iv

He's coming back today! Lily thought excitedly as she started to arrange her hair elaborately in a sweeping bun.

It was New Year's Eve, and after being separated for two months, James was coming back from his mission for the Order; she would see him tonight, just before the New Year started. She was excited beyond words.

Walking down the stairs, she glanced at her little clock on the wall. It was 6 o'clock; the guests would be arriving soon enough. Lily hoped that James would be the one who would be early. She missed him terribly.

"Lily! Get the door!" her friend, Viral, screamed from the kitchen. Lily had barely heard the door bell ring; she was absorbed in her own world, considering how good it would feel to have James' lips on hers again.

Sighing, she pulled at the front door to let the first guest of the night into her home. Surprisingly, it was Sirius, his black motorcycle parked close to the curb.

"Hey Lily," Sirius greeted, pulling off his leather jacket. "Take this for the best person in the world, won't you?"

He unceremoniously dumped his helmet and jacket onto Lily's arms, much to her protest. She glared at him as he grinned back innocently. Yanking open the closet door, she dumped his things in there carelessly, ignoring his cry of protest.

"No one's here yet," Sirius remarked as he walked into the living room. Cutting across the room, Sirius walked into the kitchen where Viral was, trying to snatch a bit of cookie dough.

"Hey!" Viral screamed, waving her wooden spoon and flinging the cookie dough on everything. It landed on Sirius' face and the pie that Viral had just finished. Screaming angrily, she drove Sirius out the kitchen with a clean wooden spoon. Sirius, laughing, but left the kitchen, relenting.

"Cookie dough!" Sirius cried delightedly, scraping off the dough on his face and swallowing it down. Lily tried to ignore his immaturity to ask him a rather simple question.

"Have you seen James?"

Sirius glanced down at her, half of his face still covered with goop.

"Not yet," he answered truthfully. "Why?"

"Nothing." Lily sighed, walking away with her arms crossed. "Nothing."

-----

"Only two minutes left!" someone had yelled, but James had still not arrived.

Lily was outside in the backyard where it was quiet; it was a bit chilly, but Lily was a bit hot. Besides, she didn't feel like being in a party.

Maybe he forgot. Or he just went home because he was tired, Lily thought to herself, trying to be understanding. I mean, the man had been in a big, big mission. Of course he would be tired. But... she just felt like she was lying to herself.

You can see him tomorrow, she told herself reasonably. What's the difference between today and tomorrow?

The difference was that today was when he promised to come.

"One minute!"

So there was only one minute left. It upset Lily she would have to start the New Year with a broken heart.

"Lily!" a familiar voice cried out to her. She quickly turned her head, sending her fiery red hair flying.

"James!" she gasped as he made his way towards her. It was finally him after two months. It was him.

"I'm sorry I'm late," James apologized, taking her into his arms. "I calculated the distance between your house and the Order's headquarters incorrectly."

"What were you doing there?" Lily whispered back, burying her face into his chest. It brought her great comfort.

"I was talking to Dumbledore," he explained. "I think he might be mad at me because I just ran out in the middle of his sentence."

He started to chuckle, but Lily couldn't bring herself to even move. She was afraid he might disappear when she even breathed too loudly.

"You should've stayed with him then," Lily murmured softly. "Why did you leave in the middle of his sentence?"

Secretly, she was pleased. She was pleased James thought she was more important than Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Order of Merlin, First Class, and Grand Sorcerer, Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot. She was more important to him than any with such honor.

Smiling down at her, James brushed away her hair and neatly tucked it behind her ear. He could sense her pleasure; he knew her all too well. He explained himself anyway.

"I came, and it's not because I'm lonely and its not because it's New Year's Eve," James started slowly.

"Ten!"

"I came here tonight-"

"Nine!"

"Because when you realize you want to-"

"Eight!"

"Spend the the rest of your life with somebody-"

"Seven!"

"You want the rest of your life-"

"Six!"

"To start as soon as possible," James finished softly, staring deeply into Lily's eyes. She stared back sheepishly.

"Five!"

"I love you so much, Lily."

"Four!"

Lily breathed heavily, unable to grasp what he was saying, or anything at that moment. She could only stare until she felt dizzy.

"Three!"

"I- I-" Lily stammered, her brain suddenly turning into mush.

"Two!"

"I love you," Lily finally breathed.

"One!"

They started to lean in towards each other slowly, both yearning for the sweet taste of each other, wanting without thought.

"Happy New Year!"

And Lily's New Year was off to a good start.