Author's Note: Again, I'm terribly sorry about how long the chapter has taken. Please review. Hope you like. :)
Everyone, including Professor Slughorn turned to look at James and Lily in shock. Her heart was beating rather quickly, and she didn't feel comfortable with all of the eyes on her. What was she thinking? Asking him out like that?
James looked, if possible, more shaken than ever. "Are you—" he stammered Then, he smiled, and her heart began to beat even more quickly.
"Oh, how the tables have turned, m'lady," he said.
Lily blushed. "Just don't turn me down," she said, winking uncharacteristically.
"You're unbelievable," he said, turning to look around the rest of the class. They waited for his answer; half were even holding their breath. James rolled his eyes. "Did any of you think I'd say no? Come on."
Once they realized what he said, the Gryffindor students burst into applause (with the exception of those girls who still thought they had a chance.)
"Finally," said Sirius, shooting his friend two thumbs up.
Lily smiled self-consciously. "Go…back to what you were doing." She glanced back at Snape who was determinedly staring at anything besides Lily and James.
"Lindsey!" Lily said, unable to hide her surprise. "You're back!"
She nodded briskly. "Strangely, I am."
Lily looked her over. Her eyes were red and water, as if just seeing the school again produced a new batch of tears. She wasn't in robes, but the clothes she was wearing made Lily wish she were. Lindsey had always been the styling one (pink girl, as Lily dubbed her), but now she just looked an utter mess.
Lindsey didn't even pretend to smile. "So, what have I missed?" she asked. They began walking slowly—very slowly—because Lindsey kept stopping to shut her eyes and take deep breaths.
Everything, thought Lily, You missed the biggest thing that could have possibly happened.
Instead, however, Lily said, "Nothing much," shrugging. "I asked James out."
Lindsey's eyes widened. "You did what?!" she asked in a whisper. "No WAY."
Lily laughed slightly, pleased that the tiniest hint of happiness began to shine brightly in the other girl's eyes. "Yeah," she said.
"So, what's going on with you and Sirius?" she asked cautiously, completely aware that she was treading into dangerous territory.
"We talked this morning," she said, her eyes darkening after hearing his name.
"Oh," said Lily. She hadn't realized that she wasn't the first to be speaking with Lindsey.
"He dumped me," she said flatly, "and I don't want to talk about it."
Lily was shocked. How could Sirius have actually gone through with that? "But—but I don't…Lindsey, I—"
"Don't."
Lindsey's voice was forceful and demanding. Lily knew this was not the Lindsey she had dealt with on the train before the year began. Everything had changed, and so did every person.
They continued to the common room only because Lindsey hadn't said anything against it, but when they arrived, Lily wished they hadn't. The common room was empty save Remus, Peter, and a fifth year prefect Lily knew as John. That wasn't the bad part. What frightened Lily was the fact that, even standing near the portrait hole, she and Lindsey could hear the shouting from all the way upstairs and down the hall. Lily didn't think she'd ever heard James and Sirius argue at all, but they'd certainly never fought like this.
"YOU DON'T—EVEN—"
"WHERE DO—OFF SAY…"
Lindsey sat down on the couch next to Remus while Lily stood still beside it, pretending not to notice the commotion. Remus, immersed in his book, was clearly trying to do just the same.
"Well, I'm causing a fair bit of drama," she said, sighing.
Peter shook his head, and said solemnly, "Not your fault."
"Personally," said Remus, not taking his eyes off the words he was reading, "I think this fight has been building up for a long time."
James' voice came through louder than ever before. "FINE!" he screamed, slamming the door behind him. Sirius didn't seem to have any reply.
Just a few seconds later, James appeared at the bottom of the stairs, smiling falsely at them all. "Hello, Lindsey," he said.
"Am I free to go to my room now?" she asked, not replying to his greeting. Lily knew she wouldn't have gone upstairs earlier, considering the voices would have been much louder if she were in that territory.
James nodded, pointing behind him. He knew it wasn't likely that Sirius would come down.
James watched Lindsey walk up the stairs, then walked over to Lily. "Hey…" he said slowly.
She smiled. It was rather endearing that James was so hesitant and so unsure about how to act around her. "What happened?" she asked sympathetically, laying a hand on his shoulder.
James seemed to realize he could give some sort of affection without being thrown out a window. He hugged her gently, feeling her body tense up at first, but then she calmed down. She was learning t deal with it, to accept his touch, and it made him happier than he could ever express.
James let go, leading Lily to her chair, and he stood behind it, keeping his hands on her shoulders as he spoke.
"What happened?" asked Remus when James didn't answer Lily.
James shrugged. "He's being ridiculous."
Lily blinked, looking up at him. "But…what, exactly, happened?"
James waved his hand, signaling he wanted to move onto another topic.
"How are you today?" he asked.
Lily sighed. She wanted to know what happened. "Fine, I guess." She couldn't very well force him, could she?
"How's Lindsey?"
"Not doing well," Lily answered honestly. "I just can't bel—" No. She couldn't start talking about Sirius again.
"If your cousin kills one of my relatives, promise not to ditch me?" Lily had obviously spent too much time with the marauders. The teasing outlook on life seemed so much simpler.
James smiled. "Can I sit with you?"
"Sure," she said, moving over to make space, but it did little good. The chair was so small that she ended up on James' lap anyway. "Was that your evil plan?" she asked, leaning her back against his chest, exhausted.
Remus glanced at Peter. The latter didn't seem to be interested in the scene before them the way Remus was. Remus put his book down, unnoticed by the others, and leaned his head on his head, his elbow already on the armrest.
James had wanted this forever. He'd dreamed of having Lily since about age eleven. Remus was happy for him; he really was, but he couldn't help being just a tiny bit jealous. Sure, James and Lily were going to have a rocky relationship, but a rocky love was better than no at all.
"I have a surprise for you," said James. He lifted Lily from his lap so that they were both standing. He then ran upstairs to get his stuff.
Lily raised her eyebrow at Remus. "You think he'll make it out of there okay?"
"Sirius will probably ignore his entrance," Remus replied, looking just as confused with the surprise as Lily was.
Not a moment later, he came rushing back down with a book in hand. "I got this for you. It just came today."
"Came…" Lily repeated slowly, taking the book in her hands. Fabrications. It was a new copy of the book she'd torn apart that one evening. Realization hit her. "You ordered this in from a muggle shop? James, that's so sweet of you."
"Well, I know how much you wanted to read it…still never quite understood why you ripped it, but there you are."
Lily smiled, leaning up to kiss him. "Thank you."
"No problem. I already know I'm going to have to compete with books in our relationship," he said, laughing.
"Relationship," she repeated. It sounded so strange to her.
"It's weird for me too," he said, reading her thoughts.
Remus groaned, not caring if they heard his annoyance. "I'm going upstairs."
"See you, Remmy," James said with a wave. Remus nodded, but said nothing.
"So, do you feel protected by that prefect over there?" James whispered, nodding towards John.
Lily furrowed her brow, confused. "What?" she asked.
"Well, I know how being alone with me is still sort of new for you, so—" he paused, "do you feel like that guy will jump at me if I start something? Because, if you don't feel safe, we could just—"
Lily rolled her eyes. "It's fine. I'm fine, really."
James nodded, scooting his way back into the chair, letting Lily down on his legs again. "I want to read my book," she said excitedly.
James smiled at the anticipation in her voice. If only he could get so excited about such a thing!
"Go ahead, Lil," he said kindly, wrapping an arm around her waist.
Lily took out her book, opened it, and then she promptly closed it. "Tell me about your fight with Sirius."
"Can't we just enjoy a relaxing moment?"
"I've changed my mind," she said. "Tell me about Snape."
James raised an eyebrow. "What about him?"
"You mentioned in Potions that there were reasons for things…and, things I didn't know or understand. Help me understand. I want to know everything, and if this is going to work, I'm going to have to know."
James thought that was fair enough, though he didn't particularly want to explain anything.
"It all starts with my sister," said James, taking a deep breath.
"Your sister?" asked Lily, confused. "I thought you were an only child."
"Well, technically, I am."
Author's Note: Short, yes. Don't kill me. If it makes you all feel any better, I've written the first chapter of a new story, and I'm posting it tonight. That make up for the shortness? Please review.