Authors note:- Hey guys! Please check out my new fic Dumbledore's Army! Hope you like this chapter! I'm starting to kick things off new so enjoy!

Let me Belong

Chapter 26

'I knew you'd give in to your desires'

The touch of his skin against hers was electric. As he ran his partially closed hand down her arm she shuddered. He pushed his smooth soft lips against hers and moaned. Lily delighted in every touch, every kiss... She was in heaven. He trailed delicate butterfly kisses along her collar bone while drawing her closer to him gently.

His kisses became slow and more passionate, there was no hurry. She could feel him smirking against her shoulder. "I knew you'd give in to your desires one day".

Lily shot up in bed. "Sirius! Again?!" Pushing her hair off her face she fell back into her bed dazed. She could feel her skin tingling where she had dreamt his kisses had been. The sensations along her neck and collar bone made her blush with all the fluster of passion. It was unexpected, but not unwelcome...

- - - Breakfast - - -

Lily sauntered into the Great Hall the next day, pondering the best course of action. For the past few nights Sirius had plagued her dreams, and not in a bad way either. Lily had never considered Sirius in that way, but perhaps now she was? She had caught herself on a number of occasions in the past two days glancing his way.

She knew something about this wasn't right, but couldn't place her finger on what it was. She rarely if ever had dreams of this nature, let alone one every night for nearly a week. Nope! It definitely wasn't a natural attraction to Sirius. She grimaced as he tried to drink a whole beaker of juice, spilling it all down his face and robes. James laughed as he nudged him again resulting in more juice slipping down Sirius' clothes. Now that made her heart skip a little. She knew that in some weird way she was attracted to James. He brought out a different side to her. A side she had never shown at Hogwarts before. He made her smile, he made her irritable to the point of being speechless. Most importantly, he made her heart quicken every so slightly when he looked her way. When he did she felt heat prickle her cheeks, and found herself correcting her posture.

Frustrated she stabbed her fork into a cut up piece of apple. What was she going to do? Well, one thing was for sure. She wasn't going to sit here all alone. Shyly, she scuttled over to the Marauders. It still scared her now to approach them for fear of rejection. However the welcomed her warmly.

"Did you just see that Lily?" Sirius beamed. "Drank the whole thing I did!"

Lily smiled at him. She paused and then asked, "Sirius...do you have a birthmark on the back of you shoulder?"

James choked on his drink and looked at Sirius, then to Lily. Remus too was taken by surprise and kicked Sirius under the table before motioning to James. Sirius scowled at her and shook his head. "Might do why?"

She blushed sensing this tension this question had caused. "Oh, no reason... Just got told you had." The boys were looking at her quizzically. She stood up, "Well, have a nice morning. See you later". Hurriedly, she left.

James rounded on Sirius. "What was that about?" He demanded, rather angrily Remus noted.

Sirius looked at James guiltily. "Well, I may have slipped her a bit of that potion we learnt about the other day. You know. The one for influencing dreams." He smirked. "Every night I imagine we're kissing and cuddling, and whatever I imagine she dreams." James frowned at him. "Only problem is mate, I have to stay awake till late. Hardly get any sleep! This whole love life business is very tiring."

James glowered at him. "Stay away from her Sirius! She's not another one of your conquests."

Sirius held his hands up in earnest. " Look, if I knew you'd take it that seriously, I wouldn't have done it." He smiled and took a bite of a sausage. " She's all yours mate..."

- - - Greenhouses - - -

Lily plunged her shovel into the soil. She loved planting things. It gave her a sense of achievement. Especially when she saw that first glimpse of green sprouting out. Intently, she pushed a seed into the soil, then began to cover it. Smiling, she placed her hands over the earth to push the soil down. She didn't even flinch as she felt two familiar hands slide down her arms and rest on top of her hands.

"Hello James", she greeted in a wispy voice.

James 'hmmm-ed' as he buried his face in her hair, inhaling it's delicious tropical scent. Lily allowed him to do so, but was ever so curious as to where this was leading. She couldn't help but relax into him as he picked up her hands and crossed her arms about herself in a gentle embrace.

"What are you doing James?" She questioned softly. She felt his warm breath dance on one side of her face.

He took a deep breath and replied, "Hugging you. I'll stop if you want?"

Lily smirked. "Really?" She felt his arms tighten in response.

"Well no. But that's because I love to wind you up." He bent down to kiss her tenderly on the cheek. He could feel her shudder. His eyes gleamed happily. She didn't resist him like she would have done before.

He felt her pull away and turn to face him. "James..." She began, looking up at him sincerely. Her eyes were wide with worry and when he looked deep enough, James could see that there was an element of being lost in them. "I don't know what to do anymore."

He tried to smile sympathetically, but it failed. Sometimes her inability to let go annoyed him. "Does it matter? Look. A few nights ago we kissed, big deal! It was fun, we both enjoyed it, what's the problem?" Lily looked at him affronted. He could tell instantly that she felt stupid and pathetic. Sighing he continued, "I didn't mean it like that. What I meant was that you think too much about things. Why can't you just let whatever happens happen?"

Lily cast her eyes down to the floor. She felt childish and uneasy. Glancing up at him she replied, " I can't here. I always feel too clammed up, and I don't know what I want anymore..."

James grabbed her upper arm and pulled her to him. Without giving her chance to hesitate he pushed his lips against hers hungrily. Something about kissing her was so intoxicating to him. His kiss was passionate and urgent. He delighted in every moan she made, in the way her hand rested on her chest softly, and in the way which her hair tingled his face as it brushed against him. He let go of her slowly. Her lips were red and her cheeks flushed. She was looking up at him with eyes resembling those of puppies.

"Catch you two at the wrong moment?" Came a snide voce from the greenhouse doorway. They both turned to look. Amy, one of the snotty girls who lived in Lily's dorm was standing scowling at them both. She had been one of Tessa's best mates. James looked down at Lily who was looking at the ground awkwardly and afraid.

James looked back to Amy and nodded. " The moment's always wrong when you're around. Now if there's nothing else you wanted to say I'd think it'd be best you leave, before I make you!"

Lily took a step away from James consciously. He noticed, but ignored it. Lily was so intimidated by these girls and he couldn't understand why. If she dressed and acted like she did at home she'd be so much more confident. At least that's the way he saw it. Sulking, he glared at Amy as she retreated. He then rounded on Lily.

"Just ignore them Lily. You're better than them. You just need to be more like the Lily you are at home..." He moved to stroke her hair but she pushed his hand away. Her eyes bore into his own. They held anger and resentment.

She opened her mouth to reply but nothing came out. Sighing she left. James simply looked on confused and beginning to feel as infuriated as she was with herself.

- - - Nicole and Carli - - -

Lily sat huddled up on a sofa in the Slytherin common room. Carli hugged her, looking at Nicole. Lily had arrived in their common twenty minutes ago looking rather flustered and bleary eyed. All they had managed to understand was that she had been seen kissing Potter in the Greenhouses (as if they already didn't know).

"That Amy is a gossip. If she has nothing better to do with her time than follow you around, it shows that you're at least of some interest to her. She's obviously jealous..."

Nicole deviated the subject. "So erm... Is Potter a good kisser?"

Pulling her sleeves over her hands and huddling up even more Lily answered with a sad smile. "Yea... Really good."

The girls laughed. "On a scale of one to ten. Ten being the best..."

Lily smirked and replied, "Nine... He's too arrogant for it to be ten." She took a deep breath. "I don't know what to do you two..." Started Lily. "I wish I could be like I am at home. I love dressing up and doing my hair nice and putting on a bit of make up. But if I do that here I feel like I'm trying too hard. And then it's like", she drifted momentarily before continuing, "James makes me so angry at times, but then at others I just want to snuggle him and kiss him, and then I want to argue with him and slap him!"

Nicole raised her eyebrows and took a sip of her drink. "Sounds like you got it bad for him".

Lily nodded. "Thing is though. I love winding him up. The other day Artemis came to talk to me and part of me was ecstatic because James looked so bothered by it. How silly is that?"

Nicole added, "It isn't just you. The other day I nearly kissed this Ravenclaw lad all in an attempt to get that stupid idiot boyfriend of mine to pay me some attention." Her two friends gazed at her curiously. She turned the page of her magazine and finished, "Dint work. He came up to us completely clueless, rattling on about some dream potion he'd just learnt about." She paused. "It's kind of funny, but thinking about it, I've been having some pretty sexual dreams lately..." She shook her head and carried on reading.

"I have too!" Lily mused. "Funnily enough it's always Sirius though".

- - - Boy Dorm - Two days later - - -

Sirius batted a bludger against the wall excitedly. Their first Quidditch match was only a week away, any practise was good practise. Remus groaned as he tried to write up his essay for the Arithmacy professor. Sirius giggled childishly as he achieved his one hundredth successful bat in a row.

"Padfoot..." Sirius turned forgetting about the bludger. "You never know when to give in do you?" Sirius shrugged and turned back to the rapidly approaching ball. With every ounce of strength he batted it back at the wall.

"Trick is Moony, not to give up. If you persist you'll get what you want in the end." Remus glanced over at him with curiosity. It wasn't like Sirius to spout inspiring remarks. "Take the other day. I really really wanted extra's after dinner, so I snuck down to the kitchens and hexed the doorknocker to bang." James chuckled, knowing where this one was going. "I was sat outside on that cold horrible floor for near enough two hours before they answered and threw those chocolate wafers at me! But it was worth every minutes." Remus shook his head amused. "Well at least I decided it was two days after. At the time I was still quite bitter..."

Remus looked at James who seemed deep in thought. "You alright Prongs?"

James looked up from his book and nodded. "Yea fine. Just that Amy! I'm so angry that she told every one about the Greenhouse! Lily hasn't spoken to me all day you know? I think she's avoiding me. I saw her at breakfast this morning, and she just turned away as if I wasn't there."

Sirius chirped, "Don't worry. She'll come round. I avoid you sometimes you know, but I still love you".

Frowning, James inquired, "You ignore me? When?"

Sirius whacked the ball once again. "Well usually when you come out of the shower. You always have soap in your eyes and drop your towel. Oh, and when you're arguing with Lily. She's volatile nowadays. Hexed me the other day she did. I had a right bruise on my bum cheek!"

Remus grinned at James. "Why don't we pull off another prank? We haven't done one in ages."

- - - Girls dorm - - -

Lily tried to avoid her dormitory as much as possible. Since that day in the greenhouse only Tessa had been civil to her. The others sniggered and whispered, plunging Lily back into her quiet old self. She could hardly face Potter this morning she felt so bad.

"I don't know what he sees in her", she heard one girl giggle. "He could do so much better".

"I know. She has no idea what she's letting herself in for."

Sighing, Lily buttoned up her coat. It was a Hogsmeade weekend. She had promised Carli and Nicole she would attend the match and go to the party afterwards. It had taken more persuasion than they had ever dreamt of, yet in the end she had agreed. Today she was going shopping for something to wear.

Carli was indisposed of with her newly rescued kitten. It had been love at first sight between them and so she could not possibly have torn herself apart from him. She had called him Chip. So today it was just Nicole and herself venturing into town to do a spot of shopping.

Turning her back on the girls Lily walked out. Just as she passed through the doorway he heard one very bitter jibe, "I bet he's doing it out of sympathy or for a joke".

That hit her. What if it all was a joke or a prank? Frowning, she left the room.

- - - Hogsmeade - - -

Nicole laughed as Lily modelled a pair of socks at Gladrags wizardwear. They were knee high, lilac with yellow, lime green, pink, and blue polka dots and the oddest ring of feathers around the top. Lily finished posing and squirmed. "They're awful!"

Nicole nodded and modelled her pair. The were half slippers, half socks. They were pink and white, woolly things. The owner had called them slipper socks. Underneath they had a few rubber like grips. They were so adorable. Lily and Nicole both ended up buying a few pairs. They also bought a pair of mittens for the upcoming winter weather, and matching floppy hats. Just as they were leaving they caught sights of the marauders further up the street. Rolling her eyes at them Nicole pulled Lily further down the high street. They then visited a small but very curious looking shop. It was a very frail looking building, with an equally frail shopkeeper.

Lily smiled at her softly as she began to flick through the clothes. Nicole was stood on the other side of the clothes rack, pulling things out of everywhere. "Blaise says that shopping will be my undoing..." She explained, dragging Lily to the changing rooms. "he's probably right", she continued pilling clothes across Lily's open arms. "I'll have no money, become a destitute and marry the richest wizard I can find. And that'll end up being Malfoy. Heaven forbid!"

The corners of Lily's lips turned in amusement. The way Nicole talked was so similar to how her friends spoke at home. They would have these conversations all the time. Lily closed the curtain and looked down at the clothes in her hand.

"What do they even wear to these parties? I've never been." She shouted through to Nicole.

Giving it a moments pause, Nicole shouted back, "Usually short skirts, short dresses, they show there legs to make up for not showing them at the ball. Short shorts..." She mumbled glancing at a pair of electric pink shorts, her eyes near watering.

Lily spent a good few minutes in the changing rooms. All the clothes she modelled to Nicole Nicole added to the shopping list. She was buying trousers, shorts, tops, dresses, belts, bags. Everything and anything. "Humour me please", Nicole asked, looking Lily up and down. Unsure, Lily turned and looked at herself again.

She was wearing a short dusky blue jumpsuit, gold heels, a huge red bag. Frowning she looked at the reflection of Nicole in the mirror. She looked incredibly impressed with herself for picking this out. "You look amazing!" She chimed cheerfully. Lily was beginning to question this girls sanity. Shrugging though Lily added it to the basket. It was her unspent birthday money, and what better to spend it on? This at least was what she tried to tell herself.

And so two hours wiled away. Both shattered from the shopping, Nicole decided to take them somewhere a little out of the way. Somewhere Potter wouldn't be. As Lily plopped down on a rickety wooden chair in the Hogshead, she couldn't help but feel ever so conscious of everything and one around her. Hardly anyone was showing their face, and the whole place looked like it was falling apart. The young man behind the bar however looked sound enough. She heard him explain to Nicole how the owner was out, but he'd take her order if she wanted. The two seemed well acquainted to say the least.

Nicole arrived back at the table holding two dirty glasses of Bramble beer. "Didn't have any butter beer", she remarked as she put the glasses down. "Slightly alcoholic this stuff, so lets not go mad hmm?"

Not entirely sure if she wanted to know how Nicole new the barman well enough to slip her a few drinks, Lily took one of the glasses. Bravely, she took a small sip. She could feel the cold beer fizz on her tongue and slide down her throat. It was delicious, and quite addictive.

- - - Marauders (some time later) - - -

Remus, Sirius and James sat in the common room hoping to catch Lily. They had returned back quite early after stocking up on all the supplies for the party and of course a few tips from Zonko's. They knew Lily had been in Hogsmeade. Sirius had practically leapt at the chance to run over and talk to her. Much to his disappointment he didn't get chance as James and Remus had pulled him towards Hogwarts. They had been sat from the moment they reached Hogwarts in the common room, planning their upcoming prank and as of yet, Lily had not returned.

"Perhaps she with Artemis?" Sirius grumbled crossing his arms over his chest sulkily.

Remus could practically feel the tension between James and Sirius. James disagreed with the way Sirius was taking advantage of Lily's dreams, and Sirius didn't like the way James acted as if he owned her.

"She has passed the deadline time..." James started. "Maybe she's with that girl we saw her with?"

Remus nodded uninterested. "Where ever she is, she is. Why don't you guys just leave her alone to do what she wants?"

"Because, when she does what she wants, I don't like her." Explained a grumpy James, "But when she does what I want, I like her..."

- - - Hogs Head - - -

Lily howled with laughter as Nicole stood on a stool, balancing her glass on her head, while impersonating Professor McGonagall. The pub roared with applause and beer was spilt on the ground as glasses were raised.

"This one's for McGonagall!" Nicole cheered raising the glass off her head and toasting her Transfiguration teacher. And so this is how the hours had passed. It was now nearly nine o'clock. The girls had caused such a stir in the pub, singing chants, and doing impressions that business hadn't been better. Aberforth Dumbledore watched dismayed but amused. The girls brought life back his pub, and they weren't doing any serious harm. His brother would certainly have something to say, but they were only having fun.

Giggling Lily took a swig of her own drink. With sudden inspiration she climbed on her chair too. "I got one!" She bellowed. Carefully she positioned herself on the table. In a loud slurring voice she sang, " HOGWARTS HOGWARTS!"

Instantly, everyone began to join in merrily. They were swaying, spilling drinks, dancing, everyone having a good time. Although all but two were too old to currently attend the school none had forgotten the song. "Hoggy warty Hogwarts. Teach us something please! Whether we be old and bald or young with scabby knee's!"

Nicole high-fived Lily and began dancing on the table encouraging the crowd. "Our heads could do with filling with some interesting stuff, for now they're bare and full of air!" Aberforth smiled and joined in. If only his brother could see him now. "Dead flies and bit's of fluff... So teach us something worth knowing! Bring back what we've forgot! Just do your best we'll do the rest and learn until our brains all roooot!"

Everyone jumped about and cheered. Aberforth laughed and shook his head. Students will be students! The girls made their way over to the bar. Upon reaching it there was a loud bang as the bar door burst open. Nervously looking at each other the girls bobbed down. Luckily so, for at the door stood McGonagall and Dumbledore, searching for their missing students. Quickly thinking Aberforth motioned the two girls to follow him behind the bar. Lily and Nicole followed without delay. He led them to a small passageway which he insisted would lead them to the room of requirements. Deciding not to take their chances against Dumbledore, the girls set off.

- - - Common Room - - -

Lily clambered through the portrait hole dizzily. Perhaps she shouldn't have drunk so much of that beer stuff. Hiccupping, she tripped up and fell flat on her face. Sirius catching sight of her laughed.

"Sup Evans? Forgot the step?" He joked. Grumbling, Lily picked herself and her bags up. With all the dignity she could muster, she held her head up high and walked as straight as possible to the girls stairs.

Perplexed the guys looked at each other.

- - - Next morning - - -

Lily rested her head in her hands, leaning on the table. She was suffering for last night this morning. She felt a tap on her back. Trying to focus she lifted her head away from her hands. She saw Nicole sit down next to her. They were both sitting in the Great Hall, looking as dead as each other.

"It was worth it Lils... Just keep thinking that..."

Lily nodded trying to soothe her headache. "This is the first hangover I've had in ages."

Nicole laughed and leant into her. "James is coming."

Groaning Lily replied, "I wish he wouldn't. I look a state."

James glared at Nicole as he sat down opposite Lily. "You alright?" He asked her regarding her tired and dull complexion.

Lily smiled at him faintly and nodded. "Yea. Bit of headache that's all." James raised his brow and began buttering a slice of toast.

"What was wrong with you last night?" He asked taking a bite. Nicole scowled at him and waited for Lily's reply.

"Oh", she flushed. "I was just tired. Lots of walking about yesterday. Bit of a long day..."

Nicole smiled knowingly. "Well I'm going to go and find Carli", she explained to Lily. "I'll see you later yea?" Lily nodded. "Oh, and try the Pumpkin juice. It works wonders".

James' eyes followed her as she retreated. "What are you doing hanging around with Slytherins all of a sudden?" Lily shrugged. Sighing, James buttered another slice of toast and handed it to Lily. "Here, eat something. You'll feel better."

Lily looked at the toast then at James. She couldn't believe everything he was doing was a joke. A faint smiled crossed her lips as she took it. "Thank you".

- - - Lily and Sirius - - -

Lily had never known Sirius could be so protective. He always seemed so carefree and in his own world. Yet here he was trying to cheer her up and rid her of any issues she had with her own confidence.

"If it makes you feel better... I'd go out with you over any of them girls any day!"

Lily's face lit up. "Really?" Sirius nodded.

"They are all too bothered about what they look like and who they know and see that they forget to be themselves." Amy smirked as she moved to hide behind a statue with James. She had gone out of her way to find him once she had seen Lily and Sirius together.

"You're beautiful, cheerful, and you don't half give us a run for our money. You're like one of the lads. I'd give my right leg for a girl like you."

Lily nudged him playfully. " You're such a charmer Sirius!" She joked. "Don't know when to stop flirting..."

Sirius scuffed her hair up. "Saying you wouldn't want a guy like me?"

Lily thought for a moment before answering, "Maybe. The more arrogant the better..." She teased.

James closed his eyes and turned away. Amy followed behind him satisfied. That had gone better than planned.

"That's why you like James then?" Sirius mused. Lily nodded and leant her head against Sirius' shoulder.

"Just don't know what to do about it or how to approach him".

Next Chapter

- "I don't suppose Miss Evans you and Miss Nicole Mellow could explain your whereabouts yesterday?"

- Sirius pulled her to one side, looking up and down the corridor. He turned to her, "You're not the only one he's being cold with Lils. He won't hold a conversation of more than five words with me!"

- "I'll never think about Quidditch players in the same way again..." Nicole squirmed picking up dirty shorts. "Never!"

- "When he see's you in that he won't be able to turn you down. Not after you've taken your pride and fed it to the lions", Carli giggled, doubling over with the pain of hysteria.

Hey guys. Chapters are getting more exciting now. I have so much planned for you all, I hope you enjoy it! Things are really going to heat up and there's a few surprises and twists in store.

Please read my new fic Dumbledore's Army. It's a fic about the gangs sixth year at Hogwarts. It's very inclusive of all the characters and doesn't just centre around Harry or Hermione who is a slayer in this. You'll find bits with Dean, Lavender, Pravati, Neville, Seamus, all those lot to make it more rounded.

Please check it out!

Also:- Please review! The authors on this site put a lot of effort into writing. I love writing fics and it's nice to get feedback. One chapter can take hours and sometimes days to put together. Reviewing only takes a minute or two, so please do review.

Thankyou

Miri