A/N: Hello HP fans! I hope you enjoy this chapter. Thanks to Official Scroll Keeper, and Rionabelle for your support. You ladies are awesome, especially when it came to publishing this story! :D

Lily/James: The Party

"This is his house?" croaked Lily Evans incredulously. The house was old and large. Ivy climbed up the sides and a large veranda wrapped around the front of the house. A tall gate ran around the perimeter, and from the amount of windows Lily could tell there were many rooms. Lily knew that the Potters came from old money, but she didn't realize that James lived in such luxury.

No wonder he's so arrogant thought Lily.

But even she knew that it was a dying insult. James Potter had gotten less arrogant and had become kinder all for a girl that was standing at his doorstep.

Inside, James was talking to Remus about the upcoming year when Sirius came bounding down the stairs.

"James! James! James!" Sirius yelled, bursting into the rambunctious party. People turned to stare at him, and Sirius cleared his throat—trying not to make too much of a scene—as he sauntered over to James.

"James, Lily is here," whispered Sirius, grabbing a goblet of firewhiskey.

James' immediately turned to Sirius—his hand jumping to his hair—"Merlin, outside?"

Sirius nodded vigorously. "You remember the plan right?"

James just nodded once, and grabbed another firewhiskey. He downed the contents like a tequila shot, and made his way to the foyer.

When he was out of earshot, Remus turned to Sirius with a disapproving glare, "What plan?"

The two girls walked up the stairs and knocked on the door using the owl shaped knocker.

"Yes, it's huge isn't it?" replied Alice Prewett, looking appreciatively at the large manor.

"Remind me again why I let you drag me here," complained Lily, as she fussed with the hem of her floral tank top. It was a hot August day, and James was having his annual end-of-summer party. She dearly wished that she had put her coppery locks into a ponytail instead of leaving it down.

"Because you need to get out of your house—away from Petunia and her whale of a fiancée—" Lily snorted, "and also, you're my wing girl. Frank is going to be here, and you wouldn't leave me unaccompanied, would you?" finished Alice while batting her eyes innocently.

Lily grumbled annoyed, and was about to reply cuttingly when the door swung open revealing a nervous-looking James Potter. He ran a hand through his messy black hair.

"Hello, ladies, welcome," he greeted, with a wide gesture with his arms. The girls followed him into the foyer, where they were greeted with a small house elf. He took the coats from the two girls, and scurried away after bowing deeply to James.

Lily was clearly shocked by the serving elf.

"You two look beautiful, by the way," said James, but his eyes lingered on Lily and her bare legs that were accentuated with a denim skirt. Lily noticed this also, and was about to retort when Alice jabbed her in the stomach.

"Thank you...Pot- James," acknowledged Lily with a curt nod and forced smile. She was going to be nice for Alice's sake.

James, however, took this as a good sign, and led them to the living room where the party was happening.

Groups of people stood talking to one another, and loud music blared from the ceiling. The lights were dimmed and people swayed a little drunkenly to the beat. Lily quickly scanned the room for another familiar friend. She found no one much to her dismay. Well except for a few troublemakers...

"Lily!" bellowed a familiar face. Sirius Black crushed her into an enormous bear hug that she returned happily.

"Hullo Sirius," she replied, smiling at his liveliness.

She moved onto Remus, and gave him a big hug also. Alice slipped away quietly during the reunion and found Frank by the food and drinks.

"Where's Peter?" asked Lily, glancing around for the missing Marauder.

"He's on a vacation with his family," replied Sirius, waving his hand around—dismissing the topic. The three continued to chat idly, until James joined up with them.

"Prongs! Did you find more firewhiskey?" blurted Sirius excitedly.

James laughed, "Yes I did. It's over there by the food."

"Great!" exclaimed Sirius, "Moony! C'mon." Sirius proceeded to drag Remus away, giving him just enough time to smile apologetically to Lily.

Lily chuckled at Sirius' childish excitement, and turned to James.

"You've got quite a party here," commented Lily, gesturing to the loud music and cliques of people.

"Yes...but it's a little too loud and stuffy in here...let's go to another room," decided James putting his plan into action. He pulled Lily along with him, navigating through the groups of people.

She was about to object, but it was getting uncomfortable with the masses of people. On her way out of the room, she caught Alice's eyes. Alice gave her a knowing smirk, but Lily couldn't respond since James tugged her forward.

James led her into a relatively small room that contained a few couches that surrounded a large fireplace. One sofa stood out the most.

It was a ruby velvet love seat that was nearest the fireplace.

James pulled her down onto the comfy love seat, with a curious expression on his face. Almost as if he was...scared.

He eased onto the cushions carefully, and he immediately relaxed when Lily sat down next to him. The love seat was so snug that one would immediately sink into its velvet pillows. It was great for cuddling.

Too bad they weren't a couple.

"Could I tell you a story?" asked James, who was trying not to eye Lily's bare legs that were folded beneath her.

"Erm, I suppose," responded Lily unsurely. She tucked a strand of red hair behind her ear.

James then launched into this bizarre story of 'Aphrodite's Sofa.' Lily laughed freely when James finished his quick story.

"So you're saying, the sofa forced people to kiss each other because it knew who would be together?"

James nodded seriously.

Lily lapsed into renewed giggles, "That's completely mental."

James nodded in agreement. "You know what's even weirder? We're sitting on the same sofa," he whispered.

Lily laughed, but she faltered when she saw James' serious expression. "Wait...you're serious?"

James nodded, and then all of a sudden—as if it was waiting for James to finish—the armrest shoved Lily into James. She gave a squeak of surprise, and tried to get up, but it was like there was a permanent sticking charm on her butt and the cushion.

And then the love seat started to constrict, compelling Lily to squish painfully into James' chest—who looked like Christmas had just came early. His glee made Lily angry, but she could do nothing about it as the sofa squeezed together.

And suddenly she felt a big calloused hand caressing her cheek. Lily looked up into the hazel eyes of James Potter.

She could clearly see them through his glasses, and they looked bottomless—like she could swim in the deep abyss of the brown and green colors. He had long dark eyelashes that blinked slowly—taking her in—memorizing her.

"You know how the story goes," whispered James. And then he started to lean in, and the love seat pushed her further to close the small gap between them.

And suddenly, his rough lips were on hers.

She pulled back, but James just followed her mouth. And when Lily opened her mouth to protest, he took it as an invitation to slip his tongue in between her lips. She tried again to say no, but instead it came out as a soft moan. Or maybe it really was a moan—hell, even she didn't know in her confused stupor. All she knew was that the kiss made her toes curl and heart race. The sensation was not altogether unpleasant.

Then—completely betraying herself—Lily's hand tangled into James' shaggy black locks. Finally they both pulled away, breathing heavily, their breaths warm on each others face's.

Lily sat their stunned—what was she supposed to do now? How was she supposed to react, when all she wanted to do was fist her hands in his shirt and kiss him again?

"Lily? Will you go out to dinner with me, today?" asked James casually. But being in such close proximity, she could hear the sincere longing behind his tone.

And then—for the second time that day—Lily betrayed her feelings, "That sounds do-able."

James face broke out into the widest grin that she had ever seen. He had never looked so happy, and Lily felt her heartstrings tug when she realized that she had caused that smile.

And suddenly, going out on a date with James Potter seemed better than going out on a date with the Giant Squid.

The pair relaxed on the love seat while they fell into a comfortable silence.

Little did they know that their names were now carved into the bottom of the love seat...

A/N: I hope you enjoyed that! More to come soon! :D Please, please, please review! Thanks for reading! I really appreciate it!