams and the Marauders gathered up their things, promising to write each other and try to get together during the summer.
Helen sniffled, wiping her eyes. "Just think, we'll never go back to Hogwarts again, at least not as students."
Remus hugged her tight. "You never know, maybe we all failed our NEWTS and we'll have to repeat seventh year," he joked.
Helen shook her head, looking horrified. "Oh, no. I'm done with studying."
"I second the notion," Sirius called lazily.
"Pfft. You've never studied in your life," Arabella said scornfully.
"Well, I don't intend to start now."
Lily smiled at her best friends. "Shall we go, then?"
Sirius dashed forward and scooped Lily into a bone-crushing embrace. "Group hug!" he bellowed. The group piled on, laughing, until Lily screeched, "I need air!"
Arabella smiled sadly. "I'm really going to miss you- all of you."
"Don't remind me," Helen said tearfully. "Wait, Bella. Are you...crying?"
Arabella lifted her nose and turned to the side. "Of course not."
"Yes, you are," Sirius accused.
"Shut up, Black," Arabella spat. "The rest of you, have a good summer, and I hope we see each other."
She left the compartment hurriedly, trunk and owl in tow.
"And then there were six," James said.
"I've gotta go, too," Peter said. "My mum's probably waiting."
"Bye, Peter!" Lily and Helen chorused.
"And then there were five," James said.
Helen launched herself at Remus, hugging him tightly. Then she turned to Sirius and James. "Don't get into too much trouble, all right?"
"Yes, ma'am," James saluted.
Helen left with a last glance.
"Why didn't she say bye to you, Lils?"
Lily laughed exasperatedly. "She's my next door neighbor, James. Anyway, I'm not going to bother with these sad, teary goodbyes, because I expect to see you all within two weeks."
"That would be nice," Remus said.
"Great, bye." Lily waved, grabbing her trunk and owl and hurrying off the train.
James called after her disappointedly, "Lily? No goodbye?"
The fiery head turned back to glance briefly at him as she continued down the train. "I don't know about your parents, but mine want to meet you."
James grinned and followed her. "Been telling them about me, have you?"
Lily swatted him on the arm, avoiding rewarding him with a look. "They wanted to meet the Head Boy I had to work with all year, especially since we had to share a dormitory."
"Well, I've been telling my parents about you," James informed her confidentially.
"Have you really?" Lily asked distractedly, searching the crowds for her parents. "There they are!" She rushed over into the embrace of a woman who looked remarkably like her, except for the eyes.
James followed behind her more slowly, giving her a chance to talk to her parents alone for a moment before introducing himself.
Lily's mother spotted him over her daughter's head. "Who's this, Lily dear?"
Lily turned around. "This is James Potter, one of my best friends. He was the Head Boy- we worked together on a lot of things. This is my mum, Maria Evans."
"Pleasure to meet you," James told her politely. "I've really enjoyed working with Lily this year."
"Well, I'm glad to hear that," Maria said, shaking his hand.
As soon as they had finished with the necessary niceties, Lily grabbed James' hand and pulled him over to where his parents were waiting, calling over her shoulder, "I'm going to meet James' parents - I'll be right back."
James led her to an older couple, a woman with James' sparkling hazel eyes and a man with his unruly hair.
"Mum, Dad, meet my girlfriend - I mean my girl who's a friend - I mean friend who's a girl. No, I mean, um..."
James' mother was struggling to suppress a laugh, and his father was trying hard not to smile, and, or course, failing miserably. He regretted it now, but James had told his parents that Lily Evans was the girl he fancied and that she was the only girl in the school who wouldn't go out with him - she thought he was a big-headed, egotistical prat.
"Her name is Lily," Sirius put in helpfully, suddenly appearing behind the Potters.
"Thank you, Sirius," James said, glaring at his best friend.
"Don't worry, Prongs, I'm sure you would've remembered eventually." Sirius grinned, winking at Lily.
Lily laughed and drew closer to her fellow Head Student. "James?" When he looked at her, she continued. "Girlfriend will do just fine."
James gaped at her, trying to find words and failing entirely.
Lily bit her lip, looking crestfallen. Her face pinkened. "It's fine if you don't want to. I just thought..." she trailed off, turning away to leave.
James finally found his voice. He grabbed her arm and spun her back around. "Oh, I want to. Just give me a minute to process it."
Lily waited patiently until James continued.
"Okay, now say it again."
"Girlfriend will do just fine."
James grinned triumphantly, his expression full of joy and love. "Does that mean I can kiss you?" he asked.
Sirius snickered and both James and Lily glared daggers at him.
"Not in front of everyone, you can't," Lily said resolutely, although a smile tugged at the corners of her lips.
"Lily...I, um, forgot something on the train. Come help me look for it,"James told her as he dragged her back onto the Hogwarts Express.
He tugged her into the nearest compartment and slammed the door.
A slow, nervous smile spread across Lily's face as she realized something. "You didn't leave something. This isn't our compartment. James, when I said 'not in front of everyone' I meant -"
But James never found out what Lily meant, because he chose that moment to lean forward, wrap his arms around her, and press his lips to hers.
And sadly, the porter chose that moment to check if anyone was in their compartment.
"Blimey! Off the train, you two!"
They hurried away, Lily's face flushed with embarrassment, James angry that his first kiss with Lily Evans had been so rudely interrupted.
On the drive home, Lily repeatedly brushed her fingers over her lips, remembering the softness and warmth of James Potter's lips against hers, the way they fitted so naturally around each other, the feel of his pepperminty breath on her lips... Lily was in a daze the whole drive home.
"So, honey, what did James forget?" her mother asked.
"Oh... just his glasses case. It was under the seat," Lily lied quickly.
"Mmmm-hmmm. Right," said Lily's father.
"You're sure?" Maria Evans questioned suspiciously.
"Absolutely positive." Lily could hear her parents laughing softly in the front seat. They obviously knew that that was not the truth.
As soon as James had apparated home with his parents and Sirius, he shut himself in his room and began to write a letter. Twenty minutes later, his Great Gray owl flew out of his second-story window.
22 MONTHS LATER
"LILY! WHAT IS THAT ON YOUR HAND?!" Arabella shrieked.
"I do believe it's called an engagement ring, Bella."
"An...ENGAGEMENT RING?" Arabella fell back onto the couch at the entrance of the restaurant at which they were going on a triple-date. Helen, Lily, Arabella, Remus, James, and Sirius. Peter was meeting his girlfriend's parents and hadn't been able to make it. "You're getting married and you DIDN'T TELL ME?"
"Possibly," Lily said elusively.
"Is it James?" Bella asked eagerly.
"You'll see," Lily replied.
"You guys can't have broken up, you were perfect together. Did you?"
"You'll see."
"Aargh! Just tell me already!"
"He'll be here."
"You are infuriating, Lily Evans," Arabella huffed, crossing her arms.
A new voice came from behind them. "She's Lily Potter now."
Arabella, Sirius, Helen and Remus' jaws dropped as one as they turned to face James Potter, his arms crossed, a satisfied smile on his face.
"You're married!?" all four of their other friends shouted.
"What? Hell, no. This summer," James told them. "But she already calls herself Lily Potter."
Sirius grinned. "I think she likes you, James."
"Do you think?" Lily asked sarcastically before slipping her arms around James' waist and kissing him.
A/N:
I went through and edited this story, because I realized it was awful. There are a few major changes, but for the most part it's the same. I think it's a whole lot better. Also, thanks to everyone who reviewed on the original. It means the world to me.
Discaimer: Nothing belongs to me. Don't sue. Imitation is the highest form of flattery.