A/N: Hey, everyone. I got the writing bug. Check out this chapter, and then take a look at my new story, Flipped. Thanks to everyone who inspired me – you know who you are.

.y.g.e.

For Lily, the house was amazing. For James, it was home. It was obvious by the way when they arrived, he kicked his shoes off, sending their bags floating off towards the stairs, asking if she wanted anything. She declined, staring at the lovely furniture and architecture, and at the way he acted as if this was completely normal. His parents had left them a note, saying that they would be gone until around five, saying not to get into any trouble.

Four hours, all to themselves. Lily glanced towards James, who had sunk down into a chair for a moment, staring at the wall for a few moments before asking, "Want the grand tour?"

"Yeah, sure," the redhead replied, sliding into the space between his hips and the arm of the chair, her arms wrapping around him. "But tell me first… what are you parents rules with… us?"

"My parents really aren't that strict about having girls in the house… They probably think we've already slept together at school," he grinned, successfully holding back a laugh.

"So basically, they think I'm some sort of slut or something," Lily answered, narrowing her eyes on the chaser.

"That's not what I said. They've just heard a little too much about what I've been doing at school over the last several years. I don't think it has anything to do with you. Of course, it might be because you're head girl and they think we've already slept together that they let me bring you home. So really, we should be thanking my horrible reputation."

"I can't believe you!" she reprimanded him, smacking his chest and crawling out of the chair. Her smile betrayed her real emotions beneath the façade of anger. He was grinning back, taking her hand an leading her around the house, through the various rooms and up the stairs.

"You wanna see your room?" he asked, leading her down to the end of a hallway, next to another staircase leading to the tower room. "I'm up those stairs," he said, leading her through the door next to them.

They were in a turquoise room, brightly lit by the sun streaming in through the long windows. The white curtains had been pushed aside, and there were clean sheets on the queen-sized bed. The room was spotless; not a speck remained on the stained hardwood floor, and the furniture was perfectly placed. "Oh, I love it," Lily exclaimed, wrapping James in a hug, placing a kiss on his lips. He smiled, glad that this had finally worked out for them.

That night, they had a nice family dinner, talking about school and Petunia's wedding, and all sorts of things, and how James needed to start thinking about what he was going to do after school. He was so lucky, Lily thought, to have a family who would support him no matter what he decided to do. He was smart – he would be successful as long as he had people like his parents to back him up.

Lily had gone to bed early, as she had been freezing, even in sweatpants and a sweatshirt. Several hours later, early in the morning, she was still freezing, unable to sleep. She eventually snuck out of the bedroom and up the cold stone steps to where James was probably asleep. She crept across the room, sitting on the edge of the bed for a moment, just to ensure she wouldn't be waking him up. It was a twin bed; she didn't want to intrude on his personal space. However, Lily was freezing. She finally pulled back the covers enough to allow herself to crawl in next to him, up against his naked chest. She had no clue what else he was wearing, and she wasn't certain she wanted to know. He looked so innocent when he slept, his hair only looking soft, not spiky and out of whack.

"I love you," she whispered to him, finally starting to warm up against him, falling asleep in his arms.

.y.g.e.

James woke up first the next morning, surprised to find red hair splayed out across his chest, pale hands on the pillow next to him, and a girl in sweatpants and a loose t-shirt pressed up against him as if she depended on him for survival. He debated moving for a moment, glancing briefly towards the door, and then the clock. It was only eight.

In that case, he would wake her up and make her explain herself. The chaser grinned at the thought, of the methods of torment he could employ in their current situation, the fact that she had, in fact, slept with him, even if she hadn't slept with him. He pushed her hair out of her face, shifting his weight a little as he kissed her forehead, her cheeks, her nose until she came to consciousness.

"James?" the redhead murmured, catching his lips in hers before he could pull away from her. "What time is it?"

"Eight or so," he replied, drawing a finger gently down the inside of her forearm.

"Mmmkay," she replied, curling back up, as if to fall back asleep. "Go 'way."

"Need I remind you that you're in my bed? So logically, you should be the one who needs to go away," he responded, as she moved her legs so that they were curled over his, her chest pressed against him.

"I'm cold," Lily complained, shrinking back so that her shoulders remained under the covers. He pulled the covers up a little forward and then reached around to her back, pulling the girl back against him.

"I could warm you up." His voice was a growl, low and rough, right in her ear as his hands moved across her body.

"James! Stop talking like that!"

With that, she was out of bed, looking back to see him still lying there, wearing only a pair of pink boxers. Quickly, blushing, Lily tore her eyes away and left, leaving James grinning on the bed.

.y.g.e.

It was noon, in the middle of Diagon Alley, shopping for Christmas gifts when Lily brought up that night. "You wanna get out of the house tonight?"

"I can't… I have to go see Remus. You know…"

Lily glanced towards the date displayed on her watch. "But James, tonight's the… the… You'll get yourself killed! You can't go!"

"Lily, I'll be fine, trust me. I've been doing this since 5th year."

"Well, then it's a marvel you haven't gotten bitten!" She was obviously angry at him for endangering himself so many times. "You are not going out tonight, understood?"

"Lily, can I show you something?"

She narrowed her eyes.

"Come with me." A few moments later they were back home, but not inside the house. It was a visible speck in the distance, brick against the grass that laid between them. Lily was staring at James, arms crossed, glaring daggers at him, making it completely clear that he was, in fact, in trouble.

He transformed, his body stretching and changing into that of a magnificent stag. He now stood almost two feet above Lily's height, his antlers tangling in the branches above them, as water droplets fell onto his white fur, his hooves pawing nervously at the ground. And then he changed back, as Lily stared speechless up at her boyfriend.

"You… you..." Lily's voice drifted off into nothing as she tried to digest this particular secret. "You are forbidden to leave the house tonight. No way am I letting you break the law! And you've been doing it for two years? This is absurd! Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

"Because I knew how you would react."

"In that case, tell me how to react."

"You were going to turn me in. And hurt me. And take away the only thing that makes it better for Remus. You can ask him," James said, praying that she wouldn't go through with any of this.

"Well, I guess that's what I'm going to do, then, Mr. Prongs," Lily replied, her voice like venom.

"Don't."

She turned back towards him. "What was that?"

"Please. Just don't." There was a pause. "What do you want in return?"

"You have to swear not to do it anymore." Lily's reply came quickly, in the form of an ultimatum.

He pulled her into his arms. "Please, Lily, you know I can't do that."

She was about to give in, hug him back, let everything go for now. "Well you're going to have to."

"Lily, this is the most important thing to me right now. So you have to let me do this. I've been doing it for years now, and I'm not going to get hurt. And if you're gonna get mad over it, you can turn me in first thing tomorrow morning. Just let me do this one last thing for Remus."

"Fine, but tomorrow morning, you'd better have something good for me."

"I will… Your sister will be green with envy." He kissed her forehead, not protesting when she pulled away, still angry. She refused to look at James on the way back to the house, barely speaking to him before he left, or when he found her awake when he came back at 4 AM. She was sitting on his bed, crying, clutching a pillow to her chest.

He crossed the room silently, sitting down next to her, pulling her into his lap, replacing the pillow with his shoulder. "It'll be alright." James didn't have the slightest clue what exactly was wrong, but he was sure it would be okay. He would make it okay. "It'll be alright," he repeated, as if that would make it better.

"Oh really?" Lily replied tearfully, pushing a crumpled piece of paper into his hands. "Read it."

.y.g.e.

A/N: Ooh, how I love cliffies. If your reviews inspire me, I might update. (: I am making no guarantees, however.