"Dammit Lily, where did you put my cloak?" James asked angrily, rummaging through his clothes.

Lily pointed at his trunk calmly. "Over there, like I told you before."

James dug through his trunk, casting clothes out right and left. "Where? I don't see it—oh. Okay. Thanks Nut." He walked over and kissed her forehead. "You're a lifesaver."

"You need to stop stressing." Lily sighed as she watched him struggle to fold it properly. "Give it here." She said, taking the cloak and neatly folding it into a perfect square. She tucked it in her bag and sighed again.

"What's with you and sighing, love?"

"It's fun." She stuck her tongue out at him. "Come on, hot-shot. We haven't got all night. We've got to assign rounds to the prefects and then we can go."

"Oh come on, let's blow off the meeting. They can't do anything to us, we're the Heads!" He winked at her.

"Can't. I scheduled it."

James groaned. "Of course you did."

"I'm Head Girl, after all." She shrugged. "Come on darling, it'll only be like twenty minutes."

"Twenty?"

"Okay, thirty."

James whimpered. "That's a bloody long time."

"It'll be fun. I'll let you talk, how's that?"

He cheered up a little bit. "Alright. Deal. I do the talking. Any way I want to."

Lily nodded. "Any way you want to," she promised.

It took her about five seconds into the meeting to regret her words. James had chosen to instruct everyone by creating limericks. He was surprisingly and irritatingly successful. He also demanded everyone reply in rhyme.

"Charity and Miguel,

You'll have to make sure no one raises any hell

With pranks and the like.

Carole and Mike,

I leave to you the corridors

Wear comfy shoes for feet are likely to feel sores

The next morning after you're done with the task

And don't forget to leave at home the rum flask!

Daniel and Daisy,

Promise us you won't be lazy

Walk around together

And all the storms you can weather.

Lily and I

Will roam together on the sly

We'll catch the quiet

And those who incite a riot

And do it well

Or else there'll surely to pay be hell." James rhymed, grinning at the other prefects. "Alright mates, get the hell out of here and go meet your dates!"

Lily rolled her eyes but smiled as she did it. It was kind of cute but also annoying. Just like their relationship, it was a paradox.

They walked out of the meeting together, hands holding tightly to each other. It was strange, Lily used to despise all forms of public display of affection, even when she was one of the parties involved. Now she welcomed any chance she had to hold on to James.

"Guess what?" He whispered as they walked down the corridor.

"What?" She asked, equally quiet.

"You're beautiful."

It was moments like this that made Lily feel like she was floating. There was a terribly wonderful out-of-body sensation when he gave her compliments like that. He was by far the best boyfriend she had ever had, what with the long talks they shared. There wasn't a topic they hadn't, or couldn't, discuss. It was such a free and open relationship; they had no secrets from each other. Lily knew about how James had always wished he had siblings, how Sirius made up for that. She knew about Remus's secret and that they transformed each month to help him. She knew how he got the one scar he had, a small lightning bolt shaped scar that was right on his pelvis. It was a tiny scar, one no one noticed except those who knew to look. James, in turn, knew all of her secrets. He understood how tortured it had been to go home for the holidays and have her sister taunt her. Or how it was even worse when Petunia ignored her existence completely. He knew that she had buried herself in her books as a way to relieve stress, to hide away for a bit.

That was what Lily enjoyed most about their relationship. It was continually surprising and amazingly honest. They argued, often about the most idiotic things. But they always resolved them before they left the room. That was one of their rules. "Never leave angry," they'd repeat when it looked like the other would bolt. Besides, their feuds were no longer something to dread. They were stepping stones that actually brought them closer. Take for instance breakfast that morning.

"I cannot believe you actually think that women shouldn't be Aurors." Lily glared at him from across the table.

"I didn't say that." James retorted. "I merely said that I think they should think twice before applying."

"Why?!?"

"Because what if they get killed?"

"What if the men die? Is it better for guys to die than girls?"

"The men don't die."

"Wake up, James. Everyone dies."

"But the women have more of a chance at dying."

"Why?"

"Besides, they shouldn't risk their lives."

"What if they want to?"

"They just shouldn't."

"James. Quit talking in generalizations."

He didn't say anything for a minute. "Idontwantanythingtohappentoyou," he said quickly.

"What?"

"I don't want anything to happen to you." James looked at her. "I don't know what I'd do without you, Nut."

Lily smiled. "James darling, we were talking about women as Aurors. Not me."

"But I know that's what you want to do."

"Yeah, that is what I want to do," she nodded, "but not forever. And I don't want you to do it either; I don't want you to die."

"But I have to do it."

"So do I."

They didn't say anything for a few minutes. Then, Lily reached her hand out across the table. "You're amazing," she said quietly, squeezing his hand.

It was like that with them. It was even. They both apologized and gave completely. Their relationship was one based on giving and not taking. It was pure bliss.

Lily smiled as she pinned a notice upon the bulletin board in the Gryffindor Common Room.

All pre-decided Halloween couples are asked to go to Hogsmeade tomorrow to choose their costumes for the Ball on the 31st. The Hogsmeade excursion will last from 8:00 AM until 6:00 PM. All costumes are to be charged to Hogwarts, under the name "Potter". Have fun!

-Lily and James

(the Heads)

The next day came quickly. Lily and James agreed to meet at 8:00 AM for the maximum shopping experience. They were only going to meet up for the costume bit, the rest of the day was meant to be spent as a stay-away time. It was agreed by both parties that they needed some air, even though in their bones they knew it was silly to say something like that when they longed to be together.

Lily smiled as she had their costumes sent over to Hogwarts. She absolutely adored hers.

"Okay darling, time to go away now. I'll see you at noon for lunch." Lily placed her arms around his neck.

"Goodbye beautiful." James hugged her tightly and reached slowly down to kiss her. "Be good."

"You too." She winked as she walked away from him.

Hogsmeade wasn't a big village but in the years she had spent exploring it she had learned a lot. There was a lot more hidden than most people knew about. Besides the main street where most Hogwarts students hung out there were also quite a few hidden jewels. Lily's favorite shop was nearly half a mile away from the main street while her favorite ice cream stand stood a full mile away. It was worth it, though, to get away from the noise. She loved seeing the motherly witches with their children.

"No pets, we cannot buy you that. It's too expensive." A woman said. Lily felt a lump grow in her throat as she watched the woman holding the hands of two little girls, one red-haired and one blonde. The blonde was pointing to a dress while the littler one, the red-head, gazed at a doll riding upon a broomstick. It was gorgeous. The doll too had auburn colored hair and a lily necklace around her neck. Lily gasped when she saw that. "I'm sorry, girls."

Lily bit her lip as she watched the blonde throw a fit. The little red-head stood quietly watching her older sister scream and shout with a sense of helplessness. How many times had Lily been that little girl, watching Petunia yell?

To silence the blonde, the mother bought her the dress she had wanted. "Happy now?" She asked before turning around. "Come along, Catharine." She said to the littlest one.

Lily couldn't help herself. It was a sign. "Excuse me but do you spell your name with a C and an a?" She asked, kneeling down beside the little girl.

"Yes. I spell it C-A-T-H-A-R-I-N-E." She replied, smiling very prettily. Lily wanted to cry from how much she resembled her.

"Wait one second, Catharine." Lily looked at the mother. "It'll only take a second, please."

The mother looked at her with raised eyebrows but shrugged. Waiting another minute couldn't hurt.

Lily ran into the shop as fast as she could and was back out in nearly a minute flat. "Here you go," she said to Catharine, handing her a small bag.

Catharine's eyes widened as she pulled out the doll on the broomstick. "Is this for me?" She asked.

Lily nodded before speaking again. "How old are you, Catharine?"

"I'm five," she said proudly, hugging her doll to her.

"We can't possibly accept this," her mother broke in, looking at Lily nervously. "I can't pay you for it, especially after buying this one's dress."

Lily smiled. "It's a gift. The only think I want is for you, Miss Catharine, to love this doll. Do you think you can do that?"

"Yes!" Catharine shouted.

"What do you say?" Her mother chided quietly.

Catharine smiled again. "Thank you… what's your name?"

"I'm Lily."

"Thanks Lily!" Catharine hugged her doll once more and set off behind her mother and sister, skipping behind them happily.

Lily looked at the three of them with tears in her eyes. She had been there so many times, the little sister who got ignored periodically. It wasn't because her parents hadn't loved her, God forbid anyone imply that. It was because Petunia had demanded their attention. But she remembered the breakfasts she had shared with her dad growing up. Every Saturday morning at exactly eleven o'clock in the morning, her father had brunch with her. They walked three blocks down to a small café, eating the same thing. The waitress was always Maureen, a sweet Irish girl. Her dad would buy her a cup of coffee, caramel, with French toast and a side of fruit salad. He'd always have coffee with toast and eggs, fruit salad too. It was their tradition, one they both loved.

It was hard to know they were gone. It was hard thinking about all of this alone, without James beside her. He was almost always there. And that's why today they both knew they needed some space to think. Being together all the time wasn't healthy. Besides, absence makes the heart grow stronger.

Lily slid her hands into her pockets, feeling a slip of paper and something else. She knit her eyebrows together for a moment before pulling it out. Biting her lip, she read it.

Hello Nut,

I know I'm supposed to be doing the whole absence thing but I wanted to make sure that you thought of me at least once this morning. Merlin knows when you'll look in your pockets but I'm okay with that. Anyways, I just wanted to tell you good morning. I'll be thinking of you all day.

I love you.

James Potter

PS. A little sweet for my sweetie.

She smiled, rereading it. The sweet was a chocolate frog, the kind he knew she loved. It was so typical of him, so amazingly sweet. Of course, he had something similar hidden in his pockets.

James walked through the doors of Honeydukes, inhaling the sweet smell of candy. He grabbed nearly a dozen different types and tossed them onto the counter in three minutes flat. He reached into his pocket to pay when he felt a slip of paper.

Dear James,

Absence makes the heart grow fonder but so do little notes. I hope you're having a great time without me! I'll be missing you. Try not to miss me too much though, okay? Have fun! Be good and I'll see you at noon, darling!

I love you.

Nutty Ace