Hello Hello =),

Whoa, its the first time I really update Black Heart without updating Chains of Xerchia here. Obviously, its true: There is a first time for everything. I started writing my Harry Potter Fanfiction and its suprisingly going very well. Lets see what comes next =) Have fun.


Review:

cherrygirlgaga: Hey there =)

You got a new nick =) sweet.

Well, I'm happy to read reviews no matter when. And weeks are better than never XD. Consider Black Heart, I kind of just translate after I see that someone had reviewed. That at least means to me someone do wants to read a next chapter and I didn't write for air XD.

Well, for me, I kind of have a lot of time right now ^^ At least, until I get all my grades and then going to apply for a job. Until then, I have a lot of time for translating, writing, thinking, dreaming in la la land XD

How is it going with your own stories? Are they doing well? =)

James get even more than just a pink eye XD I know this chapter doesn't get us very far, but I loved it when I wrote it a few years ago and translating it was also still fun. This now is more to peek into James and Lilli's love life a little bit. But you're right, we're moving towards the end with big steps. At least, the last few chapters will pick up a lot.

Thanks for your kind review =) I smiled like a cookie XD Until next time =)


Chapter 63 – Love and other odd trouble

James took Lilli to Hogsmeade for a walk to show her his special spots in the forbidden forest.

"As a stag, I succeeded to get to places a normal wizard could probably never reach," he said as they walked down a path holding hands. He told her the story why and how they became Animagi. The forbidden forest was deserted enough to tell each other everything whatever the heart felt to. Nobody else was there to eavesdrop. Lilli loved to hear more about his friendship with the guys and Anna and liked how deep and close they really were with each other.

Lilli never had such a friendship like theirs. She had friends, but it was never as close. When she was younger, she thought it was just how children are and relationships become tight later. But it never did and she lost hope to ever gain that until now.

In the past, there were times she thought James and his friends were just acting like they were close and good friends only to make classmates jealous. Truth was, Lilli hoped this was the case, because she couldn't wrap her head around people like Melissa Kingcade, who was not more than a dumb bully and brainless bimbo for her, had good, loyal, understandingly friends. She was envy they had it and she didn't. This year she came to realise what a fool she was. If she had not been so stubborn, they would've become friends like this even sooner and she wouldn't have been lonely for so long. It was her own fault and she knew that.

Now, everything was different. Her world was definitely much brighter with James and Sirius at her side and there was not a day passing by she was not grateful for that. Those two were indeed special.

"Well, here we are!"

They stopped at a spot in the middle of nowhere. Lilli didn't want to be rude but this place was like any other in the forbidden forest. There was absolutely nothing different, only trees and mud.

"Okay," she said slowly, trying hard to find something out of place. James grinned broadly.

"Close your eyes."

"Why? So you can rub your eyes?"

"No?!" he said indignantly at first. Then he added sheepishly: "You noticed that?"

"Of course," she replied considerately. "I also noticed you were in pain at Ick's test. What else would be the reason for your to get a Troll. You're not the best, but you were neither total dumb in potion. Am I right?"

"You are," he admitted awkwardly, pulling his hand through his untidy hair. Lilli carefully took his hand back down and pressed it firmly in hers.

"You don't have to play the strong one, James."

"Neither should you."

Lilli startled. So, he did notice what was going on with her.

"You are still dreaming about Tricia, didn't you?"

"... Yes.." she whispered sadly. James stepped closer and placed a kiss on her forehead.

"Close your eyes, Lil. I wanna show you something."

She smiled at his cute look and closed her eyes. James did the same (but first rubbed his eyes). There was a very soft wind, some leaves rustling and then – a very low sparkling sound. Something, she normally never heard in a forest. It was strangely comforting. She was in a very nice peaceful mood. That quiet sound of sparkling let her feel like she and James wasn't in a forest but rather in the middle of their own beautiful world with only them in it. She felt his warm lips on hers and each of those kisses set free butterflies in her stomach. Lilli wanted to hold this moment, if she could, even forever.

"To soon?" she heard his voice whispering in her ear. She smiled.

"No," Lilli said tenderly, opened her eyes to look one more time in the face she wanted to always be able to remember, and this time, she was the first one to kiss him. What happened next was what she would kept deep in her heart, forever.


A little while later, they laid on a blanket, eyeing each other and smiling.

"Did you plan that?" she whispered softly.

"Not really," he responded thoughtfully.

"Hm?"

"Well, I didn't thought I would do our first time half blind."

Lilli laughed.

"To put your mind at ease, you haven't missed even once."

With that, she indeed managed to put a smile on his face as well.

"Good to know."

"James?"

"Still here."

"Funny."

He grinned.

"James?"

"Again, still -"

"Here, alright. Is that normal? I mean, closing the eyes and then..."

"Have a feeling as if you're in a complete different place?"

"Yes, exactly."

"Yeah, Mum said there is such a spot in the forbidden forest, belonging to the Phowlyris. But they abandoned it after all those wars along us wizards. They never changed anything afterwards or came back, but one can identify the place by the sparkling sound even though no one can ever see what a Phowlyris could. But us, not-Phowlyris-ones, we see what we love the most. And I saw us together."

"So do I," she whispered. Somehow she felt sad, knowing that this was not forever but would end soon. Knowing that he wanted her as much as she wanted him was kind of unbelievable.

"Lilli?"

"Yes?"

He didn't speak for a while. She was curious with each minute he remained in this silence. James was still so unpredictable...

"I'm not one planning my whole life or thinking much about the future. My whole life, I kept on living one day after another with what I have and what's there. I don't expect you to stay with me forever after everything that happened or with what's about to come."

Suddenly, she startled. Fear had captured her heart this would be the first step for him to break up with her. But James smiled still charmingly as he always did whenever they set eyes on each other.

"But I would fight for us as long as you let me."

Now, it was her turn to smile. She bend towards him to kiss him passionately as she wanted him to know what his words meant to her.


Unfortunately, being on the forest on such a cloudy, windy and cold day wasn't very helping for his eyes and infection became even worse, causing Lilli and Sirius to haul him with force to the school nurse. The result was, he had to wear a blindfold soaked in medicine, so the infection would be healed within the next 24 hours. Sirius couldn't help but get the comment out of his mouth:

"Look at that way, Prongs. If McGongall asked you next time if you're blind, you can tell: Today, I am!"

"Very funny, Padfoot..."


Tricia sat on the floor in front of James' bed, staring at the carpet. Her brother had not spoken to her so far and somehow she had given up on trying to get through to him. Her father was back at work and her mother was alone in the kitchen.

'They don't trust me,' Tricia thought disappointed. 'Are they honestly thinking I could be able to sell out my little brother? I wanted to save him!... But he thinks I'm in league with the enemy.'

She turned to him, feeling hurt, but he was still laying on his bed with his back at her. He wasn't sleeping, that she could hear from his unsteady breathing and it was also visible, since his body was still cramping.

She wanted to cry as loud as possible so everyone would hear her and would take notice of how worse she felt, how torn she was inside. Why does everyone thought she was the bad one when everything she did was trying to do the right thing for her family? She chose to be an Auror, not a Death Eater. She was a Potter, not a Malfoy. Why did everyone still treated her like the enemy?

Suddenly, she felt the urge to tell everyone off, to yell at them and then... run away. Run away?... away... Tricia sank down on the floor. That was stupid. Running away wasn't an option. It wouldn't change anything. She would only lose those she loved. She shook her head and left James' room.

The witch had hardly closed the door when she met the 12 years old, dark hair girl right in front of her standing on the floor. It was Anna.

'If she blames me, too?'

She was afraid but the feeling vanished the moment the girl waved and smiled. They sat down next to each other on the wall at the floor to talk about recent happenings. It was as Tricia had hoped for but never expected. Anna instantly was on her side. Even though they were kind of friends since the day Anna had set foot at Hogwarts, Tricia was surprised of her loyalty for her.

"You have to tell him!" Anna said insistently, looking at her with so much hope and strength in her dark, friendly eyes. "He'll understand. Mr. Potter will understand."

"I can't," Tricia replied frustrated. She would have loved to be a little child like the friend again. Seeing innocently at everything and still be able to hope instead of having to act like a grown up even though she was only 15 years old.

"But... if you don't... Your parents will always believe you deceived them," Anna said sympathetically.

"My parents... they will understand... in time. I'm more worried about something else."

"About the Phowlyris? You really think it was her?"

Tricia nodded, looking absolutely serious.

"I do. I could feel that. You're still too young. One day, you'll understand. Some of us are able to feel that, if we concentrate enough... I'm so stupid. How could I get her here?"

"You didn't do that on purpose, Patty."

For a moment, she eyed again that face that confided in her and smiled kindly.

"Sometimes... you have to pay, even if you did it unintentional."

"No! Never!"

Tricia startled, taken aback. At this very moment, she felt sad. Sad for the friend, she would have to disappoint. No, she had to do something. If she even let down Anna, the only person who still stood by her against all odds, she could have never live with herself. She had to talk to Andromeda.

"I have to go. Take care of yourself, okay?"

She hugged the friend as tight as possible before finally leaving. She didn't turn around once, trying to keep hope in her heart that this was not the last time they had talk as friends.


When Lilli woke up that morning, remembering every detail of that dream, she knew what she had to do to end this once and for all. James was laying beside her, sleeping deeply with his arm around her waist. Did Tricia found a way to keep him safe? If she did, there was hope for her as well to prevent the Phowlyris from getting to him.

'I love you, James... so much... I can't lose you...'

A new day at Hogwarts, a new week in the life of the Marauders and Lilli. A strange new day probably. Because of the blindfold, James couldn't see anything and Madame Pompfrey refused to take it off before evening. She also forbid him to do that with a serious warning to make it worse if he don't follow her advise. His friends and Lilli led him around and made sure he didn't crash into a wall or run literally into other people.

"Seems like you have to trust us blindly," Sirius joked around for the hundred time since James had to wear the blindfold.

"Wait till that happens to you," James barked.

"Won't happen," He replied perky.

"That's why I said you should wait for it."

"Won't happen anyway. Face it, Prongs. You're the one dogged by injury, bad luck and – of course – countless chicks. I'm the one saving your ass. From both of us, I'm the perfect one."

Lilli giggled.

"Obviously, you don't need anyone to built your confidence, don't you?"

The Marauder stuffed a muffin into his mouth.

"Obviously, I don't," he grinned cheerfully. Lilli suddenly remembered she had something urgent to talk about to him.

"Sirius, can I talk to you one-to-one, please?"

"Of course! Go ahead! Prongs can't see us anyway, so he didn't count as one right now."

Since there was a very big grin not only in Sirius' face but also in James', she couldn't help but smile as well. That was typically Sirius.

"Unless... it's about Prongs? Well, in that case, sorry, mate. Seems like we have to excuse us for a moment. You know, Lil, next time, why don't you say you have to talk to me under four ears?"

"Come on, you clown!" she urged and pulled Sirius away from the table before he could continue to make even more jokes. "Luv? Can you manage some time on your own?"

"Way to go! You two are already at luv?" Sirius cheered astonished. "Does that mean -"

"Sure," James cut him off. "Please go."

He knew if he hadn't, his friend would've probably never stopped making inappropriate jokes about them. Somehow, he really had a thing for that these days. Lilli kissed him on his lips before whispering "See you soon" and left. It only took a second for James to realise, he had better asked them to at least hand him some bread for breakfast. He had absolutely no clue where to grab for it and the first thing he reached felt very much like pure butter...

"Okay, what is it what we couldn't speak about in front of Prongs?" Sirius asked curious after they arrived on the front door of the castle and sat down on the stairs.

"No, it's not that. We could, but I didn't want the whole school to listen and neither did I want to drag him around the whole ground in his condition."

"Lils, please. He's just blind for a day and not dying after a little exertion," he said, rolling his eyes. She was tempted to snap at him for taking his best friend's condition not serious enough, but let it go eventually. There was something more important than a useless complaint, which he wouldn't listen anyway.

"I need your help," she continued. "It's about your cousin. Andromeda."

Sirius instantly pulled himself together, knowing that this was severe and not the time for jokes. He frowned.

"What about her?"

"Well.. are you two still keep in touch?"

"We do... not a lot... we talked shortly after Tricia died. She asked me to gave Prongs her condolence. That's all."

That was not much. Lilli had hoped to get in touch with her through Sirius but now, she wasn't sure anymore.

"Why do you ask?"

"I – uhm – would like to meet her if that's possible?"

"Andromeda?" he asked baffled. "Lilli, come on. Spit it out. What's the matter?"

"What do you mean?" she asked shyly but his piercing glance was enough for her to let her guard down. James didn't think she was crazy, but there was no guarantee Sirius would think the same way. Yet, she tried and hoped. She told him everything about her daydreams, about Tricia and how awful it was to feel everything she had felt.

"I'm not sure if those dreams or visions or whatever they are had even happened like that, but... it felt like it and James confirmed a lot of them. In my dream last night, she wanted to see Andromeda about looking for a way out. Its just... Tricia had lived 4 more years after that summer so... it seems like she had found a way to deal with it."

Sirius nodded thoughtfully. He had nothing in common with the guy before, who had been joking around and didn't take his friends seriously.

"In this dream last night, Anna appeared for the first time."

He accidentally became more attentive and Lilli was glad to see that she still mattered to him contrary to what he kept on insisting.

"You know... I don't think she really had turned against us."

"What you think and what really is, Lil -"

"I know," she said instantly.

"Everything indicates that she did."

"Everything indicates... but what about things we can't see? We are her friends, Sirius."

"Were."

"ARE!" she insisted, but Sirius kept silent. Either he was just tired of arguing or he thought the same. Lilli had a feeling he forced himself to believe that he didn't care about his former girlfriend anymore and believing she had sold them out made it easier to do so. For now, she decided to let it go and bring it up some other time.

"I would like to talk to her. I mean, Andromeda. Do you think you can arrange something? You know... I don't know who else to ask and -"

"Of course," he responded before she even finished. It took a while for him to shake off the thoughts about a certain dark hair witch. "I'll owl her and get back at you if I hear something."

"Thanks, Sirius."

They remained in silence on the stairs a while longer, observing how nature went its way.

"You miss her?" Lilli asked eventually. Sirius had not given her an answer, instead, he nodded moodily.


Meanwhile, James was still sitting alone on the Gryffindor table eating breakfast, although he managed to grab some bread (but not without spreading a lot of mini doughnut through the table and onto the floor). He couldn't wait to finally get off that stupid blindfold and the moment his friends would eventually appear, so he wouldn't have to sit here all by himself. Where the hell was everyone when he needed them?

"Today, you show your true self, Potter. Like a dummy."

Right... There was Snievellus. He grunted, knowing that this was possibly the most inappropriate moment to meet for he felt like handed on a silver platter.

"Right back at you, Snape. Ugly as ever. Lucky, I don't have to see that."

"People in glass house shouldn't throw stones, Potter."

"I'm sitting on the Gryffindor table, Snievellus!"

This came out a little more gormless than intended. He do know that if Snape decided to hex him, he was hardly able to dodge being completely unable to see anything. His last hope laid on his classmates, sitting around.

"Now, pull back your gunk trace and get lost or I barf my breakfast over your flat."

He heard a nasty grunt and was pretty sure the sound was made by Snape and then he indeed left. James was proud how he handled that and grabbed his juice. Unfortunately, he grabbed in someone's cereal... already soaked in milk.

"Uahhhh!" he muttered.

"Need help?"

He knew that voice. It was Kathrin Linley-Ford.

"Hey, Kathrin. Could it be that I stick my hand in milk?"

She laughed, took out a tissue and wiped clean his hand.

"Not anymore," she said nicely.

"Thanks," he replied friendly until he noticed she was still holding his hand... very tightly. He pulled it back (almost with force) and smiled awkwardly. "Uhm – you seen Lilli?"

"No, but I'm also looking for Sirius."

"He is with Lilli. You may wanna look for them."

Ha! 2 birds, one stone! He got rid of Linley-Ford and she would get his friends back. Sadly, this didn't work as well as it did with Snievellus. Ford only said: "I see."

He sensed her slipping closer to him and was sure she was staring. For a moment, he thought about confronting her but threw it away and instead asked if she had seen someone else of his friends.

"I don't," she said slinky. "But if you like, we can look for them together."

"Uhm," She was obviously coming on to him. Since he was sure there was something going on between her and Sirius, James wouldn't do anything on no account and let any girl get between his friendship with his best friend. He smiled mildly.

"You now... I am..."

Damn! He was trapped. There was no way to stay up and leave if he couldn't even watch where he was going. Where were everyone if you needed one? At every other inappropriate occasion, at least Stattler and Cat Jordan were around.

"Yo, Captain!" Walter's voice appeared, who was his keeper in his Quidditch team. "McQueen said you cancelled the training, today?"

Yes! Score!

"Cancelled? That's rubbish!" James bellowed. "Get me to him, Walters. Now!"

And as he tried to leave the table on his own, he spilled a lot of juices onto the table.

"Uhm, okay, Captain."

James could not be more happy to be led out of the Great Hall by Walters, although it felt more than just weird to be pushed around the corridor by a team mate, who had each hand on an arm and moved him like a marionette. In the end, this was better than getting caught by Lilli in Linley-Ford's pathetic try to hit on him.

"Can I ask you something, Captain?"

"Yap?" he said bored.

"There is this rumour. That Evans had punched you and that's why you had to wear those blindfolds. Is that right?"

"Its Lilli, Walters."

Lately, he didn't like when people talked about her using "that Evans" or just "Evans" or even "swot." After dating her for a while now, he thought of this as his duty to make them be more appropriate to her. Since Brad Walters was the keeper of his Quidditch team, he would follow any request without objections.

"Uhm, okay, Cap. And is that right?"

"No."

"Then, how did that happen? So, Evans – I mean, Lilli, wasn't involved?"

"Well... it... well... yes, somehow."

"So, you are really together because she used the dark Arts to beat the crap out of you?"

"What? No!" he yelled indignantly.

"Cap?"

"What?"

"Are you sure she didn't do a hex on your brain?"

"Walters?"

"Yes?"

"Get lost!" he barked annoyed.

It took him only a second to realise that his keeper indeed got lost pretty fast. He forgot how seriously everyone in the team was following his orders if he gave one no matter what it was. It was a blessing in Quidditch, but right here and now... a curse. He sighed. Great done...

"Walters?"

Silence. He had sped away. James didn't notice that Linley-Ford was nearby, watching him slowly making his way along the wall down the corridor. He just wanted to get away from the Great Hall and from possible trouble.


Lilli and Sirius picked James up somewhere on the school ground after he got a bump on his forehead and a bleeding nose by crashing into a massive wall – getting in his way, of course.

"Why did you even get up?" Lilli admonished but James smiled.

"Couldn't stand to not be with you any longer."

It was true, at least... to some point.

"I think I'm gonna hurl," Sirius commented dryly.

After that, they went to Potion, where the work of today would be done with a partner. James got luck and were teamed up with Lilli, who was one of the best students in this class and was definitely on par with Snievellus. Even though Ick beamed at him, he beamed even more at Lilli's mug.

"That's really exceptional, Miss Evans. If I could give you better than an Outstanding, I definitely would. Great, Great!"

"Let me guess, Padfoot. Snievellus is peering to us, dark green with super envy," James said after Ick had left. Remus looked up and spotted what his friend had already guessed.

"You're right, Prongs. But I'm not Padfoot. He's over there, working with Alice."

"Ups, sorry Moony."

He was glad when class finally ended and they left side by side to go to advanced defence against the dark Arts.

"Really?" They heard a Hufflepuff student talking to a friend on their way. "Evans cut out James eyes to force him to date her?"

"Really!" Her friend assured vividly. "That poor guy. She's totally bullying him and he has such a good heart. That figures! Why else out of all should someone like James Potter like a nerd like Lilli Evans? She's a swot! Did you see how she sucked up to Professor Ick?"

"You are so right! Who in his right mind would like that!"

They turned right and went gossiping away through another corridor. James, who did hear every word of that stupid conversation, turned instantly to the right to hold his girlfriends hands.

"Come on, Lil. Ignore them. We know that's complete nonsense what they are babbling."

"Prongs... I'm not Lilli," Sirius mocked and James pulled back his hands, looking annoyed with himself.

"Oh snap!" he swore, slowly getting desperate. Now, all that is missing is if he mixed up Remus and Lilli and the day was done...

Meanwhile Lilli went on his other side and although what the Hufflepuffs had said was painful, what James said and did made up for everything else so far.

Jaivenko released him for class, since he was not even in the state to hit a turtle right that was wiggling its butt right in front at him.

"Wow! And what am I suppose to do now? Take a blind walk?"

"Do I look like your Babysitter?" she retorted.

"No, but like my teacher. Duty of supervision?"

Jaivenko shook her head and finally rolled her eyes.

"Well, then... sit down on the wall and watch yourself. Today, we're training how to move things while remaining in motion. So, don't get hit by anything."

"How about: Don't hit the blind guy? Sounds nicer, doesn't it?"

It may have sound nicer but none of them could comply with it. It wasn't like anybody didn't want to take care but with everything got thrown around and were out of control, James got nearly hit twice by dropping books. After he was struck by Sirius' wand in the chest, who accidentally lost it in a try to perform a charm while dashing aside, and then even by Kingsleys whole body after he got thrown at him, James decided to leave class by choice. A classmate guided him to the sea, where he sat down and tried to enjoy a free period until his friends would join him.

He wasn't use to do nothing, at least not alone. Somehow, this was annoying. Even more than when he had an argue with Snievellus. Right, he should stop calling him Snievellus. Lilli always gave him an reprehended look if he did it near her. Lilli... His thoughts went back to their first time and a big grin appeared on his face.

After a while, he heard footsteps and the next moment, someone laid on top of him, pulling him down and someone's tongue slid inside his mouth. It didn't need long for him to notice this was not Lilli. (She never tried to reach his stomach with her tongue.) He tried to push the person away and free himself but it turned out to be everything but easy as she had used some magic to keep him in place.

"Are you out of your insane mind?!" Lilli yelled very close to them and after he heard several people approaching, the girl was finally pulled away and he could move again.

"Lils! I can explain!" James instantly burst out, not realising that he was standing there with his back at the Head Girl. "I swear, I didn't kiss back."

"Wrong direction," Sirius coughed, helpfully turning him around to face Lilli.

"Lils!" He started again, but she cut him off.

"I know." Lilli turned furiously annoyed towards the Slytherin girl. It was Carla Fessischer, one of Melissa Kingcades and Anna's bimbo friends from past times. "I meant you! Are you out of your brainless mind to throw yourself on my boyfriend?!"

"Your boyfriend?" She said spitefully. "As if James Potter would really be with someone like you. Just watch out! I'll find a way to end your bitchy jinx on him!"

"My bitchy what?" She spat completely crazy now. "You nutty, dumb, bean size brain -"

"I would get lost if I were you!" Sirius yelled as he restrained Lilli with both arms from throwing herself at the Slytherin, which would definitely end badly for the bimbo. With an indignant look, Fessischer left.

"Oh! I hate them all!"

"Hey, Lils."

James tenderly took her hand.

"As soon as I get my sight back, we'll make them accept that we're a thing now. I promise."

With his usually charming smile, he bent forward and kissed her... right on the ear.

"Uhm -"

"Not your lips?"

"Nope," she whispered quietly. Sirius and Remus couldn't suppress an amused grin and even Kathryn Linley-Ford, who was standing between both boys, smiled.


In history of magic, Alice told Lilli to be careful about those girls trying to get between her and James. She and Cat Jordan had heard a lot of those gossips and some were everything but harmless. This didn't light up her mood but rather made her feel even more pissed off at everyone. Unfortunately, Madame Pomfrey hadn't taken the blindfold off and instead renewed it.

"I have to tell you, the infection needs one more day to heal."

"Come on!" He spouted desperately. "You can't be serious! Speed it up!"

"That can't be sped up, Potter! If we don't let it heal this way, it could get worse. No buts, Potter!"

"But!"

It was useless and so Lilli and Sirius guided James with the blindfold on his eyes back to the common room. That evening, Sirius told Lilli he received an answer from his cousin and she would be in Hogsmeade the next day to meet them.

"Oh good. At least, then I don't have to endure those gossip for a day," she said, glancing at James, who was laying on his bed.

"I really don't understand it, guys. They weren't intrusive like that when I was with Lissy."

"You could propose, Prongs?" Sirius actually meant that as a joke, but instead of responding, both of them remained embarrassed and silent.

"I promise, Lil. I'll find a way to make them stop," James said after a while.

"I know," she whispered softly. There was no way she would let any of those come between them. Never.

The next day, Lilli and Sirius went to Hogsmeade as planned to meet Andromeda. They didn't want James to put up with the strain of going all the way down to the village even though he insisted on tagging along at first. Only after Remus and Peter promised to not leave his side even once ("One foreign tongue was enough for life!"), he was okay with staying behind.

"I have a theory," Sirius started on their way to Hogsmeade. "I mean, why everyone else believe its not going to hold between you and Prongs."

"I'm listening."

"See, when Lissy was dating Prongs, she bullied every other girl, who dared to pursue him and he did everything to show them, he was in love with her."

Lilli bristled with anger.

"Either you are telling me I'm suppose to start hexing every other girl who comes near him... or you 're saying James didn't love me enough, because he didn't show everyone that he's in love with me."

"No!" Sirius said immediately and bit his tongue. Great, he wanted to help his best friend and instead made it worse. He hardly found any words until they almost reached the Three Broomsticks. Before they stepped in, Sirius hold her back for a second.

"It was not my intention to indicate Prongs isn't in love with you, because he definitely is! I'm just saying that it sometimes looks as if -"

"As if he's not serious about me... I got it."

With that, she opened the door and entered.

"Way to go, Sirius Black, you idiot!" he muttered to himself before following inside, strongly hoping this would not have consequences.

Andromeda looked almost exact as Lilli had seen her in her daydreams, just a little bit older and taller. She really was very warm-hearted and exactly like Lilli had seen her through Tricia's eyes and she knew she could tell her everything that was burden her. It only took half an hour to do so as Andromeda had not even once interrupted. After Lilli ended, the witch breathed in heavily and unfortunately shook her head.

"I'm very sorry. Tricia never came to me with this. I knew about her making this vow but... I never managed to help her. She came to me a while after that, saying that it was not necessary to help anymore and that she was okay."

Andromeda now became quiet for a moment and looked sadly down.

"But now, I see, why she was so strangely distant after. She never confided in me with that. But to be fair, I wasn't the best friend either. I gave her a lecture about being reckless and imprudent to make that vow. I guess, if I were her... I wouldn't have confided in me either."

She was so upset and depressed, Lilli felt as if her heart was shattering. Suddenly, she felt bad for James' sister, knowing how much she must had been suffering all by her own with no one to trust.

"But with what you've told me now, I guess, Tricia must have tried an incantation. I can't imagine what it is. It seems to be very strong magic. I never studied it and I dare to say that neither did Tricia."

Her hope to finally get rid of those daydreams were instantly destroyed by a tornado. She suddenly felt angry, because James' sister put her through all of this and at the same moment, even scared, because if they are not going to stop soon, she might get insane.

"Nonetheless, if those dreams are coming from Tricia, I think she wants to tell you something important. I'm sure they are going to stop once you figure out what."

Lilli nodded thoughtfully.

"But you are right, Lilli. Tricia was longer free than the vow would have allowed her to. I doubt it too, that Lucius would have waited 3 years before demanding her to fulfil his wish. I guess, the stone either did not entirely revoke the vow or even didn't revoke it at all and Narzissa only lured her into a trap. Knowing my sister, this is quite possible. Also, maybe Tricia managed to even revoke the wish she made with the stone?

I never even imagine one of those stone could be in possession of someone I know. If Tricia did it, I can't even fathom how. I never even knew this to be possible. If she did... she had exerted to very deep dark magic. I know of no white magic that can possibly manage that.

Knowing all of this now, I admit I never knew how much she did to protect her little brother. Now, I feel so bad for her and guilty myself for walking out on my best friend."

Lilli nodded understandingly. After saying good bye to Andromeda, Sirius had asked Lilli what she intended to do now.

"What do you think?" she replied wearily. "Keep on having these daydreams until I figure out what she wants to tell me."


After rejoining with their friends on the school ground, it was nice to see James finally got rid of the blindfold. At dinner, the gossiping hadn't declined and the girls (not only Slytherin but of every house) kept on throwing condescending glances at Lilli. James had finally enough. He dropped his fork, took the Head Girl's hand and pulled her up into the middle of the hall where absolutely everyone else had a good look at them. As most of the other students stretched themselves to get a better spot, Remus and Sirius exchanged confused looks.

"Lilli Evans," James said loud and clear. "I know, I'm the luckiest guy in the whole world, because you love me. I also know that this might be too soon but I just know that this between us is right. I love you and only you. Being of sound mind, with my Marauder friends as witnesses, Lilli, will you marry me?!"

And then – thud.

Suddenly, Lilli fainted in his arms while every student around them either gaping disbelievingly, giggling touched or gossiping even wilder than before. James on the other hand grinned from ear to ear, still holding Lilli in his arms but also blinked towards Sirius, who also started to grin.

"Way to go, Prongs," he said acknowledging.

To do Lilli and James a favour, Alice and Cat Jordan spread another rumour to kill old ones.

"Have you heard?" One of the Hufflepuff told another one. "Lilli Evans stopped Carla Fessischer's jinx for James Potter and hexed her instead with a very cruel non revocable curse!"

"Unbelievable!" the other one replied. "I never expected this. Better don't mess with her!"

"Neither did I, but I got this from Cat Jordan."

At the same time, Lilli awoke on the school ground on James' lap, smiling tenderly when their eyes met.

"Finally awake?" he asked fondly, helping her to get up.

"What happened?"

"You fainted."

"Those dreams are really getting to me," she said wearily. She leaned back onto his shoulder and looked up at the sky. Weird, she didn't remember having any dream? Instead... she kind of remember something else... in the Great Hall...

"You didn't really propose, did you? That was... a dream. Right?"

"Right," he said, smirking.

"Good."

"Would you have said yes?"

"Uhm, I – well- I..." she stuttered, immediately tensed up.

"Kidding," James grinned before kissing her softly on her lips. "But at least, we know now we got rid of them. No more doubts. We're a thing."

"Yes, we're."

Strangely, she felt something painful in her heart. She had stuttered nonsense without even thinking straight.

'Would you really have married me, if I had said yes?'

Somehow, this was bothering her and yet, she decided to banish this thought. For now, it was okay as it was. They were together and that was what counted.