AN: After the world wind of week that was Pottermore, a broken AC and a much needed roadtrip, here's chapter 26! Thanks to SarCoops for beating. SarCoops also just finished her own J/L Fanfic, and if you haven't read it already, its never too late to start! (See 'Favourite Stories' for details).

Godric's Garden

Lily had forgotten about her Sunday morning engagement until she heard the thunderous knock on the front door that woke her. Sunlight was streaming from the window she and Vera had yet to cover with curtains. The mix of light and loud noise from the front room caused her roommate to wrap deeper in her blankets while Lily arose with a hangover-esque headache and a disposition that could spoil the day if the person behind the door was not James. Quickly, she cast a glance at the mirror they had put up on the door. Damn it, the heat of summer had turned her hair into a messy cascade of curls sticking in every direction. She could see smudges from where she hadn't washed off all her eye shadow off the night before. To top it all off, she was wearing an oversized StarKid Rock t-shirt Vera had bought her and large pajama bottoms that looked like they should have died three decades ago.

The knock continued again, Vera swore under her slumbering breath. Of all mornings, he chooses this one? The hair would have to do, she thought, pulling it back into a messy pony tail and headed down the hallway, bumping into boxes and stubbing her toe on Vera's trunk.

She had been surprised to see how small the flat actually was. Their dormitory in the Gryffindor Tower had to have been twice the size of the shoebox she currently lived in. When they had brought the last of the boxes, they planned to perform a few enlargement charms to make the flat comfortable, but at present the only room to have been charmed was their bedroom. If it hadn't been for the charm you probably couldn't have gotten the second mattress in, she lamented. She was sure she had seen cupboards under the stairs bigger than the flat. Next to the small room was an even smaller bathroom, while the front of the flat housed a kitchenette and living area that would double as a dining room. It was small, but it was home. Anyway, there was no need to have a flat with carpeted floors and matching wallpaper, wooden floors and mismatched wrapping paper walls built character.

The knock kept banging against her door, calling her to it. "I'm coming one minute!" She yelled. "Hold your hippogriffs James!" She shimmied in between a trunk and a stack of her boxes labeled 'books.' Every square inch of the apartment's floor was covered in boxes. And then all other surfaces that could spare room were just as covered, Vera's make up currently being stored next to last nights leftovers in the fridge.

"I couldn't remember what time you were going to come," Lily yawned, looking through the peephole at the grinning git she loved. "Do you have any idea how gross I look?"

"Open the door and I'll be the judge of that," he responded. "I've spent a week with Sirius and Remus out in the wild. It took all I had not to snog the house elf when I got home last night."

She opened the door and arched an eyebrow and cautious look. "Are you trying to tell me I should be jealous of your house elf?"

He took the door and opened it wider pulling her into his arms "No, you don't have to be jealous of anything. Even in those pants"

"You leave my pants out of this, they're right comfortable," she retorted. But even now she felt she couldn't banter properly with James. She hadn't realized just how much she had missed him over the week apart. Seeing him there, in front of her, was like seeing the stars in the country compared to the city. They were the same stars-but brighter and even more enchanting.

She put her hand up to his resting on her cheek. "I could get used to mornings like this," she whispered, "Couldn't you?"

"You know I could," he answered, "I like your hair like this," he said, taking a strand of a curl against her neck. "It sort of looks like a pixie's been playing in your hair and curling it while you slept."

"Heat Pixie," she moaned. "Come on in, come in," she motioned as they entered the apartment together. "Sorry there's nowhere to sit-one minute-Wingardium Leviosa!" she flicked and a stack of records and her cauldron floated out of the chair. "I'll just be a minute-what should I wear casual, nice?"

She looked over him, again for what seemed to be the first time. He seemed to be dressed in some of his less formal, but still nice, wizarding clothes. Black pants on the bottom while a crimson dress shirt was covered by pinstripe vest. To top it all off, he had a black bow tie like the one he wore at her sisters wedding. It was formal, but at the same time there was just something about James in a bow tie that made her smile.

Finishing inspection and impromptu check out of James she tilted her head to the side and in faux disappointment sighed. "A week camping and you choose your first day of freedom to wear a monkey suit?"

"It's a good thing you and Sirius aren't in constant contact, I think you two are rubbing off on each other," James smirked loosening his bowtie. "Is it a crime to try and dress nice? I thought that's what girls liked. If you rather I go downstairs and get in a fight with the first bloke that crosses my path, I'm sure alley dirt and a bloodied lip would ruin the clothes."

"Your lucky I love you," she answered as she made way to the bedroom. "There's some leftovers in the fridge if you haven't eaten, I'll be quick."

She couldn't make out everything he was saying but she definitely caught 'unorthodox' 'Chow Mien for Breakfast?' 'Eating with sticks' and 'Merlin I love her.' She let the smile sit on her face for a little bit as she rummaged through her trunk and pulled out the white eyelet sundress Vera had on occasion let her borrow in the past. She wouldn't mind. Hadn't she dressed her up for her first date with James months ago? Vera insisted on being Lily's Fairy Godmother when it came to dressing her up, she couldn't be disappointed with Lily raiding her trunk.

Grabbing her wand, she began fixing her make up and then a strand of hair. With another flick of her wand, she erased a wrinkle in the skirt, removed a stain from her shoe, or some other tedious thing of that nature. No need to go overboard, James isn't observant.

"You need to stop dressing up in white like that Lily, that's the second white dress you've worn on a date. One day I'll think you're going on a date wearing white and I'll be the last to know you're eloping," her friend yawned rising from her slumber and looking at her friend. "Of course, I do think the eyelet looks good with your hair, it's classic."

"Firstly, I doubt I'd ever elope and if I did you can bet I'd have you getting me through the day," Lily grinned. "I wouldn't be surprised if you suggest to James an elopement just because you'd enjoy that sort of adventure. You'd bloody well think it's romantic" she responded, giving herself one last look in the mirror before turning to face her friend.

"Of course I would," Vera sighed, holding her pillow with a star struck look. "Young love—what could be better? People say you're too young, people say you should wait, eighteen's too young to know what love means but with a murderous villain hot on your trails you can't wait to marrying for love and for survival…"

"You need to stop reading those sickle books," the red head groaned. "I mean it. Spend your sickles on actual books with meaning not those flimsy ones."

"I don't know what you're talking about Lily Evans," Vera laughed getting out of bed and pulling up her own hair. "Who needs those predictable books when I have you two to watch?"

"How does it look Fairy Godmother?" Lily asked ignoring Vera's comment. She twirled her skirt side to side, letting the curls on her head and the whips in her dress sway with her.

"Well, you're no Fountain of Fair fortune, but you're not that Muggle girl that played in the fireplace all day either," her friend winked before yawning again. "Remember, make your Fairy Godmother proud."

"Will do," she responded as she opened the door. Her friend's words called back to her, "I mean it, don't tell him good-night like a friend - lay one on him!"

Lily shut the door immediately and entered the kitchen hoping James hadn't heard all of Vera's battle cry. She found James looking through the pink box that had been place next to the Chinese Food. She had to struggle down a laugh. "You did realize that it's make-up in that box? If your hungry you'd want to eat the Chinese, not the eye shadow."

"Of course I knew it was make up," he answered all to quickly, looking away from the fridge and then back to her. He smiled widely, an extra gleam in his eye "You look beautiful Lily," he told her.

"Coming from the guy who admitted he had thought about snogging his house elf, that means a lot," she said, struggling to hold a straight face while the corners of her mouth pulled in a smile. "If I'm feeling up for a snog, I'll go change into a pillowcase, How's that?"

"Should've seen that one coming," he replied, taking her hand." Although the pillow case…"

"Are you sure you don't want some Chinese? It's really not a bad breakfast food. They opened this restaurant off of Downing Street…." she started trying to change the subject wishing she had the pillow case to smother her blushing cheeks.

Gratefully, James caught the hint. "I'm fine. Are you all right Apparating on an empty stomach? We can get brunch when we get there. I know a place or two."

"I suppose, but where are we going?" She asked tilting her head as he took her hand. "Is this too nice? Should I change into something else?"

"No, this is good, I said you were beautiful, not embarrassing," he assured her. "One, two-" The jerk of a backwards pull and the tight grip of his hand in hers transported them outside the apartment, a blaze of sunlight and bright blue sky greeting them as they reached the ground with a certain thud.

"Where are we?" She asked, looking around. It looked like they were in a smaller town. Centuries old trees lined the streets and she could hear the gentle hustle of the streets nearby. She was guessing somewhere near Wales. It was very green and the smell of morning mist still lingered. She could hear birds singing and a few people walking by gave James a nod as they continued on their own path, as though not fazed by the sudden appearance of two people in the street.

"Where are we? Salisbury?" Lily asked, preparing her self for a surprise attack from Mrs. Potter again.

"Nah, nothing to interesting down there," he told her. "Don't get me wrong, I'd love you to spend a day with my family, and my mum continues to say you're always welcome, but I thought we'd try another place today."

She was still puzzled. There was no reason those people would take their arrival out of thin air sanely. Even if they had gone to Salisbury, it was a muggle city. "But those people knew you..?"

"Of course they knew me. The Diggles had a nephew my age and we were playmates on the Junior Quidditch League when I was little" he explained. "Funny kid, had a delicate condition after one summer, I think his parents sent him abroad for school."

"Then this is?" Emerging from the street on to a main road, she could make out the little shops and what looked to be an old church on a square. In the center of the road, standing tall and erect was a statue of gold, an intimidating man stood with his arms folded but a pleasant look on his face. How many times had she seen that face in the Common Room Portraits? She had seen it in fact so many times; she was well familiar with it.

"Welcome to Godric's Hollow Lily," James smiled, looking at her with a gentle gaze as it all set in. "Come on, I know just the place for brunch."

((*))

They had taken their time getting to Seeker's Tavern, and by the time they had left it was later than James had expected. He had originally thought they would have something to eat and then give her a tour of the village, but Lily was in her element asking questions about the village and everything that had a trace of magic. It was as though the landscape was a cool butterbeer and it took everything he had for her not to get drunk from it all.

Dinner at the Seekers Tavern was nice. He liked the fact that they were out, together, away from Hogwarts. The simple fact that they were together in a relationship outside of school was a sheer fantasy now real and alive. He had always told people someday this was going to happen, that someday he would woo Lily. When they sat across from each other, laughing at Lily's impersonation of her brother-in-law Vernon, and occasionally holding the other's hand, that it all seemed real.

"Sickle for your thoughts," she smiled, pulling him back from his thoughts.

"Hmm? Oh, right, sickle…" he scrounged in his pocket and grabbed five small coins. "That should be a good tip eh? And really, I think the waiter was an half elf or so...are you ready?"

One of the smiles he loved best danced across her face. "What were you thinking about James? You've been thinking something."

"I was just thinking on how surreal it is that you're in Godric's Hollow with me," he replied, opening the door as they left the little shop. "We've just eaten at one of my favorite places, and after a stroll around the block, you're probably going to have kissed me."

"Is that so?" She asked, a smile in her voice. "Well then, I guess we'll just have to see how good you are at Divination."

They passed the old church in the center of town again; it's stained glass and cemetery locked with the green ivy and little white flowers that bloomed alongside the vines. He wouldn't lie that in that white dress she looked like she belonged amongst those flowers.

"So where to now?" Lily asked. "You still have a block or so before I decide whether or not I'm going to kiss you."

"Should probably look for some place with an extra bit of magic then shouldn't I?" and squeezing her hand they turned down another alley that emptied out alongside a road of cobblestones and stone fences.

"You know, if you hadn't stopped at every wizard sighting you would've gotten a full out tour?" He explained as he followed the familiar path. "But no-"

"Oh give it a rest James, You've just spent a week with Remus and Sirius, you wanted some quality Lily Time. And quality Lily Time means…"

"That you have a full out license to get your way no matter what," he replied in defeat. He stopped in front of the white gate. It looked as though it had been recently painted. Looking down the walk he saw the little cottage; it's lawn was well kept and he could see the red rose bushes were blooming alongside the house. A soft green trim contrasted against the stone exterior, giving the cottage a gentle, inviting touch that made it seem less medieval and more home like.

"Here we are," he grinned, opening the gate, "Come on in."

He could feel Lily's hesitation looking at the unfamiliar house but walking gingerly behind him. "What is this place James? Do you know who lives here?"

"Of course I know," he answered, flicking his wand at the lock and opening the door, "I do."

((*))

"You live here?" She asked flabbergasted, before remembering that James' family owned two houses. Hadn't he told her that the Salisbury Manor had been part of his mother's dowry and that the family only used Godric's Hallow as a vacation home when Mrs. Potter deemed they needed a change of scenery—

"Well, not at the moment, but this is where I grew up in the summers," he shrugged. "It wasn't all this refined when I was here though, Mum's been doing some remodeling since I left Hogwarts, but this place is home. Come on, I'll start some tea and show you around the place."

Refined wasn't the word Lily would use to describe the cottage. The front entrance had wooden floors that were often polished, and the living room and parlors adjacent to the entryway had fine rugs and what looked like comfortable couches. She entered the living room for a better look. One wall was full of bookcases brimmed to capacity with books while in the center of the wall was a fireplace littered with photographs. Above the fireplace was a painting of a small family, an elderly couple who were currently engaged in chasing the five year old, black haired boy around the frame. They weren't scolding the boy but she could hear their laughter at little "Jamie" while the boy laughed with pleasure.

Other photographs along the mantle showed a handsome couple dressed in fine dress robes, a youthful gleam in their eyes that appeared timeless. The woman wore a veil in her hair and kept tossing her bouquet of forget-me-knots at the groom. This couple continued for a few more frames: flying along the eastern coast, gardening rose bushes, and in another entertaining guests at a Christmas gathering. It was in the later half the pictures showed the gleam in their eyes reflected in the man riding a broom alongside his son. Another with his wife wrapping her arms around her son's neck with his face covered with chocolate, a birthday cap on his young, round face. The final one, the young man and his friend standing side by side the elderly couple along a pier.

"I told Dad I was going to bring you by so he ordered the House Elves to switch out some of the pictures," James said as he entered the room with a tea tray. "Believe it or not, if my sweet mother knew you were coming, all my baby pictures would've been out in regal display."

"They're a very handsome pair," Lily replied, looking at their wedding picture again. "You look a lot like your dad."

She watched him smile as he poured the tea, "In that case I'll agree with you that they're handsome," he winked. "You know, they're going to be pretty lonely when I'm at the Academy. They told me to tell you…"

"You're forsaking the academy and planning on becoming a human owl?"

"That you're always welcome in Salisbury if you need a break from it all," he continued. "Although Mum might like your idea of human owl as a vocation. The closer I get to the Auror Academy… well, you know."

"She's your mother James, she's going to worry about you," Lily said as she drank her tea. The warmth tickled down her throat and she hoped it would stomp out the worry in her stomach. I'm your girl and I'm worried. Would you become a bloody owl for me?

"Besides, after a few weeks she'll just start thinking you're at Hogwarts or something like that and she'll start making plans to see you at Christmas."

"That's true," he nodded, "Sirius though, it's a good thing he's going to be with Remus; I don't think its set in that we won't be together again till December."

"Do you need to repeat that?" She asked. She had meant it to keep it to herself. She hadn't meant to say it aloud, and for the smallest moment she thought perhaps he hadn't heard her. But she could hear his teacup return to the saucer and felt her knees give in to the leather chair next to the fireplace.

"Repeat what?" he asked, sinking on he's knees next to her, taking her hand in his.

"Till December'" she said with a bit of edge causing her to remember the fire she used to have in their conversations. "That I'm not going to see you for a few months, I know that you're going to be gone. I'm proud of you for what you're doing, but I…" A lump of emotion settled in her voice and she tried hard to swallow it. She was thinking through the past year with James. She had never cried in front of him. In the seven years she had known him, she couldn't think of an occasion when he had seen her loose it. There was no reason to break the streak now, and over something that was so trivial as a six-month absence from her dearest friend.

"I'll be back though, you know that right?" he asked gently. "No matter what, you know I'm always going to come back to you right?"

"Of course I do," she said quickly in an attempt to hold the lump from rising and the tears from leaking down.

Pull yourself together Evans, a voice in her head chided, You're Lily Evans—Made of Steel, not some love blind girl whose going to lay comatose at his absence. Be strong. If not for your sake, for his.

She looked at his eyes and she knew he knew the battle she was fighting within her throat. She could feel the smooth touch of his thumbs tracing circles over her hand. "I'm really proud of you James. I'll be in the front of the line waiting to see you in December," she said in a quiet but firm whisper, "Might mean I put Sirius in a body binding curse, but I think I could do it."

She watched as he smiled, stifling back a laugh. "Please do that," he begged playfully, kissing her hand. "Swear you'll do that?" He asked again, looking into her eyes. Six months before she'd see those eyes look at her again with such loving adoration.

"I swear," she spoke. "Just be careful when you're at the Academy. A bunch of hotshot heroes locked up together for six months, it's just asking for someone to loose a limb."

"Or eyeball," James muttered. "But don't worry, we don't get to train with Mad Eye for another two years."

She smothered a hiccup and gave a weak smile. "Well, that's reassuring."

He changed the subject, going on about how compared to the dangerous acts he and the Marauders had done during Hogwarts years, the Auror Academy was possibly the safest place he could go. She listened absently as he went on about some of the adventures they had gone on during their most recent camping trip. On the exterior, Lily hoped she appeared attentive while inside she felt like she was struggling from keeping the walls from crashing in.

"Here, lemme show you the house," he said, pulling away from the conversation as though he knew she was feigning calm. Returning to the entryway, he showed her the front parlor with its scarlet curtains and cedar desk. "Really just used for stiff occasions, like if dad has to do work on vacation. Mum hates it," he chuckled. Following James he led her to a small kitchen and dining room. It was cozy, bright with so much food stalked away, and she was surprised when James said the family wasn't planning any trips this summer.

"Then why?" she asked, pulled out of her worry.

"Mum likes it ready just in case," he said quickly," You never know…" and as though he was ending the subject, he lead her through a door that brought them back to the living room and a flight of stairs.

"Up here you have your three bedrooms and two water closets. There's also another study, but mum uses it as her greenhouse during the winter months. Woman should've been a herbologist she's rather batty when it comes to her roses…"

"Does she have any flowers other than the ones in front?" she asked. "Of course she does—come on, it's the greatest spot on the tour."

((*))

The sunset was just beginning to creep behind the treetops behind the cottage as James and Lily emerged from the house. James waved his wand and light flew to the little lanterns his mum had around her cherished flowers.

He watched as Lily walked in between the rows of flowers. The Red and White rose bushes. The primroses underneath. There was enough light out to see the red common poppies brushing against the hem of her white eyelet dress. Lily was just another flower walking amongst the others.

"You remember what I told you about forget me knots?" he asked, joining her side with a small handful of the little periwinkle blend. She smiled faintly again.

"Your mum keeps magic forget-me-nots like Professor Leif?" She asked remembering when he had raided a greenhouse to help her with a transfiguration gift for Professor Slughorn.

"Of course she does," James sighed, rolling his eyes. "Poor woman had a lot of time waiting for me to be born, I told you, she's batty at times…anyway, these forget-me-knots…"

"When I hold them, I'll think of you," Lily finished for him, bending down and picking up a small bouquet for him. "And here's some for you to think of me."

He pressed the small velvet pettles into his skin and pulled Lily close to him. "I don't need flowers to make me think of you, I do that all the time," he whispered as he leaned in and kissed Lily amongst the roses as the sun crept beneath the sky.

((*))

By the time the first stars had begun to shine, they returned back into the house. Under Ministry guidelines, voluntary curfew was to begin at Sundown and several of the Floo stations would close and several apartments and major dwellings would have charms preventing Apparation till sunrise. Luckily, Lily's apartment wouldn't close for another hour.

"Are you ready to go?" Lily called as she slipped on her shoes. "We've only got a few minutes James."

"Coming," he answered, entering the kitchen with a brass key in hand. "Before we go Lily, take this," he said, tossing the key to her hand before he bent down to fix his own shoes.

"What is it to?" She asked looking it over cautiously.

"Here," he told her, continuing before she could protest. "Listen, if something happens, no bloody well listen to me will you Lily?— If there's an attack near you, if you get scared or need a place to disappear, I want you to come here. Wade it out a few days. You'll be safe, Dad has a knack for protective enchantments."

"James I'm not taking your house," Lily said, waving the key back at him. "I'll be fine with Vera, no one's coming after us."

You don't know that, he thought, pressing the key in her hand. You can't believe that. "Just take it, it'll make me feel better till Christmas. You can bring Vera—whoever—if you need a safe place, this will always be open for you."

She took the key grudgingly, as they linked hands to Apparate. "You know you're being a vague, overprotective git right?"

"If that keeps you alive, I'll accept such a title," and suddenly with a pop the Potter cottage was empty once again.

AN: Ok guys- we are now at a fork in the road and I need your help in deciding where we go...

When I started Dried Lilies, I meant for it to go from Year 7 to that night in Godric's Hallow. 26 Chapters later, I still have that intention, but have realized that stories, both published and fanfiction, that cover long periods of time can often have a wandering plot and get bland. For that reason I want to know what you all, dear readers, think of splitting Dried Lilies into Three shorter, but just as detailed fanfictions. My main goal in doing this would keep me on track (with a plot!), allow the story not to get bland, and allow you to follow the story at an easier pace. Because lets face it, can anyone imagine what Harry Potter would've been like if Jo tried to cram four years in one novel? That book would have been HUGE!

The Three Fanfics would be divided into three different, but very important periods for Lily and James. 1. Dried Lilies: Morning Lily (Year 7 Hogwarts) 2. Dried Lilies: Fates Overheard (Fall 1978 to Fall 1980) and 3. Dried Lilies: Mourning Lily (1980-that one night in '81).

So please, let me know if you'd prefer the story 1. To stay as one very long fanfic or 2. two to three shorter fanfics. Mind you, if you choose option two, Dried Lilies will end in the next chapter and the second fanfic will be posted within the coming weeks-monthish.

As usual, thank you for reading! I really couldn't have come this far without your love and support. You guys keep me sane and have been such a help this year. Please feel free to leave a review or send a PM if you have any further suggestions (good, bad and ugly). Till next time~Kait Hobbit.