Hey, I've decided this is going to be the last chapter of Terrible Things, I might to a sequel, but I think this is definitely a nice, neat ending. So thanks for the reviews, and keep an eye out for a sequel if you're interested!

Thanks so much,

Nicole x

She couldn't understand what was wrong with her. Why couldn't she tell James how she felt? He'd grown up; he'd given her a dozen reasons why she should commit herself to him. She wanted to, she thought about nothing but James these days, her heart would flutter when he walked past. She would watch him out of the corner of her eye in the common room, entranced when the muscles of his back would move underneath his shirt as he stretched out his long limbs after a particularly long studying session.

She wanted to talk to him, just to hear his voice, to feel its soothing, calming quality, see the twinkle in his eye, the smirk on his face. Just to be near him would be enough, but she couldn't get over that barrier. It felt like there was a tiny pane of glass between them, but to break it, Lily had to give up something. She couldn't put her finger on it though, was it her independence? Her future? Her sense of self? What's the worst that could happen? She asked herself these questions daily until she finally boarded the Hogwarts express, bound for home.

The journey home was marred by Lily's heart leaping into her mouth every time the compartment door slid open. Every time someone poked their heads around the door she would look up in fright and intrigue, unable to concentrate on the paper she was reading. The Daily Prophet was full of the same stories of doom and gloom every day now. Lily couldn't, for the life of her, understand why no one seemed to be fighting back. James had told her about The Order of the Phoenix but she could see little or no evidence of their work anywhere. All she saw as she peered at the front page of the newspaper was a weary-looking Millicent Bagnold, surrounded by reporters.

Eventually, she gave up on reading and threw the magazine aside. The other girls were in the compartment with her, but they no longer bothered to try and include her in conversation. She'd been too distant this year; she'd pushed them away. She couldn't blame them for growing tired of her; she'd grown tired of herself after all these months of constant second-guessing, questions, uncertainties and loneliness. She'd been staring out the window for a good twenty minutes before she grew hungry, and decided to go find the witch with the food-trolley.

"I'm going to find the food trolley, does anybody want anything?" Lily asked the group, not really certain any of them were listening.

Emmeline was, she gave her two sickles to get her some Drooble's Best-Blowing Gum. Lily slid out of the compartment, and bumped right into Remus Lupin, who looked incredibly worn-out, but had a boyish smile on his face nonetheless.

"Remus!" Lily exclaimed.

"Sorry, Lily. I didn't see you there." He replied "Listen, Lily. I'm sorry about that little incident a few weeks ago, I should've done more to stop them rather than running to you for help."

"That's alright, Remus. Really, I understand. I'm sorry for being so catty to you afterwards."

Remus only nodded and smiled before he excused himself. Lily continued down the train, greeting many acquaintances who wished her a good summer, before a compartment door to her left slid open at great velocity and James Potter came tumbling out.

"Lily!" James said, once he had straightened himself up. "I'm sorry, Sirius-he was messing…pushed-are you okay."

"I'm fine." Lily said, rather frightened, overwhelmed and possibly even frozen to the spot. It was just like James to come tumbling out at the very last moment. It had to be a sign, Lily thought to herself, it's now or never.

"How's…your journey so far?" Lily blurted it out before she knew what she was saying. She cursed herself inwardly, your journey so far?

"It's eh…it's been fine," James replied, looking as confused as Lily expected him to be. "…yours?" He added as an afterthought.

This was the moment. She had to summon the courage and stop being a coward. She was a Gryffindor, for Merlin's sake. She had to take the leap into the unknown, and deal with whatever she found there when she arrived. She took a deep breath, this was the moment.

James looked uncomfortable. Well, Lily thought, this might help.

"Yes." She said, making sure she didn't let her nerves shake her voice. James looked blankly back at her. He looked ridiculously vulnerable standing there in his muggle clothes, a plain t-shirt and jeans. His hair was in its usual state of disarray and his round-glasses kept catching the sunlight.

"Yes, James. Yes, I'll go out with you." Lily felt as if she were dangling on the edge of a cliff, peering over the edge into a dark abyss. Beads of sweat were beginning to build on her forehead.

James looked as if he hardly dared to believe his ears, his face a picture of incredulity.

"Yes?" He asked.

"Yes, you idiot." Lily laughed at his expression, and finally, finally rushed into his arms. James enveloped her in a hug so tight it seemed to cut off the circulation of her blood, but it didn't matter, because as she rested her head in the crook of his neck, she thought she would quite like to stay there forever. After a long time, in which Lily was very aware of the stared they were receiving, they pulled apart. James' eyes were shining with happiness, but the expression on Lily's face was serious; one of determination. She placed a long, slender hand against his chest, standing on her tiptoes so she could see into his face. James copped on to what she was trying to do, and placed a loving hand against her cheek, his thumb caressing her cheekbone. And all at once, it was two much for either of them to bear any longer. Their lips collided together, instantly moving together, making Lily's whole body sing. She could've kissed him forever. His lips were surprisingly soft and plump and caressed her own, not with careful precision, but with an unpractised passion, as if instinct had taken over.

The clapping they heard from the compartment behind them made them break apart, suddenly remembering they were not the only people in the world. Sirius and Peter came out to join them, James being clapped on the back, and for the first time that entire year, Lily felt at peace with herself, and as she rested her head back against his chest, she decided, yes. She would stay here forever.