Extremely sorry for the late update!

Two things:

-I'm now on pottermore! Feel free to add me - OwlLumos84

-My birthday is on the 11th ;') (I'm turning 18)

Enjoy the read! :)

"And the Gryffindor team, Davis, Jones, Li, Malone, Rivers, Nott, and Potter!"

Roars of applause erupted across the stands as Lily watched along with the rest of the school, seven players emerge onto the field from the left side. Her eyes found the captain almost immediately. Letting out a sigh, Lily realized it had been more than an entire day now since she had last seen James. She watched as he walked towards the middle of the pitch to shake hands with the Ravenclaw captain. Lily frowned, noticing the lack of vigor in the shake from James's part.

The rest of the game did not go so vigorously either. Gryffindor started off with a decent start, pulling in a few goals with the Quaffle, and the Keeper was doing his job fairly well as well. Gradually though, it seemed like Ravenclaw wanted to speed things up, but Gryffindor just wasn't in the mood to play.

Davis's swift pass of the Quaffle to James was missed as it slipped out of his hands. The Bludger got Rivers twice, the second time knocking her into the Hufflepuff stands. A few too many Quaffles began going through the Gryffindor post, to the delight of the Ravenclaw team. All in all, the Gryffindors knew their only shed of hope now relied on Nott, hoping he'd catch the snitch before it was too late.

Lily's eyes remained fixed on James during the entire game. She noticed his lack of energy, his slumped shoulders, his lack of balance on the broom on which he could have easily flown through the thickest of fogs. She couldn't believe it when he had dropped the Quaffle…that just wasn't like him. She knew his heart wasn't in the game, and if James wasn't feeling good enough to care about Quidditch, then he must really be feeling ill.

Lily bit down on her bottom lip in worry, before noticing a sudden jerk in James's movement. She was trying to understand what he was doing, but when she saw the perplexity on his face, her eyes widened as she realized the broom was acting on its own accord. The jerky movements continued on for a few more minutes as everyone tried to figure out just what was going on with the Gryffindor Captain.

Lily watched as with one final tug, the broom jerked up and James fell to the ground.

A great throbbing in his arm overwhelmed him as soon as he woke up. James grunted in pain, as he took in his surroundings and tried to put things together. The Hospital Wing, the Quidditch match, the sudden unexplainable movements of his broom, and the fall to the ground.

His head began spinning as he raised himself off of the pillow, only to have Madam Pomfrey push his head back down the same instant.

"Oh no, don't even think about getting out of this bed Mr. Potter. You'll be spending the night here."

"The whole day?" James groaned in frustration. "But I've got to know who won the match!"

"Ravenclaw," Pomfrey replied easily, as she took out a bottle of Skele-Gro from her cupboard.

James eyed her suspiciously, and she added, "Gryffindor lost by thirty points, even though they caught the snitch."

James cursed loudly, earning a great frown and a " watch your mouth!" from Pomfrey. In a stiffened manner, she handed him the cup of Skele-Gro, and after seeing that he had successfully managed to force down the entire cup, she began walking back towards her office.

She was just out of sight when James called after her, "Madam Pomfrey!"

She turned around and looked at him expectantly.

"Who…I mean how did you know about the score? I know you don't…come to the matches or anything…so I was wondering if possibly…"

"Rest assured Mr. Potter, Gryffindor has lost this match. It's not the end, so don't get so disgruntled. And yes, I've been assured of this outcome numerous times from your fellow Gryffindor visitors who came by to see you."

James was caught off guard for a moment as his eyebrows shot up at the last statement, "I had visitors? Who?"

He couldn't help but hope Pomfrey would mention one specific redhead. He had been horrible to her the last couple of days. Leaving her unexpectedly after their…kiss. James felt his ears turn red just at the thought of it. He couldn't believe it had happened. He still hadn't gotten his head around the fact that Lily had made the first move and had snogged him. But then suddenly leaving her, and avoiding her for the last day, hadn't been the best move on his part.

His shoulders slumped in worry. Would she ever forgive him? She probably didn't even want to ever see him again. Why hadn't he explained himself better? He had probably ruined their relationship.

The desire to hear Lily's name come out of Pomfrey's mouth had never been this strong.

"Your friends Mr. Pettigrew, Mr. Black, and Mr. Lupin. And I believe the remaining Gryffindor Quidditch team." Pomfrey stopped, pondering for a moment, "Oh and yes, I do believe Hunter, the Ravenclaw Captain stopped by to make sure you were alright."

With a curt nod, Pomfrey turned back around, and James's heart sank. "Oh and I almost forgot, Miss. Evans dropped by numerous times throughout the day to ask me how you were. I assured her you were completely fine and with nothing other than what a few days in the Hospital Wing couldn't fix."

At these words, James grinned widely. He could only continue to grin, as Pomfrey gave him a barely noticeable yet knowing smile and turned back on her heels and into her office.

Her perfume. That's what woke him up. Or rather the realization that she was nearby. James's eyes fluttered open to see Lily sitting on the chair next to his bed. She was fidgeting with her hands, staring down at a few pieces of parchment on her lap. James watched as a stray hair came loose, and she impatiently tucked it behind her ear.

Had he not been so relieved to see her, he would have stayed a few more minutes enjoying her presence without saying anything. But that was not the case.

"Lily," He sat up and watched her look up at him in relief.

"Thank Merlin," he heard her mumble. "How are you feeling?" she asked, looking quite anxious.

"It's just a broken hand, Lil. Nothing serious. You heard Pomfrey, I'll be out of here in no time."

"Yes, well…" suddenly she stopped and looked at him questioningly. Too late, James realized his mistake and cursed himself silently for letting it slip.

"Wait, how did you know Pomfrey told me…"

"Pomfrey told me," James repeated the words that had just left her mouth. Lily looked down onto her lap once more, a light blush creeping onto her cheeks.

James smiled, "Thanks for everything." When she looked up at him again, he continued, "I know I've been horrible the last few days and I'm sorry about that. I really am. But I want you to know this has nothing to do with what happened that night on the balcony alright?"

The abrupt mention of the event that was still so fresh in both of their minds, caused them both to pause for a moment in an awkward silence. Finally Lily nodded, "I know that. You told me to trust you, and I do James."

"Good," James smiled again, relieved, and grabbed her hand. Half because she was fidgeting with it too much, and half because…well he wanted to.

Lily suddenly calmed down as she felt the warmth of his hand on hers. She looked into his eyes as she prepared to tell him the news she knew he had yet to learn.

"It was Snape," she murmured.

"What?" James asked, not quite hearing her properly.

"Snape. Hooch found out and she went barking mad. Sent Snape straight to Dumbledore. Rumor has it that he might get expelled. The Slytherins are in a right state, pushing Gryffindors in the halls and shouting out insults left and right as means for some sort of a revenge. And for the rest of the Marauders, Remus, Peter, and Sirius are fuming with anger. I just hope they don't go and do something stupid."

Lily talked really fast, not wanting to stop and see the expression on James's face. She knew she wouldn't like it.

"Lily, slow down! Are you trying to say, that it was bloody Snape who hexed my broom on the Quidditch pitch?"

Lily bit her lip and nodded slowly. James ran a hand through his hair in frustration. His jaw clenched, and his knuckles turned white from the strong grip with which he was holding onto the sheets.

"Why? What have I…? I mean this year, Lily! Don't give me that face. Yeah I know what I've done to him in the past, but you'd think he'd forget about it by now. And Quidditch! The only bloody time he thought suitable to torture me was during one of the most important matches of my life!"

At this Lily raised an eyebrow, and James just growled even louder in anger.

"He cost us the match, Lil!"

"That's what you're so concerned about right now?" Lily said, not able to keep the desperation out of her voice. "The match? Here I've been worried sick about you. I can't concentrate in classes, can't eat, can't sleep…"

James cut her off in exasperation, "Merlin, Lily! I've told you, it's just a bloody arm!"

"No!" Lily cried, very well aware that Pomfrey would come out any moment and ask her to leave if her voice remained at this volume. But she wasn't about to leave until she got some answers. She lowered her voice a tad bit but glowered at James.

"Don't you get is James? This isn't about just today. It's not even about your fall. It's about all the other days. When you keep disappearing. That day when you canceled our study session and then that night….and always the next day you show up so worn out and so tired. And let me assure you right now, that I haven't missed those marks and scratches that just show up on your face out of nowhere. What are you doing James? I need to know. I need to know you're not doing anything dangerous. Please, James. You asked me to trust you and I do. But can I at least get a few answers. Tell me you're not doing anything dangerous and I won't ask anything else, I promise."

The tears now slipping down her cheeks were almost enough for him to come clean. To forget everything and anything he had promised and tell her the truth. She deserved to know. But how could he betray his friends?

James watched her for a few more minutes, as Lily looked back, waiting for a response. He reached out and wiped off her tears, softly squeezing her hand which was still in his. He lifted up her chin until he could see straight into her eyes, and shook his head.

"I'm not doing anything dangerous."

"Are you telling the truth?" she whispered.

He slowly shook his head again.

"James-"

"I can't lie to you Lily. What I'm doing is dangerous. But I have to keep doing it. I can't stop."

"But why James? What is so important that you're ready to risk your life for it. Why are you-"

"Lily. I can't."

His last two words were loud and clear. A firm declaration. And Lily knew then that her questioning would have no use. He wouldn't tell her. He didn't trust her enough to let her know. And he didn't care enough to stop doing what he was doing.

Without any further moments of hesitation, she wretched her hand out of his grasp, grabbed her bag from where it was lying on the floor, and ran out of the Hospital Wing, the sound of her sobs still echoing as the door closed behind her.

James looked down at his open hand in which her's had just been and closed it into a fist. He laid back down onto the bed, closed his eyes, and wished it all away.

quick disclaimer: the names of the Gryffindor Quidditch team came from Rowling's "Original Forty" list in Pottermore…if you know what I'm talking about. I don't want to reveal anything else, so you'll just have to wait to find out from pottermore if you don't know what I mean. ;)

R & R!