Hi guys. Sorry it has taken a while to post this, work has been crazy! I'm also sorry it is quite short, I had a longer chapter but I thought it would be better split up. This chapter is a brilliant chapter for Hope and James and it gives you a taster of what you have all been waiting for – but what I've decided to split into the next chapter would have ruined your happiness I fear.

I'm sure some of you will be happy with this, but I feel like I should tell you not to get too carried away yet. Every chapter they get a bit closer to the epic moment when they finally get their act together, but they still have a while to go. But trust me, it will be worth the wait, and they're going to have some really cute stuff in the meantime.

Thank you always for you reviews, for adding my story to your favourites and for adding me to you update list – you have no idea how much it means to be so please keep doing it!

Anyway on with the story!

Hope's POV

The rest of the term seemed to slip away in a mixture of happiness and stress. I was having such a good year with my friends, especially since Potter and I had agreed to really stop the bickering. Things with Michael were still going really well except for some odd reason he was still felt threatened by Potter. Aside from that our quidditch practises had really taken on a new kind of force after our win, it just seemed as though it had pushed the team to want to become even better so we could carry on as we started.

My reception after we won the match had been fantastic. Michael kept bragging and telling people how awesome his girlfriend was, plus Professor Longbottom had organised a meeting with Potter and I just to gush over how well delivered the match had been and how impressed he was with the way Potter and I had committed to our captaincy responsibilities. I was really thrilled that we had done so well, more so for Professor Longbottom rather than anyone else, he had taken a real chance on us and I was really glad that we had managed to deliver and live up to the faith he had in us.

Mum and dad had sent Ollie and I the most wonderful letter after we had won. Dad just kept on banging on about how great his children were and how proud he was of us, although mum echoed this sentiment she said she was getting a little tired of dad going on about it. She wrote a really funny passage about how she literally had to force my dad to stay at home on the day of the match because he kept trying to find a reason to attend himself.

My parents also sent us some really lovely gifts to say well done. They bought my the complete works of George Orwell, which I had been banging on about for ages – I was so excited to share this with my granddad as he loved Orwell. They bought Ollie some very fancy sheet music, since he is incredibly musically gifted.

So my life after the match had been pretty fantastic, well except for the added pressure of school work and OWLS obviously.

'I just can't believe it is already nearly the end of term!' I muttered to Michael as I dragged him through the portrait hole with me. Usually I didn't bring Michael into my common room, it just didn't feel right for some reason. I know it made Michael uncomfortable to be around James and I knew James was hardly his biggest fan either, but there was an article in a muggles newspaper about a recently released novel that Michael would love.

When we entered I immediately noticed all the Potter's sitting on the floor in front of the fire with what looked like a mountain of products piled up at the side of them. There was also scissors, celotape and paper strewn all around them, which led me to think they must have been organising their gifts out now.

'Hope what do you think is a better present for a house elf – little knitted booties, a hat or a blanket?' Lily asked desperately.

I laughed at how confused all three of them looked.

'I think booties are too babyish – sorry Lils, but I have to vote hat.' James said.

'I think a blanket, we always give them a hat Jay, we want to surprise them this year!' Albus counter argued.

Suddenly Michael said, 'Why would you give them clothes, you realise that frees them right?'

I turned to stare at him, noticing as I did that all three of the Potter's were gaping at him open mouthed in shock.

'Well that is kind of the point….our house elves are free already.' James finally said, his eyes narrowing.

'Really and that is working out for you? No stealing or bad behaviour or anything?' Michael asked.

To be honest I could not believe Michael was asking this. He was pretty much just buying the false information on free house elves that had been plastered all over the Daily Prophet earlier this year, but Michael was usually so much more open minded.

'Of course they don't, that is just a filthy lie spread by those who want to carry on profiting from their continued enslavement!' Lily said quite emotionally.

Great now Lily looked like she might cry at Michael's comment and James looked as if he wanted to punch Michael.

Only Albus seemed to remain level headed and stayed calm enough to speak to Michael in a neutral voice saying, 'Ummm mate you do realise Hermione Granger-Weasley is our aunt right? She's basically been the ministry's lead on the abolition of house elf enslavement.'

Michael suddenly looked very sheepish and muttered of course before offering an apology. He explained that he didn't have a clue about house elves personally so he wasn't really aware what they were like. Albus and Lily accepted this and turned back to preparing their presents, James however shot me a look that seemed to say he expected better. He then went back to helping his siblings sort through their present pile and I ran off to get Michael the article.

Later on I was sat on the sofa in front of the fire in the common room reading my copy of Emma for what felt like the millionth time when I felt someone's eyes on me. I looked up and sure enough there was James hanging over the side of the sofa staring at me.

'Can we talk quickly?' he asked.

I smiled saying sure and I couldn't help laughing and rolling my eyes when rather than walking around and sitting down he decided to jump over the side of the sofa, crashing head long into me. I laughed and pushed his head away before asking him what he wanted.

'Oh nothing really, I just thought since it was the last day of term tomorrow and I know everyone will be preoccupied with the dance that I should probably speak to you now. I wanted to thank you I guess, you've been the best co-captain I could of asked for and more than that you've become a really great friend over the last couple of months.'

I was slightly taken aback by that I have to admit, I leaned over and pulled him into a tight hug, whispering into his ear and saying, 'James, you don't need to thank me. And please, you've been just as awesome. You're a really great guy when you allow yourself to be Mr James Sirius Potter.'

I pulled away and noticed he was blushing slightly. Well I never, Mr Too Cool for School James Potter blushing because of something I said!

We were interrupted from smiling at each other when Roxy joyfully exclaimed, 'Umm guys you do realise you're under the mistletoe right?'

'Ohhhh how splendid, you have to kiss now – it is tradition!' Lily exclaimed as she came up to us from her seat by the window.

Oh Merlin, this could not be happening. I shot a panicked look at James but was surprised to see he looked remarkably cool about this – perhaps even a little happy.

'Do we have too?' I begged Roxy.

She just shot me a wicked grin and then cleared her throat and took great delight in announcing this horrible situation to everyone in the common room. Everyone suddenly became fixated on James and I which just made me want to crawl into a hole somewhere to die of embarrassment.

Potter looked at me and muttered under his breath, 'What Wood am I not good enough to kiss? Am I totally repellent? It is just one small kiss and you're acting as if I am Voldemort himself or something. '

Damn perhaps my reaction had offended him.

'No James honestly that isn't it, you're very kissable – well I mean to say I bet other people think you are. Oh stop smirking at me you pompous arse!'

He just laughed and said, 'Oh kissable am I?'

I rolled my eyes and said, 'Oh please with the amount of girls you go through, not to mention the amount that pretty much throw themselves under the mistletoe when you are around, is it really a surprise to hear you might be the teeniest bit kissable?'

'Well many other girls have found me so, but I never would have guessed you would Woodsey!'

I shook my head but couldn't help grinning.

'Kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss.' Fred started chanting from behind us.

'Go for it Potter!' some random third year shouted.

'Don't let him tongue rape you Hope.' Was Roxy's advice.

James pretended to take offense at that. Roxy merely rolled her eyes before adding, 'I've known you all my life – don't act like the thought never crossed your mind.'

He smiled wickedly at her before turning to me.

'Shall we give the people what they want Wood?'

I rolled my eyes and pretended to cringe as I said, 'Ok but I am only doing this for the people ok?'

'Oh how very selfless of you.' He said through laughter.

He stood up off the sofa before reaching for my hands to pull me up. When I was safely on my feet I looked up to meet his gaze and was shocked to come into contact with the most intense stare, one that I've never seen before. But his eyes were filled with such a tender feeling that I didn't know what to do, I was completely thrown off balance.

James' POV

This was it, perhaps my only chance to ever kiss Wood. It had been a pretty genius plan even if I do say so myself, I had honestly wanted to thank her and then when I'd seen her, innocently sitting there under the Mistletoe, well how could I resist? I knew someone would notice, what with half my family dotted around the common room – they never bloody miss a thing I can tell you.

So here I was, staring into Wood's intoxicating blue eyes, aware that this could be the only chance I have of placing my lips on her beautiful skin.

I was really banking on this being enough to still all those racing thoughts and revealing dreams I've been having since the day of the quidditch match against Slytherin. I had hoped they'd calm down on their own, but if anything they seemed to have been growing stronger with every passing day.

Well here is my chance to make my mark and truly make these pent up urges count for something!

Hope's POV

James ran his hands down my arms, gently placed his lips to my ear and whispered to me to relax. Fat chance of that, my heart was beating a million times faster than was healthy and the whole room was staring at us!

He pulled back to smile at me as he circled an arm around my waist so it rested at the small of my back. He placed his other hand on the side of my face and slowly leaned in.

When his lips touched mine I felt my eyes close of their own accord and my senses went haywire. I mean my skin was on fire where he touched me and a warm heat seemed to be surging through my whole body. I might even go so far as I to say that the world was spinning a little.

After a few seconds he pulled back, having been the perfect gentleman in regards to his tongue. Everyone who had been watching us out of excitement and interest in my predicament wolf whistled and a few people shouted some cat calls at us. I felt my face flush and my cheeks were clearly burning scarlet.

I found I couldn't quite look James in the eye.