Chapter 2

Lily woke the next morning feeling happy and glanced at the vase of roses by her bed, remembering the night before. She sat up, stretched and got up, smiling. She then dressed and went down to the Great Hall for breakfast.

She took a seat on the nearly empty Gryffindor table and started to help herself to tea and toast.
She felt someone sit down next to her and turned to find James there. She crinkled her nose, pretending to be annoyed by his presents, but she wasn't really.

"Oh, hi." She said and turned back to buttering her toast.
"Hey, gorgeous." James replied, leaning over her to grab a bit of toast.
Lily rolled her eyes, but secretly loved it.

"So, what are you planning to do today?" James continued.
Lily shrugged. "Nothing much. Homework and stuff."
"Well that's boring." James stated.
Lily laughed.

"How about we go to Hogsmeade for the day? Buy some sweets at Honeydukes, have a butterbeer at The Three Broomsticks…. whadayathink?" James said cheekily.
"And how would we do that then, Mr know-it-all?" Lily asked, her eyebrows once again raised.
"Simple." James said with a shrug.
"Care to explain?" Lily prompted him.
"Only if you promise to go with me." James said, his famous cheeky grin upon his face.
Lily sighed dramatically, "Fine, I'll go."
James's face lit up. "Eat up, then."

...

They finished they're toast quickly and then walked out of the Great Hall. Lily followed James as he lead her, not to the main doors as she had expected, but up the stairs, to the third floor corridor.

"Where are we going?" Lily hissed from behind him.
James just laughed and said "You'll see."

He stop next to the statue of Gunhilda of Gorsemoor (known as The One-Eyed Witch by most), looked around to see if they were alone (they were), then tapped his wand on the stone witch and whispered "Dissendium."

At once, the statue's hump opened wide enough to admit a fairly thin person. Lily's mouth hung open in amazement. James saw her expression and laughed.

"Ladies first." He said and held out his arm to help her thorough.
"How - how did you find this?" Lily said, her mouth finally closing.
James tapped his nose. "That my dear lady, is a highly classified information. Ladies first, go on, before we get caught."
The thought of getting caught seemed to have struck Lily too and she took a step backwards.
"We can't do this, James. We're Head Girl and Boy, we can't sneak out. Think of what would happen if someone found out." She shuddered.
"Oh, come on, Lily. I've snuck out millions of times and never been caught. Come with me." James pleaded. "You promised."
Lily looked at James and sighed. "God, help me."

James grinned widely.

Ignoring James's hand, Lily hoisted herself into the hole and pushed forwards. She slide down what felt like a stone slide and came out onto damp ground. She stood up, brushed herself down and looked around. It was pitch black.
She heard James stand up next to her and mutter "Lumos." Light shone from him wand and she saw his shadowed smiling face. He took her hand and lead her forwards.

They seemed to be travelling along a low-ceilinged, damp tunnel with a uneven floor that went on forever, twisting and turning constantly. Lily could here a faint drip-drop of water and the occasional scampering of a mouse, and clutched James's hand tightly.

"Where are we actually going?" Lily asked James after a few minutes.
"Honeydukes storeroom." James replied.
"Oh." Lily was silent for another few minute. "Are we nearly there yet?"
James chuckled. "You're like a little kid, y'know."
Lily pouted, which was pointless as he was in front of her and couldn't see her.

After what seemed like a hour, the tunnel beach to rise. Panting James stopped and let go of Lily's hand. "There's stairs ahead. You may want to light your wand."
Lily did what he said and they reached the stone stairs. They climbed, step after step, getting more and more out of breath, then suddenly Lily heard a thunk from in front of her. "What was that?" She asked.

"My head." came James reply. "Stupid trapdoor, happens every time." He massaged his head for a second, listening for voices or sounds above them. There seemed to be no one there, so very slowly, James pushed up the trapdoor. "Empty." He said and pushed himself up and out of the tunnel. He turned round and held his hand out for Lily, who took it and climbed out too. James shut the trapdoor behind them.

They stood up and Lily looked around.

They were is a cellar full of wooden crates and boxes, lit up by the dim glow of a candle standing on a particularly large crate. In the corner of the room was a wooden staircase, which James was walking towards. Lily followed him up and heard cheerful voices above them and the tinkle of a bell.

"Two sickles worth of Acid Pops please…" "Cockroach clusters…" "Thank you."

James slipped through the door in front, Lily behind him and they came out behind the counter. They ducked, crept sideways and then straightened up.

Honeydukes was full of excited children, harassed looking parents and the odd teenager. Jars of delicious-looking sweets lined the walls and Lily couldn't help but grin.
"I love this shop."

They bought a big bag full of mixed sweets and exited the shop to the snow-covered road outside.

"Where does the lovely lady want to go next?" James asked and bowed.
Lily laughed and shrugged. She took hold of his arm, offered him a sweet and they walked happily down the street, laughing and talking, her dislike of him forgotten.

Like it? Review please :) And please don't favourite it without a review, I really want to know what you think :)

- Delilah xxx