Hola chicas and chicos! Today's tumblr news: ever since I saw that one of my favorite artists was asking for authors to write scenes based on her sexy work, I started compiling a list of scenes that worked for her gorgeous sketches. So if you want more help visualizing salaciousness — the match ups are at tiffanytoms. (I'm a visual person, what can I say.)

Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns Harry Potter. Art work by the awesome Meg (tumblr: anxiouspineapples)

Carrying On

The Next Day, September, 7th Year

Lily slowly came to in the hospital wing feeling oddly numb.

"Hey beautiful," she heard James say softly by her side. He must have been lying in the same cot as her.

"What the hell happened?" Her vocal cords were just barely able to scratch together the question as her eyes adjusted to the light.

James hesitated. "Poppy's one condition for letting me stay with you was not disturbing you. And well," he let out the world's deepest sigh, "what happened was pretty disturbing." Lily tried sitting up, but her skin felt strange — as though she was now a leather drum, stretched out too tightly over her base. "No, no, don't move too much. Your skin is still growing back." Lily looked down and saw she was lathered up in blue paste. She was really getting sick of multicolored topical medicines. James lifted a leg, showing off his blue calf. "The blast got you a whole lot more than it did me." Perhaps Lily showed sighs of distress, because he hastily added, "Don't worry though, they were just regular burns, no Dark Magic, so the healing is pretty straightforward. Poppy says you'll be back to normal by the end of the weekend."

Well, at least she didn't have to worry about her vanity any more. "James, please just tell me what happened. Did anyone else get hurt?"

He relented a little bit. "Not badly, no. Just minor scrapes and bruises. A few splinters."

Lily stared at the ceiling. "So the target was one of us?" The amount of sunlight streaming in told her it must already be Saturday afternoon.

James kissed the edge of her hairline and it made her wonder if her face was covered in paste too. He was definitely gearing up to deliver the least climatic news of all time — Lily knew whatever had happened, the person responsible had been trying to blow her up. "Yeah. Stephens admitted to it all. Kid had a manifesto prepared and everything."

"Stephens…?" Lily asked blankly.

"Yeah. He was a 4th year."

"A 4th year?!" Lily shouted and regretted it instantly, her whole body aching with the effort.

"Sh, sh," James soothed. "Seriously, you're gonna get me kicked out."

Lily continued in a whisper that carried the same intensity. "You're saying a 14 year old kid wanted to murder me?!"

"Yeah. It's fucked." It was almost as though James had already exhausted the topic before talking to her. It turned out, after the explosion, there had been mass hysteria, and James said he'd never seen McGonagall look more distraught, clearly feeling like she'd failed at her job of keeping students safe. They'd rushed Lily to the hospital wing where Poppy had assured them that Lily would be all right, but James still refused to go to the emergency Order meeting until Padfoot and Mary had taken over his bedside vigil. As everyone was discussing just how the Death Eaters must have planted the device, and how maybe its basic nature had made it harder for them to detect (after all, they were on the lookout for extreme Dark Magic and not just a simple fire bomb), an Order member who worked for The Prophet had come in and said how they'd just received a pages long, inflammatory manifesto from this kid and how they hadn't known what to make of it until she got Dumbledore's call to come in.

"Pages long?" Lily looked at him sadly. "How much hate can one kid have?"

James looked as though he'd aged a year in a day. "A lot. It was a ton of vile shit."

She shouldn't ask, but she couldn't not. "Like what?"

"Lily—" James near-begged.

"Please, James. I have to know."

"He's just a dumb kid."

"Yeah. A dumb kid who nearly killed us. Why?"

James let out a huge breath. "Sounds like he got radicalized. His family's already trying to come to his defense, saying he's a good boy, just a little troubled, but he meant well because a Muggle-born never should have been made Head Girl anyway—"

"So it started at home," Lily said defeatedly.

"Probably. Anyway, he sounds like a complete psycho. He was pledging his allegiance to Voldemort, and it looks like he was trying to do this as some sort of self-initiation. Said how because Voldemort kidnapped you last time, he'd kill you for him once and for all." James tore at his roots. "Then the manifesto started rambling about Wizarding taxes, and how your family doesn't even pay them, so how is it even fair for you to attend Hogwarts—"

"Wow."

"Yeah. Lils, he's a nut job, I'm telling you." Lily laid there, feeling even more numb. "Hey," James gently pushed. "Talk to me. How are you feeling?"

"Honestly?"

"Course."

Lily shook her head. "Pissed. Like, really fucking pissed." She turned to James, right there beside her. "How do so many people just hate me for the way I was born? Hate me for something I can't even change?"

James looked deep into her eyes before brushing some of her hair back delicately. "I don't know."

"Like, get to know me and hate me because of my personality, or because I'm better than them at magic, but because of who my parents are? It's so fucking dumb."

James nodded. "He's an idiot."

"But it's not even him," Lily continued her rant, gathering up steam. "Like sure, fuck this brat, but really fuck Voldemort for normalizing this type of hatred for the gullible. For giving a voice to it, and making people think they are allowed to voice it now, and have the right to even feel it in the first place, and just— UGH, fuck him!"

James agreed ardently. "He is the worst."

"I'm gonna fucking take him down," Lily declared with steely vengeance. "I'm telling you right now, I'm gonna be the one to ruin this guy's life."

James smiled at her determination. "Can I help?"

Lily scoffed. "Yeah." She gave him a small smile, coming down from her rage spiral a little bit. "I'll allow it."

They stared at each other for a beat until James pulled a mirror out of his pocket, saying he had to tell Padfoot she was okay. Only he didn't get to do that because Lily seized the mirror with both her hands, looking at her own reflection in absolute horror. She had no eyebrows, no eyelashes, and under the burn salve, she saw the remnants of pink, raw flesh. "What the—"

"Don't!" James admonished, stealing it back and pocketing it. "You weren't supposed to—"

"See how friggin' terrible I look?" Lily squeaked.

"It's not that bad—"

"Don't you lie to me, James Potter!"

"Babe," he tried cooing, "it's temporary." Lily grimaced. "I have the worst luck. Everything makes you more attractive and me less!"

James rolled his eyes. "You're being Padfoot-level dramatic right now."

"Am not!" Lily fought back theatrically.

"Well, you're always beautiful, so shut it."

Lily wanted to laugh, but her face hurt too much. "That's bullshit, and you know it." She sunk into her pillow. "Merlin, I don't even know how you can stand to look at me right now."

"Babe," he said, exasperated by her antics, "in sickness and in health, remember?"

Lily stilled, eyebrows scrunching painfully. Um, no, I don't remember exchanging wedding vows with you…? "When did we—"

James scrambled to interrupt, clearly having just caught his own embarrassing gaff. "And you do not have the worst luck. That would be Dirk Verhaeghe."

He looked so painfully panicked — so worried that he'd overstepped in his obsession that he didn't notice she was right there in the thick of things with him — that she let him pivot. "Why? Who's he?"

"You honestly haven't heard the story?"

"No," Lily said, "tell me!"

"Okay." James settled back down beside her, crossing his arms looking pleased with himself for successfully shifting the mood back to safer waters. "So Dirk really wanted to teach History of Magic at Hogwarts. Like that was his life's dream." Oh dear. I feel bad for the guy already. "But Binns was really taking his sweet time retiring, yeah?"

"Naturally," Lily answered. Everyone knew Binns had been around for practically forever.

"But one day, Binns says he's ready to go, so Dumbledore finally gives Dirk an interview... and the next day…" James' eyes lit up as he spread his hands out in front of him, "Binns dies."

"Oh-kay," Lily said slowly, not really sure if she was following along anymore.

"Lily," James replied animatedly, "he's a ghost! He'll literally teach now until the end of time! Dumbledore had to owl up Dirk and tell him it was never gonna happen!"

"Oh my god, are you kidding me? That's so sad!" Lily pouted.

"No." James gave her a naughty grin. "I'm dead serious."

Lily gave him a glare. "I'm pretty sure visiting hours are over, Potter."

"You don't mean that," he said. And it was true: she really, really didn't.

As predicted, Lily was released from the infirmary as good as new in time for Monday breakfast. Down every hall she went, Lily could hear students gossiping about Stephens, and how Aurors had already apprehended him and how he'd been sure Voldemort would come save him. Fat chance, kid, Lily muttered darkly to herself. Voldemort only cares about himself. Period. There was no loyalty among psychopaths.

She'd just reached the Entrance Hall when she saw a flash of dark brown hair and felt her middle being squeezed. "Lily! Don't scare me like that!"

"Macdonald! Easy!" Lily winced. "Fresh skin."

"Oh shit, sorry," Mary apologized taking a step back. "I'm so sorry about not sticking around for you to wake up, but my mom heard about the bomb and then she really insisted I come home for the weekend, and you know there's no arguing with her."

"It's okay, I just rested a lot anyway." Lily grumbled, "Now I'm really behind on my homework."

Mary laughed. "When you get blown up in front of the entire school, I'm sure you'll be granted extensions."

Lily sighed. "Yeah, bet you're right."

Mary shuffled between her feet, looking uncharacteristically sullen. "It's gonna be different around here, isn't it?" she asked quietly.

Lily couldn't help but look around. There was definitely an undercurrent of fear running through Hogwarts that hadn't been there before. Something wicked had been unleashed in these walls: a viral, deadly disease, and Lily had no idea when it would be contained — if it could even be contained. Obviously, she had known about the war for a while now, having already lived it firsthand, but this was the first time many of her peers had gotten to see it so graphically displayed for them. Is this just the way Hogwarts is gonna be for a while? A sad shell of its former self, tainted by bigotry? Is this the new normal? She hoped not. This was a school. They were supposed to be protected from the horrors of the outside world, at least for a little while longer. "Yeah. I think so." The way people were looking at Lily was yet another reason to carry on. If she, the girl who got attacked, could keep going with her head held high and keep fighting for a better tomorrow, then perhaps everyone else would keep having hope too? It was as though, wholly unwittingly, Lily had become a symbol for the resistance.

They walked closer to the Great Hall. "So, how are you feeling?"

"Okay, I guess." Lily shrugged. "I've had worse."

Mary shook her head. "You are such a champion."

"Pah," Lily scoffed, brushing off the compliment.

"I'm not kidding! Someone tried to kill you and you're just back on a Monday, worried about homework? I couldn't do it," Mary admitted.

"Sure you could."

"Nope." Mary shook her head. "Pretty sure I'd bail after the first murder attempt. Maybe move to Australia or Japan or somewhere cool."

Lily snorted. "Don't sell yourself short."

Mary shot her a look. "No short jokes, and I'm not."

Just before Lily could ask her friend to expand on that, the Marauders appeared, all looking like they wanted to see how Lily was doing. James was the fastest however, grabbing Lily's wrist and dragging her to the nearest wall to herd her against it.

"What are you doing?" Lily asked breathlessly, both highly aware of about fifty other people's presence in the hall as well as James' proximity to her.

"I'm about to snog my fully healed girlfriend, what's it look like?" His eyes glinted mischievously as he leaned in, hands both traveling up to thread into her hair.

She tilted her head back, looking at him. "Barely healed, Potter. Be gentle."

He smiled as he kissed her, public space be damned. She briefly wondered if he was doing it to prove a point — to show everyone, Death Eaters who she'd just seen walk by included, that they weren't afraid, and they were still together and stronger than ever — but then she stopped caring, stopped thinking really, as all she could do was register the soft lips presently caressing hers, begging her to melt into him. We can do anything together…

"All right, that's enough. I'm going to have to take off house points," someone said directly behind James. When they broke apart, Lily could see the serious face of Amelia, hands tightly gripping a notepad and quill, until shock and horror overtook her. "Oh! I'm so sorry, I didn't realize—"

"We were the Heads?" James offered, half proud, half vexed at the interruption.

"Yes!" Amelia stammered nervously.

"Sorry, Amelia," Lily replied. "You're right, we shouldn't be—"

"Anyway, carry on," James dismissed the poor girl.

Lily dropped her forehead onto James' chest. "James. We're the worst Heads."

"Nah. Still the best." He grinned smugly, coaxing her chin back up to him. "Now, where were we?"

"Ehh…" Sirius interjected, having wandered over and clapping his hands onto both their shoulders. "I'm with Lily on this one."

"I mean, Bert from two years ago was pretty terrible," Remus reasoned. "You guys remember him?"

"Ugh, vividly. He was the worst," Peter agreed.

"Have you guys just been lingering here the whole time?" James asked annoyed as he dropped his hands from Lily's face.

"Well, yeah," Sirius responded as he steered both of them towards their table in the Great Hall. "That's what happens when you decide the Merlin-damn Entrance Hall is the perfect spot for your make-out fest."

"You never thought of, I dunno, continuing on your way?" Lily shot at him hotly as she sat down.

"We're Marauders, Evans. We never leave a man behind. Especially not after this weekend. Poor Prongsie got his calf hair singed right off. Poor bloke." Lily scoffed, her whole body's fresh layer of skin bristling at the thought of what it had just gone through. "Besides. You should have seen the look on ol' Snivelly's face just now." Did she even want to know…?

"Yeah! He looked like he was gonna hurl!" Peter said enthusiastically.

"Right you are, Wormy. He got a good look at you two, in the throes of hot, hot, steamy passion, froze for a solid five seconds, then turned on his heel and stormed back down to the dungeons. Probably having himself a good cry."

"Or a wank," Peter suggested.

"Ugh!" Now it was Lily's turn to nearly vomit. James slapped the back of Peter's head for her.

Luckily the mail arrived soon after and Lily got no less than three letters. The first she recognized as Rosier's scribbled out words: 'We had no involvement. Not planned at all. Voldemort is furious. He still wants you alive.' She passed the scrap to James. This wasn't news, they'd known it was a lone wolf sort of situation already, but it was still nice to see Rosier taking his role as a spy seriously.

The second letter was from Frank.

Hi Lily! Sorry I didn't get to stay with you in the hospital. Alice thought having us be in the same 'compromised' space for too long would be unnecessarily dangerous. But, if it's any consolation, you look great in blue! I trust James continued taking excellent care of you ;)

So I included our wedding invitation! I know it's coming up fast, and I know it's a lot to ask, but would you still be up for throwing my stag party in November? Your attack really spooked Alice, so she insists we stay in the house and together for it, so here's the contact info for her maid of honor, Sally. (I suggest making her do all the work.) I figure we can do the fitting for your gown that day too. I'm so excited! Lily! It's all happening! Alice says it's too early, but I swear I felt the baby moving the other day.

Love, Frank

"What's that?" Mary asked curiously.

Lily sighed, torn between feeling elated for Frank and overwhelmed by having to plan something else right now. She passed the letter to Mary, Sirius reading it over her shoulder.

"You're planning a stag party?" Sirius asked incredulously.

"Yeah," Lily responded slowly. "What's so crazy about that?"

Sirius blinked at her for a few tense seconds. "Evans. You gotta let me help."

"What— why?"

"It's not the worst idea, love," James — the traitor — said in her ear.

"You guys don't think I can do this by myself?" Lily asked the table at large, scandalized.

"It's not that you can't as much as you don't have to do it alone," James — perhaps not completely treacherous — reasoned.

"Exactly, Evans. Use me," Sirius begged. Then, based on the look of disgust on Lily's face, he quickly added, "In a perfectly normal, non-Prongs-threatening way." James snorted. "Come on! You helped me pull off the Christmas ball last year; you know I'm good!" This is true, Lily considered. "Make my mummy roll over in her grave—"

"She isn't dead yet, Pads," Remus pointed out.

"— and use my rich boy breeding for good instead of evil. Make my torturous childhood worth it, Evans."

"It's true, Lily. He needs an outlet."

"Uh, I don't know. Do you even know Frank?" Lily asked Sirius.

Remus stepped back in. "Does he have to? He could at the very least handle the guest list for you."

Sirius giddily took the letter of names that Lily hadn't even noticed Frank had included in his envelope. "Why do you even like stuff like this?" Lily questioned.

"If only I knew… if only I knew," Sirius answered airily, eyes scanning the parchment.

James picked up the official wedding invite. "So Lils… you doing anything January 14th?"

Lily smirked. "Not sure yet. Might take someone to this thing. Haven't decided who though." She tore open her last letter, completely missing that it had postage on the front and a note from McGonagall saying the envelope had arrived via Muggle post for her. "Holy shit," she spat out in bafflement. She looked up to Mary, eyes bugging out of her skull. "Tuney's getting married?"

"WHAT?! To who? Who would want to marry her?"

"What are we missing here?" Peter asked looking between them.

But Lily ignored him, turning to James in complete terror. "You have to come with me. Please."

It truly spoke to James' character that he wasn't making fun of Lily's complete 180 in behavior in response to the two wedding invites and lording it over her as she'd just done to him. "Yeah, of course I will—"

"Thank you," Lily sighed in relief.

"Wait," Sirius said, stealing the elegant ivory card that smelt as though it had been doused in perfume, "is this the psycho sister?"

"Yes. I had no idea where she even was anymore. I haven't seen her in over a year."

"Are you saying she doesn't know what's been up with you?" Remus asked in disbelief.

"Nope. Once she aged out of foster care, she was out. Hell, if she knew how much danger I was in, she'd never invite me." She mulled this over. "Huh, maybe I shouldn't go."

"Nah," James said, throwing a comforting arm around her shoulders. "A Muggle party is probably the safest place to go since no one will expect, or know, you there. It's not like anyone even knows you have a sister. Besides," he shrugged, "I need to meet this woman. Have a nice little chat."

"No, James." She cocked an eyebrow at him. "If you come with me, you will be on your best behavior." He made a grumble that sounded a little too much like, 'We'll see,' for her liking.

"Aw, fuck! Who throws a wedding on Christmas Eve? Thinking you're more important than family time…" Now it looked like everyone was grumbling, the power of Petunia. "Oh!" Sirius had an epiphany. "Now you really gotta let me help you with Frank's party! This means I'll have no Potter Ball to plan this year since you guys will be at psycho-sister-wedding instead!"

She guessed he was right. "Fine," Sirius punched the air in celebration, "but no funny business."

Sirius stuck a finger in his ear. "Did you catch that last part, Wormtail? Start a funny business?"

"Not sure, quite possibly what she said."

Lily rolled her eyes and turned back to James so she could whisper. "You sure you're down to come with me? It will probably be dreadful. I'm guessing," she took back the expensive looking invite and pointed to the black tie dress code, "she found herself some rich bloke to give her the security and status she's always wanted."

"Isn't that what you did, love?" James teased with a haughty smirk.

Lily gasped. "You're rich? I hadn't noticed."

"Oh thank goodness, I was about to feel used."

"Nah Freckle-Face, just keep that bod tight and cut, and we're good."

James snorted. "How is that so hot and fucked up at the same time? Also: I believe the nickname we agreed to was Freckles, babe, but point received."

Lily giggled and kissed his cheek. "But I'm serious. The wedding will be no fun."

"Lils, relax. That's why humans invented alcohol." He stilled against her. "There will be alcohol, yes?"

"There better be." Lily took a swig of milk. "Oh, what's the new password by the way? I couldn't get in."

James whispered in her ear and she swore all the hairs on her body stood up, "Parselmouth."

Lily shivered. "Wait, really?"

"I know." James popped a berry into his mouth. "And they'd all been so positive up until now."

Walking over to Professor Carter's classroom between periods, Lily nearly ran into Brianna. The girls did the awkward dance of trying to see who would pass who where. When they finally figured it out, Brianna merely gave her a nod and a quiet: "Lily." It was as though this woman hadn't tried to singlehandedly ruin her reputation and destroy the best thing that had ever happened to her. There was no acknowledgement in that one word, no apology, just a newfound air of forced indifference, as if she was proving she was now better than her previous seething rage. No, as if she'd never done anything wrong in her life.

Lily wondered if perhaps the events of this weekend had played a part in Brianna's change in attitude. If maybe she'd realized that Lily was already dealing with enough shit on her own, and you know what, perhaps she didn't deserve any more. But that was probably just optimistic, people-are-inherently-good, thinking on Lily's part. Whatever. Some people just aren't worth the worry.

She trekked on and knocked on Carter's door. "Professor, can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Of course, Miss Evans. It's good to see you on your feet again."

"Thank you."

Carter motioned for her to sit in the front row. "What's on your mind?"

Oo, I should have planned this out better. Lily was just struck with the awareness that she'd basically come here to tell this renowned Auror that she was teaching her class wrong. "Um, I guess I'm worried about my upcoming duel."

"Oh yes, I actually meant to talk to you about that."

"You did?" Lily perked up.

"Yes. I'm not quite sure if I agree with Professor Fortescue's pick for you because I know he is on your stay-away order."

What?! What was Alice thinking? Lily thought back to their conversation on the way to the hospital wing. Is this supposed to be a confidence boost thing? A test?

"While I agree Mr Snape is probably the most skilled in the Dark Arts, and you are the best in the class at Defense, I'm don't—"

"Snape?!" Lily interjected. "Alice wanted me to duel Snape?"

"Yes," Carter answered somewhat hesitantly. "She left a note about it being cathartic for you?"

Oh. That's what this is. Of course Frank had told Alice about Snape's visit to her cell and all the nasty things he'd said to her. Alice probably knew Lily could kick his ass — and he might even let her in a fake show of how much he 'loved' her — and she thought it would help her get some revenge.

"Is that what you want?" Carter pressed.

No, Lily thought honestly. It's not. She couldn't stop her mind from straying back to Brianna. Brianna trying to cause a fight with Lily and get retribution for her injustices had shown her hand; it had shown just how much she still cared about Lily, even in hatred. Lily was living rent free in Brianna's mind. But Snape? Lily was truly over him, and she didn't want to waste another second even thinking about him — because he's not even worth that. Besides, Lily knew Snape. He'd probably take Lily agreeing to duel him and breaking her own restraining order as some sort of crazed sign that he could still redeem himself in her eyes, when he really couldn't.

Lily was done with him.

"No, Professor, I really wouldn't. And I'm actually kinda afraid to duel in front of any of the Death Eaters. I don't want them to be able to use what I can or can't do against me later."

"Hm." Carter contemplated this, crossing her arms. "You know, usually I'd say the benefits of practicing outweigh any of those possible downsides, but considering they are studying you very closely, I'd say you're right."

Phew. "Thank you, Professor."

"You can duel me in private for your grade instead."

"What?" Lily shot back rather rudely, in complete shock.

Carter smiled as she walked around her desk. "You can pick a time that works for you after class in the upcoming weeks."

"But you're an Auror…" Lily said lamely.

"So is Professor Fortescue, but I hear you bested her quite regularly." This was true, but (Lily wasn't quite sure why: maybe it was the small age gap, or perhaps it was her bond with Alice's fiancé, or possibly just her general approachability) she just didn't see the young Auror as as much of a daunting, formidable force as her current professor. This woman was a legend. Lily felt way out of her depth.

Oh boy. Soon Carter's next class started filing in and Lily saw herself out really wishing she'd just agreed to take Snape's ass down.

"Movie night!" James declared as he hopped over the couch to join Lily there.

"What do you mean? We have a prefects meeting."

"Nah, I postponed it. But I sent out all the patrol schedules already anyway, don't fret."

"You did that?" Lily looked at him like he was a snack (which he is).

"Course. Was the least I could do while you were recovering." She kissed his cheek in gratitude. "Oh, and guess who specifically requested to patrol with Remus?"

"Who?" Lily asked, interest piqued.

"Dana." James shot her a significant look.

"Really?" Lily snorted. "Let me guess, she asked you in person so she could see your reaction?"

"Yup." James summoned over a bowl of crisps from the kitchenette.

Lily let out a deep sigh. "Well, Remus is smart enough to see through that."

"Hopefully. Speaking of smart enough," James said thickly as he chewed, taking Lily's book away and putting it on the table in front of them, "Poppy said you had to take it easy tonight. Sooo… movie night."

"James, I'm sure she meant physically," she gave him a side-eye, "not mentally."

"Did she specify?"

"No, but—"

"Then best not to risk it, love." He leaned over and swallowed her retort with his lips. "Let me show you the movie selection, yeah?" He took his portable porn player out of his pocket. "So we got The Spy Who Loved Me, Satur—"

"Wait a minute," Lily said, stealing the player onto her lap and looking for buttons. "So how do I get to your porn on here?"

He shot her a superior look. "It's password protected."

She gave him an 'oh really' head tilt before pointing her wand to it. "I solemnly swear that I—"

"Damn it, Evans!" James cried out, rushing to grab the player from her clutches and tossing it over his shoulder. "No more secrets for you until you can prove you are to be trusted."

"Heyyy!" Lily protested. "I was about to enjoy that!"

"Nope, no, you don't needa see that." She was thoroughly enjoying how red he'd become.

She smiled at him innocently as she snuggled up to his side. "What's this? Why are you so embarrassed?" Lily feathered kisses along his fast-spreading blush.

"It has all my saved searches and favs on there," he admitted sheepishly.

"Scared I'm gonna discover your secret kink, Potter?"

"You are my secret kink, Evans."

Lily got a leg over his lap so she could straddle him fully. "Not really so secret now, is it?"

James pulled her hips over his bulge so they both groaned. "Let's not tease…" he whispered.

She repeated the move on her own, making him lean his head back onto the cushions and bite his lip. "Why? Teasing's so much fun." She smiled down at him. "So what's on it?"

Clearly already past his breaking point, James gave in. "It's just a bunch of foxy redheads getting plowed, Lils."

Lily laughed as she started unbuttoning her top for him. "Is that what you'd like to do to me, James?" she asked seductively. "Plow me?"

James' eyes travelled from her face, down her throat to her newly revealed cleavage. His hands gripped her thighs as he answered. "Yes. But," he dragged his gaze away, "Lily— are you sure you're okay?"

Lily's hands froze on her buttons, leaning back on his lap. "Yeah, what do you mean?"

He rubbed her legs up and down on either side of him nervously. "It's just you went through a lot this weekend, and obviously I'm psyched you're feeling better but… I dunno. Are you okay?"

The first feeling that shot through her was anger — of course I'm okay, I'm acting okay, aren't I? — but then she caught the look in his eye, the overwhelming love and concern that was bleeding out there, and her annoyance washed away instantly. He's worried because he loves you. Lily caught his hands and wove her fingers through his, slouching into him. "I am." She shrugged. "I don't know why, but honestly, I feel sort of fine—" she shook her head rapidly, "—I feel normal." James brought one of their joined hands to her chin so he could trace her bottom lip with his thumb, taking her in. "Would it be weird to say I think I'm kinda used to it? Like I know what happened was bad, but it wasn't kidnap and torture bad, so it's sorta easy to move on?"

"Yes," he said with a heartbroken expression. "Yes, and I'm sorry."

Well, now Lily felt like shit. "Stop," she pushed on his chest. "It's not your fault. And like I said, I really do feel okay—"

"You should never have to feel like this is okay," James breathed as he broke his hand free so he could bring it to her cheek. Lily leaned into his palm, not knowing what to say. It was true — but this was just the way it was now. This was her life. "I promise, Lily. I'll fight with you. I'll make this world a better place with you."

Lily turned to kiss his palm, still feeling her eyelashes drag against his fingers when she faced him. "Thank you."

They ended up watching a movie, spooning the entire time. James kept kissing the top of her head and whispering he was, "Potter. James Potter," until Lily had had just about enough and was forced to silence him.

October, 7th Year

October was flying by at neck breaking speed with James spending more and more time at Quidditch practice while Lily picked up additional shifts with Madam Pomfrey. More than once, Order members had come in needing to be patched up from missions gone wrong. It turned out they were having a rather hard time locating the trinkets Voldemort was interested in. Lily had no idea what the hell was going on, but she did find it rather peculiar when the Head Suite password became 'Horcrux.'

"Do you think Hogwarts is trying to tell us something?" James had asked scratching his head. "Like I could have sworn it was describing a person for a while there, but now this password is really throwing me."

Lily didn't spend too much time pondering this latest turn of events.

Things were definitely moving along for her friends too. After a few weeks of dating Sirius, Mary had pulled Lily aside in the library. "Soooo, I have to tell you something."

"Yes?" Lily asked in return, trying to hide her eagerness.

"I might finally get what all the fuss with sex is about?"

Lily dropped her jaw to the ground. "Did he make you come?"

"HE DID!" Mary had yelped back before they broke down into a puddle of squeals. This meant they were banned from the library for a week, but Lily found it well worth it.

Unfortunately, Marlene and Remus' new developments weren't as fun. Marlene had been doing very well with getting over Rosier until they were paired together for a duel in Carter's class. The fight had gone pretty much exactly how Lily had expected: Marlene hurling mild hexes at Evan who in turn just took them all, slowly walking towards her. With green hair, uncontrollably twitching arms, and a heavy limp, he leaned in and kissed her right when they were face-to-face. Marlene had kissed him back for a couple seconds before she broke free, crying, and slapped him hard across the face. Lily had chased after her when she'd fled the room, but she'd still heard the sickening crack when James punched Rosier in the nose. Apparently 10 points had been taken from Slytherin for the assault, but James had lost Gryffindor 5 points for 'using his fist to defend his cousin instead of his wand.'

Remus on the other hand, had started seeing someone new… Dana. This meant the girl was now hanging around with them at meals and Lily just couldn't get over the uneasy feeling that she was not to be trusted. She was always lingering, shooting Lily furtive glances, and it unnerved her.

Lily couldn't go to any of the Hogsmeade trips, but she'd heard the new couple had been spotted snogging at The Three Broomsticks for a few hours.

"Remus?!" Lily had asked James when he first told her, completely blown away.

"Yep. I mean," James shrugged, "he definitely has a wild side under the right circumstances."

Lily shook her head. She just couldn't see him with a girl like Dana. "Well, are you gonna tell him?"

James froze in the middle of putting toothpaste onto his toothbrush. "Tell him what?"

"About Dana!" Lily said as she brushed her hair, staring at his reflection in the mirror as they prepared for bed in their shared bathroom.

"You want me to tell Remus that I think his new bird is only hitting on him to get to me?" His eyebrows had disappeared into his hair. "Do you realize how thick I'd sound?"

He had a point. "Okay, don't do that. But still… shouldn't we at least warn him that Dana's intentions might not be so pure?" Lily remained adamant.

"Baby, it can't come from me. I already got you. Saying his new crush wants me too would be such a slap in the face." He started brushing.

"Okay, you didn't get me, I chose you," Lily defended.

"Uh huh." He shot her a wink. "Sure."

"I'm being serious!" Lily groused, wiping off the foamy kiss he'd just deposited on her temple.

"I dunno. I think we're just stuck with her."

"I fucked up," James lamented as he collapsed onto Lily's bed face first one night. Halloween spirit was in the air and Lily had been more than enjoying the decor and general spookiness of the season.

Lily looked up from her homework on her lap. "How?"

James mumbled a completely indiscernible response into her quilt.

"Face up, please."

"Moony and Wormtail are pissed at me."

"What? Why?" Lily asked, shuffling everything to the side so that James could scoot up to her.

He settled his head onto her lap, looking up. "Well, Wormie's been pretty annoying lately, always whinging about how unfair it is that all of us have girlfriends and how it isn't like it used to be and how we're all boring now—"

"You should start going to Hogsmeade with them. Seriously. I'll be fine by myself here."

"No, it's bullshit. And it's a fucked up thing to even say in the first place."

Lily agreed… but he was his friend, even if Peter was her least favorite Marauder. She needed to tread carefully. Besides, given her track record of being a terrible judge of character, the fact that she didn't automatically love Peter probably meant he was a saint.

"Anyway," James continued his rant while Lily gave him a head massage, "so I was already sort of ticked off, right?"

"Sure."

"Oh, right there," James moaned with his eyes closed, making Lily smile. She focused her nails on that particular spot. "So Moony was giving Wormtail advice, you know, on how to get a girl, but it's… I mean, it's different for him, you know? Because— well, it's Peter—"

"Yeah, I get it. You don't have to say it." Peter just wasn't as hot as the other guys, plain and simple. He had a completely separate set of rules to live by.

James sighed. "So I thought Moony's advice was bull, because right or not, that's how it is, and it's not cool to blow smoke up Peter's ass, because he can already be so clueless sometimes, but Moony got all defensive, saying it worked for Dana…" James cringed and Lily braced herself for what he was about to say. "… And I may have blurted out that Dana doesn't count."

Lily's ministrations stilled as her mouth formed a comically perfect 'o'. "James. You didn't."

James hid behind his forearm. "I told you: I fucked up."

"You can't say things like that!"

"I know, but like, it's so messed up when his girlfriend is graphically eating bananas in front of me—"

"She is not—" Lily near roared.

"Oh, she made love to a lollipop the other day in the prefect meeting, trying to catch my eye the entire time—"

Lily felt like he'd just thrown gasoline onto an already blazing inferno. "You're joking right? Please tell me you're joking."

"No, I don't joke about food-fucking."

"Wait, at the meeting… How did I miss this? How did Remus?"

"Probably because you two were doing your friggin' jobs. Looking all hot and shit." James tilted his head. "Well, you were looking hot." He tilted it back. "Although I suppose Moony is attractive in his own right—"

"This bitch!" Lily cut off his musings by picking his head up off her lap so she could scoot off the bed, ready to storm out and cut a hoe.

Before she could get far, James had caught her wrist and yanked her back beside him. "No, please, help meee," he pleaded desperately.

Lily huffed, punching her pillow into a comfortable shape to work out her aggression. "Fine." She settled on her side, facing James and allowing him to hold onto her hip. "What happened next?"

"Well, Moony was all, 'What's that supposed to mean?' but obviously I can't say his girlfriend is a conniving sl—" Lily glared, completely aware that she'd just thought of Dana as a hoe, but she could totally live with this hypocrisy, "—llllug?" James finished with scrunched brows.

She nodded, satisfied with his mid-word adjustment. "Carry on."

"So yeah, he stormed off, and Pads stayed out of it, but on the plus side, at least Wormtail looked kinda giddy. Guess he can't complain that we're boring anymore."

"Well damn. Look at that, a glorious silver lining." Lily traced her fingertips up and down his arm. She let out a loud exhale. "Have you tried being less fit?"

James chuckled. "And how do you suppose I do that?"

"I dunno. Start wearing a paper bag over your face. Quit speaking with a voice so low and gravelly. Eat seconds."

"I already eat seconds."

"Ugh, rub it in why don't you."

"Babe, you also eat seconds."

"Shut up and kiss me."

Halloween, 7th Year

"Okay, listen to this one," Mary said excitedly as she, Lily, and Sirius waited outside McGonagall's classroom. They'd been let out from COMK early due to a rogue unicorn and were patiently waiting for Transfiguration. James was hanging out with Peter and Remus nearby, clearly working hard to patch things up. "Why do wizards and witches never have dogs as pets?"

Lily looked at Sirius. She could tell this was his joke considering he was already laughing. "Why…?" she asked hesitantly.

"Because they're always running off with their wands!" Mary cackled before falling into stitches.

Lily was pretty sure she was chuckling more at her friend's hysterics than the actual joke. "That was so bad!"

"Come on, Evans!" Sirius said defensively. Yep, he definitely came up with it. "It was a stick joke!"

"Oh, I get it. It just wasn't that good." She turned back to Mary. "Really, what do you see in his witticisms?" she teased. There. Actual good humor.

"Honestly, Lil? We normally don't really talk that much."

"Heyo!" Sirius cheered enthusiastically giving Mary a high-five.

Lily shuddered, fake retching through her smile. "Ugh, you guys are so gross."

"Uh oh… is someone mad that their sex life is cooling off while ours is steaming up?" Sirius taunted.

Nope, don't bite, it's not true, he knows it's not true— "Our sex life is not cooling off." Damnit. "Also, why are you so obsessed with it?"

Sirius ignored the last part. "Oh yeah? Prove it."

Lily scoffed. "And how am I supposed to do that?"

The evil look on Padfoot's face told Lily she really shouldn't have asked for this challenge. She'd played right into his trap. "Without touching him… turn James on right now."

Mary snorted. "Please. She can do that easy. All she has to do is describe her panties to him or something."

Lily smiled at her besite. "Thank you, Mary."

"Okay, we'll see…" Sirius sang, pulling his wrist out of his sleeve to look at his watch. "If you can do it in under 15 seconds, I'll give you five Galleons."

Well, I do have to buy two gowns in the very near future; I could really use that money... Lily pondered, but she wasn't quite sure Mary's suggestion would work. James loved watching her get dressed every morning, so he'd already know she was wearing a lacy, hot pink underwear set today. Fuck. But it wasn't like Lily didn't love their little morning routine. After all, was Lily even truly awake until James had spanked her ass as it walked by him? No. What a terrible way to live that would be if even a single day was now spank-less. Lily would probably be offended if he didn't do it.

It gave her an idea though as she sauntered towards him. I mean… I've always been curious, haven't I? And he most certainly loves my ass, and I'm pretty sure he already knows I wanna try it but is just being too damn respectful to bring it up himself… Lily's mind wandered to a certain page in her Kama Sutra book. Why not bring it up now?

James' eyes locked with hers as she approached, a naughty smirk overtaking his divine features. He knew she was up to something. "Wha—?"

Lily stood on her tippy toes, making absolutely sure not the touch him as per Sirius' rules, and whispered in the sultriest (and quietest) tone she could manage, "I wanna try anal."

James choked. It was truly an impressive feat considering he wasn't drinking — or even saying — anything. When he pulled his face back to look at her, she saw just how dark his eyes were, pupils fully blown out in a way she hadn't seen since she'd made him jealous last year at his Quidditch match. Fuck, Lily moaned internally, adjusting her hips to deal with the pressure suddenly building between them.

"Evans. What the fuck," he practically growled.

Lily shrugged, feigning nonchalance. "Just thought you should know." She spun on her heel, knowing it made her skirt flare out behind her, displaying what was already so clearly and deeply on his mind, and tried walking away.

Two firm hands grabbed her waist, turning her back to him. "Uh uh, where do you think you're going?" Before she could reply, James had hoisted her up and tossed her over his shoulder, determinedly walking them down the corridor just as classes were let out. Lily could vaguely hear Mary's laughter as well as Sirius', 'Shit!' over her own guffaws.

"James! We have class!"

James was agitatedly trying to weave his way through the fresh throng of students blocking their escape. "Maybe should have thought of that before so underhandedly propositioning me, love," James huffed.

Just before she could retort, McGonagall's shrill voice cut through the hall like a knife. "Mr Potter! Put Miss Evans down at once!"

"Rut roh," Lily heard James mutter as he turned around to face his impending doom.

The clicking of heels told Lily that the professor was fast approaching them. "Mr Potter! What on earth are you doing? You two have my class right now." Lily couldn't believe she was still dangling over his shoulder as if it was a perfectly natural way to walk around with your boyfriend.

James put on his most charming voice. "Sorry Professor, I was just overcome by the desire to kiss Miss Evans right this instant, and I thought you'd much prefer it if I did that somewhere private."

Oh. That. Cheeky. Bastard! Lily sneaked an upside-down peak around James' torso to look at Minerva. She had her mouth open, looking like she'd been rendered speechless for possibly the first time ever. She straightened out her hat as well as her back to its usual perfectly upright glory. Finally, she found her words again. "Just put her down, please."

James reluctantly complied, but he still seemed hellbent on pushing his luck. Did I deep-fry his brain? "Does this mean I have permission to do it here then, Professor?" Lily's attention snapped to him until she remembered he'd mentioned kissing her… not doing other stuff.

McGonagall opened her mouth, brows furrowed, then snapped it shut and turned on her heel, striding back into her classroom without another word.

"I think you broke her, James," Lily tittered.

James' dimple made a grand reappearance. "Nah. That was definitely her giving us the go-ahead." His lips came crashing down into hers. People were still milling about around them, trudging on to their next classes, but James and Lily didn't notice, because for them, time stood still.

Next Chapter: Cheeky

o.O So I don't think I have to write an anal warning… but, if anal is not your jam, you will most certainly not like the beginning of the next chapter? :D I know I'm always pretty graphic, sooooo… still graphic? Ha.