A/N: Hey, everyone. Sorry it took so long to get this chapter out; I was having a little trouble writing it. Anyway, I hope you like it!

Reviewers: rrainydaze, singer154, ChrissyWhissy, ahrocks08, shetlandlace, bored2hyperness, wondergirl9879 - Thank you all SO much for reviewing. I can't explain how good it feels that someone as nice as you guys took their time to read my writing and comment, so thank you all, so very much! To Jenni (Jenni.Metal), my amazing proof-reader and Zumii (Apple.Bite), who encouraged me to post this in the first place: thank you also! x

Disclaimer: I think only Jennifer belongs to me, but she's not exacly mine. -waves to Jenni- Everything else belongs to the wonderous JK Rowling.

It was like time had stood still, that night in the Gryffindor Common Room. When things pass in a blur, one immediately thinks of something going so fast that not a sound is heard, not an image remembered. But not that night.

The girl with a silent scream etched onto her features stumbled backwards, every single movement distorted; the three sleeping figures jerked awake, mumbling blearily and trying to focus their visions; the two seventeen year old boys stood as still as statues, frozen to the floor as James Potter emerged from the shadows. Reality crashed over their shoulders and, for a moment, their worlds shook beneath their feet.

Suddenly, there was a flash of red as Lily Evans threw herself at James' body, attacking every inch of it and breaking down into hysterical tears.

"You l-left me a-and I thou-thought you w-were dead!"

"Lily, stop!" James' voice was exceptionally hoarse and despite the darkness, the purple bruises encircling his hazel eyes only emphasized how sunken they really were. The petite redhead that had suddenly decided to pummel him was now flailing her arms hopelessly against his firm grip around her wrists, tears gushing from her eyes as she forced herself to avoid James' alluring gaze.

But it was all too much for Lily who had slumped against James' frame, unconscious; he slipped an arm around her shoulders and waist, picking her up and walking past his wordless friends to lay Lily gently on the sofa, grazing her cheek with his lips before turning to an advancing Sirius Black.

Without warning, two wands were being pressed hard into his neck and a positively livid Sirius and Remus glared down on him.

"Who are you?" Remus growled, forcing the thin stick on wood further into his collarbone.

"Moony, get the hell off me! Are you crazy?!"

Remus' vigour slackened slightly as with wide-eyes, he surveyed the seventeen year old boy in front of him. "Prongs?"

"Who else? What has-?"

"Prove it." Sirius snarled, jabbing the flesh on his throat.

"Padfoot, what the hell is wrong with you?" James hissed as Frank Longbottom gradually got to his feet, staring gobsmacked at the scene in front of him. Jennifer and Alice, however, were trying frantically to wake Lily.

"Prove it!"

"What do you want me to say?" James said, exasperated at his friend's behaviour.

"What's your animagus?"

"A stag. Yours is a dog, Moony's is a…" James paused. "Is a wolf and Peter's is a rat."

James found himself enveloped in a bear hug by his best friends who gripped him so hard until lack of oxygen started to become a problem. When he was finally released, spluttering, he was stunned to see Sirius' eyes were clouded with unshed tears.

"We thought you were dead." Remus murmured throatily, his clasp on James' forearm tightening.

"Dead?" James swallowed audibly, colour draining from his cheeks.

"The day after you had disappeared, your parents death was announced in the Prophet," Remus began softly as James bowed his head. "And it also said a third body was found in their house."

"And you g-guys thought it was me?"

"Well, you'd just disappeared off the face of the earth…"

"And you didn't think about asking Dumbledore?"

"He didn't tell us anything!"

James swore loudly and buried his face in his hand. "I'm sorry," he said weakly, sitting on the edge of the sofa. "I didn't mean-"

A voice muttering his name brought his attention to Lily who had gained consciousness. Jennifer and Alice backed away from nursing her, leaving James free to kneel down in front of her.

"Lily," he murmured, entwining their fingers. "Lily, I'm sorry. I'm sorry that-"

But Lily shook her head, silencing him. "A couple of days ago, I told myself I loved you," her voice was strangely shrill, despite how muffled her words were. "But I knew that, deep down, I was just pretending."

James who was swelling with affection took a sharp intake of breath at her words, his eyes wide and dilated with pain. But Lily wasn't finished:

"I knew I was just telling myself that because I needed a break. I wanted to be normal; I wanted to be loved. But when you kissed me…" A smile tickled her cheeks as Lily paused, pressing a finger to James' lips as he opened his mouth to speak. And then her smile faltered. "But when you were gone, James… I don't actually think I could describe how I felt."

Guilt clouded James' eye as with his spare hand, he gently brushed a lock of Lily's hair away from her eyes. "Lily, I-"

"I know," Lily said with a soft smile as she swung her legs to the floor and sat up straight. "I know."

"But, I-"

"Shush."

And without a moment to think, Lily had leant in and kissed James, looping her arms around his neck and pulling him against her, feeling James coil his arms around her waist. James could feel her smiling against his skin as he returned her kiss, pulling her to her feet and lifting her up.

The wolf-whistling and hollering rang in both their ears as finally they broke apart, James grinning down at an embarrassed Lily.

There was a blur of movement around the pair as five bodies rained down upon James, embracing him.

Even Jennifer had admitted how much his leaving affected the whole of Gryffindor house; James only rumpled his hair awkwardly. For the first time, Lily truly noticed how appealing it made him look.

All in all, James' reappearance proved a great effect on everyone: Frank kissed Alice, much to her delight and she later announced that their first date would take place on New Years Eve; Sirius even got away with a quick peck-on-the-cheek with Jennifer who was caught unaware whilst embracing a thoroughly surprised Remus.

Peter traipsed down the spiral staircase in the early hours of the morning, wondering where all his roommates had disappeared to, only to find a hyperactive bunch of teenagers.

"So, does that mean we're official?" James whispered to Lily after the energy had died down and they all crowded around the fire, splayed across the floor, sofas and armchairs. Lily was leaning against James' chest, tracing his palm whilst James absent-mindedly stroked her hair.

"I guess so," she replied with a smile. "James, I think I love you."

A/N: Awsh. How did I do? Did you like it, hate it? Let me know.

I think I will carry on with this, all I need is a few good plot twists. I'll have to get thinking. If you have any you think I should include, please don't hesitate to PM me.

Again, thank you SO much to my reviewers. :)