A/N: So this chapter was originally meant to be my first chapter of the story, but I scrapped it due to the fact that I didn't like it very much and I thought it was rather boring. So it never got published until now...

Deleted Chapter: Lily/James: The Dinner

James Potter bounded down the steps, skipping the last few ones in a haste to get to the door.

He found his girlfriend standing in the foyer. She wore a form-fitting casual blue dress that hugged her curves just enough and ended right above her knees. Her red hair curled loosely down her back and a simple silver bracelet hung on her left wrist.

She looked gorgeous.

"Hello, love," James greeted, kissing Lily Evans on her blushing cheek. "I can take it from here Tad," James assured the small house elf that was standing near Lily. The elf bowed, his nose nearly touching the ground, and walked away leaving the couple alone.

"Thank you for inviting me to dinner," mentioned Lily shyly.

"Don't worry about it, after all you are my girlfriend," replied James. He grinned widely at the mention of 'girlfriend'; he'd been using the term every chance he got after becoming a couple. Six years was a long wait, after all.

Lily smiled automatically back at him, rolling her eyes, and James grabbed her delicate hand in his. He steered her through the large house.

Finally they came to the dining room. Saying the room was large was an understatement. The room was enormous! The room was probably bigger than Lily's whole house! A Monet hung on the far wall and the table looked big enough to fit a whole party. It was already set up. Dishes adorned the middle of the table, and a dazzling chandelier hung overhead.

Mr. Potter sat at the head of the table while Mrs. Potter sat on his right. James took a seat on his father's left side after chivalrously opening the chair for Lily next to him.

The four of them ate comfortably, while making small talk.

"So, Lily, what are you doing now that you've left Hogwarts?" questioned Mr. Potter.

"I'm thinking of applying to become an Auror," admitted Lily.

James choked on his potatoes.

"What? I thought you wanted to be a Healer," he spluttered, still coughing violently.

"Yes, because I wanted to help people. But with the Death Eaters rising, I've realized that it's more important to stop the danger before it affects the people. I'll still be helping people, just in a more exciting way, and I think that's what I've always wanted," countered Lily, who was keenly avoiding James' penetrating gaze.

"But you'll be in danger," he protested softly. Lily winced. She knew he would react like this.

"Yes, and so will you, James. Don't even try to deny it—I know you've always wanted to be an Auror," responded Lily. Her hand reached out to touch his face adoringly, but remembering her present company, she immediately stopped herself—blushing slightly as she returned to her dinner.

Somewhere in the middle of the third course, James grasped Lily's hand under the table—forcing him to use his left hand to eat clumsily.

"Are you sure you want to become an Auror, Lily?" pestered James.

"Yes. I've thought about this for a long time, and I've decided already," whispered Lily.

"So nothing I say is going to change your mind?"

"Nope."

James sighed heavily, his hand tightening around hers, as if he was afraid that Death Eaters were going to pop up and steal her away right then and there.

He tenderly traced circles on the back of her hand while they were served desert by several house elves.

Lily released James' hand as she dug into her pie enthusiastically—which meant that James' hand was now on her knee. It was slowly traveling upwards, when Lily noticed what he was doing.

"James, dear, chew your food more slowly," chided Mrs. Potter when she saw James choke once again. Lily pinched the inside of his thigh to stop his wandering hands. James' hand immediately retracted from her thigh, and instead jumped to his black shaggy hair.

"Yes, mum," he mumbled into his half-eaten pie.

"That was a wonderful dinner, Mrs. Potter," complimented Lily Evans, glancing down at her empty plate. Her stomach felt satisfyingly full.

"Why, thank you dear, I'm glad you enjoyed it—looks like you weren't the only one," Mrs. Potter replied, eyeing Mr. Potter who was meticulously loosening his belt.

Lily glanced at James who was rubbing his stomach lazily. His other hand was playing with Lily's reddish-coppery locks—twirling it around his fingers. He was humming softly and he looked so content with everything. Which, he probably was. After all, he had finally gotten the girl of his dreams, his parents were home and safe, and they had food on the table.

Everything was simply wonderful.

Mrs. Potter summoned Tad, who proceeded to clear the table. She and Mr. Potter discussed Ministry matters. Finally, James led Lily away, intertwining his fingers with hers. He was in a dreamy state that could only be acquired with large amounts of food, and pretty girls.

In fact, James was so distracted that he did even notice which sofa they sat on.

Needless to say, it was the ruby velvet love seat.

They couple cuddled on the couch, while they talked idly about the news in the Daily Prophet.

Lily was the first to notice something strange about the sofa.

"James could you scoot over?" Lily asked trying to get away from the shrinking sides.

"Hm?" asked James drowsily. He was gazing at Lily through half-lidded eyelids, a lazy grin on his face.

"Is the couch shrinking?" gasped Lily who was being forcibly pressed into James. His eyelids flew open, and he sat bolt upright. A large smile was rapidly spreading across his face.

"Lily! The couch is shrinking!" exclaimed James happily. He was observing the compressing love seat with a wondrous excitement.

"Why are you so happy about this?" asked Lily who was squirming—trying to get away from the pressing sides of the love seat. It was constricting them rapidly, compelling Lily to squish painfully into James, who was looking like Christmas had come early.

Suddenly, Lily's head was jerked towards James'.

"What are you—hmff."

James had silenced Lily with a deep, passionate kiss. Lily gripped the collar of James' maroon dress shirt, while he tangled his fingers into her amber colored tresses. His lips massaged hers fervently, and Lily opened her lips slightly—allowing James' tongue to slip in between her lips.

They continued kissing even after the pain in both of their sides subsided. Finally they both pulled away, breathing heavily, their breaths warm on each other's face.

James nuzzled his face into Lily's neck, inhaling her heady scent.

"Olive Ou," mumbled James into the crook of Lily's neck.

"What are you talking about?" giggled Lily quietly, running her hands through his black hair—making it messier than usual. She was feeling giddy—snogging James Potter did that to a girl.

James pulled back, smiling widely, "I love you, Lily Evans."

Lily grinned back, and kissed him bashfully on the lips.

"I love you too, James."

"We're going to last," murmured James so softly that Lily didn't hear him.

The couple snuggled on the love seat while they fell into a comfortable silence.

Little did they know that their names were carved into the bottom of the love seat...

A/N: So what do you think? Do you like it more or less than the other Lily/James chapter? I ended up taking the last 4 lines and sort of changed them for Molly and Arthur's chapter :P

Oh, and what do you know, I UPDATED ON TIME. :D

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Thanks for reading!
Pickles