Disclaimer: I don't own anything that you recognize here. Everything belongs to J.K. Rowling…

Warning: um, can't think of anything worth mentioning, so just enjoy the chapter…

Once in a Lifetime

Halloween morning dawned bright and cold. Lily woke up and decided that she wasn't ready to get out of bed. She curled into a ball and stared at the picture sitting on her little table, the only one she had kept of Severus.

Even remembering what he had done to her, she hadn't been able to burn the picture. It helped to remind her that Severus really had been one of her best friends.

Eventually she deemed that it was warm enough to climb out of bed. Since it was the weekend, she didn't have to worry about getting ready for classes. Pulling her robe on, she quietly opened the door, letting it slam shut behind her.

As she padded down the stairs, the sound of a page turning startled her. She quickly poked her head around.

James looked up as though he had sensed someone staring at him. Lily continued walking down the stairs, though she was a little self-conscious.

"Hey, Lils," he said, putting his book down. "Why don't you join me?"

She wanted to shake her head, but the warmth from the fire changed her mind.

"What were you reading?" she asked, curiously, as she pulled her legs underneath her body.

James showed her the book. It was a little ratty, as though it had been gnawed at. "It's one of Remus' books. I just thought I would give it a try, so that I can say that I've read it. I have to say though, it's rather boring," he said, placing the book back on the couch.

Lily giggled. "Shakespeare isn't exactly easy to read," she finally said, when she had calmed down.

James ran a hand through his hair. "Yeah, well," he said.

All of a sudden, Lily wanted to be the one running her hands through his hair. She wanted to swat his away, and take over. Shaking the irrational feeling off, she stared into the grate, as the flames licked along the wood.

"Lily?"

She looked up, the question evident in her eyes. James put his hand along her face, and she breathed in a sudden breath.

She looked into his eyes, conviction steeling her thoughts. She placed her hand on his neck, and dragged his mouth against hers.

His surprise evident in the way he stilled, he closed his eyes and kissed her the way she needed to be kissed.

Falling backward on the full-length couch, Lily wrapped both of her hands around his neck. James lifted up for a second, long enough for both of them to drag in a breath, and looked down at her. "You're beautiful," he whispered, letting one of his hands run through her hair.

She blushed.

She closed her eyes, and ran one hand through his hair, loving the way it slid under her fingers. He wrapped one hand around hers, and leaned down again, letting her feel his warm breath on her lips.

"Lily," he whispered, "Look at me." She opened her eyes and let them run over his features.

His eyes were serious, and a shiver ran down her spine.

"You do know that I love you, right?" he asked, his lips tickling hers as they moved. She nodded, her arms tightening around his neck.

A sigh tumbled out just before his lips plundered hers again. This was where she wanted to be, just being held in his arms.

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Sirius woke up, suddenly and groggily. He wasn't sure what it was, but a chill ran up his spine. Looking over at James' bed, he groaned. It was empty.

What happened to the sleeping in? he wondered, climbing out of bed, and throwing a shirt over his chest and boxer shorts.

The warmth that used to be present in the dorm was gone, filling its place the chill that hung around in October.

Flinging the door open, Sirius bounded down the stairs, where he ran into Remus, who glared at him and made a shushing motion with his hands.

Poking his head around the corner, Sirius saw why.

"Damn it, at this rate, Prongs is gonna win," Sirius grumbled under his breath, "and he keeps neglecting to tell me who I'm supposed to seduce."

Remus coughed, and Sirius looked at him.

"Um, Padfoot, I know who you're supposed to seduce; and James isn't neglecting to tell you, he left it to me," Remus said, shivering slightly. Sirius kept staring at him and Remus knew that his cheeks were reddening.

"Well, out with it, Moony, who'm I supposed to seduce?" Sirius asked impatiently, turning around to face him.

Remus looked down. "You are supposed to seduce me, Pads. James told me that it was up to me to tell you."

Sirius let out a quick breath.

"And you chose now to tell me?" he asked, incredulous. Remus's blush grew deeper, and he became flustered.

"I don't think now is really even the time to discuss it Pads," he said finally when he found his voice again.

"Why not? Why is now not a good time?"

Remus pointed down, and Sirius glanced to the spot that Remus was talking about.

"Um, maybe you're right," he said, and walked away, as though Remus had burned him.

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Lily opened her eyes a couple of minutes later, loving the way her body seemed to fit against James.

James lifted his head as she stirred. "You okay?" he asked, lifting his body a little so that she could squirm free.

She nodded, brushing her hair out of her face. "You know, there's a Hogsmeade trip today," she said, sitting up on the couch and straightening her clothes out.

"I was aware of that, but I hadn't intended on going today," James replied. He ran his fingers through his hair. "But, if you wanted to go with me, I suppose I would."

Lily wanted desperately to roll her eyes. Her attraction to him was blatantly obvious, but he was refusing to take the bait.

"No it's not really necessary," she said coolly, grabbing her worn book that lay forgotten on the floor, and heading toward the girls' staircase, leaving a dumbstruck James Potter behind.

When she was hidden from view, she let the tears slide down her cheeks, not bothering to wipe them away.

He didn't need to know what he did to her; it wasn't going to change anything.

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When James entered his dorm room, his mind was whirring. What had he done to cause Lily to clam up?

Remus looked up from his book, and watched as James threw himself on his bed. "What happened to you?" Remus asked, closing his book.

James closed his eyes and placed his hand over his forehead. "I think I screwed up my friendship with Lily," he said hoarsely.

Remus stopped what he was doing. "Did you tell her about your bet?" he asked. James shook his head. "Well, what did you do?"

James shrugged. "I don't know; I just have this feeling."

Remus nodded thoughtfully. He picked his book back up and then put it down. "I told Pads about the details of the bet."

James turned over and looked at him, deliberately pulling his glasses down so that he looked like Dumbledore. "It took you long enough. It's been, what, two months? He should have learned about it the minute I discussed it with you."

Remus sighed. "Yeah, I know… I don't think he's too happy with me at the moment." He pointed to the adjoining bathroom. "He's been in there most of the morning."

"Of course he's not, I wouldn't be either." James got up and left the room, closing the door on a concerned Remus. He leaned against the door, and took shallow breaths, trying to calm his breathing.

He wasn't ready to admit it yet, but giving up on Lily had been the hardest decision he'd ever made… and he couldn't even comfort her.

A/N: okay, I know it's not much longer than my other chapters, but hey, it's a little longer. I hope that you enjoyed the update, leave a review on your way out?

Serindraxx