Chapter 14 The New Year Kiss

"Lily, you are beautiful. I hope you know that," said James, as Lily woke up the next morning.

Lily smiled. "I'm so glad that we're together," she said, bending over the bed to give him a kiss on the nose.

James grinned. "I love you," he said, happy he was finally able to tell her that.

Lily laughed. "I know! You've told me that like 10 times since yesterday."

James gave her a big smile. "Well, I want the whole world to know I love you!"

"James, why don't we keep this a secret for a while?"

James frowned. "Why?"

Lily smiled. "Don't you think that maybe everyone will wonder how I went 'home' single, only to return and be your girlfriend?"said Lily.

James nodded his head slowly. "So, what your saying is that when we get back to school, ask you to be my girlfriend and you'll say yes?" asked James.

Lily smiled mischievously. "Maybe."

She gave James a kiss, before rushing past him out of the room. She was followed closely by James, who wanted to tickle her.

"Ah! The love birds are finally awake!" said Marlene.

Lily blushed and James smiled. "We are not love birds," said James.

"Sure," Marlene replied, a goofy smile on her face. But the look in her eyes made Lily feel uneasy; the look was almost cold...

---

"So, Lily, what else do you want to do today except snog me senseless?" asked James.

Lily laughed. "You think I want to snog you senseless?" she asked, playfully.

"What, you don't?" A pout formed on his face.

"Well, I haven't had much of a choice..." she joked, loving the look on James face. Lily giggled. "You look cute when you're confused."

James smiled. "Only when I'm confused?"

Lily sighed. "Fine! I think you always look cute," she said.

James laughed. "And I always think you're beautiful." A blush rose to her cheeks. He kissed her neck and Lily giggled.

---

I will kill you if it's the last thing I ever do... Mudblood...

It was midnight and Lily woke with a start, sweat drenching her nightgown. The voice was still ringing in her mind, a voice that sounded so familiar. She involuntarily shivered, a feeling of dread passing over her.

"Lils?" A groggy voice from the cot across the room floated to her ears. "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing..." Lily replied, trying to calm her beating heart.

"It doesn't sound like nothing." He was fully awake now. James sat up so he could get a better look at the red-head in his bed.

"Just a nightmare."

James got up from his bed and padded towards Lily. "You sure you're okay? You look slightly green." Lily nodded unsurely, and James lay down next to her. "Shh, just, go to sleep now." Within minutes, Lily was fast asleep again.

Lily woke up that morning, her head on James' bare chest. She turned her head slightly and saw that James was awake. "Hi," he whispered.

"Hullo," she replied groggily.

"Sleep nice?"

Lily nodded. "That tickles!" said, James, laughing.

"What does?" asked Lily.

"Your hair on my stomach," he said, laughing.

Lily giggled. "Well then, it's pay back for tickling me yesterday night," she said, nodding her head over and over again until she felt dizzy.

"Yes, it was quite fun, wasn't it," he said, after they had both stopped laughing.

"What, the fact that you stole my wand, locked the door with magic and tickled me still my sides hurt?" asked Lily.

James ginned mischievously. "That was fun."

Lily laughed. "Yes, you're right. It was fun."

----

"Hey Lily! Today is New Years Eve," said James, looking at the calendar in the kitchen. Lily glanced up.

"A new year already? It feels just like yesterday I learnt that you were Head Boy!" said Lily.

"Well, you know, a new year brings new things, such as new relationships and romances," said James, winking at Lily.

The red-head rolled her eyes. "And why would you bring up romances, unless you plan to ask me out?" said Lily, playfully.

James smiled. "Why, Miss Lily! I would have never thought of it!" James said, putting his hand over his mouth in mock horror. Lily laughed.

That evening, a party had been planned. Mrs. Potter entered the drawing room to tidy up and noticed her son and Lily sitting there, playing some Exploding Snap.

"So, James, since you are of age, you can have some champagne tonight," said Mrs. Potter.

"Lily is too, Mum," said James. Lily nodded.

"Oh really? When was your birthday?" Mrs. Potter asked.

"October 12th," said James and Lily at the same time.

Lily laughed. "Oh course James would know. He's sent me a present every year."

"Well, that's settled then! James, the neighbours will be here at 10 for the party," said Mrs. Potter, before leaving the room.

"Party?" asked Lily.

James sighed. "We have it every year, but I thought that with Uncle Joe here, Mum wouldn't do it," he said. "It's not fancy or anything. That white skirt you have and a tee-shirt or something will do."

Lily looked at him curiously. "How did you know I have a white skirt in my trunk?" she asked.

James blushed slightly. "I...tripped over it...um... last night," he said. Lily raised her eyebrow. James smiled innocently. "Come on, let's go snog before we have to get ready," said James, distracting the red-head from questioning him any further. Lily rolled her eyes, but followed James upstairs anyway.

"So, James, I see you have a girlfriend now! Congratulations!" An elderly man with white hair came through the front door that evening. He was wearing a purple robe and stars that twinkled as he walked.

James smiled. "Mr. Krans, meet Lily Evans," said James, introducing the old man to his girlfriend.

"How nice to meet you Miss Evans," said Mr. Krans, tipping his head in her direction. Lily smiled and nodded. She felt James put his arm around her waist.

As the clock ticked by, the party was getting louder. Not only because most people were drunk, but because everyone was having fun.

"So James! How are you!" asked a blonde girl, who looked about 16.

"Fine, Janelle," said James, looking around for Lily. She had gone to get them some punch.

"Let's dance," she said.

"No."

"Oh, come on! Last year you partnered me and you kissed me at midnight for the New Year!" begged Janelle.

"No," he replied, more fiercely this time.

"Please?"

"You heard him, no!" said Lily, walking up to James. The girl he was talking to looked awfully familiar. Lily guessed she had seen her in the halls of the school.

Janelle frowned. "And who are you?"

Lily smiled. "You really want to know?"

Janelle nodded.

"Okay!" Lily grabbed James' face and brought it down to hers. She kissed him long enough to make her point. "I'm his girlfriend."

Janelle stared at him opened-mouthed. "You have a girlfriend? And wait... aren't you Lily Evans?" she asked.

Lily smiled. "That's me." Lily knew for a certain now that this girl went to Hogwarts.

"You told everyone you hated James Potter! Now you love him? What is up with that?" asked the blonde.

"What does it concern you?"

Janelle stalked off, scowling.

"You know, Lily, she's the biggest gossip in Hogwarts," said James.

"We'll just say she drank too much fire whiskey," said Lily, shrugging it off.

James laughed and kissed her. "I love you."

"I love you too."

"Want to dance?" James asked. Lily nodded.

"This night is wonderful" said Lily, as James twirled her around.

"Glad you're having fun," said James, ignoring the icy stares from Janelle.

"Don't let her get to you," said Lily, noticing James's frown. "How about we go off somewhere?" she whispered in his ear.

James grinned. "I like the sound of that!" he said, leading Lily off the dance floor and upstairs.

As James closed the door of his room, Lily wrapped her arms around his neck and James wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close. James leaned in, and kissed Lily. As James pulled away, Lily sighed happily.

"Let's go on the roof," she suggested.

"Okay, let me just get a blanket," said James, who then proceeded towards his closet and pulled out a red blanket. "Ready?"

Lily nodded and opened James's window. They both got on the balcony and scrambled onto the roof. Lily made a small fire in a jar to keep them warm. When they found a flat surface that was sturdy enough for them to sit on, she then melted some snow and sat down. James sat next to her and wrapped the blanket around them. James's arms were around Lily, and she felt very safe.

"Did you know that there's a constellation that's named Sirius?" asked Lily.

James chuckled. "Oh, yes I do know. In our, what was it... 4th year I think, Sirius found the constellation and would not stop telling everyone that he was named after a star. Soon his ego kicked in and decided that the constellation was named after him," said James, laughing.

Lily laughed also. "His ego was always bigger than yours," she said. James smiled. "The stars are beautiful, aren't they," said Lily, who was now lying down on the roof top.

"Nothing is more beautiful than you," he whispered in her ear, as he lay down next to her. Lily blushed. James looked at his watch. "You know, some people say that the person you're with when midnight strikes on New Year's will be the person you stay with for the whole year," said James.

"But weren't you with Janelle last year?" she teased.

James sighed. "Well, actually, I was hanging out with Sirius and Janelle came over afterwards and kissed me," James said.

Lily nodded. "Well, this year will be different."

James smiled. "I like the sound of that," he said, leaning in to kiss Lily passionately.

In the house, everyone was shouting "Happy New Year!" as the clock stuck twelve.

----

Lily woke up to a cold wind passing over her, making her shiver violently. She realized that she and James were still on the roof. Her ball of fire had died out, and with it the warmth of the jar, not too long ago. The sun was rising and Lily watched it rise. "Happy New Year," said James, rubbing the tiredness from his eyes.

Lily turned her head, to see James watching her. Lily smiled. "Happy New Year to you too," she said, kissing James.

"I think we should get back inside." Lily nodded. The two scrambled off the roof and got back in James's room. Lily grabbed a pair of pants and a sweatshirt. She went to take a shower.

"How was the party, Mum?" asked James, as he walked into the kitchen.

"It was fine, sweetheart. But where did you and Lily go?" Mrs. Potter asked.

"We went on the roof," James admitted. He noticed a look of disapproval on his mother's face. "Janelle was bothering us."

Mrs. Potter nodded. "I see. That Janelle girl has quite the temper. She thought I knew where you two had gone off to and she kept badgering me to tell her," she said.

James smiled. "She was pretty mad to find out that Lily was my girlfriend," said James.

"I'm sure she was. Mrs. Cahleb told me she has had quite the crush on you."

"Who has a crush on you?" asked Lily, who walked in the kitchen with her hair still slightly damp.

"Janelle," answered James.

"That's why she was so mad last night," said Lily.

James nodded. "You know, I just realized that Janelle's going to tell the whole school that I'm your girlfriend," said Lily, sitting down next to James.

James grinned. "Not if she can't remember seeing you there," he said, with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.

Lily giggled. "You're a naughty boy," she whispered in his ear so that Mrs. Potter wouldn't hear her.

"Anything for you, love," James whispered in Lily's ear. This made Lily blush.

----

"Ready?" asked James. Lily nodded. "Okay, so I'll go over to bring her a hair ribbon she 'forgot'. Then you can hit her with the spell."

Lily nodded. "Got it."

James gave her a light kiss and ran up to the Cahlebs' house.

James knocked on the door and Janelle opened it. "Hi Janelle, I came to give you your hair ribbon that you forgot at my house," said James.

"Where's your girlfriend?" the other girl sneered.

Lily shot the spell from the bushes right then, and Janelle smiled.

"James! What are you doing here?" she asked sweetly.

"You forgot your hair ribbon at my house," he said.

"Oh right! I can't remember a thing from last night. I must have drank too much fire whiskey," she said brightly, giggling like mad as she grabbed her ribbon. She closed the door, but not before batting her eyelashes one last time.

James walked over to the bush Lily was hiding in and found her laughing silently. They both hurried back to James's house before Janelle could look out the window and spot Lily.

"That was fun," said Lily, lying down on James's bed.

James grinned. "It's called the adrenaline of pulling off a prank, love," he said.

"Well, it wasn't really a prank. We altered her memory!" A look of horror passed over her face. "Oh my gosh, we broke the law!"

"Oh come on Lily. It's not like you've never done anything to bend the law before." When he noticed the blank look on her face, his eyes grew wide. "You mean you've always been a goody two shoes?"

"Well, no... but..." A flustered Lily sighed. "Okay, so I'm a goody two shoes. Sue me."

James laughed. "So what are we going to do about the Corner problem?"

"We have a problem with a corner?" asked Lily, who was confused.

"Zach Corner," said James, loving the confused look on his girlfriend's face; a look she rarely ever put on.

Lily laughed. "Oh right!" she said. "I have a plan. This is it..."

Author's note: I would have written what the prank is if I know what it will be. Hopefully, I'll have something marvelous for you. If you have any ideas for a prank, write them with a review. If I end up picking a suggestion from my reviews, I will put your name on which you review with, on the work. Please review!

A/N 2: Being Re-Typed.