Chapter Three Confessions and Promises

Lily was sitting on the common room floor; her face slightly flushed from sitting so close to the fire. She was the only person up, as far as she knew, because it was well after midnight. But Lily had not been able to go to bed; not that this was new. Every night the past week had been filled with nightmares or hours of sleeplessness. She was in no hurry to continue the pattern. She needed to think and this time proved as good as any. Too many events had taken place in her first week of school and she just needed to sort them out.

The talk with Professor Dumbledore had been enlightening and evasive at the same time. Lily shook her head, wishing that the kindly old man had actually told them about the prophecy rather then hinting at it. If only she could find it in the library, maybe then things could make more sense.

Lily sighed; she would just have to talk to Cassandra about it, or maybe Professor Figg. Lily smiled slightly at her last thought. The new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher was none other then Arabella Figg, who had been a member of Gryffindor and Head Girl Lily's first year at Hogwarts. Lily was glad that Bella had been so nice to her, just like a caring older sister. After Bella had left, she had kindly stayed in touch with Lily and they were pretty good friends considering the age difference.

Lily sat lost in her thoughts until she heard the portrait open, but when she turned around no one was in sight. "James," she whispered, "Is that you?"

There was silence, as no answer came her way. Lily bit her lower lip as tears of frustration formed at the back of her eyes. James had acted so difficult the past week. She suspected that it had something to do with the idea that there was a prophecy about them, but she wasn't sure. All Lily knew was that James had been acting distant to her all week, as if their relationship was at a standstill. Lily pulled her legs up, wrapping her arms around her knees as a lonely tear escaped, slowly winding down her face. How ironic would it be, she thought bitterly, if a prophecy that pertains to us being together breaks us up.

This thought struck a sour chord and Lily began to cry in earnest. Vaguely she heard her sobs echoing through the common room. Then, unexpectedly and almost hesitantly, she felt a pair of arms encircle her waist. Looking down through blurred vision she didn't see anything there.

"James?" she managed to croak, before crying even harder.

"Lily, please don't cry," came the faint response. "You know I can't stand to see you cry."

Silent tears still fell as Lily turned around in the invisible arms of James. "Let me see you," she whispered hoarsely.

Reluctantly, James pulled off his cloak. "Dare I ask why you are crying?" he questioned, his eyes revealing the emotions that he wouldn't let his face show. Lily stared into their depths seeing love, confusion, and fear.

"You," she answered quickly. Afraid to read his eyes a second time, she shifted her gaze onto the fire.

Upon hearing her answer he pulled her closer to him. "I," James hesitated, unsure of what to say. "I've been a prat this past week haven't I?" He absentmindedly traced circles on her arm with his finger as he thought for a moment. "You don't need to answer that because I know what the answer will be." James paused and sighed, "I'm sorry Lily. It's just that…well I was …I guess I was scared. The way Professor Dumbledore talked last week was if we were already …well, married. It scared me. I love you, but I …I don't know if I want to think of marriage yet."

"Even if it might end up in that direction?"

James kissed Lily on the top of her head; "I want to take things one at a time...if that's alright with you."

Lily looked at James again, and wondered if there was something else that was bothering him because he still wasn't relaxed. "James," she whispered, causing him to lift his head from the top of hers. "What else are you worried about? I know there's something, please tell me."

Now it was James's turn to sigh, "Well, there was the way that Professor Dumbledore hinted to the prophecy. It was almost as if the fate of the world rested on what path we chose to take in our lives, the future choices that we would make."

Lily nodded, "I was unnerved by the way he said it too. That's why I'm going to start looking for ancient prophetic texts in the library, and maybe even ask the ancient rune instructor, Professor Raghnall. But wouldn't it be mind boggling if we were really destined to do something great, something that might stop Voldemort?"

They sat in a pensive silence for quite a time, until James spoke again, his tone lighter. "Tiger I know how you like to be warm and all, but if we're going to sit here together can we move to the couch?"

Lily laughed softly as she playfully swatted his arm, her melancholy mood dispersing as he smiled at her. James let go of her, as he stood up, but reached for her hand to help her in turn. As they resettled themselves on the couch, Lily turned to look up at James, suddenly serious. "Promise me something James."

"What?" he murmured into her ear as she sat in his lap, leaning back into his embrace.

"Promise that you won't ever scare me like that again."

James tenderly planted a kiss on her temple, "With all my heart."

Lily smiled and snuggled closer as she yawned. A few moments later James conjured a blanket. He had only just noticed that all she was wearing was a thin nightgown. Lily smiled sleepily at him. "James," her voice was barely audible as she was on the verge of sleep. "If it makes you feel any better, I'm scared about us too sometimes."

With that, Lily closed her tired green eyes, as James stroked her vibrant hair. "Goodnight my sweet flower," he whispered, falling asleep moments later.

*Lily looked up, surprised to see that she was sitting outside under the stars. Glancing around she saw that James was asleep beside her, his face reflecting innocence. Without warning the twinkling stars seemed to be snuffed out and a high cruel voice laughed. "Yes, so he understands the partnership of fire and night. Good, It'll be so much more fun when I destroy you." Lily paled; it was Voldemort. Her breath came in short gasps, while James remained asleep, oblivious to it all. A cloaked figure walked up, stopping a few feet from the edge of the blanket. "Ah, everyone's favorite flower, surprisingly still pure." Lily turned red as she scowled. The evil wizard continued as she scooted closer to James. "Poor thing, imagine how much fun one of mine could have with you." Lily's scowl deepened as she searched for her wand. Voldemort laughed, interrupting her search. "Silly girl, did you think I would allow you to be armed?" Lily slumped down beside James. "The prophecy must never come true. The present is too coincidental for comfort." Voldemort paused, eyeing the form of Lily next to James. "How about I kill him first?" he pondered out loud. Lily gasped and screamed………*

Her eyes fluttered open to darkness; a hand was clasped over her mouth. Lily started to struggle until she heard James's familiar voice.

"Lily are you alright? You were gasping and screaming. Did you have a bad dream? I cast a silencing charm, we don't need all of Gryffindor Tower down here."

Lily buried her head against James for the second time that night. "I'm sorry, I-I just had a nightmare."

"Do you want to talk about it?" Though Lily couldn't see him, the concern was evident in his voice.

"Well," Lily began as James rubbed small circles in her back. "We were outside and you were sleeping. Then…then he came."

"Go on," James prompted reassuringly, realizing how hard it must be to recount the dream.

Lily continued her voice still shaky. "He said cruel things about us…something about the prophecy and then he… he threatened to kill you first."

"Ah," James looked into her eyes as he held up his wand, now lighted. Gently he cupped her face in one hand. "Lily, tell me when you have a dream. I don't want you to be scared of how he will affect our future, and neither do I for that matter."

Lily smiled as she looked into his eyes, brimming with compassion. She carefully brought his head down to hers, catching his lips in a chaste kiss.

Pulling away, Lily smiled shyly. She started to say something, but quickly stifled a yawn instead.

"Am I really that boring?" James asked, laughing as Lily shook her head, still struggling to cover her gapping yawn.

"I believe someone needs to get some sleep or else she won't be able to string even two words to Professor Dumbledore in our meeting tomorrow morning."

Lily's eyes widened as she glanced up at James, while she snuggled closer. "I forgot about that."

James snorted, "Obviously."

"Oh don't be a prat and go to sleep," Lily muttered thickly, becoming drowsy.

"Night my flower."

"Night my stag."

***

A few hours later Lily awoke to a start as something loud and heavy crashed at the other end of the common room. Instinctively, James held Lily tighter as she bolted upright; unconsciously clinging to the blanket so no cold air would come in.

They both relaxed as soon as they saw that it was only Sirius, clad in red and gold Quidditch pajamas. Sirius staggered to his feet, rubbing his eyes and just stared at the couple. Lily and James stared back, still struggling to register the situation.

Suddenly Sirius stated the question that he must have been pondering. "Are you decent under that blanket?"

Lily and James blushed scarlet, a color that rivaled her hair.

"Get off it Padfoot," James grumbled. "Nothing happened, nothing at all."

Sirius shook his head, looking somewhat disappointed. "Fine then. But you two need to promise me something."

"Yes?" asked Lily, curious.

"Promise me that I don't come across this scene again. My innocent mind might become terribly ruined."

James chuckled as he got up off the couch, walking to his dormitory stairs, "Don't worry Sirius, I'm sure you've corrupted your own mind already.

Lily giggled, noting the abashed look on Sirius's face, as she heading to her set of stairs. "See you in twenty, Prongs dear."

"Alright," was James's faint response.

Sirius just shook his head and offered an arm to Cassandra, who had just descended the stairs Lily had gone up. "If they act like this now, I don't want to imagine what it'll be like when they're married."

"Stuff it, I think it's sweet," Cassandra replied as they exited the common room. "Besides, they're going to let me do my divination homework on them."

"Really?" Sirius queried, sounding surprised. "I thought Lily loathed divination after she had a bad misunderstanding with the Professor in her fourth year."

"True, but she puts up with helping me on my homework sometimes because I -er have a talent for it." explained Cassandra.

"I see," mumbled Sirius, "So what do you need a volunteer for this time? She'll kill you if it is anything like the ceromancy disaster that you had last year."

Cassandra chuckled, "Don't worry Sirius, it's only a Tarot Card reading on a couple."

AN: Ah yes, finally I've done chapter three. Hope you like it! I know there are some gaps about the prophecy, (my beta claims that I will "confuse the stuffing out of some people") but all will be revealed in due time. As for this chapter, sorry I didn't update for so long, and then it took me two weeks to write it. Hopefully the next one will be coming out faster, as in only a week or two, not a month or two. Don't forget to review, I love to see what people think!~TigerLily~ Oh and can anyone guess what ceromancy is?