Thank you reviewer!!!! Okay after this one, I won't be updating until I get 20 reviews… sound good???? Thanks…

Chapter 14:

James grinned into Lily's infectious smile until she turned away, no doubt to comfort her friend, who was still positively fuming and throwing Sirius extremely dirty looks. However, her anger had the same affect on him as his did to hers; absolutely nothing.

James shook his head silently but approved all the same. Sirius looked extremely pleased with himself and kept shooting Remus looks that said, "And you were saying?"

Remus simply rolled his eyes disbelievingly and went back to taking notes, which was really quite pointless since he could easily transfigure hedgehogs into pincushions. Peter just sat there, staring off into space.

James settled back into his old position, head and arms on his desk, staring intently at the back of Dorcas' head.

However, Sirius had other plans for him. Determined not to let his friend down, plus the fact that he was still quite pleased with himself for making fun of Natalie, Sirius pulled him from his gazing and thumped his lightly on the back of the head.

"We have planning to do," he said mischievously, pulling out some spare parchment and a quill.

James grinned back, thanking god that he had friends that wouldn't let him wallow in his self misery. "Let's see what you got."

Sirius grinned back and immediately went to work, drawing up sketches that look somewhat similar to Quidditch plays. Slowly, James become disinterested and starting racking his brain for some serious strategies.

He had already decided to take it as slowly as he possibly could. It had taken him a full 6 months to get her attention the first time, and it would probably take longer to get it back. He really didn't want to startle or force her into anything, because he knew that if she felt pushed into something, she would struggle. And he didn't want that. He wanted her to come to him on her accord, on her own terms.

He glanced back down at Sirius' drawings, trying to grasp the concept. He frowned. Most of them included many variations of him kidnapping her, via invisibility cloak, trolls, and even one with stuffing her inside a suit of armor. James definitely wasn't all for that.

But how to get her to fall back in love with him?

James figured that the only way for her to truly feel like she was acting on her own free will is if he wasn't the one convincing her.

That's stupid, he told himself, absently shredding the feather on his quill. Even if someone were willing and/or capable of helping me out, Dorcas would smell a rat and would automatically assume the worst.

He sighed. It seemed hopeless.

Sirius nudged him excitedly, and wordlessly shoved the parchment into his arms.

He spared Sirius with only one dubious look, and then reluctantly skimmed his eyes over the page. His skepticism deepened.

An overwhelming desire to talk to Dorcas suddenly overcame him, flooding out any doubts about what he had to do. Slowly, with his eyes glazed over, he daydreamed a fantasy where Dorcas was in his arms, smiling happily, her face only inches from his own, and getting steadily closer…

The bell rang, pulling him from his daydream roughly. He jumped a couple inches off his seat, dropping the parchment. He looked around. Everyone was packing up.

He hastily scooped up the parchment and shoved it in his bag unceremoniously, which Sirius made an indignant noise at. But James didn't hear; his eyes were on Dorcas' head.

He hurriedly made his way out of his seat, falling into the stream of people trying to leave the classroom, his eyes still trained on the back of Dorcas' head, as to not lose her in the crowd.

All of the seventh years had break next, so many of the teenagers who's next class was in a nearby corridor, randomly milled about, chatting idly.

James came to halt, ducking behind a suit of armor and coming up just a couple feet short of where Dorcas had stopped to chat with her friends. He stood there awkwardly, torn, not able to decide what to do.

His mind was screaming at him to think logically, that if anyone saw him lurking in the hallways, staring at the back of Dorcas' head, even stalking her, they could put two and two together. He had promised to take it slowly, and he should keep to that promise.

His heart coaxed him to stay, with candy coated words, telling him to just stay a minute, take her in, not interrupt this blissful moment. She looked so peaceful; let her be happy for a couple minutes more.

But even as he was deciding, Dorcas' friends moved away with a short farewell, and Dorcas stood there alone, quite unmoving and still, as if struggling to decide what to do, the same way James was. Then she spun around, catching James off guard, who tried to duck behind the suit of armor, but feeling like a complete idiot because he was sure that she had seen him.

"Hullo, Potter."

James winced to himself and mentally shook himself, before slowly emerging from behind the suit of armor, and was greeted by the love of his life, who was surveying him coolly.

"Hi Dorcas," he said a little breathlessly, completely reveling in the fact that he was actually talking to her.

"How was your summer?" he asked a little weakly, withering under the indifferent look she was giving him.

"Why are you stalking me, Potter," she asked pointedly, now folding her arms across her chest, almost as if she were bored.

James again grimaced at the use of his surname, and also that she had disregarded his question.

"Stalking is kind of a strong word…" he started, a little sheepishly. "I'd call it more like…"

"Stalking," she interrupted, in an uncaring way. "Just answer the question, Potter."

James paused and raked his hand through his hair, trying to buy some time. But Dorcas' cool, level gaze didn't falter.

"I just wanted to talk to you," James said quietly, scuffing his foot against the cool flagstones.

Dorcas' look didn't soften. "I thought I made it clear by not returning any of your numerous owls, over the summer," she said disdainfully.

James' heart dropped. "I just want to apologize in…"

But Dorcas had cut him off again. "Apology not accepted," she said firmly, and then whirled around and strode away from him.

James didn't move, his heart breaking again. He watched her walk away from him, stopping only to chat with Lily and Natalie.

He watched her shake her magnificent head animatedly, apparently finding an interesting subject to talk about to Natalie. He glanced at Lily, expecting to see a sympathy look.

But when he met her gaze, he got none of it. Simply understanding.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Lily groaned to herself in sympathy when she saw Dorcas leave James, who looked close to a break down. She tried to shoot him a reassuring glance, but Dorcas was now chatting with them and she didn't want to upset her, even though she was feeling a little cold toward her for her indifference to James. Thankfully, Dorcas didn't notice, and bid them a nice farewell as the bell rang again. Natalie and Lily hurried off to Charms.

They skidded to a halt in front of the classroom and threw themselves over the threshold, just in time, both coming up short in front of tiny Professor Flitwick and the rest of the class.

Their teacher just shot them a warning look, but simply shooed them into their seats instead of taking off points. Lily allowed a small smirk to appear on her usual stoic features. Being the teacher's pet had its rewards.

Professor Flitwick started taking attendance.

"Sirius Black?"

Sirius waved his arm impatiently and then slumped his head back on his desk. James gave him a half hearted thump on the back, but it went unnoticed. Lily smiled lightly when she caught his eye and as he mouthed, "Hopeless."

"Benjy Fenwick?"

"Present."

Lily gave a small wave over to Benjy. She didn't know him that well, but he was nice and was waving to her when she looked over at the sound of his name. She granted him a fake smile.

"Caradoc Dearborn."

"Right here."

The smile slid off Lily's face. She spun around quickly, drawing a couple glances and stared behind her, in the direction the voice had come.

There he sat in his seat, a handsome smile gracing his face, looking more perfect than ever. Lily gulped. He looked even better close up.

"Lily Evans?"

Lily didn't even hear her name being called, because at that moment, most of the class turned expectantly toward her. All but one. Caradoc stared determinedly down at his desk, groping for something in his bag.

Lily was sure it was a farce. He couldn't even make eye contact with her.

Her heart dropped, and she felt tears start to come on. Then Natalie nudged her.

"Here," she replied in a calm, even tone. Her face didn't twitch, her eyes did not water, and she held her composure flawlessly, fixing another blank stare on her face. Flitwick nodded at her, reassuringly.

"Remus Lupin?"

But Lily didn't find out if Remus was in class. She was staring hard into her desk, desperately wishing she could just apparate out of the classroom. She turned her head when she felt someone's gaze upon her.

She met James' eyes, from across the room, and got lost in them. For how long they stared at each other, she did not know, but she was able to read them easily. They were full of understanding and hope; exactly what Lily had hoped there would be.

She finally nodded subtly, letting a small smile crinkle her eyes and slip through her façade, and then turned to Natalie, features blank once again.

"Are you okay?" Natalie whispered worriedly.

Lily shrugged. "I will be," she murmured back, brandishing her wand to start following Flitwick's request. "When I get him back."

Natalie nodded, surveying her friend with a hint of pride and a triumphant look.

"That's the Lily Evans I know."

Lily grinned, pleased. She was back and ready to fight.

The rest of class flew by quickly. Lily refused to let herself turn around in her seat once to just glimpse of him, as much as she wanted to. It was taking a lot of her self control, concentrating on meaningless charms that she could do in her sleep, and not paying attention to the one thing she cared about. She was startled when she heard the bell ring.

So much for a double period, she thought to herself as she packed up. She then stopped, hesitated and chanced a look behind her. Caradoc had slung his bag around his shoulder, bid his friends goodbye and had already taken off toward the door.

Lily stood there, feeling torn. She had already promised herself to take it slowly, but she could barely handle just sitting in class with him and not saying anything.

She hesitated, and then promised Natalie she'd meet her in Arithmancy. Then she headed out the door, hot on his heels.

She followed him doggedly for a couple minutes, unsure and very uneasy, trying to melt into the crowd, but also wanting to make herself seen. She didn't even feel the amount of people start to thin, didn't even notice when she and Caradoc were the only ones left in the corridor, just walking. Just when she decided to tap him on the shoulder, he stopped, spun around and faced her. She halted abruptly, and stared at the ground sheepishly, like a child caught with her hand in the cookie jar.

Caradoc surveyed her cautiously for a couple moments before breaking the awkward silence between them.

"Yes, Evans?" he asked, coolly.

Lily pulled herself together and looked up at him, the only expression of nervousness shown by her relentless wringing of her hands.

"Hi," she said a little breathlessly, hoping that his gaze would soften.

It didn't.

There was more silence.

"Do you need something? Or is there another reason you're following me?" he asked pointedly, checking his watch, as if this were wasting his time.

Lily stopped wringing her hands, and wiped her sweaty palms on her robes and took a step forward.

"Why didn't you return any of my owls this summer?" she asked, desperation clear in her tone.

Caradoc furrowed his eyebrows. "I thought that it was obvious."

Lily ignored the stabbing feeling in her heart.

"Well," she started, trying to keep her composure after that blow to her pride, "I just wanted, in person, to just apologize once more and…"

Caradoc cut her off by holding up a hand. Lily's words trailed off into nothingness.

"Not really interested in an apology," he said firmly. Then he spun on his heel, and left her in the corridor without another word.

She stood there a few seconds, watching what had happened unfold in her head.

That could have gone better, she told herself. But she straightened her shoulder, smoothed her skirt and her hair, and took off to Arithmancy, willing the tears in her eyes to disappear.

She again, made it just in time, but as Professor Vector ushered her into the classroom, she noticed out of the corner of her eye Caradoc chatting with James and Remus.

At that moment, James caught her eye sadly, and sighed understandingly. Lily sighed in return, and swept into the classroom and into the seat Natalie had saved for her.

"How'd it go?" Natalie asked quietly, as soon as she sat down.

Lily rubbed her temples and propped her elbows up on her desk in and unladylike manner.

"Not good," she muttered, her eyes closed.

Natalie rubbed her friend's arm sympathetically. "He'll come around," she said firmly, but sounding like she was trying to convince herself at the same time.

"That he will," Lily agreed, trying to stay optimistic.

Then she pulled out her materials and got ready to take notes.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

James nodded in response to Caradoc's farewell, and then took off with Remus toward the Great Hall. They both had free period next, and had arranged to meet Sirius for lunch, and then some Quidditch.

Poor Lily, he thought to himself as he absently listened to whatever Remus was saying. It must have been hard for her to see him talking to Caradoc shortly after trying to do the same, with no success.

But then again, he argued with himself, he did know how she felt. The feeling of desperation, disappointment, and hopelessness had flooded him when he had seen Dorcas chatting with Lily.

Surprisingly, he didn't feel any resentment toward her. Usually, he was struck with an insane amount of jealousy, whenever he saw her talking with anyone, girl and guy alike, back in the days when they had dated. He had never been able to tell any guy off for flirting with her, or tell a bitchy girl to back off.

His heart dropped again. Back in the days, when she had been his.

Oh well, he thought to himself in resignation, as he nodded agreeably to someone Remus had asked him. I'm not angry at Lily. It's probably just because I know she's going through the same thing, he assured himself.

James found himself lost in thought, all the way down to lunch, not aware that Remus had stopped attempting conversation with him.

Sirius barely looked up from his plate, which was heaped high of food that was missing from nearby platters, when James and Remus plopped down across from them.

He even missed the knowing looks exchanged between his friends, and their none too soft conversation about him that they were holding in his presence.

His thoughts reverted back to the brief meeting that had been very anticipated since the end of last year. It didn't go that bad, he tried to convince himself, absently playing with his hands in his lap. She couldn't have done worse, like hexed his balls off of him, he thought.

He grinned to himself absently. He wouldn't have put it past her.

True, she had called him by his surname, hadn't accepted or even attempted to hear his apology, and had glared at him for the duration of the exchange, but it could have been worse, he told himself hopefully.

Who are you kidding, his conscience asked him.

Oh great, he thought. Even my subconscious is watching me make a fool out of myself.

His subconscious shook its head at James' stupidity.

Time for Plan B, he told himself in resignation, and pulled some food toward him.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Lily plopped down on the couch unattractively, carelessly throwing her bookbag nearby. She let out a sigh of contentment before sprawling herself all over the cushions, hands covering her eyes, and deeply wishing for a foot rub.

The only problem with lying out and relaxing is that it allows your mind to wander. And that's exactly was afraid of, and where it would wander off to.

She groaned to herself and rolled over on her back, glaring at the ceiling, when she couldn't find anything to occupy her mind besides going back over her day, which had, coincidentally, been bloody awful.

Her face fell into a painful grimace, one she never showed to the public, as she recounted the six times she was made a fool out of by the one and only, Caradoc Dearborn. The three times she had been caught staring at him, the two notes that had been sighted which had their names doodled on, and the one actual meeting, which had ended very badly.

Her glare intensified as panic threatened to overtake her. Her reputation was definitely going to suffer. She had pretty much managed to do in one day, which she had been trying to prevent from happening all last year: showing the feelings she had for Caradoc to the rest of the school.

She rolled over and punched the pillow on which her magnificent head was resting and yelled into it a couple times. Then she rolled back over, feeling only a little bit better.

She mentally slapped herself several times. How could she had been so stupid? Why didn't she just try and stick to the plan? Nice and slowly was the only way to approach this challenge, and she had failed today, six times, the one day that mattered the most.

She rolled back over to her stomach, and buried her face into the pillow, half heartedly hoping to suffocate and end all her problems.

She knew what faced her tomorrow. Tomorrow, the news would have spread, and she'd be the number one topic on the gossip chain. How the impenetrable, the invincible, the brick wall of emotion, had been bested; how the ice queen of Hogwarts got her heart broken.

She punched the pillow again, except this time much more weakly, as if the thought of being the topic of conversations between giggling girls with no lives, had drained her.

But I won't be the only juicy story, she told herself ironically. James has got to be suffering as much as me.

It was true. James had made a bigger fool out of himself than she did. But then again, James did have a big ego, no self control, and was very open, much more so than she.

At least James will be there to share my misery, she thought dully to herself, and then felt ashamed. She wouldn't wish what she was feeling on her worst enemies, let alone her friends.

Although the news of Lily falling in love was much more shocking than James falling in love, James was much more popular; people just loved to talk about him.

She punched the pillow again, this time so weakly that it barely made contact before dangling over the side of the couch.

"I might try that myself."

Lily didn't even bother looking up. She recognized James' voice, and no one else had the password to their dorm. She gave a feeble groan in response.

She heard him move almost silently around her, and then sink onto the back of her legs. She removed her face from the pillow, and cracked an eye at him, glaring at him

"Is there a reason you're sitting on my legs when there's an empty chair right next to you?" Lily mumbled against the pillow, although not really caring.

James grinned feebly, but made no attempt to move.

Lily rolled her eyes and sunk her head back in her pillow.

"I might try that myself," James repeated.

Lily didn't reply.

"There's nothing like a good attempt at violence toward a stationary object while simultaneously considering asphyxiation, to take your mind off being completely rejected and humiliated by the love of your life," James said seriously.

Lily chortled into her pillow before attempting to turn over to face him. He only sat up temporarily when she looked at him pointedly, but as soon as she turned her legs over, he sunk back down on them. She rolled her eyes but didn't say anything.

"Bad day?" she asked cautiously, although already knowing the answer.

James sighed and ran a hand through his hair, glaring at the ceiling like Lily had done only moments before.

"You could say that."

Lily sighed. "I need a plan, James."

James grinned and closed his eyes, with his head now tilted back against the back of the recliner.

"Join the club."

Lily grinned back, studying his face unabashed, now that his eyes were closed. She didn't know what her fascination was with him when he was sleeping, but he looked just the same as he had in the compartment on the train, and the first night back when she had told him about Caradoc; utterly, and completely at peace.

Lily tore her gaze away from his face and shifted uncomfortably, trying to refocus on a strategy. James' eyes flew open when he felt her move.

"Do you want me to move?" he asked concernedly, turning to her for the first time.

She shook her head absently, waving a hand, gesturing to the unimportance of the question.

"I just don't know what to do," she said impatiently. "Caradoc will never get over his pride enough to at least talk to me. How can I possibly get him listen to my side of the story, if he refuses to even have a civil conversation with me?" she mused, more to herself than to James.

"You're telling me," James said tiredly, leaning back once more against the couch. "Have you met Dorcas? Stubborn is her middle name."

Lily nodded. "Then how are you going to get through to her?" she asked him, hoping that his answer might be a sudden inspiration to her.

"Beats me," James said, eyes still closed. "I'm still trying to get up the nerve to even look at her, after today."

Lily shook her head disbelievingly. "So you're just giving up?" she asked harshly.

James opened his eyes and gave her a lopsided grin, ignoring her tone.

"Not in a million years."

"Then help me figure this out!" Lily cried out impatiently, struggling to sit up. But James wasn't moving, and her legs were still trapped under him, so she gave up and sunk back into the couch.

"I'm trying here, Lily," James said, sounding a little annoyed. "Sorry if I'm not good company at the moment, but I've been struggling over this question the entire day, and on top of being humiliated only ten times, I still haven't got an answer," he snapped.

Lily relaxed back into the couch. That was what she had wanted to hear.

"Good."

James looked a little taken aback.

"Good?" he asked, curiously.

Lily shrugged and rubbed her temples. "I just want to make sure you're taking this as seriously as I am."

James stared at her for a moment. "Don't think for a second that I'm not."

Lily glanced at him. He was looking extremely serious.

"Not in a million years," she said, echoing him from a couple seconds before. The grin reappeared on James' face.

Then it returned to serious. He drew his legs up and set them on the table beside the couch, not registering Lily's squirm of impatience.

"I figure that the only way for Dorcas to even hear me out is if she comes up with it on her own," James said thoughtfully, fiddling with the hem of his robes.

Lily nodded, agreeing. "Caradoc has to feel like he's in control of the situation. He's never does anything that isn't on his own terms."

"Dorcas is the same way," James agreed. His tone turned a little wistful. "I wish she'd just decide to forgive me."

Lily rolled her eyes at the ridiculousness of the wish, but appreciated it all the same.

"It seems hopeless," James said quietly.

"There's got to be a way," Lily said a little desperately, sounding like she was trying to convince herself.

James snorted. "Well unless you know a couple of angels who owe you one and are willing to come down for a little visit and convince Caradoc and Dorcas to take us back, this "way",(he held up quotation marks), is proving hard to find," he finished sarcastically.

Lily rolled her eyes. "Yes, I thought of that too, but there's no one that I could actually trust for the job," she said impatiently. "Plus the fact that there's no one that would…" Lily trailed off as an idea suddenly hit her.

James continued as if he didn't hear her. "Yeah," he agreed disappointingly. "Plus, Dorcas would smell a rat right away." He looked a little wistful. "Too bad, huh?" he asked, turning to Lily, who hadn't said anything.

Lily was staring at James, as if she had never seen him before. She opened her mouth to speak, then closed it, then opened it, and then closed it again, all the while her eyes widened and her arms started waving.

She jumped off the couch, sending James toppling to the floor. She started pacing quickly up and down the couch, a smile growing on her face.

James sat up and rubbed his head, before glaring at her and flopping back on the couch.

"What in the bloody hell, is it?" James asked shortly, still rubbing his head.

Lily finally stopped pacing, and stood in front him, positively gleeful.

"I think I have an idea," she said eagerly, barely containing her excitement.