Thank you all for your support. I hope you enjoy the new chapter, especially the ending. :)
Lily emerged from the Great Hall and stopped dead in her tracks. On the other side of the Entrance Hall, standing between two men in brown trench coats, was Andrew. He was dressed in jeans, t-shirt, and a jacket. The sight of him sent her heart plummeting into her stomach. Suddenly he turned his head and locked eyes with her. A shiver ran down her spine. She quickly looked away.
"Evans," Sirius said, pausing next to her. "Is something wrong?"
She glanced at him. "Across the hall." He looked and she heard a dog like growl erupt from him. "Easy, Black."
"I have a very strong urge to rip his limbs off," Sirius snarled, "and tear out his cold black heart."
"I'd like to poison him and watch as his body jerks and he turns blue." Lily smirked. "I'd stand over him and dangle a bezoar in his face, laugh while I'm doing it."
He frowned. "I never knew your mind worked that way, Evans. Scary - very scary."
"This whole bloody thing is scary." She took a deep breath. "I'm going to see James. Would you care to join me?"
"Sure," Sirius said. "I was heading there to meet up with Remus and Peter anyway."
Aware of Andrew's cold gaze on her, Lily made her way toward the staircase with Sirius following close behind. She had just reached the bottom step when Andrew called out to her. Ignoring him, she started up the stairs desperate to get as far away from him as she possibly could.
"You can't escape us, Lily," Andrew yelled. "We're everywhere."
His words caused her knees to buckle and she stumbled. Moving fast, Sirius grabbed her, his strong arm wrapping around her waist. "Don't let him get under your skin," he told her. "He wants to provoke you. Don't give him the satisfaction."
"The Dark Lord is powerful," Andrew continued. "He gains more followers everyday. Join us, Lily. He will reward you for your loyalty and service."
Sirius snorted. "Sure he will. If he only knew what you really are, Evans, then he wouldn't be asking you to join."
"He must never know that I'm muggle-born," Lily said softly.
"I'll never tell anyone," he vowed, squeezing her waist gently.
"Look at me, Lily," Andrew ordered. "Look at-"
"That is enough, Mr. Swift," Professor Dumbledore interrupted as he marched across the hall. "You will not harass a member of this school."
"Let's go," Sirius said.
Hoping that she would never lay eyes on Andrew again, Lily headed up the stairs.
When Lily and Sirius walked into the hospital wing, five minutes later, they found James out of bed. He was standing at the window, looking out onto the grounds. Intent on telling him off for being out of bed Lily moved toward him. Stopping beside him, she turned and glared at him, her arms crossed.
"You're beautiful when you're angry," James commented, his lips twitching. "Then again you're beautiful no matter what your mood is."
"Get back into bed, Potter," she hissed.
"It's James, Lily." He gazed at her, his expression serious. "I would like for you to call me James. Please."
She swallowed. "If it means that much to you. Now get back into bed. You shouldn't be up moving around."
He smiled crookedly. "Worried about me, Lovely Lily?"
"Of course," she muttered. "It's only been three days since you were poisoned. You need to rest."
"I'm tired of laying in that damn bed." James sighed heavily "I want out of here."
"Well that's not going to happen anytime soon," Lily declared, leaning against the wall. Out of the corner of her eyes she saw Remus, Sirius, and Peter leaving. "Where are you three going?"
"To our dorm room," Remus answered. "We'll be back." He glanced at James. "Do you want us to bring you back anything?"
"No, mate, I'm good." After they left James turned to Lily. "So anything new?"
"I saw Andrew in the Entrance Hall." Lily cleared her throat. "He was with two Auror's." She filled him in on what Andrew said to her.
"He's gone, Lily." James touched her cheek. "He's on his way to Azkaban and you'll never see him again."
"There will be others to take his place," she pointed out.
"And together we will handle it." James cupped her face between his hands. "You're not alone."
Lily scanned his face and her eyes came to rest on his mouth. Her heart skipped a beat. She wanted to kiss him but fear and doubt kept her from acting on her feelings. Taking the lead, James leaned in close and brushed his lips against hers. His tongue swiped across her bottom lip. Lily moaned, parting her lips, and James slipped his tongue inside. Lily's knees grew weak. She melted against him, her arms going up to encircle his neck. Groaning, James tilted his head and deepened the kiss.
They broke apart, a minute later, and gazed at each other through eyes filled with want.
"I had a feeling you would be amazing when it came to snogging." James trailed his index finger along her jaw line. "I was right."
Closing her eyes, Lily took a deep shaky breath. "Andrew - he said when it came to snogging I was a bore. I was afraid you would feel the same way - that you would be disappointed."
"Look at me, Lily," James said. She opened her eyes. "Swift was a bloody fool and like I said before he didn't deserve you." He ran the pad of his thumb across her lips. "You are not boring and I am not disappointed, far from it. What about you? Are you disappointed?"
"No," she breathed. "I never knew I could feel this way." She pressed her lips to his jaw line and then his ear.
"Does this mean that you're ready to give us a chance?" he queried softly.
Breaking into a smile, Lily whispered in his ear, "Yes."