Okay, the end of the last paragraph was changed slightly just to make the next part make sense, a silly error on my part.

"I think I can manage that whilst quite enjoying it. Let's go!" She tugged at his hand and giggled lightly. James noticed she seemed more alive than she had the last couple of days and smiled to himself, glad to see her happy. James didn't quite get his lonely morning made up for because as soon as Lily's head hit her pillow she fell asleep, unknown to him, due to the stress of the last few days. He didn't really mind though, he got the chance to watch his beautiful girlfriend sleep safely in his arms. But as James watched her, he wondered about events of the last couple of days and the possibility of a child in their lives.

So basically all that's changed is that they didn't have sex. Sorry for the mixup.

Catching the Flower, Keeping her Near

Chapter 37

Much to Consider

The rest of the day was extremely hectic for Lily. She had lessons for the rest of the day and was given lots of homework. She planned to make a move on said homework in the library after lessons but was handed a rather long list of head student duties by Professor McGonagall as she left Ancient Runes, her only lesson minus James. James hadn't come to meet her after her last lesson as he usually did. And James had been missing ever since. Therefore Lily was left on her own to do the pile of head duties, despairing the thought that she still had three essays to complete after this.

After finishing McGonagall's list, Lily made her way to the great hall to find some dinner and hopefully one of her friends or her boyfriend. The tables were beginning to empty, reminding her that she was quite late to dinner. The only seventh years left on the Gryffindor table were Alice and James. Just those two.

Lily sighed and sat down by James, too tired to think of this as odd. James slowly slid and arm around her waist as she placed some food on the plate in front of her. She rested her head against his shoulder and chewed slowly. The lack of sleep the last couple of nights was really beginning to get to her, especially when combined with the huge amounts of work she had to complete.

"Where were you?" she eventually asked, "I've been in our common room doing stuff for McGonagall… head stuff."

"Oh, Lily," James said, "you shouldn't be doing work like that on your own."

"No," Lily said sternly but not angrily, "that's why Dumbledore appointed a head boy."

"And there was me thinking it was just so he could look good next to the head girl," James joked, topping it off with a rather saucy wink.

Lily shook her head, while Alice giggled softly.
"Al, don't encourage him," Lily mock chided. "I told you, I'm trying to deflate his ego." She ended the sentence with her own wink.

"Riiiight," Alice smiled, "I'm not the only one who encourages his ego. And if you two are going to have a flirting fest, I'm going to find Frank."

"Don't leave on my account," Lily teased.

Alice chuckled. "Not to worry, Lils, I can see when I'm not wanted. I am going to find Frank anyway. See you later."

Alice walked behind them and Lily turned around just in time to see Alice and James mouthing a conversation between themselves. She raised a questioning eyebrow at her boyfriend and best friend in turn, but no answer was given; Alice just turned and walked off.

"James-"

He cut her off with his own question.

"Have you decided when you want to see Madame Pomfrey or are you just putting it off?" he asked.

Lily looked horrified. "Oh shoot, James, I'm so stupid. I forgot to tell you earlier. I got my period this morning. Sorry!"

"Oh, okay," James said, looking slightly let down.

"I'm sorry," Lily said, placing a kiss on the underside of his jaw. "I was so tired earlier."

"It's okay," he sighed and then smiled. "At least you know now."

"Disappointed?" she asked.

"Slightly, I mean I know we weren't ready but still…" he pulled her tighter.

"I know what you mean," Lily nodded.
"Yeah…" he gripped her hand tightly.

"One day we'll have gorgeous babies," Lily promised.

James grinned more widely this time. "One day," he agreed.

"We need to be more careful," Lily said, broaching the important subject.

"Yeah, no more scares, we'll protect ourselves properly," James concurred.

She placed her fork down.
"Finished?" James asked.

"Yeah… Shall we go to our common room then?" Lily suggested.

"Actually, I'm going out with Moony, Padfoot and Wormtail tonight," James said quietly.

"What? After curfew 'going out'?" she asked. "James, you can't break curfew whenever you fancy. I mean I know you did it just before Christmas, but that was a one off right?"

"Umm… not entirely… it happens about once a month," James admitted.

"What? Why? Explain this!" Lily said sharply, but quietly enough that their conversation was private.

James rose from the table and Lily followed suit. They made their way to the corridor, where there were no watching eyes of other students.

"I can't…" he told her. "It's not my secret. Will you let me check with the person first… I knew this would happen sooner or later." He breathed and Lily glared at him, her curiosity burning to know the secret.

"What did Sirius do this time?" she asked.

James chuckled and shook his head. "See you in the morning, love. Sleep well." He leant forward to kiss her forehead.

"I doubt it," Lily replied. "After all the mysterious comments you've just made, that will keep me awake, making me wonder what they mean."

James nodded, "I'm sorry. Goodnight and I love you."

"Be safe with whatever you're doing. You're too reckless for your own good sometimes," she brought his lips to hers and kissed him passionately.

"But, Lils, I don't find trouble…" he said in earnest.

"Yes, trouble finds me; I know…" she kissed him again. "Careful, okay?"

"Got it." He strode off, turning to walk backwards so he could grin widely at her. "You so love me," he yelled back to her.

"Yeah, whatever, Potter," she teased.

He turned back around and she watched him saunter down the corridor, glad that he wasn't about to become the forced father she'd seen him becoming. She giggled to herself, just glad that he was happy. She was also incredibly eager to know what the secret he had talked about was.

She spent the rest of the evening working on as much of the work she could do as possible. She sat in the Gryffindor common room next to Alice and Frank, who were cuddling. When the homework became too boring, Lily started to pen a letter to her mum, describing the most recent events in school and discussing various points of Petunia's wedding as mentioned in the previous letter. She made sure to write plenty about James, glad to see her parents had taken such a liking to him. Her mum asked about the work load and Lily lied and told her it was all too little. And yes, head duties were fine.

She did a few checks of the corridors to make sure all the students (apart from the marauders were in bed) and then went swiftly to the owlry to send her letter. She hurried back to the heads' common room and changed for bed. As she lay in the duvets, she considered that it was much colder without James to keep her warm.

She dreamed that he was off fighting Voldemort that evening. It reminded her of the night they'd gone to rescue Richard Potter and how Voldemort had shot the killing curse at him. She'd been so worried that she couldn't block that curse; that James would die. In the dream Voldemort called out the killing curse and she wasn't there. James died.

She woke up screaming. Light was just peeking through the railing above the curtains and Lily rolled out of bed and went to the shower. She washed and dressed and then grabbed her books for the day ahead. On the sofa was a note written in James' familiarly messy scrawl.

In the hospital wing, I see you there when you're ready, beautiful. Didn't want to wake you. I love you.

James.

Lily threw herself out the door. Why was James in the hospital wing?

So, what do you guys think?? Reviews??

I think this may only have a few chapter more... :( So sad because it's been going for so long. But I need to stop somewhere. I've worked out exactly what needs to go in from now on.

With love JLF xoxo