A/N: First of all, I want to say how sorry I am for being so late in getting this update! These last couple weeks have been crazy hectic! One week I was in Boise, the next week I was trying to get caught up at work and planning our company Christmas party (which is HUGE!) So I do apologize, but I thank everyone who has stuck with me.

Secondly, I really had a hard time starting this chapter. Not really sure why. I hope you all like where it goes.

Next week is Christmas! Wow, where did the time go? Seriously? So on the off chance I don't get an update before then, (hopefully I will) MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Chapter 11

The following day was the start to a weekend, and James and his friends were relieved. After a restless night, no one would have been able to stay awake, let along concentrate in their classes. James knew his friends had taken a lot in last night, and it was very hard to believe. He heard them tossing and turning all night. James himself hadn't gotten much sleep either, but it was for an entirely different reason.

He had finally kissed Lily Evans, the girl he'd been in love with since 2nd year. He couldn't believe it, especially with how that night had started. He had been seriously hurt hearing Lily admit that she had thought about and even asked Dumbledore about the chances of that future happening if she didn't marry James. In all honesty, he had been mad at her. But then she had confessed her feelings for him, and her fears of losing him.

He had spilled his heart out to her, and had watched the emotions flash in her eyes. And that kiss, sweet merlin that kiss was the best kiss in existence. He could still feel her soft lips against his.

James was suddenly hit in the head with a pillow. "What the bloody hell?"

"Oh, so I have your attention now?" Sirius asked with a grin.

"What do you want?" James asked, throwing the pillow back at Sirius.

"I want to know why you have this silly grin on your face, and why your eyes keep glazing over," Sirius said with a smirk.

"What? You're bloody mental," James said, turning his back to dig around in his trunk.

"So it has nothing to do with you coming back late with Evans?" Sirius asked.

"What? Prongs was out with Lily?" Peter asked, jumping in.

James sent a glare towards Sirius. They couldn't let Peter know where they all were last night. "I had gone down to the kitchen to get some food and Evans caught me on the way back as she was finishing her rounds," he said smoothly.

Sirius was about to speak when Remus hit him hard over the back of the head. "Speaking of food, let's go. I don't want to miss breakfast."

"Right! Let's go!" James said, following Remus out who was pushing a ticked off Sirius ahead of him, with Peter following.

They finally made it to the Great Hall, and saw that the girls were already eating. Sirius and Remus led the way to them and sat down. Coincidentally, James was left a seat right in front of Lily.

"Good morning ladies," Sirius said.

"Decide to get out of bed did we?" Marlene asked.

"We would have been here sooner, but James here was-"

"Sirius, hand me the molasses," Remus said, interrupting him. James sent him a grateful look, and Remus nodded.

"Moony, you have molasses right there in front of you," Sirius said.

Remus sighed. "Sirius, this one is empty," he said, picking it up and shaking it in front of Sirius' face.

"Alright, here you go," Sirius said, handing him the molasses.

Lily had watched James turn red when Sirius had started talking, and she figured Sirius knew something about what happened last night. Or he thought he knew anyway. Lily herself hadn't told her friends. She didn't know exactly what to tell them. Were they dating now? He hadn't really asked her. She looked at James and could feel her cheeks heating when he grinned and winked at her.

"Oi, Evans, what's got you blushing?" Sirius asked.

Lily wanted to slap Sirius. "I'm fine, but I do feel a bit warm. Maybe I should go get some fresh air," she said, standing and walking out of the Great Hall.

James watched her go, and wondered if he should follow her and make sure she was alright. "Uh, I'm going to go get some flying in today," he said, before walking out as well.

"They're doing it again," Sirius said.

"Doing what?" Dorcas asked.

"James looked like he was in a daze this morning and Evans was blushing when she looked at James. She walks out, he leaves as well. Something happened last night," he said before stuffing his face with pancakes.

"Oh please, if something had happened, Lily would have told us about it," Mary said, sounding unsure herself.

"Would she?" Sirius asked.

"If something did happen last night, it's between them Sirius. If and when they want to tell us, they will," Remus said.

"Moony, you saw James this morning! I've never seen him like that!"

"How do you all know they were together last night if Lily didn't say anything to you?" Peter asked the girls.

Everyone seemed to stop moving. "Uh, Lily did mention to me that she had seen James last night," Marlene said cautiously.

"Yeah, she had caught him on the way back from her rounds when he was coming back from the kitchens, yeah?" Remus said.

"Right," Marlene confirmed.

Peter thought about it for a minute before shrugging and going back to his breakfast. Everyone relaxed. They needed to be careful about what they said around Peter.

"Mr. Lupin," came a voice from behind them, causing them all to jump. It was Professor McGonagall. She handed him a rolled piece of parchment. She also handed one to Marlene. "Miss McKinnon, please give this to Lily. I seem to have missed her. I expect you to follow these accordingly," she said with a slight glance towards Peter, which he didn't notice.

"Yes ma'am," Remus said, before she walked away.

"What are those?" Peter asked.

Remus opened it and glanced at it before closing it. "Head duties. McGonagall's given me the new schedule for the prefects."

"That must be what this is too then, for Lily," Marlene said, slipping it into her cloak.

"Well, I'm going back to the common room. Lily said she'd help me with my DADA essay," Peter said.

"Alright, we'll see you up there in a bit," Remus said genuinely.

After Peter left, Sirius reached for the note from Remus. "What's it really say?"

"Professor Dumbledore wants to see us in his office tonight. Says it's important," he told them. "I'm sure that's what yours says too Marlene."

Marlene opened it and nodded. "Yeah. Should we go tell James and Lily?"

"Definitely!" Sirius exclaimed, jumping up.

"Pads, I'm sure Dumbledore has sent them a message as well," Remus said.

"And if he hasn't?"

"Then we'll tell them when we see them," Remus said firmly.

Sirius groaned and fell back onto the bench. "You lot are no fun! Don't you want to know what's going on between those two?"

"Of course we do!" Dorcas said. "But we aren't going to go and stalk them to find out."

Sirius brightened. "I like the way you think Dorcas!" He jumped up and ran out of the Great Hall.

"Bloody hell," Remus muttered before running after him.

"Should we go after them?" Mary asked.

"We probably better, just in case," Marlene said, following after Remus, with Mary and Dorcas right behind her.

oOo~oOo~oOo

Lily had gone outside to sit by the Black Lake. She needed to keep calm around James and his friends. If he hadn't told them what had happened last night, he must not have wanted them to know. But did she want them to know?

She had confessed last night to James that she was scared she'd lose him before this was all over. She knew that when he kissed her, she wouldn't be able to turn back though. But now she didn't know how she should act. Should she pretend to be her regular self-brushing James off? She wasn't going to act like a love struck twit that was for sure.

"Lily?" a voice said from behind her, breaking her out of her thoughts and causing her to jump.

"Blimey James! A little warning would help me not have a heart attack," she said a bit bitterly.

James looked affronted. "Er, sorry bout that." He gestured towards the ground beside her. "May I?"

She shrugged, trying to steady her rapid heartbeat.

After sitting down beside her, he brought his knees up and put his arms on them, his hands hanging free. "I wanted to make sure you were really alright. You ran out of there pretty fast."

"I'm fine," she said, avoiding his searching eyes by looking out at the lake.

After a moment, James sighed and said, "Look, Lily I-"

"Why didn't you tell them?" she asked suddenly, looking straight at him.

James' eyes opened wide. "What? Tell who what?"

Lily rolled her eyes. "For once in your life, don't play dumb. You know exactly what I'm talking about."

"Well, uh, did you tell your friends?"

"Don't turn my question back on me. Now answer the question," she said, pointing his finger in his chest.

"Alright," he said while rubbing his chest. "I-I didn't know exactly what to tell them. I didn't want to tell them I'd finally kissed the girl I've been in love with since 2nd year, because they would have taken the mickey out of me. And I didn't want to say that we were dating finally because I never really asked you about it," he said, not looking at her.

Lily felt a bit of a relief. So he wasn't necessarily ashamed, and he did want to date her officially. She smiled and looked back out at the lake. "Well, I'm waiting Potter."

James' head snapped up. "What?"

Lily continued to grin. "You'd think that after seven years of asking me to date you, you'd know what to say," she said, before standing up and walking along the lake.

James seemed to finally register what she had said before he jumped up and ran after her. He spun her around and looked at her. "Lily Evans, will you, the smartest, bravest, most beautiful girl go-"

"Ahem," someone said, cutting James off. There was Dumbledore with a twinkle in his eyes and a mischievous smile on his face. "I'm sorry for interrupting Mr. Potter, Miss Evans, but as you weren't in the Great Hall with your friends, I wanted to make sure you got my request."

"Request sir?" James asked.

"I sent a note to your friends, having assumed you have told them all that you know?" At their nods, he continued. "If you would all please come to my office tonight at 8, I have something I need to discuss with you."

"We'll be there professor," Lily said.

"Splendid!" he clapped his hands. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some delightful chocolate pudding waiting for me," he said before smiling at them and walking away.

"Now, where was I?" James said turning back to Lily.

"James, maybe we should wait-"

"Ah yes, Lily Evans, will you-"

"James wait!" Lily practically yelled.

James looked stunned. "What is it?"

"James, I need to know for sure," Lily said, twisting her hands nervously. "Are you sure you want to be with me, especially knowing what could happen?"

James took her hands and pulled her to him before crushing his lips to hers. He felt her wrap her hands around his neck and he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her as close as he could. He pulled away and said, "Didn't we already go through this?"

Lily giggled. "Deja vu," she muttered.

"Deha what?" James asked, looking at her confused.

Lily laughed. "Never mind. Now Mr. Potter, I believe you were about to ask me something?"

James jumped tracks and said, "Oh yeah, right. Uh, so," he got down on one knee and held her hand and said, "Lily Evans, will you be my girlfriend?"

"Bloody blazing fireballs! Prongs are you seriously proposing?" Sirius yelled.

James groaned and rubbed his face. He stood up and looked at Lily. "I swear if one more person interrupts, I'm going to-"

Lily crushed her lips against his before pulling back and saying, "I will be your girlfriend James."

Suddenly they heard girls squealing and Sirius, for the first time, having a hard time saying anything.