Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter

A little talk, some chocolate cake, and Quidditch

James sprinted out the Great Hall with Lily's notes still clutched in his hand and sprinted up the marble staircases. Once he arrived at the Fat Lady he yelled, "caput draconis" who swung open automatically, shocked by his behavior towards her. He jumped through the portrait hole much to the surprise of others and thrill of some 4th year girls who starting giggling and fluffing their hair at him. He ignored this (very much to their dislike), froze the staircase (so it wouldn't turn into a slide when he walked on it), and ran up the girl's route to their bedrooms (he knew this now by heart). He spotted Lily's door and knocked on it. Alice came to the door.

"What do you want?" said Alice roughly.

"Is Lily in there?" he asked even though he knew the answer.

"Lily, it's James," she said to someone in the back of the room. James obviously couldn't see it but she shook her head violently. Alice turned back to James and said, "Sorry, she's not here right now."

"What?" said James indignantly? "I just heard you talk to her."

"No I didn't." She tried to close the door but James put his foot in it and shoved it open. Lily was sitting on her bed clutching a heart shaped necklace (James assumed it had been from her parents).

"Can I talk to Lily alone for a second?" James asked. Amy got up from her seat and trudged out with Alice who whispered, "we're still gonna listen right?"

"Oh yeah." Amy closed the door with a snap.

"Wh-what do you want P-potter?" stuttered Lily.

James sighed and sat down on the edge of her bed. "I wanted to say… I'm sorry about your parents."

"H-how did y-you k-k-know?" asked Lily, tears filling up in her eyes again.

James disregarded this. "I know I can't really understand how you feel but… I hope you feel better," he finished lamely.

She stared at him with beady eyes for a moment before saying, "Thanks."

James got up and smoothed her hair out and before she could stop him, planted a kiss on her cheek. She reached up to feel it numbly.

He walked to the door and dropped the notes on her bed, which she noticed and didn't say anything to. He opened the door and Amy and Alice fell in.

"Hope you enjoyed the show," he said coldly, striding on out.

Alice and Amy grinned sheepishly at Lily who ignored them and took the one letter from her mother and folded it neatly in her heart.

James slid down the staircase just as Remus and Sirius walked in.

"So mate, how'd it go with Lily?" asked Sirius.

"Good I suppose," replied James shrugging. "I just told her I was sorry, we talked, and Amy and Alice fell in from listening."

"Oi!" cried Sirius. "We'd, me and Remus that is, would never do that!"

"No Sirius, I wouldn't do that," corrected Remus. "You on the other hand would definitely do that."

Sirius thought for a moment then said, "Yeah that's probably true. Did you kiss her?" he asked turning back to James.

"Just on the cheek."

"Oi!" cried Sirius again. "Some cheek action huh?" This caused half the common room to stare at them. Only then did James say to everyone, "kissing someone on the cheek is news to Sirius, he usually finds a broom closet for kissing." All the guys in 6th and 7th year clapped while Sirius took a bow and all the girls giggled again.

"So, you wanna move this conversation upstairs to our room?" asked Sirius. "Okay, in no way did that sound right."

"We always knew you were secretly gay Sirius," said Remus. Sirius and James laughed and climbed up their staircase.

Lily spent the rest of the weekend in her room and Professor Dumbledore allowed the mourners to be excused a week from classes. During which time they could either go home and visit their other family or stay up in their common room. But seeing as Lily's only family was the sister and brother-in-law to be that she hated, she just stayed cooped up in her room.

"Hey Lily, do you wanna play exploding snap?" asked Alice one day.

"No," replied Lily looking at her for a moment then returning her gaze to the Quidditch Pitch outside.

"How about Twister?" asked Amy.

"No."

"Makeover?" suggested Alice.

"No."

"Lily, you've got to do something!" cried Amy. "All you've been doing for the past week is either homework or gorging yourself on ice cream."

Lily looked up and said, "Fine no more ice cream." Then asked, "Do you guys have chocolate cake?"

"Ugh!" complained the two girls. "That's it, you're coming with us. You have five minutes to make yourself presentable."

Lily trudged to the bathroom, took off her pajamas, and took a shower. The hot water felt soothing against her back that she grew absent minded and stayed in there for an hour and a half.

"LILY!" shrieked Amy. "Get out of there! All the hot water will be gone!"

"Fine," grumbled Lily and turned the shower off. She got off, wrapped a towel around herself and walked back to her room.

"Here," said Amy. "I laid some clothes out for you." Lily looked towards her bed and saw a tank top and jean shorts laying there.

"It's almost freezing out there," said Lily.

"Tough," both Alice and Amy said together. Another five minutes later, Lily was done getting dressed and asked, "So where are we going?"

"Down to the Quidditch Pitch to hang with the Marauders," replied Amy, walking down the stairs.

"Noooo," groaned Lily. "Potter and Black will be there."

"Then talk to Remus," said Alice. "He's practicing commentating for the game this Saturday."

"Fine."

10 minutes later Lily automatically regretted her consent to come down here (not that she had a choice really). Remus was fine, actually quite enjoyable to hang out with a guy who was a pompous, bigheaded, asshole. No, it was Potter who was getting on Lily's good last nerve. He kept on ruffling his hair whenever he made a good catch with the snitch and to make matters worse, he was captain. Lily had no clue why or how Dumbledore thought it would be good to make him captain of the team. As far as Lily was concerned, it only inflated his bighead to the point where he wouldn't be able to walk through doorways anymore.

"Hey Lilpot!" cried James from above. "Watch this." He zoomed across the pitch on his broom, did a flip, and grabbed the snitch with one hand.

All the girls in the stand erupted with cheers and giggles except for Lily who continued to either talk with Remus or read her Potions book, much to James' disappointment. 20 minutes later, much to Lily's relief, James blew his whistle and ended the practice.

"Alright, good work everyone," said James on the way to the dressing room. "Bell, try practicing on catching the Quaffle better. You just have to focus. Johnson and Spinnet, I know you're not great friends but try and pass more." They both nodded grimly and walked into the changing room. "Wood, I know you're more capable of blocking the hoops. Just keep focused and circle the hoops." A burly 7th year nodded and walked off too. "Okay, whose left? Oh, Black and Fletcher. Good job guys, make sure to break the Slytherin's noses on Saturday and we'll have the game in the bag." Fletcher walked away smelling similar to stale beer. This left James and Sirius alone.

"Good practice mate," said Sirius as they walked up to the castle. "Looks like Lily didn't think much of it though."

"Yeah I know," replied James sighing. "Every time I looked over there she was either reading her stupid book or chatting with Remus."

"Maybe Remus was hitting on her," joked Sirius. James glared at him. "Right, no time for joking. Not being 'Sirius'." James glare intensified. "I'll shut up now."

"That's the best suggestion you've had all day," said James then groaned. "Sorry mate, I'm just pissed at the fact that everything I do isn't enough to impress her."

"Well," said Sirius, thoughtfully. "Maybe if you deflated your bighead a little…" James glared at him again. Sirius cowered then said, "maybe you should ask Remus."

They walked up to the Gryffindor tower and took a shower waiting for Remus to come back and talk to them. He never did.

A/N: OoOoOo. Real cliffhanger! If you look back to previous chapters you'll probably be able to figure out why. Good luck and review!