A/N: I apologise so very much for abandoning this fic, but I'm back, and I vow to update regularly. And if I don't, send me an irate PM. :)
Thank you to my proof reader, Jennikins, who deserves every review she gets. And who will be, hopefully, smiling when she reads this. Now she definitely is. Thank you to all five reviews, also. xD
Happy Valentines Day, to you all!
Disclaimer: It's all JK's, okay? Don't torture me anymore.
"Alice, Alice wait!"
The round-faced girl turned quickly on the spot as a pink-faced James Potter caught up with her, running a hand hurriedly through his windswept hair. Alice raised her eyebrow, bewilderment sweeping across her features. It was a rare moment when James Potter would start a conversation with Alice Hampton of all people, and ever rarer to have him address her by her first name.
"James," she greeted with a small smile. Alice wasn't a loud girl; in fact, she was actually rather coy.
"Alice," James began breathlessly. "I need you to give this to… to Evans." He held out a white scroll of parchment, sealed by an old-fashioned blob of red wax. "Can you do that?"
Alice touched the parchment and looked enquiringly into James' eyes. "But what-?"
"And don't read it." his tone was pleading, pitiful almost. "Please, Alice?"
"Okay," Alice paused. "And James? If it's a clichéd Valentines Day card, let me tell you, Lily won't be pleased."
James grinned fleetingly as Alice plucked the letter from his fingertips. "Just tell her to read it before burning it, okay? I put a lot of effort into that thing. Plus, it's not even Valentines Day yet."
"Will be in about three hours." Alice sighed dramatically and began towards the Girls Dormitory. "Let's just hope your effort prevents you from getting hexed."
Amused, James shook his head as Alice's brunette hair whipped out of sight. If anyone should get an award for best actor, it should be him.
The portrait hole opened abruptly and Sirius poked his head around it. "Prongs, you coming?" he was holding a silvery cloak; it looked almost like water woven into material.
"Yeah," James inhaled deeply before following Sirius, the Fat Lady swinging closed behind them.
"Up for an adventure?" Sirius asked elatedly, yet in a whisper, as he covered them both with the material.
"Sure am. Where's Moony and Wormtail?"
"Already down there."
Silver moonlight rained down through the window, bathing the room in its delicate glow. The time was approaching midnight and two out of the five beds were occupied by sleeping Gryffindors. Two girls were positioned near the door, seated upon two parallel chairs and discussing something under their breath.
"Jen, I can't just open it. I told him I wouldn't. Plus, Lily would know. It's sealed."
"Aw, c'mon. It's not like she would mind, she's not even here yet. Besides, when do you care what James Potter says?"
"I said I wouldn't!"
"I'll do it then."
Jennifer grasped the letter and prised it from her unwilling hands. "I had nothing to do with this." Alice said with a sigh, leaning back on the legs of her chair.
Jennifer rolled her eyes as she slid a finger under the seal. "Chicken."
"Sure am."
Shaking her head with an amused smile on her lips, she began to break through the wax that fastened the letter.
"What are you doing?"
Lily was standing in the doorway, leaning against its frame with an appraising look in her eyes. She was gazing down on the two- Jennifer who was now on the floor- looking between their guilty faces.
"Lily, don't do that!" breathed Jennifer, clutching her thumping heart. "You scared the life outa' me."
"What's this?" Lily asked pryingly, gently touching the envelope that had fallen onto the chair.
"James asked me to give it to you." Alice said quickly, fulfilling her duty by grasping it from Lily's fingertips and holding it out to her.
"Uh, okay," she said, seizing it and trying to bite back a blush and a giggle. "Wait, did you open this?"
Her gaze darkened, the slightest hint of fear flashing across her smile. "Did you open this?"
"Uh," Alice looked from Jennifer and back to Lily, cowering under her gaze.
Jennifer gulped, but began speaking all the same. "I did. I didn't think it would have-"
There was a moment of silence where every ounce of emotion disappeared from Lily's expression, her knuckles turning white due to her grip upon the parchment.
"Lily, are you okay?" Alice said slowly, resting a hand on her friends' forearm.
A bright, forced smile danced across her lips and when she spoke, her voice was strangely shrill. "Sure, don't worry about it. I'm just gonna' go read in the-"
She indicated behind her and hurriedly rushed from the room, holding the letter to her chest. Exhaling relief, Lily collapsed on an armchair near the dying fire and held out the letter. Perhaps this would explain why he was late?
Her fingers traced the purple ink on the front of the letter: her name in James' untidy scrawl. She smiled softly and flipped the parchment over as she began to slit the envelope. A second piece of creased, folded parchment fell into her lap and with her heart flitting about in her chest, she began to read.
Dearest Lily,
Please don't be mad at me but I can't make it tonight.
I promised you that I wouldn't lie to you, and that is why I won't make up an excuse. But I ask you, please, not to ask me where I am, and that way, I won't have to lie. I don't want you to be angry, but I agreed to this a long time ago.
There was a blob of ink on the parchment and several crossings out, many including something along the lines of: 'if you love me…'
Please understand; for me?
I'm sorry.
I love you.
James.
If truth be told, anger was the last thing in her mind at that moment. James had written her a letter, explaining his absence and relaying his utter most apologies. How could she be annoyed at that? But what was really worrying her was what he was up to. Cold fingers of fear gripped at her heart, hissing unnecessary worries into her head.
The minutes crept past in their infuriating slow manner with Lily constantly fingering James' unusually tidy handwriting, tracing over and over the words 'love' and 'James'. An aching feeling replaced her apprehension as she gazed into James' empty space beside her. A fleeting smile crossed her face as she imagined him grinning provokingly and teasing her: 'missing me already, Evans?'
Still clutching the letter to her heart, she allowed sleep to swallow her into dreams filled with ambiguity.
An explosion of green light as fireworks shot into the sky; a raven-haired boy laughing joyously and embracing a girl with stunning, auburn locks; the glint of a diamond ring positioned on her finger; a high-pitched scream and the soft, comforting murmurs as she was lifted from her feet…
"Lily," the gentle murmurs were clearer now as she felt the softness of cold skin brush against her cheek. "Lily, wake up."
Jerking awake, she groaned reluctantly. Lily's eyes fluttered open and locked with James' hazel ones. He was carrying her again, holding her securely against his chest and gazing down at her with an adoring smile painted across his lips. With a gasp, she reached out and gently touched the purple bruising across his cheek, eyes dilated with fear. "James, what happened?"
"Happy Valentines, love." James said softly, ignoring her penetrating gaze, leaning down and kissing her affectionately on the lips.
The blush rose instantly into her cheeks as James broke away and Lily smiled softly. "James?"
"Yep?"
"Put me down."
James laughed heartedly and set her on her feet. She squeezed her eyes shut at the sudden head rush and opened them to find James inches away from her, his arms meandering around her waist. "So, you're not angry at me, then?"
"Of course not."
"And you're not going to ask me where I was?"
"Didn't' you say-?"
"Just testing you."
Lily rolled her eyes and leant her head against his chest. "I had a weird dream."
"You did?" James said half-heartedly, inhaling her scent and pressing his lips against her forehead.
"We were married. I think."
James stepped backwards slightly and looked down at Lily's bashful face. "And how do you feel about that?"
"Are you implying something?"
"It depends what you think I'm implying."
Lily frowned in thought and giggled slyly. "Shall we change the subject?"
"Of course."
Lily closed the space between the two and pushed a lock of hair out of her face. "So, what did you get me for Valentines?"
With an eye roll, James cupped her face in his hands. "Well, you'll have to wait until the day is official."
With a furtive smile at Lily's unimpressed expression, he leant forwards slowly and kissed her. Lily's arms snaked around his neck as she returned his kiss, her tongue tracing his lips. James secured his grip around her waist before lifting her of her feet.
Lily broke away laughing, kissing his cheek. "Kay, James, I think I should sleep now."
"Lily?"
"Yes?"
"I love you."
Lily smiled softly, and yet, she didn't blush. "I love you too."
"Don't leave me."
"I won't. Not ever."
A/N: There you are.
I think I may do another chapter sooner than I should, because I haven't for so long. Let me know?
