HELLO WORLD! :DDDDDD

I'm typing this author's note in the middle of English class. Just thought you'd like to know.

Anyways, ENJOY

JillyFan (Guest): Thanks for that long explanation of the next gen characters, but that's not what I wanted. I memorized all of what you said a long time ago. I just wanted links to good fanfictions so I could have a better feel for who they, not their relationships with each other.

Disclaimer: Didn't I just say I'm in English class? Something tells me the person who owns the rights to Harry Potter (JK Rowling) isn't a high school student.

Lily's POV:

"Lily."

I glanced up at the sound of my name. Then I saw him.

James Potter.

Suddenly I was extremely aware that I probably looked extremely awful. I turned slightly away from him to hide my face.

"Lily," he repeated, and I turned around to face him.

My voice was shaky. "H — h — ey — hey."

He glanced around momentarily, then walked over to me. "Are you okay? What're you doing here? Have you..." he trailed off.

I opened my mouth to speak, but I couldn't find my voice.

James spoke up again. "Why are you here?"

I shrugged. "I didn't know where to go..."

He furrowed his eyebrows. "Didn't know where to go? What about Hogwarts?"

"I..."

Suddenly, there was a scream coming from Knockturn Alley. Both of our heads turned towards the noise, and suddenly I was really grateful I wasn't alone anymore.

James turned to me. "We need to leave here." And with that, he reached forward and grabbed my hand, and the two of us Apparated.

I glanced around me. "Wh — where are we?"

James glanced up at the sky. "Hogsmeade." He glanced right down at me again. "You were saying?"

I bit my lip. I wanted to tell him, but I also didn't. But then, McGonagall's words rang in my ears. I had to tell my friends.

Granted, James and I weren't really great friends lately, but I knew he'd listen.

I took a deep breath, but found myself choke on the words

I hadn't spoken. James reached out, grabbed my shoulder, amd gently pushed me down. I sat down on the ground, which was covered in grass and sprinkled with flowers. James sat down in front of me, watching me carefully.

I spoke. "My...my mum and dad...they died, a few days ago. I got a letter." I closed my eyes and took another shaky breath. "My sister said we needed to talk, so I went home right away. Sh — sh — she started yelling at me. She said it was my fault they died." I gulped. "Apparently they were planning on buying me a present, since I'd been made Head Girl. Then a car came and — and...anyways, my sister, she told me to pack my things and move out. She said Dad had left the house to her in the will, and I didn't get to live there anymore. We argued about it, and she finally agreed to let me stay for the f — funeral."

I sighed, and opened my eyes. James was watching me with an unreadable expression. I continued. "Also, she's going to get married. And she told me that...that if I showed my face at her perfectly normal, thank you very much wedding, that...anyways, the funeral was last night. My sister kicked me out just a few hours ago. I didn't have anywhere to go, so I Apparated to Diagon Alley. I wasn't paying attention, though, and I got lost on Knockturn Alley. The moment I realized where I was, though, I made a run for it. And...I ended up where you found me."

I looked down in my knees. I felt rather hollow inside. Suddenly, I felt an arm wrapping around my waist. My head snapped up, and I saw that James was now sitting to my left, and his right arm was pulling me into him. I tried to relax.

"Why didn't you come to Hogwarts?" he asked, in a gentle tone. "Or tell your friends...they were getting worried, they thought..." he trailed off.

I sighed. "I couldn't face anyone. Not until I'd calmed down, at least. I just didn't feel ready to see everyone, y'know? And my friends...I dunno, it's complicated."

"But what about Mary?" he asked. "Her parents died not too long ago, wouldn't she at least understand what you're going through?"

Shrugging, I responded, "It's just been difficult to talk to her — to any of them lately."

"Is that why you haven't been talking to me?"

I froze. With all these distractions, I'd forgotten all about my ignoring James. "I — no, that was something else."

"Then what—"

"Look, I'm sorry for ignoring you lately. It's just been a little confusing." I tried to explain as best I could without revealing too much. "I'll stop, though. I missed hanging out with you."

"But why? What it 'cause of what happened on the train?"

I laughed softly. "No, that's not the reason, though it certainly was a contributing factor. It...never mind."

Neither of us spoke for a while. The sun was starting to hang low in the sky, growing larger and redder.

James spoke up. "Y'know, everyone at school's been talking about you lately."

I raised my eyebrows. "Really?"

"Yeah, they've been coming up with theories as to why you mysteriously disappeared."

I laughed. "Oh? Like what?"

"Well, there were your typical 'she's an alien' rumours that nobody takes seriously. Some people were quite convinced you were involved in a Muggle Anti-Voldemort conspiracy."

"Don't say the—"

"Oh, now, Lily, don't tell me you're afraid of a word?"(1)

I scoffed. "Course not."

He smirked at me. "What were you saying just a minute ago, though? 'Don't say the'...?"

"I...so what else did people think?"

James continued to smirk at me. I rolled my eyes. Then he spoke. "Well, most of the Gryffindors believed you had a new Muggle boyfriend. Some even thought you were...pregnant."

I started laughing hard. "Me? A muggle boyfriend? Pregnant? Oh Merlin!"

He laughed too, although it sounded a little forced. I turned around and gave him an incredulous look. "James Potter, don't tell me you were one of those people who believed it?"

"I — you have to admit, Lil, it makes sense!"

Then the two of us started laughing.

It was amazing. Wasn't I crying my heart out just a few minutes ago? And now here I was laughing...thanks to James.

I smiled up at him. He smiled back, but I saw some nervousness in his eyes.

"So..." he started. "No Muggle boyfriend?"

I shook my head. "Nope. Can't say I fancy a Muggle."

"Then you fancy a wizard?" he asked, and he was still nervous.

I turned away, so he wouldn't see the grin I was trying to surpress. "Well...yeah."

"Who?" he said, and I glanced at him. He was looking scared.

Blimey.

He still fancied me, and I still fancied him. The only reason we weren't together...

"Who?" James asked again. I silently laughed, and he furrowed his eyebrows, clearly confused. "What?" His tone was hesitant. "What's funny?"

"Nothing," I replied, pressing my hands to the ground, getting ready to get up. "I'm just starting to think that we're both just a couple of idiots." Then, I really did stand up. "C'mon, we should get back to school, it's getting late."

He looked up at me, and I could tell he was still confused. Boys, I thought fondly.

"So, you're coming back to school then?"

I nodded. "Yeah. I must be awfully behind on my work." I watched as James chuckled, and stood up. "And, 'sides, it's like I said, I've got nowhere else to go now. And I'm feeling better now." I grinned. "Thanks to you."

What'd you thiiiiiiiiink?

1) Lily, at one point, called Voldemort as You-Know-Who (reread the Deathly Hallows, you'll see). Of course, I think at some point, she, like Hermione, finally decided to say the name.

Now that you've done the first half of R/R (the R), why don't you do the second half (the R)?