A/N: sorry it's taken so long to update, but I had killer writers' block. Thanks to Saphra, Carmel March, and Lady of the Rogue for reviewing. If there's anyone I missed, thanks a lot. To those who didn't review, I really need your input on the story, so please review, review, review!
To anyone confused on last chapter, it's still Christmas time; Lily just used a charm to get rid of the snow around the tree. Besides, that chapter had already been written out, I just added more to it. I hadn't had any intention of placing songs in that chapter. It just happened.
But I will try to update sooner, depending really on how many reviews I get for this chapter.
Carmel March: Thanks so much for complimenting me. I do try :)
Lady of the Rogue: the songs were just last minute additions. Thank you though. :)
On with chapter fourteen, (Holy cow, we're that far already? Wow!)
Disclaimer: I have no intention of stealing Harry Potter. J.K. Rowling owns it, not me.
Chapter fourteen: Christmas with the Potters
At Christmas break, a girl with red hair blowing in the chill wind was climbing aboard the train in Hogsmeade, heading to a place she never thought she'd want to go.
James had been delighted that she'd decided to come with him.
"I'm letting my parents know right now," he'd stated, excitement in his voice. He sounded like an impatient twelve-year-old, something that Lily found delightful. She didn't understand why, though. Maybe… no it was impossible. She couldn't be falling in love with him, could she?
Now, she was on the train, actually having second thoughts about her abrupt decision.
"What's the matter, Lily?" James asked in concern, curious about her mood and why she wasn't talking like she always did.
"Mmm, oh, just thinking," Lily responded absently, which she was really doing.
Flash Back
I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light
He's gotta be sure
And it's gotta be soon
And he's gotta be larger than life"Okay, stop! Stop!" Lily said, trying to catch her breath. James sat down on the grass, and leaned against the tree. "What exactly are we listening to?" he asked, curiously.
Up where the mountains meet the heavens above
Out where the lightning splits the seaI would swear that there's someone somewhere
Watching me
Through the wind and the chill and the rain
And the storm and the flood
I can feel his approach Like the fire in my bloodLily decided to turn off the radio before another of her favorite songs came on and showed James what she really thought of him.
"Why'd you turn it off?"
Lily just shrugged. "It's just my favorite song, that's all."
"Really? Then why are you blushing?" James asked casually.
Lily felt her cheeks. She hadn't known she was blushing. Not until James had told her, that is.
"So, why are you blushing?" James repeated.
Lily didn't want to say anything, but she sighed. "James…" she started to say, but James cut her off, kissing her gently to shush her. She responded by wrapping her arms around his neck and tangling her fingers in his hair. She smiled against his mouth as he wrapped his arms around her waist.
End of flash back"Well, what were you thinking about?" James asked curiously. Lily pretended to shove him into the door, but laughed and answered, "Remember yesterday before the Christmas holidays?" When James nodded, she said, "That's what I was thinking about."
"And what exactly is it you were thinking about Lils?" James asked, moving over in his seat.
Lily blushed, but said, "I was actually thinking about the kiss. It's been running through my mind for the past few hours." She stopped talking for a few minutes, looking out the window. But she turned her green eyes to him again, noticing, with a bit of shock and excitement, that he was just close enough now to touch her.
"Is that so, Ms. Redhead?" James asked huskily in her ear, sending a jolt of electricity down her spine. She shook with laughter against him, and threw her arms around his neck to hold herself up off the seat.
"Yes, that's exactly so, kind sir," she responded, and he kissed her on the mouth, his tongue sliding against her lips. She opened her mouth hungrily, and his tongue almost glided against hers, making their blood pressure rise, and their breath uneven.
They both came up for air at the same time. Lily's heart was beating hard against her rib cage. James was trying to slow his breathing. They had never gotten that deep into a kiss and it shocked both of them, to the point where they just sat speechless, staring at opposite ends of the carriage, lost in their own thoughts. Until Sirius, Remus and Peter walked in, that is.
Hm-hmm, Remus cleared his throat, making James and Lily jump.
"Moony, what are you doing here?" James asked, jumping up and clearing a spot for the newcomers.
Remus laughed, "What do you think I'm doing here, Prongs? I'm not setting off dung bombs in the corridors, if that's what you're thinking. Actually," and he gave Lily a funny look, "I'm going to my parents house for the holidays. What are you doing here, Lils?"
James answered for her, seeing the uncomfortable look on her face. "She's going to spend the holidays with us Potters. So are you planning anything special this year, or can you come over the last few days of break?"
He was directing the conversation to the point where Lily could look normal, or at least try to act normal. And she was happy with the diversion.
She tuned in, in time to hear Remus' plans, "Actually, I have no clue what our plans are, but I'll owl you when I find out," Remus was promising. But James wasn't listening. He was looking at Sirius, who hadn't taken his eyes off Lily since James had said she was going to the Potters' house.
"So, you finally cracked, eh, Lilykins?" Sirius said, getting a glare from Lily.
"Don't -- ever -- call -- me -- Lilykins," she breathed, venomously, making Sirius look very nervous. He looked at Remus for help but all he got was an "It's your own fault" look. He turned his eyes to Peter, but got, "No thanks, I'd rather not get involved," higher than a squeak.
James laughed. "You'll never learn, Padfoot, old pal, will you?" he said, managing to keep a straight face, while Sirius glared at him.
"Some friends you all are," Sirius muttered. "Friends are supposed to stick to each other and help out when they can."
James rolled his eyes. "And you are? Let me see, there was the one time that I got in trouble with Evans here," he nodded his head in her direction, which Lily took to mean, 'no offence.' "And got a month's detention, while you laughed, saying that she had a major problem with me. And there was another time…" but he got cut off by Sirius, who had made a noise between impatience and disgust.
"OK, OK, I get the point, now can we get back to the conversation, please? What did you do to get her to come in the first place? Bribe her?"
"No, I did not 'bribe her,' as you say. She didn't want to go to her house and stay with her bratty sister, so I offered to let her stay at my house. Is that okay?" James practically snarled at Sirius.
Sirius shrugged. "Whatever, mate. Whatever you say."
Remus was looking between James and Sirius, shaking his head in exasperation. Lily giggled behind her hand; she was very amused by the way James was protecting her. He was her knight in shining armor, she realized with a pang, and her poor mind started running in circles. Since when had James been her knight in shining armor? He had been too annoying to change her heart this quick.
"Lily, are you around?" Lily shook her head, and realized that Remus, Sirius and Peter had vanished, leaving her alone with James again.
"Yeah, I'm around, just thinking is all," she responded.
"Again! Now what are you thinking about?" James asked. But Lily shook her head.
"You wouldn't really believe it anyways, so I won't say anything. Not right this minute." And she stuck to that, no matter what James threatened her with. He tried tickling her, but that was not as affective as he thought it would be. He tried taking her book away, but she snatched it right back, laughing at James and his attempts to get her to spill the secret she was harboring.
She shook her finger at him in a seductive way, which made her shy away from her feelings and thoughts. She had already learned Occlumency, very useful in hiding her feelings and thoughts so no one could read her. That was how Alice didn't even know.
The train slowed down in front of Godric's Hollow, where James lived with his parents. As she hopped out, Lily looked up at the Potter mansion in awe. It's Soooo huge, she thought, looking at the grounds. James came up behind her, making her jump, feeling his breath on the side of her neck.
"Chill, it's just me," he said, laughter in his voice, making her think he meant to scare her. She turned around, almost face to face with him, but she still had to look up to see his face.
"James Potter, Lily Evans, are you just going to stand on the door step or are you going to come inside?" came a female voice through the open doorway.
James, seeing the look on Lily's face, explained, "It's just my mum, don't worry, she does this all the time," and shrugged, as though to say that the subject was done and over with.
Then, he yelled through the door, "Coming, Mum!" and, grabbing his and Lily's baggage, which, surprisingly, wasn't all that heavy, lead Lily into his house.
She was shocked at how enormous the place was, and told James that much later. All he did was laugh and explained that his mum went all out when it came to furnishings. He shook his head. "I can't believe what we buy every year. It's such an odd investment, but my dad says that we only do that so my mum can be social and have rich folks over."
Anyways, Lily finally met Mrs. Potter, who had heard a lot about her from James, and was instantly reminded of her own mum. Just thinking about her mum made tears well up in her eyes. Now was not the time to start crying, and she wiped her eyes on her shirt-sleeve, making it very discreet. But James noticed, and decided to wait to ask her about it.
"James, show Lily where to put her things and get washed for dinner," Mrs. Potter ordered, making James grumble good naturedly, but he did what she told him.
He motioned Lily to follow him and headed up the stairs. Lily was amazed by the enormity of the place, and James turned his head as a sob reached his ears. Lily was crying.
"What's the matter, Lils?" he asked as she tried to hide her tears.
"I- I don't k-know," she sobbed, and stopped walking. James gave her a hug, which she clung to, and he tilted her chin upward.
"Please stop crying, sweetheart. It breaks my heart when you do," he whispered softly in her ear, making her shiver in his arms.
"James…" she whispered back, but he cut her off with his mouth and her hand lifted to his neck, holding her up.
"JAMES POTTER! Get down here and set the table!" Mrs. Potter yelled up the stairs, jerking the couple apart guiltily.
"Yeah, we better head downstairs, James," Lily said with a grin, but she wasn't feeling all that happy. Ugh, interrupted! She would probably never get the chance to do that again for a while.
A/N: so what do you think? Sorry if you were expecting something else, but I had major writers' block and couldn't think of anything for this chapter. Anyways, thanks again to my reviewers and please review this chapter if you feel inclined to, which I hope most of you will, having waited so long for the next chapter.
Serindraxx