It's been almost a week since Voldemort came to Lily's house, and Lily has begun to accept that her parents are gone. She knew they wouldn't have wanted her weeping and would want her to move on with her life. Lily was sitting out on her deck just watching the sun rise. She thought it was beautiful how the color of the sky would change from black to blue. And how the shadows would slowly disappear. The sun was just about half way over the horizon, when Lily felt something being draped over her shoulders. She looked over and saw that it was a blanket and she also saw James. She smiled at him as he walked around to her other side and sat down in the chair next to her. The two of them sat in a comfortable silence. James looked out onto the yard and the rising sun, while Lily was looking at James. She has always known that James was handsome, but seeing him sitting next to her in complete silence, it was like seeing him a different light and she couldn't help but try to take all of it in. James looked over at her, and noticed that she was staring

"What?" James asked

"Oh...ummm" Lily said snapping out of her trance. "...it's nothing." She turned her head to the side and tried to hide her flushing face. She heard something land onto the edge of the railing on the porch. She turned her head and saw that there was a fairly large owl sitting there with a letter attached to it. James got up and untied the letter from the owl.

"It's for you Lily" he said looking at the name on the front. This surprised Lily, for she rarely got mail from anyone other then from Hogwarts in the summer. Lily opened the letter and read it silently.

Freak,
I hope you realize that you're the entire reason that our parents are gone.
Though, I don't know if they even want to call you their daughter anymore.
You go to a school that teaches you magic, and then when our parents our dying before your eyes, you don't even do a thing.
Some "daughter" you were to them, and when you think about it, they were so proud to have a witch in the family.
Well, I don't think that they are to proud to have you in the family anymore.
You are what caused them to die.
You did nothing when they needed you the most.
You are a disgrace to the Evans name.
After this letter, I do not want to talk to you at all.
The funeral was three days ago, I figured that they didn't want their murderer there.
I hope you have a horrible life freak.

Tears were rolling profusely down Lily's cheeks. Petunia was right Lily thought.

"Lily?" James asked with so much worry in his voice. Lily didn't do anything but simply hand the letter over to him. He read in silently to himself and couldn't believe that anyone could be this mad at Lily, for something she couldn't control. James walked over to Lily and kneeled down in front of her. He grabbed both of her hand, which caused her to look up. James let go of one of Lily's hand and reached up and wiped away the tears that were running down her cheeks. "Lily, you can't listen to what the awful person says. It's not your fault that your parents are dead and you did try to save them, but you couldn't. I'm sure you mum and dad are still proud of you, think about what Dumbledore said, not many people could take on an entire group of death eaters by themselves. Lily you're so incredible and it's a shame that you sister doesn't see that."

"I'm so sorry James." Lily said barely audible.


"Sorry, for what?"

"For treating you so badly all these years. I'm sorry for treating you like dirt, when you definitely shouldn't be. I'm sorry with burdening you at your home this vacation and I'm sorry..." Lily said stopping mid sentence and just looked into James' eyes. Those hazel eyes that Lily could stare into forever. She felt butterflies within her stomach and her heart was racing. Lily had never experienced these feeling with anyone before, let alone James and she freaked out. She got immediately out of the chair and walked quickly back into her room. She flopped down onto her bed, covered her face with a pillow and screamed so loudly, that she thought even with the pillow that her scream would wake up everyone in the house. For once, Lily was seriously at a loss for words.

Lily spent the rest of the morning in her room. She was so confused, she wasn't supposed to like James, well at least not in that way. She always told herself to never fall for his charm, but today with the sun rising and him there and looking into her eyes with so much concern and love for her she couldn't help but have those kind of feelings for him. She was so confused about everything and on top of everything, she was supposed to go to Diagon Alley with Mrs. Potter this afternoon. They hadn't had a chance to lately for Mrs. Potter wanted to make sure that Lily had made a full recovery before going anywhere. She for the past week Lily's worn Mrs. Potters clothes, which about 3 times to big for Lily, but she could careless. She was forever grateful of what the entire family had done for her. Lily was just doing so finishing touches on her hair when she heard a knock at the door.

"Come in" Lily shouted from the bathroom

"Lily?" Lily dropped her hair brush at the sound of the voice. Her stomach began to flip and turn and Lily felt her heart begin to beat twice as fast.

"Y-yea" she replied feebly as she bent down to pick up the brush.

"Mum says that we're going to be leaving in about 10 minutes okay?" Lily dropped the brush again.

"Wait," Lily rushed to the door frame of the bathroom and looked out and saw him. His hairy untidy as usual, his toned body stood out from under his semi tight dark red shirt. How his hazel eyes stood out the most out of his entire outfit. "You're coming?" Lily asked

"Yeah, I'm gonna check out the Quidditch shop while the two of you go and shop."

"What about Sirius or Remus?"

"They aren't coming. Moony went home for the morning, he had to say good bye to his parents. And Padfoot isn't awake" Lily glanced at the clock. 11:37 it read and Lily shook her head a little bit.

"Oh okay. I've gotta finish up some things, I'll be down in a few" Lily said

"Alright" He turned around and began to walk away. Lily watched him slowly walk away, he had reached the door when he turned around. "Hey Lily?" he said


"Yeah?"

"You should leave your hair like that, it's very pretty" Lily began to blush and saw James give a small smile before he walked out of the doorway and turned the corner. Lily walked back into the bathroom and decided that she was done messing around with it, and just left it down like James suggested. Lily walked downstairs and she saw Mrs. Potter rushing around, like something was wrong.

"Oh Lily dear, glad you're here" she said as she quickly passed her "I know today was the day we were supposed to go to Diagon alley and get you you're things, but I'm afraid to say that I've been called into the Ministry for the day" She said as she zoomed by her again.

"I'll take her mum" James said. Lily's heart began to race again. Would this count for our date? She thought.

"Oh!" Mrs. Potter said happily "Thank you so much Jamesie poo." Lily tried to suppress her laughter as she looked over at James who was slightly blushing. "Here's the list of what Lily need and this should be enough to cover it." She handed James a bunch of money and a piece of paper

"You don't have to pay for it, I've got money--" Lily began to protest the fact that they were going to buy her the things she needed.

"Don't you worry my dear, we're happy to help. I'll be back later" Mrs. Potter then disapparated.

"Are you ready?" James asked

"Of course" Lily said happily then wait a moment and added "Jamesie poo" Lily laughed out loud as she saw James began to smile and blush even more.

"I hate that nickname. She's called me it since I was 6 and she's never given it up"

"I think it's adorable" Lily said still laughing a little.

"We're going to Floo there okay?" Lily simply nodded as she followed James into the living room. He said that she should go first, so Lily picked up the powder and through it down as she clearly spoke "Diagon Alley" Before she new it she landed in Flourish and Blotts. She walked out of the fireplace just in time for James to land there safely. The two of them walked out onto Diagon Alley.

"Where to first?" James asked

"Gringotts, I think I shoul--" Lily began

"Lily, we're going to pay for you, my mum's given me enough money to pay for everything."

"But James, I don--"

"Lily, we're not going to Gringotts" Lily pouted and stamped her foot, like something a little kid would do when they didn't get there way. James looked down on the list and the first thing on there was robes. "Come on we're going to Madam Malkin's" James began to walk in 

the direction of where the shop was and Lily followed. They walked into the store just as Jas was leaving the store.

"Jas!" Lily said excitedly.

"Lily!" Jas replied with the same enthusiasm. The two girls hugged each other and Jas whispered in Lily's ear "I'm so sorry" the girls' released and Lily just simply nodded.

"Soooo..." Jas said suspiciously "What are the two of you doing here?"

"Well Lily and my mum were going to go shopping today, but she got called into work. So I offered to take Lily and get her the things she needed"

"Ma'am?" said Madam Malkin herself. She held out a bag for Jas. Jas walked over and grabbed the bag from her.

"Well I have to go, I'll see the two of you later" and with that she walked out of the door. Lily then walked up to the desk where Madam Malkin was.

"Um...Hi, I'm Lily Evans. I need new school robes"

"Oh yes yes..Come this way please" Lily followed her obediently to a large portion of the room where there was a small stool and about 10 feet away from the stool, there was a 3 sided mirror. "Stand on the stool" the women said and Lily did so. She began to measure Lily and she felt awkward for she knew James was watching her. But as soon as it began it was over, Lily made her way back to where James was.

"Where to next?" Lily asked

"Umm...the apothecary and then to the cauldron shop."

"Miss Evans" a voice called from behind her. Her and James both came up to the counter. "The total is 15 galleons, 9 sickles and 5 knuts" Lily's mouth dropped at the price. James paid for the robes and they walked out of the store.

"James, I really can't--"

"Lily" he said turning around to look at her. "Will you please just accept this, we're going to pay for you, and no we don't want to be paid back. We're glad to help you Lily" he smiled and although Lily didn't want to she didn't complain about the money issue again. The two of them went to every shop the Lily needed to go to and Lily now had everything that she needed for Hogwarts.

"Where to now?" James said after he transported everything back to his house

"I know!" Lily said and ran off too the store. She weeded her way through the people and she had found the shop she was looking for Quality Quidditch Supplies. She ran into the store and she turned around so she was facing the door. She saw James approaching and she just waited. He burst through the door and stop just in front of Lily.

"Why did you run away?" he said, trying to catch his breath.

"Because I wanted to go to a store that you liked because today we've only gone to store 

that I had to go to and I felt bad" James looked around the store quickly and realized where he was and Lily watched as she saw his lips slowly turn upwards into a smile. "Go. Look around" Lily said and before she knew it James was off. Lily wandered around the store aimlessly. She had picked up a few books and skimmed through them, but nothing really grabbed her attention. She picked up the next book labeled Quidditch through the Ages and began to skim through it. She flipped through it, occasionally stopping and looking at the moving pictures.

"Find anything" a voice said causing Lily to scream a little. She looked over and saw James' face there.

"Ehh..." Lily replied, snapping the book shut and putting it back on the shelf.

"Do you even like Quidditch?"

"Yeah, I do" Lily knew this surprised James by the look on his face when she said this.

"Ever played?"

"Yeah I have" This surprised Lily even more.

"When?"

"Well, I've played when I went over to Jas's house. We'd play with her little brother"

"You any good?"

"I'm not horrible if that's what you mean"

"Well, wanna play with us when we get home?"

"James, it's freezing out."

"So, is someone afraid to lose?" James said with a smirk on his face

"Oh please potter, you'll be the one whose losing" Lily retorted. Lily followed James around the store a little bit more. James showed her something's, but eventually he wanted to go home. The two of them walked back into Flourish and Blotts and flooed back to the Potters house.

"PADFOOT! MOONY!" James called as soon as he stepped foot in the house. Lily heard footsteps coming from upstairs and she waited for them to reach where they were. They both came into the living room, looking rather angrily.

"What Prongs?!" Sirius said

"Let's go play Quidditch"

"We can't, Peter isn't here and if you hadn't noticed, it's freezing outside." Remus said

"Whoever said we're going to be playing outside?" James said with a sly smirk on his face

"What are you talking about, we've always played outside whenever we're here" Sirius said. 

James, still with the sly smirk on his face began to walk out of the room. Lily looked at Remus and Sirius who both just shrugged a response and the three of them quickly followed him out. Every time they turned a corner they would barely see James turn the next corner which helped in reassuring they were going the right way. Eventually they made to a hallway in which there was nothing but a door at the end of it. Lily and the boys walked down the hallway and Lily felt that she was in one of those scary movies where they're almost at the end and they're about to catch the killer. They had reached the door and stopped.

"Open it Sirius" Remus said

"Are you crazy?" Sirius replied "I've seen those crazy Muggle movies where there's the killer on the other side of the door and if I open it, I'm going to be killed"

"What?! That's ridiculous Padfoot, now just open the door"

"Well if it's so ridiculous than why don't you open it"

"You're standing in my way" Sirius happily moved away from the door handle and Remus' face looked worried

"There, now go on and open it" Sirius said smiling

"I...uhh--" Remus said trying to think of something to get him out of it.

"Oh move over!" Lily exclaimed as she pushed her way around Remus and opened the door. Lily couldn't believe her eyes when she saw what was behind the door. An entire quidditch stadium with even a few seats for people to just sit and watch in. Lily walked in and looked around, still looking around at the stadium. Her eyes finally stopped wandering as she say James, who was carrying out what looked like a chest. That probably holds the balls Lily thought.

"WHY HAVEN'T YOU SHOWN US THIS BEFORE!?" She heard Sirius bellow as he made his was over to James, with Remus right on his tail.

"Hold on Padfoot, we've only just got it. My mum and dad got it for me as a Christmas gift." James said setting down the chest and started walking over to where there were three brooms laying on the ground. He mounted it and zoomed off quickly. Sirius who still seemed mad didn't say anything back to him but simply just walked over and picked up a broom and flew into the air as well. Remus and Lily quickly followed James' and Sirius' example and now the 4 of the were hovering in the middle of the field.

"How are teams going to go?" Lily asked

"Me and Padfoot vs. You and Moony" James said simply.

"What?! No fair, that's like suicide for our team!" Remus quickly retorted "No offense Lily" he said to her and Lily just simply shrugged.

"Fine, Lily and Padfoot and Me and Moony. Everyone happy with that?" No one fought with what James so he continued. "We're not going be play with beaters of a keeper. Each team will have one chaser and one seeker okay?" Everyone nodded in agreement and the four spilt, James and Remus on one side and Lily and Sirius on the other side.


"What do you wanna be? I'm not much of a seeker, but if you feel more comfortable pla--" Sirius started

"No, I wanna be the seeker" Lily said and Sirius didn't oppose her at all. She and James landed on the ground, which seemed fair to Lily because if Lily was in the air while James was throwing up the quaffle she would have an advantage. James released the Snitch first and waited a few moments before he threw the quaffle and the game had begun. Sirius had first possession of the ball and easily made it through one of the rings, Lily cheered slightly but was more determined on finding the snitch. At Jas's house Lily was always the seeker on her team, so she felt right at home looking for the snitch. She flew around the pitch making sure she checked every spot for the snitch. After about 10 minutes or so, Lily guessed she had spotted it over by her and Sirius' goal post. She zoomed after it, hoping James wouldn't see her until she almost had it wrapped around her fingers, but unfortunately for her that wasn't the case. As Lily chased after the small ball, she felt someone bump into her. She glanced over and saw that James was right next to her. The two of them battled it out, switching all the time on who was in the lead. Lily leaned her broom forward, trying to make herself go faster, but whenever she did James would be right there. Lily and James were closing in on the snitch, Lily reached out her hand in an attempt to grab it. She leaned close to her broom, trying to make her self more aero-dynamic. She was literally millimeters away from the Snitch, and Lily was so close to her broom she was almost parallel with it. She sped up enough for her to close her hand tightly around the snitch and she sat up vertically, holding the snitch up. Sirius started to cheer as the four of them landed on the ground again. He ran over to Lily and picked her up causing for Lily to smile and laugh out loud. He soon put her back down on the ground.

"Great game Lily" Remus said smiling at her.

"Thanks! You put up an awesome fight too" She replied. She looked over at James, expecting him to be kind of mad, but instead he wore the most handsome smile Lily had ever seen and she tried to keep standing for she felt like her knees were going to collapse.

"Good game Lily" he said

"You too" she said in a voice barely above a whisper. She looked into James eyes and she felt her stomach flip several times

"Lily I don't understand it. You're amazing! Why don't you play for the house team?!" Sirius said causing for Lily to break eye contact with James

"Umm... because you guys already have a fabulous seeker" Lily said talking about James "...and besides if I joined the house team I would have the potential of getting a head as big as James'" she said and Sirius and Remus both started laughing. Lily walked away from the three boys, for she wanted to take a shower, but she felt eyes on her as she walked out of the pitch and she had a good feeling of whose they were.

After Lily took a shower and changed she walked back down into the living room where she spent time with the boys. Lily was laughing constantly, from all the jokes the boys had made and she began to really regret not knowing them this well from the get go, but she 

couldn't change that and she figured she might as well make the most of what she had now. Soon, they were all called in for dinner and the four of them joined Mrs. and Mr. Potter in the dining room. The meal was fantastic and Lily was truly grateful for all the things that they had done for her. After dinner Lily went up to her room and walked back out onto the porch. She saw the ending for the sun setting and Lily looked up to the stars. She was making all kind of shaped and things by connecting them.

"Figured I'd find you here" a voice said from behind Lily. She quickly turned around and saw James standing there and her heart began to race. "Whatcha' doin'?" he said sitting in the chair next to her.

"Connecting the stars" she simply said and a silence fell between them. Lily continued to look up at the stars, but they were the last thing on her mind right now. All she could think about was James. She heard him shift in his chair and Lily looked over at him.

"Lily" he said, his voice sounding a little shaky "I--I know it isn't Christmas time yet, but I couldn't want until then" and with that James pulled out a long box with a bow onto of it. He held it out in front of her and she slowly took it. She opened it up to see a necklace made of silver with Lily in cursive and a small flower off to the side. In the middle of the flower there was a green stone. It took Lily's breath away.

"James--I--" she said trying to make out some words, but couldn't.

"You don't have to say anything, I'm glad you like it so much" James said with a smile. Lily continued to stare at the necklace in her hand. She was simply amazed by it.

"JAMES!" a voice shouted from inside the house

"I'll see you later Lily" He said and got up and walked into the house again. Lily quickly realized what had happened and sprang out of her chair, sat the necklace down and ran inside.

"James!" she exclaimed, causing him to halt right at the doorway to her bedroom. She walked up to him quickly, threw her arms around his neck and kissed him full on the lips. James seemed shocked by her action at first but quickly responded. He threw her arms around her waist and picked her up with ease it seemed. She laughed into the kiss and they both broke apart. James then pressed his forehead against Lily's and their noses were barely touching.

"I told you that one day you'd be mine" he said softly

"I know" she said "I'm sorry it took so long" she whispered back to him and Lily for the first time since her parents death, she felt relieved