5/20/02

Again, I am sorry for the wait, but stuff happens to put it lightly! Anyways, enjoy the story! Thanks for the reviews! And of course, sorry to leave with such a cliff hanger, but I just had to do it!

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters or places. They all belong to J.K. Rowling. I just like to have fun with them!

On to the story!

Lily sat on the couch, in mid-yawn. "Had Sirius just said what I thought he said?" Lily asked herself. She pulled her legs up onto the couch and looked at Sirius with a puzzled look on her face, "What?" She questioned.

"You heard me," Sirius said giving Lily a strong stare. "What kind of feelings do you have for James?"

Lily didn't know what to say. "Friendly ones? I don't know. What do you want me to say Sirius?" Lily said getting flustered. She didn't know if would be wise to tell James' best friend how she really felt. She knew that he was her friend too…but he was James' first.

"I know that there is something there Lily!" Sirius laughing at her remark. "You can just tell. They way you guys act around each other."

"Well, I like him if that is what you mean. He is a nice guy" Lily said plainly. "But nothing more than that." She fibbed.

"Okay, Lily. You tell yourself that." Sirius said becoming impatient. 'Why doesn't she just admit it?' Sirius thought to himself. "I won't go running off and tell James if you do Lily." Sirius said. Lily just gave him a sideways glance and didn't speak. "It will stay between us." Sirius reassured Lily.

Lily squirmed in her seat for a minute and looked at Sirius. She could see that he wouldn't tell anyone if she said she liked James. She just wasn't sure if she really did. There were times when she felt it. She could feel it start from her heart and work its way around her whole body, to the tips of her red hair. But other times, it was just James. Nothing extra special, just a really great friend, like the rest of them. While thinking about this, she felt her heart warm just at the thought of James. Maybe she did like him.

"Well, to be honest Sirius," Lily started, "I'm not sure. I think that I do, but sometimes, I don't." Lily started to blush at what she was saying. "Do you know what I mean?"

"Yeah, I do Lily." Sirius said seriously. "But let me tell you this. James will probably kill me, but I think he likes you too." Sirius said quickly. "I don't know for sure, but just remember how long I have known James." Said Sirius quietly.

Lily looked Sirius straight in the eye. "You really think so Sirius?" Lily asked, she was beginning to doubt herself a little bit. "Because I just can't tell, well, can't tell all the time." Lily said. She did remember those few times when he would look into her eyes. She had seen what was in them. The time he had looked at her like he was going to kiss her. She would never forget them. She just wasn't sure that 'she' was what he really wanted.

"Lily, I wouldn't have said so if I didn't think it." Sirius said playfully. "I wouldn't want to yank you around about it. You just need to decide for yourself, and then let James know." Sirius winked at her and smiled. He had seen them, how they got when they were around each other. If only he could find a way to trap the moment and show them. THEN, maybe they would see they were both crazy for each other. Sirius smiled at Lily who seemed in deep thought. He glanced at his watch and cringed. "Shit, Lily! It's almost 2am!" Sirius laughed as he patted Lily on the hand.

Lily yawned again, still in deep thought. "Wow," She said coming out of her daze. "I got to get to bed!" Lily started to get up when Sirius stopped her.

"Don't worry, this is between us. I promise." Sirius smiled at her. "And if you need anyone to talk to, well, here I am!" Sirius smiled at her.

"Thanks Sirius. I really appreciate it." She gave Sirius a hug and started for her dorm. "Good night…and thanks." Lily said.

"Good night Lily, and thanks for what?" Sirius said cocking an eye brow at her.

"For making me look at things." Lily said with a smile. Sirius laughed at her and waved his goodnight. Lily continued to go up the stairs and into her room. Sirius smiled as she headed up into her room. As soon as she was out of sight, he headed for his own room.

Lily entered her room and was getting ready for bed. She opened her bed curtains, only to find another Sterling rose waiting there for her. "Who was doing this?" She thought as picked up the rose and smelled it. They were beautiful; she would never get sick of them. She stood for a moment, and just looked at the flower before turning to her desk and putting it in the vase with the others. She crawled into bed and closed the curtains. The soft rustling noises and quite snores lulled her off to sleep where she saw James on the dream plain. She slept through the rest of the night with a smile of her face.

The next morning, James came racing into the Great Hall for breakfast. He was so excited for tomorrow. It would be his birthday and he knew his friends were up to something. He could always tell by the way they almost seemed to ignore him when it got really close to the day. "I wonder what they are doing this year." James said to himself as he took a bite out of blue-berry muffin. He looked around at his friends sitting around him. He was right, they were all really quite. Sirius and Lily looked tired and so did Remus. It had been a long night for poor Remus. Of course, they had made it to the Shrieking Shack in plenty of time. Remus always came back completely tired because he was up all night. But he seemed to be doing well. He always bounced back from his full moon experience better if James or Sirius went with him. Just the comfort alone helped him relax.

"So, after classes, you guys want to come out and watch the Qudditch practice? We are having a scrimmage against Ravenclaw." James blurted out at his tired friends.

"Sure," Lily said as she rubbed her eyes. "What time is it?"

"It's at 4 o' clock." James said. "What about you guys?" He said looking at Sirius and Remus.

"Well, sure, we'll come." Remus said looking at Sirius who was nodding his head. "I will be a little late. I have to go and check in with Dumbledore." James nodded his head.

"That's cool. I just want to look sharp for those scouts tomorrow." James said taking another bite out of his muffin.

"We think your ready Mr. Potter." Lily said to James. "Right Sirius?" She looked at Sirius for back-up.

"Yeah, there probably here because of you!" Sirius said taking Lily's queue.

James smiled at his friends. They were the greatest. He glimpsed at his watch. "Well, we better get going or we are going to be late for Care of Magical Creatures." James said wiping his hands. "I think they are going to be talking about hippogriffs. They might even have some this year!" James said excitedly getting up from his seat.

They all trudged down to the grounds where the class was held. Peter had met them, waking up late as usual. James was right; they actually had Hippogriffs there that day. He was watching his friends as they all listened, and of course as Lily took notes. She always did.

When they got to approach unusual beasts, James noticed how Sirius held Lily back for second. He was talking to her about something and she was blushing. "What is going on between those two?" James thought as he bowed to a silver Hippogriff. The Hippogriff snorted loudly and stomped his foot. James almost forgot. He wasn't looking the silver beast in the eye. He diverted his full attention to the Hippogriff making sure he wouldn't get attacked. Finally Lily and Sirius joined him. Sirius looked a little peeved and Lily was flushed. James made a mental note to ask Sirius what was going on between them. At that thought, James felt a pang of hurt. He frowned for a moment, only half listening to the professor talking about the history of Hippogriffs and their uses. He didn't think that Lily would be interested in Sirius. He had just never thought of that. "Maybe I should just say something to Lily." James thought as he glanced over at them. They were whispering to each other again and Lily was still blushing. Sirius covered a laugh and smiled at Lily before turning his attention to the professor. James watched as Lily looked down at her hands and then straight at him. James smiled and quickly turned away. James felt a little twinge of jealousy as he turned away. "Am I too late?" James thought to himself.