Lily was fully recovered and back on patrol duty forty eight hours later, much to her's, James', and all her friend's pleasure. The muggle blood had evened out in her, and everything would be ok, according to Madam Pomfrey. Madam Pomfrey admitted that it was one of the harder procedures, and that she had been a bit worried for a while- at which James gave her another shower of kisses and praise. She also said that the potion for her voice would be concocted soon. Whenever "soon" was.

A few weeks had passed since James had discovered the red rose in her hand and had been infuriated that someone had gotten past Madam Pomfrey while he'd been away with Remus (who no longer suffered from temporary amnesia) to visit him while he was sick in St. Mungo's.

Lily had shrugged and given him back his invisibility cloak.

He was happy to see that again, even if the red rose bugged him, and for his sake, she got rid of it, wondering who had given it to her, though she didn't really put much thought into it all.

Lily had in fact thought that James'd been the one to give it to her, so she'd treasured it until he'd gotten back. Maybe he'd gotten so mad because he was tired. Lily wondered why. Maybe she'd figure out sometime, but it didn't matter.

Now on patrol duty with James, they held hands with their wands lit.

James smiled and kissed her nose. He often gave her kisses like that now. He'd kiss her hand, her cheek, her forehead, her hair, and her nose just as often as he'd kiss her lips. It was like he was grateful that she was there by her side.

Her being sick hadn't really affected him that much, had it? And had she really been all that bad off?

"So Madam P. said that you were getting your voice back again, right?" said James with the same smile, interrupting her thoughts, but she was glad he did.

Blinking away sleep she nodded.

"Are you excited?"

She shrugged. Well, it would be nice to make some noise. It also would be nice to tell everyone what had been on her mind for a long time. But she'd adapted to never opening her mouth. Her friends could understand most of her moods by looking at her, and she was used to writing quickly and legibly to tell everyone why she was happy, sad, mad, etc. And James was with her always because he was her interpreter.

That was her biggest fear. That if James heard her talk he wouldn't be around her anymore. That she might say something that she didn't mean like she used to. That she would push him away. That he wouldn't feel the need to be around her anymore because she could talk for herself.

Because even if she could talk, James had become an inseparable part of her life. If he didn't hang out with her anymore, it would be like holding her breathe for too long.

But if she was too clingy? What if he dumped her? What would she do? She'd never been able to think of someone else to be with… what did that mean? But she felt it. She felt that she knew that she'd never be in love with anyone else… but if he dumped her, what was she going to do? Be an old maid? Or stalk him? (if he really did dump her she would probably do the latter). But… oh, this was so complicated!

"What?" he said surprised, "You're not excited?"

She shrugged again as the same thoughts whirled through her head.

She never thought that she could be with anyone else.

Could she? No, she couldn't. James was too perfect. But if she got her voice back would she be less than perfect for him? TOO COMPLEX!

"Well, I'm excited," he said with a smile as they stopped by a window. The light from the moon was bright, even if it was only a half moon. It pooled out and made James' eyes sparkle. Suddenly, he looked intent, and nervous. "And I can make you excited to get your voice back, I hope, because I won't take a written or a gesture answer for it."

Lily cocked her head at him, curious. What was he talking about?

He pushed back his hair, and exhaled loudly.

What was it? And why was he so nervous?

He didn't meet her eyes as he said, "I know it's a little sudden, but in all honesty… I don't ever think anyone else could take your place, and I hope you feel the same way about me too," he said quickly. "Really, really hope," he mumbled. He looked like he was going to play in the World Cup times ten.

Wait, what was going on?

"Lily Evans?" he said quietly, now peering intently in her eyes. She stared straight back, happy to be lost in their hazel depths.

He opened his mouth-

"Potter, Evans! I'm so glad I found you," McGonagall's voice came up to them.

They jumped ten feet, and swirled around to meet her.

Lily's heart sank, and she panted like she'd been holding her breathe. There was a knot in the pit of her stomach. How odd! What was she? Lovesick? …Did she have to answer?

"The Christmas decorations, could you help? We've been decorating all evening, but it doesn't seem as though we'll be finished in time," McGonagall didn't see the unhappy look on James' face, but Lily did. She rubbed the back of his hand to comfort him a bit, and she saw him make a grim smile in her direction.

Lily nodded cheerily.

"What do you need us to do, Professor?" he said stoutly.

"I figured since I know on good authority that you know every inch of this school building and the grounds beyond and that you and the rest of the Marauders do enjoy this sort of pranking, Potter that you and Evans could hang up the mistletoe." She gave them a half sarcastic look, half a strange mysterious look that partially worried Lily. Professor McGonagall wasn't supposed to be mischievous. That was completely unlike her, and most definitely frightened Lily. What about the rigid Professor that they all knew and loved?

"What did you do to the mistletoe, Professor?" asked James, who must have also sensed the air around their teacher, seeing as he must have felt it all the time. But he didn't seem worried. Lily saw that prankster face of his light up. Oh Merlin.

"Well, it would be the Headmaster's idea. Personally, for us, this is a test trial to see if this will work, but when the Headmaster and I were in school the mistletoe was this way. If you step under the mistletoe, you will be frozen until someone kisses you."

Lily stared in surprise. Maybe that wasn't so bad.

"Foolish, most definitely, but I find that it would be rather entertaining, as long as everyone makes it to class on time. We'll see how it works out. The mistletoe is downstairs in the Great Hall. Ask Hagrid if you need some help," McGonagall said, smiling.