Author's Note: Thank you to my wonderful reviewers! Sorry if chapter 2 was so long compared to these other ones, but there was really no way I could break that one up. Lily knew that James was going out with Jenn. Her plan was to get James to see Jenn so that James would remember that he's supposed to like Jenn, not Lily, and he would stop following Lily around. But it backfired. I hope this one isn't too confusing and isn't too "fast" you'll know what I mean after you read it.

Cursed

By HazelMist

Chapter 7: A Moonlit Stroll

"Come on, Lily," James said softly.

Lily numbly followed the voice, only vaguely aware of her surroundings. Right now if she was in her sound state of mind, James Potter would have six hexes on him and a black eye, but fortunately for him she was in some type of shock.

She felt his arm go around her as he gently dragged her along to who knows where they were going. Lily only remembered that a strange warmth and sense of calm descended over the confusion that was currently raging in her poor mind.

He pushed the doors open, revealing the Hogwarts grounds. Lily looked around at the sweeping hills, the dark rustling forest, and the glistening lake all bathed in moonlight even though it wasn't even a full moon. It was beautiful.

"It's such a nice night," Lily sighed as she stood in the entrance not quite ready to move.

James smiled.

"Want to take a walk?" he asked her.

"At this hour?" It was late. But the moonlight seemed to overtake her. Lily found herself fighting something that was too powerful for her weakened heart. The moonlight traced his features, revealing a James Potter that she didn't know but she might want to.

"Why not?" James challenged.

Lily struggled. This was James Potter. But he's not. This isn't the James Potter you know. He's different. And it's so beautiful. What harm can it do? A lot of harm. But the moonlight overcame her and Lily found herself nodding.

"Okay," she said.

He reached out and took her hand. Again that same warmth and calm descended upon her. And Lily Evans found herself being led out into the beautiful night by none other than James Potter, her greatest foe.

They started walking toward the lake. Strolling across the grass, Lily felt the breeze rush around them, playing with her hair. It was a warm night; a beautiful night. Lily felt herself overcome with a strange happiness. She smiled a tiny smile and noticed James out of the corner of her eye, smiling back.

"What?" Lily asked, laughing nervously.

"Nothing," he said, laughing along with her. But the amused smile never left his face.

It wasn't long before they reached the gleaming lake. The water danced in the moonlight, rippling and pulsing with the gentle breeze. Lily caught her breath.

"Beautiful isn't it? I take it you don't get out here as much as you'd like," he chuckled softly, reawakening her state of surprise.

"Yeah," Lily admitted, guiltily. It was weird how much this version of James seemed to understand her and how comfortable she already felt at his side. But it could be just because her whole world had been turned upside down and she was still in shock.

"You know you're beautiful," James complimented her.

James was staring at her again. Lily felt the heat rise in her face but this type of shy embarrassment was something that she was unfamiliar with. She pushed her red hair behind her ears, running her fingers through it nervously.

"No, I'm not-" She insisted but she froze momentarily as a warm hand touched her forehead, gently putting a loose strand of her hair back into place.

He touched her cheek and their eyes met. Lily shivered even though she wasn't cold. James seemed to look slightly nervous as well, as if the connection was something he too had never experienced before. Lily had never felt like this before. Suddenly, the world seemed to be shut off and it was just her and James. Even the old facts, that she was his enemy and he was under a memory charm, thanks to her, were shut down with the rest of her brain. She was dizzy and light headed.

Slowly, he leaned toward her. They were now closer than they had ever been in all their life. For one scary moment both of them teetered on the edge. They were walking that thin line between turning back and change. All they had to do was lean an inch more forward and it would be complete. Lily fought with all her might. But the old hate was gone, diminished after one look in those brown eyes.

She inched forward.

Their lips touched.

It was only her and James. The world collapsed around her. Lily nearly fainted. She had never felt anything like this before. Never. It was just so... wonderful, strange, new, lovely, beautiful, amazing. It was everything she had ever hoped for, but more. Lily couldn't even describe it. Was it love?

She trembled in his arms. The kiss was gentle, but it expressed a passion that neither of them had ever experienced before. James held her in his arms and she clung to him, not wanting to let go of that feeling. She didn't want it to end.

At last they drew back, gasping for breath. Lily stared into his brown eyes breathing heavily. He stared back into her emerald green eyes. An identical look of shock lined both of their faces. They clearly hadn't been expecting that.

"That was -" James started, catching his breath.

"Yeah it was -" Lily stumbled for the right word.

"Wow," James finished.

"Amazing," Lily murmured quietly, fully agreeing with James for the first time in her life.

They just stood there not quite sure what to do or say. Drowning in each other's eyes, they were breathless. The only thing that was stopping them from returning to bliss was those few inches of space that remained between them. James looked as if he were about to say something but couldn't quite find the words. Lily quickly solved that problem and moved forward catching James lips with her own. Whatever he had been about to say was quickly forgotten, as well as the rest of the world. The moment was relived.

James seemed to be caught off guard. Apparently he hadn't been expecting Lily to make the first move. He recovered slipping his arms around her waist and holding her too him.

Lily stood out there in the moonlight, by the lake with James Potter for what seemed like eternity. Yet it seemed to pass by so quickly as if in a second's time. But the real world was crashing into their separate world. Their fantasy world was rudely interrupted.

"JAMES AND LILY!?" A scream broke them from their thoughts.

Lily leapt back and broke free of James as if he were on fire. Reality called. James tried to pull her back, but following her gaze, he turned and saw the person who had rudely interrupted them.

Jenn was standing in front of them.

Lily looked at Jenn and then back at James. For the first time, she seemed to realize what she had done. With a gasp, she clamped her hand over her mouth.

"YOU!" Jenn whirled on Lily.

Jenn's eyes blazed. She was not the same Jenn that usually cowered before Lily. Lily knew that she was not going to get out of this one easily.

James came up behind Jenn, having moved silently and swiftly when she honed in on Lily. Lily watched him moving closer. She took her wand very slowly from her pocket. Jenn was still moving toward her and Lily was doing her best to back away. She didn't want to hurt Jenn if it wasn't necessary, but this girl had gone insane!

"Stupefy!" she said, raising her wand.

"Expilliarmus!" cried the other two in unison.

James Potter watched as both of the girls dropped to the ground. Jenn went slamming into a tree, her wand falling helplessly beside her. Lily, though, stood wavering on the spot, as if she were fighting the urge to throw up.

"Lily?" he shouted, rushing forward.

Lily looked up weakly and then dropped into a dead faint.

James ignored the unconscious Jenn. He caught Lily in his arms, and gently lowered her to the ground. Careful not to hurt her in any way, he took out his wand. He decided not to wake her. Putting his wand in the pocket of his robes, he stood up again. He made up his mind. He would go back to the castle and take her back to the dormitory. Lifting Lily gingerly in his arms, he started slowly across the grounds, heading for the castle doors.


Back in the Common Room...

Everyone had left. The only people that remained were Mary, Diane, Sirius and Remus. Taylor had gone looking for Jenn, muttering something about Lily's life being at risk. Peter had slept through the entire thing, and had only woken up long enough to go back to sleep on the floor of his dormitory.

"Holy -"

"You've already said it enough times, Sirius," Diane cut in.

Sirius scowled at her. He had refrained to only saying a swear every two minutes, but the other three were still getting very tired of it.

"I still can't believe it!" Remus exclaimed.

"Was that enough entertainment for you Sirius?" Diane asked, smugly.

"That was too much entertainment. I think I might have a heart attack if I see anything else."

"Then, don't look now," Mary warned him, quickly jumping to her feet.

The portrait had opened. James Potter had come in and in his arms he was carrying an unconscious Lily Evans.

And they thought that this night couldn't get any more stranger.

"What the -" Sirius started to swear again but stopped himself in mid-sentence.

"What happened?!" Diane asked, rushing over to them. She still didn't entirely trust James, even though, like Lily she was convinced that he was under some kind of memory charm.

"She fainted," James informed her.

"And you expect me to believe that all the other times Lily Evans turned up with hexes all over her body that she fainted all those times too," Mary muttered sarcastically to Remus.

Diane shot her a glare, and Mary and Remus hid a grin.

James looked very perplexed, but he was too worried about his Lily to care at all. Diane noticed that James had that concerned sincere look in his eyes every time he glanced at the girl he was carrying gingerly in his arms.

"Here, we'll put her up in the girl's dormitory," Diane offered generously. She met James' gaze and nodded. She was the only one that really understood what Lily had done to James during detention.

Sirius made a choking sound, but Diane ignored him. Mary pulled out her wand and Diane did the same. James drew back, not liking the looks of the wands aimed at him and his precious Lily. After his previous experience he wasn't sure who to trust.

"I'll just carry her up, if that's okay." He didn't wait to see what they would say, he just started up the staircase toward the dormitories. He didn't hear Sirius and Remus making gagging noises at the bottom of the steps. Nor did he hear Mary and Diane follow him up the steps, just to make sure he didn't remember the old hatred and decide to hex Lily half way up the stairs.

Softly, he entered the room and pushed open the door. Thankfully, no one was in there other than Mary and Diane, who stood hovering in the doorway unnoticed.

Gently, he placed the girl down on the bed. He didn't know how, but for some reason he knew it was hers. He carefully placed her head on the pillow and removed himself from her.

He stood watching her for a minute, just looking at her lovely form. Her red hair spread out all over the pillow and a more peaceful look had settled upon her face. Even though she was sleeping, she still looked as if her mouth was drawn tight and she was fighting some sort of battle even in slumber. Did she ever stop fighting?

He leaned down, his face close to hers, listening to her steady breathing. Then he brushed away a strand of hair from her forehead, replacing it behind her ear. Sweeping down, he kissed her softly on the cheek.

"You're amazing, Lily," he whispered.

Then he stood up and brushed past Diane and Mary, exiting the room.

Diane caught her breath and tried to stop the tear that drifted down her cheek. She wished that she had that kind of relationship. She wanted a boy that loved her, and would whisper in her ear, and kiss her cheek, and carry her up a flight of stairs. If only things could be that way. But it hadn't worked out between her and James. And Diane thought her romantic future looked rather bleak and hopeless at the moment.

"I don't like this," Mary whispered.

"What don't you like about it?" Diane asked hotly. She was a hopeless romantic, and this new James and his devotion to Lily was already winning her over.

"What's going to happen when it wears off?" Mary wondered.

Diane looked at her in shock. She hadn't thought of that. What would happen when the charm wore off?

A/N: Please review! Next chapter will hopefully be up sometime this weekend or next week but finals are coming so who knows how much time I'll have. I'm sorry this wasn't up sooner!