I've been waiting to write this chapter for so long! I hope you enjoy it.

Chapter 25 : New Year's Day

After what seemed like hours, but what had in fact only been a brief moment, James broke away from Lily. He gazed at her not really knowing what to do next. He would like to have said that the kiss was like one of those great romantic moments you saw in Hollywood films, but in reality nothing was ever like that. The kiss had been slightly awkward, the earth certainly hadn't moved, and the only fireworks had been the ones set off by nearby villagers, bringing in the New Year. But at that particular moment in time kissing Lily Evans had been the only thing he could even think about doing, and 1st January 1978 would be a date James would remember for the rest of his life.

Lily giggled at him, and shifted uncomfortably underneath his gaze. He gave a soft laugh in return.

"Stop staring at me," Lily giggled again, turning round and starting to walk back to the coach house. James was left standing a bit confused. She hadn't tried to hit him, she didn't seem too upset that he'd kissed her, and yet here she was trying desperately to get away from him. She was almost halfway back to the coach house when he decided to run after her.

He caught up with her just in time to open the door for her to walk inside. She flashed him a timid smile as he did so, and his mind was immediately set at ease. He decided she must be feeling exactly the same as him – glad the kiss had happened, but without a clue as what to do next.

He followed in the door behind her to find the party was still in full swing. Not many people noticed them walk into together, but he was sure by the end of the night everyone would have heard about it. Lily halted a bit once inside, unsure of where to go, so James placed his hand on her shoulder and guided her through the throng to where he had been sitting with Sirius and Peter all night.

Lily sat down on an old flowery patterned sofa, and James sat down beside her, before saying hello to everyone who was sitting in the group. Sirius looked up and nodded, not saying a word, Peter looked at him without the slightest bit of concern, obviously not having a clue what was going on, Alice and Frank, who had also been sitting with James all night, simply returned his hello and went back to their conversation. The only person who looked even vaguely interested that James and Lily had just entered the room was Caitlin. She looked madly back and forth between the two of them with her mouth and eyes wide. This behaviour didn't stop until Sirius caught her in a passionate embrace, which James was sure he was only using as a ploy to prevent her from speaking.

Lily lent over to James.

"Do you think they know?" she whispered in his ear.

"Probably," he replied. "Although I think they're as unsure as how to react to it as we are."

Lily smiled, and from that moment on things got decidedly more comfortable between them.

"Everybody! Everybody!"

It was a few hours later, and most of the guests had gone home. The only people left where James, Lily, Sirius, Caitlin, Peter, Frank and Alice. After numerous butterbeers, and other assorted drinks, Caitlin was now a bit merrier than she ought to have been, and was standing on top of a coffee table, trying to get people's attention.

"Caitlin, shut up and get off my furniture," James shouted across the room at her. He and Lily were washing glasses in a small sink at the back of the room, playfully flicking bubbles at each other, whilst the rest where up righting chairs and tidying up.

"No!" she shouted defiantly. "You all have to come and sit down. I've just remembered something!"

"What?" Sirius asked, as he swept her off the table and placed her unto a chair.

"It's New Year, and we haven't made any resolutions yet!"

James rolled his eyes at Lily and she laughed.

"But Cait, all the guests have gone home," Lily shouted over to her. "There's no point doing that now," she reasoned.

"Who cares!" Caitlin yelled a bit exuberantly. "We're the best ones anyway!"

"What about Remus?" Alice asked.

"What about him?" Caitlin spat back, turning her nose up. James knew that Caitlin, no matter how she denied it, still carried a deep resentment of Remus, ever since the night he had nearly attacked her. She usually kept it under control, but it was times like these – especially when she was drunk – that it usually came out.

Confused by Caitlin's reaction, Alice continued: "Uh, why is he not here?"

"Remus is in Italy," Peter spluttered quickly. James was surprised he had managed to come up with a suitable alibi so speedily.

"Yes, he's visiting his Grandmother," Sirius added.

James glanced at the full moon through the window in front of him.

"He's not very well though," he said quietly. Only Lily heard him.

"I'm sure he'll be better in time for school," she said, placing a comforting hand on James' back. "Maybe we should do what she asks, she'll not stop moaning otherwise," she added.

The two of them walked over and joined the others who were already sitting on the floor in a circle.

"Who wants to go first then?" Frank asked.

"Well I haven't really thought of one," Lily answered. The rest of the group muttered in general agreement.

"Well then let's make up ones for each other!" Caitlin said excitedly.

"I'm not sure I like the sound of that," James said wearily.

"No, it's a great idea!" Caitlin assured him. "James, yours is you must let Leanne and I score at least one goal each in each quidditch match!" she added quickly. She had obviously been thinking about that one for a while.

"Fine," James replied with a forced smile. "But if I'm doing that then you have to be nice to Avril Knight."

"I am nice to Avril," Caitlin replied smoothly. Both Lily and Alice snorted.

"Caitlin, you told me if I invited her to this party you would break my legs," James replied, equally as smooth.

"Well fine then, I will try to be nicer to Avril," Caitlin promised.

"What about Frank?" Peter asked.

"Frank's should be to stand up to his mother more," Alice said pointedly.

"Well, yours should be to wear your hair down more often," Frank replied. Alice immediately pulled her hair down out of its ponytail. James had never noticed it before, but now he thought about it he had never seen it in any other style.

"What should Sirius' be?" Peter asked again.

"Why don't you give him one Peter?" Lily asked.

"Uh… well…" Peter hesitated.

"Hurry up!" Sirius barked.

"Ok, yours should be to be more decisive Wormtail," James offered. "And Padfoot, yours should be to be more patient!" He was trying to get this over with as quickly as possible, he was bored, and already brooding over the fact he was going to have to give some of his glory to Leanne and Caitlin at the quidditch matches. "Now, that only leaves Lily…"

"I've got one for Lily," Sirius said slowly. Lily gave an audible gulp, and James felt like reassuring her. He understood what Sirius was like. He liked to play the 'hard man', pretend he was far too cool for anyone else at the school, but he wasn't really. James knew he was only playing about with Lily at the moment, not trying to scare her, but just tease her. Lily just didn't realise it yet, but James was sure she would soon learn, that the way to make Sirius back off was to challenge him right back.

"…You have to break more rules Lily Evans," Sirius finished with a smirk.

"What-t do you m-mean?" Lily stuttered.

"More school rules," Sirius answered. "At least one a day," he added. Lily stared at him in shock – the idea obviously terrified her.

"Too much Padfoot, way too much," James said firmly.

Sirius cocked an eyebrow and tilted his head. He always looked uncannily like a mischievous dog when he did that.

"One a week," Sirius offered.

"She'll get her badge taken off her," James retorted. "One a month…"

"But a reasonably major one," Sirius suggested.

"Deal," James agreed.

"Uh… shouldn't Lily have a say in this?" Frank asked.

"No, no it's alright," Lily reassured him. "I'll do it," she said more forcefully. James realised she was trying to stand up to Sirius, but he wanted her to know she didn't have to do it to impress him.

"Don't worry about it…" he started, but was cut off.

"Yea, it's not like you'll be the only one breaking a major school rule monthly," Caitlin slurred.

It was around that time that Sirius refused to let Caitlin have anymore to drink.

"Frank, are you going to be staying here tonight then?" James asked. "Only I just want to know how many sleeping bags I'm going to have to transfigure." He was lining up seat cushions on the ground, getting ready to change them.

"Well… I don't know… my mother will probably be expecting me home…"

"Longbottom, just what exactly was your resolution?" Sirius asked him.

"Exactly!" Alice concurred.

"Well alright then, we'll stay!"

"That's seven then," James said, and threw another two cushions on the ground. He was just raising his wand when…

"Five," Caitlin interrupted.

James quickly glanced round the room.

"I count seven," he replied.

"So do I," agreed Peter.

"Lily and I aren't staying," Caitlin answered matter-of-factly.

James didn't know who looked more annoyed – Sirius or himself, or even quite possibly Lily.

"Look I'm sorry, but I haven't seen my parents properly since Boxing Day, and I really do think I should go home," Caitlin added, noticing the dismayed looks on their faces. She got up to leave, and went to look for her jacket. James was going to protest, but he decided it was best not to argue with her when she was like this.

"We'll all walk you home then," James offered instead. "You can leave the car here," he added to Lily. " Come and pick it up in the morning?" He hoped she would agree so he could maybe spend some more time with her alone. She nodded, flashing him a quick grin.

They were all just outside the door, wrapped in their jackets and coats, when Lily slapped her hand to her forehead.

"Oh I think I've forgotten something," she exclaimed. "James can you help me look for it?"

Sirius smiled knowingly, and wrapped his arms around Caitlin to shield her from the cold. She grimaced slightly as she had not yet forgiven him for scolding her earlier about her drinking.

"We'll wait for you here then," he said, smirking at James.

The pair of them walked back inside and closed the door.

"What did you forget then?" James asked.

"This," Lily replied. She placed her hands on either side of his face, and brought him in for a slower, much more enjoyable kiss than before. This time Lily ended it. "That was for earlier," she said. "I'm sorry we have to leave but there's no talking to Caitlin when she's like this. I think she's just hacked off at Sirius for telling her off earlier."

"Don't worry," James assured her. "I probably snore in my sleep anyway. I'd just end up ruining your night."

"Trust me, I don't think anything could ruin this night," she replied, bringing him back for another kiss.

"Do you not think this place looks a bit like Hogsmeade?"

They had all been walking for quite a while now, and were right in the middle of Godric's Hollow. It was the dead of the night, and there was not a single person, apart from them, around. Sirius had somehow managed to work that 'old Black charm' again, and Caitlin had now cheered up considerably.

"A muggle version I mean," Caitlin continued. She was walking directly along side James and Lily, Sirius with his left arm wrapped around her. Alice and Frank were walking a few steps behind them, holding hands, and Peter was tottering along a few steps after that. James noticed that Lily kept looking back every so often to make sure that he was still there.

"Sort of," Lily replied half-heartedly. James loved the way she always tried to make everyone feel that their opinion was important to her, even over the stupidest of things.

"Well, I think it does," Caitlin replied huffily.

"Of course it does," Sirius added, and started to cover her with light kisses to stop her from throwing a strop again.

James felt a slight pang of jealousy as he looked round and noticed them acting all 'couple-like'. He was just wondering whether he should try to reach out and take Lily's hand when she looked back over her shoulder again.

"Why do you keep doing that?" James whispered to her.

"Just worried about Peter," she said quietly so only James could hear her. "I don't think we should have asked him to walk this far." James looked round at his plump and panting friend. They had now reached the end of the village, which for an average person was a brave walk. For Peter it must have been purgatory.

"He'll be fine," he guaranteed her. He noticed her shiver as he said it. James saw a great opportunity for him to appear the perfect gentleman. "Would you like my coat?" he said, slipping off his denim jacket.

"No thank you," Lily replied. James' heart sank. "I'm just not that cold," she added quickly. James didn't know if Lily was reacting to the hurt in his face or the murderous look Caitlin had just given her.

"Oh it's just I saw you shiver," James pointed out, as if to clarify that there had been a reason he'd offered his coat.

"I know," Lily agreed. "Strange, because it's not even that cold anymore is it?"

Standing with his jacket off, James could see she had a point. Far from the freezing cold night that they had started off in, it was now quite warm, and James found he was quite comfortable without his coat on. He slung it over his shoulder, vaguely taking in the information that the temperature seemed to be rising with every step he took.

"Someone probably just stepped over your grave." The chilling words brought him back from his reverie, and he heard a deathly silence fall among the group as they all halted.

"Caitlin, why the hell would you say that?" Sirius spat in almost disgust. The faces of the rest seemed to echo his feelings. James knew he was feeling the same. Lily looked positively petrified.

Caitlin was standing, staring at Sirius' face wide-eyed, her mouth flapping uselessly.

"T-that's w-what it is," she managed to stutter. "W-when you shiver like that for no reason. Someone's just stepped over your grave." She paused. "Sorry, I didn't mean anything by it."

Silently the group accepted her apology and started walking again. Caitlin hung her head as Sirius removed his arm from around her, and the pair walked along in silence.

"Does anyone else smell that?" Alice chirped a few minutes later. They were getting near to Caitlin's house now, and had left the village behind. The only thing that surrounded them now were fields and hedges. James was wondering about how he should say goodnight to Lily with everybody watching.

"Yes," Frank replied hazily. "Smells like…"

"Summer," Peter finished.

"What do you mean it smells like summer, Wormtail? It's the middle of winter for Merlin's sake!" Sirius snapped. He was already agitated by Caitlin's behaviour and James knew Peter making silly comments wouldn't help things. "How can a season have a smell anyway!"

"No he's right," Lily interrupted Sirius' rant. "It's like the smell of water evaporating off the pavement. I know what you mean Peter, it reminds me of summer as well."

"Well, back to point of why it would smell like summer in January then?" Sirius asked bitterly. He knew he had just been put in his place by Lily.

"I don't know," Lily answered curtly.

"It's the frost," Alice said, pointing at the ground. "There's no frost on the ground. Something's melting it." There was a slight note of panic in her voice.

"Ok, I don't mean to alarm anyone," Frank said slowly. "But it is starting to get really hot now."

Caitlin, who throughout the whole conversation had said nothing, and hadn't even turned round to listen to it, suddenly stopped. They had just reached a place where the top two storeys of her home should have been visible from the road.

"My house!" she shrieked. "Where's my house!"

Suddenly something green and vibrant erupted from the trees in front of them. A giant skull, with a serpent protruding from its mouth like a tongue, was floating in the sky, just above where Caitlin's house should have been. Just below that, through the trees, James could make out the flicker of flames glowing.

For a moment nobody moved or made a sound. James found himself fixed to the spot, unable to fully comprehend the sight before him. He felt like he was living in a dream, and a feeling of numbness encased his whole body.

"The Dark Mark," Sirius said softly. He gave a sharp laugh, and then his face went blank.

James had never seen the Dark Mark before, but he knew just what it meant. So did Caitlin.

"MUM! DAD!" she screamed, shaking them all into alertness. With that she started to sprint to what James could only presume were the charred remains of her home.

"Caitlin no!" Sirius barked, but she paid no heed. He turned round to face the others. "RUN!" he roared. The others did as they were told, but James stayed where he was, Lily by his side.

James hoped he looked heroic, like he was going to stand up to the danger or something. The truth, though he hated to admit it, was that he couldn't have run away even if he had wanted to. His legs seemed to have stopped receiving orders from the rest of his body. He wasn't rooted to the ground with fear, but with… confusion. His head was telling him to run, but his heart told him to follow Caitlin.

"James," Sirius said sharply. "You need to get her out of here. NOW!"

"Y-yea," he mumbled. He grabbed Lily by the hand, and felt her trembling. He nodded to Sirius, who began to run after Caitlin, and then he began to run in the opposite direction. He ran faster than he ever had, and Lily could barely keep up.

"James," she panted. "What's going on? Who is it? Why did Sirius say to get me away?"

"It's Death Eaters," James managed to gasp back. "Voldemort's supporters… You're a muggle-born… If they find you… they'll kill you…" James noticed Lily starting to keep up with him a bit better.

They had run completely past the entrance to Godric's Hollow, and were now in a part of the countryside that James had never seen before. The trees where thick here and James was straining hard to hear anything movement in the woods around them, over the sound of his own footsteps.

"James!" Lily screamed suddenly. "Peter! Where's Peter?"

In the distance James could only make out Frank and Alice running ahead of them. Peter was nowhere to be seen.

"OH GOD! Where's Peter?" Lily screamed again. She was beginning to slow down.

"Lily, he'll be fine. Keep running!" James knew that Peter had probably transformed and scurried down the nearest rabbit hole, but he couldn't tell Lily that.

"What if they've got him? We've got to find him James!"

"Lily, I promise he'll be fine!" He gave her a tug on the arm to keep her moving.

"James, why have Frank and Alice stopped running?"

"I don't know. Come on, we better catch up!"

"James! What is that? Is there someone there? Is there someone in front of them?"

"I don't know. I can't make it out."

"James! There's someone there! Oh who is it James? Do you know who it is!"

"I think… it's… it's…"

"JAMES! Is that him? Is that Voldemort! Oh Merlin let it not be him! Please let it not be him!"

"Lily it's not him! It's just a Death Eater!"

"But you don't know! He's coming closer James! Oh God he's almost at them!"

"Lily I promise it's not him! Come here!"

"I don't know what to do… I'm so scared!"

"It's fine… I've got you, its fine… We'll be fine…"

"GET DOWN BOTH OF YOU! STUPEFY!"

"Dad?"

For the rest of his life James would not be able to remember what happened clearly. He could remember running along the road and seeing Frank and Alice come to an abrupt halt in front of him. He could remember a dark, hooded figure appearing, seemingly with a swish of a cloak. He could remember standing next to Lily, who was shaking so violently he thought she was going to be sick. He could remember maybe another dozen figures appearing right beside them. He could remember lying on the ground, across Lily, who was in the foetal position, determined to protect her from whatever was coming next. He could remember screaming, and shouting, and flashes of coloured light… and then nothing. He could remember nothing but his father's face.

And then he knew he was safe.

The next few days passed in a haze. He couldn't remember Lily going home, but he knew that she had. He couldn't remember Frank and Alice being taken to St Mungo's, but he knew that they had. He couldn't remember being questioned by the Ministry of Magic, but he knew that he had. He couldn't remember being told Caitlin's parents were dead… but he knew that they were.

Out of everything that had happened, there would only ever be one thing James remembered unmistakably – 1st January 1978.

Bet you weren't expecting me to update so quickly!

Read and review! Come on I'm going for 300!

slippersRfuzzy: Look! Look at how quickly I updated! Hope you enjoyed it!

mello80: How good am I? Updating so soon! About the cliff-hanger thing, have you not realised yet that my story is just one big cliff-hanger? Lol.

Ryuu no Taiyo: Yea I admit the last chapter was a little predictable, but you have to admit you didn't see that one coming!

lalahatesperkyppl444: Ok I slightly described the kiss for you, although that's as much as I'm going into it, I'll leave the rest up to imagination. Hope you enjoyed it anyway!

Augurey Song: Lol yea I know it took me long enough, but thanks for still reading it anyway. Write something! NOW!

Alantie Mistaniu: :O Why do you want to kill James? He's been getting a lot better! Give the poor boy a chance.

Blinded One: I know, I'm glad they kissed as well! It might be a while before they have another one though ;)

astronomylover: Thanks for reviewing!

Ruinsul: Look I updated! Ok that was definitely not the end – as you can probably see. There will be 40 chapters in this story, and then there will probably be a sequel after that, I'm not sure yet. BUT there is definitely still a lot to come, I hope you enjoy it!

zimzoogle09: I'm really sorry, but I love cliffhangers, so there will be lots of moments for you mind to wander until I update again! Sorry!

MJshunpike: James can't be friends with her because he loves her! I'm just a big romantic you see. I like putting awkward moments in because it's far more realistic, life as a whole is very awkward, nobody really knows what they're doing – especially me!

Goddess of Muffins: Yeay! I like making people laugh! Only a few people seem to get my sense of humour. Glad you enjoyed it!

elements-of-the-soul: I am very proud about how soon I updated. See you're not dead yet are you? I promise you, you will see the end of this story! Even if it kills me!

DanceDiva: Well I hope that chapter answered your questions. Caitlin wasn't ignoring Lily at the party, she was distracted by all the other people there and kind of forgot about her, it's the type of person she is, and I can think of a few in real life! Also I forgot to write in my review but I really like the way your chapters are so long in your story!

pandawitch1616: Ok you should learn when to go to sleep! 4.38 in the morning! Although I can't say I haven't done it myself. Thanks for sticking with the story anyway! If you want more good stories you should look at my favourites, they're all really good, and quite different!

LuvonWings: The story's definitely not over. 25 chapters down, 15 more to go. Keep reading!

BurningIce22: I have a cheek to talk about updating more frequently, but I just can't wait to find out what's going to happen next in yours. Thanks for reviewing!