The kiss played itself over and over in my mind. I had only wanted him to open his mind a little and let me in so I could understand what was going on with him. I didn't expect his mouth to land over mine. Nor did I think I'd encourage it. My pulse had been racing, but not with fear. I couldn't explain it.

"What was that?" Sirius and Remus asked.

"Nothing," I muttered.

"Lily, we may look stupid but we aren't," Sirius said, looking down at me.

"Good for you."

"I think he's gone insane," Remus uttered softly. "He's a romantic sometimes but he doesn't do that. He doesn't randomly feel enticed by a girl, kiss her, then leave. He doesn't do the heart breaker bull shit." That was the first time I had ever heard swear words come out of Remus's mouth.

"Yeah," Sirius agreed.

"It wasn't his fault," I said, looking at the ground.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I locked eyes with his and his emotions went haywire. He's a teenage guy after all." Okay, so I lied-a little.

"I suppose that makes sense, but it doesn't seem like James to act like that."

"What would James's normal reaction be, then?"

"When his emotions go haywire he seeks solitude."

"Well, he isn't here is he? He's in solitude so it seems normal."

"Look, I'm going to go find him. Sirius, watch over her. Please?"

"You got it, boss," Sirius said in a fake gangster accent. Remus was gone in moments. I studied Sirius for a long time. I licked my lips to find they were still very warm from the unexpected kiss. Heat rose to my cheeks and they flushed. "You 'n Prongs will make some wild couple," he drawled changing his accent from gangster to cowboy.

"Prongs?"

"Oops. I didn't mean to say that. Maybe Moony's right. I am a blabbermouth."

"Moony?"

"Um.Lily you didn't hear that, do you understand?"

"Yes I did."

"No you didn't."

"Yes, I did."

"No, you didn't."

"No, I didn't," I said, being coy.

"Yes you did," Sirius said, falling into my trap.

"So you admit it!" I smirked, triumphant.

"No I didn't."

"I will not go through that again with you Sirius Black. You will tell me everything there is to know about your trio and you will tell me this instant."

"I can't."

"You can and you will." I grabbed his robe's collar and pulled him down to my height. "You will tell me now."

"Lil.y...I.have.a sore.throat. Please.let.go." His words were choked out I released him. He rubbed his neck where the collar had left a red mark on his pale skin. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other.

"Sirius Black, start explaining."

"If I was to explain I'd face death. I'm too young to die.not to mention too handsome."

"If you don't explain, you'll face death. And one is never too young to die," I countered.

"Cool, you didn't say I wasn't too handsome to die."

"I thought that would be assumed, but seemingly, your wit doesn't match the features you think you have."

"I'm not the one in the love-hate relationship," Sirius smirked.

"I am not in a relationship!"

"The kiss says otherwise," he said, looking at me. My cheeks flushed a briiiight pink. I could feel it.

"Shut up, Black."

"When you admit it to yourself, Evans."

"Why do you call yourselves Marauders? Who is Prongs and who is Moony? And why won't you TELL ME?"

"We call ourselves the Marauders because we can. Prongs and Moony are.people. I DID tell you." He bolted like lightening down the hallway. Well, there goes my chance at finding anything out. I sighed out of vexation and anger. Then I asked myself why I cared so much about them and their ways. I realized I didn't care about them. I cared about him. The moment his lips touched mine, I felt an electric shock. When I had seen him this morning, alive, I was contented that he was safe.

When did I care about the safety of the most wretched boy in Hogwarts? I kicked a wall over and over until one of the pictures on it scolded me. I flicked it off. I will find something perfectly hateable about James Potter, and I will hate him as I used to. I remembered that I had detention today and ran towards Filch's office.

"You're LATE!" Filch snarled.

"I know. I got lost on the way here, considering I've never been in detention before."

"Of course, Miss Evans. You and Mr. Potter here will clean out the entirety of the herbal room. And you will reorganize the herb shelves. That is your punishment. Good day."

"Excuse me, Mr. Filch, sir?" James asked. "Can we have separate rooms?"

"No."

"But, sir?" James's voice was pleading. A tone I had never heard him use before. "No, James. No is no." James looked internally and externally defeated. I almost felt bad for him, but the key word there is almost