Phew! Three chapters in one night. Sure, one of them was already posted… Whatever, I still feel accomplished. I hope you like this, and that it isn't too ridiculously cheesy in the beginning. (I'm pretty sure it is, actually, but let's just not talk about it.)

Love you guys for sticking with me!

- Lorraine

CHAPTER 14

Previously on TMBTM:

"So, umm, Lils… Can I ask you a question?" She opened her mouth, and by the playful glint in her eye he guessed what she was about to say. "I know, I know, I just did ask you a question, but that's not what I meant. I want to ask you a real question, and it's one that you're used to by now, but just… remember that I'm serious about it. That's probably not something you usually consider, but I'm not just asking to take the mickey out of you, or anything." He looked into her eyes searchingly, and seemed to find what he was looking for, because he started to smile. "And remember that I'm the second most beautiful man in the world, so I have at least some amount of credibility." She rolled her eyes, but couldn't stop her lips from quirking up in a small smile.

"Anyways…. Lily, will you go out with me?"

She saw that one coming, as he had guessed she would. For some reason, though, it didn't make her as happy as she was expecting. Although she finally did believe that he had changed, and that he would take this relationship seriously, she now worried that she would be all wrong for him. When she first fell for him, she thought that their relationship would be fire and ice, with him still being a rule-breaking miscreant, and her being the responsible Head Girl. It would be all passion, and while that wasn't ideal in the long run, she was sure then that that was all she could really handle with this boy—and she was sure that it would be quite an enjoyable experience.

And that was the problem, now. She still wasn't sure she could be in a real relationship with James Potter, but she was sorely tempted, and that scared her. He already seemed so ready to be a man, one who would cherish and take care of her. Hell, he'd been telling her he was in love with her for at least three years now, but she had never even remotely believed it was true. With the way he was looking at her now, though, it seemed all too possible, and she didn't trust herself to be around something like that. She would surely lose control and make hasty decisions that she might regret later. Like accepting his offer, even after all this.

"I don't know, James…" His face fell, but his eyes were questioning. However, they were interrupted before she could go on.

"Oh, come off it, Evans!" came a voice from several paces down the corridor.

"Sirius!" James and Lily said together, the first annoyed and the second startled. A head of silky black hair poked out from behind a suit of armor. He was smiling his most winning smile, but when he saw James' glare, his expression morphed into a frown. He addressed James in frustration: "Well honestly, mate, if the two most eligible bachelors in the world can't convince her to go out with one of them, there really is no hope for her." When he saw that James was not amused, he continued more solemnly. "One of you needs to give it a rest. Either Evans should give you a chance, or you should stop believing that she ever will."

"The young master has a point." Both Head students looked up in surprise to see the headmaster appearing out of thin air from a spot a few meters behind Sirius' hiding place. "Ms. Evans, we meet again! And it's lovely to see you, Mr. Potter."

James recovered more quickly than Lily. "Ehm… Much obliged, Professor. Er, sorry, but what are you doing here? Sirius is a generally intrusive and cheeky bloke, so that accounts for his presence, but you… Well, I'm a bit confused, sir."

Dumbledore chuckled at Sirius' look of indignation. "Well, James, as Ms. Evans could perhaps tell you, this being our second meeting this evening, I'm pulling for the two of you."

"Pulling for us, sir?"

"Ah, my apologies, is that a Muggle phrase? They're just fascinating, so I try to slip them in with every day conversation. I simply meant that I would be greatly pleased if my Head Students could realize the bond between them and—"

"He wishes the two of you would catch on already and have a snog fest in that cozy private common room of yours!" Sirius' outburst earned him another laugh from the headmaster, and matching blushes from James and Lily.

"Quite right, Mr. Black. What a very succinct way of putting it." Sirius shrugged at the Headmaster.

"It's a gift he has, professor." Three heads spun around as Dumbledore faced a well dressed yet haggard-looking Remus Lupin with a jovial smile.

"Good evening, Mr. Lupin. Enjoying the festivities?"

Not sure whether Dumbledore was referring to the ball in the Great Hall or the antics his friends were getting up to in the corridor, Remus just nodded, pulling off a blue and gold half-face mask.

After a moment of silence from all three young people, James and Sirius simultaneously asked: "Moony?" as Lily squeaked out a questioning "Remus?" He grinned sheepishly in response.

"I was just heading out of the ball to get some air when I heard James insulting Sirius, and I thought I'd come join in the fun."

"Great," James groaned. "Did you bring Wormtail, too? And Skeeter, that gossipy second-year? Then we can make it a real party."

"Someone's a bit tetchy this evening."

"Really, Sirius, now is not the time." Remus said exasperatedly.

"Yes, yes, I'm sure Messrs Black and Lupin are quite sorry for having interrupted. I suppose they only meant well, as did I. But I can see that you two need a moment to yourselves. Only remember that in these dark times, love is the most valuable weapon. Cherish it." Dumbledore gave them a kind, grave smile, and placed one hand each on Sirius' and Remus' shoulders. "Well, we shall be off, and we promise to cause no further interruptions. Pip pip!" The three men walked down the corridor and disappeared behind the massive doors of the Great Hall.

Lily, who had been staring after them for a good minute and a half, finally turned to face James. She met his intense eyes hesitantly, cowed by the depth of emotion she found there.

"You were saying, love?" He prompted.

"James, I want to say yes."

"Then bloody well say yes, you infuriating girl, you!" James attempted a playful attitude, but she could tell that he was truly upset that she hadn't accepted him.

"I just… I don't…. well, I don't really feel like I know you. And I don't feel like you can really know me well enough to have such intense feelings for me. Obviously we're attracted to each other," James laughed darkly, "and that's all well and good, but how can we have a real relationship if we can't keep our hands off each other?"

"Honestly? I don't know. But there'd be a hell of a lot of motivation to work it out, don't you think?" James winked roguishly at the redhead next to him, but soon grew serious again. "You want the truth, Lily? I think that being with you—if you decide to finally love me back, that is—" James ignored the small gasp that escaped Lily's mouth at that famous four-letter word, "would be as easy as breathing. We'd have the best of so many worlds, Lils, and all you have to do is give this a try."

Okay, I kind of love the ending of this chapter. I was contemplating writing a lil' bit more, but decided against it. I hope you don't hate me for that. Review, s'il vous plait!