Disclaimer: I know that everyone expects a funny disclaimer. But I've decided to break tradition. (Actually I just couldn't think of anything.) So... I don't own the Harry Potter series.

After the incident in the library I find myself growing more and more self conscious around James. As a result I end up doing more and more embarrassing things around him.

Like reading a book upside down, falling down the stairs, accidently following him up into the boys dormitory, making birds pop out of my wand randomly to name a few.

This only makes me more self conscious. It's a never ending vicious cycle. And I'm in the middle of it!

So now, doing rounds with James, I'm really tense. Every second or so I look down to make sure I'm not going to trip over anything.

Like a nice big patch of air. Don't laugh. It's happened before.

James stops walking, "Do you hear anything?"

When I listen I can hear a squeaking noise, "It's coming from the left."

We tiptoe into a small room and look around. The squeaking noise stops.

"I guess it was…" I begin but another, different, noise interrupts me. It sounds more like a crash than a squeak.

"James? What was that?" A ghostly shape appears in front of us. I scream but James laughs.

"It's okay Lily," James says, "It's just Peeves."

"Is he a ghost?" I ask, my voice trembling.

"Actually he's a poltergeist. There's a difference."

"Naughty, Naughty head students," Peeves chuckles, "Off to snog while everybody else is sleeping? Shame on you."

"Get out of here Peeves. I've got a new little spell saved up for you if you don't." James threatens.

Peeves flies out of the door but throws one last remark at us before he leaves, "Bump your poor little head recently Evans?"

I can hear Peeves blowing raspberries at us as he flies down the corridor.

As soon as all is quiet I turn to James, "This castle has ghosts?"

"Yes, it does. I can't believe you haven't seen one yet. I'll have to take you to meet one of them later. But Peeves isn't a ghost. He's a poltergeist."

"Right. You said that earlier. Are all the ghost like Peeves?"

"No way!" James grimaces, "That'd be awful! Hogwarts ghost's are generally polite and civilized."

"Well, I guess that's good. If you're going to be haunted at least the ghosts are civilized." I say sarcastically.

"Well it's not exactly that way. Ghosts aren't exactly like they are portrayed in the muggle world. Every wizard has the choice to become one. You can move on to another world or…" James explains the whole process while we walk back to the Gryffindor common room. I mostly try not to trip while I listen to him.

His explanation finishes just before we reach the portrait of the Fat Lady. He issues the password and we both climb in. I can see Anna and Ella watching us from the top of our stairwell.

James starts to walk away but turns around and says, "Good night Lily."

"Good night James. I'll see you in the morning."

As soon as James disappears from sight Anna and Ella drag me up the stairs into our shared room.

"Did you see that?"

"I did!"

"It's so exciting!"

"Took them long enough."

"I'll say."

"We just have a couple pointers Lily."

"Like don't play hard to get."

"Yeah. That's so overrated."

"But you can't be too easy." "Don't let him kiss you just yet."

"You have to wait a couple days for that. But some hand holding should be fine."

"Not too much though. Otherwise you'll give him the wrong vibe."

I interrupt their confusing tirade, "Wait. What are you guys talking about?"

"You and James of course." Ella titters.

Now I'm really confused, "What about me and James?"

"We saw the way you looked at him."

"You've got it bad."

"I don't know what you're talking about" I say defensively.

"I knew you'd deny it."

I feel myself getting angry, "Why don't you just leave me alone? There's nothing for me to deny! James and I are just friends. Nothing more. We'll never be anything more than friends."

They both take a step back, "Whoa." Anna says nervously, "It's okay. We're sorry. We'll get off your case."

"No we won't." Ella says.

"Yes we will."

"No we won't!"

"Shut up! We'll talk about this later. (As in, not right now and not in front of Lily.)"

Something in the back of my mind tells me I should be offended that they are planning to talk about me behind my back but I'm busy with other things. The implications of what I said just now hit home. I feel a strange twinge when I think that James and I might never be more than 'Just friends'.

It's not really a good feeling.

Author's Note

I'm so so so sorry for taking so long to update. I was in a different state for a week and then I was a camp for a week and so on. Better late than never though. Right? Thanks for bearing with me and please leave a review.