9. Before the Hogsmede visit

'Lily?'
'Mm, Sirius?'
'Lily, could you stop doing your homework and listen to me for a moment, please? I've something that need to say to you and it's for your ears only.' He sat himself next to her.
'Okay.' Lily finished her last sentence: 'be prepared for what will come' and abandoned her Divination chart. 'What's it?' She asked with an easy smile.
Sirius found himself admiring that smile, and, as if without any thoughts, he leaned towards Lily till his legs brushed against hers and his face merely an inch from her cute little nose. He was opening his mouth to say something when a shadow cast over her face, and Lily, eyes widened at whatever above Sirius's head, shrieked, 'Sirius, look behind!'
Sirius whirled around and was immdeiately hit by a bunch of something hard and dry.
Massaging his nose, he shouted at his attacker, 'what're you doing with a broom at eight in the morning?!'
'Morning Quidditch practice.'
'And what do you hit me for?!'
'I were not hitting you. There was a fly on your head. You know how I hate flies.' James, his broom over one shoulder, left through the portrait hole without a backward look.
Sirius's eyes met Lupin's, who nodded solemnly. Turning back to Lily, Sirius found Lily already had her mind back on the parchment. Yet, feeling his eyes, she said, 'Sirius, you got a few twigs among your hair.'

This was the last day of their deal. As they were having their lunch, they talked excitedly about some interesting muggle habits with Katrina completely out of their mind. Then, James, his mouth full with pumpkin juice, raised a question, 'so, when do you want my book?'
Lily swallowed a mouthful of milk. She had totally forgotten about their dea. How could she forget? It was her ultimate goal!
Or was it? A voice inside her squeaked and Lily felt those funny feelings coming up in her stomach again.
The milk. I've drunk too much of it. She tried to convince herself.
'I want it at seven in that morning. And you better get it ready at the exact time. Else, I'm going straight to Katrina and tell her everything about your stupid plan.' She threatened.
'No need to be so harsh, honey. The book will be right in your precious hands at that time sharp.'
'Good.' Lily nodded with satisfaction. But if she had caught the sparks in James's eyes, she wouldn't be so sure.

The afternoon session had been cancelled due to the Hogsmede visit. Students was around every part in Hogwarts, enjoying a lesson-free afternoon. The four friends were having an after-lunch stroll, throwing stones into the great lake when Peter collapsed onto the fallen leaves.
'What's the matter, Peter?' The others rushed to his aid.
'Wanna throw up...' He groaned and moaned.
Lupin, having carried Peter's arm over his shoulder, said, 'must've been the pumpkin juice and milk. He drank them both.'
James stared unbelievably at Peter and offered to help. 'No, I can bring him to Madam Pomfrey myself.' Lupin refused.
With a wink at Sirius unseen to James, Lupin dragged Peter towards the school building, leaving behind them a trail of milky brown stuff.


10. Are you sure?

Lily fell onto her bed.
'What're you doing?' Nalia asked, looking rather shocked.
'Taking a nap.'
'I thought you were going to Hogsmeade with James.'
'I am.'
'It's only thirty minutes away.'
'That's why I'm taking a quick nap.'
Nalia sighed, and kneed beside her friend's bed. 'Lily, do you not have a drop of female instinct inside your blood?'
'Excuse me? Female instinct?'
'Lily, it's your first date with James.' Lily stared. 'Okay, pretended date with him. Surely you don't want to dress in that?' Nalia pointed at her baggy sweater.
'I'll be dressed in Hogwarts uniform. Nobody will ever see what's underneath.'
'How about your hair?'
'I lost my brush.'
'You can borrow mine.'
'I don't need half an hour to comb my hair.'
'Oh yes you do. Now get up and get ready.'
Lily looked at her lazily from the pillow.
Nalia sighed again. 'Lily, don't you feel nervous, not a bit at all?'
'Why should I?'
'It's a guy, after all. And it's no other guy but James Potter.' Nalia said as if it explained everything, yet, Lily looked like she was still staying right in the centre of the fog.
'Can't you feel, how to say, butterflies in your stomach?'
Lily thought for a second. 'A bit hungry, that is true.'
Nalia growled. 'Get up now and I'll help you with your hair.'
'But-'
'No more buts!'
Lily, like a daughter in front of a scowling mother, obediently sat down on an armchair and let Nalia to deal with her hair.
'You just threw my hair band away!'
'Because you don't need it. See? You hair brings out the colour of your eyes. You look beautiful.'
'But I feel unfortable.'
'Looks are the most important things for girls, Lily. Most of the guys around here only care for good-looking girls.' Oh how right they do. Nalia's anger steamed up at the picture of a prefect Katrina in Frank's arms.
'It's not like I'm trying to fish a husband around here, Nalia.'
'Lily, you must make that harpy feel as horrible as possible.'
'Harpy? You call Katrina a harpy?' Lily was surprised. Nalia seldom spoke ill of other girls.
'The way she throws her gazes upon other males even when she's with Frank...it makes me sick.'
'So you know.'
'Yes, and thanks for not telling me earlier, cos I can't stand it.'
Enough about her worries, Nalia had her attention focused on her friend. 'Lily,' her tone serious, 'do you have any feelings towards James? Anything at all? Like a little...love?'
'What? No way! I hate him!' Lily was insulted at the accusation.
'Are you so sure of everything?'
'Of course I'm sure.' Lily gripped the bottom of her sweater. She had to be sure-knowing dearly what the consequences of loving a person would be. She had a distasteful sister and two dead parents back at home to prove it to her constantly, thank you very much.

'See? My stone hopped for four times.'
'I once had it for five times over the water.'
'So, Remus told me you were going to meet Lily here for the visit.'
'Yes.' James stopped his game, preparing himself for Sirius's next question. He knew Sirius did not say that just to remind him.
'Are you sure you two are only pretending to be an item?' Sirius dropped his stone as well and looked at James.
'Absolutely. You don't think we're doing it the other way around, do you?' James joked.
Sirius did not laugh, 'if you say so.'
James stared at Sirius. It's odd to see him so confused and troubled. He was always so carefree and playful. Sirius was concerned about him, so was Lupin. They, his friends, looked as if they didn't want to see him getting hurt.
But why will I get hurt?
Why?
James couldn't tell for sure.


11. The giant squid

Someone was running towards them.
'Oh no...how does she know I am here?' James flared furiously at Sirius, 'you tell her?!'
'No way! Run!' Sirius pushed James.
'It's too late!'
Indeed, the someone, who turned out to be the infamous Catti, had already crashed herself into James. Locking her arms around his neck, she attempted to give him a kiss but was fortunately blocked by Sirius's hand.
'Help me,' said James through clutched teeth.
Sirius was angered as well. He was going to have a nice, quiet guy talk with James when she intruded upon them.
'James, please forgive me and say you want me back. Pleeaassee?' Catti purred.
Even with the power of two guys, Catti still stuck to James like bees to honey.
The pushing and pulling by James and Sirius came to a halt. Another was coming their way and was undoubtedly Lily.
Gotta hide was all James could thought of. He seemed to forget Lily and him were merely pretended lovers.

'Hello, Lily.' Sirius smiled weakly at her.
'Hi, Sirius.' Lily looked around him. 'Have you seen James? He told me to meet him here.'
'James's just left to meet McGonagall. He asked me to tell you to wait in the common room. Why don't we go now? It's getting windy here.' Sirius suggested.
'Alright.' Her eyes met his.
Sirius sighed. 'Well, let's go.'
'Grrr......'
'What's that?' Lily asked instantly.
'That's just the giant squid.' Sirius explained quickly.
'No, look. There're bubbles. Somebody's drowning.' Lily hurried towards the lake, with Sirius cursing to himself behind her.
'See? There're no bubbles. It's simply your imagination. Come on, James must be waiting for us now.' Sirius had to lure Lily as far away from the lake as possible.
'But there's something down there.' Lily pointed. That thing was simply too conspicuous for Sirius to deny seeing.
'It's the giant squid.'
'It looks smaller than usual.'
'Refraction of light.'
'It has hair.'
'Winter's coming.'
'It is multicoloured.' Lily was staring at him now.
'Bites. It's been bitten by lake mosquitoes.'
The whole thing sounded ridiculous even to him. Sirius shook his head in frustration. Sorry, James.

At last, the so-called giant squid burst out of the water and was revealed under the midday sun to be James and Catti. James pushed the girl upward with Sirius's help and got out of the lake himself. Both dripped and panted vigorously.
'Hullo, Lily,' greeted James.
Lily just stared.
A minute later, she got back her senses. 'What were you two doing down the lake?'
'It's her wand...she dropped it to the bottom of the lake. Here you are er...miss.' James handed the girl her wand.
Catti looked as if she wanted to do something, yet a murdering stare from James stopped any attempt of doing so.
'Well, I guess I should wait in my dormitory until you are er...drier,' said Lily.


12. Awaken

After at least twenty minutes of persuading, explaining, begging and threatening with Sirius's help. James could finally get rid of Catti.
The second the girl had sobbingly left, James fell onto the ground and breathed, 'girls.'
Siriu asked pointedly, 'are you in love with her?'
'Catti? Never.'
'No, Lily!'
'How many times do I have to say that we're only pre-'
'James!' Sirius shook his friend's shoulders as hard as he could make him understand. 'Look at me, and wake up. We-Remus and I thought so in the beginning, and made fun of it. But can't you see even for now? It's right in front of you. At first, perhaps all you want to do is only to piss Katrina off, but gradually, there's no Katrina, and now it's only you and Lily. James, do you know every time when you talked to her, your eyes lit up? Do you remember you never mind if I was flirting with your girls? Do you understand why you jumped into the lake just now?' Sirius released his friend. 'When you didn't even think of avoiding Katrina when she saw you with Catti. Do you know why, James?'
Because I never cared about Katrina. I didn't care if she would saw me with another girl or not.
But why did I jump into the lake to avoid Lily? Why did I suddenly care so much about how Lily felt?
James looked at his friend for answers. Sirius sighed, 'because she stole your heart without you realizing it.'
James thought of the night when he was in the prefects' bathroom with Lily.
...her eyes are so green.
'James, you're in love with her.'
Sirius watched in sympathy at his friend who looked thunderstruck with the idea.
James, but the most important thing is not how deep you're in love with her, but is whether she has any feelings towards you or not.
You two are in a play. In a play, only the characters will fall in love with each other, not the players. The play will end, and it will end soon. Then, everything that happened in the play will no longer exist. You cannot bring something pretended into the reality. Because it is not real.
When that moment comes, what will you do?
And what will you do afterwards, James?

The real giant squid broke of the fluttering water, and skidded idly across the lake.
Sirius dropped next to James. 'Remember in year one when I got caught for fishing the squid with Snape's vest?'
'Yes.' James had to let out a laugh. 'And you were ordered to clean all the Slytherin boys' vests that day...without magic.'
'What a nightmare. The Slytherins themselves were stinking enough, believe me. The second I got of the room of Slytherin vests, I wondered if my nose would ever function properly again.'
'You could still sniff girls well.' James did not hesitate to add.
'That's my instinct. Losing it, Sirius would be fallen.' The confident Sirius said.
James asked quietly, 'Sirius, are you interested in Lily?'
Sirius stretched his arms. 'Do you mean the kind of interest I hold for every single female in this world? I think I do.'
James thudded him playfully.
'Come,' Sirius patted his lap, 'Lily's probably waiting for you.'

'Who will knock a dormitory door?' Gem, dressing in a bathrobe and had her head wrapped with a towel, complained as she went and got the door.
With her eye wrinkles removers, she couldn't quite make out the tall person standing out there. Releasing a growl, Gem pulled them away, and found her looking at two rows of white teeth that Snape could never dream to have, above, two sparkling brown eyes behind a pair of round black-framed glass, and a head of messy jet hair that actually looked pretty stylish to her.
James was startled when the girl banged the door hardly in front of his face, and even more so when he heard her screaming 'it's James Potter! And he saw me with a slice of lemon over each of my eyes! Ahhh!!!'
James knocked again. This time, he was smart enough to proclaim his reason there. 'Is Lily here? I'd like to see her.'
Lily, stood up from her bed and rolled her eyes at the sight of her roommates, Gem, Pearl and even Nalia, who had squeezed into a corner, motioning to her to keep quiet.
The door was opened a second time. James found himself face to face with a make-up free, or rather lemon-free, properly dressed Lily.
'Is your roommate all right?' He frowned after the empty beds. 'Where is she?'
'They.' Lily corrected. 'Probably hiding under their beds. Shy.' She mouthed the last word.
James seemed to understand.
'Are you dry now, squid?'
'Yup. Let's go.' He led her down the stairs.


13. Green and black

On the way to the Hogsmede village, there were neither words nor attacks between them. James, his hands in his robe pockets, looked up at the sky all the time. Lily, arms-crossed, had her eyes fixed on the ground along the road. Everything, even the birds, was unusually quiet.
A hawker, catching the sight of the brand-new sneakers that appeared under James's robe, knew he had found a potential customer. As James and Lily passed his cart, he hopped out in front of them.
'Good day, my lord and lady. My name's Samaro, and I welcome you to my humble shop. Would you like to have a look at my wares? Egyptian, Chinese, European...anything you ask, I will likely provide you.' He grinned widely.
James took a peek at his store. 'Well, a quick look won't hurt.' He eyed Lily for her will.
'Sure.' She answered shortly.
The hawker, having judged by himself what was between the two, grinned even wider, showing his silver molar.
'Maybe, something for a girl?' He turned to James. 'A very special girl.'
Lily suddenly appeared tense. James, catching her look, determined to let the play continue. 'Perhaps.' He sniggered at Lily.
'Mmm...not like any normal girl. Probably not the silly, giggling type. A girl who has the equal share of beauty and wisdom, isn't it?' The merchant winked at James. 'I think I just get the right thing for her here.' His bald head was no where to be seen among his many crates for a minute. 'Uh-huh, here it is.'
In his hand was a necklace. He held it up to Lily and James's face. It appeared to be a black string with an emerald in the middle. The emerald glowed with a golden glint under the afternoon, giving it an almost unearthy look.
'No. This is not neccessary, I don't want-' Lily let out.
'I do believe I am talking to this gentleman here.'
'But we're only pretending to be in a relationship.'
'That's what all the lovers always say in the beginning.'
'James!' Lily scowled at the boy beside her. 'Remember I had only promised to be-'
'Oh, shut up, honey.' James smiled warmly at her. 'And put it on.' He ringed the string around her neck.
Do not blush, do not blush. Lily commanded silently to herself as James's eyes were on her neck, fixing the necklace lock.
'Thanks a lot. That'll keep the girl happy, for now.' James paid the merchant generously.
After James had his feet back on the road, Lily, not sure of how she should react, decided she should set James's cloak on fire with her glares as she followed behind him.
Observing their every move, Samaro sighed, 'ah, youth.'

The footsteps of Lily ceased.
'James?'
'Yes?'
'I er...want to go to the lavatory.'
'You want me to wait for you here?'
'That's...not neccessary. Why don't you wait for me in the Three Broomsticks?'
'Kay.' James shrugged.
Lily pushed the door on her left and entered the ladies' washroom.
There were no reasons for her to be here. She just want to...get away from James.
For some reason.
Lily could not describe what had been happening. She did not know.
Or she did not want to know.
However, whatever the reason was, she felt miserable, and-
What is happening to me?
She looked into mirror, into her emerald eyes, and at the emerald stone hanging on the black string.
The mirror said, 'you look very nice in that necklace. Do you know green always looks great against black?'
Lily, her fingers on the stone, smiled weakly.
James's hair was jet black.


14. Some scar that shouldn't be mentioned

If Lily had not had glued her eyes at the sight of James surrounded by girls, she would have noticed many guys had their gazes upon her entry. The Three Broomsticks were packed with customers in every inch possible. Here and there were a few Hogsmede villagers and travelers dotted in the massive fog of black that were the Hogwarts students. After a great deal of cut and thrust, Lily found James not looking too pleased with the attention he got either.
Catching the presence of Lily, the giggling girls hid their teeth and scattered away back into the crowd like Dementors facing a Expecto Patronum.
Only now did James truly noticed Lily had let her hair down. Her green eyes under the long red hair reminded him of yesterday's little accident. Yes, even though James had pretended as if nothing had happened for the whole morning, he still remembered exceptionally clear where the hairbrush in his robe pocket came from. Since he dared not to risk the chance that his roommates might found a lily-patterned brush under his pillow, he carried it with him anywhere he went. That fact that Lily had suddenly loosen her hair nearly made James believe she read his mind last night. Regardless, he had to smile in appreciation at her feminine look.
The waitress came by and took their orders.
'Butterbeer.' The couple, okay, pretended couple said in union and brought a smile on the waitress's face.
James raised a brow. That explained the mystery of the prefects' bathroom door.
'So...what are we doing here?' Lily asked after a sip of her drink.
'Waiting for Katrina and Frank. All Hogwarts students came here eventually.'
Why did he have to lie? James thought. Sirius's right. He didn't seem to care about Katrina or Frank's affairs. He just wanted to...
He shook his head. Couldn't be. This was a dream-a bad dream. When he opened his eyes again, all he could see would be the top of his four-poster bed. Then he would realize everything was a sympton of hormonal imbalance.
James shut his eyes tight and forced them open again. Still, he was staring into Lily's face. Strangely, he couldn't have those thoughts, which would definitely be despised by his conscience, on Lily. It wasn't some stupid teenage nonsense. Right now, his heart sank at the thought that he might not be able to see those green eyes so closely after this day.
What would happen when their deal was over? Would they still eat together like this? Or would they switch back to the sort of relationship they had before?
James knew he couldn't.
Could she?
She seemed to enjoy it. Was it because of him? Or only for the sake of Nalia?
Lily's touch kicked him back to the Three Broomsticks. Her fingers had brushed aside his hair and pointed at a scar on his forehead.
'What's that?'
'When I'm six, a cupboard fell on me. Luckily, my dad's nearby and he saved me from a very painful death, though I ended up with this scar.'
'Cupboard fell on you? You weren't stealing cookies, were you?' Lily teased.
'Then I'd deserved the death. No. A wizard set it on me.'
'A wizard? Why?'
'Dad's the chief auror. And he's got plenty of people hating him, sending death threats, and, you know, that sort of things.'
'Were anyone in your family...hurt?' The light in Lily's eyes faded.
'Mom died one time. But we're fine, dad and I.' The picture of his mother lying lifelessly beside the fireplace still hunted his memories. But he had shed enough tears for her at that time, and there was no use to moan for the dead too much. 'Your mother will not visit you from heaven and write you letters everyday if you spend all day crying and doing nothing.' His father had threatened. Even though James knew it all along that it was him who wrote those letters, as his father's 'i' always lacked the dot, he didn't say anything. It was their secret way of supporting each other through that tough time, after all.
Lily looked at him in an almost un-Lily way and that made him feel uneasy.
'How about yours?' He asked and jolted instantly. You weren't there, remember?
Lily's arms, in some reason, moved protectively in front of her chest, and wore an expression of typical Lily. 'How do you know? Nalia told you about it?' She scowled.
'Yeah, Nalia and I spent so much time these days that she told me everything about you including that scar...I see you aren't laughing...I mean, everybody's got a couple of scars on them, right?'
'But you sounded so sure...Ouch! What did you kick my leg for?'
James turned his head away from Lily and cursed, 'oh, damn.'
During that jolt on his seat, the hairbrush had somehow slipped out of his pocket and landed under the table. James intended to kick it back to him but his foot mistakenly regarded Lily's foot as the brush and kicked at her instead.
'What the-' Lily's head disappeared under their table and when it emerged, she had the hairbrush in her hand, her eyes widened in shock.
'Thanks. It's mine.' James grabbed for it, but Lily jerked his hand away.
'You use brush with lilies on it?'
'Yes. Sirius has one with roses on it, too.' He tried to get it again.
'Where did you buy it?' She questioned harshly, and hid it behind her.
'I got it from er...my mother!'
Lily was not listening. 'No...it isn't yours. It's mine. And you...you weren't guessing about that scar...you saw it! You were in the bathroom last night! With me!'
'Uh-oh.' James watched in silent fear as Lily's chest expanded in fury, her face reddened in embarrassment and-
Before he could see more, Lily had poured her cup of butterbeer right at his face and stormed out of the pub. Other girls immediately came to his rescue.
But I had my back on you, so I didn't see anything...not much anyway.
It's all because of butterbeer! James didn't know whether to thank it or not as he dried his face with something a girl had lent him.


15. Only pretending

I was beginning to think differently of him when he-that rotten Potter rotter!
Lily had never felt angrier before. She hated Potter, she hated the prefect bathroom, she hated everything and most of all, she hated herself.
Because she didn't seem to mind about Potter watching her taking a bath.
Disgusting!
And Lily felt those funny feelings in her stomach again.
Can't you feel butterflies in your stomach? Nalia had asked.
No! It's not butterflies!
It's the butterbeer I just drank.
'Lily, wait!' James's voice reached her ears.
Don't you dare turning back. Her mind shouted at her mind. Ignore him! Ignore him forever!
Anyway, her pace had slowed down for James to get to her.
'Lily, stop! It's not what you think.'
So you want me to believe you had closed your eyes when I'm completely clotheless? Never in my life, Potter! Especially when it's you!
'Lily, look! It's Katrina and Frank.'
Lily stopped heading to Hogwarts. An image of a hurt Nalia appeared in front of her.
Lily, you must make that harpy feel as horrible as possible.
A deal is a deal. Her senses said.
The second she had turned, her mouth was sealed by James's.
Lily tried to push back , but her knees felt terribly weak. James slipped his arms under hers and embraced her around her waist. His moist lips, which tasted like butterbeer, sent electricity throughout her whole body. He kissed her so gently, so carefully that she could feel herself melting, melting inside his arms. Unconsciously, her arms crawled their way over his stiff shoulders.
When their lips broke apart. Lily looked around her.
There were no Katrina and Frank, or any other people.
There were only James and her.

Lily's eyelashes brushed against his chin. It was a funny yet comfortable sensation. James lowered his eyes to Lily's red head, expecting her explosive reaction. Her hands around his neck slid down slowly, curled into two fists and hit him weakly at his chest.
She was crying.
James raised her head and carried her soft cheeks in her hands. Her green eyes were flooding with tears.
'What's wrong, Lily?' He wiped a tear with a thumb. 'I'm-I'm sorry for kissing you. I mean-I...' His heart ached in pain.
'You said I only need to pretend...' She murmured.
'I shouldn't have lied to you about Katrina and Frank. I apologize, okay? Now, don't cry.'
'You said I only need to pretend...' she sniffed, 'to be in love with you...But I-' She broke into sobs again.
Comfort her, you idiot. His conscience scolded. But what am I supposed to say? I don't wanna see you cry...er...I will never treat you bad again...I...
Instead, James found himself saying, 'will you marry me?...Well, I swear...I mean-pretend?' James rolled his eyes. What am I talking about.
Lily, having heard every word of it, stared.


16. Just you and I

Swear it again(Westlife)

I wanna know
Whatever showed you that I was letting go
Of the only joy I had never known
Girl, they are lying

Just look around
And all the people that we seemed to care
Whom I had given up, and let them go
But with you, I'm still trying

Some people say
That dreams will never exist
Even the sweetest one will give away to time
But I'm not buying
Cos in your eyes
I have a love that burns eternally
And if you see how beautiful you are to me
You'll know I'm not lying

Sure there'll times that we wanna say goodbye
But even if we try
There are things in this life that won't be denied
Won't be denied

The more I know of you is the more that I love you
And the more I'm sure I want you forever and ever more
And the more I look into your eyes, the more that I know
Oh that I'm never gonna let you go
Gotta let you know that I

I'm never gonna say goodbye
Cos I never wanna see you cry
I swore to you my love would remain
And I swear it all over again and I
I'm never gonna treat you bad
Cos I never wanna see you sad
I swore to share your joy and pain
And I swear it all over again

So you should know this love I have is never made to die
And I'm glad we're on this one way street, just you and I
Just you and I


17. Life is short

Nalia, with her roommates still enjoying their Hogsmede visit, was alone in her dormitory reading a novel that she had just bought from a hawker named Samaro from the village. She was on page thirty of Hogwarts: A Love Story and screaming at the book, 'kiss her! Ignore the professor, you idiot!' the minute the door was pushed open. Nalia was so shocked by the tear trails on Lily's face that she jumped right out of her bed, throwing her dear novel away at the same time.
'I'm-I'm in love.' Lily cried and ran towards Nalia's open arms. Others might have laughed at this scene. But Nalia, who had been Lily's best friend for years, knew better.
'Of course you are.' She patted Lily at her head.
'You-you know?' Lily pulled away from her and looked in surprise at Nalia with misty eyes.
'Yes, Lily.'
'But how did you know?'
'Dear Lily,' Nalia sighed, 'I have suspected it since the beginning when you told me about that deal. At first I thought maybe you were really interested in that book given your personality. Then, you changed. You used to hate Potter due to some reasons. But by the way you chatted with him in the hall and talked about him to me every time ever since you've been together, I weren't so sure. And it's this James, who has a reputation of stealing a girl's heart in a second. I didn't know what to think, Lily.' She placed her hands on Lily's shoulders. 'You know what? I've a feeling that the reason you hate him so much is that you love him...Am I right?'
No, this is not true. Lily thought in horror. I hate him, I hate him because-
Because...
Where had the old Potter gone? The Potter who had hair the shape of weed and eyes the colour of dirt. Where was him?
Instead, all she could remember was a smiling James who called her honey, a caring James who looked at her with lost eyes and a noble James who bought a beautiful necklace for her.
Lily was speechless.

Gem, her hands full with bags of new clothes and make-ups, halted in astonishment as she opened her dormitory door and found her roommates crying on each other's shoulder as if both of them just got expelled. Nalia motioned to her to go away with a sniff. Gem, having thrown a last curious look, left and rushed down the stairs to search for Pearl and her usual group of gossips incinerators.
After ensuring the door had been safely closed, Nalia, who had been crying for her friend's misfortune (and a bit for herself, too), asked, 'so...what did he say?'
'He asked me to marry him.'
'Huh?' Nalia, mouth opened as widely as she could manage, jumped back in a start and shouted, 'he asked you to marry him?!'
Lily nodded sobbingly.
Nalia punched merrily at her pillow and exclaimed, 'Oh, my gosh! I was thinking that he rejected you or anything. And I've been worring about it all along (except when I was reading the novel,' Nalia added secretly.)
'What've you been worrying about?'
'It's you, Lily.' She scolded her for not understanding. 'Because I didn't know whether James liked you or not. I was afraid to see you hurt when you knew James had no real feelings towards you. But now, it's no longer a problem.'
'What do you mean by no longer a problem? It's absolutely a problem. I'm in love. Isn't that enough for a problem?'
Nalia sighed, 'Lily, I know you've been very sad since your parents was killed by You-Know-Who and your sister blaming you for it. But still you shouldn't run away from a happy life you deserve to have...Life is short, Lily, wonderfully short, and is getting shorter. You don't need to worry about the consequences of falling in love when it fails you, because, who knows, that moment may never come. Live the life. Enjoy the moment. That's what I say to you and what Gladys Lockhart says too.'
'Who's Gladys Lockhart?'
'A romance writer.' Lily glared. 'Forget it anyway. Were you happy when you were with James?'
'A little bit.' Lily replied bitterly. She would not be exactly truthful.
'See? You're happy. That's already enough. Happiness is everyone's goal. And you get it. What else can you ask for in life?'
Nalia, now giggling, stepped up to Lily and placed her ear in front of her face. 'Then, did you accept his er...proposal or not?'
'I don't know.'
'You don't know?' Nalia frowned. 'What did you say?'
Lily bent her neck and recalled, 'I said something like "so that you can now openly watch me bathing before you instead of prying me, huh?"...opps.' Lily stopped. She shouldn't have said that.
'What?! You mean he had-oh, my heavens!' Nalia, totally thunderstruck at what had been going on between these two so-called pretended lovers, had her shouts went all the way downstairs to the chattering incinerators.
Lily, on the other hand, said with a sigh, 'no, I've left my hairbrush back in the Three Broomsticks.'


18. The last night

'Lily Evans.' Lily thought about using her old password for a second, but better not. 'Gladys Lockhart.' And assigned the door one that even James could hardly imagine of, if he guessed right last time.
After placing her stuff neatly on the marble stand, she screened inch by inch across the bathroom for any other beings. She was going to check on the walls for any secret doors as well when something beside the bath pool caught her eyes.
Could it be a trap?
'James Potter, I know you're here somewhere.' Lily said aloud as she took a short walk towards the pool step after step, expecting James to pop out of the ground or drop down from the ceiling in any second. However, the second she reached the pool, she knew her effort had been in vain.
By the moving statue of the sleeping mermaid were a lily-patterned hairbrush and a note that wrote:
Jeez, Lily, I'm not here.

Sirius stretched his arms in his sleep and knocked a cup of butterbeer from the top of his drawer onto the carpeted floor. The sound of glass breaking drew groans all over the room and woke Sirius up from his sleep.
Sirius rubbed his eyes and found the bed next to his to be empty. Wearing nothing except his trunks, he walked out to the common room. If one girl remained awake, the sight of Sirius could probably make her scream so loud (in joy) that she would be able to wake up the whole school. Luckily, there was only one person down there and it was James.
'James, what're you doing? It's two.' Sirius said with a yawn.
James still had his eyes on his work. Either he didn't hear him, or he chose to ignore him.
Sirius looked closely and all his sleepiness was gone in a second. On the table that his friend was working on were a hardcover of a very thick book, hardcovers of very, very thin books, and many, many pages that seemed to be torn out from the very thick book.
'Is that your dad's book?' Sirius exclaimed. 'Are you sure what you're doing?'
That got James's attention. 'Oh Sirius? Of course I'm sure what I'm doing. Now, go back to sleep.' He said with a smile.
Sirius stared at James. He knew James had been keeping things away from them lately. For instance, he could smell shampoo on him that night when he came back from the kitchen without bringing food. Lupin said he saw James stuffing a blue hairbrush with lilies on it under his pillow. Even Peter said the apples that James had given for him to eat made him had no less than twenty visits to the toilet the next morning, although that was probably because James and him had bathed the apple in some potion that muggles used to treat constipation beforehand.
Instead of pointing out this, Sirius asked James, 'are we still going to plant the timed dungbomb under Snape's desk?'
James grinned. 'Absolutely. I'll never miss the chance for a thousand galleons.'
Even though James had said nothing to answered the many questions in his mind, when he got back to his dormitory, Sirius, being James's best friend for years, could still tell a fully awake and worried Lupin that 'he's gonna be fine.'


19. The play had begun

Sunday morning common rooms were always like midnight graveyards. The Gryffindor one today was an exceptional case. Lily and James, though both had shady circles under their eyes, some memories selectively forgotten, looked so refreshed as if they just woke up from a three days' sleep.
'That's it?' Lily moved her thumb and first finger towards each other till there was only a very thin line barely visible to naked eyes between them. 'It's this thin.'
'Well, you asked for the book my dad passed to me. And this is it.' James had to hid a smile under his hand.
Lily glanced through the book, which didn't took long as it got no more than five pages and no content page either. James did as he promised, anyway, as the golden word 'Potters' was indeed printed on the cover. She had expected it to be an ancient tome, urgh!
Lily gave a final weighing of the book and gasped desperately, 'is this all you have?'
James, however, removed his hands from his jeans pockets and said, 'did I mention my family had got booksss of this? You wanna take a look at each of them, you gotta make a deal with him.' He spread out his palm. 'Deal, honey?'
This time, Lily had to pretend to put on a fierce self-struggle look. 'Deal.' And shook his hand.

'You should've giggle.'
'I won't giggle.'
Sirius, Lupin, Peter, Nalia and tons of other Gryffindors watched in amazement as Lily and James, with lines of roaring fire across their eyes, entered the common room through the Fat Lady.
'All girls giggle.'
'Only silly girls giggle.'
'McGonagall also giggles.'
'Those are smiles.'
Somehow, the play still went on and on.

The End (mm...I have a sequel in my mind but I don't know...)















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