CHAPTER EIGHT: ABSOLUTELY ONE HUNDRED PERCENT CORKING
As his father's only son, James was heir to the Potter fortune. The Potters were pure blood as far back as thirty generations, and certain family traditions were always upheld. One of these was the taking over of the family business, which James was also expected to do. And, in the event of his father's death, James would be named the sole heir of all the wealth and properties that belonged to the family. Not many people knew just how wealthy the Potters were- only James' closest friends and other old wizarding families, of course. Not even Lily had known just how rich he was until she came to stay with James during the summer. It was the house that really gave it away.
The Potters homestead (named "Glencoe") had been in the family for years and years. It was a stately, grand old house in Dorset, practically a mansion in its entirety. It was a traditional English country house, with rolling green lawns and stables and housekeepers. Part of a small collection of other such houses in the shire, owned by other wealthy families. Normally these muggle families would associate with each other and vie for the highest position in the social set- but the Potters were subject to a lot of malicious gossip. Everyone knew they were strange, with their odd coloured smoke curling out of the chimneys and letting owls fly in and out of their windows. One of their nearest neighbours swore she saw a horse with wings lighting on the lawn once- but no one believed her. The Potters didn't really mind that they were gossipped about and feared by their Muggle neighbours, it didn't really bother them. Besides- in the wizarding world they were quite popular. (The flying horse, by the way, belongs to James. It was a birthday present from his grandfather.)
About half an hour's distance from Glencoe was the town, and since the doctors had confirmed their worst fears about Mrs. Potter she had requested to be moved back to the town, so as to be closer to her town.
The hospital was where James was now. Yawning, he leaned back in his seat and tried not to think about Lily. But it was hard. The last time he had seen her she had been tripping over her slippers as she ran alongside the Hogwarts Express in her pyjamas, for some odd reason, yelling to him about being sorry. If that wasn't bizarre…
Absent mindedly, he put his hand in his pocket and brought out the now half empty vial Lily had given him in the library. He hadn't told his mother about breaking up with Lily yet- he knew it would only upset her, as she was extremely fond of Lily and thought she was perfect for James. (So did James.)
"Here," he had said the previous day (Christmas Day), bringing it out of his pocket, "I forgot- Lily gave this to me for you." His mother had take the bottle and looked at it. "Ah…rosemary and dragon's blood," she had said. "This is a very old kind of curative." She'd smiled. "Lily's very wise. How is she, dear?"
"Fine," James had said, even though he didn't really know. His mother had taken two doses of the potion and then fallen asleep. It was horrible to see her so…helpless.
Now the doctors were running more tests on her, and he was waiting for the results. His dad had gone home to do something with the finances. He wasn't exactly sure why the doctors were running tests so late in the game- they'd already confirmed his mother was dying, so why did they have to continue?
"Mr…Potter?" said someone. Doctor Fitzgerald, white-coated and grey haired, entered the waiting room, carrying a clipboard. James got to his feet. "Yes?"
The doctor was studying the clipboard with an expression of absolute amazement. "I have some rather…good news."
James blinked. "Okay…" he said slowly. "What is it?"
The doctor cleared his throat. "Um…" he said, "It's your mother, she…well, you recall I said that after Christmas she would begin to deteriorate in earnest?"
"How could I forget?" said James humourlessly.
"Well, the fact of the matter is, Mr. Potter, erm, she's…not."
"Huh?"
"She's not…deteriorating. In fact she's gotten stronger. Ahem- a lot stronger."
James blinked again. "I'm sorry?"
"Well, take a look at the chart- as you can see her system is coping quite well with the virus and is, in fact staring to combat it, whereas before she let it consume her."
James swallowed hard. "So…what you're saying is…she's getting better?"
The doctor smiled. "Mr. Potter, that is exactly what I'm saying. And judging by this, I would say that she will continue to get better."
James felt dizzy- he leant against the wall, a huge grin spreading across his face. This was too good to be true.
"Is this…some sort of…post Christmas miracle or what, doctor?"
"It does appear to be, Mr. Potter." The doctor looked at his chart again. "We have no idea as to what actually started this remarkable change."
James looked at the vial in his hand and started to laugh. Of course. Only a force like Lily could bring about changes like this.
The doctor looked quite alarmed. "Are you all right, Mr Potter? Can I get you anything?"
James laughed some more and suddenly hugged the doctor tightly. "No. The only thing I need is miles away right now. But thanks for asking."
"Are-are you sure you're all right?" the doctor asked, breathlessly, highly unsettled by James' odd behaviour.
"Doctor, I assure you- I am absolutely, one hundred percent corking!"
*
Miles away, in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Lily wasn't doing so corkingly. She had spent Christmas day moping around the common room, wishing James was there. No amount of attempts by Remus, Sirius, Evelyn and Ingrid could cheer her up- she was miserable. She wished she'd listened to James. He'd actually said, "I didn't kiss her- she kissed me!" But she hadn't listened.
She'd acted hastily and in doing so, broken James' heart. He'd probably never forgive her- looking back on all the nasty things she'd said to him made her almost nauseous with shame. She'd ruined any chance she would ever have with the boy she loved. It was almost too terrible to bear.
"Buck up," Evelyn said to her one day as they were walking the mostly empty corridors of the school, "If he's got any sense then he'll forgive you right away."
"You don't get it Eve," Lily said. "I'm the one who wronged him- it's all my fault."
"But you're sorry, and that's the main thing!" Evelyn argued, "You know, I bet he's having a big think about it at home right now, and as soon as he gets back to school everything'll be back to normal!"
"I wish I could be as optimistic as you," Lily said, smiling ruefully. "Unfortunately, I'm realistic, and-" They both stopped in their path, as an unpleasant surprise awaited them around the corner. Stephanie Brocklehurst- she too, had stopped at the sight of Lily and Evelyn and then plastered a "holier-than-thou" expression on her face.
Lily had not talked to Stephanie since she found out the truth of what happened on the Quidditch pitch from Jack. But at the sight of the girl who had lied and thrown herself at James, she felt her blood begin to boil.
"Hello there," she said. "What are you up to?"
Lily didn't answer right away, feeling it would be too dangerous. Evelyn did, though.
"Hello Stephanie. Come to spread some more lies about your-" she snorted, "relationship with James?"
Stephanie raised her eyebrows. "I don't know what you're talking about, Evelyn. My relationship with James is completely and utterly honest." She shot a triumphant smirk at Lily. Evelyn prepared to go and rip out Stephanie's ringlets, but Lily once again, grabbed her in time to stop her doing something stupid. To her great surprise, she felt an amazing calm spread over her, even though usually the sight of that horrible smirk on Stephanie's face made Lily want to slap her. But now, instead of thinking "Oh my god, I hate her SO much", Lily was thinking, "Oh my god. What an idiot." Stephanie was deluding herself into believing that James loved her- though Lily knew James probably didn't love herself any more, Stephanie had forced him into something he clearly hadn't wanted to do. And yet here she was claiming complete and total relational bliss. She was completely barking mad! Whereas before for Stephanie Lily had only felt an immense hatred, now she just felt pity. A smile stretched across her face. Stephanie raised her eyebrows at Lily haughtily, as if to ask, "And who on earth gave you the right to smile, Lily Evans?"
Aloud, Stephanie said, "What's so funny?"
Lily grinned at her. "Your ego. It's even bigger than your head- and, between you and me, Steph-" she leaned forward and dropped her voice to a whisper, "That's saying something."
Stephanie narrowed her eyes at Lily. "You little witch," she snarled, "You're just jealous because I can keep a boyfriend and you can't."
"Oh, nice insult Stephanie- so you figured out I'm a witch, well done," said Lily rolling her eyes, 'And yes, I know you can keep a boyfriend- it's just that no one else can see him."
"Oooh!" Evelyn said, now grinning, "Meow, Lily!"
Lily shot her friend a smile as Stephanie struggled not to choke on her rage and think of a suitable comeback.
"Oh that's rich, coming from you, she said finally, "I mean, in case you hadn't noticed I'm the one who has a boyfriend, while you cling to some pathetic pipe dream of getting back together with him!"
The hypocrisy of her statement merely made Lily smile. "I suppose that would be terrible from your point of view- after all, you're one of those girls who believe they're only worth as much as their boyfriend in the social set."
'What would you know about being social?" Stephanie sneered, "All you do is stay up in Gryffindor tower studying all day- you care more about books than people!"
"At least books offer some sort of use," Lily said calmly, "However, the only thing you care about Stephanie- yourself, that is- can offer no use at all, I'm afraid."
At this Evelyn began to laugh. Stephanie narrowed her eyes at her and then turned her venom gaze back to Lily. Her eyes were by now so narrow they were slits in her face. "Well, obviously James doesn't think so," she said smugly, "he thinks I'm worth a million pounds- he said so."
Lily raised her eyebrows, knowing instinctively that James would have said no such thing. "Stephanie- you honestly think that I care? You know, your problem is you care so much about the opinion of other people that you forget everyone else is independent enough to live their own lives, and doesn't care what your boyfriend said to you. You may think you're in control but really, you're living a life run by the social demand. Well, I'd like to know what you're going to do after graduation, Stephanie. No prospects, no grades, no social ladder to claw your way up, no "lesser" human beings to pick on, and most of all, no one to care that you happen to be going out with a Quidditch player." She stared right into Stephanie's malevolent hazel eyes. "I pity you, Stephanie, I really do."
Stephanie stared at her, speechless, for a good five seconds before Lily shrugged, sighed and made to walk past her. Then, unable to resist letting Stephanie know her web of lies had been uncovered, Lily stopped. "Oh, and by the way, Stephanie- 'I don't need her, I need you?" she shook her head. "Grow up. Where'd you get that line from, a muggle soap opera?"
Evelyn let out another peal of laughter before running after Lily, who was striding down the passage way, her head held high.
"That was bloody brilliant," Evelyn declared as she caught up to Lily.
Lily grinned. " I know I shouldn't have enjoyed that. It was petty and stupid and wrong and won't do anything to budge her tiny little mind from the frame it's in."
"But it felt good, though, didn't it?" Evelyn said, grinning devilishly. The girls looked at each other and then collapsed into giggles, leaning on the stone wall. For a while, they couldn't stop.,
"I fear I may have come at an unwelcome time," said a voice suddenly. Lily opened her eyes. It was Dumbledore.
"Oh- I'm s-sorry, excuse us Professor," Lily said, struggling to regain control and straightening up immediately.
"Do you mind if I ask what the joke is?" he asked curiously, a twinkle in his blue eyes.
"Uh-" Evelyn and Lily exchanged a glance. 'You wouldn't get it, Professor," Evelyn said. Dumbledore nodded.
"Ah- of course. I'm sorry, Miss O'Kelly, but I wondered if I might be able to accompany Miss Evans back to Gryffindor Tower alone."
Evelyn looked at Lily, then at the professor, "Sure thing, professor, no problem."
"Thanks you, my dear." Dumbledore put a hand on Lily's shoulder and led her down the corridor in the direction Lily had just came. She was glad to see that Stephanie had cleared off- probably to the Ravenclaw common room to bitch about Lily to her friends.
"You're not having a very Merry Christmas, are you, my dear?"
Lily looked up at Dumbledore, not really that surprised. Dumbledore seemed to know everything that went on in Hogwarts, especially if it concerned her and James. Dumbledore looked at her and smiled sympathetically. "I doubt Mr. Potter is, either. He's lost a great many things this year…" a troubled sigh escaped the old man's throat, "His final year of school, as well. When one is supposed to have the time of one's life. You should be enjoying it, Lily."
"I know Professor," Lily said sadly. "But…there's too much other stuff going on. I don't have time to have the time of my life. What with study and…James, and…and everything."
"Miss Evans," said Dumbledore, smiling kindly, "you should know that I have absolute confidence in your abilities. I am assured that if you cut down your own study time by half, you would still top the year."
"Except James," said Lily, '"but he doesn't study much at all."
"I know, and have been approached by Minerva, asking me to give him some advice on how to study. Far be it from me to give study pointers," the headmaster said, "I was easily distracted in my own youth, and I was lucky to get any study done at all." Lily looked up at the headmaster, agape. Surely he was joking- he didn't look like it. He smiled at her kindly, though, and said, "One does not need perfect grades to go far, Miss Evans."
Lily looked down at her feet. Coming from Dumbledore, a man who had achieved such great things in his own right, the advice seemed almost sensible. But, on the other hand, she couldn't afford not to study- grades were all she had. She couldn't' do anything else, being, as she was, not much of an athlete, too shy to perform and too sensible to spout poetry. True, she handled a broomstick almost as well as James himself but had declined a position on the Quidditch team, fearing it would get in the way of her studies- in which she could base an entirely secure future. She couldn't even get up the courage to tell James how sorry she was- all she could do was yell it at him as a train sped him away from. She couldn't even get him off the stupid train. She shook her head. 'I don't know Professor- I don't think I'm much good at anything else."
"I don't know," mused Dumbledore, "I happened to see you chasing after the Hogwarts express the other day, and I must say it was the finest example of cross country running I ever saw."
Lily smiled despite herself. "But I didn't catch him, Professor…I stuffed up. I couldn't stop him." She shook her head again, 'Like I said, I'm not much good at anything apart from school."
"But, remember Miss Evans, it is our choices, rather than our abilities, that show our true strengths. And you, my dear, have an amazing knack for telling the truth." He stopped suddenly, and turned to her- Lily realised with a shock that they were in front of the portrait hole- she'd been so absorbed in her talk with Dumbledore she hadn't even noticed. He turned to her, and handed her a purple envelope. Lily took it and looked up at him, puzzled.
"Just think of it as a late Christmas present," he said gently. "You're an honest, open person, Lily. You owe the truth to him." And with that, he gave her one last twinkling smile, and walked off down the corridor. Lily slit open the purple envelope with trembling hands. Inside was one ticket for the Knight Bus- from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to Dorset.
*
James walked out of the hospital gates, feeling happier than he had in a long, long time. Happier than he had since he had gone back to Hogwarts. It had only been four months ago, yet it seemed so much longer…
He wrapped his cloak tighter around himself as a chilly wind blew leaves across the snow-laden ground. He would walk back to Glencoe- it was only half an hour's walk- he would owl Sirius and Remus to tell them the good news, and then he would get some sleep. It felt like he hadn't slept easy since August. But that had been the start of all the trouble, he realised, when his mother went in for that first test. For the first time since then, everything seemed so much better. Since the news that his mother was going to recover the previous day, he felt like he hadn't stopped smiling. Neither had his dad. Yesterday, when Mr. Potter had been told the news of his wife's health, he had wept from sheer happiness.
Another smile crossed his face as he walked through the main, cobbled street of the town. It was such a great feeling to be really, truly happy.
But you're not, he reminded himself. It was true. He couldn't be truly happy unless he had Lily. He could admit it to himself- he needed her because he still loved her. It was good to get it off his chest- if only to himself- but it was a very depressing feeling knowing that he could never have her back. He'd ruined any chance he'd had with her by letting Stephanie Brocklehurst kiss him. If I only I weren't so…weak. If only I was strong like her, none of this would have ever happened. I must be the only man in the world who lets himself cry.
Yet again, his mind strayed to when he had last seen her, running alongside the train. He couldn't stop himself dreaming about what it meant- could it be that she was running to see him because she wanted to get back together?- but he tried to dispel as many of his theories as possible. He couldn't allow himself to get hopeful, or it would be an even bitterer disappointment when he would finally get it through his skull that she wanted nothing to do with him.
It was the middle of the day, but the town was fairly deserted. Most people, James surmised, were inside keeping warm. It was cold, but James continued walking through the town and out onto the road that led out of it into the wilder part of the countryside anyway, kicking up snow with his boots so that it glittered in the weak winter sunlight. Hurried footsteps crunching towards him prompted him to look up. A girl was running along the path towards him, head bent, arms wrapped around herself to keep warm. She had a hat on so he couldn't see her face, but, he thought, she must have been cold, wearing only a sweater and jeans.
"Careful!" he cried, as she nearly barrelled into him. He held out his arms to steady her.
"I'm sorry, I-" The girl suddenly gasped and turned. "James?"
James felt the world stop around him. It was Lily. It was Lily? "L-Lily?" She took off her hat, letting her hair fall down around her shoulders. "Wha-What're you doing here?"
"What are you doing here? I thought you were meant to be at the hospital!"
"No, I'm walking home to get some sleep, because-" he stopped and shook his head. "Hold on- his is bizarre. You're supposed to be at Hogwarts- what are you doing running into the village?"
She opened her mouth, shut it again, and took a nervous step back. She was still breathless from running "Um, I came on the Knight Bus. Dumbledore, um, gave me…a ticket."
"He did?" James said, by now thoroughly confused. "Oh…" There passed between them a long silence in which neither of them met the other's eyes. "Um…how are you?" James said finally.
"F-fine…" Lily said, breathing hard still. "And you? How's your mum?"
"Good, great. She's, um, going to be all right."
Lily's face lit up. "You mean she's not going to…?" James shook his head and grinned. Lily grinned too.
"Oh, James! That's- that's so wonderful! How did it happen?"
James shrugged. "Christmas miracle?" He stuck his hands in his pockets. "I was just walking home then."
"Oh…I…went to your house but they told me you were at the hospital…so I was going there."
"Oh," said James, feeling a little surge of happiness. She came to see me. But why?
"James," said Lily suddenly, "I…we…there's, um, something I've got to say…" She was still breathless, but not from the running. Her nose and cheeks were rosy with the cold, and her breath was coming out in little puffs of steam. James stared into her face. "Y-yes?"
"I…I…" Lily was having trouble getting it out. She looked as though she would burst into tears at any second. "I'm- I'm not really sure how to say this, um…" She fiddled with the hat in her hands and then, looked up into his eyes.
"I'm sorry," she said, wretchedly. "I'm sorry about…everything. I'm sorry I did homework instead of being with you. I'm sorry I told you to grow up and sort out your own problems. I'm…I'm sorry I got jealous. I'm sorry I didn't listen when you tried to explain- I'm sorry I didn't think you'd be able to explain, I'm so sorry, James, I..." There were definite tears blossoming in her eyes now. "Everything, it's all my fault. If hadn't been so stupid and cruel and selfish and only thinking of my grades then we wouldn't be…like this. I'm so very sorry. I feel so…" she gave a little sob and covered her face with her hands. "I'm sorry- don't look at me like this."
"Wh-why not?" James said, finally finding words. He desperately wanted to reach out and comfort her…
"Because, I know that you'll feel sorry for me and want to comfort me, because that's the kind of sweet, beautiful person that you are, and I don't deserve to be comforted by you after everything I've done this year. I've been so mean and horrid and I just wish we could go back to the start of the year so I could try again…" The tears seem to subside a bit, and she uncovered her face, sniffling. She looked up at him again. "I'm so sorry," she whispered. "I was getting mad at you for keeping secrets you have every right to keep, when the truth is I was keeping secrets from you as well, and I wish I'd told you…"
"You were?' said James, surprised. "But…why?"
Lily wiped her eyes with her sleeve and looked right into his eyes. "The truth is, I…I…love you…more than I've ever said. More than I thought was possible, more than anything- I'm in love with you, James. I tried not to be, all this time, just so I could stay mad at you and not feel bad for what I've done- but I couldn't help staying in love with you. I'm sorry…" she added finally, and dropped her gaze to the ground.
James couldn't speak for a while. He wanted to yell "Lily, I love you too!" but somehow the words got stuck in his throat. He couldn't do that. He had forgiven her in a second, but could she do the same for him?
"I'm…I'm sorry too," he said hoarsely. Lily, who looked like she had been expecting the worst, raised her eyes. "I'm sorry for expecting you to be at my side twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. I'm sorry I expect you to be able to sort out all my problems. I'm sorry I haven't told you the truth- I've deliberately kept a secret from you, that, really Lily, you have every right to know. And for that I'm sorry. And I'm so, so, so very sorry for kissing Stephanie Brocklehurst. I'm sorry you can never forgive or trust me again. I'm sorry I've been pretending to go out with her for the past few weeks when all the while I haven't been able to get you out of my head. I'm sorry I said, "I love you" so often that the words lose meaning. But you have to believe me, Lily, right now…" He looked at her longingly. "I'm in love with you too. I…I love you so much sometimes it hurts that I can't be with you. I'm only truly happy when you're with me, Lily. You're…you're my other half. I can't live without you. I'm trying as hard as I can right now not to run at you and hug you as tight as I can, but it's really difficult," he smiled, and Lily choked out a laugh, "I think that if I loved you much more I'd spontaneously combust. Believe me, Lily- I love you." He smiled at her adoringly. "Please, let me hug you now because if I don't soon I'm going to die."
She flew into his arms and wrapped her arms tightly around him, burying her face into his shoulder. James hugged her back- as tightly as he could. He had her in his arms again, and the world seemed so much better with her familiar smell, her familiar touch, her long thick hair. He took her face in his hands and kissed her cold cheeks, her cold nose, her forehead, raining dozens and dozens of kisses upon her face. She was kissing his face too- they were both crying now, James couldn't stop the tears of happiness coursing down his cheeks. And between kisses and tears they made breathless apologies, more declarations of love- they could have stayed like that forever, standing together and crying together and kissing each other. It wasn't long. Though, before they ran out of breath and simply held each other, crying the rest of their happy tears and breathing in each other's love. James felt Lily shivering and wrapped his coat around her, kissing her hair. She looked up at him, right into his eyes.
"I love you, Lily," he whispered. She leant up and kissed him tenderly on the lips. She didn't need to say, "I love you too" because he could feel it in the way she kissed him and held him as though she could never let go.
*
And after that James and Lily talked. They talked more honestly than they had done in months, all the way back to Glencoe. Lily told James all about how Jack O'Kelly had seen what had really happened, how she had thought that he didn't love her, and therefore felt compelled to push him away. She explained that she had tried to catch up with him at the Hogwarts Express, but hadn't known what to say. She explained that she had always been jealous of Stephanie, and had been worried at the way she flirted with him. Lily had thought the stories Stephanie had been spreading were true, and never bothered to go and find out the real version from James.
"Jack," said James, shaking his head. "What a champ that kid is. I just wish he'd spoken up sooner."
"Me too,' said Lily hanging her head. "But it was my fault for not listening to you."
"Hey, don't say that," James said sternly. "I think we should put it behind us, and some day, we'll book on this, laugh nervously, and change the subject."
James told Lily all about Stephanie Brocklehurst's attempts to flirt with him during their tutoring session and how he had tried his hardest to put her off. He told Lily all about how shocked Remus and Sirius had been after learning that James had kissed Stephanie, and how ashamed he had felt. How he had felt so unbelievably alone, with the deterioration of his mother and drifting away from Lily.
"…and if we're being perfectly honest," he said, when they had reached the large wooden doors of Glencoe, "I don't think I've ever been more miserable than when I wasn't with you."
"Well, as long as we're being perfectly honest," said Lily, grinning, "I think, since we broke up, I haven't smiled once."
"And as long as we're being perfectly, divinely honest, my dear," said James, taking her by the hand and pulling the golden handle of the doors, "I never wanted to break up in the first place." He tugged her into the hallway, laughing as he hung up his coat and her scarf on the coat stand. Nancy the maid came in and asked if he needed anything.
"No thanks Nance," said James, "But could you make up the spare room next to mine for Lily? Thanks." Nancy bobbed a curtesy and wandered off. Lily giggled as James pulled her up the wooden, spiralling staircase all the way to the third floor of the house, where James' room was.
"Oh, so you've just assumed I'm staying, have you?" she said, grinning, and James spun her under his arm.
"You're only too welcome. My dear Evans," said James, "as long as you can put up with us." He spun her again, held her close, and dipped her to the ground.
"Well, I suppose I can put up with such humble surroundings for another week," Lily said, poking her tongue out at him. James chased her into his room, caught her in his arms, and pulled her, giggling, onto his bed.
"As long as we're being, perfectly, flawlessly, utterly and wonderfully honest, my lovely Lily," James said kissing her, "I think I should tell you now that I'm serious about you." He looked into her eyes. "It should be said that I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I mean…we were only apart for a month and we…well, I was completely miserable." He looked into her beautiful eyes and kissed her again, softer this time. "Lily Evans, I love you," he said softly, "and after graduation, I want you to stay with me forever."
Lily smiled tremulously. "Well, as long as we're being perfectly, faultlessly, impeccably, exquisitely honest, my dear Mr. Potter- I think life without you…would really suck." James giggled, and it wasn't long before Lily joined in. 'I'm sorry, I ruined the moment, didn't I?"
"No, no, the moment's still there," said James, kissing her forehead. "Kind of."
They talked long into the night. They talked about Remus- when James told her the secret of Remus' disappearances Lily revealed she had suspected as much. James told her about the passage from the Whomping Willow to the Shrieking Shack, how Remus hated his transformations so much he practically hated himself, how he was afraid to tell Evelyn because he thought she would hate him, and how, in their second year, they had decided to do something to help him. And he transformed into the stag in front of her, to show her exactly what they had done. She had screamed when a stag appeared in the room and then turned back into James, but sat and listened, open mouthed, as James told her all about turning into Animagi. He expected her to get mad or lecture him, or break up with him again- but she didn't.
"James- you know what you've done is…just incredibly dangerous and illegal, don't you?" she said, raising her eyebrows at him. James nodded nervously. There was a look on her face very reminiscent of Professor McGonagall, and he an idea he was about to be for a serious reprimanding. "But," she said, and suddenly she smiled, "It's also really amazing. You've done some very powerful magic and you did it all for Remus. I can't deny it worries me that you're out traipsing the grounds with a werewolf- but I'm proud of you." She stood up and took his hands. "This is why I love you. You're one of the most generous, giving people I know, and I hope you never change."
James smiled, feeling a bit weak with relief. "Thanks. Crikey, I thought I was done for then." Lily grinned and kissed him- they stayed like that until Lily suddenly broke away with a laugh, "Oh my god, I get it!"
"Get…what?" James asked, confused.
"Your nickname! Prongs!" She laughed again. "I really am thick sometimes."
"Well, at least you're being perfectly honest with yourself about that," James teased.
"Oh, shut up," Lily said. Once again, they brought their lips together in a long tender kiss. It was impossible to describe the sheer happiness and comfort they felt when they were together- it had only been a little more than a month but the separation had been unbearable for two people who loved each other as much as they did.
