So, here's the usually excuses why I haven't updated sooner: my grandma, who I lived with for much of last year and I was very close to, unexpectedly passed away - it's actually her funeral today, but I thought I ought to keep my mind off it if I could. I'm reading a poem I've written at her funeral, and I'm pretty nervous. Needless to say this chapter hasn't been as thoroughly checked as some of the others, and so please do tell me if you spot a mistake! Hope you enjoy this, and I hope you don't all hate me within the first paragraph!

'Flying: Falling without hitting the ground'

Lily stared in horror at James, and he stared right back, mirroring her expression. Then, with a lurch, Lily grabbed her wand off the bedside table and pointed it shakily at James.

"Oblivate." She whispered, and let a huge gust of air out as she watched his expression smooth and slacken as the spell removed his memories of the past few minutes, replacing them with a generic good-night conversation between the two of them.

"Sorry, blanked out for a moment there, Lily." James said, shaking his head like a wet dog and then noticing the wand in her hand "What you got that pointed at me for?" He asked, confused

Lily's eyes widened "Erm, uh, um..."

James frowned "Lily, you haven't been messing around casting spells on my hair, have you? It seemed less messy recently..."

"Ah..." Lily mumbled out

James rolled his eyes, seeming to take her speechlessness for a confession and stood up "Well, see you in the morning, Lils. Sleep well." He told her softly, heading for the door. Then he paused and turned, throwing her a lopsided smile "And you leave my hair alone, alright?"

Lily nodded mutely and put her wand on the bedside table again, lying back down. The door shut with a click, and Lily started counting to one thousand in French, to keep her mind off what she had just done. And to stop James picking it up through their link. At about seven hundred and forty, she slipped blissfully into the world of dreams, none of which made any sense at the time, and none of which she would remember when she woke.

Lily woke early, mostly due to nerves, and took a soothing shower. She dressed and did all her morning necessities, then headed to the window to take the newspaper off the post owl. Flicking through it as she boiled water for her morning tea, Lily was greatly relieved to find relatively little about her and James's... relationship, for lack of better word. There was a small article a few pages in, but Lily wasn't too worried. She'd been hoping they wouldn't be on the front page again.

James slouched into the kitchen, his pyjama bottoms slung low on his hips and his pyjama top creased and twisted. His eyes were sleepy and his manner was, Lily had to admit, adorable.

"Tea?" He asked, voice rough "Please?"

Lily took pity on him, her stomach lurching in guilt (oh Merlin, had her spell caused him to have some kind of spell-hangover?), and poured him a mug. He took it and slurped, letting out a sigh and sitting on one of the little chairs that surrounded the breakfast table. Lily rummaged through the cupboard and with a small sound of triumph pulled out a loaf of bread and used her wand to slice it and then toast a few of the slices. Setting two slices each on two plates, and grabbing the marmalade from the cupboard, Lily set the table for breakfast.

James eyed the food which had appeared in front of him and then smiled widely at Lily, who suddenly knew how a moth felt when it looked at a flame. Then she blushed a little and busied herself with spreading her marmalade.

"So what time do we have to be at Mungo's for?" James asked, in between one slice of toast and the other, and sounding decidedly more human and less troll-like.

Lily frowned "Actually, I don't think we were told. They'll probably send us an owl."

Then she started worrying. What if they didn't send an owl, and they were late? Then James's parents would think even worse of her than they already did! And, what if they missed their slot at St. Mungo's, so they were never able to 'prove' their innocence?

James rolled his eyes "Lily, sunshine, they'll send an owl. Don't worry."

Lily looked at him for a moment, and then for lack of anything else to say, told him "I'm not 'sunshine'!"

James just chuckled.

Not long after James had finished his breakfast and retreated to his room to get ready for the day, an owl did turn up. It was a huge brown owl with intelligent amber eyes, and the letter it was carrying was stamped with a wax seal. Lily took it off the bird and offered the bird some water in a little dish. The letter smelt faintly girly, and Lily scowled, figuring it was probably James's fiancé. The other one, that wasn't her. The French, pretty, wealthy, pureblood, half-vela one. And she was probably blonde as well.

"James?" She called "Letter for you!"

James stumbled out of his room, hopping as he tried to put his second sock on. He took the letter off her, took a whiff and promptly scowled at it.

"Apolline." He muttered as he broke the seal and unfurled the parchment, smoothing it out in his hand. He shifted so Lily could read it over his shoulder, and Lily was grateful she didn't need to do any kind of covert spying to find out what the French girl had sent.

Darling James,

I wanted to send you this before your parents try to set a meeting up between the two of us and change anything, or make either of us say things we do not mean to say. Firstly I want you to know I have sent this letter the moment I received the news of your soul bond with this Lola girl – you know there is a time lag between our two countries sharing their news with the other.

James, you know of my heritage. I am well aware you are perhaps not widely enough read to fully understand the implications of my vela blood, but you must certainly be aware that I am a sensual creature, driven by lust and love, by my very nature. Such a thing is taboo to mention in our circles, I know, but I know you are a sensible enough person to realise that in such a time as this, given the circumstances, I would be prudent to be blunt and avoid miscommunication where possible.

James, if you truly have found a soul bond with this girl, then you must hold onto it with all you have. Love such as that is sacred and rare, and I would sooner live the rest of my life as an old kneezle lady than come between the two of you if this truly is the case. If there is anything I can be of assistance with, please just let me know.

Wishing you all the best and hoping you will keep me updated,

Apolline

Xxx

Lily reeled in surprise. Clearly she had massively misjudged this girl. Despite her shallowness and spoilt nature, the girl must have a good heart.

"Wow." James said, sounding shocked "And to think I thought she was a complete bitch. Although she did get your name wrong, but I guess that's the Prophet's fault."

Lily nodded "Do you think... do you think I should send her a letter, to say thank you?"

James paused, and then nodded slowly "You know, I think she would like that."

Lily nodded, and headed into the study.

It took Lily half an hour to write the letter in the end, what with the numerous drafts she ripped up and fed to the fire before she had a copy she was happy with. How did you write a thank you letter to the fiancé of your to-be-fiancé, who thought you and your to-be-fiancé shared a soul bond when actually you didn't?

She had just opened the window to let the owl out which was to deliver the letter to Apolline, when another flew in carrying a letter with a St. Mungo's seal on it.

"Morning, darling. Did you sleep well? Have you eaten your breakfast? Goodness, James, are those freshly washed and pressed robes? My, you are an organised young man, aren't you?" Dorea cooed at her son. James's nose wrinkled and his ears pinked in what Lily knew to be embarrassment.

"Oh, er, Lily's the organised one." James mumbled "She's the one who makes sure my robes are washed and pressed and not left in a pile in the common room."

Dorea's lips pinched and she fell into awkward silence. Charlus eyed Lily speculatively for a moment, but when he noticed his wife's glare, returned his stare to the blank wall of the waiting room in front of him. Lily squirmed uncomfortably for a moment, but then took a deep breath and centred herself. What would her mother have said, if she'd seen Lily squirming in public, in front of people such as Charlus and Dorea Potter no less? Lily could hear her mother's scowl even now. With that in mind, Lily spent the remainder of the time waiting in perfect, composed silence, which had James eyeing her curiously until she sent him a poke through the link, reminding him it wasn't exactly considered polite to stare at her, especially when he didn't seem to have any kind of reason to do so.

"Sorry." He said sheepishly, and Lily rolled her eyes

"It's fine." She told him. "Just be patient; it won't be much longer now."

Charlus and Dorea had gone pale, and both looked decidedly worried by the time they were called through by an elder gentleman wearing healer's robes.

"We would like to have these final tests completed and on file as soon as possible." The healer told them in clipped tones "Ms Evans, if you would please go through the door behind me and wait there, a healer will be through with you in a short while. Mr and Mrs Potter, I'm afraid you will have to wait outside as too many magical signatures in the testing room can alter the result. We will call you through in a short time. Young Mr Potter, please wait here with me."

Offering James a shaky smile, Lily did as requested and went through the door behind the no-nonsense healer to find a room almost identical to the one she had been in previously. She perched on one of the chairs and looked around with wide eyes. What were they going to do? How would they test her? And would they get found out for cheating the test with chocolate, of all things?

"Ah, hello deary." A plump lady ambled into the room, closing the door behind her, "I'm Healer Lafferty. All I need to do is perform a simple spell, one you'll have likely learnt in charms, alright dear? You won't even feel it."

Lily nodded, and the kindly healer cast the charm with no further ado. She scrawled the number down on a piece of parchment and looked back up at Lily "A very respectable score, young lady. Now then, I do expect Healer Young will be done with Mr Potter now, I'll just go and check..."

The lady went back through the door to the room with James in it, and Lily took the opportunity to fish the chocolate out of her pocket and eat it hastily. Then, as they'd discussed, faked a loud coughing fit that had both healers running back through to check she was alright.

"Sorry." Lily told them, red from her fake coughing fit "I'm alright now."

Done. James announced, as he too joined them in the room. And it was pretty nice chocolate if I do say so myself.

Lily smiled at him, and he smiled back. Keep bluffing, keep bluffing, keep bluffing, Lily chanted to herself. It'll be alright. She had to believe it would be alright.

"Okay, now if you would both please hold hands..." Healer Young asked

Perching on the armrest of the chair Lily sat on, James took her hand, and it felt clammy in Lily's, as she was sure her's did to him. They were both nervous about this, to give the understatement.

The charm was cast again on each of them, and then the number recorded on their respective pieces of parchment. And then again, and again, and again, and when Healer Young went to cast it for the fifth time, Healer Lafferty stepped in with a wry smile on her face.

"Healer Young, don't you think perhaps there is a time when, if all the evidence points conclusively towards one thing, it is somewhat childish to not, as it were, call a spade a spade?"

Healer Young's shoulders slumped.

Lily and James shared a glance.

They were led back into the waiting area, where Charlus and Dorea were sat tensely. The other occupants all turned with eager expressions on their faces, fully aware that they were about to be the witnesses to some very juicy gossip.

"Soul bond." Healer Young announced in a crisp and decidedly annoyed tone, which carried clearly even over the sound of a baby crying and a woman in the corner talking to an invisible friend. There was silence for a moment, and then pandemonium. Lily and James were asked for autographs, and would they just pose holding hands, and perhaps, seeing as they were such a lovely young couple they wouldn't mind kissing for a photograph, and well, we always believed it was a soul bond right from the start, of course...

"Enough!" James shouted, eyeing Lily who was paling progressively and looking terrified "We're tired, and we have a meeting with Professor McGonagall in ten minutes, so if you'll excuse us, please, we would like to be on our way." He fibbed, pulling Lily towards the closest Floo point. With a pinch of green powder and a shout, they were gone from the hustle of St. Mungo's and back in the safety of the Head's Tower.

Lily sunk down on the sofa and stared dead ahead at the fire. James sat down next to her.

"Well." He said "Good thing that worked, eh?"

"You don't say, James, you don't say."

"Congratulations!" Sirius shouted, as the two head's met, on chance, the three remaining Marauders in the hallway by McGonagall's office

"How'd you know?" Lily asked, brows furrowed

Sirius let loose his bark-like laugh, Peter gave a giggle while James chuckled, and Remus allowed a small but sincere smile. "Lily," Remus explained "We're Marauders. We know everything."

"No, really." Lily huffed "How did you know?"

"Magic." Peter chipped in with

"Superior intelligence and excellent future-telling abilities." Was Sirius's contribution.

"Lily, we'd both be at the Ministry for questioning right now if something had gone wrong. At best, we wouldn't be both smiling and happy, now, would we?" James explained with a roll of his eyes.

"You're no fun now you're all loved up." Sirius grumbled. Lily reddened and her mind flew back to that little spell... Oblivate...

Then she steeled herself. No, she wasn't about to dwell on it. She'd done the right thing, given the circumstances... mostly, anyway, right? She couldn't have just, well, dealt with it, could she now? It would have ruined their friendship. It was the best thing to do. And he didn't seem to have suffered for it. Actually, she'd probably done him a favour by doing so, really.

"Lily, you're twiddling your hair again."

"Oh." Lily said, looking sheepishly at James "Just, er, caught in a daydream, y'know?"

James eyed her suspiciously for a moment, and then glanced at his watch "Damn it, we're late and we're actually stood outside her bloody office!"

As Sirius, Remus and Peter disappeared around the corner while Lily and James waited for McGonagall to invite them in, Lily heard Remus's voice, "James even said 'damn it'. He's defiantly spending too much time around her; I'm not sure it's healthy."

But Lily wasn't too worried – there was a tone of joking, light-hearted teasing that perhaps prior to her friendship with James she wouldn't have been able to recognize. Then the door swung open, and the familiar sound of a biscuit tin being rattled drew Lily into the homely office of her Head of House.

Pleasantries were exchanged with the same abrupt politeness always conducted by the woman in question, and then the awkward questions arose. Lily felt sure they could probably employ McGonagall as an interrogator at the Ministry; the Death Eaters would probably crumble in moments under her stare.

"Now then, of course because you are sharing the Head's Tower as it is, the school is not obligated to provide you two with housing suitable for students with a Soul Bond..."

Lily cut her off as politely as possible, but curiosity won out "Professor, do you mean that normally when students have a soul bond they are moved out of their dormitories?"

She was rewarded with a withering stare "Lily, you yourself know that you have no need for privacy from James, surely?" McGonagall asked, but her tone was more one of stating the obvious "You share thought space with him all the time."

Lily shrugged, knowing that ironically even though she didn't have a soul bond with James, they still shared thought space the vast majority of the time "Well, yes, but don't the students want to remain as normal as possible?"

Lily felt James cringe through their link, and turned questioning green eyes on him "What, James?"

"Ah, erm, Lily..." James stuttered "Look, er, a soul bond in our culture is considered, erm, much more sacred than a marital bond, sorta a one-up from marriage, see... and not living together is like a pair of newlyweds living in different houses..."

Lily turned bright red and squeaked out "Oh!"

Oh god did the whole student populace think she was having... she was... her and James were... that they were doing things? Together kind of things? In the Head's Tower? Oh Merlin. Oh God. How was she ever going to face them ever again? Damn it she wished she'd never asked. How could this be happening to her?

James's hand catching her's and untangling it from her hair made her jump.

"Lily, breathe." James told her, a smirk twitching at his lips "But yes, they probably do."

Lily thought she might rather face You Know Who in a duel than ever see another Hogwart's student ever again.

Thank Merlin she didn't have to deal with the problem of James telling her he loved her as well. No matter how guilty it was making her feel, she was glad she'd done it.

Beside her, James stiffened for a moment. But Lily was busy nibbling on her Ginger Newt and worrying about her reputation, and she didn't notice.

James vanished off to wherever he went when he wasn't spending time with her soon after they left McGonagall's office, walking with her up to the Head's Tower only to retrieve his thick outer robes and a ratty old piece of parchment which he claimed he'd borrowed off Remus. Then he was gone, and kept surprisingly quiet through the link for the rest of the day.

Lily got through a fair few of her essays which had been piling up, gave the Tower a customary clean, and sat down to write her Christmas present list. She wasn't sure what on earth to buy people, but the days were creeping past her like silenced footfalls, and if she didn't get a move on she'd have some very embarrassing moments on Christmas morning.

Her teachers were easy – Christmas cards for all of them, a new tin of Ginger Newts for McGonagall, a modified Remembrall for Slughorn which she'd charmed some months ago to instead of turning red when you'd forgotten something, to morph into the thing you'd forgotten, if only for a few moments, before returning to its orb-like shape. Lily was quite proud of it. None of her other teachers were close enough to her to warrant a present, but she'd still write them all cards.

She had decided to buy something small for Remus, Peter, Sirius and Frank, and probably the easiest thing to do would be to call into Honeyduke's and buy whatever looked nice for them. It was James and her sister she was really stumped for.

After wasting far too much time worrying over it, and reaching no better conclusion, Lily grabbed her outer robes, slipped on her sturdy snow-boots and grabbed her purse, along with its contained galleons. With nothing else to do, Lily wrote a short note for James explaining she'd gone to buy Christmas presents in Hogsmeade; Lily wove her way through the castle and out into the beautiful but bitter cold winter's air.

She ambled slowly down to Hogsmeade, seeing no need to rush. The Highland scenery was breathtaking and Lily had no intention of missing any of it. The snow crunched underfoot and the icicles shone in the winter's sun, dripping occasionally to form little frozen mounds underneath. The trees of the Forbidden Forest were capped and draped in snow as if little duvets had been fitted to each and every one of them. The sky was that pale blue you never saw in summer, and the sun a more pale yellow than in autumn. Her breath formed clouds and for once, Lily lived only in the moment, enjoying the things she smelt and saw and touched and tasted rather than reliving or pre-living her life.

Just as she reached the outskirts of Hogsmeade, she was interrupted by the owl she now recognized as Apolline's. It landed on her shoulder causing Lily to stumble slightly at the unexpected added weight, and wobbled on one leg as it offered her a letter. Taking it gently and allowing the owl to remain perched on her, Lily unfurled it.

Dear Lily,

First I would like to apologize for getting your name wrong! I was most embarrassed when I realised that once again your newspapers had reported events wrong and that I did not even know your real name. Secondly, I would truly love to meet you. You really seem a lovely girl, and though I may not love James, I have known him for many years and I would love to meet the woman he will marry. I assume we will meet at the Potter's New Year ball, but I'm sure you know how awkward those kind of events can turn out to be, and I think it would work in both of our favours if we did not have to meet for the first time when we are being watched by all of society. I would not blame you in the slightest if you harboured ill feelings of me – I was, after all, engaged to your bonded.

I have arrived in London only two hours ago– I am currently staying with an old friend in their flat in Diagon Alley. I seem to remember there being rules against Hogwart's students leaving Hogwarts or Hogsmeade unless with the express permission of a teacher, so perhaps we could meet soon in Hogsmeade? I am free any time, so at your convenience.

Looking forward to hearing from you and hopefully meeting you, but if this is not possible then a very merry Christmas, and I will see you at the Potter's ball.

Apolline

Lily frowned thoughtfully and refolded the letter, tucking it in her robe pocket. She made her way through Hogsmeade, heading for her usual haunt – The Green Teacup – a small cafe just off from the main street. Once inside, Lily had to make do without her normal seat, which had been taken by an elderly man who sat reading an equally aged book, sipping at some tea.

Lily ordered tea herself, and wondered if it was rude to ask Apolline to meet her right now. She supposed there was probably no harm in asking.

Her tea finished in record time, Lily detoured to Scriveshaft's, and bought one sheet of nice parchment and a self-inking quill, before sitting on one of the chairs at the back of the store to write a quick reply.

Dear Apolline,

It was nice to hear back from you; when I wrote you the letter I have to admit I wasn't sure how you would react. Don't worry about thinking I was Lola – I've even had some of the little second year Hufflepuffs in school call me Lola, and I'm their Head Girl! I'm actually in Hogsmeade now, buying Christmas presents. If you wanted to Floo into the Three Broomsticks, I could meet you there? Of course, seeing as you've only just arrived in freezing cold Britain, I won't be at all offended if you wish to spend time getting settled in at your friend's. We could always arrange another time, but I think you're right; we do need to meet before the Potter's ball.

Hoping to see you soon,

Lily

Apolline's owl had obviously been waiting, because just as Lily had finished and stepped outside again, the owl appeared, hooted once, and took the letter Lily offered to it, flying off. Lily felt the faint hum of magic from its wings, and realised with a jolt that it was some kind of magical owl which would have no trouble getting to London in a short amount of time. Not only was its owner obviously pretty, French, blonde, society and part Vela, she was also clearly very rich and probably spoilt too. Marvellous.

Assuming it wouldn't be long before she received Apolline's reply, Lily headed for Honeyduke's, where she browsed for a while before buying small gift-boxes containing a variety of treats for Remus, Peter, Sirius and Frank, as well as another box of pineapple in case she needed information out of Slughorn and some more Honeyduke's Dark in case they needed to fake a soul bond test again.

After that she headed for a little shop opposite Madam Puddifoot's, which sold extortionately priced pointless gifts usually bought by pureblood students who didn't know what to buy for their parents for Christmas or birthdays, as well as a selection of more reasonably priced cards and wrapping paper. There wasn't much selection left, seeing as most people had already bought the nice ones, Lily had the choice of either the more expensive ones which were charmed to self write and which caused a small flurry of snow to fall on the receive when they were opened (magical snow, of course, which was 'guaranteed to leave no marks, stains or otherwise damage it's victim!') or some really crummy looking ones which were nearly free and depicted magical mistletoe killing an unlucky couple who were entranced by it and had spent too long kissing under it.

Lily left the shop with considerably less money than she had entered it with, but there was no way she would ever give anyone a Christmas card which showed a couple dying on it. Merlin, were there actually people who bought that kind of stuff?

Apolline's owl reappeared; sharpening into focus from the brown blob it had been on the horizon. This time Lily was braced for its landing, and took the letter off it.

Dear Lily,

That sounds lovely; I have to be honest, my old friend is one of those who fusses and flutters around and is rather getting on my nerves. Ember is a fast flyer, so you should receive this shortly after I write it. I will assume half two at the Three Broomsticks? Unless this is not alright, I will assume the plan is going ahead and I will meet you there.

Apolline

Lily drew her wand as cast "Tempus!"

2:41

Lily gave a yelp of shock. She was late. She hated being late. She took off at a run for the Three Broomsticks, dislodging the owl she now knew to be Ember from her shoulder and stuffing the letter in her pocket as she ran. People tutted at her as she rushed past, but she made it to the Three Broomsticks in only three minutes. Taking a moment to compose herself at the door, Lily pushed it open and stepped into the warmth.

It wasn't difficult to spot the girl she was there to meet. She was sat in one of the window seats, and every male (and a few female) heads were turned in her direction. She was sipping a butterbeer and scowling down into it. Her nose was a little red from the cold, and Lily was forced to admit that even that couldn't make her ugly. It was infuriating.

Heaving a sigh Lily wove through the tables and stopped at the seat across from the blonde girl. She looked up and Lily was glad her eyes were a striking green, because if her eyes had been any kind of shade of blue, Lily would have undoubtedly been jealous of the vivid cerulean of this girl's eyes.

"Apolline?" Lily asked

The girl smile, and somewhere in the background came the sound of a glass being dropped

"Lily, I take it?"

Lily nodded slowly "Sorry I'm late." She said, but Apolline waved her off

"Please, have a seat." Apolline offered "Would you like anything to drink?"

Lily went to say no, thinking of the tea she'd only just drunk, then realised she'd want something to fiddle with in her hands when the conversation got awkward, and messing with her hair only made her look childish. She nodded and put her bags down on the floor. Apolline made to get up, but Lily smiled wryly.

"I think you'd probably stay sat down before they break anymore glasses, don't you?"

Apolline let a huge smile grace her face, and she appeared even more beautiful than before. Lily felt a big stab of jealously, but did her best to ignore it.

"Thank you." She said with a wry grin, "I am getting fed up of these barbaric morons."

Lily giggled a little and left the table. At least she seemed to have a blunt sense of humour Lily could relate to.

She got herself a small butterbeer and took it back to the table. She sipped it in awkward silence for a moment, fully aware of the other girl's scrutinising gaze. Finally Apolline seemed to decide Lily had squirmed enough, and she opened the conversation again.

"You are not what I expected, Lily." She said, and Lily suddenly noticed how faint her accent was, especially considering the girl had lived in France all her life "Of course, I have seen pictures of you, in the paper, but in real life it is clear those pictures do not capture the part of you which makes you beautiful."

Lily blushed and coughed awkwardly.

Apolline laughed, her blonde hair shimmering in the light as she did so "And so modest. Tell me; are you certain you are muggleborn?"

Lily frowned at the seemingly random change of subject "As far as I'm aware, yes."

Apolline studied her closely "Curious. Tell me, when you look in a mirror, how pretty do you consider yourself, truthfully?"

Lily pulled a face "Um, I'm not really sure why you want to know..."

Apolline cocked an eyebrow

"I guess I like my eyes." Lily relented "And my hair's quite unusual. But I'd say other than that I'm fairly normal."

Apolline smiled again, and a thud came from behind Lily. She swivelled in her chair to see a bright red middle-aged wizard bending down to pick up the bags he'd just dropped. Apolline scowled and then sighed.

"Hmm. Well, let me think on that. Do you have any unusual magic, Lily?"

Lily shook her head slowly "I'm good enough to be Head Girl, but nothing way out of the ordinary. Anyway, why do you want to know? I feel like I'm being interrogated!"

Apolline eyed her in contemplative silence for a moment, and then said "You look like you have some elf in you, or maybe some fae."

Lily's eyes widened incredulously and her eyebrows shot up "Uhm, I really sincerely doubt it. I'm just a normal human girl."

Apolline tipped her head in silent allowance "Perhaps."

Right no before anyone goes mad at me going off on a hugely overused cliché, I'd just like to point out that Apolline might be wrong, or might only be partly right or so on. Please review and let me know what you think!