A/N: Okay, Chpt 11 here for you guys! Hope you enjoy it! Thanx for all the encouraging reviews...keep 'em coming! :) he he...
Disclaimer: I'll shut up for once here. I only need to say, all HP characters and the Hogwarts Express are not mine. They're JK Rowling's, so don't be so crazy to SUE ME!
Everyone finally understood. They got a closer look at the guy who was fighting Avery. It was really James! And he was fighting with him for Lily.
Suddenly everything came to a standstill. The only thing that Lily could hear was the rapid beating of her own heart, and the only thing she could see was the flushed face of Minerva, guilty at her unexpected betrayal.
Shame...oh, the shame... Those were the thoughts that burned in Lily's mind, lingering there to torture her until she forced herself to close her eyes to shut this embarrassment out...only to find that when she opened her eyes to accept reality, it didn't really matter anymore. It was as if she had suddenly changed and understood what Dawn meant about her worrying too much of the destruction of her image. Now that she was in the situation, she found it was rather needless to. Somehow, that deep love for James made her immune to what people might say about her. He was too precious to her, and she wouldn't let him get hurt by anything she did, even if that meant giving up her popularity.
Striding over to a shocked James, she pulled him up to his feet and wrapping one arm around his waist, she began, "That's right. I am dating James Potter. I love James. In actual fact, I love him more than anything, even though we're not supposed to be together. I love his eyes, I love his hair, but most importantly, I love him because he loves me for what I am inside, not who I am outside. And I used to worry about how you people would react if you found out. But now..."
She glanced at James, touched at all he had done for her. All her adoration and longing for him welled up inside her and she smiled. She truly knew that this would be the love of her life.
"I find that I don't really care anymore. So you can say what you want, but I won't ever, ever stop loving him."
Another lapse of silence.
Then, suddenly, the whole body of students applauded. Some girls were even crying, obviously moved by Lily and James' story. Lily hadn't expected this was what she would get for telling the truth. Feeling decidedly elated and contented, she embraced James, which caused the crowd to cheer louder.
"They understand. They really understand," Lily murmured.
"I thought so," replied James, equally as happily.
"That's enough," someone's sharp voice had cut through the air like a scalpel. It turned out to be Dumbledore, and he was looking furious.
Everyone turned their surprised faces to Dumbledore.
He stood up, making himself seem more intimidating. "You fools. You think their love story is so great! Well, I daresay I disapprove of it!"
Everyone gasped in direction to Dumbledore.
Why? I thought he was more understanding and compassionate than that! Is a centuries-old feud really that important to him? What's wrong if we break the tradition? It is a happy one and should not be deemed impossible! Even though people belong to different houses, their hearts and minds work the same way, and should not be separated if they were meant to love! Lily thought.
Everyone else seemed to be thinking the same thing and they waited impatiently for Dumbledore to give his answer.
"What kind of...of atrocity is this? Slytherins and Gryffindors never go together. Forget about your lame love story. End it now, we'll all be happy. Dismissed," Dumbledore said angrily, every syllable of each word he spoke resounding with rage. He left the room quickly in long, swift strides.
Everyone left in confusion after that. They always thought Dumbledore was kind, but now he had just done the most horrible thing on earth. Neither James nor Lily could comprehend the reason for Dumbledore's anger at their being together. But all they knew was, as long as they remained in Hogwarts, under the watchful eye of Albus Dumbledore, they were definitely forbidden to see each other.
*
"Don't worry, everyone still loves the fact that you and James are a couple. You two are like, so together," Dawn said comfortingly, as they boarded the Hogwarts Express home for the last time.
"I can't believe it's the last day of our last year already!" Lily whined. "And..." Lily sighed. "I still don't know what to do! I love James so much I can't live without him! I've never felt so strongly about anyone else before! If Dumbledore separates us..."
"Well, stop wondering, because the guy of your dreams is heading this way now!" Dawn squealed.
"Where?" Lily said frantically, scanning the compartment keenly.
"Outside, silly," Dawn said patiently.
Lily jumped up from her seat, and dodging the gathering crowds of people, she jostled her way out, elbowing a few rude people on the way.
Then Lily noticed James, twenty thousand people away.
"Great," Lily muttered, wondering how Dawn could have ever spotted him. Grumbling about how stuffy the platform was, Lily tried to make her way through, to part the crowds, but it was as if practically everyone was blocking her on purpose, and her feet were getting stepped on a million times. Getting desperate, she summed up all her might to scream that magnificent name.
"James!" Lily shrieked. "James!"
He saw her, but his moving mouth made no sound; the crowd was too raucous for Lily to hear.
"Damn you people!" Lily said loudly and irritably. An elderly couple stared at her disapprovingly for making that comment. But Lily didn't care, she was too anxious. She hadn't seen James for days. She couldn't, since Dumbledore was keeping her and James under close surveillance. Now was her only chance. Now was her only chance to know her destiny with James. She couldn't leave him, not knowing. She just couldn't. Or she would stop breathing on that very day.
"James!" she tried again. She outstretched her hand to reach out for him, which was quite a silly thing to do because he was still so far away. Her hands got held by someone else instead, some perverted old man Lily didn't know. Knocking the dazed stranger aside, Lily tripped over a few more people and fell flat on her face. She didn't know why, but she started to cry. It was as if her heart had finally opened up its waterworks and ached to sob. She knew she was defeated. She could never get to James. He would be gone just like that. It was all over in the space of a few minutes. Their relationship just dissolved like that. She was too late to save it.
A hand stretched out to pick her up. She took it listlessly, disappointed at her own failure. Grateful though, she looked up into the eyes of the kind soul. Satisfied, she fell into her saviour's arms. Like so many times before, he had come again. She had been hoping, in a tiny corner of her heart, that it would be him. A jubilant smile formed on her exquisite lips, her tears now running dry, as she clutched on tightly to her rescuer.
"James," she murmured softly. "Oh, James..."
"Shhh," James replied quietly. "You know, Lily, I've really been thinking. Over the past few days I realize how much you mean to me. It's been much harder to live the last few days, knowing that. So I think you might just be the one for me. The one I've been searching for all my life."
"What are you saying, James?" Lily said, breaking away from their embrace, although her heart already knew what he was on to, and gleefully shouting its answer as her pulse rate sped up in anticipation.
"Lily Evans," James began, "I know it's kind of an unromantic time to be asking you, but I can't let you go off not knowing what I still feel for you, or what is to become of us once we leave Hogwarts. So Lily," James paused, "knowing all this, and knowing that I will love you until my dying day..."
At this point, James took out a small box and opened it to reveal a sparkling ring encrusted with shimmering, enthralling diamonds glimmering with a sort of allure. Going down on one knee, he said these words with heartfelt meaning:
"Lily Evans, will you let me make you happy? Will you marry me? I love you very much!"
At this, it was too much for Lily to take. Her heart was already bursting with happiness and dancing a merry little jig inside, while the exterior of Lily was now putting her hand to her mouth in pleasant surprise. Her eyes brimmed with blissful, unshed tears. All she heard were the effects of James' words and nothing else. Who cared if people thought proposing in a smelly, overcrowded train station was dull and mundane and unexciting? To her, it was the most romantic thing she had ever experienced, whether it was passé or clichéd. Especially since she loved James too, with all her heart, with all its depths could hold.
The Hogwarts Express gave a warning toot to all students who were late and should be already boarding the train. She and James had to leave soon, to their different, separate lives. Lives of their own. But she could change all that if she said yes. Both hearts joined as one in unity. And James was still waiting, not moving, not losing hope, stubbornly kneeling down on one knee for her answer. Lily listened to her heart.
There was no time to lose. Without further ado, she pulled James to his feet and took him in her arms. She felt the diamond on the ring graze and touch her hand, and a tingle ran down her spine. It was amazing how she would be Mrs Potter soon. Yes, she had decided she would marry him and live with him for a lifetime. Kissing him passionately, her joyous tears freely falling, she replied, with those simple words that left an impact on James' heart:
"Yes, I want to marry you!"
The way James beamed was memorable, a keepsake to treasure in her mind for all her days. His smile took and swept her away to a fairyland, and Lily knew for sure she would have never ever felt like this with anyone else.
Never knew I could feel like this
Like I've never seen the sky before
Want to vanish inside your kiss
Every day I love you more and more
Listen to my heart, can you hear it sing?
Telling me to give you everything
Seasons may change, winter to spring
But I love you until the end of time
Come what may, come what may
I will love you until my dying day
Suddenly the world seems such a perfect place
Suddenly moves with such a perfect grace
Suddenly my life doesn't seem such a waste
It all revolves around you
And there's no mountain too high
No river too wide
Sing out our song and I'll be there by your side
Storm clouds may gather and storms may collide
But I love you
(I love you)
Until the end (until the end) of time
Come what may, come what may
I will love you until my dying day
Oh...
Come what may, come what may
I will love you
I will love you...
Suddenly the world seems such a perfect place
Come what may, come what may
I will love you until my dying day
James slid the pretty band on Lily's finger, his gentle fingers giving off electricity every time he came into contact with her skin. Taking in the stunning sight of the diamond-studded ring, Lily's breath caught in her throat and at that moment, she felt she was the luckiest girl in the whole world and nothing could ever vanquish her deep fondness and affection for James.
Toot. The train was really going to leave now. Laughing gaily, Lily took James' hand in hers and ran towards the train. The crystal that she wore on her finger gave off radiating a spectrum of sparkles, as if telling the world she was James'.
When they entered the Hogwarts Express compartment and the train jerked and chugged towards the mainland, James and Lily, breathless, decided to sit together. Unfortunately, two Hogwarts prefects came over to them and -
"I'm sorry. Professor Dumbledore's orders. I know you're Head Boy and Head Girl and that you're of higher positions than we are, but Professor Dumbledore instructed us to separate you for the rest of the journey. Miss Evans, please come with us."
"What?? You can't be serious?! No freedom even after we step out of the school?" protested James.
"That's okay," Lily said, and gave him a wink. At least she wore their promise ring. "I love you."
"I love you too, Lily," were the last words she heard before she was forcibly dragged out of the compartment she and James wanted to share.
They plopped her down in a seat next to Dawn.
"Well, you're back so soon," Dawn said, leafing through a magazine, not noticing the twinkle Lily had in her eye.
"Dawn, you absolutely have to hear this!" Lily squealed excitedly.
"What?" Dawn said, not looking up.
"James proposed! To me!"
That got Dawn's attention. She instantly whipped her head up and threw the magazine aside. "What? And? What did you say?"
"And...I said yes! Oh gosh, can you believe it Dawn? We're engaged!"
"I don't believe you!" Dawn said joyfully.
"I can't wait to tell Mum and Dad!" Lily screamed.
Mum and Dad...
Don't worry, they'll like James.
No. They'll love James. Absolutely. Like you do.
So what could go wrong?
James and I will get married!
P/S: This is not the end. There will be more chapters, but this fic will be ending soon....*sob* :(